FATE: Target of Grand Master

"You think you can touch my Master? Dream on!"

A black gun fell from the sky and pierced Mary's skull.

Mary didn't even see the enemy attacking her before her body began to disintegrate.

Since Anne and Mary share the same Spirit Origin, if one of them is defeated, the other will also disappear. Anne, who was far away, also lost her fighting ability and fell to the ground.

Cú Chulainn ignored Anne, whose spirit origin was beginning to dissipate, and was engaged in a fierce battle with Bloodaxe Eric.

Erik the Bloodaxe, also known as "King Bloodaxe," was a Viking king who ruled Northern Europe around the 10th century AD.

His name, or rather his infamy, is widely known because he brutally murdered all his brothers and sisters upon ascending to the throne and married the witch Gonhilda.

Despite his infamous reputation, it cannot be denied that Eric was a powerful warrior. Every swing of his sword was powerful and heavy. After only a few rounds of fighting with Cú Chulainn, he had cleaved several deep trenches into the ground around him.

Cú Chulainn had expected his battle with his opponent to be evenly matched, but perhaps because he had a Master, and the Master's magical aptitude had reached the passing grade, Cú Chulainn felt that although he was entangled with the enemy, he still had plenty of strength left.

Cú Chulainn planted his crimson spear into the ground, braced himself with his hands on the spear, and kicked out at Eric with both legs outstretched. Eric hurriedly blocked with his giant axe, but even so, he still staggered back several steps before regaining his balance.

Taking this opportunity, Cú Chulainn gripped his spear with both hands, assuming a stance to unleash his Noble Phantasm.

"Noble Phantasm! The Spear Piercing Death Thorns!"

Just as Cú Chulainn was about to unleash his Noble Phantasm, a voice came from the nearby forest.

"Noble Phantasm! Raging Waves!"

A handsome man, wielding two demonic swords—one long and one short, one red and one yellow—leaped high into the air and slashed down at Cú Chulainn.

Cú Chulainn quickly changed his target and unleashed his Noble Phantasm.

One was a guaranteed hit Noble Phantasm, and the other was a guaranteed kill Noble Phantasm. When the two collided, they created a powerful magical ripple that sent Blood Axe Eric and Little Bull Asterius flying several meters away.

The cursed crimson spear clashed violently with the two demonic swords, one red and one yellow. After the magic power of their respective Noble Phantasms canceled each other out, Diarmuid, wielding the yellow short sword "Passionate Waves," deflected Cú Chulainn's spear and then forcefully slashed down with the red longsword "Raging Waves."

"Command Spell activated! Summon Cú Chulainn back to my side!"

At the critical moment, Xia Yan activated a Command Spell, summoning Cú Chulainn back to his side.

Cú Chulainn, who narrowly escaped death, was also terrified.

"I apologize, Master, for making you waste a precious Command Seal."

"Don't worry about it, Lancer. You should have guessed who they are by now."

"Yes. The red and yellow magic swords, one long and one short, and the name of that treasure, without a doubt, belong to Diarmuid Ua Ua Duibhne, the elite warrior jointly trained by the god of love Angus Magnus Aug and the god of the sea Manano Magnus Ley, the strongest knight of the Fiona Knights."

Upon hearing Cú Chulainn announce his name with such praise, Diarmuid replied with utmost respect, "It is my honor to receive such praise from the Son of Light, my predecessor."

The clash of their Noble Phantasms just now revealed their true names to each other. However, even if neither of them had used their Noble Phantasms, any player familiar with FGO would have been able to tell at a glance.

"Lancer, don't be discouraged. The Noble Phantasm that Saber-class Diarmuid just unleashed not only had a one-hit kill buff, but also a first-battle victory buff. Moreover, you were the one who was ambushed, so it's already quite impressive that you were able to escape unscathed."

"He is familiar with Servant information, adept at using psychology, and has a first-rate grasp of the battle situation. If I could avoid fighting, I really wouldn't want to fight against a Master like him."

Xia Yan's words of encouragement to Cú Chulainn were overheard by Diarmuid's Master. The purple-haired youth slowly emerged from the forest and stood behind Diarmuid.

"So you've finally shown yourself, Master who allied with Blackbeard. Wasn't it you who encouraged Blackbeard to steal the Holy Grail that rightfully belonged to Drake?"

"That's right, it's me. If you want to criticize me, there's no need. I won't be easily offended by a little criticism from an enemy."

The purple-haired hoodie-wearing youth readily admitted it.

"So your trial goal is also to obtain the Holy Grail in 5 days?" Xia Yan pressed.

"Isn't this obvious?"

The purple-haired hoodie-wearing youth shrugged, looking completely nonchalant.

"Interested in making a deal?" Xia Yan probed. "We can avoid conflict. As long as you hand over Euryale and Asterius to me, I'll go and steal Jason's Master's Holy Grail. Anyway, the main quest only requires possessing one Holy Grail, so we can end this trial peacefully."

"It is indeed a very tempting offer, but unfortunately, I have already reached an agreement with that Master before you."

The purple-haired hoodie youth revealed the situation that Xia Yan least wanted to hear.

"Besides, the price they offered is much better than your terms. We won't interfere with each other, and she even gave me the chance to take advantage of you."

"Hahaha. Aren't you afraid you'll be the mantis stalking the cicada, while she's the oriole behind it?"

Xia Yan's words silenced the purple-haired hoodie youth for a moment, because this was indeed his concern.

"Your so-called cooperation is nothing more than a gentleman's agreement on the surface, with no binding force whatsoever. Once you can't control me, or you pay a huge price, do you think she can resist the temptation to complete the side quest?"

"That possibility cannot be ruled out," said the purple-haired hoodie youth. "But I'm a man of my word. Besides, how do I know that what you're saying isn't just a temporary measure to protect yourself?"

Xia Yan scratched his head. It seemed that the person in front of him was not someone who would easily switch sides.

The saying goes, "A weak nation has no diplomacy." You must demonstrate sufficient strength to even have anything to talk about.

"In that case, let's fight."

Xia Yan instructed in his mind: "Cú Chulainn, try to hold off Diarmuid. If you have the chance, kill him if you can, but be careful of his Noble Phantasm. Morgan, continue to maintain your spirit form and do not reveal yourself for now. His second Servant has not shown himself yet, so he is obviously holding back as well. Also, keep an eye on the situation around the island. I don't think the third Master will really just stand by and do nothing."

With everything arranged, Xia Yan and Cú Chulainn started simultaneously, charging towards their respective opponents.

The purple-haired hoodie youth hadn't expected Xia Yan to be so decisive. He stepped back, dodging Xia Yan's black and white twin sword strikes, and simultaneously communicated telepathically with Diarmuid, saying, "Saber, no one else will interfere in this battle. You can uphold your chivalrous spirit and have a good fight with the senior you have a deep connection with."

"Yes! Thank you, Master! I, Diarmuid, will surely dedicate victory to you!"