Let's Go to the Final Obstacle!

Welcome back to the First Annual Tam Lin Cup at the Athletic Zone, Faerie Queen Morgan's ultimate obstacle course!

At present, each team, including Master and Britomart the Second's, have made it past every obstacle they've encountered so far!

What a marvelous turn of events. What do you make of this, Lord Merlin?

Merlin is gone. I am Morgan, and I shall provide the color commentary.

I have elected to take over for this, the final obstacle. I trust there are no objections?

O-of course not! Ahahahaha. S-so, what do you make of this, Lady Morgan?

Good question...

Master has been supporting his team not only with instantaneous simple summons, but also with expert use of Mystic Codes.

And Britomart the Second remains doggedly focused on victory even in the face of adversity.

Master! Of Chaldea, I mean!

Thank you for strengthening me with your Mystic Codes! So, um, what should I do next...?

No, wait! I can see it now! I need to jump!

Mash Kyrielight has proved quite adept at smashing through obstructions. Gray continues to demonstrate both excellent mobility and surprising brute force.

Ready to rush the enemy formation! Gray!

I see it! Verifying the enemy deploying their Noble Phantasm!

Second stage restraint rescinded.

Sacred lance, removing restraints.

And the goddess who prizes pure power above all else.

Oh my, you seem quite proud of your physique. I take it that means you can handle yourself in a slugfest?

O light!

Now, let's test the weight of your sins, shall we!?

Finally, we have El-Melloi II, a tactician who claims to be lacking in physical prowess, but compensates with exceptional brainpower.

Don't just rely on brute strength, Britomart. Agility is what will get you up that wall!

Gray! Use Add's shield to give Britomart a boost!

Heeheehee! Looks like I'm up! Wait. Aah! I'm going to get trampled!

It is thanks to each member's expert use of their unique abilities that the team has come this far.

My Diabolical Crime Chamber, or rather, Athletic Zone cannot be conquered by athletic skill alone.

Contestants must also be able to endure interference from opposing teams.

But even that will not be enough on its own. Violence alone cannot guarantee victory in my Athletic Zone.

To succeed, a team must be well-balanced and expertly managed.

If nothing else, I can assure you that the tactician and goddess are very much aware of that fact.

And I suspect Master is as well.

So there you have it.

I see. Just the sort of expert analysis I would expect from this obstacle course's creator.

(One who lives up to her reputation, too.)

(I never thought I'd see her say "Diabolical Crime Chamber" with a straight face.)

(I could barely get through it even once.)

Indeed, they make quite the impressive team. But this may be as far as they go.

Behold! The Diabolical Crime Chamber, the Athletic Zone's final obstacle!

(Looks like he's fine with it, too!)

On the one side, we have Lady Britomart and Master's team!

And on the other...

...we have Faerie Queen Morgan's own three Tam Lin!

And it is clear they won't be admitting defeat in their queen's prized obstacle course without a ferocious fight indeed!

First, we have the impregnable walking tankthe Black Dog Duchess herself, Lady "Tam Lin Gawain" Barghest!

I just wished to try my hand at the course... Did I do something wrong?

I was hoping I would run into Sir Gawain here, but unfortunately, I never saw him.

Next, the aerial sensation with wings of silverLady "Tam Lin Lancelot" Mélusine!

I still think we could have included more aerial combat attractions.

By the way, is it true that the grand prize is a Holy Grail? That does sound like the kind of generosity I'd expect of Her Majesty, but should we really just hand out something so powerful?

And finally, the vampiric faerie and destruction incarnateLady "Tam Lin Tristan" Baobhan Sith!

...

...Honestly, I didn't think you would make it this far.

Tam Lin Britomart, was it?

Well, if nothing else, you've got luck on your side. Also some good teammates.

And now that I've been at Chaldea a while, I know there's nothing more important than that.

But...this is as far as your luck takes you!

No matter how many buffs you stack up, I'm going to blow you away with pure skill!

...!

Three Tam Lin! I heard all about their extraordinary prowess in paradise!

I don't think even my armor could keep me safe if I tried fighting them all myself.

However!

Every other team we've faced thus far has been made up of incredible heroes, each stronger and more skilled than us!

And yet, here we are!

So I ask you once again, my teammates: please, let me dream of victory just a little longer!

I commend your spirit, Britomart. Indeed, we shall continue to aim for the top fair and square.

I won't even say to do your best, and let the chips fall where they may.

We are going to fight fair and square, and we are going to win, period. Are we agreed, Lord El-Melloi II?

Fair and square isn't typically my forte... Still, it helps that this is training, not an actual fight to the death.

...Since we have made it this far, I suppose I can come up with a few more cunning tricks.

Are you ready, Gray?

Yes, sir! And besides...

Hm?

I kind of enjoy these sorts of things. Thank you, Britomart!

Not at all! I'm enjoying this, too!

This is it: the final obstacle. Let's do our very best, right to the end!

？！

Right! If I'm going to do this...

I'll give it everything I've got!

Both teams are ready and raring to go! Very soon, the battle for the final obstacle will begin!

This obstacle course has seen plenty of brawling thus far...

...and we can expect that trend to continue right to the very end!

In fact, simulator or not, we're having the medical team stand by just in case.

See?

What are you talking about? We've been on standby from the start.

If worse comes to worst, we'll step in.

But first, I want to see more of the worst!

Show us the kind of injuries which can only result from a clash of Heroic Spirits! I want to see them all!

Um, Doctor...

Hehe. Your wit is as cutting as ever, Asclepius. You must be quite confident in your medical skills.

I'm...not sure he was joking... At any rate, we are indeed present and ready to assist if needed.

All right then, everyone! Without any further ado!

Mmmmmm, let's see what sort of spine-tingling, pulse-pounding battle these teams have in store!

Let's see a head-on clash, Spirit Origin to Spirit Origin, Spirit Core to Spirit Core!

The more blood spilled, the better!

... ...

Final Section

Final Race Begin

And both teams bolt out of the gate!

Unsurprisingly, the Tam Lin take an early lead! In fact, I think Lady Mélusine may actually be going easy on them.

I instructed her to limit her speed, lest she break the simulator.

I also warned her that I would reveal one of her most embarrassing secrets should she fail to comply.

Ahaha, no wonder she's so much slower than usual!

Oh? Is that earth evasion I see?

That must be Zhuge Liang-slash-El-Melloi II's fangshu! The challengers have caught up to the Tam Lin!

But wait!

...!

We've made hostile contact with our opponents! Master!

Oho! It seems the Tam Lin team has chosen to halt their advance and stand their ground in battle instead!

As I thought. The Tam Lin have decided it's better to try and stop us than to try to reach the goal ahead of us.

Makes sense, since they're obviously the stronger fighters. However...

Master!

Let's divide and conquer! Which opponent do you want to face!?

Don't worry about me! I'll cover both sides!

？！

Understood, Master!

Got it!

Then I'll help Astraea deal with Tam Lin Lancelot!

Fine with me!

Then Gray, Mash, and I will deal with Tam Lin Gawain!

Um, which group should I go with!?

You stay near Master! In fact, it should be obvious that you

Aww, I feel so left out. I guess this means you're going to fight me then?

Woah!

You must be Lady Tam Lin Tristan! Very well! I could ask for no worthier opponent!

It is an honor to face you!