"People, you know, will always break away from certain set tracks," Shirou's expression didn't change, "I usually call that an 'accident.'"
"Well said, Shirou!", Artoria was so angry she raised her holy sword high, "So if I hit you with one shot of Excalibur Morgan, that's an 'accident' too, right?"
"But on the other hand," Shirou spoke dead serious, "Saber is my favorite Servant. Equivalent to my dearest family, my closest friends."
"Wha… what?", The King, who had been gathering magical energy, actually took a step back, looking as if she had just been struck by one hundred thousand volts.
"D-dearest… dearest!"
'Eight words, she only heard two?'
Shirou pressed harder, face full of sincerity as he stretched out a hand of friendship, "I'm sorry, Saber, I came late. Let's go home."
"Shi… Shirou," Artoria without the ahoge truly wavered. She slowly lowered her holy sword.
"Saber," Shirou stepped forward to meet her.
This scene left the three from Chaldea dumbfounded.
Olga Marie collapsed, covering her face, "Why is this epic suddenly spiraling uncontrollably into romance?"
"Hasn't this basically become a love story wearing the skin of an epic?"
"SENPAI!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka wiped at her eyes, "That's too cruel, aren't the three of us enough, you even want to take Saber too?"
"Yeah, yeah," Mash nodded unconsciously, but then, "THAT'S NOT THE POINT!"
Her head ballooned up like in a comedy manga Q-version, "Why is it that Senpai always unleashes his talent at the strangest times?"
No matter the collapse and complaints of the three behind.
The instant Shirou and Artoria approached each other, both suddenly exploded into action.
Artoria opened with magical energy release, a pure-black cannon-like strike slashing mercilessly at Shirou.
"I knew you'd still try this trick!", The King was furious.
'If the lion doesn't show its might, did you really think I only know how to eat and take?'
Shirou said nothing, his face calm. Kanshou and Bakuya projected instantly.
"Crane Wing, never fails!"
He advanced, brushing past the cannon.
"Move, Fujimaru!", Catching them off guard, Olga Marie dove and knocked Fujimaru Ritsuka to the ground.
Mash raised her shield in front of them.
"HAAAAHHH!"
The force of the magical energy hitting the shield immediately twisted Mash's face in pain.
Up front, Shirou tried to pull off Crane Wing Triple in the fastest time.
"Spirit and technique, flawless and firm."
"Our strength rips the mountains."
"Our swords split the water."
Artoria stood firm, lifting her sword, "Shirou, the same trick won't work on me."
When had Saber ever seen Crane Wing Triple?
No time to think, Artoria raised her sword, releasing blazing energy like a pillar of light.
Shirou was forced back.
And he stretched out a hand, "I am the bone of my sword."
At the instant of chant, seven brilliant petals bloomed in his hand, and the true name of the Noble Phantasm rang out, "Rho Aias!"
The Petal Shield appeared, blocking the blast just in time.
BOOOOM!
The earth was swallowed by pitch-dark destructive energy, turned into scorched wasteland.
Everything was ground into powder beneath the overflowing Sword Beam, but Shirou pressed forward, bearing the Petal Shield.
"Projection, begin!"
The switch of his magic circuits flipped on, twelve Noble Phantasms fired.
Artoria dodged repeatedly, ceased energy release, and cut down the flying weapons with her sword.
Just in that instant, Shirou was right before her.
Their gazes clashed, then crossed. The cursed sword Dáinsleif, and the holy sword Durandal.
"Saber."
"Shirou."
That call was not weakness in their hearts, but confirmation of each other's resolve.
The next moment, swordlight erupted.
Artoria's attack fell like a raging tidal wave, incomparably fierce.
Yet this tsunami had been anticipated by a seasoned sailor.
Not only did it fail to damage the ship, it was even turned back.
Under god-tier defense, Shirou forced open a flaw in the Ahoge King's stance, and his twin blades slashed down, "I win, Saber!!"
In terms of technique, Artoria said nothing.
Powerful magical energy again surged from her sword, the Dragon Factor unleashing mercilessly.
Shirou's expression shifted, armor coated his entire body.
The next second, a crimson cannon with world-devouring heat engulfed him.
"SENPAI!"
Mash cried out, just about to act, when Fujimaru Ritsuka gripped her shoulder.
For once, her voice was serious, teeth clenched, "Believe in Senpai. You said it yourself, Mash, you trust him!"
"That's right," Mash steadied her heart and shouted, "I believe in Senpai. I trust him! So I absolutely won't act!"
Those words made the Ahoge King's cold brow crease, her hand gripping the sword unconsciously tightening.
In that split-second of distraction, Shirou burst from the cannon.
His armor had melted, but his body was unharmed.
Click!
A gun was loaded.
"Saber, this kind of carelessness really isn't like you!"
"Projection, begin!"
The great feat that transcended myth, the martial skill honed by twelve labors.
At that moment, his body came infinitely close to that of a Servant.
"I'm coming, Saber!"
A flash of red lightning.
"Not good!"
Artoria raised her sword to block.
BOOM!!
The ground beneath collapsed.
From the sword came a force completely unlike before.
But she blocked it.
Who was Black Saber? The one who could go toe-to-toe with Heracles and win.
She didn't fear the real thing, let alone a counterfeit.
"If you think you can win like this, Shirou, you're far too naive!", For the first time, Artoria roared in anger.
Using brute strength, she blasted Shirou away.
Her steps pressed forward, sword gathering magical power once more.
But then she realized. After landing, Shirou tapped a toe, and his form vanished.
Wind roared by her ears.
No need to turn, block above.
No one there.
This time, right side.
Above.
From behind…
With incredible instinct, Artoria defended every blow without missing.
And spoke, "I see. When you project, it's not just skill, you gain the strength as well."
"So that's why you can materialize a Noble Phantasm like that?"
She was referring to back in the dojo, when Shirou's own skills were weak, but with a projected Noble Phantasm he countered and crushed her.
No time to reply. His A-rank agility unleashed to the limit, relentlessly seeking an opening.
By now, the magical energy in Artoria's holy sword had reached its peak.
Shirou couldn't afford a single mistake. If caught, that Sword Beam would cut him down without mercy.
So, no thoughts, no answers.
His whole being devoted to offense.
Once, Twice… three times… four times…
Still no opening, his body started to give first.
His legs faltered, only for a breath, quickly corrected.
But even that was seized upon by Artoria.
"NOW!"
SLASH!
Like a laser beam, the continuous magical energy release spun counterclockwise along the cavern wall.
Ancient rock melted in an instant, and the released energy even pierced through the hollow itself.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.