Chapter 623

[Archer: "Step aside, Saber. Without a Master to provide mana, if you continue to act recklessly, you will disappear soon. Moreover, Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou no longer has the qualifications to be your Master. Even if you protect him, your wish cannot be fulfilled."]

[Although there were many unexpected events, Archer still didn't forget his original intention.]

[Let the King of Knights form a contract with Tohsaka Rin, destroy the Holy Grail, and quickly end this meaningless Holy Grail War.]

[It's better for this stupid ritual to disappear sooner.]

[Artoria's eyes were clear, and her tone was firm: "I once swore to protect him; we are partners who fought together. Even without a contract, this oath will not change."]

["Is that so..."]

[Archer projected Kanshou and Bakuya.]

[Sure enough, using fists is more straightforward.]

[The next second, blades collided, and sparks flew.]

[With just one move, Artoria was knocked to the ground by Archer.]

[There's no help for it; although her spirit recovered, not having a Master to provide mana is still a big problem.]

[She couldn't even manifest her armor now, and could only fight in the wedding dress Medea had changed her into; the sword in her hand was also incomparably heavy.]

Jinako: "It feels so stifling just watching! This is like when you're playing a game, you can clearly beat the opponent, but your red and blue bars are both empty, while the opponent is at full status to bully you; that kind of feeling."

Mordred: "Damn it! What kind of skill is bullying the wounded! If you have the ability, come fight me!"

Archer: "You (disdainful)..."

It wasn't that Archer looked down on Mordred; it was just that with her brain, he could easily play her in the palm of his hand.

Mordred: "╰（｀□）╯"

["Then, just go with your fake Master—"]

[Archer said in a deep voice: "Disappear here!"]

[Though he said that, it was obvious Archer couldn't bring himself to strike.]

[After all, they were partners who had once fought Reverse Reverse Reverse Side by Reverse Reverse Reverse Side...]

[Just then, Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou roared, projected Kanshou and Bakuya with both hands, and charged at Archer.]

["Ho... I thought you would keep hiding behind for a while longer."]

[Archer blocked him easily with his blades, then kicked Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou flying with one foot.]

["Even if you imitate others, reaching this level makes it the real thing. But can your body withstand using this kind of magecraft?"]

["Or do you truly believe you have already mastered this magecraft? That as long as you keep working hard, one day you can catch up to that ideal figure?"]

["Ugh..."]

[Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou climbed back up, his head splitting with pain. The efficiency of his magic circuits increased, and memories from Archer's life appeared in his mind, even some vague techniques and skills surfacing.]

[It was a vast, desolate plain of swords.]

Blonde Rin: "...Why does it feel like this guy is giving a tutorial? He has absolutely no intention of killing Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou."

Zabiko: "It's not a feeling; that's exactly what it is."

Zabiko: "As expected, no matter which Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou it is, they are all hypocrites."

Nameless: "Hey, hey, why am I being dragged into this again?"

Blonde Rin: "Do you dare swear on your conscience that you aren't that kind of person?"

Nameless: "...Can't you pick a different object to swear on? This makes me very awkward."

As for conscience, do you really think I care about such a thing?

Fuyuki Tiger: "As expected, Emiya Emiya Shirou is still that same Emiya Emiya Shirou."

[To make himself feel better, Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou could only focus on attacking Archer, but Archer blocked him easily with one hand and shattered the Kanshou in Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou's hand with a backhanded strike.]

[Archer's situation was actually the same as Artoria's; having lost his Master and the supply of magical energy, he was relying entirely on his endurance skills.]

[Looking at Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou, who was kneeling on the ground but not giving up, Archer provoked him: "Is this the limit of Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou? For someone who has forced his way through everything, this is the most fitting ending, isn't it?"]

[At the same time, his gaze drifted toward Rin Tohsaka, who was still dazed, and he felt a wave of exhaustion.]

[No, I've already created the opportunity for you; what are you still spacing out for?]

[Since that's the case, don't blame me.]

[Thinking this, he raised his right hand holding Kanshou high, posing as if to behead Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou.]

Illya: "Sigh, poor Onii-chan is worried sick."

Luvia: "Exactly, choosing Rin Tohsaka was a mistake from the start; you should have come to me."

Archer: "..."

Big sister, in this timeline, I wasn't familiar with you during my life.

[Just as Archer raised his blade, the fumbling Rin Tohsaka finally snapped out of it, realizing she had to do something quickly to save Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou.]

[However, she had already used up all her gems. The only way to break the deadlock now was—]

[Rin Tohsaka looked at Artoria, who understood and nodded.]

[The next moment, Rin Tohsaka raised her left hand toward Artoria and began to chant the contract incantation rapidly.]

[Seeing this, Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou hurriedly projected weapons again to entangle Archer, buying time for Rin Tohsaka.]

[The two naive children hadn't realized yet that all of this was within Archer's calculations.]

[Archer is the true master planner!]

Fiore: "Really... I'm exhausted just watching."

Roche: "After so much effort, it finally succeeded."

Ciel: "Heroic Spirit Emiya has really worked hard."

["Ding—"]

[A few seconds later, Rin Tohsaka and Artoria clasped hands, and surging magical energy was released from the King's body.]

[Contract established!]

[Moreover, because Rin Tohsaka was not a half-baked amateur like Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou and possessed high-quality magical energy, Artoria finally recovered her true strength.]

[Silver armor accompanied by a long blue dress covered her entire body, and the Wind King Barrier swirled around the holy sword, concealing its form.]

[Artoria Pendragon, reporting for duty!]

Mordred: "Haha, my Father has finally returned!"

Jinako: "Max-level main account unlocked!"

Artoria: "(Nods)"

Seeing herself in the video finally able to exert her full strength, she was very satisfied.

Finally, she didn't have to fight so frustratingly as before.

[Seeing the plan succeed, a faint smile appeared on Archer's lips, but he quickly withdrew it, saying with a straight face: "What do you intend to do, Saber? Since you have already formed a contract with Rin, you truly have nothing to do with Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou anymore."]

[Artoria: "I have already said, Archer, my oath to Emiya Emiya Shirou will not disappear. As for you, what do you intend to do now?"]

["Facing me now, do you think you still have a chance of winning, having lost your Master?"]

["Hmph—"]

[Archer mocked: "It's just the level of someone who has barely recovered their magical energy. To look down on others like this..."]

[The next moment, both disappeared from their spots and charged at each other.]

[Archer used Kanshou and Bakuya with both hands, his continuous thrusts extremely fast, but Artoria was completely unafraid.]

[Having recovered her strength, she could fully utilize her Instinct, and Archer's movements were all within her expectations.]

[She didn't even use the long sword in her hand, relying only on her legs and body coordination to retreat and move, easily dodging Archer's six-hit thrust, then seizing the opportunity to swing her sword and shatter the Kanshou in his hand.]

[This strike also successfully left Archer stunned in place.]

[Even if Artoria had recovered her strength, it was impossible to shatter his weapon with a single sword strike.]

[Is it a problem with magical energy? The magical energy in his body was no longer enough to maintain the weapon's strength!]

["Hah—"]

[Artoria didn't intend to let Archer off like this and raised her sword to strike down at him fiercely.]

[Archer hurriedly blocked with the remaining Bakuya; although the weapon didn't shatter this time, the immense force caused him to bend over, and the ground beneath his feet cracked and sank.]

[And this was only when Artoria wasn't even using her full force.]

Mordred: "Haha (ˉ^ˉ), witness my Father's power!"

Caules: "This is truly a reversal of the situation."

El-Melloi II: "I suppose this is what they mean by the tides turning."

Emiya Emiya Shirou Kotomine: "What I'm more concerned about now is who Archer will find as a Master next."

Others: "..."

This question—they were also very curious.

["This is the end, Archer."]

[Artoria said seriously: "The situation you were worried about for me has now shifted to you."]

["..."]

[Archer didn't reply; his thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.]

[With Artoria's current strength, dealing with Cu Chulainn was fine, but it still wasn't enough to deal with the Black-Hearted Golden King.]

[It's hard to support a crumbling structure alone...]

[If it weren't for the reckless actions of Rin Tohsaka and Emiya Emiya Emiya Shirou that caused them to spend so much effort on Medea, perhaps they could have found a way to negotiate an alliance with Illya days ago, joining forces with Heracles to deal with the Black-Hearted Golden King together.]

[Although Heracles was countered perfectly by the Black-Hearted Golden King, he could stay in the rear to protect Rin Tohsaka and Illya, while he and Artoria provided the offensive power at the front.] ===== CHAPTER 1228 =====