As the battle intensified, Morgan wasn't the only one considering the release of her Noble Phantasm's true name.
Artoria was thinking the same.
But simply cutting down these tentacles wasn't enough to stop the sea demons from multiplying. Without a way to directly communicate with her true Master, Kiritsugu Emiya, she needed to confirm things one last time with Iri.
By now, the true names of the Servants were already known to each other, so there was no longer any need to conceal their Noble Phantasms.
Unlike those that could be activated continuously, hers required a massive amount of mana when the true name was released. Using it recklessly without preparation might burden Kiritsugu.
Though his injuries had only just healed, and they couldn't speak directly, that didn't mean Artoria was willing to disregard her de facto Master and act unilaterally.
Just as she was looking for a chance to fall back, a surge of immense mana came from above and to the side.
She leapt from the water to dodge, and midair, she caught sight of Morgan—cradled by Shiomi—plunging down from the bridge while unleashing magic at the sea demons.
The devastating blast of mana temporarily slowed the growth of the tentacles. The two landed together on the surface of the Mion River, still dotted with floating ice.
"As expected, simple Magecraft only gets us so far. Rather than wasting time on large-scale spells, it's better to release the Noble Phantasm directly," Shiomi agreed with Morgan's earlier thought.
Morgan nodded. "Since we're in agreement, there's no need to discuss it further. But before that... would you let go of me, my husband? I can't exactly fight in this position."
"Oh..." Shiomi quickly let go, slightly embarrassed. "Sorry."
He had been too focused on monitoring the sea demons' movements and completely forgot.
...Not because it felt good holding Morgan close or anything like that!
Nearby, Artoria overheard their conversation. Ignoring everything else, she got straight to the point.
"You're planning to release your Noble Phantasm, Sister?"
Morgan lightly flexed her fingers. "You saw it too, didn't you? At this rate, nothing short of an Anti-City-class Noble Phantasm can wipe them out completely."
She looked at Artoria with a calm, almost relaxed gaze, as if none of this was enough to make her tense.
"If you're still reluctant to release the true name of your Noble Phantasm, then don't force yourself," Morgan said, extending her hand.
Shiomi handed her weapon back to her.
"There's no point in arguing about who should use their Noble Phantasm right now," Artoria said as she dashed forward, slicing through the incoming tentacles headed for the two. "Since that's your intention, Sister, I'll hold them off—"
"No need. Fall back, Artoria. Unless you want to be caught in the blast of my Noble Phantasm," Morgan cut her off.
A tremendous amount of mana began to gather around Morgan, concentrating into her body.
"Conqueror King, get clear—now!" Shiomi called out from a distance, signaling to Iskandar, who was dashing through the sky, cutting down tentacles as he went.
Rider noticed the rapidly intensifying mana and quickly deduced she was about to unleash a Noble Phantasm capable of turning the tide. He yanked his reins, steering the ox chariot away to a safe distance.
Shiomi and Artoria retreated as well, stopping at a range that wouldn't interfere with Morgan.
"Are you that curious about your sister's Noble Phantasm?" Shiomi asked, eyes fixed on the surrounding sea demons, making sure none would interfere with Morgan's casting.
Artoria nodded silently.
To the King of Knights, Morgan was both the most familiar and most mysterious person.
She was her blood relative—her older sister—but after Artoria ascended the throne, Morgan rarely showed herself.
What kind of Noble Phantasm did she possess? What kind of heart lay beneath?
Artoria didn't know. Even knowing her true name meant little—Morgan's reputation as a witch left the nature of her Noble Phantasm shrouded in mystery.
And now, Morgan was about to unveil it.
"She spent her entire life unable to set foot in the city, unable to realize her own white Camelot. The laws of the world never allowed her to become the Queen of Britannia. Those unfulfilled wishes ultimately manifested as Magecraft, and so she walked a path that was never meant to exist... her own journey of love and resentment."
Shiomi spoke softly, unsure whether he was addressing Artoria or simply voicing the thought to himself.
"Its name is—"
As he spoke, the heavy fog abruptly cleared. The familiar night sky of Fuyuki vanished, replaced by an aurora-lit heavens glowing in shades of blue.
A colossal throne had appeared at the place where Morgan stood.
Reality Marble? Iskandar was taken aback—but upon closer inspection, it didn't seem to be that. The transformation of the surroundings appeared more like a visual effect accompanying the Noble Phantasm's activation—an illusion of sorts.
Only the overwhelming mana that had been drawn together remained entirely genuine and unmasked.
'Tis a ruinous dream I cannot bear to see. No recompense, no salvation to be had. At the world's end, a bird sings of tomorrow. Let this be a sign—"
Morgan, seated upon the throne, spoke coldly.
The aurora-draped sky rippled with black waves, and from within those ripples, lances of azure mana rained down.
Artoria recognized them immediately. Each spear was identical to the one that had struck at her on the sea the day before.
One after another, the spears fell—impaling tentacles that sought to reach Morgan, those that extended outward, and even the massive body of the sea demon itself.
"Roadless Camelot: The Now Unreachable Utopia!"
Mana surged.
A roar like the heavens themselves splitting open echoed across the battlefield.
The Witch of Britannia unleashed all the mana she had gathered in one mighty blast. The frigid, gleaming flare that erupted illuminated both the sea demon and the aurora-filled sky.
In an instant, the river water vaporized. Every inch, every fragment, every molecule of the immense creature—once a symbol of terror—was fully exposed to the searing cold light. It let out a voiceless shriek, shredded under the merciless impact.
The sea demon was obliterated piece by piece, until its exposed core revealed the location of Caster. In the very next moment, the Magus was swallowed whole by the cascade of light.
Towering waves surged toward the riverbanks on either side, crashing into the embankments before gradually pulling back.
As the light faded and the aurora dissolved, only Morgan remained—standing motionless atop the gently rippling surface of the Mion River.
Shiomi's eyes narrowed in alarm, and in a flash, he was at Morgan's side, catching her just as she began to collapse backward.
Artoria stood still, gazing at the fading afterglow of the Noble Phantasm. She reached out toward a point of falling light—but it vanished before it could touch her palm.
"...Roadless... Camelot..."
She stared at Morgan in Shiomi's arms and softly repeated the Noble Phantasm's name.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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