My Fate Compendium of Type-Moon Chapter 45

That armor, which balanced both heft and flexibility, brought her an unparalleled sense of familiarity—it was an object of honor, a mark of identity, worn by those who fought alongside her on the battlefield in life, those who faced her in combat.

That was the mark of a knight, the noble of the battlefield.

However, before her, Saber, the King of Knights, refused to acknowledge this figure as a knight.

A knight must be noble, majestic, illuminating the battlefield with their own light. They must restore honor and dignity to those who have fallen into the depths of hell, transforming them back into human beings. This was the responsibility a knight must fulfill, a responsibility more important than their own anger, sorrow, pain, or suffering.

The Berserker before her was, at best, merely a savage beast bound within knightly armor.

As if hunting a monstrous beast, the maiden-like King of Knights did not announce her name, nor did she have any desire to communicate. She simply raised her holy sword and declared with solemnity:

"Come, Berserker!"

"Grrrrr——!"

And so, the beast clad in black armor charged from afar, while the knight with flowing golden hair dashed out from the castle.

Facing each other, they would decide their fate!

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Saber, the best-performing among all classes, and Berserker, who sacrificed reason for enhanced attributes.

This should have been a thrilling clash of evenly matched opponents—if Saber's wrist hadn't been injured.

The massive tree canopy swayed, and the red markings on the trunk seemed to flow like fresh blood, crushing all its brethren.

Berserker roared ferociously, hugging the giant tree he'd casually pulled from the forest with both hands, spinning at high speed and wreaking havoc on everything on the battlefield.

The weapon he wielded was not like Romulus's spear of foundation, which connected with all things and symbolized Rome itself. It was merely a somewhat aged tree from the roadside, blackened by the berserker's twisted and frenzied will, transforming it into such a massive, monstrous weapon.

Under the manipulation of high-level Endurance and Strength, this colossal, monstrous form began to spin, turning into a grinding mill that pursued the golden figure on the battlefield.

"I didn't expect you could do even this..." Saber infused her limbs with Magic Burst, moving with incredible speed. However, this action was not for attacking but the minimum guarantee to survive the wide-ranging assault.

The larger the weapon, the more cumbersome it is, that was a common understanding. Yet, the object in Berserker's hands displayed an unexpected agility, causing Saber to narrowly avoid being hit by the tree several times, escaping only by relying on her Instinct.

If she could cut down the giant tree with her sword, the predicament would be solved.

However, weapons transformed by the Knight of Owner possessed the quality of at least a D-rank Noble Phantasm, making it difficult even for Saber's holy sword to cut through them.

So, should she retreat?

Saber's Instinct told her that the Berserker before her was not here to invade the Einzbern residence; his target was her.

Was he a battle-hungry Heroic Spirit? Or simply an anti-hero who delighted in killing?

But regardless, this meant Saber had lost the right to escape.

This would come down to a battle of their magical reserves. Understanding that this fight would be a protracted one, Saber immediately reduced the force of her sword swings. Swinging with full power continuously would not last long, so she could only use the minimum amount of stamina, evading Berserker's frenzied attacks.

Berserker's magic couldn't be infinite either. Wielding a weapon weighing nearly a ton like this, there would come a time when his magic would be depleted. The question was whether Saber could hold out until then.

The thought of her left hand being useless also made Saber feel annoyed. To wield her sword with only her right hand, she absolutely had to compensate for the insufficient arm strength with Magic Burst. In the current situation, the unnecessary consumption of magic was a fatal burden. Moreover, if she could grip this sword hilt with both hands, she could unleash her Noble Phantasm and burn this giant tree to ashes.

The anxiety in her heart made Saber grit her teeth, but she continued to stalemate with Berserker, searching for a potential opening in the battle.

That opening soon arrived.

Two bolts of red and yellow lightning tore through the forest, their twin spears thrusting out. One forced Berserker to block, while the other directly severed the tree that had become a Noble Phantasm.

Freed from the entanglement, Saber took a deep breath, panting. A slender figure clad in a form-fitting suit blocked her line of sight.

"This looks terrible, Saber. The reputation of the King of Knights is weeping."

The handsome man, whose beauty was almost sinful, gave a flirtatious wink to the stunned Saber. His enchanting gaze was not something an ordinary person could withstand. Unlike the dangerous and fierce long spears in his hands, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne's smile was so relaxed and carefree.

"Lancer, why are you..."

Saber was surprised, and Lancer smiled at her before pointing his spear directly at the dazed Berserker.

"Who gave you permission to act so lawlessly? This Saber's head is a medal to adorn my spear. For an outsider to forcefully snatch it away is the act of a thief who knows nothing of battlefield etiquette."

Saber did not feel displeased by the unrestrained hunting declaration. Instead, Berserker seemed to be provoked by something, directing all his killing intent and resentment towards the twin-spear wielder blocking Saber.

Speaking of which, this was the second time Lancer had prevented Berserker from attacking Saber. Even the most magnanimous hero would be displeased by this.

However, Artoria inexplicably felt that Berserker's anger was not due to his assault being blocked, but rather stemmed from a more hidden and unspeakable emotion.

But now was not the time to ponder the reason, as the berserker in black armor had already charged at Lancer with his bare hands.

"Be careful! Berserker can convert any weapon he obtains into his own Noble Phantasm!" To Saber's loud warning, Lancer replied with a refreshing smile.

"Thank you, Saber, but I also want to know—"

Gae Buidhe was discarded onto the ground. The handsome lancer gripped Gae Dearg with both hands, lowered his body, and assumed an ambush stance.

"Whether the power to steal Noble Phantasms can still be effective before my magic-nullifying spear!"

Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald's reason for finding this place was not accidental.

At dusk, when he emerged from the newly established base, he was surprised to find that a magical incantation had been carved onto the gate of the abandoned factory.

After easily deciphering the incantation, Kayneth received a simple message.

"About thirty kilometers west of the city, deep within the national forest, is Saber's Master's base—Berserker's Master will attack this location tonight."

To engage in a Servant battle, one could only choose a place where they wouldn't be seen. Therefore, after Kayneth confirmed the accuracy of the information through his own means, a hint of smugness flashed through his mind, but it was quickly followed by hesitation.

Kayneth had heard about the Einzbern territory during his pre-war reconnaissance. Since it was a territory of mages, it naturally possessed a certain level of barriers or protective measures, making it difficult for outsiders to gain an advantage there. Then again, although he didn't know the full story, the fact that Berserker's Master had taken the initiative clearly indicated an intention to challenge the Einzbern forces. In that case, there might be an opportunity in this battle.

Whether it was due to Saber's injury or Kiritsugu Emiya's interruption of a sacred magical duel, it was worth his while to make this trip.

Having made up his mind, the moment Berserker appeared, he stepped into the forest barrier with Lancer.

Things unfolded just as Kayneth had predicted: Berserker and Saber were locked in combat. Although Berserker's Master had withdrawn from the start, leaving no opening, Saber's Master had also not appeared. They might have believed that as long as they were in their own territory, they could protect themselves even without their Servant by their side, and thus decided to observe the battle from a rear stronghold.

With that, Kayneth decided what to do.

Regardless, Kayneth first ordered Lancer to keep Berserker and Saber occupied, preventing Saber from returning to defend and simultaneously draining her stamina.

As for himself, the great Lord Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, he would venture alone into the Einzbern castle. Although this was a bold challenge, it did not shake Kayneth's confidence. No matter what protective measures the Einzberns had prepared, he was ready to break through them, staking his name as Lord El-Melloi.

To compensate for his blunder last night, he had to show this kind of ferocity. Moreover, his fiancée, Sola-Ui, had already expressed great dissatisfaction with the new stronghold, including Kayneth's performance.

For Kayneth now, making his fiancée retract her disdain was his most important task.

With his heart filled with exhilarating fighting spirit, Kayneth advanced straight into the depths of the forest.

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"Fervor, mei sanguis."

"Automatoportum defensio."

"AutonlatoporIum quaerere."

"Dilectus incursio."

"Scalp!"

About ten liters of mercury, as if possessing the self-awareness of a single-celled organism, flowed out of the bottle, transforming into razor-sharp blades microns thick that shattered the Einzbern's main gate.

Although this was a stronghold that the Einzberns had operated for many years, Kayneth was fully confident. As the head of the Archibald family, the most renowned genius of the Clock Tower, and a great mage who had reached the "Mage" rank at a young age, how could a family of mere artificial beings, who were self-isolated and not adept at combat, possibly block his path?

Although it sounded arrogant, this was Kayneth's true thought. Even through the magical vision granted by the barrier, Kiritsugu Emiya could feel Kayneth's ingrained pride.

"Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, ninth generation head of the Archibald family, has come to visit!" Kayneth puffed out his chest majestically, his voice echoing through the empty hall.

"Mages of Einzbern! You have gambled your lives and dignity on the Holy Grail you seek. Now, let us have a fair and square duel!"

No one responded to Kayneth's provocative call, and he himself did not expect a formal duel. With a sigh laced with mockery, Kayneth walked into the center of the hall with resounding footsteps.

Just then, four seemingly ordinary vases placed in the four corners of the grand hall exploded with a loud bang. What scattered were not ceramic shards, but countless metal pellets, which flew towards Kayneth at bullet-like speeds.

There was no magical reaction from the trap, and Kayneth didn't even sense its presence. This was understandable.

What Kiritsugu Emiya had pre-installed in the vases was the "M18A1 Claymore," also known as a directional mine or bounding mine, an anti-personnel mine developed and manufactured by the US military during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. This weapon used the explosive force of dynamite to shoot out over seven hundred steel balls, each 1.2 centimeters in diameter, in a fan shape, specifically designed to wipe out ambushed infantry. Under the explosion, the target in the center had absolutely no escape route and could only be blown to pieces, turned into minced meat.

—But this was under the assumption that the opponent was not a mage.

Just as over two thousand eight hundred steel balls were about to hit Kayneth, the spot where he stood was already covered by silver spheres.

A flawless mercury film spread around Kayneth. Although its thickness was less than one centimeter, due to magical compression, the film's tension and hardness were almost as strong as steel. Not a single steel ball from the Claymore mine barrage hit Kayneth; all were blocked and ricocheted throughout the hall, merely wrecking the interior decorations of the castle.

"...Hmph."

After the protective film was removed, Kayneth snorted at the malicious trap set by the enemy. Although he was unaware of military weapons, he knew that the attack he had just experienced was not a magical attack, but an ordinary weapon utilizing conventional explosives. The truth behind the unpleasant incident of last night finally became clear in Kayneth's mind.

He had previously suspected that among the six groups of enemies, the Einzberns, who possessed Saber, were more eager than anyone to defeat him, the Master of Lancer. However, the Einzberns were, after all, a renowned mage family. To resort to such low and unsophisticated means. As someone who also upheld the dignity of magic, Kayneth found it hard to believe.

But—there was no longer any room for doubt. The assassin who had used despicable means to disrupt the mages' duel last night was indeed in this castle.

"...Has the Einzbern family fallen this far?" Kayneth's whisper was filled with anger.

From his perspective as a legitimate noble of the Clock Tower, this was an unimaginable decline. Kayneth absolutely could not allow them to bring unqualified individuals onto this sacred battlefield.

"—Very well. Then this battle will not be a duel, but a subjugation."

CCD cameras, hidden in the dark corners of the hall, silently recorded the enemy's every move, feeding the information back to the man standing alone in the reception room.

Automatic defense using mercury manipulated by magic—the reality was far different from the rumors. He hadn't expected the reaction speed to be faster than the explosion of an anti-personnel mine. In this case, weapons and ammunition would be useless.

Although he was reluctant, Kiritsugu had to admit that Kayneth was indeed a first-class mage. Recalling now, he should have reached this conclusion when the trap set at the Hyatt Hotel failed to kill Kayneth.

This meant that Kiritsugu Emiya also had to fight this enemy as a "mage."

To find the enemy in the castle, Kayneth would likely search room by room starting from the first floor. Kiritsugu was currently in a reception room on the second floor, deep inside. If he acted immediately, there was still time to choose a location advantageous for combat.

As Kiritsugu pondered the castle layout diagram he had memorized, he walked towards the door, intending to leave the reception room...

He suddenly stopped.

A metallic-sheened thread dangled from the keyhole of the door—it was a drop of mercury. A tiny amount of liquid left a silver trail on the door, dripping down the surface of the door panel. The moment Kiritsugu noticed it, the mercury drop's descent halted. Then, like a living creature, it flowed up the door, back into the keyhole, and vanished without a trace.

"...I see. So this is 'auto-search'?"

Just as Kiritsugu muttered with a frown, a silver flash pierced the carpeted floor of the reception room.

In the blink of an eye, a circular section of the floor in the center of the room was cut open and collapsed into the floor below. Silver tentacles leaped out from the large hole in the floor.

The Volumen Hydrargyrum that appeared before Kiritsugu had changed shape again, resembling a metallic jellyfish. Countless tentacles clung to the edges of the opening in the floor, while the bell-shaped part at the base of the tentacles spread out into a flat disc, providing a stable foothold for its master. The person standing on it with a triumphant smile was none other than Lord El-Melloi.

"Found you, you filthy rat..."

Just as Kayneth, in a relaxed manner, was about to issue an attack order to the mercury, Kiritsugu drew his Calico submachine gun from his hip holster and opened fire on Kayneth.

The mercury immediately reacted, forming a protective film in front of Kayneth, blocking the murderous barrage of nine-millimeter bullets. In just a few seconds, the fifty-round magazine was emptied.

But those few seconds were enough for Kiritsugu to finish chanting his incantation.

"Time Alter, Double Accel!"

As Kiritsugu loudly declared the incantation, a torrent of magic ravaged his body.

"Scalp!"

The moment the barrage from the Calico submachine gun ended, Kayneth issued his death sentence. Two silver whips, summoned in response, whipped out from either side, cleaving the air as they attempted to slice through the immobilized prey.

"Hm?"

The cry of astonishment came from Kayneth.

At the very instant the two silver whips were about to sever Kiritsugu's body, Kiritsugu suddenly sprinted at an unbelievable speed, slipping between the attacking whips. After dodging the attack, he immediately leaped down towards the opening in the floor directly beneath where Kayneth stood on the Volumen Hydrargyrum—the very same opening that had been cut by the mercury's slashes moments before.

The phrase "gone in an instant" perfectly described the situation. No human could possibly exhibit such physical prowess. Kayneth was momentarily stunned, unable to react. However, upon further reflection, it wasn't something to be overly surprised about. The battlefield of mages was a contest of who could defy reason more. If it was just a little mouse that had stumbled into this domain, it wasn't strange for it to be extraordinary.

"I see, it appears he knows a thing or two about magecraft."

Though a faint smile played on his lips, Kayneth's anger grew. If the man were merely an ordinary nobody, it would be one thing. But for someone who had been exposed to magecraft to resort to such base and despicable tactics was infuriating. He wasn't just a shallow, third-rate character, but a scoundrel who would stop at nothing, the very type of person who disgraced the name of mages.

"You detestable scum... you shall pay with your life."

Kayneth's robes billowed as he leaped down after Kiritsugu. The Volumen Hydrargyrum, having shed its jellyfish form, bounced down alongside him like a rubber ball.