บท 422: Watching the Show

The gruesome scene inside the room caused Kaguya's eyes to narrow. Several bodies were sprawled out in pools of blood, their crimson life force flowing from gaping wounds, filling the air with a pungent, metallic stench.

But what made it even more horrifying was the inhuman treatment these people had suffered. Their bodies were covered in cuts; some had their eyes gouged out and tongues cut off, while others were disemboweled or even skinned, exposing dark red muscles—a sight straight from hell.

"This is…" Kaguya seemed to realize something, her delicate brows furrowing for a moment before relaxing. "Ah, I see. So that guy has already started his twisted activities."

Kaguya's Star Pupil (Rinne Sharingan) sensed dense traces of magical energy lingering in the air—something far beyond the capability of ordinary people. If she wasn't mistaken, the one responsible for this bloody massacre could only be Ryuunosuke Uryuu and his Servant, the Caster.

At that moment, the faint sound of clashing metal rang out from a distance. Kaguya's expression shifted, and she turned her head toward a nearby warehouse. From there, bursts of light and magical energy occasionally flickered, indicating a fierce battle.

With a light step and a swift push off the ground, Kaguya's graceful figure shot forward like an arrow, heading toward the source of the conflict.

By the time she arrived, the battle had already reached a fever pitch.

In the open area below the warehouse, two figures were locked in combat. They moved with precision and intensity, neither giving an inch, with bright sparks flying from their weapons and razor-sharp gusts of wind tearing through the air, producing a series of ear-piercing sounds.

Kaguya's eyes narrowed as she focused on the two combatants.

One of them had golden hair and a striking appearance, her fair skin almost glowing. Atop her head was a single strand of unruly hair, and her clear green eyes were filled with determination. She wore armor and wielded an invisible sword. There was no doubt in Kaguya's mind—this was Saber, Artoria Pendragon.

Saber's hands moved swiftly as she swung her invisible sword, sending out fierce blades of wind that clashed against her opponent's spear. The sharp sound of metal striking metal echoed as sparks flew from each impact.

Facing her was a short-haired young man with a handsome, chiseled face and a well-built, muscular physique. What stood out most were the two spears he wielded—one red and one yellow—one in each hand. This was Lancer, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne.

He was the famous spearman with the notorious E-rank Luck. His luck being ranked that low was almost impressive—like the equivalent of buying a lottery ticket and not matching a single number, or worse.

But his skill in combat was the polar opposite of his luck. His attacks were incredibly sharp.

With measured steps and precise movements, Lancer's two spears moved with fluid grace, their afterimages blurring in the air. There was no hint of conflict in his dual-wielding technique; in fact, it seemed as though both spears were an extension of his own body, moving seamlessly in harmony.

Saber stepped forward like a released arrow, closing the gap in an instant. She raised her invisible sword with both hands, bringing it down in a powerful strike.

Lancer remained calm. With a flick of his right arm, the red spear cut through the air, meeting Saber's sword head-on. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed, and at the same moment, his left-hand yellow spear shot toward Saber's side like a venomous snake.

Saber's eyes narrowed, and with a twist of her wrist, she parried the incoming spear with a crisp "clang."

Kaguya paused for a moment. Saber's attack seemed slightly sluggish, as if she couldn't bring out her full power. The strike, which should have forced Lancer to defend with both spears, had only been met with one, as if something was limiting her.

Shifting her gaze to Saber's arm, Kaguya finally understood. There was a wound on Saber's arm, and fresh blood was seeping from the gash. The injury had damaged her tendons, which was why she couldn't fight with her usual strength.

Due to her injury, Saber had been pushed onto the defensive, relying on her invisible sword to block Lancer's relentless twin-spear assault. It was clear that she was struggling to keep up.

"You're injured, and you're no longer my match." Lancer smirked as he passed by, his spears flashing in his hands.

"It's too early to say that," Saber replied confidently, gripping her sword with both hands. She swung upward, sending a sharp blade of wind cutting through the air toward Lancer like a lightning bolt.

With a loud clang, Lancer's spear intercepted the attack, scattering the wind blade into nothingness.

Lancer's twin spears were particularly troublesome—his right-hand red spear was designed for breaking through armor, while the left-hand yellow spear, Gae Buidhe (Golden Rose of Mortality), inflicted wounds that couldn't heal. Even healing and regeneration abilities were powerless against its effects. It was this cursed spear that had cut through Saber's tendons, sealing off her ability to use her ultimate move, Excalibur.

Having to constantly guard against both spears simultaneously was undoubtedly taxing on Saber.

"You've already been wounded by the Golden Rose's curse, an injury that can't be healed. You've lost," Lancer said as he spun his spears, his feet digging into the ground as he prepared to charge. "Surrender now, or will you wait until you're completely helpless before giving up?"

"Don't be ridiculous. A minor wound like this is hardly an insult to me," Saber said with a confident smile. With both hands gripping her sword, a powerful gust of wind enveloped her, and her figure blurred as she charged directly at Lancer.

At that moment, a loud crack of thunder echoed in the sky, and bolts of lightning began to appear, flickering ominously in the clouds.

Munching on her cookie, Kaguya's lips curled into a smile. It seemed another arrival had shown up. Her luck wasn't bad at all—so far, she had encountered three of the seven Servants. If she wasn't mistaken, the one approaching now was...