Fate: How About a New Savior?

Looking at the shattered earth and the vines burned to ashes, Karna turned his head. Shiomi landed about ten meters away with Scáthach in on

Looking at the shattered earth and the vines burned to ashes, Karna turned his head.

Shiomi landed about ten meters away with Scáthach in one arm, using his other hand to drive his spear into the ground to halt their momentum.

"You reacted fast. If you'd been half a beat slower, I'd be badly hurt," Scáthach said, touching the scorched tips of her hair and casually snipping them off.

"You call that a serious injury when it's just a scorch," Shiomi replied, releasing her and raising his spear to face the enemy.

"Then why protect me? You could've used that moment to unleash your Noble Phantasm from behind and at least wound Karna," she asked.

"It's hard to say. The golden armor granted by the sun god Surya isn't something you can pierce easily," Shiomi shook his head. "Besides, if I'm fighting alongside my master and she's hurt first—even if it's minor—I'd end up having nightmares."

"The enemy activated his Noble Phantasm, so we've prepared some Magecraft," Scáthach said with a laugh. "Florence Nightingale and your daughter are already at a safe distance—you could always fall back."

Shiomi raised an eyebrow. "You really think he'd let us retreat that easily? And there are still two Servants covering this side."

"True enough," Scáthach agreed. "Looks like we need a new tactic."

"Master, you go first—"

Shiomi half-joked, then charged ahead to intercept Karna.

Now in reverse roles, Shiomi fought Karna one-on-one and realized just how powerful this opponent truly was. It wasn't just his brute strength—it had to do with his unusual flame-infused Mana.

Shiomi raised his spear to block the burning golden lance closing in. His eyes blazed as mana surged through his arm. He stomped the ground with his right foot.

Several runic symbols lit up in response, surprising Karna. Even after the previous clash, Shiomi still had enough magic to set runes on the battlefield.

A pale blue light erupted, enveloping Karna in a cocoon of ice despite the scorching flames.

Bound and unable to attack, Karna was held in place as Shiomi backed away. He knew this Grand Magecraft wouldn't deal real damage to Karna, and the effect wouldn't last long. Cracks were already forming in the ice.

"Well done," Scáthach praised from the side, palm extended toward the frozen Karna.

In the next instant, Karna's flames shattered the ice, but at the same time, lightning bolts rained down. Karna couldn't dodge and braced himself with his Magic Resistance and golden armor.

The explosion ripped a huge crater into the hill. Karna stood at the bottom, white smoke rising around him—but the armor and his white hair were spotless, and even the wounds on his face had vanished.

"He's not just a warrior—he's a top-tier Magus," Karna said as he leapt out of the pit. "So the legends of the Land of Shadows are real."

Shiomi frowned, conflicted as he watched Karna.

This man was too formidable—and unlike Gilgamesh, he wasn't careless. If they killed Karna here, both Shiomi and Scáthach would pay dearly.

Yet the situation wasn't hopeless. Only Edison had voiced his ambition to use the Holy Grail; neither Helena nor Karna had agreed. That meant there was still room to maneuver.

Killing a top-tier Servant here would not only be costly—it might also cost them a potential ally in resolving the Fifth Singularity.

"Planning to retreat? I'll cover your rear," Scáthach offered.

"What?" Shiomi paused, surprised that his master had guessed his intent.

"Once we're at a safe distance, use your Command Spell to teleport me," she continued. "I know you appreciate talent—you don't want to lose that man's strength. You're thinking strategically."

"I wouldn't put it that way," Shiomi said as he stepped back in agreement. With Scáthach covering them, Shiomi could quickly withdraw and then use the Command Spell.

"Then—" Scáthach raised her voice, lifting her left hand. Five magical spears floated above her. At her signal, they would fire at Karna.

Just then, a series of explosions rocked the hill, pausing everyone.

A massive, horse-less carriage hurtled out and slammed into Karna.

Without hesitation, Karna raised his golden lance and neatly sliced the carriage in half.

But it wasn't an ordinary carriage—it was packed with explosive barrels. His strike ruptured them, triggering an immediate detonation on impact.

By the time Karna swung his spear to clear the smoke, Shiomi and Scáthach had vanished—only a few crow feathers drifted down in the wind.

Karna raised his hand, catching one feather. "Well-timed retreat."

"You let them go," Helena said brightly as she approached Karna.

"I didn't have any choice. Plus, someone else intervened. In terms of pure Magecraft, that young man is far beyond you."

"That's good news—we couldn't convince Edison alone," Helena replied with a smile, looking at Edison.

President-King was enraged—someone had planted bombs on the plain where the formation had stopped. No one inside was hurt, but many mechanical soldiers were temporarily disabled.

…

Over ten kilometers away, deep in the forest.

"They're not following us," Scáthach said, looking back toward the battlefield.

"Even if they wanted to, it's too far," Shiomi said, brushing a strand of Scáthach's hair that had fallen across her chest. "Got a little singed—but you're a Servant. It'll heal quick."

"You noticed the scratch on Karna's face," Scáthach observed. "That spear—even without releasing its True Name—it carries a curse. Yet he was able to remove it."

"Karna's golden armor…" Shiomi patted himself. "Another difficult Noble Phantasm."

The Noble Phantasm burned through Chaldea's combat suit and wounded Shiomi's skin—but it was already healed.

"That's about it. We should go meet Caren and the others—"

He was about to discuss their next move when an Indian shaman in a green cloak emerged from the woods.

"Those two are on their way to our camp. Rest assured—they decided that themselves," the shaman said calmly and rationally, then introduced himself. "I am Geronimo, a Caster-class Servant."

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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