A clear analysis of interests was always more convincing than empty rhetoric. Berserker's Master needed a powerful enough force to help him rebuild the Holy Grail system, Einzbern needed someone to complete the Third Magic, and Kiritsugu Emiya needed a strong enough ally to help him win and fulfill his wish.
Until greater interests appeared, they would be the closest of allies.
"I still haven't introduced myself." After shaking hands, the young man smiled apologetically. "That was terribly rude of me."
"It's all right. It's not too late to get acquainted now." Kiritsugu Emiya smiled, a rare sight.
"Li Zihan," the young man said, introducing himself.
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P.S.: Those of you lurking, make some noise.
The author had finally gotten to the part he wanted to write!!!
The Sea Monster Subjugation Battle Without Results
"Okay, the alliance with Saber's side has been settled. Next, we just need to drag this subjugation battle out until every magus present grows restless over the exposure of Mystery. Then Kiritsugu Emiya can contact Kirei Kotomine and tell him that Saber has an Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm. As long as Lancer destroys the Rose of Annihilation, the Sea Monster will be eliminated." Feeling the results of the conversation transmitted by his familiar double, Li Zihan happily shared his delight with his Servant.
"Are you plotting against Lancer this way?" Alcaeus swung the Great Axe and chopped one of the Sea Monster's tentacles into tentacle paste, then asked Li Zihan, "But I don't think Lancer poses any threat to me. On the contrary, Saber, who can use a Noble Phantasm, will be troublesome."
Though the battle was fierce, it did not stop the Berserker pair from slacking off on the battlefield and chatting idly.
The Sea Monster was a powerful magical beast. Unless he fully unleashed his Noble Phantasm, even Alcaeus would have a hard time dealing with it. But if he was only stalling for time, the difficulty was like a Dark Souls veteran playing Dynasty Warriors.
"Are Lancer and his Master worth targeting like this?" Alcaeus tore away the tentacle wrapped around his ankle, then hurled the Great Axe in his hand, cracking open the skull of a small Sea Monster that had tried to ambush Lancer from behind.
"My thanks, sir." Lancer thanked Li Zihan's owl familiar.
He did not know Berserker retained his sanity and assumed Li Zihan had noticed the danger before ordering Berserker to save him.
"No need to thank me," the owl answered righteously. "It is the duty of collaborators."
If shamelessness had defensive power, a certain transmigrator could probably catch Noble Phantasms with his face.
"How could this be targeting Lancer? He isn't worth the effort." After dealing with Lancer, Li Zihan continued chatting with Alcaeus. "Our only enemy is Archer."
He did not stop, continuing to explain his purpose. "Saber is one of the only two Servants in this Holy Grail War who might be able to defeat Archer. If Archer manages to restrain you, then we can only count on Saber's beam cannon."
"It seems you do not have absolute confidence in me." Alcaeus caught the returning axe, then leaped high into the air, stepping on the tentacles rushing at him as he charged forward, the axe blade aimed directly at the Sea Monster's main body.
"That is only natural. Gilgamesh stands at the very peak among all summonable Servants. I do not know what Noble Phantasms are inside the Gate of Babylon, nor do I know what effects they have after their true names are released." Li Zihan did not hide his thoughts. "I know how to restrain the Chains of Heaven, which inherently counter you, and I know how to deal with that sword that can shatter space even without releasing its true name. But I truly have no solution for the Gate of Babylon."
The unknown was the most terrifying thing. Alcaeus understood what Li Zihan meant. If they did not even know what the other side held in its hand, how could they devise a countermeasure?
"Only idiots place their hopes in the enemy's arrogance and carelessness," Li Zihan said flatly. "Archer is far more powerful than he appeared in your memories. With the ability to see through the truth hidden beneath multiple layers of concealment, such as an opponent's true name or Noble Phantasm, as well as the future Star of Omniscience and Omnipotence and the Gate of Babylon, he is an unquestionable Servant killer."
Either they killed Archer before he got serious, or they created an inescapable situation that guaranteed his death. There was no other way.
"If the worst-case scenario arises, I will need you to restrain Archer's movements, then have Saber wipe both of you out from afar." Li Zihan spoke as casually as if he had not just said something that would make an ordinary Servant immediately rise up and kill his Master.
"I understand." Alcaeus spoke coldly, as though they were discussing the rising price of scallions rather than the possibility of his life vanishing at any moment. "Berserker's Spirit Base is still affecting me. Next, I may need to put in some effort and vent, or I fear I will go mad the moment I see that man."
Without waiting for Li Zihan's reply, Alcaeus roared. Amid that roar, the stone axe in his hand visibly changed shape, becoming a demonic sword far larger than even a sword meant to cleave steel.
Colors like blood mixed with ink coiled around the great sword. Violent magical energy tore through the air as Alcaeus leaped high, driving the sword tip straight downward like a dark crimson meteor.
Taking out his anger on it. The Sea Monster had clearly suffered an undeserved disaster. Li Zihan, who was about to arrive at the battlefield surrounding the Sea Monster, shook his head. Alcaeus was obviously fighting as though he could not die, determined to beat it to death.
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