---o---
Honkai World, Schicksal Headquarters. After countless hours of searching through records and comparing information, Otto had finally confirmed Elysia's identity.
Just as he had predicted, Elysia was a person from the Previous Era, from the same time as its strongest warrior, Kevin. And the power within Elysia, which the projection had mentioned multiple times, must be Honkai Energy.
Gilgamesh had called it a power capable of destroying the world. That was indeed true. The so-called MANTIS project involved fusing the human body with the genes of Honkai Beasts, thereby gaining even greater Honkai Energy and strength to fight against the Honkai. In a sense, the Honkai Energy within a MANTIS was not much weaker than that of a Herrscher.
Although it wouldn't trigger a Honkai Eruption, other disasters aside from a Herrscher's descent would not stop occurring.
Honkai Energy was still a highly radioactive and corrosive energy. Contact with it would still cause Honkai sickness and would still spawn zombies and Honkai Beasts.
However, because it was a finite source without replenishment, unless one possessed an energy converter like the Core of Divine Key, it could only be depleted.
Logically speaking, if Elysia were truly just an ordinary MANTIS from the Previous Era, it would be highly unlikely for her to cause a world-threatening Honkai disaster unless she willed it so. Unless... she was a Herrscher.
But how could that be possible? Otto could be considered the person in the Current Era who understood the Previous Era best. Their hatred and disgust for the Honkai had reached an irrepressible level. Elysia could not possibly hold the titles of both Herrscher and MANTIS simultaneously.
More importantly, the Herrschers of the Previous Era were almost impossible to communicate with or persuade. Their only thought was the destruction of humanity and civilization. This drive should not have disappeared even in a different world, yet Elysia showed no such inclinations.
Unless...
Otto did not continue down that line of thought. He believed that this light screen would gradually substantiate his guesses and lead him to the final answer.
---o---
Meanwhile, there was a new development in the light screen projection.
While tensions were running high between Gilgamesh and Elysia, the battle between Saber and Berserker was gradually drawing to a close.
The outcome was naturally obvious. Although Berserker's combat prowess was astonishing, constantly pressuring Saber, he was facing the king he once served. That king was intimately familiar with his fighting style and abilities. Moreover, Saber had never intended to eliminate him; otherwise, how could a maddened Lancelot possibly be a match for that Holy Sword?
Of course, the most crucial reason was that Berserker's Master could no longer hold out.
The camera then shifted to Berserker's Master. The unlucky man had already been drained of his mana by Lancelot to the point of collapsing on the ground. His entire being had been squeezed dry, on the verge of withering, without a single drop left.
What was being consumed now was likely no longer his magical energy, but his very life and blood, which were being burned to supply Berserker with mana.
This tragic man clenched his teeth, his voice weakly squeezing out from between them, "D-dammit... Berserker... that... that person... is not an enemy... Stop... Stop... Dammit... he's completely out of control..."
As the viewers across the multiverse saw the situation, they finally understood. Lancelot's rampage was something that even his magus Master could no longer control. Furthermore, he was frantically draining his Master's mana. As expected of a Berserker, truly dangerous and uncontrollable.
However, not many felt any pity for Kariya Matou. He looked entirely like a villain and a madman, completely incapable of any rational communication. Even his Servant was a dark, shadowy knight. A man like this was nothing more than a clown; he might as well be eliminated on the first night of the Holy Grail War.
But the viewers of the multiverse were destined to be disappointed. Because the current Kariya had not yet succeeded in rescuing little Sakura from that den of demons, he had to abandon his thoughts of finishing off Gilgamesh tonight.
Thus, Kariya Matou made a difficult decision. He raised his right hand, engraved with the Command Spell, and arduously issued his order: "By the name of the Command Spell, Berserker, return to my side and stop your rampage..."
As his words fell, the man's right hand dropped limply. With a flash of red light, the middle segment of the Command Spell vanished.
Simultaneously, Lancelot, who had been unleashing a furious, impotent assault on Saber, suddenly flickered with a red light and then vanished with a swoosh, causing Saber to halt her attack mid-motion.
In the next moment, Lancelot had already returned to his Master's side. He stood perfectly still and quiet, a complete contrast to his earlier self.
Instantly, an expression of relief washed over Kariya Matou's face. He then collapsed limply, falling unconscious. After a brief moment of silence, Lancelot dematerialized into spiritual form and disappeared.
With that, the battle between Saber and Berserker concluded, leaving only the impending conflict between Elysia and Gilgamesh.
---o---
Across the multiverse, countless people came to a realization. Although they were somewhat disappointed that Kariya Matou used a Command Spell to flee, they had also witnessed the true power of this ability.
Although it wasn't explicitly shown where Berserker's Master was, the background suggested he was in some residential district. The light screen had previously shown an aerial view, indicating that the Fuyuki port was on the outskirts of the city, a fair distance from the urban center.
Despite such a great distance, the Command Spell had instantly returned Berserker to his Master's side and forcibly calmed the rampaging knight.
The so-called "absolute command" of the Command Spell was far more powerful than many had imagined. They had initially thought it was simply a way to force a Servant to perform a certain action. They never expected it could even accomplish feats like instantaneous return, akin to spatial movement.
[Eriri Spencer Sawamura: What a shame! Berserker ran away. Otherwise, King Arthur would have definitely beaten him.]
[Madara Uchiha: Oh? I wouldn't be so sure. After all, that young king seemed to have no intention of truly fighting him. That is a grave taboo on the battlefield.]
[Boros: I am growing weary of this. While their abilities are strange, their power levels are completely unremarkable.]
[Aizen Sousuke: Hehe. Although several Heroic Spirits have appeared on the first night, very few of them have truly used their full strength.]
[Schicksal Overseer: If you wish to witness a truly exhilarating battle, you would be better off paying attention to the fight between Elysia and Gilgamesh. I'm afraid... this port will not be able to withstand the aftershocks of their battle.]
[Conan Edogawa: Indeed, the port has already been damaged beyond recognition. I'm honestly curious, with this level of destruction, how have they managed to keep the Holy Grail War a secret for so many iterations?]