Chapter 8

~Shinji Matou POV~

"But for now, we have a bigger problem to deal with," I said as I felt the wires that I had set up begin to snap at an alarming rate. "Such as the overpowered servant heading our way, Kunzite put the physical barrier to the max."

"Understood, Master Shinji. The physical barrier has been set to their maximum output."

With Kunzite's confirmation, I called back my wire due to the futility of keeping track of Artoria and made a mad dash toward Rin and Luvia.

"Tohsaka! Edelfelt! You're six!" I yelled, seeing the black and red blur coming from behind them.

Both girls reacted immediately, but not fast enough, as the blur hit both of them, sending them flying. With that, the blur stopped letting me take in the appearance of their assailant.

She was a short woman, but she was definitely taller than me. She had pale skin and wore a black and red visor over her eyes. She also wore what looked to be a heavy jet-black armor dress combo that had red vein-like designs running throughout it. In her hand was a black and red two-handed sword that she was casually holding in one hand.

This was the strongest Saber, Artoria Pendragon Alter, the King of Tyrants.

"Miyu! Illya! Get those two to safety!" I yelled out while dashing toward Saber. I had no idea if they even heard me, but I had to stall her no matter what till I could either pull the class card out of the satchel on my back or when Illya's seal was broken.

Once I was upon Saber, I brought the blade of magical energy connected to Kunzite, but she didn't even move to block me. The wind barrier made of mana surrounding her blocked me with ease.

In response, she swung her sword at me, aiming to cut me in half, but I was able to bring Kunzite up to block her, but the sheer strength behind it sent me flying.

I was able to catch myself in the air by flying, but I couldn't help but grimace as I looked down at my trembling arms and hands.

Damn it! Why am I afraid of her? I've died before in my last life, so what could possibly have me so scared?

The image of Sakura flashed through my mind of what she could become: a girl shunned by the world, never understood, and, in the end, killed by the counterforce. I couldn't, and I wouldn't let that become a possibility to let my sister die without being able to live her life.

"Damn it, what the hell is with this cliché power-up development?" I said this while gripping Kunzite tighter. "But I won't deny it either!" Turning toward Saber, I flew toward her at maximum speed. "So come at me, King of Tyrants; I'll show you how far my resolve can take me in this world!"

With a smirk, I appeared above Saber once again and brought Kunzite down on her, which was blocked once again by her barrier. But this time I wasn't going to allow her a reprieve even for a moment, so using my other hand, I manipulated Cross Tail, wrapped the wires around Excalibur Morgan, and pulled them to the ground, snapping them in the process. Before I could do anything else to her, she lashed out with a gauntleted uppercut.

Even as I flew up and my mind was rattled, I unleashed a kick of my own at her as a greave made of water materialized over my leg. This entire time, I had been holding back considerably, trying to make working spells that I could use even without Kunzite's help, but that was definitely the wrong way to go about it. What I should be doing is abusing the hell out of the power of the Kaleidosticks to become as strong as possible, and then I can learn the workings behind it later.

Flipping in the air, I brought my fist down onto Saber as a gauntlet of water appeared as I struck the barrier, getting further than before. Flying up, I narrowly dodged Excalibur Morgan's blade, but I wasn't able to dodge the ginormous blast of cursed magical energy sending me flying until I crashed into the ceiling of the mirror world.

But despite all the pain I felt in my body, I didn't stop smiling as watery armor manifested over me.

As I fell toward Saber, I reached into the satchel on my back and pulled out the Rider class card.

"Install!" I yelled as I threw the card forward, and the spell matrix activated, and I fell through, transforming me into Medusa's attire with my water armor over top of it.

"Now prepare yourself, Artoria Pendragon! I'm about to make us reenact a battle of legend!" I yelled out as I reached up and pulled off the Gorgon Breaker, letting it fall to the ground and releasing my eyes to the world.

I know I can't beat you on my own, Saber. That's why I'll beat you down with this power and let those two girls finish you off.

Landing on the ground with a crouch, I immediately began using the monstrous strength skill before blitzing Saber with nameless daggers in hand.

Immediately I could see the difference in using the class card as the barrier was ignored by my newfound magic resistance and my nameless daggers collided with Excalibur Morgan, producing a rain of sparks. But I didn't stay to examine the power behind my blows as the instincts honed by Medusa kicked in and I got the hell out of dodge, barely avoiding the point-blank blast from Saber.

"Kunzite. I want you to send my plan over to Illya and Miyu. This needs to be a coordinated assault." I said to Kunzite as I ran circles around Saber, dodging the sword beams as I spoke.

"Understood, Master Shinji I'll send the information over." Kunzite's voice rang out from the right dagger.

Alright, I just need to last long enough for Illya's seal to break or Saber to make a mistake.

Stopping on a dime, I turned toward Saber and looked right into her eyes. During the entire time I was running, I avoided letting her look into my eyes.

Immediately Saber's body stiffened, and I took advantage of that to push her monstrous strength even further, becoming a blur as I struck her with a kick that sent her flying.

But I wasn't going to let her even get a chance as I ran after her. But even as she was in the air, she turned in the air and released a slash of magical energy at me, which I flipped over.

As soon as she landed, I was already upon her, where we began trading blows with each other, sparks flying with each strike. I continued to abuse my mystic eyes on her, and with her instinct skill being ranked down as a saber alter and possibly being ranked down even further due to being put into the class card and having little to no reason to manifest here in this mirror world, she couldn't react to all my attacks, letting me score some superficial wounds on her.

Damn, I really wish we were in an enclosed space, then I could really go all out, but here I have to play it extra safe since there's no cover, and I can't even pull a move like Medusa did and tie her up since there is nothing here.

Ducking under a sword swing, I blocked the punch that came after with my daggers, sending me careening through the air, but I simply flipped in the air while materializing the chain I had just wrapped around her arm, which sent her up into the air before I slammed her down into the ground.

Once the dust settled, I was able to see the damage. Blood flowed from her head down and over her now-exposed golden eyes as her visor shattered on the ground.

Heh, it looks like I have more work to do. I thought with a smile as I dashed forward once again.

[***]

~Miyu POV~

"What!" Illyasviel and I yelled out in shock after hearing what Ruby and Sapphire had told us about Matou-san's plan to hold the Saber class card until we were able to find an opportunity to kill her.

"This is extremely reckless, but him holding that heroic spirit off is the best option at the moment," Rin said while watching the fight between Matou-san and Saber.

It was awe-inspiring to see a fight like this, but the only question I had was how he was able to use the class card as it was supposed to. But I can ask him later, for now I need to get ready with a thought. I included the Lancer card.

"Dang it, I wish I could help, but this stupid Archer card can only summon a bow," Illyasviel said in annoyance as she looked down at the class card.

I'm sorry, Illyasviel, but I only know that Onii-chan used that card. I don't know how it works.

My attention was drawn away from Illya as a malevolent light descended on us all. Looking over to the fight, I couldn't help but have my eyes widen in horror as Shinji stood before the Saber servant, bloody and beaten, who was preparing to unleash her noble phantasm. But even despite all the wounds on his body and how much pain he must have been in, he was still smiling. He seemed to say something before, without hesitation, raising one of the daggers to his neck and slitting it.

"What is that boy thinking?" Luvia said this in alarm. But before she could continue, the blood that spilled from Matou-san's neck floated and formed a magic circle.

"Bellero-" Reaching forward, he grabbed a golden rope and went through the circle, a white horse materializing, showing the golden robe was actually reins. "-phon!" Once the entire horse was materialized, it grew majestic white wings before they turned into a white comet that went toward the servant. The servant, in response, released her noble phantasm, which released a beam of magical energy.

Both of the attacks collided, and the shockwave nearly blew us all away, despite how far away we were. Looking up, I saw that the servant was already struck by Shinji as a multi-colored explosion went off, blinding me.

When the light subsided, I was able to see the aftermath of the two attacks. There was a huge crater that was slowly being filled with water. But I couldn't help but have my blood freeze as I saw the person standing in the epicenter. They were battered, bruised, and bloody, and their armor was destroyed, but it wasn't Matou-san but the servant who was alive, and Shinji was nowhere in sight.

Suddenly, the sounds of chains breaking filled my ears as a burst of mana came from behind me.

"What!" Looking back in confusion, I saw a storm of mana coming out of Illya. But she shouldn't have this much mana since she isn't a magus!

"Illya!" Rin-san yelled out in shock while trying to get close, but the sheer strength behind the storm of mana was too much, and she couldn't get close.

"Defeat it…" Illyasviel suddenly spoke out of nowhere in an emotionless tone, causing me to look at her in confusion. "Defeat it… Defeat it… Defeat it… Defeat it… Defeat it… Destroy it… How…? Means…? Method…? Power…? If it's power, it's right here." Illyasviel said as she pulled out the Archer class card. She then slammed it onto the ground, causing a familiar magic circle to appear under her before saying a single word. "Install!"

A burst of mana was released from Illyasviel as her body was obscured by the mana before it dispersed, revealing Illya wearing a new outfit.

She was now wearing body armor consisting of a black and tight crop top with silver accents and a metal plate on the collar, along with a black bikini bottom. Around her thighs were two black straps, and another two strapped around her shins, separate from each other. She was also wearing black metal-plated shoes. She was also wearing a red coat that was separated into two parts, with the sleeves and upper half being one half and the skirt-like part being the other half. And finally in her hand was a matte black, western-style straight bow.

She immediately ran past me, ignoring the pleas of Rin as she ran toward the servant. In her hand that wasn't the bow, arrows materialized, which she notched and shot at the servant, who was barely able to block them. But Illyasviel did give the servant a chance as she leapt up and materialized two swords, one black and the other white, before she came down onto the servant and sliced her through the chest.

The servant didn't back down as she swung her sword at Illyasviel, but she had already flipped backward out of range and then jumped back and notched another thicker arrow on the bow before releasing it. The arrow moved faster than the eye could track as it pierced right through the servant's heart.

Suddenly, Illyasviel fell to the ground, the transformation disappearing and bringing her back to her normal clothes as the class card came out of her.

"Illyasviel!" I yelled while running over to her in concern.

"Miyu-sama, she is perfectly healthy, only exhausted, but you should look over there in the river." Looking where Sapphire was pointing, I saw Matou-san floating in the water, unconscious.

"Luvia-san, Rin-san! Matou-san is over there." He risked his life to give us a chance to win.

"Fine, I guess I can go save him," Rin said with a huff as she began walking over to the river. But as soon as she walked past me, I heard her begin to speak under her breath, but it was not nearly quiet enough that anyone near her couldn't hear. "With this, I can have that brat pay me back in a butload of gems and gain a favor as well." She said it with a creepy grin.

"Hohoho! Tohsaka, did you really think I would allow you to save that boy with obvious ulterior motives, so I'll save him myself?" Luvia said with her usual laugh as she ran after Rin.

"You obviously have ulterior motives as well!" Rin said while beginning to run toward the river.

"Miyu-sama I think it was a bad idea to have them try and save Shinji-san." Yeah, maybe you're right, Sapphire.