Chapter 249
"It was only a single sword strike..."
Chiron and Karna both looked puzzled.
A vampire’s vitality and ability to withstand damage should have been far greater than that.
Even Kiriya was briefly taken aback, but he quickly understood what had happened.
[Demonbane.]
When fighting enemies classified as demons or evil spirits, all of Kiriya’s Parameters would rise significantly, while the damage he inflicted upon such enemies would be multiplied several times over.
Ever since acquiring the Skill, he had barely encountered any situations where it could truly shine.
He had almost forgotten he possessed it.
He certainly had not expected it to become so absurdly effective here.
But after thinking about it carefully, there was nothing particularly strange about the result.
After all—
A vampire certainly counted as a demon in the broader sense of the word.
"Looks like I’m a pretty good match for this guy."
Kiriya grinned and activated his magic once more.
"Blade Storm."
Shhk! Shhk! Shhk!
In an instant, dazzling sword light swallowed Dracula whole.
Countless slashes tore across the legendary vampire’s body at such speed that his silhouette all but disappeared beneath the storm of steel.
Blood sprayed everywhere, and within moments Dracula had been reduced to a horrifying mess of wounds.
"ROOOOAAAARGH!"
A beastlike scream of agony tore from Dracula’s throat.
The injuries Kiriya had carved into his body seemed almost to burn from within.
The special effect of Demonbane continued gnawing at the wounds, sending unbearable pain through every nerve in his transformed body.
Unfortunately for Dracula, his suffering had only just begun.
The instant Blade Storm ended, Kiriya took advantage of the brief opening created by the overwhelming physical and mental shock.
A colossal sphere of spinning chakra, nearly five meters in diameter, formed above him.
Then it came crashing down directly toward Dracula’s head.
"Try this one."
Kiriya’s grin widened.
"Massive Rasengan!"
"AAAAAAAHHH!"
Having completely lost the initiative, Dracula had no chance to evade.
The enormous Rasengan slammed directly into his face and drove him through the floor.
Then—
The tremendous energy contained within the sphere erupted.
BOOOOOOM!
The confined corridor amplified the explosion and the resulting shock wave enormously.
A violent blast of air tore outward.
The homunculi that Dracula had only just transformed into vampiric familiars were swept off their feet and hurled through the corridor, while even the Servants present were forced to brace themselves to avoid being blown away.
Only after a long while did the dust finally begin to settle.
Everyone turned toward the center of the explosion.
What remained of Dracula was horrifying.
The twisting force of the Massive Rasengan had mangled all four of his limbs until they resembled twisted ropes of flesh.
His torso had been flattened almost completely against the shattered ground, and the aura emanating from him had weakened to the point that it was barely perceptible.
"H-How..."
A frightened voice emerged from Dracula’s ruined body.
"How could this... be possible...?"
His crimson eyes trembled.
"The mighty Dracula... the immortal vampire... how could I possibly lose...?"
But before he could finish—
His expression abruptly changed.
Then another voice came from the same body.
One no longer filled with hunger and madness.
"Thank you... human boy."
It was Vlad III.
And for the first time since his forced transformation, there was genuine peace in his voice.
"I... can finally cast off this hideous form."
The words carried unmistakable relief.
Then his ruined body began dissolving into motes of light.
The monster known as Dracula faded away.
And with him—
So did Vlad III.
...
"He killed Dracula... that easily?"
Within the central hall of the Hanging Gardens, Semiramis stared at the projection showing Kiriya.
For several moments, she was genuinely speechless.
She knew Kiriya was powerful.
But Karna was hardly weak.
Yet when Karna had exchanged blows with Dracula earlier, he had only been able to suppress the monster rather than destroy him.
Even the sacred flames of the son of the sun god had failed to eradicate Dracula completely.
Kiriya, on the other hand...
One sword strike had caused the legendary vampire unbearable agony.
It was almost as though—
He possessed some kind of special advantage specifically designed to slaughter vampires.
"It appears that the abilities hidden within that young man far exceed what we imagined."
Amakusa Shirou Tokisada spoke quietly beside her.
His expression had become far more solemn.
"Tell Karna that he must prevent that boy from reaching us."
"My, Master."
Semiramis turned toward him with a teasing smile.
"Are you afraid?"
"Yes."
Amakusa nodded without the slightest hesitation.
The frankness of the answer momentarily surprised her.
"My ideal is finally within reach."
His gaze remained fixed upon the Greater Grail.
"I have no intention of allowing anyone to destroy this opportunity."
His goal was the salvation of all humanity.
But the magical energy currently stored within the Greater Grail alone was nowhere near sufficient to accomplish such an enormous miracle.
To make his wish possible, he would need the Grail to draw magical energy from the leylines spanning the entire world.
And for that, he had to modify the Greater Grail’s system.
It was an extraordinarily difficult undertaking.
The Greater Grail was infamous for the precision and complexity of its construction.
Even as a Servant, and even after spending several decades preparing for this exact moment, Amakusa had needed to make preparations from every conceivable angle.
He had studied the Greater Grail’s structure.
Prepared specialized magical rituals.
Calculated and observed the ideal timing for infiltrating and altering the system.
Every step required time.
And during that period, he absolutely could not allow his enemies to interfere.
"Hahaha."
Semiramis smiled.
"If that is my Master’s wish, then naturally I shall obey."
Through their communication channel, she immediately delivered the order to Karna.
Amakusa gave a small nod and was just about to leave when his footsteps abruptly stopped.
His gaze shifted toward the entrance of the throne hall.
Semiramis reacted at the same moment.
Tap...
Tap...
Tap...
Clear footsteps echoed from the dark, winding corridor beyond.
The unhurried rhythm carried unmistakable confidence.
Semiramis’s eyes narrowed.
"So it is you."
She straightened upon her throne, every inch the Queen of Assyria.
"Saber."
Her voice carried the imperious dignity of a monarch.
"Have you come to offer your applause for your queen’s victory?"
The footsteps stopped.
Mordred emerged into the hall.
She looked directly at Semiramis with the same arrogant, untamed expression she always wore.
"Applause?"
Mordred scoffed.
"Don’t make me laugh."
She rested Clarent against one shoulder.
"I’m the Knight of Treachery."
"When it comes to kings, I’d much rather raise my sword than applaud them."
"So in the end, you chose to betray us."
Amakusa looked genuinely regretful.
"Don’t be stupid."
Mordred immediately dismissed the accusation.
"When did I ever agree that I was one of you?"
Her eyes sharpened.
"You controlled all the other Red Masters, didn’t you?"
"And you wanted to control my Master too."
She gave Semiramis a contemptuous grin.
"Don’t treat everyone around you like idiots, Queen of Assyria."
"How unfortunate."
Amakusa shook his head.
"Indeed."
Semiramis sighed softly.
"I had hoped we might continue cooperating pleasantly for a while longer."
She snapped her fingers.
Several enormous magical formations appeared behind her.
Dense magical energy immediately began gathering within them.
"But it seems I will simply have to remove you first."
"Funny."
Mordred raised Clarent.
"I was thinking the exact same thing."
Crimson lightning erupted around her body.
She shot forward like a scarlet bolt.
And with that—
The battle between Saber and Assassin began!
...
Elsewhere, Dracula’s sudden defeat at Kiriya’s hands caused the fragile temporary alliance that had formed against the vampire to collapse almost immediately.
Karna was once again the enemy of Kiriya and the Black faction.
"Please stand aside, Lancer of Red."
Jeanne tried one final time to reason with him.
"Amakusa Shirou Tokisada is attempting something extremely dangerous. As Ruler, I am obligated to stop him."
"That is impossible, Ruler."
Karna’s response was calm and unwavering.
"I am a Servant."
"As long as I remain one, I must obey my Master’s commands."
He paused briefly.
"Besides..."
A faint interest entered his eyes.
"I also wish to see how far that priest intends to go."
"You truly intend to stop all of us?"
Chiron raised his bow and nocked an arrow.
"We currently possess four combatants of Servant-level strength."
Jeanne, Chiron, Caster, and Kiriya all shifted into fighting stances.
Karna looked across the four of them before giving a simple nod.
"Indeed."
"To oppose all four of you simultaneously is not something even I can claim certainty of winning."
Then his gaze settled directly upon Kiriya.
"So I have no intention of doing so."
"My only target is him."
He raised his golden spear.
"The rest of you may pass."
"Oh?"
Kiriya smiled.
"So you want to continue the fight we never finished?"
He stepped forward several paces.
"Fine by me."
Then he looked back toward the others.
"I’ll handle things here."
"Jeanne, you guys keep moving."
"Master..."
Even Astolfo, who was usually incapable of remaining serious for more than a few seconds, looked solemn.
"Please be careful."
"Relax."
Kiriya glanced at him.
"Unlike you, I’m reliable."
Astolfo’s cheeks immediately puffed up like two steamed buns!
"Kiriya..."
Jeanne bit her lower lip lightly.
She clearly did not want to leave him behind.
But in the end, she chose to trust him.
Just as the others were about to depart, Karna’s voice reached Jeanne from behind.
"Ruler."
Jeanne stopped.
"If circumstances permit, I would ask one thing of you."
Karna’s expression remained unchanged, but his next words made Jeanne’s eyes widen.
"Please find my Master."
"My Master and the other Red Masters have been placed under Assassin’s control. They are most likely unconscious somewhere within this fortress."
Jeanne’s heart jolted.
So that was why Karna had continued obeying Amakusa’s orders even after everything that had happened.
His actual Master was being held hostage.
Even under such circumstances, the Hero of Charity still intended to protect the person to whom he had been summoned.
Jeanne’s expression softened.
"If I’m still alive when this is over..."
She gave him a firm nod.
"I will."
With that promise, Jeanne turned and disappeared down the broad corridor together with Chiron, Caster, and Astolfo.
Silence settled over the battlefield they left behind.
Karna looked toward Kiriya.
The golden spear in his hand slowly became enveloped in the blazing flames of the sun.
"Then..."
His calm voice echoed through the corridor.
"It is finally time for our battle."
"Yeah."
Kiriya smiled.
"It is."