How About You Guys Find a Different Savior

Setting aside the fact that everyone's condition is about the same, Xi Jianxi is confident he can win even if Kayneth were in perfect condition.

In Xi Jianxi's opinion, those academic-type magi are far too easy to deal with.

Furthermore, he felt very uncomfortable with Kayneth constantly staring at him, as he detests being stared at.

"In that case, I have no choice but to oblige," Morgan said with understanding.

"But before that, I need to send Sakura and Karen home to sleep," Xi Jianxi said. "After that, we should pay a visit to the Hyatt Hotel in the city."

Lancer's Master, Kayneth, was hiding out there.

Chapter 33: Assault

Fuyuki City is divided in two by the Miya River. To the west lies the older, more mountainous Shin-yama Town, while to the east is the rapidly developing Shinto district, which supports the city's economy.

The Hyatt Hotel is currently the tallest building in Shinto, standing at thirty-two stories.

The top floor of this hotel has been booked with a generous hand by a certain guest: Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald.

Kayneth is currently sitting in his room, his body battered, gasping for breath. His Servant, Lancer, kneels beside him, awaiting orders as depicted in movies and television dramas.

Diarmuid, who had also served a master in life, knew that Kayneth was in a terrible mood, having just suffered a crushing defeat.

This was the second time.

The long-awaited Holy Grail War had begun, and Kayneth, who had prepared thoroughly, had suffered consecutive losses, severely damaging his confidence.

Kayneth, who was far more accomplished than his peers both within his family and the Mage's Association, had never encountered any setbacks.

He could solve any problem more skillfully than others.

While he lacked the persistent drive to constantly strive for improvement, nor did he pursue any grand goals. He simply consistently achieved more excellent results than others, that's all.

Kayneth had realized early on that he was what people called a genius, but he never felt arrogant or proud of it. He simply continued to display his talents as a matter of course.

He had never faced hardship, nor worried about running out of talent. The young Kayneth completely controlled his world, and he never doubted this fact. He was an outstanding magus and the legitimate heir of the prestigious Archibald family. Not only did he inherit the crest, receiving the accumulated magical achievements of his family's generations, but he also possessed rare and exceptional talent. All these "facts" gave his glory a justifiable reason, and it was no wonder he had always believed that nothing in this world was beyond his control. This was not just Kayneth's personal arrogance, but a common understanding among everyone around him.

Whether it was completing brilliant research results at the Clock Tower or advancing in rank at an unprecedented speed, everyone naturally accepted him as "the renowned Lord El-Melloi."

Kayneth was accustomed to being called a child prodigy. Even though his position garnered everyone's envy and jealousy, he felt no satisfaction or sense of accomplishment. All of this was merely the "natural outcome" in his life.

It was like this in the past, and of course, Kayneth's future success was also beyond doubt. This was "life's promise to him," sacred and inviolable, and at the same time, an unquestionable prerequisite for him.

Because the order of the world was so clear to him, if a very rare and unpredictable inconvenience or coincidence accumulated, leading to a certain "unexpected" situation, he considered it an absolutely unbearable chaos, a blasphemy against divine order.

For example, like now.

Kayneth had suffered losses at the hands of Xi Jianxi twice in a row.

The first time was when Lancer, fighting alone, couldn't defeat Xi Jianxi; the second time was when Kayneth misjudged and decided to challenge Xi Jianxi personally with his prized Noble Phantasm, only to encounter Berserker.

Kayneth had always looked down on Xi Jianxi.

He knew of this person in the Mage's Association, who was currently favored by the democratic faction's Barouette. After stepping down as a Sealing Designation executor, he continued to take on jobs from the Mage's Association as an independent magus.

Although he was said to be a disciple of that Grand Puppeteer and had studied the Age of Gods Rune, which was restored by Touko Aozaki, in Kayneth's eyes, Rune, a naturally obscure magical subject, was not worth a glance.

After all, the Mage's Association was established by the disciples of the Magus King Solomon. Rune magic, a completely different system from the magic passed down by Solomon, had naturally fallen into such treatment due to the passage of time and its decline.

He had not directly interacted with or paid attention to Xi Jianxi's mission history—even though, as a Lord of the Clock Tower, he had the means to access it, he had not done so.

Therefore, it was unbelievable and unacceptable.

That a magus could contend with a Servant, and even challenge that mysterious golden Servant.

That although Berserker was summoned, that Servant not only possessed sanity under B-rank Madness, but could even use Age of Gods-level magic.

One by one, coupled with nearly losing his life tonight and returning defeated, Kayneth had become extremely agitated.

"Lancer, what are your thoughts on future battles?" Kayneth asked.

"Forgive my subordinate's bluntness, but if we are to obtain the Holy Grail for my lord, it is necessary to temporarily adopt a defensive stance, wait for the various factions to fight amongst themselves, and then consider our move," Diarmuid offered his calm advice, forgoing his usual hot-bloodedness.

Now was clearly not the time to seek challenges and practice chivalry.

This was a complete battlefield, where a single misstep could lead to death.

Lancer knew very well that in the Einzbern forest tonight, even if he hadn't intervened, that Sea Monster wouldn't have been able to do anything to Xi Jianxi.

He had only intervened out of guilt for being forced to launch a surprise attack the previous night.

"As I thought, you also believe this is the only way," Kayneth said, his head throbbing.

There was nothing he could do about it. Lancer was originally Kayneth's backup plan. He had intended to summon the King of Conquerors, but because Waver had stolen the catalyst, he was forced to summon Lancer, significantly reducing his chances of victory.

"Since the situation is unfavorable, just admit it honestly and don't put on a brave face."

A woman emerged from the bedroom and sternly addressed Kayneth. It was Kayneth's fiancée, Sola-Ui Nuada-Rei Sophia-li.

"Your opponent is that independent magus. You can only blame yourself for looking down on others and not even doing preliminary research," Sola-Ui pointed out Kayneth's mistake without mercy.

"Sola-Ui..." Kayneth, instead of flying into a rage at these words, seemed somewhat hesitant.

"I investigated Xi Jianxi's information through my connections in the Mage's Association. That person is by no means just doing some assigned tasks," Sola-Ui said, frowning and not hiding her dissatisfaction with Kayneth. "He participated in Sealing Designations and collaborated on tasks with agents of the Holy Church. He's a genuine practitioner of combat."

Of course, Sola-Ui wouldn't tell Kayneth that she had investigated out of curiosity for the handsome magus who was around her age.

Although this vague curiosity had completely dissipated with Lancer's arrival, what remained was solid intelligence.

"Sealing Designation Executor..."

Kayneth's brow furrowed even deeper, but before he could say anything else, an alarm sounded from the magical workshop barrier he had created.

Both Lancer and Sola-Ui sensed the approaching magical power.

Chapter 34: The Cracked Twin Spears

To Kayneth, the barrier's alarm indicating an intruder didn't cause panic. He even had time to change out of the clothes he had dirtied during the earlier operation and put on a clean set.

Above the thirtieth floor of the hotel, no one was present except for Kayneth's group. This was undoubtedly due to a magical suggestion to disperse onlookers, causing them to leave the area.

Kayneth appreciated this standard mage's conduct and, through the barrier and familiar surveillance, clearly saw who had arrived: Xi Jianxi, who had been in the Einzbern forest moments before.

Accompanying him was his fully armed Berserker Servant.

Although escaping the castle hall to defend against Berserker's attack had consumed a significant amount of Kayneth's magical power, he was still confident in facing the enemy even in a battle of attrition once he returned to his workshop.

Kayneth had rented out the top floor of the Hyatt Hotel and converted it into a large magical workshop.

Of course, this conversion wasn't on a material level but a magical enhancement.

Kayneth had established twenty-four layers of barriers on the thirty-second floor, so rigorous in their defense that they could be described as magical city walls.

Furthermore, there were three dedicated mana reactors to provide and replenish his magical energy.

As a countermeasure, dozens of malevolent spirits and phantoms, summoned to replace hunting dogs, were also present.

It was a home-field advantage in every sense of the word. Kayneth sat in his seat, sipping champagne, waiting for Xi Jianxi to reach him, exhausted from the workshop's defenses, and then strike him down.

Kayneth was eager for bloodshed, and Xi Jianxi coming to him to die perfectly suited Kayneth's current desires.

"Don't think the practical combatants are only that Sealing Designation Executor. When it comes to actual combat, I won't lose to any other mage," Kayneth said to his fiancée.

Sola-Ui, usually distant, gave him a radiant smile. "Of course, I'm looking forward to your performance."

This attitude further boosted Kayneth's fighting spirit, and he even calculated when he would go out to meet the enemy.

If Xi Jianxi fell along the way, Kayneth would feel no sense of accomplishment even if he defeated him, and his fiancée might even look down on him.

First, let's check on Lancer's situation.

With that thought, Kayneth connected to his Servant's vision and hearing to survey the battlefield.

Lancer had no actual combat tonight; his condition was perfect. Facing Xi Jianxi in this state made Lancer feel somewhat apologetic.

But there was no other way; avoiding combat at such a time would be the greatest betrayal to his Master.

Upon seeing Xi Jianxi emerge from the elevator on the thirty-first floor, Lancer, standing in the spacious hall, gave Xi Jianxi a slight shake of his head.

Berserker was still behind Xi Jianxi, which was not a disappointment for Lancer.

Servant facing Servant, Master challenging Master—it was only natural.

Seeing Lancer's intention to let him pass, Xi Jianxi didn't hesitate. He simply told Morgan, "I'll leave this to you," and then walked past Lancer, heading upstairs.

The elevator's function to reach the top floor had been disabled, so Xi Jianxi had to take the stairs—even though they were filled with various traps.

Catching a glimpse of Xi Jianxi disappearing into the fire escape, Lancer re-examined the Berserker before him.

With features identical to Saber's, the only difference being hair and eye color, this was undoubtedly a Servant with a blood-related connection to Saber.

If that was the case, the battle at sea last night might not have been hostile but rather a mutual probing.

Both a Berserker and a mage, Lancer tightened his grip on his twin spears, gazing at the Demon Spear used by Xi Jianxi.

Without declaration, without announcement, the battle began.

Lancer shot forward like an arrow, closing the distance to Berserker and thrusting his longer-reaching crimson spear.

Clang—!

The weapon was parried, and then they clashed again.

Berserker's ability to engage in close-quarters combat was an answer Diarmuid had fully anticipated.

As a Lance Servant, being able to engage with another Servant skilled in using a spear was enough to fill Diarmuid with deep satisfaction.

There was no longer a need for tactical deception, as the true name of the Noble Phantasm had surely been revealed.

There was no longer a need for mutual probing, as the opponent had already reached their doorstep, and a fight to the death was necessary.

Lancer wielded his twin spears like the wind, and Morgan did not hold back. Both continuously swung and twirled their weapons, exchanging blows and engaging in a fierce offensive and defensive struggle.

The techniques exchanged were imperceptible to the naked eye. Within a mere minute, they had exchanged dozens of rounds, and both combatants pulled away to create distance again.

"That spear technique..." Lancer's expression was grave.

"Oh? As expected of a Lance Servant, you can discern my spear techniques just by exchanging blows," Morgan said, holding her spear with one hand.

"So it was true," Lancer exclaimed in astonishment.

The answer was simple: Morgan's spear technique was identical to Xi Jianxi's.

Had the Servant taught the Master spear techniques, or had the Master guided the Servant's spear skills?

Neither scenario made sense.

The reason was simple.

Both Xi Jianxi and Morgan, their identical gunmanship as Master and Servant, was far beyond what could be achieved in a short time before the Holy Grail War began.

Moreover, it wasn't just that; Morgan seemed to know exactly how to deal with an opponent like Diarmuid, who wielded twin guns.

Every time Diarmuid intended to stab Morgan with his red spear, Morgan would more recklessly thrust her demon spear towards Diarmuid.

This wasn't an attempt to achieve mutual destruction; Lancer understood. Because he used twin guns, he had to hold them in the middle to ensure stable control with a single hand.

The result was that even his longer spear would have its attack range reduced because of this.

But Morgan was different. She wielded her strange demon spear with both hands, and it was already longer than average. When they exchanged thrusts, before Diarmuid could land a hit, she only needed to grip the end of the spear, and its blade would reach Lancer.

No matter how many times he tried, Diarmuid inevitably reached the same conclusion.

"I didn't expect to face an opponent so aware of strategies for fighting dual-wielders..." Diarmuid felt a sliver of pressure. "I thought you weren't a warrior skilled in close combat, but it seems I underestimated you in some corner of my heart."

He had no intention of delving into the specific relationship between Berserker and her Master; it wasn't important to him.

Diarmuid put away his short spear and twirled his red spear, creating a few flourishes.

"Since the secrets of my twin guns have been seen through, I will no longer harbor any false hopes."

Losing one Noble Phantasm would be a disadvantage, but it was better than having his gunmanship constantly targeted and countered, risking death at any moment.

"Lancer, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, appearing with a single spear!"

Morgan simply smiled faintly, the tip of her demon spear pointed distantly at Diarmuid's head.

Chapter Thirty-Five: A Small Test of Skill

Pushing open the iron door of the safety passage on the thirty-second floor and entering the corridor, Xi Jianxi clearly sensed the modifications made to the entire floor.

It had completely become a magus's territory.