Chapter 103. Kasumigaoka Utaha painfully holds her face, "Oh, I'm dead..."
(Note to readers: I just checked the wiki and carefully searched some Chinese terms, so a few Magecraft terms will have slight changes. Also, in the previous chapter, I confused Primogenitor (Strike the Blood vampire) and True Ancestor (Fate vampire); both are written as "Shinso" in Japanese, which literally translates as True Ancestor, so it's not exactly wrong — just that the English terms used by different anime fandoms are different.)
[Before the crumbling ruins of the castle, Yukinoshita Yukino's gaze was resolute, and in her palm, lightning flashed, projecting Kanshou and Bakuya.]
[At such a critical moment, fighting shoulder to shoulder with Raku Sou — how could she possibly stand still and not advance!]
[However…]
["Gugii~."]
[A hunched black shadow suddenly appeared, letting out a strange laugh, and unexpectedly threw out countless throwing knives.]
[At the same time, the cursed arm swung up, multiplying infinitely, extending in midair into countless dense black hands, quickly merging into a giant Demon God-class arm that blotted out the sky, like a thick mass of black clouds slamming down.]
[Boom!]
[A deafening explosion — the ground formed a massive crater shaped clearly like a hand.]
["Assassin?!"]
[Yukino narrowly dodged, leaping onto a high wall, frowning as she looked at the opponent.]
[But without hesitation, the battle experience honed by the Child of Light Cu Chulainn, combined with the inherited memories from Servant Yukino, made her instantly dive down, calm and composed, launching an attack on Hassan of the Cursed Arm.]
[As she was now, she wasn't necessarily unable to defeat a Servant of the Assassin Class, who wasn't good at direct combat!]
["Clang clang!!"]
[In that moment, Kanshou and Bakuya clashed against the Demon God arm, the fierce sound of friction echoing across heaven and earth.]
[The battle immediately fell into a fierce stalemate!]
["Go help her——."]
[The Purge King remained calm, and in his palms appeared two dazzling rainbow lights of Amplification Magecraft.]
["But Your Grace's lifespan…" the twin maids hesitated slightly, advising.]
["It doesn't matter. Even if we win this Holy Grail War, I won't live much longer anyway."]
[The head of the Einzbern family, always bearing a weary gaze, spoke calmly, raising his hands to strike the two beams of rainbow light into the bodies of the twin maids. His face then turned pale, half his hair turning white, almost entirely whitening.]
[At the same time, the aura of the twin maids erupted, almost suffocating to those nearby.]
[Two merged into one, with power enough to rival a Servant!]
[This was one of the key reasons why the Purge King could successfully rebel and seize the centuries-old legacy of the Einzbern house.]
[The twin maids exchanged glances; without time for further words, they immediately dashed into the battlefield.]
[The blue-haired Homunculus maid swung her chained mace, smashing fiercely toward Hassan of the Cursed Arm; the pink-haired Homunculus maid chanted a spell, raising her hand to slash out a hundred-meter-long sharp blue wind blade — one in front, one behind — pinching the hunched black shadow in a pincer attack.]
[Hassan of the Cursed Arm was slightly surprised, immediately concealing his presence, hiding into the hidden spatial dimension inside the Demon God's stomach.]
[And thus, a three-on-one battle formation was established!]
...
"I gotta say, the members of the three great families are all geniuses."
Many people from Earth sighed, vaguely feeling a sense of admiration and respect in their hearts.
These three family heads were definitely not ordinary people.
One possessed the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, with countless trump cards constantly appearing, and was a master of both Jewel Magecraft and Reinforcement Magecraft.
One wielded Amplification Magecraft, with a vicious temperament, commanding a Homunculus army that, although not as strong as a Servant, was enough to sweep through Japan's Mage circles, making countless Magus tremble.
One wielded Worm Magecraft…
Wait a minute…
It seems… there's a useless loser mixed in?
Everyone suddenly remembered Makoto and instantly fell silent.
"…"
That bastard really was the disgrace of the three great families — even with Medusa in his hands, he couldn't do a damn thing; his own Magecraft was pathetically weak, and besides fucking women, he didn't seem to know how to do anything else. In the end, he even got slashed eight times in a single second by Enoshima Junko, ending up with death on Gorgon hand.
"Maybe… Makoto did try his best after all; he's still a genius with forty magic circuits."
Someone scratched their head, thinking for a long time but still not knowing what to say.
Matou Makoto's performance was truly an eyesore, but — that's only when compared to the absurd bugs in this Fifth Holy Grail War.
After all, this time they had the cheating referee Junko, the Ally of Justice Yukino, the Tyrant The Purge King, the Honored One Raku Sou…
Against these monsters, a normal genius didn't stand a chance.
If it were a normal Holy Grail War, that useless guy would surely stand out more… maybe.
...
The scene shifted, up to the vast sky, where two figures were facing off.
[At this moment, even Raku Sou, who possessed the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, felt the pressure.]
[More importantly, he needed to conserve strength to finish off Gilgamesh!]
[But…]
[He wasn't fighting alone!]
[Holding a replica of Durandal, Raku Sou coldly charged straight into the formation.]
[Almost simultaneously, a brilliant white light flashed over, lifting him onto horseback, swiftly dashing toward the tight formation of puppets.]
[With her Agility at A+, Rider combined with Raku Sou's Mystic Eyes of Death Perception — truly a perfect combination blessed by heaven!]
[To most Servants, they were nothing less than a terrifying killing machine!]
[Raku Sou calmly said: "Medusa, after you're done here, go assist Yukino."]
[Up ahead, Medusa swung her chains, a faint smile curling at her lips. Being trusted by her own Master felt truly wonderful — especially when compared to some trashy Master out there.]
...
"This insane…"
"Of course Gilgamesh is insane!"
"No, I mean Raku Sou."
"Don't forget, the Holy Grail War only lasts seven days — and it's just the fourth day, yet Raku Sou has already grown this strong."
"If this Holy Grail War weren't packed with bugs, I'd bet he alone could probably crush all seven standard Servants."
"Gilgamesh is the oldest Hero King, the exalted form of legend, possessing the Gate of Babylon — and Raku Sou is just a modern human, the adopted child of a small Mage family, and in just a few days he's grown this powerful…"
"This…"
"I can only say: in a world of cheaters, I truly can't understand a thing."
"AYO guys! Saber and Berserker have reached Tokyo!!"
"It's over, it's over, Tokyo's totally doomed."
Amidst a flurry of mocking banter, everyone was both terrified and excited.
Tokyo! The capital of Japan!
It was the political, economic, cultural, transportation, and multi-sector center of the country.
With a resident population of fourteen million, the total metropolitan population reaching thirty-seven million, it was a world-class mega-city, home to people from all over the globe.
And now, everyone could almost see the scene of this international mega-city…
A giant "DANGER" sign floating in the sky.
Such a prosperous city being destroyed — it was so thrilling— ahem, such a pity ~~!
But the tens of millions living in the Tokyo metropolitan area clearly weren't in any mood to feel thrilled.
"Please no!"
At this moment in Tokyo, many people wanted to cry but couldn't, screaming inwardly in unison, yet utterly powerless.
Including a plump girl using the pen name "Utako" and a blonde "Losing Heroine."
Even though the people inside the Celestial Curtain were merely counterparts from parallel worlds, when they witnessed another version of themselves die miserably, they still felt pain and fear as if through some telepathic connection.
Moreover…
Who could guarantee that the scenes in the Celestial Curtain wouldn't eventually happen in the real world!!
...
Along with everyone's shocked cries, the camera zoomed in closer and closer, becoming incredibly clear.
[Two streaks of red-black lightning slashed across the sky, colliding with each other, erupting into chaotic waves of purple-black energy. Finally, one of the streaks was blasted back hundreds of meters, falling from the sky onto the towering peak of Tokyo Tower, which reached up to the clouds.]
[That corrupted king stood indifferently atop Tokyo Tower, her golden-white hair fluttering, gazing down upon the world from above.]
["Hey, there's someone up there?!"]
["Wearing heavy armor? Is that a cosplayer?!"]
The nearby crowd instantly stirred, utterly shocked, finding it hard to believe.
[In the square, a plump girl with long, straight black hair, somewhat impatient, raised her binoculars upon hearing this — and instantly froze. Then, her eyes lit up with stunning amazement.]
[She looked like a cold goddess of war, exuding an ominous, unapproachable aura, like a final boss stepping out of the screen — cold, sinister, solemn… carrying an alluring, bewitching charm.]
[Immediately after, she excitedly pulled out her phone to record, wanting to capture this unforgettable moment.]
...
Reality.
"Run!!"
"Stop filming, run you idiot!!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha clutched her face in pain.
She was in despair over the stupidity of her other-world self.
If that's not mental deficiency, then what is?
The very next moment.
...
[At the top of the tower, Black Saber glanced at the massive shadow barreling in from the outskirts of the city. She raised her sword…]
[Magic power surged into the blade, terrifying blood-red patterns lit up, spreading out.]
[RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!]
[A pillar of blood-red light crashed down from the heavens.]
[Like a blood dragon roaring, bellowing, furious enough to tear the entire world apart!]
[Even from the far edges of Tokyo, people could clearly see the blood-red light pillar, thousands of meters tall, rising and then crashing down, piercing the clouds, its violent aura dyeing the whole sky red, filling everyone with terror.]
[At the very moment the giant was about to ram into Black Saber, it was blasted away.]
["BOOM BOOM BOOM…!!"]
[The colossal body was sent flying dozens of kilometers, creating deafening shockwaves, like a crystal cannonball smashing through Akihabara!]
[Satou Kazuma, who had just stepped out of a maid café in Akihabara, froze in fear, then immediately bolted at full speed. Unfortunately, not paying attention, he fell into an open sewer hole. As his body twitched in pain, he kept cursing.]
["Goddammit, who the hell stole the sewer cover this time…?!"]
[The next moment.]
["BOOM!!"]
[A pitch-black blade of sword energy, as massive as a skyscraper, slashed across, tearing open several kilometers, obliterating everything around in the most brutal way possible.]
[The entire Akihabara district — people, cars, buildings — all were sliced clean in half.]
[But... Satou Kazuma still alive!!!]
...
"Ohh, Kazuma sure is lucky…"
At the training base of the Supernatural Disaster Countermeasures Bureau, Hideyoshi, who was practicing, twitched at the corner of his mouth as he watched the scene.
Could it really be true that the more shameless you are, the luckier you get?
Damn it…
That's something I just can't learn!
"It's just luck, just luck…"
Kazuma gave a sheepish laugh, but in his eyes, there was an indescribable smugness.
Unless some blue ultra-unlucky person clung to him, his life would always be this lucky.
…
"Ah, I'm done for."
In reality, under the gaze of the "Losing Heroine" Eriri, the plump, black-stockinged Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke in a flat, emotionless tone.
After all, she had a premonition beforehand.
Reacting a bit faster, slipping underground — if lucky, maybe she'd survive, like the guy named Kazuma.
But people who liked to crowd around excitement…
Once dead, who could they blame? Saber? She wouldn't dare…
...
["BOOM BOOM BOOM…!!"]
[Thunder roared nonstop, the blood-drenched clouds in the sky gathering tightly.]
[The giant let out a deafening roar, his rock-hard muscles erupting with power. With a thunderous boom, he launched himself forward from the cratered ground, covering several kilometers in an instant.]
[The air was ripped into layered shockwaves, and the massive axe in his hand seemed poised to unleash a nuclear blast!]
[Black Saber gave a faint smile on her pale cheek, leapt into the air, and swung her sword—another towering pillar of mana light crashed down.]
[Heracles, refusing to back down, suddenly tore the entire Tokyo Tower from its base, the steel bending under millions of tons of weight. Yet in his hands, it became as supple as a leather whip, lashing out at supersonic speed, smashing directly into Black Saber's mana pillar!]
["BOOM!!"]
[After the clash of these two peak powers, Tokyo Tower was instantly pulverized, like a snapped whip.]
[After all, it was merely a human-made structure, and Heracles didn't possess the "A Knight Does Not Die With Empty Hands" trait.]
[Just the fact that he could hold off the Excalibur beam for even a moment, using sheer brute force to blast it apart, was extraordinary!]
[Immediately after, Black Saber sprang up, landing coldly atop a tower even grander, far larger than Tokyo Tower.]
[Heracles was right on her heels, his muscular arm snaking forward like a coiling dragon.]
...
"No, stop!!"
In reality, countless Japanese people widened their eyes, mouths agape, screaming in anguish.
Tokyo Skytree, officially recognized by Guinness on November 17, 2011, as the "World's Tallest Tower," standing as the tallest tower on Earth.
One of their last remaining sources of national pride!
A testament to the craftsmanship spirit of Japan!
And yet…
...
["BOOM BOOM BOOM!"]
[A massive earthquake shook the ground violently, and the iconic six-hundred-meter-tall Tokyo Skytree collapsed, its tremors spreading across kilometers, toppling skyscraper after skyscraper.]
[It was as if a mythological giant was smashing apart a Lego set!]
[In the blink of an eye, thousands of square meters were reduced to rubble.]
[The rampage continued!]
[All Tokyo signals were cut, all the city's iconic landmarks wiped out, the glittering neon lights draping the city went dark.]
[All of Tokyo plunged into darkness, a total blackout.]
[Amid countless shivering, terrified screams of Tokyo's citizens, the blood-drenched sky kept flashing with monstrous pillars of light.]
[Entire districts were demolished, razed flat, countless skyscrapers crumbling with thunderous crashes.]
[Two Servants, using the Tokyo metropolitan area as their main battlefield, erupted in a mythic clash unprecedented in history!]
...
Tokyo… was finished.
Watching those beams flash repeatedly, like the sky's wrath sweeping across the city, annihilating all matter — people around the world clearly realized it.
Two gods were battling here, and the unlucky were forever just small fish in the pond.
Humanity was too weak.
Even without intending to harm, they were still swept away like ants.
...
...
...
Note: Is this author seriously committed to destroying Japan?
Still, Saber vs. Berserker really reminds me of that fanmade Gojo vs. Sukuna + Judas–Lady Gaga video, with Hollow Purple through the city. I'm honestly looking forward to the day this gets anime.
… Thinking about it, in Jujutsu Kaisen they also wreck entire cities when fighting, so Saber vs. Berserker feels kinda similar — maybe it's not that unreasonable after all?