Boom!!
The violent tremor shook the Empress before her throne so fiercely that she nearly lost her footing. Hastily, she clutched the armrest to steady her wavering body.
Raising her eyes in hatred, she glared at the increasingly blurred projection screen—where the mighty Thunderbird and the Shogun now stood in confrontation against Karna.
"Damn that Saber!"
So easily breaking through the absolute defense she had taken pride in. She had underestimated the enemy's strength—no, she had underestimated the Black Faction's strength!
Only now did she realize the entire sequence of events had been a premeditated plan: letting Ruler and Archer draw their Servants away, only to allow Saber to launch a sudden strike.
Yet even so, the sheer decisiveness with which the opponent tore through the Aerial Garden's shield had caught her completely off guard. Truly, their power could not be taken lightly. Others were tolerable—but this Saber was too dangerous, capable of overturning the entire battle!
Their own Saber had been slain. Now all hope rested upon Lancer. Her Aerial Garden was half-paralyzed, unable to move for the time being—nor could she leave to assist.
Beep beep—
Alarms blared incessantly at her side, the crimson glow of the surrounding projection screens flashing ceaselessly to her irritation.
"Annoying!"
Crash!
With a wave of her hand, she shattered the flashing red projections, then collapsed back onto the throne, exhausted. What she had thought to be a certain victory had turned into an ordeal. The Black Faction's preparations had surpassed them. This was troublesome indeed. She wondered how her Master, Amakusa, fared now.
...
Elsewhere—the Shogun's blade struck Karna's spearhead, perfectly blocking his attempt to hinder Kapatcir. Thus, Kapatcir broke directly through the Aerial Garden's barrier.
The coordination between woman and bird was flawless, instantaneous.
"So… you anticipated this, Saber?"
Karna, crossing weapons with her, cast a glance toward the fortress's heavily damaged flank, frowning slightly though his tone remained calm.
"Or rather… this was your plan from the start?"
"Think what you will. It has nothing to do with me."
The Shogun's violet gaze was cold as she answered. In truth, it had been improvised—a quick thought in the moment. Originally, she had intended for Kapatcir to use dragon's breath to crack the barrier, then she would slice it open with her naginata. She hadn't expected it to turn out like this, forcing Karna to break a point instead.
Still, the result was the same. Only the method had changed. In fact, she ought to thank Lancer for arriving when he did—it saved her the trouble of hunting him down later.
Karna frowned deeper and pressed his strength. The Shogun did the same.
Bang!
Their weapons flared with opposing lights, repelling one another in a thunderous clash, driving them apart.
In the next instant, the Shogun dissolved into lightning, streaking toward Karna high above. That bolt of violet light was like a dragon, soaring across the heavens without regard for gravity. Karna answered in kind, becoming a blazing fireball to intercept her!
Violet and crimson streaks crossed, colliding at their meeting point in a dazzling explosion. Like two giant dragons intertwining, they tore at each other in the black sky, every clash filling the heavens with suffocating pressure.
Each collision sent tremors through the space itself, their frequency akin to rapid gunfire.
Boom!
Breaking free of an explosion, the Shogun stepped upon a staircase of violet light in the void. Swinging her naginata—so heavy to ordinary men, yet light in her hands—she slashed repeatedly, sending several arcs of purple sword-light, each meters wide, cutting toward Karna.
Whoosh! ×N
The sword-qi carved through flames, revealing Karna's form. Calm as ever, he twirled his golden spear and, with swift precision, deflected each incoming blade of light.
The crimson cloak behind Karna spread like wings, lifting him like an eagle. His golden spear blazed with fiery mana, and with a step upon the air he shot forward like a cannonball, thrusting straight for the Shogun's face!
The Shogun raised Engulfing Lightning, angling its blade precisely to meet the spear's tip.
Bang!
The spearpoint slid along the naginata's edge. Sidestepping, she let it pass harmlessly, then caught the spearhead in the serrated, black-gold guard of her weapon, locking it in place instantly.
With a twist of her wrist, she wrenched sideways. Karna's body was pulled off balance, sliding toward her.
The Shogun seized the opening—spinning, she gripped the naginata in one hand, and with her other fist she hammered the back of her hand against his shoulder.
Bang!
"!"
Karna staggered from the blow. In that instant, the Shogun yanked hard on her weapon. The golden spear slipped free from Karna's hand—she had disarmed him flawlessly.
The naginata, still locking the spearhead, swung again. Now, the enemy's weapon was like an extension of hers, raised and spun as though part of her own technique.
Karna, having released it, evaded each strike with calm precision. With a flick, the Shogun hurled the excess spear skyward, and while her foe stood barehanded she pressed in, slashing from every angle with dazzling speed.
Whoosh! ×N
Clang! ×N
But Karna's skill was no less. Even without his spear, the golden armor upon his forearms deflected each serpentine strike.
Step by step, the Shogun advanced, violet eyes locked on his own. Each motion was relentless, the naginata striking like a venomous serpent. Karna, never breaking her gaze, retreated steadily, his armored arms intercepting every blow.
Moments later—the discarded spear fell between them. Karna deflected the naginata with force and kicked.
The Shogun, thrown back, twisted lightly in midair. Her kimono hem flared as she spun, answering with a sweeping kick of her own. His was low, hers only needed a small arc. Her slender ankle, wrapped in dark violet stockings, struck the blind spot of his attempt.
Bang!
With a muffled sound, both were knocked apart by each other's force. Karna used the chance to retreat and reclaim his spear.
The Shogun landed lightly upon the violet staircase of light, her body spinning like a swallow before settling gracefully. Yet she subtly shifted her right foot, rolling her ankle. That last move had been risky—he had attacked with force, she had received it. Her solid foundation kept her unharmed, but another might have suffered a serious sprain.
Lowering her gaze, she glanced at her ankle. A faint smear of dust marked her deep-violet stocking, scuffed from his strike. She brushed it off with her hand, then raised her naginata again.
"Heh…"
Across from her, Karna gave a faint smile—he had noticed her small movement.
The Shogun narrowed her eyes, angling her weapon before her. Her legs crossed in firm stance, kimono sleeves—one long, one short—hung as she revealed fully the crest of Electro imprinted upon them.
"Saber… as I thought, to fight you is exhilarating. To forget all troubles in battle—such chances are rare indeed."
Suspended in the air by his crimson cloak, Karna spoke with quiet emotion.
"..."
The Shogun held her stance in silence.
"You speak little, yet your movements betray your heart. Fascinating. You are unlike others—different from all around us. Perhaps, had we met as allies, we might have trusted one another."
"…You speak as though you know me well. Enough. I have nothing to say to an enemy."
At last, she spoke—cold, dismissive.
"On that, I agree. Between enemies, words are useless. Only battle remains."
Karna lifted his spear once more, his stance set. For the two of them, this sky was as solid ground.