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Whoosh!
Yuto flicked his wrist, summoning the Blade of the Immortal Slayer. Its edge caught the moonlight, gleaming with a cold, clear shine. Behind him, golden light flared as ripples spread through the air, and a flood of Noble Phantasms poured out of his Gate of Babylon, locking onto Li Shuwen with purpose.
"Noble Phantasm Bombardment!"
"Intersect of Yin-Yang!"
Whoosh!
Li Shuwen dropped low, moving like a tiger on the hunt. He raised his twin spears over his shoulders and charged straight into the glowing storm of Noble Phantasms. Thunder-like booms rolled out as he swung his magic spears, their light cutting through the night. The air shook as if it might split apart.
This was his B-rank skill, Intersect of Yin-Yang, a human power he could flip on or off. It lets him balance soft (Yin) and hard (Yang) fighting styles. It sharpens his senses, keeps him calm under pressure, and boosts his combat precision, allowing him to dodge and strike effectively even against overwhelming attacks. And this time, Caster had boosted him with magic, making him even tougher.
For a moment, the white-haired old man stood tall, swinging his spears like a force of nature, carving his way through the rain of Noble Phantasms with raw power.
"Stella!"
Yuto snapped his fingers, targeting Li Shuwen. One of the Noble Phantasms looped back and flared to life.
Boom!
The blast hit hard, and Li Shuwen's face showed a flicker of shock, his stance faltering. In that split second, he roared, hiis feet slammed the ground, sending out a burst of energy. Stone tiles beneath him cracked and flew apart, scattering into a rough shield around him.
Then he tossed his red-tasseled spear aside. Gripping the black magic spear with both hands, he spun it into a tight whirlwind, breaking free from the explosion's grip.
"No way," Yuto muttered, eyes wide.
Since mastering Arash's Noble Phantasm, no one had survived 'Stella' until this guy.
Still, the blast left its mark. Li Shuwen emerged from the firestorm, his clothes burned to rags. His weathered face was etched with ugly burn scars, and his strong arms bubbled with blisters. Blood mixed with charred skin, leaving twisted marks across his body.
"Hah… this far, huh?" he rasped, forcing the pain down. With a surge of energy, he ripped off the burned skin. As blackened flakes fell, his muscles twitched, pink flesh growing fast, almost pulsing until new skin covered him.
He laughed, loud and free, his hair covering his face.
"How long's it been? Years since anyone pushed me like this!"
The laughter cut off. When he looked up, his eyes burned with murderous intent.
Boom!
This time Li Shuwen didn't use any skills instead he charged towards Yuto like a wild beast, barreling toward Yuto. Noble Phantasms rained down like meteors, but he didn't dodge. He took the hits, refusing to slow down.
"Great Rune!"
Yuto's gaze sharpened. He traced a glowing blue Rune in the air: a speed boost. As it sank into him, he moved faster, ready for the clash.
"Bring it on."
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metal screamed as they traded blows, a blur of motion on the wrecked slope. Each strike was too quick for Rin Tohsaka or Artoria to follow. The fight's intensity had the girls gripping their hands, sweating, worried for Yuto.
'Rho Aias!'
A soft hum filled the air as pink petal shields appeared, blocking a spear thrust aimed at Yuto.
Li Shuwen didn't care, he smashed a heavy fist into it. His magically enhanced punch, fueled by his martial arts skill, cracks one layer, showing his incredible strength but not fully breaking the shield. Yuto's eyes narrowed, a sly grin tugging at his lips. 'Not bad, old man,' he thought, already shifting to counter the relentless assault.
Whoosh!
Yuto flipped backward through the air, trying to steady himself. But the old man leaped ahead, claiming the landing spot. With a sharp breath, he drove a knee up, then slammed both elbows down. "Eight Extremes Fist: Fierce Tiger Climbing Mountain!"
The move was all about raw damage; smooth, brutal strikes channeling the earth's power through Li Shuwen. It could smash through walls or gates like they were nothing.
Yuto reacted fast, calling up Aigis. A white glow flared. It shifted, plates moving like they were alive, locking into place from head to toe.
Li Shuwen's attack crashed in, the force bending the air itself. It squeezed tight, then burst out in sharp blades of wind.
"Not good!" Rin shouted.
She threw her gems without a second thought, chanting quickly. A huge mirror-like shield appeared, guarding her and Artoria from the fallout. But the power was too much, cracks spread across it in seconds. Rin winced, pulling more bright gems from her pocket and tossing them out, just barely holding the shield together.
"My gems… my best ones," she groaned.
Yuto's feet sank into the ground, cracking stone. He looked surprised. Li Shuwen's arms had burst into bloody mist from the Aigis's rebound, sending him flying back. Yet somehow, he kicked up a fallen spear from the rubble and launched it.
"Divine Spear: No Second Strike!"
Even broken, the martial master fought on with sheer will. No Second Strike was Li Shuwen's ultimate spear technique, a perfected martial arts skill turned Noble Phantasm. Each strike is lethal, piercing with unmatched precision, reflecting his legend as a master who needs no second blow. But Aigis held firm, stopping it cold.
'Illusion Collapse!'
Yuto drew a black longbow, projecting a spiral sword. He fired.
Boom!
Blood sprayed like rain, the air turning sharp with its scent. A deep cut tore through Li Shuwen's side, soaking his clothes red.
"It's over," Yuto said, removing Aigis. He flashed a laid-back smile at the girls rushing over.
Rin ran up, staring at him like he'd grown a second head. "You're insane… taking down an assassin like that."
"Archer's not exactly a typical archer," Artoria added, her golden ahoge bobbing as she nodded.
Rin shot a jealous glance at the pair. Artoria, as a first time master, summoned a powerhouse like Yuto. She wanted one too!
"Hey, what's with the look?" Yuto teased, feeling her pouty stare.
Before he could poke at the tsundere more, a massive roar echoed from Ryudo Temple up the mountain, cutting them off.
"What's… that?" Rin gaped.
Above the temple, a dragon loomed, huge as a hill, its wings blotting out the sky. "A dragon from the Age of Gods? In modern times?" she whispered. "N-No way, a dragon?!"
"Now is not the time to be in a daze. Let's move." Yuto said, snapping them out of it. "Lancer needs us."
He scooped them up, one under each arm, ignoring their shy squeaks. Their softness was nice, sure, but battle wasn't the time for that. He dashed toward the temple.
"Okay, okay, put me down!" Rin squirmed, her hips brushing his arm.maybe on purpose, maybe not. Her face went red as she peeked at his sharp, handsome features.
'He's pretty good-looking,' she thought. Not that she cared about looks, but Yuto's strength and charm were hard to ignore. The moonlight carved out his face, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Perfect timing," Yuto said, setting them down. He barely noticed her staring, focusing instead on the fight ahead.
Scathach stood alone against two Servants and a dragon. She looked outnumbered, but with her flawless spear work and runes, she always managed to gain the upper hand.
"Sakura! What's she doing here?!" Rin blurted, spotting the battlefield.
Medusa gripped a golden magic sword, clashing hard with Scathach. She'd switched to combat mode, her white armor hugging her slim waist and showing off strong, shapely legs. One hand held the sword, the other a gray-black shield. Her glasses were gone, purple Mystic Eyes flashing petrifying beams that even Scathach found tricky.
Nearby, a black-robed woman floated, her purple lips curling slyly. Unlike Medusa's bold attacks, she played it smart, hiding behind the dragon and tossing void magic at Scathach.
"Medea…" Yuto muttered. "She used the Golden Fleece for that dragon, huh?"
He scanned the area but didn't see Kuzuki Souichirou, the teacher.
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