Few Servants can engage a Berserker in direct combat and emerge unscathed; a Berserker's cursed, brutal strength can easily obliterate anything.
If Rider had simply been overpowered by Flandre's raw strength, he might have felt better, but the girl had used incomprehensible methods to completely overwhelm him, leaving him frustrated.
"So… is that vampire magic? Truly unpredictable."
Despite a near-fatal wound to his heart, Rider shakily rose, offering a wry smile to Flandre.
"Assume it is. I don't have an obligation to explain things to my enemies."
Flandre replied, raising her hands again.
"Let me think… such a powerful Noble Phantasm must have limitations; otherwise, it's too overpowered. I thought maybe staying out of your line of sight would work, but apparently not."
Rider said, a thoughtful, puzzled expression on his usually carefree face. It was unusual to see him analyzing the battle mid-fight.
"You're surprisingly perceptive. Worth praising. But what have you figured out, and what can you do about it?"
Flandre smirked, slowly raising her hand, her eyes full of contempt.
"Don't underestimate me; I'm a King, not an idiot."
Rider said, his face darkening as Flandre attacked again without giving him any time to react.
"Uwaaaah!!!"
Unlike before, Rider roared in bestial fury; a massive surge of magical energy erupted from him.
Flandre paused, her attack momentarily faltering, then nothing happened.
"I see… I've figured out your little trick."
Rider smirked at Flandre's surprised expression, clutching his chest and staring at her hand.
"I've been wondering about this powerful Noble Phantasm's mechanism. This ability to inflict such devastating damage seemingly through mere intent is too powerful."
Rider said, a smug smile playing on his lips as he watched Flandre's darkening expression.
"Then I saw your hand movements. You weren't trying to intimidate or build momentum; you couldn't inflict damage without those movements.
That's your trick, Berserker. I've seen through it. It's not magical; it's simply exploiting weaknesses and attacking accordingly."
"So what? Do you still have the strength to resist me?"
Flandre said dismissively, slightly surprised that Rider had seen through her attack method, but completely unconcerned.
Even if he understood, it didn't give Rider a counter; he remained a sitting duck.
Though significantly weakened, Flandre's Destruction Eye remained an incredibly powerful Noble Phantasm in this world.
"Ha… if it's just a normal attack, I'll endure it! No one fights without injury or bloodshed!"
Rider declared, raising his weapon and launching another desperate, suicidal charge at Flandre. Waver, witnessing this, raised his hands and used his final Command Seal.
"By the Command Seal, Rider, defeat your opponent! Achieve victory! Obtain the Grail! Conquer the world!"
The last Command Seal released its magic, then vanished in a whirlwind. As a magus, Waver would likely never wield such immense power again.
Yet, even so, he felt it was the most exhilarating act of his life. No regrets. This was sufficient recompense for everything he'd lost.
Waver looked down at his hands; the contract seals were gone.
"Fool, making so many random wishes is difficult to achieve."
Though scolding his Master, the King of Conquerors trembled with joy, roaring as he charged forward.
Wound after wound tore into him; crimson blossoms bloomed across his body, relentlessly ravaging his flesh. But this pain was insignificant compared to the thrill of the charge.
He wouldn't fall here, not tonight. The end of his journey, the coveted 'end,' stood before him. The culmination of his arduous journey was within reach.
He would cross it.
He would crush his enemy.
One step, then another. Repeating this process, his blade would reach the seemingly unreachable figure.
Finally, the pain came from his heart, not from tearing or crushing, but from a piercing sword.
A burning sword, instantly vaporizing blood, a blazing demonic blade radiating unparalleled brutality and destruction.
"What a pity… if I could have deployed King's Army, perhaps the outcome would have been different."
Rider offered a self-deprecating smile.
"Indeed, that ultimate Noble Phantasm is difficult to counter."
Flandre nodded slightly.
"But it was an exhilarating battle. Fighting two Kings… haha…"
In the end, Rider, his arrogance undiminished, laughed and slowly faded away.
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