The alternate Mash raised her shield high. A brilliant purple light radiated from it, accompanied by a clear, ringing tone.
ting~
The shield began to transform. Its sides folded downward while the longest edge extended into a long, pointed barrel. In moments, the entire weapon had morphed from its usual cross-shaped form into a massive cannon. Energy gathered at the muzzle, humming with power.
Mash, Olga Marie, and Ritsuka stared in utter disbelief.
"What… is that?"
Heracles charged forward, closing the distance in an instant—just as the cannon finished charging.
The alternate Mash shouted the Noble Phantasm's true name.
"Ray Proof Kyrielight!"
A pitch-black orb of energy erupted outward, shaking the entire school grounds with its force. Heracles took the hit square in the chest. The impact launched his massive body backward, carrying him across the field.
The black sphere exploded on impact in a blinding flash of light, then rapidly collapsed inward, condensing into a single cross-shaped point of brilliance.
The glare was so intense that Ritsuka, Mash, and Olga Marie had to shield their eyes.
When the light finally faded, a perfectly spherical crater had been carved into the earth. At its center lay Heracles, missing several limbs, his body broken yet still breathing.
He was alive… but impossible to say how many of his lives had been stripped away.
Ritsuka was practically vibrating with excitement.
"That was so cool!!!"
"Mash, did you see that?!"
She elbowed the Mash beside her, but received no response.
Mash stared blankly at the crater, then at the alternate Mash.
"Teacher!"
"Didn't you say Shielders specialize in protection?"
"What was that just now…?"
She pointed at the alternate Mash's shield, clearly demanding an explanation. Weren't they supposed to be about guarding? When had Teacher started firing giant energy cannons?
The alternate Mash's weapon had already returned to its shield form. She listened quietly, glanced down at her shield, then answered with complete seriousness.
"…Actually, there's more than one way to protect someone.
Eliminating every dangerous enemy is also a valid form of protection."
Mash's eyes widened in shock.
"Is… is that how it works?"
She remained stunned into silence.
Adam watched Heracles lying in the crater. The Berserker had taken heavy damage, but his body was already slowly regenerating. At least the rampage had stopped for now.
Perfect. He was "calm" enough.
Now they just needed to reach him quickly before he recovered and went berserk again.
"Wait here. I'll be right back."
Adam glanced at Medusa in his arms. She still seemed completely limp. He gently handed her over to Ritsuka.
For some reason, the instant he turned away, Medusa stood up on her own, suddenly full of energy again.
Ritsuka blinked in confusion.
Weren't you injured…?
Adam turned to the alternate Mash.
"[Mash], do me a favor and get me over to Heracles quickly."
The alternate Mash nodded.
"Understood."
She scooped Adam up and rushed toward the crater at high speed.
Olga Marie was still dazed from that previous cannon shot. As she watched the pair leave, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of trials they must have endured in their parallel world to reach this level of power.
[[Ritsuka] Affection +10]
[[Mash] Affection +10]
[[Olga Marie] Affection +10]
...
Since Heracles wasn't far away, it only took them a few seconds to arrive.
Adam looked down at the fallen Berserker. This was the perfect moment. He opened his system menu and summoned Illyasviel.
"Where… am I?"
Illya looked around in confusion. She remembered she had just been discussing Adam with Miyu and Chloe.
Thinking about it made her a little annoyed with Chloe. Every time Adam's name came up, Chloe always had this subtle, smug look on her face.
The alternate Mash smiled warmly the moment she saw Illya. Out of all the children, Illya was one she could truly feel at ease with. Chloe, on the other hand, always put her on high alert—especially since Illya often smelled strongly of Adam whenever they played together.
Adam gently stroked Illya's soft silver hair. She looked up, recognized him, and broke into a bright smile.
"Oh! It's Master!"
Suddenly, a magical staff popped out from beside her, speaking in a teasing tone.
"Oho~ Is Master already so impatient that he wants to devour Illya right here?"
Illya's face turned bright red. She jumped up trying to grab the staff.
"Ruby! What are you saying?!"
Ruby easily dodged her and continued exposing Illya to Adam.
"Actually, if Master just asks nicely, Illya would probably let you—"
"Ruby!"
Illya finally caught the staff and clamped her hand firmly over its "mouth."
Adam couldn't help but smile at the comedy duo's routine. He then briefly explained the current situation to Illya.
When she learned that Adam wanted her to try bringing Heracles over to their side, she glanced at the battered giant lying in the crater.
"Me? What should I do?"
Adam rubbed his chin. Truthfully, he wasn't entirely sure himself. He compared Illya's small frame with Heracles' massive body and suddenly recalled images of a certain green giant and a female spy.
"How about you say to him… 'The sun is setting soon'?"
Illya tilted her head cutely, clearly confused.
"What does that mean?"
The situation had reached a bit of a deadlock.
After all, this Illya was from the Prisma Illya timeline. She had grown up as a normal child and had never been a Master, so she had no connection to Heracles as a Servant.
Adam scratched his head, realizing he might have miscalculated. Magical Girl Illya probably wasn't the best choice here.
He suddenly thought of another "Illya."
"Maybe I should summon Sitonai instead?"
Sitonai was essentially the Illya from the Fifth Holy Grail War. She carried those memories and would naturally have a much stronger bond with Heracles.
Perhaps she was the one he should have summoned from the beginning.
***
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