Inside the massive cavern, the air was heavy — damp and tense with the smell of old stone and the pressure of something unnatural.
Gudako, now able to stand on her own, dusted off her skirt and gave a small thumbs-up.
Olga Marie, however, wasn't convinced. Her expression was tense as she crossed her arms.
"Are you sure about this, Ritsuka? You're betting everything on that ridiculous plan of yours!" she said, her voice sharper than usual.
Ritsuka only smiled slightly, steady and calm.
He turned toward Gudako and she nodded without hesitation.
"I believe in Ritsuka's plan," Gudako said with a firm voice.
Hearing that, Ritsuka felt something warm rise inside him. He nodded back to her, then addressed the group:
"From the information we gathered… this Saber is the strongest Servant in this world. Stronger than any normal hero. But—" he drew in a deep breath, feeling the weight of what he was about to say, "—I'm confident. With this plan, we can defeat her."
Cu Chulainn grinned. "Tch. Sounds like a gamble. But hell, I'm always up for risking it all."
Ritsuka then turned to Mashu.
"Can I borrow your sword?"
Without a word, Mashu unhooked the short sword at her waist and offered it to him. Her hand trembled slightly, but her trust in him was unwavering.
Just then, a voice echoed from above them chilling and regal.
"So you've come," Saber announced.
They looked up.
From the top of the rocky mountain inside the cave, she stood with her corrupted black armor gleaming under the faint light. Her sword — a twisted, darkened version of Excalibur — was stabbed into the ground beside her.
This wasn't the heroic King Arthur of legend.
This was something else entirely.
A corrupted being born from the Grail's malevolence.
Ritsuka gripped Mashu's sword tighter.
"...Alright then," he muttered. He took a deep breath — and shouted:
"Rider, Henshin!"
In an instant, his body was covered in a glowing mechanical armor sleek, silver-blue with soft neon lines pulsing along the plating. A light blue scarf fluttered around his neck, created from pure energy.
Saber's eyes widened slightly, an amused smile playing on her lips.
"Oh? You possess something interesting after all," she said, voice laced with a predatory curiosity.
At that moment, Sakura's voice spoke urgently inside Ritsuka's mind.
[Scan complete! Host, enemy's power is far above the host's level. Defense Mode has been activated in case of emergency!]
Ritsuka could feel it too. The overwhelming gap between them. It wasn't just power — it was experience. Saber had lived through endless death battles. Compared to her, he was a novice standing before a tidal wave.
Even so, he tightened his grip. Even if the odds were impossible, he wouldn't turn his back.
Saber lifted her black Excalibur and said coldly,
"Let's test you."
She rushed toward them like a black comet.
Without hesitation, Ritsuka charged forward to meet her.
Their swords collided midair — and the resulting shockwave blasted through the cavern, throwing Olga, Gudako, and the others back several steps.
The force of her blows were monstrous.
Ritsuka struggled to hold the line, his hands trembling under the weight of Saber's relentless strikes.
'She's strong! Just like Sakura said! There's no openings at all!' Ritsuka thought, gritting his teeth.
[DANGER DETECTED. ACTIVATING ENHANCED EYE FUNCTIONS.]
[AUTOMATIC DEFENSE PROTOCOL INITIATED.]
[COMMENCING BUILT-IN MARTIAL ARTS MODE.]
Suddenly, his body moved differently — more precise, more fluid. It was like Sakura had injected battle instincts straight into his muscles.
He parried Saber's blade — once, twice — then sidestepped a heavy vertical slash that cracked the stone beneath him.
Afterimages of Ritsuka and Saber flashed throughout the cavern, faster than Olga or Gudako could even process.
Even Cu Chulainn squinted, impressed.
Mashu, though trained, struggled to follow every movement.
[MODE: BATTLE TUTORIAL – TYPE: DEFENSE – STYLE: SWORDSMANSHIP]
'This... this is amazing,' Ritsuka thought in awe.
'Sakura, is this Auto-mood but only works on my hands' Ritsuka impressed to see such settings.
[Yes host, This Indicates Independent Teaching. We Have Created Results Through Analysis Of The Opponent's Movements For Every 0.01 Seconds.]
'Thanks, Even though I understand swordsmanship now, I still don't know what techniques to use instinctively...!'
He dodged a vicious thrust — barely — feeling the air split near his face.
[Host body sustaining internal damage. Initiating healing process.]
Every strike he blocked sent a jolt of pain through his bones.
But Sakura was already working to repair the damage from within.
Saber narrowed her eyes, frustrated.
She understood that Ritsuka wasn't trying to win — he was buying time, keeping her too busy to unleash devastating attacks on the group behind him.
She finally sneered — and raised her sword, channeling dark mana into it.
Without warning, she twisted — and unleashed her Noble Phantasm.
But not at Ritsuka.
The beam of corrupted light shot toward the others — where Olga, Mashu, and Gudako stood defenseless.
"This will be your end," Saber declared coldly.
"Morgan... Excalibur!"
The energy blast roared like a dragon.
Mashu immediately jumped in front, shield raised. Olga instinctively hugged Gudako in fear. Mashu trembled under the sheer force — but then—
She felt Gudako's small hand touch hers.
"I want to live," Gudako whispered, eyes shining with fierce determination.
Hearing that, something inside Mashu ignited.
'I am Senpai's Servant. I will protect them — no matter what!'
"Noble Phantasm: Deployed!" Mashu cried.
A massive dome of light erupted from her shield, forming a shining barrier.
Above the chaos, Saber clicked her tongue in frustration. She turned her gaze back toward Ritsuka—only to see him charging her with reckless speed.
"You...!"
Saber sneered and, without hesitation, redirected her Excalibur Morgan straight at him.
"No—Ritsuka!!" Gudako and Olga screamed together.
The corrupted Noble Phantasm struck Ritsuka dead-on, engulfing him in a blinding explosion of black and purple light.
Saber laughed coldly, watching the devastation unfold. When the smoke cleared—
Her laughter died in her throat.
There he stood. Unscathed. Glowing.
Ritsuka's body shimmered with an intense golden aura, his very being radiating power that pushed against the corrupted atmosphere of the cave.
[Absorbing 300% mana. Instead of using manual gear of Kamen Rider, host body is used to store the exceeded mana. Removed the corrupted essence and stored in system storage.] Sakura's calm voice echoed in his mind.
"Thanks, Sakura," Ritsuka whispered, clenching his glowing fists.
From behind the battered shield, Gudako gasped. "He's glowing like Super Saiyan Goku!!"
Olga just gawked in stunned silence. 'My Brain can't keep up with this anymore. ' She thought herself.
Saber's teeth ground together in fury. "You think I'll accept defeat so easily?! I'll use all the power of the Holy Grail to crush you, fool!!"
Her corrupted energy spiked violently, and she rushed forward again.
Black lightning crackled around her as her power surged even higher, twisting the very air.
Once again, Saber and Ritsuka clashed —
Sword against sword. Light against darkness.
Their clash sent a howling shockwave through the entire cavern, stone cracking underfoot, the air itself splitting apart. Ritsuka matched her now—strike for strike, blow for blow—driven not by hatred, but by something stronger: the determination to protect.
I can feel it... I'm matching her. Even if just barely...!
Suddenly, with a deafening clang, Saber's Excalibur cleaved through Ritsuka's sword, shattering it into pieces.
Before he could react, she drove her corrupted blade straight through his chest.
Time slowed.
Olga and Gudako covered their mouths in horror.
Blood poured from Ritsuka's wound, dripping onto the cracked stone floor.
"Time to die, human," Saber sneered, twisting the blade deeper.
But Ritsuka smirked, coughing blood, and whispered coldly:
"You should have gone for the head."
Saber frowned, confused
"Hehe, Don't you find strange? Someone's missing here "
then instinctively glanced around.
Someone's missing...
She turned her head—and realized too late.
Caster Cu wasn't with the group.
A creaking, burning sound filled the air. Saber looked up—her corrupted eyes widening in shock.
A massive flaming wooden statue—Cu's Noble Phantasm—was plummeting toward them at terrifying speed.
Up above, Caster Cu grinned smugly.
"Gotcha."
Ritsuka, feeling the gathered mana within him, roared with every ounce of strength left.
He unleashed it all into a blinding strike—
"RIDER PUNCH!!"
His glowing fist struck Saber's armor with explosive force, shattering it and sending her flying away from him.
Bloodied but alive, Ritsuka yanked the sword from his chest only for it to dissolve into mist the moment it left his body.
He leapt clear of the impact zone just as the burning statue crashed into the ground.
BOOM!!
The entire cavern shook as the explosion engulfed Saber.
Smoke and fire swallowed the battlefield.
---
Minutes passed.
The dust slowly began to settle.
Ritsuka and Cu stood at the center of the devastation, breathing heavily but standing tall.
In the wreckage, Saber kneeled, badly damaged. The corrupted energy around her flickered weakly.
She coughed, laughing bitterly. "To think... I'd be defeated like this..."
Golden light began to consume her form—her body vanishing.
"I'm taking this master with me now," she said with a smirk, looking at Ritsuka's grievous wound. "You'll die from that wound anyway."
Cu tightened his grip on his staff, preparing for the worst.
But—
Ritsuka casually pulled away his torn jacket, revealing that the terrible wound had already closed itself. His skin shimmered faintly under the cave's dim light.
Saber's eyes widened in disbelief.
[Healing the cells completed.] Sakura's soft voice echoed in Ritsuka's mind.
Ritsuka smiled. "Not today, Hot girl. You really Aimed for my heart. Maybe as a reward, next time I will take you to a date."
Saber laughed once more, a hollow, fading sound.
"See you later, Saber," Cu said with a short wave.
As Saber's body dissolved into golden motes of light, she spoke one last time:
"To think... The old man left behind such troublesome things... Heh... You'll meet him someday... if you live."
Ritsuka narrowed his eyes. "Hey, wait! Who is this old man you're talking about?!"
But it was too late.
She was gone.
The only thing left behind was a faintly glowing Holy Grail, resting silently in the wreckage.
Ritsuka stared at it, serious and grim.
[Scan complete: Target's last statement was 50% lie.]
He clenched his fist, feeling the heavy weight of her parting words.
"Old man"? What was a lie?
He didn't know yet. But he would find out. No matter what.
As the dust began to settle and the remnants of the battle faded into silence, Olga, Gudako, and Mashu rushed toward Ritsuka. Their faces were etched with concern, each of them desperate to ensure he was okay after the brutal ordeal.
Gudako was the first to reach him. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. "Ritsuka! Are you okay? I saw you... I saw you get stabbed through the heart..." Her voice trembled with worry as she checked his chest, desperate to find any sign of life.
Ritsuka, despite the pain and exhaustion that weighed heavily on him, gently patted her back. "I'm fine, Gudako. Really." He smiled weakly, though the bloodstains on his clothes told a different story.
Olga's stern voice broke through the moment. "Wait a minute, you were stabbed in the heart! How are you still alive?! You were... completely impaled! How did you survive that?" Her voice rose in frustration, a mix of disbelief and concern.
Ritsuka shifted uncomfortably, trying to sidestep the question. "I... I have good healing skills," he explained simply, though his words were incomplete. He didn't mention that his healing wasn't just from a natural ability but from his regenerative powers as well—powers he wasn't ready to share just yet.
Olga narrowed her eyes. "Healing skills, huh?" She crossed her arms, her expression turning serious. "You're saying you have healing skills that don't require mana, but they let you heal that quickly? What about that weird transformation you had? Your clothes turning all... strange and that chant—what was that about? And the belt?!" She was visibly exasperated, almost on the verge of shouting in frustration.
Gudako, noticing the tension building, gently placed a hand on Olga's shoulder. "Director, it's okay. Ritsuka's secret is safe with us," she said, giving Ritsuka a reassuring wink. 'You don't need to reveal everything like in those superhero movies.'
Ritsuka smiled gratefully at Gudako for her support. It was a small comfort amidst the overwhelming flood of questions.
Olga let out a long sigh, rubbing her forehead. "I'm sorry, but this is just too much for me to take. Everything today... it's too much."
Ritsuka chuckled dryly. "I agree. It's been one hell of a day. Two stabbings... two—and I'm still standing." 'its all thanks to Sakura ' he thanked mentally to sakura.
Olga gave him a sidelong glance, her expression softening slightly. 'But there's no denying it... His powers make no sense when compared to what I know about magecraft...' She turned toward Mashu, who had been quietly observing the exchange.
"You saved us back there, Mashu," Olga said, her voice filled with a sense of pride. "I know you don't have a name for your Noble Phantasm, but how about using 'Lord Chaldea' as the name for your journey?"
Mashu's face brightened, her smile widening. "Lord Chaldea... I like that." She raised her head with newfound confidence. "My Noble Phantasm... Lord Chaldea."
Ritsuka, on the other hand, turned his attention to the figure standing at the edge of the battlefield—Caster Cu, who had been instrumental in stopping Saber's relentless assault.
"Thanks, Cu," Ritsuka said, bowing his head in gratitude. "You were a huge help. We couldn't have done it without you."
Cu chuckled softly, waving off the thanks. "Nah, you planned that one perfectly, kid. Honestly, it was a fun ride seeing a master with such strange powers. I won't forget this anytime soon." His expression turned more serious. "Also... I'm leaving the Holy Grail to you to take care of. Mashu, keep an eye on it."
Before Ritsuka or anyone could respond, Cu's body began to glow with a soft, ethereal light. "I'm disappearing quicker than I thought," Cu muttered with a wry smile, looking down at his glowing form.
He patted Ritsuka and Gudako on the shoulders, his voice warm and fatherly. "You both did well. Even as novices, you both had the heart to oppose fate. Don't forget that, alright? Keep your guts and your hearts in the fight."
And with that, Caster Cu disappeared in a flash of light, leaving nothing but a lingering sense of camaraderie in his wake.
Gudako blinked, staring at the spot where Cu had vanished. "What a good guy..." she said wistfully, her eyes still on the empty space. "I'd love to meet him again, if possible."
Ritsuka nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah. He was... different. I hope we'll cross paths again one day." He glanced toward the Holy Grail resting on the ground, still glowing faintly from the aftermath of the battle. "But for now, let's take this back to our original time."
Gudako straightened up, determination in her voice. "Alright! Mashu, we need your help to get us back."
Mashu, who had been silently watching the scene unfold, nodded and stepped forward. She gently lifted the Holy Grail from the ground, her eyes focused on the task at hand. "I'll help, Gudako."
As they began the preparations to return, Olga stood quietly off to the side, her expression somber. The losses she had faced in Chaldea still weighed heavily on her mind, and the battle had only added to the crushing burden she carried.
Gudako, sensing her unease, walked over to her, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. "Director, thank you... I... I wouldn't have made it out alive without your guidance."
Ritsuka joined them, his voice sincere. "Yeah, you're an excellent Director, even if you're a bit awkward at times. I just hope we'll be properly rewarded for this... I mean, it was a tough day," he added with a grin.
Gudako punched him lightly in the ribs, a playful yet affectionate gesture.
Olga almost cried but her expression softened. "Same, Thank you, both of you. Honestly, it's hard to even find the words right now. But... I'll acknowledge everything you've done. As the Director of Chaldea, I'll acknowledge you both. Your accomplishments are... beyond what I could've imagined."
Ritsuka and Gudako both smiled at the praise. "Thank you, Director," Ritsuka said with a slight bow.
Mashu, now holding the Holy Grail securely, gave a soft nod.
The faint hum of a call interrupted the tension-filled silence, and Gudako quickly reached for her communicator. It was a call from Romani. They explained everything to the worry sick doctor.
"Gudako, Ritsuka, Olga, Mashu—listen closely," Romani's voice crackled through the device. "It'll take me about ten minutes to Rayshift everyone back. Please hold tight and wait."
Before they could respond, a sudden voice echoed in Ritsuka's mind, a warning that shattered the momentary calm.
Sakura's voice echoed in his mind:
[Unidentified signals detected. Alert.]
Ritsuka's senses heightened as his eyes darted around. He couldn't place the source of the disturbance. That was when the voice spoke again, but this time, it came from beyond their immediate group.
"It seems I've disturbed your moments, Director Olga," a calm, unfamiliar voice said, reverberating through the air.
Everyone turned, their eyes locking onto the figure emerging from the shadows.
"Lev?" Romani's voice was a mix of disbelief and confusion, as his image appeared on the screen.
Olga's face lit up, a wide smile spreading across her face. "Thank goodness you're alive, Lev!" She started toward him, relief washing over her.
But before she could take another step, Ritsuka raised a hand, stopping her in her tracks. Something didn't feel right. His instincts were screaming at him.
'Sakura, what's going on?' he asked in his mind, his tone serious.
Sakura's voice buzzed in his mind again:
[Error! Error! Can't scan the target face. The target is using a fake face.]
Ritsuka frowned deeply. "He isn't our ally," he muttered under his breath.
Gudako blinked in surprise. "Professor Lev, is that really you?" She chuckled lightly, trying to keep the situation lighthearted. "I almost forgot to thank you for the energy drink you gave me before. It really helped!"
Lev smiled, his expression friendly but too perfect to be fully trusted. "If you want, you can check my locker in the kitchen for more, Master 47, Gudako." His voice was casual, even warm.
Ritsuka felt a pang of confusion. Despite the warning from Sakura, Lev didn't seem to carry any immediate ill intent. But something was off about the situation, something he couldn't place. "Who are you really?" he asked, his voice hardening.
Lev looked at Romani's screen with a slight tilt of his head. "It's good to see you all alive," he said, his tone now laced with an eerie calmness. "I was worried any of you might die from my blast. But congratulations, Director, now you can Rayshift."
Everyone froze, the words hitting them like a cold wave. Olga's face twisted into confusion. "What... what are you talking about?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Sakura's voice shot through Ritsuka's mind again, this time with clarity:
[Voice scan complete! 100% truth.]
Olga's heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't process it—Lev's words, his expression, none of it made sense. Her eyes narrowed. "You're telling me... you're not who you claim to be and you are the reason for the blast in Chaldea? Please this must be some joke? " he demanded.
Lev's smile faded into something colder, something more calculated. "Unfortunately, it's not a joke. I betrayed all of you," he said, the weight of his words heavy in the air. Olga's face fell as her legs buckled beneath her, collapsing to her knees in disbelief. Mashu and Romani looked equally stunned, their minds racing to make sense of what they had just heard.
"Why?" Gudako's voice cracked, desperation creeping into her words. "Why would you do that?"
Lev's face morphed, glitches appearing around his form as his true identity was revealed. His face—now a robotic mask—replaced the image of Lev, and his voice took on a chilling edge.
"I'm not Lev Lynor," he revealed coldly. "I am Mr. K."
The truth hit like a punch to the gut. Olga gasped, eyes wide with shock. "No... Are You were the one who killed my father?," she whispered, barely able to process the revelation.
Lev—Mr. K—shook his head slowly, his voice low and full of regret. "No, I didn't kill him. I was only assigned to observe him. I got interest in him because Our goals were actually quite similar, but unfortunately... I can't observe him anymore in this world." His words carried a strange sadness, but there was no remorse.
Romani spoke up, his voice steady despite the shock. "What is your goal, then?" he asked.
Mr. K smiled. "To lead all of mankind to happiness," he answered, his tone sincere but unsettling.
Gudako's expression faltered as she took a step back. "Are you here to kill us all, then? Like in those TV shows?"
Mr. K tilted his head, his smile widening. "No, I didn't come with orders to kill you. In fact, I don't want to harm any of you. I've watched your journey through this singularity, Now all of you are in despair and I've grown curious about the type of happiness you'll achieve after overcoming this despair, Mainly Director Olga, I hope you reach as happiness in future." His gaze lingered on Olga. "In fact, I'm offering you a chance, Director. Join us. I'll try to convince my boss to leave you all alone. After all, the world outside is gone."
Gudako's mind raced. "What do you mean, the world outside is gone?"
Mr. K didn't falter. "Yes, Gudako. The outside world is gone. Ask Dr. Romani or the genius servant of Chaldea in her workshop. They can confirm it."
The group was stunned into silence. Olga stood up shakily, wiping the tears from her eyes as she faced Mr. K. "Thanks for the offer, K," she said quietly. "But I'm the Director of Chaldea. I can't betray humanity. I have my own goals now." She looked him in the eye, understanding now more than ever that she couldn't let this betrayal destroy her sense of duty.
Mr.K said "I don't understand but I respect your decision, Director Olga"
Ritsuka stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. "Who is your boss?" he demanded.
Mr. K's smile, though it was metal face. "I can't reveal our organization just yet. But you'll learn soon enough. I hope we meet again, last masters of humanity."
And with that, Mr. K's form flickered, and in an instant, he disappeared without a trace.
Romani's voice broke the silence. "Rayshift is ready. Get ready to go, everyone. We don't have much time."
As the singularity began to collapse around them, Ritsuka stared at the spot where Mr. K had vanished. His mind was clouded with confusion, disbelief, and the weight of the betrayal they had just uncovered. But for now, there was no time to dwell on it.
"Let's go home," Ritsuka muttered under his breath as the Rayshift process initiated, the world around them beginning to blur and distort.
The journey ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: the battle for humanity's future had only just begun.
---
Note: how is this chapter? Mr. K is Watcher of Chaldea in certain way. And Yeah, I'm changing few boring Singularities (not all) with Kamen rider story and villains. Hope you like it. And yes no Goetia here. But Main Kamen Rider villain is the final Boss.