Barrier of the Wind King

"Click, click, click, click, click, click—"

Hundreds of Dragon Tooth Warrior skeletons swarmed in from all directions, waving the weapons fashioned from dragon teeth in their hands and emitting an incredibly raucous clatter.

These sounds layered upon one another, amplified by the echoes within the courtyard, creating a deafening roar.

It was enough to make one's heart feel exceptionally irritable!

The combat prowess of a few Dragon Tooth Warrior units was, of course, nothing to worry about; even an average magus could handle them.

But once their numbers grew, they would become no small trouble.

Rin Tohsaka pressed her right hand against her left arm, continuously gathering Yin Qi Bullet energy at her fingertips and firing them at the approaching Dragon Tooth Warrior units.

Rin Tohsaka could use Yin Qi Bullet without incantation thanks to her family crest.

This was originally a curse meant to disrupt one's health, but if the magical energy concentration was high enough, it could inflict direct physical damage, with power comparable to a bullet!

Shirou Emiya swung the steel pipe he had reinforced, attacking the Dragon Tooth Warrior units and coordinating with Rin Tohsaka.

Although Saber could cut down several Dragon Tooth Warrior units with a single strike, that was all she could manage for the moment.

Against such a massive number of Dragon Tooth Warrior units, ordinary attacks were already beginning to show their limitations.

While they still couldn't effectively harm a Servant, they were absolutely a nuisance!

It was highly likely that this was a tactic to stall for time.

Saber realized in an instant that Caster was likely preparing to unleash a large-scale spell!

Caster, who possessed High-Speed Divine Words, should not have chosen this strategy.

The so-called High-Speed Divine Words was the ability to activate spells without the need for incantations or connecting magic circuits.

Usually, the larger the scale of a spell, the more long-winded the incantation required, but through this skill, the chanting could be drastically shortened.

To think she would use these Dragon Tooth Warrior units to stall just for one spell—the power of it could be imagined.

At times like this, a clear judgment was of the utmost importance.

And this, precisely, was also an ability possessed by Saber!

She had to clear away these obstacles before her and drag the hidden Caster out from the shadows!

With that, Saber crouched to gather strength, then swung her invisible sword with both hands, circling around Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka to strike down the Dragon Tooth Warrior units attempting to close in.

The Dragon Tooth Warrior units were instantly destroyed and shredded by Saber's invisible sword, temporarily preventing them from effectively regrouping.

The gale caused by her rapid movement made Saber's golden hair sway, and it was at this moment that Saber held her invisible sword level and shouted loudly:

"Get down!"

Saber was clearly speaking to Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka; although the two of them didn't know what Saber intended to do, they trusted her and immediately obeyed the order.

The reason the invisible sword in Saber's hand could remain "invisible" was due to a barrier that wrapped several layers of wind around it, changing the refractive index of light to conceal the blade.

Under the blessing of the Barrier of the Wind King, Saber, while wielding the sword, could prevent opponents from gauging the distance and trajectory of her sword strikes.

However...

The Barrier of the Wind King had a second usage!

At this moment, Saber held her longsword horizontally in front of her with both hands, the tip pointing outward.

In an instant, the Barrier of the Wind King attached to the blade was released!

"Boom—"

A violent roar of wind erupted from the blade at that moment, transforming into a vortex of wind blades that swirled around the sword and blasted forward!

The spiraling gale blew away the Dragon Tooth Warrior units in front of Saber at a terrifying speed, causing an explosion amidst the ranks of the Dragon Tooth Warrior units!

As the fierce wind spread, the surrounding Dragon Tooth Warrior units were mercilessly shredded by the storm!

In the center of the wide courtyard, a dazzling golden radiance flashed!

Saber had released the Barrier of the Wind King from her blade, and the golden brilliance emitted by the sword could no longer be concealed!

For a moment, both Rin Tohsaka and Shirou Emiya, who were prone on the ground, widened their eyes in shock!

Accompanied by a powerful release of magical energy, the storm spread in all directions with Saber at its center; the dust on the ground rippled like water.

Saber opened her solemn eyes, gripped the golden sword tightly, and swung it fiercely as she turned!

In an instant, a circular wind blade roared through Ryudou Temple, sweeping across the bodies of the Dragon Tooth Warrior units in a heartbeat!

The ruthless storm swept through Ryudou Temple, its terrifying power instantly destroying the Dragon Tooth Warrior units from all sides!

"Am... amazing..."

This was the shared exclamation of Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka, who were still prone on the ground.

But Saber's furrowed brows had not relaxed since the beginning, and Caster, who was hiding somewhere unknown, spoke once again, though her tone was extremely mocking:

"Oh my, oh my..."

"Surely no one could mistake that golden sword of yours."

"I never expected that someone as cute and petite as you would actually be the world-renowned King of Knights."

"Ah--"

"I find myself wanting you more and more, Saber!"

Excalibur, also known as the Sword of Selection.

It is the greatest and strongest Noble Phantasm held by the King of Knights, regarded as the symbol of King Arthur, the most powerful and noble holy sword.

It was not forged by human hands, but crystallized within the planet using the collective desires of humanity as raw material—the ultimate god-forged armament, the "strongest of illusions."

Anyone summoned to the Throne of Heroes across time and space could never mistake this golden sword.

Artoria Pendragon.

This is the true name of Saber.

However, Caster's words just now sounded like nothing but an insult to Artoria.

Artoria never skimps on praise or respect for a worthy opponent, but she has no patience for a wicked heretic like Caster:

"A magus of the Age of Gods who possesses High-Speed Divine Words."

"A mage who uses dragon teeth as a catalyst to create an army of skeletons."

"The Witch of Betrayal, Medea."

"Am I wrong?"

The golden light radiating from the Sword of Selection illuminated Artoria's beautiful face as she gazed at her surroundings and continued:

"A despicable creature who only knows how to hide in the shadows."

"Though I suppose that is to be expected of a witch who dismembered her own brother just to escape..."

But before Artoria could continue, Medea appeared on the roof of Ryudou Temple and shrieked:

"Shut up!!!"

Medea stood there clutching a staff topped with a crescent moon, glaring at Artoria in the courtyard with gritted teeth!

Appearing alongside her were dozens of massive fireballs suspended in the air above Ryudou Temple!

Each fireball was like a sun falling from the sky, nearly engulfing the entire area of Ryudou Temple!

The surrounding light turned as bright as day, shocking everyone present.

With such a massive cluster of fireballs, there would be nowhere to hide if they were to fall.

Is this the method Medea had prepared?

Medea looked at the shocked expressions of Artoria and her group, her face filled with delight:

"This magic was originally prepared for Berserker, but since you all came here seeking death!"

As she spoke, Medea turned her gaze toward Shirou Emiya and sneered:

"Kid, you must be Saber's Master, right?"

"If you are willing to hand Saber over to me, I might consider sparing your lives."

Artoria gripped the Golden Sword tightly with both hands and said with a grave expression:

"Shirou!"

"Do not listen to her!"

"Please, use your Command Spell to order me to unleash my Noble Phantasm!"

Wiping out the Dragon Tooth Warriors had consumed a significant amount of Artoria's magical energy, and Shirou Emiya's aptitude as a Master was far too mediocre.

However, Shirou Emiya could now use a Command Spell to allow Artoria to release her Noble Phantasm and annihilate everything before them.

Shirou Emiya did not hesitate; he gripped his wrist, where the Command Spell was etched, intending to activate it!

Yet, something happened that caught everyone off guard.

At some unknown moment, Sasuke had appeared beside them.