Second Fourth Night

*Shatter*

*Shatter*

The first layer of Rho Aias easily shattered followed by the second layer.

Evander grabbed his right arm with his left hand and pumped more mana into the shield. 'Ghh dammit even the spear is stronger!' He thought.

*Shatter*

Third layer broke.

While Evander was trying to defend against the power of the spear, Lancer crouched down as he grafted runes on his body.

He was in unimaginable pain. Even though Gae Bolg got strengthened, the backlash from using it almost killed him.

That's why he couldn't do anything while Evander was holding the shield up.

"Ack! Aha! Ahaha! Ack! It hurst fuck!" Lancer laughed while in pain.

He had Battle Continuation, meaning that he could shrug off any wounds unless they were fatal and continue fighting. That showed how much he was in pain. But he still watched because he was also curious of the outcome of two Noble Phantasms.

*Shatter*

Fourth layer of Rho Aias broke. "Ghh!" Evander was forced to take a step back as the clothes in his arms ripped and wounds appeared.

He wasn't hit by the spear but even its surroundings were damaged.

*Shatter*

Fifth layer broke. Blood dripped from his head and dyed his eyes red.

'Archer! What's going on?!' Then came Rin's voice in his head.

She was communicating with him from afar through the bond between them as Master and Servant.

'Not now Rin! I'm kinda busy!' Evander replied hurriedly without breaking his concentration on the shield.

From the looks of it, Evander noticed that Rho Aias wouldn't be able to hold much longer.

He was almost sure that Rho Aias could hold against Gae Bolg before Lancer became what he is currently. But now, it was looking bad.

*Shatter*

The sixth layer broke and there was only one more layer left of Rho Aias. Even though it broke through six layers, while it did lose some power, Gae Bolg didn't look like it was gonna stop.

"Khh! Aware of the beginning, unaware of the end! Raahh!!" Evander shouted one more line as he pumped more mana into the last layer.

But half of his focus was on something else.

A weapon started taking shape before his eyes. "Survived through countless battles!"

It was a spear.

A red barbed spear.

The one Lancer used before he was corrupted. The true Gae Bolg.

Even though it was weaker, Evander had neither time nor luxury to create the stronger one.

But while it was weaker, it wasn't much weaker either. It would get the job done. Or so Evander hoped.

*Crack!*

The last layer of Rho Aias started cracking just as the Gae Bolg (Projection) took shape.

*Shatter!*

Just as the last layer broke, Evander grabbed Gae Bolg projection.

"Gae-Bolg!" And threw it against the incoming Gae Bolg.

Two Gae Bolg, one a projection, the other original but was weakened by Rho Aias clashed in the air.

*BOOM!*

An explosion like no other resounded throughout the city.

The reason why Evander had to project specifically Gae Bolg was frankly because Gae Bolg was annoying.

He could've projected something with more fire power, but that would only lead to both of them dying.

The power of Gae bolg lied in its reversal of causality. Meaning that the target was dead once the name of the spear was invoked. Well, as long as they were lucky, they could survive against it.

But Evander knew that there was no chance of him living if the spear hit him because of his luck. 'Such misfortune.' He thought.

Rho Aias was the strongest shield in his possession, and if even it couldn't hold against it, only a Gae Bolg could hold against a Gae Bolg.

Because they both traced the same path of death and clashed in the middle.

Both Evander and Lancer was thrown away from the explosion.

"Ha. Haha. Hahaha!" Lancer laughed like a maniac upon seeing that Evander lived. "So you dodged my undodgeable blow, Archer!" He yelled as he summoned back his spear.

"Ack! Shut up will you?! It is ringing like hell!" Evander said as he walked out of debris while holding his head.

"Kekeke let me show you this one then." Lancer laughed creepily.

Mana started gathering around Lancer once again. "Slaughter, without exception. Liberate all curses, without moderation. Be prepared to challenge despair…" the black and red carapace started growing all around Lancer.

'Oh boy.' Evander thought. "I have no regrets, this is my path." He continued his chant. "As I pray now, I call forth…" he brought his hand to his chest then pointed it forward as ground started cracking with blue light.

"Curruid Coinchenn!"

"Unlimited Blade Works."

A bright light flashed for a moment and a lush green land bathed in rays of gold appeared in their vision.

But what drew the most attention in this magnificent land, were the countless sword that were stuck in the ground like grave markers.

Each one shone with an extraordinary glow, displaying their splendor.

Spikes grew out of Lancer's body as he became a monstrosity.

"Roar!!" He also roared like a monster.

'Hmm? A berserker?' Evander thought. Because Lancer's behavior right now was no different than a Berserker's. 'No matter. He is already dead.'

With a rise of his hand, countless swords lifted from the ground and hovered on the air.

"Continuous Fire."

***

"He is close." Rin said as she, Saber and Shirou trekked through the forest path.

After she parted with Evander, she hastily made her way to Emiya residence. And after she explained the situation, Saber expressed her willingness to help and Shirou also couldn't sit still.

That's why, they followed his trail through the link between the master and servant.

And that led them to the forest close to the Einzbern castle.

They saw the huge explosion, but that only made them increase their pace.

Saber tried to convince them to stay behind because it was dangerous but Rin and Shirou didn't pay any heed to her warning.

There were quite close to Evander, but they were no sounds of any clash as far as they could hear.

If she couldn't feel that Evander was fine through their bond, Rin might have gotten anxious because of the eerie silence.

They ran and ran until they finally reached a clearing.

There stood Evander with his whole body covered in wounds and blood. His armor was ripped to shreds in many places. And he was looking down at Lancer who laid before him with half of his body charred and the other disintegrated.

"Kah!" Lancer coughed out blood as he gave an animalistic grin to Evander. "That's cheating…you bastard keke." Then his body dissolved into black mud before disappearing.

"Hmm?" Then Evander lifted his head and looked at the trio. "Oh Rin. Just in time. Lancer is dead." He said with a small smile.

Rin was at first shocked, then surprised, then proud. She puffed up her chest and crossed her arms. "Hmph. Of course. I knew you would be able to deal with him."

She was proud, why wouldn't she? Her servant was an Archer while his enemy was a Lancer.

Normally he shouldn't be able to do anything once a close quarter servant like a lancer closed the distance with him.

And that servant was Cu Chulainn! One of the greatest heroes in the world.

Her servant beat him in his own game.

"We better get out of here." Evander said and Saber nodded.

"Umu. I feel like something bad would happen if we stay here." Saber said.

Her instincts were warning her to leave and seeing Archer in such condition made her belief stronger. He needed rest.

"Let's go back then." Rin said as she waited for Archer to lift her up. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and waited for the take off.

"Geez what am I? Your personal transporter?" Evander said with a sigh as a small smile appeared on his face.

"Yeah." Rin nodded with a grin.

Traveling this way somehow became the norm for her. It was faster, safer and more comfortable than any other way of transportation.

She also enjoyed the feeling. She would never tell that to him though.

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Phew managed to finish another one, let me know your thoughts.

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