Time rewound to three hours before Jeanne arrived in Orléans.
Late night, inside the Demon King's Castle, Orléans.
A puff of hot air escaped the Black Jeanne's lips.
The Dragon Witch looked at the man beneath her, a hint of intoxication in her golden eyes.
"Darling... you're amazing~" The Black Jeanne purred, her red eyes half-closed in pleasure.
"This is even more enjoyable than I imagined!" She added, her voice soft and breathy.
"..." Listening to the Black Jeanne's murmurs, Ian didn't respond directly with words, but instead reached out and gently stroked the Dragon Witch's long hair.
"Then——"
"Jeanne, do you want more?" Ian asked gently, his blue eyes looking at her with affection.
"Yes~" The Black Jeanne responded without hesitation.
She not only didn't realize that she had completely softened into his girlfriend, but she also seemed very invested in it.
Inside the room.
The Dragon Witch's sounds of pleasure echoed once more.
She truly enjoyed doing this with him.
After a long period of lovemaking, the Black Jeanne fell soundly asleep.
But for Ian, his plan had only just begun at this moment.
After confirming several times that the Black Jeanne was indeed asleep, the man directly got out of bed.
Before leaving, he took one last look at the sleeping Black Jeanne and then quietly closed the door.
In the hallway.
A fully armed Atalante had been waiting there for a long time.
Holding the Tauropolos, she seemed to be in an even better fighting condition than usual.
However—
The cat girl at this moment was completely flushed, and her tail was half-drooped.
Looking at Ian standing before her, she muttered with a hint of shyness.
"To think it would take so many times... I didn't notice before."
"..." Knowing that Atalante had heard the entire process outside, Ian gave a wry smile and then reached out to gently stroke her fluffy head.
"There's no way around it."
"You know... Jeanne is very invested in this kind of thing."
"If I hadn't done that, I probably wouldn't have been able to get out even now." Ian explained, his voice low.
Hearing this explanation, Atalante's two cat ears twitched slightly.
At this moment, she felt a little sorry for the man before her.
"Then——"
"Can you still handle it?" Atalante asked, her golden eyes filled with concern.
"If it's too much, we can try a different way."
"No." Ian shook his head. "There's no need for that."
"Since you've already made the plan... we absolutely can't delay any longer."
"Tell me——" The man's gaze fell on Atalante before him, looking quite serious.
"What should I do?"
"..." Feeling the man's determination, Atalante no longer focused on the matter of him being intimate with her Master, the Black Jeanne.
She began to explain her plan.
"According to the previous discussion... all the Servants must be eliminated."
"And my plan is also based on this foundation." Saying this, the cat girl, who was a hunter by origin,'s eyes became much sharper.
"I've already confirmed where they will be tonight—that's at the four city gates!"
"Kill them first, then kill me."
"However——"
"I can't help you with this process."
"After all, I am still Master's Servant, and I can't do such a thing."
"So you'll have to rely on yourself."
"..." "Master, what kind of look is that?" Atalante's tail drooped slightly. "Do you think there's a problem with my plan?"
"No." Ian's eyes were already filled with heartache for the cat girl.
"I just feel sorry for you."
"..." Hearing these words, Atalante put her hands on her hips, and her tail stood up again.
"Master, if you say such things, I'm going to get angry!" Atalante declared, her golden eyes looking at Ian with a hint of annoyance.
"When I was making the plan—I already assumed that you wouldn't be indecisive."
"Does Master's current appearance mean that you want to prove my judgment wrong?"
"No," Ian denied. "I definitely don't mean that."
"Then don't waste time on me anymore!" Atalante said firmly, her golden eyes looking at Ian with determination.
"..." Listening to the cat girl's incredibly firm voice, Ian no longer hesitated.
"Okay."
"Wait for me to come back."
"Mmm~" Following Atalante's investigation, Ian first headed to the city gate where the Chevalier d'Éon was located.
According to the previous secret test, the man knew that their strength wasn't too great.
And the reality was indeed so.
Facing Ian's sudden attack, the Chevalier d'Éon was completely unprepared.
Hurriedly drawing their rapier to meet the enemy, they were no match for the man at all.
"You bastard, you actually betrayed Master!" The Chevalier d'Éon exclaimed, their voice filled with disbelief.
"..." Pierce.
Tear.
The Excalibur Galatine, transformed from a memory projection, pierced through the Chevalier d'Éon's body.
Under the latter's incredulous gaze, Ian said,
"I'm sorry."
"I know the taste of betrayal is indeed unpleasant."
"But——"
"I have a reason why I must kill you."
After saying these words, the man pulled out the Excalibur Galatine and turned to leave.
Then, blue particles fluttered up to the sky.
Saber declared their departure.
Not even for a moment did he feel fortunate for the Chevalier d'Éon's demise.
Knowing that time was pressing, Ian hurried towards the next location.
This time, the target was Charles-Henri Sanson.
In the previous "test," his strength was comparable to the Chevalier d'Éon.
However—
Compared to the Chevalier d'Éon, Charles-Henri Sanson was more cautious.
So Ian wasn't able to deliver a fatal blow in one strike like before.
However—
Even without a fatal blow in one strike, the man's strength was far above Charles-Henri Sanson's.
Looking at Ian holding another weapon, Excalibur Morgan, the executioner's eyes were already filled with deep despair.
"Who exactly are you... why are you able to evade my guillotine?!" Charles-Henri Sanson asked, his voice trembling slightly.
He knew that this was a Noble Phantasm that specialized in attacking the concept of "human"!
As long as it was released, it should have been able to inflict considerable damage on the man before him.
But he was completely unharmed!
Seeming to see through Charles-Henri Sanson's thoughts, the man spoke after confirming that he had gained an absolute and irreversible advantage,
"Hmm... the guillotine can indeed kill people."
"But if——" A sharp glint flashed in the man's eyes.
"I'm not human at all?"
"What?!" Hearing these words, Charles-Henri Sanson widened his eyes.
"You... are not human?"
"What kind of joke are you playing?!" The young executioner seemed to be on the verge of collapse. Then he began to become hysterical.
"How could such a thing be possible?"
"You're talking nonsense!"
"Think whatever you want." The man pointed Excalibur Morgan at Charles-Henri Sanson before him.
"In any case."
"I must kill you here."
Hand raised.
Sword fell.
Ian used the executioner's own method to deal with the executioner before him.
But this wasn't the end.
The truly troublesome opponent was still ahead.
That was Vlad III Dracula—the Lancer who had shown overwhelming pressure in battle.
On another city gate.
Vlad III Dracula, also known as Vlad the Impaler, looked at Ian before him, his expression still showing no sign of panic.
"What a pity."
"I originally thought I had encountered a hero from another era."
"But I didn't expect it to be a betrayer."
"..." Ian didn't respond to Vlad III Dracula.
He was still searching for a way to solve the problem.
No matter what, he had to kill the man before him who was called the Impaler.
Otherwise—
The Singularity couldn't be repaired!
Wind blew.
Clouds scattered.
It was time!
"Excalibur Morgan——!"
A sinister black light emanated from the man's projected Noble Phantasm.
That was the light of memories that shouldn't have existed, but now, for some reason, it was emitting power comparable to the original.
Vlad III Dracula frowned slightly.
After all, the opponent hadn't displayed anything like this in the previous battle.
However—
For this man who had already suffered countless assassinations in his lifetime, unexpected attacks like this were nothing new.
"Kazikli Bey!" Vlad III Dracula raised both hands and released a Noble Phantasm that he had never shown before.
Just as the words were spoken.
Countless sharp spears rose from the man's feet, blocking all directions like an iron curtain.
It was an existence like a demonic castle (Draculea), possessing extremely terrifying defensive capabilities!
Unseen curses and pain flew out from it, completely resisting the beam of Excalibur Morgan.
This was a evenly matched confrontation.
"Heh." Vlad III Dracula sneered.
"Your strength is indeed very great."
"However——"
"It seems that's all there is to it."
"Perhaps." Ian's gaze never left Vlad III Dracula.
He tightly gripped the projected black blade with both hands and once again adopted an attack stance.
"Excalibur Morgan——!"
"What?!" Vlad the Impaler completely didn't expect Ian to be able to release another attack in such a short period of time.
Could it be—
Was his Noble Phantasm the type that wasn't very powerful but could be released multiple times?!
Vlad III Dracula's thought was shattered in less than a second.
Because—
The opponent's attack hadn't weakened at all and was still as powerful as before.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Ian kept releasing Excalibur Morgan.
Although each time it was blocked by Vlad III Dracula's Kazikli Bey, it never stopped.
Vlad the Impaler quickly realized that something was wrong.
Releasing it like this—
Wouldn't the magical energy consumption be something the body couldn't possibly withstand?!
Wait a minute... Vlad III Dracula suddenly realized a possibility.
Could he be a dragon from legends?
If he was that kind of creature... then he could indeed withstand this level of magical energy consumption!
But Vlad the Impaler no longer had the chance to verify any of this.
Overwhelmed by the absolute amount of magical energy, he ultimately couldn't hold on.
In the sinister black light of Excalibur Morgan, this powerful man vanished with reluctance.
Only Lancelot remained.
Ian looked up at the slightly brightening sky, feeling a little worried.
Time was running out.
After dawn, the Black Jeanne couldn't possibly not notice that so many Servants had died.
Was he going to fail?
No!
He absolutely couldn't think about such things, he had to hurry!
However—
The development of events seemed to be responding to the man's determination.
"I see." Understanding Ian's intention in drawing his sword, Lancelot dropped the sword in his hand, Arondight.
"Come, shadow of the Knight King, give me a swift end."
Ian was stunned for a moment.
"Lancelot, you..."
"Don't worry about me playing tricks," Lancelot smiled slightly. "I already felt that something was wrong."
"Now I understand why things are like this."
"A true knight would never hesitate at a time like this."
"However——" Lancelot looked at Ian before him.
"Next time, I'm really going to fight back... I'm not willing to keep losing to you."
Facing this kind of "challenge," Ian naturally didn't shy away.
"I'd be glad to."
"Then come on," Lancelot spread his arms.
"Yeah."
Slash—
Blood spurted out from Lancelot.
Ian killed him without much effort.
But the man knew that he would forever remember this excellent knight.
At dawn.
Ian, who had bathed in much blood, returned to Atalante.
"Master did it," the cat girl said in a trembling voice.
"Then next... it's my turn."
"But before that——"
"Can I ask Master a question?" Atalante looked at Ian, her golden eyes filled with a mix of sadness and longing.
"Of course," Ian answered without hesitation.
"It's just——" Atalante looked into the man's eyes, a gentle tenderness filling her gaze.
"Can I try that princess carry?"
"I was really envious of how Master was carried down from the dragon by you that day." Atalante confessed, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
"..." Without any hesitation, Ian directly bent down and picked up the cat girl.
He suddenly realized that this seemed to be the first time he had done something like this with her.
He felt that his relationship with her wasn't just playing with fire.
"I'm sorry, Atalante." Ian said softly, his blue eyes filled with regret.
"Shhh." The cat girl reached out and gently covered the man's mouth.
"I don't want to hear Master say such things anymore."
"Now——"
"I just want to walk a little further with Master." Atalante said, her golden eyes looking at Ian with affection.
"..." Countless words had already lost their meaning at this moment.
Only an embrace could slightly touch their hearts.
Sunrise in the southeast.
Ian carried Atalante step by step towards the city gate he had seen when he first arrived in Orléans.
"So this is what it feels like to be carried," the cat girl in the man's arms murmured.
"It's so nice——"
"I've decided... next time, let's try marrying Master." Saying these words, the cat girl willingly met the dagger that had been prepared beforehand.
Drip.
The girl's blood fell onto the ground. Her gradually fading body silently declared the defeat of the witch Servants.
The man reunited with his companions.
And only the last step remained to repair the Singularity.
That was to retrieve the Holy Grail!