Act 9: Memento for the Afterlife, Manjusaka

Khh! Chiemon!

Kill her, Lancer!

Go back to where you belong.

(I can't get out of the way! I guess I have no other choice!)

By my Command Spell! Come to me, Rider!

Urk... Khh!

...

R-Rider... Wh-why didn't you...

...I made it as quick and painless as I could. Consider it an act of mercy.

...I figured that's how it was. What a joke.

Do you think this was Rider's doing?

I'd bet there's someone else pulling the strings behind the scenes. But who cares?

This is what matters now.

That takes care of the seeds. This was the last keystone.

...The Bounded Field is gone. Now we can open the path to the center.

Yeah. Let's get to unleashing hell.

Ahh, they beat me to the punch. How careless of me.

What would you like to do about this, Shousetsu?

I see. So you never did find any other Masters.

Takao Dayu. Zheng Chenggong. Dorothea Coyett... All dead ends.

Yeah, and we didn't find other Masters in their places, either.

The Waxing Moon Ritual needs seven Masters and seven Servants, right? Then there's no way it'll work.

I think we need to assume that in this Singularity, the Ritual itself has been twisted somehow.

What's more, the fact that Kugamimi-no-Mikasa showed up yesterday...

...proves that Ushi Gozen is working with the Countone of the Foreign Disciples.

Which means there's an excellent chance this entire Singularity is a trap the Count laid for us.

...proves that Ushi Gozen is working with the Foreign God.

Which means there's an excellent chance this entire Singularity is a trap the Count laid for us.

So that's your enemy, huh?

I don't know what that is all about, but I do know what we have to do.

We need to stop the Ritual. That's what it all comes down to, no?

If Rider is in cahoots with this Singularity's mastermind, then we'll need to face off with Yui sooner or later.

We've secured enough Spirit Fonts that we have a fair amount of telluric energy now.

You should be able to hold your own against Shousetsu by now.

Maybe you're right, Saber. Maybe we should go on the offensive here.

Of course, I doubt Chiemon will keep quiet in the meantime. Hmm. What should our next move be...?

Huh!? Iori!

I know.

？！

...Yes! I'm seeing multiple hostiles in the area! They have you surrounded!

Is it Yui? Chiemon?

No... I don't think it's either.

These monsters have been lured here by the Ritual. All this magical energy is making them go berserk.

Still, this is very sudden. I've got a bad feeling about this...

We can talk more later! We need to take care of these things!

That was the last of them.

？！

They truly were. Their magical energy has clearly increased substantially.

I wonder... Maybe something has changed in the Waxing Moon Ritual?

That's certainly possible. The Ritual is the reason these monsters spawned in the first place.

If it IS the Ritual, then what could have happened with it...?

Huh!? This magical energy...!

...The air seems different now. Do you feel that, Gramps?

Over there. There's a mass of magical energy in that direction!

Iori, look!

The sky is covered in malice. And then there's

Edo Castle.

Indeed. That castle is the point where this land's leylines meet.

It's the well from which all the magical energy in this area springs, as well as the cornerstone of the city's defenses.

Who are you?

What are you doing here, Ruler?

I thought you were going to just sit back and enjoy the show from on high.

I came to see what answer those trapped by the Waxing Moon will arrive at.

...?

(Did he just look at me?)

You, all of you, are no exception.

...

I do indeed. I can also tell you what path to take.

Well, that's awfully nice of you, Rogue Ruler.

What happened to staying neutral no matter what?

It is that neutrality that obliges me to guide you all equally.

I am here to witness what becomes of those trapped by the Waxing Moon. You are no exception.

...

？！

Listen well. The one who seeks hell is attempting to open the gate.

This battle is nearing its end. Soon, hell will spread far and wide across this land.

Did you say hell? So this must be Chiemon's doing.

You think Chiemon's trying to end this, Gramps?

No... The Ritual is still underway. The Waxing Moon is still waxing.

Hmm... Maybe Chiemon acted too hastily?

...

I don't know. But we do know that the magical energy there is quickly becoming contaminated, and Edo Castle is ground zero.

If we don't do something about it right away, this Singularity will end up corrupted beyond repair.

Good point. Saber, Fujimaru, let's think about what this all means later.

Right now, we need to stop Chiemon before he corrupts all of Edo.

Then you'll need to be ready for anything! Make sure your affairs are in order, then head out to face him!

One final word before you leave, you who mean to go into hell.

...May the light be with you on your journey.

We'll back you up however we can! Please be safe, everyone!

？！

I knew it. There's a Bounded Field blocking our way.

We'll need to capture the leyline near Edo Castle before we can remove it.

And that's not all.

Monsters are being drawn to the magical energy pouring from Edo Castle!

Then let's start with them!

There's no end to these things. We can't keep this up forever.

？！

As I said earlier, we'll need to capture the leyline near Edo Castle.

Though of course, Chiemon will have positioned his forces to guard all key areas here.

Then we'll just have to peel them off! Once this area's under our control, we'll be able to surround the castle.

So we need to fight for the Spirit Fonts, like we've been doing.

Fujimaru, I'll let you decide where we strike first.