"This boring book ends here. Don't underestimate the control Author-type Servants have over the script!"
Seeing Takumi successfully recover the Holy Grail, Hans Christian Andersen suddenly clenched his hand into a fist, the corners of his mouth rising uncontrollably.
However, although saying so, Andersen knew very well that the reason the battle ended so smoothly was that the advantage in planning wasn't actually that obvious.
First, in terms of combat power, their advantage was huge. Mordred was completely a slightly weaker version of King Arthur (Saber). Simple mechanics, extreme stats. In a duel, basically no one could be Mordred's opponent.
Second was the advantage in intelligence. The opponent's main abilities were all spoiled by Takumi, completely saving the effort of probing. Just dealing damage fiercely could solve them.
Of course, the most important were still Takumi's [Revelation] and Mordred's [Intuition].
With the cooperation of the two, although they didn't have a map hack, they could basically mark the distribution of the opponent's Servants.
Then it was simply defeating them one by one. To prevent these Servants from surviving and causing trouble again, they found them one by one and killed them all in advance.
Otherwise, if a bunch of Servants swarmed up, even with Mordred, it wasn't impossible for them to fall into a disadvantage.
However, in this way, with enemy Servants dying one by one, as long as Makiri Zolgen wasn't a fool, he would definitely be on guard. If he casually summoned some other Servants then, it wouldn't be fun.
But the good thing here was him, Andersen, and Shakespeare!
Although they weren't powerful as Magi, they were good at creating diversions!
Combining two Noble Phantasms with unclear meanings, they easily created the illusion that Makiri's side hadn't lost any members, deceiving Makiri with fake ones.
Then they sneaked all the way here with [The Emperor's New Clothes], and finally...
Stealth Great Success!
Sigh, everyone hates Assassins, but one has to admit that being an Assassin is sometimes really satisfying!
"Boring, uninteresting! From the perspective of appreciating a work, this experience has absolutely no necessary drama!"
"So much so that at this moment when everything ends, I can't even write down a single word..."
Shakespeare held a quill pen, tapping and tapping on the notebook in his hand, unable to come up with coherent sentences to write about this journey.
He couldn't help shaking his head frantically.
"Being able to finish is already thank goodness. In this situation, remove these unnecessary ups and downs, Lord Playwright of turbulent waves."
Lacking motivation but still having to bite the bullet to lead everyone here, Andersen looked at Shakespeare faintly.
Like a struggling author who had to update every day, even without inspiration, he still had to finish his work before the deadline. Andersen, who could complete all this, was already burned out.
"...That's true. There's absolutely no need to force writing these boring things!"
Shakespeare looked silently at the notebook and pen in his hand. As if remembering something bad, his expression suddenly became ugly.
Then he decisively closed the book, his expression instantly becoming refreshed.
"Don't get you guys..."
Mordred shook her head repeatedly watching from the side, completely unable to understand what they were saying.
But Mordred still had a smile on her face.
As the main force from beginning to end, naturally, all opponents were killed by her. Although they were all killed in one or two moves, lacking the thrill of a real fight, wasn't crushing and mowing down enemies another kind of thrill?
"Hey~, Master! How is it? Smooth?"
Mordred turned her head, waving and shouting at Takumi who was walking back towards them.
Seeing this, Takumi also smiled and trotted to them before saying:
"Quite smooth. I guess in about two more minutes, I can leave."
"Mmh, looks like there really is no problem. I can already feel this place collapsing. If we wanted to, as Servants, exiting directly is probably just a thought away."
Andersen felt it and nodded knowingly.
"That's great. I don't understand those messy things, but I understand that the faster you leave, Master, the safer it is!"
Mordred laughed carefree.
Just after finishing speaking, as if remembering something she had always cared about, Mordred scratched her head and couldn't help asking:
"By the way, that thing on your wrist is the device that can pull you back to that what's-it-called Chaldea, right?"
Saying this, Mordred pointed to the "watch" on Takumi's wrist.
"That's right. What's wrong?"
Takumi raised his right hand wearing the "watch," looking at Mordred in confusion.
Didn't understand why she asked this.
"Then tying it on your right hand, won't it break during battle usually?"
Mordred asked what she cared about.
If nothing else, under her fighting style, basically every time the battle was intense, let alone such a delicate "watch," even hard gauntlets had broken before.
"If it really breaks, then you..."
Mordred didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was already obvious.
"Uh, actually I find it quite strange too. Although I have quite a few life-saving abilities, battles are usually intense. This thing has been worn here all the time, and for so long, it hasn't broken once."
Hearing this, Takumi was also slightly surprised.
Then Takumi changed his tone:
"Hehe, but don't worry! I have prepared for this situation long ago!"
Saying this, Takumi took out a "pendant" from his chest. The device on it was exactly the same as the "watch" on his wrist!
"This is one... and..."
Takumi's movements didn't stop. He took out another "watch" without straps from his pants pocket.
"This... this... this!"
Stuffing it back, Takumi rolled up his pant leg.
Good grief! There was one tied to his calf too.
Besides that, there was another one on the other calf, and one on his belt.
"Hehe, as long as I activate one of them, the rest will all activate. So unless these are completely wiped out, I can go back safe and sound!"
After showing off his arsenal, Takumi put his hands on his hips triumphantly.
"..."
The three Servants were speechless, coincidentally giving Takumi a thumbs up.
"Master, you... are really steady..."
Silent for a long time, Shakespeare said with a look of wanting to speak but stopping.
"Cough cough, being steady isn't bad. At least I'm more assured about you."
Andersen held his fist to his mouth and coughed twice lightly, looking at Takumi appreciatively.
"Hiss! Suddenly inspiration comes! Please allow me to write a bit!"
Shakespeare rubbed the beard on his chin, inspiration instantly flooding his mind. Then without saying a word, he took out the notebook and pen just now, planning to write extensively.
"Stop! What are you planning to write?!"
Andersen turned pale with fright.
"Ah haha, you know my works..."
Shakespeare, who had just written a few words, paused his hand, smiling sheepishly and turning his head to the side.
"You are not allowed to write!!"
"But there are at most only a few seconds left..."
"Then wait for the last second!"
"Is there a need to be so strict..."
"..."
Takumi looked amusingly at the two's playful fighting. The accumulated gloom in his heart was also dispersed by this short strategy time.
Even he didn't expect this Singularity strategy to end in just half a day.
[Perhaps, with the help of these Heroic Spirits who can create miracles, I really have a chance to defeat Goetia?]
Takumi couldn't help thinking so in his heart, the corners of his mouth unconsciously rising gradually.
Skill Change:
[Escapist (A)]
→ [Escapist (B)]
Unknown to Takumi, this skill quietly lowered its rank.
Just then.
In the corner of everyone's vision.
A black-red light flashed suddenly from the darkness.
Whoosh... Boom...
In just the blink of an eye, black-red colors filled the pupils.
Dodge dodge dodge dodge... dodge... can't?
Takumi subconsciously wanted to use his special ability, but the usual feeling of intangibility didn't bless him no matter what.
Just like the scene in Singularity F.
That was something only Takumi himself knew.
When he first entered the Singularity, these two special abilities were not so difficult to use. As long as he buried his head and ran, no one could hit him. No matter who it was, they couldn't catch up with him.
Even EMIYA's [Hrunting] was the same.
Even when he hugged Artoria back then, he was still in a wonderful state where he could touch the opponent, but the opponent couldn't touch him.
But just when he thought victory was in hand and he hadn't let down Cú Chulainn's efforts, his special ability changed.
Became unstable.
Just like now...
Takumi only had time to block his habitual right hand in front of him, rejoicing that he was just putting his hands on his hips, while diving to the side with all his strength.
The black-red light flashed past.
Takumi's figure disappeared.
Only a small black shadow leaped into the air, then fell, "bouncing" on the ground.
Finally lying quietly on the ground.
That was a charred arm.
Bearing two scarlet Command Spells on it.
(The missing one was used to increase Noble Phantasm release speed when defeating Makiri.)
Shakespeare, holding his notebook high to prevent it from being snatched by Andersen, looked like he was petrified, staring blankly at this arm.
"This is not the drama I wanted..."
Shakespeare's voice was as thin as a mosquito's.
In just an instant, the atmosphere that was lively just now became so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
The remaining two looked in disbelief at that arm that lost its owner, and Andersen, who had pounced in front of Takumi in an instant just now and was now dying.
And the existence causing all this.
In the black shadow at the source of the attack, a pair of scarlet eyes suddenly lit up, beneath which were ferocious blood-red fangs that had nothing to do with humans.
Striking him down when humanity has the most hope—is there anything more interesting than this?
Last human, struggle with all your might...
"Haha, wahahahahahaha...!"
Goetia's loud laughter echoed in this Great Underground Cavern.
If you can still survive.