Meanwhile, far away in the desert, another battle was still underway.
Mordred had insisted the Enforcement Knights stay out of the fight, choosing to face the overwhelming odds alone—one against four.
Mash's shield, Gray's crimson spear, Sakura's Imaginary Number Magecraft, and Ritsuka's support and healing.
It was clear this wasn't their first time fighting together. Their coordination was seamless.
Pure brute force alone was no longer enough for Mordred to overpower them.
Back during their first desert clash, she'd already realized what they were capable of. Even back then, it had been impossible to wipe them out on her own.
And now was no different.
If she allowed the Enforcement Knights to enter the fray, the Lion King's orders could be fulfilled in no time.
This was Mordred's last chance to prove her loyalty.
All she had to do was take one step back and order the charge. The tangled battle would be over.
But the very thought of that felt like conceding something fundamental.
Even if it proved her loyalty to the Lion King, it would strip the act of its meaning.
"My heart is calm, my shadow cloaks the earth."
Sakura's composed chant echoed again as mana from the Sea of Imaginary Numbers wove itself into a net, surging toward Mordred.
Pressed into a dead corner by Mash and Gray, Mordred had no room to dodge.
She knew all too well—Sakura, once her Master, wielded Magecraft with a property called "Absorption."
A combination of Absorption and Imaginary Numbers Magecraft was enough to rob her of her fighting strength.
Victory seemed all but certain, and the group couldn't help feeling a flicker of excitement.
Black shadows engulfed Mordred—but then, a surge of tremendous mana erupted from within, tearing them apart.
Mash raised her shield just in time to intercept the burst.
The pressure was crushing. Mash could barely breathe.
It was a Noble Phantasm.
Mordred had unleashed her Noble Phantasm, shattering Sakura's spell and forcing the others to shift back into a defensive formation.
The deflected energy split to either side, carving deep grooves into the sand.
Lowering her sword, Mordred gave a wide, feral grin, then forcefully swung the blade to shake off the excess energy.
"Thought you were safe just because I used my Noble Phantasm?" She gripped the sword with both hands again as fresh mana surged around her. "I am Mordred, Knight of the Round Table, rightful heir to King Arthur! The Gift I've been granted is... 'Rampage'!"
"Rampage?" Sakura gasped in shock.
"I can activate my Noble Phantasm as many times as I want!" Mordred declared, voice burning with passion.
They already knew the Lion King had bestowed unique Gifts on each of the Round Table Knights to amplify their strength—
—but none of them had expected this from Mordred.
"Mash!" Ritsuka called out urgently.
"But, senpai, I..." Mash hesitated.
She'd already learned the true name of the Servant who lent her power—but she hadn't yet had the chance to master how to release the shield's true name.
"It's okay. You can do it." Gray gave Mash an encouraging smile. "A Noble Phantasm is the ultimate manifestation of human imagination. It's not about your ability—what matters is your heart."
"My heart?"
"If your heart isn't ready, no amount of practice will let you bring out a Noble Phantasm's true power." As one who bore a Noble Phantasm herself, Gray told her, "It's your Noble Phantasm now. It will respond to your wish in this moment and reveal its true strength."
"Yes, Gray!"
Mash slammed her shield into the ground with force, standing firm against Mordred, who was preparing to release her Noble Phantasm.
Mordred only smiled in response, slowly raising Clarent.
Standing before everyone, Mash gently closed her eyes, recalling the true name of Galahad's Noble Phantasm—and her own wish.
She would use this shield to protect everyone who had come to this Singularity.
The three by her side, the director left behind in Ozymandias's territory, Caren-senpai and the others whose whereabouts were unknown—and Mr. Shiomi, who had been captured.
Even if they were all stronger than her.
"True name unleashed. I will stand on the seat of catastrophe...."
"I am no king, but I follow in the king's path. I will destroy all that I must to bring the king peace! 'Clarent Blood Arthur!"
"That which heals all wounds and grudges, our glorious homeland. Manifest yourself, Lord Camelot!"
Sword and shield—two Noble Phantasms unleashed in unison.
A Noble Phantasm born from rebellion, now turned toward bringing peace to the very king it once betrayed. It surged with power greater than ever before—enough to consume even the White Wall City.
That's how it should have been.
...
"No. It's still not enough."
As the two Noble Phantasms clashed, Sakura slowly rose from the sand. Using Imaginary Number Space, she crossed a distance that should have been impossible for any Magus.
"What—?!"
Mordred hadn't expected Sakura to act so recklessly. With her Noble Phantasm fully unleashed, her only vulnerability was a direct attack at this moment.
Timing it perfectly as the Noble Phantasm faded, Sakura's fist—fortified by magic—slammed into Mordred's face.
"In the end, Saber, aren't you still hesitating?"
It was a painful hit, but not enough to seriously hurt Mordred—she just tumbled back and rolled once across the sand.
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm not hesitating."
Mordred raised her sword and aimed it at Sakura's chest—but she couldn't thrust it forward, even though it was well within reach.
"Then do it. Stab me. Throw away your friends, your family, everyone from your past—for your father. If that's what you truly want... if that's your wish—"
Sakura had already raised her hand. Her wand was pointed directly at Mordred's forehead.
"This attack won't kill you. But you could kill me without any effort. So go ahead—do what you want, Saber." Sakura pressed her life against the tip of Mordred's sword, demanding an answer from her heart.
"...I'm not your Servant anymore. So stop calling me Saber." Mordred lowered her head, forcing the words out through clenched teeth.
"Then at least we're family—even if not by blood," Sakura replied.
Mordred groaned, exasperated. "Are you out of your mind? What kind of family doesn't share blood? That woman wasn't even my mother!"
She snapped back at Sakura, still speaking harshly—but the killing intent was gone.
"So, what now?" Sakura asked with a smile.
Mordred dropped her sword and collapsed into the scorching sand, gazing helplessly at the clear blue sky.
"Guess I really am the rebellious knight all over again..."
"It's not betrayal. My dad once said—children have a duty to correct their parents' mistakes. No matter when or where."
"That bastard really is something else..."
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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