-156- The true threat

"————!"

In that instant, Mash's expression completely changed. Just as the cyclone-like arrow was about to strike her, Mash could only glance in its direction; there was hardly any time for any other reaction.

After all, Mash was suspended mid-air, lacking any stable point to exert force. Avoiding the arrow, let alone raising her shield for defense, seemed nearly impossible.

In her precarious position, Mash managed to observe the direction from which the arrow was coming. At the top of a clock tower-like structure, a wild-looking girl stood, her eyes gleaming with murderous intent. She had a bow in her hand, aimed directly at Mash.

Clearly, the arrow was shot by this girl. Despite being kilometers away and separated by various structures, she had pinpointed the optimal path to shoot the arrow at Mash, who was leaping into the air and preparing to attack the Wyvern-riding witch.

Such skill and perception indicated the identity of her assailant.

"A Servant...!?"

Indeed, she was a Servant.

Moreover, she was an Archer-class Servant.

In Orleans, it wasn't just the Wyvern-riding witch ("Dragon Witch") that existed as a Servant; there were other Servants present as well.

"Could it be...!?"

Mash suddenly understood why the witch had returned with a large group of Wyverns when they had set out for battle. It was because there were not only other Servants guarding Orleans, but someone had also sent a signal, leading them into an encirclement.

Helplessly, Mash watched as the arrow that could potentially strike her was deflected by a resounding impact. The wind imbued with magical force launched the arrow away, sparking a shower of fiery particles.

"...!?"

Perched atop a distant spire, Archer widened her eyes at the scene, her expression contorting into madness.

"What is...?"

Mash was equally surprised, and then, as if understanding something, she quickly turned her head and looked in Rozen's direction.

There, Rozen was still astride his magical wolf, avoiding the diving Wyverns rather than confronting them head-on. His mount evaded the aerial assaults and swipes, while his body was suffused with formidable magical power.

At this moment, Rozen's magical energy was divided into three parts: one injected into Mash, one into his mount, and one formed the "Magic Defence" Telekinetic barrier, protecting her against the archer's snipe

Before Mash could comprehend when Rozen had acquired this defensive technique, he shouted at her.

"Strike now!"

With that cry, Rozen even constructed a "Magic Defence" Telekinetic barrier beneath Mash, making it her foothold.

Mash immediately grasped his intent.

"Bang!"

Amid the crisp sound of shattering, Mash shattered the mental barrier beneath her feet, transforming into a rocket once again, soaring towards the "Dragon Witch."

However, the witch didn't even wave her flag, merely regarding Mash with a disdainful gaze, as though observing a clown.

At this moment, two more figures appeared around the plaza.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...!"

With the sound of air splitting, iron stakes emerged from the ground like spikes, hurtling toward Mash, resembling sharp thorns in their trajectory.

"Thud, thud, thud...!"

Reverberating like the vibration of air, a combination of iron chains, nails, and two door frames assembled into a towering structure, enough to encase a person entirely, like a coffin-shaped instrument of torture, plummeted from the sky, aiming for Mash.

Suspended in mid-air, Mash was encompassed by the rising iron stakes and descending instruments of torture, leaving her with no room to escape.

Naturally, these weren't the methods of the "Dragon Witch."

Manipulating the iron stakes was a noble duke clad in a black overcoat, wielding a meticulously crafted long spear. Dark shadows loomed in his eye sockets, and his mouth curled into a slowly wicked smile, resembling a fiendish monarch. He had appeared on a rooftop, a point of origin for the iron stakes, as though from nowhere.

Controlling the instruments of torture was a woman who held an exquisite scepter. She wore an attire that resembled a restrictive garment yet exuded an air of opulence. Her body was entwined with iron chains, and her other hand supported a device of torment. Her eyes gleamed with a crimson light, resembling a wicked noblewoman. She appeared on the rooftop of another building, causing the instruments of torture to descend from the sky.

Judging by the weapons held by these two individuals and the aura they emitted, their identities were quite apparent.

"…!"

They were both Servants.

After all, Lancer was a spearman, and the noble duke wielding the long spear was undoubtedly an Lancer. Judging from the devices of torment held by the woman and the bloodlust that enveloped her, there was no other possibility aside from her being an Assassin.

However, similar to the previous Archer, these two Servants of different classes also displayed a touch of madness in their expressions.

Yet, these two Servants hadn't completely lost their reason; they were merely immersed in a murderous frenzy. They attacked Mash with deadly intent.

Faced with this dual assault from the sky and the earth, Mash had no way to evade unless directed by Rozen.

"One meter to the right! Jump!"

Almost simultaneously, Rozen expanded a "Magic Defence" shield beneath Mash's feet, providing her a point of support mid-air.

"Senpai!"

Without hesitation, Mash acted upon Rozen's instructions. She shattered the Telekinetic shield beneath her feet and leaped a meter to the right.

An iron stake and an instrument of torture arrived at the spot where Mash had been a second earlier.

"Thud!"

Immediately after, a forceful collision echoed as they met, repelling each other.

"Three meters ahead! Jump!"

Rozen's instructions came without pause, forming another mental shield beneath Mash's feet, bolstering her spirits. Mash complied instantly.

Guided by Rozen's repeated commands, Mash used the precise locations of the mental shields to leap continuously, dodging the onslaught of iron stakes and raining instruments of torture.

"Thud!" "Thud!" "Thud!" "Thud!" "Thud!"

The heavy instruments and sharp iron stakes collided ceaselessly, generating a chorus of resounding impacts.

Mash maneuvered through the chaos, completely untouched, expertly evading the rising iron stakes and plummeting instruments of torture.

"Huh?"

The two Servants observed this spectacle, raising their eyebrows in surprise.

Even the "Dragon Witch" finally suppressed her mocking expression, her countenance darkening.

However, Rozen didn't feel any relief. That's because Rozen's "Heaven's Eye" had already revealed another development.

He saw three more figures gradually appear atop different buildings.

Even if he were to guess, Rozen could surmise the identities of these three figures.

Without a doubt, they were the other three Servants.