Chapter 45: Using Mors to Command the Sisters

"Nonsense!!"

Facing Artoria's accusation, Vivian was momentarily at a loss for words, but upon reacting, she became even more furious.

She angrily swung the Selected Staff in her hand, and its tip suddenly erupted with a pure torrent of mana.

Crack! Crack! The sounds rang out in succession!

Crisp and biting cold, even the temperature in the air plummeted abruptly!

Sharp, dense ice spikes suddenly emerged from the ground, like some exotic plant that had instantly crystallized and flourished, yet also as if a colossal giant beast had rapidly burst forth from underground, charging straight at Artoria with an unstoppable momentum!!

"Shameless! Just say it, Mordred, do you refuse to admit it!!"

While furiously denouncing her, the swordswoman girl unsurprisingly displayed agile movements, dodging this attack from below like a butterfly dancing gracefully.

Even when the ice spikes eerily lifted mid-way, they failed to catch her off guard and succeed; instead, they became stepping stones for her to leap up.

She pushed off one, lightly leaping into mid-air, crossing over half the battlefield in a single bound, swinging her sword straight down at her opponent's position below.

Like a divine soldier descending from the heavens!!

The super-powered Mana Burst explosively amplified the strength of her sword-wielding hands, coupled with the gravitational acceleration from her high-altitude dive, making this strike even more fiercely swift.

The ultimate slash that already surpassed the speed of sound by several times accelerated once more at this moment, tearing the air with a rending thunderous roar; in an instant, it was as if thunderbolts descended from the sky, causing even the earth to tremble slightly.

Boom—!!

Dust and smoke billowed; where the blade pointed, the ground instantly tore open a deep, straight trench, and the high-speed shockwaves exploding outward in its wake, with irresistible force, plowed the surrounding nearly hundred meters of ground into fragments.

This attack was less like a sword blade's slash, and more like a giant iron hammer condensed from vast power falling from the sky!

Because her eyes had turned red from the stimulation of Morgan's appearance, in this state Artoria showed not a shred of hesitation in wielding her vast mana; every strike falling was as heavy as a rocket's recoil.

Only the Holy Sword could bear this power; any other weapon would likely not withstand a few swings from her before crying out in snapping.

"Don't think you can escape!!"

One strike missed, yet she quickly captured Morgan's figure again; Artoria gritted her teeth, waved away the smoke, and in the blink of an eye closed in, unhesitatingly unleashing another explosive supersonic slash.

Because this time the Master was too powerful, that was practically mana supplied from the Great Holy Grail constantly covering her body. So she directly manifested in her peak state; in terms of Servant parameters, her Parameter sheet was almost entirely A-rank...

Even her chest is A!

The so-called All-A King could not be more exemplified than this!!

In such a state, she could even challenge the previous Heracles head-on, and suppress him!!

"Who's running, you simple-minded fool, watch me beat you down in one go right now..." Vivian retorted furiously, pointing the Selected Staff straight at the ground, detonating all the Magic Formulas she had just buried in one go!

Boom—!!

Boom! Boom!!

As if traversing a perilous realm woven with thunder, the earth beneath Artoria's feet continuously burst open!

Earth-shaking roars shook the solid ground; crack after crack spread rapidly like dancing lightning, tearing the ground into fragments all the way to the battlefield's edge.

Before this astonishing destructive power, even a steel-forged tank would likely be as fragile as foam, blown into a pile of scrap metal fragments in a moment, scattered across the ground.

However, the swordswoman girl not only did not retreat, but advanced against the difficulty; she shuttled through the explosions like a gale, hands gripping the Holy Sword shining with starlight, blade pointed straight at that hateful Witch's neck, vowing to exert her melee combat ability to the utmost.

In this very instant, she stared fixedly at that opponent opposite who was exactly the same as herself, as if traversing spacetime, recreating the scene of that final battle in life not long ago.

Almost the exact same scene——

Mordred...

That enemy who also had the same posture and appearance as herself...

It's all Morgan! If not for this hateful woman, if not for her using Mordred's existence in a deranged way, causing Britain's rupture and civil war, then none of this would have happened at all!

Thoughts flashed like lightning tearing the night sky; Artoria gritted her teeth, indignation plainly expressed.

So——this is all Morgan's fault!!

Outside the battlefield.

Looking at the two golden-haired girls who, aside from differences in clothing style, had appearances and postures almost identical as if reflected by a precision mirror surface, even their awe-inspiring temperaments startlingly similar, engaged in intense alternating offense and defense, like a Mirror Duel.

"Hmm..."

Medea lightly knitted her brows, then cast a thoughtful gaze toward a certain Master at her side.

Although the battlefield appeared tense and the confrontation white-hot, both sides maintained a subtle equilibrium, neither gaining an obvious upper hand, and almost no one had been injured so far; this was quite suspicious.

Although looking at it, it seemed both sides possessed extraordinary good luck at critical moments.

Luck so good it could make the vast majority of Lancers in this world jealous to the point of dissociation.

However, after observing for a while, Medea felt there must be other factors influencing, subtly interfering with the situation of this sisterly showdown.

She had originally subconsciously guessed perhaps these sisters were outwardly at daggers drawn, gnashing their teeth, but actually had very complex feelings for each other... but after deep consideration, her suspicion shifted to the youth at her side.

"Caster, what's wrong? Is there writing on my face?" The youth seemed to perceive something, turning his gaze toward her.

"Of course not, Master." The Witch replied with a beaming smile, simultaneously withdrawing the Magic Barrier she had maintained before her.

There was no need for that.

At this moment she determined that such a barrier was no longer needed.

Any stray remnant waves or stray bullets that might splash over could not reach their location in the current state.

Was I perceived?

But the onlooker sees clearly; perceiving something amiss is also normal.

Withdrawing his gaze, Xia Zhi said nothing; the one doing the Dark Box Operation was of course him. This was also unavoidable; although Vivian strongly opposed his intervention, he couldn't just watch...

And for now——

In terms of hard power comparison, reality is more or less a little cruel.

The elder sister currently is indeed unable to oppose the younger sister; if he truly didn't intervene, the elder sister would likely soon be pinned to the ground and beaten by the younger sister...

On one side was Vivian, whose Pilgrimage Journey had not yet truly begun, not a single bell had tolled, who had not yet obtained the Paradise Fairy's true power, and could only rely on her own Magic Technology to meet the enemy;

On the other side was Artoria, who manifested in peak condition, her entire Parameter a uniform Rank A or Rank A+, who wielded her vast Mors Strength without a shred of Hesitate.

Setting aside Other Factor, Artoria's Class Compatibility alone was enough to constitute a significant Suppression effect on Vivian — that Rank A "Magic Resistance" meant all Magecraft below Rank A would be nullified.

In Fuyuki City's Holy Grail War, Caster was deemed a disadvantaged sewer Class largely because of this "Magic Resistance"… a Class that fights using Magecraft, encountering a Class that can exempt most Magecraft — how is one supposed to fight?

And now, as if the Class counter rules of the Holy Grail War had been absurdly Mapped into Reality, facing Artoria, Vivian, who likewise fought using Magecraft, was undoubtedly at a clear disadvantage.

In such a situation, Xia Zhi could naturally only pull some small tricks; fortunately, for him who had swallowed a high-quality Outer Elixir and governed the Great Holy Grail's Function, doing this was still quite simple.

Just as the Holy Grail, relying on the massive Mass of Mors Strength, Distorts Reality World, operating in a way that satisfies wishes —

He could also employ similar Technique, able to influence even laws like apples falling from Trees and light propagating in Straight Lines, although the larger the scope of this Interference and the more Phenomena Distorted, the Mors Quantity consumed would grow geometrically… but he indeed preliminarily possessed such Function.

So — Dark Box Operation became very simple.

No need to be overly Obvious, no need to constantly Interfere; only need to cleverly Interfere with the Probability Interference of numerous Phenomena occurring at Critical Moment, and that is enough to achieve the Expected result.

Especially for the two Sisters who were already red-eyed, completely unable to calm down, they could not even Perceive those Interfered coincidences, only feeling it was their own Luck too good, or the opponent's Luck bad… Of Course it could also be the Reverse.

After all, fighting back and forth, always just missing hitting the other, or just barely missed being hit by the other.

Facing such a situation, their first Reaction was often either rejoicing that Luck stood on their side or resenting it, and then they would focus entirely on the next round of attack or Counter Art, hoping to change the situation in one fell swoop with a more outstanding performance…

— At such a critical juncture where they must duel their lifelong enemy, Mindset inevitably follows the rhythm; how could they calm down?

"Hey, Xia Zhi, do you really plan to just let them keep fighting like this?"

Tetelot felt this wasn't right, walked over, and asked with Worry.

"Of Course not, who knows when they'll fight till… if they stop when Mors Strength runs out that's fine, but I Suspect with their anger, they'll continue pulling hair, tearing clothes…"

Huh, why do I suddenly feel this isn't bad either?

Xia Zhi Shook Head, dispelling the outrageous off-key thoughts in his mind, and very seriously observed the back-and-forth on the Battlefield.

Suddenly he Turned Head and asked Tetelot a question in Reverse: "Right, Grand Master, you said before that in this half-month, Moss's Calamity has already spread rampant, right?"

"Yeah, don't know how they popped up, Moss's Quantity seems to generate in a Continuous Stream, everywhere is a mess…"

Tetelot said with a pout: "During our journey this period, we often ran into them, and when we did it was a huge swarm…"

"Good — Caster, this I entrust to you."

Xia Zhi nodded Thoughtful, then immediately looked at the Witch with a dead serious face.

"……"

"……"

Medea glanced at her Master in surprise, and after Half Moment, nodded slightly with a Strange Complexion. She donned her hood again, and as she Turned Body, her Xing Xing suddenly Dispersed, turning into pieces of Cherry Blossom-colored light.

Like suddenly scattering butterflies, yet also like Cherry Blossoms scattering in the Wind…

In a Blink of an Eye, she had already Disappeared from the spot.

"?"

Tetelot wore a blank Expression, wait, what does all this have to do with what?

What connection do the things they spoke of have with the current situation, can it Solve the current problem?

"Grand Master, you Definitely understand my Intention, right?" The youth Turned Head and said in a deep Tone, "In a moment I'll trouble you to notify Vivian, must make her understand the situation is extremely urgent, and very severe."

"Ah? … Oh oh oh, I, I know of course!" Tetelot hurriedly nodded vigorously, patting her chest with a serious face, putting on a very Worthwhile trustworthy look: "Rest assured, leave this to me!"

"Good!"

Xia Zhi also nodded vigorously, his face still bearing an Expression of trust in her.

Simultaneously, he also extremely quickly retrieved the Intelligence he needed within his own Magic Furnace Core.

Just like analyzing those Class Skill before, entering the corresponding Replica Process with practiced ease; when it comes down to it, Servants are merely products of Mors Strength Condensed and given Shape, Noble Phantasm aren't necessarily more Complex either.

As long as one possesses that Intelligence…

Possesses that Construction Blueprint…

————

————

Under the night.

Black Tide surges.

That is the sin darker than the black night; they crawl endlessly on the Ground, Wriggle, advancing the front line at a seemingly slow but actually extremely Stable speed.

According to the "King's" command, to occupy all of Britain, to Kill all Fairies, to cleanse the entire Island… Of Course the most important is to eliminate a specific Object.

The rampant Mosses, like distorting Wriggling slimes, march forward continuously, crawling forward bit by bit on the earth.

"Things like this exist…"

On a Slope not far away, watching that dark Tide sweep in from the End of the horizon, Medea revealed an obviously disgusted Expression.

Those things are clearly all Cursed individuals…

Such a vast Quantity mixed together emits an indescribable original sin Aura…

Making her clearly feel discomfort, and this Endless scene, like a Black Tide continuously Diffusing and sweeping outward, also made her Subconscious think of that thing from not long ago, the Black Mud that flowed out from the Great Holy Grail…

Huh? Wait—

What Great Holy Grail? What Black Mud?

Medea Doubtful stopped her action, tried hard to meditate and recall, but could not recall anything.

There is also no reason to recall; she was only Summoned to this Fairy Kingdom not long ago, she Should Not have other experiences.

Lightly exhaling a breath, pressing this thread of Doubtful to the bottom of her heart, the Witch once more cast her gaze toward the Moss army below the Mountain, pondered a moment, then directly waved the tin staff in her hand, countless Magic Bullets comparable to Great Magic fired instantly.

Like a fierce downpour falling, covering a large area, instantly striking hundreds of Moss.

Some Moss were directly eliminated, some Moss heavily damaged…

But more were like they were attracted Attention, one after another turning their Distorted bodies toward the Direction the attack came from…

Medea stood calmly in place, continuing to unleash several more waves of attacks, impartially striking the Moss army within her Vision range fully and evenly, only then turning to begin her retreat.

The Master's intention was obvious: to introduce another crisis, forcing those Sisters to stop fighting...

However, there were a bit too many of these things; after drawing them over, escaping would also be a hassle...

Subconsciously thinking this, Medea turned back, her gaze Faintly making out a Brilliant Aerial Vessel appearing in the distant Sky—

"Gilgamesh! He came too... wait, who is that?" She Subconsciously blurted out, Immediately becoming Doubtful again.

(Chapter End)