Chapter 544: Too Abstract

Berserker charges again!

This time its speed is faster, and the gust from its fist whirls the surrounding pebbles up!

Saber grits her teeth and meets it, sword and fist colliding again!

Clang!

Clang!

Each strike makes her arm tingle, yet she does not step back.

Yuanban Shichen is behind her, swinging both hands continuously, gems flying out like raindrops!

Various magic is cast upon Saber, aiding her fight!

But Berserker seems tireless, each punch stronger than the last!

Saber grows increasingly alarmed as she fights.

What on earth is this guy?

Her sword cannot cut through its armor; its power is absurdly great, and that aura—completely outside any heroic spirit system she knows.

It's not Celtic.

It's not Norse.

It's not Greek.

It's not any hero from myth or legend.

Just then—

Berserker suddenly retracts its fist and steps back.

Saber is startled for a moment.

Then she sees—

In Berserker's right palm, a crimson light is gathering!

The light grows brighter and longer, finally forming a—

Light Sword!

A crimson Light Sword!

Saber's pupils suddenly contract!

What is that?!

Berserker grips the Light Sword tightly, V-shaped Red Light Lock targeting her.

Then—

It rushes forward!

Saber instinctively raises her sword to block!

Clang—!!!

Crimson and golden light clash, illuminating the entire mansion!

Yuanban Shichen stands at the rear, and while Saber and Berserker grapple, his gaze remains fixed on Jiantong Shen'er leaning against the wall.

The madman, though wounded, is still smiling.

That smile sends a chill down one's spine.

Yuanban Shichen lifts his staff and activates magic again!

Several gems shoot out, tracing arcs in the air, firing at Shen'er from various angles!

This time Shen'er is prepared.

He swings both hands repeatedly, violet‑black mana coalescing before him into layer upon layer of Insect Shield!

The insects writhe wildly before him, weaving into an impenetrable wall!

The gems strike, exploding!

The insects are blown to pieces, black fluid splattering everywhere!

But new insects immediately surge forth, filling the gaps!

Shen'er leans against the wall, panting heavily, yet his smile grows even more manic.

"Useless! Useless! I have the power my grandfather left me! The insects never die! Never die!"

He raises his hand, and the black blood oozing from his wounds suddenly writhes, turning into countless tiny Insect Shadows that surge toward Yuanban Shichen!

Yuanban Shichen swings his staff, and a golden barrier reappears, blocking those Insect Shadows.

But his brows knit together.

(This guy... can no longer be considered human.)

Shen'er looks at him, his laughter growing louder.

"Yuanban Shichen! Doesn't your Yuanban Family consider itself self‑righteous? Don't you think you're remarkable? And now? What can you do to me!"

He points at Saber, who is tangled with Berserker.

"Your Servant is about to be killed by my Berserker! Then you! Then that runaway Tohsaka Lin! And that scum named Fujimura! All must die!"

His eyes bulge as if they might pop out, blood vessels covering his eyeballs, his whole face twisted grotesquely.

"All must die—!!!"

Yuanban Shichen looks at him, his ice‑blue eyes showing no fear, only a complex compassion.

"Jiantong Shen'er," he says calmly, "Do you know the history of the Jiantong family?"

Shen'er is momentarily stunned.

"The Jiantong family... like the Yuanban family, is one of the three families that founded the Holy Grail War."

Yuanban Shichen continues, "Your ancestor Maqiri Zorgen was once a person with lofty ideals. He wanted to save the world, to eradicate the malignancy of humanity."

Shen'er's smile froze.

"What are you saying..."

"Your grandfather Jiantong Zangyan was originally also a person who pursued ideals."

Yuanban Shichen's gaze fixed on him, "But in his quest for immortality, he was corroded by time. His ideals became perverted, his soul rotted, and he turned into a monster who only thought of surviving."

He paused, and a hint of regret entered his tone.

"And you, Jiantong Shen'er, you were infected by his distortion, yet you never knew what the true Jiantong Family should be like."

Shen'er's face began to convulse violently.

"Shut Up! What do you know! Grandfather treated me best! Only he respects me! Only he taught me Magic! You all should die! All of you should die!"

He waved his hand wildly, countless Insect Shadows surged from his body, overwhelming the sky and pouncing on Yuanban Shichen!

Yuanban Shichen sighed.

With a flick of his staff, the golden Barrier reappeared.

Bai Hang crouched on a branch, curling into a ball, using the aura of the Assassin rank to shield and hide herself tightly.

Her eyes stared straight at the distant sky.

Abstract.

It's really too abstract.

In the sky, two massive figures were fighting each other.

On one side was the azure Giant Fox, its Flame interlaced with violet‑black patterns, each swipe of its claws sending sparks across the heavens.

On the other side was Jing Yuan's summoned Divine Lord — a Golden Wyrm nearly a hundred meters tall, wrapped in lightning, its long spear sweeping, each impact emitting a deafening boom.

"Boom——!!!"

Another collision, the shockwave shattered the surrounding clouds.

Bai Hang's mouth twitched.

(Is this a Divine Fight...?)

Her gaze shifted downward.

On the ground, Jing Yuan and Huo Huo stood face to face, about twenty meters apart.

Jing Yuan crossed his arms, his white hair fluttering gently in the wind, a inscrutable smile on his face.

He looked exceedingly relaxed, as if strolling in a park and bumping into an acquaintance, ready to chat about the weather.

Huo Huo also crossed his arms, expressionless, staring at him.

Those claw‑shaped green eyes showed no ripple, as calm as two ancient wells.

The Giant Fox behind her continued fighting in the sky, yet she herself remained motionless, as if the battle had nothing to do with her.

Bai Hang's eye corner twitched.

(This scene... why is it so bizarre?)

She tried to contact Jing Yuan through the Command Spell:

"Lancer, what are you doing? Why are you standing still there?"

The Command Spell was silent for two seconds, then Jing Yuan's voice came.

The tone still sounded steady, but Bai Hang detected a hint of... helplessness.

"Master, it's a long story."

"Then make it short!"

Jing Yuan let out a light sigh.

"After that Giant Fox devoured the Berserker, its power surged. I need to concentrate all my mind and spirit to control the Divine Lord, in order to counter it."

Bai Hang was startled: "All mind and spirit? Then now..."

"As you can see."

A wry smile tinged Jing Yuan's voice, "I now have only this husk standing here. All my attention is on that huge thing in the sky; this body... to be honest, can't move."

Bai Hang's eye twitched even more intensely.

"So you're... pretending?"

"Pretty much."

Jing Yuan said, "In this situation, whoever shows a flaw first loses. I must appear sufficiently composed so the opponent dares not act rashly."

Bai Hang fell silent.

She looked at the Jing Yuan below, arms crossed, smiling, then at the opposite Huo Huo, also arms crossed, expressionless, and suddenly felt the scene was really...

Too abstract.

Both people stood there with arms crossed, while two massive beings clashed in the sky—what a bizarre fighting style is this?

"Um..."

Bai Hang asked cautiously, "If the opponent discovers you're pretending, what then?"

Jing Yuan was silent for a second.

"... Then Master, you'd better run faster."

Bai Hang: "..."

(Thank you!)