Iskandar's chariot skidded to a halt before Saber and Irisviel with an inertial drift, the gust scattering their hair.
"Hey, you're Saber, right?"
By now, Iskandar had encountered Berserker, Lancer, Archer, Caster, and Assassin—even two Casters. As Rider himself, the blonde girl before him could only be Saber.
Unless someone told him she was a second Rider, he'd believe it—after all, there were already two Casters.
"Iri?"
"Yes, Saber!"
After a brief exchange of glances, Saber's expression hardened. She gripped an unseen object, planting it into the ground, hands resting upon it, and declared, "I am the King of Britain, the King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon! Summoned to this Holy Grail War as Saber."
"Ohhh! Such spirit! Worthy of the renowned King of Knights. But... the great King of Britain is a little girl?"
Iskandar's praise for her introduction was marred by a tactless remark.
Saber's brow furrowed, her impression of him souring instantly. "Care to taste a sword from this 'little girl'?"
Seeing her irritation, Rider raised a hand calmly.
"Easy now. Let's call a truce for tonight. With that monstrosity out there, we can't even fight properly."
He pointed at the colossal creature behind them.
"Hmph. Fine. I'll answer your slight with my sword later, but for now... we face a common enemy!"
Saber spoke with solemn conviction.
"Hahaha! Let's introduce ourselves, then! I'm Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, summoned as Rider!"
After introducing himself to Saber, Iskandar glanced at Roman and Kingu beside him.
Roman carefully dismounted the chariot, stepping to the side to address Saber. "I'm Roman, a doctor, summoned as Caster. I'd rather not mention it, but history knows me as King Solomon of Israel. I know a bit about magecraft and can lend a hand."
"King Solomon?!"
Irisviel gasped. The name was legendary, especially in magecraft circles.
"I am Kingu, child of the Mother of Genesis and pure humanity. Don't mistake me for your ally—especially you, Roman. If you've lied to me, I'll crush you into dice."
Kingu leaped off the chariot, her face dripping with disdain.
"Oh? Your father sent me to deal with that thing."
"...Truly?"
Kingu's gaze locked onto Roman, her eagle-like eyes piercing his soul.
"Truly!"
"...I alone am enough for this! No need for teamwork!"
Her eyes gleamed as she snapped her fingers, a book materializing beside her.
"Looks like we can sit this one out."
Finding a willing worker, Roman grinned, snapping his fingers to summon stone benches. He sat on one, legs crossed, becoming a spectator.
Saber frowned, disliking Kingu's arrogance but unsure how to respond given her lack of context.
"No worries, King of Knights. Her boasts are big, but her strength backs them up. With her here, we probably won't need to lift a finger."
"Looks like I arrived for a fine performance."
Assassin appeared suddenly, casually taking a seat on a bench.
"Yo!"
"Roman, you too?"
"Yup!"
Saber stared at their relaxed demeanor, sensing no tension—as if the enemy were just a meal to be served.
Could it be...
"Is this Kingu really that powerful?"
Saber stole a glance at her.
Zing!
Kingu's grimoire floated before her. She mimed a pistol with her right hand and fired.
Purple lightning illuminated the darkness, blinding everyone with its radiance.
The searing bolts unleashed terrifying heat, evaporating swathes of seawater and reducing countless demons to ash in a single strike.
A quarter of the colossal demon's body was obliterated, exposing grotesque flesh and writhing eyeballs within.
Irisviel and the others' disgust intensified—this was far from their aesthetic.
"Aaahhh!"
An indescribable howl roared like a storm, twisted mana forming a gray wind of magical energy.
The hurricane seemed to tear space itself, new demons materializing from another dimension.
"So ugly..."
Kingu waved her right hand, a faint breeze channeled through Scientific Magic. Countless wind blades formed a massive typhoon, sweeping across 120 degrees toward the distance.
The storm shredded flesh, stirred towering waves, and stained the sea with the demons' dark red blood.
A vast swathe of the sea was cleared.
"Uh... Mr. Iskandar... is that Kingu really an Archer?"
Irisviel, witnessing the unbelievable scene, asked Iskandar with a wry smile.
"Well, probably!"
Recalling Kingu's prior displays of might and her casual spell now, Iskandar answered with waning confidence.
"Hm... Kingu, hurry up and finish it. I've got episodes to catch up on—er, I mean, I need to take you to your father."
"...Die, vermin!"
Kingu stomped, ripples spreading across the ground.
Spears and chains erupted from the earth, an endless barrage of weapons raining down like meteors.
Flesh was torn, demons pierced.
Though the demons regenerated rapidly, the relentless onslaught steadily shrank and broke them.
...
"Amazing, amazing! This is too much fun, hahaha... cough..."
"Gilles... perhaps this is the end you deserve."
On the coastal highway, Jeanne held Reines, watching the distant chariot. The battle's outcome was already certain.
Perhaps it had been from the start...
She didn't approach, merely observing her former comrade's final departure. All she could do for Gilles now was pray: "May you find redemption."
***
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