"A single strike unleashing power akin to magic... are you a magus who has reached the realm of True Magic?"
In the Nasuverse, magic and magecraft are distinct concepts.
Simply put, magecraft is what humans can achieve, like destroying a mountain... something modern weaponry could also accomplish.
In contrast, reviving the dead or time travel, powers beyond the current era, are defined as True Magic.
But if one day humanity invents a time machine, time travel would cease to be True Magic and become magecraft.
So, what had Snow Empress done to make Artoria believe she had reached the realm of True Magic?
"If not for Avalon, I'd be like Lancer... dead."
When Snow Empress's cold invaded her, Artoria sensed it.
This wasn't ordinary cold or heat.
"That palm strike contained the concept of absolute zero, didn't it?"
Absolute zero is the lowest temperature in thermodynamics, where particle kinetic energy drops to the quantum mechanical minimum.
At absolute zero, matter collapses, and all becomes nothingness.
Even light would halt under such power.
No exaggeration... this girl was a walking calamity.
Anything touched by her power would have its rules instantly erased.
And without rules to anchor them, what happens to a Heroic Spirit?
The answer was clear.
Lancer's Saint Graph was directly destroyed.
Even his two Noble Phantasms couldn't escape annihilation.
"Interesting."
Snow Empress wasn't angered by Artoria's insight into the essence of her Emperor's Palm; instead, she said with intrigue, "This Avalon you mentioned... is that the scabbard within you?"
"A special blessing that keeps you in a certain state, eternally unchanging."
"I see."
"Though my Emperor's Palm didn't hit you directly, your quick recovery shows that Avalon's scabbard has some merit."
Damien held some fondness for the King of Knights.
If possible, he had considered contracting her as a familiar to bring back to the Cardinal World.
Thus, Snow Empress hadn't aimed to kill Artoria, only eliminating the troublesome Diarmuid with one strike.
"Come, the nuisance is gone."
"Now, let me witness the martial prowess of the King of Knights."
As Snow Empress spoke, a longsword forged of frost materialized in her hand.
"Emperor's Sword: Peerless Ice!"
Without hesitation, Snow Empress unleashed one of her three ultimate techniques, the Emperor's Sword.
The river froze rapidly under the chilling wind, as if time itself had stopped, the surface now a crystalline sheet of ice.
The once-glimmering river became a massive ice block, and cherry blossom trees swaying on the banks were frozen in place.
Ice beads hung from their branches, gently swaying, producing a crisp sound.
Huff~~
Exhaling a frosty breath, Artoria glanced at the trembling Irisviel.
From the bridge, the world below seemed plunged into a harsh, silver-clad winter.
"Saber..."
"Irisviel, are you okay?"
"I-I'm f-fine..."
The bone-chilling cold made Irisviel's teeth chatter, unable to form a complete sentence.
Fortunately, she only felt the cold.
Anyone else, like Lancer's Master, Sola-Ui, would have turned into an ice statue by now.
Irisviel's safety was due to Snow Empress honoring her promise and her desire for Artoria to fight her without distraction.
"Hold on a little longer... I'll end this fight soon!"
But Artoria's condition was poor.
Thanks to Avalon's scabbard, she wasn't heavily injured.
Yet the Emperor's Sword had drained most of her mana in an instant.
Now, she could barely maintain Invisible Air, let alone unleash a beam attack.
"As expected, the Emperor's Sword alone can't defeat you."
The Emperor's Palm required close contact, its power greatly diminished at a distance.
The Emperor's Sword, while less potent than the Palm, didn't reach the level of True Magic.
But that didn't matter.
Snow Empress had no intention of killing Artoria.
She used the Emperor's Sword purely to create an ideal battlefield.
"Come, no fancy tricks."
"A swordsman speaks with their blade."
Snow Empress raised her icy longsword, descending like a divine maiden. "I, too, will face you only with my sword."
By indirectly sealing Saber's beam attack, Snow Empress ensured a pure swordsmanship duel.
"Fine!"
Artoria had no choice.
Her only option was to accept Snow Empress's trial.
However...
"By the power of the Command Spell, Saber, retreat immediately!"
"???"
The sudden recall of a Heroic Spirit enraged Snow Empress and left Artoria in disbelief. "Kiritsugu, you bastard! I refuse to retreat!"
Artoria wasn't eager to fight Snow Empress.
Her concern was Irisviel.
If she fled, what would happen to Irisviel?
"You can't take her."
Snow Empress was furious.
Her rare battle spirit had been interrupted, and she wouldn't let them leave without a price.
"Kiritsugu! I have to take Irisviel back!"
"Saber, I order you to retreat."
"Kiritsugu, you bastard!"
Irisviel was his wife!
Abandoning even his own wife... Kiritsugu Emiya, are you even human?
"Retreat!"
The Command Spell's power was absolute.
Artoria had no choice.
Even resisting, she couldn't save Irisviel from under Snow Empress's nose.
"Tch."
Though displeased, Snow Empress assured, "Rest easy... this woman will be fine."
"Thank you."
Artoria gave Snow Empress a grateful look before being forced to leave.
How laughable.
Snow Empress, the enemy, showed mercy, sparing women and children.
Keeping Irisviel was merely a matter of pride.
Yet Kiritsugu, the self-proclaimed champion of justice, always turned on his own.
First his father, then his mentor, and now even his wife abandoned.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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