-----
-----
Shipping containers were stacked everywhere.
In a blur of blades and steel, two armored warriors clashed with wild abandon.
The modern shipping yard had turned into a full-on ancient battlefield.
The ground kept crumbling under their feet, and containers were being blown to pieces.
Saber and Diarmuid—
The sheer force of their attacks was enough to level everything around them.
But then—
Amid the chaos, a refined-looking boy in a school uniform strolled into the battlefield, casually escorting a stunningly beautiful woman.
Compared to the brutal fight ahead, the two of them looked like they were out on a leisurely walk in the park.
"How interesting. Saber's alone. That's another change from what I remember."
Minato watched the fight, his eyes flashing thoughtfully.
"Hm?"
Saber and Diarmuid both froze, their expressions tightening. Without saying a word, they separated and backed off from each other.
"I'm not sure which one of you is the Servant," Diarmuid said with a friendly smile, eyeing the newcomers. "But since you've shown up here, I assume you're not against a good fight?"
He raised his spear high, his fighting spirit practically burning the air around him.
Medusa was about to step forward, but Minato stopped her with a look.
She hesitated, then said quietly, "Be careful."
"Don't underestimate me," Minato chuckled. "After all, I'm a demon."
"...Demon?" x2
Saber and Diarmuid's eyes narrowed.
A hundred thoughts raced through their minds as they tried to figure out which demonic spirit Minato might be.
"Saber, I've heard so much about you," Minato said, eyes on that unmistakable ahoge. "Nice to finally meet you."
"How do you know who I am?" Saber's pupils shrank. "Have we met before?"
Had her identity been exposed that easily?
She hadn't used any Noble Phantasms that could give her away…
"Nope!"
Minato shook his head with a grin. "But I've seen you plenty of times. I've been super interested in you."
He wasn't lying—in every sense of the word.
Saber: "..."
It was a normal conversation… but for some reason, it seriously ticked her off.
What did he mean by "seen her plenty of times"? She had no memory of that.
"This guy!" Medusa grit her teeth. "He really is a scumbag."
She didn't have solid proof.
But she could feel it—Minato had his eye on Saber now.
Sensing Medusa's silent outrage, Minato turned and smiled at her. "Don't be mad. I treat all wings equally."
"That's not an excuse for confessing to me and then turning around and being a complete flirt!"
Saber went quiet, her ahoge twitching wildly.
She didn't really get what they were talking about…
But for some reason, she really wanted to slice this 'demon' up.
"Can you guys chill a bit?"
Diarmuid looked irritated. "This is a battlefield. Not the time or place for flirting."
"Oh, right—you're still here."
As if just noticing him, Minato gave a sudden look of realization. "Sorry, I tend to forget men even exist."
"You bastard—are you looking down on me?"
Diarmuid's eyes burned with fury. Battle energy surged across his body.
CRACK—CRACK!
The ground around him split open with a network of fractures, spreading out in all directions.
BOOM!
The next instant, he launched himself forward with explosive force. The earth beneath him shattered as he charged straight at Minato.
Whoosh!
His spear ripped through the air like a meteor, glowing blood-red and radiating deadly power.
"Master!"
Medusa frowned.
Should she step in?
But Master told her to stay put and watch…
While she hesitated, her pupils shrank behind the blindfold.
All she saw was Minato still standing in the same place, calm as ever. As the spear rushed at him, he casually raised a hand.
HUMMM—
Tangible magical energy surged out.
The air around them twisted and warped visibly.
BANG!
A deafening thud rang out.
Diarmuid came to a dead stop—as if he'd crashed into an invisible wall. His spear couldn't move an inch further.
"This much mana…?"
Saber looked shocked.
Then, suddenly, a massive blue magic circle lit up in the sky above.
CRACKLE—
A pillar of lightning came crashing down like divine judgment, striking Diarmuid directly.
BOOOOOM!
The explosion roared into the sky. Diarmuid's body disintegrated before everyone's eyes.
When the smoke finally cleared—
All that was left in front of Minato was a giant crater.
Diarmuid had completely vanished.
"....."