The chaotic scuffle of the two "electric" geniuses finally subsided.
However, they clearly weren't averse to continuing, and only Nightingale's threat to use her bone saw and amputate anything superfluous made them calm down.
Be that as it may, the United States Army and the Resistance forces formed an alliance. A military council began, dedicated to fighting the common enemy – the Celtic army.
"First, let's talk about numbers. Thanks to current operations, enemy losses are increasing, but Queen Medb continues to relentlessly spawn new Celtic warriors. Of course, we have accelerated production in our mechanized corps to replenish our ranks, but we cannot keep up with the Celts' pace."
Blavatsky opened the meeting with her report.
Next, Mash began to analyze the troop positions, based on information gathered by Ritsuka and the Resistance.
"Our main problem will be the Servants on the Celtic side. First, there is Queen Medb herself, the mad King Cú Chulainn, and the Indian divine spirit Arjuna. Furthermore, according to the latest reports from the mechanized corps, Beowulf, the Dragon Slayer, was spotted."
There are at most four Servants left on the Celtic side. Since Fiona's knights were destroyed by Ritsuka's group earlier, the numerical advantage is clearly on our side. However, the power of each of these four cannot be underestimated.
Queen Medb, endlessly multiplying the army. The mad King Cú Chulainn, guarding her and possessing unimaginable strength. Arjuna, the great hero of India and a Servant of divine level, equal to Karna. And Beowulf, the legendary monster hunter. To say "only four" would be a fatal mistake. There are four of them.
"Wouldn't it be better if we just gathered into one fist and broke through along one route? Just like 'direct current,' huh?" Edison suggested.
Tesla, sitting apart, lazily spun a spinner brought by Deadpool and sarcastically threw:
"Oh yes, a brilliant idea, Mr. Direct Current. Simply genius."
Edison immediately retorted, stating that it was better than the behavior of a certain adept of alternating current, who was ignoring the discussion and doing nonsense.
"The method is tempting, but breaking through to Washington through such hordes of enemies and Servants will be extremely difficult," Blavatsky objected.
"If we go as a whole crowd, then upon meeting Cú Chulainn, we risk perishing on the spot as a complete unit. We need to scatter their forces as much as possible."
"Yelena-san is right," Mash supported her, proposing her plan.
"Going as one group is too risky. But if we split up, one part can distract the main forces of the Celts and hold the front, buying time. During this time, another detachment will quickly break through to Washington, defeat the queen, and retrieve the Holy Grail."
"So, a diversionary maneuver," someone mused.
"We divide our forces to force the enemy to also divide or transfer reinforcements to one direction..."
"Just like 'alternating current', isn't it?" Tesla grinned, teasing his rival.
Edison, unable to stand it, jumped up and grabbed him by the collar. Looking at Edison's roaring lion head, which seemed ready to devour his opponent, Ritsuka hurried to intervene:
"So, we distribute our forces like in alternating current, and deliver a swift strike, like in direct current?"
Hearing such a diplomatic summary, Edison and Tesla froze, looking at the Master in bewilderment, and then, with a satisfied look, returned to their places.
"Uh... So, based on Mash-chan's plan, I've assigned the groups. To the Northern Army, whose task is to lure out as many Celts as possible and hold the front, will go three: myself, Helena Blavatsky, Edison, and Tesla. To the Southern Army, which will make a dash for Washington, will go six: Master, Mash, Deadpool, Nightingale, Artoria, and Karna."
Upon hearing this, Edison and Tesla immediately began to protest. The problem was not the small number of Servants in the north, but that the "direct" and "alternating" currents would have to work together.
"For me to stand on the same front line with this cat-faced creature?! Never! My genius honor will be tarnished!"
"To share the same land with this mediocre upstart who fears failure?!" Tesla exclaimed indignantly.
"I'd rather fight shoulder to shoulder with this white little beast!"
"Fou?"
Edison, unwilling to yield, poked his finger at the innocent Fou and continued to argue furiously.
"Do you have any complaints?" Blavatsky asked coldly.
Both nodded in unison.
"Even though this plan was devised by the Master?"
Hearing that Ritsuka had personally labored over the positioning, the debaters faltered. They exchanged glances as if they had swallowed water and reluctantly sat back down.
The Northern Army, despite the small number of Servants, would lead the main mass of the mechanized corps and rebels. It would be a war of attrition, and Helena believed that two "electrical" Servants were quite capable of surviving such a meat grinder.
The Southern Army was to take advantage of the moment when the main enemy forces were drawn north. Medb would surely send her Servants to meet the threat, so there should be more of them in the strike force.
"Then it's decided. The operation's name..."
"Direct and Alternating!"
"Alternating and Direct!"
And again, a squabble erupted over the name.
Nightingale, noticing that these two clearly suffered from an excess of vision, as they reacted so sharply to each other, was already reaching out to cut out their eyeballs, and only the intervention of the others prevented bloodshed.
"The operation begins tomorrow at dawn. Until then, free time."
The council concluded successfully.
Tomorrow morning, the decisive battle for the North American continent and the fate of this singularity would begin. There would be no sacrifices. Crises were inevitable. But Ritsuka had to move forward.
"Senpai."
Ritsuka, unable to sleep, was strolling along the wall of the White Castle when Mash approached him. Apparently, she was also suffering from insomnia. She sat down next to him under the glow of the full moon.
"Are you nervous?"
"Yes," Ritsuka answered honestly.
Mash smiled softly and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I will protect you, Senpai. I definitely will..."
Her promise was not an empty sound. They had gone through countless dangers and adventures together. For her, Fujimaru Ritsuka had become the most precious person, occupying her entire heart. She could no longer imagine life without him. And Ritsuka felt the same way.
"Mash..." He blushed, not taking his eyes off the moon, and hesitantly began:
"Listen... If this singularity ends..." She was silent, and Ritsuka, gathering his courage, continued, "...Will you go out with me?"
Embarrassment washed over him, but he squeezed his eyes shut and laid out everything that was on his mind.
There was no answer. Deciding that she was also too embarrassed, he turned his head.
"Huh?!"
She was gone.
Ritsuka's eyes widened in astonishment, unable to utter a word. His face instantly turned pale. And the reason was obvious.
"Oh, kid. You've finally discovered new horizons!"
It was Deadpool.
It was obvious that Mash was leaning on Ritsuka's shoulder, but now she had disappeared somewhere, and Deadpool had taken her place, leaning against him with a blissfully foolish look.
"Alright. I felt the sincerity in your words. So be it, I accept your feelings. So, from today, we are officially dating?"
Deadpool smiled shyly and, coquettishly, grabbed Ritsuka's hand. The latter merely raised his face to the high dark sky and cried out in despair, distorting his features.
Subsequently, a legend was born in the White Castle – not a legend, but a tale – about the ghost of a man who could not express his true feelings in time and now cries out desperately on the fortress wall every night.
"Well, is everyone ready?" Ritsuka asked the next morning. During the preparations for the decisive battle, he once again outlined the plan, reminding everyone of their task.
"Don't worry about us," Blavatsky smiled, wishing the group luck.
"Try to get to Washington as soon as possible and defeat the queen. Agreed?"
"Vice President is right. Leave your worries behind," Edison also bestowed his blessing of beloved direct current upon them.
"We are ready to give our lives for America and for the whole world... ahem-ahem. In short, may the Force of Direct Current be with you!"
"Since I'm here, you don't have to worry about the Northerners," Tesla interjected, as usual provoking his rival.
"I can handle it alone. May the blessing of Alternating Current be with you... By the way, I'll note that alternating current is twice as powerful as direct current."
"Lies! Direct current is twice as strong!" Edison retorted.
"And mine is three times!"
"Five times!"
"Ten times!"
The quarrel flared up instantly. Nightingale, clearly fed up with this spectacle, slapped both of them soundly, and only then did silence reign.
"So. We begin the operation," Blavatsky announced.
"Operation 'Direct and Alternating Current', begin!" Edison shouted.
"Operation 'Alternating and Direct Current', begin!" Tesla yelled simultaneously. Glancing at Nightingale, they began to push each other's shoulders childishly.
"We should also be moving out," Nightingale reminded them.
"We'll fly to Washington quickly, so hold on tight."
The Southerners decided to use the self-propelled carriage created by Ford. While the geniuses argued about which fuel was better – "direct" or "alternating" – they reached a compromise and filled both types, fully charging the machine. Nightingale herself took the wheel.
"Master, I have a request," Karna addressed Ritsuka as she started the engine.
"It concerns Arjuna. I'm sorry, but he and I have old scores to settle. Allow us to fight one-on-one. There's something we must finish before this war ends."
Ritsuka had already heard about Indian myths from Mash and understood that the confrontation between these two was not just an ordinary skirmish. Therefore, he agreed without hesitation.
"Thank you, Master. I will not forget your kindness."
The usually stern Karna gave a barely perceptible smile. At that moment, Nightingale slammed on the gas, and the carriage sped off along the southern route at high speed.
The southern army's path was blocked by significant American forces. Since Edison had already transmitted the plan to all units via "direct current communication devices," the soldiers were ready to cooperate.
The target was the front line near Montgomery. Since the Northerners had tied up more than half of the Celtic troops in the north, it was expected that there would be few enemies in the south.
"Even though the main part of the forces is in the north... there are still so many of them," Mash muttered.
The number of Celts near Montgomery was alarming. This only emphasized how huge the total number of the enemy army was.
"In such a situation, the only option is to break through by force. There's no time, so hold on..." Nightingale didn't finish speaking: a projectile of pure blue light shot towards them.
"...Second one approaching!" Romani's voice rang out on the comms.
As soon as the warning sounded, a second projectile arrived. But Karna, sensing the attack, had already jumped out of his seat. Raising his spear, he effectively deflected the projectile aside.
"Karna!" Ritsuka shouted.
"Master. Remember what I asked."
Karna's face became extremely serious. Arjuna, a servant in white robes, appeared from the Celtic side.
"Since Arjuna is here, we'll have to fight too, Senpai!"
"That's right, Master," Nightingale confirmed.
"We can't break through such a crowd of Celts without a fight. I'm starting the 'operation' immediately."
Mash and Nightingale left the carriage, assuming combat stances before the advancing Celts and the hordes of monsters summoned by Medb.
"Hahaha! I love hunting small fry, it's fun!" Deadpool grinned villainously, clanking his pair of blades.
"Today I feel like kebab... Maybe I'll shred some filling?"
"Hmm. A foolish herd of sheep, born to be slaughtered. Well, I will gladly trample you," Saber Alter, in her black armor, drew her sword.
Ritsuka touched the hand where the last Command Seal remained, praying that the worst-case scenario could be avoided.
"Listen, Saber Alter," Deadpool said.
"Can I ask a question?"
"What do you want, my personal chef for red chimichangas?" she replied, bestowing upon him a strange title she had just invented herself.
"If you think about it, you're also a Celt, aren't you? Doesn't your conscience bother you – slaughtering your own kin?"
She gave him a contemptuous look, as if he had said something incredibly stupid, and smirked:
"I don't give a damn. Celts, Angles – if they get in my way, I'll kill them. And you... you cook well, so live for now."
Saber Alter's sword was enveloped in black flames, and she literally ground a detachment of Celts who got too close to Deadpool into dust.
"Focus on the battle, chef. And when we're done – you'll serve me chimichangas."
With these words, she rushed into the thick of the battle.
Deadpool watched her go, then looked at the two great heroes of the Indian epic, suspended in the sky opposite each other. He worriedly rubbed his chin and addressed the void:
"And how will they show it? Another animation in the style of paper dolls? Will they just collide bodies with a 'bang' sound? What a nightmare! How did it happen that in the highest-grossing mobile game in the world, the battle of the great Indian heroes looks worse than in the original game from 2004?! Explain yourselves, animation department!!"
Deadpool grabbed the invisible frame of the screen and began to shake it furiously.