Anastasia collapsed into Kadoc's arms, blood spilling nonstop from her mouth. A bowl-sized hole had been blasted through her chest, her Spirit Core completely destroyed. As a Servant, her life had already reached its quiet end.
The battle had ended in an instant.
Anastasia had misjudged far too much. Back in Antarctic Chaldea, the only reason she had been able to ambush Shiomi from behind and freeze him long enough to hinder his movements was because he still hadn't recovered from the strain of the battle in the Temple of Time—and because Kirei Kotomine had drawn Shiomi's focus from the front. That alone had given her the brief window she needed.
But now, facing a fully restored Shiomi who had lived for six thousand years, she never stood a chance.
Kadoc knelt on the ground, holding his fading Servant as he lifted his head and glared at Shiomi.
"Ana… why…"
But his glare lasted only seconds before collapsing under the cold, merciless look in Shiomi's eyes. Kadoc knew, deep down, he had neither the reason nor the right to hate him. This was war—a war between Proper Human History and the Lostbelt. The moment they became Crypters, their roles had been set.
Besides, Shiomi had given them generous terms. It was Anastasia who had cut off the negotiation before it even began and forced this battle to the death.
"Since your Servant is about to disappear, as a Crypter without one… will you come with us?" Shiomi asked again.
"It's not over yet. I still have the Grand Command Spell. As long as I use it, I can overturn—"
Kadoc still hadn't given up. Team A's Masters had been entrusted with the Grand Command Spell by Marisbury. Shiomi, however, had arrived in Chaldea the day before Marisbury died and thus never received one.
Then Anastasia, who knew the true cost of using it, grasped Kadoc's hand to stop him.
"It's… enough… My strength wasn't enough. No one is to blame."
Anastasia coughed up blood again. Her dimming eyes shifted toward Shiomi.
"Master of Chaldea… can you swear you won't harm Kadoc?"
"I told you already. I'm only taking him back. Whether he ends up confined or punished in some other way, there's no need to kill him," Shiomi said, looking down at her.
"…I see."
Anastasia closed her eyes, choosing to trust the answer given by her enemy. Her body slowly faded into transparency and vanished from the ruined palace. Only Kadoc remained, still kneeling, his empty hand hanging motionless as he lowered his head in silence.
"Shall we go?" Shiomi urged again.
"I refuse…"
Kadoc lifted his head, ready to reject him. He had chosen to remain in this Lostbelt—to be buried with Anastasia. But before the words left his mouth, the moment his eyes met Shiomi's, Kadoc collapsed, unconscious.
"Sorry, but I don't have the time to waste here," Shiomi said. "Any complaints can wait until all the Crypters are gathered."
He reached up and touched his eye. The power of the Star Eye was in a league of its own. One glance was enough to send even an elite Magus like Kadoc into a compelled sleep.
"Barghest."
Shiomi called out. Barghest, who had joined the assault, leapt down from the palace wall and knelt.
"What are your orders, Your Divine Majesty?"
"Stand up." Shiomi lifted a hand, exasperated. "I'm not a God King anymore. There's no need for that."
"But you are Her Majesty Morgan's—"
Shiomi paused, then thoughtfully raised a finger.
"Then… just call me the King's Consort."
"The King's Consort…?" Barghest murmured. It sounded oddly fitting.
"We can sort out trivial titles after the evacuation."
Morgan descended from the sky.
"Moscow has been suppressed across all regions. All that remains is the Lostbelt King and the Fantasy Tree. Next—"
Before she could finish, a crimson spear streaked past her shoulder, flying toward the shadowed ruins behind her.
"Hiding in the dark? Trying to rescue Kadoc, or take a cheap shot at our allies?" Shiomi said.
Morgan tilted her head slightly as a man stepped out from the shadows...
"Kirei Kotomine? Or should I call him Grigori Rasputin?" Morgan sneered.
"Either name suits you, Queen of a Britannia already destroyed." Kirei Kotomine deliberately threw the title back at her in mockery. "But the Chaldea are truly terrifying. From entering the Lostbelt to launching the assault on Moscow, you've taken less than half a day. Lord Rasputin realized the situation was beyond saving, so he left his power to me before departing."
"So you're saying you're just Kirei, then?" Shiomi licked his lips. "Perfect. I still have unfinished business from Antarctica. Caster is already dead. That means you're next, Kirei Kotomine."
"Such praise is almost embarrassing," Kirei Kotomine let out a short, derisive laugh. "Unlike that princess, I won't recklessly confront an enemy like you and force myself forward."
Morgan lifted her hand, and the Magecraft gathered around them surged in preparation. "Unlike when I was a Servant, this is my true body."
"If I had no way to escape, why would I show up here at all?" Kirei clasped his hands behind his back. "Thanks to your grand assault on Moscow, His Imperial Majesty the Tsar—who had been in slumber—has awakened."
As if responding to Kirei's words, the ground across Moscow began to shake violently. The quake was so sudden that even Barghest lost her footing; she had to drive her sword into the ground just to stay upright.
Seconds later, the tallest snow-covered mountain outside Moscow exploded apart under the force of the tremors.
A mountain-sized Magical Beast emerged—a colossal mammoth.
"Who dares behave so brazenly in my capital?!"
A furious, rumbling voice boomed across the land, thunderous even through the blizzard and rolling clouds, echoing clearly in everyone's ears.
"That is the king of this Lostbelt—your true enemy, Ivan the Terrible."
Hearing Kirei's introduction, Morgan didn't even look back. She raised her hand and fired off Magecraft, but her attack hit nothing.
Just as he'd claimed, the man had planned to withdraw from the beginning. He was never going to fight Shiomi and Morgan here.
"Barghest, take Kadoc and regroup with the others." Shiomi turned to Morgan. "I'm sure the siege bored you. Warm-up time is over. Now the real battle starts."
"Your Majesty Morgan, allow me to—!" Barghest attempted to request deployment.
"Finish your current assignment first. There's still time to join the battle after that."
Morgan took Shiomi's hand, and together they flew toward the snowy plains where Ivan the Terrible had appeared.
...