One life down, after Berserker was petrified while protecting Illya.
Thus, as they stared at the petrified, headless torso, those unaware of Berserker's Noble Phantasm all wore expressions of disbelief.
"The Great Hero, Heracles... defeated so easily?"
Far away at Ryudou Temple, Souichirou Kuzuki voiced his doubt. As the Witch of Betrayal and master of the Golden Fleece from the same era, Medea possessed a deeper understanding of Heracles.
Gazing at the scene reflected in her Water Mirror, she responded to his question by gently squeezing his arm and shaking her head.
Back on the battlefield, before Saber and the others could lower their guard, Berserker's body began to undergo a strange transformation. With a cry from Illya, he rapidly regenerated.
"Berserker! Kill them all!"
"ROOOAR!!"
Once again, the Holy Sword clashed with the stone axe. The immense force behind the axe's blow forced Saber to evade its raw power and adopt a more agile strategy.
In terms of swordsmanship, Saber was clearly superior. Her blade continuously evaded the stone axe, and even while harassed by Rider's chains, she managed to circle around to Berserker's back.
But this time, Rider's petrification was no longer effective against him, and Saber's same sword couldn't even break the skin on his neck.
"God Hand," Guinevere explained after Berserker sent Saber flying with a backhand blow. "It's a Noble Phantasm granted to Berserker Heracles through his legend. It acts upon his body, granting him immunity to all attacks of B-rank or lower and allowing him to resurrect eleven times after death. Furthermore, any attack that kills him once will never work on him again."
During the explanation, she had dashed into Berserker's attack range, leaped onto his shoulder, and snatched Illya, carrying her more than ten meters away.
As Berserker let out a furious roar and seemed about to charge in a frenzy, Guinevere's hand clamped around Illya's neck.
Others might not have known, but Guinevere knew better than anyone how much Berserker valued Illya.
"Shameless!"
Illya spat the curse, never having imagined she would become a captive.
"Shameless? I think you're the shameless one," Guinevere retorted. "You knew full well who Saber is, yet you kept Berserker by your side, forcing Saber to hold back.
"Relax, I'm not going to kill you. I just want you to listen obediently.
"Killing you would be the quickest way to end this battle, but no one here actually wants your life. Besides, if you were gone, would Berserker truly be able to fight without restraint?
"By the way, want a drink? I remember you're already eighteen, old enough to drink."
Guinevere didn't lower her voice as she faced Berserker. Hearing her words, Berserker's killing intent subsided. The stone axe in his hand now pointed silently at the lightly injured Saber, who was just climbing out from the shattered tree she'd been slammed into.
Illya, however, focused on something else.
"You know me? Then how do you know I'm eighteen?"
"Take a guess. But you'd better behave. If your hair starts acting up again, I'll have to give you a haircut first. You'd cry if I shaved you bald, wouldn't you?"
As she spoke, Guinevere removed her hand from Illya's neck and began tidying the girl's long white hair with both hands.
Guinevere's methods were a bit underhanded, but it was the only way to make Illya cooperate at this moment.
Right now, Illya's mind was consumed by rage. She was furious at Kiritsugu Emiya and Irisviel von Einzbern for breaking their promise, yet she still loved them. She was also intensely curious about the adopted son Kiritsugu had taken in while "fooling around" outside.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Rider, now aware of Berserker's Noble Phantasm and having heard Guinevere's words, decisively put away her weapons and donned her blindfold. With her own Noble Phantasm temporarily unusable, she had become more of a hindrance than a help.
During the recent clash, she hadn't dared to entangle Berserker with her chains, knowing it would only allow him to pull her in and land a devastating iron fist.
"Rider, you..."
"Don't worry. Berserker's Master is in Assassin's hands. She won't let the situation escalate to the worst-case scenario. Right now, she's probably just using Berserker to vent some frustration again."
Indeed. With Illya captured, a battle to the death was out of the question. Everyone present knew this.
Thus, after calmly walking to face Berserker, Saber performed the pre-battle courtesies and directly revealed her True Name.
Against Illya, concealing her True Name was pointless.
Clang!Boom!Crack!
On the battlefield, as both combatants unleashed their full power, a scene from myth unfolded. The stone paving shattered and flew apart, carving deep gouges into the ground.
Flashes of blades, shadows of swords...
"Strike Air!"
Ultimately, Saber's swordsmanship proved superior. Seizing an opening in Berserker's defense, she pressed her sword against his chest and unleashed a violent gale that obliterated his upper body.
With that, Berserker lost his second life.
Without hesitation, as Berserker began to regenerate, Saber's materialized Holy Sword began to glow. The moment he fully reformed, she unleashed its power.
With that, Berserker lost his third life.
But Berserker's deaths ended there. Saber had no means to kill him a fourth time.
Another Holy Sword Release. Berserker bathed directly in the torrent of light. Without the plot armor that had insta-killed his seven lives, Saber would have no chance of defeating him alone.
The roars continued, the battle raged on, but any discerning observer could see Saber was struggling to hold on. With Emiya unable to supply her with Mana, the reserves she had previously accumulated were nearly depleted.
"Saber's going to lose. Aren't you going to stop me, Sister Assassin?"
"Illya, you used to call me Auntie!"
"Assassin, did you really know me before?"
"Yes. I knew you in another world."
At that moment, Illya's temper flared. She was already considering a mutually destructive outcome.
What is a Servant's 'other world'? Illya naturally assumed it was the Throne of Heroes. And what mostly populated the Throne of Heroes? The answer was simple: dead people!
"Auntie, are you saying I'll become a Heroic Spirit after I die? So I still have time to perform deeds worthy of becoming one? Heheheh."
"Once the Holy Grail War is over, I'll help you destroy the Einzbern Family."
Reiterating her promise, Guinevere leaned down and nuzzled Illya's head, her hair exceptionally fine.
Then, she released Illya completely, allowing her to smoothly retreat behind Berserker.
So, would Illya withdraw? A willful, resentful child who had just been thwarted wouldn't accept reality so easily.
"Berserker! Tear her apart!"
Once again, Saber was sent flying. Outmatched in both stats and Mana, she had already reached her limit after holding on for fifteen minutes without being defeated.
As Saber was knocked away, Berserker charged toward Guinevere. Guinevere's response was to glance at Emiya.
Just moments ago, Emiya had finally completed the Reinforcement Magecraft on the wooden staff in his hands, raising its strength to a level Guinevere deemed barely acceptable.
Before acting, Guinevere had pulled Emiya aside and told him that if he wanted to help, he needed to reinforce nine different items.
"Rider!"
With a shout, the wooden staff Emiya had just finished reinforcing was thrown into Guinevere's hands.
The next moment, Guinevere's body blurred past Berserker's.
A moment later, the wooden staff, having endured Guinevere's strike, shattered. Guinevere then chanted:
"Aroundight Overload."
Such a technique for manipulating Mana didn't need to be listed on a Servant's Status.