The air at the dock was thick with tension. Saber stood in front of Irisviel, her posture firm and her invisible sword ready to protect her from any threat. Her gaze was fixed on Rider, who, however, seemed unaware of the imminent danger. With a calm smile and relaxed arms, he watched Saber with the confidence of a warrior who knew exactly what he was doing.
In the forest cabin, Waver Velvet was on the verge of panic. He watched the situation through the familiars he had sent to the dock, his breath quick and his hands trembling.
"What is he doing?!" he exclaimed, slamming the table in front of him.
"He's going to die miserably. This is too reckless..."
Waver considered using one of his Command Spells. His gaze fell on the back of his hand, where the marks glowed faintly. With just a thought, he could recall Rider back to the safety of the cabin. But just as he was about to activate one of the seals, a clear and confident voice rang out at the dock.
"No need, Master!" Perseus called out, his tone relaxed yet firm.
"I won't lose, so don't use any of your spells. Trust me."
Waver froze for a moment upon hearing those words. Though his fear didn't completely vanish, the certainty in his Servant's voice was enough to calm him just enough to sit back down. Even so, his eyes remained locked on the screen, fear still reflected in them.
"Perseus..." he murmured, clenching his fists in silence. "I hope you're right."
At the dock, Kiritsugu and Kayneth watched from their respective positions. Both wondered the same thing: why had Rider chosen to appear at this moment? It was a risky move and, at first glance, not a favorable one. However, they kept their thoughts to themselves, silently assessing the unfolding events.
The tension between the three Servants was palpable. Saber remained close to Irisviel, her sword ready to strike or defend at any moment. Perseus, on the other hand, smirked slightly as he observed Saber with a relaxed expression. Lancer crossed his arms, pretending to be surprised by the sudden appearance of another Servant.
"This is getting more interesting," Hector remarked, though his carefree smile concealed his true thoughts: Let's see what this kid can do.
Without warning, Perseus was the first to move. The wings on his sandals shimmered, and his speed increased drastically as he closed the distance between himself and Saber in the blink of an eye. With a fluid motion, he launched a side kick aimed at Saber's torso.
She reacted swiftly, blocking the blow with her invisible sword and preparing to counterattack by slashing at his leg.
However, Perseus, anticipating her move, pivoted on his other foot, shifting his weight and launching a second kick with his free leg. The impact struck Saber on her other side, making her stagger for a brief moment and halting her attack.
Taking advantage of the moment, Perseo stepped back and assumed an offensive stance once more. With a swift motion, he charged at Saber again, his speed amplified by his sandals. Saber, seeing the attack coming, raised her sword to block, but this time Perseo employed a different strategy. He launched another powerful kick toward Saber's torso, but she, trusting her instincts, chose neither to block nor counterattack. Instead, she grabbed Perseo's leg with one hand while preparing her sword to strike with the other.
But before she could complete her move, Perseo smiled. With a quick and precise motion, he delivered a direct punch to Saber's face. The blow landed with force, momentarily destabilizing her and loosening her grip on Perseo's leg.
Seizing this brief moment, Perseo drove his knee into Saber's stomach. Although the impact was partially absorbed by her armor, it was enough to push her back, leaving her off-balance for a few seconds.
The series of movements happened in mere moments, leaving the Masters observing from the shadows impressed by Rider's level of skill and strategy.
Kiritsugu pursed his lips as he analyzed Rider's movements, and Kayneth, though irritated by the interruption, couldn't help but feel intrigued.
Hector, meanwhile, feigned surprise.
"Well, Rider, you're faster than I thought," he said with a smile, calmly adjusting his spear. "Are you sure you're not actually Lancer?"
Saber, though shaken by Perseo's speed and technique, quickly regained her composure. Her eyes locked onto Rider with renewed determination, recognizing that she was facing a formidable opponent.
In his suite, Edmund watched everything with a mix of fascination and curiosity as he took another sip of his wine.
"It seems Perseo knows how to keep the stage interesting," he murmured to himself.
"Let's see how far this spectacle can go."
The tension at the dock reached a new level when Kayneth, from his hiding spot, lost his patience. Although Hector's skill had impressed him at first, the prolonged exchange was beginning to frustrate him. Saber remained a considerable threat, and Rider's appearance had only complicated things.
"Lancer, stop wasting time and attack! Help Rider defeat Saber once and for all! We can't let the top class outshine us," Kayneth ordered sternly through the magical link.
Hector sighed wearily, twirling his spear between his fingers. "Understood, Master," he replied with resignation, though his carefree attitude remained intact.
Before he could move, Rider interrupted him with a smile. Perseo looked directly at him and said in a relaxed but firm tone:
"You must be Lancer. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you."
Without warning, Rider vanished from everyone's sight, moving with exceptional speed thanks to his winged sandals. In an instant, he reappeared behind Lancer, launching a frontal kick aimed at his back.
Hector, surprised by the sudden attack, reacted quickly. He pivoted on his feet with an agile motion, positioning his spear horizontally to block the kick. The impact resonated with force, but the length of his weapon prevented Rider from achieving his goal.
Perseo smiled, visibly pleased by his opponent's response. However, he didn't lose momentum. Taking advantage of his close position, he launched a low sweep with his leg, aimed at Hector's feet. This time, Lancer didn't have time to react. The sweep destabilized him, sending him tumbling to the ground with a sharp thud.
Perseo wasted no time. He shifted his position quickly, leaping to deliver a downward kick toward Hector's face. Though momentarily dazed, Lancer rolled to the side just in time to dodge the attack. With some difficulty, he got back on his feet, gripping his spear firmly as he regained his balance.
Rider landed gracefully after his failed attack, watching Hector with a calm smile.
"You're slippery, like a rat," he said, his tone almost amused.
Hector, instead of taking offense, burst into laughter.
"Thanks, Rider! I'll take that as a compliment. Though I must admit, my old bones can barely keep up with your pace." His remark was laced with humor, as if he were testing Rider's patience.
Perseo tilted his head slightly, acknowledging the response with an almost respectful gesture.
Then, his expression hardened a bit as he noticed that Saber had regained her stance, ready to resume the battle.
"Don't interfere, Lancer!" Perseo exclaimed with a mix of determination and a slight tone of mockery. "She's mine. I'll deal with her quickly so we can continue our fight."
Hector raised his hands in a carefree gesture, taking a step back.
"Go ahead. I have no desire to face you for now. You're too skilled for my taste."
Kayneth, watching from the shadows, frowned upon hearing his servant's response.
"Lancer! Why aren't you attacking him?" he demanded mentally through the magical link.
Hector sighed again before replying.
"It's simple, Master. Let them wear each other out. When one of them falls, I can easily handle the victor. It's a more efficient strategy."
Though annoyed, Kayneth understood the logic behind Hector's words and decided not to push further. From his perspective, patience could indeed be a virtue.
On the dock, Perseo focused once more on Saber. His calm smile returned as he adjusted his stance, ready to continue the battle. Saber, her eyes filled with determination, stepped forward slowly, keeping her sword at the ready.
"Come on, Rider," she said, her voice firm. "Let's see if you can surpass my sword."
Rider responded with a slight nod, his confidence unwavering.
"With pleasure, knight. I hope you're ready."
The tension intensified once again as the two Servants prepared for the next exchange, under the watchful eyes of their Masters and the ever-observant Edmund, who watched with a glass of wine in hand from his bathtub.
....
I will upload one more chapter, I was absent most of the week due to time, I'm sorry.