Liberal Arts Berserker

Astolfo had voiced the question on everyone's mind.

Shirou smiled, a hint of smugness in his expression. "I can tell you. It's just that our specializations are different! The Berserker you're familiar with is the Science Berserker, while I'm the Liberal Arts Berserker. Yep, that's it."

As soon as he said that, everyone present felt their intelligence insulted. They all wore expressions that screamed, "Are you kidding me?" or "I haven't read much, don't lie to me."

Close-quarters combat for Archers, we could barely accept that. But what's the point of a Liberal Arts Berserker?

Are we starting a cultural revolution?

"Ooh la la, what's with that look like your IQ just dropped by half? Do you really think a Berserker has to be three meters tall, carry a string of human heads, have curly hair, and make noises like a bellows with every basic attack? Don't underestimate me just because I'm a liberal arts major. Push me too far, and I can conjure a beam cannon with my bare hands to show you uncultured swine what reason, logic, and truth are!"

Shirou rattled off a long speech, and the reactions from the others were varied. Most, however, looked as if they had seen a ghost.

Damn it, you're not studying liberal arts, you're a crosstalk comedian! Curly hair, human heads? Are you sure you're a Berserker and not Sha Wujing?

Shirou's words, however, had Astolfo roaring with laughter. While he was naturally cheerful, he seemed even more so now. "Hahaha! What is it! You're so interesting!"

Caules nudged Fiore, who was sitting in a wheelchair beside him. "Sister, I think I'm starting to believe this guy. His EX-rank Mad Enhancement seems to fit, it's just expressed differently."

Vlad III, seated regally on the high platform, let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha! Berserker, so you're strong then?"

"Precisely!" Shirou grinned foolishly. "All Masters can check my stats through your Master permissions. I guarantee that as a Servant, I am absolutely top-tier!"

Shirou said it, and Caules did as he was told, only to be stunned by the magnificent stats of someone.

Strength B+
Agility A+
Endurance A
Luck C
Mana EX
Noble Phantasm A+/EX

Caules almost shouted the last two stats. Apart from Luck, whose usefulness was unknown, all other stats were close to or above Rank A. Two of them even reached the unprecedented Rank EX. Caules had undoubtedly drawn the best card among everyone.

If one were to consider stats alone, even Vlad III, the renowned national protector of Romania who benefited from fame bonuses, could not compare to Shirou.

"What's going on, Caules? What Saint Relic did you use to summon someone like this?" Gordes, the stout middle-aged man, asked. As he spoke, he glanced at Saber beside him. Could Saber defeat such a monster? Fortunately, they were allies for now.

Caules scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly. "Hehe, I actually just wanted to try my luck, so I didn't prepare any Saint Relics."

"Speaking of which, Caules's Saint Relic was actually himself!" Shirou interjected. "We have a good connection. In another timeline, I once taught a class at the El-Melloi Classroom, and Caules was among the students. He was the biggest troublemaker in the class, so I remember him clearly."

"Uh..." Hearing this, the other Masters could only look on with envy. Envy was useless. Even if it wasn't the same timeline, he had opportunities you didn't. It was all pointless.

Moreover, this was a Servant summoned using himself as a medium. Setting aside his heaven-defying stats, in terms of compatibility with the Servant, even all those present combined might not match Caules.

"By the way, since we'll be fighting side-by-side from now on, why don't we exchange true names?" Such a foolish proposal could only come from the rationality-evaporated Astolfo.

Hearing Astolfo's foolish suggestion, Shirou couldn't help but put his hand to his forehead. Honestly, he would have loved to see a Servant like Astolfo in the Holy Grail War, but that would be if they were on opposing sides.

If Astolfo appeared on the enemy's side, Shirou might even celebrate with fireworks. But if Astolfo were summoned by him, Shirou would definitely use a Command Spell to order him to commit suicide. It was a shame he wasn't Astolfo's Master; that perverted sorcerer Celenike was.

Shirou wanted to get rid of Astolfo not for any other reason than that this guy was too much of a liability. In the original timeline of Fate/Apocrypha, he had caused the death of the main combatant of the black faction, Siegfried. Shirou was afraid he would be killed by him.

"Rider, do you know what foolishness you're spouting?" Shirou asked Astolfo in a tone of disappointment, also serving as a warning to the other Masters.

"Leaking my true name doesn't mean much to me, as I'm just an unknown killer participating in this Holy Grail War as an insignificant minor character. But for the heroes who have already died, if their true names are leaked, their Noble Phantasms and even their weaknesses can be easily deduced. This is equivalent to us losing a round. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Ah, I understand," Astolfo replied carelessly.

That carefree expression darkened Shirou's face. No, you don't understand anything. All I know is that you rationality-evaporated bastard doesn't listen to anyone!

"But everyone here is on our side, so it shouldn't be a problem! Besides, since we're going to be comrades, wouldn't exchanging names improve cooperation efficiency?"

For a moment, Shirou's face turned as dark as Red Archer's. Okita Souji, looking at the somewhat familiar face, seemed to understand something.

"Then, I'll start," Astolfo said, ignoring Shirou's pitch-black expression. "My true name is Astolfo, one of Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins. My class is Rider. Be sure to remember it!"

After speaking, Astolfo leaned towards Chiron, the black faction's Archer. "And you?"

Chiron was also a straightforward person (god). Seeing that Astolfo had already introduced himself, he felt awkward hiding any longer, so he revealed his true name as well. "Servant, Archer. My true name is Chiron."

"Impressive!" Astolfo praised him with empty words, then looked back at Shirou. "And you, Berserker."