"Is he actively luring us out?"
Saber could sense that chilling killing intent; undoubtedly, it was Assassin's aura.
"Heh, it's exactly the same as when we first met."
Laughing, Saber vaguely remembered sensing the opponent just like this when she took Irisviel to the beach.
"Saber..."
"You don't need to say it. I won't hold back this time."
Glancing at Kiritsugu, Saber switched to her combat attire and summoned the Holy Sword, then sprinted toward that direction.
"..."
Habitually raising a hand for a smoking gesture, Kiritsugu's hand froze there. The young face of Illya flashed in his mind, and he seemed to recall something.
'No matter what... I must win to the end this time!'
Putting down his hand and clenching his fist, Kiritsugu's conviction was incredibly firm at this moment.
Click...
Hearing a sound from behind, it was particularly jarring in this deserted coastal warehouse.
Without hesitation, Kiritsugu pulled out his prepared handgun and fired in that direction.
Bang!!
Clang!
But immediately, a pleasant deflecting sound rang out.
Kirei Kotomine was seen clutching Black Keys in both hands, leaping out from a small alley just like that.
"Kept you waiting, Kiritsugu Emiya!"
Even though controlled by "Geass," Kirei Kotomine retained his previous personality. Only a priority named "King" was etched into his thoughts. The King is greater than everything! Aside from that, there was no other influence.
"..."
Kiritsugu didn't answer, only staring calmly at the man before him. A priest who uses martial arts... once he gets close, it would be extremely disadvantageous for him.
So...
A grenade with the pin pulled was thrown at the sprinting Kirei Kotomine.
Boom!!
An explosion occurred; thick black smoke spread out, and the generated shockwave blocked Kirei Kotomine's advance.
Pat... pat...
Unable to see ahead, he could only judge the enemy's movements by sound alone.
"?"
Parrying several bullets shot at him, when the smoke and dust dispersed, Kirei Kotomine lost track of Kiritsugu Emiya.
"Hide and seek?"
"Cunning man..."
...
Whoosh!
Wielding the "freeloaded" Divine Sword, Kenshin looked at Saber in front of him, his eyes incredibly cold.
"Although many things happened in between... now, finally, no one is in the way."
"Let's settle this, Assassin."
"This one intends to do just that."
Charging at each other, the Holy Sword and the Divine Sword clashed in the air.
Clang!
Clang! Clang!!
Clang! Clang!!
Whoosh!
'As expected... your swordsmanship is still that formidable.'
'Paired with such a divine weapon, its threat is multiplied.'
Parrying the dazzling flurry of strikes, Saber experienced an even greater offensive than their first encounter.
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
"Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu: Ryukansen - Tsumuji (Dragon Coil Flash - Whirl)!"
Dodging Saber's sword edge, flipping sideways in mid-air, Kenshin slashed his sword towards her waist.
Slash!
But Saber retreated abruptly; the sword only scraped her abdomen armor, leaving a gash.
"Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu: Doryusen (Earth Dragon Flash)!"
Relentless, with no intention of stopping, a strike that upturned the ground attacked.
"Huhu!!"
"Yah!"
But Saber drove wind pressure to deflect the flying gravel and earth blocks.
Crack... crack...
The wind pressure swept away the gravel, and Kenshin rushed out from within. Using the gravel and the upturned floor as cover, the real killing move was here.
"Ryushosen (Dragon Soar Flash)!"
Sideways, swinging the Divine Sword from bottom to top towards Saber's neck.
'However... Assassin.'
'You have one biggest weakness.'
Seeing the fatal strike coming, Saber didn't panic; instead, she spoke the opponent's flaw in her heart.
Mana Burst!
Her body accelerated abruptly. In the instant she attempted to dodge the attack, Saber also slashed at Kenshin with the Holy Sword.
Rip!
Pfft!!
The crossing swords hit each other.
Sizzle!!
Feet rubbing against the ground, both then glided back to open the distance.
"Ugh..."
Saber covered her neck with her hand; a bright red trail of blood had already appeared there. Even though she had boosted her own speed, it was still difficult to fully cope with Assassin's god-speed. The opponent was faster than her from beginning to end.
'Truly a terrifying opponent.'
'In this war, your footwork has even improved.'
'Hard to imagine what it would be like if you possessed that kind of will.'
Evaluating thus, Saber looked straight ahead.
Drip...
Blood was dripping, but Kenshin stared at Saber unmoved.
Even though a similar gash was cut on his chest by the Holy Sword, he remained silent as if feeling no pain.
...
"This battle... feels hard to call."
Waver watched this scene through his familiar, having started to get used to it. After experiencing such grand scenes before, the unpretentious clash between Saber and Assassin now was actually moving.
"It doesn't matter. One person will essentially die here anyway."
"And the result of their battle will also affect the subsequent plan."
"From the heart, I also hope Assassin wins."
Lelouch was much more straightforward; he always acted with victory as the goal. He naturally hoped for things beneficial to his side to happen.
"Who told you to control Assassin's Master? You can solve him anytime."
Glancing weakly at Rider, Waver also knew this guy's "realism." Clearly Saber was an ally, yet he hoped for the opponent to win instead. Not wavering for so-called "feelings," only actively looking for means to win, not hesitating to use any despicable methods for this.
"Only the victor can laugh to the end..."
Although he didn't really want to agree with such a statement, the still shallow-experienced Waver couldn't refute it.
"That stance of Saber..."
"Does she want to release her Noble Phantasm to decide the outcome in one breath?"
Suddenly attracted by a burst of light particles, Waver opened his eyes and saw the familiar scene.
"?"
Lelouch hadn't expected the other party to have such a decisive moment. With Saber's "Light Cannon," if Kenshin was hit, he would definitely be finished.
"Why choose to use a Noble Phantasm at this moment?"
"But the premise is being able to hit. With Kenshin's speed, he couldn't possibly stand there and let Saber aim."
So Lelouch felt the opponent's move was a bit unfathomable.
...
'Come! Assassin.'
'If it is you, you will definitely make that choice!'
Holding the sword with both hands, Saber focused her spirit on staring at Kenshin, thinking.
The surrounding volatilizing light particles were like fireflies, dazzling even in the daytime.
"Ugh..."
Knowing the power of "Sword of Promised Victory," that was a Noble Phantasm that destroyed the Black Dragon summoned by Caster in one hit. If hit, Kenshin definitely couldn't take it.
'Must dodge!'
Sensing the opponent was really going to release the Noble Phantasm, Kenshin had such a thought.
"Excalibur!!"
Golden streaming light struck directly. Kenshin's nerves and body, which had long been tense, reacted. Pushing off the ground, leaping to the side...
"He dodged it!!"
"Not only that, he rushed over from the side!"
Waver and Lelouch naturally witnessed that scene.
With extreme speed, facing the wind pressure impact brought by "Sword of Promised Victory," Kenshin approached from the side.
When Saber looked at him, the opponent had already lowered his center of gravity and arrived in front of her, and "Sword of Promised Victory" also finished releasing at this time.
Recalling the contact with Assassin...
First engagement, fighting together against Berserker, joint siege on Lancer and Caster...
Although the time wasn't long, Saber believed she had a deep understanding of him.
"If it is you... you will definitely dodge the Sword of Promised Victory."
"If it is you... you will definitely approach."
"If it is you... you will definitely swing your sword at this moment!"
Without any wavering or retreat, Kenshin heard the opponent's decisive, trust-like tone.
"So... come!"
"Let's see who can survive!"
Holy Sword and Divine Sword slashed towards each other; the crossing sword edges meant that unstoppable link.
Pfft!!
Pfft!!
The sound of swords cutting through flesh transmitted; blood splattered, staining the pier red...