Diarmuid is a dual-spear wielder who wields both the Red Rose and the Yellow Rose. However, the Yellow Rose, which is less than a meter in length, is much faster than the Red Rose.
At this moment, Scáthach, who knocked down the Red Rose, is already at her limit and cannot stop Diarmuid's fatal strike with the Yellow Rose.
There were no declarations of victory, nor any roaring to boost morale. Diarmuid poured all his strength into his left hand, into the Yellow Rose.
This spear strike was the fastest he had ever launched since being summoned to the modern era, and he firmly believed it would bring him victory.
Due to the extreme speed, Diarmuid's vision broke into frames like a movie reel.
Closer, even closer.
With each frame, his Yellow Rose got closer to his opponent's heart.
Diarmuid, who only had his target in his eyes, didn't see the smile on Scáthach's lips, nor did he see her release her left hand from the spear the moment the Red Rose slipped away. He also didn't see the spiritual particles gathering around her left hand, condensing into a tangible form.
When the Yellow Rose was less than ten centimeters away from Scáthach's heart, Diarmuid suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest.
The pain was so intense that it distorted Diarmuid's handsome face, causing his determined stride to falter. His surefire strike was interrupted.
With some confusion, and a hint of disappointment, he lowered his head and saw Scáthach's left hand gripping a red spear that had pierced his own heart, while her right hand held an identical magical spear.
"I forgot to tell you, I'm also a dual-spear wielder," said Scáthach, the Queen of the Land of Shadows, standing at the pinnacle of all spear wielders.
"Oh..."
Diarmuid's puzzled expression turned into resignation. His dim eyes regained their calmness. His left hand went limp, and the Yellow Rose slipped from his grasp.
"I lost. I admit defeat. The Queen of the Land of Shadows truly lives up to her reputation."
"The same goes for you, Diarmuid of the Radiant Face. It was an excellent duel, and I am glad to have fought against you."
Scáthach released her weapon and reached out to support Diarmuid, who had suffered a fatal injury and could no longer stand steadily.
"To receive such praise from you, they must be jealous," Diarmuid referred to his comrades, the Knights of Fianna.
"By the way, there is something I don't understand. I hope you can give me an answer."
"Go ahead."
"Why did it have to be like this? To have my Master give such orders, to fight as a knight, to preserve my honor... You and your Master are not knights, and it wasn't necessary to do it this way. You could have achieved victory more simply. Why?"
Blood coughed up from Diarmuid's mouth, staining Scáthach's arm. She didn't mind and used her remaining magical power to perform magecraft, easing Diarmuid's pain.
"The answer is something I have already said. I admire exceptional warriors, and I didn't want a brilliant warrior like you to meet such a tragic end."
"A tragic end..." Diarmuid struggled to breathe, "Have you already seen my future?"
Scáthach lightly nodded. "It's a conclusion that even I find hard to watch. And besides, I was the one who treated Saber's arm and broke the promise between you and Saber's designated opponent. So, I decided to duel with you in Saber's place."
"Your Master..."
"All of this was orchestrated by him, and I am only responsible for fighting you and ensuring victory with the honor of a warrior."
Scáthach turned her head and looked at her Master with her bright red eyes, as if to say, "I have fulfilled my promise."
Shinji squinted his eyes and smiled in response.
Yes, the promise to guarantee victory in the name of a warrior was what Shinji wanted. He only dared to carry out this plan after agreeing to this condition. If Scáthach had not agreed, even if Lancer's fate was ten times more tragic, he would not have implemented this plan. Guaranteeing victory in the name of a warrior meant that Scáthach would give her all, and Shinji was confident in such a Scáthach.
What if it failed?
Impossible.
Shinji knew of a skill called "Clairvoyance," which could be obtained through "Wisdom of the Abyss," and it was a permanent skill.
Shinji knew of a skill called "Reinforcement of Stance," which could be obtained through "Wisdom of the Abyss," and it was an instant skill.
Not enough?
Shinji also knew of another use for "Gáe Bolg Alternative."
Shinji also knew that Diarmuid's luck was ranked E, while Scáthach's luck was ranked D.
If all of this could lead to defeat, then Scáthach would not have survived until now.
"So that's how it is..."
This scene fell into Diarmuid's eyes, eliciting a sigh tinged with blood.
"What a good Master you have. I truly envy you."
"Do you regret it?" Scáthach supported Diarmuid and walked toward the two Masters.
"Why would I? Although your Master is outstanding, I have no regrets about swearing loyalty to Lord Kenneth."
Upon hearing Diarmuid's words, Shinji released the "God Spear, Gungnir," held against Kenneth's neck, and patted his shoulder forcefully.
"Did you hear that, Kenneth?"
"Lancer..."
Seeing the battered and unrepentant Diarmuid, Kenneth, who was both stubborn and proud, seemed genuinely moved. He lowered his head and dared not look at his Servant, stammering.
"I... I'm sorry, I..."
"No need to apologize, Lord Kenneth."
Diarmuid let go of Scáthach's shoulder and knelt unsteadily at Kenneth's feet.
"You are my liege, and I am your knight."
Diarmuid's body began to fade, and more and more spiritual particles were drawn out from within him. Lancer's vessel had reached its limit.
"Lord Kenneth, please forgive me for no longer being able to follow you. I hope for your swift recovery and for you and Lady Sola-Ui to find happiness."
"Lancer..."
Diarmuid sincerely offered his blessing, causing Kenneth's eyes to slightly redden. He reached out his hand, wanting to touch his loyal knight, but found that the spiritual particles flowed through his fingers. He couldn't touch this loyal knight anymore.
Lancer lifted his head and looked at Scáthach and Shinji standing side by side with pleading eyes.
"Assassin's Master, as well as Her Majesty the Queen, this is the final request of a knight. I hope that you can spare Lord Kenneth and Lady Sola-Ui."
"As long as they are willing to agree to my conditions." Shinji pounded his chest by the knight's etiquette, making a solemn promise.
"Thank you both."
Diarmuid's body had faded to the point of almost disappearing, and he took one last look at his Master, bidding his final farewell.
"Knight Diarmuid Ua Duibhne takes his leave. Farewell, my liege."
The expression that was the same as when they first met had completely disappeared, and the last of the spiritual particles sparkled in the cold wind as they drifted toward the horizon.
A faint light emerged on the horizon, signaling the end of the night and the imminent arrival of dawn.
The blue spiritual particles eventually merged into the faint light on the horizon, leaving behind a touch of pre-dawn lapis lazuli.
"Farewell, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. I hope you are satisfied with this ending."
Shinji lowered his head, while Scáthach looked up into the distance, bidding farewell to this noble knight in her way.
====
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Diarmuid is a dual-spear wielder who wields both the Red Rose and the Yellow Rose. However, the Yellow Rose, which is less than a meter in length, is much faster than the Red Rose.
At this moment, Scáthach, who knocked down the Red Rose, is already at her limit and cannot stop Diarmuid's fatal strike with the Yellow Rose.
There were no declarations of victory, nor any roaring to boost morale. Diarmuid poured all his strength into his left hand, into the Yellow Rose.
This spear strike was the fastest he had ever launched since being summoned to the modern era, and he firmly believed it would bring him victory.
Due to the extreme speed, Diarmuid's vision broke into frames like a movie reel.
Closer, even closer.
With each frame, his Yellow Rose got closer to his opponent's heart.
Diarmuid, who only had his target in his eyes, didn't see the smile on Scáthach's lips, nor did he see her release her left hand from the spear the moment the Red Rose slipped away. He also didn't see the spiritual particles gathering around her left hand, condensing into a tangible form.
When the Yellow Rose was less than ten centimeters away from Scáthach's heart, Diarmuid suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest.
The pain was so intense that it distorted Diarmuid's handsome face, causing his determined stride to falter. His surefire strike was interrupted.
With some confusion, and a hint of disappointment, he lowered his head and saw Scáthach's left hand gripping a red spear that had pierced his own heart, while her right hand held an identical magical spear.
"I forgot to tell you, I'm also a dual-spear wielder," said Scáthach, the Queen of the Land of Shadows, standing at the pinnacle of all spear wielders.
"Oh..."
Diarmuid's puzzled expression turned into resignation. His dim eyes regained their calmness. His left hand went limp, and the Yellow Rose slipped from his grasp.
"I lost. I admit defeat. The Queen of the Land of Shadows truly lives up to her reputation."
"The same goes for you, Diarmuid of the Radiant Face. It was an excellent duel, and I am glad to have fought against you."
Scáthach released her weapon and reached out to support Diarmuid, who had suffered a fatal injury and could no longer stand steadily.
"To receive such praise from you, they must be jealous," Diarmuid referred to his comrades, the Knights of Fianna.
"By the way, there is something I don't understand. I hope you can give me an answer."
"Go ahead."
"Why did it have to be like this? To have my Master give such orders, to fight as a knight, to preserve my honor... You and your Master are not knights, and it wasn't necessary to do it this way. You could have achieved victory more simply. Why?"
Blood coughed up from Diarmuid's mouth, staining Scáthach's arm. She didn't mind and used her remaining magical power to perform magecraft, easing Diarmuid's pain.
"The answer is something I have already said. I admire exceptional warriors, and I didn't want a brilliant warrior like you to meet such a tragic end."
"A tragic end..." Diarmuid struggled to breathe, "Have you already seen my future?"
Scáthach lightly nodded. "It's a conclusion that even I find hard to watch. And besides, I was the one who treated Saber's arm and broke the promise between you and Saber's designated opponent. So, I decided to duel with you in Saber's place."
"Your Master..."
"All of this was orchestrated by him, and I am only responsible for fighting you and ensuring victory with the honor of a warrior."
Scáthach turned her head and looked at her Master with her bright red eyes, as if to say, "I have fulfilled my promise."
Shinji squinted his eyes and smiled in response.
Yes, the promise to guarantee victory in the name of a warrior was what Shinji wanted. He only dared to carry out this plan after agreeing to this condition. If Scáthach had not agreed, even if Lancer's fate was ten times more tragic, he would not have implemented this plan. Guaranteeing victory in the name of a warrior meant that Scáthach would give her all, and Shinji was confident in such a Scáthach.
What if it failed?
Impossible.
Shinji knew of a skill called "Clairvoyance," which could be obtained through "Wisdom of the Abyss," and it was a permanent skill.
Shinji knew of a skill called "Reinforcement of Stance," which could be obtained through "Wisdom of the Abyss," and it was an instant skill.
Not enough?
Shinji also knew of another use for "Gáe Bolg Alternative."
Shinji also knew that Diarmuid's luck was ranked E, while Scáthach's luck was ranked D.
If all of this could lead to defeat, then Scáthach would not have survived until now.
"So that's how it is..."
This scene fell into Diarmuid's eyes, eliciting a sigh tinged with blood.
"What a good Master you have. I truly envy you."
"Do you regret it?" Scáthach supported Diarmuid and walked toward the two Masters.
"Why would I? Although your Master is outstanding, I have no regrets about swearing loyalty to Lord Kenneth."
Upon hearing Diarmuid's words, Shinji released the "God Spear, Gungnir," held against Kenneth's neck, and patted his shoulder forcefully.
"Did you hear that, Kenneth?"
"Lancer..."
Seeing the battered and unrepentant Diarmuid, Kenneth, who was both stubborn and proud, seemed genuinely moved. He lowered his head and dared not look at his Servant, stammering.
"I... I'm sorry, I..."
"No need to apologize, Lord Kenneth."
Diarmuid let go of Scáthach's shoulder and knelt unsteadily at Kenneth's feet.
"You are my liege, and I am your knight."
Diarmuid's body began to fade, and more and more spiritual particles were drawn out from within him. Lancer's vessel had reached its limit.
"Lord Kenneth, please forgive me for no longer being able to follow you. I hope for your swift recovery and for you and Lady Sola-Ui to find happiness."
"Lancer..."
Diarmuid sincerely offered his blessing, causing Kenneth's eyes to slightly redden. He reached out his hand, wanting to touch his loyal knight, but found that the spiritual particles flowed through his fingers. He couldn't touch this loyal knight anymore.
Lancer lifted his head and looked at Scáthach and Shinji standing side by side with pleading eyes.
"Assassin's Master, as well as Her Majesty the Queen, this is the final request of a knight. I hope that you can spare Lord Kenneth and Lady Sola-Ui."
"As long as they are willing to agree to my conditions." Shinji pounded his chest by the knight's etiquette, making a solemn promise.
"Thank you both."
Diarmuid's body had faded to the point of almost disappearing, and he took one last look at his Master, bidding his final farewell.
"Knight Diarmuid Ua Duibhne takes his leave. Farewell, my liege."
The expression that was the same as when they first met had completely disappeared, and the last of the spiritual particles sparkled in the cold wind as they drifted toward the horizon.
A faint light emerged on the horizon, signaling the end of the night and the imminent arrival of dawn.
The blue spiritual particles eventually merged into the faint light on the horizon, leaving behind a touch of pre-dawn lapis lazuli.
"Farewell, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. I hope you are satisfied with this ending."
Shinji lowered his head, while Scáthach looked up into the distance, bidding farewell to this noble knight in her way.
====
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