On the light screen—
With the arrival of Emiya Kiritsugu and Kirei Kotomine, the current situation on the battlefield became clear to the audience.
Within the ruins of the city district, fragments of buildings were now completely covered by the Black Mud. At the highest point of the wreckage stood Sakura and Zouken Matou, the source of the chaos.
Due to the surrounding Black Mud, neither Saber nor Archer could get close to them.
Meanwhile, the shadow creatures in the area, nourished by the Black Mud, were growing at an alarming rate, having already reached the level of Servants.
Saber and Archer were struggling to hold their ground. The vast expanse of Black Mud left them with almost no safe footing.
The shadows, having invested all their skill points into speed, moved at a pace neither Servant could match. Archer, at least, had some ranged attacks, but Saber was left like a sitting duck.
It was important to remember that these were not some third-rate, insignificant Heroic Spirits. Setting aside Counter Guardian Emiya, Saber's strength alone was beyond that of any ordinary being.
She was a top-tier Servant in the truest sense. Even without her scabbard, she was among the best of the best.
Yet the scene before them was harrowing. Relying on the Black Mud's nature as a powerful counter to Servants, and the fact that Saber and Archer had to protect the now-puppet-like Sakura, the old worm could be said to have reached his moment of triumph. He was not only suppressing Emiya Shirou but also holding a Servant of Saber's caliber at bay.
There was nothing to be done… While Saber could certainly obliterate him with a single strike from her Holy Sword—under the force of such a beam of light, even the old worm's powerful self-preservation abilities would be blasted into nothingness—the girl standing before him would also be annihilated. That was clearly not an outcome they desired.
Perhaps sacrificing the girl would save a great deal of time and energy, but neither of them was willing to make her a casualty for the sake of saving the world.
Saber and Emiya Shirou—the temperaments of these two were remarkably compatible in certain respects, a fact made obvious by their combat synergy alone.
Their coordination was impeccable. Every time the Black Mud tried to lash out at Saber or Archer, Archer would instantly project swords to halt its advance, and Saber would follow up with a Mana Burst, incinerating the mud completely.
---o---
At this moment, the audience outside the light screen grew increasingly curious about the story between Saber and Emiya Shirou.
Since his appearance, Counter Guardian Emiya had maintained a mysterious demeanor, his aura enigmatic and imperceptible.
Yet, whenever he faced Saber, that aura would recede. From his previous inner thoughts, it was clear that Saber had once been his Servant and had saved his life on more than one occasion.
This implied that the Holy Grail War a decade or so in the future was likely no less brutal than the current Fourth War.
However, despite their curiosity about the story between Shirou and Saber, even more people wanted to know just how much of a power-up Saber's scabbard would provide.
Scrolling Comments on the Light Screen—
Conan: "We know the scabbard has the ability to heal wounds and curses. In the previous battle with Lancer, Saber used it to restore her injured left hand. Perhaps we can speculate on its function from this point."
L: "Indeed. Based on prior information, the scabbard's effect on Saber is likely similar—healing wounds and granting immunity to curses. However, that surely isn't the extent of its capabilities."
Schicksal Overseer: "Avalon… The Everdistant Utopia. King Arthur already has more than enough offensive Noble Phantasms. The addition of a scabbard… it must be a Noble Phantasm specializing in defense…"
---o---
More and more comments speculated on the scabbard's specific uses. The vast majority of the more astute viewers concluded that it was inextricably linked to healing and defense.
But… if it was only for healing and defense, would that be enough to give Saber the confidence to fight the Grand Caster who was attempting the Incineration of Human Order?
Ultimately, what use was a strong defense? A gap in power couldn't be bridged by defensive capabilities alone.
On this point, voices of doubt arose. To them, the best defense was a good offense. Even the strongest shield would one day be broken…
However, before these people could continue their arguments, the next scene on the light screen left them utterly dumbfounded.
Within the image, Saber completely ignored the attacks from the surrounding Black Mud and shadow creatures and charged forward.
That's right, she charged straight ahead. Without a shred of hesitation, she stepped directly onto the Black Mud and rushed out.
Weren't they just saying that the Black Mud was the natural enemy of almost all Servants? Wasn't Saber's action no different from suicide?
---o---
On the light screen—
Emiya Shirou, the old worm, and every spectator present took notice of Saber's actions.
The old worm was especially dumbfounded. In all his long life, Zouken Matou had never seen such a reckless woman.
She was clearly aware that the Black Mud was the bane of Servants, yet she acted as if she had no brain, stepping right onto it.
Did she think the blessing she received from the Lady of the Lake would not only allow her to walk on water but also on Black Mud? What a joke! This was All the World's Evil! Not a single Servant could withstand the resentment contained within it.
Not even the legendary King of Heroes or King Solomon. As long as one possessed the attribute of a Servant, they were fated to be consumed by the Black Mud.
He had originally planned to retreat when two more helpers arrived, but now, it seemed heaven itself was on his side!
At this thought, the old worm let out a joyous laugh, his voice trembling with excitement. "Hahahaha~~~ Truly worthy of being King Arthur! Always making moves that even this old man cannot comprehend."
"Good… it's a good thing I didn't choose to retreat just now. Had I left, I would have missed such a thrilling spectacle."
"The fall of the legendary King of Eternal Light, Artoria Pendragon! Hahahaha, let me witness it! The birth of the King of Darkness!"
As he spoke, the old worm's voice grew louder and louder until it was completely unhinged. It was only then that the people both inside and outside the light screen noticed a drastic change in Saber's body.
The moment she came into contact with the Black Mud, her silver-blue armor and clothing began to darken as if stained with ink, dimming at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Not only that, but even the Holy Sword in her hand seemed to sense the change in its master, losing its luster and gradually fading.
Her once majestic and elegant eyes were slowly turning tyrannical and cold.
Corruption…
The word surfaced in the minds of the audience. Wasn't this a clear case of corruption?
And an induced one at that. In an anime, such a scene would feel perfectly at home, but seeing it in reality, the audience just felt it was absurd.
Was that Black Mud laced with some kind of super-stimulant? Just a touch causes such a massive reaction? If she drank a mouthful, wouldn't she ascend on the spot?
Saber's willpower was beyond question. It was as sharp as a lion's, allowing her to remain composed even under the combined verbal assault of the King of Conquerors and the King of Heroes.
From the beginning of the war until now, she had never once broken her composure, no matter the situation. And now she was being corrupted by some innocuous-looking mud?
Emotionally, the audience refused to believe that Saber could be corrupted by something that looked so harmless. But rationally, they could see her gaze becoming increasingly unfamiliar.
The evil demonic energy emanating from the light screen was growing thicker, forcing everyone, both inside and outside the image, to be on alert. Perhaps… Saber had truly fallen and been corrupted.
---o---
Within the image, Emiya Kiritsugu also noticed this. He couldn't understand why Saber, who had been perfectly fine moments ago, would foolishly step into the Black Mud.
To walk into the tiger's den, knowing full well the danger. This wasn't courage; it was stupidity. Would the legendary King of Eternal Light truly do something so foolish?
If news of this action ever got out, King Arthur's reputation would likely be destroyed in an instant.
But unlike Kiritsugu's shock and confusion, the old worm Zouken Matou simply saw it as a gift from God. Any Servant ensnared by the Black Mud was doomed to be corrupted and controlled.
A hideous grin spread across his face as he turned to Sakura. "Sakura, oh, my dear Sakura, you should be able to feel it now. That foolish king has been successfully converted by the Black Mud."
"Yes! That's it!! Just like that! Use your magical energy to control her, to dominate her! Turn this legendary holy king into a maggot beneath your feet! This is your purpose as the Holy Grail of the Matou family! Gyehehehe!"
As the old worm uttered words that made the blood of the audience and the Knights of the Round Table boil, he was beside himself with glee. Once he had King Arthur under his control, dealing with these few remaining insects would be effortless.
Next would be the completion of his Holy Grail plan. He would seize the power of eternal life and become the sole immortal being in this world! A being that even the Outer Gods could not destroy!
The old worm felt like he was on top of the world. Since his degeneration into his current form, this was the first time he had ever felt such a pleasant and wonderful sensation—a pleasure that even tormenting Sakura could not provide.
But in his ecstasy, the old worm failed to notice the beads of sweat covering Matou Sakura's face… Yes, Saber had indeed transformed into a corrupted Heroic Spirit, but… why? Why couldn't she control her?
She had been thoroughly eroded by the Black Mud, becoming a fallen Heroic Spirit, but… there was this strange feeling, as if something was breaking through the Black Mud's barrier.
"..." A few drops of blood trickled from the corner of Sakura's mouth. The backlash from trying to forcibly control the corrupted Saber knocked her unconscious.
"Sakura?" Zouken Matou's voice was filled with confusion. Victory should have been in his grasp. How could this… how could this be?
Step… step…
Saber, walking upon the Black Mud, slowly approached. The old worm stared at her, his face a mask of disbelief.
There, King Arthur stood firm upon the Black Mud. Her eyes were as sharp as a lion's, her golden hair flowed gently in the air, and her silver-blue armor, contrasted against the blackness, appeared sacred and inviolable.
"Impossible!" The old worm refused to believe the scene before him, roaring, "Haven't you already fallen? How can this be?! This is All the World's Evil… This is All the World's Evil! As long as you are a Servant, it's impossible to be unaffected!"
That's right, All the World's Evil. Any Servant tainted by it would inevitably be twisted and corrupted. Hadn't Saber just transformed into a dark, fallen version of herself? Then who was this standing in the Black Mud now… a ghost?
This scene shattered Zouken Matou's worldview. He had been overly confident in himself and the Holy Grail, believing that while Servants were powerful, as long as he controlled a fragment of the Grail and summoned their bane—All the World's Evil—he could easily eliminate any of them.
Unfortunately for him… in all his meticulous planning, he never accounted for the true power of Saber's scabbard!
A moment ago, Saber's seemingly brainless and foolish act was not a rush to her death, nor was it a rush to be corrupted. Although a corrupted Saber might be cooler and more stylish, it was obvious Saber would never allow herself to fall into such a state.
Relying on her A-Rank Magic Resistance, Saber managed to remain conscious within the Black Mud just long enough to receive her scabbard, Avalon!
The moment the scabbard fused with her body, the Servant known as King Arthur reached her most perfect form.
Avalon has only ever acknowledged one master, Saber. Only within her possession does it display its true power!
Through the light screen, the audience could clearly see the state of the scabbard Avalon within Saber's body.
The scabbard's exterior was made of golden metal inlaid with striking blue enamel. In its center were long-lost Fairy Letters, which now pulsed with a strange light inside Saber.
Its ability is immortality, granting the power to heal its wielder's wounds and halt their aging. When its True Name is released, it dismantles into countless tiny components that spread out in the air, protecting its owner from all interference.
It is an "Absolute Defense" that ignores all magic and physical attacks, even capable of reflecting them. So long as Saber is using this Noble Phantasm, she cannot be overcome by any other. This is the strongest defensive Noble Phantasm in the entire Nasuverse. No one can harm the king resting peacefully in the land of Avalon.
All the Noble Phantasms that had appeared before—the conceptual Noble Phantasm [La Pucelle], the anti-world Noble Phantasm [Enuma Elish], the anti-army Noble Phantasm [Ionioi Hetairoi], and even Solomon's world-ending Noble Phantasm [Ars Almadel Salomonis]—none of them could inflict any harm on Saber while she possesses Avalon.
It could be said that from this moment on… Saber had surpassed every Servant that had appeared in the current Holy Grail War! In terms of defense, not even the Herrscher of Origin, Elysia, let alone the Outer God, could possibly compare to her!
---o---
Author's Note:
PS: To be honest, it feels pretty ridiculous. Nasu himself designated Avalon as the strongest defensive Noble Phantasm, and Saber with Avalon is just this broken, practically invincible. Fortunately, her attack power isn't maxed out, so you can't say she's completely unbeatable.