The confrontation between Saber and Lancer was more like a competition.
Instead of a fight to the death, as each meticulously gauged the other's power in a preliminary test, it began to feel like a demonstration of pure strength.
Of course, even for a test, we're talking about Servants.
The warehouse street at the docks was in ruins due to the scars carved as a result. Two warehouses had already collapsed, and a hundred square meters of asphalt were destroyed. Transformed into a battlefield, it was almost as if an earthquake had just struck the port warehouses.
In the midst of this disaster, still without a single scratch, Saber and Lancer faced each other, preparing their next move. Neither showed any sign of exhaustion.
"There's no honor in fighting without warning, but…"
Lancer began speaking to Saber, a killing intent flowing to the tips of both his spears, yet his gaze retained its freshness.
"Still, I give you credit. To get this far without breaking a sweat, you're an impressive woman."
"That's unnecessary modesty, Lancer."
Holding her invisible sword, Saber placed a smile on her lips for the first time.
"Though I don't know your name, your spearplay and your compliments… You honor me. I'm grateful for that."
Neither knew the other's history, with no connection, from different countries, but their hearts were surely linked.
Both took pride in their honed skills and strength, and facing an equal opponent, they freely respected one another. Both carried the pride of a warrior hidden in their hearts, and the two Heroic Spirits understood this.
But…
"Enough of this game, Lancer."
Both Saber and Irisviel were startled by the cold voice resounding out of nowhere.
"Lancer… Master!?"
Tensing up, Irisviel looked around, but no human form was in sight. With the unnatural echo of the voice, she couldn't tell if it was male or female, nor where it came from.
'Perhaps it's camouflage… like an illusion.'
Lancer's Master didn't seem inclined to appear before Irisviel anytime soon. So Irisviel assumed Lancer's Master was using an illusion to conceal themselves and distort their voice to avoid recognition.
"Don't drag out the fight any longer. This Saber is a formidable enemy. Be quick. You may reveal your Noble Phantasm."
Saber's face hardened at the words of the invisible mage.
Noble Phantasm. He was urging his Servant to bare his fangs in earnest.
"Understood, my Master."
Unlike the demeanor he had shown so far, Lancer lowered his voice quietly and shifted his grip on his weapon.
Without hesitation, he dropped the short spear from his left hand to his feet.
'So… it's that long spear!?'
Before Saber, Lancer removed the talisman tightly wrapped around the long spear in his right hand.
It was a deep crimson spear. Completely different from before, magical energy began to rise from the spear's tip like a sinister mirage.
"…That's it. From now on, I'm resolved to finish you."
Lancer murmured in a low voice, shifting his stance to grip his now-revealed lethal weapon with both hands.
Saber also lowered her sword, measuring the distance between her and Lancer with the utmost caution.
Revealing a Noble Phantasm could have two different types of effects.
One type was the demonstration of the greatest power of the deadliest move by announcing its true name. Take Saber's final secret move. She has "Excalibur • The Sword of Promised Victory" currently concealed behind a bounded field of invisibility, but if she discards the camouflage and shouts its true name, her holy sword will unleash a beam of light capable of destroying a thousand soldiers. As it is truly an "Anti-Fortress" Noble Phantasm that can turn the ground into scorched earth, it cannot be used so casually, but as a last resort.
Along with that, there could also be a weapon that inherently carries the nature of a Noble Phantasm. In Saber's case, her "Invisible Air • Barrier of the Wind King" was an example. By itself, it lacks the ability to annihilate an enemy, being more of a Noble Phantasm suited for battle as a sharp tool. It's not particularly used for strength, but in other words, it's easier to use and a trump card that can bring victory if wielded well.
'And so, Lancer's red spear is… probably the latter.'
So said Saber's intuition. Lancer would continue trading continuous blows with Saber. She didn't suspect the next strike would be decisive for the fight.
"…"
The two closed the distance, sliding their feet silently, but the tension doubled.
…Lancer took the first step.
Compared to the acrobatic freedom of his spear until now, this was a far simpler, straight thrust. A piercing strike that guessed the length of Saber's blade hidden under Invisible Air, or rather, gave up on being cautious of it.
As a natural reaction, Saber repelled Lancer's spear with the arm holding her sword, ignoring the pain.
In truth, it wasn't too serious or abrupt, just an ordinary attack.
But…
The disaster came like a storm.
Between the entangled spear and sword, a sudden and unexpected gale roared and blew.
"What!?"
Letting out a shocked voice, Saber took three steps back from Lancer's spear.
Lancer calmly resumed his stance without pursuing her. Watching the scene, Irisviel couldn't comprehend what was happening.
The gust of wind lasted only an instant, but it wasn't particularly surging with magical energy. The origin of that wind was a mystery, but it was definitely not a threat from Lancer.
Even so, Saber was the only one shocked.
Lancer smiled boldly at her astonishment.
"I've exposed it. Your precious sword."
"…"
Silent, Saber didn't comprehend Lancer's victorious murmur. Both understood the reason behind this mysterious phenomenon.
The wind came from Saber's sword… More specifically, it was the work of Invisible Air.
The bounded field of condensed pressure that could refract light leaked for just an instant. The moment it collided with Lancer's spear, the magical energy controlling the wind around the sword broke free.
And in that moment, Lancer caught a glimpse of the true sword's form within the torn bounded field. Lancer's earlier murmur was proof that it was definitely his spear that exposed Invisible Air.
"I've got the length of your blade. You won't catch me with that invisible range again."
Whether it was an exaggeration or not, Lancer began thrusting his spear.
Just as he said, his spear strikes suddenly gained vigor, the attacks sharper and no longer in vain. Having confirmed the distance Saber's blade could cover, he made no mistakes in his aim. Letting even one strike slip meant a fatal wound, and understanding this, Saber kept moving her body and deflected each spear thrust with her blade.
Glimmering, it showed an afterimage of her golden sword's form.
'Ah.'
There was still pressure leaking from Invisible Air, but it was a continuous, random gale violently blowing Saber's blonde hair in waves. There was no doubt left. Lancer's red spear was draining Invisible Air. Each time it came with the spear's tip, the golden blade appeared like a strobe.
'But… with that spear… there's still a way…'
Saber encouraged herself. Using a spear with both hands was a style Saber could handle.
In the midst of the relentless series of attacks, Saber sought just one weakly aimed strike. With just that, she could twist her body instead of parrying and rely on the hardness of her armor.
A well-placed counter in a near-death situation could be the perfect opportunity.
In a swift move, Saber struck at Lancer's shoulder. She ignored the red spear's tip grazing her flank. It should be shallow against her armor, and meanwhile, she'd be cleaving her enemy through the shoulder…
Saber anticipated the pain; her intuition saved her from a lost cause.
With her sword falling through the air, Saber twisted and threw herself to the side.
It was hard to say if it was by a hair's breadth. Lancer's howling spear definitely seemed to have drawn blood.
There's no need to say whose blood it was.
Rolling on the ground, Saber escaped Lancer's pursuit and immediately stood to face her opponent. Her eyes betrayed her pain.
"Saber!"
Seeing something had happened, Irisviel began sending magical energy to heal Saber's flank.
"…Thank you, Irisviel, I'm fine, the healing is working."
Even saying that, Saber still held her side, as if traces of pain lingered.
"It seems victory won't be won so easily…"
Muttering, Lancer didn't seem too discouraged and spoke in an amused tone.
Visibly, this man greatly enjoyed competing against a formidable enemy.
Gritting her teeth, Saber calmly pieced together the puzzle in her mind, and the series of hardly believable circumstances came together.
Her armor should have blocked Lancer's spear. Yet, the spear's tip bore Saber's blood.
And… at this moment, Saber's armor was the same as ever, without a single scratch.
To make a practical guess, just with the spear's contact, the blade passed through the armor as if it had vanished.
Saber couldn't dematerialize, but she could materialize her battle attire and then dismiss it. In other words, Saber's armor was made of magical energy and wasn't material in the present reality like the clothes Irisviel bought for her to wear.
Moreover, it was incomprehensible that Invisible Air could be broken. Contact with Lancer's spear created a fissure in the bounded field that generated the wind.
"…I see. I've figured out the mystery of your spear, Lancer."
Saber murmured in a low voice.
She reflected once more on the toughness of her formidable enemy.
'That red spear can cut through magical energy.'
However, it wasn't powerful enough to break or cancel the source of the magic. Saber's armor was still intact, and Invisible Air was still functioning properly. Lancer's spear only had an effect the instant it struck the blade.
'Apparently, in that instant, it cuts the flow of magical energy and renders it powerless. In truth, it's not a Noble Phantasm one could boast of for its destructive power, but it has an ability that can be a great threat. It's no exaggeration to say that the quality of a Servant's weapon is determined by the magical energy or magical skills it carries. But in this Lancer's hands, it can be dominant against a Servant who prides themselves on the power of their armament.'
Lancer spoke playfully as Saber finished her reflections.
"You'll have to give up on your armor's protection, Saber. In front of my spear, you're practically naked."
Saber snorted at Lancer's playful words.
"It's a nuisance to see you triumph just for stripping my armor."
Acknowledging the threat of Lancer's spear, Saber still had no fear in her heart. The situation was not yet decided.
At that moment, the silver armor covering Saber's entire body scattered in all directions.
Irisviel gasped in surprise. Lancer watched.
The breastplate, gauntlets, the long skirt-like fringes protecting her legs—nothing remained. Saber had removed her armor herself. The armor fragments scattered into metallic dust and vanished immediately like mist when Saber cut off her magical energy.
"If I can't defend against your spear, I just need to attack. Prepare yourself, Lancer."
In a light blue dress, Saber resumed her stance. Lower, with her sword behind her, she faced Lancer with one leg forward and the other back.
With no regard for defense, this stance was made for a lethal strike that would cleave from one shoulder to the other.
It was clear to anyone that Saber intended to end the battle with the next attack, risking her life.
"That's bold. All or nothing, is it?"
Lancer somehow seemed pleased to rediscover what he'd lost, but the tension was clearly noticeable in his voice.
After removing her armor, Saber didn't just gain agility. The magical energy needed to form and maintain her armor was now available for her attack. This meant a lot for the "Mana Burst" skill Saber possessed.
A "Mana Burst" is the accumulation of magical energy in her weapon and entire body, momentarily injecting an arbitrary vector for an exceptional boost to her abilities. So to speak, it's a jet of magical energy for her movements. She only had the slender body of a small girl, but this was the secret that allowed her to wield her large sword with the combat style of a powerful fighter.
The surplus magical energy could be converted into mobility for close-range combat, but when Saber used all the magical energy needed for her armor in a "Mana Burst," it could grant her six times that bonus in power, speed, and endurance… This was perfect for the destructive power of a single-strike attack.
The disadvantage of losing her armor was outweighed by the advantage of discarding it. This was Saber's conclusion for dealing with Lancer's Exorcising Spear.
A Servant with physical parameters of Rank E, with the "Mana Burst" Saber was using, could even surpass the power of a Rank A by one or two ranks if it was Rank E.
"That heroism. That's a bold decision. I definitely don't hate it…"
Like a matador facing a raging bull, he kept taunting her, lightly swaying side to side in a low stance.
"If I dare say, that was my plan, Saber."
Unfazed by those words, Saber responded with a bold smile.
"How about it. How will you feel after taking this?"
Lancer understood. Saber's next attack would render the reach advantage of his long spear meaningless. If he couldn't grasp Saber's speed, he'd meet his end when she cleaved him in two.
Calmly studying the light movement of her opponent's feet, Saber gauged the timing of her attack. Lancer was likely also estimating the speed of her charge with the density of magical energy she put into her body. But she still had one more secret ready for this…
Gradually, just a little, Lancer's movement weakened.
The asphalt turned to gravel created many obstacles for a good stance. Lancer's movement stalled slightly as he put strength into his legs.
Saber didn't miss it.
A great roar shook the atmosphere. The golden sword, until then invisible, covered the darkness of the night with its brilliance.
Invisible Air, which compresses air and refracts light in an illusion, could be used another way.
The moment the bounded field is released, it can strike the opponent with a single long-range blow with a gale made from the super-high-pressure condensed air.
And this was the application of Saber's plan. The purpose of holding the sword back in a wide stance was for this… to further accelerate the aerial attack.
Released from the golden sword, a jet of air shot from behind Saber. By releasing her armor to further enhance her Mana Burst, her body became a supersonic bullet.
At this point, Saber's speed was three times normal.
It was too late for an ambush or evasion the moment she stepped forward. Even if Lancer's spear could inflict a severe wound on Saber, he'd receive a lethal strike in the same instant. This was surely a strike made to risk her life for a certain victory, ready even to have her flesh cut or bones severed. Breaking through the air wall several times the speed of sound, the shockwave of her charge scattered the surrounding debris like leaves.
Lancer didn't move. Having already given up on an ambush, the red spear's tip didn't waver.
Instead, what moved were his legs.
With an extremely focused mind, the flow of time, even shorter than an instant, stretched and slowed.
In that moment, Saber knew. The opening in Lancer was a bluff. It wasn't by chance that Lancer missed a step; he positioned himself to stop in the right spot.
In other words, the position Lancer chose for his victory was the spot where he switched from two spears to one, dropping the short spear from his left hand.
Lancer's words resurfaced in her mind. 'That was my plan.'
Saber saw in that moment, Lancer's menacing smile when he was certain of his victory. The glint in his eyes spoke louder than his words.
"I'll put an end to your recklessness…"
Instead of grabbing the spear with his arm, Lancer kicked the gravel at his feet. It wasn't just gravel flying into the air. The short spear Lancer had dropped earlier, its tip was bouncing precisely through the air toward Saber. The talisman wrapped around the entire spear, like the long one, was already unbound, revealing the yellow metal beneath.
Saber's sixth sense could theoretically surpass the thought of a natural talent for battle decisions, but it didn't predict her mistake.
Normally wielding a spear with both hands… that was the trap of the misconception. She could only consider as a bluff the ability to have a spear in each arm.
If that was Lancer's way with the spear.
If this Servant was the Heroic Spirit known as the bearer of the "Two Demonic Spears."
Yes, a Noble Phantasm definitely wasn't limited to one.
The short spear Lancer had raised, its tip spinning with magical energy as sinister as the long red spear, aimed at Saber, already foreseeing the instant it would pierce her throat, as she could only charge forward, too late to stop…
*****
"…Damn. This is bad."
Rider, who was standing on the arch of the Fuyuki Bridge overlooking the battle unfolding in the port warehouse district, murmured softly as he stood up.
"What is it?"
Seeing the giant Servant show impatience for the first time, Waver grew agitated and questioned Rider while clinging to the steel structure.
"Lancer unveiled a decisive technique. It seems he wants the match decided quickly."
"Wouldn't that be favorable for us?"
"Fool, what are you talking about?"
Rider stomped his heel on the steel structure he was on with a boom. For Waver, whose entire body was clinging to the frame, the tremor shook him to his bones, and another scream arose.
"I wanted to wait for the battle to develop before everyone arrived, but by the look of the current situation, Saber will be at a disadvantage, and it'd be too late to attack by then."
"Too late? …Didn't you want to attack when everyone was exhausted from fighting each other?"
"…I think you misunderstood something, kid."
Rider furrowed his brows and tilted his head down to look at the Master lying beside his feet, as if disappointed with a humorless clown's performance.
"I was hoping other Servants would take Lancer's bait. Isn't it obvious? Instead of picking them off one by one, it's much better to gather them and have a grand battle royale!"
"…"
Waver forgot to respond; he was shocked to realize the differences between his understanding and that of the brave Heroic Spirit.
"Gather them all… a grand battle royale?"
"Yes. It's such a rare chance to cross blades with the greatest heroes of all ages. If all six are here complete, I won't let a single one escape."
A fierce and dangerous growl like a lion's escaped Rider's throat, but there was a hint of laughter as he curled the corners of his lips upward. Waver realized only this man could have such a smile.
"Now, Saber and Lancer. Both have the blazing spirit of true warriors. I admire them; it'd be a shame to let them die like this."
"What else is there besides killing them?! Isn't that the goal of the Holy Grail Waaa…!"
Waver's slightly hysterical voice was ruthlessly cut off by a slap to the forehead.
"Victory without ruin, domination without disgrace. That's true conquest!"
Rider proclaimed, holding his chest high; then he drew the sword at his waist and slashed the empty sky with a swing, opening the void.
An enormous and radiant Noble Phantasm appeared instantly, accompanied by swirling torrents of galloping magical energy. Waver felt as if he were about to be blown away by the sudden storm, swallowing his screams and hugging the steel structure even tighter.
"The observation is over. Let's join the battle, kid."
Before his words finished, Rider mounted the Noble Phantasm with a leap, his cloak flowing.
"Idiot, idiot, idiot! You're acting senselessly!"
"Huh? If you don't want to go, you can stay here and watch."
"I'm going! Take me along, idiot!"
"Good, that's more like my Master!"
Rider let out a clear laugh, gently grabbed Waver's collar, and let Waver ride behind him.
"Now onward, Gordius Wheel • Authority of the Heavenly Wheel!"
The Noble Phantasm responded to the call of the King of Conquerors with a thunderous tremor.
______________
Final Notes.
Honestly. "Mana Burst" in Fate is more like a mathematical formula from Algebra.
They could simplify it…
But leaving Magic aside.
I really consider Parameters a meme.
Only these Parameters matter:
Mana
Luck
Noble Phantasm
Skills
The Parameters of Strength, Endurance, and Agility almost never matter. Unless you take into account the original Fate, the first one. Where EA has its power multiplied from the Strength Parameter x 20 + Mana. Resulting in 4,000 damage.
I already explained in the early chapters the issues with Parameters like Strength, Endurance, and Agility.