"Is that Gilles de Rais really summoning a god?" King Arthur, now by the riverbank, looked at the thick fog and asked.
"Even if it really is a god, it must be an evil one. Don't forget, his Noble Phantasm, the Prelati's Spellbook, is a book filled with knowledge of dark gods," said Emiya Kiritsugu, who had come over with Irisviel.
At this point, Emiya Kiritsugu felt there was no point in hiding and assassinating other Masters anymore—there simply weren't any Masters left for him to target.
"I'm just curious who that god-slayer really is." Emiya Kiritsugu couldn't see through the fog, but the overwhelming and disgusting magical energy coming from within made him very uneasy.
"That magic really is sickening," Diarmuid said as he arrived. He had already returned to his Lancer form and no longer had the ability to fight. His remaining mana was about to run out. "It must be a terrifying evil god. What a pity I won't get to see it with my own eyes."
Kayneth didn't come closer. He stood far away with Sola, watching from a distance. Sola's feelings were complicated. She hadn't fallen for Diarmuid because of the mole on his face, something proven true when Diarmuid became a Saber and could control the mole's magic freely. Yet now she still had to face parting with Diarmuid, returning with Kayneth, and marrying him as fate demanded.
Sola deeply wished to escape the political marriage forced on her by her family. But she had also seen another side of Kayneth. Though her heart still clung to Diarmuid, the only path left for her was to accept reality.
"Sola… when we get back… let's get married," Kayneth said with some hesitation. He had always been proud and confident in front of Diarmuid, in front of Waver, but when speaking to Sola alone…
"Kayneth… you don't really think such a small achievement will make me say yes, do you, Number One in Spirit Evocation?" Sola teased.
"But… I…" Kayneth faltered again.
"Let's go. This isn't our battlefield anymore, is it?" Sola replied. "And don't forget to bring along those two you promised."
Kayneth nodded. If Waver had seen the expression on his face at that moment, he would've been shocked—it was nothing like the usual Kayneth.
Sola gave one last look at the river before leaving with Kayneth.
Diarmuid seemed to sense it and turned his head toward Kayneth, but then fixed his eyes back on the fog.
"Knight of the Lake's Master, if I remember right, you're the blacksmith, aren't you? I heard everything you said earlier," Diarmuid called out to Tia.
Tia nodded.
"Good. These are my Noble Phantasms, the Red Rose of Exorcism and the Yellow Rose of Mortality. I'm about to fade away, with no chance to strike that god myself. But since my weapons were gifts from the gods, they should still be useful. Before I go, I'll let you see them—maybe you can forge copies and leave your mark on that so-called god in my place!" Diarmuid generously showed his weapons to Tia.
Hearing this, Tia was instantly delighted.
"Thank you so much, Diarmuid of the Radiant Face!" she said politely, though her heart was brimming with excitement.
Diarmuid placed his Noble Phantasms into Tia's hands, and she began analyzing them.
At that moment, Senji Muramasa suddenly spoke in Tia's mind.
"Tia, these two spears are incredible! True divine weapons. Even in life, I might not have been able to forge something like them. But now… I'll help you recreate them exactly!"
As she was analyzing, Tia heard Muramasa's voice, and joy spread across her face. Anyone watching would've thought she was thrilled at the chance to study Diarmuid's weapons, but what truly excited her was the chance to forge perfect copies—no, to have Muramasa forge them for her.
Meanwhile, the mist above the river suddenly began to change color, shifting from white to a sickly purple.
"This fog is getting worse—and we still can't see what's happening on the river! Think of something, quick!" Waver groaned in discomfort. "Ughhh…"
Irisviel quickly cast a simple healing spell on him, enough to let him recover a bit.
"Thanks…" Waver said weakly.
Tia frowned, her earlier joy quickly swept away.
"Saber, can you use the Wind King's Barrier to clear this fog?" Emiya Kiritsugu asked.
King Arthur nodded. Excalibur appeared in her hand, invisible as ever, and a fierce wind surged from it. With a swing of her blade, the gale swept forward, scattering the fog.
At last, everyone could see the river.
In the middle stood Gilles de Rais. When the fog cleared and he saw that King Arthur was watching, he bowed politely to her.
"Saint, I'm so glad to see you again. But this time, you are not the main guest. Our true god is!" Gilles de Rais cried, his eyes shining as he looked up at the black hole in the sky.
The hole grew wider and wider. From within, countless tentacles stretched out, lashing toward everyone.
"As long as the Saint returns to my side, I will have our god spare you," Gilles de Rais said eagerly. "As for the rest of you, if you hadn't been so hasty in blowing away the fog, I might have let you live a little longer. But now, our god can't wait to make you his sacrifices!"
"Hmph! Magus! Stop your mad talk! We came here to strike down the evil god you summoned!" King Arthur shouted, swinging her holy sword and severing the incoming tentacles.
Lancelot hacked away without mercy, cutting each one down, though he had to stay close to protect Tia as she worked on her analysis.
Emiya Kiritsugu, Irisviel, and Waver were forced back, while Alexander the Great, exhausted but unyielding, tried to strike at the tentacles, though his efforts barely made a difference.
Seeing the situation, Waver used his Command Seals again.
"Command Seals! Make my Servant, King of Conquerors Iskandar, fully recover!"
Just a moment ago, Alexander the Great had been weak, but now his whole body was wrapped in lightning. In an instant, he burst out with a surge of electricity that burned all the surrounding tentacles into ash.
"Hahaha! Master! Well done!"
At the same time, Tia had just finished fully analyzing Diarmuid's two spears.
But in the very next second, Diarmuid was struck by a tentacle. His whole body instantly scattered into tiny lights and vanished, because his mana had been completely used up.
The two spears in Tia's hands also disappeared along with him.
(End of The Chapter)
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