Aya: “Don’t worry, Reina. We will definitely save you.”

 

Aya readies her sword. It’s pure white, identical to the sword once used by that person she knew.

 

Reina, clad in silver armor, strikes at Aya.

 

Aya is forced to maintain distance while fighting Mordred. Normally, Aya wouldn’t stand a chance against Reina. However, having spent five years in constant battle and achieving transcendence, Aya could now stand against the manipulated Reina.

 

Aya: “Ryunosuke! Leave this to me!”

Tendou: “Okay!”

 

Hearing her voice, Ryunosuke engages Mordred.

 

Mordred: “Oh come on! I don’t want to fight!”

Tendou: “Don’t mess with me!!”

 

Mordred, laughing mockingly like a jester, only wants to fight in his own way. He enjoys observing and reveling in the chaos, characteristic of the Round Table Knight, Mordred.

The battle intensifies. Immortals are matched by A-Rank clearers, boosted by Aya’s power. The Black Knights, enhanced S-Ranks, face off against them.

Aya battles Reina while Ryunosuke takes on Mordred. The fight is evenly matched.

 

Therefore…

 

Tendou: “Haa haa haa… Why… won’t you die… Are you immortal too?”

Mordred: “Haha! Yes, I am! You can’t win against me!!”

 

Mocking Mordred races across the battlefield. Ryunosuke’s highly honed skills wound Mordred repeatedly, but to no avail. The jester only laughs it off.

 

Tendou: “Then! Will you not die even from this!? Haja Issen: Black Dragon!!”

 

Ryunosuke’s unique skill, usable only as a transcendent, unleashes a black dragon from his swung sword, straight at Mordred.

 

Mordred: “─!?”

 

The dragon devours half of Mordred’s body. Surely, he must be dead now.

 

Tendou: “Haa haa… Did I get him?”

 

But predictably, Mordred’s mocking laughter is heard.

 

Mordred: “Haha, you’re supposed to say that when you haven’t done anything. Don’t you see it’s futile?”

Tendou: “What the hell… Invincible doesn’t exist.”

 

Mordred’s devoured upper body regenerates, gathering dust as if reconstructing itself. Fully restored, he laughs and tilts his head.

Just then, Aya is flung beside Ryunosuke.

 

Aya: “Ah aaah aaah!!”

 

A scream is heard and fades away. A comrade in the Liberation Army is killed by Immortals.

 

Tendou: “Damn it!!! Why won’t they die!!”

 

Another scream, another silence.

A Black Knight silently claims an S-Rank’s life.

 

Mordred: “Haha! You all prepared so much, but it’s all in vain! You’re really stupid, aren’t you? Coming here to become my pawns!!”

 

While the Liberation Army suffers losses, the enemy remains unscathed.

 

Aya: “…retreat.”

 

Aya realizes they must withdraw. If they stay, it’s total annihilation.

The plan was to defeat Mordred for victory. But if even he is immortal, there’s no hope of winning.

 

Mordred: “Oh? Are you trying to run away? That’s not allowed.”

 

At that moment…

 

Soldier 1: “Wha!?”

Soldier 2: “My body!!”

Soldier 3: “What is this!! I can’t move!!”

 

Mordred moves his finger, and half of the injured Liberation Army soldiers become immobile.

As if manipulated, they bring their weapons to their own throats.

 

Aya: “Are you controlling them? What kind of power is that…”

 

Reina, too, walks in front of Aya, sword to her own throat, crying.

 

Reina: “Aya… I’m sorry… run… I’m sorry.”

Mordred: “If you retreat, I’ll kill everyone. So, Aya-chan! Let’s play until the end!! I want to see you cry and surrender everything!”

 

The jester, with an unprecedented twisted expression, speaks to Aya.

 

Mordred: “─ Let’s play until you break! And become my favorite doll!!”

 

Aya feels a deep fear. This demon has the power to do so and enjoys it from the bottom of his heart.

 

Aya: “Ah, ah, …”

 

At that moment, a gap appears in Aya’s heart. A gap of fear and the feeling of inevitable defeat. The demon won’t miss this.

 

Mordred: “Aya-chan, got you─!”

Aya: “─!?”

 

Aya realizes she can’t control her own body. Her body tries to move independently of her will.

 

Mordred: “Alright, Aya-chan and Reina-chan, fight each other! The winner becomes my favorite doll!”

 

Aya: “Stop it…”

Reina: “No…”

 

Reina and Aya, who grew up like sisters, face each other with swords.

 

Mordred: “Raise your swords and try to kill each other.”

 

Watching them prepare to strike, Mordred laughs with genuine delight.

 

Humanity is defeated.

 

As their swords are raised and swing down…

 

No one can save the two, nor humanity.

 

In this era, he is no longer there.

 

Aya: “Help…”

 

But then…

 

Sound of thunder and lightning

 

From the past, he arrives.

 

Thunder roars, the air explodes. Something races across the battlefield like lightning.

 

Suddenly, Reina and Aya find themselves in his arms.

 

Kai: “Sorry, I’m late… Aya, Reina.”

 

They realize they can move freely again. Looking up, they see the familiar face, the angle they’ve seen so many times.

Every time he saved them, this is how they saw him.

Their pent-up emotions break free.

 

Aya: “You’re… really late. I’ve been waiting for five years…”

Reina: “But I always believed you would come…”

Kai: “Ah, I’m really sorry I’m late. So now…”

 

Their tears aren’t of sadness, but overwhelming joy.

Aya and Reina look up at him, his eyes glowing golden.

 

With trembling rage, he looks at the enemy.

 

Kai: “─ Leave the rest to me.”

 

He signals the counterattack for humanity.