Fate/Magus Path

183 Arrived

Raising his hand to recall the deflected Chains of Heaven, Kingu stared into the rising dust, his eyes wide with disbelief.

He'd launched the chains straight at Roy's magical barrier, yet there was no sensation of piercing flesh. Instead, they'd been repelled, as if clashing with some strange, unyielding metal.

What could possibly deflect the Chains of Heaven?

Kingu couldn't wrap his head around it, but the swirling dust kept him from seeing clearly.

He didn't dare let his guard down for a second.

Swish!!

The sound of flames crackling filled the air.

Sure enough, in the next instant, a tall figure leaped from the dust cloud, closing in on Kingu with blinding speed. The solar fire blazing around him left Kingu's throat dry as he approached.

It was Karna, the golden spear-wielding hero, soaring into the air before diving down, thrusting his weapon straight at Kingu below.

"What?!"

The sudden strike from the Son of the Sun was fierce and heavy, kicking up a scorching gust that caught Kingu off guard. He stumbled back, barely managing to parry.

Amid the settling dust, Roy emerged, cradling Fujimaru Ritsuka. On the back of his hand, one of the three Command Seals began to fade.

Karna, the Hero of Charity, had joined the fray!!

Surprised that Kingu had blocked his ambush, Karna pressed on, his assault far from over.

Sensing the sudden spike in Karna's terrifying magical energy, Kingu frowned, refusing to slacken his focus. He twisted his arm, wrapping chains around it to form a weapon shrouded in white light, and charged to meet Karna head-on.

Two pinnacle warriors unleashed their full strength in that moment.

Clang! Clang! Clang!!!

The sharp ring of clashing weapons echoed relentlessly, magical energy surging as their explosive power shook the entire forest—

"Damn you..." Kingu growled, realization dawning.

He'd been tricked.

He'd assumed Roy was alone and that even if exposed, he could handle him easily.

He hadn't expected Roy wasn't the Servant but the Master, and this white-haired, golden-armored spearman was the true Servant.

Roy had masqueraded as a Servant to lower his guard.

What was going on?

This man before him radiated divinity, yet the Chains of Heaven had little effect. No matter how many times Kingu tried to bind him, Karna's agile movements and masterful combat skills deflected them. Even when a chain grazed him, that eerie golden armor absorbed nearly all the damage—including the chains' binding power.

This absurdity infuriated Kingu.

No, he couldn't keep fighting like this. He needed to escape—fast.

Facing this white-haired Lancer alone was tough enough to end quickly, let alone with Roy—whose depths remained unreadable—lurking nearby. Dragging this out would only tilt the odds further against him.

Though enraged, Kingu, who'd commanded countless magical beasts to ravage Mesopotamia, wasn't brainless.

Seeing no advantage, he wouldn't waste himself here. He planned to pull back and flee.

But...

He glanced up at Karna, sticking to him like glue.

No matter how he dodged, Karna closed the gap instantly, forcing close combat. Kingu couldn't shake him.