Chapter 186: Chapter 186
Several days later, Fuyuki City's night sky was shrouded in ominousness. "It's begun," you and Firefly stood on a rooftop, overlooking the city. The so-called "Holy Grail War" was a ritual of mutual slaughter among mages.
Just then, you saw unusual movement in the forest outside the city. "Over there… it seems there's a Servant."
"Mm, let's finish this quickly." You leaped down.
In a clearing, a giant, pitch-black Servant—Berserker—was confronting two trapped warriors. The golden-haired knight, Saber, wielded her invisible Holy Sword, but her slashes were brutally parried. The red-clad Archer in the distance fired arrows that couldn't inflict the slightest damage.
"Rin, this won't do! That Berserker is too strong!" Shirou Emiya shouted anxiously.
Just as Berserker raised his massive stone axe for a fatal blow—a dark shadow plunged into the battlefield! Clang—! Your sword firmly parried the unstoppable axe.
"Who are you?!" Rin and Shirou were stunned. Saber also looked on in surprise. This person wasn't a Master, nor did he have a Servant's aura, but his speed and strength…
"SAM, activate!" At this moment, a scorching meteor shower poured down! A giant silver-white mech—SAM, piloted by Firefly—landed heavily beside you.
"Orion! Didn't I tell you to follow me?!" SAM complained.
"Sorry, my body just moved on its own."
"Roar—!!!" Berserker was enraged. He abandoned Saber and turned his target to the more threatening SAM. A brutal confrontation of brute force versus technology began. SAM's iron fists repeatedly blasted Berserker's body into a bloody mess, but no matter how severe the injuries, the giant could instantly regenerate.
"Damn it! How many lives does this guy have?!" SAM roared.
After another fierce attack, Berserker was blown away. This time, he didn't charge at SAM again. Those irrational crimson eyes turned towards you, who appeared to be "weaker." He charged like an out-of-control truck.
Danger! You wanted to dodge, but then… suddenly, in your vision, countless crisscrossing, spiderweb-like black lines appeared on the giant's body. What are they? You weren't sure, but your soul knew—Cut along them. If you cut along them, you can… kill it!
You instinctively tightened your grip on your sword. At the moment the axe was about to touch your head, you moved. Your body slid past Berserker's at an incredible angle, and the longsword in your hand lightly sliced along the clearest black line on his chest!
The sensation wasn't like cutting through tough flesh, but like a hot knife slicing through butter. Pfft. All of Berserker's movements abruptly ceased. His furious roar was caught in his throat, and his massive body collapsed to its knees, then dissipated into the night wind. This time, he would never revive.
The entire scene was silent.
"You… what did you do?" Rin Tohsaka looked at you, incredulously. Shirou and Saber also stared in shock. Fresh chapters posted on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⚫𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⚫𝘯𝘦𝘵
You didn't answer, equally perplexed. What were those visible black lines? They felt like… "death" itself.
Firefly disengaged SAM and walked over. "Remember to follow the script; Saber needs to be saved for last."
You understood. You sheathed your sword and walked towards Rin and Shirou. "Who we are, you don't need to know," you said. "I just want to tell you that the Holy Grail you are fighting for has already been corrupted. It will only bring destruction. Give up; this war is meaningless."
"Nonsense!" Rin immediately retorted.
"Is he telling the truth, Saber?" Shirou frowned.
Saber gazed at you, her golden eyes filled with scrutiny. "I cannot judge."
"Hmph," Rin crossed her arms. "I propose we temporarily form an alliance! Let's investigate the truth of the Holy Grail together. Then, at the end, we'll decide its ownership!" She was playing her cards well.
You and Firefly exchanged glances and nodded. "An alliance is acceptable." After all, the script allowed for it.
Thus, you moved into the spacious Tohsaka residence. That night, in the dojo, Saber found you wiping your sword.
"Sir Orion," she said. You looked up and saw the golden-haired girl in the moonlight, wearing blue casual clothes. "Your swordsmanship is exceptionally refined. Especially that one strike that killed Berserker. If you don't mind, I would like to spar with you."
The clack of wooden swords echoed. Neither of you used special abilities, engaging only in pure swordsmanship. Saber's sword was direct and powerful. Yours was unpredictable, always dismantling her techniques from cunning angles. After an exhaustive practice, you both lay side by side on the cool floor, panting.
"…Your swordsmanship is truly remarkable," Saber praised. "You… where did you learn?"
"The Xianzhou…" those two words slipped out.
"Xianzhou? Where is that?"
"A very distant place, in the East."
"I see…" Saber didn't press further. She turned her head, looking at your distinct profile, her golden eyes filled with curiosity. The young knight found herself quite intrigued by you.
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