More than 24 hours had actually passed before the trio from Chaldea arrived. During that window, Lancer and Cu Chulainn had clashed several times with the Servants under Saber command. However, every engagement ended in a stalemate, with one side eventually retreating.
The primary reason for this deadlock was Archer.
He prowled the city alone. Whenever he spotted Lancer and Cu, he would summon Lancer (Medusa) to initiate a pincer attack. If they tried to focus on Berserker first, Archer and Lancer would inevitably arrive as reinforcements. After several failed attempts, the duo made a decision: Archer had to go first.
However, they lacked the numbers to bait him out without risking a total collapse. It wasn't until Lancer discovered Olga Marie that he and Cu finalized their trap.
The Dragon Tooth Warriors Lancer summoned from dragon bones were mere cannon fodder, but the ordinary skeletons were the eyes and ears of Saber faction. Lancer knew that from the moment he "found" Mash and Ritsuka while carrying Olga Marie, Archer would be lurking in the shadows, waiting for his moment.
As expected, the moment Mash let her guard down upon seeing the Director, Archer struck. Three arrows, converted from projected Noble Phantasms, streaked toward the girls. Anticipating this, Lancer activated the Rune he had secretly drawn on Olga Marie clothing.
He hadn't been carrying her around just for the sake of it.
An erupting wall of ice intercepted Archer lethal shot, instantly flipping the script. The ambusher was now exposed. Cu Chulainn, waiting for this exact signal, unleashed his pre-prepared Runes without hesitation.
A pillar of fire engulfed Archer position. Unfortunately, the distance was too great, and thanks to the protection of his Holy Shroud, Archer wasn't lethally wounded—just scorched and battered. But that was enough. He wasn't fighting just one person.
Archer barely had time to process the fire when a horde of "monsters" charged him from the front.
Abandoning his bow, he used Projection Magecraft to manifest a pair of black and white short swords.
"Kanshou! Bakuya!"
The moment he raised the blades, a terrifying force slammed into them.
Crack!
Pshhh!
A blood-red spear shattered Archer twin blades and pierced his chest. As a veteran of countless battlefields, Archer realized he couldn't dodge, so he abandoned the attempt to focus on a counter.
"Rho Aias!"
Archer most trusted defensive Noble Phantasm appeared. Its only weakness, however, was that its specialty lay in defending against ranged attacks. Against a blood-red spear thrusting at his heart at point-blank range, its special properties didn't trigger.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Six of the seven layers—each equivalent to a fortress wall—were obliterated in a single strike. Thanks to his Heroic Spirit Template, Lancer now possessed the monstrous strength of the legendary "Oni" race.
Just as the spear tip was about to breach the final layer, Archer completed his final maneuver.
"Crane wings, without opening"
Archer lunged forward, voluntarily leaving the protection of Rho Aias. He swung his twin blades in a cross pattern to deflect the spear. Due to the massive strength disparity, the blades were sent flying to either side.
For most, losing a weapon meant death. For Archer, it was the setup.
"Spirit and technique, reaching the mountain—"
The Magic Circuits on the back of his hands flared. Two identical short swords reappeared. He lowered his stance, catching the spear blade between the swords. Mid-clash, he dived beneath the spear, charging toward Lancer while tossing Kanshou. The previously discarded Bakuya spun through the air behind Lancer, aiming for his spine. Lancer, as if having eyes in the back of his head, yanked his spear back and shattered Bakuya with the butt of the weapon.
"Spirit and technique, crossing the Yellow River—"
It wasn't over. As Lancer crushed the first sword, Archer tossed the second Bakuya. Kanshou spun in from the opposite angle. Once again, Lancer shattered the projectile, but Archer was already in his face. He threw his current pair of swords directly at Lancer chest.
At point-blank range, Lancer showed terrifying flexibility, leaping into the air as the blades grazed his feet.
"Our names, ending in a different heaven—"
In a split second, Archer projected a third set of swords and leapt up to meet Lancer in the air. Lancer had nowhere to dodge, especially as the previously dodged swords curved back from behind him once more.
"Two rivals, sharing a life—"
The final, lethal strike of Archer ultimate technique, the Triple-Linked Crane Wings, closed in on Lancer from all sides!
This dizzying flurry of attacks—utilizing the magnetic attraction between the male and female swords—was what made the move so deadly. No matter how strong the opponent, maintaining a perfect defense against multiple directions was impossible. Most died at the second link; the third was certain death.
But Lancer did something impossible. As if he were on solid ground, he kicked the very air behind him, launching himself forward at a speed exceeding Archer own.
BOOM!!!
Cu Chulainn and the girls watched as a cloud of dust erupted. When it cleared, Archer stood with his arms hanging limp, his blades stained with blood. His earlier projected swords were stuck in the ground beside him. He fell to his knees, leaning back with a look of pure shock. Lancer, despite the 'X' shaped wound carved into his chest, stood firm, his red spear driven straight through Archer heart.