Lancer sneered. "That's right. My Master ordered me to prepare to retreat. The situation has begun to turn against us."
"Even you noticed that? Should I say a boar's nose really is sharp?"
Saber shot back without letting up. "Pardon my bluntness, but in my opinion, you look more like a boar right now."
Just as she had said, the Cursed Beast Hide covering Diarmuid had gradually merged with him during the battle.
"Radiant Visage" was long gone. Now, he looked completely like a monster covered in sharp bristles, with the upper body of a demonic boar and the lower body of a human.
"Your tongue is as sharp as ever, Saber."
Lancer sneered. "The next time we meet, I'll make sure you can never remain this composed again."
As soon as he finished speaking, he retreated. Saber wanted to pursue him, but she was completely unable to do so.
Lancer's Demonification gave him Mana Burst on the same level as Saber's.
However, unlike Saber, who used it to strengthen her ordinary physical power, Lancer's Mana Burst manifested in his mobility and explosive power.
Thus, if Lancer fled at full speed, Saber could do nothing but watch helplessly as he vanished into the darkness of the forest.
"Phew..."
Artoria let out a long breath.
Although she had the finest Master, Irisviel, supplying her with magical energy, the battle with Lancer had still been extremely arduous. By her standards, she had been overtaxed.
Not only that, she felt that Lancer still had not brought out all of his strength.
In practice, the Diarmuid before her had only gained one additional skill: Mana Burst.
That meant they could fight on equal terms—
He was testing my strength. The next time we meet, I'll definitely defeat him...!
Saber made up her mind in