Two Against Two

Beyond expectations.

For Darnic, the current situation was utterly unexpected. He never imagined something like this could happen.

Moon Fall Magus, Natsukawa Naoki.

Despite having stayed within the castle for a long time, with the Church and the Mage's Association having Yggdmillennia spies, Darnic was always aware of outside events. Thus, he had heard of Naoki's fame.

But that was the extent of it.

How could a Magus perform the miracle of dropping the moon? That was far beyond the realm of Magecraft. An ordinary Magus could never achieve such a feat.

In Darnic's view, the so-called "Moon Fall" was merely a large-scale offensive magical ritual manifesting as a moon, requiring immense preparation time. Even given the entire duration of the Holy Grail War, it could likely only be used once.

So, despite knowing Naoki would participate, Darnic didn't care. Without "Moon Fall" Naoki was no threat against Servants. And even if he could use "Moon Fall" the castle, fortified with countless layers of Magecraft, couldn't possibly be destroyed by a single ritual.

For this Holy Grail War, the Yggdmillennia clan had prepared for 60 years. They were fully secure, with victory assured.

Yet—

"How could this happen…?"

Visibly shaken, Darnic gripped his staff tightly, glaring at Naoki. "When was the 'Moon Fall' ritual set up? And this power… is this really Magecraft? How could Magecraft have such immense power?!"

"Mmm, it's not Magecraft" Naoki said with a smile.

"Though it's not Magecraft, I don't plan to explain the details to you—you wouldn't understand anyway. Instead—"

Stomping the ground, sensing feedback from the earth spirits, Naoki nodded. "It seems the Greater Grail underground wasn't affected. Good thing I suppressed most of its power. If the Grail got destroyed, I'd be at a huge loss."

This wasn't a tainted Holy Grail but one that, in a sense, could genuinely grant wishes. It would be a shame if it were damaged.

Darnic's heart grew colder at those words—he even knew the Grail's location? Did that mean the Mage's Association also…

"You already consider the Holy Grail yours, Magus?"

Unfazed by Darnic's turmoil, Vlad III, astride a mighty steed, gazed at Naoki. "Your act of summoning the moon is commendable—no, admirable. Even in my lifetime, this King never saw a Magus with such ability."

"If possible, I'd like to recruit you as my subordinate. With such power, my kingdom would never have been trampled and invaded."

"I have no intention of being anyone's subordinate."

Hearing Naoki's blunt refusal, Vlad III sighed with slight regret. "A pity. If a talent like you can't be used, then the only option is—"

To destroy you!

*BZZZ!*

The ground trembled slightly, and in an instant, countless long iron stakes suddenly emerged without warning, like a wild forest shooting toward the sky. In a flash, the entire space within a hundred-meter radius turned into a steel jungle.

Kazikli Bey—one of Vlad III's Noble Phantasms, paired with his Defender of the State. Within the territory recognized by Defender of the State, it could simultaneously deploy up to twenty thousand stakes for attack, movement, and defense. A Noble Phantasm that combined offense and defense, it embodied the legend of Vlad III as the Lord Impaler.

Though each stake's destructive power wasn't high, a single hit would temporarily inflict continuous damage due to its Piercing effect. Moreover, if a spear tip pierced once, it could even generate stakes from within the enemy's body to impale them.

Undoubtedly, this was a Noble Phantasm of maximum ferocity!

Yet…

*BANG!*

A red pillar of fire suddenly erupted from among the countless stakes like a volcanic explosion, instantly burning and shattering all the stakes around it!

Standing amid the surging flames, Naoki waved his hand, expanding the fire's range in an instant. The crater, once filled with stakes, transformed into a blazing sea of fire in just two blinks.

Then—

*CRACK!*

Stomping the ground until it split, Mordred, her body wreathed in red lightning, charged through the sea of fire. Without targeting anyone specifically, she unleashed a powerful strike toward the Black Faction!

Those knocked back were her enemies!

*BOOM!*

The red lightning turned into a storm, disrupting the Black Faction's formation. Two figures were immediately sent flying by the attack! Seeing this, Mordred pursued, her sword radiating red lightning as she slashed at the two.

With Naoki as an exceptional Master, Mana was no issue for Mordred!

''The ones knocked back are… Franky and Astolfo, as expected.'' Naoki thought.

Glancing at Mordred's situation, Naoki refocused his attention. He clapped his hands, and the sea of fire, previously burning calmly, began to boil from the clap, gathering above his head to form dozens of giant fire swords.

*BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!*

Several golems that had risen from the ground were instantly obliterated.

After destroying the golems, the giant fire swords transformed into meteor-like fireballs, flying behind Naoki to precisely intercept all the arrows shot at him.

Looking at Avicebron before him and Chiron slightly farther away, Naoki smiled. "My opponents are you two, so Angelica over there is… well, as expected."

As expected?

Chiron was slightly confused. The situation was as he predicted? And he had just casually mentioned Chiron's true name…

'Have our true names been exposed?'

As Chiron pondered, a massive fiery fist formed above his head.

*BOOM!*

The giant fiery fist struck hard. Without glancing at the scorched crater, Naoki gave a faint smile, slightly raising both hands to let the flames envelop him again, facing Avicebron and Chiron, now protected by a dozen bronze golems.

"The founder of Kabbalah Magecraft and the renowned teacher of many Greek heroes—I'm eager to test both your abilities."