"H-How… How could that ridiculous-looking magic circle be real?!"
Gilles was beyond shocked, trembling with disbelief as he stared at the halted ritual.
"Yeah, weird, right?" Ritsuka replied with a casual shrug. "But it's not exactly what I told you before. I said the werid circle drops the ritual's power and gets destroyed from the inside, remember? Well, only one part of that was true."
He stood up slowly, brushing the dust off his jacket as Gilles glared up at him, sweat beading down his brow.
"The circle does destroy things from the inside but not because it breaks apart." Ritsuka continued, voice now layered with calm authority. "I used Jeanne's holy power. When the ritual activates, that holy energy blended and buried in the center reacts violently with your god's foul essence. It turns inward and eats it alive. You know rituals, right? I figured you'd recognize what was happening."
Gilles' mouth opened slightly no words. Just shock.
Meanwhile, back in Chaldea, three figures stood frozen in front of the monitor.
"A... ridiculous-looking magic circle?" Romani muttered.
"What's that about?" Da Vinci leaned forward, adjusting the screen. "Is he talking about the one Ritsuka sketched?."
Anastasia turned to them from the side display, voice even as she explained:
"It looked childish at first. Like something drawn by a schoolboy with too much confidence. But he wasn't lying. He embedded holy energy in the circle and laid them over the core points of the statue network I guess. It's why the ritual backfired instead of reaching its peak. I don't really know how he did!"
"...That really happened?" Olga murmured, eyes narrowing in disbelief.
Now the pieces fit. Gilles hadn't just been furious he'd been humiliated. Played like a fool by a boy with a grin and a plan.
Olga, Romani,and Da Vinci could now understand why Gilles had gotten so angry at Ritsuka. If Gilles was a normal person, Olga, Romani,and Da Vinci might have felt a bit bad for how much he and Evil Jeanne got played by Ritsuka. But having sympathy for those bastards who wanted humanity end was way too grand for what they deserved.
But Da Vinci and Romani weren't thinking about Gilles anymore.
They were staring at the boy crouched beside him.
Ritsuka.
Romani remembered the first time they met when Ritsuka had appeared with a child and Belle Maya in Chaldea. He'd seemed... ordinary. Quiet. Maybe even awkward.
'I never thought things would change like this.' Romani thought, fingers curled at his lips.
He looked back to the screen. Ritsuka's eyes were calm, his posture steady. Not even a flicker of hesitation.
'That kid's no longer just a master.'
Da Vinci tilted her head, eyes sparkling with interest.
'Magic circles that disrupt rituals? He didn't even grow up in a mage family…'
Her lips curled into a grin.
'Is he a genius? A prodigy like me? No... maybe better.'
But the truth?
The real reason behind Ritsuka's move on decoding the ritual wasn't genius.
It was the system AI. Sakura
A tool he didn't fully understand but it doesn't change that Ritsuka planned everything to fool everyone.
As a mage, Olga Marie Animusphere couldn't take her eyes off the magic circle. No—she needed it. Her pride as a Director and mage, as well as her survival instincts, screamed the same thing:
This could be humanity's lifeline.
'If we ever face another enemy like this… another ritual-based extinction threat… this could be the one weapon that turns the tide.'
She narrowed her eyes at the screen, fingers tightening against her chest. Judging from how panicked Gilles looked, even the enemy hadn't been aware of its presence until it was far too late.
'Ritsuka… you really saved us all. With your brain, your strategy…'
She smiled softly warm, proud, and unconsciously filled with affection.
Olga thought like a proper wife.
But of course, she didn't know.
Airi looked at Ritsuka and thought 'Why does dad bullying him?' she felt sad for Gilles.
Back at the scene
Ritsuka tilted his head mockingly, smiling at the squirming man beneath Boudica's crushing grip.
"How's it feel now? You guided us right to the statues with your zombies—so thoughtful. Were you laughing to yourself, thinking your plan worked?"
He crouched closer, voice dripping with cool amusement.
"Guess what? It backfired. Spectacularly."
"You bastard! Bastard! Bastaaaaaard!!" Gilles writhed, but Boudica's strength pinned him like an insect to the earth.
"Hehehe~ You look like a shrimp flopping on the shore," Ritsuka said, lips curled. "Ah, right, since your god looks like a cockroach, I guess you're doing your best impersonation of an aquatic insect?"
He clapped mockingly.
"Wow. That's some real faith. You even squirm in his image. A+ for dedication!"
"SHUT UP!!!"
But Ritsuka's grin faded. His voice dropped low, laced with venom.
"I know your history, Gilles. What you did to those children. The people you lured and slaughtered. Even if you rot in every hell that exists, it still wouldn't be enough. So yeah, take the insults. You've earned every word."
Gilles couldn't fight back. He could only scream, like an animal backed into a corner.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!! If it weren't for you…!"
His voice cracked, bile rising in his throat. "Why!? Why the hell did you help the saint!? Do you want to be a hero of justice!? Some shining fool in stories!?"
Ritsuka's expression changed.
The teasing vanished.
His eyes darkened with something deeper. Real. Unshakable.
With a quiet motion, he reached up and removed the Kamen Rider mask he'd been wearing.
The air shifted.
He looked straight at Gilles calm, resolute.
"Look. A hero doesn't save people to be admired. Or for the spotlight. Or because someone told him to."
He remembered those words.
His Master.
"Someone once told me to follow my heart. Jeanne did the same. She saved France not because she had to, but because her heart demanded it."
He stood tall, the wind stirring slightly behind him.
"I'm not saving humanity because I want to be some 'hero of justice.' That's… too damn edgy."
He gave Gilles a sideways smirk, expression returning to playful.
"Also—"
With a sudden flourish, he spun the mask in his hand and slid it back on with a click.
"I'm a Kamen Rider!"
"You bastaaaaard!!"
Gilles' shriek echoed through the ruined battlefield. Foaming at the mouth, he flailed under Boudica's grip, his voice cracking with pure hatred.
But Ritsuka didn't flinch.
He stared down at the twisted man with cold, steely eyes and replied, voice sharp and unwavering:
"Stop acting like a child. So it's fine when you trick and kill us, but it's spiteful when we do it to you?"
He took a slow step forward, his tone like ice.
"Don't be so fucking unreasonable."
That was the last thing Gilles heard.
His body trembled… and then began to dissolve into black particles, vanishing into the wind his shrieks of rage the only thing left behind.
Silence fell.
Ritsuka slowly turned and saw her.
Jeanne.
She stood there, her shoulders trembling ever so slightly. Tears clung to the corners of her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. Not for herself. For the one who had fallen.
Not out of forgiveness, but out of mercy.
'How many people would cry for a dying bastard like Gilles…?' Ritsuka thought.
He knew the answer. Not many.
And that alone…
'That's enough for me to believe in Jeanne. No matter what she goes through…'
'She's still someone I deeply respect.'
His heart felt a little lighter.
He was glad he saved her.
The battlefield began to tremble.
The sky shifted, color bleeding out of the world like ink being drained from a page.
The Singularity was collapsing.
The unnatural realm began to vanish—castle walls crumbling, cursed flames flickering out, and the skies above finally turning blue.
One by one, the nine enemy statues around the area began to shatter, no longer held together by Gilles' mana or the ritual's core.
Then
CRACK!
The final statue at the heart of the fountain split down the center, stone fragments tumbling to the ground.
From within its hollowed chest, a golden light emerged—soft, sacred, pulsing with power.
The Holy Grail.
Romani's voice echoed through their comms.
"Mash! Retrieve the Grail immediately!"
"Understood!" Mashu responded without hesitation.
She rushed forward, shield ready in case of one final trap—but none came. The Grail rested silently, as if acknowledging their victory. She picked it up, securing it within a containment field.
"Good work," Olga said, her voice calm but proud. "Now fall back. Rayshift will begin in ten minutes."
"Let's go home," Romani added.
The light of the collapsing Singularity began to intensify, casting long shadows behind the team.
The servants who had been summoned by the Human Order began to disappear one by one, their spiritual forms unraveling like threads of starlight.
The Singularity was ending.
They had fulfilled their roles—and it was time to return.
Mozart adjusted his cravat with a dramatic flair, tapping his chin as if pondering the perfect final line.
"Parting is such sweet sorrow, as someone famous once said… but I must admit, this encore was quite a delight."
Mashu stepped forward and gave him a polite bow.
"Thank you… for your words earlier. They meant a lot."
Mozart gave her a gentle smile.
"Oh? That? Think nothing of it. Inspiration comes and goes—but sincerity stays."
With a final wink, he dissolved into soft, white light.
Siegfried, ever calm, stood with his sword resting against his shoulder. His expression didn't change, but there was a quiet satisfaction in his voice.
"Thank you, Master Gudako. And master Ritsuka. With your help, I was able to fulfill my duty… and put an end to Gilles and that twisted version of Jeanne."
He gave them a knightly bow before his form too faded away.
"May your path remain strong."
Elizabeth Báthory stepped forward with a glint in her eyes, leaning toward the two Masters with a mischievous grin.
"Well, well~ That was fun, puppies! But I didn't really get to know you, Puppy Number Two~" she teased, looking at Ritsuka.
He blinked."Uh…"
"No worries! Next time you summon me, I promise I'll sing just for you. My love-powered concerts are unbeatable, you know!"
With a twirl of her mic-axe, she vanished with a sparkling wink.
Marie Antoinette (Rider) clapped her hands together lightly, her graceful air never faltering.
"I must say, Masters… this has been a truly delightful ride. And I very much enjoyed watching your—how should I put it—growing love story," she said with a wink toward Gudako, and then glanced at the screen showing Olga.
"Best of luck to you both. And Olga… I hope you're smiling too. You're quite charming when you're not frowning."
"Ah—but before I forget—Ritsuka," she added with a playful giggle. "You fooled those two so perfectly. I'm still laughing."
With a gentle curtsy, she shimmered into light and vanished.
Then came Kiyohime.
She stood still, her eyes locked on them, intense and unmoving. The air around her was tense—not out of malice, but self-doubt.
"...I don't have much to say. After all… you both saw my ugly transformation," she whispered.
Gudako frowned and quickly stepped forward.
"What are you talking about? Your dragon form was cool!"
"Right? We loved it. It was badass," Ritsuka added, glancing at Fou on Gudako's shoulder. "Don't you agree, Fou?"
"Fou, fooou!" the creature chirped, nodding firmly.
Kiyohime blinked.
Her eyes searched theirs, waiting for the lie—but…
None came.
Her heartbeat quickened. Her Lie Detection skill, always active, confirmed it: They were telling the truth.
Her cheeks flushed bright red.
"T-then… promise me! Pinky promise! You'll summon me again someday!"
Both Masters extended their pinkies at the same time, locking them with hers.
"Promise," they said in unison.
Kiyohime's face lit up with an expression so genuinely happy, it was almost childlike.
"Ehehe~ Then I'll be waiting!"
And with that, she vanished into soft flame-shaped light.
The battlefield was now silent, save for the soft crackle of the collapsing Singularity. With the Grail secured, and their temporary allies returned to the Throne, all that remained was to go home.
"Rayshift in 7 minutes," Romani's voice echoed through the comms.
"Roger that," Mash replied.
As the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded into memory, Ritsuka looked over at Jeanne—her outfit tattered, her hair slightly disheveled from the fight—and smirked.
"You looked like a homeless person in the back alleyway."
Jeanne blinked in surprise. Mandricardo, nearby, coughed awkwardly.
"That's… kinda rude," he muttered.
But Jeanne surprised everyone by laughing softly, her smile sincere.
"It was a worthwhile experience," she said with a hint of pride. "But no matter how many times I think about it, it's amazing how those bizarre pictures actually had an effect."
Ritsuka chuckled, nudging Gudako with his elbow.
"Yeah, even though you had doubts at first… when Gillies was trying to make us believe that those werid circles were having an effect, she got tricked."
Jeanne's face turned red. She looked away, flustered.
"Ugh… don't remind me."
Ritsuka leaned in, grinning.
"Ah, and remember when I told you the magic circles were fake and there was no need to feel bad about doubting them?"
He shrugged, playfully.
"I take that back. You should feel sorry."
Jeanne's eyes widened.
"You really are a liar!"
She looked at him, half-stunned, half-exasperated, but not without a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Ritsuka gave her a nonchalant shrug, that same teasing glint in his eye.
"So, you should be more careful from now on. There are people like me out there."
"At least, I don't think there would be many people like you," Jeanne retorted with dry amusement.
"Agreed," Gudako added immediately, crossing her arms with a knowing nod.
Romani's voice came through the screen with a chuckle.
"Fufufu! I guess Lady Jeanne has made herself a new friend."
The banter faded into a soft silence as Jeanne's expression shifted, her smile giving way to something more serious.
She stepped forward, facing Ritsuka and Gudako.
"It's only a matter of time before you face even greater trials… so please be careful. To protect people to protect justice we're forced to draw on our power. But you must never be swallowed by it. If you are… you won't just lose your role as saviors."
Her voice lowered, solemn.
"You'll lose your humanity."
Ritsuka met her gaze, the lightness gone from his face. He nodded slowly.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Gudako did too.
And as Jeanne's body began to shimmer, particles of light rising from her form, both Ritsuka and Gudako stepped forward without hesitation and embraced her.
It wasn't dramatic. It wasn't loud.
It was quiet. Steady. Warm.
A gesture between comrades… between people who truly understood each other.
"Goodbye… and thank you," Jeanne whispered.
She vanished between their arms, leaving behind only the memory of her light—and the strength of her words.
As the glow of the Holy Grail influence faded and the Singularity began to collapse, Ritsuka turned and noticed Anastasia, her arms crossed, glaring at him with a sharp, frosty expression.
He smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry for tricking you earlier my lady… and thank you. You really helped us out there."
Anastasia's icy demeanor wavered for a moment. She looked away, sighing, her voice still cool but no longer hostile.
"Just don't make it a habit."
Ritsuka grinned.
"Of course I can't promise you. But… I mean it. You were amazing."
Anastasia's expression softened, just a little.
"Fine. You're forgiven."
Suddenly, a glowing screen appeared before Ritsuka.
[[Mission Complete]
You have saved countless human lives.
Rewards: 10 Summoning Tickets]
Ritsuka's eyes lit up.
'YES! FREE SUMMONS!!'
Without thinking, he spun and pulled both Anastasia and Gudako into a spontaneous, gleeful hug.
"I love you both! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"Wha—Ritsuka!?" Gudako sputtered, her face bright red.
'I'm not Ready for rom com romance yet'
"P-Please release me…!" Anastasia muttered, flustered, cheeks flushed a matching pink.
Mashu was speechless. Olga saw shocked and others shocked as like her.
But before they could react further—
Rayshift initiated.
A flash of light engulfed them all, and they vanished, returning to Chaldea.
Ofcourse when Ritsuka went back to Chaldea he got good scoldings for his dumb act.
---
Far, far away from the battlefield,
A man with a familiar mechanical, silver face, Mr. K stood silently, watching the entire event from the shadows.
Beside him hovered a digitized figure, flickering like a ghost of code: a man with twisted amusement in his expression and danger in his eyes.
"So… they succeeded," Mr. K said calmly, his tone neutral, but the slight nod betrayed satisfaction. "They destroyed your virus, and the Singularity was corrected."
The holographic man sneered, clearly irritated.
"To think someone could decode and neutralize my mage-tech virus at that age, Even if this virus is still in its developing stage. A brat like that… he must be a genius like me. I don't like it."
Mr. K turned slightly.
"I agree, Kuroto."
The flickering digital specter grinned darkly Kuroto Dan, eyes glowing with malice.
"Ritsuka Fujimaru… One of Chaldea's Masters. And apparently," Mr. K added, "he calls himself Kamen Rider."
Kuroto's eyes narrowed.
"Kamen Rider... that name feels familiar. Like a bitter taste I forgot I had."
He let out a quiet laugh.
"Maybe I should ask him directly. And while I'm at it…"
He raised a hand, digital blueprints and corrupted schematics forming around him.
"I'll copy that Kamen Rider suit. Make it better. Make it mine. And then… I'll give him a good fight."
A twisted grin split his face.
"Before I kill him."
With a distorted laugh, Kuroto Dan disappeared, fading into data.
Mr. K remained still for a long moment, watching the empty space where the hologram had vanished.
Then he turned away, murmuring to no one:
"The real fight begins in the next Singularity."
He paused, gazing ahead with unreadable eyes.
"Best of luck… Chaldea. And you too, Olga. New Masters. Survive—if you can."
And with that, Mr. K vanished into the dark, leaving only silence behind.
---
[End of Chapter]
So how is this total Arc? If you can please comment on what do you think this Version of Ritsuka Fujimaru? I like to read your comments on this Singularity too. Should I write this story and Ritsuka character in same way? Anyway I'm taking a break from this story and start writing my other fics. So untill then Bye. See you soon.