Chapter 579: The Beast and Her Allies
In the blink of an eye, the young man arrived at his destination.
The tide of calamity had receded, leaving behind only a crater hundreds of meters wide and magma oozing slowly from radial fissures. The molten rock intertwined with azure streams, crawling weakly like dying serpents, weaving a peculiar tapestry of red and blue.
Black smoke rose, scorching shattered scales, broken armor, scattered bloodstains, and the stiff, twitching remains of hostile programs… Even a cursory examination of the traces here could reveal the intensity of the battle that had taken place.
Like archaeologists, the Masters gathered in small groups, analyzing the remnants while warily eyeing their so-called "allies."
"Two sides, one wielding flames, the other water—truly incompatible," a magi sighed, shaking his head. Behind him, a golden-haired boy with a mix of roguishness and childishness spun his revolver, gazing enviously ahead.
"Man, I wish I had superpowers like these big shots… Even though we've all become Servants by some unreasonable twist, why am I still stuck fighting with a pistol?"
"Watch your words, Archer," the magi chided, stopping his Servant from revealing more. He turned to his temporary partner, another magi. "Can you discern anything?"
"There's the presence of a dragon… and a god." The test tube in his hand shimmered with crimson and golden hues under some unknown magecraft. His partner's expression turned grave. "Both sides are extraordinary existences. Whether dragon or god, their ranks are absurdly high."
"Is that so? Then it's all the more necessary to investigate."
The magi smiled, his eyes betraying the savagery of a hunter.
They had already grasped the ferocity of the battle that had unfolded here—a level of power beyond what their Servants could achieve. Yet, precisely because of that, they had to press forward.
If they didn't seize this opportunity to eliminate the threats while the two sides were locked in conflict, what chance would they have when they faced them directly?
Eliminating the Master who had fought a Servant to a standstill would be cause for celebration. But if they could go further and kill the foolish Master who had issued the invitation as well… that would be an even greater boon!
The invited jackals exchanged glances, baring their fangs and licking their lips in anticipation.
But then, crisp footsteps rang out. A young man in red robes approached, holding a divine bow, step by step.
"Halt. This path is closed."
Battle aura surged. Under the silent pressure, the golden-haired gunslinger blocked the young man's path, his eyes lowered, the barrel of his gun already aimed at the newcomer's heart. At the same time, a Viking warrior wielding a bloodied axe materialized beside another Master, his beast-like growl rumbling from his throat as a warning.
"This presence… a Servant?" The magi was surprised, as no Master could be detected nearby. "Unfamiliar Servant, state your purpose."
Hearing this, the handsome young man stopped and raised his eyes to scrutinize the two wary Servants before him. Soon, however, he lost interest and averted his gaze.
"One question, one promise. Give me these, and we can avoid conflict."
What arrogance!
As if he had already decided our fate!
The magi was so furious that he laughed instead. Just as he was about to speak, his golden-haired Servant stopped him with a slight shake of his head.
After a moment of surprise, he ultimately chose to restrain himself. "...Go on, what is it?"
"Thank you for your understanding." After a perfunctory courtesy, the young man said, "I need to know the whereabouts of the two warring parties."
"Oh, so you're just another one looking to kick them while they're down..." the magi said irritably. "According to the last tracking, they're heading deeper into the labyrinth, getting closer to the core of Sakatsuki Sōkai."
"Thanks." Without hesitation, the young man strode forward, casually adding, "As for the remaining promise—to give up pursuit and leave Sakatsuki Sōkai—this battle is no longer something you can meddle in."
Like a disdainful glance from a mountaintop, though never openly provocative, the condescending arrogance was even more unbearable. The magi stared fixedly at the young man's retreating figure, almost ordering his Servant to attack. But the words that followed froze him in place, chilling him to the bone.
"Archer—Billy the Kid, Berserker—Bloodaxe Eric. If that's all you've got, don't come looking for death."
Their True Names... exposed?
When did that happen?
The sudden terror nearly suffocated the magi. When he snapped back to reality, he immediately retreated, putting distance between himself and the ferocious Viking king. Unsurprisingly, his 'partner' also stepped forward instantly, denying the infamous gunslinger any chance to pull the trigger.
The distance between them remained unchanged, but when they looked at each other again, the pretense of warmth had been stripped away. In their eyes, only endless hostility and wariness remained.
On the path to the Holy Grail War, there were no allies—only enemies. Enemies who would clash sword against sword, bone against bone, fighting to the death.
And Sakatsuki had already vanished from their sight.
————
Torrents surged, calamitous flames roared.
A warrior clad in form-fitting battle attire, with golden hair billowing behind them—so beautiful their gender was indistinguishable—brandished a spear. The War God who commanded the waters bestowed blessings, filling the air with purifying power that condensed into watery arrows shooting forward.
"Nuada's Clear Stream!"
They shouted the divine name, but even such reverence was drowned out by the beast's roar. Crimson flames surged, and scorching steam violently filled every corner of the battlefield. By the time the warrior reacted, venomous embers erupted, instantly breaking through their offense and piercing their shoulder!
Blood evaporated before it could even flow, congealing into grotesque scabs. Faced with such a horrifying wound, the warrior frowned slightly, passing their left hand over the injury. Purifying waters emerged, healing the damage in an instant.
Though the wound was minor, the warrior knew they alone were no match for their opponent.
"As expected of an enemy of humanity, one of the seven great evils rejected by human history." Even at a disadvantage, the beautiful man remained composed. He glared at the red-clad little girl clutching the illusory Holy Grail, baring her teeth at him, while secretly communicating with his Master.
"Master, haven't the invited Masters arrived yet?"
"Too bad, Lancer, your plan might have fallen through." Hundreds of meters away, the golden-haired older sister rolled her eyes, her fingers swiping across a virtual interface as she watched the glowing dots scatter like startled birds. "I don't know what happened, but the encirclement formed by the Masters has collapsed on its own. They're all running faster than rabbits, as if chased by some beast."
"Strange. Given the nature of these magi, they wouldn't pass up an opportunity to profit from others' conflicts," the handsome man murmured, unable to hide his confusion. "There shouldn't be any invincible hostile programs in the Sea of January… Even if they changed their minds, it shouldn't be so unanimous."
"..."
"My dear lady, if possible, may I request permission to unleash my Noble Phantasm?"
"..."
"Huh?! Could it be… Master!!!"
By the time the handsome man realized what was happening, it was already too late. Within the layered barriers of magecraft, his Master's eyes widened in despair as overwhelming pain engulfed her like a tidal wave.
The mirror magecraft reflected the woman's gruesome state—her heart, throat, hands, and feet were all pierced by razor-sharp arrows, pinning her in place like hammered nails. She couldn't move, couldn't scream.
All she could do was feel her life slipping away, bit by bit!
Who did this? How did they find me? Why didn't the barriers trigger any alarms?!
After obtaining such a powerful Servant… why must I die in a place like this!
There was no time left for thought. The golden-haired woman's gaze dimmed as she succumbed to death, drowning in resentment and despair. The Command Spells on the back of her hand faded away, and the moment the contract was severed, the man in the distance finally understood—too late—in bitter regret.
"I see… So you had accomplices after all." His gaze toward the Beast was no longer calm but filled with unyielding killing intent. Even as his body began to crumble against his will, the handsome man stubbornly raised his spear, pointing its tip at the silent Beast.
"Regardless, you must die here today. Not just out of vengeance, but because a calamity like you has no place in this world!"
"By the name of the leader of the Knights of Fianna, I, Fionn mac Cumhaill, swear to personally eradicate the Beast that overturns human order!"
Declaring his heroic resolve, the mythic incarnation known as Fionn spun his spear, divine will coalescing upon it as radiant light of demon-slaying erupted: "Awaken, my spear!"
From the void surged countless streams of water. The noble spear, reflecting the divine authority left by the god of war, blazed with resplendent and solemn radiance. The torrential rivers converged into a single point at the spear's tip before being unleashed with the man's mighty cry:
"A demonic strike that felled even fallen gods. Taste its wrath—Mac an Luin!"
The overwhelming cascade descended from the heavens, the gale it stirred tousling the young girl's hair. The Beast clutching the false Holy Grail wore an expression of annoyance as behind her, crimson flames rose in defiance.
"Calamity crosses the sea, flames spread, laughter roars!"
Suppressing the discomfort of a looming threat, Draco raised her voice, summoning the power of the Beast's calamity. From the shadows slithered creeping beasts, casting disdainful glances upon the mortal world. As one lifted its claw and lightly tapped the air, forbidden tides of blood descended from the void!
"O Sevenfold Dragon, become my fingers! Embrace, melt, devour all—Rosa Sanguis!"
The crimson flames clashed with divine tides, splashing countless interwoven sparks of light that soared high before crashing down, raining a mingled shower of blue and scarlet. Amidst the wailing collapse of the ground, the violent conflict of fire and waves submerged the depths of the labyrinth!
A deafening roar drowned out the sound of breaking wind as Finn, startled, looked down to find a spiraling arrow piercing through his chest—then exploding, obliterating the man completely before the annihilating tsunami could recoil, leaving neither form nor spirit behind. Meanwhile, Draco watched the surging waves expressionlessly, sighing inwardly.
Is this the end...?
With slender arms cradling the false vessel, the phantom-like Cauldron of Desire voraciously consumed the man's final counterattack until the tides wailed, burned away by the scarlet flames, ceasing to exist.
As the dust settled, the ravaged labyrinth bore only the breathtaking hue of red. The young girl in a thin crimson dress slowly withdrew the illusory Holy Grail. After confirming no one remained nearby, she finally allowed her stubbornness to fade, breathing in shallow gasps as her face visibly paled.
Finn McCool's hostility was justified, but was Draco truly the Beast?
At most, she was but the Beast's shadow—a tiny red dragon dwelling within her contractor's shade.
Had that enemy not suddenly suffered a spiritual collapse at the last moment, drastically weakening, his Noble Phantasm symbolizing purification would never have been something Draco could withstand so easily. What puzzled the little dragon more was sensing Finn preparing another strike—only for his presence to vanish abruptly at the critical moment.
And that 'accomplice' he mentioned...
What was going on?
Lost in thought, the weakened Draco failed to notice the lunar spirits casting their gaze across the battlefield, where hostile programs far surpassing the level of the First Lunar Sea were gradually taking form. Hundreds of meters away, Sakatsuki lowered his Crowned Bow, his peripheral vision catching a hurried crimson figure. He couldn't help but raise a brow.
You again...?
"Nero Claudius?"
He should have raised his bow without hesitation. He should have aimed the arrow at her Spirit Core without delay...
Yet when that face entered his sight, the young man froze. Silently, silently, he watched the girl breach his blockade, rushing past the countless vanished Servants and dead Masters toward the labyrinth's depths.
After a long pause, he let out an unmistakably irritated sigh.
"Your troublesome majesties... don't make this difficult for me."