At the same time the crystal tower rose, the clash between the Riders' mounts continued—an all-out contest of attack and defense.
BOMMM
Lightning collided with ice, and freezing mist was overwhelmed by sheer power.
"Heheh, this is the first time I've run into such a special mount."
Even in the Age of Gods, mounts capable of competing with Quetzalcoatlus were rare. Yet that giant rabbit could do it—not only in strength, but in speed as well.
It was a marvel, enough to make Quetzalcoatl laugh in pure enjoyment.
"Hey, stop it! We're not enemies—quit attacking us!"
"Hehehe~"
Rin raised her voice to stop this insane clash between divine monsters, but Quetzalcoatl ignored her and laughed.
"What is wrong with her?! That damn Kirei!"
Rin bit her nails in fury. She had never liked Kirei. To be honest, ever since he became her legal guardian, her life had gone downhill. Even her family's properties had been lost because of him.
"Hmph, I guess Rider doesn't want to cooperate either. Rin, finish her."
"What? No, it's too early for that. At least we should make her listen."
Illya didn't mess around. If Rider wasn't part of their group, then it would be better to take her out now and avoid future trouble.
And so what if she was a Goddess? None of the three were afraid of Quetzalcoatl. They even had a God Killer with them—no problem at all.
"Well, it might be a bit hasty, but if this keeps up, it's better for Rider to return to the Throne of Heroes. Lancer, can you do it?"
"No problem…"
Luviagelita wasn't too concerned. She waved her fan and looked up at the sky, more worried about what Tiamat had said earlier, while Scathach nodded in agreement.
"Wait! Are you really giving up on Rider just like that?"
Rin could hardly believe it. These women decided the fate of one of their comrades so easily—but as magi, that was normal.
"Illya?… Rin-san, Luvia-san."
"That's right, Miyu-sama. They're the Kaleid Group."
Watching the aerial battle between mythical mounts, Miyu's eyes widened in surprise. As a Magical Girl, her vision extended far beyond that of a normal human, and right now, aside from her, the entire Kaleid Group was riding the Giant Rabbit.
The girls who collected cards.
And to confirm it, her staff, Sapphire, spoke as well.
"If they're here, then… we are—"
As Magical Girls who had fought side by side, Miyu wanted to fight in this World War as well. The flame in her heart burned fiercely at the thought of standing alongside her friends again. Just as she was about to fly toward them, a large hand stopped her.
"That is extremely dangerous, Contractor. Darkness has taken root even in the Firstborn. Joining monsters is humanity's calamity…"
"Eh?"
Assassin's way of speaking was always vague and full of riddles, making it difficult for Miyu to grasp his meaning. Still, she wasn't foolish—she could feel it too. Something was calling to her, and the sensation made her tremble. According to Assassin, the Kaleid Group was in enemy territory.
"B-but… we're Blue, we're a team. Illya and the others… they wouldn't hurt us."
"Your friends have been blinded by the monster's false light. If that is your wish, this old man shall help you remove the blindfold. It is part of my duty…"
Without waiting for Miyu to react, King Hassan vanished. His aura—and his very existence—merged with the world…
BOMMM
"Ugh! I'm sick of this! Foreigner, finish them!"
If they wouldn't listen, then force was the only answer.
"Understood."
Est exchanged a glance with Yoshino, who timidly lowered her head and nodded.
Est leapt forward, landing in front of the Giant Rabbit under the group's shocked gazes. An Ice Current propelled her toward Quetzalcoatlus, whose surrounding lightning immediately clashed with the freezing aura…
"An assault attack? I love it~"
Quetzalcoatl smiled, delighted by the loli's bold charge. But as a Heroic Spirit, she showed no mercy.
BOMMM
The two attacks collided in an explosion. Luviagelita and Illya hesitated, unsettled by the apparent "suicide" of the small loli, and looked to Rin.
"Is she okay?"
"Tohsaka Rin, are you really cruel enough to send a cute loli to her death?"
Rin, however, was calm. She crossed her arms and waited, as if none of this concerned her.
Soon, Luviagelita and Illya understood why. From the smoke of the explosion, Est emerged completely unharmed. She raised her hand and launched herself like a spear straight at Quetzalcoatlus.
As the Queen of Steel, she was used to dealing with more than magical attacks. Her steel was not so weak as to shatter.
"Hmph. What do you know? That's not natural. A sword won't be damaged by something so trivial."
She had split the moon in half. Dying to an electric current would be the funniest joke in the world.
"No injuries? Ahh~ I love it~"
Quetzalcoatl's smile widened. Since she couldn't stop Est from closing in, her only option was to fight.
She could have Quetzalcoatlus dodge—but—
Would a battle-lover like Quetzalcoatl run from a fight?
Impossible.
She clenched her knuckles and leapt, meeting Est head-on as she fell.
Bam
Their clash sent out a shockwave, and the winner was clear.
"Ugh?!"
Quetzalcoatl's eyes went wide as Est's fingers pierced straight through her fist.
If not for her superior battle instincts—diverting the attack to the right the instant her fist was pierced—Est's fingers would have done far more than punch through her hand. They might have pierced her body.
With the collision ending in Est's victory, both fell from the sky.
Quetzalcoatl spun several times before landing lightly. Est was far simpler—she fell straight down, her feet punching into the ground as half her body was buried.
Of course, Est didn't care. As expressionless as ever, she calmly pulled herself free, brushed off her clothes, and looked at her opponent.
"Interesting~"
The wound in Quetzalcoatl's fist still hadn't healed, but that only fueled her thirst for battle. It was the first time she had lost in a direct clash.
The small loli's body before her was so hard and sharp that it could pierce even a god.
"That's Foreigner! Hit her hard! Show her who's boss!"
Rin pumped her fist, grinding her teeth in triumph. This would teach that disobedient Rider a lesson.
"Lancer, do you understand what just happened?"
Luviagelita, on the other hand, was confused. Est's stats were lower than Quetzalcoatl's. As a Goddess, Quetzalcoatl was a complete tank.
Servant: Rider / Blue
Strength: B+
Endurance: B
Agility: B+
Mana: EX
Luck: A+
NP: EX
Luxurious stats worthy of a Goddess, not to mention her absurdly powerful personal skills like Lucha Libre: EX and her Noble Phantasms.
Yet such a Goddess had lost to a loli. Luviagelita couldn't comprehend it.
"She is steel…"
"Steel? What does that mean?"
Scathach narrowed her eyes. Since ancient times, humanity had pursued "steel," and only those who bore the strongest "steel" had their names etched into history.
It wouldn't be a joke to say that "steel" was what carried humanity into the modern age, saved it from catastrophes, ended the Age of Gods, and wiped out countless fantasy species.
And even among "steel," there were stronger kinds.
Saber was the strongest class for one simple reason—it wielded the "steel" of the sword. That wasn't a joke. Those who possessed that steel were powerful.
Gilgamesh with the sword that opened the world. Artoria wielding the sword of the sea of stars. Siegfried with the dragon-slaying sword. Even Shirou Emiya, whose body itself was filled with swords.
Each possessed a steel unlike that of any other hero.
Such was the importance of "steel" that even the Gods borrowed its power. Even she, a God Killer, was also "steel."
But at most, Servants were merely bearers of steel—not true steel itself.
Est, on the other hand, was steel in the literal sense. Steel that had gained consciousness and imitated its wielders.
"She is the Sword that Killed the Gods…"
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