You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

Given Iori's ability to cleave the void with his sword... destroying the Greater Grail should be easy for him.

"Enemies? I don't know if that counts."

Iori thought for a moment, then shook her head slightly: "However, my Master is working hard right now, could you please stay here for a while?"

"……no!"

Ritsuka's eyes were heavy as she realized that she could no longer avoid a conflict with Iori.

However, this wasn't the first time she'd encountered a former ally turning into an enemy, so she quickly composed herself.

"Einzbern's wish...is just as dangerous as Amakusa Shiro's; we must not allow this to continue!"

"Then there's no way."

Iori held the Kusanagi Sword, which emitted a clear, ringing sound, and smiled.

"Alright, let's begin the final boss battle, Master of Chaldea!"

Chapter 154: This BOSS Has Two Barrels of Health? (4.5K)

Clang!

Steel clashing against steel sparks a series of brilliant fireworks.

Zheng!

The cold, sharp blade unleashed a sword pressure that tore the earth apart.

hum!

Arrows rained down like a storm.

boom!

Flames and lightning intertwined, triggering a spectacular explosion—

At the bottom of the crater, Berserker Susanoo is engaged in a fierce battle with numerous Servants.

1v5, no, it's 1v6!

Besides Karna and others, Iori's enemies include a Servant Shadow temporarily summoned by Ritsuka using "Green Cube (a magical crystal made by Chaldea)". Although its strength is reduced compared to the regular Servants, it can still play a significant role.

Because the spiritual veins are controlled by the Greater Grail, and green cubes are a scarce and vital resource, Ritsuka didn't blindly waste this precious summoning opportunity. From among the many Servants she had betrothed to, she chose the great strategist of ancient China—

【Zhuge Kongming (Second Generation)】!

A long-haired man in a black suit was summoned here. Without much communication, he understood the situation and quickly provided magical support to the Servants. As the core of the tactics, he combined the heroes with their unique characteristics, making them fight as a whole.

As a Shadow Servant, his own power is not particularly strong, but the enhancement effect he brings is quite obvious.

Originally, experienced heroes would not hold others back in battle, and sometimes they would even show great teamwork, but this would only be at the level of "you on the left, I on the right".

Zhuge Liang, however, used the highly versatile formation, the Stone Eight Formation, to assign different "roles" to his followers, allowing them to fully utilize their own strengths while complementing each other's strengths and weaknesses, unleashing a power far greater than that of fighting alone!

In addition, he can use various magic spells to assist him, and at critical moments he can even use formations to do something similar to spatial teleportation, swapping friendly forces in danger with Karna, who is practically invincible in defense.

Karna and Joan of Arc confront each other head-on, Achilles and Atalanta launch surprise attacks from the shadows, Mash provides all-around protection for everyone, while Zhuge Liang (the Second King) sits in the center to command...

This is practically fighting an army! And an army composed of great heroes from all over the world!

It's fair to say that even someone as strong as Iori felt considerable pressure.

"Baqi Furious Wave!"

After a prolonged battle, Iori, growing impatient, unleashed his divine sword. Lightning gathered on the blade, unleashing eight sharp, Noble Phantasm-level slashes, aiming to directly shatter the "great formation" before him!

Snapped!

King George II snapped his fingers, and in a flash, Joan of Arc appeared in front of Iori, holding the holy banner high in her hand.

"My Lord is here!"

boom! boom! boom!

The slash struck the white light shield, shaking the surrounding area like a thunderbolt from heaven. Even someone as strong as Joan of Arc could only hold out for a very short time before retreating.

Behind the light shield was a golden light enveloping crimson flames:

"[Brahma, curse my body!]"

A crimson lotus bloomed, and the divine spear transformed into a shooting star piercing the sky, parting the aftershocks of thunder and striking the boy in his astonished gaze—

boom! ! !

Like a volcanic eruption, a thick pillar of fire shot straight into the sky, and the rolling heat wave made everyone instinctively reach out to shield their eyes.

"Did you make it?"

"Even a Berserker wouldn't be able to withstand a direct hit... wait a minute!"

hum!

An invisible sword pressure flashed past, splitting the pillar of flame in two, which then dissipated into countless streams of fire. The immense heat distorted the surrounding light and shadow, and in this hellish scene, a figure slowly emerged.

Iori!

His shihaka armor had disappeared, replaced by a rather ornate black and white haori with dragon scale-like light armor underneath, making him look like an ancient nobleman ready to go hunting.

"...Why do I feel like I've gotten stronger?"

Upon seeing this, Ritsuka's throat bobbed, and she spoke with great difficulty.

It seems that with her current strength, defeating Iori will be extremely difficult.

"No, stay calm, don't be fooled by appearances, Master."

The second prince narrowed his eyes, sizing up Iori as he said to the orange-haired girl, "His aura has become stronger, but it lacks follow-through, giving the impression of being all bark and no bite... I'm afraid he wants to finish this quickly, so he increased the output power of his spirit origin."

We will face an incredibly powerful offensive next, but as long as we hold on, victory will be ours!

"it is good!"

Ritsuka clenched her fist in front of her chest, her eyes firm and resolute: "This is a trial we must overcome!"

Karna gave her a deep look: she was clearly just a mortal, yet she was so brave, always sticking to her beliefs without wavering in the slightest.

This deeply moved Karna. With Amakusa Shirou's fate unknown and the master-servant contract sometimes broken, the red side's servants could disappear at any time. Before Amakusa's death was officially confirmed, Karna did not want to switch sides.

Since that's the case, let's make this battle the final battle and dedicate everything to protecting this girl's justice!

"Good eye... Looks like you've made up your mind."

Iori smiled and met Karna's gaze. Even though he was in the lead, he was not complacent, because in his eyes every Servant was a worthy opponent.

"Alright, it seems I need to be prepared for the same!"

Swords crackled with lightning, spears blazed with flames, and two mythical heroes faced off, the somber atmosphere leaving everyone speechless.

Joan of Arc, Achilles, Atalanta, Mash...

The Servants silently adjusted their postures and formations, forming a perfect military formation under the guidance of the strategist.

A single Servant cannot fight against Iori; in fact, even if they all attacked together, they would only barely manage... but at this moment, none of them would back down.

Even Atalanta, who had made a promise with Iori long ago, unknowingly changed her mindset and chose to stand with Chaldea, or rather, with Ritsuka and the others.

"let's start!"

It was impossible to tell who made the first move; the speed of the attack exceeded the limits of human senses. By the time Ritsuka came to her senses, the numerous Servants were already locked in fierce combat with Iori!

The orange-haired girl watched this scene with bated breath, her lips pressed tightly together. It wasn't the first time she'd been to a similar situation, and she sensed the earth-shattering change that was about to occur.

But she cannot run away; this is what a Master must do—to repair the Singularity and save the world!

hum~~~

Just as the two sides were locked in fierce combat, the Great Grail, which carried the pillar of light reaching to the heavens, suddenly emitted a strange sound. The vast energy that had been contained began to become disordered, and the magic array in the void flickered, as if it were a faulty circuit.

"what?!"

Iori turned around in surprise, her eyes filled with anxiety: "Master!"

He instinctively tried to turn away, but Karna blocked him with his superior mobility. Sensing his abnormality, the Servants intensified their attacks, relentlessly pursuing him and preventing him from leaving.

As time went on, the immense magical power became increasingly unstable, and eventually the pillar of light dissipated completely, while the magic array shattered like crystal!

"Failed..."

Iori blocked Achilles' spear with his sword, his expression momentarily somber, before his eyes blazed with renewed fire.

"But even so... I will protect them to the very end!"

Clang!

It was another head-on confrontation. Achilles was sent flying, but an excited look appeared on his face.

"He's getting weaker!"

boom!

Zheng!

After several encounters with Jeanne d'Arc and Karna, Iori's aura and sense of oppression rapidly declined, and even Ritsuka, with her mortal eyes, could clearly see his weakness.

"His power is gradually fading!"

The orange-haired girl suddenly realized: "Is it because you lost your Master... and severed your connection with the Greater Grail?"

A hint of reluctance flashed in Ritsuka's eyes, but she still ordered the battle to continue, because she understood from Iori's eyes:

Even if the battle has lost its meaning, he will never give up!

"It seems this is the last one... It is the dew from the creation of heaven and earth, the substance that gave rise to the stars!"

A surge of magical power emanated from the boy, coating the divine sword in his hand with magnificent colors, much like the eight-colored dark clouds above the head of the Yamata no Orochi.

Thunder, ripples, gales... the power of divinity was concentrated!

"Then I'll respond with my strongest attack!"

Karna, with an indifferent expression, gradually rose into the sky, enveloped in flames, as the glittering golden armor on his body began to peel away piece by piece in the flames.

Each piece of armor that was lost was equivalent to severing Lancer's spiritual foundation, and an indescribable torment befell the Son of God.

But he never showed any sign of pain, and simply endured it all silently.

Finally, the detached golden armor reassembled itself on the divine spear in his hand, and under the dual baptism of lightning and azure flames, the golden divine spear transformed into a monster that no one could wield!

This weapon has already surpassed the limits of what humans can control!

"I express my respect to you, foreign god of war!"

"No matter the outcome today, I feel a deep joy for having fought alongside you..."

The swirling flames vanished, and all the magic was poured into Karna's spear.

At that moment, Iori raised the Kusanagi Sword. The scale of his "death struggle" was beyond anyone's imagination, and the total amount of magic power even exceeded that of Karna's spear.

Lightning flashed!

The red lotus is in full bloom!

Karna sings the name of the miracle in his hand.

"Understand the mercy of the King of Gods.

Indra, watch carefully.

Extinction lies in this one thorn.

Burn completely—[Sun, submit to death (Vasa.vi shakti)]!!

The sun has fallen!

That was the karmic fire that burned the three thousand worlds to ashes, the wrath of the red lotus, and the divine spear that annihilated all things!

It is also Indra's spear, carrying lightning powerful enough to destroy the earth's surface!

boom!

The compressed fire magic exploded, causing the earth to crumble once more, melting into flowing magma. Even before the rubble fell, it turned into a golden-red liquid in the air...

Death and destruction intertwine; Karna's self-sacrificing strike will surely burn away all of creation!

"it is good!"