"Sanzang? She's here?"
In the game, Sanzang had been a guest in New Camelot City until just before Chaldea's arrival. She departed then, claiming she needed to return home.
In the game's timeline, she had reached the end of this Singularity and informed Chaldea's party of this fact upon meeting them. Afterward, she consistently aided Chaldea.
However, in this worldline altered by Guinevere's presence, they had rescued Serenity much earlier, causing them to miss their encounter with Sanzang on the road.
But individuals existing within a Singularity don't simply vanish. Just when Guinevere thought Sanzang wouldn't appear, she unexpectedly emerged.
Now, as the Demon God Pillar rose and Guinevere worried whether Mash and the others could handle it, she saw a colossal Buddha's palm descend from the sky in the distance.
"Five Elements Mountain - Buddha Palm..."
"Heh, that being truly is one of the pinnacles of the Type-Moon World. Even with just a fraction of their power borrowed by Sanzang, she completely vaporized a Demon God Pillar empowered by the Sun King and bearing the name 'Ra.'"
Guinevere didn't understand why Sanzang had appeared here and used her Noble Phantasm to aid Chaldea. But those questions could wait until they returned. For now, she simply continued to watch, wondering if the Sun King would continue his trial.
In the game, when the Lion King raised the Wall of Light and the Singularity began to shrink, it was the Sun King who shattered it by smashing his temple complex into it, clearing the final path for Chaldea's party.
From a distance, Guinevere sensed an even more immense presence and faintly "smelled" the familiar scent of the Holy Grail.
Just as she could barely restrain herself, the colossal aura receded, and Ritsuka's voice reached her through their Master-Servant contract.
"Ruler, His Majesty the Sun King has acknowledged us! He has agreed to cooperate and is willing to lend us the Sphinx Legion. Also, he said you need the Holy Grail and told me to give it to you."
Guinevere didn't know what the Sun King had seen, but receiving the Holy Grail prompted her to perform a king-to-king salute in the direction of his temple complex.
Unlike the Holy Grails of the regular world, the Grails scattered by the Demon God King that created the Singularities in FGO were merely high-density mana crystals. Possessing one meant having a virtually limitless supply of mana and an enhanced Spirit Origin.
For Guinevere, obtaining that Holy Grail meant she no longer had to painstakingly accumulate mana. She could now go all-out against the Lion King.
"Ritsuka, when will you all be back?"
"Right away. We've finished our discussions with the Sun King. We'll launch the final assault tomorrow. He reconfirmed that the Lion King's preparations are in their final stages."
"Alright."
With the Holy Grail in mind, Guinevere gazed at the Replica Holy Sword in her hand and continued pouring mana into it. Since she'd already started, she might as well see it through. Besides, Ritsuka's mana supply was immense.
Even if Guinevere completely exhausted her own mana, she could recover fully in just three hours.
However, this didn't mean all the mana she channeled came solely from Ritsuka.
To put it simply, Ritsuka's mana acted as a catalyst, drawing even more mana from the Counter Force into Guinevere's body.
"Mmm..."
Stretching lazily, she remained on the sand dunes for a long, long time, until Ritsuka and the others returned in their vehicle.
Guinevere went to greet them, and Ritsuka immediately thrust the Holy Grail into her arms. Guinevere watched as she absorbed the Grail directly into her body.
In that instant, Guinevere's depleted mana was fully replenished. Her Spirit Origin's quality soared—in game terms, it was a Spirit Origin Ascension, raising her level cap.
On her Servant Status screen, Guinevere saw that all her stats had increased, even surpassing the levels she had when Merlin was her Master.
"Strength: A+, Agility: A, Endurance: A, Mana: EX, Luck: A, Noble Phantasm: A+++
Tsk. To think possessing the Holy Grail would even raise the rank of my Second Noble Phantasm. Is it because its name is the Holy Grail, tying it by fate to the Lord?"
The boost from the Holy Grail far exceeded Guinevere's expectations. Compared to the increase in her Noble Phantasm's rank, having all her stats at A-rank or higher seemed almost trivial.
"Ritsuka, I must also thank you for your trust in giving me the Holy Grail to use. I thought you'd send it back to Chaldea immediately after obtaining it."
"Ruler, where did you get that idea? Is it because we never used the Grail in the previous Singularities?
"But that was because the Singularities themselves were caused by the Grail. Obtaining it meant the problem was solved, so we had no need to borrow its power."
"But this Singularity is different. It's essentially another world sustained by the Lion King's Holy Lance, isn't it?"
"Yes."
Guinevere's question had been lighthearted, born from her elation, but Ritsuka's reply was delivered with a frown. In response, Guinevere pulled her into a serious embrace, stroking her head with a mixture of admiration and heartache.
Setting aside her lecherous tendencies, Ritsuka Fujimaru—originally just an ordinary person—had truly pushed herself to the limit.
She had unhesitatingly shouldered the immense burden of saving all of humanity.
And for now, no other Master could do what she was doing.
"No matter how arduous the path ahead, you must keep moving forward. I mentioned before that I'd give you a keepsake to ensure you can summon me reliably. I'll give it to you now."
Guinevere had always intended to give Ritsuka the keepsake eventually. Her agreement with Morgan meant she still had to go to the Fairy Kingdom, so she planned to give it to her before she left.
However, her current elation prompted her to act now, releasing her pent-up affection for Ritsuka and deciding to give her the keepsake ahead of schedule.
In her past life, she had also been Ritsuka in the game, experiencing her hardships and perseverance firsthand.
Just as with Artoria, once Guinevere confirmed this was the earnest Ritsuka and not the dangerous Gudako, her affection for her was already at its maximum.
Over the decades of her new life, however, Guinevere's affection for Ritsuka had transformed into the fondness an elder feels for a junior.
"Ritsuka, want to sleep together?"
It was a joke, but since they were both girls, it wouldn't be a big deal as long as nothing strange happened.
Yet, her embrace and jest reached the ears of Mash, as well as Serenity, Nitocris, and others who were approaching. Mash immediately separated them.
Though Mash didn't yet understand jealousy, a profound sense of crisis welled up within her, seemingly accompanied by a warning from Galahad.
He seemed to be saying: "Mash, keep a close eye on your Senpai! Guinevere is a total lesbian!"
Separated and having stepped back, Guinevere couldn't help but burst out laughing. She wouldn't make a move on a married woman, you know. In her eyes, Ritsuka, entangled with so many girls, was the most "wifed-up" person she knew.
"Ritsuka, you can call me 'Big Sis' if you like. Mash, don't misunderstand—I have no intention of having children with her or you.
"If you're still worried, why don't you sleep with us tonight too? We can have a girls' sleepover, chat about old times, and mentally prepare for tomorrow's final battle."
If Guinevere had suggested being alone with Ritsuka, Mash would have refused. But a group sleepover? Not only was Mash tempted, but Serenity and Nitocris also looked eager to join.
Just then, Guinevere mentally asked the owner of the Buddha Palm that had annihilated the Demon God Pillar about her whereabouts. The answer came: she had just visited the Sun King and planned to extend her stay.
She wouldn't be coming tonight.