—Clang!!
The sharp clash of spear and sword pierced the air, their movements sparking shrill bursts. Multicolored mana rays erupted across the ruins, the mere collision of weapons unleashing power enough to tear earth and shred air...
"Oh, it's finally starting?"
On the battlefield, facing Artoria's sudden, Command Seal-enhanced assault, Scáthach's expression remained unchanged, calm as ever.
If anything, this aggressive stance was more like it.
To her, the earlier, hesitant Saber was far more irritating.
A battlefield was a place of life and death, of deception and struggle, especially in the Holy Grail War, where heroes from countless eras clashed.
Using any means for victory, employing special tactics—she found it entirely reasonable. If anything, organizing such an effective counterattack after last night's defeat impressed her more.
So, she had no issue with the Einzberns' strategy, even finding it admirable for its decisiveness.
If Saber could stop dithering and fight outright, her experience would be much better.
But Scáthach hadn't expected Saber's first act, arriving with a team of Assassins, to be mourning the destruction and blaming her Master, not finishing the job.
This left Scáthach baffled and exasperated, wondering if this was truly King Arthur. She seemed like a naive knight fresh from training.
Even if she looked like a young girl, she was King Arthur, the famed knight who repelled invaders, her hands stained with countless lives...
So where did this sentimental maiden act come from?
Guilt kept her from attacking, instead chatting with Scáthach. Did she not grasp the basic principle of swift action in war?
Even the Assassins urging her grew impatient, and Scáthach felt anxious for her.
She wondered: where did this King of Knights come from? Was Britain's culture that harmonious in her era?
Her own disciples would've seized the chance to strike, fighting fiercely.
Thankfully, the pointless chatter didn't last long. Saber's Master, fed up with her half-hearted betrayal, used a Command Seal to force her body to cooperate with the Assassins, aiming to kill Kayneth and eliminate Lancer.
Scáthach smiled slightly. This suited her just fine.
"Nice move," She remarked.
Since their first meeting, she'd wanted to clash with the King of Knights but hadn't had the chance.
Now was perfect.
"Attack!"
"All together!!"
Seeing Artoria finally move under the Command Seal, the Assassins sprang into action.
Their dark figures scattered, seizing the moment Scáthach engaged Artoria, mercilessly slashing at Kayneth.
"Going straight for the Master? A simple, effective strategy. They want a quick fight, not wasting a second..."
Seeing the dozens of shadows surging like a tide, Scáthach mused.
What a hassle...
Hassan of the Hundred Faces' cloning ability was daunting, even for her, furrowing her brow.
Numerous and fearless, each clone was weak—mere worms she could dispatch with a single thrust—but they posed a lethal threat to Kayneth.
Bound by her Master's orders to protect the Lemonhead, she had to fend off Artoria while dealing with these pests.
Though her martial prowess made this manageable, splitting focus in battle irked Scáthach.
So, she parried Artoria while picking off Assassins, defending passively and retreating.
—Bang bang bang!!
The fierce clash of spear and sword rang out. Scáthach twisted her body like a graceful dancer, slaying Assassins in their encirclement.
Each thrust claimed a life, her elegant movements hiding endless killing intent.
Too strong...
As the fight continued, Artoria grew increasingly astonished.
Though their battle seemed even, she knew...
She was at a clear disadvantage.
Under the Command Seal's compulsion, her stats were boosted beyond normal, and she had Assassins disrupting Scáthach.
Yet, even with this advantage, they were only stalemated...
Scáthach's strength was undeniable.
Using just two crimson spears, she countered Artoria's attacks while methodically clearing Assassins, her Age of Gods spearwork leaving Artoria struggling...
"What's wrong, Saber? Can't keep up?"
"I can tell you're not in your element. With this performance, the Sword Heroic Spirit is weeping."
Despite facing two—nay, a hundred—opponents, Scáthach showed no tension, even taunting Saber mid-battle.
"Unmatched prowess, Queen Scáthach. Your martial skill surpasses mine."
Trained by Merlin and confident in her swordsmanship, Artoria had to concede to reality.
"No need to mind. Most Heroic Spirits can't match my martial prowess."
Scáthach smiled faintly, sounding boastful, but Artoria, clashing with her, knew it wasn't bravado.
As their battle's tempo escalated, Artoria, initially off-balance, began to find her rhythm. She nodded at the smiling Queen of the Land of Shadows.
"Sorry, Lancer. Now I'll give my all!"
Despite her discontent, Saber knew she had no choice. For her wish and Irisviel's safety, she couldn't waver. She had to win, no matter what, and not let her Master waste more Command Seals.
"Oh? Back in form?"
Seeing Artoria's renewed resolve and quickening movements, a glint of delight flashed in Scáthach's eyes.
"Good. That's more like it. You should've been like this from the start, or it's no fun!"
With a sigh, the Queen shifted from passive defense to active offense, her crimson spears thrusting from trickier angles, aiming for Artoria's heart.
But Artoria wasn't so easily struck. Facing the lethal attack, she flipped her wrist, swinging her wind-wreathed blade at Scáthach.
In an instant, a fiercer clash erupted around them.
...
Tohsaka Residence
"This divine spearwork, holding its own against Saber and Assassins simultaneously—her martial prowess is unfathomable."
Watching through a familiar, Tokiomi slapped his thigh, his face anxious.
Scáthach's lethal spears and peerless skill deepened his unease, reinforcing his earlier conviction.
The god-slayer Scáthach was a dire threat in this Holy Grail War, too dangerous to Gilgamesh. She had to be eliminated!
After a brief observation, Tokiomi's impatience grew. Seeing Assassins fail to pierce Scáthach's guard, picked off one by one, he lost his usual elegance, cursing, "Useless!"
These Assassins couldn't even kill a modern magus. Though Scáthach was a factor, it was clear most of her focus was on Saber.
Yet they still failed, fueling Tokiomi's anxiety.
Their actions had caused a commotion, with numerous civilian casualties. Though the area was sealed, it couldn't hold long.
His old friend Risei Kotomine had called to inquire, and other Masters likely noticed. If the fight wasn't resolved soon, it could spiral into another seven-Servant melee like the first night, rendering all efforts futile.
Unaware that Assassins weren't meant for frontal assaults, the escalating chaos shook Tokiomi's confidence.
"Damn it, we can't drag this out!"
Clenching his fists, he turned to Kirei, issuing a new order.
"Kirei, use a Command Seal. Order all Assassins to use their Noble Phantasm to kill El-Melloi!"
"...Yes, professor."
Kirei calmly raised his hand, complying.
Compared to the frantic Tokiomi, he was far more composed.
...
—Bang bang bang!!
Meanwhile, the clash of blades continued.
Scáthach, parrying Artoria's attacks, felt the time was right. Growing tired of the fight, she decided to abandon protecting Kayneth.
A two-on-one fight was too restrictive. Better to deal with the opponent in front first.
As for the Assassins... someone else was better suited.
The timing was about right. Since the King of Heroes hadn't appeared, he likely wouldn't.
The game was over. It was time for their counterattack.
"Go, Lemonhead. It's time to act."
Before letting go, Scáthach reminded Kayneth, signaling the battle's shift.
"Lemonhead..."
Kayneth frowned, tempted to retort but, mindful of his situation, focused on the fight ahead.
"I understand. You handle Saber. I'll deal with the Assassins."
"No problem? It's on you."
After a brief exchange, Scáthach fought unrestrained, her lithe form stretching in midair, two crimson beams slicing the night sky.
—Bang!!
The spear-sword clash unleashed a force far greater than before.
"What?!"
The sudden ferocity widened Artoria's eyes.
"Surprised? Nothing to be shocked about. Warm-up's over—I'm getting serious." Scáthach smiled, speaking casually. "Ready, Saber?"
—Swoosh!!
Giving Artoria no time to react, Scáthach spun her shorter spear, which erupted in blinding light, illuminating their faces.
A dark red meteor shot up, hurling Artoria dozens of meters back. Scáthach pursued without hesitation.
"She moves fast..."
Seeing Scáthach's fleeting figure, Kayneth sighed.
He'd barely spoken when she shifted the battlefield.
But感慨 aside, it was his turn to counterattack.
Retreating slowly, Kayneth eyed the growing number of shadows, his gaze turning icy, his hands clenching into fists.
Forcing him into such a pathetic state, these damned fools...
He wouldn't let them off easily.
But he wasn't alone in this sentiment. The Assassins, previously wary of Scáthach's spears, saw their chance with her gone, swarming Kayneth like hounds to meat, dozens of shadows lunging to tear him apart.
To ensure success, Kirei, under Tokiomi's orders, used a Command Seal.
"By the Command Seal, Hassan of the Hundred Faces, use your Noble Phantasm to kill El-Melloi."
The order's binding force and enhancement took effect.
The Assassins, seizing the moment, unleashed their Noble Phantasm—
[—Delusional Illusion: Zabaniya.]
As the Noble Phantasm activated, the shadows in the ruins trembled violently.
From the distorted darkness, hundreds of figures—tall, short, fat, thin, male, female—emerged, all with pale, skeletal faces, fixating on Kayneth before moving in unison.
Possessing a hundred personas, a hundred clones, masters of assassination—Hassan of the Hundred Faces.
Though nearly half were lost, the Command Seal summoned the fallen clones back with their Noble Phantasm.
Now, all of Hassan's clones appeared, ready to strike as their employer's blade.
Facing the Assassins unleashing their Noble Phantasm, Kayneth felt no fear, only amusement. He hadn't expected their Master to cooperate so fully, sending all Assassins with their Noble Phantasm.
In that case...
"I won't hold back. Feel the wrath of El-Melloi!"
Kayneth's face darkened, his gaze sweeping the hundreds of Assassins in his domain.
"Lancer, return!"
As they charged, a Command Seal on his hand erupted in red light.
"...My apologies for arriving late, my lord. Forgive me."
Though Fionn had returned earlier, he'd stayed hidden per Kayneth's orders.
"No matter, Lancer. Mere Assassins can't harm a Lord like me. But..."
"Assassins, you seemed to enjoy yourselves earlier..."
His murderous intent was palpable, even startling Fionn.
"The golden Lancer? You're the Master of two Lancers?!"
Seeing Fionn, the confident Hassan froze, an ominous feeling rising.
"But do you think one Servant can protect you, magus?!"
Hesitant but undeterred, Hassan, a former Assassination Cult leader, wasn't easily cowed.
Sadly, bound by the Command Seal, she misjudged their strength and Kayneth's sudden confidence.
"Hahaha, you truly don't get it... Assassin, I pity your and your Master's folly."
Covering his disheveled face from his escape, Kayneth's killing intent solidified, speaking coldly to the Hassans...
"Time to send you packing, vile Assassins!!"
Bluffing?
Seeing Kayneth, Hassan entertained the thought.
With their Noble Phantasm unleashed, even Fionn couldn't kill them all quickly.
If they seized the moment to kill Kayneth, victory was possible, but...
An ominous thought struck them.
The instant Kayneth's words fell, a deafening horn blared, followed by a cacophony of battle cries.
"—Hahahahaha!! Tell me, what is conquest?!"
A booming voice, from nowhere, questioned their souls.
"What is the way of the king?!"
In an instant, swirling sand engulfed the world.
***
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