Within the Black Faction's fortress… everyone had gathered in the main hall. The power, which had shorted from the earlier tremors, was restored. The once dim halls were bright once more.
Chiron, having returned from the Aerial Garden, recounted everything he had witnessed.
The Greater Grail had fallen into Red's hands; Darnic had forced Lancer to unleash his Noble Phantasm, Legend of Dracula, transforming into Count Dracula himself, fusing with Lancer—only to be slain by Amakusa Shirou Tokisada. And Amakusa Shirou Tokisada was none other than the true name of Shirou Kotomine—himself a Servant, also of the Ruler class. And, of course, the betrayal of Caster, which the others were already aware of.
"Damn that Darnic…!"
Bang!
Gordes slammed the table in anger.
"Are you certain Vlad III has truly fallen?"
As always by the window, the Shogun turned back and asked Chiron.
"It's certain. They used a holy light magecraft specifically designed to slay vampires. In such conditions… Lancer stood no chance."
Chiron shook his head with regret.
"..."
Hearing this, the Shogun turned her gaze back to the night outside the window.
Another of Black's Servants had fallen…
Berserker, Caster, and now Lancer—three already lost. In truth, the only pillars left were herself and Chiron. Rider was entirely unreliable, Assassin could be dismissed, and as for Ruler… if she chose to aid them, she might yet count as a force.
Still… that was enough. Or rather, she alone was enough. She could stand for two, even three Servants. This was not arrogance, but confidence.
"Now we've hardly anyone left. What do we do?!"
Gordes stood and paced in agitation.
Fiore glanced at her uncle and sighed softly.
"It can't be helped. Archer, what is Caster's goal?"
She looked to Chiron.
"To secure the core of his Noble Phantasm."
"The core? You mean his automaton's power source?"
Gordes asked.
"Originally, Caster intended for Sieg to be that core. Not just anyone could serve—it required someone with high-quality circuits, and whose mind and nature resonated with combat as an automaton."
"I see…"
Fiore lowered her eyes.
"For him, the one most resonant in nature would be… his Master, wouldn't it?"
At last, she lifted her gaze, forcing out the truth.
"Indeed…"
Chiron's face darkened as well.
"Has any Servant of Red fallen?"
The Shogun stepped away from the window and came to Fiore's side, towering over Chiron as she asked.
"Unfortunately, no. Aside from Berserker and Saber, none have been defeated. Leaving aside my disciple Achilles, the rest are troublesome as well. Moreover, Lancer's abilities had been greatly diminished by the terrain. That was why Lord Darnic was forced to unleash the ultimate Noble Phantasm."
"Still, those two—Saber and Berserker—were both defeated by you, weren't they? Incredible! Truly, Fiore was fortunate to summon you~!"
Gordes praised her warmly. It seemed they could only rely on her now—after all, she was their mightiest force.
"There is no need for thanks. My meeting with her was perhaps a destined bond."
The Shogun glanced at Fiore as she spoke.
"S-Shogun///"
The girl blushed. Before others, she restrained herself from showing too much, but her shyness was plain.
Rumble!!
The floor shook violently, cutting off their thoughts. The chandelier swayed, chains clattering, the lights flickering.
"Wh-what now?!"
Gordes dove beneath the table instinctively.
"Sister!"
Caules ran into the hall.
"Caules, what's happening outside?!"
Fiore steadied herself, urgently asking.
"A giant automaton—taller than the castle walls! It's marching straight toward us! We can't hold it back!!"
"!" ×N
Hearing these words, everyone's faces grew grim.
It had to be Caster. At this moment, only he could be the one attacking the Black Faction's fortress!
"That must be his Noble Phantasm."
Chiron concluded firmly.
"Damn ungrateful bastard, betrays us and immediately comes to strike us down!"
Gordes cursed, though his words lost impact as he trembled beneath the table.
The Shogun drew Engulfing Lightning, ignoring Gordes' complaints, stepping forward before them all.
"No matter what, we must fight. Since the other side has cast away righteousness, do not blame us for being merciless."
The naginata shone brilliantly, thunder crackling around her.
"From the moment he betrayed us, his fate was sealed. And now—now is the time for our campaign."
Rumble!!
Lightning thundered, sparks exploding as the woman, like a general of armies, filled them all with courage.
"Good!"
The others exchanged glances, smiles of resolve crossing their faces, before striding from the hall to meet Caster head-on.
"Fiore."
When the others had gone, the Shogun looked to the girl in the wheelchair.
"Here—ugh~!"
Startled by the sudden call, Fiore straightened, only to groan cutely as her back pain bent her over again.
"You should remain here… your injury has not healed. You must rest."
"But… I'm fine. And now that Black's side is at such a disadvantage, how could I sit here quietly when every ounce of strength is precious?"
Fiore refused, unwilling to stay behind.
"If your wound worsens, it won't be a simple matter of pain."
The Shogun's concern was genuine—if her injury grew worse, no magecraft crest could heal it.
"I know… but the Shogun will protect me, won't you?"
Fiore's cheeks pinkened as she asked sweetly, a hint of willful charm in her voice.
"…You've grown quite eloquent. Are you growing familiar with this vessel?"
The Shogun sighed faintly, her tone laced with hidden affection and resignation.
"Hehe… Does Shogun dislike it?"
Fiore smiled shyly, asking softly.
"It is human nature—why would I dislike it? Since you are resolved, I shall respect your will. Come with me."
Clack…
"Ah~"
Without hesitation, the Shogun scooped her into her arms. In the next instant, they vanished in lightning, leaving only the empty wheelchair behind.
Rumble!!
Outside, the massive automaton smashed through the fortress walls, its grotesque, many-eyed head peering through. Its glowing eyes swept once over the homunculi charging at it, then its arm swung down in a colossal strike!
BOOM!
The fist struck like a boulder of a thousand pounds, shattering stone and crushing homunculi into pulp. Then, again, its arm rose to strike!
"Waaah!!"
Caules, on the ground, nearly wet himself as he scrambled away in a panicked crawl.
Crash!
Though he dodged, the shockwave blasted him through the air, sending him tumbling headfirst into the dirt.
Around him, homunculi brandished weapons to shield him.
"So that's Caster's Noble Phantasm? This giant automaton?"
He lifted his dirt-streaked face, fumbling for his fallen glasses, staring in disbelief.
ROAR!!
A deafening bellow erupted from the automaton's mouth, its breath forcing all to squint against the blast.
Crack…
It snatched two homunculi pinned under rubble and pressed them into the core of its chest. In horror, the two began to wither, their youthful skin drying, until nothing remained but husks.
"It… it devoured the homunculi?!"
Caules sat frozen on the ground, pale with shock.
But the next instant, the automaton turned its gaze on him.
"!"
Every hair on Caules' body stood on end. Its massive hand reached for him—
Ratatatat!!
The sharp roar of machine-gun fire rang out, a storm of mana bullets hammering the automaton's side, catching it unawares!
Boom! Boom!!
Explosions burst across its body, smoke and dust engulfing it.
But it was not over. From the fortress' watchtower, Chiron loosed a magic-soaked arrow.
Whoosh!
The arrow tore through the smoke like a beast, piercing into the automaton.
BOOM!!
Fire and thunder erupted. From within the smoke, the giant let out a hideous howl.