Archer moved like a phantom, his body weaving effortlessly between Caster's relentless barrage of magical orbs and beams. The air around him crackled with energy, but none of it managed to touch him. He smirked with every near-miss, his twin blades at the ready.
"That's it? I've seen apprentices with better aim," he mocked, dodging yet another explosion of magic that left scorch marks on the temple floor.
Caster's face contorted with anger. "You insolent little—!" she snarled, launching another volley of attacks, her immense mana reserves making it seem as though her power was limitless.
Shirō, on the other hand, had no such grace. Her dodging was clumsy at best, instinctive at worst. She managed to avoid being hit, but her movements were uncoordinated, and her breathing was already ragged. I'm good at dodging… that's all I can do, she thought bitterly, frustration gnawing at her.
But Archer's constant taunts didn't escape her notice. He wasn't just being smug—he was trying to unnerve Caster, to throw her off her game. He's getting on her nerves on purpose…
Caster's patience snapped as her gaze shifted to Shirō, the clear weak link in the battle. "You think you're clever, don't you, Archer?" she hissed. "Let's see how clever you are when this happens!"
She raised her hand, and a massive surge of energy formed above her, condensing into a spear of pure destruction. With a wild grin, she hurled it toward Shirō.
Shirō's eyes widened in terror. There was no way she could dodge that.
"Move, you idiot!" Archer's voice barked, and before she could react, she felt herself being yanked backward by the collar of her uniform. The world blurred as Archer leaped into the air, dragging her with him.
"P-put me down!" she yelled, flailing in his grip.
"Okay," Archer said nonchalantly, and without hesitation, he tossed her aside.
Shirō landed with a thud, her pride taking a bigger hit than her body. "You jerk!" she shouted, glaring at him.
But the smug retort she expected never came. Instead, she saw Caster smirking triumphantly as crystalline structures erupted from the ground around Archer, trapping him in a glowing, transparent prison. He stood frozen, his blades inches away from breaking free, but the magical barrier held firm.
"Archer!" Shirō screamed, scrambling to her feet.
Caster's laughter echoed through the temple. "How foolish you are," she sneered, walking toward her captive. "To challenge me? To call me a witch?"
She grinned wickedly, her eyes gleaming with malice. "You'll regret those words, Archer."
The crystal prison shattered with a deafening crack, shards scattering like broken glass. Archer stood amidst the debris, his twin blades glowing faintly in the moonlight. Without hesitation, he raised his bow and conjured a crimson arrow brimming with power, the air vibrating with its lethal energy.
The arrow flew true, striking Caster before she could react. She stumbled, her eyes wide with disbelief as she crumpled to the ground, clutching her side. Blood seeped through her robes, staining the stone beneath her.
"You underestimated me," Archer said coldly, stepping closer. His voice was devoid of mercy, his eyes sharp and calculating. "You thought you had me cornered, but you forgot one thing—I've fought worse than you."
He paused, glancing at Shirō, who was still catching her breath, clutching her sore limbs. His gaze hardened as he studied her. 'If she's truly the same naive fool I used to be, then there's no hope for her. But... if she's changed, even a little, then maybe...'
Archer's voice cut through the tense silence. "What do you think, Saber? Should I kill her?"
Shirō froze, her mind racing. She glanced at the wounded Caster, then back at Archer. "Um, uh... Is there any chance we can make her obey us?"
Archer scoffed. "She's a Caster. Without a Master, she's useless to us. And even if we wanted to, controlling her is out of the question."
Shirō hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Well... she did kill people. Innocents. And heroic spirits are already dead anyway, right? So... I think 'ending' her is the right choice."
Archer raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised. 'So, merging with Saber really has changed her,' he thought. 'Maybe she's not as hopeless as I feared.'
He stepped forward, twin blades poised to strike. But just as he was about to deliver the final blow, a blur of motion interrupted him. A figure appeared, striking Archer with enough force to send him skidding across the ground.
Archer caught himself, digging his blades into the earth to halt his momentum. His eyes narrowed as he looked up, but the assailant was already retreating, Caster held securely in their arms. Before he could react further, the figure and Caster vanished into the shadows, leaving nothing but silence in their wake.
"Tch." Archer clicked his tongue in frustration, lowering his weapons.
Shirō stumbled to her feet, her hand instinctively going to her neck where a thin cut marred her skin. Blood trickled down her fingers as she pressed against the wound, her breathing uneven. "I need to rest... to heal this..." she mumbled weakly.
Before her legs could give out, Archer was there, catching her effortlessly. His expression was unreadable as he looked down at her pale face. "You're a real mess, you know that?" he muttered, though his tone was softer than before.