Chapter 362

Chapter 362: Chapter 362

Kiriya shook his head and looked at the purple-haired woman in front of him with a faint smile.

"So this is one of the legendary Servants? I have to say, that’s pretty disappointing."

Watching Kiriya approach with complete composure, Rider immediately understood that conventional tactics were meaningless against this man.

If she wanted any chance of defeating him, she would have to rely on one of her trump cards.

Click.

She released the clasp behind her head and removed the blindfold covering her eyes.

It was a sealing Noble Phantasm designed to restrain her Mystic Eyes and prevent them from accidentally affecting allies—

[Breaker Gorgon: Self-Seal, Dark Temple.]

Now that she intended to use those eyes against a dangerous enemy, there was naturally no reason to keep them sealed.

However, the instant her vision returned, the first thing Rider saw was a pair of wine-red eyes staring directly into hers.

Within each pupil turned a strange windmill-like pattern.

’Those eyes... no!’

Rider’s consciousness blurred.

By the time she regained awareness, the world around her had completely changed.

She found herself trapped inside a dark crimson space, her body pinned in place by numerous metal wedges.

Every one of them drove agonizing pain through her nerves.

’An illusion?’

Rider was genuinely shocked.

This young man had yet another ability hidden up his sleeve.

Those strange eyes... were they some kind of extraordinarily powerful Mystic Eyes?

"I have to admire your courage."

Kiriya’s teasing voice echoed through the crimson world.

"You actually looked straight into these eyes."

His figure appeared before her.

"Welcome to my mental world. Here, time, space, matter—everything is under my control."

A smile appeared on his face.

"You’re going to spend a few very memorable days here."

After awakening the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Kiriya’s ocular power had reached an astonishing level.

His proficiency with genjutsu had increased dramatically, allowing him to create techniques similar in nature to the overwhelmingly oppressive Tsukuyomi.

He simply did not use such methods very often.

Given his personality, Kiriya still preferred the satisfaction of close combat, where every punch and strike connected directly, or spectacular clashes of large-scale techniques.

Manipulating someone’s mind through illusion had never been his favorite style.

But Rider had been preparing to use her Petrification Mystic Eyes.

That changed things.

Kiriya and Jeanne might possess enough resistance to endure them, but Ryuu and Esdeath did not have the same protection.

So unfortunately for Rider, Kiriya could no longer afford to hold back.

He raised one hand, preparing to snap his fingers and force Rider to relive some particularly painful memories.

Before he could do so, however, a brilliant red light suddenly erupted around her body.

Rider’s aura surged dramatically.

Kiriya’s vision flickered—

and the crimson illusion shattered.

The underground chamber returned.

"She broke free?"

Kiriya paused, recalling the red light surrounding her body, then immediately understood.

"A Command Spell. That old worm really doesn’t hesitate when it matters."

...

Deep underground, Zouken finally released the breath he had been holding.

The moment he sensed Kiriya’s Mystic Eyes trapping Rider in some kind of mental interference, he had immediately ordered Shinji to use the Book of the False Attendant.

"By the power of a Command Spell, dispel the mental interference affecting Rider!"

Rider already possessed considerable resistance to mental attacks, and with the additional reinforcement of a Command Spell, she successfully broke free.

"Rider, use your Noble Phantasm."

Zouken gave the next command without hesitation.

They could no longer afford to drag this battle out.

The enemy was far too dangerous.

Their strongest card had to be used immediately.

...

"Cover me!"

Rider had no objection to Zouken’s judgment.

She shouted, and countless insects once again flooded the vast underground chamber.

At the same time, several magical formations appeared across the ceiling and floor, unleashing dense volleys of magical bombardment toward Kiriya and the others.

Zouken clearly understood that the battle had reached a life-or-death stage and had begun coordinating directly with Rider.

Whatever else could be said about him, a Magus who had survived for centuries naturally possessed exceptional tactical experience and formidable Magecraft.

The combination of his insect swarm and magical artillery would have been enough to kill many second- or third-rate Servants outright.

Unfortunately, the people confronting him were anything but reasonable opponents.

Crack! Crack! Crack—!

Esdeath’s freezing power swept through the insect swarm and turned it into brittle ice.

Jeanne raised her battle flag, forming an unshakable curtain of light that absorbed every magical blast directed toward them.

Even Kiriya appeared forced to focus entirely on handling the incoming attacks, leaving him unable to interfere elsewhere.

That was the opening Rider had been waiting for.

"Bellerophon—Bridle of Chivalry!"

This was Rider’s strongest offensive Noble Phantasm.

Using her own blood as the medium, she summoned Pegasus, a Phantasmal Beast from the Age of Gods, then massively enhanced its attributes before launching a united charge with mount and rider acting as one.

"Neeiiigh—!"

The pure-white Pegasus spread its wings.

Its sacred, brilliant form radiated tremendous power, and with the heroic yet dangerously alluring Rider seated upon its back, the sight resembled a masterpiece pulled directly from myth.

Then Pegasus beat its wings.

The pair transformed into a streak of light and charged directly toward Kiriya.

Its overwhelming speed was matched by equally terrifying destructive power, while the enormous magical barrier surrounding Pegasus dramatically increased its defenses.

It was an attack that combined offense and protection into one devastating charge.

At full power, Rider had once been capable of forcing her way directly through Saber’s Excalibur and severely injuring her.

Had Saber not possessed such absurd magical reserves, that clash alone might have decided the entire battle.

True, another combatant had helped absorb part of the pressure at the time, but even that did nothing to diminish Bellerophon’s extraordinary destructive power.

Rider believed completely in this attack.

Whatever stood before her—she would crush it.

And yet...

Kiriya’s reaction was strange.

He did not retreat.

He did not raise a powerful defensive barrier.

He simply stood there motionless, almost as though he had been frightened into stupidity.

’What is he doing?’

’Is that some kind of Noble Phantasm?’

’But why can’t I sense any magical energy?’

Rider’s caution rose to its absolute limit.

Still, she did not stop.

More importantly, she couldn’t stop.

"Crush him, Pegasus!"

Rider shouted, forcing her speed even higher.

Just as Pegasus’s hooves were about to slam directly into Kiriya’s chest.... he disappeared.

Rider’s eyes widened.

Kiriya reappeared behind her.

One hand settled lightly against her shoulder, or rather, against the magical barrier surrounding her.

Then the ocular ability of his right eye activated.

Domain of Spell Extinction.

Every supernatural force in direct contact with Kiriya’s body was immediately erased.

The magical barrier around Rider vanished.

The magical energy reinforcing her body disappeared.

And most importantly—so did Pegasus beneath her.

The sudden loss of everything supporting her charge was so absurd that even the legendary "monster" Medusa went completely blank for an instant.

THUD!

Kiriya had no intention of wasting the opening.

His hand struck the side of Rider’s neck with tremendous force, instantly knocking her unconscious.

Wood Release vines immediately wrapped around her body, followed by Kiriya activating his energy-draining ability to completely suppress her.

Looking over the tightly bound purple-haired beauty in front of him, Kiriya nodded with obvious satisfaction.

Quite the artistic arrangement.

"Rider, by the power of a Command Spell, I order you to return to my side immediately."

Sakura’s voice suddenly reached the unconscious Servant.

Rider’s body transformed into particles of light and disappeared.

The carefully arranged web of vines Kiriya had just created collapsed uselessly onto the floor.

"Oh?"

His smile widened.

"So this time they used a Command Spell to summon the Servant away."

Against most people, it would have been an extremely effective escape method.

Without knowing the destination of the spatial transfer, locating the target again would have been like searching for a needle in the ocean.

Unfortunately for them—

Kiriya had already placed a Flying Thunder God mark on Rider.

"Well, that saves me the trouble of walking."

He returned to Esdeath, Jeanne, and Ryuu, placed a hand on them, and activated Flying Thunder God.

The four vanished instantly.

...

At the deepest level of the underground complex, Zouken had ordered Sakura to summon Rider back and was already preparing to retreat.

The enemy was too powerful.

For now, withdrawal was the only sensible choice.

Once he had gathered enough information about them, he could devise a countermeasure and strike back later.

He had survived countless crises using exactly that method, turning apparent defeats into eventual victories.

This time would be no different.

Zouken intended to have Rider carry Sakura while he transformed his body into a swarm of insects and followed alongside them.

As for Shinji?

He could die for all Zouken cared.

Rider had only just moved toward the worm pit to retrieve Sakura when an amused voice suddenly sounded beside them.

"Well, well, old bastard."

Kiriya’s voice carried clearly through the chamber.

"Where exactly do you think you’re going?"

The instant those words fell, the entire underground room seemed to freeze.