Chapter 244: Reaping What One Sows
"I order with my final Command Spell: Saber, destroy all the Assassins around me!"
The situation had developed into the very outcome Kiritsugu Emiya had most wanted to avoid.
Watching the Assassins charging at him, and Artoria being held back not far away, unable to come to his aid, Kiritsugu had no choice but to use the last Command Spell to reinforce Artoria, instructing her to eliminate the Assassins surrounding him.
As the final Command Spell was used, the symbol on Kiritsugu's left hand completely faded.
At the same time, an immense surge of magical energy instantly poured into Artoria's body, restoring her to her peak state in just one moment.
She leaned down and rapidly charged forward.
Her body quickly rotated and sliced through the explosives thrown by the Assassins.
Artoria passed the Assassins blocking her path like a whirlwind, appearing behind them, and continued charging towards Kiritsugu Emiya.
Behind her, the few Assassins who had been blocking her path stood rigid like wooden figures, then their bodies instantly collapsed as if they were porcelain jars.
"Quickly, kill him!"
Seeing Artoria rushing over at extreme speed, the Assassins surrounding Kiritsugu Emiya once again launched their attacks in unison.
This time, even if Kiritsugu used his Innate Time Controlto accelerate his own time flow, he would not be able to dodge completely.
However, at the crucial moment, Artoria released her Invisible Air once more.
A powerful air blast narrowly grazed Kiritsugu Emiya's cheek and struck one of the Assassins, opening a gap in the encirclement.
Kiritsugu Emiya desperately scrambled out of the opening Artoria had created for him. Artoria then passed him, continuing her charge towards the Assassins, trailing a fierce wind...
"What a pity..."
Seeing that Kiritsugu Emiya had used his last Command Spell to save his life, Hachiman Hikigaya's face was filled with regret.
Although the time they spent together was short, Artoria's character and conduct greatly impressed him.
If Kiritsugu Emiya had died obediently, he could have at least avoided the need for Karna to personally defeat Artoria and force her to withdraw.
"But since all three Command Spells have been used up, he's practically no longer a concern, is he?"
After all, judging from the previous two battles, it was an undeniable fact that Artoria was no match for Karna.
Without the aid of the Command Spells, Artoria's defeat was only a matter of time.
"In other words, Saber's Master has only delayed his own retreat time by using the Command Spells..."
Karna stood behind Hachiman Hikigaya, delivering the final verdict.
While they would not take advantage of the situation by striking during the Assassins' attack, it was clear that after Artoria dealt with those Assassins, neither she nor Kiritsugu would leave the deep pit alive tonight!
"Pfft!"
The sounds of a sword cutting into flesh continuously rang in Artoria's ears.
As the last Assassin fell beside her, this sudden ambush initiated by the Assassins was temporarily concluded.
However, neither Artoria nor Kiritsugu relaxed because of this.
Both of them turned their heads in unison toward Hachiman Hikigaya, who was indeed looking back at them with a cold expression, showing no sign of mercy.
"Saber, can we escape?"
Kiritsugu Emiya watched Hachiman Hikigaya with tightly furrowed brows.
He desperately hoped to avoid continuing the fight, but whether to fight or not was completely out of his hands now.
"I'm sorry, Kiritsugu, with him here, I don't think we can leave..."
Although she was reluctant to flee from battle, Artoria also knew this was the only way to avoid elimination right now.
But unfortunately, even though she had resolved to disengage from the fight, with Karna present, she could not retreat with Kiritsugu Emiya.
"Is that so? Then we have no choice but to fight..."
Artoria's answer was expected. Although the mentally prepared Kiritsugu Emiya was disappointed, he could only accept the result of a desperate struggle.
"If only I had taken out Avalon earlier."
Thinking of Avalon which was still inside Irisviel's body, Kiritsugu Emiya felt a pang of regret.
If Artoria had her scabbard, it would have at least increased their chances of victory by several folds...
But it was too late to regret now. Looking at the watchful Hachiman Hikigaya and Karna, Kiritsugu Emiya could only pin his hopes on Artoria creating a miracle.
"Karna, it's the third decisive round."
Seeing Artoria stride towards them, Hachiman Hikigaya pulled Sakura back a short distance, entrusting Artoria to Karna.
"I understand. This time, a victor will definitely be decided!"
Having already fought Artoria twice, Karna, who was now very familiar with her fighting skills, nodded upon hearing this and walked toward Artoria.
"Servant Saber, the King of Knights of Britain, my True Name is Artoria Pendragon!"
Perhaps knowing this was her final battle, Artoria held her sword vertically with both hands in front of her, announcing her True Name with a solemn tone.
"Servant Lancer, the son of the Sun God Surya, my True Name is Karna. Please enlighten me."
Karna held his spear in one hand, nodding slightly to express his respect to Artoria.
After exchanging greetings, both parties brought their respective weapons together, forming a cross, and fell into silence.
"Clang!"
As if by agreement, the two, who had been motionless, suddenly swung their weapons, attacking each other.
In just a few breaths, they exchanged more than ten blows. Sword light and firelight constantly flashed, and the sounds of metal clashing echoed in the deep pit.
Hikigaya Hachiman and Emiya Kiritsugu watched the two figures, who were now completely entangled in the center, with solemn expressions.
Due to the extreme speed of the attacks, they could only barely distinguish who was who by the red and blue silhouettes.
However, just as this final duel was underway, a sudden gunshot shattered the tranquility in the deep pit.
"Bang!"
The moment he heard the gunshot, Hikigaya Hachiman instantly used spiritual energy to form a barrier of magical energy around his body, while also pulling Sakura behind a piece of cover.
However, Kiritsugu, the target of the sniping, was not so lucky.
Having already expended a massive amount of energy and stamina during the previous Assassin attack, even though he sensed the bullet coming toward him, his utterly exhausted body could no longer move.
With a crisp sound, "Puh...", an irreparable hole appeared right on his chest.
"Sniper rifle..."
The image of the sniper's weapon and the bullet's characteristics flashed instantly through his mind. Kiritsugu Emiya was then astonished to realize that the gun was the very one he had specially customized!
"Killed by my own gun?"
With this thought flashing through his mind, a bitter smile appeared on Emiya Kiritsugu's face, and he subsequently collapsed onto the ruins.
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting