How About You Guys Pick a Different Savior

Morgan saw the problem and immediately raised her hand, a magic spell quickly taking shape and unfolding above Caster's head, launching an attack.

However, this magic bombardment was blocked by the Sea Monster's tentacles. Although a small gap was exposed, it regenerated in an instant, swallowing Caster whole.

"Now let us once again raise the banner of salvation! Gather, you who are abandoned! Gather, you who are debased! I shall lead you! I shall rule you! The resentment in the hearts of us who are bullied will surely reach the heavens! Oh, Lord in heaven! I will praise you with accusations!"

Caster's sharp voice pierced the thick fog, echoing throughout the long river.

The churning water began to push him upwards, and the Sea Monster horde beneath his feet had, at some point, grown in number. Considering the depth of the Miyuen River, the mere thought of their quantity was chilling.

"It's too late. I wanted to finish Caster off before those Sea Monsters could engulf him," Morgan lowered her hand and sighed softly. "Now, I'm afraid there's no way to stop him from completing this wicked summoning magic."

Xi Jianxi, however, turned to scan the riverbanks. The commotion Caster had created had woken the citizens living near the banks. Lights were turned on in every house, and soon Caster's actions would be noticed by unrelated ordinary people.

"Morgan!" Xi Jianxi spoke loudly to Morgan, a rare occurrence. He realized it was somewhat inappropriate and lowered his tone, "Could I ask you to—"

"As you wish, my husband," Morgan's ethereal voice was incredibly gentle.

Before Xi Jianxi could finish his request, the thick fog on the Miyuen River grew even denser, making it impossible even for Artoria to see Caster's location.

But the shadow of the colossal being gradually rising from the water, on the verge of piercing the heavens, was still clearly visible.

This was what Xi Jianxi wanted to ask for: to control the situation before it worsened and was exposed, keeping it from the notice of unrelated individuals.

Creating fog that isolated perception was, for Morgan, as simple as lifting a hand.

"Thank you," Xi Jianxi said solemnly.

"You are that kind of man. You always seem to only care about the people and things immediately around you, yet your ambition is so great that this world might not even be able to contain it," Morgan suddenly said, as if to herself, placing her hand on Xi Jianxi's cheek.

After gently caressing him a few times, Morgan removed her hand, summoned her weapon, and her attire shifted back into combat readiness.

This time, Xi Jianxi reached out his hand. "Lend it to me."

"Oh?" Morgan didn't hand it over immediately.

"Aren't you a queen? If you're a king, then stay obediently in the rear and don't always think about leading the charge yourself," Xi Jianxi said. "Leave the front lines to me."

"In that case, I shall look forward to your achievements," Morgan handed the weapon to Xi Jianxi. "If the situation changes, we'll discuss it then."

Xi Jianxi held the Demon Spear. "Caster mentioned a Master earlier... If it was his Master who ordered this, perhaps the enemy is nearby."

"Same as always, you handle the Servants, and I'll handle the Master," Morgan nodded in understanding.

Just as the two finished their discussion, Artoria, clad in armor, rushed over. "Our alliance is not yet over. If that's the case, please allow me to join you on the battlefield, Xi Jianxi."

"You're not the only one going to the battlefield," Xi Jianxi said, and the Conqueror King's chariot also landed on the bank.

The Conqueror King looked utterly confused. "What's going on? Why did this river suddenly get so foggy? Is that also Caster's doing?"

"It's just some means to isolate ordinary people," Xi Jianxi said. "Conqueror King, would you be willing to join forces with me and the Knight King to defeat Caster?"

Iskandar grinned, appearing quite excited. "Ho ho, to step onto the battlefield with a warrior like you, excellent, excellent! Let me personally appraise your strength on the battlefield!"

After speaking, he looked at the two again. "But if you two also ride in my Noble Phantasm, you won't be able to exert your full strength, will you?"

"There's no need. I have received the blessings of the Lady of the Lake and can move freely on the water," Artoria refused with a calm smile.

Xi Jianxi wrote a Rune in the air. "I'm much the same. With Runes of water-walking and flight, I can also move freely."

"That's wonderful! Hey, kid, you wait on the shore." Iskandar set down Waver from his chariot. "Contact me if anything happens."

"Understood," Waver agreed.

Then, Xi Jianxi gave Morgan a deep look, turned, and leaped forward, heading into the thick fog on the river with the Knight King and the Conqueror King.

Chapter 50: Blood Battle at Miyuen River

The Miyuen River, which was a good ten to twenty meters deep, had now completely become a massive water tank with living water.

The monster being raised in this strange water tank was the giant monster summoned by Caster.

Rushing from the bank to the river, the vision obscured by the fog created by Morgan's magic became clear again.

It was then that Artoria realized the extent to which the Sea Monsters had multiplied. She swung her sword forcefully, severing tentacles that were two to three people wide in front of her.

But the moment the tentacles were cut, they began to regenerate on their own. Other tentacles nearby were attracted by the attack and quickly gathered, forcing her to retreat every time she severed one.

Unlike the offensive and defensive battle in the forest last night, there was indeed only one Sea Monster in the Miyuen River. However, its countless tentacles were far more troublesome than the dozens of smaller Sea Monsters.

"Saber! Fall back!"

Xi Jianxi's voice reached her. Artoria leaped from the water surface, dodging tentacles that were about to ensnare her the next second. After a nimble flip in the air, she landed beside Xi Jianxi.

Without Artoria needing to ask, the water surface quickly solidified into ice after Xi Jianxi lightly tapped it with the end of his Demon Spear, extending towards the Sea Monster.

The tentacles, which had been writhing and flailing wildly, gradually slowed down and were frozen in an instant.

"Their movements are sealed!"

Iskandar's chariot stopped in mid-air.

He wasn't just watching from the sky. He was driving his chariot, repeatedly charging into the mass of tentacles, but his offensive methods were limited. Whether it was lightning or weapons, they could only inflict damage on a very small scale.

"Now is not the time for you to be marveling, Conqueror King!" Xi Jianxi raised his hand, and a strong wind suddenly rose over the river.

The two Servants quickly understood Xi Jianxi's plan.

First, they would use a great magic to freeze the Sea Monster's movements, and then, by other means, they would sever the Sea Monster along with its tentacles.

"Then I'll take the lead! You two, don't get my carriage involved!"

Iskandar laughed heartily, driving his ox-drawn carriage across the frozen river towards the Sea Monster, tearing through the ice and the creature itself.

But that was only a straight line; a larger area of attack was needed.

Artoria, standing nearby, was ready.

Without any signal, the instincts of warriors made Xi Jianxi and her attack simultaneously.

"Strike Air!"

"Vacuum Wave."

A gale strong enough to tear people apart swept across the Miyuen River. As Iskandar's carriage flew into the sky, it dragged all the other frozen Sea Monsters into its vortex before crushing them.

Yet, even so, the dense fog on the river remained unaffected, showing no signs of dissipating.

The attack, which had condensed a considerable amount of magical energy, naturally stirred up the banks of the Miyuen River.

Weber and Irisviel, who remained on the shore observing the battle, immediately sensed the approaching wind pressure. They instinctively raised their arms to block, but after closing their eyes for a long time, they only heard the wind whistling past them, with no other impact.

When they opened their eyes, they saw that Morgan had parted the gale, diverting it around their location.

Morgan hadn't even moved a finger.

"This much isn't enough," Morgan said calmly.

As soon as she finished speaking, the tentacles that had sunk underwater with the ice seemed to come alive, growing wildly and breaking through the surface, creating waves several meters high.

"That guy! Is he immortal?!" Weber cried out in surprised lament, stomping his foot anxiously while holding his head.

This scale of battle was beyond the level a novice Magus like him could intervene in.

He even felt a little envious of Xi Jianxi being able to fight alongside those Servants.

"This dense fog around here, you created it, didn't you, Witch of Britain?" an elegant male voice sounded from the side.

A man in a dark red suit, holding a jeweled magic staff, walked towards them.

"You are—" Irisviel recognized him.

Morgan glanced over. "You are Sakura's father, the Hero King's Master, Tokiomi Tohsaka?"

"I'm not really in a position to be called Sakura's father right now," Tokiomi said with an apologetic smile. "Her father is fighting on the Miyuen River."

"Can't your Servant do something?" Morgan asked indifferently.

Tokiomi gave a wry smile. "The Hero King has his own considerations."

As he spoke, he looked up at the sky. Through the dense fog, Weber and Irisviel could vaguely see a golden flying object, a Noble Phantasm that seemed to be crafted from gold and emeralds.

"Is that so?" Morgan was unconcerned. She turned and walked towards the other end of the riverbank. "The dense fog will soon spread throughout Fuyuki. That way, the Holy Church and the Mage's Association won't have to worry about covering up the truth."

"As the administrator of Fuyuki's land, I am deeply grateful," Tokiomi bowed. "However, I wonder where the Witch is headed now—"

Morgan stopped. "That low-class Magus's Servant said it was his Master who wished him to do so. How would an outsider who doesn't even know what the Holy Grail War is know to use Command Spells to order a Servant?"

The implication was that someone was secretly manipulating things, intending to interfere when the Holy Grail War began to heat up.

"Then, please allow me to accompany you as the head of one of the three founding families of the Holy Grail War," Tokiomi requested urgently.

If Morgan were to kill Caster's Master later, the credit for defeating Caster would largely fall to the Berserker faction.

At this point, Tokiomi was still thinking about legitimately getting a share of the spoils.

"There's no need. The Magus of this era, no matter how they want to help, will only drag me down," Morgan replied coldly. Then, she turned her head back and added, "Of course, if you believe you possess the same capabilities as my husband, then that's another matter."

After saying this, Morgan's figure disappeared into the dense fog.

When the three Masters came back to their senses, they realized that the visibility on both banks of the Miyuen River had dropped to an appalling level.

Even with their magical energy fully focused to aid their vision, they could only vaguely see Xi Jianxi and the two Servants fighting amidst the regenerating Sea Monsters.

"Sigh, that's why I say these heroes of the past..." Tokiomi murmured to himself, sighing.

Although Weber and Irisviel were on guard against him to varying degrees, he had no intention of starting a fight here.

"Please rest assured, the main event right now is to defeat the Caster faction, who disregards the rules of the Holy Grail War and abandoned the concealment of mystery. I will not be your enemy."

"That would be for the best," Irisviel replied sternly. "We also have no intention of fighting amongst ourselves at a time like this."

Chapter 51: Lingering Shadows

Ryunosuke Uryu knew nothing about the Holy Grail War. All he knew was that the Bluebeard, who called himself Caster and whom he had summoned a few days ago, possessed an "artistic aesthetic" beyond his comprehension.

As long as he followed that old man, he would be able to witness unprecedented, "cool" art and magnificent scenery.

Lying on the bridge over the Miyuen River, Ryunosuke gripped the railing, so excited he was practically buzzing. He loudly expressed his admiration to old man Bluebeard.

He no longer cared about the destruction of his workshop moments ago.

He couldn't even clearly remember how he got here or how he used a Command Spell to order Caster to unleash such a magic.

He hadn't even understood Caster's words, "If it is requested by my Master, my dear friend, I, Gilles de Rais, will never refuse."

"Huh... huh..."

Ryunosuke began to wonder if he was thinking slowly due to a lack of oxygen from being too excited. Only supreme happiness filled his body.

Then, the crisp sound of high heels echoed in his ears.

Ryunosuke, confused, turned his head and noticed that dense, unyielding fog had appeared everywhere without him realizing it. Even the colossal Sea Monster was shrouded, its outline barely visible.

There was no one else around, and no cars passing on the bridge.

Silence reigned supreme.

How had he seen those things just moments ago?

"Hey, do you know what's going on? This fog just rolled in."

Ryunosuke, looking at the silver-haired woman emerging from the mist, didn't even pay attention to her exquisite face or consider how to extract pain and despair from it. He just asked blankly, "Are you Caster's Master?" Morgan ignored Ryunosuke's question.

Ryunosuke was displeased. He staggered towards Morgan, "Hey, did you hear me? Why is it so foggy here!"

He reached out, intending to grab Morgan and demand an answer.

But before he could get close enough to touch her, he was sent flying backward, landing on the ground.

"Ouch..."

Ryunosuke looked up, the world spinning. Despite it being a winter night, he felt warmer than ever before.

Something crimson filled his vision. Ryunosuke lay on the ground, powerless. "It's so warm..."

Morgan simply stood there, coldly watching Ryunosuke Uryu, whose limbs had been severed, his body lying in a pool of blood.

"His limbs were cut off, yet he only feels the pain of hitting the ground and the strength to cling to life precariously," Morgan muttered to herself. "I warned you once, Bug Master. Did you really think you could do as you pleased just because you've lived a long time?"

As her words fell, azure flames suddenly erupted, engulfing the pedestrian walkway on one side of the Miyuen River Bridge.

Ryunosuke Uryu's body swelled, and just as the Winged Blade Worm was about to burst forth, he and his body were consumed by fire.