BOOOOM!!!
"It's war!!!"
"Run!"
"We can't handle it!"
While using a massive amount of explosives and numerous weapons simultaneously, Nightingale rampages like Rambo from the movies...
"Where did she even get all those weapons..."
"They were provided by the NFF Convenience Store."
"What kind of businesswoman is she..."
She's even carrying and firing things that should be mounted on tanks. To wield an anti-aircraft gun bare-handed and fire it alone—what nonsense... but I guess it's normal for a Servant?
Despite the massive explosions and firearms, and even hand-to-hand combat, there are miraculously zero casualties. With Sakura and Edgar's support, there aren't even any injuries. Civilians have taken no damage, and only the soldiers are being subdued.
The ones fighting now aren't ordinary soldiers but mechanized infantry, modified troops wearing powered suits. They were designed with Servant combat in mind, and while not that strong, at least the reduced damage means they might survive.
If it weren't Nightingale but actual combat, they'd all be dead.
"Stars!"
At that moment, magic books appeared in the sky, centered on a girl who revealed herself atop a building. As the books unfolded, beams of light shot down. But, the compatibility is bad.
Zing~!
"Sorry, but I'll take that."
Sakura opened a void space to receive the attack, then opened another to send it back, and also absorbed it with void magic and shadows... She's an absurdly perfect counter for Casters.
"Void magic... In that case, this──"
BAM!!!
"Eek!?"
The girl staggered after being hit by a medical bed thrown by Nightingale. Then, a grenade hidden in the bed exploded, causing her to fall. What kind of combat style is that...
"Now's the time──"
At that moment, something flashed in the distance.
"A true hero kills with their eyes."
BOOOOM!!!
"Ugh, grr... Haaa...!!!"
A red beam flew in, and Sakura tried to block the attack head-on with shadows and void magic, but...
Sakura was pushed back continuously. For a moment, her hair seemed to change from purple to cherry blossom pink, as her name suggests...
Then, Sakura's eyes glowed red briefly, and the shadows expanded like a massive wall.
Whoosh...
"Ha... ha..."
Sakura breathed heavily, sweating profusely. One of Edgar's agents supported her as she wobbled.
"How dare you hurt Sakura...!!!"
Ushigozen glared and deployed her Noble Phantasm. A giant headless divine beast was summoned, heating up the battlefield even more.
"For you to come here and attack first, Angel of Crimea."
Then, a muscular man with a lion's head appeared. Next to him was a man holding a golden spear on a white horse. That man must have fired the beam earlier...
"Thomas Alva Edison."
"You recognize me? Hehe~ I am quite famous, after all. Well, of course you'd know me—I'm the President King of the United States!"
Nightingale immediately recognized him. Who would think that lion-headed guy was Edison...
"You require treatment."
"Treatment? What kind of treatment are you talking about?"
"Your mind is abnormal. Your ideals are also twisted. I know all about your atrocities. Not just mistaken commanders on the battlefield, but you're conducting ideological education for all citizens and soldiers. The nation unites, citizens become one, serving the state regardless of age or gender, with every citizen becoming a soldier to fight. And only the United States remains in the world. That is your goal and method. And, you don't even realize that you're abnormal."
What the hell is that... Isn't that insane? Edison is eccentric and a thorough businessman, but that's too extreme.
"What's wrong with that?"
"The fact that you don't see the wrong is also the same. Forced conscription, brainwashing, drug administration—you're insane."
"I'm insane? I'm the President King! That can't be!"
He looks insane to anyone, but... somehow, it feels distorted.
"And what can you do? At best, even if you're a Berserker, you're just a nursing officer! Do you think you and the Servants and Master behind you can defeat me, the President King, and our military might!"
"Are you that confident with just that? I, we, have fought beings beyond comparison. The end of myths, the one true god, the god of the universe, true monsters. Edison, you don't feel like any threat to me. And... to be honest, I'm saying this now, but I have no intention of treating you or the others. At most, it's only because that's what I would have done in the past."
"Huh? What does that mean?"
"President King Edison. I said you were insane... but at least, the most insane one here is..."
Crackle...!
"Me. We all went insane through that journey. Not because of the mission given to us as Servants, but from the moment we decided to fight for just one person."
"What... Karna! Hurry and──"
BOOOOM!!!!
Just as the white-haired man called Karna stepped forward, a brilliant rainbow flash erupted.
"Ha... [Jeweled Sword Zelretch]. Sorry, but no interruptions... My goal is to reach a level where I can fight and defeat divine spirits, beyond great heroes. They said it's possible... To stand by Dumpty's side, I need to be able to handle great heroes alone... They all lit a fire in my heart."
"... Indeed, you're young but filled with conviction."
Karna... clearly, the one from Indian mythology...
Clang!!!!
Ushigozen charged with lightning, engaging Karna in combat, while Sakura supported her in the fight.
Thud...!
A giant white nurse swung her sword down, and a space filled with green light formed.
"[Nightingale Pledge] (I eliminate all things poisonous and harmful)... The soldiers you're so proud of can no longer fight. Neither can you. Because this is a space where attacks are not permitted."
"Urk... Madame Blavatsky! Where has Madame gone!"
Edison sweated coldly as he called for his ally, but a girl appeared with her hands up. Behind her, Sita was aiming a bow.
"Sorry... I've been had."
"Is that so..."
Click.
"... Didn't you say attacks aren't allowed?"
"This isn't an attack, Edison. This is..."
"Treatment."
Bang!
Edison was shot and collapsed. Is, is he dead...?
"It's an anesthetic gun. A powerful anesthetic that can put even a Servant to sleep for days. It's the work of Dr. Asclepius and Paracelsus."
Wow... if a human got hit, they'd die instantly, right?
"Is this defeat? With the commander fallen, we surrender."
"Are you serious?"
"Are you the type to slaughter those who surrender?"
"..."
Sakura made a face at Karna's retort and withdrew her magic. Somehow, he doesn't seem like a bad person...
"Combat ended... The United States forces have been subdued. Smoothly done."
It's pretty impressive... Sakura and Nightingale. Maybe their combination has good synergy. And what kind of nursing officer acts like that...
"We did it..."
"... You overexerted yourself, Sakura, with mana consumption and more. You should rest immediately and focus on recovery."
"Huh? I can still do it. It's not all settled yet, right? We can do it later. So─"
"Later is too late! It's fine now, we can do it later! I can still do more! You always say things like that, which is why you────!"
"... My apologies, I let my emotions get the better of me. Anyway, you should rest immediately."
"... Okay, I understand."
"Sakura, over here."
Sakura went to rest, supported by Ushigozen.
Nightingale... what was that reaction just now?
Maybe it's related to that dream?