Karna surged through the sky, a bolt of divine lightning, with the power to kill even gods. It was the same force Zeus once used to obliterate the Titans who challenged his rule. But this wasn't Zeus' true might, only a projection—a mere echo of his blessing.
Cyd knew this. The gods' blessings he wielded were many, but his strongest was weakened in this form. The real Cyd could harness the full power of Zeus, controlling the very skies. He could rain down divine thunder at will, unleashing the god-killer lightning repeatedly. But now, with Zeus' blessing temporarily locked away, he could only use this single, devastating strike.
Karna, however, was different. His spear was not just for slaying gods—it carried the pure strength of his noble spirit. Even as a projection, Karna's will was not fake. He had only one shot, but his Noble Phantasm could utterly annihilate any single target.
"I'll admit, you're stronger," Cyd said with a soft laugh, as the staff in his hand vanished. Behind him, a large ring floated in the air, engraved with twelve numbers like a clock. The hands were aligned perfectly at twelve.
Karna didn't respond. He couldn't. Both Cyd's god-slaying lightning and Karna's all-destroying light were frozen in mid-air, motionless as if time itself had stopped.
It wasn't just physical restraint—this power transcended willpower, surpassing any Noble Phantasm's strength.
"But I have a reason I absolutely can't lose," Cyd whispered, moving through the frozen thunder and light. In a blink, he was behind Karna, his hand darting forward like a dragon's claw. His fingers plunged into Karna's back, crushing his heart—or rather, his spiritual core—without hesitation.
"I've kept them waiting far too long. Not even this power can erase that."
Cyd's ring pulsed with energy.
Reforged Pandora: Fourteenth Form—Master of Time.
This form had fused completely with the essence of Kronos, born from the depths of Pandora's Box, containing only hope. When opened, hope would come to Cyd, sealing away every disaster and transforming them into his strength.
"Time flows once again."
With a deafening click, the hands of the clock began to move. Karna's light shattered the thunderbolt in a brilliant explosion, leaving a massive crater beneath them.
"Did I... lose?" Karna murmured the God-Slaying Spear in his hand slowly disintegrating. "I fought with all I had, with no interference... and I lost."
Cyd gently caught Karna as they both landed. "Seems I was just a little stronger."
"You don't have to comfort me," Karna said, chuckling. "I'm happy. To think I was summoned just to fulfill my Master's wish, and now... I feel so satisfied. It's been a long time since I fought like this."
Karna's life had been filled with misfortune. He'd never had the chance to fight to his full potential, even in life. There was no resentment in his voice, but still, there was a hint of regret. He hadn't even been able to give his all at the very end.
But now? He had lost, sure. But it had been a fair fight, one-on-one, where he could finally go all out. The outcome didn't matter to him; he wasn't the type to care too much about winning.
Still, he had one final request.
"I know it's bold of me to ask this, being the loser and all," Karna said seriously, "but could you save my Master? He's lost his right to continue the fight."
Cyd nodded. "They'll be alright. I promise."
"Thank you," Karna whispered, smiling as his body dissolved into light. The Lancer of Red was no more.
As the last remnants of Karna vanished, Cyd frowned. "Siegfried, Achilles... their spiritual cores are gone too." He muttered, taking a quick count. "That leaves just seven Servants—Mordred, Semiramis, Shakespeare, Atalanta, Astolfo, Frankenstein, and Chiron."
The Holy Grail still wasn't filled. But for Cyd's own wish? He was getting closer.
"Just a little longer," Cyd whispered, clenching his fist. "Soon, I'll be back... Teacher, Atalanta, Medusa, Hephaestus... I'm almost there."
Meanwhile, far away in her throne room, Semiramis gasped, clutching her chest as she collapsed to the ground. Pain wracked her body, tears of frustration and disbelief filling her eyes. How could this be? The victory that had been in her grasp was now shattered.
"No!" she hissed, staring at the massive doors ahead of her. They collapsed with a deafening crash, reduced to rubble by a shining figure that effortlessly obliterated what even Frankenstein had failed to break through.
Fury contorted Semiramis' face. She wasn't the target, but she was unfortunate enough to be within range of that unstoppable force.
"I won't let you leave!" Semiramis raised her hand, prepared to warp the battlefield, to block their escape. She just needed one more chance to turn the tide.
A towering shadow blocked her view—Chiron, the Archer, who was supposed to be down for the count, now stood tall in front of her.
Semiramis' spell fizzled out as she gritted her teeth in frustration, forced to retreat using a teleportation spell.
Chiron staggered, his strength nearly spent. "Finally scared her off… I've got no energy left for another attack." He leaned against the throne, barely keeping himself upright.
"Archer, get out of there!" Fiore's voice called from outside, desperate and loud.
Chiron chuckled weakly. "My Master... it's not as simple as just walking away at this point."
"I'm sorry, Master," Chiron whispered to himself. "But I won't be by your side for what comes next."
He couldn't last much longer, not like this. But before he disappeared, there was still one last thing he had to do.
"Bang—" Chiron fell to his knees, coughing up blood. His time was running out.
"I have to reach you... before it's too late."
"Archer…" Fiore's voice trembled. She raised her hand, using every ounce of strength in her voice. "By my Command Seal, Archer, you will live! By my Command Seal, Archer, you will not fall! This is my final Command Seal…"
"You must…" Fiore screamed with all her might, "Fulfill your own wish!"