Even with its effects sealed, an Attack Power second only to Grand-class Servants was enough to intimidate many Servants.
The giant god's roar transformed into an approaching storm, sweeping toward Berserker Lancelot. With his reduced stats, Berserker Lancelot had no chance of withstanding the attack.
Mash simultaneously activated her Set Card. "Not so fast! Behold my resolve! Counter Trap Card: The Already Distant Ideal City! This card can be activated when the opponent activates an effect or declares an attack. Until the end of the turn, servants on the field cannot be banished, destroyed by effects, or destroyed in battle! As long as at least one servant remains on my field, I will not take any Effect Damage or Battle Damage!"
"That is our homeland—the place that can heal all wounds and all grudges. Manifest now! The Already Distant Ideal City!"
As the Trap Card activated, True Camelot, an infinitely pure white fortress, rose behind Mash. The towering city walls completely blocked Great Cernunnos's attack, leaving Berserker Lancelot completely unscathed.
"Arondight's effect! During the damage calculation phase after a battle involving the equipped servant, destroy the opposing servant!"
Mash's Noble Phantasm synergized perfectly with this effect, not only blocking attacks but also destroying the attacking servant.
Arondight radiated a sharp blue magical power. With Lancelot's slash, a massive gash tens of meters deep tore through Great Cernunnos's eye. Berserker Lancelot had scored a decisive victory!
"Too bad, I activate Cernunnos's effect! When this card leaves the field by an effect, it sends an opponent's servant to the Graveyard!"
This was the Great Horned God Cernunnos's resentment, a manifestation of the calamities that ravaged Britain.
"Feel the god's anguish, the god's wrath!"
"What?!"
The Already Distant Ideal City's resistance couldn't prevent effects that sent cards to the Graveyard. Ironically, Arondight's battle destruction effect had become the cause of Mash's defeat.
As Cernunnos departed the field, Lancelot (Berserker) was also consumed by the black resentment, roaring as he vanished.
"Finally, it's time to say goodbye!"
With no servants left on Mash's field, her effect that prevented battle damage vanished. "Fairy Tristan, let's end this battle! Fairy Tristan (Swimsuit)'s direct attack!"
Several blood-colored spikes pierced Mash's body. With an Attack Power of 3500, they drained her remaining 3000 Life Points entirely!
Mash LP 3000 → LP 0!
"Uwaaaah!"
Fairy Tristan's retaliatory attack sent Mash flying backward with a scream, the shockwave from the Shadow Game's resolution embedding her into the wall. She would be unable to fight for quite some time.
"Now, hand over Ana," Jiang You said, extending his hand toward Gudako to claim ownership of Ana. "Merlin, don't try any tricks. If the Shadow Game's conditions aren't met, Mash will die—her soul will be taken as well."
"How could I? I'm always an honest and trustworthy big brother, ha ha!" Merlin chuckled, retracting his staff to show he wasn't up to any mischief.
To spare Gudako the dilemma, the expressionless Ana proactively sheathed her weapon and walked to Jiang You's side.
"Alright, now that we've achieved our goal, you can leave," Jiang You said, patting Ana's hooded head and dismissing them. Let them carry this information to Gilgamesh. It's time to declare war on the Heroic King during his vacation.
"Tell the Heroic King that in three days, the Faerie Realm will launch a full-scale assault on Uruk. Let him prepare himself."
Gudako gritted her teeth and heaved the now-incapacitated Mash onto her back.
"Then we'll take our leave. Let's hope things don't get too..." Merlin flashed Jiang You a hearty smile. In the next moment, lush blossoms erupted around Merlin and his companions. A gentle breeze swept through, scattering petals as the group vanished into thin air.
"Medea, can you keep up with his speed?" Jiang You asked, completely unaware of when Merlin had prepared his Spell. He had even specifically reminded Medea earlier to try and steal some techniques, but she seemed to have missed the opportunity.
Medea shook her head, clearly finding Jiang You's expectations of her excessive. "You overestimate me, Jiang You. This is Merlin's most masterful Illusion Magic—it's beyond my reach. As a Magus, his abilities far surpass mine in nearly every aspect."
Jiang You hadn't expected Medea to admit her inferiority to Merlin so readily. He'd been looking forward to hearing her stubborn denials. Now, feeling slightly awkward, he tried to smooth things over. "Come on, it's not that bad! At least you completely crush him when it comes to incantations. He's the kind of guy who bites his tongue even when chanting a simple spell."
Medea rolled her eyes, finding Jiang You's words anything but comforting. They only served to highlight the vast gulf between her and Merlin. "He doesn't even need incantations, for goodness' sake! Stop indulging in such fanciful notions. I still need to connect those weapons to Quetzalcoatl's Authority, or else you'll never accept the sacrifices that might be required."
Jiang You offered her another Soul Crystal, feeling he had been imposing on Medea too often lately.
"Thank you so much, Lady Medea!"
"Spare me the flattery. The one you gave me earlier is more than enough." Medea pushed the Soul Crystal back at him.
"Instead of wasting these on me, why don't you round up some people to help me gather materials? This era is even further in the future than my own time, so even materials that were impossible to obtain in my era might be available here... Hmm, I think it's time to start selling potions."
"That works too. Do you remember when I told you to prepare for the floods? You might want to stockpile more containers. In a few days, we'll be getting even more precious materials."
Once Tiamat appears, the Primordial Sea will begin to spread. If this substance can be used as a Spell Material, its value should be extremely high.
"If even you say so, then I'll look forward to it."
Medea nodded. Although Jiang You's knowledge of magecraft was virtually nonexistent, his eye for quality was excellent. If he said something was exceptional, it was undoubtedly precious.
"So, why did you keep this child specifically? You don't actually have... that kind of fetish, do you?"
Medea thought of Illya and realized it wasn't entirely impossible.
"What are you thinking? This child is key to defeating Tiamat, though that doesn't apply to me. Also, do you remember Medusa?"
Jiang You's words immediately put Ana on guard, making her realize he knew her true identity.
Upon hearing the name "Medusa," Medea suddenly understood. She scrutinized Ana carefully. "So it's her after all."
"Come, Ana, I'll take you to see your sisters."
Faced with Jiang You's cryptic remark, Ana wore a puzzled expression.