Chapter 564: Piercing

A faint light flickered.

Silver‑white hair fell from her crown, and the fluffy fox ears peeked out from between the strands, while a plush fox tail swayed gently behind her.

Her school uniform had been replaced by a black outfit, its cuffs embroidered with violet cloud patterns.

Bai Hang flexed a finger, feeling the familiar power coursing through her body.

She lifted her head, her gaze locking onto Jiantong Shen'er in the distance.

The distance was roughly fifty meters.

The wind blew from the side, shifting ever so slightly.

The target stood on the ruins, with a slight elevation difference.

These details flashed through her mind; she didn't even need to calculate deliberately— it was instinct etched into her bones from countless battles on Xianzhou.

Bai Hang raised her bow and nocked an ice‑blue arrow.

She drew the bowstring slowly.

Her breathing became extremely slow, almost to a halt.

Her heartbeat was suppressed, each thump so light it was barely perceptible.

The arrowhead adjusted subtly with Jiantong Shen'er's movements.

He was laughing, hopping, swinging his arms.

He didn't notice at all.

Bai Hang squinted one eye, while the other locked onto the target through the sight Lock.

The wind stopped.

In that instant, the world seemed to freeze.

She released the bowstring.

The sound of the arrow leaving the string was extremely faint, almost inaudible.

The ice‑blue light traced an almost perfectly straight path through the air, moving so fast the naked eye could not capture it!

Jiantong Shen'er was still smiling.

The next second—

"Puff!"

The Ice Arrow pierced his shoulder!

The massive impact hurled his whole body backward, and he slammed into the ruins behind him with a "Bang!"

"Aaaah—!!!"

A harrowing scream ripped through the sky!

Jiantong Shen'er looked down at the bloody wound on his shoulder, blood gushing out like a fountain, staining his clothes and the broken stones beneath him.

The insects crawled madly out of his wound, but midway they froze, turning into rigid corpses.

"Who—who—!!!"

He frantically looked around, his twisted face filled with fear and Rage.

But he saw nothing.

Bai Hang had already shifted position.

The Berserker's movement halted.

It turned its head toward Jiantong Shen'er's direction.

The V‑shaped red light flickered a few times, seemingly assessing the Master's condition.

Jing Yuan didn't let the chance slip.

A golden spear swept across!

"Clang—!"

The Berserker barely blocked, but the spear's force was more than double the previous one!

It was shaken back several steps, carving two deep grooves beneath its feet!

Jiantong Shen'er clutched his shoulder, struggling to rise.

Fresh blood seeped continuously from his fingertips, his complexion as pale as paper.

"Ret—retreat…"

His voice trembled.

The Berserker glanced at him, then at the few predatory figures before it, and finally—

A violet‑black light flashed, and it vanished on the spot.

Jiantong Shen'er staggered away, disappearing behind the ruins, leaving only a pool of blood and the frozen insect corpses.

Bai Hang stepped out from the shadows of the ruins, sheathed her bow, and exhaled softly.

Jing Yuan turned his head, giving her a glance; a hint of smile flickered in his golden eyes.

"Good archery."

Bai Hang's ears twitched, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

"Of course."

Ilya slowly descended from mid‑air, her pink dress dusted with grime.

When she touched down, her legs gave way, nearly collapsing, but the ruby emitted a gentle glow just in time to support her.

"Ilya, are you alright?"

"I'm fine…"

Ilya panted, beads of sweat clinging to her forehead, "Just a bit tired…"

Saber stood not far away, the Curry Stick already sheathed, but their hand still pressed on the sword hilt.

The golden long hair was a bit disheveled, a few strands clung to the cheek, and the scratches on the breastplate stood out especially in the sunset.

She looked toward the direction where the Berserker had vanished in the distance, her brows tightly knit.

Yuanban Shichen leaned on the now dim, lightless staff and walked over, his suit covered in ash, his tie askew, a few strands of hair falling across his forehead.

He looked at the white figure standing in the center of the ruins, his ice‑blue eyes filled with complex emotions.

White hair fluttered gently in the evening breeze, golden eyes calm and gentle, the long spear already sheathed, the whole person looked as if an old friend met while strolling in a park, bearing no resemblance to someone who had just endured a fierce battle.

Bai Hang stepped out of the shadows of the ruins, sheathed her bow, and let out a soft breath.

She walked to Jing Yuan's side, her gaze sweeping over the few people present.

None of them are known.

Yuanban Shichen at this moment also noticed Bai Hang.

His gaze lingered on Bai Hang for a moment, a hint of contemplation flashing in those ice‑blue eyes.

The girl looked like an ordinary schoolgirl, but judging from that arrow just now, she was definitely not ordinary.

"Who is this…" he began tentatively.

Bai Hang froze for a moment, then waved her hand.

"My name is Bai Hang, I guess… um, just passing through."

She pointed at Jing Yuan, "This is my Servant, Lancer."

Saber's brows twitched slightly.

Lancer?

She looked at Jing Yuan, her emerald eyes full of inquiry.

"That golden giant…" she couldn't help but speak.

Jing Yuan waved his hand, his tone relaxed as if chatting about everyday matters.

"That's the gate‑keeper of my house, not used often."

Saber fell silent.

The gate‑keeper?

She suddenly felt the waters of this Holy Grail War were much deeper than imagined.

Ilya at this moment also caught her breath, she leaned on the ruby and walked to the group, curiously sizing up Bai Hang and Jing Yuan.

"Are you also Master and Servant?"

Bai Hang nodded.

"My name is Bai Hang, he is Jing Yuan. And you?"

"I am Ilya!" Ilya pointed at herself, then at Saber and Yuanban Shichen, "This is Saber, this is Uncle Tohsaka."

Yuanban Shichen gave a slight nod, maintaining the elegance of the Yuanban Family House Head.

"Yuanban Shichen, the fifth generation House Head Banana Character of the Yuanban Family."

His gaze fell on Bai Hang, his tone carrying a hint of probing.

"Miss Bai Hang, that arrow just now… truly a skillful Banana Character."

Bai Hang scratched her head, a bit embarrassed.

"Just lucky; that guy stood too steady, it'd be hard not to hit him."

Yuanban Shichen's mouth twitched slightly.

Standing too steady?

If Jiantong Shen'er heard this, he would probably die of anger on the spot.

While the few were talking, Ilya suddenly noticed something.

"Um… Uncle Tohsaka, what did you just say?"

Yuanban Shichen was momentarily stunned.

"What did I say Banana Character?"

"When you spoke, behind you…" Ilya's expression became a bit subtle, "it seemed you added a Banana Character."

Yuanban Shichen was stunned.

He carefully recalled his words just now—seems… indeed there was?

"What on earth is this Banana Character?!"