"Is it a Heroic Spirit? I didn't expect one to show up so quickly."
Diarmuid stared at Zuke, speaking while keeping his body tense and ready for battle.
Kenneth had been facing away from the floor-to-ceiling window, so he hadn't seen what happened. However, Diarmuid had a clear view. Zuke had flown in directly from outside the window, crashing through the hotel wall effortlessly, as if smashing through a block of tofu.
Cough, cough! "Berserker! Next time, give me a warning before doing that!"
Although Zuke ignored the dust, Rin Tohsaka, held in his arms, couldn't. She coughed from the dust, then slapped his chest in frustration, voicing her discontent.
"My bad, my bad, I'll keep that in mind next time."
Zuke chuckled in response. When he flew near the top floor of the Hyatt Hotel, he sensed two people in the suite using his "Ki" – one with an average physique, and another with extraordinary physical power. It was easy to deduce it was Kenneth and Diarmuid.
Without thinking, he crashed in, though it might have been a bit intense for Rin Tohsaka.
"Hey, don't ignore us here."
Diarmuid's face darkened as Zuke paid him no attention, chatting with Rin Tohsaka instead. He felt both disrespected and an immense pressure from Zuke. Even standing there casually, Diarmuid's warrior instinct warned him against attacking – he knew striking could mean instant death.
Also, did that girl call him "Berserker?" This guy doesn't seem like a mindless berserker at all.
Cough, cough! "Damn it, are we being attacked so soon? And from the sky, no less…"
Compared to Diarmuid, Kenneth was oblivious to the danger Zuke posed. As one of the Clock Tower's Lords, Kenneth felt humiliated by his earlier display and, looking at Zuke amid the rubble, ordered, "Lancer! Go, finish him off!"
Kenneth, a noble with no real combat experience, couldn't sense the danger that Diarmuid felt. This was the same Kenneth who in the original story met his demise to Emiya Kiritsugu's deadly combat skills, never understanding why he lost.
"…"
Diarmuid tensed at Kenneth's command – he wanted to warn him, but Kenneth clearly wouldn't listen. Moreover, Diarmuid was a warrior with honor. Fleeing without a fight would betray his principles.
"I understand."
Following his Master's order, Diarmuid launched an attack on Zuke, who showed no reaction. Though it was more a sneak attack than a knightly duel, on the battlefield, strategy comes in many forms.
Recognizing the overwhelming pressure Zuke exerted, Diarmuid saw him as a monster to be slain, not an equal opponent. Against a monster, honor meant little; he joined the Holy Grail War to follow his Master's commands.
"With my cursed Yellow Rose (Gae Buidhe)…"
Without hesitation, Diarmuid thrust his cursed yellow short spear at Zuke's head, hoping to pierce it. The Yellow Rose, one of Diarmuid's Noble Phantasms, cursed its victims with wounds that couldn't heal, even through healing magic.
But in the next moment, Diarmuid's expression changed dramatically. The spear tip met Zuke's temple, but it felt as if he had struck an impossibly hard object – it wouldn't penetrate.
"Impossible… his body…?"
Realizing Zuke's astonishing durability, Diarmuid tried to retreat. His strike was powerful, and the spear's penetration strength exceeded modern weaponry – if Zuke had been weaker, he might have been injured.
But Zuke was no longer the same as before. His gains in the Dragon Ball world had made him untouchable to Heroic Spirits.
"A fine attack, but it's still lacking."
Zuke smiled, acknowledging the strike's force. Just as Diarmuid began to retreat, Zuke reached out and seized his head.
"So fast…!"
Diarmuid's pupils trembled; he hadn't seen Zuke move, but his hand was already gripping Diarmuid's head. Zuke's hand wasn't large, but with his fingers pressing against Diarmuid's face, it felt like his skull would be crushed. Zuke wasn't even exerting his full strength.
Such terrifying power… what kind of Heroic Spirit is he?
"Rin, close your eyes."
Zuke's voice resonated with authority. Realizing what was coming, Rin Tohsaka quickly shut her eyes. Understanding the nature of the Holy Grail War, she was mentally prepared for bloodshed.
Bang!
A sound like a watermelon smashing rang out. Diarmuid's head shattered in Zuke's grip, leaving a gruesome scene of flying blood and flesh. Zuke had Rin close her eyes to spare her young heart from the sight.
Diarmuid tried to struggle, but his strength was no match for Zuke's. Thus, the Holy Grail War's Lancer exited as if it were mere child's play.
Yet…
"Hmm? I can gain Heroic Spirit abilities too?"
Looking at the decapitated Heroic Spirit's body, Zuke felt an unexpected hunger from the Blackbird within him.
To be continued…
Btw, guys, after a discussion with my Patrons, I decided to post bulk chapters on my Patreon till the story reaches the dragonball world!
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