"Lord Minamoto no Yorimitsu...!"
Ushiwakamaru hadn't expected to encounter her ancestor under such circumstances. Strangely, she felt a flicker of joy. Family members shouldn't be slaughtering each other, yet she couldn't bring herself to relinquish this opportunity. She yearned to measure herself against the legendary figure of her clan, to savor this hard-earned chance for combat. "Then let us clash, Ushiwakamaru... No, at this moment I should call myself—Minamoto no Yoshitsune, at your service!"
"Lord Ushiwakamaru has already entered the zone," Benkei observed.
He understood Ushiwakamaru's temperament well. Beneath her gentle, amicable demeanor lay the heart of a fiercely loyal servant—one who was both deeply affectionate and prone to violent outbursts when provoked.
If I intervene now, she'll likely attack me too... But if I don't, Lord Minamoto no Raikou will undoubtedly overwhelm her... This humble monk finds himself in quite a predicament.
"If you're so troubled, why not end it all here and now? That would spare you further agony," a languid voice drawled from behind Benkei, breaking his reverie.
"Who's there?!"
Benkei was shocked that someone had approached him unnoticed. Had they attacked, he might have been severely injured or even killed. He immediately retreated and assumed a battle stance.
The newcomer's distinctive features allowed Benkei to recognize her instantly.
"An Oni?! How could this be? How could Lord Minamoto no Yorimitsu ally with an Oni?!"
"Your words grate on my ears, little monk!" Shuten-dōji sneered. "It's more like, why would I stoop to ally with her? If not for the generous offer from our master, I'd never be caught dead in the same place as that cow!"
Benkei saw an opportunity to exploit Shuten-dōji and Minamoto no Yorimitsu's bitter rivalry. He might be able to temporarily turn Raikou against her, securing her cooperation to defeat Shuten-dōji.
"Shuten-dōji, is this the legendary oni?"
Ibaraki-Doji leaned closer, her eyes gleaming. "I really want to test how tough he is!"
"Then let's have some fun," Shuten Dōji nodded. After all, Jiang You's orders were to stall the other servants and avoid killing them unless absolutely necessary. She figured Musashibō Benkei would make an excellent target.
"Remember master's instructions," Shuten Dōji reminded her.
"Ugh, what a killjoy! One day I'll defeat him, and then he'll become our slave!" Ibaraki-Doji gritted her teeth. That's just how Oni are—their thoughts written plainly on their faces.
"I'm supposed to fight two oni alone?" Benkei's face paled, cold sweat already soaking his back.
"Benkei, I'll assist you!" Gudako joined the fray. They had crossed paths before, though the memories weren't exactly pleasant. She knew Shuten Dōji and Ibaraki-Doji's power all too well. She understood that Benkei had virtually no chance of facing both of them simultaneously.
"Lady Ritsuka Fujimaru!"
Benkei's face lit up with relief, but he gritted his teeth and refused Gudako's offer of help.
"Please leave this humble monk to his own devices! Their servants still number quite a few. Take Lady Mash and Lord Merlin to intercept the others first! I have faith in my own resolve!"
Among the Servants known to Uruk, Jiang You, Fairy Tristan, Quetzalcoatl, and Jaguar Man had yet to appear. Their sheer numbers weighed heavily on the minds of the Uruk defenders.
"How unfortunate. You don't get to decide this, you know."
Shuten-dōji effortlessly evaded Benkei's interception and positioned herself before Gudako. "Little girl, your scent is truly irresistible. This time, no one will stop me. You'd better be careful, or else..."
"You'll really die!"
Before the words could fully leave her lips, Shuten-dōji lunged forward, her five fingers forming claws as she aimed for Gudako's chest—a lethal strike targeting her heart.
"Senpai!"
Mash, ever vigilant for Gudako's safety, instantly moved to shield her the moment Shuten-dōji's murderous intent flared.
"Don't even think about ruining Shuten-dōji's fun!"
Ibaraki-Doji was about to launch another attack from a different angle to force Mash into a defensive position, but Benkei recklessly charged forward, disregarding his own safety. A bone blade sliced through Benkei's shoulder, yet he stubbornly endured the pain and counterattacked Ibaraki, successfully breaking her assault.
"You're interrupting my fun with this little girl! How rude! But I don't mind adding one more to the mix, ha ha!"
Mash was already no match for Shuten-dōji, and protecting Gudako only made the situation even more challenging.
Just as Shuten-dōji was about to make minimal physical contact with Gudako, eager to taste a bit of her blood, a staff blocked her attack.
"Looks like this young man isn't as frail as he appears."
Shuten-dōji sensed a dangerous aura emanating from Merlin and immediately retreated to a safe distance.
"Ha ha ha! Since I'm not particularly skilled in spellcasting, I need to compensate for my weaknesses elsewhere."
Merlin's stamina might be lacking, but he was remarkably proficient in swordsmanship. After all, how could he have trained Artoria, a Holy Sword wielder of such caliber, without considerable skill himself?
"Of course, I can only hold you off for so long. I can't possibly match the stamina of the Oni King of Mount Ōe. But please restrain yourself a little—otherwise, explaining this mess to the others will be rather awkward."
Shuten-dōji narrowed her eyes, sensing Merlin's unspoken meaning. Now that she knew their true objective, she purred, "So you've figured it out, huh? Well, since you're so powerful, I won't have to worry about breaking you. Let me indulge myself thoroughly!"
Though Shuten Dōji typically presented a languid demeanor, she remained an Oni at heart, driven by hedonistic desires. Her attacks on Heian-kyō weren't solely for devouring humans; she craved combat with skilled warriors. Jiang You's restrictions had stifled her bloodlust, but Merlin, a formidable opponent, now presented the perfect target for her full fury!
Seeing the murderous intent radiating from Shuten-dōji, Merlin forced a wry smile. He had only meant to offer a friendly warning, yet somehow found himself drawn into this brutal conflict. Even for him, defeating Shuten-dōji would require considerable effort—he could forget about taking it easy now.
Meanwhile, all of Gilgamesh's Servants had been intercepted, allowing Jiang You and Fairy Tristan to approach the walls of Uruk unopposed. A lone Spartan warrior, radiating imposing dignity, stood ready to meet their arrival.