"Characters had no invincibility frames when using skills or Noble Phantasms."
"Their own skills could even be locked by the boss."
"This game was way too hard!"
The two complained bitterly as they dodged and fled for their lives.
Archer: "So the vixen really went mad to stop her man from being charmed and taken from her again, huh?"
Medea: "What do you mean by that?"
Archer: "Exactly what it sounds like. You've already been overdrawing your spiritual foundation, haven't you? With your skills, can you still repair it?"
Medea: "Can't I just absorb more mana in the city?"
Shirou Emiya: "...No wonder they call you a witch. I almost felt sorry for you."
Medea: "Heh heh, brat. The essence of this game is... war."
Hohzuki Academy.
The courtyard and athletic field had already been completely reduced to ruins. Everywhere they looked was scorched earth.
"There's only one bottle left."
Shido Itsuka spoke, not daring to take it out lightly. This thing generated too much aggro; the Medea on the other side seemed determined to destroy the Noble Phantasm even at the cost of her own life.
"It's fine. We still have a chance."
Kazuma Satou glanced at Hachiman Hikigaya, who was still lying in wait on the rooftop for the perfect opportunity, even though a Great Chasm had been blasted through the school building.
There was still a chance. They still had one final trump card. A revealed trump card was their chance at victory.
Since Medea was so unwilling to let Souichirou Kuzuki be charmed.
Then that very thought was her weakness.
Since they could not seize control on their side, then they might as well make sure she... could not have it either!
After sending Hachiman Hikigaya a message, Kazuma Satou turned to Shido Itsuka and Mahiro Oyama, preparing for one last gamble.
"Shido, you should still be able to control him once more, right?"
"I can, but if he resists fiercely, it might not have much effect."
"Just make him walk toward the school building. I'll wait over there."
Kazuma Satou spoke to Mahiro Oyama, pretending to lower his voice.
"Mao-chan, use Declaration of Ruin to protect Shido. Let him summon the Honey Wine, then throw it toward me."
The two immediately understood. Since Medea was guarding against them so carefully, it would work just as well if Kazuma Satou, who was roaming outside, got the Noble Phantasm and drank it.
Mahiro Oyama checked the Noble Phantasm grimoire.
"B-but this grimoire doesn't have many pages left. If we use it to protect us, I don't know whether the remaining pages can escort the wine through the air to your hands."
"It's fine. Just do your best!"
Kazuma Satou pulled up his green cloak, used a Command Spell, lowered his body, and vanished once again.
Shido Itsuka and Mahiro Oyama exchanged a glance, coordinating with each other as they continued dodging the terrifying magical barrage.
"Go toward the school building!"
Shido Itsuka gave Souichirou Kuzuki his final command.
Souichirou Kuzuki froze stiffly in place, forcibly resisting the Noble Phantasm. As an ordinary human without Magic Resistance, there was only one way to resist this kind of Noble Phantasm—self-harm.
"Oh...?"
Medea sensed a little rat. Though she could not pinpoint the position clearly, it was definitely invisible, and it was also headed toward the school building.
The corners of her lips rose. She had guessed Kazuma Satou's plan, curving into a smile as she played along.
"Souichirou, go over there. You don't need to torture yourself like this. It'll be over soon."
"Mm."
After hearing that, Souichirou Kuzuki stopped his self-destructive resistance and headed toward the school building.
At the base of the building.
Souichirou Kuzuki estimated that he had less than ten seconds before he could regain control of his body, and that he could forcibly move a little during that time.
10...
Kazuma Satou called out, shouting toward Shido Itsuka and the others.
"It's time!"
"My Red Mead!"
"Declaration of Ruin!"
Amid the rain of magical light, Shido Itsuka and Mahiro Oyama used all their strength to summon the last bottle of Honey Wine intact.
After taking it, Mahiro Oyama braved the curtain of magical light and closed the distance as much as possible, then used the monstrous strength granted by Rationality Evaporates to hurl it toward Kazuma Satou.
"This is the last cup!"
"You have to catch it!"
6...
"Hmph!"
Medea had also been driven to the extreme. She had already overdrawn her spiritual foundation, so she might as well overdraw it a little more. She could replenish it with citizens afterward.
With her skill in magecraft, no matter how much she lacked, she could make it back.
Burning her spiritual foundation, she unleashed an extremely crazed, self-destructive strike!
The quality of mana it contained reached A+ rank. The terrifying beam of magical energy directly pierced through the pages of the Replica Universal Magecraft Strategy Book!
It shattered the last bottle of Honey Wine!
"No!"
"Nooo!"
As Shido Itsuka and Mahiro Oyama watched their hope shatter, they screamed.
Below the dormitory building.
Souichirou Kuzuki stared at where Kazuma Satou might be hiding and silently counted down.
The final three seconds.
3...
Wasn't he going to make a move?
2...
Did he know his attack would be blocked by Caster?
1...
It seemed he had given up.
0 seconds!
Control of his body was completely restored.
Souichirou Kuzuki moved his body and raised his fist toward the incoming arrow.
Kazuma Satou pretended to struggle a few times, drawing his attention and making one final attempt to restrain him.
Seeing that there was no danger on this side, Medea also let down her guard and slowed the rate at which she was overdrawing her spiritual foundation.
The power and frequency of her magical attacks both dropped considerably. If she kept overdrawing it, she would directly return to the Throne of Heroes before she could even absorb the citizens' mana to recover afterward.
Besides, Souichirou's body and mind had returned to her side.
Victory was already assured.
At the instant when the two of them were most relaxed.
On the rooftop.
A youth wearing a ragged black school uniform stood there. It was Hachiman Hikigaya, who had been lying in wait for a long time.
He raised his right hand, lightly covering his face with it.
"Blood Command Wing!"
The Command Spell vanished, transforming into a transparent force field that drew a massive amount of blood from his body in exchange for a manipulable field of blood.
This ability... was not merely for flying or escaping.
It could also be used for—assassination!
He actively dropped straight down.
Not slowing down.
But rather.
Accelerating his descent!
The powerful counterforce no longer canceled gravity, but followed it.
Smashing his body toward the ground!
Like a bolt of crimson lightning, he struck the earth!
Only at the final moment did he slow himself slightly.
His legs were instantly pulverized by the violent impact. What plunged into the ground was... flesh and bone!
Pain surged across Hachiman Hikigaya's face!
But! He lowered his head and raised his sword.
This was what he had endured until now.
—Rage, and resolve!!
At this speed, at this distance.
Medea, who had already half-ceased her fire, had no time to start up again. She could only widen her eyes and helplessly watch it happen.
In that instant.
It seemed as though only three people remained on the entire battlefield.
This was—?!
Souichirou Kuzuki had not felt such bone-chilling terror in a very long time.
He forcibly controlled himself to turn around, even at the cost of wrenching his muscles, ligaments, and bones.
At the same time, he threw a punch in preparation for a counterattack.
But it was too late. Kazuma Satou interfered again from the front.
Behind him.
Hachiman Hikigaya used the counterforce of the blood field to propel himself forward, raising his Replica Holy Sword.
Forsaking injury! Forsaking life! Forsaking everything!
With resolve, with blood, and with tears never shed.
One sword crossed the distance!
The madness contained within it meant either you die or I perish!
Such absolute resolve!
—Could you stop it!?
"Splat—"
The sword tip pierced Souichirou Kuzuki's clothes, stabbed into his flesh, and burst out through his back.
Before you continue