The feeling of futility eroded Saber's heart, but she remained fearless and unyielding, continuing to swing the sword in her hand.
Lancer and Saber formed a horn-like formation. Every time Saber swung a sword, he would follow up with a shot. If he didn't do this, the sea devil's exaggerated self-healing ability would restore it to its original state within a second.
However, the yellow rose can suppress the self-healing of wounds, but it cannot suppress the proliferation of the sea monster itself. Similar to the characteristics of protozoa, the sea monster can self-reproduce from any part of the body. When a tentacle is cut off, the sea monster directly absorbs the broken part and then grows a new body.
Everything was in vain - no, even if it was just a little bit, it would be meaningful to slow down the sea monster. But as long as I think about the ending in the near future, what I am doing now is just a meaningless struggle.
If Mor·alltach (Berserker's Fury) was here, it would be fine. A piece of meat like this would only take two swords at most.
No, there was no point in sighing over something that couldn't possibly happen.
Lancer gritted his teeth, put aside all distractions, and swung his guns faster and faster. However, judging from the beads of sweat oozing from his forehead, he couldn't sustain such an attack for long. However, the noble-minded Knight of the Spear would not give up.
"Hey, Saber, Lancer! There's no end to this if we keep going on. Retreat for now!"
Hearing Rider's shouts coming from the chariot above her head, Saber shouted in rebuke.
"What nonsense! If we don't stop it here-"
The tentacles, broken into several pieces, fell from above, splashing large amounts of water. On the largest piece stood Scathach, holding a katana.
"A temporary retreat is a good way to attack. I agree with Rider."
"Do you have any good ideas, Assassin?" Lancer asked as he used a yellow rose to pierce the flesh under Scathach's feet - it was trying to split and regenerate.
"An idea indeed—."
"What are you waiting for? Let's go!"
Without waiting for Scathach to finish speaking, Rider swung the reins hard and drove the two divine bulls towards the shore. Before leaving, he did not forget to leave two divine thunders for the sea devil to hit his head.
Scathach raised her left hand, and a soft whip cut through the air, hooked onto the handrail of Rider's chariot, and slid along on the powerful wheels.
Saber and Lancer looked at each other, each using all their strength to swing the last two swords and spears, then ran across the water after Rider and retreated to the riverbank where Irisviel was waiting.
Scathach, who landed with the God Wheel, walked straight to Irisviel, stared at the android without blinking, and said, "Master Saber, we need your help."
"Me, me?" Irisviel took a step back subconsciously, her beautiful red eyes full of confusion, "Um, what do I need to do—"
"It's simple. I hope you return what originally belonged to Saber to Saber."
"!!!"
Hearing Scathach's words, Irisviel's body trembled violently, with an expression of disbelief on her face.
Unlike Irisviel's shock and panic, the others were completely confused. Saber asked, "What do you mean, Assassin, does Irisviel have anything to return to me?"
"Yes, that is your holy relic, the 'bond' between you two; -" Scathach stretched out two fingers and pointed at Irisviel's chest, "- your scabbard."
"!!!" This time it was Saber's turn to be shocked. She looked at Scathach, then turned to Irisviel and murmured, "My... my... scabbard?"
Scathach sighed softly. If possible, she didn't want to reveal this matter here, but if she wanted to resolve the current situation, letting Saber take back the scabbard was the best solution, at least better than the remaining two solutions she could think of.
"Irisviel..."
Perhaps unable to bear Saber’s expectant gaze, Irisviel gritted her teeth and nodded.
"Your scabbard is here with me, sealed in my body as a conceptual weapon. Is... No, it's nothing. I want to ask why Assassin knew about this?"
The one who gave the scabbard to Irisviel was her husband, Emiya Kiritsugu. In order to ensure the safety of his wife, who was acting as the Master, Kiritsugu also specifically told Irisviel not to let Saber know. Irisviel obeyed her husband's instructions, but she always felt guilty about it in her heart. The scabbard originally belonged to the Knight King, and what she and her husband did was to take it without permission and borrow it without authorization.
However, only Irisviel and Kiritsugu knew about this. How did the others know about it
"I told her. Although the Einzbern family deliberately concealed the news of the scabbard's discovery in Cornelvo, it's a pity that the people involved in the excavation and search were not very careful."
Shinji, who had returned at some point, answered on behalf of Scathach, using an excuse he had prepared in advance.
"The Knight King's manifestation in Saber's job class proved the authenticity of the news, but the fact that Saber's left hand was sealed by Lancer's yellow rose showed that the scabbard did not return to Saber's hands. Anyone who has read the legend of King Arthur knows the magical properties of the scabbard - the person holding the scabbard will not be hurt."
The reason for doing this is simple. I don't want to destroy my own Noble Phantasm as described in "LaeZero".
Saber's trump card is the castle treasure, which has the terrifying power to completely destroy the sea demon with one blow, but to release the true name of the treasure, Saber must use both hands. Now Saber's left hand is sealed by a curse and cannot release the true name of the treasure. There are only two ways to lift the curse: kill Lancer or destroy the source of the curse.
Lancer knew about this after Kiritsugu Emiya intentionally revealed it. He was a man of noble character. For the sake of his chivalry, in order to stop the sea demon from destroying Fuyuki City, he personally broke the yellow rose that must be destroyed and freed Saber's left hand. Doing so also meant that Lancer lost the possibility of winning the Holy Grail War, which indirectly led to his tragic ending later.
Scathach didn't want to see the warrior she admired end like this, so Shinji designed a new script for her. In return, Scathach needed to make a promise to Shinji.
The play began at this moment. The male protagonist was completely unaware and was still looking at the Knight King with surprise. He watched the Knight King walk up to Irisviel, hold the latter's hand, and speak in a voice that seemed to permeate his whole body.
"So, Irisviel is my sheath."
The comfortable touch from her hands soaked Alice's heart. At this moment, she forgot her husband's instructions and all distracting thoughts.
There was an inexplicable surge of energy beating in her chest, it was her heartbeat, but also her desire for the old item to return to its original owner.
In a glow that was similar to but different from King Arthur's golden sword, the scabbard slowly left her body.
The scabbard, which is the same color as the holy sword, is inlaid with royal blue enamel decorations, and in the middle is engraved the long-lost goblin language. It is the lost scabbard of King Arthur.
The light that represents protection illuminates the faces of Saber and Irisviel.
Irisviel held up the scabbard with both hands and handed it to Saber.
"Saber, bring me victory."
"Yes, I will!"
Saber pressed the scabbard with her powerless left hand and solemnly declared.