"Now, show me just what kind of hero dares to charge into our territory alone!"
A voice brimming with arrogance boomed from ahead of Shirou and Arthur. Before Shirou could clearly register what was happening, a green streak flashed in front of his eyes, and suddenly a green-haired man clad in armor, wielding a cruciform spear, appeared before them.
He's fast!
Despite having experienced numerous high-speed battles, Shirou couldn't even track the man's movements. His speed had completely surpassed the limits of Shirou's eyesight.
BOOM—!
Sonic booms trailed belatedly behind him, emphasizing that the man had moved faster than sound itself—faster even than the shockwaves that followed him.
Arthur didn't hesitate. Instantly, an invisible sword materialized in his hand, and he assumed a knightly stance, pointing the blade calmly toward the opponent.
"Oh? A Saber, I presume?"
From Arthur's posture alone, the man immediately deduced the weapon must be a sword.
"Could it not be a spear?" Arthur unexpectedly joked in response.
"Hah! Nobody grips a spear like that!" retorted the green-haired warrior, spinning his spear effortlessly. A powerful aura erupted from his body as he held the cruciform spear firmly, aiming it forward, a smug smile curving his lips.
"Don't disappoint me, hero!"
Crash—!
His foot struck the ground, triggering a violent shockwave.
In that instant, the bricks beneath him shattered into fragments as a burst of extraordinary force propelled him forward.
He moved faster than wind could describe—so swift, indeed, that he resembled a green comet streaking across the battlefield. His speed instantly broke the sound barrier, continuously accelerating beyond it.
With overwhelming velocity, he thrust his spear directly toward Arthur's heart.
Only a few Servants could match such monstrous speed.
Clang——!
But just as he thrust, an unseen force intercepted the spear's tip, sending it veering aside.
Unfortunately for the attacker, Arthur was among those few Servants capable of matching such speed—at least in close combat. He may not equal him in raw running speed, but countering his rapid attacks was something Arthur could manage.
"Interesting!"
The green-haired Servant's grin widened. Spinning his spear nimbly, he used the redirected momentum to pivot smoothly behind Arthur, thrusting his spear at the Saber's heart once more.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Bell-like ringing echoed continuously up the stairway, mingling with explosive sonic booms as their blows collided fiercely.
Sparks erupted from each clash of the invisible sword and the spear, illuminating the shadowy forest. The entire area reverberated with the intensity of their battle.
Shirou stood by, observing helplessly. The confrontation between these two Servants was far too swift for him to intervene.
Whoosh—!
Suddenly, an arrow tore through the air like a bullet, dark lightning piercing the night sky.
Its sharp whistle came only after it passed.
Crack—!
A chilling sound erupted next to Arthur.
"Master!" Arthur shouted desperately, glancing toward Shirou's position in alarm.
The arrow had struck precisely at Shirou's head.
Shirou collapsed lifelessly backward, as if all strength had drained from his body.
"Target down," murmured the girl hidden deep within the forest, satisfied.
It had been a supersonic shot—beyond even a sniper's bullet in speed.
"Don't get distracted now!"
Arthur had no time to break away. The green-haired warrior's spear became a blur, thrusting viciously toward Arthur's head once more.
Clang——!
Another sharp clash resounded as sword met spear, sparks bursting forth brilliantly.
"Now, this is what I expect, Saber!"
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Amidst dazzling sparks, the two Servants exchanged blows repeatedly in mere seconds, neither gaining ground.
"Where's…the enemy?"
Shirou, who should've been motionless on the ground, suddenly moved. Reaching up with a hand now stripped of armor, he grasped the arrow lodged in his forehead and swiftly tore it out.
"Master!" Arthur felt immense relief upon realizing Shirou was unharmed. Although the fact that he could continue fighting implied Shirou wasn't dead, the intensity of battle had given him no time to ponder it.
"How's that possible?" the hidden girl muttered in astonishment. How could any human move after a shot to the head?
Yet, had Shirou's skull really been pierced?
Shirou slowly rose from the ground, staring sternly into the forest from which the arrow had come.
At that moment, his helmet crumbled away, revealing a bright red welt on his forehead—the impact left by the arrow's immense force, but clearly not a penetrating wound.
Furious at having failed, the archer gritted her teeth, aiming at Shirou's head again and readying another deadly shot.
She hadn't imagined her attack would fail, managing only superficial damage.
Indeed, Shirou had had no chance to respond; the arrow had reached him faster than he could react.
At that critical moment, seeing the arrow heading directly toward his forehead, Shirou had only one thought:
Block it!
In an instant, the armor covering Shirou's entire body vanished, leaving only the helmet, which shifted instantly into a beast-like visage.
Shirou vividly felt all the defensive power of Incursio concentrating into that single point of impact, trading away his overall protection in exchange for withstanding such a devastating strike.
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T/N: grrr im starting to hate not highlighting...