"To be honest, I quite like you."
Scáthach sheathed her red spear and gazed at Aslan, unable to explain what she was feeling.
Rather than a feeling, it was more like she was influenced?
As if she had already decided to accept this man as her disciple?
Scáthach herself wasn't sure what kind of situation or emotion this was.
It was as if Aslan had already been favored by a higher version of Scáthach.
"But since you don't want to, it's fine. After all, I don't want to create such a big rivalry with your little girlfriend."
Scáthach shrugged and glanced deeply at Manaka.
As a Demi-God living beyond the world, she knew a little about this Root Princess.
"Of course. I don't want my short vacation filled with schoolwork pressure."
Aslan shrugged and held Manaka's hand.
"After all, vacations should be enjoyed and relaxed."
Manaka also quietly leaned against Aslan, showing their intimate relationship.
"If you say that, I'm even more eager to test your abilities."
Scáthach stared carefully at Aslan. A short red spear had somehow appeared in her hand.
"Truly a monster-like existence."
Spirit Core, eyes, heart, privates, legs, back... Although Aslan looked very relaxed, there was no defense anywhere.
But Scáthach's intuition told her that no matter where she attacked, there would only be one consequence.
Provoking this man, whose aura was as strong as a star.
She would be reduced to dust in an instant.
"I'm utterly defeated in terms of physical ability."
Scáthach sighed. She had hoped to die in battle against a powerful opponent.
Not like this—killed like a baby challenging an adult.
"So, do you want to fight or not?"
Aslan tilted his head, looking at Scáthach in confusion. He didn't understand what was happening.
(Wasn't it you who just showed fighting intent? Why did you suddenly stop yourself?)
He still wanted to test his strength.
The previous fight against Saber wasn't enjoyable at all. Artoria's movements looked like slow motion to him.
"Since you've invited me, I won't hold back!"
Facing Aslan's challenge, Scáthach showed a bloodthirsty smile.
An opponent strong in physical combat?
She'd defeated them before. Even beings called immortal—she didn't know how many she'd sent to the world of the dead.
She wasn't someone who feared an opponent just because they were strong. The stronger the opponent, the more excited she became.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
At the same time, at Miyoshi Bridge.
Waver held onto an iron pole, struggling hard to keep his eyes open while preventing himself from being blown by the sea wind. He looked at the harbor area in the distance emitting a massive amount of Mana.
"How is it, Rider?"
"It's troublesome."
Iskandar sat casually on the bridge, speaking while holding his chin.
"They haven't even moved yet, but they're already emitting such a strong aura."
"Eh? They haven't moved yet?"
Waver was shocked. Such massive Mana fluctuations just from breathing, and they hadn't even started fighting?
Iskandar then spoke with a serious expression.
"That woman is very strong—no, extremely, extremely strong. In terms of combat skill, I estimate I couldn't last even a minute against her. Not a single one of my troops could match her in combat skill."
"Truly worthy of being a hero come to save the world?"
"And that man—he's so calm under such pressure. He can't be underestimated either."
"Ah? Calm under pressure? That's not to be underestimated?"
Waver was confused by Iskandar's words.
Wasn't that the most basic trait for Heroic Spirits?
If they couldn't even withstand pressure, how could they be Heroic Spirits?
Iskandar didn't explain. He just grabbed Waver's collar and lifted him like a cat.
"No time, we have to go, Little Master."
"Ah?" Waver froze, and then, seeing Iskandar summon the Ox Cart, he was immediately stunned.
"Wait, what are you going to do? Don't tell me you're going to interfere in the battle ahead?"
"Of course."
Iskandar burst into loud laughter.
"I also want to invite the knight there to become my subordinate. If I don't invite them, wouldn't my coming here be meaningless?"
Hearing this, Waver's face turned green, and he said angrily.
"What nonsense are you talking?"
However, Iskandar didn't care. He carried Waver and jumped onto the Gordius Wheel, shouting.
"Overall, let's go!"
"I don't want to go!!"
Waver's scream echoed across the sky.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The harbor area, Aslan and Scáthach's battlefield.
*BOOM!*
The sturdy asphalt ground exploded, and steel containers shattered into scrap metal. Along with the items behind them, everything was thrown aside.
In the midst of rapid movement, Aslan's fist stopped several centimeters in front of Scáthach's face. The wind from his punch blew her bangs and smooth, silken purple hair.
"As expected, Shishou's speed is still too slow."
Aslan pulled back his fist and said slightly awkwardly.
The atmosphere in this world and in Little Garden was a bit too different. After all, the wind from his punch should have only blown hair.
If he hadn't held back his strength outside Little Garden, he might have caused a tsunami.
Although Scáthach's speed was fast, it was only several times the speed of sound.
Whereas when Aslan trained with Karyou and Leticia in Little Garden, their speeds could nearly reach light speed under the influence of Divinity.
Scáthach felt her hair slowly falling. The excitement in her eyes could no longer be contained. It was almost overflowing.
At that moment, she truly smelled the scent of death.
If Aslan hadn't suddenly held back his strength, he would have fulfilled her wish.
No, now her wish had changed. She wanted to die in a life-or-death battle with Aslan.
Not killed in a way like this.
"Truly strong like a monster."
Scáthach sheathed the short spear she hadn't even swung. This gave her a deeper understanding of Aslan's physique.
This might be the level where he could level mountains and split oceans with physical strength alone.
Even in the Age of Gods, Scáthach had never heard of an existence whose physical strength could rival Aslan's.
"Hahahaha!"
A heroic roar sounded, accompanied by thunder and the sound of rotating chariot wheels. A war chariot crashed from the sky to the ground.
"Before their king, both sides must sheathe their weapons."