Seeing the black knight's blind charge, Ritsuka swiftly leaped to the side to evade.
BOOM!
The concrete pavement where Ritsuka had been standing a split second ago was pulverized by Berserker's strike, kicking up a thick cloud of dust and smoke. From behind the veil of dust, the mad knight roared fiercely once more, his voice trembling the night air.
*'Wasn't he supposed to be targeting Artoria?'* Ritsuka thought quickly, his brow furrowing amidst the tension. "Is he targeting me because the energy radiating from the Dragon Core in my body is stronger? Did his mad instincts mistake me for Arthur?"
However, before the smoke could even settle, Berserker's dark silhouette lunged forward once again. This time, his right hand gripped a broken streetlamp pole. The ordinary iron now emanated a black miasma with pulsing, fiery red veins.
The brutal attack swung straight toward Ritsuka, whose concentration had momentarily wavered. Realizing the mortal danger was already at point-blank range, the young man only had time to react on instinct. He hastily crossed both arms over his chest, forcefully channeling his prana to activate Reinforcement magic on his body.
BAAAM!
A heavy collision was inevitable. Even though his arms managed to block the strike from the iron pole, the physical strength of a Berserker-class Servant was far too overwhelming to be absorbed completely. Ritsuka's body was sent flying high into the air like a fired bullet. He sailed across the pier before finally slamming hard into a steel shipping container, causing the cargo to cave in and crumple from the sheer impact.
The Masters and Servants present stood paralyzed, staring at the wrecked cargo where the teenager had been thrown.
"He... he couldn't have survived a hit that hard, right?" squeaked Waver, trembling in horror behind Iskandar's massive cape.
"No. He is still alive," Iskandar interjected sharply. The King of Conquerors' piercing gaze never left the billowing dust clouds before them.
Right after those words were spoken, a hunk of the steel cargo door shot out from the smoke like a cannonball. The iron, strengthened by Reinforcement magic, hurtled straight toward Berserker. The black knight easily deflected the projectile with his streetlamp, splitting it in two.
However, the attack was merely a distraction.
Taking advantage of the blind spot behind the chunk of steel, Ritsuka appeared and dashed forward with incredible agility.
"Take this!" Ritsuka shouted.
Sacrificing all of his defenses, the young man focused the flow of prana into his right fist and delivered a devastating, full-power punch straight to the mad knight's chest.
BAAAM!
A dull thud echoed loudly as Ritsuka's fist collided with the pitch-black armor. Unfortunately, the difference in their physical strength parameters was like heaven and earth. The direct hit didn't send Berserker flying at all; the knight was only pushed back a few meters, the soles of his feet grinding against the pier's asphalt.
Instead, the horrifying backlash rebounded onto the attacker.
*Drip...*
*Drip...*
Drops of fresh blood fell, staining the asphalt.
"Ugh... this hurts like hell," Ritsuka grimaced, letting out a strained, awkward laugh. He stepped back, struggling to keep his balance.
Irisviel, taking cover behind Artoria, immediately covered her mouth with both hands to stifle a scream. Her face turned deathly pale at the sight before her. Ritsuka's right arm, which he had just used to punch, was completely mangled. His arm was broken and bent at a highly unnatural angle, with several bloody, white bone splinters protruding through his skin and muscle.
Atop the chariot, Waver instantly shut his eyes tightly, his stomach churning, unable to bear the gruesome sight.
"It looks like his right arm is completely destroyed and beyond saving," Iskandar muttered in a heavy tone, analyzing the wound. "Boy, your courage is certainly commendable, but attacking a combat-class Servant head-on and that brutally is sheer recklessness!"
Ritsuka smiled faintly. Ignoring the excruciating pain, he raised his mangled arm. At the same time, the golden wheel with eight engraved spokes reappeared, hovering above his head.
CLUNK!
The wheel rotated once. In the blink of an eye, an impossible scene unfolded. The protruding bones snapped back into place, the torn muscles forcefully knitted back together, and his skin sealed perfectly as if he had never been injured. His entire right arm regenerated instantly, leaving not a single scar behind.
"Im-impossible! What is that thing?!" exclaimed Lancer's Master, Kayneth, from afar via telepathy. He was in disbelief at what he was seeing. "Is that a high-tier Mystic Code capable of instantly regenerating fatal wounds?! And this is the second time it's happened!"
In a distant hiding spot, Kirei observed the phenomenon through Assassin's eyes, his gaze fixated.
"Tokiomi-sama, how do you think that bizarre wheel actually works?"
Tokiomi narrowed his eyes. "That wheel responds and heals every time he sustains an injury. But the biggest problem is... what are the limits of that wheel's regenerative capabilities? There must be a price he has to pay."
On the battlefield, Ritsuka lowered his fully healed arm and stared at the black knight in front of him.
"Come on," Ritsuka challenged coldly. The young man slightly lowered his center of gravity, tucked in his elbows, and adopted a solid close-quarters combat stance typical of the Bajiquan martial art.
"RAAAAAA!"
Berserker roared ferociously. He charged forward like a hurricane, swinging the iron streetlamp tainted with black miasma straight at Ritsuka's head. This time, Ritsuka didn't dodge or cross his arms to brace for the impact.
When the deadly steel pole was inches from his face, Ritsuka reached out his hand and—with a full-strength grip reinforced by a flow of prana—caught the end of the weapon barehanded.
A shockwave explosion and a flurry of sparks erupted from the point of impact, cracking the asphalt beneath Ritsuka's feet. Yet, the young man stood firm, halting the pole with the strength of his arm.
Amidst that immense pressure, Ritsuka actually grinned widely like a madman. "Absorb," he whispered softly.
Instantly, the magic circuits across his entire body lit up with a blinding glow. Instead of being repelled, the thick black miasma and the aura of madness flowing within the iron pole began to be forcefully siphoned, seeping into Ritsuka's circuits like water pulled into a whirlpool.
Sensing the anomaly of his energy being unnaturally drained into the young man's body, Berserker's wild instincts flared. Feeling threatened, he roared in fury and swung his iron pole with a sudden jerk of power far more brutal than before. The forced yank broke Ritsuka's grip, and the young man's body was once again violently launched into the air.
"Why didn't the boy try to dodge? He clearly has the reflexes to see that attack coming," Iskandar muttered, his brow furrowed in confusion at seeing Ritsuka intentionally catch the enemy's weapon.
Not long after, the heavy sound of rotating metal split the air once more.
CLUNK!
"The sound of that wheel again... It seems that bizarre device has healed his body once more," Lancer said in awe, watching the young man stand up without a single scratch.
Atop a streetlight pole, Gilgamesh laughed with deep amusement. "Hahahaha! What an absolutely reckless act. That miasma of madness is highly toxic. If he were just an ordinary human, his mind would have been completely shattered and swallowed by madness the moment he absorbed it!"
Down below, Ritsuka didn't look daunted in the slightest. The young man dashed forward once again, charging Berserker head-on. However, instead of aiming for Berserker's vital spots, he once again targeted that death-bringing iron pole. Ritsuka caught it by force, withstood its impact, and repeated the same dark energy absorption process. Feeling threatened by this, Berserker violently swung his weapon again, throwing Ritsuka's body away for the second time.
"What exactly is that kid's goal?" Lancer muttered, growing increasingly baffled by Ritsuka's actions, as he seemed more obsessed with the weapon in Berserker's hands than the Servant's physical form itself.
Suddenly, his Master's sharp voice echoed through his mind.
"Lancer! What are you waiting for?! Hurry up, get in there, and help that boy fight Berserker! Eliminate Berserker right now!" Kayneth commanded via telepathy.
Hearing the unexpected order, Lancer was stunned for a moment. The knight's face brightened. "Do you mean, Master... I am permitted to help him?" Lancer asked respectfully, assuming his Master was finally showing some chivalry by aiding someone under attack.
"Of course not, you fool!" Kayneth snapped harshly, shattering Lancer's hopes. "You saw it yourself, one of your spears doesn't work on that anomalous brat! We are going to exploit this situation. Help him get rid of Berserker first. Then, the moment the fight ends and his guard is down, you must kill him immediately!"
Kayneth paused. "That bizarre wheel that can regenerate is most likely a high-tier Mystic Code since it was able to heal the curse from your spear. Since your cursed wound spear failed, use your red spear! That spear has the ability to sever and pierce through any flow of magic. That weapon will definitely be able to destroy his wheel!"
"Wait, Master—" Lancer exclaimed through telepathy.
But suddenly, a masterless sword shot through the air and embedded itself deeply into the asphalt right at the tips of Lancer's feet, stopping the spear knight in his tracks instantly. Lancer immediately snapped his head toward the source of the projectile and found the golden Servant, Archer, glaring at him piercingly from atop the streetlight.
"Don't you dare interfere, mongrel. My subject is currently striving to become stronger," Gilgamesh hissed coldly. His narrowed eyes radiated a murderous aura. "If you dare take even a single step to disrupt this trial, I will extinguish your life along with your Master's tonight."
Following that lethal threat, the empty space behind Gilgamesh began to ripple. Dozens of golden portals opened wide, revealing the points of countless swords, spears, and legendary weapons. All of them were aimed straight and locked onto Lancer's body. Every Servant and Master at the pier stared in utter horror at the insane number of Noble Phantasms casually displayed by the King of Heroes.
"So that's how it is..." muttered Iskandar, his expression shifting drastically to one of total seriousness as he slowly realized the scale of the golden Archer's power.
However, before anyone could react further, another massive explosion erupted from the center of the battlefield.
KABOOM!
All eyes immediately snapped toward the source of the sound. From behind the billowing dust, Ritsuka could be seen tightly gripping Berserker's deadly iron pole once again. Like before, he intentionally let his body take the direct impact and absorbed the black knight's energy of madness. Blood flowed from his fresh wounds, staining his white clothes, but the young man didn't flinch in the slightest.
"This is the eighth time already... this should be more than enough," Ritsuka panted, though the smile never left his face as he bore the crushing weight of Berserker's attack.
Right after his words were spoken, the golden wheel above his head reappeared.
CLUNK!
CLUNK!
Unlike the previous rotations, this time the wheel of Dharma spun twice in a row. The heavy metallic clank it produced echoed twice as loud.
Feeling the changes within his body, Ritsuka's eyes widened. His previously faint smile now blossomed into a ferocious, highly satisfied grin.
"It seems that's enough."
This time, it was Ritsuka who broke the contact. He released his grip and leaped backward nimbly. Landing right next to a streetlamp pole, the young man grabbed the sturdy iron.
"Let's hope this trick works," he muttered.
With a single, forceful pull enhanced by prana, he snapped the pole off its foundation. The magic circuits on his arm lit up brightly once again, trying to channel a certain energy—
However, before Ritsuka could execute his plan, a loud explosion roared through the air right beside him.
BOOM!
From behind the thick cloud of smoke, a girl clad in armor bearing a giant cross shield plummeted down and landed firmly.
CLANG! The edge of the heavy shield slammed into the pier's asphalt.
"Forgive me, Senpai, I failed to hold Assassin back; he got away. Rikka-senpai and I absolutely could not let you fight alone out here," the girl said in her signature protective tone. It was Mash Kyrielight.
Across the arena, Artoria, who was still trying to catch her breath, suddenly froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared fixedly at the giant shield held by the girl.
"You! Where did you get that shield—" Artoria shouted.
However, before the King of Knights could finish her sentence, Berserker thrashed wildly. The presence of that shield triggered something far deeper than just his combat instincts. The black knight roared much louder and more agonizingly than before.
"RAAAAAAA!!! GAAAAALAAAAAHHAAAADDD!!!"
The roar sounded like the chaotic, incoherent snarl of a wild beast to most people there. But to Ritsuka, the name screamed with such utter despair sounded crystal clear.
"He recognized it instantly, even in that state," Ritsuka murmured softly, understanding the tragic connection between the black knight and the original owner of Mash's shield.
However, right before Berserker could leap to attack Mash, the black knight's form began to flicker wildly.
His thick miasma faded, and his body slowly dissolved into particles of light that drifted into the air. It seemed Berserker's Master had reached their mana limit and was forced to withdraw him from the battlefield.
Watching the mad knight's departure, Ritsuka gripped the streetlamp in his hands tightly. He turned his attention back to the remaining Servants at the pier, curling his lips into a highly provocative smile.
"Well then, what about the rest of you? Anyone want to take Berserker's place?" Ritsuka challenged in a casual tone. "The night is still young. We can keep dancing for as long as you'd like."
Iskandar stroked his chin, looking back and forth between Ritsuka and Mash. "Hoho! So this armored lady is your Servant? Considering you used high-tier magic earlier and there's only one Servant class you haven't mentioned, could she be a Caster? But... wielding a massive shield? Is she really a Caster?"
"Hey, what's wrong with a Caster using a shield?" Ritsuka replied breezily. "Besides, out there, there might just be a Caster who fights using their fists, or an Archer who attacks by throwing dolphins and punches... and right here we have an Archer who just lobs treasure around, you know." He pointed at Gilgamesh.
Iskandar burst into roaring laughter at the absurd answer. "Hahaha! You really are an interesting boy!" However, the King of Conquerors' laughter slowly faded as his gaze shifted down the street. In the distance, the flashing red and blue lights of police sirens could be seen piercing through the dark night.
"But forgive me, Boy. It looks like our banquet tonight must end here," Iskandar continued.
Irisviel, realizing the situation, immediately took action. "The police! Saber, we have to retreat from here at once!" she cried out in a panic, running toward her knight.
"But, Iri... those two—" Artoria stared deeply at Ritsuka and the shield held by Mash. There were still so many mysteries and questions bothering her mind. However, as her ears caught the sound of the approaching police sirens, she finally yielded to the circumstances.
"Very well. Let us go," Artoria decided. She dematerialized her armor and sword in an instant, then swiftly picked up Irisviel in her arms and dashed away from the pier.
On the other hand, Iskandar casually grabbed Waver by his shirt collar, tossed his young Master into the chariot, and drove his bulls up into the night sky. Following their lead, Lancer, realizing the battle was over, also quietly faded into spirit particles and vanished from the area.
Now, upon the utterly ruined pier, only Gilgamesh, Ritsuka, and Mash remained.
From atop the streetlight, Gilgamesh looked down at Ritsuka and Mash with a faint, authoritative smile. "Until we meet again, you two. Ensure you do not disappoint my expectations."
After delivering the king's decree, Gilgamesh's golden armored form dissolved into shimmering grains of light, carried away by the night breeze.
"See you around, Gil," Ritsuka muttered softly.
The atmosphere was silent for a moment. Ritsuka then turned his body, staring straight at his *kouhai*. "Well then, Mash... do you feel tired after that fight just now?" he asked in an oddly calm tone.
Mash shook her head firmly. "No, Senpai. I am still going strong and ready for your next orders!" she reported, standing at attention.
Ritsuka nodded slowly. His previously relaxed expression gradually morphed into a dark, intimidating smile.
"Good," he said coldly. "Because tonight is going to be a very long night for both you and Rikka. You two are going to get an intensive 'lecture' from me about just how reckless you
both were... leaving an 'apprentice magus' all alone in the middle of a deadly battlefield like this!"