Lancer

Bright moonlight hung high in the starry sky above Fuyuki City. Winter seemed not to have passed yet, and the nighttime wind was cold.

On the top floor of Fish Fresh House was a small rooftop terrace, usually used by the shop to dry fish.

But a batch of fine dried fish had recently finished drying, so the terrace had been cleared.

Since it was already the middle of the night, all the streetlights were off, and the entire shopping district was utterly quiet.

Sasuke looked at his peaceful surroundings, his mind calm as well.

Perhaps a life without fighting was what he wanted most.

But Sasuke also knew very well that this world wasn't as simple as he'd first thought.

After all, a world with a means of summoning so-called Heroic Spirits into the present day couldn't be an ordinary one.

In any world, ordinary people were the easiest targets for oppression.

Just like those so-called mages. If they wanted to, they could lead an ordinary person around in circles.

The world was never fair.

Sasuke, with his Mangekyō Sharingan activated, was taking another look at this city.

However, someone always had to interrupt at a time like this.

"Just to make sure, are you the interesting fellow my Master mentioned?"

At some point, another person had appeared on the rooftop of Fish Fresh House.

He was a man with an unusual style, but he was undeniably handsome.

He had short blue hair and a pair of crimson eyes, with a few loose bangs drifting casually across his forehead. His hair was tied into a ponytail that fell to his waist.

He wore a pair of silver earrings, a blue skintight suit that extended to his wrists to form vambraces, and silver shoulder armor. In his hand was a scarlet spear.

It was obvious that this fellow wasn't some street thug or anyone else out for a stroll.

He was Lancer, one of the seven Servants in this Holy Grail War.

Even while Lancer was still in his spirit form, Sasuke had sensed his presence and locked onto him with his Mangekyō Sharingan.

Knowing his presence had been discovered, Lancer had revealed himself before Sasuke.

Looking at Sasuke's blood-red Sharingan, Lancer couldn't help showing some surprise.

"Mystic Eyes?"

"As a modern mage, you're a kid who defeated Rider. You'll definitely make a name for yourself someday."

There was no doubt that Lancer meant his praise sincerely.

But Sasuke knew exactly what the other man was, so he responded to the compliment with an impassive expression.

"At this hour, I assume you didn't come here to chat with me?"

Lancer seemed a little troubled by the question, then laughed for some reason.

"My Master only asked me to keep an eye on you, but I didn't expect you to notice me. That was a bit of a misstep."

"Normally, I have no interest in watching a mage, but you really are different."

"Since you're strong enough to kill Rider, I take it you wouldn't mind sparring with me?"

"Of course, you can refuse."

Sasuke hadn't expected Lancer to say something like that. He'd thought the man would attack him outright.

Since Lancer seemed sincere, Sasuke had no reason to turn down an invitation to spar.

If he refused, Lancer probably wouldn't give up until the Holy Grail War was over.

Sasuke could more or less sense Lancer's eagerness to fight, so he replied,

"Fine, but we'll have to go somewhere else."

Lancer knew they couldn't spar in a neighborhood full of ordinary people. He tilted his head and looked toward the distant forest in Miyama Town.

"Come on. Let's go over there."

At that, Sasuke raised both hands and formed the Ram seal.

Shadow Clone Technique!

A cloud of white smoke burst beside Sasuke. As it quickly dispersed, a solid clone identical to him appeared before Lancer.

Even Lancer couldn't help letting out an exclamation at Sasuke's move.

"A puppet? No, that doesn't seem right..."

"It's neither an illusion nor a puppet. This isn't something you could accomplish with simple magecraft. You..."

"I take back what I said earlier. Even now, you're a hero capable of ruling over an entire region."

"Choosing to spar with you was definitely the right decision."

Sasuke's expression didn't change at Lancer's lavish praise.

Sasuke didn't know how Lancer's Master had found out where he lived, but to be safe, his real body wouldn't leave Fish Fresh House tonight.

Lancer could guess what Sasuke was thinking, but he didn't care. Instead, he turned into spirit form and flew toward the distant forest.

Sasuke's Shadow Clone followed close behind.

Due west of the shopping district lay Homurahara Academy, and to the northwest of the school was an undeveloped forest on the outskirts of town.

Cold winds swept up the fallen leaves in the forest, while the branches hanging from the trees rustled in the breeze.

The two sparring partners had taken their positions.

The cold wind stirred Lancer's ponytail. Holding his scarlet spear, he looked at Sasuke, who stood some distance away.

"Got anything to say before we start?"

Sasuke's expression was calm as he stared at Lancer with his Mangekyō Sharingan activated.

"If you have nothing to say, we can begin."

Lancer gave a soft laugh.

"I like your attitude, kid."

"Then let's begin."

The moment the words left his mouth, Lancer's instincts told him to get out of the way immediately!

A mass of black flames shot straight toward Lancer's face!

The instant their spar began, Sasuke had unleashed Amaterasu on Lancer.

But as a Heroic Spirit of the Lancer class, his peerless agility was his specialty!

Lancer dodged the black flames in an instant, then lunged at Sasuke with his scarlet spear!

Susanoo!

Just as Lancer was about to pierce Sasuke's head, bones began to grow around him, forming a skeleton covered in dark purple light that protected him.

"Bang—"

Lancer's scarlet spear was stopped by the hard bones. The force of his thrust produced a shockwave that rang out with a tremendous boom!

The impact sent the fallen leaves swirling, but Sasuke remained where he was, without moving an inch.

Sasuke's eyes tracked Lancer closely. It was his turn to counterattack.

Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi!

Several streaks of black flame clung to Susanoo's bones. In the next instant, they changed shape, becoming black-flame blades that thrust toward Lancer!

Seeing this, Lancer grimaced and hurriedly retreated, swinging his scarlet spear to block the black flames stabbing toward him!

Lancer used his sharp scarlet spear to quickly cut through the black-flame blades aimed at him, then retreated to a safe distance.

A warrior's instincts told Lancer that he absolutely couldn't let even a trace of those black flames touch him. Otherwise, even as a Servant, he might not escape them.

And the strange purple bones' defensive power was astonishing. Ordinary attacks couldn't even shake them.

Lancer glared fiercely at Sasuke, who had activated Susanoo.

"Kid, this isn't your real body, is it?"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Lancer.

"So what?"

At that, the corners of Lancer's mouth lifted. He shifted from holding the spear in one hand to gripping it with both, lowering its tip.

In an instant, Lancer's entire presence changed.

His spear released an immense amount of magical energy, which spread over it like blazing scarlet flames!

"Because this will be my finishing blow!"