After the incident involving Sakura, Rin had helped her sister to her bedroom to get some much-needed rest. When the Tohsaka mage had returned, she reconvened with Shirou and Arturia in the dining room of the Matou Mansion to address the current, more pressing matter at hand:
The return of Assassin, Hassan-i-Sabbah...
"We stopped by the church and met the new executor," Arturia tells Rin, having up until now along with Shirou brought the Tohsaka mage up to speed. "She informed us of the murders happening around the city were the work of a Servant."
"Apparently the wish I made with the Grail shard brought back not just Saber," Shirou adds. "But everyone including Hassan-i-Sabbah."
"Zouken's Servant..." Rin affirmed bitterly, leafing through the coroner reports that Saber and Shirou brought with them from the Fuyuki Church. "I guess having Sakura as a cheat-code wasn't enough for that decrepit, old creep."
While Rin continued looking through the file, nearby Archer remained leaning casually against the wall and Rider was across from them, keeping Biggs and Wedge tied together in her chain, much to their discomfort.
"These murders go back weeks," Rin said aloud, sounding astonished that this escaped her notice. She waves the files at Shirou and Saber and asks curiously, "Who is it that gave you this file?"
"Her name is Caren Hortensia," Arturia answers. "She took over the chapel in Kotomine's absence."
Putting the reports down, Rin rubs her chin in thought.
"I'm willing to bet this was the new master Lancer was talking about yesterday."
"She is indeed Lancer's master..." Shirou confirms. "And that's not all we learned about her."
Rin looks up at the duo with interest as Arturia adds:
"She is Kotomine's daughter..."
"WHAT?!" Rin exclaimed in surprise, and to be fair that was news to the other two Servants present. Shocked by this revelation, Rin held up a shaking fist. "That scummy priest having a kid... I can't believe I never found out about that! Oh, I can't wait to give this chick a piece of my mind..."
It looked like Rin was about to stomp her way out to leave for the church, but Shirou was quick to stop her.
"Easy, Tohsaka," Shirou tells her, understanding how angry she must be having been deceived and almost killed by Kirei Kotomine and wanted some form of retribution. "Caren wants no trouble with us. She's only here on Church business..."
Rin glared at him, and Arturia was worried that she would have to intervene if Shirou could not dissuade her from. Thankfully, Rin relented and stayed put, instead plopping the files on the dining table before questioning Shirou:
"So why is she making you do her dirty work then? If the Church were concerned enough with these killings to get their hands on these, why don't they do something about it themselves?"
"Probably because they want no clash with us, sweetheart," Biggs then let out, making everybody attentively turn to him. "The Association's got agents all over town since the Holy Grail War ended, and we ain't never got along well with the Church..."
"Remind me who you two are again?" Shirou asked, making Wedge peek from behind Biggs despite being tied up back-to-back.
"Gladly, if Android-18 here loses the chains..." he replied, gesturing to Rider. The Gorgonic Servant glanced at Rin, silently asking what to do. Rin nodded for Rider to let them go, knowing the agents would be foolish to try and run with three Heroic Spirits present. With a casual flick of her wrist, Rider loosens her chain around Biggs and Wedge and it falls to the floor. Biggs stood up, rubbing his arms.
"Thanks for that," he said ungratefully before pointing at Shirou and Arturia. "For your information, we're the blokes assigned to babysit YOU TWO from a distance. I'm Biggs..."
He then gestured to his colleague.
"-He's Wedge..."
Said Wedge gave a nonchalant wave before both Shirou and Arturia, who just looked at them completely unamused.
"Are those really your names?" Shirou asked skeptically. "They sound suspiciously made up..."
Biggs and Wedge glanced at each other awkwardly before Biggs made his way to the table across from Shirou, Arturia and Rin.
"You think we'd be stupid enough to reveal that?" Biggs asked as soon as Wedge joined him.
"You must be if Sakura was able to sense you both peeking inside..." Arturia cheekily responded only for Wedge to retort:
"Which in turn saved your sorry asses if I recall correctly," he said referring to the encounter with Dark Sakura.
"Happy accident," Rin countered, cocking her hip. "It was really ME who saved your asses..."
Instead of a counter argument, Wedge remarked:
"Yup. You sweetheart are definitely a Bulma."
Rin blinked in confusion.
"Excuse me?"
"Always hung up on tiny details, and you want everyone to see and do things YOUR way..." Wedge explained only adding to Rin's, and everybody's befuddlement.
"No... WHAT did you call me?" Rin asked.
"Oh, Bulma. You know... from Dragonball?"
"Here he goes..." Biggs remarked, rolling his eyes as Wedge pulled out a sticker book out of his jacket pocket.
"See, everything I learned about people... I learned from Dragonball," Wedge revealed going through all the characters depicted one by one. "See...You've got Krillin's; the plucky friends who like to follow... Goku's are the alphas, love a challenge. Gohan's are sleepers, doing things only 'cause they have to. And Vegeta's are brash and abrasive, always got somethin' to prove. Piccolo's here are smart but anti-social, hard for most to get along with..."
Shirou and Arturia look on, completely speechless as Wedge then pointed at the devilish character at the bottom of the page.
"Below all of them are Frieza's... the absolute WORST."
"And Rin is a... Bulma?" Arturia asks awkwardly and Wedge nods.
"Bulma's are barely above Chi-Chi's... who are louder and bossier..."
Shirou then found himself stifling laughter, and Rin snaps at him in annoyance.
"Hey! That's not funny!"
Hearing that, Wedge visibly pondered.
"Come to think... that's exactly what a Chi-Chi WOULD say..."
Arturia tried her hardest to hide an amused smile at Rin's expense while Bigg's remarks in a bored tone.
"Wedge's favorites are the Trunks' in case you was wonderin'..."
"Who are those?" Shirou asked curiously.
"The cool, subtle badasses..." Wedge replied before pulling off a sticker to reach and place on Shirou's forehead. "You son... seem like a Gohan..."
"Err... thanks?" Shirou said, oddly flattered. Nearby, Archer smirks having heard everything and remarked:
"I can think of at least one person who'd be a Yamcha..."
Arturia, who grew tired of this nonsense, spoke out to bring everyone back on track.
"I hate to interrupt but this is not helping the matter at hand," she said, regaining everyone's attention. Arturia holds up Caren's files and shows everybody. "Hassan is killing these people at random in order to sustain himself and we need to find him and stop him."
"These killings aren't random, Saber," Rin suddenly revealed, surprising Arturia and Shirou, who asked:
"Tohsaka, what do you mean?"
Rin holds up her hand, silently asking Arturia to hand her the files again. After she complies, Rin spreads out the coroner reports all over the table and explains:
"My family keeps a census of all mages living in Oita Prefecture, which includes Fuyuki City. All these victims just so happened to be mages themselves..."
"They are?" Both Shirou and Arturia let out, making Rin nod in confirmation. Upon hearing that, Rider voices her thoughts:
"If Assassin is looking to sustain himself for as long as possible, mages would provide more sustenance than your average human."
"That's true, Rider..." Arturia replied in agreement, and Shirou himself had nothing to argue otherwise. Yet, Hassan's activities still begged a question that was on both their minds, "But these killings go back several days. How did Hassan escape everyone's notice? Another Servant would have sensed him..."
"I'm just as surprised myself, Saber," Archer calmy responded. "Assassin is hiding himself quite well if even an Archer like me can't sense him. I'd wager it's a combination of Presence Concealment, and the nature of his hiding place."
Hearing that, Shirou ponders aloud:
"Most of the bodies found were discovered in Shinto district. That narrows it down..."
"Not enough though," Rin said. "They're countless hiding places in Shinto compared to Miyama. Hassan is smart, avoiding mine and the Matou residences and staying well clear of Caster on Mount Enzou. It's going to be a hard time finding him..."
Glancing over the report of each victim, Rin takes a deep breath and runs her fingers through her hair, appearing stumped. Arturia and Shirou could sense the stress she was feeling as she then turned to them, as if wanting to get something off her chest.
"I guess you two were right to bring this to my attention as soon as possible, even if the timing was inconvenient."
Rin was expressing slight guilt for being cross at her friends for intruding on her and Sakura's training, and even Arturia and Shirou knew her well enough that she would come to the realization that Rin's friends would not have done so for no good reason. The duo could even sense that Rin was now doubting if she even should have kept Sakura a secret from them, seeing how they almost got killed because of it.
"You would have told us about Sakura if that was what she wanted, right?" Shirou asked gently with Arturia offering a little sympathy for the Tohsaka-mage. Rin was only doing what she believed was right.
"Yes..." Rin replied, managing a weak smile. "Sakura wanted to get her power under control, feeling it would break the news to you two more easily. She did not want you two panicking or getting worried about her."
Arturia and Shirou smiled in understanding, but the moment was ruined by Biggs, who said to Rin:
"You definitely would've sent the Association scrambling have we discovered this sooner. Can't have your sister causin' a mini apocalypse, can we?"
Rin narrowed her eyes at the callous agent.
"Locking Sakura away to be studied like a lab rat is exactly what the Association would do if they got their hands on her," she fired at both Biggs and Wedge. "If you morons want to see daylight, I suggest you agree to a geas so you both keep this to yourselves. Either that, or Rider will keep you here... as permanent fixtures."
Biggs and Wedge slowly glanced at Rider, who stood with her arms crossed and gave them a coy smirk as a reminder that she could turn them both into stone. Wedge nudged his colleague, leaning it and whispering:
"Biggs, I for one would very much like not to be kept in a dungeon inside this creepy mansion as 18's display piece."
Biggs thought it over before whispering back:
"I hear ya, Wedge..."
Breaking away, Biggs then said to Rin:
"Alright' lass, we accept. Just know that if your sis goes off the rails, all bets are off."
Biggs then gestured at Arturia and Shirou.
"Not to mention, WE still got our jobs to do keepin' an eye on the lovebirds, makin' sure they keep the mundane lady in the dark."
"Taiga..." Shirou said to himself with worry. Arturia was reluctant to continue allowing Biggs and Wedge "monitor" them, but Rin complied before she could share further concerns.
"Agreed... keeping you here will only prompt the Association to look into the Matou mansion further. Once the geas is established, I'll let you two make yourselves scarce as long you don't stick around here long enough for me to change my mind..."
Hearing that gave Arturia an idea.
"Not just yet, Rin," she said, giving everyone pause. "I have a thought..."
She then turned to Biggs and Wedge, who looked at her in confusion... as did everyone else. Arturia questions the agents:
"You two must have a sense of all potential hiding places in a city for a mage make themselves scarce..."
Both Biggs and Wedge blinked for a moment before they replied:
"Aye..." Biggs said inquisitively. "Some of our fellow agents make use of 'em; safehouses where we are accommodated and can do our jobs."
"Nowhere dodgy though..." Wedge adds. "-Unless you're me and Biggs. The higher-ups are keepin' us in a capsule hotel..."
After hearing what, Arturia visibly pondered and said:
"That narrows it down considerably..."
"What are you getting at, Saber?" Shirou asks her. Arturia then turns to him and shares:
"Shinto's cityscape is rapidly changing, and there would be dead spots where magical detection is not possible unless it's very close by."
"So what?" Rin asks, having overheard. Arturia turns and asks:
"Rin, do you have a map of Fuyuki?"
Rin nods and replies:
"I'll bring my most up to date one..."
Soon after, Rin spread open a map of Fuyuki City over the dining room table, with Arturia and Shirou having arranged all the coroner reports of all of Hassan's victims. Looking over Shinto region, Arturia shared her deductions with Rin and Shirou, with everybody else looking on.
"Most places in Shinto have already undergone re-development," she tells them, tracing her finger around the area in question. "Hassan must have changed hideouts at least once."
Rin and Shirou have now started to see Arturia's idea take shape. Rin says to her:
"You're trying to see a pattern between where the bodies were discovered..."
"And where development has yet to take place," Shirou said, expressing admiration for his Servant and partner. He should have known that with Arturia having taken part in many battles as king of Britain that she would have a strategic acumen in analyzing the movements of an enemy force. Arturia shot him a loving smile before regaining focus.
"The places where the victims were found appear randomly scattered, but looking at the date of when they were found, we can trace a path across Shinto. Starting from..."
"The revamped Hyatt Hotel," Shirou said. "The start of Fuyuki's major projects. The first body was found not far from there."
"Correct," Arturia replied. "Tracking the other places where the victims were found..."
Arturia draws a curved line across the map, over areas marked where and when each victim had been recovered by police. Arturia goes on to then reveal:
"We see the first killings happening in the same ward, until when the hotel reopened. Then we see no more happening in that area."
"Then the next killing took place in the neighboring ward," Rin observed.
"Where there was another development," Shirou revealed. "An apartment complex was condemned and vacated just prior to the killings that happened in that very same subdivision."
"Once the building was demolished," Arturia continues. "We see the found bodies move again, where another building was slated to be torn down and redeveloped. See a pattern?"
"Yes," Rin affirms. "Hassan is hiding out in vacated buildings. Large, dense, and secluded. Perfect for hiding... Even defensible too..."
"Exactly," Shirou said. "Hassan had to move once demolition started. At which point he sets up another hideout in another slated redevelopment elsewhere."
"The last place that got torn down was one in the banking district," Arturia showed on the map, crossing it out. "If my theory is correct, judging by Assassin's movements, the next logical place to hide would be..."
Then Archer cuts in:
"The old entertainment district... the whole block has been slated to be bulldozed, but the operation has been stalled with the peak influx of tourists. It's been sitting abandoned for over a month, and the city doesn't want any explosives used with so many foreigners around."
Hearing that, Rin deduced:
"If this site has been condemned but not demolished yet... then that means Hassan has yet to vacate."
"And THAT'S where we will find him..." Shirou concluded, and Arturia said to him with a determined smile:
"My thoughts exactly, Shirou. Assassin won't elude us this time..."
Shirou returns Arturia's smile in full, any lingering guilt he had for accidentally wishing Hassan back was gone now that they had a lead on the rogue Servant. Shirou and Arturia knew that once they found Assassin, it was game over for him. But before they could get their hopes up too much-
"There's another problem," Archer suddenly said for everyone to hear, making Arturia, Shirou, and Rin look at him with worry. Archer's expression was dead serious as he shared with them, "Hassan has kept himself low because he knows other Servants like us are around. We could be walking into a trap..."
He then directed his gaze at Arturia...
"And Saber... with your wish modifying your saint graph, your new abilities are untested. Could lead to collateral damage."
Rin and Shirou turn to Arturia upon that realization. Arturia appeared to seriously consider Archer's words.
"That's true..." she said in agreement before suggesting, "Before we go out on the hunt tonight, I could use some practice."
Shirou was on board, all for preventing more damage on top of what Assassin was doing already. With the knowledge of Arturia possessing Rhongomyniad, there was no telling where Arturia's limits stood now that she was both a Saber and Lancer. The question NOW was...
"But where are we going to find the space to test Saber's new abilities?" Shirou openly asked, but as if in response, Archer gave his younger self a knowing smirk.
"I think you know the answer to that, kid... "
Shirou, as well as Arturia's and Rin's eyes widened, realizing exactly what Archer was referring to...
______
Minutes later, everybody gathered outside in the garden of the Matou Mansion. Archer and Shirou stood facing each other several feet apart on opposite sides of the lawn. Arturia stood beside Shirou, having taken off her bracelet and was now in her mature form, with Rin, Rider along with Biggs and Wedge standing off to the side as spectators. With the agents left in the dark as to what was about to happen, Biggs became impatient and directed his ire at Rin.
"What's all this? We already agreed to your bloody geas, girl, NOT to this backyard eighties dance off-"
"Quiet," Rider cut him off, glaring at him while threateningly lowering her glasses. Biggs was compelled to shut up before becoming turned to stone and cowardly looked away. Rider smirked before turning to her attention to Shirou and Archer, who both raised their hands and chanted in unison:
"I am the bone of my sword"
"Steel is my body, and fire is my blood"
"I have created over a thousand blades"
Then their chants diverted, with Archer going:
"Unknown to Death"
And Shirou:
"Unaware of loss"
"Nor known to Life"
"Nor aware of gain"
"Have withstood pain to create many weapons"
"Withstood pain to create weapons, waiting for one's arrival"
As their collective chant continued, the air around the yard crackled with mana, and gashes in reality opened to a parallel dimension.
"But yet, those hands will never hold anything"
"I have no regrets. This is the only path."
"So as I pray..."
"My whole life was..."
Archer and Shirou's chants converge with the final line:
"Unlimited Blade Works!"
The group became enveloped as the scenery of the Matou property warped and faded from existence, reforming again into a vast field littered with many swords and weapons. The sky was overcast with gears and clockwork turning and peeking out of the clouds. The field itself was desolate and arid on Archer's side, while on Shirou's end there were signs of life, with grassy plains replacing dunes of sand, and the sky even bearing a shade of lively blue instead of the rustic sheen on Archer's. Biggs and Wedge were taken back as they had found themselves in a reality marble, made both by a Servant and an "amateur mage" no less.
"This wasn't in our briefings…" Wedge remarked. Archer observed the space on Shirou's side of the reality marble and said to him:
"I see what you've done with the place... not bad."
"I thought the base aesthetic was a bit… dreary," Shirou replied, partly embarrassed as he subconsciously rubbed the back of his head. Beside him, Arturia smiled as Archer asks:
"Avalon?"
"Avalon," Shirou answered. Unlimited Blade Works was Archer's Noble Phantasm, creating a space in which he could endlessly trace weapons to rain down on his opponents for as long as the reality marble persisted. Since they shared identity, Shirou happened to gain this ability through circumstance, and it came in handy in several fights towards the end of the Holy Grail War.
Where Shirou's version of the reality marble differed from Archer's was the more "hopeful" atmosphere with the fields of grass and brighter sky, symbolizing his bond with his Servant, Arturia Pendragon. This version of Unlimited Blade Works also represented the belief that Shirou did not share the same future as his Archer-self, not ending up jaded and cynical like he did without the guiding force in his life. Archer seemed to understand this as he put a hand on his hip and told his younger self:
"As much as I would like to put you through your paces, kid, it's Saber we're here to assess."
Hearing that, Arturia stepped forward and declared:
"I am always accepting of a challenge, Archer."
After that, Arturia's body lit up, and in a flash of light she changed into her new Lancer-battle attire, once again leaving Shirou captivated.
"Wow..." he lets out. Arturia looked over her shoulder at him, pleased with herself for getting this reaction from her master, but warns:
"You might want to get clear of this, Shirou…"
Not needing to be told twice, Shirou moved to join the spectators, leaving Arturia in the "arena" with Archer. With all this space available to them in the reality marble, and Archer able to use the full extent of his abilities, Arturia's new kit can be tested to the fullest, and that meant that the ensuing fight was going to be a spectacle.
Once Shirou was out of their way, Arturia got into a stance, summoning Excalibur in her hands. Everyone looked on, anticipating the carnage that was about to ensue as well as seeing Arturia's new abilities in action.
Shirou and Rin knew from firsthand experience that Sabers were typically at a disadvantage against Archers… but would that change now that Arturia was also a Lancer? Arturia readied herself, holding Excalibur out in front of her and says to Archer:
"Don't hold back..."
Archer smirked.
"I don't plan to..." he replied before instantly summoning his bow and firing Caladbolg at Arturia. The spiral sword cleared the distance in a split second, but it was enough time for Arturia to burst into motion, leaning out of the way as the projectile barely missed her cheek. Arturia quickly closes in, and Archer jumps backwards to ditch his bow in favor of sending a rain of traced swords at his opponent. Arturia weaves, avoiding each sword sent her away and even deflecting and shattering one mid-air with Excalibur. Once Arturia got up close to Archer, she swung just as he traces Kanshou and Bakuya and blocks as they then traded a flurry of blows, kicking up dust and creating sparks in the air.
Shirou and Rin were watching this fight carefully. Rider stayed stoic while Biggs and Wedge were amazed and speechless at the sight of two Servants clashing. Shirou for one believed that once Saber got up close and personal with Archer that she would win the fight with her superior swordplay, with Archer losing the one advantage he would have had if he kept Saber at a distance. He was even surprised when Arturia closed in, sidestepping and dodging as she did to avoid Archer's ranged attacks. Shirou knew that Arturia was light on her feet… but not THAT much. He had the assumption:
Maybe becoming a Lancer made Arturia more agile, offsetting her disadvantage at range...
It sure looked like that from the way Arturia was fighting, Shirou thought. However, as the fight drew out, something else became apparent. While it was clear that Archer was seriously trying his best to engage with Saber up close, there were times when Arturia failed to capitalize on any openings, leaving Archer opportunity to parry and even force Arturia back with a counterattack, even gaining distance on her to send a barrage of swords her way.
Between brief breaks between exchanges, Shirou could at a distance see the look of frustration on Arturia's face. Something was clearly wrong…
"Saber shouldn't be having this much trouble," he said. "Up close she'd have Archer backed against a wall. Why is she struggling?"
Fortunately for Shirou, Rin had been observing the fight carefully and told him:
"Isn't it obvious, Emiya-kun? Her boobs are getting in the way! Look..."
Surprised by that, Shirou looked back and observed another exchange of blades between Saber and Archer, and it eventually resulted in a deadlock. As Excalibur was caught against Kanshou and Bakuya, Shirou could see plainly Arturia's arms pressed against the sides of her breasts, preventing her from positioning Excalibur for leverage.
"Oh..." Shirou let out while trying to ignore the heat building up in his face. This was no laughing matter as Shirou could only confirm that Arturia's magnificent bosom became a detriment several times during the fight and prevented her from gaining the upper hand on Archer. With her opponent beginning to push her back, Arturia disengaged, jumping several feet back from Archer. The pause in the fight made him smugly taunt her:
"I expected more from the King of Knights..."
Arturia may have been having difficulty in this fight so far, but it did not stop her from enjoying this spar with Shirou's older self. If anything, her struggle was eye-opening; an indication that she was not used to her new body when it came to combat. She was glad for this spar lest Hassan discover this weakness had she not agreed. That would have been a nightmare scenario.
"More is what I intend on giving you, Archer," she countered, deciding that she should change tactics.
Excalibur isn't working two-handed... maybe...
"I doubt you can trace this..." Arturia declared, banishing Excalibur in favor of her lance, Rhongomyniad, wielding the weapon one-handed as it materializes with a shower of light. "Prepare yourself, Archer!"
With that, Arturia reset her stance and immediately dashed at Archer, who raised his swords to block a sweeping swing from her lance, connecting with a resounding thud and causing Archer to slide back a considerable distance due to the force of the impact. Arturia dashes at him again, but Archer trades his swords for his bow and fires Caladbolg at Arturia's feet, causing her to jump high in the air to avoid the resulting explosion. Archer then traced a dozen swords and sent them flying at the suspended Arturia, who with great finesse spins and shatters all of Archer's projected swords with a single swing of Rhongomyniad before diving down at him. Archer jumps out of the way just as Arturia slams the tip of Rhongomyniad into the ground where he stood, leaving a sizeable crater before quickly recovering and chasing Archer around the arena.
Everyone watching was amazed now that Arturia was using her lance and increasing the pressure on Archer, who was clearly now the one at a disadvantage; struggling to keep Arturia at bay with more projections as she was outmaneuvering him like never before. As the fight drew on, Rin turns to Shirou and asks:
"Emiya-kun... can you tell if any of Saber's parameters have been altered by her new form?"
In response, Shirou held up his Command Seals which glowed along with his eyes.
"Let's see..." Shirou starts before giving the rundown to Rin. "Strength is the same... so is mana... huh?"
"What is it?" Rin asked curiously. Shirou looks at her and explains:
"Saber's got more endurance and agility than she had before, albeit at the cost of some of her luck. Makes sense seeing the way she's fighting now."
During the fight, Arturia at last closed the distance on Archer, who had now traced Durandal in attempt to counter Rhongomyniad. While Shirou's older self was no pushover up close, the forceful strikes of Rhongomyniad were visibly wearing down the Archer.
"And her Noble Phantasm?" Rin then asked Shirou.
"That's the interesting part," Shirou replied. "Saber still has Excalibur, which is mostly unchanged. But get this... Rhongomyniad has been added to her kit, but because Lancer is not her original class, apparently, it's not as strong as it should be."
Shirou looks down at his Command Seals and adds:
"According to this... it has gone down a whole rank and is single target only. A down to B…"
Hearing that, Rin turned her attention back to the fight. Archer, in a brazen move, forced Arturia back by projecting more swords to rain down at her while she caught him in a deadlock. Arturia jumped back several dozen feet away to avoid it, giving Archer to time to project more swords from behind him, this time a number ranging in the hundreds…
Seeing Archer about to let loose everything he has against Arturia, Rin smirked triumphantly. It seems Rhongomyniad was not enough to decide the fight as Arturia looked perturbed by the reality of facing this assault.
"Guess that's the cost of being dual class..." she remarks, believing Archer was about to win this bout despite Arturia's upgrades, but Shirou looked pretty unconcerned… confident even for his Servant to still pull through.
"I wouldn't count Saber out just yet."
Rin was proven to be celebrating too early as Arturia stood tall and summoned Excalibur back in her free hand, just as Archer started firing countless swords at her. Arturia bursts into motion, dual-wielding Excal' and Rhongomyniad to dodge, weave, and deflect away swords that got dangerously close to hitting her, closing the distance gradually on Archer.
Rin's mouth fell open, feeling both amazed and shocked that Arturia was powering through the maelstrom of steel and iron while Shirou looked on with a growing smirk. Archer sent more and more swords at his opponent but was straining from projecting so much that it caused him to fall on one knee as his assault gradually faltered. Although some would graze past Arturia, even clipping her armor and leaving tiny cuts on her cheeks, she would push through the brunt of the blade-storm and dashed full speed ahead at the fatigued Archer, raising Rhongomyniad to inflict the finishing blow…
But Archer saw her closing in and raised his hand as he chanted:
"Rho Aias!"
Archer projected a petalled shield in front of him in a desperate attempt to blunt Arturia's impending attack. Arturia, however, was NOT about to let up, deciding that in order to see how strong she really was warranted her meeting Archer's defense head-on. Her lance lights up in a spiraling cone of blazing light as Arturia reeled it back…
"Rhongo-"
The light from her lance reached its apex as Arturia thrusted forward to strike Archer's shield.
"-MYNIAD!"
The impact sent a shockwave that caused the spectators to stumble and shield their eyes from both the blinding light as well as the wind and dirt that have been kicked up. As if it were a drill, Rhongomyniad's spiraling light ate away at Rho Aias, causing it to crack like glass until-
(SHATTER)
"-!" Archer was engulfed in light and sent flying backwards. The rest of the reality marble crumbled and the rough transition back to the real world caused the spectators to tumble, falling on the reforming lawn of the Matou property.
There was a collective groan, especially from Biggs who had the misfortune of the more rotund Wedge falling on top of him. Rider had quickly gotten back on her feet as Shirou and Rin struggled to even regain their bearings. Looking back, they saw that the only other person left standing was Arturia, who held the tip of Rhongomyniad at Archer's chest in triumph. Rin was in total disbelief of what just happened. Rho Aias was previously able to tank a hit from Cu Chulainn's spear, Gae Bolg; a Noble Phantasm that Rhongo' should be any more powerful than in its current form. Seeing Archer's defense fail here was baffling to her.
"Wha-?! She tore through Archer's shield with just a B-ranked Noble Phantasm?!"
Rolling over to get a good look, Shirou had a growing smile of victory as Archer came to, realizing he lost the spar.
"That's because the lance is an anti-armor weapon," Shirou explained to the still flabbergasted Rin. "No defense can hold up against it forever. Guess I neglected to mention that…"
Rin pouted in annoyance, bitterly admitting defeat… not that there was any competition in the first place. She was only routing for her Servant after all.
"I see... It's more of a side-grade in that case..."
Archer sat up as Arturia smiled down at him, still holding out her lance.
"Do you yield?" Arturia asks, her tone conveying something akin to good sportsmanship. Archer simply shrugs and answers in a cordial manner:
"Yeah..."
Arturia banished Rhongomyniad and changed back into civilian attire before helping Archer back on his feet. Nearby, Biggs pushed Wedge off him as he came to, shouting "bellend!" at him. Rider took the opportunity to help Shirou, who was still reeling from Unlimited Blade Works breaking.
"Allow me," she said before grabbing his arm and pulling him up, even taking the liberty of dusting grass off his shirt. Seeing this, Arturia suddenly felt an overpowering wave of jealousy, distantly glaring at the offending Rider who put her hands on her master, having the urge to swat Rider away like a bug as her eyes turned a furious shade of yellow-
"Are you okay, Saber? Saber…"
Arturia blinked, barely registering what Shirou had just said as her eyes returned to emerald green. The wave of envy went away as quickly as it came, making Arturia hesitate a moment before answering.
"I- uh… I'd say that it was an amazing spar. I feel more at ease about confronting Assassin."
Shirou accepts her answer but thought it strange that Arturia took so long to respond. She never used to space out like that… Shirou soon dismisses it as Archer in turn helps Rin up and dusts her off.
Arturia was relieved to get Shirou not to worry about her but then put her hand on her head as she wondered what on Earth had gotten into her just now. Rider was only looking out for Shirou because he was Sakura's friend after all… the Greek Servant was not even remotely interested in him in any way, yet Arturia could not help but-
"I'd say that Saber is ready," Shirou suddenly said to Rin and Archer, reminding Arturia why she even sparred with Archer in the first place. "I guess we wait until dusk to start tracking Hassan down?"
"Absolutely," Rin replied in agreement. Rider than stepped forward and asked the Tohsaka mage:
"Do you want me to come with you all?"
"No," Rin answers. "Stay here with Sakura… make sure she still rests. She needs it…"
Rider nods, returning to the mansion soon after. Arturia was feeling oddly relieved of the fact that Sakura's Servant was not joining them tonight. She did not like the thought of Rider getting hands-on with Shirou again-
"Oi! What about us?" Wedge asked Rin. "We still got our jobs to do… you letting us go now or what?"
"Actually…" Rin starts deviously. "We could use your help tonight. You're coming with us to Shinto…"
"Why?" asked Biggs, growing annoyed that Rin was not letting them off the hook just yet. "Me and Wedge ain't keen on being piece-meal for a bloodthirsty spirit… we already had one near-death experience today, no thank you!"
That was when Shirou told him and Wedge:
"Calm down… You're just keeping your fellow Enforcers away from where we plan on looking for Assassin tonight. Even if we end up cornering him, there's no telling where Hassan can run to. We don't want anybody to get hurt."
Biggs and Wedge were slightly perturbed by this.
"That's awfully considerate," Biggs remarked to the boy. "Considering we're the ones doing surveillance on you… figured you'd want the Association out of the picture. But no means no!"
"Shirou isn't just being chivalrous," Arturia told him. "You two are only doing your jobs, and we don't want Taiga or our friends discovering magecraft any less than you do. Besides…"
Arturia then leans forward and narrows her eyes at the agents and says:
"If you don't tag along and make it look like you re tailing us, your superiors would think that you blew your cover. So like it or not, we going to make use of you…"
Biggs and Wedge's faces fell, realizing that Arturia was blackmailing them.
"Alright, alright," Biggs relented. "We'll tag along… killer Assassin be damned."
"We will?" Wedge asked anxiously but Biggs ignored him.
"Aye. But make no mistake… me and Wedge are bailin' if this ghost you're chasin' gets us in his sights. We ain't equipped to fight a Servant. We just want our livelihoods intact after all this business in middle-of-nowhere Japan is concluded. Ain't easy findin' work back home if you get sacked from the Mage's Association, or any place else in England you know? I'm sure you, understand… King Arthur…"
"Technically I was born in Wales…" Arturia corrected, making Biggs pause awkwardly for a moment.
"Whatever…" he then remarked.
"Fair enough," Shirou said, agreeing to Biggs' terms before telling everyone, "Let's just end Hassan's killing spree tonight."
"Agreed, Shirou," Arturia replied while Rin and Archer curtly nodded. With everybody now prepared and ready, come nightfall, the hunt for Assassin was on…
TBC