You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

Just as Joan of Arc was hesitating about what to do with the gold, she picked up the relic and found a note underneath, which was placed on the girl's underwear.

By the moonlight, she could make out the writing on it. It was written in German, French, and Japanese, but the content was much more complicated. The gist of it was that after the "thief" opened the box, he found that Joan of Arc was really too poor, and out of pity, he put a "small gift" in the box.

If that were all, it could only be said that someone was being overly sarcastic, but when she saw the next sentence, her expression immediately changed:

It's heartbreaking to see a young woman in the prime of her life wearing such simple and inexpensive underwear.

To show my sincerity, I'm enclosing 100,000 yen. Please buy a few more sexy pairs of panties. You're welcome!

There was indeed a stack of currency in the corner of the box, but it was in pounds sterling. As for how many yen it was equivalent to, she didn't know—Joan of Arc wasn't very good at math.

Snapped!

Stone chips flew everywhere, and the ore base was crushed!

The girl's slender, pale fingers possessed unimaginable strength, ranking among the best even among all Servants; even the hardest rocks could not survive under this immense pressure.

Is this a provocation?

Joan of Arc's eyes burned with a fierce fire, fueled by both Leticia's pride and the anger of being offended as the ruler.

What's going on with this Holy Grail War? These Servants and Masters are really disregarding the referees!

Before even reaching the battlefield, they were sniped by the Red Team's Servants, who destroyed so many of their belongings without even offering an apology. Now, they're being mocked right in front of everyone. Anyone would find that unbearable.

Even saints get angry!

Moreover, on the battlefield, Joan of Arc was always synonymous with decisiveness and efficiency!

You bastard, don't let me catch you!

"But... huh?"

Joan of Arc was startled. She sensed several servants' auras suddenly appearing and rapidly approaching the manor from thousands of meters away.

"This is between the red and black teams... Sure enough, someone was secretly orchestrating all of this!"

Furthermore, this piece of gold seems to interfere with her senses, causing her to overlook the movements of other Servants, which she only suddenly discovered recently.

"The Holy Grail War... could it be tonight?"

-

"Haha, the intelligence was right! Looks like we'll have a good fight tonight!"

As Jeanne d'Arc had expected, the Servants rushing here quickly sensed each other's presence. After all, they were all heroes with distinct personalities, and apart from Assassin, almost none of them would hide themselves.

Some people are even born heroes, possessing an extraordinary charisma that attracts the attention of others. For example, that emerald meteor that streaks across the sky, its dazzling brilliance more striking than the moon in the night sky, unleashing its pressure without restraint, can be described as a provocation to all enemies on the battlefield!

Flamboyant and confident, this is a talented and ambitious hero who is unwilling to be alone!

In contrast, the hero arriving from the other direction was much more low-key. His mobility was far inferior to Achilles, who, as a Rider, could wield a chariot-type Noble Phantasm. However, he could easily outrun vehicles like race cars by running on his own two legs, and his super endurance allowed him to maintain his top speed at all times.

If this were a race, Achilles would undoubtedly be the winner; he would reach the finish line first, easily claim the prize, and ride away.

But he did not choose to do that. Instead, he drove his chariot, drawing a long arc in the sky, and crashed into the great hero who was speeding on the ground!

To hell with Rheinmetall!

Since the order was only to seize the treasure without specifying the form, killing all the enemies and taking the Rhine Gold would be the same thing.

It's important to understand that what Achilles sought was never treasure, but rather the glory that could only be obtained on the battlefield!

This was the cause of his death, but he remained unrepentant to the end!

"Hahahaha! Rage on, [Troias Tragoidia], the immortal chariot of raging storms!"

Like the engine of a top-of-the-line sports car, the anti-military Noble Phantasm-level war machine frantically consumed magical energy and instantly tore through the atmosphere, leaving the sonic boom far behind, just like a real meteorite, aiming to completely shatter the enemy!

hum-

Without any hesitation, the white-haired swordsman unleashed the Twilight Demon Sword in his hand. As the bluish-white magic power transformed into mysterious twilight, the arc of light capable of slaying evil dragons shot out and collided head-on with the emerald meteor in the sky!

The two were almost equally brilliant, but the Undying Chariot soon began to decline.

This is not surprising. Even though the chariot was Achilles's beloved possession, it could not stand up to the legendary dragon-slaying sword in mythology. The brief stalemate was only achieved by leveraging the momentum accumulated during the charge.

Before Siegfried could destroy the chariot, a lithe figure rushed out, undeterred by the intense magical clash. His physical body parted layers of air currents, and with unparalleled speed, he approached Saber and delivered a fatal thrust—

Clang!

The two heroes were locked in a fierce battle of wits, with Achilles displaying a provocative smile while Siegfried remained silent.

Suddenly, the white-haired swordsman exerted force with both wrists, and the demonic sword slightly turned—

boom!

The twilight glowed again, illuminating Achilles' astonished face. With a swing of the demonic sword, it was unleashed at near-zero distance, sending the proud, immortal hero flying far away!

"What's going on—"

call out!

Despite enduring the attack of the anti-military Noble Phantasm, Achilles was unharmed; however, he was unable to resist the powerful impact and was unable to control himself in mid-air.

Just then, a sharp arrow pierced the air and struck Achilles, who was flying backwards, with pinpoint accuracy!

puff!

The arrow pierced his left shoulder, drawing a trail of blood droplets, which were quickly evaporated by the power of the demonic sword.

"Well!"

Achilles landed awkwardly, plunging his spear into the ground and sliding a distance before regaining his balance. Then, several more arrows flew in, slicing through his cheek, side, and thigh.

This guy tried to shoot me in the foot!

The experienced hero quickly understood the opponent's intention and changed his posture to block the line with his gun.

Instantly, alarm bells rang in his mind, and Achilles quickly shook his body.

call out!

The arrow struck Achilles' knee; had he not dodged a second time, it would have hit his heel instead. It was as if the arrow had anticipated his movement and been aimed at him.

This means that the enemy archer knows his real name and is familiar with his fighting style!

Is he an old friend from the Trojan battlefield?

Achilles was furious, but a sinister and excited smile crept onto his lips.

While Siegfried was distracted by Archer, he turned and continued running towards the manor. Unlike the arrogant Achilles, he was a dutiful servant who would prioritize the tasks assigned by his Master.

But he couldn't go any further, because he soon encountered the same situation as Achilles—

A barrage of powerful arrows came from afar, constantly harassing him and concealing deadly sniper shots aimed at his back amidst the dense attacks!

'As expected, his real name has been exposed.'

Siegfried sighed inwardly. He was a Servant with very distinctive characteristics. He had fought against the Red faction more than once and had even unleashed his Noble Phantasm. It was not surprising at all that his true name had been revealed.

Just like how Achilles' real name is easy to guess~

He rallied his spirits and began searching for the enemy's location despite the arrows. Although his weaknesses were obvious, Siegfried was confident that no one in the world could break through his defenses when he was on guard!

-

In a certain forest, Iori drew a magic circle on the ground, tracking the aura of spirits and displaying the approximate locations of various Servants, but unfortunately, he couldn't find the Assassin he was looking for...

Since that's the case, let's push them a bit and see how many Servants the Masters on both sides can spare.

Anyway, he's already laid the bait. This Rheinmetall can directly enhance Siegfried's strength, replenish the losses of the Hanging Gardens, and maybe even lure out some female monster~

Let's make a huge scene and fight to the death!

Then the boy turned his gaze to the distant World Tree Castle:

As for his target—Shuten-dōji!

Chapter 125: You dare to block the door if you don't have some skills?

Iori ventures to the Thousand Worlds Castle with the primary goal of finding Shuten-dōji and seeing if she can further enhance her Spirit Origin.

But to be honest, if an Assassin deliberately hides, Iori would never be able to find him. He wouldn't even be able to tell whether Shuten-dōji is on the battlefield in the suburbs or in the main camp.

It's all about luck!

If they could get close enough, they should be able to sense the other's presence thanks to the special karmic connection between Iori and Shuten.

If Shuten-dōji is in the castle, then find a way to lure him out and kill him!

Concealing his presence and stealthily advancing, Iori sensed powerful auras roaming freely across the battlefield through the Kido. They seemed to adhere to some tacit understanding, mostly engaging in duels in pairs, occasionally exchanging opponents, or following their Master's orders to go to another battle group to provide support.

In addition to the Servants that had already appeared, the Black Faction's Rider has also been deployed!

Considering that Shuten-dōji was seriously injured by Iori and was unlikely to participate in the battle, Yggdrasil has now dispatched nearly half of its forces.

Correspondingly, the red team will also have Lancer... wait?

The latest news from [Slap Toe Chasing Sparrow] startled Iori, who stopped and looked at a corner of the battlefield with a strange expression.

A familiar presence suddenly appeared in the battle. Although both were on the red side, this one had always remained outside the team. This time, instead of fighting alongside its comrades, it charged straight towards the black Lancer without hesitation or delay!

It's Red Saber Mordred!

Iori was initially surprised, since Shishigai was a steady person and shouldn't have gotten involved in such a chaotic battle that was destined to turn into a mess.

But on second thought, while he might not be willing, Mordred, who loved to join in the fun, might not be, especially since she already knew that King Arthur had appeared in the enemy camp. Under these circumstances, she certainly wouldn't let go of the opportunity to confront her "father" head-on.

"A father-son battle? I'd love to see that..."

Unable to resist taking a deep breath, Iori finally shook her head.

Although the father-son duel is a famous scene, he came to participate in the Holy Grail War, not to sightsee. He can't let other things distract him at a time like this.

Rather, the more similar incidents there are, the better. Weakening the remaining forces of the Thousand World Tree will be more beneficial to Iori's plans!

He had originally only intended to take a walk around the castle to assess the situation before making any decisions, but now he could risk trying Plan B.

Om-!

Arriving at the open plain directly in front of the castle, Iori deactivated her spirit form, revealing her true form and unleashing her aura without reservation, announcing her arrival to the Black Faction.

Such blatant behavior can no longer be called a "challenge," but rather a "provocation" against the entire World Tree, which the magicians naturally cannot tolerate!

Crack~ Crack~ Crack~

As the castle gates were slowly lowered, a series of sturdy, hard rock golems—Greems—emerged, followed by a large number of androids, all dressed in identical uniforms, lined up in an orderly fashion.

These golems and androids are not like ordinary laborers; they are clearly combat-specific models meticulously crafted by magicians. Each one is equipped with weapons and can be divided into multiple types, forming highly efficient combat teams.

The golems had no emotions, and the androids were equally fearless of death. They showed no sign of backing down when faced with Iori, who could kill them instantly, their eyes filled with indifference and numbness.

Iori frowned instead and said loudly, "Is this the style of Yggdrasil (the Tree of a Thousand Worlds)? Instead of facing the challenge of the enemy head-on, they send out these disposable consumables to test the waters?"

ridiculous!

This mediocre military force doesn't even qualify me to take action!

"Heroes of the Black side, is there not one who dares to accept my challenge fair and square?"

"Awoooawoooawoo—!!!"

boom!

The earth trembled, and the not-fully-opened city gate was smashed open by the immense force from within. A muscular and ferocious bull demon charged out, its giant axe cleaving through the demon statues blocking its path. Its force swept across, blowing away the androids beside it, and it transformed into an unstoppable war chariot that crashed into Iori!

Was it Asterius?

Iori narrowed her eyes, a hint of disappointment flashing through her mind, but at the same time she perked up.

He dared to block the door directly because he had something to rely on. Now that Black Rider King Arthur had left the castle, Siegfried, who possessed the Anti-Army Noble Phantasm, was in the same boat. Both of them were stuck in the quagmire and would not be able to get out for the time being.

The versatile Chiron also went to the battlefield as a ranged support. Currently, the only Servants remaining in the castle are Lancer, Berserker, Caster, and Assassin.

Asterius and Shuten-dōji's true names were known to Iori beforehand, while Lancer is most likely Vlad III.

Of these three, Shuten-dōji needs no introduction. Asterius and Vlad III are both Servants skilled in physical attacks. Iori has a clear advantage against them. Even if she can't defeat the Grand Duke with his home advantage, protecting herself shouldn't be too difficult.

The only thing to consider is Caster, so Iori didn't rush into the castle's barrier area. Instead, she stopped outside to avoid being blocked by Caster's methods and to ensure that she could retreat at any time using Command Spells.

—Iori only made such a reckless move when he was confident that he could escape unscathed.

As for Iori's reason for taking such a risk... it was ultimately for fishing!

Neither the Master nor the Servant could tolerate such provocative behavior, and if they were to send someone to fight, it would be none other than the remaining few Servants.