King of Heroes: "..."
That bastard, how was he supposed to wink in a group that only allowed voice messages?
[Ding! The first question is about to begin!]
[This is a multiple-choice question. Please watch the following video, then answer the question.]
[At the docks of Fuyuki City at night, Diarmuid faced Artoria, who wore a black suit, with two cloth-wrapped spears over his shoulder. Irisviel stood behind Artoria.]
["I spent the entire day openly walking around this city, yet no one was willing to show themselves. Only you accepted my invitation."]
["You are Saber, aren't you?"]
["That's right."]
[Artoria nodded and said solemnly, "And you must be Lancer."]
["Indeed."]
[Diarmuid nodded as well, sounding somewhat displeased. "We can't even exchange names with an opponent we're about to fight to the death? This sort of battle really takes the fun out of it..."]
Chapter 18: The battle of spear and sword
(Diarmuid)
Diarmuid: "Ah, I didn't expect the first battle to be ours, King Arthur."
Artoria: "Yes. A good opportunity to see what you're capable of."
Diarmuid: "Then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed, because swords are what I'm best with."
Diarmuid: "If it's in the War of the Holy Grail, we'll probably have a hard time facing each other."
Artoria: "Is that so? What a shame."
["Swish, swish..."]
[With both spears in hand, Diarmuid immediately took a fighting stance.]
["Hum..."]
[At the sight, magical energy immediately enveloped Artoria as well.]
[When the magical energy dispersed, Artoria had changed into blue-and-white armor, and an invisible sword had appeared in her hand.]
["Irisviel, I'm leaving my back to you."]
[After those words, Artoria had Madam retreat first so she wouldn't get caught up in the fight.]
[However, both women looked rather displeased as they watched Diarmuid opposite them.]
["Charm Magecraft!"]
[Irisviel spoke with considerable displeasure.]
["There's nothing I can do about it. It's a curse I was born with."]
[Diarmuid looked helpless. "If you must blame something, you can only blame yourselves for being women."]
[Artoria said solemnly, "You don't think that will affect the speed of my sword, do you, Lancer?"]
["I see. The Saber class's Magic Resistance certainly lives up to its reputation."]
[Diarmuid smiled. "That's just as well. Killing a woman I'd charmed would disgrace me."]
Artoria: "Diarmuid, you have charm Magecraft too?"
Diarmuid: "Sorry. Just as I said in the video, it's an innate curse. I have no control over it."
Waver: "I know. It's the Love Spot, isn't it?"
Waver: "Legend has it that Diarmuid won the Fairy of Youth's favor and became her lover. She also bestowed a Love Spot upon him, saying that any woman who saw Diarmuid would fall in love with him."
Diarmuid: "There are a few discrepancies, but that's more or less right."
Diarmuid: "But this mole isn't any kind of blessing. It's a curse, through and through."
Diarmuid: "King Arthur, you needn't worry. I've already sold the thing."
Waver: "Sold it! What do you mean?"
Diarmuid: "I sold it to the system shop."
Diarmuid: "Honestly, I didn't expect it to actually work either. This system is truly incredible."
Waver: "The system can even do that!"
Kayneth: "Hmph. Waver, you've had the system for two days and still haven't noticed that. It just shows how careless you are."
"He actually sold it."
Even Feng Xi hadn't expected Diarmuid to learn such a slick trick.
Without the mole, he probably wouldn't have anything to do with Kayneth's fiancée Sola anymore, would he?
[After exchanging compliments for a while, the two finally began their duel.]
[The two figures crossed paths, trading blows without giving an inch.]
[Every sword strike and spear thrust shattered the surrounding streetlights, the ground, and even shipping containers.]
[Judging by the intensity of their exchange, this was nothing more than testing each other and warming up.]
[After a brief exchange, the two temporarily separated.]
[Artoria warily watched the two spears in Diarmuid's hands, unsure which one she should guard against.]
[Because she didn't know which one was his trump card.]
The image froze, and the question appeared.
[Question: What will be the outcome of this duel?]
[A: Saber wins; B: Lancer wins; C: A draw; D: The duel is interrupted.]
[Please answer within five minutes. Exceeding the time limit will count as forfeiting.]
Waver: "So we're judging the outcome of this fight."
Tokiomi Tohsaka: "Judging by their exchange just now, they should be roughly equal in strength."
Kayneth: "Heh, how naive. They haven't even used their Noble Phantasms yet."
"Feng, lad, what do you think?"
Zhang Jue had no idea how to guess the outcome either, so he asked Feng Xi.
Because he knew nothing about Artoria's or Diarmuid's deeds.
Feng Xi smiled. "Just pick D."
Zhang Jue asked curiously, "Interrupted? Why?"
"Don't forget, they aren't the only two Servants in the War of the Holy Grail. The other Servants are bound to be drawn over."
Feng Xi explained, "It'll be too hard for them to finish a one-on-one duel. Don't forget, there's also a king in this War of the Holy Grail who knows nothing of courtesy."
Zhang Jue sneered. "True enough. One look at that fellow tells you he isn't the type to follow the rules."
[Answer time has ended. The answer will now be revealed.]
[Diarmuid and Artoria's battle continued.]
[The two fought for quite some time, but neither could get the better of the other, so they could only separate again.]
["Lancer, stop dragging this out. Finish her off quickly."]
[Kayneth, watching from the roof of a nearby warehouse, said gravely, "I expressly permit you to use your Noble Phantasm!"]
[He was worried that dragging things out any longer would attract other Servants.]
["Understood, my lord."]
[Diarmuid smiled faintly, tossed the spear in his left hand to the ground, and unwound the bandages wrapped around the spear on his right, revealing a spear that was crimson from end to end.]
[So that spear is Lancer's Noble Phantasm? Artoria thought.]
["You heard him. Next, I shall take your head."]
[Diarmuid immediately launched a storm of attacks at Artoria.]
[With his Noble Phantasm's aid, Diarmuid's strength increased greatly, leaving Artoria struggling to fend him off for a time.]
[However, Artoria soon figured out his patterns. Using Instinct to predict Diarmuid's next attack, she planned to block his spear with her armor and seize the chance to kill him with a single sword strike.]
[Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.]
[In a flash, his spear pierced straight through the armor at Artoria's waist, and bright red blood flowed out.]
[Seeing this, Irisviel immediately cast healing Magecraft to treat Artoria's wound.]
Artoria: "How is that possible! My armor was pierced!"
Waver: "Obviously, that's the effect of his Noble Phantasm."
Feng Xi: "Ahoge King, did you really fight hundreds of battles during your lifetime?"
Feng Xi: "You actually chose to take the blow with your armor without knowing what the enemy's Noble Phantasm did."