Kai's Shikai was unique.
Unlike Soul Reapers from Bleach and Demon Slayers from his Verse Fusion, his Zanpakuto, Ayin, wasn't tethered to a particular sword.
Any sword that Kai wielded had the potential to become the source of his Shikai's release.
Any sword… no matter if he met the Requirements to wield it or not.
Kanshou and Bakuya Overedge melted in the blood ocean, their hilts appearing first on the other side.
Lancer had already been rooted to his place because of Kai's surviving his sure-kill Noble Phantasm second time in a row.
Then, those swords had appeared out of nowhere.
The same swords that he had seen Archer using before… a shorter version of these.
So, when Lancer's eyes landed on this baffling phenomenon of the yellow-haired, black existence grabbing the swords within the blood ocean, he couldn't do anything but gawk at it in wonder.
Then, for the first time, he heard another presence in the Reality Marble.
It was as if the gray sky and blood ocean were hissing — in joy.
— Kekekeke… — Ayin cackled, marveling the Heroic Items. — That which is devoured… will be reborn! —
Squelch!
Ayin stabbed the twin swords back toward Kai, the bloody liquid boiling at the point of contact.
Then, defying all logic, hilts protruded out of the blood ocean.
But the swords had changed, Lancer noticed.
Longswords… No. These were so long that they were almost large as him! Now, hiltless, both swords looked the same, having half white and half black blades.
As if that wasn't enough, Lancer's eyes were again on the mirror image under Berserker's feet, making him stumble back in shock.
The swords that Berserker wielded went on to meet the sky in the reflection, towering as tall as 666 ft in length… and weighing as much, too, perhaps.
Lancer's grip tightened on his lancer as he met Berserker's unnerving stare.
"Is this your Noble Phantasm?" he asked, astounded. He had thought it was the Reality Marble itself, which would have been a commendable feat in itself. "… Who are you?!"
Standing far from Lancer, Kai let out a breath.
Power. Strength. Respect. Shock. Admiration. Challenge. Recognition.
Kai reveled in Lancer's chaotic emotions, but couldn't sense the one he was looking for.
Fear.
Lancer didn't fear him. Not yet.
Kai lifted his hands and pointed the swords at Lancer, feeling their weight.
One attack. One attack all it would take for him to lose his hands, his wrists breaking with a crunch.
When Ayin devoured swords, releasing his Shikai, she also devoured their inherent qualities.
In Sounga's case, it was the Evil Flames.
In Murasame's case, it was the Cursed Marks.
In Kanshou and Bakuya Overedge's case, though, it was Raw Power.
To wield raw power, he must bring out his utmost… every iota of his Strength.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa..........."
Crackkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!
Limitless Blood Firmament roared as yellow bolts of lightning rumbled under the gray sky, Kai's Conquer Haki wreaking havoc.
The entire blood ocean shook as if a volcano had erupted beneath it, causing an earthquake of unquantifiable magnitude.
Kai's red hair flailed like banners in all directions, even Venom screeching within him, getting crushed.
Slowly, a redness began surfacing on his body, along with cracks.
It was a battle between Total Concentration Selfless Breathing and… Death.
"HAHAHAHA!" Kai laughed, his voice booming along with the world. "Cú Chulainn! Bring it out! Your best!! Let's… FUCKING ENJOY!!!"
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooom!!!
The entire blood ocean sank by an inch.
A chill ran down Lancer's spine.
The black-skinned Berserker had gained red-colored cracks all over his body. From those cracks, a red mist was seeping out, lingering close to his body. Two little curved horns had surfaced on his head as well.
And all around him, yellow thunder rumbled, worshiping his existence.
Lancer felt the world pressing upon him, trying to make him kneel… and he smiled. "… Now… this is what Berserker should act like…"
Lancer didn't shout.
Silently, he crouched, carrying the lance in his right hand.
Suddenly, the already shaking world quaked even more as if a giant had stepped on it, its foot covering the entire sky.
Crackkkkkkkkkkk...…
Tears ran across the space as the Reality Marble began crumbling from inside, unable to hold onto this much raw display of power.
The blood under Lancer… rippled.
"Never thought there would be someone making me use this…" Lancer said, eying Berserker. "A parting gift…"
The Heroic Spirit blurred, shooting itself forward.
Before he crossed even half the distance to Berserker, though, Lancer skidded over the blood ocean and jumped up, almost reaching the gray sky, a massive black tear surfacing right behind him.
Then, Lancer lifted the spear and aimed at Berserker.
Noble Phantasm —
"Know my wrath…" Lancer growled, throwing the lance and bleeding from the eyes as red-colored Mana worshiped him. "Gáe Bolg!!"
— Soaring Spear That Strikes with Death!!!
Kai looked up and saw the death taking shape of a bloody point.
This was not the same heart-piercing Noble Phantasm, but an Anti-Army one. It didn't carry a Concept, but raw power — as if Lancer had decided to answer Berserker's strength with strength.
With every inch the lance descended, the entire world was being pressed under Kai's feet — like someone was stabbing a sheet of cloth with a needle.
A wide grin surfaced on the Demon King's lips, reaching ear to ear.
Brokenly, he lifted the swords and crossed his arms.
Selfless Breathing: First Transformation —
A hiss resounded in the world as Kai shot himself up, defying all suppression.
Three heads rested on his shoulders, all laughing demonically, their appearances chilling the soul. Even the massive swords shook as four more swords appeared, wielded by four arms.
"… Hero… Villain…" Kai's growl reached far and wide, seeping out of the spatial cracks. "… Who dares put a label on me… as long as my heart is demonic…"
— Three-Headed Vritra!!!
Shards of Reality Marble rained down as Limitless Blood Firmament shattered, revealing itself to the outside world.
Shirou, Rin, Enkidu, Jeanne, Archer, Assassin, Saber, Rider, and Medea… lost their senses for a moment, yellow crystals dancing in their eyes.
They smelled blood.
They saw a hint of the gray sky.
They felt his Lust — his Will — his Path.
Their spirits fumbled, the Conqueror demanding them to kneel in his presence.
And, through the blurred yellowness, they saw him, standing like a god —
— the swords in his hands plunged deep into Lancer's body.
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AN: Original Image of Kai with all the buffs, new swords, and using Selfless Breathing (along with the background) is available
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