Master Yan, Stop Scraping!

After Mo Shuying had gone some distance, he concealed himself again and quickly arrived at the foot of Ryuudou Temple.

Ryuudou Temple stood high above. Mo Shuying could sense a vast amount of magical energy gathering at the mountaintop. As expected of Fuyuki City's magical energy focal point, where the core of the Greater Grail system was located.

Glancing at the mountain path, Mo Shuying did not hesitate and began ascending the steps. There were not many visitors coming to worship at Ryuudou Temple today, and the place was quiet.

He soon arrived at the temple gate.

From afar, Mo Shuying spotted the gatekeeper: Sasaki Kojiro, dressed in purple and carrying a long sword on his back.

As fellow Assassins went, he could be considered the more incompetent one.

His Presence Concealment was only Rank D, making him almost incapable of hiding himself. But Sasaki Kojiro was a genius. He had incorporated this ability into his attacks, turning what should have been straightforward strikes into something unpredictable and elusive, making them difficult to defend against.

As Mo Shuying approached, he heard Sasaki Kojiro sigh.

"So boring. I really want a sandwich."

Not long ago, Sasaki Kojiro had eaten a sandwich personally made by Emiya Shirou, and he had been unable to forget its taste ever since.

Mo Shuying froze, not expecting Sasaki Kojiro to suddenly say something like that.

But then—

"An impressive concealment technique. Unfortunately, I can still detect you."

Sasaki Kojiro "looked" toward Mo Shuying. Sasaki Kojiro's Mind's Eye was even higher-ranked than Red Archer's, and he also possessed the skill "Clairvoyance," which rendered him immune to most mental interference. With a heart as still as water, he could notice many things others normally could not.

Mo Shuying stopped hiding and slowly revealed himself. The two men stared at each other from above and below.

"Is Caster here? I want to see her."

Mo Shuying got straight to the point, but Sasaki Kojiro shook his head.

"Caster already told me that if it was you, she would not see you."

"..."

That irritated Mo Shuying. He had already come all this way—was she really going to refuse to see him just because she said so?

"So she is here, then. If she won't see me, I'll go see her myself."

Mo Shuying headed for the gate after saying that, only to see a flash of cold light!

Clang!

The long sword left its sheath. Sasaki Kojiro stood with his blade held across his body, icy killing intent already spreading through the air.

"I said, no passage."

Mo Shuying gave a faint sneer.

"Heh. Before me, passage goes only one way!"

Boom!

The magical energy around Mo Shuying erupted in an instant! Magical energy on par with Caster's transformed into blue flames that enveloped him. He did not change classes, merely taking a step as he charged toward the gate.

"Slash!"

Sasaki Kojiro was not one for unnecessary words. With a shift of his left foot, the long sword in his hand came slashing down!

In Mo Shuying's eyes, it was clearly just a frontal strike! Yet it was immediately followed by two sword lights crossing in from the left and right!

A single slash produced the effect of three! Carrying a trace of causal power, it was an attack that could not be evaded. The only person who had ever dodged it head-on was Saber, because Saber possessed Rank A Instinct—combat intuition. Mo Shuying naturally did not have that, but—

Clang! Clang! Clang!!

Sasaki Kojiro flashed past Mo Shuying. Looking at his long sword, he furrowed his brow. All three strikes had landed, but something felt wrong!

Mo Shuying had crossed his arms in front of his head. A suit of green-and-gold armor covered his body, while blue-gray illusory shields protected him from head to toe.

Sasaki Kojiro's three strikes had only barely broken through Mo Shuying's rock armor layer.

"Are you filing my nails? Sorry, I'm rather busy right now. Maybe next time."

Ignoring Sasaki Kojiro, who was still questioning his life, Mo Shuying stepped through the gates of Ryuudou Temple.

Watching Mo Shuying enter, Sasaki Kojiro frowned.

"Is that guy really an Assassin?"

The moment Mo Shuying entered the front courtyard of Ryuudou Temple, the scenery before him suddenly changed.

It had been daytime just moments ago, but in an instant, it became night.

"You came looking for me. What is it?"

Medea, resembling a massive bat, slowly descended from the sky. Behind her and overhead, enormous magic circles filled the air.

Mo Shuying looked at Medea, who was prepared for battle, and smiled teasingly.

"Medea, are you afraid? Otherwise, why put on such a grand display? Are you afraid of me?"

"..."

Medea did not immediately answer Mo Shuying's question, but from her expression, he could see a trace of wariness.

"I only want to live quietly."

Medea spoke, sounding as though she were defending herself.

"But your actions have already provoked me. We could have lived in peace."

Mo Shuying stared at Medea, a trace of regret in his voice.

Medea's tone turned urgent at his words.

"You should have vanished! You should have been hunted down and destroyed like the other six Servants! You should have disappeared along with the shattering of that space! Why?! Why are you still here?! And you even obtained a body!"

Medea shouted indignantly. Even now, she herself did not possess a true physical body.

"Is that all you have to say?"

Mo Shuying cracked his fists together. He was quite skilled at hitting women!

"Hmph, this is my final warning! I'll say it again—I only want to live peacefully. Don't provoke me!!!"

Medea gritted her teeth! Visible magic power gathered around her. Worthy of someone capable of drawing upon the magic power of all Ryuudou Temple—years of preparation had placed her in a position that was nearly invincible!

"Buzzzzz!"

One massive magic circle after another lit up, terrifying power gathering within them.

Mo Shuying glanced around, then—

"Whew~"

Mo Shuying's clothes changed, a black-and-red skintight battle suit fluttering in the wind! He opened his mouth, and a deep chant rang out!

"I am the bone of my sword!

Steel is my body, and fire is my blood.

I have created over a thousand blades.

Unaware of loss, nor aware of gain.

I have endured pain to forge countless weapons, awaiting her arrival.

I have no regrets. This is the only path.

This life holds no meaning.

Thus—

Unlimited Blade Works!"

BOOM!!

From the moment Mo Shuying began chanting, Medea knew things had gone terribly wrong. She immediately launched a fierce attack! Countless Magic Cannons blasted toward him, all to interrupt his chant as quickly as possible.

However!

When that shield of petals blocked the attacks before Mo Shuying, Medea knew she should start thinking about how to run!

But she was uncertain—uncertain whether Mo Shuying would attack Souichirou Kuzuki after she escaped. To Medea, Kuzuki's safety mattered far more than her own life.

This legendary witch, burdened with the title of traitorous witch, possessed a heart of unwavering devotion.

So, after sending Souichirou Kuzuki a message telling him to "run," she was dragged by Mo Shuying into his Unlimited Blade Works.

Unlike Emiya's battered and shattered space, the two appeared upon a vast plain stretching as far as the eye could see, beneath a high, pale sky.

Countless weapons stood planted all around them.

Mo Shuying stood lightly atop the hilt of a longsword, his hands clasped behind his back. On the ground, Medea held her staff and stood ready. In this battle, she would give everything she had!