The very instant Assassin of Black stabbed her blade into Red Berserker's chest, Arthur immediately raced toward Shirou's position, ignoring the two enemy Servants behind him.
It wasn't because Arthur couldn't fight both Assassin and Berserker simultaneously. Rather, with his exceptional parameters, he could easily handle both and even suppress their combined attacks.
But this battlefield wasn't his alone to consider.
Thud—!
Flung away by the violent blast of wind, Shirou slammed harshly into the street, tumbling several times before finally skidding to a halt.
Everything had happened too quickly—so quickly, Shirou had no time to react before being tossed like a ragdoll by Arthur's [Strike Air].
Supporting himself with one hand, Shirou rapidly got back on his feet.
Fortunately, protected by [Incursio], Shirou remained largely unharmed.
"Master! Are you alright?"
Arthur rushed swiftly to Shirou's side, eyes narrowing as he glanced back toward the suffocating white mist behind them.
The mist released by Assassin wasn't just corrosive enough to melt flesh and bone—it lowered Servants' agility by one rank and completely stripped away their sense of direction. An ordinary Servant or magus would soon find themselves trapped within, either dissolving away slowly or falling prey to Assassin's lethal blade.
Only those possessing a skill like [Instinct] ranked B or higher—or specialized magecraft—could discern a safe path out of this lethal fog.
Unfortunately for their enemies, Arthur's [Instinct] was rank A. The very instant the mist had enveloped them, he'd known precisely how to escape.
But Arthur wasn't the only Servant on the battlefield with the means to navigate clearly through chaos.
"Enemies! Halt right there!"
The instant they emerged from the mist, a familiar voice shouted fiercely, echoing through the darkness nearby.
Before Shirou or Arthur could even respond, a streak of crimson lightning shot directly toward them.
Clang—!
Arthur's invisible sword collided sharply with a blade shimmering red, wind and lightning violently intertwining as they clashed.
Arthur exerted force, and a powerful burst of wind erupted from his blade, knocking the armored attacker backward through the air.
Yet the armored figure remained utterly composed even as they flew backward, landing smoothly with one hand braced against the ground in a dramatic, superhero-like pose.
Boom—!
A heavy impact echoed once more. From above, a crimson blade fell like lightning, embedding itself perfectly into the ground before being swiftly grasped by its owner.
Shirou warily observed the armored Servant before them—one fully clad in armor similar to his own.
"So, it's you—the Arthur Pendragon from another world!"
A voice, painfully familiar, echoed clearly from within the crimson armor. The Servant's helmet automatically disengaged, revealing the smirking face and golden hair of a young woman.
"Mordred—" Arthur quietly named the Servant standing before them.
"Since fate has brought us together again, Arthur of a different world, let's settle this once and for all!"
Powerful red lightning surged forth from Mordred's body, a fierce, tiger-like force roaring violently around her. Her aura radiated an overwhelming desire for battle, pouring toward Arthur without reservation.
Arthur responded immediately, his own aura rising dramatically. A stream of clear blue energy surged forth, running along the blade in his hand.
A brilliant, golden sword now openly gleamed in Arthur's grip. Against Mordred, there was no longer a reason to conceal it.
Crimson and azure magic filled the space beneath the bridge, splitting the area into two fiercely opposing realms. The two forces relentlessly clashed, crackling and twisting in furious contention.
Under their intense pressure, the surrounding stonework began creaking ominously, cracks appearing one after another.
Crash—!
Golden and crimson swords collided violently, unleashing a shockwave that tore up the stones beneath their feet.
Having discarded her helmet, Mordred laughed wildly, her magical energy surging even further.
"Hey, kid. Where exactly are you looking?"
Suddenly, a calm, mature voice interrupted Shirou's focus. With Mordred here, there was only one possible person who would accompany her.
Shirou turned his head sharply, spotting a strange, heart-like object rolling ominously toward his feet.
"Boom."
Kairi Sisigou quietly uttered the word, a cigarette held lightly between his lips.
BOOM—!
An explosion erupted instantly, unleashing a violent wave of malevolent magical energy and dense mist. Shirou, fully armored, was instantly engulfed in the swirling blast.
"Master!"
Arthur shouted anxiously, his gaze instinctively darting toward Shirou's position, deep worry flashing across his face.
But Mordred seized the opportunity immediately.
"Don't lose focus during battle, Arthur!"
Scarlet lightning crackled intensely around her, electrifying her crimson and silver sword. In a flash, her blade sliced through the air, shrieking violently toward Arthur's neck.
Mordred held nothing back, an exhilarated grin stretched across her face.
Clang—!
Arthur's golden sword moved with matching speed, intercepting Mordred's lightning-fast strike, producing another sharp metallic ring.
Yet Mordred's assault wasn't over.
Releasing her grip on her blade momentarily, she swiftly reached out while Arthur was occupied, grabbing his shoulder tightly and delivering a vicious kick straight to his stomach.
Thud—!
The tremendous force sent Arthur flying backward, crashing heavily into a distant wall.
"This is my style of fighting! How do you like it?!"
Mordred knew perfectly well that Arthur surpassed her in both skill and instinct.
She'd realized it back at the Hill of Camlann—if she fought her father honorably, in line with knightly traditions, she stood no chance. Even severely wounded, her father had effortlessly run her through.
Only through unpredictable, chaotic attacks could she bypass Arthur's flawless instincts.
Retrieving her crimson sword where it had fallen, Mordred stomped fiercely on the ground once more, charging toward Arthur with ferocious determination.
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T/N: 4 chapters since i was gonna update yesterday but didnt, bonus chaps are tomorrow and uhhh no character note for thisweek
heres my patreon (patreon.com/wisetl) theres also a 25% off discount for firsttime members until christmas ends and heres the powerstone rewardsss Every 100 Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter. 100ps = 1 chp 200ps = 2 chp 300ps = 3 chp etc. uhhh for legal matters, my patreon is only there if you wanna support me yep yep with the added bonus of reading ahead OH OH also heres the discord link discord.gg/wisetl