Shirou and Mordred
"Oh, not bad."
The woman laughed.
"Based on your current performance, you've already passed the initial test as a soldier."
"..."
Faced with the compliment, Shirou had already distanced himself from women, took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself down.
The initial chaotic period was over. Although the opponent's offensive was still fierce, Shirou had barely gotten used to the opponent's rhythm, was able to launch occasional counterattacks while defending.
However, this was completely ineffective. Shirou knew all too well that "prolonged defense inevitably leads to defeat," and that he was powerless to retaliate against his opponent.
The opponent is a [Servant], a heroic soul that ascended to a being beyond [humanity] after death. Defeating the opponent with one's own power alone is simply a pipe dream.
So, what I need to do now is escape from here.
By the way, the other party mentioned before that they were a survivor of the Fourth Holy Grail War. But judging from their behavior just now, it's clear that their target isn't me, and the only other person on this train who participated in the Fourth Holy Grail War is --
Lord El -Lord El-Melloi II
"..."
He absolutely had to get this message out, but he absolutely couldn't let her discover his intentions at this moment. Deliberately holding his breath, Shirou focused all his attention on her next move...
Hephaestion charged forward again, sword in hand. It was hard to imagine how he managed to draw such a graceful arc without touching the surrounding panels in the confined space of the carriage.
"!!!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Shirou abandoned all defense and thrust his spear straight forward.
"Um?"
Having probably not expected Shirou to make such a move, the opponent hesitated for a moment before turning to the side to dodge the thrust.
Perhaps in her view, as a hunter, there was no need for her to get injured in this [hunt].
However, this was exactly what Shirou wanted, and he immediately adjusted his posture.
"Hiss--"
Shirou suddenly felt a cold touch on his chest. Immediately afterward, a pain that seemed to tear his chest apart traveled along his nerves deep into his brain.
My gaze shifted slightly downwards, and I saw that his entire chest was now soaked in bright red blood.
Although Hephaestion sidestepped to avoid Shirou's attack, and his sword also deviated from its trajectory, it still grazed Shirou's chest.
But all of that is irrelevant now!
The exit that was previously blocked by [Hephaestion] is now unobstructed. All that's needed now is to seize the opportunity when the enemy hesitates and escape with all our might.
"How is that possible?!"
"A good idea, but unfortunately—"
Shirou stared in astonishment at the woman who had reappeared in his path, blocking his way. However, she clearly wasn't going to answer his question. Seeing Shirou already charging towards her, [Hephaestion]'s lips curled into a mocking smile, and then she raised her right foot...
The scenery before my eyes is constantly changing.
The chest that had been kicked by the other person began to go numb from the pain.
He slammed hard on his back, and his body began to roll backward uncontrollably until he hit the side panel of the carriage and came to a stop.
"The performance was too deliberate; it was obvious at a glance."
"Cough--"
Blood gushed from his throat. Leaning against the barrier, Shirou struggled to his feet.
"Wow, he can still move!"
The flying kick from the opponent earlier struck Shirou's wound in the chest, causing it to tear open again. The carriage floor was now soaked with Shirou's blood.
"Honestly, you're quite tenacious. If I hadn't met you under these circumstances, I really would have liked to take you under my wing and train you."
The armored woman glanced at Shirou, who was wearing a pained expression, shrugged with apparent amusement, and raised her weapon again as she walked towards Shirou.
"If you have to blame someone, blame it on our differing stances now."
My thoughts became heavy, my vision blurred, and even the warmth in my body was constantly draining away.
Am I going to die?
His lips twitched weakly.
I doubt I could even manage a laugh after encountering something like this...
[... Hello]
Do you regret it?
Of course I regret it.
He regretted his recklessness, which led to the current situation.
[Hello]
Speaking of which, if one were to die like this...
So what kind of expression will Dad have?
Ah, I shouldn't think about it anymore.
After all...
[Hello!!!]
The sudden sound didn't travel through my ears, but went directly into my mind.
Who are you?
The slow reaction was probably due to excessive blood loss.
[This question isn't important. Anyway, you're still alive, right?!]
Alive? Of course--
Although death is not far away.
But as long as one is still conscious, then... shouldn't one be considered alive?
Since we're alive, let's begin!
Begin... what?
[Summoning, of course!]
"Call?"
"Um?"
Hephaestion, who had already arrived beside him, naturally heard Shirou's murmur.
The next second, a surge of magical energy emanating from behind her caught her attention.
Turning his gaze, after seeing what had happened, [Hephaestion] showed surprise for the first time. On the carriage floor, the True Magic circle that had previously summoned him was once again shining with a dazzling light.
"How is that possible?!"
[Hephaestion] suddenly noticed that the True Magic circle had been stained with a layer of blood, which appeared unusually alluring under the light emitted by the True Magic circle as it was in operation.
That's a True Magic circle specifically used to summon [Servant]. To make it work, you just need to --
"Could it be...?"
Without giving it any further thought, Hephaestion quickly stepped forward, intending to eliminate the young man before completing the summoning process. That way, no matter who was summoned, the Servant without Master would be meaningless.
A dazzling burst of sparks suddenly erupted.
A suddenly appearing, silver-white broadsword blocked Hephaestion's attack.
"Who are you?"
Standing before Shirou, a figure fully clad in armor answered her question—
"Saber, reporting for duty. My Master was previously taken care of by you, you scoundrel!"
(Speaking of which, the scenes of being defeated are actually the switch to unlock the cheat code)
Here's a book recommendation.
When the Dormitory Becomes Heroic Spirit
Introduction:
When Xu Ye woke up, he found that the whole world had changed.
The dormitory I usually live in is completely empty outside.
Then, I discovered that the person in the bunk opposite me had become Big Dog, the person in the bunk above me had become Jeanne d'Arc Alter, and the person in the bunk above me had become Saber Alter.
Xu Ye himself transformed into Merlin.
At the same time, they discovered that everyone in the entire dormitory building had turned into Heroic Spirit.
In other words, the dormitory building has become Heroic Spirit.
[First stop: Fate/Zero (half-completed)][Second stop: Sword Art Online]
You will see: The Story of the Ahoge's Restoration
Shinjuku's Nighttime Speeding Maniac
Kirito vs. Sherlock Holmes
SAO players collectively shut down.
Chapter 348. Shirou and Mordred
"Miss Lily, let me go out and look for Shirou."
It had been about twenty minutes since Lily returned, but Shirou had gone out to look for Lily, was still nowhere to be seen. Fujino Asagami, her anxiety growing, said this to Lily.
"Huh?"
After returning home, Lily sat on the sofa in silence, looking as if she had something on her mind.
"I mean..."
Before Fujino Asagami could finish speaking, a rustling sound came from outside the door. Then the door to the room was opened from the outside.
Shirou was helped into the house from outside by another person. Perhaps because of his size, Fujino Asagami couldn't see the face of the person who helped Shirou into the house at first. However, the bloodstains on Shirou's body and his pale skin immediately drew all of Fujino Asagami's attention.
"Shirou!?"
Without bothering to ask why, Fujino Asagami quickly walked to the person who had come and took Shirou from him.
"Are you the family Master mentioned?"
From Fujino Asagami's anxious expression, the newcomer could tell that her concern was genuine, so she handed over the unconscious Shirou.
"Hey, Master, just hang in there a little longer! It would be too embarrassing to die like this!"
Looking at Shirou being helped to bed by Fujino Asagami, the person who had led him into the room spoke with considerable displeasure. However, a voice coming from the other side at that moment drew their attention—
"Mordred- chan?"
"Who are you?"
Hearing someone speak her real name in such an intimate tone, Saber, Mordred looked warily in the direction of the voice, only to be met with a delicate-looking young girl.
No, this aura—