Chapter 75: Serenity, Come to Fuyuki's Main Street—I'll Shatter Your Mask!

Like a colossal mountain, Heracles charged toward Serenity with heavy footsteps, each step carrying the force to shatter the ground beneath him.

"You won't get through so easily!"

Faced with the strongest demigod hero of Greek mythology, Serenity knew she couldn't match him in sheer strength. She had to use a different approach.

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card [Proof of Existence]! This card targets one face-up Assassin with 2 stars or lower on the field. Until the end of the turn, that card cannot be destroyed by battle, and all battle damage it would take becomes 0!"

"It's useless! [Emerald Magic]'s second effect! While this card is in the Graveyard, if I banish this card along with another [Gem] Magic card from my Graveyard, I can negate an effect that targets a Servant on the field!"

The activation of [Proof of Existence] was disrupted by the magical interference of the Gem card. Serenity's defensive line was easily breached, and the massive axe-sword, far larger than Serenity herself, came crashing down on her. Her petite frame was cleaved in two by the overwhelming force.

Serenity LP 1800 → LP 300.

"Heracles' other effect! When he destroys an enemy Servant in battle, I can target and destroy one card on my opponent's field! I choose the card on the left!"

Serenity's back row dwindled further, leaving her with only one remaining defense.

"Because of my effect, Heracles is also destroyed and sent to the Graveyard."

Though Serenity's poison was not on par with the Hydra's, it was still lethal. As Heracles was splattered with her toxic blood, his flesh quickly corroded away, and he was sent to the Graveyard amidst his furious roars.

"Heracles' effect will allow him to be summoned again next turn! But I won't need him anymore—Atalanta, finish off Assassin with your final strike!"

As a rare Archer who actually relied on archery, Atalanta demonstrated her exceptional skill. Three arrows curved from different angles, forming emerald arcs of light that precisely targeted Serenity's head, throat, and heart.

"...It's not over yet! The effect of [Infiltration Disguise], which was just destroyed and sent to the Graveyard: This card, originally used for disguising oneself to deceive others, can be banished from the Graveyard to nullify a single instance of battle damage!"

Serenity removed her mask and tossed it aside. The arrows, locked onto their target, redirected toward the skeletal mask instead. Upon impact, the mask shattered into pieces, taking the damage in her stead.

"An Assassin is actually such a cute girl... Whoa—!"

Jason, having caught a glimpse of Serenity's face, couldn't help but make a brief comment—only to be met with yet another flying kick from Atalanta.

"I survived, Saber's Master... Is it finally your turn to end?"

Serenity, barely clinging to her remaining 300 Life Points, struggled to her feet. Though she had no cards left in her hand, she recalled what her Master had told her—as long as you still have even 1 Life Point, you still have a chance. The more desperate your situation, the greater the possibility of drawing the one card that can turn the tables.

Serenity didn't quite understand, but she believed in Jiang You. Her next draw would be her chance to make a comeback.

"There won't be a next turn. I activate [Magic Bullet]."

"Saber's Master... you win."

Serenity calmly watched as the Magic Bullet flew toward her. Her gaze shifted to the last card she had left on the field—an unactivated Ritual Spell meant only for deception—[Tolling the Funeral Bell].

Serenity LP 300 → LP 0.

"Ahhhhh!"

Serenity coughed up blood as she was sent flying backward, collapsing onto the ground, her fate uncertain.

"Now's the chance! Atalanta, finish off Assassin completely!"

Jason, showing no sense of heroism, urged Atalanta, who possessed long-range attacks, to finish the job.

Atalanta's cat-like ears twitched. She was tempted.

Though she hadn't been summoned directly by Tohsaka Rin, she had already decided to help Rin save her younger sister, who had suffered a tragic fate. Rin's safety was paramount. With that thought, Atalanta had already drawn her bowstring.

However, Asclepius pressed down on her fingers before she could fire. His gaze had been fixed on the forest.

"Don't be reckless. There are other Servants."

Sure enough, several Hundred-Faces leaped from the shadows of the trees, shielding Serenity behind them.

One of them tossed a smoke bomb, thick smoke spreading through the woods, carrying a pungent, irritating odor.

"Multiple Assassins?! And they're using poison too?!"

Jason quickly covered his nose and prepared to flee. In a panic, he grabbed Tohsaka Rin by the back of her coat and dragged her several meters like a suitcase, even scraping her shoes off.

Then, Jason himself was grabbed by the back of his coat—by Heracles—who lifted both him and Rin like a pair of gourds, bringing them right back.

Asclepius rubbed his temples. His eyes, visible beneath his hood and mask, were filled with exasperation.

"I need to examine your brain at some point. Has your ability to assess a situation regressed to that of an ape? That was just ordinary smoke—Assassin has already retreated."

Following Asclepius' gesture, they looked around. Serenity and the other Hassans had disappeared without a trace.

"By the way, the ones that appeared last weren't the same person as Serenity Hassan. I didn't detect any traces of poison on them."

As a doctor, Asclepius was particularly sensitive to the scent of toxins. The moment he saw them, he had already noticed the difference between Hundred-Faces and Serenity.

"Probably a Noble Phantasm similar to mine, huh?"

Jason wasn't particularly surprised. He had summoned three additional Servants himself, so it wasn't unreasonable for other Heroic Spirits to have similar abilities.

"One more thing—the Command Spells can only sustain their mana supply for about an hour. Master, if you have anything else to do, you'd better decide quickly. Supporting four Age of Gods-era Heroic Spirits is no small drain on resources."

Tohsaka Rin looked at the mansion, engulfed in flames, and recalled her father, Tohsaka Tokiomi's, words. After careful consideration, she decided to check on Sakura at the Emiya household in the morning instead.

Sakura had disappeared for a while, but when she reappeared yesterday, she seemed to be in much better condition than before—she even carried herself with a little more confidence. It was clear she hadn't been through anything terrible recently. She was likely to visit the Emiya household early in the morning as usual to help with chores.

Right now, the priority was tracking down the lawless Caster.

Even though her father had a good impression of Caster, what they were doing now had already crossed the line. As a Mediator, Rin had no choice but to intervene.