Amakusa Shirou: Calm Down First

Regarding Moon Fall, Semiramis's thoughts weren't far from Darnic's. Even for her, a Magus from the Age of Gods, she acknowledged that conjuring a false moon for a destructive attack posed significant challenges—it wasn't a move to be used lightly. Especially in the Age of Gods, if the Moon Goddesses sensed their power being exploited, they would likely descend immediately.

Gods weren't as easily persuaded as people might think.

Yet, the scene unfolding on the battlefield now made her doubt her own eyes.

"A second time…?"

It was astonishing. From the first Moon Fall until now, only about ten minutes had passed. Combined with the battle against Chiron and Avicebron, plus the Mana consumed by Mordred's Noble Phantasm—all this should have been enough to completely drain a Magus. Yet this second Moon Fall seemed effortless.

Even when zoomed in, Semiramis could see that Naoki showed no signs of using Magecraft; with a single phrase, he pulled the moon down.

"Could he be favored by the Moon Goddess?"

If she could get closer to the scene, Semiramis might discern more, but for now, that was her only explanation.

After a brief pause, Semiramis turned to Amakusa Shirou Tokisada beside her and asked, "What now, Master? The strength of Red Saber's Master is somewhat unexpected. Archer and Rider are nearby—should we have them eliminate him now?"

The Black Faction's defeat was certain, and with their common enemy gone, the Holy Grail War would shift to an internal conflict within the Red Faction.

Given the combat prowess Naoki's team had displayed, it was unlikely anyone from the Red Faction could match them. Striking now, while the Master was off guard, to eliminate him and force his withdrawal was the best strategy.

Semiramis's suggestion made Amakusa pause.

He didn't object to the idea itself, but the question was whether Atalanta and Achilles could pull it off. Naoki's power was beyond expectations. If he could use Moon Fall twice in succession, could he do it a third or fourth time?

At this stage, Atalanta and Achilles were still powerful trump cards, as their Masters were under his control. Losing them here would be a pity.

"Let them keep observing." Amakusa said, then turned to the figure behind him. "By the way, can you prepare to deal with this Natsukawa Naoki, Caster?"

"Asking me to face a disaster no different from a natural calamity? Forgive me, isn't that a bit unreasonable? It's like asking Hamlet to stage a rebellion the moment he returns to his kingdom!"

Red Caster, Shakespeare, reacted strongly to Amakusa's words.

His excitement was understandable, given Naoki's evident power. Yet, if anyone could find a way to neutralize Naoki with minimal cost, it would be Shakespeare.

"It's only a last resort; there are still many other options."

Karna's God-Slaying Spear, Semiramis's Noble Phantasm, Tiamat's sacred beast Bashmu… The reason for his caution toward Naoki was simply the unprecedented destructive power he wielded.

"Hmm… I see, I see. Understood."

With a flourish of his cloak, Shakespeare gazed at Naoki on the screen. "This Master is undoubtedly a man qualified to become a Legend! Honestly, I'm itching to act. If I made him the protagonist, what grand adventures could I write? And in the end, what tragic fate would suit him? Hahaha!"

His interest had clearly been sparked.

That was enough.

Amakusa gave a faint smile. "Assassin, contact Archer and Rider. If possible, try to reach Saber's team as well."

"Aren't you harboring unrealistic illusions?"

"Perhaps. But I don't think it's a bad thing."

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

On the battlefield.

Exiting Tsukihime mode, Naoki fell into the second crater created by Moon Fall. Before his feet could steady, he collapsed weakly to the ground.

*THUD!*

Catching and supporting Naoki, Mordred grinned. "You called me reckless, but you're way more reckless than me? Dropping a second moon—there's a limit to recklessness, you know!"

"We're even, then…" Naoki laughed.

Perhaps because both were reckless, Naoki had summoned Mordred. Even in a situation where one of the Knights of the Round Table or King Arthur could have been called, the final summon was determined by compatibility.

"So, Black Caster and his Noble Phantasm—were they completely destroyed like that?"

Approaching Naoki, Jeanne asked with slight concern.

Avicebron's Noble Phantasm's effect was that as long as it stood on the ground, it would continuously draw power, possessing recovery comparable to an immortal body. To fully defeat it, its core and head had to be destroyed simultaneously while its feet were off its paradise.

Could a single Moon Fall have obliterated it entirely?

Naoki patted Jeanne's head. "I know Avicebron's Noble Phantasm effects better than you. Relax, it's completely gone."

Earlier, Naoki hadn't just used Moon Fall but also deployed a Reality Marble to negate the Paradisification of the world by Golem Keter Malkuth. As long as its feet didn't touch its paradise, Golem Keter Malkuth wouldn't regenerate.

Of course, it sounded simple, but executing it was quite troublesome. By nature, Naoki had forcibly neutralized a Unique Realm with his Reality Marble, causing his recently recovered Mana to deplete again!

"With this, three Servants have been eliminated."

Siegfried, Vlad III, Avicebron.

The Black Faction now had only Chiron, Astolfo, Frankenstein, and the yet-to-appear Jack the Ripper. Among them, only Chiron was still combat-capable.

Meanwhile, the Red Faction had lost just one Servant—Spartacus, who had perished alongside Avicebron under Moon Fall, though he had willingly charged into it.

"So then…"

Naoki looked toward the nearby forest, amplifying his voice with Magecraft. "We've handled all the dirty, heavy work. You've been watching this whole time—don't you plan to show yourselves? Atalanta, Achilles."