Nazarick's Turn

Tamamo-no-Mae had attacked Aya when she had just arrived in this world—when she was at her most defenseless and weakest.

Only in that state had Aya possessed no means of countering the fox's attack.

However, if she escaped the first attempt, things would be different.

"To be honest, if I were alone, the situation would be nearly hopeless," Aya said softly. "But Artoria, thanks to you, I've seen a glimmer of hope."

"You hold that fox back. Just for a moment will be enough. I'll activate the Temple of Life and complete my escape." Aya spoke coldly. "Then, I'll increase my strength and seize—or simply kill—every being in this world capable of using the Wild Magic known as 'Return to the Past.'"

"...Increase your strength?" Artoria was deeply concerned about what Aya meant.

"This is only my guess... or rather, something like intuition," Aya said. "Two identical people cannot exist in the same world at the same time. When 'I' and 'I' appear simultaneously, two outcomes may occur."

"What two outcomes?"

"The first is rejection. The second is fusion." Aya said, "I'm more inclined toward the latter—the possibility of fusion."

Artoria swallowed. What Aya meant was that when the Aya who had returned from the future and the Aya who had just crossed over appeared at the same point in time and space, their existences would interfere with and overlap each other before becoming one.

"If that happens, I might gain the power to fight that damn fox," Aya said.

Artoria lowered her head and pondered for a while. "So this is your plan? Escape, grow stronger, then fight back."

Logically, it was possible. In fact, under the current circumstances, it was a highly viable approach. Yet Artoria still felt that something about it was extremely strange.

But she could