"Even if I've already prepared myself for the final battle against you… couldn't you at least allow me to settle things with Modoriddo first?"
There were only two winning slots in the Holy Grail War.Saber had long since prepared herself mentally for a confrontation with Ren Kuroda.
But before that moment arrived, what she truly wished for was a one-on-one duel—a clash of blades without interference. Even if she were to fall in defeat, she believed she would have no regrets.
"Stop clinging to that so-called knightly code of yours," Ren replied coldly."If we're talking about fairness, then your current strength isn't anywhere near its peak, is it?
"A third-rate Master like yours can't even draw out half of your true power. And the magical energy I replenished for you earlier—after that last exchange, it's almost completely exhausted now, isn't it?
"Even so… you still insist on clinging to your 'chivalry'?"
Faced with Saber's request, Ren had no intention of agreeing.He shattered the ground beneath his feet with a single step and charged straight at her.
Defeating a weakened Saber might seem dishonorable—but a Master's competence was part of the Holy Grail War itself.
In her current condition, Saber wasn't just unable to fight Ren on equal terms—she likely didn't even have enough strength left to unleash Excalibur of the Oath one more time.
The clash of blades had barely lasted a few dozen exchanges before Saber was completely overwhelmed.If not for her A-rank Instinct, she wouldn't have lasted even this long.
Meanwhile, Modoriddo, who had earlier been blasted away by a single punch from Ren, clutched her aching abdomen as she slowly pushed herself back to her feet.
When she saw the figure she idolized—the proud and unyielding "father" she revered—being effortlessly suppressed and driven into a corner by Ren, her expression twisted with fury.
Modoriddo's feelings toward Saber had always been deeply conflicted.
Even though her mother had repeatedly instilled in her the belief that her father was an enemy, Modoriddo had grown up admiring the Knight King, whose name echoed across all of Britain.
It was only after she revealed her identity to Saber in person—only to be rejected—that admiration gradually twisted into hatred.
And yet, if asked who she admired most in this world, Modoriddo would answer without hesitation:
King Arthur.
That man was flawless—anywhere, anytime.Once, Modoriddo had taken immense pride in having such a father.
And now, that towering, perfect figure was on the brink of defeat.
Unacceptable.
The one who would defeat her father—and prove herself—could only be Modoriddo.Everyone else had no right to stand in that place.
As Saber fell further into disadvantage, Modoriddo suddenly erupted with magical energy, raising the radiant blade in her hands.
Under the surge of her power, the sword's original silver brilliance darkened—transforming into a black-red glow saturated with hatred.
At the instant the Sword of Resplendent Kingship released its true name, straight crimson lightning burst forth along its edge—the unmistakable sign of her Noble Phantasm's full release.
In that moment, the sword—normally ranked at C-class—was forcibly elevated to an A++ Anti-Army Noble Phantasm.
That was no exaggeration.
As a blade meant to prove kingship, the Sword of Resplendent Kingship rivaled even Excalibur of the Oath, hailed as a treasure said to be "more dazzling than any silver."
Though Modoriddo had once used it to deliver a fatal wound to King Arthur—corrupting it into a cursed blade—she had also forged a new path, transforming it into an A++-rank demonic sword.
"Rebellion Against My Glorious Father—Clarent Blood Arthur!"
In truth, both Modoriddo's Noble Phantasm and Saber's Excalibur were applications of the same principle—Mana Burst.
Both warriors poured magical energy into their swords, amplified it, and released it outward.
But while the method was the same, the nature of their mana was completely different.
Saber's mana embodied hope, faith, and an unwavering will to victory—radiating the golden brilliance of a holy sword.
Modoriddo's mana, on the other hand, was hatred, distortion, and yearning for her father—manifesting as a black-red glow befitting a demonic blade, with crimson lightning reflecting her tangled emotions.
Yet regardless of their origins, both Noble Phantasms were undeniably A++-rank Anti-Army weapons, their destructive power absolute.
A massive black-red beam, crackling with crimson lightning, surged forward in an instant—rushing toward Ren Kuroda, who stood completely unguarded.
Just like Excalibur, Clarent Blood Arthur required an immense emotional surge to unleash its full power.
And with her glorious father standing right before her, summoning that hatred was effortless.
What normally required time to reach maximum output was released instantaneously.
The sheer force made even Medeya, who had held unwavering confidence in Ren, cry out in shock.
The colossal beam tore through the ground like a plow carving a mountain ravine.The very terrain of Ryuudou Temple was violently reshaped in a single strike.
And the target of that catastrophic attack—
Was Ren Kuroda, who had just sent Saber flying with a single slash.
Seeing the overwhelming power of the Noble Phantasm, Medeya instinctively reached for her final Command Seal, preparing to summon Ren away—
Only to freeze.
The handsome youth locked by the Noble Phantasm showed no sign of danger or panic.
Instead, he shook his head slightly toward her… and smiled with effortless calm.
"Most of the remaining Servants are already here.If I win here, the Holy Grail War is basically decided.
"In that case… there's no reason to hold back anymore."
His voice lowered.
"Half-oni… no—"
"Oni God Rampage."
The black-red beam obliterated everything in its path as it surged forward.
But just as it was about to strike—
A massive violet pillar of energy erupted skyward from the battlefield.
The purple column of mana shot up from Ryuudou Temple, piercing the clouds above.Its brilliance was so intense that it could be seen from anywhere in Fuyuki City.
An ocean of tangible magical energy surged outward, forming a towering pillar several meters wide around Ren.
In the very next instant—
Modoriddo's black-red beam collided head-on with the pillar created by Ren's Oni God Rampage.
The moment the two forces clashed, Ryuudou Temple shook as if struck by a natural disaster.The resulting storm was like a Category-12 typhoon, tearing everything around it apart.
Modoriddo's beam cut horizontally—like a knight's lance meant to pierce all things.
Ren's mana surged upward—like an oni god roaring at the heavens, unleashing power with utter contempt for all life.
The black-red beam relentlessly tried to break through the violet barrier, crimson lightning ravaging the ground into shattered craters.
At its core, Modoriddo's Noble Phantasm was still a form of Mana Burst—just enhanced by a Noble Phantasm's amplification.
But when it came to raw magical reserves—
Ren Kuroda did not fear anyone.
Even in his normal state, his mana already reached the upper limits of a Servant.After activating Oni Transformation, it skyrocketed to an absurd level.
The tangible mana flooding from his body was fundamentally the same as Mana Burst.
When two Mana Burst-type techniques collided, what mattered most—aside from amplification—was simple:
Who had more mana.
The outcome was obvious.
Modoriddo's mana was only B-rank, reaching at most A-rank at full output.
Even with an A++ Noble Phantasm, she couldn't sustain it long enough.
The black-red beam dissipated.
In that instant, before Modoriddo could even react, a piercing sense of danger screamed through her instincts.
But it was already too late.
A clawed hand suddenly filled her vision—
And seized her throat, lifting her effortlessly into the air.
"So even after becoming a Servant, my ability still manifests as Oni God Rampage," Ren remarked calmly."Looks like the effect—and even the appearance—haven't changed much."
The one holding Modoriddo aloft was none other than Ren Kuroda, now fully transformed.
His appearance was utterly different from the boy-next-door youth he had been before.
Crimson hair flowed down to his waist.Bare feet.Both hands and feet bore sharp red claws.Small horns protruded from his forehead.
And most terrifying of all—
After evolving into a Demon King-type, his skill Demon King's Dominance, evolved from Pressure, radiated such overwhelming presence that simply standing there inspired dread.
This was the first time Ren had used full transformation since becoming a Demon King-type.
All he felt was an endless reservoir of power surging within him.
The sheer strength—capable of massive destruction with the slightest movement—made him feel invincible.
He didn't know how terrifying an SS-rank yokai truly was.
But in his current state—
He was confident he could sweep through the entire S-rank without issue.