章 510: C510
Everyone was in shock.
Assassin, asking a fresh-out-of-the-tank homunculus to take on Avicebron, a Servant?
Isn't this joke a bit too much?
The scene left everyone taken aback.
A moment later, Vlad III, being the king he was, regained his composure first.
He looked at Shirou, frowning, a hint of wariness in his eyes.
Astolfo looked at Shirou in disbelief, "A, Assassin! Even if you aren't on my side, you don't have to play me like that, do you?"
"It's not a game, Astolfo." Shirou shook his head and smiled.
The homunculus stepped forward, gripping his sword tightly, his gaze locked onto Avicebron with the intensity of a newly born tiger.
Astolfo's eyes widened, and he quickly jumped in front of him. "Hey, hey, hey! You can't seriously be thinking of taking on Caster, right? Stop joking, he's a Servant!"
"That man was right... Only by taking action can we shape our future!" Breathing heavily, the homunculus turned to Astolfo and said, "Thanks for your help, hero."
Astolfo, clearly flustered, glanced over at the still-smiling Shirou, "What on earth did you do to him?"
"I just ignited the flame of freedom in his heart,"
"You want to kill me?" Avicebron looked in disbelief at the homunculus slowly approaching him.
Could anything be more ridiculous?
A being, whose destiny should be in his hands, now trying to defy him for its own survival?
How preposterous could this get?
However...
"You want to kill me? A mere puppet wants to kill me? Fine! Let's see you try!" Avicebron shouted in a fit of rage.
He wasn't an immature person, but the current situation had muddled his mind.
How could such a ludicrous thing happen in the world?
The homunculus, with determination evident in his clenched jaw, held his blade and steadily approached Avicebron.
"A farce... a grand farce... such a farce is happening in my territory," Vlad III sighed.
Suddenly, Darnic, who was next to Vlad III, changed his expression and urgently whispered, "My lord, we have a problem! The scout familiars I placed at our borders have been wiped out. The Red faction is on the move!"
"Hmm?" Vlad III's face darkened as he asked seriously, "What's the situation?"
"We've spotted a lone giant approaching our territory... It's most likely the Red's Berserker," Darnic responded.
Vlad III looked out the window, his gaze drawn to the vivid and fiery sunset in the distance.
With a "snap", he abruptly stood up from his throne, stating gravely, "The entertainment for me ends here. The clarion call of war has arrived!"
"But Lancer..."
Astolfo began, but Vlad III's piercing look stopped him cold. "That's an order!"
Astolfo closed his mouth.
"So, how do we deal with this homunculus, Lancer?" Avicebron asked.
"We'll put that matter on hold. We will decide after tonight. Do you have any objections, Caster?" Vlad III asked.
"No, I trust your judgment," Avicebron said, nodding in agreement.
As tension began to dissipate, the homunculus set his sword aside, his breaths coming in ragged. Cold beads of sweat appeared on his brow.
Shirou patted his shoulder, saying, "Don't forget this emotion, the feeling of being alive."
The homunculus met his gaze, gratitude flickering in his eyes. "Thank you..."
Vlad III rose, his voice commanding the room, "The Red faction is on the move. Stay calm and don't be afraid. I'll fight with all of you."
"My lord..."
Darnic looked at Vlad III, feeling reassured in his heart. This was the greatest hero of Wallachia, whose feats in war had earned him the fearsome title of the 'Impaling Prince' among the Turks. His demeanor and abilities were more than enough to inspire confidence.
Receiving the details from Darnic, Vlad III began plotting their counter-offensive.
He first sent Heracles to confront the Red Berserker, followed by deploying Arjuna and Astolfo to face the threat, all while having Avicebron provide support from the rear.
To show fairness and put both Astolfo and Avicebron at ease, he placed the homunculus, A-11072, in a special room under surveillance.
He then extended an invitation to Saber, a fellow king, to stand side by side against the impending threat.
But before doing that, he stared intently at Shirou and questioned, "Assassin, are you a king or a rebel?"
Vlad III had keen eyes; he had caught the subtle act of empowerment that Shirou had bestowed upon A-11072. To him, it was undoubtedly an act of treachery.
And this question wasn't just Vlad III's but also Saber's.
Shirou responded calmly, "By your standards, my actions might indeed paint me as a rebel. However, being a king isn't just about ruling or imposing one's will."
He took a brief moment before adding with a smile, "Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Fujimaru Shirou. Both a king and a hero of the weak."
...
The setting sun cast a deep crimson hue, painting the sky in shades of rose.
In the eastern part of Trifas City's forest, a man moved effortlessly, a gentle smile gracing his face.
He was the embodiment of power. His physique resembled that of a battle-hardened war machine. His pale skin, littered with scars, bore testament to countless training sessions and hard-fought victories.
His muscles looked like they were carved from steel. While a blade might leave a superficial scratch, drawing a bit of blood, it would hardly dent him.
His arms, sturdy as tree trunks, spoke of raw power. Even without clothing, it was evident that his chest was as fortified as any armor. His legs, in motion, were as tough as those of a mammoth.
Despite the tightly wrapped belts around various parts of his body, including his face, the man showed no signs of pain and even wore a joyful smile.
And why would he need armor? His physique alone was his best protection. Strong as a fortress!
As he darted through the forest near Tolifas in the dimming light, every step he took seemed to scream 'Freedom'.
It was a strange sight, as if stumbling upon a giant squid on land. The man and the forest just didn't seem to belong together.
And this man was none other than the Red's Berserker, Spartacus!
"Berserker, stop! Stick to the plan!" Red's Archer, Atalanta, leaped gracefully from one tree branch to another, constantly shouting at him.
"Hahahaha! Oppression cannot stand, Archer. I must march towards that castle. The cries of the weak and the stench of their oppressors beckon me. I will stand with the weak, to their side, I must go, to break their chains," roared Spartacus with a wild laugh.
Atalanta shot back, her voice tinged with annoyance, "You idiot! It's not that you aren't allowed to act, but you must act according to the plan. Just restrain yourself for a moment, why can't you understand that?"
A voice chimed in, "Well, he is a Berserker. Talking to him is one thing, getting him to listen is another."
Whirling around, she saw the Red's Lancer, Karna, keeping pace not far behind.
A playful voice added, "Guess there's a reason he's called a Berserker, huh, big sis?"
She didn't need to look to recognize that cheeky tone. She knew exactly which rascal it belonged to.
The playful tone was clearly that of the Red's Rider, Achilles.
Ignoring him as he rode his chariot, she shifted her attention back to Karna. "So, what about the plan?"
Karna calmly replied, "The priest believes that using Berserker to break their defenses will provide an opening for Rider to kill Eternal King."
She frowned, "If we deviate from the original plan, it may complicate things. The Black side will most likely keep Eternal King as their trump card, hidden. Without following the plan, it might be hard to find him."
"No. Unless Eternal King reveals himself or a Servant related to Eternal King descends, the Black side won't know that Assassin is Eternal King," Karna said evenly.
"Why are you so sure? Didn't you mention that the Black's Archer is aware of Eternal King's identity?"
"Just as Arjuna understands me better than I understand myself, I understand him better than he understands himself. And knowing his pride, Arjuna wouldn't reveal Eternal King's identity unless the King himself did," Karna clarified.
"I see..."
She gave a thoughtful nod.
While she didn't understand the relationship between Arjuna and Karna, she had witnessed her fair share of destined rivalries over the years.
"bang, bang, bang..."
Suddenly, the ground ahead shook with the force of an earthquake.
...
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