The vortex of pitch-black chaos had swallowed the entirety of Kitaguchi Station.
The terrifying black serpent, like a world-destroying demon beast, coiled around several buildings while hissing and roaring.
"Seriously, what in the world is this?"
Leaping several times and arriving at Naoki's side, Aoko stared at him with an unbearable and annoyed expression: "Kouhai-kun, what exactly is that thing that came out of you? It's incredibly dangerous! I thought I heard Arcueid say it was a Beast?"
"To put it simply, perhaps a Beast that, once fully emerged, could destroy the entire history of mankind. I sealed part of it inside me before, but now a portion has come out. Sorry, this is my fault."
Naoki turned his gaze to Arcueid, who was leaning against Aoko's back: "Can't hold on anymore? Arcueid?"
"Ugh... Naoki... Sorry for showing you such an embarrassing side of me... ugh!"
It seemed she was indeed almost reaching her limit.
"Is there any way to deal with it?"
"I'm fine!" Arcueid hurriedly said, "I'm fine, really fine. After this, I'll immediately return to the Millennium Castle and seal myself. Naoki, you don't need to worry about me—eh!"
Although she said that, seeing Arcueid's face full of pain and her golden eyes filled with blood vessels, Naoki knew she was still stubbornly enduring.
"GAAAAAAAAAAA—!"
The black serpent's roar sounded again.
Slightly annoyed, scratching his head, Naoki took a deep breath: "It's really one disaster after another... Miss Aoko! Take Arcueid and find Shiki! I believe he can handle this! Leave this to me!"
"Eh? Oh, I know—wait a minute, don't talk to your senior like that! And call me Aoko!"
"Alright, alright, alright, leave it to you, Aoko!"
"Roger!"
While carrying Arcueid on her back, Aoko looked at Naoki one last time: "Come back quickly, Naoki."
*THUMP!*
Hearing the sound of air splitting behind him, Naoki sighed: "You don't need to worry about me. Then now—let's settle our old scores, Manaka!"
Summoning Magecraft!
*CLANG!*
A brilliant starlight suddenly erupted from within Naoki's body. A light of dawn capable of dispelling all darkness and despair instantly enveloped his entire being.
The dazzling golden light instantly illuminated most of the night in Misaki Town!
This was no ordinary Summoning Magecraft, at least not a summoning of a fairy, nor a summoning of a sprite!
More importantly, the power contained within this light was—
"Saber—!"
*CLANG!*
The light shattered.
The King of Knights stood tall upon the earth!
"Did you answer my call? Arthur."
Looking at the armor, and feeling the power active within his body. Arthur's power, which had never actively shown itself for five years, only gradually influencing his body, today, for the first time, actively answered Naoki's call.
For the sake of stopping the disaster that had manifested.
[Advance! Naoki—My Master!]
It was as if Arthur's voice echoed in his ears.
"You don't need to tell me..."
"—I know too!"
Summoning Magecraft!
Heroic Spirit Armament!
Arthur Pendragon!
Saber!
The black serpent, which had been extremely angry, now actually looked incredibly joyful. After sensing Arthur's power, Manaka finally showed the form Naoki knew!
A form that fanatically loved Arthur!
[Saber! Saber! Saber! Saber! Saber! Saber! Saber! Saber!]
Repeatedly calling Saber, the black serpent's massive body instantly crushed the buildings it was coiled around, and with the speed of a god, it charged towards the silver light.
Everything along the way was directly struck and destroyed. Everything that stood in the black serpent's path to Naoki met with disaster.
"Everything that obstructs me (Manaka) from meeting Arthur must die!"
And facing this fiercely charging black serpent, a streak of starlight suddenly ignited in Naoki's hand.
That was the Holy Sword capable of defeating all evil, the Holy Sword of the Planet forged to save the world—now, the evil it had to defeat was right in front of him!
His own body knew how to use it. Even if he himself didn't know, the memories engraved in his Saint Graph and body knew.
Raising the Holy Sword high, Naoki shouted in a loud voice: "Release Thirteen Seals! Round Table Trial, Commence!"
[Acknowledged——]
Merlin's voice began to announce the results of the decision.
[Bedivere, Lancelot, Mordred, Gareth, Galahad—]
"This is, a war to save the world."
[Arthur]
True name, released!
"Surrender and go back to sleep in that dark room! Sajyou Manaka!"
"Excalibur—!"
Naoki roared and swung the Holy Sword of the Planet downwards!
*SWOOSH!*
A torrent of holy light flowed out like a dam bursting!
The light that split the sky and the earth and the world-destroying black serpent suddenly collided. Light and darkness, after traversing a momentary distance, instantly exploded with the most violent impact.
For a moment, just a moment, the impact only lasted for a moment.
The light completely defeated and destroyed the black serpent.
Its massive shell instantly turned into countless fragments and exploded. Manaka, who was its core, was directly exposed before Naoki.
*PU-CHI!*
The Holy Sword suddenly pierced her chest.
Naoki stared at Manaka, whom he had pierced.
"Have you made enough noise? It's time to go back to that dark room—"
"Aaaah~ Saber~ have you returned?"
As if yearning for something, Manaka tremblingly reached out her hand to touch Naoki's face.
"Saber, Saber, Saber, I knew you would definitely come back to find me, my Saber, the Saber I love the most..."
"..."
Without answering, Naoki only gripped the Holy Sword and stared at Manaka.
"Saber, I love you, Saber..."
Hugging Naoki's head, Manaka, whose body was already half-disappeared in the light, embraced him with a very gentle movement.
"Welcome back, Saber."
"..."
Wordlessly allowing Manaka to hug him, until she completely disappeared, only then did Naoki let out a soft sigh: "I'm not your Saber. You've got the wrong person, little girl blinded by love."