Shirou Emiya mourned his house, silently praying it would be spared, or at least not reduced to rubble.
If only minor parts were damaged, he could repair them as he did last night. But if it was completely destroyed, he'd have to move elsewhere and hire builders.
"And my precious collection... please let it be safe!"
He fervently prayed for his cherished games, collected over years. Losing them would truly hurt.
Artoria, seeing Rin wield powerful defensive magecraft, was astonished. She hadn't expected Morpheus's Master to possess such formidable spells.
"So that's why Morpheus was fine with Rin going to school alone? This defense would take even me time to break, giving her enough time to summon help with a Command Seal.
"This unknown Archer isn't weak, yet Rin and Sakura's combination is holding him back impressively. Their teamwork is formidable.
"Good thing Shirou's with them. If he were alone, this would've been dangerous…"
Artoria tightened her grip on her weapon, addressing the Archer. "Why are you here? All the Holy Grail War's Servants should already be summoned!"
Robin Hood, sensing Artoria's strength, knew the ambush had failed. He sighed, shouting, "Alright, stop fighting. Truce for now!"
Astolfo, hearing him, exclaimed, "Eh? No more fighting?!"
His voice brimmed with joy.
Sakura glanced at Robin Hood, calling to Medusa, "Hold off for now."
At Sakura's command, Medusa ceased her attack, swiftly joining Artoria, eyeing Robin Hood warily.
"No fighting? Awesome! If we just talk it out, I bet we'll be fine!" Astolfo leapt off his eagle, bounding toward them.
Robin Hood didn't know how to react to his cheerfulness.
With the enemy clearly stronger, he didn't need to worry about explaining to Kirei Kotomine. Sharing some intel was a trade for more from them.
So, Robin Hood said, "Our appearance is your fault. Think about it... what's the Grail's purpose?"
"To crown a victor and grant a wish?" Shirou said. Rin glared at him, and he coughed, adding, "To connect the Root to reality and seek its truth."
Morpheus had taught this, noting it wasn't secret. Now was a good time to share.
"Exactly," Robin Hood said. "The Grail grants wishes using amassed mana, but it must manifest in reality. That requires a process... gathering conditions to open the channel.
"Normally, seven Servants fight until one remains, sacrificing six to stabilize the channel to the Root. But you've allied, preventing losses, so the Grail summoned us.
"Makes sense, right?"
His lips curled slightly. "Servants don't truly die; we return to the Throne. No real loss. For me, failing's fine.
"But winning? Free wish. Pretty sweet."
Rin sighed. "So, it doesn't matter whose Servant dies, as long as enough die to stabilize the channel?"
"Yep. Doesn't matter who, but to win and live, you take out the other side first."
Robin Hood shrugged. "Didn't expect you to be this strong. Mere humans with such magecraft? Our Master's intel was awful, and he's way too confident."
Hearing him criticize Kirei Kotomine, Rin scoffed. "So, if we eliminate you now, it fits the Grail's plan?"
"Perfect, right? Saves you from infighting later," Robin Hood said, as if unconcerned by death.
"Look, girl, I came to this world to stretch my legs. The Throne's boring. I've had my fun, so dying's no big deal." His smile widened. "Want to fight? I'm game!"
Rin was about to respond when Morpheus's voice echoed in her mind.
"Fight. I've got Illya covered!"
"Got it!" Rin nodded. Worried about Illya, the Grail's vessel, she relaxed knowing Morpheus had a plan. Smiling, she said, "Let's end this fight here!"
Sakura glanced at Rin, seeing her nod, knowing Morpheus had signaled. She smiled. "Let's do it. No need to hold back!"
"Eh?! We just stopped! Why fight again?!" Astolfo shouted, summoning his eagle to mount, but the woman before him summoned a winged horse!
As a fellow Rider, her fantastical mount outclassed his, leveling his aerial advantage and surpassing it with superior performance!
Meanwhile, Artoria unleashed her full power, striking like lightning. Poor Robin Hood, a true Archer, knew some close combat but couldn't match her.
Her speed dragged him into a melee hell, unable to keep distance.
In seconds, she slashed his torso, a wound too severe to heal quickly. Then, light pillars enveloped them.
"What?!" Shirou gasped, while Rin's face darkened. "Command Seal teleport. He realized the problem and pulled them out!"
"What now? Go to the church after the priest?" Shirou asked. Rin and Sakura exchanged glances, and Rin shook her head. "No, we go back and plan."
"Alright, back home!" Shirou nodded, eager to check his house's condition.
…
Earlier, before Morpheus contacted Rin.
Facing Morpheus's taunts alone, the Servants couldn't hold back.
As Morpheus blocked their initial strikes, Kiyohime swung her fan, unleashing raging flames that surged from the ground toward him!
The flames, carrying scorching heat, aimed to burn everything in their path!
Saber Gilles followed, keeping distance behind the flames, sword ready to strike when Morpheus countered the fire.
Lancer Diarmuid leapt, his red spear glowing with anti-magic power. He hurled it, a meteor outpacing the flames, aimed at Morpheus!
Assassin Hassan, freed from Morpheus's grasp, slipped into the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike fatally!
Their coordination was flawless!
The flames distracted, boosting the anti-magic spear's hit chance. Launched later but arriving first, it was hard to detect, perfect for breaking defenses!
Once protections fell, Kiyohime's flames would engulf the target, debilitating them. Gilles could then close in, trapping them in melee, unable to focus elsewhere.
In that moment, Hassan's stealth strike would send the target to the underworld.
A perfect plan!
Their combat experience ensured no one dragged the team down.
It should've worked.
But reality defied their expectations.
Facing the onslaught, Morpheus calmly raised his hand and waved. A surge of near-tangible mana crushed the flames.
For the anti-magic spear, he extended his right hand, grabbing its shaft with pinpoint precision, not budging an inch, holding it firm!
Wielding the spear, Morpheus aimed its tip at Gilles, thrusting it faster than it was thrown, piercing his body!
Gilles felt his armor crumble like paper under the spear, disintegrating instantly, his flesh struck!
Unable to react, he stabbed at Morpheus in desperation, hoping to force a retreat.
But Morpheus ignored the strike, closing in, grabbing Gilles's arm, and hurling him away!
Gilles's sword hit Morpheus, but it felt like striking an iron wall... his cloth clothes were tougher than armor!
Thrown onto Diarmuid, who'd just landed, Gilles would've been worse off if Diarmuid hadn't caught him.
In moments, Morpheus disabled both. Almost simultaneously, he rushed Kiyohime!
He grabbed her arm as she raised her fan. Her slender frame belied her Berserker status.
Morpheus yanked, pulling her forward, then threw her into the courtyard!
At its center was a magic circle... an evacuation array!
As Kiyohime landed, she found herself immobilized, locked by overwhelming power!
"What did you do?!" she shouted. Morpheus smiled. "Just sending you home, no thanks needed."
His hands reached into the shadows, grabbing something and hurling it into the circle. Hassan was dragged out, landing beside Kiyohime!
Turning to Diarmuid and Gilles, Morpheus advanced. "Your turn!"
***
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