Huff… huff…
The cold wind from the plane's low flight blew across the Shogun's bangs. The next instant, two figures leapt from the high cargo bay—though strictly speaking, one carried the other.
Wearing her magical equipment, Fiore used her steel claws to grasp her brother Caules by the upper body and vaulted from the plane.
Crash!
Using the device to soften the fall, she landed cleanly before the Shogun. Truly, this tool was quite convenient.
"Waaah~!"
Caules screamed all the way down. Upon landing, he clutched his chest, gasping for air—nearly fainting from the shock.
"Haa… Shogun, are you hurt?"
Fiore exhaled slightly and, after setting Caules down, turned to the Shogun. Though she knew the other would not be injured, her concern was instinctive.
"Not at all. You…"
The Shogun's eyes narrowed slightly as they fell upon Fiore's face.
"Uh… w-what is it?"
Flustered, Fiore averted her gaze. The mechanical arms supporting her shifted back a step with her unease.
"You… have grown more haggard again."
The Shogun's gaze and senses were ever keen, her perception delicate. Though they had been apart only briefly, she had already noticed the difference: her face looked paler than before.
"Eh? Ah…"
Fiore let out a small breath of relief. So that was it—just her complexion. For a moment she had feared the Shogun would ask about her shameful act of whispering her name earlier… unfinished though it was, it remained mortifying.
"Perhaps… I'm just a bit tired. I haven't really rested much."
She offered a casual excuse, hoping to gloss over it. She could not reveal the truth—that it was the strain of mana consumption. Even if she had to endure it, she would not say it aloud, afraid the Shogun might hesitate to draw upon her power.
"..."
The Shogun fell silent, her eyes fixed steadily upon Fiore's.
"Uuh…"
Almost instinctively, Fiore wanted to avert her gaze—but she forced herself to meet it.
"…Is it because of me?"
The Shogun's voice lowered, gentle, her eyes falling slightly.
"!"
Fiore's heart leapt. Only now did she realize how delicate this woman's heart was. Could someone with such perception and sensitivity truly be a puppet? She could hardly believe it.
"No… it isn't. My mana is more than enough, Shogun can use it freely… hehe… I'm only a little tired, really."
She shook her head quickly, smiling faintly to reassure her.
"Haa…"
The Shogun only sighed softly.
"You needn't comfort me. I know your nature well… it was my oversight."
She shook her head with a hint of apology. Indeed, she had been careless—forgetting this was not Inazuma, where her Electro could be used without limit. Opening the Plane of Euthymia, then unleashing Musou no Hitotachi… all of it had drawn from this young woman's mana. She had borne that draining pain alone.
"Shogun~! You don't need to apologize to me. This is my duty. Haa… if you speak like this, you'll… you'll make it hard for me, you know?"
For the first time, Fiore pouted faintly. Ignoring Caules, she puffed her cheeks and muttered at the woman before her, displeased at her guilt. Even if drained dry, she would never complain.
"Uh… um… shall we go?"
Caules scratched his head awkwardly, finally interrupting them.
"Haa… let's go."
The Shogun did not press further. Turning, she beckoned them forward and stepped out first.
"Mm…"
Fiore gave a quiet nod, following behind, as did Caules.
It was their first time entering the Aerial Garden's inner passages. Jeanne and the others had passed through once already, but their traces were nowhere to be seen.
The corridors were dim and eerie, the walls etched with strange murals. Only the torches at either side gave faint light. Gothic thorn motifs wound along the edges of the walls, giving the impression of stepping into another world.
Caules and Fiore followed closely behind the Shogun. Caules nervously pushed up his glasses while his curiosity drew his eyes to the corridor's strange decorations, leaving him speechless. Fiore, however, kept her gaze upon the Shogun, her lips pressing lightly as she bit them in thought. Had she spoken too much earlier?
"Your kindness just now… I understand. I am but a puppet. Perhaps I do not understand the ways of people. It is inevitable that I may trouble you."
As though perceiving her thoughts, the Shogun suddenly spoke. In the silent corridor, her voice was all that rang out. She did not turn, but Fiore knew the words were meant for her.
"Not at all… I like it when the Shogun troubles me. Is that strange to say?"
"No."
The Shogun's answer was brief.
"Mm… Shogun, don't worry about me. Fight your enemies without restraint. Even if it means draining my mana, I don't mind. Don't hold back on my account."
Fiore drew closer to her side, leaning forward with a gentle smile as she looked directly at her face.
The Shogun did not reply, only gave a silent nod.
"And… perhaps it is not my place as an outsider to say this but… Shogun, even if you are a puppet, you are different. You are unique. You are one-of-a-kind… a beautiful puppet, with a heart."
The Shogun's steps faltered for a moment before she let out a faint sigh.
"You truly are… skilled at comforting others."
She turned to the girl supported by mechanical arms, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. From the beginning of her existence, she had always noticed—those she met were the kind who comforted others. It made her feel shy. Among such people, she was always the one being comforted.
"..."
Fiore only blushed and nodded softly.
Click…
Suddenly, the passage lit up. There were no lamps or torches—it must have been powered by mana. Yet the light revealed no enemy, only as though it had brightened to greet them.
The corridor now gleamed, its gloom dispelled. The style was solemn and grand, tinged with sanctity. Crimson walls, golden thorns, wooden floors. At the end stood a towering red-and-gold gate, several dozen meters high, waiting to be opened.
Rumble…
But the massive gate opened on its own, revealing a magnificent hall. A crimson carpet stretched forward, thorned spires lined the chamber, and at its center rose a throne.
Upon it sat a woman in black Gothic attire—Red's Assassin, Semiramis.
"Welcome… to my court, Saber of Black~!"
Lounging upon her throne, her chin resting lazily on her hand, the Empress spoke down with haughty, languid tone.
For them to reach this place meant only one thing: Lancer had fallen. As expected.
"…You two, stay here."
The Shogun stopped, instructing Caules and Fiore, before stepping alone into the vast hall.
"Shogun, be careful…"
Fiore's voice called after her in concern.
The Shogun, without turning, lifted a hand lightly, a silent gesture: Do not worry.
"Heh…"
Semiramis scoffed, amused, her gaze lowering condescendingly upon the figure below. Then she pressed a switch, and the massive doors behind the Shogun shut tight.
"!"
Fiore instinctively moved forward, but Caules stopped her.
Boom…
With a dull thud, the gates sealed, cutting off the passage from the hall.
In the Aerial Garden's main control hall—
"How do you find my 'Aerial Garden'? A pity that you and that wretched bird ruined it beyond recognition. Hmph… don't you think that's rather rude, Saber?"
This was her proud creation, yet before her stood the woman who had torn it to pieces. Worse still, her beauty rivaled—no, even surpassed—her own. For a woman, nothing was more unbearable than losing in appearance to another!
"A foolish question. Since you are the enemy, why would I show mercy?"
The Shogun showed no irritation toward her lofty posture. She cared nothing for thrones or superiority. Her tone was cold as steel.
"Do not stand in this vessel's way. Lest you invite pain upon your skin."
She was here for the Grail. If her foe insisted on courting death, she would happily cut down another. The number of Servants who had fallen before her in recent days was beyond count—what was one more?
"Hmph… hahahahaha~!!"
Semiramis burst into laughter, the mocking sound echoing across the grand chamber and into the Shogun's ears.
The Shogun narrowed her eyes, fixing her with a hard gaze.
"Such arrogance."
The Empress steadied her laughter, her eyes dripping disdain.
"Hmph… I neither know nor care what petty god you are. But this is not your realm, and you are no divinity here. The one seated upon the throne is I. The one who looks down upon you is I. Do not dare bring your godlike airs before me! Even arrogance must have its limits!"
Crack!
Her voice sharpened into fury as she raised a hand—
Countless azure magic circles blossomed across the sky like cannon muzzles, all trained upon the Shogun below. Their glow reflected upon her face, casting her in pale-blue light.
"Did you truly think you broke in here? How naive! Of course it was a trap to draw you in!!"
Snap…
From her throne, Semiramis snapped her fingers.
Boom!
From the circles rained a deluge of azure beams, fierce torrents cutting through the floor as they roared toward the Shogun!
In a flash, the Shogun became lightning, vanishing from their path.
Crash!
The hall erupted in searing fire.
When she reappeared on the far side, the circles shifted instantly, as though they had tracking ability, locking onto her once more.
Boom!
Again they fired, streams of blue mana surging like serpents, snapping toward her!
The Shogun raised Musou Isshin overhead. Bathed in an ocean of crackling Electro, she summoned several giant Eyes of Electro into the air. Instantly, the azure glow was devoured by violet—the hall's very space dyed in thunder's hue.
Swish!
With a swing of her blade, each Eye unleashed its own torrent of lightning. The violet streams clashed against the azure, colliding in dazzling impact. Energy swelled into blazing spheres, shockwaves hurling rubble and dust across the hall.
"Tch… quite the arsenal."
The Empress clicked her tongue in disdain. She had not expected ranged attacks. Truly, this Saber was the most versatile she had ever seen.
But the Shogun did not relent. Even as the torrents clashed in stalemate, she opened more Eyes of Electro across the chamber. Their pupils dilated—and a storm of violet light-bullets rained forth. Beams and bullets tangled together, a forest of light where beams stood as trees and bullets as undergrowth.
Straight beams could not block the weaving storm of bullets. In moments, the barrage curved past the clashing torrents, streaking straight for Assassin's throne!
"Hmph…"
Semiramis remained unfazed, lifting her hand. Before the throne, an azure barrier expanded to cover her fully. Fearless, she let the barrage crash against it.
Boom! ×N
Each impact was powerful enough to shake the chamber, yet still the barrier held.
"My turn, then."
The Empress raised her hand again, summoning another magic circle. From it burst a volley of small light projectiles, each splitting further upon contact with the air, scattering like a storm of shards.
Unlike her foe, the Shogun did not bother erecting a shield. Instead, she changed tactics. With her free left hand, she summoned Engulfing Lightning; her right still wielded Musou Isshin. This was her school's twin-blade style.
Her foot struck the ground, a shockwave rippling outward, fracturing the stone beneath.
Boom!
Her body shot forth like a bullet, streaking into lightning. Threading through the countless gaps, she darted like a thunder serpent, racing up the wall and sprinting across its curved surface.
The hall was circular. She became a counterclockwise second hand, hugging the arc of the wall, spiraling ever closer toward Assassin's throne.
"Trivial tricks."
Unmoved, Semiramis rested her chin upon her hand, watching her approach sidelong. With a snap of her fingers—
Snap!
Every circle swiveled in unison, their beams tracking her like spotlights.
Seeing this, the Shogun finally raised a shield of thunder about herself, violet light cocooning her form.
Boom! ×N
Explosions rocked the chamber. Dust and debris filled the air, her trajectory lost in the haze.
But agile footwork and blazing speed carried her past every obstacle. Kicking off the wall, she launched straight at the throne, body coiling like a spinning top. One hand gripped Musou Isshin, the other Engulfing Lightning—twin blades whirling in a spiral, flooding the air with gleaming arcs.
The Empress raised her barrier once more, waiting calmly.
Yet the next moment shook her.
It was not Engulfing Lightning that struck first, but Musou Isshin. The violet blade that could shake space itself cut through her magical barrier as though it were paper.
"What—?!"
She did not think. Her body reacted instinctively, vanishing from the throne just as the blade nearly took her head. She reappeared on the distant floor.
BOOM!
The throne exploded behind her, its fragments raining down. What had once been a magnificent seat was now cleanly cleaved in two. The cut was flawless, its surface shimmering with starry violet light. A blade without an edge—yet sharper than any sword.
Semiramis touched her neck. Her fingers came away with blood. A heavy breath escaped her. Had she hesitated an instant longer, her head would be gone.
The Shogun now stood before the ruined throne, gazing down upon her opponent, their positions reversed.
"You… you are the height of rudeness!"
The Empress snarled, her face twisted with fury.
"The one upon the throne is I. The one who looks down upon you is I. Even arrogance must have its limits~"
The Shogun sat casually upon the throne, crossing her legs, a faint mocking smile upon her lips. Word for word, she returned the Empress' earlier declaration—her tone deliberately mimicking her foe.
Her smile was mischievous, like that of a stubborn young girl refusing to be outdone in a game of insults.
But for Semiramis, it was salt upon the wound.
"Hah… wretched woman… don't grow too full of yourself!"
Fury warped her smile as she glared upward at the Shogun.