That protagonist is trash; I could do better!

A giant stone statue's arm leaped from the earth, slamming onto the ground and triggering a small earthquake. Soon after, an even larger body burst forth from the ground, like a small mountain that blotted out the sky.

The tremors intensified, and more and more colossal earthen statues appeared within the barrier's radius of several hundred meters, eyeing the tiny two figures menacingly.

Aren't they supposed to rule the sky? Why are they making stone statues instead?

Hall scoffed and asked, "Saber, can you handle them all by yourself?"

“Of course.” Saber smiled confidently.

"Then I'll go and meet the goddess Venus."

Hall approached the motorcycle, placed his hands on it, and activated alchemy and the ability of "Knights Don't Die Barehanded".

The motorcycle is covered in a deep blue magic, transforming its shape into a triangular high-tech flying skateboard.

Hall tossed a red gem into the magic circle on the flying skateboard as fuel.

Of course, the popular flying skateboard does look like a high-tech product, but it is actually powered by magic. Its design imperfections are compensated for by the Noble Phantasm ability of "Knights Don't Die Bare Hands".

Lancelot can pilot fighter jets and armed helicopters, so Hall can do it too.

shuh~

Hall jumped onto the flying skateboard and quickly ascended to the same altitude as Ishtar in the sky.

Ishtar floated in mid-air with her arms crossed, examining Hall's equipment with interest, and smiled in approval: "While the idea is quite good, do you think you can keep up with my speed with this piece of junk?"

"How will you know if you don't try?" Hall replied confidently.

The flying skateboard, enhanced by the knight's ability to survive unarmed combat, becomes a Noble Phantasm. While it may not be as powerful as a legendary flying Noble Phantasm, it is certainly on par with the Archer class.

Hall swept his right hand forward, and a row of primordial runes unfolded, forming a circular array that instantly generated a giant ice spike that shot towards Ishtar.

"Knowing that I am the goddess Ishtar, you still dared to launch the first attack. You have quite the nerve." Ishtar's eyes turned from red to gold, her expression solemn, and she began to display the demeanor of a goddess.

Ishtar extended her right hand, her palm gleaming with golden light as it transformed into a spiral arrow. She drew back the giant bow, inserted the spiral arrow, and the arrow shot out, transforming into a golden light of destruction.

Boom!

The prismatic ice pillars collided with the golden light, but were no match for it, shattering into countless fragments. As a result, the spiral arrows deviated from their trajectory and failed to hit Hall.

Hall's flying skateboard transformed into a streak of blue light and rapidly ascended, unfurling a massive magic circle in the sky, with torrents of flames cascading down like a waterfall.

Ishtar scoffed: "A mere mortal dares to dream of flying higher than the goddess who rules the sky? How amusing! Then I'll shatter your arrogance as well!"

“Let mortals see your abilities, Maanna.”

The golden-blue giant bow emitted a radiant glow, transforming into golden light and carrying Ishtar in pursuit. The cascading waterfall of flames was shattered by the upward-flowing golden light, and as it vanished, countless streams of light arrows plunged into the sky, shattering the enormous magic circle.

On the ground, Saber wielded her holy sword to shatter the body of the earthen colossus, and in her spare time, she kept an eye on the battle in the sky.

“Master is also a Servant, and quite strong. Holding out for ten minutes shouldn’t be difficult. Besides, Master never does anything without certainty.”

boom!

boom!

boom!

Blue and golden streaks collided dozens of times in the sky like comets, going back and forth. Each clash was like a sudden thunderclap, chasing each other and shooting out countless golden arrows that collided with the torrents of elements of different colors.

With each booming explosion, Saber could feel the unusual magical reaction from the sky even on the ground.

Ishtar extended her right hand in a pistol gesture, pointing her index finger at the rapidly flying Hall, while the giant bow beside her fired spiral arrows like a machine gun.

Before the streak of light could even hit Hall, it split into dozens of golden beams in mid-air, surrounding him from different angles, their intertwined trajectories forming an irregular fishing net in the sky.

"As expected, archers have always been overpowered. Not only can their arrows curve, but their tracking ability is also so strong."

Hall cursed under his breath, his flying skateboard moving at a similarly fast speed. He changed direction to evade some of the attacks, unleashed several magic arrays, and fired a torrent of elemental energy in a counterattack.

Rumble rumble rumble~!

The arrows of light were swept away by the elemental torrent and exploded all at once.

Neither side has room to back down.

Ishtar grumbled, "Hey, you, don't move! How can you dodge my attacks so easily? What's with this speed, this reaction, this precision? Even a Servant with an A-rank riding skill couldn't do this. Aren't you a Caster, are you a Rider?"

"Don't underestimate CarPlay players!"

What is "Car Wan"?

"It's my turn next."

Hall drew his True Aether Longsword from the void with his right hand and parried it forward, precisely hitting the spiraling arrow and sending it flying. His body was blocked by the arrow, which just happened to dodge the pursuit of the Stream of Light Arrow.

The magic eye scanned both sides to calculate the trajectory of the arrow attack, the flying skateboard's speed increased sharply to escape the pursuit range, and it changed direction again.

"What!?"

Ishtar never expected that Hor could be so agile, easily breaking through the defensive net of arrows. Seeing Hor attacking with a longsword, she calmly raised her giant bow to block him, and shouted: "You worthless scrap metal, crush me!"

Hall raised the True Ether Longsword, its concept unfolding, the sword growing to over ten meters long, and slashed down at the giant bow.

Clang!

The materialized true ether longsword shattered instantly upon striking the giant bow, turning into countless fragments.

"How about that? Your piece of junk is no match for it!" Ishtar shouted triumphantly.

The giant bow is a weapon created by the gods, while the true ether longsword is merely a one-time magical artifact that Hall has temporarily concocted. It would be a miracle if it could defeat the other.

"Not very good."

Hall's body swept past Ishtar at high speed, a victorious smile spreading across his lips.

As expected, and this was also the result Hall wanted to achieve.

The True Aether Longsword, once materialized, could generate a destructive light that could sweep away everything. Hall used magic and the Noble Phantasm ability that allowed knights to not die unarmed to fix its form.

Once the True Aether Longsword shatters, the magical concept disappears, and the restriction that a knight cannot die unarmed is lost. The result is [Imagine Collapse] – destroying the Noble Phantasm itself and instantly increasing its power by exploding it.

Even Ishtar, who possesses A-rank magic resistance, could not ignore its power.

The shattered True Aether Longsword surrounded Ishtar, slowly emitting a pale white light that grew increasingly dazzling.

Oops!

Ishtar's expression hardened, her consciousness enveloped by a strong sense of crisis, and she resolutely shouted: "Simulate power, shine the great crown!"

The crown, adorned with long black hair, radiated an eerie glow.

Boom!

The fragments of the True Ether Longsword exploded together, unleashing a silver glow interspersed with a seven-colored halo, which continued to spread like bubbles.

On the ground, Saber covered her eyes, unable to look directly at the light. Moments later, a fierce wind swept across the land.

Chapter 188 The Red Demon

Hall maneuvered his flying skateboard away from the elemental explosion, watching the center of the blast, which was filled with seven-colored light. The chaotic elemental impact caused violent magical fluctuations in the atmosphere.

"It still didn't make this useless goddess leave the stage."

Hall smacked his lips and muttered to himself that he had harbored murderous intent towards Ishtar ever since this so-called trial of the goddess began. The fewer of these top-tier Servants who could directly influence the course of the Holy Grail War, the better, as it would greatly reduce the variables.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Hall did not believe he was capable of defeating Ishtar. Even if she appeared in this Holy Grail War in an incomplete form, and while her raw strength was inferior to that of Servant Slayer Gilgamesh, she was certainly not much weaker.

Even with her strongest, unexpected attack, she still managed to unleash her unique skill.

【The Shining Crown】：A

The skill of simulating power manifests the many powers of the goddess Ishtar and has a variety of effects.

Simply put, it's a universal cheat code that allows Ishtar to exercise divine power in the modern world.

In the sky, the elemental frenzy had not yet subsided. Hall's eyes changed slightly as he turned to look at the city of Tulifas. He could clearly sense a special aura rapidly approaching.

It is a follower, not belonging to either the red or black side; such a strong aura could only come from that wicked saintess.

Hall crossed his arms and said indifferently, "Goddess, it seems your trial cannot continue."

"It doesn't matter. You've proven your power to me, so you've passed the trial." The goddess Ishtar's voice came from the turbulent elemental realm. She flew out safely on her celestial bow, Ma'ana, the power of her authority forming a pale golden barrier to protect her.

Hall glanced at her, his magic eye discerning the power of this simulated authority; it would require at least an A-rank or higher Noble Phantasm to shatter it.

Ishtar stood with one hand on her hip, her bikini-like outfit showing off her slender and beautiful figure. With the other hand, she tossed her long black hair, and her bright red eyes, which were fixed on Hall, held a strange and complex expression.

“It is my honor.” Hall smiled and bowed.

"I acknowledge this deal, fulfilling the goddess's promise, Caster of the Black side, leaving the Black side's territory before sunset. This is the greatest blessing I can bestow upon you."

Huh?

Hall sensed something unusual in Ishtar's words and asked slowly, "Could you tell me your reasons?"

"Reason? Do I need a reason? Tonight I plan to wipe out all the Black Faction's followers. If you are in their territory, I cannot guarantee your safety."

Hall frowned and said, "You should know that Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, is a Servant of the Black Faction."

Ishtar raised her eyebrows and said angrily, "What do you mean? I have absolutely no interest in him now."

Ishtar's dramatic reaction left Hall somewhat bewildered: "You've misunderstood. I meant you're confident you can defeat him?"

Ishtar blushed slightly, then snorted to cover her embarrassment: "We are collaborators, not allies. The method to eliminate the Black Faction is a very important trade secret, so I won't tell you unless you offer me more gems."

Ishtar stretched and said with a smile, "I've given you my greetings and my advice, Caster. If you're still standing on that land before sunset, I'll consider you a target. Be prepared, I'll repay you tenfold for what I just did."

Before Hall could answer, the Heavenly Bow carrying Ishtar vanished in a golden streak of light.

Before long, Saber had dealt with all the clay colossi she had created using her powers.

······

Ishtar flew aimlessly in the sky, one hand holding her arm around her neck, the other stroking her chin as she pondered, occasionally muttering to herself.

"That proves it."

"Saber was visibly shaken when she saw herself. She recognized her appearance as Rin Tohsaka. Saber is not swayed by the strength of the enemy. Shinji once said that Saber is different from ordinary Servants and can retain the memories of participating in the Holy Grail War."

"Then there is the silver-haired, red-eyed Master, Caster of the Black Faction. He is undoubtedly the technological culmination of the Einzbern family's homunculus technology. However, Caster possesses emotions and rationality that homunculus humans lack. It's not that the Einzbern family cannot create such advanced homunculus humans. Judging from the intelligence gathered earlier, the Einzbern family seems to be secretly supporting this Holy Grail War."

"That guy's rules are clearly not something that can be explained by androids, but they're not servants either."

"Even though the Matou family in this world has been destroyed."