Artoria was caught off guard by Ryu's sudden change in moves and was struck by his fist.
Fortunately, she adjusted her posture in time. With the protection of her armor and the reinforced defense from Mana Burst, she did not suffer serious injury.
Even so, the tremendous force still sent Artoria flying backward.
Ryu immediately pressed the attack, throwing punches without pause.
Artoria's ahoge fluttered constantly in the rushing wind.
She held her Holy Sword horizontally in front of her, moving it up and down to block every one of Ryu's punches.
'This man keeps changing his moves, focusing more and more on technique.'
Artoria clearly sensed the change in Ryu's fighting style.
At first, he relied on broad, sweeping attacks.
Now, every move was becoming increasingly refined and subtle.
'She's blocking everything. What terrifying combat awareness.'
Ryu continued to use his punches to keep Artoria suspended in midair.
'This can't continue.'
The same thought arose in both of their minds at the same time.
Artoria stomped heavily on the ground.
Her retreating figure suddenly shot upward from the force of that step.
Wind wrapped around the Holy Sword.
"Invisible Air."
Carried by the wind, Artoria soared into the sky.
Then she placed her sword behind her, and the raging wind howled, driving her into a rapid descent from above.
'Should I fire the Cursed Energy cannon or dodge?'
Ryu had not expected Artoria to suddenly take to the air, rendering his prepared move useless.
'Why dodge? Even if I dodge, I still can't hit her.'
Ryu made up his mind. Instead of evading, he chose to counterattack.
His Cursed Energy cannon began to charge.
Spinning on his toes, he pushed off the ground and twisted his body, driving all the force of his arm upward into a punch.
At the same time, the Cursed Energy cannon fired straight at the Holy Sword.
This was a desperate exchange, a fighting style that traded injury for injury.
Ryu knew that even if he created distance and avoided taking damage, it would be meaningless.
If both sides reset and restarted the fight, he would definitely be the one suppressed.
Since that was the case, it was better to gamble everything and try to carve out a chance at victory.
The Cursed Energy cannon was sliced apart by the Holy Sword, the fragments flying past Artoria's sides.
As she descended, Ryu's fist rapidly closed in on her breastplate.
'Choose, Saber.'
Ryu roared in his heart.
If Artoria continued her attack, Ryu would lose an arm.
But his full-power strike would also land squarely on her chest.
With his instantaneous Cursed Energy output, Artoria would undoubtedly suffer serious injury.
If she altered her move, then the Cursed Energy cannon would surely blast her away.
At that point, Ryu could recreate the previous exchange, regaining the initiative with cannon fire before Artoria even touched the ground.
'You don't have Reverse Cursed Technique, do you, Saber?'
That was why Ryu was convinced she would not continue her attack.
This time, he would welcome her with an even more powerful cannon shot.
"Wind King Hammer!"
The Invisible Air that had just condensed around the sword was released in a single breath.
The sudden storm shattered Ryu's calculations.
The Cursed Energy cannon was twisted by the violent wind and finally exploded.
The near-suicidal exchange engulfed both of them.
Artoria was also blown away by the blast.
The moment she landed, she rushed forward and attacked Ryu, who was now drenched in blood.
"Cough, cough, cough."
Ryu reached up and wiped the blood from the corner of his glasses.
His blurred vision gradually cleared.
"In that case, I only have one last option."
Ryu turned his palms outward, then interlocked his fingers to form a hand seal.
"Domain Expansion: Incineration Nation Collapse!"
Artoria's vision was instantly swallowed by darkness.
"A Domain."
She immediately poured a large amount of Cursed Energy into reinforcing her defense.
Modern jujutsu sorcerers always granted their techniques a sure-hit effect within a Domain.
Artoria planned to endure Ryu's attack and then cut him down.
"Don't rush."
A glimmer of light appeared within the pitch-black Domain.
It was Ryu's Cursed Energy cannon.
Its power was far greater than before.
Artoria was forced back by the impact of the blast.
"I'm not satisfied yet, Saber."
Ryu raised his hand and pointed at her, as if extending an invitation.
"Use all your strength."
Massive Cursed Energy gathered in front of him, its light illuminating the dark Domain.
This Domain was circular in shape, like the interior of a cannon barrel.
It had no sure-hit effect. Its only purpose was to maximize Ryu's Cursed Energy output.
In truth, whether it had a sure-hit effect did not matter.
There was only one path inside this Domain.
Entering it meant facing Ryu's maximum-output Cursed Energy cannon head-on.
Meeting the blazing gaze born from four hundred years of longing, Artoria raised her Holy Sword before her.
'Should I use my Noble Phantasm? No, the charge time is too long. In that case…'
"Come on, Ryu!"
Golden light blossomed across the Holy Sword.
"So that's it. That's how it should be!"
Ryu spread his arms wide, unleashing the first full-power maximum Cursed Energy cannon of his life.
"Ice. Sand. Shock. Wave."
"Mana Burst, maximum output."
A golden beam erupted from the Holy Sword.
Under maximum-output Mana Burst, the golden light had already reached the rank of a Noble Phantasm.
The golden beam collided head-on with the blue Cursed Energy cannon.
Terrifying impacts raged continuously inside the cannon-shaped Domain.
"This is… too sweet, too sweet, Saber!"
Ryu recklessly poured in all of his Cursed Energy. The several-meter-thick Cursed Energy cannon seemed determined to annihilate everything in its path.
His body began to give out under the strain, blood bursting from him again and again.
"Not enough!"
Artoria shouted.
"This level still isn't enough, Ryu!"
The golden beam, far smaller than the blue cannon, pushed forward relentlessly and finally struck Ryu.
Crack.
The Domain shattered.
Ryu remained standing, having lost his right arm and most of his upper body.
His airplane-like cannon hairstyle, once rolled forward, had come undone, leaving him disheveled and miserable.
Pfft.
Ryu spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Thank you, Saber."
Struggling to lift his head, he looked at Artoria through his ruined appearance.
"I'm full…"
He had eaten his fill without regret. Ryu's eyes gradually lost their light. It was clear he would not live much longer.
"You are an outstanding warrior, Ryu."
After saying this, Artoria turned and headed toward the front line.
As if he heard her words, a faint smile appeared on Ryu's lips.
After the battle, Artoria also received a message from Eichi.
Due to Cursed Technique Burnout, Eichi had temporarily returned to the main camp.
For now, she needed to stabilize the front line.
After Artoria left, several Dragon Tooth Soldiers arrived and carried Ryu's body toward the East Gate front line.
(To be continued.)