A moment later, the Holy Sword was already in Guinevere's hand, but Saber did not follow the order to take Souichirou Kuzuki and leave.
Instead, she stood behind Guinevere, her gaze fixed intently on the Queen who was stronger than her.
"Caster, since you're willing to die, use your remaining Command Spells on me first."
Caster did not refuse Guinevere's words, and as Berserker waited, two Command Spells were activated, channeling mana into Guinevere's body.
Although this was only the fourth day of the Holy Grail War, Guinevere's body was now filled with its most abundant mana yet.
The [Invisible Air] dissipated, as Guinevere did not possess that ability. A faint, crimson magical glow rose; this was the color of Guinevere's own mana.
But the change in the Holy Sword's magical radiance did not mean its nature had changed; it still acknowledged Guinevere, just like the Holy Swords in other world-lines.
One step, two steps... Guinevere mimicked First Hassan's [Azrael], using the techniques she had already learned to build up mana and momentum.
Thus, as Guinevere took more steps, this space and the heavens above grew increasingly dense, and the surrounding air seemed to press down with the weight of steel.
Setting others aside, at least Illya could no longer bear her heart's gradual slowing. It was only after the King of Heroes' scoff rang out that she realized Guinevere was playing for keeps, and if she were allowed to continue building up her power, this single sword strike might very well break through Berserker's "HP Lock" and wipe out all his remaining revivals in one go.
"In the name of my Command Spell, I order you, Berserker, tear her apart!"
The command, with its clear target, granted Berserker another powerful buff, allowing him to break free from the pressure Guinevere had imposed.
With a roar, the heavens and earth "shattered," and the condensed air began to flow again.
Taking one step forward, the mountain path cracked. Berserker, who had endured the Twelve Labors, once again challenged the death that drew near.
Meanwhile, after the "atmospheric pressure" created by her sword skill was broken, Guinevere's first thought was that this truly was not her sword. Even if her understanding of the sword was not far from First Hassan's, her imitation of him was still limited to "mere form."
But Berserker had already closed in, and her sword's momentum had reached its peak, especially since the Holy Sword's release had already killed Berserker once.
So Guinevere chose to swing this sword, carrying her desire to make this world line more in line with her wishes.
And this sword accurately severed Berserker's stone axe and directly separated Berserker's upper and lower body.
"Azrael: Mimicry."
Behind the severed Berserker, Guinevere spoke these words, and then she saw Berserker's rapid recovery and Illya's expression of disbelief.
"Berserker won't lose, Berserker is the strongest!"
Unable to accept, unable to believe, yet the reality was laid bare before Illya, that Guinevere had killed Berserker once again with a second Noble Phantasm-level sword skill.
"Berserker!"
The loudest shout, which contained Illya's utmost reluctance.
And responding to her, Berserker's recovery speed accelerated, and it seemed it would take only another two seconds to restore his complete form.
So what was Guinevere doing during those few seconds? Of course, she was trying to release the Thirteen Restraints of the Holy Sword.
But after making the declaration, Guinevere failed, because all the other Round Table Knights, except for Mordred, chose to refuse.
They did not recognize the Guinevere before them; Mordred's recognition was only because she understood that the Guinevere before her had caused a slight change in Saber, and was willing, upon returning to the past, to no longer ignore her.
"Hmph, I guess I was overthinking it after all. Even if we share the same Throne of Heroes, if we come from different world lines, not knowing each other is just not knowing each other."
Muttering to herself, Guinevere dodged Berserker's heavy punch and, after a leap, landed steadily on his arm, which was thicker than her waist.
"Xiuhcoatl, even gods shall burn!"
A spin, a kick, using the "wrestling" techniques of Quetzalcoatl, who had fought alongside her. This strike, imbued with a massive amount of Guinevere's mana, which stained her toes blood-red, was about to hit Berserker's head and send him into silence once again.
Many techniques were not difficult to learn, especially after Guinevere had nearly reached her limit in sword skills.
Or rather, as long as it was a combat-skill type Noble Phantasm, Guinevere could apply the principle to other cases, slightly imitating it to use the same combat skill with varying degrees of degradation.
Lancelot, First Hassan, Quetzalcoatl... besides those three, there was more than one combat-skill type Noble Phantasm Guinevere had seen.
Among the Round Table Knights alone, she had several more she could imitate and use.
Since she couldn't cheat and kill Berserker in one hit, when she got serious, Guinevere could also kill him with different Noble Phantasm-level combat skills.
Even if her stats were third-rate, Guinevere was still a top-tier Servant, let alone that the Command Spell temporarily made up for her insufficient stats.
"Combat Skill Reproduction: Lupus Strike Fang!"
This move was derived from Gareth's Noble Phantasm, a piercing-type Noble Phantasm that concentrated all the mana of the body into a single point, which was normally released using a lance.
But even while using the Holy Sword, Guinevere still reproduced this move and, under completely different will, once again smashed Berserker's head!
"And then... Grasp Its Sword, Silver Arm (Switch On Agateram)."
This move was derived from Bedivere, after Merlin had made the Holy Sword into the Silver Arm and let him hold and use it.
Wielding the same Holy Sword with Bedivere's skill, Guinevere actually didn't believe she could deal any more damage to Berserker.
But in the instant this Noble Phantasm was reproduced, the "Round Table Roll Call" that had already begun was instantly granted Bedivere's recognition, and it was even better as his soul also grasped the Holy Sword's hilt, imbuing the sword's empty interior with his conviction.
Its name is loyalty to King Arthur, willing to die ten thousand deaths for it.
"Berserker..."
Including the sword strike from last night, this was the fifth time Guinevere had cut down Berserker's life.
Time and again, the deathly blow struck Illya's confidence, making her clutch her chest tightly as tears of disbelief welled in the corners of her eyes.
"I don't care, Berserker is the strongest! I command you with a Command Spell, tear Assassin to shreds!"
This time, Illya felt the possibility of Berserker's exit, and she directly used up her remaining two Command Spells, making the just-dead Berserker instantly recover, and he became even more [Madness Enhancement] without any hesitation.
The steps shattered, the mountain path was crushed, and in this instant, Guinevere no longer needed to reproduce anyone else's Noble Phantasm.
After Bedivere, the other knights still in the "meeting" granted Guinevere their recognition one after another.
His name was Tristan, his name was Gawain, his name was Lancelot, his name was Agravain, his name was Kay...
With them, along with Bedivere and Mordred, seven of the Holy Sword's Thirteen Restraints had been lifted, reaching a state where the "Holy Sword of the Planet" mode could be incompletely unleashed without even Saber's consent.
The only question now was whether Guinevere truly intended to force Berserker out of the battle.