Moon Fall Command Without Much Talk

Counting it up, this was the fourth time Naoki had unleashed his Mystic Eyes.

The first was five years ago, during his duel with Emiya Kiritsugu.

The second, also five years ago, in the decisive battle against Sajyou Manaka.

The third, about four years ago, in the underground tomb of Gray's hometown.

And now, the fourth time, with his opponent being the Hero of Charity, Karna—a perfect foe for these Mystic Eyes.

The maximum activity limit remained five minutes, unchanged. If the Mystic Eyes' function was applied to someone else for too long, the power sealing Manaka would weaken. Five minutes was the longest duration Naoki had tested to maintain the seal's strength.

Just five minutes to try and defeat Karna.

Such a statement might not even be dared by Arjuna or Gilgamesh.

After all, Karna was immensely powerful. Not only in martial prowess, but he also possessed several potent Noble Phantasms, each so strong they could be called game-breaking.

His strength was undeniable.

Thus, the need to unleash the Mystic Eyes. Naoki wasn't arrogant enough to think he could defeat Karna with just Summoning Magecraft. To face him, he had to go all out.

"Did it work? Your golden armor."

The moment the Mystic Eyes were activated, Naoki realized something.

The golden armor was effective against his Mystic Eyes.

Karna's soul was indeed being eroded, but at a snail's pace, barely noticeable to the naked eye. Fully eroding it… might not even be possible in ten minutes.

It made sense.

Though the Soul Eater Mystic Eyes' effect was extraordinary, they were ultimately just a form of Magecraft, activated through the eyes. Meanwhile, the golden armor reduced Magecraft interference to a tenth.

"I didn't expect you to have eyes like that."

Karna's expression turned serious.

"Mystic Eyes that directly affect the soul. Without this armor, my soul might've been eroded in just a minute."

Though he could endure for a while, maintaining peak combat strength in this state… a few minutes at most?

Karna was certain Naoki was a formidable enemy he had to defeat with all his might. The power shown against Atalanta and the Mystic Eyes now unleashed—undoubtedly, a powerful foe!

*BOOM!*

Flame Burst activated, sun-like flames engulfing Karna's body. Like a phoenix spreading its wings, Karna thrust his spear at Naoki!

A terrifying heatwave hit Naoki's face. The divine spear, wreathed in flames, aimed straight for his head.

So fast!

In his unpossessed state, with his fairy traits unawakened, Naoki could barely react. Yet, just as the divine spear was about to strike, his body issued a warning.

*RUMBLE!*

Mana more intense than Karna's erupted from Naoki's slender frame. The Red Moon sigil on the back of his hand glowed with a blazing red moonlight.

Summoning Magecraft!

Moon Princess Armament!

*CLANG!*

A deafening metallic clash echoed through the corridor.

*CRASH!*

The explosive impact obliterated the surrounding space!

The ceiling collapsed, walls crumbled, and the ground shattered—the once-pristine lavish corridor was utterly destroyed by a single clash, a single strike from both.

A hand transformed into claws tightly gripped the divine spear.

The golden divine spear pressed against the arm before it.

'To catch my spear barehanded…'

'This spear's pretty heavy—physical damage rank A, huh?'

For a moment, their eyes locked.

Then—

*BOOM!*

As they broke apart, the divine spear swung, a long-range slash striking Naoki, the immense impact hurling him like a meteor. He crashed through every structure in a straight line for nearly a kilometer behind him, leaving what looked like a massive rift in the Hanging Gardens.

Slamming both feet into the ground to stop himself, Naoki, after stabilizing, suddenly swung his claws at Karna.

*SSHHHRRIIING!*

The fierce wind from ten claws tore through the earth. An invisible slash shot nearly a thousand meters in an instant toward Karna.

Without hesitation, Karna raised his divine spear to block.

*CRASH!*

The tremendous impact threw him back as well.

Not even direct contact, yet after traveling a thousand meters, it still had such power?!

It was hard to imagine the damage if those claws struck directly—even with the golden armor, it wouldn't fare much better.

*DONG!*

A tremor from the ground briefly interrupted Karna's thoughts. In a moment too brief for breathing or blinking, Naoki was already before him.

A single stomp—

*CRACK!*

The ground caved in. If there was a basement, it would've collapsed.

The Hanging Gardens trembled slightly from it.

'Missed, two o'clock—'

Ignoring the shattered ground beneath him, Naoki turned toward the blazing flames in the distance, clenching his right hand in the air.

*CRASH!*

Space itself exploded.

And then began an endless chain of explosions.

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

As if an entire minefield had been triggered, explosions roared continuously under the night sky.

Flames, fierce winds, and impacts mingled chaotically, devastating the garden.

'Space… no, is he turning the air explosive?'

Karna, soaring through the air with Flame Burst's flames, quickly grasped the situation's essence.

'If so—'

Flames gathered above Naoki's head, forming dozens of divine spears in an instant.

Simultaneously, "Brahmastra Kundala."

Pouring Mana into the divine spear, Karna hurled it with all his might at Naoki.

*RUMBLE!*

The blazing light and destructive divine spear fell like an avalanche.

The raging flames instantly dragged a hundreds-meter radius around Naoki into a hellish sea of fire, creating a lava zone in the Hanging Gardens.

A small mushroom cloud rose into the sky!

Yet, this lava zone lasted only a moment.

As Naoki's figure reappeared in Karna's sight, the steaming ground beneath his feet visibly froze.

Seconds ago, it was a gate to hell; now, it rivaled a permanently frozen polar glacier.

"Here's my return gift!"

As if repaying the attack, Naoki raised his hand to the sky.

*RUMBLE!*

A heavy pressure descended. The terrifying force, accompanied by a low rumble, spread across the sky. The pressure from above even made the atmosphere tremble.

Karna looked up.

A blazing red moon shone above his head!

Moon Fall.