In one corner of the city of Sighișoara, a dense, ashen fog had gathered… From within, flashes of blinding red light occasionally burst forth, accompanied by the sound of clashing blades!
"You little brat! Don't underestimate me!!"
Crackle, crackle!
Mordred tore off the helmet of her armor, revealing her face, as she raised her red-and-white sword, roaring toward the unseen Assassin.
"Red Lightning!!"
Boom!!
With her shout, a surge of crimson lightning entwined her blade, flooding it with mana. As she swung, the storm of power burst outward, scattering the suffocating fog around her!
The red light cut through the haze, revealing directly before her the small figure of Assassin—Jack the Ripper, staring blankly in surprise.
"—!"
Jack frowned instinctively, biting her lip, glaring at the red Saber with utter loathing.
"It's over! You little brat—if you want to bawl your eyes out, better do it while you still have a head! Once it's chopped off, there won't even be crying left for you!!"
Mordred's taunts poured out like oil on fire.
"Heh…"
The short-haired girl only sneered disdainfully. From beneath her bangs, her eyes gleamed with a terrifying blood-red light.
"I don't want to~ My tummy's still hungry!"
She replied in a childish tone.
Swish, swish!
Spinning her two strangely shaped daggers in a flourish, she crouched low, preparing to lunge once more.
"So you still won't give up, brat…"
Mordred smirked coldly, gripping her sword tighter, red mana gathering steadily along its blade.
Now that the fog had been dispersed, the heavy pressure weighing her down had lifted as well. She was Saber—how could she possibly lose to an Assassin? No matter how one looked at it, her victory was certain!
From behind, Kairi Sisigou crouched cautiously behind his car, peeking out to observe the fight. He scanned the surroundings carefully—no civilians in sight. The bounded field he had laid beforehand had worked, dispersing the unrelated. Otherwise, a battle of this scale would have certainly drawn a massive crowd.
Still… one thing worried him—
Because the bounded field excluded ordinary people, if anyone entered, it could only mean a magus or a Servant. Worse, it meant they were already being targeted.
Right now, all he wanted was for Saber to finish the fight quickly. The longer it dragged on, the worse it became. After all, news of Jack the Ripper would have reached the Black Faction by now. Which meant… they could already be on their way—or worse—
Already here!
As if to confirm his fears, a sharp sting pulsed in his palm. It was the sign of someone breaching the barrier. Just as he dreaded!
"Saber!!"
He leapt up, shouting toward her. But it was already too late—Mordred and Jack had charged each other once more!
I'll win this!!
Mordred raised her sword, already foreseeing the outcome. Her strike was aimed squarely at the girl's neck. In just seconds, her head would fly. Surely Jack thought the same.
But fate had other plans—
Just as she charged, Mordred heard her Master's voice. Trusting him, she instantly understood his warning carried meaning.
"—!" ×2
In the next moment, an overwhelming chill of killing intent surged over them both. Though she couldn't pinpoint the source, Mordred knew—
She… no, both of them had been targeted! Jack too felt the same murderous pressure.
The next second, a gale ripped from above!
Swish!!!
Like a meteor streaking across the pitch-black heavens, a thunder-charged arrow tore through the sky, falling straight toward them! The sheer pressure of the airflow nearly overturned Kairi's car.
"Tch!!"
Mordred's body reacted faster than her mind—her feet slammed the ground in an extreme brake, twisting her stance, her head snapping violently to the side as she barely dodged. Her entire body spun through the air in the process.
Crackle, crackle!
Swish!!
The thunder-charged arrow ripped through the air with such force it made the very atmosphere tremble. It would have pierced straight through the back of Mordred's head had she not narrowly twisted aside, cold sweat breaking across her skin.
Time seemed to slow. Midair, she forced her body into an extreme turn. At the angle of her fall, her eyes caught sight of where the arrow had come from.
From her vantage point, atop the city's famous clock tower, two figures stood bathed in the pale moonlight. One, surrounded by violet radiance, stood poised with a bow drawn, eyes cold and merciless with killing intent, gazing down upon her like a god judging mortals. The other, a young girl at her side, brushed her windblown hair and watched with a faint smile.
Rumble!
Thunder rolled across the sky above the high tower.
"You bastards!!"
Fury surged within Mordred at the disdainful strike, and she cursed loudly.
The arrow streaked past her, continuing on. Jack, though less aware than Mordred, still managed to force her body to turn aside. But… she was a moment too late.
Shhk!
The arrow speared cleanly through one of her thighs, severing the limb completely.
"Uwahhh!!"
Jack screamed as she crashed to the ground, clutching the bleeding stump of her leg, her shrieks echoing in agony.
The arrow, still charged with lightning, buried itself into the earth beyond, discharging violently before exploding.
Boom!!
Flames burst across the dark streets, illuminating the night. Kairi broke into a cold sweat—just one arrow had nearly thrown him into panic. Just what kind of Servant wielded such murderous intent?
Swish!
Crackle!
Another arrow came in the very next second!
From the high tower, another thunderbolt-laced shaft streaked down, aimed squarely at the prone Mordred's head!
"Don't you dare push your luck!!!"
Mordred erupted with blazing crimson mana, forcing her body upright as she swung her sword with all her might just before the arrow could strike.
Clang!
The blow didn't sever the arrow, but the impact forced her backward several steps.
"Urghhh!"
With sheer strength, she smashed the arrow downward into the ground.
Boom!!
It exploded violently once again.
"Damn it…"
Bleeding, battered, and missing a leg, Jack realized she had no choice. Using the cover of firelight, she vanished into spirit form. If she stayed, she would die. Her mother was still waiting for her at home—she couldn't die here.
Mordred, watching Assassin retreat, only grew angrier. She raised her head, glaring at the distant clock tower. With a sharp step, she dashed back toward her Master.
"Sniping bastards! Master! Leave their Master to you!!"
Bang!
She barked the order at Kairi before dashing off, her body streaking like red light toward the high tower.
"Hey—!"
But she was already gone, leaving him behind.
"Damn it… Things keep going from bad to worse. Still… I can't say I didn't expect this."
Exhausted, Kairi stepped out from behind the car. He lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag to calm his nerves as his eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses, remained fixed on the two figures atop the tower.
Both Master and Servant were women… one shrouded in violet light, the other a young girl by her side…
He recalled the list of Yggdmillennia's Masters he had seen earlier.
Fiore Forvedge Yggdmillennia… was it?
His face hardened grimly. Which meant the ones who had struck at them were none other than Black's Saber!