A fighting spirit and quick-wittedness beyond ordinary imagination.
Was this really a Master participating in the Holy Grail War as a Magus? Or was he some unknown hero born in an era when heroes had already fallen into decline?
Though he had only obtained the weapon not long ago, Xi Jianxi now wielded it in a dazzling storm of motion.
In the blink of an eye, Xi Jianxi once again closed the distance between himself and Archer until he could strike him with a single thrust of the Demon Spear.
The Noble Phantasms behind Archer gathered and shot forward, and Xi Jianxi's body vanished once more.
This time, everyone saw it clearly. A flash of light appeared when Xi Jianxi vanished.
"Was that—?!" Diarmuid cried out again.
When Xi Jianxi had stopped him from interfering in Morgan and Artoria's battle earlier, he had also appeared in that strange manner.
Now that he thought about it, it was most likely some form of spatial-transference magecraft.
That slower method was probably for long-distance movement, while what he had just used was for short distances.
In no more than an instant, Xi Jianxi appeared in midair behind Archer. Without a word, he spun the Demon Spear and brought down its axe-like side blade.
Clang—!
Xi Jianxi gripped the shaft with both hands and pressed down with all his strength, yet he could not force it down even another inch.
Archer held two golden longswords crossed before him, blocking the attack.
Even though he could rely on magecraft and footwork to evade the opponent's Noble Phantasms and launch an assault, there was still an unavoidable gap in physical strength. He had no way to suppress someone with Strength above Rank B.
"Hmph—!"
Gilgamesh snorted coldly, easily knocking aside Xi Jianxi's strike with his twin blades before retreating. The blades turned into golden light and vanished from his hands.
Unexpectedly, Archer did not seem to remain enraged. A sneer once again appeared on his face. The golden Servant folded his arms and looked down at Xi Jianxi.
"To think you made this king draw Enki. For a mere mongrel, you are rather capable, aren't you?"
With a voice brimming with delight, Archer burst into wild laughter. He suddenly spread his arms, and the space around him twisted once more. This time, thirty-two "gates" appeared at once.
Xi Jianxi took a deep breath, silently calculating how to break this deadlock.
"Human! Prove your worth to this king, or there is only death awaiting you."
The murderous atmosphere made the winter night air seem even more frozen. If everyone could still stand by and watch earlier, then faced with so many Noble Phantasms, they could no longer continue watching the show.
If Archer suddenly took it into his head to wipe out the other Servants present, there were thirty-two "gates" open now. Would there be even more afterward?
Sixty-four, one hundred twenty-eight, or even more?
No one could predict just how powerful the golden Servant truly was.
Morgan quietly stepped forward and once again stood in front of Xi Jianxi.
"We have probed him far enough, haven't we? I'll use magecraft to block Archer's attacks. You handle the retreat magecraft." She calmly gave Xi Jianxi her instructions.
"It looks that way." Xi Jianxi remained composed as he prepared to retreat with Morgan.
At that moment, Artoria suddenly landed in front of him and Morgan.
"I'll cover this place. You two retreat first."
Just over ten minutes ago, Artoria had still been hostile to Morgan at sea. Yet now she had manifested her armor once more, gripping her invisible sword as she prepared to cover their retreat.
Morgan could not help asking:
"What are you plotting?"
An Unexpected Complication
Even Artoria found it difficult to explain what exactly she intended by this action.
Was it sympathy for the Master who might have been toyed with by his own elder sister?
Or was it because she had seen Morgan, who had always been known for her sharp tongue and cruelty, protect someone so desperately?
Even if he was only Morgan's Master in this Holy Grail War, and their relationship was merely the most basic partnership.
"Even among enemies, there are priorities." As Artoria spoke, she watched Gilgamesh warily.
Seeing another Servant step forward to oppose him, Gilgamesh became even more unrestrained and delighted.
"Excellent, excellent! If you so wish to make your exit here, this king shall grant your wish!"
He raised his hand slightly. With a single gesture, the Noble Phantasms that had already manifested would rain down upon Xi Jianxi, Morgan, and Artoria like an overwhelming barrage of arrows.
That alone would be manageable. Artoria could fully release the Wind King Barrier used to conceal her Noble Phantasm and block Archer's offensive.
Together with Morgan's magecraft, creating an opening for retreat would not be difficult.
Ordinarily, aiding enemies in the Holy Grail War was something she needed to discuss with her Master.
But Irisviel, acting as her proxy Master, had already retreated. Artoria had originally only intended to observe the battle before withdrawing as well, and she had not expected the situation to develop this far.
Thanks to that, she had indeed gained a considerable amount of information.
However, since Maiya Hisau had appeared and taken Irisviel away from the shore, Saber deduced that her true Master, Kiritsugu Emiya, was probably nearby as well.
Still... it was difficult to expect any instructions regarding the current situation from that man, who refused to communicate with his own Servant.
Artoria could only make the decision herself.
"What are you hesitating for? Take the chance while she holds Archer back and retreat quickly." Morgan urged Xi Jianxi in a low voice.
Yet her tone clearly indicated that she intended to abandon Artoria here as a sacrificial pawn.
So she was still the same Morgan. Saber could not help sighing inwardly.
"No, it seems there's no need now." Xi Jianxi spoke easily.
Then everyone saw Gilgamesh suddenly curl his lips, revealing an enraged expression.
"You think someone like you can make this king withdraw? Such audacity, Tokiomi..."
He spoke in a low, disdainful voice, but the Noble Phantasms behind him dimmed and disappeared into the void.
Dissatisfied though he was, Gilgamesh's cold gaze passed over Artoria and fell upon Xi Jianxi, who stood behind Morgan.
"For the sake of this king's retainer, this king shall forgive your act of raising arms against me today. But if, when we next meet on the battlefield, you have failed to eliminate the other trash, then your death will be near as well."
After leaving those final words behind, Gilgamesh dematerialized. His golden armor lost its substance and dispersed, leaving only faint remnants of light.
"Tokiomi Tohsaka's personality is nowhere near as resolute and battle-hungry as that flashy golden Servant's." Xi Jianxi spoke as if he understood perfectly. "For the first battle to go this far was certainly not what Tokiomi, who wanted to advance steadily and win in the end, wished to see."
He reached out and gently placed a hand on Morgan's arm.
Even after Archer had retreated, she maintained that posture.
"Come to think of it, you know Archer's Master too." Morgan suddenly remembered.
Rider was also rather surprised. "What? He's an acquaintance of yours? So you deliberately challenged that golden fellow?"
"Not just Tokiomi Tohsaka. I also know Lancer's Master, Kayneth, and your Master, Waver." Xi Jianxi fastened the front of his coat. "After all, I'm a properly registered Magus with the Mage's Association, and I used to travel to the Clock Tower often."
"Is that true, boy?" Rider asked Waver.
"Mm-hm!" Waver nodded vigorously.
He had not expected Xi Jianxi to know him.
After all, the Velvet family was merely an upstart Magus family without generations of accumulated history, and his own aptitude was not particularly outstanding.
But Xi Jianxi was different. Though he had no background, he was said to have earned the favor of Touko Aozaki, the Grand Puppeteer, and had experience participating in Sealing Designation enforcement work.
Though they were only a few years apart in age, Waver could still feel the gap between them.
"So, since we have met in a place as remote as the Far East, don't you intend to come out and exchange greetings? Professor Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald?"
Xi Jianxi walked several steps forward and called loudly in Kayneth's direction.
Although he heard him, Kayneth did not respond. He merely stood there, watching them.
"Magus really are a bunch of heartless people." He turned around and spread his hands helplessly as he complained to the others, as if the remaining Masters and Servants were not enemies.
His gaze swept across all the Servants. Even though it was his own lord being discussed, Lancer could not help expressing helpless agreement.
Iskandar laughed loudly. "Hahaha! But doesn't that make you a Magus too? You're quite an interesting fellow!"
"True enough." Xi Jianxi curled his lips.
He lowered his hand and looked at Morgan. "If the remaining people do not intend to continue fighting, we will withdraw for today."
"No matter. I only came to greet everyone and ask whether anyone wanted to join my ranks and surrender the Holy Grail." Iskandar spoke boldly. "Unfortunately, it seems none of you have that intention."
Artoria nodded. "My Master has retreated as well. Even if we are to fight, I cannot recklessly continue without my Master."
"Is that so? Then let's go back." Xi Jianxi yawned and called to Morgan. "Come over here for a moment."
Morgan silently nodded. She did not particularly care either way; it all depended on Xi Jianxi's wishes.
At that moment, Kayneth's voice suddenly rang out:
"Xi Jianxi, although this is not the place to ask, allow me to confirm something."
"Go ahead." Xi Jianxi, who had been preparing to leave, halted his preparations to cast the transference magecraft.
"You are merely a Magus with no background. Are you trying to use the outcome of this Holy Grail War to prove your worth to those in the democratic faction?"
A peculiar question came from Kayneth's lips.
Waver suddenly understood. He remembered something as well.
There were three factions within the Clock Tower: the democratic faction, the aristocratic faction, and the neutral faction. Of those, the conflict between the democratic and aristocratic factions was the fiercest.
Kayneth came from the aristocratic El-Melloi faction.
And Xi Jianxi was a former Sealing Designation enforcer with close ties to the Lord of the democratic faction.
An Extension of Factional Strife
"Is this important? Or, as the head of El-Melloi, the only aristocratic faction family with ties to Barthomeloi, do you intend to bring the Clock Tower's factional struggle into the Holy Grail War?" Xi Jianxi looked at Kayneth from afar. "I advise you to give up, or you will die."
After all, this was the Holy Grail War. Though it was currently regarded by the Clock Tower as a rural magecraft competition held in the Far East, once the truth was exposed, even if Xi Jianxi killed Kayneth, the aristocratic faction's Lord, during the war, the Clock Tower could not simply sentence him to death for it.
"This is my final warning. If you insist on maintaining ties with Barouyereeta, then I can only prioritize eliminating you in the coming Holy Grail War." Kayneth made his declaration.
Xi Jianxi raised his brows high. He had underestimated the value he displayed openly. He had not expected it to prompt a death declaration from a Lord of the aristocratic faction.
Of course, this was not because Kayneth had acted on a whim, nor was it simply for profit.
There was another reason: before leaving the Clock Tower, he had already heard all sorts of warnings from within the El-Melloi faction.
If you encounter Xi Jianxi, you will die, because the democratic faction is expecting that result as well.
The leaders of the various groups within El-Melloi all knew the general circumstances of the Holy Grail War. The only reason they had no intention of participating was that their own strength was insufficient.
Perhaps they were trying to preserve the faction's power, or perhaps they had other motives and deliberately said such things to provoke Kayneth.
In any case, a lie repeated often enough became truth.
Too many people had said it, forcing Kayneth to take it seriously.
If he could cooperate with Xi Jianxi and draw him to the aristocratic faction as a hired hand, then they would join forces. If not, he would eliminate him.
Kayneth believed he understood very well what level a Sealing Designation enforcer was at.
That was why he made such a declaration.
"Fine. If you want to fight, I'll oblige. Would you like to fight now, or another day?" Xi Jianxi looked at Waver. "Waver, this is a good chance to defeat the teacher you hate. We can join forces."
Then he looked at Artoria. "Saber, I don't know what your Master thinks, but if you help me take out Lancer here, your Master definitely won't object. Or you can help them instead. But two against two is certainly not as reliable as three against one."
In just a few words, Xi Jianxi used the balance of interests to sway Rider's Master and Saber.
"Hahahaha! You truly have a talent for diplomacy! What will you do, Lancer's Master? Fight here, or retreat? I'll give you one last moment to hesitate." Rider did not mind fighting.
Whether it became a chaotic melee or an alliance, both suited his tastes perfectly.
After all, Waver looked quite tempted by the proposal as well.
"We're retreating, Lancer..."
Before you continue