Chapter 95: Just looking at your faces, you can tell that you two won't live long!
On the open ground of the port, strong winds howled, carrying the salty sea air.
Sparks from clashing weapons scattered like stardust in the night, blindingly bright.
Diarmuid's handsome face was flushed crimson, but the twin spears in his hands danced with even greater ferocity, each strike carrying a chilling magical power, as if determined to cut down his enemy.
The silent, black-armored beast emanated a killing aura that was almost substantial, with an ominous dark red magical power escaping from him.
The polearms in his hands became a death storm that devoured everything, pouring down madly on his visibly faltering prey.
Arthur stood with his sword outside the battle circle, his pale blue eyes concealing a hidden ripple.
He kept his gaze fixed on Artoria, who was fighting two against one and gradually losing ground, and in the depths of his eyes was an unconcealed disappointment.
...
Class: Saber
Master: ???
True Name: Artoria Pendragon
Alignment: Lawful Good
—Ability Parameters—
Strength: B
Endurance: A
Agility: A
Mana: A
Luck: D
Noble Phantasm: A++
—Class Skills—
Magic Resistance: A
The ability to gain magic resistance, rank A, sufficient to instantly nullify Greater Rituals and High-Thaumaturgy.
If her Master only uses one Command Spell, she can even resist orders.
However, due to her dragon attribute, Magic Resistance cannot fully exert its effect when facing dragon-slaying magic.
Riding: B
The ability to ride mounts.
Rank B, she can skillfully handle various ancient chariots and modern vehicles, but cannot control Phantasmal Beasts like Monstrous Beasts or Divine Beasts.
—Personal Skills—
Instinct: A
The ability to instantly discern the 'most suitable action for herself' in battle, even reaching the realm of 'predicting the future'.
She can predict trajectories through the sound of the wind and her intuition, evade attacks from firearms, and reduce the hindrance of attacks on her vision and hearing by half.
Mana Burst: A
The ability to strengthen weapons and the body through magical energy.
Rank A, even a mere short stick will become a weapon of great power.
Charisma: B
The ability to lead others, rank B, sufficient to govern a kingdom, but unable to establish a world-class empire.
...
As the most outstanding Saber among the seven Holy Grail classes, her status panel was flawlessly magnificent.
Yet, merely losing the strength of one arm, she couldn't even handle two Servants?
Indeed, trying to gain insight from King Arthur of other worlds was an impractical endeavor.
"Master, your demands on Lia are a bit too harsh."
Merlin's somewhat cautious voice rang in Arthur's mind, attempting to defend his child.
"From past to present, Lia has always been the one who considers the most.
The pressure of the entire country rests on her slender shoulders, so it's inevitable that her actions might be a bit hesitant."
Arthur pursed his lips dismissively, thinking to himself.
'I actually hope she can unleash her full power without any reservations; only then would it not be a waste for me to specifically impersonate the Lionheart King.'
"Oh oh~ Speaking of which, Master, how is my illusionary magic?"
Merlin's tone suddenly rose a few notches, and Arthur could almost imagine the guy shaking his head proudly on the other end of the mental link.
'So-so, that's all you're good for.'
"...How could you say that..."
Rumble!
In an instant, a deafening explosion resounded through the sky, shaking the earth.
Arthur looked up, only to see a dazzling flash of light tear through the night sky and plummet down.
It accurately crushed the black-armored beast, and the violent lightning, with its power undiminished, ravaged the enemy's body.
The instigator, Conqueror King Iskandar, suddenly reined in his horse, and the Gordius Wheel turned direction with a harsh screech.
A hearty, uninhibited smile hung on his face as he loudly quipped,
"You haven't retreated yet? It seems you're a tough nut to crack!"
The black-armored beast twisted his spasmodic limbs, struggling to slowly get up from the scorched ground, his crimson eyes still fixed on Artoria in the distance.
"d...gl..."
He let out an inarticulate growl from his throat, but instinctively realized he was no longer able to fight.
Layers of ominous black-red mist rose from the black-armored beast's body, and his figure distorted and faded like evaporating water vapor, finally dissipating into spirit particles, choosing to retreat.
...
After the black-armored beast retreated, Iskandar, who had intervened forcefully in the battle for the second time and was a complete troublemaker, now aimed his spear at Kenneth, roaring like a thunderous bell.
"Stop defiling the duel between knights with such underhanded tactics!"
"Immediately order Diarmuid to retreat! If you intend to continue humiliating him, then this King will choose to lend a hand to the King of Knights!"
Artoria, having narrowly escaped death, was breathing a little rapidly, but a hint of relief involuntarily appeared on her face.
Diarmuid, standing nearby, openly displayed a look of profound gratitude.
Kenneth heard this, his face showing surprise, and his arrogant eyes flickered with a confusion that was difficult to understand regarding creatures like 'Servants'.
Having long held a high position in a Magus family, he naturally wouldn't easily back down because of an enemy's threat.
His gaze shifted, falling on Arthur, who had remained outside the fray, and he proposed in a deep voice,
"Lionheart King! I request an alliance with your Master. Let us jointly eliminate the King of Knights and the Conqueror first, what do you say?"
As soon as this proposal was made, the atmosphere on the battlefield, which had just slightly eased, instantly became tense and hostile again!
Compared to Artoria, who had lost an arm and whose combat power was greatly reduced, the unharmed Diarmuid undoubtedly had more value for cooperation.
Even if Arthur, playing the Lionheart King, couldn't take down Conqueror King Iskandar alone, as long as he could delay for a moment—
If they could buy time for Diarmuid to eliminate Artoria first, the situation would instantly reverse!
At that time, Diarmuid would be free, and with the Lionheart King, it would be two against one, and the advantage would completely shift to their side!
For a moment, everyone's eyes were focused on Arthur, awaiting his final answer.
Arthur feigned lowering his eyes, as if communicating privately with his Master, who was far from the battlefield.
A moment later, he looked up again, gazing at the confident Kenneth, a polite yet distant smile playing on his lips.
"My apologies."
Arthur's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.
"My Master and I both agree that you and your Servant possess countenances destined for an early demise. We shall not involve ourselves in this messy affair."
Kenneth nearly choked on his breath, his originally pale complexion instantly turning a liver-like purple.
He trembled, pointing a finger at Arthur, too angry to speak.
Diarmuid, even more so, glared with wide eyes, burning with rage.
He brandished the Gáe Dearg, the crimson rose that pierces magic, and the Gáe Buidhe, the yellow rose that kills, in his hands, pointing their tips at Arthur, his voice sharp and stern.
"Retract your arrogant words, Lionheart King!"
"Otherwise, I will surely make you pay a heavy price for slandering me and my lord!"
Arthur shook his head indifferently, a subtly mocking curve on his lips, his words as sharp as a blade.
"You yourself severely wounded your enemy, a victory within your grasp, yet you hand it over because of some nonsensical chivalry?"
"The Holy Grail War is a bloody contest of life and death, not an opera stage for you to display chivalric spirit!"
"You speak so grandly, but in reality, you don't even have your Master in your eyes, do you?"
"You—!"
Diarmuid felt his blood rush to his head.
Having suffered such a great humiliation, he could no longer suppress the rage in his heart; without waiting for Kenneth to give any command, he transformed into a swift shadow and charged fiercely!
"Lionheart King! You must pay for your presumptuous words!"
With a flash of lightning, Arthur transformed into a ferocious dragon fang tearing through the air, brutally smashing aside Diarmuid's two magical spears, which glowed with ominous light!
His cold gaze locked onto the Lancer, who had lost his composure due to anger and left himself wide open.
His left fist clenched, and a thick magical power, visible to the naked eye, erupted with a roar, striking out like a battering ram!
Bang!
A visible sonic boom wave exploded centered on Diarmuid's handsome face!
The terrifying impact instantly sent him flying, tumbling like a broken kite and crashing into the distance, kicking up rolling dust!
Arthur shook off the lingering heat on his fist, his gaze lightly falling on Diarmuid, whose fate was unknown in the distance, a hint of casual mockery on his lips.
"If you're really in a hurry to leave, I don't mind giving you a ride."
"What, not attacking anymore?"