"Tch, worried about your Master being attacked while you're fighting, are you?"
Seeing the expressions on Artoria and Diarmuid's faces, Ailin shook his head, raised his index and middle fingers and began chanting.
"Shihō Dankū!"
Four translucent barriers materialized around Irisviel von Einzbern, enclosing her in a protective dome. Even the ground and the air above were sealed.
"A defensive barrier?" Irisviel reached out and touched one of the barriers, feeling a slight resistance. It was clearly a formidable defense.
"Indeed." Seeing that Irisviel recognized the barrier, Ailin skipped the explanation. "Lancer, Saber, this barrier can withstand even a B-rank Noble Phantasm. I doubt any magus in this era can break through it. Now, can you fight without reservation?"
"Thank you," Artoria said, bowing her head slightly. "I will fight with all my strength as repayment."
"I wouldn't have it any other way. Now, let's begin!"
With a flash, Ailin vanished and reappeared behind Artoria.
CLANG! CLANG!
The sounds of clashing metal reached them a moment later. Sparks flew as Artoria's invisible blade, held defensively behind her back, met Ailin's Zanpakutō.
He'd used "Senka," one of Yoruichi Shihōin's signature techniques. It involved using Shunpo to circle an opponent while attacking from both the front and back to disrupt their defenses.
With Ailin's mastery of Shunpo, Artoria had only glimpsed his movements as he drew his blade. Thanks to her A-rank "Instinct" and B-rank "Eye of the Mind," she'd instinctively parried his first blow, then reversed her grip on Excalibur before blocking his second strike.
"Excellent reflexes."
Instead of disappointment, a surge of excitement coursed through Ailin as Artoria deflected his Senka. So far, in the Soul Society, only Sōsuke Aizen, empowered by the Hōgyoku, had pushed him to use his full strength. What thrills would these famed Heroic Spirits provide?
"Your swordsmanship is truly remarkable," Artoria looked serious. "If not for my Instinct, I might have been injured."
"Hahaha… But you weren't, were you?" Ailin grinned.
After several more exchanges, he realized that with his parameters lowered by Mad Enhancement, his strength and speed were comparable to Artoria's. Her Strength and Agility were likely also B-rank.
"Don't forget about me!"
Diarmuid's battle lust ignited by Ailin's earlier display of swordsmanship. Even he wasn't confident he could have defended against that attack. Such skill… this Servant's swordsmanship was clearly exceptional, at least on par with his own. It was a shame he hadn't been summoned as Saber. Then, he could have truly enjoyed this fight.
But even as Lancer, he wouldn't back down. He launched himself at Ailin and Artoria.
Sensing the incoming threat, Ailin instinctively raised his left index finger, blackish-red spiritual pressure coalesced at its tip. But then, remembering his intention to engage in a purely sword-based duel, he dispersed the Cero and used Shunpo to evade Diarmuid's attack.
Diarmuid's B-rank "Eye of the Mind" had sensed a flicker of death in that blackish-red light, almost prompting him to unleash his Noble Phantasm. He smiled as the Servant dispersed the attack and evaded him. It seemed this Servant truly desired a battle of pure skill.
Diarmuid wouldn't disappoint him. He twirled his spears, his A+ rank Agility allowing him to weave through their defenses, engaging both Ailin and Artoria simultaneously.
Ailin and Artoria exchanged glances of shared amusement. If Diarmuid wanted to rely on his superior speed, they would oblige him.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Sparks flew as their blades clashed. Both Ailin and Artoria's swordsmanship was on par with Diarmuid's. Against either of them individually, Diarmuid's A+ rank Agility gave him an edge. But against both at once, he was quickly forced onto the defensive.
Despite their lack of coordination, a silent understanding developed between Ailin and Artoria. They seamlessly transitioned their combined assault to drive Diarmuid back.
BOOM!
Their blades struck Diarmuid's spears simultaneously, sending him crashing through a shipping container. As soon as he was airborne, they turned their attention back to each other.
Their fight was far more intense than their earlier exchanges with Diarmuid.
In the Soul Society, Ailin had forged a Zanpakutō based on Excalibur. But having now witnessed the genuine article, he realized the vast difference between his replica and the true Excalibur.
He'd also forged a replica of Excalibur Galatine, using Ryūjin Jakka as a reference, capturing the essence of the sun's core temperature. He was confident his replica's power was comparable to Gawain's genuine Excalibur Galatine.
But his replica Excalibur paled in comparison to Artoria's. Thus, with each clash, Ailin used "Synchronization" to analyze Excalibur, gathering data on its structure and abilities.
If Shirou Emiya's Unlimited Blade Works in the Type-Moon world couldn't replicate an EX-rank Noble Phantasm like Excalibur, Ailin's Unlimited Blade Works, enhanced by the Royal Seal, could. He had materialized his inner world, transforming it from a conceptual space into a genuine dimension. And his Zanpakutō's Shikai had evolved from "Projection" to "Throwing."
If he could completely analyze Excalibur, he could replicate its essence within his own Zanpakutō, creating a blade that rivaled, perhaps even surpassed, the genuine article.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Ailin's swordsmanship, recognized by Alaya as A++ rank, pressed Artoria onto the defensive. Even so, Artoria's A-rank Instinct and B-rank Eye of the Mind allowed her to evade his attacks. In the Soul Society, she might have already been injured, perhaps even killed. But here, in this world of abilities, she held her own.
"Such skill…"
The longer they fought, the more Artoria realized the disparity in their swordsmanship. If not for her enhanced abilities as a Heroic Spirit, she might have already been defeated. A swordsman of this caliber shouldn't be unknown to history. But no matter how hard she searched her memories, she couldn't find a match. In her experience, only Musashi Miyamoto and Sasaki Kojirō could compare. But even they, she felt, fell short of this Servant's skill. His swordsmanship had reached the realm of Noble Phantasms. It was beyond human comprehension.
BOOM!
Just as Artoria felt she was about to falter, Diarmuid burst from the shipping container, his spears aimed at Ailin. Having witnessed Ailin's swordsmanship, he decided to join forces with Artoria.
Both Diarmuid and Artoria felt a twinge of shame at their decision. As knights, their pride wouldn't normally allow them to gang up on an opponent. But more than their pride, they feared being unable to even entertain their opponent, to deny him the thrill of a true battle. That, to them, would be the greatest dishonor.
"Oh?"
Facing their combined assault, even Ailin felt a slight pressure. Both Artoria and Diarmuid were formidable opponents. Artoria could predict his attacks with Instinct and Eye of the Mind. And while Diarmuid's Eye of the Mind was only B-rank, his A+ rank Agility made him difficult to hit.
While Diarmuid's interference slowed his analysis of Excalibur, Ailin wasn't annoyed. It was only the second day of the Grail War. He'd have plenty of opportunities to fight Artoria later. But a chance to battle two close-combat Heroic Spirits simultaneously… that was rare.
He knew that after witnessing this fight, Kayneth's trust in Diarmuid would plummet. He would deem Diarmuid too weak to secure victory, to obtain the Grail. And then, Kayneth would likely use Diarmuid as a distraction while he targeted the other Masters, eliminating them one by one to claim the Grail for himself.
"Now, I'm getting serious!" Ailin raised his Zanpakutō and brought it down.
BOOM!
A slash, dozens of meters long, tore through the ground towards Artoria and Diarmuid.
"A Noble Phantasm?"
"No, there's no magical energy."
"It's a pure slash, fueled by his swordsmanship!"
Artoria and Diarmuid's faces paled. They hadn't sensed any magical energy in that attack. It was pure skill, a level of swordsmanship beyond their comprehension.
Artoria took a deep breath and her invisible sword crackled with energy.
"Saber, what are you doing?" Diarmuid asked, startled. After the Servant dispersed his earlier attack, Diarmuid had assumed he wanted a purely sword-based duel. He'd even been prepared to concede defeat after witnessing that slash. But Saber… she seemed intent on unleashing her Noble Phantasm.
Saber met Diarmuid's gaze. "Lancer, in terms of pure skill, even together, we are no match for him. Are you willing to let him leave disappointed, after he's only just begun to reveal his true strength? I, Artoria Pendragon, will not allow my opponent to be dissatisfied due to my own inadequacy!"
She swung her blade at the incoming slash.
"Strike Air: Hammer of the Wind King!"
BOOM!
A wave of compressed air collided with Ailin's slash, creating a deafening roar. A destructive whirlwind tore through the port that was pulverizing everything in its path.