IBHJ 1120

Even though she was just another version of Artoria, when he saw her face and her smile, he knew he couldn't bring himself to do that. Not now, not like this.

But someday, that fight would come. He wouldn't be able to avoid it forever.

"Hmm? What's got you so quiet, Shirou?" she turned her head, her blue eyes curious. "Are you thinking up a new poem?"

"Not yet. How's your book coming along?"

"Oh yes! I'm calling this chapter 'Meeting a Poet, Victory Over Heroic Spirits.' Don't worry, I'll tell it exactly how it happened. I won't try to make you look bad."

"So you thought about making me look bad?"

"Well, to show off how great and kind the greatest witch is, shouldn't her companions be weak and stupid? That's just good storytelling."

"In that case, I think I've got my poem idea - it's about a fish that gets caught by this big, clumsy ghost of a greedy witch who has absolutely no manners."

"...You've got some nerve..."

"Right back at you."

"Shirou!"

"What now?"

"I'm hungry." She flashed him a bright smile. "Let's find something good to eat!"

"Is your stomach a black hole?" He threw up his hands with a sigh. "You're impossible. But you'll have to catch your own food this time."

"Fine by me!"

Her smile grew even bigger.

Who cared about books or Heroic Spirit battles? Food came first!

In Artoria's mind, the priorities were clear: become an Apostle first, travel to interesting places second, and eat delicious food third!

But just as she started to turn the staff away, a deep boom shook the earth. The leyline buried underground burst up like a fountain of pure energy, sending Imperial soldiers flying in every direction.

"What's going on?" Artoria fought to keep the staff steady as she stared at the surging leyline. The mana whipped her clothes around her, nearly pulling off her cap.

"Something powerful just got summoned!" Shirou said with a stern face, hiding his inner joy.

"Something powerful...?"

Before she could finish speaking, another boom rocked the air, this one deeper and longer than the first. A beam of light shot out from the erupting energy, cutting across the ground like a giant blade. Everything in its path was destroyed—trees splintered into thousands of needle-sharp fragments, rocks shattered and melted into glass, and soldiers were reduced to paste. Blood and gore sprayed in wide arcs, painting the scorched earth red.

"Graaauuugh!"

The air filled with the sound of monsters as strange magical beasts poured out of the leyline's waterfall of energy.

The beasts charged out of the leyline, ripping into the Imperial soldiers around them. Chaos broke out in seconds.

"Look at all that meat!" Artoria's eyes lit up. Where others saw monsters, she just saw her next meal.

He could only shake his head at her reaction - she really did think with her stomach. But he knew these weren't ordinary magical beasts. Even with the crown sealing his powers, his eyes could still see through these things. These creatures weren't made of flesh and blood at all, but True Ether - similar to Servants.

He'd seen these beasts before. They'd nearly killed him once.

These were definitely Gaia's monsters. And that flash of light from before - he knew that too. It could only be one thing.

Have you finally come, Mordred?

Shirou's brow creased as he watched.

"Graaauuugh!"

The beasts kept roaring as they fought against the Eternal soldiers. But they'd arrived too late - almost all the summoned Servants were already dead. Only Diarmuid was still hanging on, barely alive.

But then-

"…Made it... just before they sealed this leyline." Blood ran from Diarmuid's mouth. "Others must have been summoned earlier somewhere else. But from this leyline... you're the only one left..."

His eyes locked on the human shape flickering inside the erupting leyline. Then his body started to fade away.

"You must protect... our... history!"

With those words, Diarmuid disappeared.

The sudden attack from the beasts had caught the soldiers off guard, pushing them back at first. But that didn't last long.

The Imperial soldiers couldn't die - their eternal state meant they feared nothing. And now with Artoria's spell protecting them from all damage, they were unstoppable. The beasts were like players fighting against invincible opponents - no matter how well they started, they couldn't win.

"This isn't good," Artoria said. Then her eyes suddenly brightened. "Shirou, let's go on an adventure!"

"What?"

She pointed at the waterfall of energy, her face lighting up with excitement. "There's a powerful Heroic Spirit in there. If we catch her, the Capital will definitely reward us with His Majesty's favor!"

Before he could respond, she gripped her staff and rushed toward the surging energy.

He could only watch her reckless move - but then again, everyone in the Empire had the right to be reckless. They had given up their past and future to live in an eternal present. Nothing could kill them.

The energy waterfall roared around them as they pushed through its wall of light. Through the noise, a familiar voice could be heard.

"Great. Where in the world did Gaia dump us this time?" A frustrated sigh. "At least I was smart enough to bring backup."

That voice...

He knew it instantly. Mordred.

"Wait." The air grew tense as the newly appeared Mordred spun around, sword aimed straight at him. "Who's there?"

Artoria set down her staff and motioned for Shirou to stay back. As she stepped into view, both women froze. Looking at each other was like seeing into a mirror that showed a different version of the same person.

Artoria broke the silence first, though wonder still filled her voice. "Your face..." She tilted her head. "You must be the other me - the one from Pan-Human History." Drawing herself up, pride entered her tone. "Well then, allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Artoria Pendragon, Princess of Camelot and greatest witch of Avalon."

Mordred stared at Artoria, her sword dropping slightly. "M-Mother?"

"Mother?" Artoria's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"It's me - Mordred! Your daughter!" Her words tumbled out as she gestured at herself.

"Daughter?" she blinked. "Oh, I see - you're the child of my Pan-Human History self." A smile spread across her face. "How fascinating! I never imagined that version of me would have a child. This will make an excellent addition to my book." Her smile turned sharp as she pulled a sword from her staff. "But first, I'll have to defeat you!"

"Wait, hold on!" Mordred threw up her hands to stop her. At the same time, understanding hit her like a blow - this definitely wasn't her missing mother. This was another version of her, like Salter. A parallel world Artoria.

And worse - an enemy.

This couldn't be happening...

"Defeating you will mark the beginning of my journey as an Apostle—"

But her words were interrupted by the heavy rock that crashed into the back of her head. With a dull thud, she crumpled to the ground, unconscious. Shirou stood behind her, still gripping the rock, while Mordred stared at him with her mouth open.

"F-Father?" Mordred's eyes widened as she looked between him and her unconscious mom.

He tossed the rock aside and wiped his hands. "Stop staring and help me tie her up before she wakes up."

"Right... right." she hurried over, still trying to process what she'd just seen. She kept glancing at him as she helped restrain her mother.

What in the world was going on here?