Chapter 128
Saber, on the other hand, was in a more difficult situation. Unlike Lancer, who was alone, Irisviel stood behind her. Facing Archer's Noble Phantasm attack, she had to draw her own sword to block the Noble Phantasm, and she had to be very careful to prevent the Noble Phantasm from hitting Irisviel, even if it caused an explosion.
Of the three groups that were attacked, Saber's group actually faced the most difficulties.
Irisviel understood that Saber's difficult situation had its reasons, but she dared not act rashly at this moment, because there were still other Servants around. If she strayed too far from Saber, she could not guarantee that she would not be attacked by other Servants.
Just as Irisviel was getting anxious, a hand suddenly landed on her shoulder.
!
Irisviel nervously tried to turn her head to look, but the familiar voice made her stop.
"Irisviel, don't turn around, it's me!"
"Kiritsugu?"
Irisviel exclaimed in surprise in a soft voice.
"Um, I can call you Kiritsugu, right?"
Irisviel understood that this Kiritsugu was not the Kiritsugu was currently observing the battlefield from a distance with a sniper rifle, but the [Emiya Kiritsugu] who had recently disappeared. But no matter which Kiritsugu it was, it was still Kiritsugu!
"It's me, Irisviel. Use magic to support Saber and let her draw attention to the enemy while I take care of Archer."
"I see!"
Irisviel leaned back slightly against the man behind her, then activated enhancement magic to strengthen Saber's body.
Saber was somewhat puzzled by Irisviel's sudden enhancement, but still expressed her gratitude immediately.
"Irisviel, thank you so much! Don't worry, I'll stop all his attacks!"
After expressing her gratitude without turning her head, Saber bravely swung her invisible sword, deflecting all the Noble Phantasm that Archer launched at her! This immediately attracted most of Archer's attention, and he couldn't help but praise Saber as he watched her wield the sword.
"You've got some skill, Saber. For a woman like you, you actually possess such talent in wielding a sword!"
"Don't underestimate me just because I'm a woman! Otherwise, I'll use the sword in my hand to let you experience my power firsthand!"
Saber responded angrily to Archer, while the Emiya Kiritsugu behind Irisviel pulled out a sniper rifle and, using Irisviel as cover, aimed at the street lamp at Archer's feet.
Biu——
A soft gunshot rang out after the silencer was activated. The bullet flew out and accurately hit the street lamp. The street lamp was instantly broken, and Archer, who was standing on the street lamp, stumbled and fell to the ground.
Although he adjusted his posture before landing, he landed safely.
However, being ambushed and humiliated made this golden king extremely Wrath.
"How dare you make me, the king, stand on the same ground as you bunch of mongrels! You mongrels have successfully enraged me!"
A golden wall appeared behind him, and dozens of Noble Phantasm began to emerge from the Gate of Babylon. He was ready to unleash his full power and kill everyone who had witnessed his humiliation!
Everyone present, even the riders driving their Chariot through the sky, tensed up. There were just too many of them!
However, only half of the Noble Phantasm had appeared when Archer's expression changed instantly, and he looked Wrath in the direction of the Tohsaka residence.
The Tohsaka family's ancestral trait of failing at crucial moments has successfully manifested itself.
To prevent Archer from revealing too much of his power and his identity, Tokiomi Tohsaka used Command Spells to order Archer to put away his Noble Phantasm and temporarily withdraw from the battlefield. This foolish act successfully angered Gilgamesh, the proud King of Heroes.
However, as a Servant, and only an Archer at that, he didn't have enough Command Spells resistance. If it were Saber, she could resist the Command Spells to some extent, but as an Archer, he had no ability to resist the Command Spells commands and was immediately summoned back.
Helpless, Archer could only utter harsh words and then leave the battlefield.
Everyone relaxed a little.
Kiritsugu Emiya, who had been observing the battlefield with a sniper rifle the whole time, relaxed a little. The pressure from Archer was just too strong. It was better than nothing that he didn't have to fight to the death with such an enemy on the first day.
However, for some reason, he always felt that something was wrong.
210. It's all your fault, Saber!
Archer's departure signifies the end of the first day of battle.
Aside from Archer, Wrath at being knocked off a street lamp, only Lancer's master, Kaineth, was thinking about taking down one of them to show off his strength. But the problem was, Lancer's strength didn't allow it!
After Archer left, there was no one Rider or Saber present who he could actually defeat, especially since he had been injured several times. Although Kaineth had healed his initial injuries with magic, Lancer had already used up one Command Spells. If the battle continued and something unexpected happened, he might have to use up another Command Spells.
If you lose two Command Spells on the first day, you won't be able to play for the next few days.
Helpless, Kaineth could only temporarily leave with Lancer. After seeing Lancer leave, Rider had no intention of fighting Saber. In his opinion, it wouldn't be exciting enough to determine a winner on the first day. There were seven days to go, so there was no need to fight to the death on the first day.
So Rider left, leaving Saber and Irisviel behind.
"Irisviel, are you alright?"
Saber sheathed the invisible longsword in her hand and came to Irisviel's side.
"I'm fine."
Irisviel smiled and shook her head.
Saber looked Alice up and down, and after confirming that Irisviel was indeed alright, she began to ask her questions.
"You suddenly provided me with enhanced support, and Archer's sudden landing was..."
"It was Kiritsugu who did it."
Irisviel immediately sold [Emiya Kiritsugu].
"Kiritsugu? Is that the servant?"
Saber understood who Irisviel was referring to Kiritsugu, but she still wanted to confirm it.
"Are you sure he's Kiritsugu Emiya?"
"Yes, I can sense that he is Kiritsugu, and when Rider appeared before, he didn't let you..."
"Yes, he was right behind me just now. He asked me to help you strengthen yourself so that you can attract Archer's attention and make it easier for him to snipe Archer."
"That's definitely his style of arrangement."
Saber was somewhat displeased. This was how it was now for her to participate in the Holy Grail War: Kiritsugu Emiya, the true Master, was hiding in the shadows, aiming his sniper rifle at the opposing Master, while she and Irisviel served as bait in the open, providing cover for Kiritsugu Emiya.
"Sorry, Saber, for asking you to be bait or something."
Seeing Saber's displeasure, Irisviel quickly apologized.
"No, it has nothing to do with you, Irisviel. Although his decision is not in line with my habits, as a servant, fighting is my duty, so there is no problem with it."
"Just know that it's your responsibility."
Kiritsugu Emiya's deep voice rang out, and the [Emiya Kiritsugu] dressed in black appeared not far from the two, staring at them expressionlessly.
"Kiritsugu!"
Saber stood in front of Irisviel, watching the [Emiya Kiritsugu] warily.
"Irisviel, watch out!"
"It's alright, Saber. If Kiritsugu wanted to hurt me, he could have done it already."
Irisviel comforted Saber, saying it was alright. Deeply in love with Kiritsugu Emiya, she chose to believe in her husband, even if the man before her was her husband who would become a Heroic Spirit in the future.
"But Irisviel, he is now a servant, and he will obey the orders of his master."
"It's alright. I believe Kiritsugu won't hurt me, because even if he becomes a Servant, his dream has never changed."
"Dreams, huh... Hmph!"
Emiya Kiritsugu snorted coldly.
"Irisviel, I'm sorry to disappoint you. I'm not like the good-for-nothing you know now. I don't have those childish wishes."
"Did you hear that, Irisviel? He's not the same person he used to be..."
Saber became wary of Emiya Kiritsugu's words, but before she could finish speaking, Emiya Kiritsugu spoke again.
"That's right, because I won't be like that good-for-nothing and trust a useless servant like Saber!"
"What!?"
Saber stared in shock at Emiya Kiritsugu, wondering why he had suddenly turned Emiya Kiritsugu her.
Why do you think I'm here?
[Emiya Kiritsugu] slowly walked towards Saber.
"In what capacity do you think I am speaking to you here?"
"What do you mean?"
Saber frowned, not quite understanding what [Emiya Kiritsugu] was saying.
"My presence here means I'm a loser!"
Emiya Kiritsugu spoke viciously.
"I entered this Holy Grail War with high hopes, and I wanted your cooperation to achieve victory. But what about you? Noble King of Knights! For the sake of your so-called knightly code, you refused to obey my orders, contradicted me, and even defied me!"
"To satisfy your noble chivalrous spirit, I can only have Irisviel cooperate with you, just like you are now."
"But I'll soon regret it!"
"Because of you! Saber! You, the King of Knights, are utterly untrustworthy!"
"You can't protect Irisviel at all!"
"What! What makes you say that!"
Saber retorted Wrath.
"Although Irisviel is not my true master, I will risk my life to protect her!"
"Is that so? Then what if I told you that if I hadn't shown up, you would have been seriously injured by that weak Lancer?"
[Emiya Kiritsugu] posed a question.
"What? Impossible! Although I didn't fight him, based on his previous performance, there's no way he could have hurt me!"
Saber did not believe Emiya Kiritsugu's words.
"So, do you know what Lancer's Noble Phantasm effect is?"
"This..."
You're making things difficult for me. How could I possibly know what Lancer's Noble Phantasm effect is?
"Let me tell you! Lancer's real name is Diarmuid Duibhne. He is the peerless chief knight in Celtic mythology. His two Noble Phantasm are the Gae Buidhe, which can directly injure your body by ignoring the armor formed by your Magic Power, and the Gae Dearg, which can prevent wounds from healing once it pierces you. If Lancer uses these two Noble Phantasm to forcibly injure you at the cost of his own injuries, how will you deal with it?"
"Varied..."
Saber was stunned. She hadn't expected Lancer's Noble Phantasm to have such an effect. If what [Emiya Kiritsugu] said was true, and Lancer was fighting her by exchanging wounds, then she would definitely lose miserably, because the opponent's wounds could be healed by Magic Power, while the cursed wounds on her body would not be healed!
In this situation, I fear I will soon face defeat!
"Why do you think I risked exposing my identity to be the first to accept Lancer's challenge?"
[Emiya Kiritsugu] Press the attack while the enemy is ahead.
"If I hadn't shown up, you would have been the first to accept Lancer's challenge and fight! The King of Knights with the noble spirit of chivalry! And you would have been the first to be defeated! The confident and arrogant King of Knights!"
211. It's a gas explosion!
The port streets have returned to quiet.
Irisviel stood by the streetlight, looking at Saber, the King of Knights, with some concern. Saber was standing in front of her, her hands clenched, her head bowed, silently staring at the ground.
"Saber, are you alright?"
Emiya Kiritsugu has left, but before he left, he left Saber with a huge shock, turning this confident and proud King of Knights, who had been summoned, into the dejected person she is today.
"I'm sorry, Irisviel."
Saber, who was being questioned, slowly raised her head, her face full of confusion.
"I feel like I've really been a bit too arrogant."
"Just like Kiritsugu just said, if I were fighting Lancer without knowing his Noble Phantasm, and he traded blows for my own, I would easily be seriously injured and fall down."
"If I fall, Irisviel, you will be in danger. This would be an incredibly dereliction of duty on my part as a knight!"
"It's alright, Saber. That kind of thing didn't happen, did it? Kiritsugu prevented it from happening, didn't he?"
Irisviel quickly comforted her, sensing that Saber had become somewhat withdrawn after what Emiya Kiritsugu had said.
"Yes, but if he hadn't shown up, the situation would likely have turned out the way he described, because I was originally prepared to go up and fight without knowing anything about my opponent."
Although it was meant to comfort her, Saber still felt she had failed in her duty.