Leonel prepares himself, eyes steady. Tezcatlipoca appears beside him, face grave.
—No weaknesses, Leonel. I can't see anything. This being... is beyond analysis.
—Then... we fight until it ceases to exist.
Glasya-Labolas spreads its wings with a deafening howl. Its words reverberate like infernal echoes:
—"Pain...? Despair...? Show me your misery! Let your spirit be my feast, and your flesh... my banner."
Leonel positions himself in the center as tactical commander. His Personas, Tezcatlipoca and Rakshasa, are ready. Around him, the Servants take their positions:
Nero, Artoria, and Jeanne: Main offensive line. The three charge the demon, seeking to flank it.
Tamamo and Mash: Support and defense. Tamamo throws talismans, buffs her allies, and heals. Mash protects Leonel and reinforces the line.
Drake: Joins in with her pistols and saber, focusing on precise shots at the demon's core when it manifests.
The team attacks... but Glasya-Labolas barely flinches. Every blow they land regenerates. Its counterattacks are devastating: shadow blades, sonic bursts, and cursed explosions.
Jeanne falls to her knees after shielding a blow for Artoria. —"This being... it doesn't tire...!"
Nero: —"Tch! I won't let it dim my radiance!"
Tamamo sweats as she casts more spells. —"Leonel-dono, I need more time!"
Leonel, panting, grips his amulet. Rakshasa appears at his side, helping him stay steady while Tezcatlipoca channels the little information he can obtain:
—Its energy isn't decreasing... but its structure is starting to become unstable. The only way to defeat it... is to keep hitting it until its form collapses.
—Then that's what we'll do!
Glasya-Labolas begins to deform under the pressure. The constant assault from Artoria, Nero, Jeanne, and Drake, along with the support of Tamamo and Mash, starts to take effect. Its attacks, though still deadly, no longer have the same precision.
Leonel sees his chance.
—Now! Everyone, use your Noble Phantasms together!
One by one, the cries ring out:
Artoria: —"Excalibur!"
Nero: —"Laus Saint Claudius!"
Jeanne: —"Luminosité Eternelle!"
Drake: —"Golden Wild Hunt!"
Mash: —"Lord Chaldeas!"
Tamamo, with a sweet yet powerful voice: —"Eightfold Blessings of Amaterasu!"
The combined energy explodes into a sea of light and magic. Glasya-Labolas, engulfed in that divine torrent, screams with a thousand voices that shatter one by one...
—"MY DESTRUCTION IS NOT YOUR VICTORY! I AM THE NAME OF ALL WAR! I SHALL RETURN IN ANOTHER ERA—!"
A final blast shatters its body. A wave of dark energy dissipates, taking its form with it.
Silence. Only the sound of the wind.
Leonel falls to his knees, exhausted. Tamamo hugs him from behind, helping him stay up. Mash runs to his side, tears in her eyes. Jeanne, Nero, and Artoria approach, wounded but steady.
Tezcatlipoca speaks for the last time at that moment:
—One down... but this is not the end yet.
Drake, dusting off her coat: —"Kids... that was insane. I need a drink."
Leonel looks up at the horizon, knowing this was just another step on the chaotic road that is the Grand Order.
Clank.
A golden sphere, pure and radiant, rolls slightly before stopping in the middle of the group. The Holy Grail.
Everyone turns, surprised. Mash is the first to react. She approaches carefully, as if the object might vanish. She kneels and picks it up in her hands.
—This is... the Holy Grail. —she says with reverence. Her shield glows softly, ready to absorb it.
Leonel, still breathing heavily from the battle, raises a hand.
—Don't seal it yet, Mash.
Mash nods, cradling the Grail carefully.
—We still have to say goodbye... to Drake.
[A Crew That Celebrates]
Later that same night, the ship's deck is filled with laughter, improvised bonfires, and clinking mugs. Drake's pirate crew is in full celebration, playing sea instruments, dancing, and singing irreverent songs.
Drake, at the center of it all, raises a bottle of rum.
—To victory! To the best damn companions a captain could have!
The crowd cheers, and the Servants join in the toast.
Nero throws rose petals while laughing theatrically.
Artoria, despite her sobriety, allows herself a smile.
Jeanne chats quietly with Mash, both sharing a sweet moment.
Tamamo clings to Leonel, boldly taking his arm.
Drake approaches Leonel with a big smile.
—So... kid. Is this the end of the line for me?
Leonel nods, but replies with a half-smile.
—Not entirely. This was your world, your ocean. But now... it's time for you to return and rest.
Drake takes a long swig, wipes her mouth with the back of her hand, and then looks at the horizon.
—I've sailed real seas and fictional ones... but you guys gave me the craziest adventure of all. Thanks for that.
Mash approaches them, the Holy Grail still in her hands.
—Captain... are you ready?
Drake nods.
—More than ready.
She raises her saber and shouts for the last time:
—Weigh anchor! Let this night be sung for our glory!
And amidst cheers, laughter, and discreet tears, Mash finally stores the Grail within her shield.
A bright light envelops the ship. The island, the sea, everything begins to fade like sand carried by the wind.
Leonel opens his eyes. He's back in the Chaldea transfer ring, alongside Mash and the other Servants.
Silence. Only the distant echo of Drake's joyful shout resonating in their memories.
Mash looks at him and smiles wistfully.
—Another world... saved.
Leonel nods. And then, he turns forward.
—And another one to discover.
The light of the transfer circle fades with a soft hum, revealing Leonel, Mash, Tamamo, Nero, Jeanne, Artoria, and the other Servants in their physical forms, covered in dust, dried blood, dragon scales, salt, sand... and a strong scent of the sea.
In the center of the room, Romani, Da Vinci, and a recently awakened Olga Marie await them. All three smile broadly.
—Welcome back! —says Romani, spreading his arms—. Another Singularity closed! Good work!
—And you survived a Goetia demon, pirates, dragons, and sea humidity. I must say, kids... —Da Vinci adds between laughs—. You smell awful.
Olga covers her nose with feigned elegance.
—Yes, yes, congratulations... but for the love of the Holy Grail, go take a shower!
Everyone laughs, even the Servants, though Artoria can barely hide her discomfort with the comment. Mash, as always, straightens up and nods energetically.
—Yes, Miss Olga. We'll head to the dorms immediately.
But Leonel steps forward, smiling.
—I'm going on my own, I need some time alone.
—I see, —Da Vinci murmurs with a mischievous little smile—. Of course, romantic hero.
Before he can leave, Nero approaches him without hesitation. On tiptoes, she plants a kiss on his lips, long, passionate, and dramatic, as only an empress would know how.
—My lion has returned triumphant. You deserve my imperial affection.
Tamamo immediately, jealous, steps forward with her ears perked up and a determined expression.
—I won't be left behind!! I deserve a kiss too for all my hard work!
Leonel, already used to the dynamic, sighs with a smile and leans down to give her the kiss she demanded. Tamamo receives it with a happy sigh, her tails swaying sweetly.
In the distance, Mash watches silently. A soft smile plays on her lips, but her eyes betray her: discreet jealousy, a small pang in her chest. She squeezes her hands tightly.
Jeanne, on the other hand, crosses her arms while looking away.
—That has nothing to do with the mission... —she mutters, her face slightly flushed. She refuses to admit what she feels.
Artoria, who had remained quiet, turns on her heel upon seeing the kiss. Her face turns red as an apple. The King of Knights walks silently towards the hallways, mumbling something inaudible.
Leonel, somewhere between confused and amused, waves goodbye.
—See you at dinner... if I don't drown in the shower first.
Everyone goes their own way. But the echoes of that welcome, with laughter, jealousy, and affection, linger in the air of Chaldea.
Leonel sighs as he closes his bedroom door with a loud click. The soft lights of the room welcome him like a warm caress. His exhausted body desires only one thing: a good shower and, perhaps, a nap worthy of a humanity-saving hero.
Wasting no time, he enters the bathroom, strips off his sweaty and sandy clothes, and turns on the shower. Steam starts to fill the room when he hears a peculiar sound... a soft, feminine "Tadaima~!"
—Huh?
He slowly turns... only to see, emerging from the steam curtain as if from a dream (or a nightmare), a very familiar figure. Long, straight blue-ish hair. A kimono perfectly fitted despite the humid air. And intensely bright eyes that could only belong to Kiyohime.
—W-What are you doing here?! —Leonel exclaims, covering himself as best he can with an improvised towel as he backs away.
Kiyohime smiles sweetly.
—I was waiting for you, Ma~aster. I wanted to give you a romantic surprise. ♡
Leonel pales.
—How did you get in here?! My room has Chaldea security locks!
—Magical locks? Hmph, that's child's play when true love guides your way. —she replies with an enchanting little giggle while slowly stepping into the shower with him—. Besides... you were with other girls out there. I'll die if I don't make sure you still love only me...
Leonel starts to sweat coldly. Not from the steam, but from the pressure.
—K-Kiyohime, this is dangerous... you can't just come in here and... and...
—And what, Leonel-sama? Make you mine? —she says, slowly closing in, with a loving glow... an all-too-loving glow in her eyes—. I promise I'll be gentle. ♡
—"Gentle"?! This is a romantic ambush! A battle without quarter! I can't lose now, not here, not like this!
With an agile jump, Leonel manages to dodge a mischievous hand aiming straight for his waist. He slips but stays on his feet, using a wet towel as an improvised whip to keep her at bay.
—My virginity is a side mission, not a main quest! —he yells while trying to negotiate his escape.
—Don't be shy, my love. You'll be mine eventually... —replies Kiyohime, advancing like an enchanting serpent, surrounded by steam and passion.
The scene continues as a mix of battle and dance, with Leonel desperately trying to keep his "purity" intact, while Kiyohime delivers every line as if it were her personal seduction Noble Phantasm.
In the end, Leonel manages to lock himself inside the towel closet, panting as if he had escaped from an EX-level Singularity.
From outside, Kiyohime's honeyed voice can be heard:
—I love you, Leonel-sama... no matter how much you run, fate binds us. And... I can wait~ ♡
Leonel sighs from his hiding spot.
—How the hell did I survive the Kraken, but this almost killed me?...
Still panting and with the towel clutched around his waist like a holy sword, Leonel slides out of the towel closet. His steps are cautious, as if walking through a minefield. The steam from the bathroom still swirls in the air... and she is nowhere in sight.
—Maybe... maybe she escaped through the air vent... —Leonel murmurs hopefully.
But the dream of freedom lasts exactly three steps.
—Found you, Masteeer! ♡
From the corner of the room, as if she were a mythical beast stalking its prey, Kiyohime emerges with her kimono perfectly fitted and an expression mixing tenderness and passionate madness. Her eyes shine with dangerous devotion. The door lock glows behind her... sealed shut.
—Not the damn magical lock again?! —Leonel yells as he turns to run... only to be intercepted mid-air.
Kiyohime tackles him, and they both fall onto the soft carpet of the room. Leonel tries to resist, but she kisses him with a wild passion, her hands firm on his chest as she whispers hoarsely:
—You are mine... mine, mine, mine... I love you more than my own life... and if anyone tries to steal that love... well, I'll turn into a dragon again... ♡
Leonel feels his face turn red as a tomato, his body burns, but not from desire... but from pure hormonal survival.
—No... can't take it... if this keeps up, I'll die a virgin martyr...
And then, something unexpected happens.
—ENOUGH! —he yells, and with a determination tempered by the emotional hell he's lived through since Fuyuki, Leonel takes the initiative.
He flips her over and pins her down himself this time.
Kiyohime barely manages a surprised sigh when Leonel kisses her back, with a mix of pent-up fury, primal instinct, and pure post-Singularity stress. The kiss lasts... a long time. So long that Kiyohime herself starts panting and blushing as if she were a schoolgirl conquered by the prince of her dreams.
—I-if you keep this up... I'll die of love... —she stammers, her gaze cloudy and lips parted.
Leonel gets up, his face completely red, breathing heavily. He looks at Kiyohime, now collapsed on the carpet, with a floating heart in her expression.
—My god... I did it. I won the battle of love... but I lost the war against temptation... —he thinks, while staggering into the bathroom.
Icy water falls on his head like a purifying waterfall. He shivers but remains standing.
Minutes later, Leonel comes out, dries his hair, puts on his pajamas, and walks to the door to deactivate the magical lock. He opens it. The room is at peace.
He sees Kiyohime still unconscious, with a silly smile on her face, murmuring things like "Leonel-sama~ you're so... passionate~".
—And to think all this started with just wanting to take a shower...
He sighs, turns off the light, and lies down on the bed, his body exhausted.
Kiyohime, as if by instinct, crawls in her sleep until she's curled up beside him. Leonel doesn't bother to push her away. He simply closes his eyes and lets sleep overcome him.
Leonel slowly opened his eyes, the sun filtering through his bedroom curtains. He stretched slightly, feeling the weight of... something on him.
—Huh? What the hell...?
He looked down, and there she was: Kiyohime, sleeping peacefully on his chest, with a smile so sweet she looked completely harmless... if it weren't for her legs tangled with his and her body, as if trying to melt into him.
—How the hell did she end up like this...? —he thought, before a scorching memory from the previous night flashed through his mind like lightning. His body responded on instinct.
—Mmmh... Leonel-sama... are you already so happy to see me...? —came a honeyed, sleepy voice.
Kiyohime slowly opened her eyes, her cheeks flushed and her expression playful, as she slid a hand over Leonel's chest.
—We could... continue what we left pending last night...~ —she whispered in his ear with a tone as sweet as it was dangerous.
Leonel swallowed. The situation was on the verge of being irredeemable. His impulses were screaming do it!, but his conscience... and a part of him that valued this moment as more than just desire... stopped him.
Taking a breath, he placed his hands on Kiyohime's shoulders and smiled firmly but without roughness.
—Kiyohime... this is special. And I want it to happen when we're both ready, not just from impulse.
She looked at him, confused at first... and then completely melted. Her face lit up like a flame, her eyes shone with an adorable intensity, and she planted a passionate kiss on his lips.
—You're so cruel and so adorable at the same time, Leonel-sama... alright. I'll hold back... but only because you asked. Though if you need... to rest your body, you know I'll be more than available... ♡
Leonel barely managed to open his mouth to reply when...
—Leonel~! Wake up already! Tamamo wants breakfast with you—WHAT IS THIS?! —Nero's voice exploded as she opened the door without knocking.
—Leonel-kun~ we came to get you for breakfast—HUH?! —and the sweet but intense Tamamo was right behind her, her ears perked up upon seeing Kiyohime straddling Leonel, their clothes somewhat disheveled, and the room's atmosphere filled with a certain scent.
Both froze for two seconds... before the volcano of jealousy erupted.
—You're getting ahead of all of us, you obsessive snake?! —Nero roared.
—That's unfair! I wanted to sleep with Leonel after his great victory too! —added Tamamo with moist, gleaming eyes.
Kiyohime just giggled mischievously, and without getting off Leonel yet, replied in a challenging voice:
—Oh, my dear rivals... the early bird catches the master...~ ♡
Leonel wanted to scream. Or hide. Or freeze time. But it was already too late.
Tamamo and Nero jumped onto the bed, each grabbing a part of him.
—I want a kiss too! —demanded Nero.
—And I want one with tongue, onegai~! —added Tamamo, all blushed.
Leonel could only sigh before the simultaneous kisses sent him rolling across the bed amidst soft caresses and loving complaints, while Kiyohime watched them with a satisfied half-smile.
—This harem is going to kill me... and not exactly in battle. —he thought, as his body disappeared under a shower of passionate kisses.