The Same Type of Master (Please Vote)

(Heartfelt thanks to 'Pure Pain', 'Voice of Kinship', 'Diddjdhsfz', 'Wuma Cijian', and '88857' for their tips!)

"Clang—!"

With that heavy clash of steel against steel as the true beginning, the invisible sword, impossible to catch with the naked eye, collided fiercely with the conspicuously overlong katana, sending dazzling sparks bursting across the uneven stone steps.

"Archer." As Saber and Assassin's swordfight began, Noah stepped forward and spoke to Archer behind him, who was half-kneeling on the ground, covered in blackened scorch marks and vivid bloodstains.

"Are you all right?"

"...Do I look like I'm all right?" Archer's weak yet stubborn voice reached Noah's ears.

"But at least, you don't need to worry about this side. Whether it's my Master or me, staying alive won't be a problem..."

"Archer..." Rin Tohsaka gritted her teeth, but she also knew this was no time to be overly sentimental. She could only obediently remain behind Archer.

Hearing the sounds from behind him, Noah could easily imagine the state they were in. He smiled, raised his head, and looked toward Caster before the mountain gate.

"Then I'll wrap things up quickly on my end too!"

As soon as he spoke, Noah lowered his body. Like a cheetah charging at full speed, he abruptly turned into a black shadow and rushed straight at Caster.

"Charging at me head-on when I'm a Caster? How reckless." Caster sneered, raising her black-gloved hand toward Noah.

"Bzzz—!"

One after another, magic circles shaped like eyeballs suddenly spun into existence around Caster, gathering astonishing magical energy within them.

The next instant, blinding beams of light shot out from the rippling magic circles, tearing through the air like lasers as they blasted toward the charging Noah.

Watching the dazzling beams streaking toward him, Noah's eyes flashed. Yet he neither dodged nor evaded.