Boom—!!
The eleven Lahmu launched their assault, targeting the Servants.
They moved with blinding speed, closing the distance to Mash in the blink of an eye.
Mash barely raised her shield to block one Lahmu's strike.
"These aren't ordinary Lahmu." Merlin dodged one attack, drew a 'sword' from his staff, and flung it at the Lahmu rushing him.
Though a mage, he handled two Lahmu with ease.
"Yeah, noticed that," Ishtar nodded; she'd also been ambushed by two Lahmu, but evaded with agile moves.
"These Lahmu could be called the Eleven Newborn Demon Beasts—tough opponents."
Merlin's expression turned grave; though a Magus, most mages learn some close-quarters defense.
So fighting these Lahmu with his staff was perfectly reasonable, right?
"Bottom line, we hold them off," Ishtar told Fujimaru and Ereshkigal. "You two stop Beast II from reaching the surface."
While they spoke, Tiamat had begun climbing upward; though her wing-horns had been severed by King Hassan, her colossal body could still move.
Once she left the Underworld, Tiamat would no longer suffer its constant attacks, and the other Servants would struggle to inflict greater harm.
"Roger!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash nodded; Ereshkigal also grasped the gravity of the situation. The three of them shot into the air without a word and raced after Tiamat.
Staff in hand, Merlin faced the enemy, Ishtar going all-out.
The two of them held back nearly five Lahmu.
But stopping five wasn't enough—another six surged straight toward Fujimaru's group.
At that moment, though Ereshkigal lacked confidence, she said earnestly, "I'll find a way to hold her back!"
Just then several Lahmu pounced. Mash rushed in without hesitation and blocked them.
Excellent though she was, Mash couldn't fight five at once; inevitably she was blasted out of the sky.
Seeing this, Ereshkigal and Fujimaru landed and hurried to help Mash.
Ishtar and Merlin arrived right behind them—Ishtar drawing the Lahmu away while Merlin shielded Mash and fought hand-to-hand.
In that brief clash of strength Merlin was forced back a step. "This power—on the level of a god!" he exclaimed.
"Fujimaru, leave this to me." With a dazzling smile he added, "I've always wanted to say that line."
"Merlin…" Fujimaru couldn't imagine how he intended to stop a divine-class Lahmu.
"Well then," Merlin said, smile widening, "time for my specialty."
Even as the words left his lips a holy sword appeared in his grip; he gripped it and lunged.
In an instant—before the Lahmu could react—its body was severed.
Another Lahmu, witnessing this, turned its arm into a weapon and charged.
Merlin traded blows with it, then with a beam from his staff obliterated the foe.
Watching the corpse fall, he chuckled. "Even Artoria used to fall for that trick."
Seventh Singularity: Absolute Demonic Front—Babylonia.
"Lord Merlin, is that really you?!" Ushiwakamaru stared at the screen, stunned to see the mage cutting down Lahmu with a sword.
Was this the same eccentric spell-slinger? And since when was he a swordsman?
Why was he swinging a blade?!
"Well, well…" Leonidas I gave a wry laugh; the mage touted as a Grand candidate was actually a master fencer.
It left everyone momentarily speechless.
"Oh dear, oh dear…" Merlin grew sheepish—his ace had been broadcast for all to see.
Still, a mage who could fence was perfectly reasonable, right?
Look at King Gilgamesh—court Magus yet he fought with an axe.
And the famed King Solomon—
Thanks to Merlin's display the group temporarily shook off the Lahmu and pressed on after Goddess Tiamat.
Yet Merlin and Ishtar had only halted a handful.
More caught up, blocking Fujimaru once again.
Just as Mash prepared to deploy her Noble Phantasm to hold them back, a black-caped, black-armored skeleton knight stepped forward, dark greatsword in hand.
With casual ease he slew one of the Lahmu Merlin had rated as god-class.
"A foe like a demon god—worth cleaving; were I to stop at lopping a limb, this blade would rust."
He planted himself before Fujimaru and asked calmly, "Mage of Chaldea, do you require an Assassin?"
"King Hassan! Please!" Fujimaru answered at once; she had seen him duel Gawain in sunlight and wound Tiamat herself.
She wanted to protest that no proper assassin wore heavy plate and swung a claymore, but there was no time.
"Understood. From this moment my name and my blade are bound to you."
"Though I cast the Grand title back to the primal sea, my assassination arts remain unmarred."
"Contractor, wield this death-bringing sword as you will—may it last forever if fate allows."
Mash beamed at his back. "Yes! There's no ally we'd trust more!"
"Thank you!" Fujimaru, Mash, and Ereshkigal sped away.
Only King Hassan remained, facing the six surviving Lahmu.
A bell tolled—boom!—and blue fire kindled in his eyes as he vanished from their sight.
The Lahmu milled in confusion, then started after Fujimaru.
A slash—shhk!—and one dropped dead.
Blue flames erupted from the ground, reducing another to ash.
The battle had only begun.
....
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