Purple magic circles materialized in rapid succession behind Caster, their ethereal glow casting ominous shadows across the temple grounds. Countless magical projectiles erupted from the formations like a barrage of deadly stars.
However, the target of this devastating assault wasn't Victor and his companions, it was Illya and her loyal Berserker!
The Witch of Betrayal lived up to her reputation. Victory mattered more than honor, and she would employ any tactic, sneak attacks, deception, even betraying temporary allies, to achieve her goals.
She had never truly considered Illya and Berserker genuine allies. Her earlier words had been nothing more than a strategic deception designed to lower their guard.
And it had worked perfectly.
Faced with this sudden treachery from a supposed 'ally,' Illya couldn't even process what was happening fast enough to react.
Although Berserker immediately moved to shield his Master, the hastiness of his response left gaps in his defense. One magical projectile slipped past his massive frame, racing directly toward the defenseless girl.
"Look out!" Chloe cried in horror, her voice cracking with desperate concern.
Just as the lethal spell was about to strike Illya, Victor moved with lightning precision. He crossed dozens of meters in an instant, scooping the small girl into his protective embrace while executing a graceful evasive maneuver that carried them both to safety.
BOOM!
The magical projectile detonated against the temple wall behind them, sending chunks of ancient stone flying through the night air.
A true hero never looks back at explosions.
"Are you hurt?" Victor asked gently, gazing down at the petite figure in his arms.
"I'm... I'm fine, thank you," Illya replied softly, her pale cheeks flushed with embarrassment and gratitude.
The classic scenario of a handsome hero rescuing a beautiful maiden had clearly affected her more than she cared to admit.
"Damn it!" Caster cursed when she witnessed this development.
Not only had her sneak attack failed, but this infuriating man had managed to rescue the target! This heroic intervention had undoubtedly pushed a potential ally firmly into the enemy camp.
They might have been able to handle one Berserker with coordinated effort. Adding another Servant of unknown capabilities to the opposition would make victory exponentially more difficult.
Victor gently set the girl down and fixed Caster with a cold, merciless stare. "Time to send you on your way."
Squelch!
The moment those words left his lips, Caster felt excruciating pain lance through her chest. Looking down in shock, she discovered a crimson blade protruding from between her ribs, blood flowing freely from the mortal wound.
When she turned her head with tremendous effort, she beheld someone she would never have expected.
"Souichirou-sama... why?" she whispered with her final breath.
Unfortunately, before she could receive an answer, consciousness abandoned her and she collapsed to the cold stone ground.
Victor observed the scene with grim satisfaction. "Since you enjoy betraying others so much, I thought you should experience that feeling yourself."
"What... what am I doing?" Souichirou Kuzuki emerged from his confused daze.
Seeing Caster's motionless form lying before him and the blood-stained sword in his own hand, the truth became horrifyingly clear.
Despite his background as a cold-blooded assassin, genuine sorrow flickered across his usually emotionless features.
"How could this happen?"
Happiness had always seemed like an impossible luxury for someone like him. Yet during these past few precious days, he had truly understood what joy felt like for the first time in his life.
And Caster had been the one to give him that gift.
Every moment they had shared together flashed through his memory, quiet conversations, shared meals, her brilliant smile when she thought he wasn't looking. But now those beautiful images were forever tainted by the sight of her lying in a pool of crimson.
"MEDEA!" he cried out in anguish.
Souichirou Kuzuki fell to his knees as tears, the first he had shed in decades, streamed down his face like a flooding river.
Without hesitation, he grasped the bloodied blade and drove it deep into his own heart.
He collapsed beside Caster's still form, using his final moments to grasp her cold hand in his.
"I'm coming with you..." he whispered as darkness claimed him.
"What a tragic couple," Victor murmured, genuinely moved despite himself by the depth of their devotion.
"Unfortunately, you were my enemies. That sealed your fate from the beginning."
Turning away from the heartbreaking scene, Victor shifted his attention to Assassin, who had remained a silent observer throughout the entire exchange.
From the moment Caster had abandoned him to face Berserker alone, the skull-faced Servant had completely distanced himself from the witch. Even when he'd witnessed Souichirou approaching Caster from behind with lethal intent, he had offered no warning.
"Now it's your turn," Victor announced calmly. "Will you end this yourself, or shall I do it for you?"
Assassin remained silent for several long moments before finally speaking.
"The Holy Grail holds no appeal for me. My greatest desire is to face a truly powerful opponent in honorable combat, preferably a master swordsman. I can sense tremendous sword mastery within you, so..."
Assassin drew his blade and assumed a proper fighting stance.
"I challenge you to single combat!"
Victor couldn't help but smile at this earnest request.
"You realize it's quite difficult for an elephant to spar with an ant without accidentally crushing it?"
The instant those words left his lips, overwhelming sword intent erupted from Victor's body, soaring skyward like an invisible pillar of pure martial will.
Heaven and earth seemed to lose their color as the very air trembled under the crushing pressure.
Assassin felt as though an entire mountain had settled upon his shoulders, forcing his knees to buckle involuntarily.
Simultaneously, the clouds above began parting as if swept aside by divine hands.
A colossal golden sword, easily a million feet in length, materialized in the heavens, its point aimed directly at the humbled Assassin. Like a celestial pillar supporting the very sky itself, the radiant weapon bathed the entire night landscape in brilliant aureate light!
Everyone present stood frozen in absolute awe.
Even Stelle and Rin Tohsaka, who had witnessed Victor's power before, stared with undisguised amazement.
Although they had known that Golden Core realm cultivators possessed tremendous strength, this display exceeded their wildest imagination.
Assassin managed a bitter smile as he beheld the impossible sight above.
Reflecting on his earlier challenge, he realized how foolishly presumptuous he had been.
"But witnessing this magnificent spectacle makes the journey worthwhile," he said with genuine appreciation.
Drawing his sword across his own throat, Assassin chose to depart for the Throne of Heroes with his dignity intact.
With the return of five Heroic Spirits to their eternal rest, the Holy Grail War was finally approaching its ultimate conclusion.
Noticing Victor's gaze settling upon her, Illya instinctively stepped backward. Her earlier admiration gradually transformed into fearful respect as the true magnitude of his power became undeniable.
Berserker immediately positioned himself protectively in front of his Master, every muscle tensed for potential combat.
Seeing their defensive posture, Victor offered a gentle, reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Since I promised Chloe I wouldn't harm you, I'll keep my word."
"However, I must bring this Holy Grail War to its proper end. Would you be willing to have your Berserker withdraw voluntarily?"
Illya was about to respond when, to everyone's shock, Berserker himself spoke first.
"If I agree to withdraw, can you truly guarantee that Illya will remain unharmed?"
His voice was rough and somewhat harsh, but it clearly conveyed his deep concern for his young Master's wellbeing.
"You can actually speak?" Victor asked with genuine surprise. "I thought you could only roar like a wild beast."
After all, Heroic Spirits who manifested as Berserkers typically lost all rational thought, becoming mindless engines of destruction driven by pure rage.
Berserker lifted his gaze toward the endless golden blade suspended in the star-filled sky. "Normally, coherent speech would be impossible for me. But the overwhelming presence of that magnificent weapon has suppressed the violent madness clouding my mind, allowing rational thought to return temporarily."