It was decided that Mordred and I would be the ones to head for Paracelsus's hideout.
"Phew, I don't remember London's air being this thick and murky back in the day."
"The era has completely changed since your time."
"More importantly, do you really not trust those guys?"
"...It's standard practice to prepare for the worst-case scenario."
The King of Demon Gods had already attempted to plant spies through Kiyohime and Elizabeth. Back then, he was inexperienced and foolish... but this time, Zolgen and Paracelsus are individuals who manifested as his subordinates from the very beginning. It's only natural to be suspicious.
"Still, Tristan, Gareth, and Mash should be more than enough to keep them in check. Nursery Rhyme is a bit of a concern, but... I've already briefed them on the countermeasure."
Nursery Rhyme's potential lies in two things: the first is the level 99 Phantasmal Beast she summons, the Jabberwock; the second is her Reality Marble—the Nameless Forest—which causes one to forget even their own ego.
However, there is a specific way to breach her Reality Marble: the moment you speak your own name, the field collapses.
"Of course, the trap is that your name is the very first thing you forget. That's why I had everyone write their names on their palms in advance."
"Man, you really are paranoid... anyway, having to experience this kind of mess in the heart of London is unpleasant. To think those things that were crawling around like a zombie horde last night look so normal during the day."
Just as Mordred said, even though the sun was just beginning to set, the sounds and presence of people were easily noticeable throughout the corners of London.
It was certainly a stretch to call it a 'normal' London, but the scenery was far too peaceful for a land allegedly struck by the King of Demon Gods' curse.
"Anyway, you really do love Britain, don't you? Should I say that's typical for one of the Round Table?"
"Hmph, getting a compliment from you doesn't make me feel good at all. And the reason I love Britain isn't just because I'm a Knight of the Round Table. The reason is..."
Just as she was about to say, 'Because it's the country ruled by King Arthur!', Mordred's expression hardened, and she unsheathed her sword, Clarent.
"...Did your Instinct kick in?"
"Yeah, Master... it's a dangerous, sickening sensation. According to the intel, it shouldn't be time for the Helter Skelters to appear... why now?"
"Who knows. He's a Servant, so there's bound to be a loophole in the rules. If Zolgen's information is correct, the Servant manifesting here is..."
[It's me!]
CRASH!!!
With a massive explosion, a building collapsed toward Mordred and me. With a sharp shout, she swung her blade once, blowing away the debris in its entirety.
"Haaaaa... Aaaaaah!!! The demon has arrived! The demon died and came back to life and is here now!!!"
"...Are you two acquainted?"
"We spent a very sticky night together!"
"Ignore him. He's just a psychotic lunatic."
"In terms I'd understand?"
"Take Merlin, add Morgan, and multiply by a fae."
"Ugh, god, that's disgusting."
As Mordred spat on the ground, Mephistopheles seemed to enjoy the reaction, laughing maniacally as he began to frantically brandish his large scissors.
"Heeyah~ Anyway, you really did make it all the way here? You came to this Singularity where the demon resides, Maaaaster of Chaaaldea?~ Ah, it wasn't plural? A biiiig mistake by this novice demon Mephistopheles! However, my role here isn't to apologize after a messy failure... but simply to shred you into KAWAI star-shaped pieces!!!"
As I watched the man descending the stairs while dancing like a madman, I gave a brief reply to his nonsense.
"Just die, you crazy bastard."
Right then, something flew toward the back of my neck.
Mordred smirked and deflected the elongated scissors with her sword. In a fluid motion, she burst forth with magical energy and lunged toward Mephistopheles.
The moment Mephistopheles tried to playfylly dodge the attack with a "Whoa!", I quickly used Bansho Ten'in to pull him in. Mordred erupted in wild laughter and cleanly decapitated him.
"...What is this? What's with this texture? There's no weight to the cut!"
"This guy isn't a Berserker, he's a Caster. It's likely a puppet..."
"Aha? As expected, you noticed! This was Mephistopheles' biiiig failure! So, to make up for this failure, from now on..."
"..."
"I'm running away! Goodbye everyone, I'm casting off the chains and constraints of this world to find my own happiness! I hope you all find happiness too!"
"What— Hey! Get back here, you bastard!"
"Don't get worked up, Mordred! He's the type to hide somewhere else even after running away. For example..."
Pretending to speak, I subtly scanned the surroundings with the Rinnegan and quickly reached out, snatching him with Bansho Ten'in.
"Somewhere like behind this wall!"
"Those eyes of yours are seriously incredible!"
Mephistopheles, narrowly avoiding Mordred's blade, used the gravitational pull I exerted to his advantage. He lunged directly in front of my eyes, swinging his giant scissors in an attempt to pierce my groin.
"Do you think I'd fall for that twice, you idiot?"
Deflecting the scissors with Shinra Tensei, I quickly closed the distance and used the Asura Path to pierce through his Saint Graph's core. Mordred, as if venting her frustration, slashed through him with a heavy blow. With the sheer amount of Prana she infused into the strike, Mephistopheles' upper body was forced to bid a tragic farewell to his lower half.
"To think we could catch him this easily. He's not as strong as I thought?"
"By the standards of the Servants in this era, he's actually quite troublesome. He uses madness as a mental attack, and he has a Caster aptitude... most of the author-type Servants here probably wouldn't stand a chance against him."
"Hmm... still, the feeling isn't great. The cutting sensation was there, but I still hate fighting guys like this."
"Stop whining; the 4th Singularity is going to be full of lunatics like him. Anyway, we should hurry. If it turns night and Jack the Ripper shows up, it'll be a massive headache."
And at that moment, the residue of magical energy began to swirl in the air, distorting as if space itself were twisting.
Mordred quickly took a combat stance and looked up at the sky...
"...Oh, hell."
In the air, a reaper's horse with black fur and a white mane was floating.
Mounted upon the horse was a Servant holding a lance covered in dark red thorns. Even without using the Rinnegan, the gathering magical energy was far beyond ordinary.
"Hey."
"What."
"I think we're screwed."
"...I think so too."
[The Spear That Shines at the Ends of the World — Rhongomyniad]
"By my Command Spell, I order you! Release your Noble Phantasm, Mordred!!!"
[The Rebellion Against My Beautiful Father — Clarent Blood Arthur]