*BOOM!*
A jet-black blast, overflowing with cursed magical energy, crashed down, and as it exploded, it sent everything near the impact site flying, instantly clearing a wide, empty area.
One Moss after another squirmed forward, wriggling like crawling reptiles as they surged toward the Vault Fortress, firing jet-black projectiles at the fairies escaping in all directions.
The cursed magical energy-powered barrages streaked back and forth along every street in Norwich. At first glance, it resembled the ceaseless bombardment of a battlefield, with the shots densely packed.
In front of the Vault Fortress, not only were groups of fairy guards trying to hold off the Moss invasion, but Riezel’s companions, who had been waiting there, also joined the battle.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
Missile explosion sounds resounded consecutively.
Yes, missiles.
They came from the backpack on Da Vinci’s back.
As soon as Da Vinci opened her backpack, missiles launched out as if fired from a cannon, streaking forward with flickering tails and shooting straight into the crowd of Moss, blasting many Moss away.
"HAAAHHH!"
Mash charged forward, wild and unstoppable, just like a tank.
The heavy shield in her hands whistled through the air as she swung it, sending every Moss in her path flying as if they had been hit by a speeding truck.
It could be said that these two Chaldea’s Servants displayed overwhelming might, achieving far greater results than any fairy, and no one could count how many Moss they had already repelled.
Naturally, this was not simply because they were stronger than ordinary fairies but because, unlike fairies, they did not fear the Moss since neither infection nor assimilation troubled them.
As a result, there was no need for them to hesitate or hold back, so even if they charged right into the Moss horde, there was nothing to worry about.
Thanks to the two’s outstanding efforts, the Moss were stopped in their tracks, unable to approach the Vault Fortress for the moment.
As for Oberon, he had once again disappeared without a trace.
"I’m going to find Tristan and your Master, and bring them here!"
Not long ago, Oberon had tossed out these words, then transformed into a small form, hopped onto Blanca, and flown off into the distance.
Anyone else would probably have started cursing, but fortunately, Mash and Da Vinci were not ordinary people. They had no doubts, so they stayed put, waiting for Riezel and Artoria to return and for Oberon and Tristan to bring Ritsuka over.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
As time passed, Da Vinci’s barrage of missiles seemed endless, yet instead of pushing the Moss back further, it allowed even more Moss to break through the line and advance toward the Vault Fortress.
*Bzzz—!*
Within the horde, many Moss began to gather up cursed magical energy, unleashing barrages at Da Vinci’s position.
"I won’t let you!"
Mash rushed back just in time, planting her shield in the ground and making a thin barrier of magical energy shimmer into existence before her.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
Instantly, all attacks from the Moss pounded Mash’s shield, exploding against the magical energy barrier.
"Ugh..."
Mash gritted her teeth and held firm, determined not to let Da Vinci behind her get hurt.
"Aren’t they done yet?" Da Vinci looked anxiously at the bell tower atop the Vault Fortress. "The Bell of Pilgrimage has already rung, so why haven’t they come down? Are they stuck up there?"
Spriggan must have sent soldiers to the bell tower, or Riezel and Artoria would have come down already.
"Can you hold out, Mash?"
Da Vinci called out to Mash in front of her.
"I’m fine, Da Vinci!" Mash immediately answered without turning her head. "I’ll hold on until Master and Mr. Riezel get here!"
She was not just trying to act tough.
Although the concentrated attacks from the Moss were almost overwhelming, their sheer numbers turning into overwhelming power, as a dedicated Shielder, Mash could always perform far better than the average Servant in defensive battles.
Moreover, ever since landing in Faerie Britain, Mash had felt as if she had become much stronger than before.
Specifically, the power within her, originally belonging to a Knight of the Round Table, Galahad, seemed to have suddenly multiplied and become extraordinarily active—its strength had even doubled.
It gave Mash the sense that she was now stronger than ever before, and even if she faced the legendary Fairy Knights, she would not lose by much.
’I know it’s not an illusion.’
Having this thought, Mash was confident that she could block the Moss horde’s assault and defend the Vault Fortress perfectly.
Of course, Riezel had no intention of letting Mash defend the Vault Fortress.
After all, this was not their territory, but rather the stronghold of the ever-calculating Spriggan, so there was no need for them to defend this place.
In the next moment...
"Sacrament - Aurora!"
A cold voice suddenly rang out from above Mash, followed by a brilliant light that lit up the sky.
In the next instant, countless lights rained down like a meteor shower, crashing into the Moss horde attacking Mash and exploding within their ranks.
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*
Fierce explosions erupted endlessly as the rain of light meteors from the sky set off wave after wave of blasts, sending the Moss flying, crushing and swallowing them up, clearing out a vast area in an instant.
*Swish!*
Only then did Riezel appear before Mash with Artoria, shielding Mash behind him.
"Mr. Riezel!"
Mash called out in surprise.
"Artoria!"
Da Vinci also let out a big sigh of relief.
"Are you two alright?!"
Artoria immediately hugged the Staff of Selection and ran to Mash and Da Vinci, but after seeing that both of them were unharmed, she finally relaxed.
Although they had only just met, it was clear that Artoria already had a good impression of Mash and Da Vinci.
Riezel glanced over his shoulder and watched the scene, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly before he quickly composed himself, shifting his cold gaze forward.
*SKREEEEE—!*
Amid a piercing and uncomfortable shriek, countless Mosses writhed as they slowly surged toward them.
"So many of them!"
Artoria’s face turned pale.
Mash and Da Vinci both looked grim as well.
They could see that the Moss horde appearing before them was not decreasing in number but was steadily growing.
"Look over there, in the back!"
Da Vinci, quick-eyed, noticed something strange and pointed to the very rear of the Moss horde, causing everyone to look over.
In that moment, everyone’s expressions changed.
It was because a giant Moss, easily two or three times the size of the others, slowly appeared.
Like a leader at the head of its kind, it also crept forward, wriggling its massive body.
*Buzzz—!*
Cursed magical energy surged wildly from its body, forming a huge, jet-black magic orb that shot toward them.
Not only was the orb massive, but its momentum was terrifying as the air wailed as it passed through, making it clear just how powerful it was—far beyond any normal Moss attack.
"Watch out!"
Mash could not help but shout, preparing to defend, but before she finished, Riezel had already moved.
*BANG!*
A surge of flames exploded at Riezel’s feet, turning him into a streak of fire that cut through the air.
"Dancing Flash!"
Riezel’s blazing slash tore through space, cutting the giant magic orb in an instant.
Sliced in two, the orb did not even have a chance to explode before it was burned away completely by the roaring flames.
Faced with this level of cursed magical energy, the special damage from Pioneer of the Sun was fully unleashed, easily suppressing the attack.
*SKREEEEEEE—!*
Enraged, the giant Moss let out a shriek that shook the air, sounding deeply ominous and making Artoria and the others feel uncomfortable.
"What’s that? Is that the so-called King of the Moss?"
Da Vinci cried out, cold sweat on her brow.
It was not Artoria or Mash who answered, but Oberon.
"No! That’s not the King of the Moss!"
Oberon had returned at some point, with Tristan behind him, driving a carriage drawn by a Sleipnir.
"Sir Tristan!"
"Where’s Master?!"
Mash was overjoyed as she called out to Tristan, while Da Vinci quickly asked anxiously.
"Master is in the carriage." Tristan replied as he pulled up beside the group. "It’s a good thing Oberon led the way, or we would have already been surrounded by the Moss."
It seemed Oberon had not been entirely useless.
"Good grief..." Da Vinci sighed, relaxing a bit as she looked at Oberon. "So, you’re saying that’s not the King of the Moss?"
"Of course not."
Oberon shook his head, his gaze fixed on the giant Moss, with a strange light flashing in his eyes.
"That thing should be a conglomerate of a huge number of Moss, or maybe a Moss that evolved after devouring enough fairies."
"Didn’t you notice? Whenever the Moss eats fairies, they grow stronger."
"That’s probably how that giant Moss came to be."
Oberon’s explanation made everyone look around warily.
"AAAAAAHHH—!"
They saw a fairy guarding the Vault Fortress get swallowed by a Moss, as if it were being chewed, before merging into the Moss’s dark body.
Soon after devouring the fairy, the Moss really did begin giving off much stronger magical energy.
"It can actually get stronger?"
As Da Vinci spoke, everyone’s faces instantly turned grim.
*BOOM!*
A sudden roar erupted, drawing everyone’s attention.
They immediately saw Riezel battling the giant Moss.
One had become a streak of fire, darting forward, while the other gathered jet-black magical energy and fired it, causing a great explosion to bloom in midair.
"Burning Bones, Summer Sun!"
Riezel, now like a blazing sun, slashed downward, sending out a vortex of flames that incinerated countless Moss.
*SKREEEEEEE—!*
Being stopped once again, the giant Moss was enraged, gathering magical energy once more.
A fierce battle was about to break out.