Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover

"Let's talk after you block my next attack."

Saber responded without hesitation.

For her, wearing armour versus fighting in light gear made a huge difference.

Without the solid defence, Saber gained enhanced agility and a stronger ability to release magical energy.

The so-called "release of magical energy" refers to using high pressure to store magic within a weapon or her limbs, and then releasing it in an instant in any direction to dramatically increase her movement abilities.

In terms of physique, Saber is a small-framed girl, but the secret to her effortlessly wielding a large sword and fighting like a powerful warrior lies here.

Saber can convert all surplus magical energy into close-quarters combat mobility. With A-level Mana Burst, even a simple stick becomes a weapon with immense power. If all the magic required to maintain the armour were instead used for Mana Burst, her strength and speed would increase by at least 60%, making her capable of executing a one-hit kill.

This is the answer Saber arrived at, sacrificing defence to make up for the loss of her armour's protection to deal with Lancer's spear.

***

The scene fell into a tense silence. The standoff between the two Servants felt as if the air itself had frozen.

Both were experts, each capable of reading the other's movements by sensing shifts in magical energy and muscle tension. Despite having declared their intent to win, neither made a move, both still maintaining their tense standoff.

Then—Lancer's right foot stepped onto a patch of sand.

The intense battle had already torn up the asphalt beneath their feet, revealing the soft layer of sand and gravel below.

Lancer's footing faltered, causing a brief moment of hesitation.

Saber wasn't about to let Lancer regain his balance. A loud explosion shook the air, and the previously invisible golden sword now gleamed in the night sky.

The Invisible Air's Barrier was voluntarily dispelled.

This was another of Saber's tactics, the moment the Invisible Air's Barrier was undone, the constrained atmosphere would release all at once like a weapon, propelling her forward like a bullet at an incredible speed.

This was Saber's plan: using her physical prowess, magical release, and Invisible Air's Barrier to break Lancer's predictions and strike a decisive blow.

Sprinting at speeds several times faster than the speed of sound, the shockwave sent debris flying, as if lifting leaves in the wind.

At this point, Saber had no chance of stopping. Even though Lancer's counterattack could bring heavy damage, she was ready to take his life at that moment.

Facing Saber's high-speed charge, Lancer seemed to give up on intercepting her, his red spear unmoving.

Instead, the movement came from his feet.

Saber sensed a slight opening—it was intentional on Lancer's part, meant to position himself for this very moment, at the spot where Lancer had left something behind.

"I've won, Saber."

Lancer, now confident of his victory, smiled sharply and kicked the sand beneath him.

But it wasn't just the sand that flew up into the air—it was also the short spear Lancer had discarded earlier.

The spear's tip, now gleaming ominously, pointed directly at Saber, and the spells on the weapon had been released, revealing a bright yellow shaft radiating unsettling magical energy.

Though rare, there were heroes in history known for wielding dual spears, like Scathach, the "Queen of the Land of Shadows." Even now, the one fighting Saber, a great hero of Celtic mythology, stood ready.

More importantly, the Noble Phantasms of Heroic Spirits are never limited to just one.

From the very beginning, Lancer had been setting traps.

He had openly displayed his aura, seemingly waiting for an opponent worthy of battle. In reality, he was like a hunter waiting for prey.

The former Fianna's knight had now turned his sights on the King of Knight.

Unfortunately, it was too late for Saber to realize this.

Saber could not stop, and Lancer's spear would not pause.

Both were poised for the moment when victory or defeat—and perhaps even life or death—would be decided.

A fierce wind howled.

Life and death intertwined.

The blood-red flowers bloomed brilliantly, only to vanish in an instant.

The two combatants stopped and turned to face each other.

They stood tall, unwavering, their will to continue the confrontation intact. Both Servants were still alive.

In the split second before the outcome was clear, Saber had made a slight shift in her attack's trajectory.

As a result, the short spear, which had been aimed to pierce Saber's chest, only struck her left wrist. Similarly, Saber's golden sword missed Lancer's vital points, instead slicing through his left wrist.

It was a coincidence that both were injured in the same spot.

But had the price for that injury been the same for both?

***

Fuyuki Bridge, several minutes ago.

"Let's go, kid."

Waver, who had been intently watching the decisive battle between Saber and Lancer, was suddenly grabbed by the collar and lifted into the air.

"Put me down, Rider! I haven't finished watching yet!"

Waver whined, like a child whose cartoon had been abruptly turned off.

"We'll catch up later."

Rider responded impatiently, tossing an empty bottle aside.

"That Lancer guy is pulling out his trump card. He's aiming for a quick resolution."

"No, isn't that good?"

Waver muttered, but Rider's sharp response cut him off.

"Idiot, what are you talking about?"

Rider drew his short sword and glanced at Waver.

"I was hoping to get more information before more people showed up. But if things keep going like this, Saber could be eliminated. By the time something happens, it'll be too late."

"Saber? But shouldn't Lancer be the one at a disadvantage?"

Waver blurted out.

"Lancer can't stop Saber's sword!"

"Don't try to reason without evidence. That would just lead you astray, my friend."

Sakatsuki put away the empty bottle and tossed the trash bag into a space-changing compartment.

"Think carefully. What weapon did Lancer use at the beginning?"

"A weapon? Wasn't it a spear? Two of them, actually. And one of them he threw away."

"Then where did the one he threw go?"

"In..."

Waver searched the footage and gasped in realization.

"Behind Lancer! No, he's moving toward it! He's heading for that spear!"

"That spear is a problem."

"Exactly."

Sakatuki nodded, heading toward the motorcycle. He put on his helmet, and his deep voice filled the air.

"If that spear was a disguise from the start, Lancer should have thrown it farther away, not left it on the battlefield as a potential variable."

"Moreover, with Lancer's Master, he wouldn't waste time on unnecessary deception."

"Don't forget, that guy was openly searching for other Masters. Plus, after the standoff between Lancer and Saber, he ordered his Servant to use his Noble Phantasm—someone like that wouldn't bother with hiding anything."

With a hearty laugh, Iskandar slashed at the sky with his sword, calling down a thunderous chariot.

"Saber and Lancer are right there, and they've already made things so exciting. I like them, it'd be a waste for them to die."

"They can't die? The Holy Grail War is about mutual slaughter!"

Waver yelled, but his voice was abruptly cut off by a flick to the forehead.

"Victory without death; domination without shame. That is true conquest!"

Rider puffed out his chest, loudly proclaiming his will.

"Idiot, idiot, idiot! Your actions make no sense!"

"Hm? If you're not happy, do you want to stay here and watch?"

"I'm going! You idiot, take me with you!"

"Good, now you're worthy to be my Master."

With a hearty laugh, the King of Conqueror's Noble Phantasm roared to life, answering Rider's call.

"It's time. Ride forth, Wheel of Heaven's Authority!"

The sound of the wheels rolling away echoed as the Fuyuki Bridge was left behind, with one young man chuckling bitterly.

"Not even a goodbye? Just leaving me here?"

He mounted his "chariot," and the beast beneath him began to roar restlessly.

"Well, from now on, we're enemies. After all, there's only one Holy Grail."

Sakatsuki murmured, then turned the "reins," speeding off toward the warehouse district, as his Servant had already rushed to the battlefield.

***

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