The Shiomi family's dining table had never been this lively.
The long table was packed with guests, catching Sakura and Caren—used to the usual quiet routine—completely off guard.
They sat on either side of the table, closest to Shiomi and Morgan.
From there, the table extended out with Waver and Iskandar on one side, and Iri and Artoria on the other.
Though the sudden influx of guests had stirred the girls' curiosity, the real reason behind the gathering was simple: this was the final meal before nightfall, before stepping onto the battlefield for the last time.
Sensitive to the tension in the air, both Sakura and Caren kept quiet, picking up on the unspoken weight of the moment.
Iskandar, as always, remained unbothered—casually eating and cracking light-hearted jokes to entertain the girls, easing the mood across the room.
Maiya Hisau, having only recently regained consciousness, was resting at the base, and Kiritsugu Emiya didn't show up at all.
According to Iri, he was out in the city, conducting further investigations and making various preparations. He had handed all matters concerning the Holy Grail War over to her, even transferring the Command Spells into her care.
Apparently, the impact of the Garden of Lost Will had been more profound on that freelance Magus than anyone had expected.
Mana supply to Servants, however, still came from Kiritsugu. Morgan had casually offered guidance to help the couple form a shared contract.
What no one realized was that Kayneth had spent quite a bit of time untangling and rewriting the details of the Grail War contracts to achieve something similar.
Shiomi, who didn't know Kiritsugu well, had no intention of probing further. Like Waver, he simply accepted the arrangement as an allied Master.
After dinner, Sakura and Caren quietly headed off to their rooms to play and rest. The remaining group gathered in the living room to hold their final strategy meeting and share details about their respective Servants' Noble Phantasms.
With the ritual site now confirmed to be Ryuudou Temple, the remaining questions were how to launch their assault—and what came next.
"On that note, didn't you guys fight that Gold-glitter earlier and force him to use his trump card?" Iskandar asked, eyes on the map spread across the coffee table, with Ryuudou Temple clearly marked. "What kind of level are we talking about?"
Shiomi leaned against the armrest. "Completely off the charts. Beyond any standard classification."
"If it weren't for Shiomi's Magecraft shielding me, I would've been far more seriously hurt," Artoria admitted reluctantly. "Facing Archer's ultimate Noble Phantasm head-on is probably not a viable plan."
Iskandar scratched at his beard. He hadn't witnessed the actual clash between the King of Knights and the King of Heroes, but from the aftermath, he could tell that it was a Noble Phantasm unleashed with its true name, and had a massive area of effect.
It was a completely different kind of weapon from his own, unrevealed ultimate Noble Phantasm—no direct comparison could be made.
"Just because we can't face it head-on doesn't mean we're without defenses," Shiomi said, turning to Artoria and Iri.
They understood immediately.
"Actually, I had planned to return this Noble Phantasm to Saber," Iri said, pressing her hand to her chest, her voice sincere. "But I didn't expect you'd run into Archer at the church."
The decision over the disposition of "Avalon: The Everdistant Utopia," the conceptual weapon, had always been hers.
Kiritsugu was now fully focused on ending the Holy Grail War and preparing to bring Illya home once it was over.
Compared to a millennia-old wish, Iri's heart had already shifted—leaning toward the daughter who mattered most in the reality they now faced.
"But in that case, Irisviel, your body..." Artoria looked concerned.
She knew full well that Noble Phantasm originally belonged to her. After all, she had only survived the loss of her heart thanks to the King of Knights' Noble Phantasm. Even now, it was the presence of that Noble Phantasm inside her that kept her body stable.
"No need to worry," Morgan said, offering a mage's perspective. "Without the functions of the Lesser Grail, she's just an ordinary Homunculus now."
Normally, Morgan didn't care about anyone's life or death unless it involved Shiomi. But Tenkei Shiomi was the kind of person who could kill without hesitation—yet would agonize over saving someone. If the trouble wasn't right in front of him, he didn't care. But once it was, he had to intervene. It left Morgan exasperated, but not unwilling. So, before dinner that afternoon, she conducted a brief assessment of Irisviel's condition.
"I understand," Artoria nodded.
Shiomi turned his face slightly, a thoughtful expression settling over him. "Setting aside how well this Noble Phantasm can defend, I think there's something we need to clarify first."
"What is it?" Waver asked, confused. He had just started to feel reassured after hearing about a possible countermeasure, and now Shiomi's words had unsettled him again.
"Archer is probably extremely proud of that Noble Phantasm—Ea," Shiomi said. "I doubt he believes there's anything that can block or match it. So, if possible, I think we need a dual-layer strategy."
Iskandar looked at Shiomi with a nod of approval. "You mean we should try to secure victory before the King of Heroes has a chance to use that weapon—and if he does, make sure we force a win in that single moment?"
"Exactly."
Shiomi nodded again.
Everyone present agreed with the plan.
The trump card had to remain hidden for as long as possible. But once they used it, it had to end the fight. If Gilgamesh realized they had a way to counter him, he would undoubtedly start looking for other ways to disrupt and sabotage them.
"Then when the time comes, Saber, Rider, and I will attack from the front and take on the King of Heroes," Shiomi said, pointing at Ryuudou Temple on the map. "Morgan, Miss Irisviel, and Waver will head to the activation point of the Greater Grail."
Morgan nodded quietly, and once again, the others were caught off guard.
"Why not just bring Morgan with us? You could handle Kirei Kotomine just as well," Artoria asked.
"In terms of magecraft, no one here can match Morgan," Shiomi said firmly. "And I have no idea what's needed to purify the Grail or bring the ceremony to an end. That's why Morgan needs to focus completely on handling the ritual."
"My husband has spoken. Let's all follow his plan," Morgan said with a knowing smile.
Realizing that Shiomi and Morgan were already aligned on this, no one could come up with a better alternative. They had little choice but to go along.
After all, Tenkei Shiomi's combat strength was also one of their most crucial trump cards.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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