Fate: How About a New Savior?

Despite the shock, Shiomi quickly composed himself and gave instructions.

"Mash, stay up here and protect Marie and Ritsuka. If any enemies show up, call me immediately."

"What are you going to do, Shiomi-sensei?" Ritsuka had started calling him "sensei" too.

Shiomi stood at the edge of the massive crater where the Tohsaka residence used to be.

"I'm going down there to find out what turned the Tohsaka estate into this giant pit."

With that, he slid down along the crater's slope.

The Tohsaka residence had been built directly above Fuyuki's leylines—land chosen centuries ago for its exceptional magical energy. Because of that, the Tohsaka family had a unique affinity with the land's magical power.

Eleven years ago, at the end of the Fifth Holy Grail War, Shiomi had treated a gravely injured Rin Tohsaka—wounded by Marisbury—by burying her in his family's leyline. The recovery was even faster than if he had healed her himself.

But now, in this version of reality—this Singularity F—the Tohsaka residence had been completely erased, leaving only a massive, empty crater.

In the blink of an eye, Shiomi had reached the bottom.

"This place…"

A quick scan told him that even though this was once one of the strongest leyline sites in Fuyuki, the magical energy here was now almost completely drained. It was as if some massive ritual had just taken place, sucking the land dry. At this rate, it would take at least a decade to return to normal.

Was this the result of an ongoing Holy Grail War? Shiomi wondered silently.

He lifted his arm to activate the device on his wrist. Aside from communication, it could gather and transmit local data back to Chaldea for analysis.

But before he could connect, he heard the faint clinking of chains riding the wind.

He slowly lowered his hand and stood still, not even turning around.

"How about revealing yourself, Servant?" he said.

A low, seductive chuckle echoed in reply. "Hehehe~"

Chains shimmered into view, forming a massive web above the crater like a barrier. "You stayed instead of running. Should I call you clever—or just hopelessly foolish?"

A light-purple-haired female Servant in a cloak stood atop the chains, staring down at Shiomi like a predator sizing up prey with no escape.

Shiomi had never seen this Servant before—but he recognized the long weapon in her hand.

"Harpe..." he murmured.

"Oh? You know this weapon?" the woman said, licking her lips.

"Are you connected to Perseus?" Shiomi asked.

Her expression changed instantly. "Don't you dare mention that man in front of me! I was going to kill you quickly, but I've changed my mind. Now I'm going to tear you apart slowly, piece by piece."

She tightened her grip on her weapon. "This spear destroys immortality. Any wound it causes will never heal—not even through a miracle capable of completely restoring the flesh."

Shiomi didn't flinch. "I've seen Noble Phantasms like that before. That Servant died miserably. Perseus will end the same way. Honestly, if you had gone after the three above while I was down here investigating, I would've been more troubled."

"Prey should always be savored from the most delicious first. And the magical energy radiating off you—so rich it's mouthwatering." The Servant ran a hand through her hair. It turned into snakes, then into chains, tightening their formation around Shiomi.

"If you think you can—go ahead and try. Servant Lancer, Medusa." Shiomi sneered.

In an instant, the chains coiled around him. From above, the others cried out, alarmed by the sudden shift below.

"Even a Servant can't escape my chain barrier," Medusa said coldly, unbothered that her true name had been revealed. She looked up at the trio above. "Next prey—"

"Piercing through heaven and earth, bring forth the pure, steady lightning! Divine Saber!"

The chant cut her off mid-sentence. Sensing the burst of magical energy, Medusa turned in alarm—but it was already too late.

From the bottom of the crater, lightning surged upward. Multiple bolts came crashing down, turning the darkness into blinding daylight.

"Ahhhhhhh—!!"

Medusa, having underestimated her opponent, had no idea that Shiomi was capable of wiping out dozens of skeletal soldiers in under thirty seconds. She thought trapping him was enough. But under the barrage of thunder, she screamed in agony.

"Such high-level Magecraft... and he cast it instantly..." Olga Marie was stunned.

She had never seen Shiomi fight before. On the Mystic Eyes Collection Train, she'd only witnessed Sakura's combat skill. Though they were just a year apart, Sakura's Magecraft was already extraordinary.

But what Shiomi just unleashed—was on a whole different level.

"Girls, stay in defensive stance. As long as he's down there, we've got nothing to worry about." A weary-sounding voice called out.

Mash immediately raised her shield on alert.

When the figure came into view, Ritsuka gasped and covered her mouth.

"You're injured?" she asked.

"Took a bit of a hit." The unfamiliar man pulled down the light blue hood of his cloak, revealing his blue hair. He gave a lopsided grin. "Servant Caster. Not your enemy. After all, your leader and I go way back."

"Eh?" Olga Marie looked even more shocked.

...

Down in the crater, the battle raged on.

Shiomi rarely used chants to cast Grand Magecraft. His spells were already powerful enough without them. But when paired with the right chant, the effect more than doubled.

The chains binding him loosened. Medusa, scorched black and trembling, began to back away.

Even her Magic Resistance had been overwhelmed. For the first time, fear crept into her expression. The confidence she had when hunting Shiomi was gone. She now just wanted to retreat and regroup—especially with her allies still above the crater.

She leapt upward, but what she didn't expect was Caster already waiting for her at the crater's edge. The moment she appeared, he completed a string of runes, which transformed into a barrage of fireballs, flying straight at her.

Shiomi raised his magic spear.

"Now go—'Gáe Bolg: Soaring Spear That Strikes with Death'!"

Caught mid-air, interrupted by Caster's attack, Medusa was wide open. Her eyes widened as she watched the crimson blade pierce through her heart.

"You... are..."

She tried to speak, but the words never finished. She plummeted back into the pit and slowly began to fade away.

Shiomi had sensed something off about this Lancer, but for now, he set the thought aside. Climbing back to the crater's edge, he looked toward the Caster who had helped him and gave a wry smile.

"Well, what are the odds? Fancy seeing you again, Cú Chulainn."

"Oh? You know me? That'll make things a lot easier!"

Caster grinned, his smile as wild and carefree as ever.