"Is this what makes me inferior to him?"
In her subconscious, Sajyou Manaka hugged her knees, watching Naoki transform back into Arthur and fight shoulder-to-shoulder with her Prince. The initial shock in her heart from the Prince's appearance had faded, leaving only confusion and doubt.
She didn't understand why the Prince harmonized so well with Naoki. Clearly, in terms of Magus power, Manaka was stronger. In terms of ability as a Master, she was superior. So why couldn't she achieve such a bond with the Prince?
Was it because she couldn't understand the Prince?
No, that was impossible.
Manaka knew the Prince's thoughts, his dreams. Thus, she always acted to realize his dreams, always thinking of him. During the Holy Grail War, she never troubled the Prince in the slightest, never felt any discomfort with him.
Their relationship should have been perfect.
In contrast, Naoki always needed the Prince's protection. Without him, Naoki could do nothing, even feeling dissatisfied with the Prince's actions and arguing with him.
A man like that—why did he deserve the Prince's sacrifice? Why did he deserve the Prince giving his life for him?
Manaka didn't understand.
The omniscient, omnipotent Root Princess didn't understand.
"It's just trust."
Merry's figure appeared before Manaka.
Leaning on her staff, Merry smiled at Manaka: "What makes Naoki and Arthur have such a relationship is their trust in each other—or rather, their bond."
"Bond? Trust? I have that with the Prince too—"
"No, you don't." Merry shook her head. "The way you interact can't form a bond of trust."
How does one form a bond of trust?
According to Merry, sharing life-and-death experiences and forging a shared destiny is the most direct way. By chance, Naoki and Arthur were such a case.
Naoki met Arthur when he had nothing. From the start, he depended on him, relying on his protection. Then, after gaining the Mystic Eyes, he stepped out from that protection to fight as a Master. Finally, he fought side-by-side with Arthur, facing the same enemies together.
In just a few days, he achieved growth that might have taken a lifetime.
For Arthur, a knight, the trust and support of his Master were the strongest pillars. Naoki gave him 100% trust from the beginning, believing Arthur could protect him, supporting him in pursuing his desires, and ultimately, as his comrade-in-arms, entrusting his life to him.
Thus, to thank a Master who trusted him so deeply, who fought alongside him until the end, who sacrificed for him, Arthur chose to sacrifice himself.
This was a bond only achievable by comrades who fought and lived together.
As for Manaka and Arthur—
"You never placed Arthur on equal footing with you. From the moment you fell in love with him, you could no longer have the relationship you longed for with him," Merry smiled, delivering another mental blow to Manaka. "This is the difference between you and Naoki, the one thing in which you're inferior to him."
"You, who are omniscient and omnipotent, completely fail to understand this one thing."
Manaka fell silent.
The one thing she didn't understand, despite being an omniscient, omnipotent existence. There shouldn't be anything she couldn't comprehend.
(No… I'm no longer… omniscient and omnipotent.)
She had admitted it—when she couldn't understand why the Prince acted that way toward that vixen, why she lost to her, she was no longer omniscient and omnipotent.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Real World.
The clash of Noble Phantasms didn't last long.
After unleashing the God-Slaying Spear and fighting Naoki all-out for so long, Karna had little strength left. The final Noble Phantasm duel to determine the victor was his last obsession.
No, it should be said that the reason he could fight this far was because of this obsession.
He believed that for an honorable opponent, he had to use his full strength.
And after exerting all his power, unleashing his final Noble Phantasm—
"I've lost."
On the ruins, Karna, his body fading into specks of light, spoke calmly, a faint smile of satisfaction at the corner of his lips.
He had no regrets.
Fulfilling his Master's orders until the very end, fighting relentlessly against an honorable opponent.
Karna had never felt such contentment in life.
"You're incredibly strong, Karna."
Standing nearby, Naoki, leaning on his Holy Sword with one arm hanging limply, gave a bitter smile. With Tsukihime, it wouldn't have been like this, but he didn't regret switching to Arthur one bit. He even considered his wounds an honor.
"Fighting you was my fortune, Karna. If there's a chance, I'd truly want to fight you again."
"Thank you for your praise. I feel the same, successor of the King of Knights," Karna smiled. "But if we could fight side-by-side…"
That would surely be an even more delightful situation.
With that thought, Karna fully vanished from his place.
Red Lancer, withdrawn.
"Ugh…"
After exiting Arthur's possession mode, Naoki, feeling a sudden emptiness in his body, collapsed to the ground, but a hand quickly steadied him from the side.
"Big Brother! Are you okay?"
"Eh… Gray?" Turning to Gray supporting him, Naoki gave a wry smile. "Sorry… I'm a bit… unable to stand, too much exertion…"
"I understand, I'll take you to rest right away—"
"To think even Lancer couldn't defeat you, Mister Naoki."
Just as Gray prepared to lead Naoki away from the battlefield, two figures blocked their path.
Amakusa Shirou and Semiramis.
"I deeply respect you, Mister Naoki. Without a doubt, you're a greater obstacle than Ruler. So, though it's a bit impolite and unethical, now is when you're weakest. Please withdraw here—Assassin."
"Understood~~"
Before Semiramis, a magic circle suddenly appeared.
"Arise!"
With that command, the magic circle shot upward, spinning and expanding.
A massive serpent's head emerged from within!
"This is a son of the Goddess Tiamat, Basmu. Its venom can even kill gods. Let it melt you both to nothing, bones and all."
Semiramis smiled as she made this declaration.
Basmu, one of the eleven Beasts born from Goddess Tiamat, a ferocious creature feared even by gods. This was Semiramis's greatest trump card, the world's oldest poisonous assassin.
Naoki, exhausted, couldn't possibly fight again. Ruler, a mere child, couldn't withstand this Beast.
Though sacrificing Karna, he had done his job well. Now, only the final blow remained, and Amakusa's ambitions would face no obstacles.
"Add, second stage."
Gray's voice suddenly rang out.
[Oh oh oh oh oh! Is it coming? Is it coming? I can't wait!]
Carefully setting Naoki down, Gray stood before him, steadying her trembling hands and feet, gripping her scythe tightly, and began chanting an ancient incantation.
"Gray… Rave… Crave… Deprave…"
(What is she trying to do?)
Amakusa gritted his teeth: "Assassin!"
"I know."
Whatever she planned, kill her before she could!
"Grave… me…"
"GAAAAAA—!"
Basmu, with its deadly venom, lunged at Gray, but at that moment, a brilliant blue magic cannon slammed into its head.
Naoki grinned with determination: "Hahaha… I can still squeeze out this much Mana…"
"You—"
"Grave… for you."
Amid Amakusa's anxious gaze, in the brief time Naoki bought, Gray completed her final chant.
[Personality simulation halted, Mana collection exceeds designated threshold, initiating second-stage restriction release.]
Add's voice was emotionless as the scythe's form unraveled, a radiant light slowly rising into the sky, a holy aura filling the garden.
"This time, I'll protect Big Brother!"
"Holy Spear!"
The Spear of the End, revealed.
"Rhongomyniad!"