A Villain's Journey Begins in the Type-Moon World

In a relatively quiet corner of the arena's stands, a tall, muscular man wielding a large, heavy club was watching the battle on ring number 2 with a handsome, somewhat childlike boy by his side.

"My brother... he's being too reckless!" The boy nervously twisted his fingers, his face full of worry. "Why did he have to take such a risk and give the opponent a chance to attack when he could have ended the fight quickly?"

“In this way, those weaker individuals will naturally dare not easily go up on stage to their deaths, allowing him to maintain his position on the stage with minimal effort until… the final moment arrives.” He looked meaningfully at the composed figure in the center of the stage.

Indeed, those watching the fight in the arena were Theseus, the hero from the Agor, and Paris, the Trojan prince and brother of Hector.

Meanwhile, on the second arena, the languid man who effortlessly toyed with his opponent using that unique gunsword was none other than Hector.

"...But ultimately, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Hector can keep those petty villains in check, but he can't keep the other heroes, who are also Servants, in check. Whether he can hold out for three days, I'm afraid... sigh..."

Theseus suddenly sighed softly, not continuing his sentence. After a moment of silence, he said, with a hint of complaint in his voice:

"Speaking of which, I also need to go and claim a ring later, so I won't be able to look after you... And our captain, even at this point, is still hiding on the ship and refusing to show himself. It's one thing if he doesn't come out himself, but he won't even send Hercules to fight!"

Theseus shook his head, looking quite dissatisfied, and said, "He was the one who shouted that he wanted to seize that caged goddess, but he's been hiding in there the whole time... Your brother Hector and I aren't entirely confident that we can have the last laugh in this den of tigers..."

Hearing Theseus's complaint, Paris whispered words of comfort: "There's nothing we can do about it, Theseus. Our forces haven't been fully assembled yet; only the three of us who were nearby have arrived so far."

"If Captain Jason were to send Hercules out as well, he would truly have no guards left."

After saying that, Pariston paused, then continued with a hint of anticipation, "Let's wait a little longer. Once Teacher Chiron returns and we reunite, the captain should be able to let Lord Hercules take the field and help us out without worry."

Theseus, upon hearing this, merely pursed his lips, his face conveying an indifferent "I hope so" attitude.

Meanwhile, the "performance" on the ring was also drawing to a close.

Seemingly feeling he had toyed with him enough, just as the giant was exhausted after a round of frenzied slashing, his movements momentarily slowed, and he was panting heavily, a lazy glint flashed in Hector's eyes!

He moved with lightning speed, and the gun and sword he had been carrying on his back suddenly thrust out like a viper's tongue! The tip of the sword pierced through the air with unparalleled precision, aiming straight for his heart once again!

"Pfft!"

Under the giant's incredulous, horrified, and desperate gaze, Hector flicked his wrist and cleanly drew his spear. The giant's massive body crashed to the ground, following in his brother's footsteps, dissipating into specks of golden light on the arena.

Hector casually flicked away non-existent blood from the tip of his sword, slung the spear and sword back over his shoulder, and lazily swept his gaze across the silent crowd below. In his signature tone, tinged with mockery and cynicism, he raised his voice and asked:

"Next? Anyone else want to come up and play with this 'old man'? But... be prepared for a 'permanent rest'~"

These seemingly casual words contained a chilling killing intent. In an instant, the challengers below the arena, who had been eager to try, looked at the golden specks of light on the ground that had not yet completely dissipated, and subconsciously took a half step back, none daring to step forward easily.

Chapter 614 Operational Analysis

Drake clicked his tongue, his gaze fixed on the figure carrying the strange weapon on the number 2 arena: "Tsk, this guy... he's really arrogant."

"The other party certainly has the right to be arrogant..."

As Ritsuka spoke, she kept her eyes fixed on the figure on the arena.

She carefully recalled Hector's attack movements and explosive speed, her mind racing as she devised a strategy to find weaknesses and defeat him if she were to control a Shadow Servant against him.

"I just wonder if his arrogance will attract challenges from other hidden Servants," Drake said after hearing Ritsuka's words.

"Senior, should we step in immediately?" Mash asked, gripping her shield tightly. Hector's appearance undoubtedly stirred up a frenzy in the arena.

Ritsuka gently shook her head, her gaze sweeping over the noisy and murderous arena:

"No, let's wait a bit longer. Today, let's just stand by and watch. First, let's figure out the specific procedures and rules of this whole day's arena competition, and second... let's see which other noteworthy characters will emerge. We can decide whether to make a move tomorrow."

And so, Ritsuka and her group quietly observed the arena, filled with bloodshed and clamor, for an entire day. They solved their meal problem with the dry rations and water they had brought with them, their eyes constantly scanning between the various arenas.

Ritsuka noticed in particular that this tournament was not an endless war of attrition. The rules stipulated that after every four intense matches, there would be a fixed rest period for the defending champion to recover their strength.

As the sun set and twilight enveloped the earth, about an hour later, a loud horn finally sounded in the arena, announcing the end of the day's martial arts competition.

At this moment, the battles still taking place on each arena entered their final stage, quickly determining the ultimate victor for the day.

According to the rules, the winners who occupy the ring at sunset, regardless of the length of their reign, will be counted as having successfully defended the ring for a day.

“I see…” Ritsuka understood. She noticed that today was the fourth day of the arena tournament, and many pirate crews who were well-versed in the rules had already figured it out.

They often choose to send out their true elite experts to perform after sunset.

By employing this meticulous and "clever" approach, they can ensure that their subordinates successfully obtain the qualification to defend their title for one day, while minimizing premature attrition and exposure.

These pirates, who spent their lives adrift in stormy seas, were indeed all experienced and shrewd, with few reckless or foolish individuals among them.

This is why the ring battles after sunset are significantly more intense and skillful than the probing exchanges during the day.

Back in the warm cabin of the Golden Deer, Ritsuka, having finished watching the battle all day, immediately gathered everyone to begin formulating the battle plan for the next day.

"Based on today's observations, I believe we can adopt a similar strategy tomorrow."

Ritsuka took out the information notebook she had compiled and analyzed it:

"We will also choose to make our move after sunset. This way, we can more easily secure the right to defend our title on the first day, while reducing unnecessary physical exertion and the risk of revealing our own information."

Ritsuka paused, glanced at her companions, and continued:

"Furthermore, we prioritize arenas that have not yet been occupied by powerful Servants. Before all the arenas are divided up by top-tier players, the possibility of direct conflict between Servants is relatively low."

"After all, no one is absolutely certain that they can easily defeat another Servant in front of everyone, so it would be unwise to exhaust themselves too early."

Listening to Ritsuka's clear and logical analysis, everyone nodded in agreement. The arrangement was sound and effective, so they naturally had no objections.

"There's one more thing," Ritsuka added slowly, "Tomorrow we'll only send two people to occupy two arena spots, making sure to reserve our strongest fighter as our last trump card."

After speaking, Ritsuka's tone became more cautious: "This is to ensure that we are not completely eliminated in the early stages. This trump card we've kept is meant to be used at the most crucial moment."

"For example, when someone is about to reach the three-day mark for defending their title, we will have a basic understanding of the information and strength of most of the Servants on the field, which will make it easier to formulate targeted tactics."

"I think Ritsuka's plan is good!" Drake was the first to express her support, slamming her hand on the table. "Although it's a bit of a shortcut, in this dangerous situation, the best strategy is the one that maximizes the chances of winning and preserves strength! I agree!"

The other companions readily agreed. After a brief discussion, they finally decided that Mash and Asterius would be the first to fight tomorrow, each occupying a ring.

The strongest of them all, Little Medusa, will be the trump card, reserved for the most crucial moment.

After the decision was made, Dr. Roman's slightly regretful voice echoed in the cabin:

"Oh, what a pity! We missed such an important scene today! Chaldea's monitoring methods were completely blocked by that damned Reality Marble. Our screen is completely black, we can't see anything!"

After speaking, Dr. Roman paused, then began to inquire, "By the way, Ritsuka, did you notice any particularly noteworthy opponents in today's arena matches? Or... do you think there might be Servants among them?"

"Yes, there are at least two."

Ritsuka responded immediately, the two figures flashing through her mind:

"One is in arena number 2, wielding a unique weapon that resembles a longsword mounted on the hilt of a polearm, making it look like a spear-sword. The other occupies arena number 3, wielding a rough, large club, and his fighting style is expansive and powerful. Both of them have demonstrated strength far exceeding that of ordinary pirates."

"Holding those special guns and swords? And some wielding big clubs..."

Euryale's voice broke in, filled with certainty:

"Based on your description, and combined with the people I saw on the Agor before... it's almost certain that those two are Hector and Theseus! The people from the Agor have indeed arrived!"

"What? It's them? They've appeared so quickly?" Dr. Roman's voice was grave. "Could this Poseidon Arena... be a conspiracy orchestrated by them? What exactly are they trying to do?"

“That possibility cannot be ruled out.” Ritsuka frowned, lost in deeper thought. “But… so far, are only Hector and Theseus the only ones who have appeared?”

Ritsuka's voice carried a hint of doubt. Mashu, however, keenly sensed the unspoken meaning in Ritsuka's words and asked, "Senpai, what are you thinking about?"

“Eureka told us in detail about Mr. Wang Chong’s confrontation with the Agor when he first came to this world…” Ritsuka raised her head, her gaze becoming sharp. “On the Agor, there is another most fearsome existence, but he did not show up in this gladiatorial competition.”

"Who?" the crowd asked.

“Hercules!” Ritsuka immediately called out the name.

"Hercules?!" Dr. Roman exclaimed, clearly realizing the seriousness of the situation. "That's the legendary hero of Greek mythology who completed the twelve trials! It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he's the strongest hero in Greece."

"They didn't bring out Heracles? This... does this mean they're like us, saving their strongest trump card for the most crucial moment to eliminate other Servants and secure final victory?"

"But that's not right. If they wanted to plot against us or the many Servants, they should at least keep the Servants in the arena... But if their main goal is to eliminate people, wouldn't they become just like us, merely participants?"

Dr. Roman was completely baffled by the other party's intentions. Unable to figure it out, he could only change his perspective and asked, "Never mind what they are thinking, since they are using the same strategy, do Mashu and Medusa... especially Medusa, have any chance of winning against Hercules?"

Medusa spoke calmly, her voice clear yet confident: "In my current state and with my current status, I am far beyond what ordinary Servants can compare to. However..."

She paused slightly, then said truthfully, "'Hercules' name itself represents an insurmountable peak. Although I am not without a chance of winning, to say that I am absolutely certain of defeating him... is certainly not the case."

Chapter 615 Suspicious Servant

Medusa readily admitted this. After all, Hercules' "Twelve Trials" Noble Phantasm was practically a bug-level survival mechanism.

Even though she has been strengthened and blessed by Wang Chong multiple times, and her stats have reached their peak, it might be possible for her to defeat her opponent in the arena, but it would be a completely different story to kill Hercules, who has twelve lives.

In the absence of detailed intelligence, it is essential to exercise the utmost caution. Little Medusa's words were a very apt answer.

“It seems the situation will be even more complicated tomorrow…” Ritsuka took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing her worries, and asked, “Doctor, does Chaldea’s technical department have a way to break through the barrier of the Reality Marble? We need real-time internal monitoring.”

"The technical team is working tirelessly to crack it!"

Dr. Roman answered immediately, his voice carrying a hint of weariness and excitement:

"Even His Majesty Lord El-Melloi II has been working tirelessly through the night to assist with the analysis... The good news is that we have now found a key breakthrough and a direction to overcome this challenge!"

"We expect to be able to completely penetrate that barrier as early as tomorrow and re-establish stable contact with you. At that time, the Spirit Origin reactions of all Servants in the arena will not escape our detection, and we will definitely be able to provide you with powerful intelligence support!"

“Great!” Ritsuka perked up. “Then we’ll have to trouble the doctor and Mr. El-Melloi! With your help, we can get more information.”

The operational meeting has now come to an end. My nerves, which had been tense all day, relaxed slightly, but a wave of fatigue washed over me.

No one spoke further, and everyone returned to their cabins to rest, conserving their energy for the upcoming, and destined-to-be-more-intense fifth day. The Golden Deer lay quietly anchored in the mysterious sea, awaiting the dawn.

……

The next day, the gladiatorial tournament resumed as scheduled. Ritsuka and her group, along with the bustling crowd, stepped back into the arena, a self-contained space isolated from the outside world.

The morning's competition unfolded almost exactly as everyone had anticipated, making it somewhat tedious.

Aside from Arena 2 and Arena 3, which are still firmly held by the two powerful Servants Hector and Theseus, who easily defended their positions with overwhelming force, the champions of the other arenas have changed hands time and again.

Ritsuka and the others remained inactive, keeping a low profile and observing, in accordance with the plan they had made yesterday.

After all, they had already agreed yesterday that Mash and Asterius would seize the ring after sunset today.

As noon approached, Ritsuka and the others finally heard intermittent noises coming from Chaldea. After waiting for a while, the noises finally subsided.

"Phew... The communication is finally connected. Ha... The atmosphere inside doesn't seem as frenzied as I expected." Dr. Roman's image reappeared before Ritsuka and Mashu, his voice tinged with fatigue. At the same time, Dr. Roman also saw the current situation inside the arena through detection methods.

"Doctor, have you successfully infiltrated this arena? That's great! I'll leave the task of detecting the Servants' reactions to you, Doctor. See which of those people on the stage are the lurking Servants? And how many Servants' reactions can you detect in the audience? What are their exact locations?"

Upon hearing the doctor's voice, Ritsuka immediately raised the crucial question.

Dr. Roman quickly instructed the technical team at Chaldea's rear to conduct in-depth exploration. A moment later, based on the data displayed on the screen, he reported:

“Ritsuka, your judgment is very accurate. Those two on arenas number 2 and 3 did indeed show strong Servant Spirit Origin reactions.”

Upon receiving confirmation from Dr. Roman, Ritsuka's gaze immediately sharpened towards the two arenas. Hector and Theseus were effortlessly defeating their challengers on the platforms, their movements completely at ease.

For Chaldea, these two open enemies do not pose a direct threat at present. After all, the rules of the arena are what they are; as long as they cannot leave their own rings to challenge others, the two of them cannot interfere with Chaldea's future dominance of the arena in the short term.

After all, if they stepped down from the ring without permission, it would mean automatic elimination. Therefore, Hector and Theseus were firmly nailed to the second and third rings.

Unless Ritsuka and the others actively challenge them, the only way for them to face their opponents, besides relying on teammates who haven't played yet, is to wait until the knockout stage.

"Doctor, what about the situation over at the stands? How many Servants have we detected so far? What are their exact locations?" Ritsuka pressed on, her gaze cautiously sweeping over the bustling stands.

"From the audience seats... the most obvious thing is the divine aura emanating from the goddess imprisoned on the platform. Also, in the audience seats to your left, there are two guys closely watching the duel between arenas number 2 and 3, and they are also radiating clear Servant reactions."

Dr. Roman pinpointed the location precisely.

Ritsuka's gaze quickly swept past the imprisoned goddess and landed directly on the area to the left front indicated by Dr. Roman. There, a dashing man and a boy were intently watching the battle on the arena, seemingly particularly interested in the strength of Hector and Theseus.

Suddenly, the dashing man seemed to sense Ritsuka's gaze, and without warning, he turned his head, his sharp eyes shooting straight in the direction where Ritsuka and the others were!

Ritsuka's heart skipped a beat. She reacted quickly, immediately shifting her gaze as if nothing had happened. She turned her body slightly to the side, pretending to be an ordinary spectator completely captivated by the intense fight on a certain stage below, cleverly concealing her distraction.

"What's wrong, Teacher Chiron?" The boy next to the man noticed his teacher's unusual behavior and looked up to ask in confusion.

“It’s nothing, Paris.” Chiron gently ruffled Paris’s hair, his tone gentle but with a hint of wariness. “I just felt like someone was watching us from the shadows… so I glanced in that direction.”

"Then... did Professor Chiron find out who it was?" Paris couldn't help but ask.

“No, we didn’t find a specific target.” Chiron shook his head, his eyes revealing deep thought. “But I’m sure it wasn’t a misperception. The other side was very alert and hid before our eyes met.”

After speaking, he paused, his voice lowering slightly:

“Paris, you must understand, there are more and more hidden masters in this arena now. I can clearly sense that besides us, there are at least seven other powerful auras lurking within the arena…”

“It is precisely because the situation is so complicated that I hope Jason can maintain the same cautious attitude as yesterday and keep Hercules by his side at all times.”

"In this way, at least Hercules can still be kept as a crucial trump card for us, instead of putting on a nonsensical performance in the afternoon just to establish our authority."

When Jason was mentioned, Chiron's tone was filled with undisguised worry and distress.

Jason's temperament has become increasingly eccentric and unpredictable.

Yesterday, fearing retaliation, he resolutely refused to let Hercules leave his side; today, however, he inexplicably muttered that he wanted to "regain his self-esteem" and insisted that Hercules put on a show of authority in front of all the pirates.