Lilith sincerely invited Shirou.
The sincerity in her eyes was so chilling that it even made Shirou ache.
If he remembered correctly, Lilith's true purpose was not to join with him, but to melt—Meltlilith.
The word before Lilith's name was truly terrifying.
But most terrifying of all was that Lilith could not only melt things, but was also so lovestruck that she wanted to possess him. Her willingness to pay any price, combined with the dreadful fate awaiting him once she got her hands on him, multiplied the terror to an entirely new level.
"Ahem. Lilith, can we sit down and talk this over properly? Don't be in such a rush. We should do some foreplay first, right? Before getting down to business, shouldn't there at least be some romantic scenery to set the mood?"
"Archer..." Hakuno bit her lip but said nothing.
If they did not yield now and stall for time with words, they would have no hope of surviving.
"Oh?" Lilith smiled happily. "Preparations are only necessary for the weak, and I have no need for them. So come on. Let me absorb your Master first, then melt you."
Her utterly unromantic words rendered all of Shirou's delaying tactics useless.
Was fighting their only option?
Just then, a knight carrying a holy sword quietly approached from behind Meltlilith, his steps slow and measured.
That was... Gawain?
Perhaps this was their chance. If he launched a sneak attack from behind while the two of them held her off from the front, then even if they could not defeat their opponent, they could at least fight her evenly and avoid being overwhelmed.
Shirou had to create that opportunity for him.
So this was the method Leo had devised to buy time.
"Lilith, come on. But don't hurt my Master!"