Raising his hand to recall the deflected Chains of Heaven, Kingu stared into the rising dust, his eyes wide with disbelief.
He'd launched the chains straight at Roy's magical barrier, yet there was no sensation of piercing flesh. Instead, they'd been repelled, as if clashing with some strange, unyielding metal.
What could possibly deflect the Chains of Heaven?
Kingu couldn't wrap his head around it, but the swirling dust kept him from seeing clearly.
He didn't dare let his guard down for a second.
Swish!!
The sound of flames crackling filled the air.
Sure enough, in the next instant, a tall figure leaped from the dust cloud, closing in on Kingu with blinding speed. The solar fire blazing around him left Kingu's throat dry as he approached.
It was Karna, the golden spear-wielding hero, soaring into the air before diving down, thrusting his weapon straight at Kingu below.
"What?!"
The sudden strike from the Son of the Sun was fierce and heavy, kicking up a scorching gust that caught Kingu off guard. He stumbled back, barely managing to parry.
Amid the settling dust, Roy emerged, cradling Fujimaru Ritsuka. On the back of his hand, one of the three Command Seals began to fade.
Karna, the Hero of Charity, had joined the fray!!
Surprised that Kingu had blocked his ambush, Karna pressed on, his assault far from over.
Sensing the sudden spike in Karna's terrifying magical energy, Kingu frowned, refusing to slacken his focus. He twisted his arm, wrapping chains around it to form a weapon shrouded in white light, and charged to meet Karna head-on.
Two pinnacle warriors unleashed their full strength in that moment.
Clang! Clang! Clang!!!
The sharp ring of clashing weapons echoed relentlessly, magical energy surging as their explosive power shook the entire forest—
"Damn you…" Kingu growled, realization dawning.
He'd been tricked.
He'd assumed Roy was alone and that even if exposed, he could handle him easily.
He hadn't expected Roy wasn't the Servant but the Master, and this white-haired, golden-armored spearman was the true Servant.
Roy had masqueraded as a Servant to lower his guard.
What was going on?
This man before him radiated divinity, yet the Chains of Heaven had little effect. No matter how many times Kingu tried to bind him, Karna's agile movements and masterful combat skills deflected them. Even when a chain grazed him, that eerie golden armor absorbed nearly all the damage—including the chains' binding power.
This absurdity infuriated Kingu.
No, he couldn't keep fighting like this. He needed to escape—fast.
Facing this white-haired Lancer alone was tough enough to end quickly, let alone with Roy—whose depths remained unreadable—lurking nearby. Dragging this out would only tilt the odds further against him.
Though enraged, Kingu, who'd commanded countless magical beasts to ravage Mesopotamia, wasn't brainless.
Seeing no advantage, he wouldn't waste himself here. He planned to pull back and flee.
But…
He glanced up at Karna, sticking to him like glue.
No matter how he dodged, Karna closed the gap instantly, forcing close combat. Kingu couldn't shake him.
"Annoying pest…"
Clang!!
Kingu summoned his magic, raising two sharp earthen spears from the ground toward Karna's feet.
Such a basic attack was useless against Karna. With godlike speed, he unleashed a torrent of solar flames, shattering Kingu's spears effortlessly.
"No good, huh? Then try this!!" Kingu snarled, his face twisting with malice as he unleashed his mana—not through the chains this time, but by rapidly channeling it into himself—
Simple attacks wouldn't shake this guy off, and Roy was watching like a hawk.
He could feel it: Roy was gathering a terrifying amount of magical energy, ready to strike at any moment.
If he didn't escape soon, things would get messy.
With that in mind, Kingu abandoned prolonged combat, hatching a bold plan to break free.
Zzt!!
A shrill electric hum accompanied the surge of mana pooling in his hands. Then, Kingu thrust them straight at Karna's chest.
Boom!!
His pristine arms exploded, the blast's sheer force and mana sending even the sun-armored Karna staggering back hundreds of steps, steadying himself with his golden spear.
But Kingu fared worse—his hands were shredded, his body barely clad, a testament to his dire state.
Still, he'd achieved his goal. To escape these two relentless foes, he'd taken a drastic gamble—and it worked.
This body wasn't his anyway; he didn't care how he used it.
With the Grail inside him, even if reduced to fragments, he could heal back at the Blood Fort Andromeda in no time.
To him, this was a flawless move.
"Hmph, consider yourselves lucky, Master of Chaldea—and you!"
Before fleeing, Kingu shot a venomous glare at Roy, his eyes dripping with malice.
"Next time we meet, I'll toss your corpses into the Blood Fort Andromeda's pool and make you bait for magical beasts!!"
He wouldn't forget this humiliating defeat.
Silently, he vowed to make them pay dearly next time.
But…
"Haha, 'next time'? What 'next time'?"
"You didn't think you'd actually get out of here, did you? Having set this trap, why would I let you slip away so easily?"
Watching Kingu prepare to flee, Roy didn't panic. Instead, his face brimmed with mockery.
To ensure Kingu's downfall, he'd prepared plenty of "gifts" in this forest.
Even he hadn't expected Kingu to go this far.
Cutting off his own hands to escape like a lizard shedding its tail?
It still wouldn't be enough.
Roy wanted Kingu's life—and the Grail inside him.
And he'd settle for nothing less.
"What did you say?!"
Kingu's gut twisted with dread at Roy's words. He spun to flee—
But before he could act, a commotion erupted from the forest ahead:
"Well, well, looks like it's finally time for everyone's favorite Merlin to take the stage! And what do we have here? A lone fake Enkidu, caught in the act."
"No Tablet of Destinies, sadly, but bringing this guy back should keep Gilgamesh from griping too much…"
"Roy, you've really handed me quite the gift this time."
"Shut it, Merlin."
Blocking Kingu's path were Merlin and Ana, arriving fashionably late—joined by an unexpected purple-haired figure.
Behind Merlin stood Mash, clutching her massive round shield, her tone tinged with unease.
Seeing Mash, Fujimaru Ritsuka, still in Roy's arms, cried out in excitement.
"Mash, you're here!"
"Senpai!!"
The Master-Servant duo from Chaldea shared a heartfelt reunion on the chaotic battlefield's edge.
Eyeing the battered Kingu and Roy's group on the other side, Merlin's gaze sparkled with amusement.
"Sorry, Roy. Had to fetch another lady, so I'm a tad late."
"But thankfully, my entrance isn't too tardy."
As he spoke, Merlin raised his right hand, slowly drawing it into his left-hand staff.
In the next moment, he pulled out a standard holy sword radiating white light, gripping it firmly.
The Magus of Flowers had arrived in style!!
Beside him stood Ana, hooded and wielding her scythe, joining Merlin to block Kingu's escape. Together with Roy and Karna on the opposite side, they formed a pincer, trapping Kingu dead center.
"Where do you think you're going now, Kingu?"
"I told you—you're dying here today."
Roy no longer needed to hide his strength. He removed the pendant restraining his power, unleashing a torrent of terrifying mana. With a half-smile, he studied Kingu, whose face had darkened to its limit.
No more words were needed. Save for Mash, who rushed to shield Ritsuka, the group exchanged a brief glance, then moved—
Striking as one at Kingu, caught in the middle!!
___
If you're interested in reading more, feel free to visit my pat reon,
https , // www .pat reon. com /XElenea