Moments earlier—
The Northern Wall.
"Noble Phantasm, Deploy!"
"Lord Camelot!"
Amid the girl's furious shout, a white chalk castle embodying the ideals of the Round Table appeared in this foreign land. Facing the charging Demon Beast horde, Mash rushed forward, slamming into them with all her might using the white chalk castle!
*BANG!*
A large number of Demon Beasts were instantly thrown back into the thunderstorm by the castle's impact. The entrance to the Northern Wall, previously packed with Demon Beasts, was momentarily cleared. Though the Demon Beasts would soon fill the gap again, this at least bought some breathing room.
Mash turned to look at Ritsuka behind her: "That was the fifth Noble Phantasm deployment. Is Master still holding up?"
"Barely…"
Leaning against the wall, Ritsuka, her face slightly pale, forced a reassuring smile at Mash: "Compared to us, the Department Head is facing a much tougher battle. If this place falls, he'll laugh at us."
Moreover, behind the Northern Wall was Uruk. If they failed to hold this position and let the Demon Beasts break through, it would undoubtedly cause an unprecedented catastrophe!
Thus, even though her hands and feet were trembling and her Mana was drained from Mash's repeated Noble Phantasm deployments, Ritsuka absolutely couldn't fall here.
Her other comrades were still fighting; she couldn't be the first to collapse and become a burden.
"Alright, please hold on a bit longer, Master!"
Mash nodded and once again raised her shield, standing in front of Ritsuka. Outside, the Demon Beasts that had been repelled were regrouping and charging toward the castle gate!
Their numbers were fewer than before, but even so, they were still difficult to fend off.
(If I keep deploying my Noble Phantasm, Master's Mana will…)
"Mash, deploy your Noble Phantasm."
Just as Mash hesitated about how to face the enemy, Ritsuka placed a hand on her shoulder and gave the order.
"Don't worry about me, Mash. Defend this place with everything you've got and drive back the Demon Beasts."
"Understood!"
Nodding firmly, Mash's shield glowed white once more. But just as the White Chalk Castle was about to manifest for the sixth time—
[Strong Mana reaction detected ahead! Someone is approaching your location at high speed!]
Roman's shout suddenly rang out.
Someone approaching the Northern Wall? A new enemy?!
Ritsuka and Mash instantly tensed. The next moment, a meteor-like streak shot down from the sky and landed in the midst of the Demon Beast horde!
*SHUA!* *SHUA!* *SHUA!*
*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*
Numerous golden ripples appeared in the air. Heaven's Chains, like silver snakes, shot out at high speed, piercing the Demon Beasts one by one. The Demon Beasts fell like grass being cut down.
This is… someone helping to eliminate the Demon Beasts?
Ritsuka was slightly confused.
Then, she saw a figure walking toward her.
"You're the last Master of humanity?" Arriving before Ritsuka, Kingû gave a gentle smile. "I am someone ordered by my Master… that is, Natsukawa Naoki, to come and assist in eliminating the Demon Beasts. My name is Enkidu, or rather, Kingû."
Enkidu!?
Ritsuka and Mash instinctively took two steps back.
[Enkidu, who was supposed to be dead, claims to be Tiamat's child and has destroyed many fortified cities]—this information was known throughout Uruk.
"You… aren't you an enemy of Uruk?"
"Yes, in the past, that was true." Kingû said with a smile. "In fact, I was the one leading these Demon Beasts to attack the Northern Wall."
"And now you say you'll help us eliminate the Demon Beasts?"
Ritsuka's face was full of disbelief: "This is like laying a conspiracy out in the open. What's your goal?"
Kingû shook his head: "I have no goal. Though the past me was an enemy of you and humanity, the current me is not. After all, my body, soul, mind… everything about me now belongs to my Master, a mere puppet controlled by him, unable to do anything against his orders."
"And [Go to the Northern Wall to help fight the Demon Beasts]—that's the order I've received now."
(A puppet… the Department Head?)
"Could it be the Department Head's Mystic Eyes?"
Ritsuka knew their Department Head possessed a pair of Mystic Eyes capable of eroding souls and dominating others. So, was the Kingû before her someone whose soul had been eroded and controlled by the Department Head?
Ritsuka bit her lip: "So… we can trust you now, right?"
"That depends on your own judgment. If you mean fighting the Demon Beasts, then I will provide assistance."
As he spoke, Kingû turned and summoned nearly a hundred Heaven's Chains, piercing and destroying the Demon Beasts that had once again breached the thunderstorm.
Ritsuka took a deep breath: "Mash, help Kingû eliminate the Demon Beasts."
"Master?"
[Fujimaru!]
Mash and Roman couldn't help but cry out in shock.
"Master, do you think Kingû can be trusted?"
"No, I don't trust him."
Ritsuka shook her head.
If it were just Kingû's words, Ritsuka still wouldn't believe him. It was possible he was pretending to be controlled, preparing to infiltrate Uruk to do something malicious. That possibility wasn't out of the question.
"But I trust the Department Head."
Naoki had gone to the cedar forest. With his sensory abilities, there was no way he wouldn't know Kingû came here, yet he didn't pursue him.
With Naoki's abilities, it was impossible for him not to catch up to Kingû. That meant Kingû's arrival at the Northern Wall was also approved by him.
Thus, Ritsuka decided to accept Kingû's explanation and words.
"I understand."
Mash let out a soft sigh.
"Please lend us your assistance, Kingû-san. Help us eliminate the Demon Beasts."
"Yes."
Kingû nodded, slightly surprised as he looked at Ritsuka—the last Master of humanity. She didn't seem to be just a human who relied solely on Servants and was otherwise useless. She had some merit.
And just as the three decided to fight together—
*BOOM!*
A thunderous roar that shook heaven and earth suddenly erupted in the distance.
A massive thunder pillar striking from the sky was clearly visible to Ritsuka and the others!
"That's… the Department Head's attack, right?"
Seeing the shining lightning, Ritsuka couldn't help but smile: "We can't lose to the Department Head, Mash! We have to show him the Northern Wall still standing strong when he returns!"
"Understood! Mash Kyrielight, ready to fight!"