Meanwhile.
In the outside world.
"Tch! I can't take it anymore!"
Seeing the magic cannon she fired being swallowed once again by the Cursed Worm, Aoko sneered: "If this continues, it'll be endless! Forget penetrating this Cursed Worm, our attacks aren't effective against it at all."
"Indeed."
Standing at the front edge of the Vimana's deck and slashing once more, Artoria frowned: "Our Mana will run out first."
Their attacks were ineffective against the Cursed Worm.
The swallowing ability Vortigern gained through the Holy Grail didn't just apply to herself. The Cursed Worm, which was a different yet identical existence to her, also possessed that absurd swallowing ability.
Therefore, regardless of the Noble Phantasm releases from the Servants there, or Magecraft, magic cannons, or even Arcueid's Marble Phantasm, none could harm the Cursed Worm in the slightest.
"If this keeps up, we won't be able to save the Department Head." Ritsuka bit her lip.
The Cursed Worm couldn't be penetrated from within because the space inside was infinite. No matter how Naoki attacked, he couldn't tear a gap from within. Only by penetrating the Cursed Worm from the outside could Naoki inside free himself.
But now everyone was helpless.
"What if I return to my true form?"
Melusine couldn't help but ask.
"My dragon's breath in my true form should be able to penetrate the Cursed Worm's shell. Although I might not be able to return to this form, but—"
"I won't allow you to do that, Lancelot." Morgan stopped her. "Naoki didn't want you to return to your true form from the beginning. Maintaining your current form is his wish."
"But... if this continues, Naoki will..."
Melusine's face was filled with worry.
Everyone had already tried every method of attack, even trying to concentrate everyone's power to a single point, but it was still ineffective. The Cursed Worm's swallowing ability was enough to swallow all of everyone's attacks.
After all, it was an entity capable of swallowing all of Britain.
"Merry-sensei, how much time is left?"
[Three minutes remaining.]
Merry's answer made everyone's hearts tremble slightly.
Only three minutes left before the Cursed Worm completely swallowed Britain?
They had to find a way to defeat the Cursed Worm within this time—
"Damn it!"
Mordred seemed to vent her frustration, firing red lightning at the Cursed Worm!
However, unexpectedly, when the red lightning struck the Cursed Worm...
"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa——!"
A dull, subwoofer-like sound echoed between heaven and earth. The Cursed Worm's body visibly showed a crack where it was struck by the red lightning—a crack that didn't immediately begin to heal.
Seeing this, Morgan frowned. She pulled out the last replica Holy Sword from her staff, shattered it without hesitation, and unleashed a pitch-black aurora sword that slashed at the Cursed Worm.
*RUMBLE!*
The Cursed Worm's surface once again showed a clearly visible crack!
This time, everyone realized it.
"This..."
"Weakening, or can it no longer swallow?"
"Whatever it is, this is a good opportunity."
Their attacks could actually harm the Cursed Worm now.
Although they had no idea why this change occurred, a change beneficial to them was enough. With that, the possibility of saving Naoki and stopping the Cursed Worm was not entirely zero.
However...
[Perhaps still not enough.]
Merry said.
[The Cursed Worm is approximately 1140 kilometers long. To penetrate its surface... we don't have a weapon capable of doing that.]
"My Magecraft and Arcueid's Marble Phantasm can't either?"
Aoko asked.
"If we really can't, we'll do it together. At least now we can cause damage to the Cursed Worm. Coupled with Artoria's Holy Sword and Angelica's Ea, and Gray's Holy Lance... combining this much should be enough."
[Just to damage it shouldn't be a problem, but the issue is duration—it's already seven minutes since Naoki was swallowed, almost eight minutes. We have no idea how deep he fell in those eight minutes. If the path we open closes before Naoki returns...]
Then they wouldn't be able to get Naoki out.
Less than three minutes remained. There was no chance to repeat.
(A way, is there still another way...)
Just at this moment—
"Hey~~~~~~!"
A shout suddenly came from below.
The people there were startled for a moment.
This sound... Could there be survivors on the Island of Britain besides their group?
Signaling Angelica to lower the altitude, everyone went to the edge of the deck to look. They saw two figures standing on top of a shattered rock, waving vigorously at them, like a pair of castaways on a deserted island who finally found an airplane.
It was...
"Musashi-san and Tomoe-san!?"
Ritsuka stared at the two people on the shattered rock with surprise: "Sorry, Angelica-san, please lower the altitude again! Those are our friends and comrades!"
"I understand."
Angelica once again lowered the Vimana's flying altitude. After descending directly in front of Musashi and Tomoe, the two people standing on the rock fragments leaped onto the deck with all their might.
Patting her chest, Musashi let out a sigh of relief: "Phew~~~~~ We're safe, we're safe! This time I really felt like I was going to die! I can't believe I met a rescue ship here, so lucky—by the way, is this Ritsuka?"
It was then that Musashi realized whose ship she had boarded.
Ritsuka smiled: "Thank goodness you two are alright... Why are Musashi-san and Tomoe-san in a place like that?"
"About that... we just escaped there." Tomoe explained. "Initially, we saw a rather dangerous white giant appear in Camelot, and we were preparing to investigate, but when we were halfway there, that giant seemed to have already been defeated. After that, that insect-like giant appeared in the sky in the distance."
"After that, this kind of destruction occurred. Tomoe-dono and I could only try our best to escape. We escaped and finally ended up there. If not for being saved by you all, we would truly have drowned in the sea." Musashi still felt a little anxious. "Oh right, why is everyone gathered here? Earlier, I seemed to see you all attacking that big insect."
[Found!]
Merry suddenly shouted loudly.
Aoko asked: "Found? What was found?"
[The person who can save Naoki! Wasn't she found already!]
"Eh?"
After Merry said that, everyone turned to look at Musashi.
She... could save Naoki?