Capítulo 42: Chapter 42: The Witch’s Barrier!
The surroundings began to shift as the world fell into chaos. Everything around them morphed into something entirely unfamiliar, as if they had stepped into a twisted "painting."
"A Reality Marble?" someone muttered, recognizing the landscape-changing phenomenon that had engulfed them.
A Reality Marble was a form of magecraft so advanced that it bordered on true magic, a technique that was considered forbidden by the Mage's Association. It manifested the inner landscape of the caster's mind, completely warping the real world around them. Only the most exceptional individuals could wield such a spell.
But this particular Reality Marble was grotesque.
"What an ugly sight. Truly a clown in a tragic play," Gilgamesh sneered from above, disgusted by the twisted landscape. "Pathetic."
The jagged terrain, unfamiliar streets, and oppressive fog painted a disturbing picture. In the distance stood a towering, abstract figure—riding a grotesque black-and-white horse, clad in a garish patchwork of red and colorful fabrics. Its head was shaped like a burning candle, and it held an oversized lance in its hand.
Witch of Battle (Ophelia)—an incomprehensible entity.
"This isn't good!" Waver muttered anxiously, beads of cold sweat running down his face as he supported Lelouch. They had been caught inside the barrier before they could escape. In Lelouch's current state—injured and without his mecha—they were in serious danger.
"Familiars?!"
Waver's heart sank as dark shadows emerged around them, taking on the form of an army of black-clad soldiers, marching in eerie unison.
"!"
Lelouch, struggling to breathe, assessed the situation, his mind racing to devise an escape plan. They had to find a way out of here.
"Ahhh!! We're done for!" Waver screamed as the familiars advanced. Just as he braced for impact, he heard the sharp sound of a blade cutting through the air.
Opening his eyes, he saw Saber standing in front of him, her holy sword drawn. Even Assassin was by his side, ready to defend them.
"Saber? Assassin?" Waver gasped, letting out a sigh of relief.
Bang!
Without answering, Kenshin dodged another strike, delivering a swift punch that sent one of the creatures flying.
"Assassin, it seems you can fight even without your sword," Saber teased, her lips curling into a small smile.
"It's not ideal. Don't expect too much," Kenshin replied, frowning. "I'm a swordsman, not a martial artist."
He could handle a few familiars, but with the overwhelming number approaching them, using just his fists wasn't a feasible solution. His sacred blade, the Kusanagi, was still lodged far behind, beneath the giant Witch's feet. In his current injured state, approaching it was impossible.
"How naïve," Lelouch scoffed from behind them. "Helping each other instead of finishing each other off?"
"This isn't the time for infighting," Saber declared, slicing through another wave of familiars with a determined look. "If we don't work together, we're all going to die."
She wasn't exaggerating. In their wounded and exhausted state, fighting among themselves in the Witch's Reality Marble was a death sentence.
"Rider, we have to find a way out of this!" Waver urged, casting a sidelong glance at Lelouch.
Even though Lelouch didn't trust others easily, this wasn't the moment to let personal grievances get in the way.
"A way out?" Lelouch let out a bitter laugh. "Unless Saber has enough power left to unleash another Noble Phantasm, we don't stand a chance. The three of us together wouldn't last five minutes against these creatures."
Lelouch had already assessed the situation clearly. A severely injured emperor, a swordsman without a sword, and a king with depleted mana—none of them had the strength to overcome the seemingly endless army of familiars, let alone confront the towering Witch of Battle.
"Both Lancer and Caster possess extraordinary powers beyond reason," Lelouch continued. "We can't win this fight without the help of the other Servants."
In a twisted sense, the Church's plan to gather them all had actually been a "good" thing. If any of them had faced Caster or Lancer alone, the result would have been disastrous.
"Now isn't the time for defeatist talk, Rider!" Saber snapped.
"I'm not being pessimistic. I'm just saying that our only chance lies with Berserker and Archer over there," Lelouch said with a sigh, glancing toward the two most powerful Servants engaged in their own battle. "Though I doubt they'll be as 'generous' as you lot when it comes to cooperation."
The idea of relying on others wasn't something Lelouch liked, but Saber and Assassin were the only ones nearby. And in their current state, they had no way of changing the tide of the battle.
His Geass was useless against the grotesque Witch of Battle, and even if Kenshin retrieved his sword, he couldn't guarantee they'd be able to defeat the towering enemy. Saber didn't have enough mana for a second Excalibur attack, and there was no contact with Kiritsugu. The idea of hoping for Kiritsugu to use a Command Spell to assist them was laughable. In fact, Lelouch wouldn't be surprised if the man left them to die.
Surrounded by familiars, they could barely defend themselves, let alone mount an attack on the Witch.
"Wait…"
An idea struck Lelouch, and his thoughts began to turn.
"Maybe there's one more option."
"!"
"?"
"What do you mean?" Saber, Kenshin, and Waver all looked at him, cautiously hopeful.
"We kill Caster."
"Kill… Caster?" Saber echoed, confused by Lelouch's suggestion.
"Haven't you noticed? Lancer doesn't have a Master, yet she hasn't run out of mana or been forced to leave the field. That means she must have formed a new contract with someone."
Lelouch's eyes narrowed. "Considering Caster and Lancer's alliance and the fact that Caster's own Master is dead, it's likely that Caster is now acting as Lancer's Master."
Though Saber seemed skeptical, the reasoning made sense.
"How do you know Caster's Master is dead?" Saber asked.
"Hmph. That's something I won't be sharing. Believe me or don't, it's up to you." Lelouch left it at that, refusing to reveal any more information.
The group mulled over the idea. If Lelouch's theory was correct, it explained why Caster and Lancer were so close.
"But… how are we supposed to kill Caster in the middle of this army?" Waver asked, glancing at the overwhelming number of familiars surrounding them.
"It'll be difficult. We'll have to hold out and wait for an opening," Lelouch responded, grimly assessing their situation.
"Waiting is just a slow death," Saber pointed out, still on guard.
"Not necessarily," Kenshin added. "With Avalon's healing power, we'll eventually recover enough strength."
"But the question is whether we'll be killed first or not," Kenshin finished with a dry smile. He understood Saber's reasoning well enough.
"Then we just have to give it our best shot, right?" Saber replied, determination in her voice. "It's the only option we've got."
'Avalon?' Lelouch mused, his thoughts turning as he pieced together the hints of their conversation. It was clear they were hiding something from him.
Just then, a loud rumble echoed across the distance. Lelouch, along with the others, glanced up to see Archer floating in the air, holding a strange weapon aloft.
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