Shirou's Grand Heroic Saga

"Hey, hey, hey! Rider is fighting, and not only are you not helping, you're sitting here eating popcorn!" Lancer grabbed Shirou, quickly dodging another attack from Berserker. "You're really not afraid of death."

"What's the big deal? It's about stalling the enemy and giving Sakura some time to prepare. It's all up to you," Shirou pouted.

Sakura had two Noble Phantasms that could quickly kill Berserker. One was "Sealing the Otherworlder - Temple of Blood," and the other was "Chains of the Horse King," which allowed her to charge at Berserker riding the white Pegasus.

However, the preparation time was quite long, and it took time to aim accurately.

After placing Shirou in a safe position, Lancer charged forward to stall Berserker.

Lancer no longer had many means to damage Berserker. Those means were now rendered immune by Berserker's Noble Phantasm, the "Twelve Labors."

Still, stalling was not a problem.

"Rune Magic." As Lancer drew some runes on the ground, the characters began to move as if alive, enveloping Lancer.

First, it was to enhance his own speed and Strength!

Retreat, retreat, retreat!

Lancer didn't want to directly tank Berserker's attack. Such a foolish action might even damage his own Gaebolg. But if he couldn't dodge, then...

"Rune, Shield!"

The runes instantly transformed into a shield, blocking in front of Lancer.

The axe-sword completely ignored Lancer's fragile defense. The shield shattered into dust in an instant.

This wasn't because Rune Magic couldn't withstand Berserker's simple strike, but rather because Lancer's Class completely prevented him from unleashing his magical prowess.

However, it did buy him some time to escape the axe-sword's range. Otherwise, he would have had to take Berserker's heavy blow head-on.

The axe-sword smashed into the bridge, creating a one-meter radius crater in the marble floor and the road beside it. It even gave people the illusion, or perhaps it wasn't an illusion – the bridge was shaking!

Lancer, still shaken, swallowed. If that blow had hit him directly, he estimated he would have only been able to cling to life through a combat continuation.

In that state, he probably wouldn't be able to help anymore, right?

Seeing Lancer awkwardly dodging his attacks, Berserker sharpened his blade and lunged at Lancer.

The axe-sword missed again. Lancer's evasion skills had reached the peak of perfection. Seizing this opportunity, he used Rune Magic again.

"Binding."

Lancer activated the runes, and they immediately moved around Berserker, twisting and connecting to form a magic circle that tightly bound Berserker. Whether this kill could be completed now depended on the effect of the binding!

Seeing this chance, Sakura quickly locked onto Berserker.

Rider, whose true name was Medusa, had also transmitted some knowledge to Sakura via her Card, making Sakura even more aware that she absolutely could not confront Heracles head-on.

Using a rapid succession of Noble Phantasms to quickly kill Heracles was the best option.

Heracles's power was simply unreasonable. Even with the Card weakening the Heroic Spirit's abilities, it remained so.

Even under Mad Enhancement, he still possessed terrifying martial prowess, with all stats being incredibly balanced and powerful, coupled with the "Twelve Labors" Noble Phantasm.

If he hadn't been under Mad Enhancement, he would have possessed infinite wisdom. In the Twelve Labors, Heracles never resorted to brute force; instead, he used strategy to win.

To win with strategy, one must observe the enemy's weaknesses and capitalize on them while avoiding their strengths.