"What are you doing?!"
Gudako's pupils dilated violently. This warrior clearly trusted Fairy Tristan implicitly. How could Fairy Tristan betray her own loyal subordinate like this? Gudako couldn't accept it.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Fairy Tristan casually wiped the blood from her hands with a handkerchief. "This is Jiang You's plan: gather these people and slaughter them all! I've probably killed over a thousand in the past week alone."
Jiang You had explained that once Gorgon was defeated, Tiamat would immediately appear, and the Primordial Sea, accompanied by swarms of "new humans," would launch an all-out assault on all living things. By then, there would be no opportunity to attack Uruk again, so striking against and conquering Uruk had to be the primary objective.
For Chaldea, Jiang You's simultaneous assault on both sides on the brink of world annihilation was unacceptable. They couldn't afford to fail, so Jiang You tacitly authorized Fairy Tristan's attacks on Chaldea.
The reason for not launching a direct assault on Uruk was twofold. First, a direct attack would force Gorgon's Magical Beasts to push the battle lines into the city itself, a scenario Jiang You wished to avoid. Second, such a confrontation would prevent his side from achieving their target kill count. Therefore, Jiang You focused on absorbing the surrounding populace. By familiarizing them with Quetzalcoatl's Authority and empowering them with her blessing, they could strike down their own countrymen without hesitation, completing the mission with ease while avoiding actual fatalities.
Just then, the logistics team responsible for hauling away corpses arrived. Their practiced movements and detached expressions confirmed to Gudako that everything Fairy Tristan had said was true.
Merlin glanced at the Sun Calendar Stone, radiating a gentle light from its perch at the arena's highest point. Magical power pulsed through it, forming a palpable connection with the fallen warriors. He immediately grasped the situation but said nothing, maintaining his usual enigmatic smile.
He knew that the Servant named Jiang You possessed the authority to summon at least two Grand-class Servants. A little mischief wouldn't hurt; after all, even if the sky fell, the big shots would take care of things. Besides, such antics might reveal more about Jiang You's true identity and, more importantly, provide endless entertainment. Why not indulge?
"Why are you doing this?" Gudako demanded, her voice seething with anger.
"Because it's fun, of course!" she answered for Jiang You. She couldn't fathom his motives, but this chaotic situation perfectly suited her temperament.
"We can't let you continue your reckless rampage!" Gudako declared. She couldn't stand by and watch Fairy Tristan slaughter innocent people; she had to act.
"Mash, Ana, Merlin! Let's defeat her here and now!"
"I'll sit this one out," Merlin said, shaking his head and waving his staff theatrically. "Ritsuka, don't forget this is the enemy's stronghold. Big Sister up there is still watching us like a hawk. I'll stay here to keep her in check. Leave the battle with Tristan to you."
"Understood!"
Gudako realized Merlin was right. She had been acting impulsively. As the team's insurance policy, he needed to be prepared for their failure. But even if she had to make the same choice again, she would. She wanted to show the people here, who were being treated like toys, that humanity must have the courage to resist.
"Mash, cover Ana's attack!"
"Understood!"
"Got it."
Ana recalled the old woman at the flower shop. If the old woman's son hadn't been killed by Gorgon, she might have come here. Thinking of Fairy Tristan's atrocities against the people here, she gripped the handle of her scythe tighter. She had to defeat Fairy Tristan here.
Now that their hostility was clear, Chaldea no longer needed to hold back. Gudako opened Chaldea's communications channel. "Dr. Romani! I need your assistance! We need your analysis of the enemy's Spirit Origin!"
"No problem."
Romani immediately began scanning the surrounding area for magical power. A massive Spirit Origin reaction instantly dominated his information panel, startling him. "Ritsuka Fujimaru, retreat immediately! The enemy possesses Major God-class combat power! Preliminary Spirit Origin analysis: South America and the sun. Initial assessment suggests the Aztec pantheon's Great God, Quetzalcoatl!"
Gudako immediately focused most of her attention on Quetzalcoatl. The Servant had already defeated them all in wrestling matches before. Now that they knew her true identity, they needed to be even more cautious.
"That voice... it's you, isn't it?"
Quetzalcoatl glanced at the male figure projected on the screen. Judging by her words, she seemed to recognize Romani.
"Don't worry. Only Fairy Knight Tristan will fight you in this battle. Once you win, feel free to voice your opinions. After all, I still need to keep an eye on a certain Magus. Isn't that right, Merlin?"
"Ha ha ha! Precisely." Merlin chuckled.
"Romani, focus on supporting Ritsuka and the others. Ritsuka, stay focused—your opponent is Tristan. Leave this place to me."
Romani cast a suspicious glance at Merlin, sensing he was hiding something. But despite their strained relationship, Romani trusted Merlin's abilities. Even if he couldn't win, evacuating the others would be no problem.
"Don't screw this up, you incompetent wizard who bites his tongue every time he casts a spell."
"At least I'm more reliable than some washed-up old man trying to retire and causing a major security breach."
Merlin fired back, directly dissing Solomon.
Romani had no retort and sulkily began analyzing Fairy Tristan's data. "What's going on, Ritsuka? The person in front of you isn't a Servant—she's still alive!"
"Of course I'm not dead yet. But you lot probably won't live much longer."
Fairy Tristan unleashed a whip-like kick at Mash.
Seeing the red-glowing heel hurtling toward her, Mash immediately raised her shield to block, only to realize Fairy Tristan's attack was a feint. Using the exaggerated shield surface as a springboard, Fairy Tristan surged forward, her crimson magical power exploding against Mash's Round Shield, violently repelling Ana, who had been attempting a sneak attack from behind. Using the recoil from this strike, Fairy Tristan lunged directly at Gudako.
"Jiang You said you're a Savior too, just like me. Let's see how you measure up!"
Fairy Tristan felt a surge of competitiveness toward Gudako. As Morgan's daughter, how could she possibly be outdone by such an ordinary human? Her attack was already upon Gudako, who, in Fairy Tristan's eyes, had no chance of dodging with her ordinary human physique.
"What kind of screams will you make? Entertain me!"