WHOOSH!
A localized tidal wave of water slammed into Sisigou, the sheer weight of the impact launching him several meters backward across the street. The torrent acted as both a weapon and a flash flood, drenching the surrounding area and turning the debris-strewn pavement into a shallow pool.
"What... exactly... are you?"
Sisigou's voice was strained as his back slammed into the brick wall of a nearby house.
"Hah... whew..."
Fujimaru slumped back against the wet pavement, his chest heaving as he stared at the older man. The street was covered in the jagged cuts from his previous assault, but he noticed that Sisigou's wounds weren't nearly as severe as they should have been given the direct hit.
"Heh..."
Fujimaru's eyes widened as he watched Sisigou stumble to his feet with a pained grin.
"That was... dangerous."
"If it wasn't for this coat... I'm pretty sure I'd be out of the count for good."
Sisigou adjusted his breathing, the sensation of being drowned and slashed simultaneously still lingering on his skin. He reached up and pulled off his shredded overcoat, revealing a specialized leather vest underneath that was glowing with a faint magical residue.
"!"
Fujimaru sensed the weak mana reaction and realized it was a defensive Magic Mystic Code.
"Since I knew this war wasn't going to be a walk in the park, I made sure to invest a significant portion of my assets into protection," Sisigou said, leaning on his shotgun. "It looks like that investment just paid off."
He was relieved. As a mature and grounded Master, he had prioritized survival over raw power. If he hadn't prepared that armor beforehand, Fujimaru's last strike would have either killed him or left him permanently incapacitated.
"A battle between magi... it's a messy, unpredictable thing," Sisigou said, offering a piece of wisdom even as they faced off. "If you try to play by the rules or stay too'proper,'you won't last a second."
"You're fighting against people who have absolutely no regard for common sense or morality."
Fujimaru listened to the older man's advice, but when he tried to stand up, his injured leg refused to cooperate. The wound from the grenade was far deeper than he had realized, and he simply didn't have the strength to push himself further.
"I don't know who your teachers were, but to reach this level at your age... it's terrifying," Sisigou said, his voice hardening as he leveled his shotgun one last time. "But I'm afraid this is where it ends."
"Swoosh!"
Just as he was about to pull the trigger, the sound of something cutting through the air forced Sisigou to leap backward. A cluster of gems struck the ground at his feet, erupting in a series of localized explosions that forced him to retreat further.
"Shirou!"
"Are you okay?!"
'Gem Magic?'
"It seems... the cavalry has arrived. And they aren't on my side," Sisigou noted, his gaze landing on the teenage girl who had just stepped onto the battlefield.
She looked to be about the same age as the boy on the ground, and the command marks on her hand were proof enough of her status. Behind her, a silver-haired girl was already moving to assist Fujimaru.
"Well, well. Suddenly it's three versus one."
"I'm afraid I have no reason to stick around for those odds."
Sisigou was a pragmatist. He had nearly died just trying to handle the boy alone; there was no way he was going to risk engaging two more Masters and whatever Servants they might have in reserve.
'Are kids these days... all this formidable?'
He couldn't help but marvel at the shift in generations. He was a veteran Necromancer with decades of experience, yet he had almost been taken down by a teenager. If the boy had been even slightly more ruthless or experienced, the fight would have ended in a stalemate at best.
"I think it's time for a strategic withdrawal."
Without a second thought, Sisigou turned and sprinted into the darkness of the surrounding alleyways.
"What?!"
Rin blinked, stunned by how quickly the man had abandoned the fight.
"Let him go, Rin."
Fujimaru stopped her as she prepared to give chase. He looked up at Illya, who was already beginning to apply a healing spell to his leg.
"You really are something..."
Rin sighed as she surveyed the destruction.
"Battles between magi are a serious business."
Fujimaru nodded, taking the lesson to heart. Sisigou had used the terrain, guns, and grenades to bridge the gap between their skill levels. It was a harsh reminder that raw technique wasn't enough when your opponent was willing to use every dirty trick in the book. It was his first real experience with such a desperate struggle, and while it had been brutal, he felt a new sense of confidence growing within him.
***
"Heh, as I thought... I'm stronger!"
Mordred laughed, her armor crackling with residual red electricity. Even though her opponent had been able to project her holy sword and match her blow-for-blow, she had ultimately emerged from the clash with the upper hand.
"I see... so that's the difference," Emiya said, looking at the [Clarent] in his hand. "No matter how perfect my projection is, I can't replicate the specific emotions of the original wielder."
"The fact that my copy lost to the original... I suppose I should thank you for the lesson."
He realized that the gap in their power wasn't a matter of mana output; it was the personal hatred Mordred held for her father. That obsession directly fueled the power of [Clarent Blood Arthur], a factor Emiya could never truly mirror. He didn't know Artoria well enough to feel that kind of resentment, nor did he want to.
"Hmph. You're a strange one, but a formidable Servant nonetheless," Mordred replied, dismissing her own blade.
"In that case, I think it's time I got serious as well."
A black bow manifested in Emiya's hand, and Mordred's expression shifted from triumph to pure shock.
"A bow?"
"Wait... you're...!"
The realization wiped the smirk right off her face.
"My apologies. I'm not a conventional warrior. I am an Archer," Emiya said, his calm demeanor infuriating her.
"Are you kidding me?!"
Mordred was fuming. She had just spent several minutes tied in a desperate close-quarters struggle with an 'Archer*? She had taken pride in her martial prowess, but finding out she had been held to a draw by a member of the long-range class was a crushing blow to her ego. A Saber struggling against an Archer in a sword fight... it was a complete embarrassment.
"I'm going to kill you!" she screamed, her face contorting with rage as the red lightning surged once again.
"I'm afraid I won't be giving you another chance to get that close," Emiya said, raising his bow.
"Wait! Archer!"
A sudden, commanding shout echoed through the street, causing Emiya to hesitate.
"That voice..."
Mordred's pupils dilated as she slowly turned toward the source of the command. A familiar figure was stepping out into the open, her posture regal and her presence unmistakable.
"It's been quite a long time... hasn't it, Mordred?"
The face, the voice, the unwavering resolve... there was no doubt. It was the "King" she had been searching for. It was her father.
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]