As Shiomi awakened and immediately plunged into battle, both Artoria and Morgan noticed that the eyes he had kept closed until now were slowly opening. Something about them was different. It wasn't his personality or the look in his eyes that had changed—though he did seem far more worn—it was the eyes themselves that seemed altered.
"No time for catching up. Prepare for battle!"
Shiomi acted without hesitation, extending his right arm as Gungnir appeared in his grasp.
Pierced by the Holy Lance, the Beast God's remains were regaining mobility. In its original state, its core should have been exposed by now, giving everyone a clear chance to destroy it completely.
The massive hole created moments earlier by Artoria's True Name Noble Phantasm was closing at a pace visible to the naked eye. Its prolonged exposure to the Authority of Life had altered the nature of this divine corpse, which lacked a soul to begin with.
And now that Shiomi had awakened again, his activity roused the Beast God's Curse Hand. Everyone could feel it: the Beast God's remains had shifted its target from the others to Shiomi alone.
A heavier surge of magical energy erupted. The Curse within the Great Hollow had grown so dense it was starting to restrict their movements. Both Sakura and Baobhan Sith felt their bodies grow heavier, their breathing more labored.
"Life Wall."
Shiomi calmly activated his Magecraft, replacing the Noble Phantasm Mash had just released and protecting everyone present. He understood this curse better than anyone, and he knew exactly how to hold it back, at least for now.
A brighter light burst from Gungnir in his hand.
"Morning Star." Shiomi unfolded the ritual again.
Using the divine spear as the medium, the Magecraft—filled with holy and curse-breaking power—completed in an instant. Beneath the dim twilight sky, among the scattered stars, countless rays of light rained down.
The cursed hands gathered into a colossal palm capable of crushing the palace's outer wall in a single instant. As it fell toward the terrace, Shiomi's Magecraft pierced through it and shattered it, scattering the cursed hands into drifting black dust.
"Royal Father truly is formidable." Baobhan Sith let out a breath of relief.
"Royal Father won't be around anymore." Shiomi chuckled. "From now on, call me Dad or Father, Baobhan Sith."
Before she could respond, he shifted tone immediately.
"Has Storm Border arrived?"
"Already above Camelot Palace!" Romani answered at once. "We can extract everyone—no, we could have, but the curse's tentacles have spread through the city and are moving outward. Everyone must evacuate immediately!"
Shiomi understood. He turned and waved his arm. "Retreat at once toward the palace's main gate. Morgan and I will cover the rear!"
After giving the order, he looked at Morgan, silently asking for confirmation. Morgan met his eyes with a look that clearly said there was nothing to question, then added:
"I'll activate the throne's ritual. After Artoria and Scáthach lead everyone back to Storm Border, be ready to support us from above with Noble Phantasms!"
"Wait—are you planning to throw your lives away?" Artoria's voice trembled with anxiety.
After finally reuniting, Shiomi and Morgan were about to reenact the Antarctic retreat. Neither Artoria nor anyone else could accept that.
"Not at all," Shiomi said calmly. "The Beast God's Curse is filling the air. The longer you stay, the more dangerous it becomes. Morgan and I are the ones who can endure it, so we'll handle things here."
He lifted his hand and brushed Artoria's cheek. "Besides, with everyone packed together like this, you can't even use your Noble Phantasm properly, can you? This time, switch to the Holy Sword. Wait for my signal."
"Understood." Artoria nodded deeply.
Scáthach smiled and silently gestured for everyone to retreat.
"Master..." Shiomi called out to her.
"What is it?"
"I'm counting on you." After a moment of thought, those were the only words he chose.
"That's enough for me."
Grímr raised his wand toward the Beast God. "Masters and Servants of Chaldea are all acting as their true selves here. You go on ahead. Leave covering and supporting my junior brother to me."
Right as he finished speaking, roaring flames burst from the Great Hollow and engulfed the Beast God.
Yet the furry remains, though clearly set ablaze, showed no sign of burning away. Instead, they glowed like an eternal flame.
"Tsk..." Grímr clicked his tongue. "Junior, you've really nurtured an impressive Curse."
"You think I wanted this?" Shiomi let out a helpless laugh as he slipped the communicator Sakura had given him onto his wrist.
While the others withdrew from the palace toward Storm Border, Shiomi took Morgan's hand and led her back toward the throne.
"How is it? Can you manage?" he asked.
"I'm fine now," Morgan answered with a nod.
Having just manifested the Third Magic again, both her Magic Circuits and her spirit had been pushed to exhaustion. But Shiomi's awakening replenished what she lacked. He had used his own life force to heal her, letting her return to battle as she wished.
"Everyone else has finished retreating. We're just waiting on you two!" Romani reported.
"Good. We're ready as well," Shiomi said, patting Grímr's shoulder as the latter continued maintaining his Magecraft. "Holding out this long was more than enough. Thank you for everything, senpai."
Grímr had originally been sent here by Odin for Shiomi's sake. Everything afterward—Britannia's crisis or anything else—was Chaldea's responsibility.
His duty was already fulfilled. What he was doing now was simply returning a personal favor before his time in this manifested world ran out.
"Just carrying out the whims of a certain deity." Grímr let out a light laugh. "I won't be able to see the rest, but I'll be waiting on the other side to watch your performance, junior. Master is nearby too. Try not to disgrace yourself."
"Of course." Shiomi lifted his hand and high-fived Grímr, whose body was turning transparent.
A crisp clap echoed, and Grímr vanished from the battlefield shrouded in Curse. On the unstable palace terrace, only the husband and wife remained.
"When was the last time we fought side by side like this?" Shiomi asked.
"For you, it was back during the Fairy Calendar. For me, it feels like it was only a short while ago," Morgan said.
Shiomi smiled and nodded. "Either way, our sense of time finally lines up."
"It's been such a long journey," Morgan said softly.
Then both of them—Morgan before the throne, and Shiomi on the terrace—straightened, their expressions sharpening at the same moment.
"Spirit Vein Closure Armament, Rhongomyniad. Begin loading."
Morgan spoke the declaration in a quiet, steady voice.