-893- Demi-Servant and Guardian Beast
Time rewinds a few minutes.
"Senpai!"
Helplessly watching Rozen being dragged into the chariot by Medb using a whip, Mash couldn't help but panic.
"Roar!"
"Roar!"
"Roar!"
The three dragons surrounding Mash roared loudly. Their dragon breaths incessantly spewed out, forming a triangular assault, trapping Mash within a blaze of dragon fire.
Prior to this, the dragons had continuously attempted to incinerate Mash using this method, causing everything around the ground where Mash stood to melt into a magma-like mix of fiery red and charred black.
Only the area where Mash stood, due to the protection of her Noble Phantasm, remained unharmed.
Relying on the incredible defensive capabilities of her Noble Phantasm, Mash could endure the dragon breaths. Any ordinary Servant would have perished long ago under the siege of the three dragons.
However, seeing Rozen face danger alone while being trapped, Mash became truly anxious.
"Move aside!"
In an unusual display, the girl called out, completely disregarding her safety, directly canceling her Noble Phantasm, causing the magical barrier to disappear.
Immediately, three streams of dragon breath rushed toward Mash like a torrent, engulfing her.
"Ugh...! Ahhhhhhh...!"
Mash let out a mournful cry.
However, right after, Mash gritted her teeth, ignoring the dragon breath that landed on her, and rushed forward.
"Boom—!"
With a blast like an explosion, Mash burst out from the dragon flames, carrying the still-burning fire, charging towards Medb's chariot.
"Roar!"
"Roar!"
Seemingly caught off guard by Mash's unexpected choice to actively cancel her defense and endure attacks as a consequence, the three dragons were unable to react in time.
"Senpai!"
In this way, Mash rushed toward Medb's chariot, even leaping high into the air, raising her shield, ready to shatter the carriage compartment.
Unfortunately, the two divine bulls responsible for pulling the chariot roared in anger. As Mash leaped high, they simultaneously stood upright and struck out with their front hooves against Mash in mid-air.
"...!"
Mash was surprised, but without hesitation, she raised her shield in front of her.
"Clang—!"
With a crisp sound of impact, the front hooves of the two divine bulls landed squarely on Mash's shield, creating a violent shockwave that unleashed an astonishing force.
Under this impact, Mash in mid-air felt an overwhelming power transmitting through her. Along with her shield, she was kicked into the high sky by the front hooves of the two divine bulls.
"Roar!"
"Roar!"
Almost simultaneously, the three dragons that had been attacking Mash finally reacted, flapping their wings and pouncing toward Mash.
"Ugh..."
Witnessing this scene with her own eyes, Mash bit her lip, raising her shield to prepare for the impending attack from the three dragons.
However, before that happened, a massive and agile figure swiftly passed by in front of Mash.
"Roar!"
Hokuto arrived before Mash, letting out a resounding roar. The dragon tail behind him, resembling a colossal whip that blocked out the sky, fiercely swung forward.
"Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!"
Amidst several thunderous air-shattering roars, Hokuto's dragon tail sent the three oncoming dragons flying, causing them to either crash into the fiery sea below, creating waves of flames, or collide with the mountain peaks, stirring up seismic tremors. One dragon even slammed into a group of wyverns, sending them all flying. The scene was exceptionally spectacular.
"Hokuto!"
Mash exclaimed in delight.
During the events in Rome in the second singularity, Rozen had summoned Hokuto. Mash was familiar with Hokuto and knew that it was Rozen's guardian beast.
Back then, during Rozen's summoning of dragonkind, not only Mash but everyone in Chaldea was in awe.
Even Olga Marie and Da Vinci were emotionally stirred for a long time. It's clear that for magus, having the strongest dragonkind in existence as an ally was an incredibly exciting occurrence.
Naturally, if the Mage's Association learned of Hokuto's existence, they might go to great lengths for research, especially considering the magical researchers in Chaldea, including Olga Marie. If not for the situation preventing it, even Da Vinci would likely indulge in extensive study.
So, Mash wasn't surprised by Hokuto's appearance, only pleasantly surprised.
Hokuto seemed to have some impression of Mash as well. With a swift turn, it placed the still-airborne Mash on its head.
Seated on Hokuto's back, Mash gained some confidence.
"Let's go, Hokuto! We're going to rescue Senpai!"
Mash called out to Hokuto beneath her.
"Roar!"
Hokuto immediately responded with an excited roar.
Seeing Rozen being dragged into the chariot, both Mash and Hokuto were anxious.
Although Hokuto had a carefree and innocent personality, unchanged even during its rapid growth, its loyalty to Rozen was unwavering.
This loyalty was something it didn't have for the other members of the Tsuchimikado family.
In the past, while Hokuto faithfully served as the guardian beast of the Tsuchimikado family, its loyalty was merely a result of fulfilling its duty. There wasn't any special attachment to the Tsuchimikado family.
Whether it was the time when it was subdued by Abe no Seimei or when it fell under the influence of Tsuchimikado Yakou, Hokuto harbored nothing more than curiosity and a playful nature. There was no genuine loyalty.
But Rozen was different.
Since their first encounter, when Rozen flawlessly commanded Hokuto, it developed a strong fondness for him.
Moreover, Rozen, unlike the previous members of the Tsuchimikado family, didn't merely exploit its power but contributed by developing its dragon breath abilities, allowing it to enter a growth phase, steadily becoming stronger.
For Hokuto, its feelings for Rozen had transformed from mere curiosity to admiration and reverence.
Without reservation, if Rozen wished to form an absolute contract with Hokuto, it could be done in an instant.
Therefore, Hokuto not only didn't resist Mash's decision but seemed to have been eagerly awaiting it, emitting a triumphant dragon roar.
Immediately, Hokuto swayed its dragon body, charging towards Medb's chariot.
Facing the approaching thousand-meter dragon, both divine bulls felt a sense of dread.
Only those dragonkind roared and charged.
"Roar!"
"Roar!"
Amidst the roars, numerous colossal dragons rushed towards Hokuto. Their number included the initial three that confronted Mash and the four dealt with by Hokuto earlier, making a total of seven.
"Roar!"
Hokuto showed no signs of retreat. Instead, it accelerated suddenly, resembling a streak of light as it collided with the oncoming dragons.
"Boom—!"
The collision of dragons unfolded in the high skies, causing the atmosphere to ripple.