"What's going on? This isn't your jurisdiction, is it?"
Shiomi raised his spear and questioned her.
"Well, you guys are just too unfair. Having three Servants is one thing, but the Master being as strong as a Servant? Come on," Suzuka Gozen replied. "So I had to step a bit out of bounds. Besides, she crossed the line first."
Her point was simple: since Passionlip had interrupted her fight with Shiomi's group earlier, she was now returning the favor and interfering with Passionlip—even if, in doing so, she was technically helping another "Guardian."
"If you're calling yourself a high school girl, then at least act the part." Shiomi leveled his spear at Suzuka. "We're at a critical juncture here. Try reading the room for once."
"Ugh, how lame. What are you, the head teacher or something?" Suzuka sneered. "Sorry, sensei, but I've got no time to worry about your little drama."
"Is that so." Shiomi knew there was no talking her down. "Then let me ask one last time: why are you doing this? The Holy Grail War here is already twisted beyond recognition, and SE.RA.PH has become a Singularity."
"But the war's still ongoing. Servants are still clashing. Once we beat you guys, the result should be just around the corner." Suzuka's words sounded absurd, but her goal was clear. "Then I'll take out the other 'Guardians' and claim the Grail as the victor. Those two knights are here for the same reason."
"Why would Gawain and Tristan obey you?" Shiomi pressed.
"What do you mean, why? It's the perk of being a 'Guardian.' Otherwise, I wouldn't even bother with this gig." Suzuka replied with a smirk.
"Is that so." Shiomi remained unconvinced, responding with a vague hum.
Beast was assimilating this Singularity. Whether Guardian or Servant, all would eventually be turned into precious mana resources—ingredients for Beast's complete incubation.
This countermeasure had only been triggered when Shiomi and the others approached the control room to gather more intel.
And unlike Passionlip, Suzuka Gozen was likely—
"Enough chatter. It's time to move." Suzuka pointed her tachi at Shiomi, mirroring his stance with his spear aimed right back at her. "I brought a whole batch of hostile attack programs with me today—we've got the numbers on our side!"
Shiomi tilted his head slightly, casting a glance at Morgan.
It was clear she intended to leave the surrounding skirmishes to Shiomi and the others while she took care of Passionlip herself.
After all, if Morgan joined the fight, the restraints on Passionlip would collapse, returning the situation to square one.
"I see. Then let me witness the strength of the daughter of the Demon King of the Fourth Heaven."
Her abilities might not be as troublesome as Passionlip's, but as a Guardian, she still couldn't be taken lightly. Caution was essential.
The battle erupted instantly. Gawain and Tristan were already clashing with Artoria. This was their second time fighting the king they revered.
Even with their movement restricted, they threw everything they had into restraining their own attacks, allowing the King of Knights to hold her own against two Knights of the Round Table without faltering.
Meanwhile, Scáthach was clearing out the relentless wave of hostile attack program monsters.
After all, letting those small fry swarm them could easily turn the tide into a brawl that overwhelmed even the strongest warriors.
"Whoa, you can control weapons like that too?"
The tachi and Gungnir collided, each strike sending out a burst of sparks. Suzuka's smile, framed by the flickering firelight, turned razor-sharp, her schoolgirl façade falling away to reveal pure killing intent.
Just like she controlled her sword to attack from every angle, Shiomi's twin red spears circled around, intercepting her strikes and preventing her from reaching Morgan.
Suzuka tried to summon more swords to press the attack and throw him off, but Shiomi gave her no opening. His speed was far beyond anything she had expected.
One strike after another, each spear thrust came faster and harder, with lightning-quick dodges in between.
More than once, the tip nearly pierced Suzuka's heart or slashed her throat—she only barely managed to evade each time.
Clang—!
The spear came crashing down. Caught off guard, Suzuka had no choice but to raise her tachi to block.
But the blow felt oddly light.
Was he going easy on her?
As she wavered, Suzuka sensed a surge of high-speed mana flow.
"At the end of the blue sea lies the wind that stirs not in any direction... 'Panta Rhei'!"
No lines skipped—he completed the full chant. In a flash, the Grand Magecraft exploded outward, transforming into countless blades that engulfed the entire area around them.
He'd cast the spell during the lull between attacks. At this distance, not even a Saber-class Magic Resistance could fully withstand it.
Especially not against magic on the scale of the Age of Gods.
But the tachi in Suzuka's hand—Daitouren—had its own unique ability.
No True Name release required.
"Call out, Rouran!"
In an instant, Suzuka summoned a tornado. It wasn't Magecraft. Her golden blade shifted shape, becoming a whirling vortex that knocked Shiomi's spear aside.
Gripping the hilt with both hands, she swung forward forcefully.
Two wind currents collided and burst outward, buying her just enough time to spawn more tachis and circle around behind Shiomi.
These new blades weren't targeting Morgan. They were aimed straight at Shiomi's blind spot—his exposed back.
Sensing danger purely through instinct, Shiomi turned to intercept the blades, but in doing so, left an even greater opening for Suzuka Gozen.
The gust hadn't fully died down. Enemy attack programs caught in the vortex had been reduced to spirit particles, which Suzuka then converted into flame using her own mana.
"Himawari!"
A flash of light burst into a blazing tachi, hot enough to melt gold, as Daitouren slashed toward Shiomi's back.
"Tch..."
Shiomi narrowly avoided a fatal hit, but still took the blow and was sent flying. Twisting mid-air, he landed with a firm stance and patted out the flames clinging to his clothes.
With just a short activation phrase, Suzuka could shift the tachi freely into whatever form she needed.
And on top of that, there was the "Suiren" she'd shown in their previous fight.
Wind, fire, water.
These were the Grand Magecraft types Shiomi favored.
"A Master fighting at this level... Were you just faking weakness last time?" Suzuka muttered in frustration.
That decisive counterattack she'd pulled off had only managed to singe his clothes.
"Who knows? Just a temporary return to form, that's all."
Shiomi spun Gungnir in hand, his gaze sharp and focused.
There was nothing left to say.
The spear and the tachi clashed again on the battlefield.