On the other side of the battlefield.
The sound of clashing metal rang out incessantly.
The figures of Asuka and Artoria crossed paths under the moonlight, the sparks from their colliding blades as dazzling as fireworks.
Clang—!
Their blades clashed, and the two leapt back from each other, panting heavily.
Several new sword wounds had already appeared on Asuka's body.
Although he relied on Nugata's devouring ability to maintain his magical energy, the mental exhaustion from continuous combat could not be erased.
Artoria opposite him was not having an easy time either.
Her silver-blue armor was covered in scorched cracks, irreparable blade marks left behind after encountering Asuka's slashes.
"Why?" Asuka looked at the stubborn girl before him.
Her eyes remained clear, and the radiance of the holy sword in her hands was undiminished.
"During that opening just now, you clearly could have unleashed your Noble Phantasm."
Just a moment ago, Asuka had intentionally exposed a massive flaw to bait her into attacking.
If Artoria had unleashed the Sword of Promised Victory then, she might have heavily injured him.
But Asuka wanted to take a gamble, betting that his Zanpakuto's devouring ability could keep up with the physical damage.
Releasing a Noble Phantasm of that caliber would definitely consume a massive amount of magical energy, which would also be his chance to take Artoria down in a single strike.
"A king does not need to win through a sneak attack," Artoria answered with absolute certainty.
Gripping her sword with both hands, she reassumed her stance. "You have already endured grueling battles against the Spearman and the Caster twins in succession. Neither your magical energy nor your stamina is at its peak."
"If I were to rely on an Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm to deal with you under these circumstances, it would be an unfair victory."
"Such a victory is an insult to chivalry."
Hearing this, Asuka could not help but twitch his mouth.
'Is this person... really okay in the head...'
"As long as you win, do the methods matter? Why didn't I see you hesitate when you used your Noble Phantasm on that giant monster earlier?"
"Because that monster was an evil endangering the city," Artoria said sternly. "But you, even though your Class is Avenger, and your methods are somewhat brutal... I can sense that your sword is righteous."
"To a righteous warrior, I must offer equal respect."
"Hard to understand." Asuka shook his head, but his grip on his sword tightened involuntarily.
Although he claimed to dislike it, he had to admit in his heart that he felt a trace of respect for this single-minded girl before him.
To still uphold such stubborn justice in a Holy Grail War filled with deceit, betrayal, and conspiracy...
She was a truly admirable person.
Asuka said no more. The black patterns on his body surged as he charged at Artoria once again.
Boom—!!!
A massive explosion echoed from the sky.
It was not thunder, but the sonic boom of objects falling at high speeds and creating friction with the air.
Asuka and Artoria stopped their movements simultaneously and looked up.
Two figures were plummeting like meteors.
One was Gilgamesh, his golden light dimmed, falling toward the center of the river like a kite with a broken string.
And the other...
Was the Berserker, covered in blood with a shattered bone mask, plummeting toward the riverbank.
"..."
Asuka's pupils shrank sharply.
In his perception, the aura surrounding that Berserker had changed.
That nauseating, frenzied aura belonging to a Hollow had completely vanished.
Shrouding his body now was an extremely faint, yet pure and familiar fluctuation.
It was the Spiritual Pressure of a Soul Reaper.
Without Metastacia's possession, and without the forced interference of the Mad Enhancement Incantation, the soul named Kaien Shiba had finally regained control of this broken body.
'Not good!' Asuka was startled.
Although he did not know what had happened in the sky, falling from such a height in his current state, even a Heroic Spirit's body would absolutely be smashed into a bloody pulp!
"The fight is off!" Asuka shouted, actually turning his back directly to Artoria and sprinting wildly in the direction of the falling Berserker.
"Eh?" Artoria froze for a moment.
What was this? Exposing his back to the enemy?
If she swung her sword now, Asuka would undoubtedly die.
But looking at Asuka's anxious back, and the plummeting Berserker, the holy sword in her hands ultimately lowered.
She did not pursue him.
Because that was not what a knight would do.
Bang—!!!
Berserker smashed heavily into the rocky riverbank.
Asuka arrived at the very last second, catching him in his arms and kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Hey! Big guy! Wake up!" Asuka endured the stinging pain shooting through his arms and propped up the bloodied figure.
At this moment, Berserker no longer bore any resemblance to his previous terrifying appearance.
His Shihakusho was shredded into strips of cloth, and his body was riddled with piercing wounds caused by Noble Phantasms, exposing stark white bone.
The bone mask that had constantly covered his face was completely shattered and had fallen away, revealing a young, resolute, yet paper-pale face.
Kaien Shiba.
"..."
Kaien's eyelids fluttered a few times, and he struggled to open them to a slit.
Those previously crimson, maddened eyes had finally returned to a clear black.
"You... are..." Kaien's voice was so weak it was almost inaudible, carrying a trace of confusion. "Where... is this? Wasn't I... on a mission in Fuyuki City..."
"Don't speak. Save your strength." Asuka pressed down on his shoulder and quickly checked his injuries.
They were severe.
The Reiryoku within his body was in complete chaos. Without powerful healing, he probably wouldn't last ten minutes.
'Damn it... injuries like this...' Asuka gritted his teeth. Although he could fight, he was not skilled in any healing methods.
'If only Shinobu Kocho were here...'
"Old man!!!" Asuka abruptly turned his head and roared at Zouken Matou not far away. "Stop watching the show! Get over here and save him!"
Zouken was standing where Iskandar had dissipated, playing with a bug in his hand with a gloomy expression.
Hearing Asuka's roar, he slowly turned around.
His cloudy eyes darted back and forth between Asuka, Kaien, and Artoria standing in the distance.
"Save him?" Zouken walked over leaning on his cane. Looking at the dying Kaien, a hint of confusion flashed in his eyes.
"Avenger, are you mistaken about something?"
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Zouken pointed at Artoria in the distance. "That King of Knights just unleashed her Noble Phantasm. Her magical energy must be nearly depleted."
"And this Berserker..." He glanced at Kaien and sneered. "Is already a cripple."
"As long as you strike now and kill the King of Knights, plus this dying Berserker... we will have gathered the souls of five Heroic Spirits!"
"I saw Archer fall just now as well. As long as we kill him too, the Holy Grail can descend!"
"Our wishes will soon be realized!"
Zouken's voice was full of temptation, like a demon luring someone into depravity.
"As long as you act now, when the Heaven's Feel descends... whether it's the problem with that little girl's family, or your wish to return home, everything can be solved!"
"Why waste this perfect opportunity for a useless piece of trash?"