Servant Melee part 1

In a short while, two silhouettes so clear that even Rider's eyes can see step out of the depth of the forest. Both of their auras are that of Servants. It seem that just these two might believe they are enough to defeat Rider?

"--You guys are really underestimating me, Servants of Mauros (black). If you want to defeat me, Rider of Erythros (red), then you have better send out your full forces."

There iss an immense amount of arrogance in his cocky smile. Although he is not armed with his signature weapons, he was still brimming with vitality and intense aggression.

"...Ah, aaaaah..."

"..."

Two Servants had appeared. One is Black Berserker, a girl who clutches a giant mace; the other is Black Saber, who had fought an intense battle with Red Lancer the night and early morning before.

"Yo, you two. You're Saber and...Berserker, right?"

In response to Rider of Red's question,  Saber of Black quietly nods and Berserker replies with a grunt

"I'm Rider of Erythros. Oh, don't be too worried. I don't have my ride. Not because I lost my horse right at the start of the battle, but because it would be too big of a waste against only two opponents. Anyway, it just ain't fun until there's all seven of you in one place."

Rider speaks casually. He seems to be implying: "Just you guys won't even count as opponents. If you want to see my true power, then have all seven attack me at once."

However, the ones opposing him are none other than proud Heroic Spirits. Berserker's grunts become more rabid. Saber quirks his brows in what seems to be displeasure. If a normal human so much as touched the killing intent being sent out, their hearts might have been pulverized from the sheer tension.

--And yet, even when being under this pressure, Rider of Red still bore it calmly. Even though he had just borne the brutal air of a beast and the heavy pressure of a hero who lived up to his title of most brave, his cocky smile did not fade.

This is the aggression and hatred that he had become used to since early times. For a hero who was contended with only his one and only friend and his true lady love, this sort of killing intent is as soft as a breeze.

In other words, the only thing that changed were the times and the armaments. He makes no difference between this and his life. And he would also dismiss this with a quick word of "Booooring."

That is the way Rider of Red loved to live as a man.

"--Come. Let me carve the name of a real hero, of a real warrior upon your bodies."

He puts his lance into position. At that moment, the heavy killing intents began to clash. As a hero without fear, Saber of Black fights it back with sheer stubbornness; as an artifical creation, Berserker of Black lacks sensations, so she accepts it stoically. However, if there was any normal human at the scene, then they would likely go mad.

3--the countdown starts.

The forest is broad and surrounded by great trees that impede the use of spears and swords.

2--The freezing air makes for a familiar feeling.

However, a spear has greater thrust than any other weapon here. As long as he has this "hero-killing spear" that can pierce the heart and exit from the skull, Rider of Red does not consider the terrain to be a disadvantage.

1--The second before the explosion, a sensation like the world has stopped moving.

More importantly, as long as he has the support of that famous Archer, Rider of Red's confidence is completely unshakable.

0--Everyone in that place is blown away and swept aside as inconsequential. Someone has thrown himself into the fight, someone is brandishing his weapon, someone is leaping into the air.

***

--An invincible man, an attack like a hurricane.

Rider of Red sneers at Saber and Lancer of Black's fierce attacks. The two servants have aligned their breaths and coordinated to attack from both above and below at the same time.

Rider twists his body and jumps. Using just his thin hoplite spear, he blocked both of them splendidly.

"So naive!"

Almost at the same time, he sends out a kick. This sort of fighting style was not based on the courtesy of a knight, but a martial skill developed completely on the battlefield.

Berserker of Black is blown away, but she struggles to stand and balance herself. As she grumbles in seeming frustration, the space around her crackles in a strange manner. However, Rider of Red mostly pays it no heed and continues battle fiercely with Saber.

Both of their bodies have not even one wound; all of their attacks on each other have been rendered ineffective. Saber was the great hero Siegfried, who bathed in Dragon's blood, so any attack before the B level would not hurt him. Therefore, as of now, they have kept an equilibrium. However, if...this Rider's Noble Phantasm could pierce the dragon's blood...

"What are you doing, Saber? That bastard hasn't received even one cut! Noble Phantasm, use your Noble Phantasm!"

Though it is an order that comes from his Master, Saber cannot help but ignore it. Rider of Red has yet to fight seriously. The mystery behind his invulnerability that shields him from all wounds is still unresolved.

Is it just because he possesses strength equal to Saber's Noble Phantasm? Or is it strength on a higher level? Or, perhaps, some condition needs to be fulfilled to hurt him.

If he exposes his Noble Phantasm here, it would the same as baring his true name--inevitably, future battles would have him at a disadvantage. Even so, if he can be rid of Rider here, there is overwhelming advantage to be had...but what would happen if Rider did not die?

There is no need to even say it. He would become a fool who used his Noble Phantasm with no result but to reveal his true name. Also, should Rider get away before victory can be decided, his true name would definitely be found out by the enemy camp. Should that happen, they would obviously attack his weakness in his back.

Though Saber of Black can accept being labeled as lacking is strategy, he has no desire to be called a fool. Therefore, he can do nothing but to let his Master's orders go unheard. He thinks to himself that he hopes his Master will understand. Should this have been any other time, Saber would surely have persuaded him through arguments, but, regrettably, there is no time for that.

Perhaps because he wanted to widen the distance between them, Rider of Red jumps back at that moment.

"...Looks like we're both out of ideas when it comes to each other."

"..."

Saber, as per the agreement with his Master, had no intention to open his mouth. Upon seeing that he had no reaction whatsoever, Rider of Red makes a slightly irritated face.

"Stupid stuck-up prick. Those who don't smile on the battlefield might forget how to smile in Elysion, don't you know? This world is rotting and stewing in gloom. So at least show a bright face in your final moments? What do you say?"

--He does not agree. To laugh on the battlefield would become an insult to his enemies. No, at the very least, it might be taken the wrong way by others. Though admiring each other's strength and laughing together is the joy of the battlefield, but laughing at a corpse is simple disrespect.

To Saber of Black, who silently shows his refusal, Rider of Red smiles and declares.

"...It would be best if you were happy in your last moments, that's all I'm saying?"

In the next moment, an unseen arrow going faster than sound strikes straight at Saber of Black's chest.

Saber, who was blown away, fell with a flip even as he took several trees with him in his flight.

"...Uu...?"

Beserker of Black gapes in silence. She understands immediately that something had just happened. The attack just now came from another Servant far behind Rider of Red.

Berserker's thought process is calm and quick. This was an attack from far away, as well as one that did not use magic. It only used physical energy--which means Archer!

Though it is only a guess, Archer had closely observed the Servant who was fighting with Rider of Red, understood that attacks of a normal level could not hurt Saber, and so used their strongest attack, drawing their bow to the max besides.

That last attack was clearly above A rank, and because of that, it could get past Saber's defenses.

...The problem is, the attack came from a distance that not even she and her final Servants could see too. As well, this place was not a infinitely open plain. It was a dense forest full of trees in the middle of the night. If it came from a distance that even Berserker could not see, then no matter how strong Archer's night vision was, Saber of Black was no more than a moving dot.

But that Servant did it. The most frightening is this reality. They possessed super distance sniping that could create A-rank damage and aimed in the middle of the night, when visibility was all but zero; a super-accurate shot like threading a needle.

Going through the requirements, there might be those who could fulfill one of them alone. However, how many Heroic Spirits could accomplish all of these requirements at the same time---!

Rider of Red's expression suddenly becomes grim. He looks toward the opposite side of the forest, the side behind Black Berserker, and clicks his tongue.

"...Looks like our Berserker met his end. But, there's a little girl still here. Berserker and Berserker. Fair's fair in one for the other, isn't it?"

Showing a bright, yet cruel smile, Rider of Red strengthens his grip on his spare. Even Berserker, who knows no fear, can feel that this smile hides something unpredictable.

"So, how many seconds does Saber of Mauros have till recovery? Ten seconds? Twenty seconds? No matter what, it can't be quicker than my attack."

All her choices have been blocked, be it escaped, counterattack, or surrender.

Berserker of Black can only grit here teeth and endure the circumstances. Or, if she must die, should she unleash her Noble Phantasms to take him down with her?

Berserker, pressed to make a decision, prepares herself with a moan. She will use all her strength to destroy Rider of Red--

But in the same instant she thought of this, the situation suddenly suffered an acute change. On reflex, she turns her head to look behind her. Before her eyes, the one raising his sword with a pained expression--that is Saber of Black.