Chapter 17: ·Petrified Kayneth

(Iskandar)

Artoria: "You can try and see if you can."

Although she said this, Artoria was very dissatisfied with her own performance in the video.

Just as Feng Xi said, how could she be so reckless in the video?

Knowing full well that the spear in the opponent's hand was a Noble Phantasm, she still chose to Matsuwanko Matsuwanko Take it head-on with her armor.

Was it too much reliance on her Instinct, or did she choose to Matsuwanko Matsuwanko Take a risk because there was a healer present?

Instinct is the ability to determine the "most suitable action for oneself" in battle through the sound of the wind and intuition; it is equivalent to a form of alternative future prediction.

Of course, this is an analytical prediction based on known information, and it was precisely because she did not know the effect of Diarmuid's Noble Phantasm that she made a miscalculation in the video.

Diarmuid: "That's right, this is my Noble Phantasm, 'Gae Dearg: Crimson Rose of Exorcism,' which can ignore all defensive magecraft."

Waver: "This is the spear that the god of love, Aengus, gave you in Celtic legend."

Kayneth: "Lancer, who told you to reveal the name of your Noble Phantasm so casually!"

Diarmuid: "My lord, even if I didn't say it, this video has already displayed it clearly."

Kayneth: "Hmph!"

He now regrets more and more not having chosen a different catalyst.

The battle hasn't even started yet, and his own Servant's Noble Phantasm has already been exposed; how are they supposed to fight now?

[Artoria, her injuries recovered, asked: "That spear can block magical energy, right?"]

[Diarmuid said confidently: "Your armor is formed from magical energy, right? Then I advise you not to count on using it to defend against my attacks, because in front of this spear of mine, you are as good as naked."]

Feng Xi: "Diarmuid, you're acting like a hooligan here."

Diarmuid: "..."

The version of himself in the video was getting a bit cocky, actually saying such indecent words.

[Upon realizing that her armor was useless, Artoria directly removed her armor, abandoned defense, and stepped forward to fight Diarmuid.]

[Having lost the weight of the armor, Artoria's speed was noticeably faster, and she soon gained the upper hand, the invisible sword in her hand erupting with brilliant light as she charged toward Diarmuid.]

[Diarmuid retreated slowly, but his expression was not flustered at all; instead, he had the look of someone who had victory in his grasp.]

["You've made a miscalculation, Saber."]

Feng Xi: "Ahoge King, I'll ask the same question as before: are you really a veteran of a hundred battles?"

Artoria: "What is it now? Is there something wrong with me again?"

Artoria: "Since I cannot defend against his Noble Phantasm, then I simply won't defend."

Feng Xi: "My point is, are you really that easy to trust people? You believe whatever he says."

Artoria: "I believe that as a knight, the opponent would not lie."

Feng Xi: "Who says you have to lie to scheme against someone? There are many other methods."

Feng Xi: "For example, intentional misleading, or simply leaving things unsaid."

Artoria: "What! You mean!"

Diarmuid: "He is right; you were tricked in the video, King Arthur."

Diarmuid: "Saber, to be honest, I am very disappointed in your performance in the video."

[Diarmuid lifted the spear he had previously dropped on the ground with his foot and unwrapped the bandages on it, revealing a yellow spear.]

["Noble Phantasms aren't necessarily limited to just one."]

[Artoria, having realized this, was already in a position where she couldn't back down; after all, she had already closed the distance to Diarmuid and could not retreat.]

[Both of them were now in a situation where they had to commit; they could only trade injury for injury as they attacked each other.]

[Immediately, there was a flash of lightning and sparks.]

[The two separated quickly, drops of blood falling to the ground.]

[It was clear that both sides had been wounded in this exchange, both having injured the other's wrist.]

["Damn it, the tendon has been cut; I can't move my fingers."]

[Artoria appeared completely calm on the surface, but she was very anxious inside.]

[As a swordsman, being unable to move her hand would significantly reduce her combat effectiveness.]

[After all, she is not skilled at using a one-handed sword.]

["Fool, you didn't finish him off."]

[Although Kayneth, who was watching the battle, didn't spare any harsh words, he still cast a spell to heal Diarmuid's arm.]

[Diarmuid smiled: "I am humbled, my lord."]

[Irisviel also cast a spell to treat Artoria, but she discovered that the wound would not heal no matter what.]

Kayneth: "Hahaha, it seems we won this duel after all."

Kayneth: "Even if it is King Arthur, once one hand is crippled, how could she possibly be a match for Lancer, who uses dual spears?"

It wasn't just Kayneth; everyone in the group had the same thought.

In this situation, it looked like Lancer was going to win no matter how you looked at it.

Emiya Kiritsugu also felt more and more that summoning this King Arthur was unreliable.

In this battle, she was completely played in the palm of the opponent's hand from beginning to end.

Artoria: "The wound won't heal—is it because that yellow spear carries a curse?"

Waver: "I know this; it's the spear that the sea god Manannán mac Lir gifted to Diarmuid, right?"

Diarmuid: "That's right, this is my other Noble Phantasm, 'Gae Buidhe: Yellow Rose of Mortality,' which carries a curse that prevents wounds from healing."

Artoria: "I see. You intentionally dropped it earlier just to mislead me, and I really fell for it in the video."

Diarmuid: "I didn't expect my plan in the video to go so smoothly either."

Artoria: "..."

Kayneth: "Hmph, Lancer, enough with the idle talk."

Although he felt he had already answered this question correctly, his mood was not that good.

After all, the effects of Diarmuid's Noble Phantasms had been exposed by the video; if he were to fight Saber again, victory would likely not come so easily.

Waver: "So, did Lancer actually win this duel?"

Feng Xi: "Keep watching; the video isn't over yet."

[Diarmuid explained the effect of his Noble Phantasm to Artoria, and Artoria put her armor back on; the two were about to continue the battle.]

[Just then, thunder suddenly flashed in the sky.]

[Accompanied by lightning, a chariot suddenly descended from the sky, blocking the space between them.]

[This was a chariot pulled by two bulls, and the people on it were none other than Iskandar and Waver.]

["Both of you, sheath your swords!"]

[Iskandar directly called a halt to the duel.]

["In the presence of a King, show some respect!"]

Kayneth, who had just found a bit of comfort in answering the question correctly, was instantly petrified.

Now, the answer to this question was completely obvious.