Rumble A massive explosion shook the courtyard, ripping up the ground around the impact, sending sand and rocks flying in every direction. Everyone present stared toward the center strain of debris and dust.
Cú Chulainn flipped backward, landing on his feet, brows drawn in displeasure. On the other side, Artoria gripped her transparent sword with both hands, eyes fixed without blinking on the clearing center of the blast.
Drip drip A pungent smell of spilled blood filled the air, like water trickling from a faucet and splattering loudly onto stone.
Lucien clutched a cracked hardened shield in his right hand. His right abdomen was torn open, and a large pool of blood spread at his feet. He staggered, spitting more blood, body swaying.
Yet at the same instant Lucien's expression hardened. His eyes glowed with cold killing intent. Colorful threads of his regenerative energy spread across his torso. After a few moments, the steam of healing faded — the terrible wound had regenerated completely.
"Who are you?" Cú Chulainn raised his spear, surprise in his voice. He had expected the blow to kill, yet here Lucien stood, alive.
Lucien looked at Cú Chulainn, then to the shocked Shirou Emiya and the woman with golden hair nearby.
"King of Knights Artoria Pendragon." He spoke calmly. He sized them up and realized roughly what world he had stumbled into. This was the world of Fate/stay night, during the Holy Grail War. The moment he had crossed over was the very instant Cú Chulainn had unleashed his ultimate attack on Artoria.
His luck was terrible. And just like that his crossing point had placed him in the middle of this catastrophic conflict.
Cú Chulainn eyed him warily. "Are you also a Servant?"
Artoria's eyes narrowed, suspicion flashing through them rapidly. One Lancer alone was more than enough trouble. A second Servant now would make this far more dangerous.
From a distant rooftop came a strained, hysterical voice. All eyes turned.
From above, a man with short black hair, a scar on his neck, wearing black trousers with a heavy furry overcoat, glared down. His eyes were fierce, like a wolf's locked on prey. He ignored Cú Chulainn and Artoria. His gaze zeroed in on Lucien. That single utterance — about "the Darkness" — was obviously aimed at Lucien.
Lucien's heart sank. He had not checked the almanac or any crossing notes. First, he had blocked a blow meant for Artoria. Now, before he could even catch his breath, his identity was exposed.
"Reincarnator!" he realized, tensing immediately. He would not underestimate cheaters like that.
Li Chong — the figure on the rooftop — simply looked down with disdain, as though regarding an ant. He raised his right hand in silence, then descended pressure upon Lucien.
In the next moment, the night sky cracked open in silence. Blinding firelight pierced the clouds. The entire skyline turned bright as day.
Lucien's mouth hung open. A bead of cold sweat rolled down his brow.
Even Cú Chulainn could not remain calm. "Is that real?" he shouted in shock.
Shirou Emiya cowered to the ground in fear. Artoria's pupils widened in disbelief.
It was a meteor. A huge meteor, a hundred meters in diameter, tearing through atmosphere like a shooting star, plunging straight down with earth-shattering force.
Li Chong's voice echoed: "To die under Heaven Concealing Star is your honor."
Though the action seemed light — a raised hand — the result was apocalyptic. Then suddenly Li Chong's aura faltered. His face turned faint, his power noticeably weakened.
Lucien controlled his urge to strike, instead looking at Cú Chulainn and Artoria.
"What kind of Noble Phantasm summons a meteor?"
Cú Chulainn gritted his teeth. "Are you directing me?" he snarled, voice edged with rage.
"Do you intend to just watch? That man is coming for you as well." He spat at Lucien.
Lucien's stare shifted to Li Chong. His gut told him this man was more dangerous than anyone he'd yet faced — more dangerous even than Zhou Wei or Wang Xu. Summon a meteor with just a gesture.
Unable to resist the threat, both Cú Chulainn and Artoria prepared themselves. Cú Chulainn's body glowed with red energy, the ground beneath him rupturing. Artoria's sword gathered golden energy from the earth and plants, transforming from transparent to solid — the blade of a holy sword forming in her hands.
Across Fuyuki City, Masters and Servants alike looked up at the sky horror-struck. Air-raid sirens screamed. Citizens fled as panic spread. A meteor of this magnitude would destroy the city instantly.
Not far off, a young woman in a red coat and twin pigtails, and a white-haired dark-skinned man beside her, froze, watching the falling meteor. Both looked terrified.
"Nameless, we can't let that meteor strike." The girl — Rin Tohsaka — said urgently.
The man, Nameless, frowned, summoning a bow and arrow. He drew it, arrow aimed at the meteor, ground trembling around him as dark energy gathered. Rin backed away, petrified, as the sky bled red.
Five thousand meters. Four thousand. The meteor drew closer. The wind howled, the city was cloaked in darkness despite the moon.
Meanwhile, beneath the meteor, Cú Chulainn and Artoria maintained their stance, powering up.
Lucien said nothing. His eyes — amethyst — locked on Li Chong's silhouette high above. The cold premonition in his gut screamed: this man was another kind of predator. He watched everything with a calm exterior, waiting for the next move.
He adjusted his stance. This night would not end quietly.
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