Saber
The cold moonlight cascaded down like a silver thread, penetrating the dock area. Boots high on the ankle trod on the cement floor, producing crisp sounds with each step.
Two women arrived, one dressed in a high-end white autumn coat made of fur, wearing a white high hat on her head. Her snow-white long hair flowed like a waterfall, resembling a snow spirit.
Despite appearing to be an elegant and dignified woman, her crimson eyes revealed a childlike clarity, making it difficult to judge her true age.
The other woman, slightly smaller in stature, wore a sharp black suit that highlighted a neutral and competent demeanor. Golden ponytails swayed behind her, while her delicately indifferent face was adorned with a cold expression. Her pale golden eyes revealed a chilling intent.
'Lily...'
Arkhan sighed inwardly as he looked at that face, so familiar it couldn't be more familiar. His eyes showed a hint of complexity.
Although he had prepared himself before their meeting, seeing her in person still left him feeling a bit dazed.
No words were needed.
Just one look confirmed that the Artoria before him was definitely not the same person as his blood-related sister. Moreover, the Artoria from his original world had no reason to participate in the Holy Grail War in the first place.
Nevertheless, looking at this familiar face, Arkhan couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity. However, when he noticed her cold demeanor and the perfectly shaped head without any 'Ahoge', his brow finally couldn't help but furrow.
'Alter, huh...' Arkhan sighed.
"Displaying one's gaze so unabashedly is undoubtedly an act of provocation." The woman in the black suit—Artoria, stared at Arkhan with cold eyes. "As you wish, arrogant one, I'll give you defeat."
His gaze, however, did not turn towards Artoria. It shifted to the white-haired woman beside her.
"Irisviel, why is Saber like this?" Arkhan asked with a hoarse voice.
Irisviel, along with Kiritsugu, who was hiding with a sniper rifle on top of a nearby container, was shaken.
'Does this unknown Servant know Saber?' Kiritsugu with shock thought to himself.
"Saber, do you know him?" Irisviel quickly whispered to the indifferent woman beside her.
Artoria frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then shook her head.
"No, I've never seen him."
"Answer my question, Irisviel."
Arkhan tossed aside his magical energy reactor, which immediately disappeared into the alternate space created by Cosmic Juggernaut. He jumped down from the container, sternly staring at Irisviel as if a parent interrogating their child.
"Under normal circumstances, Saber should never look like this. What did you do when summoning her?"
Space magecraft? Was this Servant a Caster?
Every Master who observed this place through their familiars couldn't help but think the same.
"Wait, Saber, he seems to really know you and looks familiar with you."
Irisviel carefully tugged at Artoria's sleeve, her eyes showing a fearful and worried look like a startled deer.
As a homunculus created by the Einzbern family specifically for the Holy Grail War, this was Irisviel's first time stepping into the outside world. Already nervous and scared, she appeared even more fearful and uneasy in the face of Arkhan's demanding questions.
Artoria frowned slightly, took a step forward, shielded Irisviel behind her, and stared indifferently at Arkhan.
"I'm not the person you know."
Hearing her response, Arkhan squinted his eyes slightly.
While Irisviel and Kiritsugu might interpret her statement as a normal response of the honorable and chivalrous King of Knights, he knew she meant something more fundamental.
Without a doubt, this 'Artoria' from normal history had already seen through his origin.
"Lancer, do you know the identity of this Servant?" Kayneth's voice soon echoed in Arkhan's ears.
Arkhan remained silent for a moment before responding.
"She's the same as me."
'The same as him?' Kayneth pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized. 'That Servant is also King Arthur? But why would Arthur be a female? And that cold and indifferent demeanor, it's nothing like the kind and wise king in the legend!'
Watching the confrontation between the two Servants, Kayneth's expression became somewhat peculiar.
Parallel-world Arthur fighting a female version of Arthur—this scene was just bizarre.
Arkhan's gaze seemed a bit complicated. Even though he knew the current Artoria wasn't the one he recognized, looking at her current demeanor, unnamed anger still surged within him.
He could almost guess how things had unfolded.
Kiritsugu probably added some kind of trick during the summoning, perhaps something like 'Mad Enhancement', turning the noble and virtuous King of Knights into this current state known as 'Alter'.
The Einzbern family was one of the three founding families that created the Holy Grail War. Like the Matou family, they were involved in technical aspects. Since even the Matou family possessed an advanced method like the 'Book of False Attendant', it wouldn't be surprising if the Einzbern family had left some backdoors.
"I don't know what kind of relationship you have with my old self, but let me make it clear—don't expect any mercy from me. The Holy Grail belongs to me!"
*Thud!*
Artoria suddenly stepped forward, accompanied by a strong gust of wind.
Her black suit instantly transformed into a black magical armor covered in dark red patterns, with an invisible sword held in her hand. A terrifying and tyrannical aura spread, as if a ruthless ruler had descended upon the earth.
"You're not my match." Arkhan said calmly as if stating the obvious.
"You underestimating me?"
Artoria's pale golden eyes flared with anger as if invisible blades seemed to be hidden within them. In this blackened form, though her heart and soul remained unchanged, freed from the constraints of her usual mindset, her emotions were more evident than ever.
Undoubtedly, Arkhan had thoroughly provoked her.
Without hesitation, Artoria stomped the ground, shattering the sturdy cement road. Like a projectile, she charged at him.
The airflow created by the swings of her invisible sword turned into a violent wind, akin to a thousand sharp blades heading toward him.
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