"I won't deny that. But even if I don't, don't keep talking about him. A mere delinquent swordsman has no right to gossip about him!"
"Oh, you're quite loud. In that case..."
"Red" Saber changed states. She unleashed the vast magical energy stored within her and donned armor and a helmet. In her hand was a broad-bladed knight's sword. It was a magnificent appearance entirely worthy of the title of swordsman.
"That's enough chatter. Let me turn you into rust, horseless cavalryman!"
"My, my, how terrifying..."
The situation was extremely unfavorable. Whether in terms of strength or rank as a Servant, he was overwhelmingly inferior. Even so, battle was unavoidable.
Ah, damn it. I might actually die here.
Perhaps it was the intuition of a Servant—or rather, of a knight—but he had a premonition that if he fought her, he would be killed with ease.
Even faced with that fatal fact, "Black" Rider's expression remained unchanged. Clutching the spear he had once casually stolen from the knight Argalia, he issued Saber an all-or-nothing challenge.
A thick fog suddenly spread across the battlefield. The Homunculi present stopped moving in confusion... then felt a searing pain deep within their nasal passages, as though sparks had erupted there.
One Homunculus after another collapsed. From above them came an innocent, fairy-like laugh:
"So many! There are so many! Everyone looks so delicious!"
The Homunculi judged the other party to be an enemy and tried to raise their weapons. But they could no longer muster any strength. Even when they held their breath, their lungs, already filled with air, ached as if something with hooks were tearing at them.
No, they had to run. Throwing aside their weapons, they staggered forward two or three unsteady steps... and collapsed. No, their legs had completely lost their