Chapter 13: Intervention!

"Are you sure you understand, Sakura?" 

"I know exactly what I'm doing, that's why I have to act."

Pursued by Kariya's questions, Sakura shook her head dismissively. 

"Berserker isn't just any Servant. He looks strong, but once the battle starts, you won't have enough magical energy to support him."

Kariya crouched down, anxiously explaining his concerns. 

"Don't worry," Sakura responded confidently. "Berserker is the strongest. Even without my magical energy, he'll still win."

In Kariya's eyes, this was blind trust. But to Sakura, it was not just childish ignorance. She understood perfectly.

Berserker possessed a unique skill—**Out-of-Battle Recovery**. When not actively engaged in battle, Berserker could automatically restore both injuries and magical energy. Even if gravely injured, he could fully recover within ten seconds of exiting combat. This explained why Sakura, a mere child, had not been drained of magical energy like other Masters. 

Berserker's magic was continuously replenished during peacetime, meaning Sakura never had to expend her own energy. Even in battle, Berserker's vast reserves allowed him to fight without draining his Master significantly. His only limitation was a reduced endurance during extended combat or when deploying large-scale Noble Phantasms. But that didn't matter to Sakura. As long as Berserker could disengage, he'd recover in mere moments.

That was her source of confidence. 

...... (T/N: Should i use this as scene change or the one from before is fine? i mean this "---")

Bang! 

"Tch, it didn't work?" 

Dodging a strike, Jonouchi frowned as Lancer returned to the fight.

"I won't let you get the better of me again!" declared Sakura Kyoko, conjuring her Rossa Phantasma—Red Phantoms.

Multiple copies of herself appeared in Jonouchi's line of sight, surrounding him. 

"Clones?!"

Seeing the multitude of figures, Jonouchi panicked, glancing at the three remaining set cards on his Duel Disk before turning and running.

"You think you can escape?!" Kyoko shouted, sending seven of her phantoms to chase him down.

Since breaking free from Caster's control, she had shifted her focus back to pursuing him. The magical seal was still in place, restricting her arms and preventing her from using her spear effectively. It was as though her hands were bound, severely limiting her combat ability.

This was why she couldn't let Caster go. She couldn't afford to run around with her arms tied by this seal indefinitely, waiting for it to disappear. Facing another Servant while restrained would be disastrous. 

...... 

Clang! 

Thud, thud!

The sound of clashing blades echoed as Saber and Assassin fought. 

"Dragon Nest Flash!"

Assassin wielded his broken sword with expert precision, unleashing a barrage of strikes, all deflected by Saber. Despite his best efforts, it was clear that Saber now held the upper hand.

"Even with your sword broken, you still manage such formidable counterattacks. Your swordsmanship… you must've been a renowned swordsman in your country, right?" Saber remarked, admiration evident in her voice.

Taking note of Assassin's left cheek scar and mastery of swordplay, Saber deduced that her opponent was likely a local Servant but couldn't pinpoint the exact era.

"I'm merely an executioner, lurking in the shadows," Assassin, known as Himura Kenshin, responded, not offering much more.

He neither cared nor desired to be remembered by history. From the records provided by Kirei, it seemed "Himura Battousai" was not mentioned in any significant way—a fact that brought him both relief and disappointment.

"This time, I'll defeat you," Saber declared, sword poised and eyes locked on her opponent.

Without replying, Kenshin glanced briefly at the wound on his arm, now healed. 

'So, this must be the legendary scabbard that belonged to the King of Knights,' Kenshin thought, recalling Kirei's briefing. 

Artoria Pendragon.

A leader of a nation, Saber's overwhelming strength further broadened Kenshin's understanding of the battlefield. 

'I'm still not strong enough,' he reflected.

Throughout this war, Kenshin had come to realize that the swordsmanship he had honed during the Bakumatsu period was no longer enough to ensure victory. While he could hold his own against even the most elite swordsmen of his time, here, he faced opponents who were simply too powerful. 

Saber alone had already proven formidable, and then there was Berserker, whose armor and strength seemed almost impenetrable. And let's not forget the overwhelming power displayed by Archer, who claimed to be a king. 

"Strike them down with your Noble Phantasm if needed," Saber recalled Kiritsugu's earlier instruction. 

This time, Kiritsugu was determined to rescue Irisviel and eliminate both Kirei and Assassin. 

Saber resolved to do whatever it took, including unleashing her most powerful attack.

Gold particles shimmered in the air as her sacred weapon began to reveal its true form. 

"White blade combat alone may not be enough to best you, but now…"

The surroundings gleamed with a golden hue as the energy in Saber's sword grew. 

"!"

Sensing impending danger, Kenshin tensed up, unwilling to underestimate his opponent. The foreign king was about to unleash a power he had never seen before.

"Ex…"

Light surged along the blade as Saber prepared to unleash Excalibur, her most powerful anti-fortress Noble Phantasm, The Sword of Promised Victory.

But just before Saber could complete her attack, the ground shook violently. 

"Boom!!"

Both Kenshin and Saber staggered as the sudden quake disrupted their fight.

"What…?"

A thick cloud of dust rose, and as it cleared, a massive, imposing figure stood before them. Wrapped in black armor and wielding an ominous greatsword, the aura of this newcomer reeked of malevolence. The sheer sight of him evoked fear.

Kenshin's eyes widened in recognition. 

"Berserker!"