"Boom!"
After a blinding white flash, a deafening explosion roared through the air. Shockwaves spread out in every direction, obliterating the lush forest with the force of a tidal wave, flattening everything in their path.
Kaguya dusted off her hands as if wiping away non-existent dirt. She turned back around, smiling faintly. "So, how was that? Pretty spectacular, right?"
At that moment, it wasn't just Saber and Iskandar who were stunned—even Gilgamesh seemed taken aback by what had just transpired. Though he didn't believe such power alone could defeat his Gate of Babylon, the sheer force Kaguya displayed was far beyond what any of them had expected from a mere Servant. What surprised him more, however, was that the woman he once regarded as nothing more than a pretty ornament possessed such overwhelming strength.
Saber and Iskandar, on the other hand, were truly shaken. They had known Kaguya was powerful, but never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that the seemingly fragile silver-haired girl could wield such devastating might. For a moment, they were left speechless.
Kaguya, however, felt entirely different inside. Despite her outward smile, she was cursing inwardly. The energy required to project those figures had far exceeded her expectations, nearly draining her of all her power. It had taken more than if she had fought herself in full strength.
This is insane! This ability is useless for anything other than showing off, she thought bitterly. She lamented the vast amount of energy she had carefully conserved, now wasted in a single show of force. She vowed never to use this ability again and swore to herself that she'd stop trying to show off.
Now that the satisfaction of showing off had cooled down, regret began to creep in. Why did I get so carried away? she thought bitterly. Why did I start feeling inflated like a certain puffer fish? She sighed, feeling like a clown.
She hadn't gained any real benefit from the display—only exhausted her mana and made the other heroes more cautious of her. Worse, she had likely pushed them closer to forming a potential alliance against her.
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit underground chamber, bathed in the flickering light of candles, a handsome man sat elegantly in a chair, legs crossed, hand resting thoughtfully against his chin. Despite the casual posture, his demeanor exuded an air of grace and authority. This man was none other than the mastermind behind so much of the conflict—Tokiomi Tohsaka.
"My teacher, there's been an unexpected development."
A familiar voice crackled from the speaker on the table. It was Kotomine Kirei.
"What happened?" Tokiomi frowned, his voice stern.
"Because of Kaguya's interference, the Assassins we sent were unable to carry out their mission of probing Rider's abilities," Kirei replied respectfully.
"Kaguya?" Tokiomi's brow furrowed deeper. "What was she doing there? She wasn't supposed to be involved."
"Indeed, she was following the plan initially. However, for some reason, she suddenly appeared at the Einzbern estate," Kirei explained.
"Could she have discovered something?" A glint of suspicion flashed in Tokiomi's eyes.
"It's unlikely," Kirei responded. "If she had uncovered anything, she would have taken action by now."
"Good." Tokiomi sighed, his expression softening. "And what about Assassin?"
"Assassin has been completely wiped out," Kirei reported gravely. "It was Kaguya who killed them."
"Killed by her?" Tokiomi rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought. "So, have we learned anything about her strength?"
"It's hard to say for certain," Kirei said. "She appears to be able to summon extraordinarily powerful individuals, but her own strength is formidable as well. How many trump cards she holds, or how much power she's still concealing, is unclear. I have the feeling that what we've seen is not the full extent of her abilities."
"I see." Tokiomi pondered for a moment before speaking again. "For now, return to me. Set aside the matter of Rider and his allies. We mustn't tip our hand too soon."
"Yes, my teacher," Kirei responded, his tone deferential.
The night had fallen. As the soft glow of city lights illuminated the horizon, the king's banquet had reached its end.
"The excitement of the evening seems to have worn off," Iskandar sighed. "Perhaps we've said all that needed to be said. Well then, let's call it a night." With that, he stood, preparing to leave.
"Wait, Rider," Saber quickly rose to her feet, calling out to him. "Wait, I still haven't—"
"You needn't speak further, Saber," Rider interrupted, turning to face her. "Tonight was a banquet of kings, but I can no longer recognize you as a king."
He drew a short sword and, with a wave of his hand, summoned his chariot amidst the crackle of lightning.
"Little girl," Iskandar said with a sigh, "It's time to wake up from that painful dream of yours. If not, you'll lose even the bare minimum pride that comes with being a hero. The kind of king you speak of… it's nothing more than a cursed ideal."
"What are you saying?" Saber asked urgently.
"I disagree with you," Kaguya interjected, standing up and laughing softly. "Saber is first and foremost a knight, and only after that is she a king. Her perspective is not wrong. Not everyone is as domineering as you are, Rider. What Saber follows is a path of kingly justice—it's her own way."
"Kingly justice?" Iskandar mused for a moment before bursting into laughter. "I don't quite understand what that means, but it doesn't sound like a lie you'd make up on the spot. I may not agree with your view, but I do admire you."
"Fool!" Gilgamesh's brows furrowed in irritation. "Are you lusting after my treasure?"
"Of course not, hahaha," Rider laughed heartily. "At first, I thought she was just an ordinary woman with some skill. But now I see she's far more than that. I get the feeling she won't stay here for long."
"Hmph," Gilgamesh crossed his arms, scoffing. He had no more to say.
"Well then, farewell, everyone," Iskandar said with a broad grin. "When we fight again, don't hold back!" With that, he mounted his chariot, which soared into the sky amidst a storm of flashing lightning.
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