Berserker's Defeat

Leysritt, a combat maid, held a halberd in her hands, its sharp tip already poised over the newcomer's head.

At Illya's voice, Sella hurriedly looked over. The alarm in her eyes quickly gave way to relief.

The newcomer was none other than—

Sasuke Uchiha.

Sasuke stood calmly beneath the halberd Leysritt held over him, as if he didn't take it seriously at all.

At some point, his eyes had opened into the Mangekyō Sharingan. He regarded Sella and Leysritt, who were about to attack him, with cool indifference.

After all, killing the two of them would have been child's play for Sasuke.

"Stand down!"

"Sella, Leysritt!"

"He's not our enemy."

Illya, holding Kaoru Sakura, stopped them.

As the two maids stepped aside, Sasuke came to Illya's side.

Illya tried to hand the sleeping Kaoru Sakura in her arms to Sasuke.

"Take Kaoru and go."

"Don't worry, Kaoru's fine. I only planted a suggestion that put her to sleep. It won't harm her at all."

"When she wakes up... she won't remember anything that just happened, either."

As she spoke, Illya gazed at Kaoru Sakura, sleeping in her arms, her eyes full of reluctance.

But there was nothing she could do. Things had come to this, and Illya had finally accepted reality.

Anger and reluctance, along with weariness, washed over Illya's spirit.

She was truly a little tired now.

As she spoke, Illya moved to hand Kaoru Sakura over to Sasuke.

But Sasuke showed no intention of taking Kaoru Sakura. Instead, he said calmly,

"If Kaoru likes you this much, then you can keep holding her for now."

After speaking, Sasuke looked toward the battle raging not far away, his expression composed.

Illya didn't want to let go of Kaoru Sakura either. As she watched Berserker fighting, she prayed earnestly for him.

BOOM!

A barrage of more than a hundred Noble Phantasms struck. Berserker, who had just tried to leap into the air and cut down Gilgamesh, was pierced through.

As his life force faded, more than a dozen Noble Phantasms sent Berserker's powerful downward momentum flying back!

Berserker's massive body was hurled away, then slammed into the castle wall with the force of his momentum!

The wall couldn't withstand the impact. It collapsed in an instant!

Amid the thunderous crash, shattered bricks buried Berserker beneath them.

But the next moment, Berserker rose again, pulverizing the bricks and rubble that had covered him!

Berserker stood up from the ruins. Crimson blood poured from his dust- and debris-covered body.

All over him were holes of various sizes, torn through by Noble Phantasms!

He was drenched in blood, a sight too gruesome to bear.

Anyone with a weak stomach would have fainted on the spot at the sight.

Gilgamesh, by contrast, remained perfectly calm. A faint, exhilarated smile even played at the corner of his mouth.

Dozens of golden portals opened around him, and more than a hundred different Noble Phantasms stood ready to fire.

Their dazzling golden light illuminated the surroundings, leaving no other color in sight.

With his considerable Instinct, Berserker didn't act recklessly. He waited for Gilgamesh to make his move while his body recovered.

Watching Berserker's wounds visibly heal, Gilgamesh couldn't help but marvel.

"I have seen plenty of heroes who remained standing after being cut down or burned."

"But I never imagined there were people who could actually die and come back to life."

"Your Noble Phantasm must be the culmination of the legends told about you, correct?"

"This is the only Noble Phantasm I have never possessed."

"In that case, even I have been placed at a disadvantage?"

Though Gilgamesh said this, the delighted smile never left his lips.

"Although I find this most displeasing."

"It seems I'll need the highest-grade weapons to deal with you."

Gilgamesh waved his hand. The dozens of golden portals multiplied in an instant, swelling to more than a hundred!

In a moment, Berserker was surrounded!

"Heracles overcame the trials of the Twelve Trials, and in the end was welcomed to the seat of the gods."

"Truly, he was indefatigable."

"The very limit of what a human could endure."

"But my treasury is the opposite!"

"It is the pinnacle of limitless release!"

"As you can see, I possess every weapon capable of putting a hero to death."

"Great Hero, how long can you hold out?"

Surrounded by a swarm of Noble Phantasms, Berserker was like a trapped beast.

But even Berserker, lost in madness, understood perfectly that he had to win!

Otherwise, the man before him would attack Illya!

As if he had seen straight through Berserker's thoughts, Gilgamesh waved his hand, his face alight with delight.

The swarm of Noble Phantasms overhead became bolts of golden lightning, striking down toward Berserker!

Berserker swung his enormous axe, knocking away a multitude of Noble Phantasms. He knew he couldn't afford to stop here!

Berserker's movements and the speed of his swings began to accelerate!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The clash of weapons echoed through the castle. The Noble Phantasms Berserker knocked aside still flew with undiminished force toward the surrounding buildings!

The crashing sounds of collapse rang out without end!

Berserker had reached the limit of his reflexes. Every swing of his massive axe left a trail of overlapping afterimages!

Pain jolted Berserker's nerves, while blood and sweat streamed from his arms!

Even so, facing the rain of Noble Phantasms, Berserker suffered injury after injury!

Once wounded, his speed at dodging plummeted.

First his legs and feet were pierced by Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasms, then his back and arms!

At last, he could no longer protect his heart or head.

As Berserker fell once more, Gilgamesh sneered.

"Is that all you can do?"

"If you don't show me something else soon, you'll run out of trials."

In response, Berserker roared, came back to life, and rose once more, charging at him with his great axe!

Gilgamesh snorted, thrust his hands into his pockets, and shouted,

"Then I'll give you a real trial!"

Golden light now filled nearly every inch around them. There were at least two hundred Noble Phantasms!

The sound of the air being torn apart echoed through the castle!

There was no way Berserker could dodge that many!

Berserker was nearly swallowed by the golden radiance. The barrage of Noble Phantasms lasted for a full minute or so!

As the dust settled, all that remained where Berserker had stood was freshly blasted earth and craters!

As for Berserker, Gilgamesh had obliterated him in the barrage.

Gilgamesh's gaze turned disdainful.

"A beast after all, knowing only how to bite."

"And I had such high hopes for you, a fellow demigod."

"I never thought you'd be this foolish."

In that barrage, Gilgamesh had rapidly exhausted Berserker's last three resurrections!

Even Illya, his Master, hadn't been able to react in time.

And Illya had been continuously supplying Berserker with magical energy...

Illya knew better than anyone that Berserker had left her. Still holding Kaoru Sakura, she sank down onto the roof, her eyes vacant as she murmured,

"How is this possible..."

"Berserker..."

For a moment, Illya's voice was choked with sobs.

Just then, a golden spear came hurtling in from the distant battlefield, aimed straight at Illya's head.

It happened too quickly. Sella and Leysritt, standing nearby, had no time to react.

Illya instinctively tried to shield Kaoru Sakura in her arms, but it was already too late to block the attack.

Just before the Golden Spear could pierce Illya's head,

Sasuke caught it with an indifferent expression, stopping it dead in its tracks!