Chapter 26

"Who's there?!"

On the opposite rooftop, the golden-haired girl who had been single-mindedly investigating the inscription seemed to suddenly sense something, and instantly became alert like a cat.

Huh?

Xia Zhi was thinking about the next plan, and hearing this he immediately felt a bit surprised; although it's said that in spiritualized state one cannot hide from other Servants, he himself doesn't only have spiritualization this universal Servant skill——

Although he is not a Heroic Spirit, having been summoned as the Assassin Class, he was still granted the corresponding Class Skill.

And because the condition matching this Class should be "suitable for covert action," he speculated that his passive presence-erasure ability was the decisive factor, and was also corrected into the Class Skill.

——Presence Concealment: EX.

Severing one's breath as a Servant, a skill suitable for secret action; not just Magicians, even other Servants find it difficult to perceive.

It can be said that reaching this exaggerated rank, unless one shifts into an attack posture, otherwise it is almost impossible to be discovered…… recalling this skill information granted by the Great Holy Grail, Xia Zhi's heart stirred slightly, and he took no action.

Facts proved he was right; the next moment, an unfamiliar magical energy aura suddenly erupted.

The rooftop door on the opposite building was violently kicked open, slamming hard into the wall with a huge bang, and the figure that leaped out from behind it was a female Heroic Spirit with purple long hair nearly reaching her ankles.

Clad in a set of black clothes and trousers with knee-high boots, her figure was tall and voluptuous; although the upper half of her face was covered by an eye patch, making it impossible to glimpse her full appearance, judging from the lower half alone one could infer this was undoubtedly a rare beauty.

Only, displayed alongside this beautiful figure was a cold and deadly killing intent.

The chain dagger howled as it swung through the air, and under the blessing of her already formidable strength, it tore through the wind currents and headed straight for the red-haired boy's direction.

A very precise and ruthless judgment; two sides fighting, kill the Master first…… but thinking carefully, this actually makes a lot of sense; as long as there's a choice, one would definitely try to kill the Master first, this is the optimal strategy.

Unless it's the type of guy harboring an obsessive pursuit of knightly spirit, who both craves victory and anticipates a frontal clash with the opponent, open and aboveboard, deciding victory or defeat through a fair duel.

This type of person probably wouldn't have such utilitarian thoughts, but generally it's also very hard for them to win till the end.

Facing the fiercely attacking cold beauty, the petite golden-haired girl let out a cold snort, and with a single arrow-step took the initiative to meet her head-on, her hands as if gripping an invisible weapon, making a fierce upward lifting motion.

In a split second, the sound of metal clashing rang out!

Violent sparks also burst forth in the air!

The chain dagger was flung away by overwhelmingly superior force, spinning into the mid-air, but the golden-haired girl's charging momentum didn't stop; seizing the moment she slashed down like lightning, a god-speed strike aimed directly at the enemy's neck.

Clang clang clang!

The sounds of metal clashing intertwined into a deafening melody, crude and piercing, assaulting every listener's eardrums.

That eye-patch-wearing cold beauty reacted swiftly, tightly gripping the chain to instantly recall the short sword into her hand, engaging in a blacksmith-like blade clash with the golden-haired girl like a sudden storm; however, despite her astonishing speed, she was at a disadvantage in the contest of absolute strength, forced to retreat step by step to fend off the offensive.

Something's wrong!

At this moment, Xia Zhi also keenly perceived the strange part, or rather from the instant that golden-haired girl moved, he had already sensed the anomaly, and doubt immediately arose in his heart.

Not too sure, keep watching.

Just——

The battle on the other side didn't continue for long either; that cold beauty seemed to have received some instruction first, frowned tightly, quickly retreated, showing a clear intention to withdraw. At the same time, the golden-haired girl also subconsciously stopped her attack, and repeatedly made gestures toward the rear.

The red-haired boy appeared somewhat blank and at a loss; after several seconds he suddenly realized, and immediately hurriedly followed them in retreat.

Both sides ceased fighting in tacit understanding, each leaving in opposite directions.

Not long after, bursts of clamor came from below the building; it was patrolling teachers leading a team rushing to the scene. However, when they arrived belatedly and reached the top floor, what they saw was only an empty and desolate rooftop.

Early morning, the lingering chill wind of late winter blew gently, the rooftop was silent, not a soul in sight.

"……"

"……"

The crowd exchanged bewildered looks with each other, their faces full of blankness and incomprehension; just now they thought it was some outrageous delinquent students staging a fierce brawl in this area at this early hour, to the point the commotion was so great.

How come when they rushed up in a fluster preparing to stop it, there wasn't a single person?

Could it be some supernatural event? Haunted?

——In a certain sense, it really is haunted.

Despite this, the leading teacher still couldn't fully accept this hypothesis, hesitated a moment, then decided to lead the crowd again to prepare to search down the building floor by floor.

He suspected it was probably those good-for-nothing scumbags, who hid on the lower floors because they heard the sound of them coming up in advance…… and from beginning to end, they seemingly couldn't see the red-purple characters inscribed on the rooftop.

On the other building, like a non-existent ghost, Xia Zhi quietly took all this into his view.

He also didn't rush to leave, but continued waiting in place.

Because according to experience……

Others might also be attracted, then come here to investigate the scene, gather intelligence…… and these would likewise become intelligence for him to collect.

It actually turned out that way; soon another blue figure appeared, vigilantly looked around, then quickly approached the building to investigate the scene. Only, despite being very vigilant, this blue figure didn't detect that a deadly assassin was lurking right beside them.

This standing position is too cool, making one involuntarily want to kick them.

Coldly watching the blue figure, Xia Zhi's mind subconsciously simulated the possibility of launching a surprise attack at this time.

With the most ferocious whip kick poised and ready……

Must seize the instant of shifting into attack state……

Feels like as long as this is done, the success probability would be very, very high……

No, calm down, can't be deceived by this appearance, no matter how you think it can't be that simple, so must also consider the opponent's possible counter-strategies and countermeasures.

If the opponent can react instantly and retreat decisively——

Then must immediately borrow force from the ground, stomp and exert force, like a spring's explosion after storing power, rushing forward at extreme speed while the tightly clenched fist transforms into a hard elbow strike, accurately smashing the opponent's Adam's apple and trachea with the most violent mana burst……

If the opponent chooses to dodge with a side-step movement technique——

Then must rely on preset center-of-gravity adjustment, promptly change moves, swiftly swing the left leg to whip, bombarding the opponent's temple under mana burst amplification; or fiercely raise the knee, accelerating mana like a cannonball, pulverizing the opponent's spinal cord in the back……

If the opponent……

Xia Zhi couldn't help gently shaking his head, thoughts flashing like a gale, his mind instinctively constructing one realistic simulated battle scene after another.

That incomparably rich experience and the recently regained "feel" naturally provided him massive data support invisibly; in just an instant, he seemed to have pre-read dozens of the opponent's possible responses.

Simultaneously intuitively knowing how he should counter, suppressing the opponent with even more fierce move changes like a violent storm.

However... he lightly dismissed this seemingly tempting arrogant thought.

Cannot take risks, cannot be deceived by this appearance, these are all merely illusions.

The opposite side is a hero from past legends manifested, absolutely not some simple character. I don't even have a Noble Phantasm, just relying on a pair of fists, could I really kill a Heroic Spirit with Medea's Magecraft Reinforcement added...

Xia Zhi calmly thought, objectively believing the possibility was not high.

When it comes down to it, the reason he was this cautious was actually still because his understanding of Servants really wasn't that much.

After all, the first time he heard this concept was that night when Vivian rallied from her listless state, the two discussing future strategies and arrangements, and the girl proposed this concept.

——Those heroes who slew dragons and killed gods in the past, who reigned over all things, their meritorious deeds left as legends after death, these existences that heroes who became objects of faith in mythology and legend turned into, are called "Heroic Spirits".

——They are summoned to the Mortal World through rituals, becoming existences that can be commanded, which is "Servants".

Listen! Listen!

Just hearing this sounds like a high-prestige existence, who wouldn't be dazed hearing it, anyway at the time Xia Zhi was indeed very invested, yearning and longing for it.

Even Vivian held high hopes for this, only unfortunately, for some reason, that land of the Fairy Kingdom seemed extremely repulsive to Heroic Spirit Summoning, summons basically all ended in failure, the only current result being the inexplicable summoning of Index.

Until now, inexplicably summoned to this world, participating in this completely unexpected Holy Grail War, he only discovered the enemies he had to face were all unknown Servants.

Those heroes in mythology, monsters in legends, brave warriors on pages...

In short, from that moment on, he made up his mind to maintain an extremely cautious attitude at all times, rather overestimating opponents than letting himself fall into the low-level error of carelessness.

For caution's sake, eat dirt for a few more days.

Xia Zhi seriously thought for a bit, deciding with a profound expression to eat a bit more.

————

————

On the other side, second period had just ended.

On her way back from the music room, Rin Tohsaka unexpectedly encountered Sakura in the corridor.

Seeing the other party carrying some handouts, she hurried forward to help, then the conversation between the two appeared plain and distant, yet with a trace of unfamiliar stiffness, after sending the other to her classroom, she also sighed and turned to leave.

Although she asked by the way about that yellow-haired delinquent's matter that day, she failed to get a substantive answer.

Sakura was also vague about this, saying that person was just lost, although he asked her many things, she also couldn't understand them and such...

Facing this situation, Rin Tohsaka also had no way to force an interrogation, only in her heart she already had her own speculations.

After leaving Sakura's sight, she found a quiet unoccupied place, and summoned the Spiritualized Medea.

"How is it, Caster, Sakura she... is she a Master?"

"Yes."

Without needing to ponder, Medea gave a definite answer: "Although the state is a bit strange, Miss Sakura is undoubtedly a Master without doubt."

Perhaps ordinary Servants wouldn't be able to give such an exact judgment after simple contact, but Medea is different, as a Mage from the Age of Gods, her Magecraft skill far exceeds the average of modern Magicians.

In terms of ability, she is practically at the level of a Mage.

Therefore, she saw through at a glance the hidden problem on that purple-haired girl, certain this girl was likewise a participant, only her current state was slightly abnormal.

"As expected, it's like this..." Rin Tohsaka muttered in a low voice, actually her heart had long leaned toward this guess, this was merely further confirming the authenticity of this matter through Medea's professional judgment.

Although the Command Seals on Sakura produced no reaction upon approach, this cannot serve as decisive evidence, after all the essence of Command Seals is driven by Mana. Once Magic Circuits are sealed or Mana is suppressed, their presence naturally becomes difficult to capture.

Facing the appraisal of two Servants front and back, Rin Tohsaka still believed Sakura was also caught up in this Holy Grail War.

This meant——

The two sisters might eventually have to face each other, deciding life and death.

Her mood grew heavy, last night's relaxed and happy mood from gaining two Heroic Spirits instantly dissipated, replaced by endless heaviness and complexity.

At this moment, Medea's delicate brows slightly furrowed, her gaze quietly turning toward a corner of the campus.

Rin Tohsaka following close behind, although her reaction was slightly delayed, also captured the unusual aura, instantly turning her gaze toward the same direction.

"A fight started..." Medea whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Really started fighting directly? This is a school..." The black-haired pigtails girl's expression instantly became somewhat stiff.

Fortunately, it was only a brief and restrained collision, as if a probing exchange, neither side arrogant enough to raise the curtain on the Holy Grail War in broad daylight, in this school. This sudden confrontation ended immediately, not escalating further.

However, that corner of the campus was already buzzing with voices, many students excitedly discussing, quickly fabricating a series of rumors and versions.

Rin Tohsaka's expression was tense, she had been carefully confirming a certain person's state through the Contract connection, preparing to activate a Command Seal to pull them back at any moment... she had no hesitation, and didn't want that fellow to really have an accident.

Very quickly, that fellow returned.

Outwardly he was calm and composed, as if everything was under control, but the news he brought back was extremely valuable.

"... The Servants of both combatants are temporarily uncertain what Class, among them a golden-haired female Servant, should be using an invisible weapon, size still unclear; the other party is black-clothed black-pants, wearing an eye patch beauty, using a Chain Dagger..."

"... The former displays power and speed both top-tier, the latter agility extraordinary, power aspect although slightly inferior, but currently it seems both are more probing each other, afraid neither has used full strength, estimated not their limit..."

"... Can only confirm one Master, should be a student of this school, characteristic is a head of red hair, looks like someone who exercises often, the other Master did not appear, but I suspect it is Miss Sakura..."

The youth narrated the intelligence he gathered leisurely, without concealment, after all the situation is like this, just need to gently push the boat along the current.

"After they all left, another blue fellow came, currently not too certain if solo or allied with which side, his Master also didn't appear, in short extremely vigilant..."

"Same school student? Red hair? Exercises often?"

Rin Tohsaka pulled her mouth corner, keenly capturing the most useful clue, immediately thinking of a person, could it be such a coincidence?

Such a broken school, actually produced three students chosen as Masters, has the Holy Grail War fallen to such a pathetic state? Can't even select a single qualified adult Magician, or what?

Truly troublesome...

Forcibly enduring the urge to scratch her head, the girl's heart was in a mess for a moment, although with intelligence gradually increasing, the current situation also gradually cleared up, no longer like before where it was pitch black.

However, this is even worse than not knowing.

Xia Zhi carefully observed Master Lady's expression, he indeed brought back all intelligence, also didn't cut head or tail, however sometimes this can actually count as a kind of open scheme.

Making people unknowingly act according to his steps.

After all, seemingly intelligence is plentiful, actually sort it out and you'll discover, currently those able to be targeted for action are only the red hair and Sakura's two groups. And from Miss Tohsaka's reaction, Sakura is very important to her.

So, she actually had no choice.

"Forget it, I should have this kind of realization by now... otherwise there'd never be a chance to wait."

The black-haired pigtails girl gritted her teeth, as if she had made some determination.

"Master, perhaps there won't be a next Holy Grail War..." Medea hesitated, "I went to check Yuan Cang Shan last night in the latter half, and discovered someone made a 'Tumor' on the mountain body, this has already caused the Great Holy Grail's structure to collapse by more than half..."

"What?" ×2

Rin Tohsaka's face was full of shock.

Xia Zhi similarly couldn't stay calm; hearing this news, his first reaction was——

It seems... there's an opportunity to directly refine the entire Great Holy Grail?

(Chapter End)