Interception

Food has always been one of the best ways to boost morale, regardless of the era.

"Archer, what kind of dishes are these?"

Lancer pointed to several dishes he had never seen before and asked Archer.

"That's Mapo Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken, Chinese dishes. Do you like them?"

"Mmm, it's delicious. Being able to taste exotic cuisine that I never had the chance to try in my previous life is one of the interesting aspects of the Holy Grail War."

Lancer, in a cheerful mood, said this and put the food back into his mouth.

"So, Archer, with your culinary skills, where do you come from? Do you remember now?"

While Heroic Spirit retain some of their skills from their previous lives, to achieve this level of skill... made everyone present even more curious about the true identity of Chiron.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. Perhaps it's because I summoned four Servants at the same time that I haven't been able to regain my memories. But I should be Heroic Spirit from the modern era."

Upon hearing Archer's answer, Lancer nodded knowingly. "So he really is a modern-day Heroic Spirit. In that case, it's not surprising that he can cook foreign dishes; different cultures spread with human activities. If he's from the modern era, he'd have more opportunities to come into contact with other cultures."

"I'm sorry, at least regarding your real name..."

"Don't worry about it. You've already proven your combat ability. As long as you can exert that power on the battlefield, there's no reason to complain."

Lancer interrupted Archer's speech. He had already witnessed Archer's abilities when they fought against Red Faction Saber. It could be said that in terms of combat, Archer's abilities were worthy of being among the Three Knight Classes.

As a king, Lancer naturally had to be much more tolerant of such a capable yet humble "subject."

Thank you very much.

Archer bowed to Lancer and then left his side.

He did not have complete memories, but he had remembered his real name. Initially, his memory loss was not due to an error during the summoning, but rather to the unique nature of the summoning itself.

Sorry, Lancer.

Hiding Servant's true name is a fundamental strategy in the Holy Grail War. Like Saber's Master, Archer intends to conceal his name as much as possible.

Although the Great Holy Grail War has been adopted, the fact remains that only the surviving Servant can achieve victory. After defeating the [Red] faction, Archer is well aware that he will have to turn his guns on his current "comrades."

Therefore, even if we are on the same side right now, we cannot casually reveal our real names.

Just then, a boy with pink hair, who could be mistaken for a girl... approached Archer and gave him a thumbs-up:

"Acha, nizhenshitailihaile!."

Astolfo, whose real name is Astolfo, is one of Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins. Although his appearance is quite unexpected, what is even more troublesome is his incurable optimism and his tendency to act before thinking.

"Swallow your food before you speak, Rider."

Archer lightly tapped Rider's forehead with a chopstick.

"This is delicious! Archer is amazing to be able to make a dish that matches our background!"

Rider's eyes gleamed as he looked at Archer, a mixture of pleasure from the delicious food and an irrepressible curiosity.

"Thank you for the compliment. However, I couldn't access your era, so this is all I could manage."

"That's already amazing!"

Archer prepared dishes for each of his Servant that reflected their origins.

The dishes were chosen to complement Lancer (Vlad III)'s Romania cuisine, Rider (Astolfo)'s France cuisine, and Caster (Avicebron)'s Spanish cuisine. Because Saber (Siegfried)'s Master was unwilling to reveal Saber's true name, even Archer, who already knew Saber's real name, could only prepare some of his signature dishes to avoid arousing suspicion. The Chinese cuisine Lancer had previously enjoyed originated from this.

Although it was unknown whether Berserker (Frankenstein) could eat, Swiss cuisine was still prepared for her.

Because of her low Mad Enhancement level, Berserker can think independently and appreciate different flavors. She has her own preferences, but she lacks the ability to express them. She followed behind Caules and intended to grab some food to eat, but Caules hurriedly stopped her and prepared a tray for her.

Caster, who dislikes interacting with people, obviously didn't like this noisy environment. He ate only a minimal amount before talking to his Master by the fire.

Saber, as Gordes commanded, stood behind him like a loyal knight.

"What a terrible Master."

Because Saber obeyed Gordes's order to "not speak," the two never spoke. Therefore, Rider had a very low opinion of Gordes.

"Does Saber believe that all his orders must be obeyed to the end?"

"Because he is a hero who fulfills the wishes of others."

As Archer remarked, he casually handed something to Rider.

"Rider, take this."

--That was a food container.

"Oh, Archer, thank you so much!"

After understanding Archer's meaning, Rider happily took the food box and began picking food from the long table, while Archer, who was next to him, naturally used his body to block Rider's movements.

Previously, Rider found a runaway android in the Millennia Fortress, and for some reason, he took the unconscious android directly to Archer's room.

Archer didn't report this to Caster, who was searching for the escaped homunculus. Instead, he decided to help the homunculus escape and hid him in his room.

"Okay~"

After confirming that Rider had hidden the food box full of food, Archer left the place calmly, as if nothing had happened.

At that moment, while everyone was enjoying the dinner, Darnic, seemingly having received some kind of intelligence, suddenly whispered a few words in Lancer's ear.

Regarding the reward, how about we tentatively set it at 200 blades per chapter?

Chapter 186. Counterattack

"Gentlemen!"

Using Magecraft to amplify the volume, Darnic's voice reached the ears of everyone present.

"I think the dishes Archer made must have brought some joy to everyone in the midst of war."

Nevertheless, the fact that we are at war remains unchanged. The enemy doesn't care whether we're enjoying a delicious meal or not.

Darnic's gaze lingered on Caster.

Avicebron snapped his fingers, and the lights in the hall went out with the sound. At the same time, a Projection appeared on the wall of the hall, showing the scene outside the Millennia Fortress at that moment.

That was an image transmitted by the golem that Caster sent out as a warning, far exceeding the distance that an ordinary Magecraft could see using clairvoyance Magecraft.

The image projected through the golem was of a burly giant with bluish-black skin moving through the forest.

Darnic spoke first:

"Gentlemen, according to Caster's report, this Servant is charging straight through the forest day and night towards the city of Millennia."

Upon hearing this, everyone present fell silent. Since this was a war, it was only natural for Servants to attack. But whether it was a surprise attack or a straightforward assault, it was common for multiple Servants to attack together. Of course, those like Red Lancer, who had other missions to fulfill, were an exception.

However, through the Projection, everyone discovered that this Servant was not surrounded by any subordinates, in other words—he intended to attack alone.

It was an incredibly stupid act, but only one person among the seven classes could do something so foolish without batting an eye.

"I think this is probably the Red Faction's Berserker, and it must have gone out of control because its enhancement level was too high."

Servant summoned as Berserkers are given a corresponding Mad Enhancement level based on their life anecdotes. Servant lower Mad Enhancement levels receive less status boost, but as compensation, they can communicate with their Master to some extent. Conversely, Servant with higher Mad Enhancement levels may receive a significant status boost, but as a trade-off, it is extremely difficult not only to communicate with them, but even to get them to obey their Master's commands.

"Uncle, what is your plan?"

"I can't breathe, "Fiore asked, sitting in her wheelchair.

"Of course, we can't let this opportunity slip away. Sending three Servants is enough. However, this is a unique opportunity in this Great Holy Grail War. If all goes well, we might even be able to make this Berserker a pawn on our side."

Darnic's words surprised everyone present.

The [Black] faction has been at a numerical disadvantage due to Assassin's absence. If they can capture the enemy's forces now, even the unruly Berserker can be used as a powerful Joker.

"Then tell me your plan, Darnic."

"Yes, my lord."

And so, under Master Darnic's orders, the operation to capture the Red Berserker secretly began.

"Then please take care of me, Saber and Berserker~"

Rider, who was assigned to confront [Red] Berserker due to his Noble Phantasm, greeted his two companions with a happy expression.

"..."

"Waaah--"

Seeing Saber's aloof demeanor and Berserker's refusal to acknowledge her, a deeply disheartened Rider could only rub her cheeks in frustration.

"Hehehe... this is really difficult to handle."

Although there were hundreds of puppets and androids blocking the way for the [Red] Berserker, they were still no match for the Servant.

Whether it was the android's battle axe cleaving his shoulder, or the golem's fist, powerful enough to shatter steel, striking his face, Berserker's expression remained consistently radiant—no, it should be said, even more delighted.

"Ah... I'll repay this pleasure tenfold!"

With a smile on his face, Berserker easily grabbed the mask of the puppet, which was taller than himself, and then casually tossed the puppet into the area where the androids were clustered together.

Without even a cry of pain, the androids were instantly crushed under the immense pressure.

The situation then became one-sided.

He casually swung his sword horizontally. With that, the upper bodies of the androids present were blasted away. He punched the struggling golem, and its Magecraft enhanced bronze head vanished into dust.

The enormous golem was utterly powerless against Berserker, either split in two or torn to pieces. It resembled a raging typhoon, creating massive amounts of debris with each strike.

--An undeniable victory.

Faced with this hellish scene, even the androids, whose emotional systems were not well developed, began to feel a sense of fear and chose to flee.

"You lackeys of the dictator! Do you feel my love?!"

Looking at the "junkyard"-like scene he had created, [Red] Berserker nodded in satisfaction and took another step.

Even though he had defeated nearly a hundred enemies, the "desire" in his heart remained unfulfilled. His thought process, already dominated by the belief in "defeating the tyrant," would never consider anything else.

Since that's the case, let's move on.

Let's launch another rebellion against the "tyrants" waiting at the finish line!

After the [Red] Berserker left, this hellish place welcomed two more visitors.

"Should I say he truly lives up to his Berserker title?"

Rider and Archer of the Red Faction frowned as they watched the scene before them.

Those who were heroes in life could never imagine what it felt like to smile during battle.

If anger had shown on his face, Archer and Rider might have thought he was a Berserker who could communicate. But instead, he smiled, reveled, as if his mind was in turmoil, smiling as he fought, slaughtered, and shattered...

"In any case, his strength is now crystal clear. Unless he uses some powerful Noble Phantasm, there's no way to stop his advance."

"So, sister, in your opinion, is it possible for him to at least take down one Servant?"

Rider asked Archer, who replied uncertainly:

"Perhaps... if he uses his Noble Phantasm at the right time..."

Although they are comrades-in-arms, the Servant of the Red Faction don't even explain the abilities of their Noble Phantasm to each other. However, Berserker is an exception, as his Master revealed them to him in advance.

The Noble Phantasm Crying Warmonger is called "Crying Warmonger." Due to its extremely unique properties, it would be certain that this thing would not survive in a normal Holy Grail War.

But this time it's the Great Holy Grail War...

"If those [black] faction Servant just helplessly keep inflicting damage on him, it might become quite interesting."

Rider wore an obviously malicious grin.

That's right. The more injuries one sustains, the stronger one becomes. If it's that Noble Phantasm—it might even be able to decide the outcome of the Great Holy Grail War with a single blow.

"Hmm..."

Archer wrinkled his nose slightly, seemingly displeased.

"What's wrong?"

"The Servant's reaction is from the Servant!"

Because of her past experience living alongside wild beasts, Archer's senses far surpass Rider's. If she's not mistaken...