Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

I'll settle the score with you when we get back.

"...Oh no!!!"

The female magician's mournful screams echoed in the boy's mind.

"It's about time to prepare for battle; that monster is advancing towards the city."

This statement was addressed to both Lady Avalon and Saber.

Artoria nodded resolutely: "Understood, Shirou, let's go together."

Shirou drew Excalibur Morgan and simultaneously felt Lady Avalon's magic flow into his body through the passage connecting the two of them.

The battle just now and the "Humble Hammer" have exhausted Shirou's magic power, and he will now have to rely on Lady Avalon's magic power to supply him.

This was a battle tactic they had agreed upon beforehand; they would temporarily switch to a form where magic was provided by Avalon during the battle.

Shirou put the skull mask back on, glancing at the black and red modified Command Seals on the back of his hand out of the corner of his eye, and made a plan in his mind.

Just then, a new voice rang out.

"Knight King, did something good happen tonight? You look so relieved, I'm almost jealous."

"Lancer!"

A dashing figure in dark green appeared in the dense fog of the forest.

Upon seeing the handsome man wielding dual pistols, both Saber and Irisviel showed expressions of utter surprise.

"Why would you..."

Lancer laughed and said, "Are you implying that Diarmuid should have died by your holy sword the night before last?"

If you hold such a superficial view, then I'm truly disappointed in the legendary King of Knights.

Saber shook her head: "No..."

Lancer, brimming with magical energy, said with a relaxed expression, "I'm not so easily defeated."

Now I have a lord worthy of my service, and with the help of Lord El-Melloi, I have returned from the brink of death.

Although Saber didn't show much emotion, she was inwardly shocked.

Lancer did indeed avoid a fatal injury through "mindfulness," but it was certainly not an injury that could be fully recovered from in just a day and a night.

Of course, Saber's reaction was also noticed by Lancer.

He pointed the gun tip at the blond knight with his left hand and spoke.

"What has sustained me to this point is the belief that I can fight you again, King Knight."

I will not fall until I have a final showdown with you and a complete break with you.

"But let's call a truce for now. There are still evil enemies who defy our chivalry and must be defeated."

"!"

Upon hearing this, Artoria nodded in agreement: "Understood, I am ready to fight you again at any time, Lancer—"

But let's fight side by side until we take down that monster.

Wow! It's Diarmuid! We're saved!

Irisviel looked on with delight at the newly joined forces, while the Knight King was filled with mixed emotions.

In this appearance in the real world, she not only gained the best Master (Irisviel), the best companion (Shirou), but also the best opponent.

There's nothing more to ask for. Maybe I'm one of those blessed by heaven. Now all I have to do is give it my all.

but.

Just as Saber was brimming with fighting spirit, and her Master was overjoyed at the arrival of new reinforcements—

Only Shirou watched the figure of the Lancer, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Master, something's wrong with Lancer."

"Ah, I understand."

That day, Shirou secretly sneaked into the Hyatt Hotel and happened to witness Lancer abandoning his chivalry under the influence of the Command Seals and transforming into a demon under the effect of the wish-granting machine.

Back then, Diarmuid exuded a terrible aura, a far cry from his current image as a sickeningly handsome man.

Did Lancer revert to its original state after that?

How could that be? Shirou doesn't believe in fairy tales.

"Saber, who is this?"

Lancer noticed the boy in Hassan's outfit staring intently at him.

Ms. Avalon's perceptions prevented the magic from working effectively, so he couldn't see anything.

"Ah, he is..."

Shirou quickly replied, "Who I am is not important; what's important is to deal with the enemy at hand first."

He made it clear in a single sentence that he was not a child caught up in the mess, but a capable person, and did not intend to reveal any further information.

Lancer paused for a moment, then walked up to Shirou and extended his hand to him.

"Please give me more advice."

Shirou didn't shake his hand back, he just nodded.

Lancer wasn't embarrassed by the cold reception; he just shrugged helplessly.

"Okay, let's get straight to the point. Could you briefly explain the situation to me?"

Saber explained the situation to Lancer.

When he heard that Caster had been killed by Saber and the boy in black, the handsome man's brow twitched slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"I see. I understand the situation now. So, have you come up with a plan to defeat that monster?"

Lancer gazed at the dark green figure wriggling in the night fog and asked a question.

Saber replied, "We had already fought its clones before you arrived, so we know the habits of otherworldly monsters quite well."

If my speculation is correct, this monster, as its true form, should possess terrifying regenerative abilities.

As long as it isn't dealt a fatal blow, it will continuously grow new limbs, and even if it is damaged, it will recover in the next second.

She paused.

"If you want to defeat this monster, you have to wipe it out completely, leaving not a single scrap of flesh behind."

My Noble Phantasm can destroy that monster in one hit.

"...Anti-city Noble Phantasm."

Lancer narrowed his eyes.

This was unexpected intelligence.

Did Saber actually have a Noble Phantasm hidden away?

No, if the holy sword that previously defeated him flashed, it wouldn't be surprising if it was rated as an anti-city Noble Phantasm when it was released in its true name.

"Although my Noble Phantasm is enough to destroy this monster, I still need the assistance of the two of you."

It's currently moving towards a densely populated area; we must first lure it away from that area.

“I see, Saber, I understand what you mean.”

Lancer nodded coldly: "Leave the task of luring the sea monster to me; you will deliver the fatal blow."

Saber nodded, then asked, puzzled, "What do you plan to do?"

Even if Diarmuid is a top-notch warrior, he probably wouldn't have a good way to deal with a monster that's tens of meters tall.

"...Regarding this point."

Lancer smiled and said, "Then please use your own eyes to observe carefully, King of Knights."

"Then I'll go first. You wait here for my signal, and then unleash your Noble Phantasm."

After saying this, Lancer turned to Irisviel and reached out his hand to her.

"Although it's just a temporary coordinated operation, please take good care of me, Saber's Master."

"Yes, thank you very much for your help, Lancer."

Irisviel nodded solemnly, then shook the handsome man's hand in return.

At that very moment, a crimson demonic sword appeared in Diarmuid's right palm.

This scene was so sudden that no one, including Saber, could react in time; her "intuition" wasn't omnipotent.

"…………Eh?"

Irisviel stared blankly as the crimson sword hurtled toward her heart.

The name of the demonic sword is "Mor-alltach" (Great Wrath).

If one were to choose the most powerful weapon among the many weapons used by Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, it would undoubtedly be this demonic sword.

This magical sword, bestowed upon Diarmuid's adoptive father by Mananan, the sea god of Celtic mythology, is said to be able to kill all those on the battlefield who oppose its wielder with a single swing.

"A single, decisive blow; the first strike is the only way to win."

The drawn cursed sword will bring Diarmuid certain victory and ensure the inevitable death of his enemy (Irisviel).

"Sizzle!!!"

The gushing blood bloomed like flowers in the night mist, staining the ground red.

"Irisviel!"

Saber screamed in panic, but—

It wasn't Irisviel who was gushing blood, but Lancer who launched the sneak attack.

"Hey kid... when exactly did you realize that...?"

The handsome man staggered back a few steps, glaring menacingly at the boy who stood between him and Saber's Master.

Just as Lancer was about to succeed and the red magic sword was about to pierce Irisviel, Shirou suddenly rushed between the two and stabbed him.

This is Shirou's signature move—to launch a surprise attack the moment the enemy is complacent.

This is how it was during my kendo duel with Fuji-nee, when I cut off Caster's hand, and it's like this now.

While this is indeed an effective tactic, it's impossible to say that it's completely devoid of any element of malicious character.

"I thought I could just cut you in two, but it's 'Mind's Eye' again... What a troublesome skill."

Shirou, who also possesses the "Mind's Eye (True)" ability, remained unmoved: Too shallow...

In reality, this was just a bluff; he didn't believe Diarmuid would be killed by an attack of this magnitude.

"Lancer! What's going on! Why did you attack Irisviel?!"

Saber gripped her sword with both hands, assumed a fighting stance, and questioned loudly.

"Ok?"

Lancer tilted his head and glanced at Saber with disdain.

"Why... of course, it's to make you, this eyesore of a woman, disappear! Isn't killing the Master the most effective way?"

"Varied--"

Saber was dumbfounded.

She couldn't believe such words could come from the mouth of that noble knight of the spear.

Wait, is he really Lancer?

Just then, a black-green wild boar pelt exuding a strong demonic aura appeared in the handsome man's hand.

"Lancer, what's that...!"

Lancer grinned maliciously.

As is widely known, Diarmuid died in a hunt by the Boar.

However, it was not the demonic boar that truly killed him.