Lancer, Destiny, and Duel

The fire captain, his memories of Kaineth's location already suppressed by Magecraft, remained vacant-eyed, unable to answer any of Shiki's questions.

"You think this little trick can stop me?"

A faint green light flashed in Shiki's eyes as a smile touched his lips, activating his Magic Eye.

The mental abilities of the Human Path quietly seeped into the depths of the captain's hypnotized and hidden memories, dispelling the Magecraft's influence.

In an instant, the captain's expression drastically changed. He recalled everything, seemingly about to issue a warning, but before he could act, he fell under the control of Shiki's Magic Eye once more.

"Come on, tell me, where was the item taken from the Hyatt Hotel delivered?"

"Uh... that thing... was delivered to..."

Soon, Shiki obtained the crucial information – the item was hidden in a derelict factory within an abandoned industrial park northeast of the new city.

The new city, which should have been a prosperous and burgeoning urban area, filled with skyscrapers and bustling traffic.

However, in this era of economic depression and stagnation, many factories had gone bankrupt under the strain, and countless businesses had withered and died amidst fierce competition, leaving behind only desolate ruins.

Shiki and the Black Knight stood on the roof of a somewhat dilapidated factory building. The sea breeze, carrying a hint of chill, howled past, making the hem of Shiki's clothes flutter.

"This is why, once a beautiful bubble is burst, all that is reflected within is the ugliness hidden beneath its fair facade."

Shiki spread his arms, facing the wind, as if embracing the sky, or perhaps lamenting the vicissitudes of the world.

Behind him, the Black Knight slowly drew his Demon Sword. The blade glinted coldly, and magic rippled around its edge, as if growling softly, heralding an imminent fierce battle.

"Come, Sir Lancelot, say hello to our old friend."

Shiki's voice was exceptionally clear amidst the wind.

The Black Knight rapidly gathered magic within his Demon Sword, yet restrained its release. However, the intense magical fluctuations were like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, bound to attract the attention of those inside the factory.

As expected, mere seconds later, a figure appeared before Shiki like a shooting star.

This person held a Crimson Spear, stood tall and straight, with a handsome face. His eyes held a melancholy similar to the Black Knight's, and though his appearance was not as stern as the Black Knight's, he possessed a unique charm.

He was Diarmuid, who had descended as the Lancer class.

Seeing the pair before him, a flicker of surprise crossed Diarmuid's eyes. He was clearly taken aback by their appearance. "Berserker, I didn't expect us to meet again so soon."

Just a few hours ago, they had fought side-by-side on the Fuyuki Bridge, jointly hunting Caster. Yet now, Berserker had come looking for him with full battle intent.

Diarmuid didn't believe this was a friendly visit.

The Black Knight's gaze was sharp, fixed on Diarmuid. His expression was cold, his voice icy, "Lancer, with Caster's death, our alliance has dissolved. You should know, this is the Holy Grail War. To compete for the Holy Grail, conflict between us Heroic Spirits is inevitable until a final victor is decided."

Diarmuid chuckled upon hearing this. He paused, holding his Crimson Spear, and said with a wry smile, "Indeed, I was naive. The Holy Grail War is inherently a brutal battle, and combat is the eternal theme."

As he spoke, the Crimson Spear in his hand trembled slightly, emitting a faint glow as immense magical power overflowed from it, showcasing its extraordinary nature.

Shiki's eyes gleamed as he looked at the spear in Diarmuid's hand. This Noble Phantasm, named "Red Rose of Purgation," was precisely what he desired.

He subtly signaled the Black Knight beside him. The Black Knight nodded slightly, understanding immediately.

The Black Knight suddenly swung his Demon Sword, the wind whistling, his battle intent fierce. "Since you, Lancer, have come to your senses, there's no need for further words. Let's fight until one of us falls completely!"

Instantly, battle intent and killing aura surged like a raging tide. Powerful fighting spirit permeated the air, causing even Diarmuid to tremble slightly. It was a yearning for battle, a strong desire for victory.

Diarmuid also swung his spear, adopting an offensive stance, a confident smile curving his lips. "Berserker, if you wish to take my life, Diarmuid, then let's see if you have the skill!"

The Black Knight solemnly announced his name: "Knight of Treachery, Lancelot du Lac!"

"Knights of Fianna, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne!"

Diarmuid responded loudly, unwilling to be outdone.

"Let's settle this!!"

The two shouted in unison, their voices echoing in the night sky, lingering long after.

"Boom!"

A deafening sound, like thunder from a clear sky, erupted, and a blast of air instantly exploded outwards.

Their first strike, the clash of sword and spear, ignited dazzling sparks in mid-air.

The immense impact sent Diarmuid flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing directly into the factory building opposite.

The Black Knight exuded a savage power, like a ferocious beast. He stomped his foot, and the already low-quality roof instantly collapsed. He charged at Diarmuid's falling trajectory with incredible speed.

Following that, a series of intense metallic clangs echoed from within the factory, air currents surged, and winds howled, shattering the remaining glass.

After only a few seconds, Diarmuid, still holding his spear, was swept out of the factory once more.

He struggled to stabilize himself in mid-air, finally landing nimbly on the ground. However, the sheer force of the impact still sent him sliding more than ten meters across the ground before he could finally stop.

Diarmuid was filled with shock. Berserker's strength was far greater than he had imagined, like a monstrous beast. Compared to their first battle, he was like a completely different person.

"He's got a new Master, and it's made Berserker this much stronger?"

He had no time to ponder this, as the berserk figure was already pursuing him like a phantom. The power gathering in the Demon Sword sent a chill down Diarmuid's spine.

"This is bad, Noble Phantasm release!"

Diarmuid inwardly cursed his misfortune.

He was all too familiar with this kind of light. During the hunt for Caster, Berserker, having regained his sanity, had unleashed his Noble Phantasm multiple times without incantation.

While not the full power of a Noble Phantasm, it was enough to heavily wound the giant Sea Monster.

He didn't have the Sea Monster's incredible recovery abilities; if he were hit by this attack, he would surely die.

Diarmuid didn't have time to think. Disregarding his unstable footing, he fiercely spun the spear in his hand, using its momentum to shoot into the sky like a red lightning bolt, narrowly dodging the Black Knight's immensely powerful slash.

A Noble Phantasm is still a Noble Phantasm. Even without its true name being released, its power could not be underestimated.

A deep scar was left on the ground. Following the line of the attack, one could see the factory buildings in the distance; their structures had been diagonally sliced off by this power before collapsing with a roar.

Diarmuid landed, his expression grave, ready for battle, but his heart was filled with bitterness.

"Whether it's strength, speed, agility, or Noble Phantasms, I'm outmatched in every way. My chances of winning this fight are too slim."

In just this brief exchange, Diarmuid clearly recognized the gap between them.

He was inferior to the Black Knight in both physical condition and combat skill.

He hadn't felt the immense threat of Berserker before, but now that he had regained his sanity, his strength had become extraordinarily powerful, far more oppressive than Saber, whom he had fought previously.

"Lancelot, truly a terrifyingly strong opponent!"

He wasn't the only one feeling this way; his Master, Sola, watching from the sidelines, was burning with anxiety.

She had only intended to discuss the upcoming situation with Lancer and enjoy a moment of private time, but she hadn't expected an enemy to suddenly appear, and one so powerful at that.

These people who disrupted her time with Lancer filled her with immense hatred.

Through the Master's authority granted by the Holy Grail, Sola could clearly observe the Black Knight's basic parameters. Those sets of data sent shivers down her spine: "Except for Luck and Magic, which are rank B, all other parameters are A+, and even Strength and Agility have reached A++. How could such a monster appear in the Holy Grail War? Lancer, you must fight hard!"

Although Sola cheered Lancer on in her heart, she also knew that, given the current situation, Lancer was at a severe disadvantage.

Shiki, standing on the rooftop, could also observe Lancer's basic parameters.

He let out a light laugh, "Heh, Lancer's Agility is only at the highest rank, and it's A+ with a multiplier. How can he compare to Mr. Lancelot?"

It wasn't just the basic parameters; in terms of martial skill, Lancer was also far inferior to the Black Knight.

Infinite Martial Prowess, where mind, technique, and body were perfectly unified, was not something anyone could master.

Furthermore, in terms of Noble Phantasms, Lancer's paled in comparison to the Black Knight's.

In the eyes of any Master, the outcome of this battle seemed to be a foregone conclusion.

Kaineth, sitting in his wheelchair, watched the situation on the battlefield, his face turning grim. "This is bad. If this continues, Lancer will surely die!"