Days later, on the sixth day.
"Some are still willing to ally!"
After days of negotiations, Kayneth was rejected by Irisviel but struck an alliance with Assassin's Master, Kirei Kotomine.
"Karna said no one would... Tch, just a mage with a Reality Marble. Even with that Archer on their side, it's nothing... With Assassin, Karna, and my genius, we can win."
Kayneth devised a simple strategy based on Sola-Ui's intel.
But ignoring Karna, a warrior's, warnings and trusting Sola-Ui, who barely grasped magecraft, doomed this battle to failure.
The plan: Karna and Assassin would fight head-on, with Kayneth directing on-site.
Now, night had fallen, and the time was ripe.
Crimson flames blasted through the Matou residence's gate. The shadowy Assassin and fiery Lancer appeared at the entrance.
"...Gentlemen? Must we do this? Can you not trouble me?"
Roman emerged with a wry smile. He'd avoided fighting, but having slacked this long, he had to act in this final battle.
After all... he'd allowed Waver to free them.
He had to take responsibility for what followed.
"...Let me test King Solomon's might!"
Karna's golden spear pointed at Roman, his eyes blazing with battle lust. Though he hadn't wanted this fight, he craved a clash with Roman—and even Samuel.
"Sigh... Hey, old man, why are you here?"
Roman sighed, knowing a fight with Karna was inevitable, but puzzled by Assassin's presence.
"That battle could only be entrusted. Now, I act myself..."
Assassin's ancient voice rumbled from his heavy armor. Roman sighed again, pointing behind him...
"Go on. He's waiting inside... and... farewell!"
Assassin strode past Roman, vanishing from his and Karna's sight.
"We should find... a suitable place to fight!"
Roman clapped his hands.
Crack!
Space shattered like a mirror, everything inverted. They hadn't moved, yet they were in another world.
The Mirror World.
A realm behind the mirror, real in occult lore, linked to yet opposite the material world. Part of it, only beings of high mystery—like dragons or fairies—could exist here. It's also called the Reverse Side of the World.
In the post-Age of Gods, mighty beings either ascended beyond or hid in this Reverse Side.
Opening the Mirror World was a daunting task for mages, requiring vast mana or mystery rivaling Age of Gods entities.
For Roman, once King Solomon, it was as easy as coming home.
Everything here was gray, save Roman and Karna, who retained color.
They stood in the mirrored Matou residence.
"Impressive, King Solomon. Fight me with all you have! Before you stands... the Son of the Sun God, the Unmatched Vassal, Karna!"
"No need to call me King Solomon. I'm no longer him. Just Roman, a mage who knows a bit of magecraft!"
"Very well, Roman. Let's begin!"
As his words fell, crimson flames painted the world red, coiling around Karna's spear tip like a dragon spitting lethal fire.
Zzt!
Roman made an odd sound, his right hand mimicking a gun. A pure mana blast, thirty centimeters wide, shot from his finger.
Such an attack could level a building.
In this fight, it was merely a greeting.
Karna's crimson spear shattered the mana beam, breaking it like solid matter, the flames advancing closer.
Karna halted, his gaze sweeping swiftly.
Roman had vanished from his sight.
"Dragon-Slaying Saint..."
A force that could subdue dragons slammed into Karna's abdomen, a mountain-shattering impact piercing through.
Karna flew like a volleyball, tumbling through the air, crashing into the mirrored Matou residence.
Pfft!
Blood sprayed. Without his golden armor, Karna suffered grave wounds—dislocated bones, ruptured organs. Fatal for mortals, but for a Servant, merely a "slight" mortal wound.
Karna's eyes unleashed searing beams, vaporizing all matter under sun-core heat.
The earth turned to magma, matter incinerated instantly.
"Vasavi Shakti!"
Terrifying heat waves roared past. Roman raised his right hand, palm shifting to a blade.
"Moses Parts the Sea!"
His hand slashed down, mana condensing into a solid blade, cleaving the flames.
Like Moses in scripture, parting the Red Sea with his staff.
Now, the molten sea split, the blazing beam sliced apart.
Sacrifice of the Son!
Roman sighed, giving Karna no chance to react. His hand shifted from palm to finger, pointing at Karna's chest.
In scripture, Abraham raised his knife to slay his son for God.
This move condensed devout faith and ruthless killing intent. For God, even a child could be killed. Myriad intents fused into one finger, unstoppable, piercing all.
Wielded by Roman, who grasped "I am God," his finger became God's.
Karna had no time to react. Roman's finger bored a hole through his chest, nearly shattering his Servant core, teetering on collapse.
He was... as good as dead.
Cough, cough... "Thank you..."
Karna coughed blood, his face pale, standing despite the wound.
He knew Roman had spared him... to let him unleash one final strike.
"Roman, one request... After this... spare my Master..."
Karna smiled, blood flowing, his divine spear gleaming strangely.
***
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