A Noble Phantasm for Readers: Original Copy!

Adjacent to the seaside park's eastern side was a warehouse district. This area also housed port facilities, separating Shin-To from the industrial zone located further east. By night, it was almost entirely deserted. The dim streetlights cast long shadows, accentuating the emptiness of the scene. Unmanned cranes were neatly lined up by the sea, resembling the fossils of giant dinosaurs, which was somewhat unsettling.

However, this place was perfectly suited for a duel between Servants.

Like duelists bravely accepting a challenge, Saber and Irisviel walked with dignity down the wide, four-lane road. The enemy also stood boldly in the middle of the road. Kayneth's unusual attire and the potent magic he exuded clearly marked him as an extraordinary being.

The two Servants stopped about ten meters apart, facing each other.

This was the first Servant Saber had encountered, and a battle with lives on the line was about to begin. She carefully observed her opponent.

The man had pulled his long hair back, and Saber noticed he had handsome features.

His weapon was quite striking: a spear about two meters long, taller than a person. Among the seven Classes, there were three in the "Knight" seat: Saber, Archer, and Heroic Spirits of "Lancer." This man before her must be the Servant known as Lancer.

What was unusual, however, was that he didn't just have this one spear.

Besides the spear he held in his right hand and carried on his shoulder, he also held a short spear in his left hand, about one-third the length of the other.

If one could effectively utilize the length of the spear, then two short spears could be used in conjunction with the longer one. But setting aside swords, she had never seen a situation like this before, wielding two spears of different lengths simultaneously.

From the grip to the blade, both spears were wrapped in a cloth resembling a talisman, obscuring their true forms. This was likely a countermeasure to hide the Noble Phantasm's true name.

"You've finally arrived. I've been waiting for so long, but no one dared to come here... Only you responded."

Lancer, the Heroic Spirit, praised her in a deep yet clear voice. He didn't adopt a combat stance; instead, he calmly asked Saber.

"Such a sharp fighting spirit… I assume you are Saber, am I correct?"

"Yes. And you are Lancer?"

"Indeed. ...Ha, I never expected to exchange introductions so casually with my opponent before a death match. But I have no choice."

Saber agreed with his statement, her cold expression softening slightly.

"It can't be helped. This isn't a battle we fight for our own honor. You too must have offered your spear for your Master, right?"

"Ha... That's right."

He didn't look like someone about to fight for his life at all; rather, he offered a relaxed, wry smile. Looking closely, she realized he was quite a handsome man.

A high nose bridge, sharp eyebrows, and a refined facial structure. His delicate lips gave off an impression of strictness and asceticism, but his eyes, filled with gentle melancholy, strongly conveyed his masculine charm. The tear mole beneath his left eye made his gaze even more captivating.

Indeed, he was a beautiful man who could instantly captivate a woman. ...No, was it just his looks that gave that impression?

Irisviel, standing behind Saber, subtly furrowed her brow.

"...A charm mage? How rude to an already married woman, Lancer."

Lancer boldly released a spiritual power that charmed women. Irisviel, whose body had been enhanced as an artificial human, had twice the magic resistance of an ordinary person; otherwise, she would have been instantly mesmerized like any other woman.

In response to Irisviel's protest, Lancer could only shrug with a wry smile.

"My apologies. It's as if I've been cursed since birth. But it can't be helped. Blame my birth, or blame the fact that you are a woman."

This was a representative "Mage Eye" from the curse of charm. The only one directly looking at him was Saber; Irisviel, behind her, had not met his gaze. Perhaps what activated his ability was the moment Irisviel saw his face. This might be a "Mage Face."

Saber snorted, looking down on Lancer.

"You're not expecting me to go easy on you because of your face, are you, Lancer?"

"If that were the case, it would be too boring. So, the magic resistance of the Saber Class is indeed extraordinary... Very well. If I were to kill a weak woman because of this, I would lose face. It seems I made the right decision by waiting here for someone brave enough to show up."

"Oh? It seems you wish for a proper fight. It is my honor to encounter a Heroic Spirit like you."

Saber replied with a smile, a bit exaggerated. It was a knowing and tragic smile that only warriors who had faced life and death could truly understand.

"Then... let's begin."

Lancer lifted the spear he carried on his shoulder, spun it in reverse, and adopted a combat stance. He slowly raised the short spear in his left hand as well. The pose, with both spears spread like wings and brandished, was a combat style she had never seen before.

Saber then unleashed her surging fighting spirit. The burst of magic stirred the air into a vortex, enveloping the girl's small body. Instantly, her entire form was clad in silver armor, her magic transformed into a suit of mail and gauntlets. And this was the true form of this Heroic Spirit, the King of Knights.

"Saber..."

Irisviel swallowed nervously, calling out her name. Drawn by the intense fighting spirit emanating from the two, she had already keenly sensed it. There was no room for her to intervene in this battle.

However, she didn't want to be merely an observer. At the very least, she was Saber's proxy Master.

"...Be careful. While I can use some healing spells, anything else..."

Saber nodded before Irisviel could finish.

"Please leave Lancer to me. However, I am concerned about why the opponent's Master has not appeared."

As Saber said, Lancer's Master, who had yet to show themselves, remained a distinct threat. Generally, Masters would be by their Servants' side, commanding them and providing necessary magical support. As long as Lancer's Master did not fully trust their Servant, they were surely hiding nearby, observing Lancer's battle.

"Perhaps they have a plan, so be careful. Irisviel, I'll leave my back to you."

Her emerald eyes silently conveyed her unwavering resolve.

Trust the Heroic Spirit of the sword.

Trust the Heroic Spirit who believed herself to be her Master, or rather, trust her own decision.

"...Understood. Saber, bring me victory."

"Yes. I will."

Saber nodded firmly and took a step forward.

Towards Lancer, towards his spear…

***

"Black Uncle has discovered him, Emiya has discovered him, the sweets-loving little third party has discovered him, the Director (it feels a bit awkward to type these two characters) has discovered him, and the loser who failed to make a comeback—Yanye isn't exactly a loser, is he? Oh well, anyway, this tragic guy hasn't discovered them yet. The Emperor and the Queen Consort should still be at the bridge's peak, the Joy King might have also arrived nearby, and adding myself, that makes all seven Servants accounted for!"

After the "lily group" hastily left the seaside park, Jizi calmly transformed into her Heroic Spirit state. Once her spirit form was materialized, she slowly drifted towards Fuyuki Port. Originally, she intended to spend some time finding a hidden spot to watch the show and wait for an opportunity to interfere and stir up trouble. However, upon arriving at Fuyuki Port, she happened to spot Kiritsugu Emiya, who had just parted ways with Maiya Hisau. Trusting a professional, Jizi simply followed behind him—this guy's positioning skills were definitely more flamboyant than Jizi's, who only had theoretical knowledge. The hiding spots he chose were surely more… lewd… I mean, concealed. The crisis sense honed by years of life-and-death battles on the battlefield might have made Emiya feel something, but even if he turned around, he wouldn't be able to see a Servant who wasn't exuding killing intent and was in spirit form.

Emiya was indeed trustworthy. He set up his Walther amidst the stacked containers. From this angle, it not only ensured the muzzle wouldn't be discovered but also allowed him to aim at any target—including the Director with the lemon-like head who thought he was foolproof with his illusion magic. Through the thermal imaging scope, he was as obvious as a "bald spot" on a "louse's" head.

Just as Emiya was ready to deliver a decisive blow, he fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, spotted a completely black figure crouching on a crane. If he were to snipe from here, the gunshot would reveal his position. For safety reasons, he ultimately abandoned the headshot plan—or at least, that's how it should have been, if not for a certain meddler.

"Boom!" "Boom!"

The roar of engines mixed with the massive sound of explosions swept across the entire battlefield. Even Saber and Lancer, who were farther away, felt the impact. However, as expected of seasoned Heroic Spirits, the two quickly regained their balance, which had been disrupted by the sudden event. Afterward, Saber rushed to Irisviel's side at top speed, shielding her behind her. Lancer, on the other hand, exchanged communication with Kayneth through the unique link between Master and Servant, learning that he hadn't suffered any significant damage thanks to the protection of Volumen Hydrargyrum. While relieved, he also vigilantly observed his surroundings.

Although most of the individuals present couldn't figure out what had happened due to the suddenness of the event, Kiritsugu Emiya, who had been monitoring the Assassin with his scope, saw it all clearly. A red, white, and blue sphere the size of a fist—it seemed to have eyes?—struck the base of the crane where the Assassin was hidden, causing a violent explosion. However, this wasn't the primary cause of the immense impact. After the first explosion, a second one occurred, far surpassing the first in both power and range, resulting in an earth-shattering tremor that still seemed to linger.

More importantly, that spherical "bomb" was fired from behind him towards the Assassin!

Slowly turning his head—after all, if they wanted to kill him, they would have done so already, so there was no point in quickly turning back—Emiya, who was constantly simulating possible scenarios and calculating the most beneficial responses, saw…

Illyasviel!? And she was holding a slingshot!?

"I spent so much mana and spent over twenty minutes trying to summon a familiar, but it seems it can only be classified as an item—that's the limitation of the Class, isn't it? What a shame. Disposable Pokémon are just too unsustainable, aren't they? Even a mischievous egg is the same!"

Whose brat is this! (← Emiya's immediate inner monologue.)