"How about a temporary truce?"
Arthur, enveloped by the thick mist, posed the question to Mordred.
Right now, Arthur was deeply worried about Shirou Emiya. Trapped in combat with Mordred, he had no way of knowing how Shirou was faring.
His [Instinct] couldn't help him see through the dense fog—Arthur only knew Shirou's general location, not the specifics of what was happening there.
He also saw concern for her own Master reflected clearly in Mordred's eyes.
Mordred wasn't the type to selfishly abandon her Master for her personal whims. Though she bore the title of traitor, she was still a Knight of the Round Table, with her own firm sense of honor and morality.
Moreover, this Arthur wasn't her true Father. Her obsession to battle the Arthur Pendragon from another world simply wasn't that intense.
If it had been her true Father, the battle would have erupted immediately during daylight—Mordred could never have remained calm.
Yet her pride as a warrior would never permit her to initiate such a truce. No matter how anxious she was about her Master's safety, she'd stubbornly keep fighting Arthur until the end.
To put it plainly, Mordred desperately wanted to protect her Master, but was too proud to admit it openly.
Arthur had recognized Mordred's feelings and thus proactively suggested the ceasefire. He couldn't bear to see anything happen to Shirou.
"Hmph! Consider this round a draw, Arthur Pendragon from another world. Next time, we'll settle things for good!"
Mordred, already donning her helmet, pointed her crimson sword directly at Arthur, barking her declaration with fiery bravado.
She knew perfectly well the destructive effects of this mist on her Master. If she didn't immediately retrieve Kairi Sisigou from the poisonous fog, he'd undoubtedly perish.
She didn't dare delay another moment. Having spat out her fierce declaration, she crushed the ground beneath her feet and erupted forward at terrifying speed toward Sisigou's location.
The longer she lingered, the worse Sisigou's injuries would become.
Arthur immediately followed suit, rushing toward Shirou's location.
Though Shirou seemed to have tools protecting him from the deadly fog, there were still two Servants lurking in the mist.
At that thought, Arthur's blue mana surged violently as he accelerated even faster toward Shirou.
"Hahaha! Oppressors! Just where do you think you're going?!"
A massive body like a small mountain suddenly barred Arthur and Mordred's path.
"Get out of my way—!!!"
Crimson lightning instantly enveloped Mordred's sword. Immense power exploded from her blade, striking like a bomb. A deafening blast shook the air.
Under Mordred's overwhelming power, Berserker's enormous frame flew back effortlessly, the area struck by her blade scorched and sizzling.
"What a weakling!"
Mordred didn't waste another glance on the Berserker who'd foolishly obstructed her. She blasted him aside and charged onward without slowing down.
But—
Wild, ecstatic laughter echoed from within the fog.
"Come, oppressor! Crush me even more! It doesn't matter! I'll forge this battered flesh into a blade of rebellion, piercing through your arrogance and greatness! Hahaha!"
The hulking figure, seemingly unhurt, erupted forth once again like a runaway chariot, charging straight at Mordred, his huge sword raised high to cleave her skull.
"You're really pissing me off—!!!"
Seeing Berserker charging again, seemingly unaffected, Mordred's irritation surged. She enveloped herself in crimson lightning and collided head-on with Berserker.
Such a straightforward attack was pitifully simplistic. Mordred dodged the massive blade effortlessly, then drove her crimson sword directly through Berserker's chest.
"You disgust me!"
Watching the grotesque, wriggling arms rapidly sprouting from Berserker's pierced chest, Mordred cursed viciously. A surge of intense mana flowed through her body into her sword.
Red lightning violently surged across Berserker's body, the terrible energy detonating inside him.
"Hahaha! Subarashii! Subarashii! To be abused! Trampled by those in power! Weaklings throughout history always face despair like this! Is this arrogance? Is this the cruelty of oppressors toward the weak?!"
Crackle! Snap!
Countless wounds exploded open across Berserker's body. Mordred's violent mana rampaged uncontrollably, tearing him apart at terrifying speed.
Blood and flesh scattered wildly through the dense mist.
"It doesn't matter! It doesn't matter! Keep trampling on me! Abuse me as you abuse the weak! Only then can I shout in triumph once victory arrives!"
Completely drenched in blood, Berserker paid no mind to his grievous wounds. With a horrifying grin, he once more swung his massive sword at Mordred's head.
Mordred hadn't imagined that any Servant could withstand her reckless release of power. Now, she couldn't dodge—her sword was buried deep within Berserker's chest, and another arm had grown out to seize her, pinning her helplessly in place.
She could only watch as the giant blade fell toward her head.
Clang—!
A golden sword sliced decisively through Berserker's weapon, breaking it instantly. Any blade paled in comparison before this shining golden sword, let alone an ordinary weapon like Berserker's.
Even after countless legendary deeds, his weapon was nothing against such brilliance.
"Who asked for your help—?!"
Mordred snarled furiously at Arthur, crimson mana swiftly gathering before her.
BOOM—!
Once more, Berserker was blown away like a cannonball, trailing a tail of crimson lightning behind him.
"I could've gotten free myself!"
But Arthur completely ignored Mordred's angry protest. Instead, gripping his golden sword, he swiftly turned, instantly placing it protectively in front of her.
Clang—!
Another violent impact reverberated. Mordred glimpsed a flash of emerald-green piercing through the fog, a cruciform spear materializing directly in front of Arthur.
A proud, imperious voice echoed clearly from the weapon's wielder:
"Now, let us conclude the myth we left unfinished."
---
T/N: godddamnit rider
...
Umu! I am Nero Claudius—the brilliant Emperor of Rome, the dazzling Saber, the one and only performer who can steal a stage with a single smile!
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