The fierce battle had raged for quite some time.
It was unclear which floorâs facilities had been completely destroyed. Under the onslaught of sword strikes, fist winds, and ninjutsu, even the sturdy floors and ceilings were split with countless fissures, as if they would shutter completely at the slightest touch.
Dodging a heavy punch, Miyu rolled away sharply, slipping out from under the giantâs feet. Her holy sword swept upward in a diagonal arc, carving a crescent of light.
Thwack!
An inhumanly thick arm flew into the air. A petite figure appeared like a ghost, binding the giant with threads of unknown material, rendering it immobile.
"Miss Miyu, now!"
"Haaaaah!"
Mana Burst erupted, power surging from her heart with an unbearable, swelling sensation. All Miyu had to do was channel this pain into a single thrust of her sword!
Like a luminous drill, the strike pierced through Berserkerâs hardened skin, destroying his vital point once more. The momentum didnât stop thereâit shattered walls and doors in its path, crashing straight into the edge of the Mirror World until the buildingâs floor-to-ceiling windows were webbed with cracks!
The blow landed. Berserker spat blood, but Miyu didnât dare hesitate. She leaped back, gasping heavily as she tightened her grip on her sword.
This was the third time.
First, Rin and Luvia had killed him once with GĂĄe Bolg. Then, in the instant she transformed into Saber, she had slain him again. And now, a third time.
They say "third timeâs the charm," but her instincts as a swordswoman told her it wouldnât be that simple.
"Are you alright, Miss Miyu?"
Emerging from the shadows, the ninja girlâs arm was completely severed, wooden shavings and mechanical parts spilling from it, sparks flying. Yet, the expression on her faceâframed by her tight-fitting ninja garbâremained unchanged. Her high ponytail swayed like a crescent moon with her movements.
With Berserker momentarily immobilized, the two fightersâwho had cooperated flawlessly without a wordâfinally had a chance to speak.
"Thank you for your help. May I ask who you are?"
"Well, as for me..." Danzou recalled Sakatsukiâs instructions and quickly organized her words. "I am Katou Danzou, a âmaidâ under my masterâFather Sakatsuki. I was worried for your safety, so I secretly followed during your teleportation. I apologize for the intrusion."
"Eh?" Miyu blinked in surprise. After processing Danzouâs identity, her gaze lingered on the ninjaâs broken arm. Danzou, however, bore her scrutiny without hesitation.
"No need for doubt. I am not human, though I must keep my origins a secret."
Miyu nodded silently. Sakatsuki had mentioned something like this at Illyaâs house, so she simply asked, "If youâre here, does that mean Sakatsuki is nearby too?"
"My apologies, Miss Miyu." Danzou lowered her eyes. "My master hasnât appeared in a long time. Itâs because I... No, never mind."
The ninja suddenly lifted her head, her gaze locking onto Berserker, whose entire body burned crimson as his wounds regenerated, transforming him into a demonic god.
"More importantly, we must return to battle."
"Right." Miyu tightened her grip on her holy sword. "This may sound presumptuous, but Miss Danzou, could you buy me some time against Berserker?"
Danzou had no objections. Even if she couldnât defeat Berserker head-on, diverting his attention was well within her skillsâit was, after all, a ninjaâs duty.
"Then, Miss Miyu, may fortune favor your blade."
The ninja vanished, soon leading Berserker away. The sounds of combat faded into the distance.
Knowing time was of the essence, Miyu closed her eyes. The sacred sword in her hands grew brighter.
"Lady Miyu!" Sapphire cried out. "No! Activating a Noble Phantasm requires an immense output! Even with infinite mana, we canât handle such a sudden surgeâyouâll be drained dry!"
"This is the only way to defeat Berserker!" Miyu gritted her teeth as the foreign heart within her chest pounded violently, sapping her life force.
"If we canât do it today, we can try again next time!"
"There wonât be a next time!" For the first time, her voice was fierce. With Danzou gone, Miyu finally revealed the resolve beneath her calm exterior. "If we donât end this here and now..."
"If I donât end this alone..."
"...next time, Illya will definitely be called in!"
Her organs screamed in protest, on the verge of failure.
Even with the protection of her magical staff, unleashing the holy sword would reduce the young girl to a withered husk.
Yet, just as her body teetered on the brink of collapse, tiny motes of light rose from her form. The hopes and blessings of countless souls coalesced into a gentle radiance, enveloping her, stimulating her mana, awakening her strength, and channeling the overwhelming power into the golden blade.
"Illya... I donât want her to fight anymore. She was the first person to treat me as a friend."
Sapphire could never have imagined the joy that had surged through Miyuâs heart when Illya extended her handâwhat kind of flowers had bloomed along the river of her emotions?
It was her brotherâs wish. The reason she was willing to give everything.
"So...!"
The light of hope blazed fiercely, as if a new mana source had replaced Miyu herself.
With a roar of agony, the giantâhaving torn through Danzouâs threadsâburst from the lower floors, sending the mechanical ninja flying hundreds of meters, unable to rise.
But before he could revel in his violent triumph, an endless radiance condensed into a single beam, reflecting in his crimson-gold eyes as a holy light of certain death.
"Excalibur!"
A golden deluge roared forth, effortlessly obliterating the giantâs body, extinguishing his life three times over. The torrent didnât stop thereâit shattered the fractured windows and tore a massive breach through the Mirror World itself.
"This is...!" Danzou struggled to her feet, staring at the familiar radiance in disbelief.
"So... you were protecting her too, werenât you, Saber?"
Her sensors registered warmth. Her damaged tactile systems finally relayed the sensation of touch. With great effort, Danzou lifted her headâand met a pair of gentle golden eyes.
"Master...?"
Thick mana flooded her limbs. Though her core remained unstable, her puppet body began repairing itself at a rapid pace.
"You did well, Danzou." The young man who had stepped forth from the Imaginary Number Domain smiled. Bathed in the fading golden light, he stroked the ninjaâs hair, savoring its silken texture between his fingers. "Tonight, as always, you were beautiful."
For a moment, Danzouâs self-diagnostic systems faltered. Her logic circuits stalled fatally, leaving her struggling even to speak.
"Th... thank you, Master."
Sakatsuki smiled and gently set the now-repaired Danzou down before standing. "That soul of yoursâwilling to act for the sake of othersâis the reason you exist."
"But next time, while protecting others... donât forget to protect yourself too."
Leaving Danzou to rest, Sakatsuki raised a hand, a card pinched between his fingers.
On it, a heroic spirit drew his bow. But the front was blankâan empty Class Card.
"Now, take the stage... and let thunderous applause ring out!"
Light cocooned the young man. When he emerged, his crimson mantle billowed, and the majestic wings of his bowâworthy of a Machine Godâspread wide.
Glancing back, he saw Miyu, who had reverted from her transformation due to exhaustion, and Illya, who had just arrived atop the roof, charging forward at the forefront.
With a smirk, the young manâhis eyes now veiled by holy shroudâtook a step forward.
"This is the final act."
***
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