Shinji Matou at Your Service

In the critical moment, Karna didn't hesitate. He pushed his Master out of the way, taking the hit from the black shadow himself, which pierced through his chest.

He was utterly exhausted. The previous battle and the final strike had drained all his strength. Even pushing his Master was an act of pure willpower. Dodging the attack was out of the question.

After piercing his chest, the black shadow didn't launch a second attack. Instead, it landed on the ground, expanding and twisting into a human form.

"How surprising—despite all that, you still have strength left. As expected of India's greatest hero, your reputation doesn't fall short of the legends."

"You surprise me as well. Even an attack like that couldn't destroy you," Karna replied, badly wounded but still standing.

"No, you truly did destroy me—both my body and my soul. As expected from a divine spear that can even slay gods. However, you only destroyed Roa, not Kotomine Kirei—or, if you prefer, you can call me another Roa."

The man speaking was no longer the golden-haired Westerner but a black-haired, black-eyed Easterner. This face, this attire—everyone recognized him. He was Roa's 18th incarnation, the heretic condemned by the Church, and the father of Caren Hortensia.

"Another Roa…"

Clairvoyance pierced through the deception, revealing the truth of the soul.

In every one of Roa's incarnations, he had forcibly taken over someone else's body using his soul.

But this incarnation was different. When the emotionally defective Kotomine Kirei, who knew nothing of joy, encountered Roa, it was like Adam and Eve meeting the serpent—he succumbed easily. In the end, Kirei made a choice even Roa hadn't anticipated: Kirei willingly abandoned his sense of self and fused with Roa.

Of course, this wasn't a true fusion in the strictest sense—that would have been too risky. Even the soul of an innocent newborn was difficult to fully absorb, and Darnic, whose personality had collapsed and was sustained only by his obsessions, was a prime example of the dangers.

Roa and Kirei's fusion was more like a spiritual resonance or synchronization, where both parties reached a mutual understanding. Kirei willingly cooperated with Roa's thoughts and actions, unlike Ciel, who had resisted Roa's control even when it was futile.

In this process, Roa and Kirei's consciousnesses became highly unified, to the point where they could even share memories. Yet their souls remained separate entities, like the "two-in-one" beings from Japanese mythology—or perhaps more accurately, two identical souls. Everything Roa knew, Kirei also knew.

After his physical form was destroyed, Roa entered the Greater Grail with Kirei. When Roa obtained the true Genesis Soil, he naturally created a new body for Kirei as well, both as a successor and as a final insurance.

This was why Roa had no qualms about standing before everyone, brazenly provoking them all at once. Even with Arcueid's sealing powers and Karna's god-slaying spear, he remained calm—because even if this Roa was destroyed, there would always be another Roa.

Karna's self-sacrificing strike had undoubtedly succeeded—the god-slaying spear had lived up to its EX-rank reputation. However, it could only be used once and could only destroy one target. And now, Karna was at the end of his strength, unable to deal with Kirei, who had become the second Roa.

"Have you figured it out? If so, it's time to say goodbye."

With a smile of satisfaction, Kirei raised his hand toward Karna. A blast of pure magical energy shot out, shattering Karna's body into pieces.

"Karna!"

Luvia clenched her fists but didn't lose her composure or act recklessly.

On the one hand, this was due to the strict education she had received as a magus. On the other hand, it was because Karna had sent her a telepathic message—his spirit core had already been broken before he was blown apart. His destruction was inevitable, merely a matter of time.

This was also why no one had rushed in to save him—though the sudden shift in the situation had certainly caused some delay in their response. After all, even Roman, with his top-tier Clairvoyance, hadn't noticed the attack in time. How could anyone else? EX-rank Clairvoyance wasn't omnipotent.

However, just because Luvia didn't seek revenge didn't mean Kirei would let her go.

Kirei turned around and, in a single step, appeared before Luvia. His hand, which had yet to retract from its previous attack, came down directly toward her. He knew very well that while Karna's self-sacrificial assault had destroyed Roa, Luvia's Command Seals, and magical support had been crucial. He intended to avenge his other half, his soul-bound companion.

At this moment, Luvia was completely drained of mana and had no way to defend herself against Kirei, who had inherited all of Roa's powers and stepped into the realm of a Beast. Fortunately, this time, everyone was prepared.

Rin and Sakura each grabbed one of Luvia's hands and pulled her away, while Kirei's hand was intercepted by another hand.

It was Roman, who had been the first to realize something was wrong and the first to rush in to save someone. Though he hadn't made it in time to save Karna, he had managed to save Luvia.

"I promised Karna that if he was no longer here, I would protect his Master."

"You idiot! Stop playing the hero and run! You can't beat him!"

Olga Marie shouted, stomping her feet in frustration. She was heartbroken over Karna's death, but no matter how upset she was, she couldn't ignore reality—if even Karna had died, what could Roman do?

"Is that so?"

Kirei's lips curled into a smirk. In the next instant, he appeared right in front of Olga Marie, repeating the same attack as before—his message was clear: if you're going to protect Karna's Master, who will protect your Master?

Roman responded with action. He threw a punch at Kirei's face, sending the man who had dared to attack his Master flying. Whether it was Luvia or Olga Marie, Roman made it clear that he would protect them both—because he could.

"You are—"

Kirei rubbed his cheek as he got back up.

"I am Solomon."

As Romani spoke his true name, his disguise fell away. His pink hair turned white, his fair skin darkened to a Central Asian tan, and his casual winter clothes were replaced by a regal white robe, symbolic of his nobility.

"Technically, I shouldn't be calling myself that in this state. But since you call yourself a Beast, I'll say it once. I am one of the seven Grand Servants, guardian of humanity, and an enemy of Beasts like you."

"…"

Kirei couldn't laugh anymore. He realized he had completely misjudged the situation. He had assumed Roman was the most useless of the Servants, but now it was clear Roman was among the strongest.

Kirei wasn't the only one who had misjudged him. Everyone present—even those who didn't know Romani's true identity—had thought of him as nothing more than a lucky fool. Especially Olga Marie, who had often regretted summoning Solomon. But now—

"Y-you, you, you—"

"Save the scolding for later. Let me deal with this enemy first."

With a wave of his long sleeve, Solomon gently sent Olga Marie over to Luvia's side.

"I had hoped to laze around until the very end, but it seems that's no longer an option. To avoid further complaints from my Master—and to honor Karna—I'll have to take you down."