Chapter 499: Proactive Strike

Outside, Corrupted Archer had already taken a step and continued forward.

They passed through the ruins, reached an open area, and then stopped.

They turned their back to the direction where San Yue Qi and the others were, arms crossed, head slightly tilted upward, as if watching the two Sabers still fighting in the distance.

San Yue Qi looked through the window at that silhouette.

Blackening swirled, dark red light flickered in the shadows of the face. They stood there like a black statue.

(What are they looking at?)

San Yue Qi followed their line of sight—far away, a shockwave raised dust.

The figures of the two Sabers flickered in the dust, fighting in an indecipherable, inseparable clash.

(That black Saber... and this black Archer...)

A terrible speculation sprang up in San Yue Qi's mind.

They were a group.

The aura on that Black Saber and the aura on that Black Archer were identical.

Both bore ominous black magic.

And Archer now stands here, as if raiding Black Saber's formation, and also as if waiting for something.

(This is wrong... very wrong...)

San Yue Qi recalled the Fourth Holy Grail War, when that golden Archer, though arrogant and detestable, was at least a normal Heroic Spirit.

What about this one now?

Blackening swirled, the face was obscured, murderous intent radiated from every side—completely a different person.

(This Holy Grail War... why does it unfold in such a chaotic way again!)

San Yue Qi wailed inwardly.

The previous battle was already abnormal; why is this one even more abnormal?

Who on earth have they offended, that wherever they go they run into such a mess?

But complaints aside, the matter still needs to be resolved.

San Yue Qi stared at that black silhouette, thoughts racing.

This Archer is a huge threat. They stand here, could join the fight at any moment, and could also spot them at any moment.

And in this state, they certainly won't show mercy to them.

Rather than hide and cower, better—

Take the initiative?

San Yue Qi was startled by their own thought.

That's Archer! Hero King Gilgamesh!

Although now corrupted, that terrifying treasury and the countless Noble Phantasms are no joke!

But on second thought—

She can manipulate Time Stop!

San Yue Qi turned back to glance at Linzheng and Lixiang.

Linzheng was huddled in the corner, nervously watching the outside, met San Yue Qi's gaze, and mouthed, "What should we do, banana?"

San Yue Qi raised a finger, signaling her to be quiet.

Then she tiptoed to Linzheng's side and whispered:

"I have a plan."

Linzheng blinked, "What plan, banana?"

"I'll deal with that Archer," San Yue Qi said, pointing outside, "At least lure him away so he won't keep staring at this side."

Linzheng's eyes widened instantly, "Are you crazy, banana?! That's Hero King, banana!"

"I know!"

San Yue Qi waved a hand, "But I have Time Stop! Seven seconds, enough for me to fire a round at him and then run. As long as I lure him away, you two will be safe."

Linzheng was about to say something, but San Yue Qi was already standing.

"Trust me."

Linzheng looked at them, silent for a second.

Then they nodded, clenching a fist, "You must come back, banana! Victory belongs to us, banana!"

San Yue Qi smiled and gave an OK sign.

Before reaching the doorway, she suddenly remembered something and silently said to Clockboy in her mind:

"Clockboy, save a file for me. At this very moment."

"Tick! Understood!" Clockboy replied, "Node recorded! Loser Eats Dust can use Tick!"

San Yue Qi took a deep breath.

She pulled open the broken door.

Outside was even more horrific than what could be seen through the window.

Broken concrete littered everywhere, twisted rebar sprouted from the ruins like dead vines.

Flames burned, black smoke billowed.

In the distance, the two Sabers continued their fierce battle, each collision sending out a shockwave that made the surrounding debris shudder.

Nearby, Archer stood not far away, back to her, facing the battlefield.

San Yue Qi did not hesitate.

She raised her bow, aimed—

Zawa Rudo——!!!

Time Stop.

The world froze.

Archer kept a standing pose, frozen there, and the black aura around their body also stopped moving.

San Yue Qi instantly shot out a dozen Ice Arrows!

Each arrow flew toward Archer's vital spot on the back, tracing a graceful arc in the air, hovering less than a meter from Archer.

Four seconds of time remain.

San Yue Qi turned and ran!

She stepped on the ruins, leapt over cracks, and sprinted at full speed in the frozen world!

She aimed to create distance, preparing for the next round of attack!

One second of time remains.

She ducked behind a broken wall.

Time Resume.

Boom boom boom boom—!!!

A fierce explosion roared from behind!

The dozen Ice Arrows detonated simultaneously, Ice Shards scattering, and cold air spreading!

Archer's position was enveloped by a veil of icy mist!

San Yue Qi stuck her head out from behind the broken wall, anxiously watching that side—

Then her eyes nearly popped out!

What did she see?

Monkeys.

Countless Monkeys.

Those strange yellow creatures with banana tufts on their heads surged out from the earlier exit like a fountain!

Dense and overwhelming, they instantly flooded that area!

Monkey Waterfall!

A genuine Monkey Waterfall!

What the heck—!!!

San Yue Qi almost shouted, quickly covering her mouth.

Above the surging Monkey Horde, a black silhouette floated in midair—Archer!

It was surrounded by dark red mana, and a thin layer of frost covered its black armor—clearly caused by San Yue Qi's Ice Arrows.

The frost was undergoing Corrosion by the black aura, emitting a "sizzle" sound.

Archer's gaze pierced the Monkey Horde, landing precisely on San Yue Qi.

San Yue Qi said nothing, turned and ran!

She rushed into a collapsed building, darting and leaping among the ruins. Behind her, the Monkey Horde's cries filled the air, and their countless footfalls sounded like drums!

Jiaojiao Jiaojiao Jiaojiao Jiaojiao Jiaojiao——!!!

Those Monkeys were chasing!

San Yue Qi gritted her teeth, charged up a slanted building, and climbed upward using the cracks on the outer wall.

The Monkey Horde followed, their yellow silhouettes leaping among the ruins at astonishing speed!

Just as San Yue Qi reached the rooftop, before she could catch her breath—

A sense of danger erupted from behind!

She spun sharply, her body instinctively lunging to the side!

A golden flash streaked past her shoulder, exploding a huge crater on the rooftop behind her!

Shards of stone splintered!

San Yue Qi rolled to her feet, seeing the black silhouette floating in midair far away—

Archer.

It hovered there, and over a hundred golden ripples unfurled behind it simultaneously!

From each ripple protruded the tip of a weapon, each covered in blood‑red patterns, exuding ominous magic!

San Yue Qi's pupils contracted.

No time to think—

MadeinHeaven——!!!

Time Acceleration!

Her own body instantly became light, and everything around slowed down—the speed of Noble Phantasms in flight, the Monkeys' leaping motions, even the drifting smoke in the air became sluggish.

San Yue Qi surged down from the rooftop in the accelerated time!

She fell vertically along the cracks of the outer wall, using a broken window frame to spring, leaping toward the opposite building!

Behind her, the Noble Phantasms rained down like a torrential storm in normal time!

Boom boom boom boom boom—!!!

The building she had just stood on instantly shattered into fragments!

The whole building collapsed, sending smoke plumes skyward!

San Yue Qi landed on the roof of an overturned bus, using the momentum to leap again!

She cut through the smoke and rushed into a relatively intact block.

The effect of Time Acceleration ended.

San Yue Qi turned back and glanced— that area was already completely shrouded in smoke and dust, unable to see what had happened.

The explosions of those Noble Phantasms continued, booming nonstop.

She hadn't even had a chance to catch her breath—

The ground beneath her feet suddenly collapsed!

San Yue Qi was caught off guard, her whole body plummeting down!

In midair she desperately tried to grab something, but everything around was debris, she couldn't grab anything!

「Bang! 」

She fell into a basement, landing on a pile of soft things.

San Yue Qi struggled to her feet, then looked around——

Everything was monkeys.

Hundreds to thousands of monkeys filled the basement.

【133) They stared, eyes wide, blankly watching this uninvited guest who had fallen from the sky.

They stared with wide eyes, blankly watching this uninvited guest who fell from the sky.

San Yue Qi: "……"

Monkeys: "……"

The silence lasted 0.5 seconds.

Then——