"The battle result is going to come out this quickly?",Rin's slender hands unconsciously clenched.
"That Berserker, just who the hell is he?"
One must know, their battle had only just started for barely three minutes.
'Are you trying to be Ultraman or something, ending the battle in three minutes?'
"No, it won't be that quick," Red A spoke.
"Saber's Master, is not a simple character."
"Mm, I agree."
Between magi, they can sense each other.
However, this also requires a necessary condition.
For example, your magical energy must be enough to make the other feel threatened.
Likewise, Rin knew she was currently being ignored by that magus.
Yes, though it was frustrating, she knew.
That kind of invisible gaze of Sajyou Manaka, that woman who recklessly barged into Fuyuki City a few days ago, who was a monster that couldn't be described by common sense at all, equally matched with her.
Rin shifted her gaze onto that white-haired elf.
'The Master from Einzbern?'
'Damn it! One after another, why are they so hard to deal with!'
And on top of that...
'The Servant behind her isn't a Saber class, huh~'
Don't know how many times she murmured this.
The scene reflected in her gemstone made Rin sigh.
'If it's not Saber, fine, but why not give me a Berserker like that?'
———
"Saber," Even with Artoria about to be removed, Sajyou Manaka was still calm and composed, not even intending to use a Command Spell.
"It's over, Saber!", Under System Shirou's cold tone, his palm clenched tightly.
Shirou was shocked.
'System, what are you doing, we can't let her be removed now!'
BANG!
Just as he was about to snap Artoria's neck, System Shirou threw her into the air, clenched his fist, and like floodwater breaching a dam, threw a punch.
BOOM!
Even before the straight punch hit the armor, the shockwave, strong enough to shatter air, arrived first.
If it were just being blown away by the shockwave, then for the powerful Saber-class Servant, such damage wasn't unbearable.
However, following the shockwave, or rather, arriving along with it, that powerful, so fast even her instincts couldn't react, fist, ruthlessly struck Artoria, who couldn't raise a defense in time.
"UGH!"
Her body left gravity's pull, flying in a straight line. Like a meteor leaving space and crashing toward Earth. If anyone tried to stand behind her to help reduce the impact, then the result would be getting sent flying together, or being smashed into pieces.
In such a situation, with her own Servant seemingly defeated, Sajyou Manaka calmly approached Saber.
That casual demeanor, like a girl enjoying the sea breeze, strolling lightly along the beach.
"Are you okay, Saber?"
Before the worried question even came, the girl extended her lotus-root-like arm.
What a smooth, graceful arm. Under moonlight it shimmered gently, soft as snow, beautiful as jade.
If seen by someone unaware, they'd think she was a fragile girl.
Saber was blown away with immense force, someone impulsively trying to go help her would also end up dying together, but reality defied the imagination.
———
"You… you've got to be kidding me!"
Rin's dark eyes slowly widened, round with disbelief, "She actually caught that kind of forceful attack from Berserker with one hand? This woman, even a monster should have limits!"
"Unfortunately, she might be even scarier than you imagine," Red A's lightning-shaped brows furrowed tightly, understanding that the current battle situation was unfavorable for Shirou.
'Why didn't he just kill Saber a moment ago?'
'Was it compassion? Or because you've also experienced this Holy Grail War?'
'Emiya Shirou.'
———
The moonlight accompanied the night, its brightness undiminished. Winter's wind fully revealed itself in this silence.
Those present were not ordinary people.
Yet at this moment, toward that girl, who seemed to embody all the world's beauty, they felt a chill.
"Berserker…", Illya clenched her fists, realizing that she had instead become a burden to Shirou.
She shouted, "That's enough, Berserker! Don't worry about me, just end this battle already!"
"...", Medea remained silent.
Only now did she understand, Manaka might really be omniscient and omnipotent. And incredibly intelligent.
She was certain that Shirou wouldn't let Saber be removed. And how accurately she judged the situation, caused Medea's inner sense of danger to infinitely grow.
Clang!
Artoria, who had regained her footing, thanked her Master, "I'm fine, Manaka. Sorry to trouble you."
So embarrassed after her first battle, the knight who wanted to repay the girl's expectations was full of guilt.
"How could it be?", Sajyou Manaka's silvery laugh sounded like bells.
She placed her hands behind her back, the sea breeze lifting her hair that sparkled even in the night. The girl tilted her head, using a voice filled with infinite beauty and anticipation, saying, "As long as Saber is okay, everything is fine."
"Mm," Not thinking about how the girl had the ability to catch her, Artoria's fighting spirit rose again, preparing to re-enter the battle.
But was stopped by Sajyou Manaka.
"What is it, Manaka?"
Sajyou Manaka acted like no one else was present, even ignoring Shirou who was approaching, twirling the hair by her temples, troubled as she said, "At least let me heal you a bit, Saber. Seeing you hurt, it really pains me."
"There's no time, Manaka," Though deeply moved, the approaching enemy gave Artoria no time to enjoy this tenderness.
She used magical energy to repair her damaged armor, then gripped the invisible sword with both hands, ready to meet the enemy.
"You really leave me no choice then," Sajyou Manaka looked at the approaching Shirou with a smile like blooming flowers, and naively said, "Berserker, can't you give me a chance to heal Saber?"
System Shirou said nothing, the core was calculating like mad how to defeat this duo.
How to let Artoria stay in the fight, while still ending this battle.
The answer: there is none.
Not even one percent.
Even if he surrendered, became this girl's Servant, she wouldn't let the people behind him go.
And even if he did, she'd still say, ["I did it for you, Berserker. Only then will you truly look at me with all your heart. Come, give me a smile, okay?"]
This woman was just that disgusting.
Even Shirou felt nauseated watching the system's analysis.
'What now? An almost unsolvable situation.'
'Do we let Artoria be removed?'
Not impossible, but there's only a one percent chance.
No doubt, in the second battle since the Holy Grail War began, Shirou had met an opponent that, no matter what, was incredibly hard to defeat.
The most critical point, Sajyou Manaka hadn't even made a move against Illya yet.
If she did, Shirou felt that Medea won't be able to stop her.
A magus from the Age of Gods can't stop a modern magus. If spoken aloud, it might be laughed at.
"Heh heh…", Seeing Shirou unmoving, Sajyou Manaka suddenly laughed smugly.
"I say, Berserker, for a berserker, you think pretty fast."
"That is, didn't you ever think that you might be the breakthrough point yourself?", A girl's naive tone.
Did he really think, just because he seemed special in her eyes, she wouldn't make a move?
"???"
Illya's expression changed drastically, panicked as she shouted, "Berserker!"
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