The situation on the battlefield was somewhat bizarre. Originally a three-way standoff, after two sides clashed, the Lancer camp surprisingly showed signs of defeat. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Clang~

The sound of metal clashing echoed from afar, the sparks especially noticeable in the night. Su Xiao and Diarmuid Ua Duibhne were entangled in combat. Diarmuid, who had already lost an arm, was retreating repeatedly and would soon be defeated.

The Counter Shield blocked Diarmuid’s thrust once more, and Su Xiao struck with extreme speed, leaving a deep, bone-reaching wound on Diarmuid’s right arm.

...

Kenneth, Diarmuid’s Master, was watching from a distant abandoned building, his face extremely grim. If Diarmuid were to die in battle, he would lose the qualification to continue participating in the Holy Grail War.

"Why...why is there such a disparity in strength? Diarmuid, you useless fool, sigh~ No choice but to retreat for now."

Kenneth raised his arm, preparing to use the command seal to save Diarmuid. If he used the command seal to order Diarmuid to appear by his side, even without spatial ability, under the Holy Grail + command seal’s power, Diarmuid would appear beside him.

This kind of forced command has many limitations. For example, ordering Diarmuid to become stronger would be ineffective and a waste of a command seal. Each Master only has three command seals, the only means to control a Heroic Spirit.

"Diarmuid, I command you by the command seal, appear at..."

The command seal on Kenneth’s hand glowed red. Just as he was about to give the order, footsteps were heard from below.

Kenneth’s face changed dramatically. His position had been exposed, and another Heroic Spirit or Master was attacking.

"I command you by the command seal, appear immediately by my side."

One of the command seals on Kenneth’s hand shattered, and Diarmuid appeared beside him out of thin air.

With a thud, Diarmuid fell to the ground, with over a dozen sword wounds on his body. The shaft of the Rose of Exorcism revealed signs of slashing, showing just how sharp the Dragon Slash was now.

As soon as Diarmuid appeared, he spat out a large mouthful of blood. Kenneth immediately used healing magic to treat Diarmuid, but a berserk energy rampaged within Diarmuid, minimizing the healing magic’s effect.

"Retreat."

Kenneth desperately wanted to leave, as with Diarmuid severely injured and two other Heroic Spirits present, staying here was suicidal.

But now the situation was not up to Kenneth. Even if he wanted to leave, he had to see if Emiya Kiritsugu, who had already secretly infiltrated the building, would agree.

Diarmuid stood up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. As he stood, a figure rushed up the building and blocked the stairway.

"Emiya Kiritsugu."

Kenneth had investigated Emiya Kiritsugu thoroughly, so as soon as he appeared, Kenneth recognized him.

"How’s the injury?"

Kenneth looked at Diarmuid.

"No problem, at least protecting the Master during retreat is doable."

Diarmuid’s movements as he stood triggered the wounds on his body, causing him to cough up more blood.

"You..."

Kenneth was momentarily at a loss for words. He understood Diarmuid’s intent; he intended to cover their retreat, meaning Diarmuid might die here.

"Master, I can only hold them off for a short while. The Berserker camp’s Heroic Spirit and Master identities are reversed. The one with the command seals is the true Berserker, possibly due to the berserk effect’s amplification. That guy is a monster, and one of his abilities suppresses my Noble Phantasm. I’m not his opponent. Master, you must flee quickly."

Diarmuid stood in front of Kenneth, his gaze fixed intently on the stairway where Emiya Kiritsugu stood.

"A mere Servant dares to command me."

Kenneth raised his arm.

"By the power of command seal, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, heal your wounds."

Blood-red light flickered, and another command seal on Kenneth’s hand disappeared. Meanwhile, a significant amount of his Magic Power was consumed as the command seal forcibly healed Diarmuid’s wounds.

The sword wounds on Diarmuid healed rapidly, but the lost arm could not be restored. The power of the command seal seemed suppressed by some kind of rule.

"By the power of command seal, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, restore the arm you have lost."

Kenneth used his last command seal. The muscles at the wound site of Diarmuid’s lost arm surged, as the severed arm began regenerating slowly.

Just as Diarmuid’s arm had regrown halfway, golden light emanated from the original wound, as if forming a golden arm ring.

With a spurt, Diarmuid’s newly grown arm shattered. The arm ring served as a seal, suppressing the arm’s regeneration and recovery.

Though Diarmuid could not restore his arm, his other wounds were healed, and Emiya Kiritsugu, who had blocked the stairway, was nowhere to be seen, indicating no intent to confront a more healed Diarmuid head-on.

"Retreat."

Sweat beaded Kenneth’s face, depleting his Magic Power.

"Sorry, Master, I still can’t retreat with you."

Diarmuid knelt on one knee, bowing in a knight’s salute to Kenneth.

"Don’t think that without a command seal, I..."

"That ’monster’ is here."

Diarmuid took a deep breath, glancing toward the stairway where Emiya Kiritsugu had stood. Su Xiao now stood there.

"Damn it."

Kenneth gazed at Diarmuid for a moment, ultimately sighing.

"Diarmuid, you’re a good knight."

Having said this, Kenneth turned and walked deeper into the building, not intending to share Diarmuid’s fate.

"To earn the Master’s approval, I, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, have no regrets even in death."

Diarmuid stood and wielded the Rose of Exorcism with his single arm.

"Come on then, even with your abilities countering mine, you won’t leave here unscathed today."

In the face of Diarmuid’s overflowing fighting spirit, Su Xiao displayed little emotion. After all, Diarmuid had not been summoned at his ’full strength,’ and the Lancer role heavily limited his power.

In this Holy Grail War, there were certainly Heroic Spirits difficult to deal with, who even had the power to kill Su Xiao, but Diarmuid was not among them.

Though Diarmuid’s Master was not weak, he lacked in crafty cunning, and coupled with limited Heroic Skills and Noble Phantasm capabilities, Diarmuid’s actual combat strength was not particularly high.

Plus, Diarmuid’s Rose of Exorcism was countered by the Counter Shield, making it normal he’s not Su Xiao’s match.

Were Su Xiao to face off with Gilgamesh, Iskandar (Conqueror King), and others, the outcome would be uncertain.

As for the King of Knights, Saber, in close combat, Saber with multiple A attributes could stall Su Xiao, and Saber had an A++ Noble Phantasm. Against such a Big Move, Su Xiao would need to avoid head-on confrontation.

A Heroic Spirit’s strength isn’t fixed, depending largely on the Master’s power, as powerful Masters can enhance a Heroic Spirit’s attributes.

Emiya Kiritsugu currently serves as Saber’s Master, so Saber’s endurance, agility, and magic power are all A, with Noble Phantasms rated A++.

Within the abandoned building, Su Xiao and Diarmuid simultaneously rushed toward each other, leaving Su Xiao’s footprint blood-stained. Diarmuid had previously stabbed him, narrowly missing a vital point.

Five minutes later, Diarmuid leaned against a cement pillar. Su Xiao’s hand exuded a light blue smoke as he approached Diarmuid slowly.

"Why can’t the Red Rose pierce through that shield."

Blood dripped from Diarmuid’s mouth; his arms severed, he had over a dozen varying sword wounds across his body. If not for leaning against the pillar, he would’ve collapsed.

"Who knows."

The light blue smoke-wrapped hand of Su Xiao stretched toward Diarmuid’s face.

"Devouring Heroic Spirit energy, indeed, you are a monster..."

The light blue smoke gradually enveloped Diarmuid, who smiled. He had successfully covered for his Master’s retreat and enjoyed a fierce fight with a formidable adversary. While he disapproved of Su Xiao’s ways, Su Xiao’s forthright, head-on combat style earned his respect.

"At least let me know who defeated me."

Encapsulated in the light blue smoke, Diarmuid spoke this sentence.

[You have slain Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (Heroic Spirit)]

[Diarmuid Ua Duibhne was one of the seven Heroic Spirits participating in this Holy Grail War, acquiring 10.5% of the World Source, now totaling 15.7%.]

[Your Talent ’Soul Eater’ activated, permanently increasing Mana Value by 15 points, totaling 2148 Mana Value.]

[You’ve acquired Heroic Spirit Box·Purple (Heroic Spirit Box: Randomly draws any skill or Noble Phantasm of this Heroic Spirit).]

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