"Oh?" Lancer glanced at Saber, raised an eyebrow, and said jokingly, "Any ideas, Saber?"
"How about I clear a path straight to Caster and leave him to you?"
Saber stared at Lancer with her sacred blue eyes, a hint of teasing in her tone as she asked, "What do you think? Can you run as fast as the wind?"
"So simple and direct!" Lancer twirled his spear, answering Saber with action.
"What are you whispering about, my holy maiden? Offering your final prayers to God?" Caster sneered. "Despair! Faced with such endless numbers, you stand no chance of victory!"
As he roared, Caster waved his claws, the Prelati's Spellbook in his hand rustling fiercely.
Saber paid no mind to her opponent's mockery. As a true warrior, absolute calm on the battlefield was essential.
"Hahahaha! That beautiful face! My beautiful maiden, twisted by sorrow and pain, contorted! Joan of Arc!"
"Rip!" The monsters let out meaningless roars and continued their assault.
Gazing at the endless horde surrounding her, Saber remained calm, without the slightest intention of retreating, and slowly raised the revered and boundless holy sword in her hand.
"Now!" Saber shouted, simultaneously alerting Lancer.
"Strike Air—!" The wind shrouding the holy sword dissipated.
A sacred and noble golden light finally bloomed, carrying endless air pressure—like the roar of a giant dragon, like a horizontal tornado—it shot forth with a powerful gust that tore everything apart!
This was an alternative application of the Invisible Air enveloping the holy sword!
The countless monsters trapped between Saber and Caster were torn apart by the sacred wind without any resistance. Every monster was shredded into countless pieces. There was no blood, no wailing, for they had long been submerged by the endless gale!
However, there were simply too many monsters, and the obstacles between Caster and Saber were extremely dense. By the time the strong wind reached Caster, its power had greatly diminished, but at that moment, a smooth path had indeed opened between the two!
This was enough for Lancer!
"What—?" The sudden change left Caster bewildered. His ability to react on the spot was indeed lacking.
Lancer merely leaped, swift as the wind, and glided before Caster.
"I've got you! Caster!" He roared, using his spear to block the tentacles of a monster attempting a rescue, while thrusting his lance from the side.
As if destined by fate, the red spear pierced straight through Prelati's Spellbook. At that moment, the spellbook's magical supply was completely severed. Caster's own magical energy was unremarkable; it couldn't sustain the entire horde of monsters—he relied solely on the treasure's power.
The magical energy within Prelati's Spellbook surged rapidly, and the damaged part quickly recovered. The magic-breaking Gáe Dearg only possessed the ability to negate magic, not the power to utterly destroy.
However, the previous magecraft had been terminated. Even if Caster wished to use it again, he would need to set up the magic circle and perform sacrifices once more—an impossibility under the current circumstances.
Like mud, the countless monsters dissolved into sludge the moment the red spear struck.
"——You, you, you, bastard, bastard, bastard!!" Caster stared despairingly at the treasure in his hand, shouting in frustration!
"Welcome to death, Caster!"
Just as Saber and Lancer were about to deliver the final blow to Caster, suddenly, a strange surge of magical energy emanated from Saber. The Master was using a Command Seal to summon his Servant!
Though Caster was wailing, he reacted swiftly this time! This sudden turn made him realize that his only chance to escape was now!
While Saber and Lancer were both interrupted by the unforeseen development, Caster decisively performed a magical trick to flee!
The surroundings filled with poisonous mist, and the blood on the ground transformed into a bloody haze. Seizing the moment, Caster activated his spirit form and swiftly escaped the battlefield—at such close range, a mere Caster would surely die facing Lancer and Saber!
Though insane, he was certainly not foolish!
"Damn it!" Both Saber and Lancer were furious. The sudden development had caught everyone off guard. Immediately after, Saber was summoned by the Command Seal to her Master's location.
"Lord Ryougi!" After waiting a moment, Lancer realized Ryougi Raku had not summoned him with a Command Seal. He sprinted anxiously toward the castle. Caster and the like held no meaning for him now.
However, even at his speed, it would take some time to run from the depths of the forest to the castle...
…
Ryougi Raku saw that one of the Command Seals on Emiya Kiritsugu's hand had vanished, and with a spatial fluctuation, a sacred and beautiful figure appeared before him.
The previous battle had not diminished her beauty in the slightest. Her breathing was even, as if it had been mere light exercise. Clad in silver armor, she held the glorious holy sword in her hand—the highest fantasy of mankind!
"...Master." Saber took in the current situation—the leisurely Ryougi Raku before her, and Emiya Kiritsugu writhing in pain on the ground—and immediately understood the specifics.
Without a word, she stepped in front of Emiya Kiritsugu, shielding him from Ryougi Raku. No matter what, though she detested Emiya Kiritsugu, he was her Master, and protecting him was her duty.
"Thank you, Raku." Saber expressed her gratitude—for Lancer's earlier assistance and for sparing Emiya Kiritsugu.
Having witnessed Ryougi Raku's skills, Saber knew that if he had wished to kill Emiya Kiritsugu, he would not have given him the chance to summon her.
"It's fine, Saber. Your battle with Lancer isn't over yet. If it ends regrettably because of his death, it would be an insult to a true warrior!" Pointing at Emiya Kiritsugu, Ryougi Raku smiled.
With a mix of emotion, respect, and an ambiguous gaze, Saber nodded firmly to Ryougi Raku. Thinking of her own Master, Saber sighed inwardly at Ryougi Raku's respect for her and Lancer, while also feeling a slight guilt toward Ryougi Raku. Regardless, in reality, this battle was already a victory for Ryougi Raku and Lancer...
Only Emiya Kiritsugu felt that Ryougi Raku's words weren't entirely truthful, but he naturally had no right to interject at this moment. He also hoped everyone would forget about him. Simultaneously, Emiya Kiritsugu breathed a sigh of relief. Ryougi Raku had not summoned Lancer, so there was still hope for survival!
Emiya Kiritsugu was not afraid of death—but only after his dream was fulfilled...
"So, you understand the situation, Saber. Let's fight!" The longsword in his hand pointed directly at Saber. The endless, bizarre, and sacred murderous intent emanating from the blade puzzled Saber. But the fighting spirit in Ryougi Raku's eyes, the eager anticipation of meeting a worthy opponent, made it impossible for Saber to refuse. To decline would be the greatest insult to someone she acknowledged!
Seeing Saber assume her stance as desired, Ryougi Raku lunged forward with an excited smile and bloodthirsty fighting spirit!
"Hahaha! Come on, Saber, your fight with Lancer has already excited me! Let's have a thrilling battle!"
The longsword swept forth with the force of a rainbow!
Saber did not dare be overconfident. That golden Archer had already shown everyone the consequences of arrogance!
Wielding the holy sword, Saber fought Ryougi Raku with all her might!
Saber's swordplay was wild and unrestrained, each strike carrying the weight of a thousand pounds. But Ryougi Raku did not focus on strength, instead emphasizing agility. The longsword in his hand rarely clashed directly with Excalibur. At every critical moment, it would change angles, attacking from impossible and bizarre directions, forcing Saber onto the defensive and following Ryougi Raku's rhythm!
This was precisely the difference in cultural development and swordsmanship between East and West!
If Saber's hands were uninjured, she could easily overpower her opponent with sheer strength and force Ryougi Raku to confront her head-on. But now, the injury on her left hand refused to heal, greatly limiting her power.
However, Ryougi Raku felt no guilt about exploiting this advantage and fully displayed his swordsmanship!
Blades flashed, but the sound of weapons clashing was rare. Even when Ryougi Raku made contact with his opponent's sword, he would disengage immediately. He leveraged his smaller stature and the narrow corridor to fully demonstrate his advantages.
Yet Saber's body was also petite, akin to that of a teenage boy...
However, unorthodox methods were not a permanent solution. They might work as a surprise attack but could not be sustained.
Ryougi Raku naturally knew this. Seeing that Saber was defending tightly, he had to change tactics.
"Hundred Fierce Cherry Blossom Slash!" Sword energy radiated like cherry blossoms, momentarily possessing a power reminiscent of Saber's earlier Strike Air!
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(TL : More Chapters @patreon.com/c/Gooberilla)