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"It's probably a Noble Phantasm."
A Noble Phantasm was said to be the armament praised in a Heroic Spirit's legend.
It was rumored to hold power far beyond the reach of modern magi, unleashing effects that mirrored the feats recorded in myth the moment it was activated.
Since the strength and nature of a Noble Phantasm were determined by the legend behind it, they were described as "weapons forged upon the framework of humanity's collective imagination."
A Noble Phantasm wasn't limited to a conventional weapon—it could be a skill, or even an object.
Since this spear-user was a Heroic Spirit, the crimson spear in his hand was very likely his legendary Noble Phantasm.
In fact, after reading the two families' grimoires, George had already guessed that the scabbard embedded in Emiya Shirou's body must also be a Noble Phantasm.
Otherwise, from what he knew of human magi in this world, they shouldn't possess the ability to create a magic item imbued with a law-level effect.
Even with his current alchemical mastery, he would hardly be able to craft such a thing.
"He turned into a human!"
Seeing George shift from a tree into a humanoid form, both Lancer and Emiya Shirou cried out in surprise.
Lancer had assumed a magus was manipulating the tree to attack him. He hadn't expected the tree itself to be the assailant—was this some strange magecraft?
As for Shirou, he was equally stunned. The tree he'd grown up with hadn't just come back to life—it had turned into a human.
If his cat or dog had turned into a person, he might not have been quite so shocked.
After all, he'd seen plenty of that kind of thing in the anime he watched all the time—catgirls, doggirls, foxgirls and the like.
But a tree turning into a person? And a man, at that?
"Hmph! Enough of your tricks—take my spear!"
Whether the tree was being controlled by a magus or the magus had transformed himself, if it was an enemy, all he had to do was eliminate it.
Whirling his Noble Phantasm, the spear that pierced with death, Lancer was just about to strike George down when his body suddenly stilled. He turned sharply toward the warehouse entrance, where Emiya Shirou stood.
"So you're the seventh Master—go die!"
Shirou now bore a fully formed Command Seal on the back of his left hand. It resonated with the summoning circle inside the warehouse, and the completion of the ritual was imminent.
As a Heroic Spirit, Lancer immediately realized Shirou was the Master of the final Servant, Saber.
Since he was a participant in the War, there was even more reason to eliminate him.
He spun his spear, leapt high, and lunged at Shirou, who hadn't yet entered the shed.
Shirou dropped to the ground with a frightened yelp.
But just as the spear was about to descend, a figure stepped between them—George, who had teleported forward.
He invoked the Golden Light Spell, extended one finger, and casually flicked the crimson spearhead that came down from above, sending it flying off-course.
"Impossible!"
Lancer's pupils contracted as he was forced back by the rebound. Landing, he twisted his body and his crimson spear erupted in afterimages as it thrust toward George's vital points.
Unfortunately for him, George didn't consider this level of attack worth paying attention to.
He stood in place without moving. No matter where the spear aimed, his finger intercepted it with perfect precision.
"How can a magus have such a powerful body?!"
Lancer was forced to retreat to the center of the yard, his expression turning grim with disbelief. George had blocked every attack unleashed with his full strength using only a single finger.
His name was Cu Chulainn, a hero of Celtic mythology with divine blood.
Even if he wasn't at full power in this form, no ordinary human magus should've been able to withstand him.
Yet not only did this magus refrain from using magecraft, his physical abilities alone had overwhelmed him.
Every strike had been easily stopped. Strength, speed, reflexes—this man surpassed him by at least an entire tier.
Just then, the summoning circle within the warehouse burst with blinding light as the ritual reached completion.
Cu Chulainn wore a guarded expression. This magus was already a problem; now that Saber was about to appear and could potentially join forces with him, things could become even worse.
George, on the other hand, was intrigued—he was curious to see what kind of level the Saber Tohsaka Rin so desperately wanted would have.
As for Emiya Shirou, he was still completely bewildered.
He was only a trainee magus, having learned a few minor spells from his foster father to mend electrical appliances, and knew nothing about the magical world or the Holy Grail War.
Taking advantage of the chaos, he quietly shifted positions and hid behind the large boulder near the shed.
It wasn't cowardice—he simply had no strength to contribute. Getting in the way could even hinder Mr. Maple Tree.
If Mr. Maple Tree started losing, he would definitely risk everything to help him and fight alongside his savior.
But since the upper hand clearly belonged to Mr. Maple Tree, barging in now and distracting him would be stupid.
His job was to hide and wait for Mr. Maple Tree to defeat the enemy—then come out and figure out what was going on.
The light of the summoning circle faded.
A moment later, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen stepped out through the warehouse doorway, clad in armored skirts.
She had green eyes and long golden hair, with a single ahoge sprouting atop her head. Her complexion was fair and her expression solemn.
She first glanced at Cu, confirming that he was a Heroic Spirit like herself, then looked toward George.
"Excuse me… are you my Master?"
"At least not right now. The one who summoned you is over there."
George smiled and pointed toward Emiya Shirou, whose head had popped up from behind the rock.
Shirou blinked, completely unable to understand what either of them meant.
"Saber has come out. Troublesome.
Looks like I'll have to use a finishing blow—first that magus, then Saber and her Master."
Cu Chulainn's mana surged as he assumed a special stance. The crimson spear was enveloped in red energy, and its point fixed on George.
"This just got interesting!"
George's gaze returned to Lancer, his interest piqued by the law-like force radiating from the crimson spear.
He'd only been playing around earlier. Now, he was starting to get mildly serious.
"Armor of Protection."
For once, he actually cast a defensive spell, forming a magical shield around himself.
With his current power, an Iron Armor Spell from him could withstand even a point-blank nuclear blast without so much as a scratch.
"It's useless. No defense can stop this strike. I'll be taking your heart!"
Cu Chulainn unleashed the true power of his Noble Phantasm—an attack backed by the law of causality, granting absolute hit.
"Gáe Bolg—Piercing Deaththorn Spear!"
The crimson spear ignored the Iron Armor Spell, ignored the Golden Light Spell, ignored George's monstrous physique, and pierced straight through his body.
(End of this chapter)