When Daniel issued the party invitation, Rikudou Reika didn't think much and nodded in agreement immediately.
It wasn't for any messy reason, mainly because she was a bit afraid of being captured by the Magi of the Red and Black sides.
After all, these past few days, she had gained some understanding of the methods of Magi.
If she encountered a Magus who could kill her cleanly and quickly, it would be considered extremely lucky for her.
And Daniel looked like a pretty strong thigh to lean on, so she planned to cling to him.
As for Daniel's later mention of wandering through various worlds, she didn't understand it and didn't plan to look into it deeply.
Anyway, it was all much the same to her.
However, it seemed Daniel's team lacked someone skilled at cooking; she might need to pay more attention to development in this area in the future.
Since she only knew simple dishes, if she wanted to take root in a team, she had better continue learning.
The path of growth is endless!
On the other side, Father Amakusa, who had already sensed that things were going wrong and was trying hard to pull the track back to the original plan, already had a furrowed brow.
Although Achilles was in a one-sided race with Atalanta, he was still obediently sending back information.
So Amakusa Shirou Tokisada had some understanding of what was currently happening in the town.
But he didn't understand it at all.
Through his previous instigation, he already knew who the Servants of each class in the Black Faction were.
So, here came the question: what was the deal with this so-called Caster, Sanzang Fashi, who was purifying Jack the Ripper in the town?
Amakusa Shirou Tokisada voiced his confusion, and then a response that made his head ache came from Achilles.
"Eh? I contacted my master before, didn't he tell you?"
"When our Berserker launched a fierce attack on the Black Faction's base, didn't the Black Faction's Saber and Berserker jump out to intercept me and Big Sis? This Caster appeared back then, but her purpose was to accompany the Berserker who was with her to find trouble with the Black Faction's Saber."
"Wait! How is there another Berserker?" Amakusa Shirou Tokisada asked in shock. "What's going on with these two unplanned Servants?"
"It seems my master really didn't tell you anything." Achilles already had some faint guesses in his heart.
"Those two unplanned Servants you mentioned claim to be from the Ruler Faction and are assistants accompanying Ruler."
"...Could it be that this isn't just a war between the Red and Black sides, but a three-way melee?" Amakusa Shirou Tokisada murmured.
"I'm not too sure about that. But when approaching that town, I sensed that besides Caster Sanzang Fashi, our Red Faction's Saber, and the Black Faction's Assassin, there was another Servant on the scene. I just don't know if that Servant belongs to the Black Faction or is an extra Servant from the Ruler Faction? Anyway, it wasn't the Berserker I met before."
Amakusa Shirou Tokisada had already begun pressing his temples and inhaling cold air in the temple.
To be honest, he was mentally prepared for the 'Lord' to oppose his plan, but he really hadn't expected the opposition to be so strong that a 'Ruler Faction' level force was forcibly inserted between the Red and Black sides.
But it was also impossible for him to give up on his original plan.
Unless his 'Lord' descended in person and killed him with His own hands.
Otherwise, his goal would not waver in the slightest.
"Rider, do you think there's a chance to persuade Archer back?" Amakusa Shirou Tokisada asked in a cold tone.
"...It's hard," Achilles replied. "Unless we stay away from that town before the Jack the Ripper business is over and don't lay a hand on anyone from the Ruler Faction, otherwise Big Sis will definitely fight us to the death."
"If we use command spells..."
"Then be prepared for Big Sis to use her Noble Phantasm and catch us all in it the moment the command spells lose effect." Achilles interrupted Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, his tone gradually becoming unfriendly. "Also, if you really plan to have Big Sis's master do that, then after this is over, besides Big Sis, I will also act with the goal of killing you."
Amakusa Shirou Tokisada completely lost control of his expression.
"I understand." Amakusa Shirou Tokisada finally managed to steady his emotions and answered, "The matter of Archer will be left entirely to you to handle."
Having said that, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada unilaterally cut off contact with Achilles.
"master, is the situation very bad now?" The Red Faction's Assassin, Semiramis, deactivated her spirit form and appeared beside Amakusa Shirou Tokisada to ask.
"Yeah, it is indeed a bit bad," Amakusa Shirou Tokisada nodded with a frown. "Archer is now beyond our control; even with one moment of carelessness, she will become our enemy."
"Then should we use a command spell to execute her directly? Or should I take action?" Semiramis looked at Amakusa Shirou Tokisada and asked. "I don't think Rider would have the heart to deal a fatal blow to Archer."
"No, it hasn't come to that yet," Amakusa Shirou Tokisada shook his head. "Besides, Archer still has a very important role; this is not the time for her to be lost here."
"In any case, call everyone back first and focus on the Black Faction," Amakusa Shirou Tokisada said with a grim face. "Once the Black Faction is dealt with and the greater grail is seized, if Archer still refuses to be enemies with the Ruler Faction, then we'll use a command spell to make her retire."
"By then, the magical energy needed for the greater grail should have been gathered anyway." Amakusa Shirou Tokisada restrained his emotions and became expressionless. "As long as I make a wish to the greater grail before Ruler can react, my goal will be achieved."
"And at that time, whether it's Archer or Rider, it won't matter anymore whether they are willing to follow orders."
"And none of this would be possible without your support, Assassin," Amakusa Shirou Tokisada turned to look at Semiramis and said.
"Hmph hmph hmph, this is the character my master should have." A cold smile appeared on Semiramis's face.
But deep in her eyes, a trace of unease was hidden.
This unease was not for herself.
After all, she was just a Servant; if she lost, she could just try harder in the next Holy Grail War.
But Amakusa Shirou Tokisada was different.
He was a person who had already received a physical body, and he was clearly targeting the Ruler Faction, acting as if the reason the Ruler Faction descended was specifically to stop him.
If the people of the Ruler Faction weren't eliminated, then even if Amakusa Shirou Tokisada made his wish, he would probably be killed by them.
But he had never spoken of a plan targeting that aspect.
No, or rather, for him, once that wish was made, whether he himself could still live would no longer be important.
But that won't do!
She, the Empress of Assyria, Semiramis, would not allow it!
What she wanted to see was the look of a smile on her master's face after he made his wish.
Not to see him being cut down the second after he made his wish.
Although why she had such a thought, the Empress of Assyria herself couldn't say for sure.
But she just hoped for the former to happen and to avoid the latter.
After glancing at Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, the Empress of Assyria resumed her spirit form.
Her Noble Phantasm, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, was almost complete. she had to perform the final inspection work, and then it could be officially put into use.
In order to realize her own wish...
At the moment Third Magic is achieved, to become the Queen who rules the world herself...
No, although that's what she told Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, she didn't think that was the reason she was persisting so much.
Although she was interested in ruling the world, she didn't desire it to the point of using the greater grail to realize that wish.
The thing she truly wanted?
Something like what Amakusa Shirou Tokisada had, something he desperately wanted even at the cost of his life...
She still didn't understand it.
So, all she could do now was continue to follow in that fool's footsteps.
---
Achilles was very busy now.
To demonstrate his reputation as the Fastest in Greece, he really wasn't holding back and was running with all his might.
But he couldn't help that the person behind him was the fastest female hero in Greece, and a sharpshooter to boot.
So since he unilaterally announced the 'competition' event was a race, he had been dodging arrows from that sharpshooter behind him who was specifically aiming for his heels.
And the current situation was so dire that if he got even slightly distracted, he might be in danger of having his heel shot by that sharpshooter.
Big Sis really wasn't holding back at all.
She looked very much like she wouldn't stop until she shot him dead today.
Achilles suffered in silence, but he couldn't say it.
If he had known, he wouldn't have done such a stubborn thing.
However, this way, a certain thing could also be confirmed.
Although his and Big Sis's masters had fallen into the hands of that Dark-skinned Father, there seemed to be no danger; they were just confused by some method.
It couldn't even be called hypnosis.
After all, the master hadn't told the Father a single thing about the information he had reported...
Or rather, had that information not even reached his own master?
Although his communication had reached the master's side, had it not been received by the person himself?
Just how did that Dark-skinned Father manage to do that?
In the split second before he could dodge, Achilles swept away the arrows with his spear and ducked into the nearby dense forest with a swift movement.
He planned to change course and run a few laps around the town first.
He would lead Big Sister around to wear down her anger; perhaps there would still be a chance for them to fight side-by-side in a friendly manner.
Boom—!
Just as Achilles was thinking this, a loud explosion suddenly came from a certain mountain in the distance, followed by flames that burned nearly half the mountainside.
"Hiss—that Lancer guy is really going all out." Achilles twitched the corner of his mouth as he looked in that direction. "But can flames of this level really have any effect on that Lord God?"
"Without the support of command spells, that Lancer guy is in danger."
Whoosh—!
Watching an arrow graze past his cheek, Achilles began to break into a cold sweat.
Big Sister is finally starting to regain her calm and use tactics.
What a terrible turn of events!
---
"Tsk, it should be around here." Mordred glanced at the alleyway, which showed no signs of life, and curled her lip. "The concealment methods are quite clever, but the handling of the surrounding environment is inappropriate, making it stand out too much instead."
"Hey, Black Faction, come out!" Mordred pointed her kings sword into the alley. "Don't tell me you don't even have the courage to fight me? Then I suggest you go home to your mothers and suckle! Ahahaha!"
"Ugh—!" In a dark corner, an infuriated Frankenstein gripped her war hammer, wanting to rush out.
But Caules held her back just in time.
"Berserker, now is not the time." Caules shook his head at her. "Besides, the situation is unclear; it's not suitable to start a battle suddenly."
"How strange..." Fiore tilted her head in confusion. "So much time has passed; the Servants of the Red Faction should have charged in by now."
"Even if Ruler is guarding the outside, she shouldn't be able to block all attacks outside the town, right? Why haven't we heard any commotion?"
"Could it be that Lancer went out to support Ruler?" Seeing that Frankenstein had obediently shrunk back, Caules speculated.
"Unlikely," Fiore shook her head and replied. "If Lancer had left Mr. Li Lin, then the Red Faction's Saber shouldn't be here; she should have gone to support them instead."
"Mr. Li Lin considers himself weak, so he never acts alone."
"If Lancer left Caster's side, then besides the Caster currently in the 'Temple,' there would be no other Servant guards around him."
"Although I don't know what deal they made with the Red Faction's Saber, he shouldn't trust her much either. Otherwise, he would have sent her to patrol the town instead of supporting Ruler."
"He couldn't possibly know that we also have people lying in wait in the town."
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