"I mean, sneaking up on a girl like this feels wrong, doesn't it? It's against the code of chivalry!" Early in the morning, Astolfo, assigned to monitor Rin Tohsaka and Sakura Matou, was relentlessly pestering his companion's ears.
Robin Hood rubbed his ears, frowning. "Are you really a knight of Roland's era?"
"What's that supposed to mean? Roland's my brother!" Astolfo said, hands on hips, beaming with pride.
Robin Hood sighed. This brother of Roland seemed to lack reason, acting on whims, yet was oddly strict about chivalry, as if he cherished it above all.
"You need to understand, we're not targeting civilians. These are enemies. Once they join the Holy Grail War, child or adult, they've declared, 'I know the risks and accept the consequences.'"
Robin Hood tried to reason... or perhaps brainwash... Astolfo, who nodded slightly but then shook his head. "I still think we should negotiate first. A good talk might lead to mutual understanding!"
Robin Hood barely resisted facepalming. He regretted not objecting to pairing with Astolfo for surveillance. Would this guy defect?
Well, Command Seals should prevent that, but could he still botch the mission?
Robin Hood suspected their team was sent as bait, with him restraining Astolfo. Pairing Astolfo with the chivalrous Lancer Diarmuid would've risked both defecting.
His role was to keep Astolfo in check and serve as a decoy.
Completing the surveillance would be a bonus.
Robin Hood's suspicions grew stronger.
Then, he sharpened his focus.
He spotted their targets.
Two striking girls walked one after the other, followed by an awkward boy, seemingly at a loss for words.
Robin Hood tsked. "They're together, so they're allied? A full alliance, based on the Grail's info. We were summoned as a team because the enemy's setup makes casualties unlikely."
"Eh? So all three are Servants, working together? But based on Master's intel, that shouldn't be!" Astolfo said.
"The Matou head has his own plans, but you can't assume the younger generation follows him blindly. The Master overlooked that the woman, not the head, is the participant.
"I sense a Servant with her, spiritualized but not hiding its presence."
Drawing on his experience, Robin Hood analyzed, frowning. "If they're truly allied, strong enough to trouble the Grail, we're in trouble with just the two of us."
"Trouble? No problem! If we can't win, we just watch!" Astolfo said breezily.
Robin Hood felt helpless but relieved. No need to drag this guy into a sneak attack!
…
Elsewhere.
Hassan of the Hundred Faces swiftly reached the Emiya residence, joined by Berserker Kiyohime, Saber Gilles, and Lancer Diarmuid.
"Take out the lone Berserker while the Masters are at school? Not a bad plan," Diarmuid said, drawing his two weapons: a red spear and a yellow short spear.
Both weapons radiated danger and mystery.
"The best option is to burn this place down, destroying the bounded field," Hassan said quietly.
Hassan glanced at Kiyohime, a seemingly delicate woman exuding dragon and flame auras. She could easily incinerate the area.
"It's just a child inside, right? Even if not human, attacking directly…" Diarmuid hesitated. "I'd rather fight the Servant inside, even if it's for victory…"
He paused. "We can all fight together. No need to involve a child."
"Your morals are high, Diarmuid, but this is war. An armed, living enemy demands caution, or more will die. Drop your needless kindness," Gilles said, glancing at Kiyohime. "With Lady Kiyohime's ability, she can destroy the bounded field without spreading flames. That's our biggest concession, isn't it?"
Diarmuid sighed, nodding. "Fine, I understand."
It was the Master's plan: strike while the Masters were at school to eliminate the lone target.
Kiyohime smiled, stepping forward to use her Noble Phantasm, when the door opened.
The group froze, unsure what it meant.
A man emerged, politely bowing with a hand to his chest, stepping aside.
"Come in. If you want to fight, do it inside."
His gentlemanly smile and elegant suit clashed with the Japanese architecture.
Boom!
Without hesitation, Kiyohime attacked upon sensing his Servant aura. Raging flames erupted, surging toward him.
Her Noble Phantasm, Samadhi Through Transforming Flames, burned herself and everything around... her strongest attack!
But as the flames neared, the man snapped his fingers.
Water streams appeared, swiftly enveloping the flames, compressing them into a small water orb. He caught it, tossed it skyward, and it dispersed with the flames, forming a rainbow bridge under the sun.
The group gripped their weapons. This mysterious man's power was terrifying, and his parameters marked him as just an Archer!
Was an Archer's magecraft this formidable now?!
"Kiyohime, Diarmuid, and a hardcore Jeanne fan," Morpheus said, rubbing his chin, assessing them. He sidestepped, grabbing a blade from behind.
His hand glowed faintly, blocking the weapon.
With a tug, he pulled its wielder from the shadows.
"And a Hassan. So, how'd you show up?"
Catching an Assassin's strike effortlessly and naming them all, Morpheus unnerved the group.
Then, laughter rang out. They turned to Kiyohime, who pointed at Gilles. "Hardcore Jeanne fan... spot on!"
"Jeanne is the greatest! Even gods can't replace her!" Gilles retorted, then asked, "How do you know our identities?"
"I'm decent at divination. A quick reading reveals you," Morpheus said, smiling. "Come in? Fighting inside is safer, fewer craters."
"Ha, you set traps inside and want us to walk in? Don't treat us like fools!" Diarmuid shook his head. "You're alone. Think you can handle us?"
"Alone? There are other Servants here, but I'm enough for all of you," Morpheus said casually, adding, "Not just you four, but the other three too. The Grail summoned seven Servants, right?"
Arrogant words, yet his displayed power... effortless strength... made them feel the gap.
But battles weren't just about raw power!
Diarmuid gripped his weapons, ready to fight, but Morpheus shook his head. "Your weapons? I know them. The red one, from your foster father, has anti-magic properties, only blocked physically.
"The yellow one curses, causing unhealable wounds... supposedly, unless you destroy the Noble Phantasm. But I wonder, is your curse stronger than Christ's blood?"
Diarmuid's face darkened. In Servant battles, intel was key, and his was completely exposed!
"Fine, you won't come in. Let's fight outside. I've cleared the area... no one will get hurt even if you wreck it."
They realized, shocked, that aside from the Emiya residence, the area was devoid of life!
An entire residential district with no one?!
How?!
"What did you do to them?!" Diarmuid demanded.
Morpheus shrugged. "Just dispersed them. Relax, I'm no killer. No interest." He glanced at Gilles. "Who's the Caster summoned this time? Don't tell me it's Gilles."
Their faces shifted, confirming Morpheus's guess. He sighed. "Alright, I'll have to deal with that nuisance too!"
"Need help?" a voice called. Gilles's eyes widened, fixating on the woman who appeared, his face fervent. "Jeanne! Jeanne's really here! Blessed Grail, you didn't lie!"
Hearing the fanaticism, Artoria, who'd come to check, frowned. "I'm not Jeanne. You're mistaken!"
The familiar voice, fanaticism, and similar appearance made her mutter, "Gilles?!"
"Yep, it's him. And trouble: the Grail summoned seven new Servants as a team against us. The Caster's Gilles too. You remember what he did in the Fourth Holy Grail War."
Artoria startled. "Shirou's in danger!"
"Not yet, someone's protecting him. But if you're worried, go check," Morpheus suggested. "I can handle this alone. There's another inside if needed."
"Alright, I'm going!" Artoria dashed off, her Servant physique ensuring a swift trip to the school.
No one could stop her, as Morpheus had sealed the area!
Meanwhile, the ecstatic Gilles contacted Kirei Kotomine, sharing his discovery... likely to inform his Caster self.
Kotomine smiled at Caster Gilles, preparing a ritual. "Congratulations. The enemy Saber is your beloved Jeanne. Fight hard to free her!"
***
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