Shinji Matou At Your Service

Chapter 28: Spear and Sword (3)

The duel between Saber and Lancer continued.

If they had initially held back and tested each other's strength, it could now be said that the battle between the two had reached an intense state.

Of course, such reservations were only within the context of Servants. The aftermath of their probing attacks left a trail of destruction on the road with terrifying imprints everywhere. Two warehouses collapsed on the roadside, and the asphalt on the road was upturned like farmland. Surveying the battlefield in this state, one could not help but feel as if it had just experienced a major earthquake.

Yet amidst the ruins of the battlefield, Saber and Lancer stood facing each other, unscathed, their minds calculating their next moves. Neither group showed a hint of fatigue.

As Shinji was fully engrossed in the duel and completely captivated by it, Scathach, who was providing visual support, suddenly looked away.

"Sensei?"

"There are other guests."

As soon as the words were spoken, the scattered gazes quickly converged and were fixed upon a figure lurking in the shadows.

Due to the lighting conditions, the features were unclear, but Shinji could still discern the person's identity based on their overall characteristics.

Thin, tall, wearing a black coat, equipped with a sniper rifle and an infrared scope.

It was Emiya Kiritsugu, the magekiller. In this Holy Grail War, he was the true Master of Saber. Irisviel was merely a front, a decoy designed to divert attention from various parties.

Kiritsugu's strategy was incredibly effective, to the point where even Tohsaka Tokiomi had to overturn his previous assumption that Emiya Kiritsugu was Einzbern's Master. If Shinji didn't know the plot, he would naturally assume that Irisviel was Saber's Master. The compatibility between Saber and Irisviel was simply too good. Irisviel trusted Saber, and Saber's guardianship over Irisviel was genuine without any falsehood. Anyone would believe that they were more than just a Master and Servant duo. It was precisely because of this that the "Saber x Irisviel Ship" was born in Shinji's previous life.

With everyone's attention focused on Irisviel, Kiritsugu could freely unleash his abilities as a mage killer and employ various means to assassinate the other six Masters.

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Since he was present, then...

As soon as this thought arose, Scathach had already shifted her gaze, focusing on a woman on the other side of the warehouse street, standing in opposition to Kiritsugu Emiya from a distance.

With refined facial features and an attractive figure, she could be called a beauty. However, the coldness emanating from her slender eyes gave off a sense of distance, making one feel rejected from the miles away. Her aura and presence are somewhat similar to those of Justeaze.

The woman held an assault rifle in her hand, and her crouched posture contained explosive power that ordinary people could not reach.

If Kiritsugu Emiya is a venomous snake, she is a cheetah.

Maya Hisau, Kiritsugu Emiya's female assistant and partner. Maya was not her real name; it was the name she used when Kiritsugu obtained a fake passport.

She was a woman whom Kiritsugu had rescued on the battlefield when she was young and had an extremely heavy past. Regarding herself as a part of Kiritsugu, she was a woman who put Kiritsugu at ease. From a worldly perspective, one could consider her as Kiritsugu's mistress, but in reality, Maya, Kiritsugu, and even Kiritsugu's wife, Irisviel, didn't mind. It was not up to others to gossip or criticize their relationship.

"Oh? Impressive insight. You noticed my gaze," Scathach remarked.

On Scathach's line of sight, Maya Hisau suddenly rolled to the ground, covering behind the stairs at the top of the warehouse, with only the muzzle of her gun visible.

By observing the scene, Shinji scratches his cheek. "Sensei, does your concealment technique include isolating the heat emitted by the human body?"

"No, it doesn't," Scathach replied.

"In that case, our presence has been detected. Infrared night vision scopes rely on thermal imaging emitted by the human body. Either we change our position or prepare to block bullets."

Before Scathach could respond, Justeaze reminded them, "People are hiding in the lower left corner, in the warehouse behind us, and on the jib of the crane."

While Scathach and Shinji were observing, Justeaze prepared for wide-ranging magical detections.

"The person in the warehouse is Kariya. He has the runestones I made for him."

The runestones that Kariya considered his trump card contained Scathach's magical imprints and aura. When someone approached a certain distance, Scathach sensed it.

Aside from the Kariya's location, Scathach's gaze moved quickly. In the lower-left corner, between the shipping containers, there was a bitter-faced man in a black cassock with a serene aura.

"It's Kotomine Kirei."

It seems that even without Assassin, he still obeyed Tokiomi Tohsaka, participating in the Holy Grail War and personally entering the battlefield from the very beginning.

On the jib of the crane, wearing a blue-colored mage's attire, meticulously styled lemon-colored short hair, and a confident smile on his lips, there was silver liquid at his feet, resembling a mercury ball.

"Kenneth Archibald El-Melloi."

He is the Master of Lancer, the strongest mage in this Holy Grail War, and goes by the nickname "Lord Kenneth."

In addition to Shinji and the Rider group on the bridge over the Unryu River, six out of the seven Masters of this Holy Grail War either personally appeared or sent proxies to the scene.

If they were to use all means and reveal their trump cards, they would likely force at least two masters to retreat. However, considering that the two most troublesome groups could not be dealt with, and his safety could not be guaranteed, Shinji ultimately abandoned this tempting idea and decided to continue observing his current position.

Lancer brandished his spear filled with killing intent but spoke to Saber in a light-hearted tone: "A duel without announcing our names holds no honor. In any case, I want to pay my respects to you, Saber. Until now, not a single drop of sweat has been shed. You truly are a heroine among women."

"No need for modesty, Lancer," Saber swung her sword and smiled. "Although I don't know your esteemed name, to receive such praise from someone with such remarkable spear skills is an honor for me. I gratefully accept it."

Both of them were confident in their abilities, so when they encountered a true opponent, they showed respect.

Both of them were not only solitary warriors but also admired each other as Heroic Spirits.

This was precisely the charm of the Holy Grail War.

However, not everyone understands how to appreciate this charm.

"The game ends here, Lancer—"

An unfamiliar voice echoed through the empty warehouse street and from the tone of command directed at Lancer, it was not difficult to determine that the speaker was Kenneth, Lancer's Master.

Saber and Irisviel lifted their heads, trying to locate the owner of the voice, but because it came suddenly, they couldn't determine its source.

"Do not waste any more time, that Saber is a formidable enemy. I permit you to use your Noble Phantasm and end this swiftly."

Kenneth's words struck a chord with every onlooker. The Noble Phantasm is a Servant's trump card, their ultimate technique, and this battle finally reached its decisive moment.

"Understood, my Master," Lancer replied with a respectful tone, simultaneously changing his stance.

Casually, he threw the shot spear in his left hand to the ground, and naturally, everyone assumed it was the Lancer's Noble Phantasm.

The enchantment on the long spear in Lancer's right hand slowly unraveled, revealing a deep crimson spear. The blade was wrapped in a completely different magical power from before as if it were an ominous mirage.

"Indeed, the blood will be spilled by this spear next."

Lancer held the spear with both hands, assuming the conventional stance of a spearman charging forward.

"Saber, did you use magic to gather wind and make your sword invisible?"

Saber did not answer, only lowering her body and carefully anticipating Lancer's movements.

"I see." Lancer didn't expect an answer from Saber either and continued, "Do you have no choice but to make your sword invisible? In other words, that sword would reveal your identity."

"Unfortunately, Lancer," Saber remained unfazed, focusing on capturing every movement of Lancer, "you cannot know the true form of my sword because the outcome will be decided before that."

"Is that so?"

Lancer approached with an immensely heavy pressure step by step.

"Saber, allow me to force that invisible sword of yours to materialize!"

--*--

+60 Advanced Chapter /AbsoluteCode