An Ex-Machina on a Dimensional Journey

Just after Xiu Er said that, Ruler noticed that the golden meteor hanging on the horizon had silently crossed the sky above them and struck the ground ahead.

A deafening crash and a violent tremor reached them from far up the road.

Xiu Er ignored the shaking and stood steady, but Ruler was less fortunate. The tremors were too strong for her to keep her balance, so she crouched to avoid falling.

A pillar of white light appeared far away across the fields. Its dense magical energy immediately caught Ruler's attention.

"Was that a Noble Phantasm?!"

At the same moment, Ruler saw what she had taken for an ornament on the girl's head suddenly unfold. A multicolored ring appeared above her.

Wind howled. The previously still air filled with turbulent currents, with Xiu Er at the center of the sudden gale.

Ruler had already sensed something was wrong and leaped back. She dropped her luggage by the roadside and fixed her eyes on Xiu Er's every move.

But the storm was so fierce she could barely open her eyes. She had to shield them with both hands to catch even a glimpse, while her golden hair whipped wildly in the wind.

Her everyday clothes had already changed into a suit of partial armor.

Switching between ordinary clothes and battle armor at will was a basic ability for every Servant.

A flagpole spear appeared in Ruler's hand, but with the wind in her eyes, she could not immediately locate her opponent.

By now, she realized this visitor meant trouble.

While she was still trying to overcome the wind, something crashed down beside her.

She quickly turned to look. A strange white-haired man in a skintight suit and golden armor rose from the shallow crater it had made.

Curious, Ruler looked at