In the luminous screen...
[Blood-red spears pierce the air...]
[Under the moonlight——]
[The blue spearman spins and leaps!]
[Camera flashes]
[Emiya Shirou has completed the summoning contract for Saber, the final Servant of this Fifth Holy Grail War.]
[At this point, the Fifth Holy Grail War has officially begun.]
["From now on, my sword shall be with you, and your fate shall be mine. The contract is now sealed!"]
["Contract? What contract?" Emiya Shirou muttered to himself, but Saber had already turned and leaped out of the warehouse shadows without hesitation.]
[Wait, stop—Emiya Shirou hurriedly stood up and followed Saber's footsteps into the courtyard, only to be stunned by the scene before him and left speechless.]
[Under the aura of death, Emiya Shirou reacted immediately—]
[That was at school, where the terrifying atmosphere had nearly forced him to face death...]
[The pursuer had come again!]
[In the courtyard, the moonlight vanished behind the clouds, and darkness enveloped once more. An invisible sword and a spear intertwined in the air, colliding with brilliant sparks.]
[Lancer Cú Chulainn, the silent hunter, launched a fierce assault on Saber.]
[Yet Saber effortlessly deflected the spear's attacks with a sweep, repeatedly parrying the thrusting spearhead and forcing Lancer into desperation.]
["Despicable coward, why do you conceal your weapon!" Lancer Cú Chulainn cursed angrily.]
[However, Artoria paid no heed to Lancer's roar. She moved like a dancer in a storm, advancing courageously. Swords danced like weaving, sparks flew everywhere, and the night sky was adorned as if in a dream. Lancer Cú Chulainn transformed into a shadow, barely evading Saber's fatal blows, while Saber's sword sliced through the sky and shattered the ground.]
[...]
[Bullet Comments]
[Agravain: Though I never imagined it this way, I finally witness my king's heroic figure!]
[Mordred: Father... will surely sweep all before her!]
[Gawain: Well, though my king has been a Heroic Spirit for only a short time... I may not judge accurately, but the way my king concealed her weapon... it must be a Noble Phantasm...]
[Sōji Toten: That's right... From what I understand, being able to hide a weapon's shape and length is indeed highly advantageous in battle...]
[Aozaki Aoko: Moreover, it seems this wind also grants other forms of enhancement. Truly worthy of being... how should I put it... the leader of the three knight classes in the Holy Grail War—Saber!]
[...]
Amid the crowd's discussions, as the sound of the weapon surrounding Altria rose—
In the luminous screen,
Lancer, Cú Chulainn, who was battling Altria, also realized the same thing:
["Don't push your luck!" Lancer frowned and warned.]
["What's wrong, Lancer? If you halt, the name of Lancer will weep for it. If you won't come, I will." Saber stopped and stared coldly at her opponent.]
["Hmph, did you come here to die? That matters not. But before that, I have a question. Your weapon... is it a sword?" Lancer stared at the invisible sword, doubt in his eyes.]
["Who knows? Perhaps it's a battle-axe, a spear-sword, or even a bow. What do you think, Lancer?" Saber's lips curled into a mysterious smile. Though she is the Knight King, Artoria also possesses a warrior's most fundamental skills.]
["Hmph~" Cú Chulainn slowly tilted his spear slightly downward. "This is our first meeting. How about we stop at an appropriate moment——"]
[Cú Chulainn's gaze passed Saber and fell upon Emiya Shirou, who was shocked and still somewhat overwhelmed...]
[—"Look at your Master—he clearly cannot bear such a heavy burden. And my Master is also a coward unwilling to show himself. I look forward more to our duel when we are both fully prepared."]
[I refuse! Saber's voice was firm. Lancer, I will end you here and now!]
[Bullet Comments]
[Diarmuid Ua Duibhne: ...I am somewhat distressed... Are you going to retreat like a loser? ...I thought you could somewhat redeem Lancer's name...]
[Aozaki Aoko: It seems Lancer is the "Child of Light," but... this isn't his strongest form as Caster. Is that too much of a stretch?]
[Andersen: He can't stay cool for more than three seconds! But I always feel... there's a twist!]
[Cú Chulainn: Hmph~ @Andersen, you have a good eye... How could my strength be so limited...]
[...]
At the same time——
[The light and shadow in the luminous screen shift!]
[Lancer's posture slowly lowered, and the next instant, with the red spear at its center, magical energy transformed into a vortex and began to roar!]
["Your heart, I take it!" Lancer kicked off the ground like a beast and instantly closed in on Saber. Yet, surprisingly, the spear thrust at Saber's feet.]
[With a light leap, Saber nimbly evaded Lancer's attack. However, in the next moment——]
["Gáe Bolg (Barbed Spear That Pierces with Death)!" Lancer's Noble Phantasm suddenly activated, and the spearhead, originally pointing downward, twisted in an unnatural direction, aiming straight for Saber's heart!]
["Swish!" A sharp sound of tearing air rang out, and Saber was sent flying by the tremendous force, blood spraying into the sky like wine.]
[Bullet Comments]
[Knights of the Round Table: ? ? ?]
[Gawain: Actually... actually wounded our king... and this blow, the injury is likely severe...]
[Agravain: Damn... I wish I could descend personally to aid my king... Is there no way?!]
[Merlin: Hmm, if Altria had a dining table with the Knights of the Round Table, she might possess similar abilities...]
[Mash: Wait... that sounds familiar...]
[Tōsaka Tokiomi: @Emiya Kiritsugu, but given the plot's progression, Saber may not survive this round...]
[...]
Timeline of the Fourth Holy Grail War.
Emiya Kiritsugu closely follows the story of his adopted son, Emiya Shirou, who clings to his philosophy of "hero of justice"...
A flicker of loss passes through his resolute eyes...
As a Magus Killer...
Even through the luminous screen, he can roughly sense...
Shirou's magical energy is far too low...
It seems Saber's overall strength has dropped several levels compared to when she was under his command...
Why... as his adopted son...
The hope of his future philosophy...
Why is Shirou's ability so poor, almost that of an ordinary person?!
At this moment, Kiritsugu, still a participant in the Fourth Holy Grail War with firm beliefs, cannot comprehend it at all...
[...]
[After enduring this Noble Phantasm, though Saber was severely wounded, Lancer did not immediately pursue her, following his Master's orders...]
[Saber was able to undergo basic healing.]
[...]
As the video in the luminous screen continued to play...
Seeing Saber out of danger, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Timeline of the Fifth Holy Grail War——
Emiya Residence
Looking back on the events that occurred not long ago...
Now, with a completely different mindset after learning more about the "inside story" of the Holy Grail War, Emiya Shirou and Altria also gaze at the luminous screen with a mix of nostalgia and emotion...
"By the way, it was because of your combat experience, Saber, that you avoided that seemingly fatal blow, right?"
Emiya Shirou looked at Saber with some curiosity. When this had happened before, his understanding of Servants was zero, and he was in danger and confusion...
There had been no chance to think further...
"Yes, Shirou."
Artoria nodded,
"As an inherent skill—Intuition..."
"The ability to instantly determine the 'optimal action for oneself' in battle. One can even enter the realm of 'predicting the future.' One can predict trajectories through the sound of the wind and intuition, evading projectile attacks. Interference to vision and hearing is halved."
"..."
"So, Saber, you predicted the future and dodged that strike?!" Emiya Shirou was astonished.
"...Not entirely..." Artoria shook her head again, "This Noble Phantasm [Gáe Bolg] should be a sure-hit..."
"But——"
A smile spread across Altria's lips:
"Lancer's Luck parameter, I suspect, is only E..."