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"Saber—!"
Just as Noah and Rider were about to reach the lake, Rin Tohsaka's cry rang out and reached their ears.
The moment they heard it, Noah and Rider knew.
Something had happened.
Without hesitation, both Noah and Rider pushed their speed to the limit, darting through the woods like gusts of wind and sweeping up countless dead branches and leaves in their wake.
Before long, the entire lake came into view before Noah and Rider.
Noah immediately swept his gaze across the surroundings, taking in the entire scene.
At the center of the lake was the enormous mass of flesh that had been continuously growing.
Above that enormous mass of flesh was a pitch-black opening constantly spewing out Black Mud.
Hovering between the black opening and the enormous mass of flesh was Zouken Matou, surrounded by insects.
And there was Rin Tohsaka, half-kneeling on the ground, clutching a gemstone tightly, her face filled with regret.
Before Rin Tohsaka was a pool of black sludge resembling a swamp.
Within it, Saber clutched her holy sword as Black Mud drenched her body. It was as though the Black Mud had crushed her into the ground. Her face was twisted in pain as she struggled continuously, yet no matter how she struggled, it had no effect.
Under those circumstances, Saber's armor was gradually turning pitch-black. Even her hair color was beginning to change into platinum blonde.
It was clear that Saber was desperately resisting the erosion of the Black Mud.
However, with Black Mud wrapped around her, an endless supply of more Black Mud kept pouring in, layering itself