Dreamscape, the false Fuyuki City.
Countless werewolf monsters surged forward like tidal waves, rushing toward the park shrouded in a bounded field.
They bared their fangs and slashed with their claws, sending sparks flying around the barrier, causing it to tremble violently like boiling water.
"There's just too many of them!"
Rin tirelessly threw gemstones to reinforce the barrier while letting out an incredulous cry.
"Wasn't it said that the rules of this dream are infinitely close to reality? How come they get to cheat by summoning so many monsters, while we have to fight our way through step by step?"
Around the barrier, a sapphire-blue figure darted through the horde of monsters like a sharp blade.
Every time Okita weaved through, she severed a string of monsters, sending severed limbs flying—yet not a single drop of blood splattered. The slain monsters simply dissipated like black smoke.
"That's not it."
Illya continuously projected thread-like swords to ease Okita's burden.
"This must be Angra Mainyu's own ability. As the 'All the World's Evils,' even if he's just an innocent monster, he possesses the power to endlessly spawn beasts!"
It was true that the nightmare curse spirit could manipulate the dream, but it could only work with existing materials. The rules of the entire dream had to be consistent. If they were bound by rules infinitely close to reality, then Angra Mainyu must also operate under the same constraints.
"And this is likely a conceptual ability!"
"Doesn't that mean we can never finish them off?!"
Rin shouted frantically inside the barrier, having long discarded her family's trademark elegance.
Outside the barrier, Okita was momentarily surrounded by a swarm of monsters. To avoid being trapped in an endless encirclement, she decisively leaped back into the barrier.
Then, she grabbed a handful of gemstones from the nearby "mountain of jewels" and helped Rin reinforce the barrier.
"With just us, breaking through this siege is impossible."
Illya also halted her attacks. Though her energy was significantly drained, she maintained an intimidating calm.
"What we need now is either spatial relocation or large-scale firepower—a beam attack!"
As she spoke, Illya glanced at Okita with expectant eyes.
Okita froze, then awkwardly averted her gaze.
"...Sorry for not having a beam attack."
"No use complaining now."
Illya sighed. She had already guessed that a swordsman like Okita likely lacked beam capabilities.
But you're a Saber! Theoretically the strongest among the seven standard classes!
Why are you so weak?
How bizarre.
Illya didn't know much about Roy, but there was one thing she was absolutely certain of—Roy was an inscrutable man, his deepest thoughts nearly impossible to discern.
How could someone like him summon such a weak Saber?
Illya couldn't make sense of it.
But there was nothing she could do. For now, she turned and joined the frantic gemstone-throwing.
Soon, Okita, having rested, charged out of the barrier again, cutting through the monsters like a sharp blade to relieve the barrier's pressure. After a round of slashing, she returned to the barrier to rest, repeating the cycle.
The mountain of jewels also visibly shrank as they were continuously used to reinforce the barrier.
"Where are the reinforcements?!"
Rin rubbed her sore arms, her bloodshot eyes glaring hatefully at the monsters outside.
Gemstones!
So many gemstones!
She had never even seen such a massive pile of jewels in her life, and now they were being wasted on these low-tier mobs with zero elite aura.
Her heart was bleeding!
Okita was about to say something when her expression suddenly brightened.
"Reinforcements are here!"
As she spoke—
"Hmm—!"
A holy white light showered down from the sky.
The monsters caught in the radiance trembled and roared as if facing their natural enemy, some even dissipating into black smoke on the spot.
Like an angel descending from heaven, a sacred figure emerged from the clouds.
She descended straight toward the trio's location.
"Are you… Lancer?"
Okita stared wide-eyed at the figure landing before them, utterly bewildered.
Rin and Illya also stepped forward, speechless as they gazed at the girl.
Clad in a deep blue nun's habit overlaid with silver armour, she wielded a banner embroidered with sacred fleur-de-lis, resembling a general clad in steel, ready for battle.
Her appearance was nearly identical to the Lancer Okita had seen earlier—except her short silver hair had become long golden locks, tied into a thick braid at the back.
"My name is Jeanne. I've come to aid you in rescuing Roy."
The girl glanced down at her attire, relieved to see her familiar appearance, then offered the trio a benevolent, gentle smile.
Okita was momentarily at a loss for words.
This girl was undoubtedly the same Lancer from before—except the boundless resentment that had once made her seem like she'd crawled out of the abyss had been utterly purified. Now, she radiated a sacred brilliance akin to a saint, almost too dazzling to behold.
The light emanating from her was like a sun dispelling darkness, causing the surrounding monsters to wail in agony.
Yet these monsters showed no signs of retreat, as if devoid of survival instincts, continuing to surge forward relentlessly.
"Where is Roy now?"
Jeanne's expression turned solemn as she swiftly assessed the battlefield, then asked the trio.
"I know!"
Okita immediately stepped forward.
"But there are too many monsters around, and we lack large-scale firepower. Do you have a beam attack? Can you clear a path?"
The saintess's radiance alone wasn't enough to open a path.
"About that…"
Jeanne also hesitated.
She did possess large-scale firepower.
But she could only use it once.
If she used it here, she wouldn't be able to save Roy.
"It seems you're in quite a predicament. In that case, allow me to lend you a hand!"
Suddenly, a voice brimming with elegance and grace rang out.
It was impossible to pinpoint its direction—it seemed to come from everywhere at once.
"Who's there?"
Rin and Illya immediately grew vigilant, scanning their surroundings.
But Okita's eyes flickered with recognition.
This voice was familiar.
Was it Rider, who had been ordered by their Master not to intervene?
Since this was a dream, did that mean he wasn't violating the order?
"Hmm!"
In an instant, a crimson magic circle materialized beneath the four of them.
There had been no warning, no sign whatsoever.
"By the decree of the Supreme Ultimate—activate!"
A faint, indistinct chant seemed to echo in the air.
The next moment, the four within the circle felt the world spin around them.
In the blink of an eye, they vanished from the park.
Even the small mountain of jewels was considerately whisked away with them.
After their disappearance.
Taigong Wang, clad in resplendent robes, appeared on the spot.
Gazing in the direction the four had departed, he smiled cheerfully, his eyes narrowing like a fox's.
"I see, I see… So Magicians, like us immortals, are also forbidden from interfering in the mortal world. Yet I can sense an inexplicable force at work… Hmm… How fascinating. This world truly is intriguing!"
***
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