"What!?"
The smile Lancer wore when he thought his offensive had worked turned to shock.
Because—his spear had been caught.
"Your spearmanship truly is superb, Lancer." Anno released the spear he had grabbed and could not help but praise him.
"With such unexpected spear techniques, had you not encountered me, you likely could have gained at least some advantage and laid the foundation for victory."
"But unfortunately, you encountered me."
Lancer had already put some distance between himself and Anno, yet the sense of crisis in his heart only grew stronger.
What was with this knight!?
His movements were clearly not that large, yet—
This oppressive feeling, this sense of urgency. It was like facing Fionn mac Cumhaill—no! It was even more intense than facing Fionn mac Cumhaill—
"The probing phase should be over."
—Hummm.
Anno's right hand tightened around the Holy Sword's hilt. As his mana resonated with the Holy Sword, a silvery-white radiance began flickering across its blade.
".I see."
Looking at the Holy Sword in Anno's one-handed grip, its light somewhat dazzling, Lancer fell silent for a moment before a delighted expression appeared on his face. He once more assumed an attacking stance.
"To be able to battle the 'strongest knight' in a war such as this is truly... an utmost honor."
Emiya Kiritsugu, observing the battlefield, frowned slightly upon hearing the dual-wielding Lancer's words.
It could not be helped. The symbolic significance Anno himself carried was simply too great. His armor and his Holy Sword both proclaimed his identity.
But—so what?
Emiya Kiritsugu narrowed his eyes.
White Knight Anno had only one weakness: his left arm was frail. But how many people could truly strike his left arm?
Moreover, according to Anno's own account, it was merely a weakness, not a fatal defect. Losing his left