Berserker

"Clang!"

"Ah!!"

Monstrous strength! Incomparable monstrous strength!

Heracles's fist collided with Gray's shield, and in that instant, Gray felt as though she had been struck by a speeding train! She and her shield were sent flying, crashing into the wall just like Miyu.

"Gray!"

Luvia panicked. Things had already spiraled far beyond their control, and she felt a pang of regret. If she had not called Gray over, Gray would not have been hurt because of this.

"Damn it! If only we had a Class Card!!"

Luvia raised her hand and scattered gemstones. Countless spell bullets rained down on Heracles, drawing his attention.

All Luvia could do now was buy time, creating an opportunity for Miyu and Gray.

"Roar!"

Sure enough, Heracles was drawn in by Luvia and charged at her.

Luvia swallowed as she looked at Heracles's massive body. Though she was exceptionally skilled at wrestling and hand-to-hand combat, she had no desire to clash head-on with an opponent of this weight class.

She decisively retreated, nimbly evading his attacks. Every so often, she bent down to press a gemstone into the ground. The moment she was forced into a corner—

"Muscle Rin! It's ready!"

Luvia suddenly shouted. Not far away, Tohsaka Rin, who had been keeping a low profile, held an egg-sized gemstone with a pained expression.

"Damn it! Hold him down!!"

Tohsaka Rin viciously slammed the gemstone into the ground! In an instant—

"Buzzz!!"

A massive magic circle covered the entire rooftop! Countless rays of light rose up, transforming into thick spears of light that instantly pierced Heracles's back!

"Pft pft pft pft pft!"

"Roar!"

Countless beams of light passed through his body, turning Heracles into a pincushion. With a roar, Heracles slowly lowered his head, allowing Luvia to escape and join up with Tohsaka Rin.

"He'll definitely revive again!"

Tohsaka Rin immediately poured cold water on Luvia's relief. Luvia frowned and pulled Tohsaka Rin toward where Gray and the others were.

"You know who he is?"

"Yeah. The Great Hero of ancient Greece, Heracles. His Noble Phantasm is his heroic legend, Twelve Labors. He has twelve chances to revive, and gains increased resistance to attacks that killed him."

Tohsaka Rin kicked aside the shattered wall. The two entered the stairwell and found the unconscious Miyu and Gray.

Each of them picked one up. Then—

"Roar!!"

Heracles's roar rang out from outside again. Clearly, he had revived once more!

"How can something this bugged even exist? This is ridiculous!"

Holding Miyu, Luvia leaped straight down, descending vertically through the gaps between floors.

Tohsaka Rin followed close behind with Gray in her arms. The two fell freely and quickly reached the ground.

"Boom!"

Luvia's feet hit the ground and shattered the pavement beneath her. She looked at Blue Sapphire.

"Blue Sapphire! Give me temporary authority, now! I'll open the passage!"

With Miyu unconscious, Luvia had no choice but to use the wand.

"Yes, Lady Luvia!"

Blue Sapphire flew from Miyu's hand. Just as it floated before Luvia—

"Watch out!!"

Tohsaka Rin heard a whistling sound overhead! Startled, she hurriedly warned Luvia!

"What!"

Luvia, who had also sensed something, rolled away with Miyu in her arms! Immediately afterward, a massive figure fell from the sky and slammed heavily into the ground!

"Boom!!"

Like a meteor crashing down, it sent countless fragments of earth flying. Amid the dust, a hulking man rose to his feet, red light glowing in his eyes! In his hand was Blue Sapphire, which had failed to escape in time.

"Ah!!"

Heracles opened his mouth and exhaled white vapor. His crazed eyes carried overwhelming pressure. Luvia and the others' hearts sank straight to the bottom. Watching Blue Sapphire struggle desperately in Heracles's hand, they all felt that they might not make it out of here today.

"Cough, cough."

But at that moment, Gray suddenly coughed a few times in Tohsaka Rin's arms, slowly opening her eyes.

"Gray! How are you?"

Tohsaka Rin helped Gray to her feet. Gray shook her head to show she was fine, then looked toward Heracles. She knew she had to do something.

"Let me."

Trembling, Gray stood up and gripped Add, now returned to its cube form, in both hands. Her gaze hardened with resolve.

"To fight for survival!

To fight those stronger than myself!

Grayravecravedeprave"

Gray spoke a chant-like incantation. A stream of golden light connected her to Add, and countless motes of light appeared, swirling around them and illuminating the entire underground space.

Add in Gray's hand spoke in an emotionless voice at that moment.

"Simulated personality halted. Mana collection rate has exceeded the designated threshold. Commencing removal of second-stage restrictions."

"Bzzzz!"

An even more brilliant radiance flared. Gray reached out and made a drawing motion.

However, Heracles did not give Gray the chance to finish charging. His instincts seemed to sense a trace of danger as well, and he charged forward without hesitation! In this cramped underground space, the distance of less than ten meters was nothing to Heracles—he crossed it in an instant!

Heracles arrived in the blink of an eye! But waiting for him were two girls who had already cast reinforcement magecraft, pushing their strength and durability to the limit!

"You're not getting past!"

"Stop right there, you brute!"

Tohsaka Rin and Luvia attacked at the same time. Their blows, powerful enough to split stone and shatter monuments, landed heavily on Heracles without producing any effect. Unmoved, Heracles violently swept both arms aside, sending the two girls flying!

He took another step forward! His left hand was now less than a meter from Gray!

Just then!

"Yahoo! The hero has arrived! We're here!!"

A pink light suddenly descended at high speed! Illya finally arrived at the critical moment! She formed a defensive barrier with all her mana, blocking Heracles's hand and stopping his advance.

"Holy Lance! Release the anchor!"

"Bzzzz!!"

Gray raised her hand with all her strength! A dazzling spear of light condensed in her grasp!

At that moment, Heracles looked at Illya. He did not continue his attack. He released Blue Sapphire, and then...

Slowly lowered himself onto his left knee, doing his best to make himself shorter. Facing Illya, he ignored the Holy Lance blazing with ultimate radiance. This berserker, whose name struck fear into countless hearts—

Actually revealed a faint smile at that moment.

"You..."

Illya was somewhat dumbfounded. What was going on? Seeing Heracles smile, she suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

But the next moment—

"Shine forth! Lance of the End!!"

"BOOM!!"

Light comparable to the release of Excalibur burst forth! Heracles offered no resistance whatsoever as he was swallowed by the radiance!

Illya unconsciously reached out, as though trying to grasp something, but it was already too late.

When the dazzling light faded, one side of the building had been blasted straight through. Heracles was gone. In his place, only a card remained, slowly floating and spinning.