After her Alter transformation, although Artoria's Charisma had degraded to rank E, commanding mindless Shadow Servants remained effortless for her.
Both Karna and Mordred came to understand the terror of an Artoria accompanied by her 'knights.'
Under the lead of the black Wild Hunt King, the seven Shadow Servants advanced in a phalanx formation, launching dense and coordinated combo attacks. Even when Mordred and Karna managed to repel one with explosive force, another Shadow Servant would immediately swing their weapon or fire projectiles to push them back. This relentless cycle created wave after wave of assaults that left the two Servants struggling to defend themselves, completely overwhelmed.
Using their Noble Phantasms might have torn through this encirclement, but one must remember that among these 'soldiers' existed formidable 'generals.' Neither could guarantee victory in a direct clash against Rhongomyniad's power.
Had Artoria personally joined the fray, Mordred and her companion's situation would have worsened further. Yet the king astride her skeletal steed remained motionless—her gaze didn't even linger on the two Servants meant to pin her down, not even briefly.
Those golden eyes, now cold and distant, followed the figure bathed in crackling lightning.
"Red Assassin isn't here," she murmured. "It seems you've chosen to deploy more forces against my Master."
From a pure combat perspective, Karna—having lost his golden armor—had fallen from the ranks of top-tier Servants, now only slightly stronger than first-rate Servant Mordred. Empress Semiramis should have been a second-rate Servant like Astolfo, but within her Hanging Gardens, her power rivaled top-tier Servants—let alone the ever-radiant Ruler, Jeanne d'Arc.
Artoria Alter's inaction stemmed from guarding against Semiramis's potential ambush. But with no sign of the empress, she realized Semiramis had chosen the other battlefield.
Just as Mordred expected her father to rage at this perceived challenge to her pride, the black-armored King of Knights instead smiled faintly with confidence.
"Well played. I hadn't expected such decisiveness from you after losing Black Archer. Pity—we hold the superior hand here."
The Holy Lance began gathering a storm. The skeletal warhorse charged forth with regal arrogance, and the fully armored King of Knights closed the distance to Karna in an instant. With a thunderous crack, a lean figure was sent flying—blood spraying from his mouth as he crashed heavily to the ground.
The warrior who'd lost his immortality proved no match against the king's assault.
Mordred's pupils constricted, whether from Karna's injury or the implications in Artoria's words. Meanwhile, Artoria Alter wheeled her steed around, advancing toward her at a measured pace as Rhongomyniad accumulated another storm of the far shore.
"Had Surya's son also reinforced that front, you might have stood a sliver of chance."
"...What do you mean?" Ominous dread exploded in Mordred's chest as Artoria calmly stated:
"Since you allowed my prince to construct the grand magecraft of the celestial palace, be prepared to be annihilated by countless thunderbolts."
"Choosing a delaying tactic—compared to these hollow shadow Servants, this was the worst move you've made in this war."
There was no time for regret. Mordred roared as she summoned crimson lightning, her magical energy amplified by her sword and exploding outward. Artoria once again lowered her stance, pointing her holy spear forward, while the Wind King's barrier behind her transformed into propulsion. Amid the raging winds, a black-red beam of death gathered. Llamrei snorted excitedly, its hooves kicking off as it shot like an arrow straight into Mordred's destructive magical energy!
BOOM!
The sonic waves assaulted everyone's eardrums, even briefly disrupting the magical circuits. When the monitoring screens returned to normal, the Masters of the Yggdmillennia faction saw not only crimson lightning and black-red storms entangled as they surged into the sky, but also golden sword rain descending from above. The black-robed young man pulled the trigger, sending spiraling bullets flying, blasting two figures away!
"Ugh!"
Even though the holy flag effectively mitigated the damage, the overwhelming voltage still paralyzed Jeanne d'Arc's entire body, making her barely feel the hand gripping the flag. Meanwhile, Astolfo, clutching the magical guidebook, lay sprawled on the back of his hippogriff, his hair standing on end, looking both disheveled and comical.
A mix of solemnity and amusement swirled in Jeanne's heart, but she had no time to dwell on it. Raising her holy flag, she watched as countless golden lights once again rained down from the sky. "The thirteenth wave is coming, Astolfo!"
"I knohh (I know)!" Astolfo slurred in response, tightly clutching the magical guidebook as he braced for impact.
Even if he didn't understand how Fran's Noble Phantasm had fallen into Sakatsuki's hands, or how Sakatsuki was able to wield it with such overwhelming power, Astolfo knew that if things continued like this, they wouldn't even touch Sakatsuki's sleeve before being forced to withdraw.
Perhaps due to enduring twelve rounds of electric shocks, Astolfo's hands and feet trembled, but his mind was unusually clear. His gaze bypassed the black-robed young man, settling on the golden thunder pool above his head, deep in thought.
Was there any way to dismantle this grand magecraft, which rivaled a Noble Phantasm…?
As he pondered, the self-proclaimed "Thunder Monarch" curled his fingers, and the thirteenth wave of golden lightning branched out like twisting vines. They lashed violently at their surroundings, brimming with destructive mystery, transforming into countless serpents that surged forward, their momentum forming a net that covered the entire sky.
"Not good, this level of power… it's beyond your defensive range, Astolfo!" Jeanne's expression darkened. "Release your Noble Phantasm's True Name, or it'll be too late!"
"Huh? Ah!" Astolfo snapped out of his thoughts, but the paralysis hindered his movements. As he fumbled to unleash his Noble Phantasm, the lightning tree was already upon them!
Just as Sieg activated his Command Spell, a purple magical circle manifested, and countless chains surged forth, diverting the lightning into the earth—completely absorbed by the Hanging Gardens.
"It's not over yet, damnable Assassin." Footsteps echoed as the Empress abandoned her throne room, choosing instead to step onto the battlefield as a magi of the Age of Gods. "Summoning grand magecraft—preparations complete."
The phantom of the swamp serpent flickered briefly. The supreme magical beast once known as 'Hydra' had barely manifested half its form before being lashed by furious bolts of lightning, writhing in agony as scales scattered and blood sprayed.
Though Hydra shamefully attempted to retreat, the Empress's appearance greatly alleviated the battlefield pressure, allowing the three Servants a brief moment to catch their breath.
"Tch, not even giving it a chance to fully materialize," Semiramis clicked her tongue. "Seems the plan to break through using the beast has failed. Poison would be useless now... Hey, Saint, how about using you as a shield so the two of us can find an opening to approach Sakatsuki?"
"I hope you're joking, Empress!" Jeanne d'Arc protested indignantly. "I don't want to experience being burned to a crisp again!"
"Hmph."
The Empress snorted coldly. "Then what do you suggest? At this rate, we'll all be crushed to pieces."
"Ugh..." Jeanne was truly stumped. If she had a plan, she wouldn't have been forced to endure twelve rounds of electric shock therapy. Just as the kind-hearted saint began considering heroic self-sacrifice, Astolfo timidly raised his hand.
"Um, I might have an idea."
————
Amidst mournful cries, Hydra dissipated unwillingly yet relieved. Sakatsuki, suspended in the sky, withdrew the crackling electricity from his fingertips and turned his gaze toward his three opponents. Just then, he noticed Jeanne leaping onto the back of Hippogriff while Astolfo whistled, prompting the hardworking steed beneath him to flap its wings and soar skyward.
"Finally abandoning the turtle strategy, I see." Sakatsuki's expression remained impassive as he watched the two charging toward him, his right hand sweeping across his chest.
The dragon's heart pulsed, projections loaded, molten iron forged.
Nine heavy conical bullets appeared before the young man, each as long as an arm, gleaming coldly. The mere thought of them piercing human flesh was enough to send shivers down one's spine.
And everyone knew Sakatsuki possessed the ability to launch them at supersonic speeds—these nine artful instruments would bring endless destruction.
"Jeanne, you're trembling," Astolfo observed from behind. "Are you sure about this? I can go alone."
"It's fine." Jeanne shook her head, golden hair whipping in the wind. "Fear isn't a bad thing. This fear will guide me forward."
"But—"
"Consider it a side effect of the electric shocks, Astolfo. Keep moving forward." The saint's unwavering tone bolstered Astolfo's resolve. Clutching the grimoire in his arms, he nodded firmly.
"Mm!"
Sensing its master's determination, Hippogriff accelerated again, covering half the distance in an instant as it streaked toward the figure on the horizon. Sakatsuki had already raised his hand, data streams flashing through his eyes.
Electromagnetic induction, calculations converging.
Trajectory adjusted, ammunition synchronized.
—Ready.
"Fire."
Sakatsuki's voice was soft, but his power deafening. As hurricane-force winds exploded outward, the bullets left orange afterimages in their wake, massive sonic booms blooming like flowers, the concussive force ringing in ears and nearly deafening all who heard.
Astolfo barely had time to open his mouth before he saw Jeanne d'Arc vanish from his sight in the blink of an eye, as if struck head-on by a train, accompanied by the distinct sound of shattering.
"J-Jeanne!"
"My apologies, this is as far as I can help you!" The voice grew distant as the crimson saint began to fall. "Keep moving forward, Astolfo! Don't stop now!"
"Even if you say that—" Astolfo turned back with trembling fear, then paled in horror. "Hippogriff, save me!"
The orange beam shot forth again, but before it could strike, Astolfo activated [Dimensional Leap], hiding himself on the reverse side of the world to evade the second attack.
The blurred phantom gradually solidified as Astolfo emerged from the reverse side. Though he had successfully dodged, there was no relief on his face.
Because Sakatsuki had already adapted to the magnetic interference—this time, three conical bullets rotated in unison, their deadliest tips aimed squarely at the charging Astolfo!
"Fire."
An orange beam flooded everyone's vision!