"I hope so!"
"What do you mean 'I hope so'! The final victor will definitely be me."
"Hahaha!" Looking at Shirou's displeased expression, Jeanne couldn't help but laugh, which made Shirou even more annoyed.
"Hey, hey, hey, what are you laughing at!"
"Laughing at how childish you are!" Stopping her laughter, Jeanne's face still held a smile as she said, "Compared to an unknown Red Saber, I really hope you can win."
"Eh, Jeanne, you also support me winning?" He never expected Jeanne, who always treated everyone fairly, to say such a thing.
"Of course, but that's just my expectation as a friend."
"Friend or not, it won't affect my stance."
"Regarding this Holy Grail War, I will only stand outside
the battlefield; I will not get deeply involved."
"That's a very fitting explanation of your stance!" After a brief exclamation, Shirou immediately asked, "It seems I'm not the only one who considers you a friend, Jeanne; you also consider me a friend!"
"Indeed, it seems that there's a mysterious power about you, Shirou, that makes people feel very comfortable talking to you!"
"That's my charisma! I can make friends very easily."
Shirou never underestimated his own charm. After all, he was capable of having a 'harem' within Loki's 'harem'. To this day, he still didn't know how many people in the Loki Familia had a crush on him. Though it sounds self-centered, Shirou had MAX charm!
"Indeed, I can see that!" Just like that, the two chatted and laughed.
"Alright, though talking with you, Jeanne, is fun, let's not make it difficult for the waiter!" Shirou said with a smile, glancing at the waiter hiding to the side, wanting to approach but not daring to. Currently, during the Holy Grail War, as the administrator of Trifas, Yggdmillennia had informed the residents here to go home after dark.
At night, let alone shops, there wouldn't even be pedestrians.
"Ah, we really shouldn't linger here any longer!" At Shirou's reminder, Jeanne, who also noticed the waiter, quickly said.
"In that case, let's go!" With that, Shirou and Jeanne paid for their meal and left. Walking leisurely down the streets of Trifas, watching the shops continuously close and the number of pedestrians dwindle, Shirou and Jeanne fell silent.
Half an hour later, there were no ordinary people left on the streets.
"Night has fully fallen; the time for battle has finally arrived!" Receiving information from his familiar, Shirou, who had found the Saber group, said seriously.
With a swirl of magic, his combat attire clad in armor with a trench coat over it manifested on him. The battle with Saber was a true head-on clash. Facing an opponent with no weaknesses, his usual counter-type fighting style would no longer be effective. Playing to the opponent's weaknesses was a thing of the past. The current Shirou was a true warrior.
"I've found Red Saber's presence. How about it, Jeanne, will you come with me?" With the flow of magic, Jeanne, also clad in her combat attire, said seriously, "Isn't that obvious?"
"In that case, let's go!" With the inner fire gradually igniting and surging battle intent, Shirou and Jeanne headed towards Red Saber's location!
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"Honestly, it's so annoying! Why aren't any Servants showing up?" Walking down the streets of Trifas, Mordred continuously complained to her Master beside her.
"That's probably because your strength is too great! After all, you're a Saber!" Congratulating her subtly, Kairi Sisigou continuously scanned the surrounding environment.
"That's right, that's right! It's definitely because I'm too strong!" Mordred, who easily fell for compliments, chuckled upon hearing her Master's praise. But just as she was about to say something more, she suddenly sensed a Servant's presence.
"Finally here? I've been waiting for this moment for a long time!" With the flow of magic, Mordred, clad in armor, clutched her sword tightly, revealing a ferocious grin. Kairi Sisigou, seeing this, also quickly entered battle readiness.
As footsteps gradually sounded, two figures slowly appeared before Mordred.
"Two at once? Are you planning a two-on-one?"
"It doesn't matter; come on, I don't care about your numbers!"
"No, it's not a two-on-one. I am the Arbiter of this Holy Grail War, not anyone's ally or enemy."
"I was invited by Assassin to witness your duel." Seeing Red Saber mistake her for an enemy, Jeanne quickly stepped forward to state her position.
"Assassin, you say?"
"You want to fight me? Don't make me laugh!" Seeing that her opponent was an Assassin, Mordred's face clearly showed displeasure. After all, Assassin was
notoriously the weakest class!
"Oh, looking down on Assassin, are we, Mordred?"
"It seems Lilia taught you to be arrogant!" Manifesting his Noble Art, Doumu Kuramasa, and presenting the sword, identical to Excalibur, before Mordred's eyes. Sure enough, seeing the sword in Shirou's hand, Mordred's pupils constricted. But then, her expression became even more ferocious.
"That name you used, who are you talking about?!"
"Who? Why, Artoria, of course! Who else could it be!"
"Bastard!" Controlled by rage, Mordred, covered in crimson magic, swung her sword and charged.
"Don't you dare call her that!"
"Magic Emission?"
"Clang!" Holding Doumu Kuramasa tightly with both hands. Shirou, also using Magic Emission to strengthen his attack, steadily parried Mordred's strike with his flaming greatsword. As Magic Emission clashed with Magic Emission, magic and air pressure continuously surged outwards. The buildings standing on both sides of them were instantly destroyed. With a strong push, dislodging Mordred, Shirou plunged his sword into the ground and seriously said, "Let's go. Leave here and fight outside the city."
"Otherwise, with our combined output, this place will be reduced to ruins!"
"And then our Masters will probably be very troubled!"
With that, Shirou turned and walked away.
"Don't you dare run, you bastard!"
"Calm down, Saber, he's deliberately provoking you!"
Kairi Sisigou quickly advised Mordred, who was consumed by anger.
"Ah, I know, I'll calm down, Master!" Forcing herself to calm down, Mordred clutched her sword tightly and
quickly chased after him.
Seeing this, Kairi Sisigou looked at Jeanne beside him and quickly asked, "Ruler, this isn't a Black Faction trap, is it?"
"Please rest assured. At Assassin's request, I will ensure the fairness of your duel. Of course, if you don't wish to, you can retreat at any time."
"Good then!" Seeing Ruler say this, Kairi Sisigou's somewhat worried feelings gradually calmed down.
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Millennia Fortress. At this moment, the Throne Room was filled with the Black Faction Masters and Servants.
Through the familiars in the sky, they clearly saw Shirou and Mordred walking out of the city.
"Do we really not need to intervene, Uncle?" Fiore, who had a good impression of Shirou, asked worriedly, looking at him challenging Red Saber alone.
"This is Shirou's personal wish, and for his Noble Phantasm to be effective, it must be a fair one-on-one duel."
"However, he once said that if he wanted to leave, the opponent couldn't stop him! So, none of you need to worry." Looking at Shirou on the screen, Vlad III heavily slammed his weapon. "Everyone, let us admire Assassin's bravery!"
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