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"The seventh Servant?!"
A sudden slash caught the white-haired old man off guard. Most people would've faltered under such an unexpected attack, but his martial skills were beyond ordinary. Even now, he stayed cool and collected.
Whoosh!
The assassin darted through the gusting wind, moving like a cheetah; swift and steady. He didn't flinch at the powerful strike coming his way. When two long swords followed, he crossed his fists and threw out a fierce, spinning shadow that stopped the blades cold.
Boom!
It was like the attacker had planned for this. A massive force erupted, and a rush of magical energy hit like a hammer, sending Assassin flying back.
"W-What's going on?"
The blonde girl slumped to the ground, her heart still racing. She stared at the young man who'd stepped out of a magic circle and driven off her attacker. Her mouth hung open, eyes wide with shock.
"Who… are you?"
"Tell me, are you my Master?" The young man turned to face her. He stood tall and straight. Moonlight streamed into the warehouse, lighting up his sharp and determined face. He looked young, but there was a weight to him that didn't match his age. The soft glow gave him a hint of mystery. Years later, this moment would still linger in her mind, clear as day.
Yuto looked down at the stunned girl, a flicker of confusion in his deep eyes. After stepping through the World Gate, everything was different, not just his mission, but how he'd arrived. His body was the same, yet he'd been given the [Archer] class, his abilities tweaked. Like any Servant, he needed a ton of magical energy to stick around, most of it drawn from the Greater Grail System tied to the land's leylines.
But since he'd crossed over in his own body and maybe with help from Archer's "Independent Action" skill, he was almost like a Servant made real. Outside of fighting, he barely used any energy. In battle, though, especially if he unleashed his Noble Phantasm or dragged things out, it drained fast. The Red Dragon's heart inside him kept him steady, but over time, he'd need more and that's where she came in.
Right now, an unseen link tied them together, channeling her magical energy to him. It wasn't perfect, but it worked. She was his Master.
'She looks so familiar,' Yuto thought. 'Isn't this Saber?'
'How was she here and became a regular high school girl?' A question mark loomed in his head.
Her golden hair was tied up neatly, a stubborn little ahoge poking up like a crescent moon. Her face was striking with no makeup, just natural beauty.
Suddenly a system alert popped up:
........
[World Mission]: Win this Holy Grail War, claim the Grail, and stay alive.
[Rewards]: Permanent access to this world, 30 Saint Quartz, 1 Five-star Craft Essence, 1 Five-star Servant Spirit Origin Fragment.
Note: If Master Artoria dies, all rewards are lost, and this world's dimensional gate shuts forever.
.......
'Pretty good deal,' Yuto thought, dismissing the screen. A whole world's access was huge. Still, seeing Saber as a normal high schooler threw him off.
He glanced at her again. She looked totally lost. She clearly had no clue about the Holy Grail War. No time to fill her in, though. The Assassin was still out there, only pushed back, not beaten.
"Master, the contract's done. I'm your servant," Yuto said. "It's dangerous out there. Stay here, I'll be back."
He gripped his swords, Kanshou and Bakuya and dashed out like an arrow.
Outside, the Assassin was already back on his feet. That last hit hadn't done much, just knocked him off balance. The moment Yuto appeared, the old man charged, closing dozens of meters in a heartbeat, popping up right in front of him like he'd teleported.
The assassin swung a heavy fist, the power tearing through the air with a sharp boom, too quick to track. Yuto bent backward, his body folding into a sharp angle to dodge, and let go of his swords, tossing them at the old man's face.
"Kowareta Genso (The Destroyed Illusion)"
Unlike Shirou Emiya, he didn't need a bow, he could just make them explode.
Boom!
A wave of magical energy lit up the night, followed by a chain of blasts. The force ripped forward, splitting the courtyard in half.
"M-My house?!" Artoria, who'd run out after him, stared in horror, nearly fainting.
"Master, stay back, it's not safe," Yuto said, his eyes fixed on the smoky gap he'd blasted. He knew the Assassin wasn't finished.
"Young man, you've got skill. Reminds me of myself back in the day," a voice called. The old man stepped out of the haze, his clothes torn but body fine, a long spear in hand. His face held a mix of fondness and memory.
"You dodged my punch. That proves you're not some fool with magic and no fight. A kid like you deserves my spear."
'He sounds bitter,' Yuto thought, blinking. Before he could say anything, the old man flicked his spear and vanished.
Yuto frowned, stepping back fast. A second later, the spear stabbed where he'd been, shattering the stone. Debris flew like rain. The old man moved like he could see everything, kicking the spear's end to spin it. The tip danced, striking with force just as strong as if he'd held it steady. Yuto had never faced spearwork this strange. Even with his quick moves, he felt the sting of it. He threw up a projected shield just in time to block the next hit.
Boom!
The clash cracked the ground, leaving deep footprints and spreading lines under their feet.
White hair, Zhongshan suit, killer fists, it hit him. "Li Shuwen?" Yuto muttered. His skills were razor-sharp; Yuto had nearly taken a hit. This old Assassin was a genius with both fists and spear, favoring punches in this form.
Word was, Li Shuwen had unlocked true martial arts late in life, mastering "Qi Tun." It didn't break bones but it stopped hearts with shock, like a curse technique messing with your head and hitting your nerves just right.
Yuto wasn't hurt, but it held him back. For some reason, he couldn't tap the leylines, cutting his strength. To keep up with Li Shuwen, he'd need more power.
'Black Flash might do it,' he thought.
But before he could try, Li Shuwen paused, looking annoyed. He pulled out a small talisman, teared along one edge.
"Sorry, Archer," he said, brow furrowing with regret. "I'd keep going, but I'm out of time."
"Time?" Yuto asked.
"I'm not a real Servant. I just took the Assassin slot. It comes with limits," the old man said plainly, no secrets held back. "This talisman keeps me out here. It's busted now, so I'm heading back to my Master."
"Shame," Yuto said, watching him fade into a faint shadow and vanish with his "Territory" skill, blending into the world.
Quiet settled over the scene. Yuto turned to Artoria, who was staring at him, curious.
"I'm your Servant, sent by the Counter Force to guard you. My true name's Yuto," he said. "But keep that quiet. Call me 'Archer' around others."
He told the confused girl and sighed at her puzzled look.
"Anything else you want to know?"
"Yes," Artoria said, raising her hand like a student. "What's a Master? Who tried to kill me? Why? And… where are you from?"
"Let's sit with some tea and talk," Yuto said, rubbing his head. Explaining wasn't his thing.
"You—"
Before she could ask more, Yuto's face shifted, his eyes locking on the dark ahead. "Someone's here!"
"Eh, more people?!" Artoria yelped, startled.
A sweet breeze drifted in, and two figures appeared. One was tall, holding a crimson spear, with purple hair and striking red eyes. Her cool, flawless face and toned frame were wrapped in a tight purple suit that hinted at everything without showing much.
'Scathach?' Yuto thought.
Then, the twin-tailed girl beside her gasped, "Why is it you?"
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