The next day.
The time for battle arrived silently.
When Luo Zhen and Mashu returned to the chapel, Olga Marie was already awake.
"Looks like you're all prepared. You really are an impressive newcomer."
As he spoke, Caster likewise appeared amid a burst of faint blue, mist-like particles of light. He rested his wooden staff against his shoulder, wearing his usual fearless smile.
Olga Marie was startled by Caster's sudden appearance, then angrily snapped at him.
"If you were here the whole time, then don't Spiritron Transfer! Are you trying to scare me to death!?"
As mentioned earlier, Servants were essentially spiritual beings, though they occupied a much higher order than ordinary spirits and were comparable to fairies.
Since that was the case, Servants could naturally revert to spiritual form, making it impossible for ordinary people to perceive their presence with the naked eye.
This was what was known as Spiritron Transfer.
When Archer had left after their confrontation, the reason he had turned into a burst of light particles and vanished was likewise because he had used this trait of Servants to revert to spiritual form and conceal himself. He had not truly disappeared.
Apparently, while everyone was resting, Caster had remained in the chapel in spiritual form without telling Olga Marie, startling her and earning her ire.
Caster merely shrugged at this.
"Servants don't need rest, but all life activities consume magical energy. Naturally, I had to restore myself to peak condition while you were resting."
For that reason, Caster had maintained spiritual form to recover his physical strength and magical energy, only appearing again now.
"What a convenient trick."
Mashu blurted out the comment without anyone knowing whether it came from envy or simple practicality.
Servants could use Spiritron Transfer to reduce their magical consumption and even recover their energy. But as a Pseudo-Servant with a true physical body, Mashu could not do the same.
Of course, because she had a physical body, Mashu did not need to expend magical energy simply to sustain her life. Even without being able to use Spiritron Transfer, the impact was negligible.
Watching the group, Luo Zhen, who had been playing with Fou on his shoulder, finally turned his head.
"My magical energy has almost fully recovered. Even if it isn't at one hundred percent, it's at least eighty or ninety percent."
Those words served only one purpose.
That was to announce to everyone:
"It's time to head for Saber's location."
Luo Zhen issued his declaration of battle.
Mashu and Olga Marie both immediately grew tense.
"Then, please allow me to accompany you." Mashu said to Luo Zhen, "Although I'm still inexperienced, I'll do everything I can to protect my Master."
As she spoke, Mashu's gaze was extraordinarily resolute.
"...There's no helping it." Olga Marie sighed. "It's too late to say I don't want to go to a place like that now. Chaldea still can't be contacted anyway, so I'll go with you."
In other words, Olga Marie had decided to venture into danger herself.
"I don't have a problem with that." Caster looked Olga Marie over and spoke bluntly. "But are you sure? You probably don't have the qualifications to be a Master, do you? All you can do there is watch, you know?"
Faced with a battle between top-tier Servants, a mere human Magus could not possibly help.
In that case, instead of venturing into danger, it would be safer to remain here and await the outcome.
But Olga Marie refused to compromise.
"How can I just let things continue like this?" Olga Marie muttered while gnawing at her fingernail. "If we can't achieve anything, Chaldea is probably finished."
For this Human Order foundation, Chaldea had not only recruited people from ordinary society. It had also obtained personnel from the Mage's Association, gathering thirty-eight Master candidates from prestigious families to participate in the operation.
Now, those thirty-eight Master candidates were almost certainly dead or missing. The Mage's Association would definitely not let the matter rest. If the operation failed again, Olga Marie's responsibility would undoubtedly be magnified without limit by the Mage's Association. It was entirely possible that she would ultimately be removed from office.
On top of that, if the Human Order foundation failed, humanity would have no future. Given Olga Marie's worrying nature, she naturally could not sit back and do nothing.
That made Luo Zhen look at Olga Marie in a slightly different light.
"I didn't expect you to have such a strong sense of responsibility."
Luo Zhen spoke with his lips twisted to one side.
"Mind your own business!"
Olga Marie immediately glared back at him.
Seeing that the two archenemies were about to start arguing, Mashu hurriedly spoke up.
"So where exactly is Saber?"
To deal with Saber, they naturally had to find his hiding place.
"Well..."
Caster had just begun to answer when Luo Zhen snatched the opportunity from him.
"If I'm not mistaken, Saber should be over there, right?"
Luo Zhen interrupted Caster with those words and pointed in a direction.
Everyone immediately followed the direction Luo Zhen indicated.
Then they saw it.
The direction Luo Zhen had pointed toward contained a mountain.
A remote mountain where a temple stood, emanating an ancient, weathered aura.
"Oh?" Caster smiled somewhat incredulously. "How can you be so certain that Saber is there?"
"It's simple." Luo Zhen turned his head toward the remote mountain.
He looked toward the mountain he had seen once before, when he had first reunited with Olga Marie.
Then Luo Zhen spoke.
"Ever since I used Spiritron Transfer to arrive in this town and was attacked by Archer, I've faintly felt a bone-chilling sensation coming from that mountain."
Luo Zhen did not know why he had such a feeling.
But he could be certain of one thing.
"That feeling is exactly the same as what Professor Leff gave me."
Luo Zhen did not say those words aloud.
But from the moment he had developed that feeling and understood this point, he had roughly guessed part of the truth behind the Singularity. It was only after learning from Caster how the Singularity had appeared and what had happened afterward that Luo Zhen confirmed his conjecture.
With that in mind...
"I believe Saber, who holds the 'Holy Grail' that caused this Singularity to appear, is very likely in that mountain." Luo Zhen made his assertion. "Once we reach that mountain, the final act of this Holy Grail War will begin."
That assertion left Mashu and Olga Marie stunned, while the corners of Caster's mouth lifted.
"Looks like you're not only exceptionally gifted and intelligent. Your intuition and insight are remarkably sharp as well."
Caster praised him first, then nodded in confirmation.
"That's right. Saber is in that mountain, and the ritual Magic Circle for the Holy Grail War is in a massive cavern within it."
In other words, that mountain was the source from which the Holy Grail War ritual had begun.
"Then let's go."
Luo Zhen gave the order and once again looked toward the mountain.
Under the dark, oppressive sky, the remote mountain radiating an ancient aura appeared exceptionally gloomy.
It was like a beast opening its jaws, ready to swallow its prey.
Before you continue