Anime: Fight Sukuna at the beginning?

Outside the Emiya residence.

"Although there was a slight interlude, I shouldn't have kept you waiting too long, right?"

Cheng Xiang, adorned in a red robe and heavy makeup, chose to evade an attack for the first time since I laid eyes on him.

Sensing that the opponent uttered slightly arrogant words but didn't immediately attack,

the red Archer, standing on the outer wall of the Emiya residence, with his observation skills enhanced by 【Hawkeye】, realized something was amiss after firing a 【Fake・Spiral Sword】.

This seemingly terrifying ability to nullify damage might not be as flawless and despair-inducing as it appears on the surface.

This ability must have some unknown 'limitations'.

Such as time, or the type or power of the attacks it can withstand.

After 'deducing' this, the red Archer's tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly.

【He's starting to evade my attacks, which means continuously tanking my 'slightly more powerful' attacks is quite detrimental to him; his ability has a flaw.】

【So, winning this battle isn't a pipe dream; perhaps my plan might work.】

Realizing that a turning point had emerged in this battle, he relaxed a bit, a rare occurrence for him.

【I need to 'double my efforts' in the areas the enemy wants to avoid and doesn't want to happen if I want to win.】

In the next moment, that cold face of his displayed a characteristic smile full of mockery.

And he began to taunt the enemy in a nonchalant tone.

"But your actions don't match the grand words you speak.

"Why are you choosing to evade my attacks like a despicable rat now?"

Seeing Cheng Xiang's lips move as if to respond, the red Archer 'cunningly' seized the opportunity to strike.

Without a moment's hesitation, with a forceful wave of his hands,

the two 【Kanshou and Bakuya】 he held transformed into two streaks of light, flying towards the opponent's location.

He was preparing to use an even more powerful 'new skill' to prolong this battle.

——

Standing not far from the Emiya residence, seemingly sensing something, Cheng Xiang saw the two short swords flying towards him.

An obvious look of disappointment instantly appeared on his face.

But this time, he didn't choose to dodge as before; instead, he reverted to his 'reckless' tactic, charging straight towards the red Archer on the courtyard wall.

He also responded to the red Archer's taunt in a slightly shrill voice.

"This attack is 'novel', but it can't satisfy my 'appetite'.

"If you don't have any new tricks, then you should just go—"

However, before Cheng Xiang could finish his words, seeing the two 【Kanshou and Bakuya】 flying towards him in strange arcs, and sensing the strange energy contained within them, he realized something was wrong.

【These two short swords aren't aimed at me! They're aimed at—】

In the next moment, before the two thrown 【Kanshou and Bakuya】 could touch the enemy,

the sword bodies drew two strange arcs, colliding with each other like magnets with opposite polarities, choosing 'self-destruction'.

As the sword bodies disintegrated under 【Broken Phantasm】,

two opposing, incompatible types of magical energy burst forth.

Finally, they 'collided' in front of the charging Cheng Xiang, triggering a violent reaction that released energy like 【fission】.

Giving rise to a scorching, rapidly expanding 'black sun' that annihilated everything, swallowed everything, and resembled a black hole.

Cheng Xiang's unfinished words and incomplete thoughts were submerged in a deafening explosion that resounded for several kilometers around as that 'black sun' was created.

-

But the red Archer, having done all this, didn't let his guard down.

【Not enough!】

He didn't think that this rather crude operation, similar to 【Cursed Technique Reversal】, which he had accomplished by using the attractive force of the dual swords from 【Crane Wing Three Form】, could kill the opponent.

He needed to add 'fuel to the fire' to the explosion produced by this 【Cursed Technique Reversal】.

He raised his right arm and grabbed into the void behind him with one hand.

The somewhat blackened 【Fake・Spiral Sword】 reappeared in his hand, and the bowstring of the longbow that appeared in his hand was also drawn.

In the next moment, this special arrow, approaching the level of an A-rank 【Noble Phantasm】, approached the opponent's body.

Pushing the expansion of the 'black sun' and the burst of energy to its climax, the deafening roar that followed spread out again.

The wave of the 'black sun' expansion seemed to tear apart the boundaries of time and space, and even the surrounding air vibrated and compressed along with it.

Which in turn gave rise to a huge shock wave that seemed to destroy everything.

The Emiya residence behind the red Archer, some distance from the battlefield, couldn't escape unscathed.

The walls and ground of this residence obviously couldn't withstand this shock wave.

The originally solid walls were torn like paper under that invisible force, and bricks and cement splattered everywhere.

At the same time as the floor tiles were instantly shattered into flying fragments, the exterior of the building also began to crack.

Forced to land on the ground, the red Archer looked at Cheng Xiang, who was swallowed by the 'black sun', and relaxed slightly.

【This should buy some time; judging from his previous performance, this attack will make him pay a heavy price.】

【At the very least, it should be enough time to wait for the Church's pursuers to arrive, or for Saber, who will most likely come, to arrive.】

During the battle, casting a sidelong glance at the Emiya residence behind him, which was vaguely trending towards being totaled, a trace of nostalgia welled up in the red Archer's eyes.

【If I had a choice, I really wouldn't want to have chosen this residence as the battlefield.】

However, this leisure was quickly dispelled by Fang Yi, who appeared in his field of vision not far away and mouthed the words 'retreat, the battle isn't over'.

-

【Retreat, could it be?】

Without a moment's hesitation, the red Archer immediately activated his limbs.

In the next moment, the red Archer, whose body instantly adopted a dodging posture and retreated violently, subconsciously looked towards that 'black sun'.

He saw Cheng Xiang, unharmed, who had only suffered minor damage to his clothing, leaving the influence of the 'black sun' and rushing towards him along with the shock wave.

Seeing this scene, the red Archer couldn't help but feel terrified.

【How is that possible?】

According to his deductions, the opponent was dodging even the less powerful 【Fake・Spiral Sword】.

Then, after tanking the stronger 【Cursed Technique Reversal】, he should have paid an even heavier price!

But looking at Cheng Xiang, who was still unharmed, as if he hadn't been affected by this attack at all,

the red Archer only felt a chill run through him; the unease in his heart expanded rapidly, and he couldn't help but feel a little despair that shook his determination to fight.

【How can I defeat this 'monster'!!!】

【This attack, which is no less powerful than an A+ 【Noble Phantasm】 at close range, can't even delay the opponent's offensive; I need to—】

Bang! Bang bang bang.

The crisp and deep sound of a pistol firing, like a dragon roaring, interrupted the red Archer's somewhat somber emotions.

The red Archer glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw the twelve bullets flying out of the muzzle of 【Prometheus】 in Fang Yi's hand, intending to cut off Cheng Xiang's advance.

Unlike ordinary bullets that rely on the gunpowder in the cartridge to propel the bullet forward, embedding it in the target to cause damage,

these twelve bullets were actually complete and intact, made solely of magical energy and relying on magical energy to propel them and gain kinetic energy.

They were also coated with a layer of black flame that made their outlines always blurry and hazy.

Like an out-of-focus image, they gave people a feeling of wandering and uncertainty.

The red Archer, trying to dodge Cheng Xiang, subconsciously made a judgment.

【Bullets constructed from a mixture of magical energy and curse energy?】

【But how can the power of these bullets threaten that 'monster'?】

【I must convey information and my plan to him.】

Thinking of this, he shouted loudly towards Fang Yi not far away.

"Saber!!!

"He dodged my repeated 【Noble Phantasm】 just now, and then chose to tank an even more powerful attack.

"His ability might have a flaw…"

——

However, Cheng Xiang, who had captured the despairing emotion on the red Archer's face and sensed that the opponent was wavering, looked at Fang Yi, who suddenly appeared in his 'perception', and the bullets he fired.

He also sensed through the 'alien limbs' in his abdomen that the female Saber he wanted to 'devour' still hadn't chosen to escape, but was staying in this residence, and made a decision.

【It's time to end the battle and then seize that woman's arm.】

The man who participated in the Church's gathering appeared here faster than he had expected.

And the unexpected death of Berserker broke his original plan.

The above signs all indicated that the 【Holy Church's】 reinforcements were coming soon.

The Archer's strange attacks had greatly consumed his 'limit'.

The combination of all these circumstances basically declared that his time to use that Archer with diverse attack types to 'collect' different attacks through 【Undying Scar】 and sincerely mutually boost 'income' had ended.

After observing the strange bullets he had concocted, and faintly sensing their extraordinary power, Cheng Xiang raised his vigilance slightly.

【Bullets constructed from magical energy? They're probably not simple.】

【Tanking them might consume a lot of 'limit' inventory while negating the damage; to be on the safe side, I'll dodge them, given that 'limit' is tight right now.】

But after confirming that a dash could avoid half of the bullets, and that even if he blocked the remaining half, it wouldn't consume too much 'limit',

he couldn't help but laugh inwardly.

This attack is powerful enough, but it's a bit slow!

【No matter how strong the attack is, it must be based on hitting the enemy!】

Under the surge of emotions, while dashing unswervingly towards the red Archer, he once again uttered his usual arrogant words.

"Do you think I'm afraid of your weak attacks?

"You're sorely mistaken!!!

"My ability is…"

-

In the next moment, predicting that the bullets were about to touch his body and subconsciously making a dodging movement, he sensed that the bullets had undergone a secondary acceleration.

Interweaving into a large net in front of his path, covering him completely, Cheng Xiang couldn't help but curse inwardly.

【This is outrageous; this is 【Mental Manipulation】 that can only be skillfully applied after 【Spirit】 reaches 30 points!!!】

He subconsciously glanced at Fang Yi, who was smiling not far away but wasn't closing the distance with him.

After sensing this helper through the large mouth-shaped 'alien limb' in his abdomen, he quickly made a judgment.

【He doesn't have that kind of power; the pistol in his hand is the kind of equipment with 【Mental Manipulation】 effects!!!】

【This kind of equipment with extreme affixes in the space is the top 【Transition Equipment】 in the early Stage 2, and will have a premium of 10,000 points or more.】

【He is suspected of being a Reincarnator!!】

Cheng Xiang's vigilance was already maxed out, realizing that the other party was very likely a Reincarnator.

In the case that he doesn't know the identity of that 'teammate' who entered last, this Reincarnator who appeared out of thin air has at least a three-quarters probability of being a 'stronger' enemy from the opposing camp who is stronger than him.

He needed to play a 'card'.

He gritted his teeth and squeezed out the little remaining mana in his body after being drained by Toshizo Hijikata.

With the blessing of the trait 【Dragon Factor・Remnant】, he began to release and then compress the magical energy somewhat unskillfully, using 【Mana Burst・Remnant】 which can only strengthen the body.

Letting this skill tear his body apart, further reducing his 'limit',

it also suddenly accelerated his body, creating a rather terrifying sonic boom in the air, allowing him to narrowly escape the strange bullets that were about to envelop him.

Looking at the red Archer not far away, he revealed a strange short knife and was about to reap the other party's life, but his thoughts had already drifted to the Emiya residence behind the red Archer, to that body that exuded a sweet scent.

【First kill this somewhat strange Archer, and then rush into the residence to seize that woman!!】

When he was sprinting towards the Emiya residence, the 'hunger' of the 'alien limb' in his abdomen, which had suddenly become stronger, had already told him one thing.

His 【Flesh Accumulation】 revenue object was not far away, only a wall away from him.

However, in the next moment, the feeling of his body coming into contact with the bullets startled him suddenly, and then confused him.

【I clearly dodged those bullets!!!】

-

Cheng Xiang looked at the black flame bullets that hadn't touched his flesh, glanced at the 'limit' on his panel, which was disappearing at an incomprehensible speed after triggering the 【Undying Scar】 damage immunity effect.

Sensing the annihilation of space brought about by the exponentially increasing power under the blessing of the trait 【Human Workshop】, which triggered 【Ten Curses】 and 【Black Flash】, and then calculated in the independent multiplier area 【Increased Damage to Flesh Creatures】.

While feeling sorry for the rapid consumption of 'limit', he was even more fearful of Fang Yi's attack.

【They are clearly bullets, but they have such power!!】

【The power of each of these bullets is no less than that Archer's 【Noble Phantasm】.】

【These bullets even have a 【Visual Interference】 effect; it's truly breathtaking and worthy of being the strong person I judged him to be.】

But although he was amazed, looking at the red Archer nearby, sensing Fang Yi drawing his long sword not far away.

A triumphant smile crept onto Cheng Xiang's face.

【It's too late to swing your blade now.】

He delivered his verdict to the enemy before him.

“You really have a lot of tricks up your sleeve, and the reinforcements you hired are quite powerful.

“Too bad it's all useless!

“I was just using your attacks in our fight to stack buffs on myself. What about you?

“You wouldn't be putting all your hopes on that one person, would you!”

However, the next moment, the scene before Cheng Xiang's eyes suddenly shifted and changed.