Besides cursed skeletons, tormented spirits, and other lesser undead. There was nothing that impeded our way... It was actually bothering me very much as I remember that in FGO we were supposed to also come across a shadow servant of Benkei and Cursed Arm Hassan.
But nope, nothing but trash undead that got in our way a couple times we crossed past the utterly destroyed mountain temple I forgot the name of.
Which was seemingly destroyed by Salter's noble phantasm as she fought either Emiya or Gilgamesh for a semi-extended period of time. Which was easily noticed by the sheer number of large crater's and a half dozen large gouges through the earth where Salter used Excalibur Morgan.
Once we got past the temple, the dense rotting and fetid mana filling the air made Ritsuka go quiet. And Tamamo to also become serious as we headed through the massive cave beyond the temple that would lead us towards the Grail.
And after we walked through the long tunnel the tunnel opened up into a massive open large room.
The giant underground room was well lit by the corrupted Grail at the end of the massive hall as it glowed primarily with purple energy but glowing cursed vapor of all other colors provided further light to the giant room.
And there she was... Saber 'Alter' Standing at the end of the room with her corrupted excalibur planted between her feet with her resting her pale hands on the pommel of the sword.
"Chaldea... I did not expect you to actually arrive. Let alone survive Medusa's own hands. But it seems you also have your own servants." The cursed Artoria spoke.
But as she spoke, I could see a multitude of emotions heavily cross her face as she looked at Mash who bore Galahad's shield.
Still I coudn't help but ask bluntly. "Artoria Pendragon. Even corrupted and twisted as you are... Do you have the shame to stand there as a guardian to the end of the world?"
Saber Alter tilted her head to the side and then said tiredly. "I do not safe guard the end of the world. Your world or even this false one here. I safe guard the continuation of humanity itself in my own way."
A loud crack of stone rang out as she cracked the stone she partially buried excalibur morgan inside of. And the sword was quickly wreathed in corrupted mana as she said with finality.
"Humans of so called 'Proper Human History' If you wish to save your so called doomed world. Then come, take my life, take the Grail within myself and you will step forward onto a path of endless suffering and trails for the good of nothing."
I scowled at that... As honestly, she wasn't wrong. If things went remotely like canon I would have to fight gods, Beasts, and outer gods themselves. For fucking years without any end in sight.
The only way I could truly, truly change things is if I went further down to the end of the Path of the Fool and became a Great Old One in the Lord of Mysteries. Only with the power to rewrite reality itself could I truly force the world into a natural state.
But... Beyond the high sequences of the Fool Pathway not being the most useful when I could learn more potent magecraft. I was also worried about truly losing my humanity and being both banished from the Human Texture, as well just losing who I myself was.
My time for thoughts and ruminations was over as Ritsuka stepped forward and said firmly. "Then we WILL defeat you! You who have given up on everything can just go back to the throne and watch us save the world!"
Saber alter gave Ritsuka and Mash a lasting look before she said coldly as she slowly lifted Excalibur Morgan above her head. "Doubtful, painfully, and utterly despairingly doubtful... You, a mage with no magical training. And a dying homunclus who can barely lift my knights shield she stole?"
She took a breath, and I watched as she shouted powerfully. "Now perish! Excalibur Mooorgan!"
And while she charged up her noble phantasm I said flatly as I flooded the superior waifu with mana. "Tamamo, use the Yata mirror at it's full power."
Tamamo's hum of interest at the sight of Excalibur, the cursed light of the world's weapon was cut off as she giggled evilly. As... Normally, normally as a boring old Caster Tamamo with a single tail.
The Eightfold Blessing of Amaterasu was sealed down to a pitiful D rank Noble Phantasm. Which was basically only good for acting as a fucking mallet to smash people with, and when activated it would give her basically infinite mana to cast curses in particular.
But MY Tamamo had all fucking nine of her tails while keeping her core identity as Tamamo no Mae! The Eightfold Blessing of Amaterasu wasn't fucking sealed at all! She had an Anti-World classed Noble Phantasm that could do all kinds of kooky nonsense.
And that power was why I trusted my Tamamo to carry me through FGO without me losing my humanity in rushing through the Sequences in the Fools path!
Ritsuka cried out as her eyes bled and her flesh blistered as pure divinity flared from the massive mirror that expanded with the activation of Tamamo's noble phantasm before she hid behind Mash's shield.
"God who resides in Izumo.Residing in the mountains and watery heavens, Amaterasu.Let this sun freely become the proof of purification in annihilation.Thy name is the cursed Weighted Stone of Tamamo.Become the sacred treasure, Mirror of Uka! The wedding ring between me and my master!Just kidding hehe☆!!!"
The pillar of corrupted light smashed into the mirror of Amaterasu, the Yata mirror and once the cursed stone that sealed Tamamo once upon a time.
And I staggered as the divine mirror enacted Tamamo's will. Her divine mandate and a part of me wondered if her power was further boosted with how we were in Japan.
As I was the one who had to supply the mana for the mirror to activate, and from the mirror came a pillar. No, a beam of divine solar flames that washed over the corrupted far lesser beam of Excalibur Morgan.