Facing the aggressively charging Kariya Matou, Diarmuid quickly assumed a combat stance. Despite the intense pain from his chest wound, he was, after all, an experienced warrior.
Kariya Matou was enveloped in billowing black smoke, exuding a tremendous aura. He rushed haphazardly towards Diarmuid and delivered a punch.
Diarmuid dodged the punch by tilting his head, looking somewhat incredulous. This Berserker, after all, seemed relatively weak.
Easily evading Kariya Matou's punch, Diarmuid maneuvered with agility, circling around Kariya Matou. He planted one of his short yellow spears into the ground, holding the long red spear with both hands.
Diarmuid's two spears served different purposes. The yellow short spear was the "Yellow Rose of Oblivion," possessing the ability to inflict "wounds that cannot heal." In other words, wounds caused by this spear would not heal.
As for the long red spear that Diarmuid held with both hands was called the "Crimson Rose of Exorcism." It nullified magical defences. In battles against Heroic Spirits, each thrust of this spear would bypass defences, causing true damage.
Facing an opponent who was a Heroic Spirit, Diarmuid chose to use the Crimson Rose to bypass defences, planning to utilise the opportunity to wound the enemy with the Yellow Rose.
Kariya Matou didn't care about the distinctions between the Crimson Rose and the Yellow Rose; his sole focus was on killing the enemy before him.
"Roar!"
Kariya Matou roared wildly, and the black smoke covering his body almost solidified.
Diarmuid stared at Kariya Matou, the long red spear in his hand twirling, creating several spear-like patterns in the air.
"What's going on..."
Diarmuid's brow furrowed. The Berserker's "aura" was strong, but his actual strength was rather unimpressive. What surprised him even more was that compared to this "Heroic Spirit," the enemy Master was terrifying.
When Diarmuid rushed into the residential building earlier, he couldn't identify the enemy's location clearly. A long blade had dominated his field of vision. He might have been killed inside the building if he hadn't reacted quickly.
Though currently facing off with Kariya Matou, Diarmuid's gaze inadvertently shifted to the residential building. It was pitch-black inside, and the hole he had crashed through resembled the maw of a monstrous creature.
Kariya Matou paid no attention to where Diarmuid was looking; Tokiomi Tohsaka had to die for him. He roared and charged forward. This time, instead of using his fists, he reached out with both hands towards Diarmuid.
Seeing this reckless charge, Diarmuid instinctively took two steps back, suspecting a trap.
Yet, after a few steps, Kariya Matou's charge seemed to confirm something for Diarmuid—this Berserker might have an imposing "aura," but he posed little actual threat.
Following Kariya Matou's advance, Diarmuid sidestepped and used a swift thrust with the red long spear.
The spear's tip pierced through the air, emitting a faint hissing sound like a cobra striking its prey.
An average person would instinctively dodge or step back, but Kariya Matou was not a normal person. He was a "Berserker." If he were to retreat, his Berserker's honour would be at stake.
As a result, Kariya Matou decisively met the thrust of the long red spear.
Bang!
A shockwave rippled outwards, and the long red spear pierced Kariya Matou's chest, leaving a bowl-sized indentation.
Blood spurted from the wound on Diarmuid's chest. It was as if the spear hadn't struck a human body but rather a solid piece of wood.
Swoosh...
A cold gust of wind brushed past Diarmuid as a man holding a long knife appeared behind him.
Diarmuid's pupils contracted. Instinctively, he lowered his head.
Cling!
The long knife swung overhead, aimed at beheading him.
"Roar!"
With his bare hands, Kariya Matou caught the long spear impaled in his chest. Observing this, Su Xiao's face lit up with a smile. He hadn't expected this guy actually to contribute to the fight.
Yet, in the next moment, Su Xiao's smile vanished as Kariya Matou lifted the long spear with brute force. This unintended action allowed Diarmuid to create distance between them. Indeed, Kariya Matou proved to be an "unreliable teammate."
Mid-air, Diarmuid raised his left hand and struck the grip of the long spear with his palm.
Buzz...
The intense vibration along the long spear made Kariya Matou let go. Diarmuid was flung backwards but landed on his feet, sliding a bit before regaining his stance.
Staring at Diarmuid from a distance of around ten meters, Kariya Matou's eyes gleamed with red, reflecting his pent-up anger.
At that moment, Su Xiao stomped on the ground and charged toward Kariya Matou's back.
Su Xiao stood behind Kariya Matou and delivered a sidekick.
Bang.
Kariya Matou was sent flying. This action puzzled Diarmuid and the onlookers alike, giving rise to a strange thought—they wondered if this Master was finding his Heroic Spirit more of a hindrance.
Kariya Matou was launched several meters away. After rising to his feet, he locked eyes with Su Xiao.
Energy swathed around Excalibur Sheath, and upon seeing the energy, Kariya Matou's expression turned fearful. He didn't dare rush forward anymore.
Observing Kariya Matou's reaction, Diarmuid smirked. The "electricity" that hindered magical effects and caused annihilative reactions with other energies...
A realisation dawned upon Diarmuid, causing him to look at Kariya Matou from afar.
This was an embodiment shrouded in darkness, an irrational Heroic Spirit. And this Heroic Spirit had no battle experience; he only charged forward recklessly. Even though he had been given the Berserker's "Mad Enhancement" upon summoning, it still didn't explain everything.
In contrast, the enemy Master was proficient in swordsmanship and possessed extensive combat experience. There was no way a magician could compare in terms of timing, capabilities, and strategy.
"So that's it... a berserk Heroic Spirit!"
Diarmuid's eyes filled with anger. He now understood the unusual combination before him.
"To let his own Master become like this... you're not worthy of being called a Heroic Spirit. At the very least, I, Diarmuid, won't recognise you as one."
With the "Crimson Rose of Exorcism" in his hand, Diarmuid danced with it, ultimately pointing the long spear at Su Xiao.
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak. He had anticipated that his true identity might be discovered. His strategy to deceive the enemy was a one-time ploy, and it had worked effectively earlier, catching Diarmuid off guard.
Su Xiao stomped on the ground and dashed towards Diarmuid.
Although Su Xiao was fast, Diarmuid's Agility attribute was also rated as A+.
They clashed once again, the battle between a rational Heroic Spirit and an irrational one, a skilled swordmaster and an untrained one, a battle that would decide the fate of the Holy Grail War.
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