That protagonist is trash; I could do better!

Rider paused, then slowly sheathed his sword and sat down again: "Alright, this is the law you, as king, have decreed. Besides, joining forces against Caster would indeed make us look weak. Archer, let us witness the majesty of the world's oldest hero-king. Saber and Saber's Master, you have no objections, do you?"

Saber was still drinking: "I haven't finished my drink yet."

Irisviel nodded: "Yes."

"I don't need you to remind me."

Leaving these words behind, Archer's body transformed into golden particles and appeared on the roof of the castle, less than ten meters away from Shinji Matou.

Chapter 58 A Caster who can't fight in melee isn't a good Archer

On the castle rooftop, Archer stood with his arms crossed, his golden armor gleaming in the moonlight, exuding a dignified and sacred aura. His crimson eyes coldly stared at Shinji Matou, and he calmly said, "You fool with no self-awareness, leave your last words. Your screams will bring this banquet to a close."

"Don't you find it ridiculous that a mere village chief dares to call himself a king?"

Shinji Matou chuckled lightly, his words filled with provocation, but his heart was actually heavy. With each breath, dense patterns of light shone from Shinji Matou's skin. Magic enhanced Shinji Matou's physical functions, and at the same time, magic power was output to the maximum extent, and the body of the Void Elemental Spirit was close to materialization.

Archer's lips twitched, and he shouted angrily, "Are you really that eager to die?"

How strong is Arhcer?

When he's weak, he can be taken down by an ordinary Japanese high school student; when he's strong, killing top-tier Servants like Iskandar the Conqueror and Heracles is a piece of cake.

As long as Archer is wearing that golden armor, he has no chance of winning against Shinji Matou in a one-on-one fight.

The verbal provocations were all intended to provoke Archer. The goal was clear: to force Archer to use Ea. Using Ea would consume a lot of magic power, which was when Archer was least prepared.

Shinji Matou is no match for Archer, but Lancer's Noble Phantasm will surely pierce through his golden armor, buying Shinji enough time to unleash his Noble Phantasm.

Caster and Archer engaging in ranged duels is tantamount to suicide. The Babylonian Treasury contains many Noble Phantasms similar to Gáe Dearg (Red Rose of Exorcism) that target magicians. Shinji Matou's Void Spirit is practically made of paper against these types of Noble Phantasms.

However, it's not entirely impossible for Shinji Matou to force Archer to use Ea.

Archer's method of opening the Gates of Babylon to project his Noble Phantasm is the most brutal and simple application. He himself lacks practical combat experience, and any Servant who is proficient in melee combat can suppress his power as long as they get close to him. Enkidu (Chains of Heaven) has no deterrent effect on Servants without divinity.

Magic Infusion

Bone strengthening

Heartbeat

Shinji Matou had already prepared a magical ritual to strengthen his body. The alchemy and magic within his body were activated, further enhancing the Servant's physique. His overall stats were at least at the B-rank level.

That's not enough. Such stats still can't survive a barrage of Noble Phantasms. Shinji Matou's greatest strength is his Mystic Eyes.

"That guy is planning to fight Lancer just like he did. Even though he's a Caster, he wants to fight in close combat. That's really strange." In the courtyard below, Waver swallowed hard.

“It would be perfect as a performance at a banquet.” Rider filled his large bowl with wine.

Knowing about Shinji Matou's plan, Irisviel clenched her hands, a worried look on her face.

Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, is a Servant killer. Can Caster really win? If it weren't for Shinji Matou's strong confidence, she would have insisted on Saber's support.

The Noble Phantasm that appeared from the golden vortex trembled slightly, poised to unleash its power. Archer sneered, "Turn into a pile of minced meat, you bastard."

Swish~ Swish~ Swish~

Spears, swords, knives, lances, halberds, and hammers—six different types of magical artifacts shot out simultaneously from the Gates of Babylon!

Tearing through the air, a brief shriek was followed by a deafening explosion, completely destroying the spot where Shinji Matou had just been standing.

Shinji Matou's short and agile body burst out of the thick fog, lunging forward. Just as he approached Archer, chains came rolling in from all directions.

At the same time, Archer waved his hand again, and the number of golden vortexes behind him increased again. His Noble Phantasms rained down on Matou Shinji.

In the courtyard, Waver trembled slightly, his face pale: "Impossible! Why would a Servant have so many Noble Phantasms?"

Rider gulped down his drink, the wine soaking his armor, and said slowly, "Don't you understand, kid? This is Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, who once collected all the treasures, technologies, and weapons in the world into his own treasures. They are no longer just treasures, but the original texts of human wisdom. That's why I agree that the Holy Grail belongs to Archer."

boom!boom!boom!boom!

Even while moving at high speed, Shinji Matou's gaze was serious and cold, his right eye glowing with silver light as he discerned the flow of magical energy, easily finding a gap to break through amidst the rain of Noble Phantasms.

Time seemed to stand still as the Mystic Eyes' spiritual calculation function analyzed the projected Noble Phantasms, their trajectories, their abilities, which Noble Phantasm could be deflected, which was coated with deadly poison, and which possessed special mysterious properties that could not be touched.

Shinji Matou gritted his teeth. It wasn't enough. The Noble Phantasms that Archer projected were not well-known Noble Phantasms; at best, they were inferior items from Gate of Babylon.

Countless Noble Phantasms rained down on Matou Shinji's back, and even the net formed by the Chains of Heaven could not stop him.

"You've got some skills." Archer looked surprised.

The moment Matou Shinji rushed in front of Archer, he leaped high into the air and swept his magic-enhanced fist toward the golden Servant's chin, the only spot not covered by the golden armor.

Whoosh~

The sound of chains rang out, and the Chains of Heaven extended from the Gates of Babylon, wrapping around Archer's hands, which he used to protect his head.

boom!

Archer was sent flying by a punch while still standing. The chains binding his hands broke layer by layer. Against Matou Shinji, who lacked divinity, the chains were only slightly stronger than ordinary steel chains.

Archer attempted to launch a Noble Phantasm in retaliation, but Shinji Matou relentlessly followed up, relentlessly pounding the golden armor with his fists, forcing Archer to protect his head with his hands and preventing him from launching a Noble Phantasm. When the distance became too great, Archer used magic to compress air into wind blades to interfere.

"Bastard! How dare you... how dare you offend me like this!"

Archer growled angrily, drawing his longsword from the Gates of Babylon and swinging it forward, but to no avail.

opportunity!

Just as the Gold Servant was consumed by rage and wanted to retaliate, Shinji Matou seized the opportunity, leaping behind him and delivering a spinning kick to the back of his head.

boom!

Archer's body was sent flying, crashing through a wall and landing inside the castle, with Shinji Matou simultaneously using Shunpo to catch up.

Inside the Rose Garden, all the Servants and Masters were speechless with astonishment.

Waver slapped his face hard, muttering, "Rider, their classes are Archer and Caster, right?"

Rider was no less surprised than his Master: "How amazing! Caster's martial arts skills are among the best even in the army I lead. I wasn't even confident that I could dodge Archer's Noble Phantasm just now. Why does Caster have such martial arts skills? What era is that Servant from?"

Sbaer nodded in deep agreement: "It is indeed surprising. I also know a Caster who is skilled in martial arts. Although he is not at the level of Caster, he is a sage who is capable of teaching me."

Weber suddenly realized: "Ah, you must be talking about the legendary Merlin?"

"Exactly."

Chapter Fifty-Nine Suppression

In the church basement, Overseer Risuke Kotomine reported solemnly to the retro speakers: "Head of the Tohsaka family, I apologize for the delay in information feedback. Because a large number of Assassin clones were deployed to the search for Berserker, we just confirmed that Archer attended the banquet held by Rider at Einzbern Castle, and then it seems that he had a conflict with Caster."

"How reckless!"

Kotomine Risei nodded in agreement: "After all, he is the oldest hero-king, who regards the world as his own backyard. His strength is enough to support his arrogance."

Tokiomi Tohsaka was not optimistic, his voice low: "Even so, those participating in this Holy Grail War are no ordinary people. What's the situation?"

"Judging from the observations, that Wang is inexplicably at a disadvantage."

"That's just because he wasn't serious yet. When he gets serious, he's an invincible Servant killer. Which other Servants are present?"

“Saber and Rider.”

"This is the worst-case scenario! Exposing my full strength in front of my two formidable rivals."

"Please make a decision."

“Continue to observe. There are two Command Seals left. If we offer advice again, we might completely enrage the King of Heroes. The last Command Seal is not enough to restrain the King of Heroes' actions, and it was summoned by the Archer class, which has the ability to act independently. Father, have you already discovered the Berserker's whereabouts?”

"Yes."

"Then, if necessary, stop this battle in the name of finding Berserker."

This time, Tokiomi Tohsaka does not intend to stop Archer, but in the unlikely event that Archer finds himself in an extremely passive situation, he will intervene in the name of the Church to protect Archer.

"I see. As expected of the head of the Tohsaka family, he is very thoughtful."

The sound from the retro speaker was cut off. On the other side, Tokiomi Tohsaka stroked his beard, lost in thought. Although he didn't think Archer would lose, he had a bad feeling about it for some reason.

Was all of this a coincidence or a deliberate arrangement by Caster?

Depriving Assassin of her intelligence-gathering ability blinds the Tohsaka family, leaving them no time to react to Archer's individual actions. Caster might still have some trump card up her sleeve to deal with Archer.

However, it was indeed Kirei Kotomine's unauthorized rescue of Berserker that led to the Tohsaka family's current predicament. In the end, the restrictions imposed on Berserker have backfired, causing them to lose their own eyes.

"Why do I always fail at crucial moments?" Tokiomi Tohsaka leaned against the sofa, closed his eyes in deep thought, his confidence in winning this Holy Grail War completely gone.

······

Splash~ Splash~ Splash~

The golden chains jingled incessantly as they coiled, and Shinji Matou, who had fallen inside the building, saw countless chains of heaven intertwined to form a giant cocoon protecting Archer's body.

Enkidu (the Chains of Heaven), a transliteration of Enkidu, is the only friend acknowledged by the hero-king Gilgamesh. Its concept is that it was a divinely created weapon for the purpose of the law god, that is, to discipline the hero-king Gilgamesh, who possesses two-thirds divinity.

Archer's trust in the Chains of Heaven even surpasses that of his strongest Noble Phantasm, Ea. Due to the characteristics of the Herald, the higher the divinity of a Servant, the stronger the chain becomes; conversely, for Servants without divinity, it is only a slightly stronger chain.

Layer upon layer of Heavenly Locks intertwined to form a sturdy steel shield. The Demon Eye, unable to penetrate the Heavenly Locks to peek inside, dared not launch a rash attack.

Shinji Matou silently chanted an incantation to prepare for the magic ritual, and sneered disdainfully, "What's wrong, Archer? You were talking so nicely, why are you acting like a coward now? The oldest hero king in the world, don't you feel ashamed?"

Splash~ Whoosh~

The chains retreated back into the Babylonian vault, revealing Archer's disheveled state inside. His hair was in disarray, and his red eyes, no longer possessing their former majesty and composure, seemed to burn with a flame. His voice was cold and ruthless: "Don't get too cocky, you bastard."

Archer's right hand holds a golden axe-shaped Noble Phantasm that exudes a strange aura. Its strength is at least A-rank. Although Archer cannot unleash the true name of the Noble Phantasm, its power as a weapon should not be underestimated.

A golden vortex spread out from all directions around Shinji Matou. Shinji Matou's expression changed slightly, as if he had been drawn into a strange space. Each ripple released a Noble Phantasm, exuding a terrifying aura.

There is nowhere to escape, whether in heaven or on earth.

This was a deadly move that even the great Greek hero Hercules could not withstand.

Shinji Matou extended his hand, smiling calmly: "We should both be about ready to unleash our true strength."

Shinji Matou compressed and twisted the air above his head, forming a white jade sphere the size of a thumb. It stirred up the surrounding smoke, dust, and gravel, continuing to expand, and a storm raged inside the room, as if we were in the eye of a storm.

"Die!" Archer growled.

The rain of golden Noble Phantasms crashed down, and at the same time, Shinji Matou crushed the Storm Ball in his hand. The strong wind exploded instantly, sweeping away most of the incoming Noble Phantasms, and Shinji Matou's figure disappeared from the spot.

【Wind King Barrier】, a magic trick that Shinji Matou learned by analyzing Saber's Noble Phantasm.

"What!" Archer, having lost his target, hurriedly opened the Gate of Babylon in front of him, using a carpet bombing attack to force Shinji Matou to reveal himself.