Chapter 16: The Loyal Lancer
The situation on the battlefield was somewhat strange. Originally a three-way standoff, after two sides clashed, the Lancer camp actually showed signs of losing.
Clang~
The sound of metal clashing carried far, sparks especially conspicuous in the night. Su Xiao and Diarmuid were locked in combat. Having already lost one arm, Diarmuid was repeatedly forced back, and it wouldn't be long before he was defeated.
The Counter Shield blocked Diarmuid's thrust once again. Su Xiao slashed out at lightning speed, leaving a wound deep enough to reach the bone on Diarmuid's right arm.
……
Diarmuid's Master, Kayneth, was watching from a distant unfinished building. His expression was extremely grim. If Diarmuid died in battle, he would lose his qualification to continue participating in the Holy Grail War.
"Why... why is there such a gap in strength? Diarmuid, you useless fool. Hoo~ No choice. We have to retreat for now."
Kayneth raised his arm, preparing to use the Command Seal on his hand to save Diarmuid. If he used the Command Seal now to order Diarmuid to appear beside him, even though Diarmuid had no spatial abilities, under the effect of the Holy Grail plus the Command Seal, Diarmuid would indeed appear by his side.
This kind of forced command had many limitations. For example, ordering Diarmuid to become stronger would be ineffective, and it would waste a Command Seal. Each Master only had three Command Seals on their hand; this was the only means to control a Servant.
"Diarmuid, I command you by my Command Seal, appear..."
The Command Seal on the back of Kayneth's hand flickered with red light. Just as he was about to give the order, footsteps came from downstairs.
Kayneth's expression changed drastically. His position had been exposed. Another Servant or Master was attacking.
"I command you by my Command Seal, appear by my side immediately."
One of the Command Seals on Kayneth's hand shattered. Diarmuid materialized beside him.
With a thud, Diarmuid collapsed to the ground. There were over a dozen sword wounds on his body. Faint cut marks could be seen on the shaft of the *Gae Dearg* (Red Rose), showing just how sharp the Dragon-Slaying Flash was at the moment.
As soon as Diarmuid appeared, he spat out a large mouthful of blood with a "wah" sound. Kayneth immediately used healing magecraft to treat Diarmuid, but a berserk energy was rampaging inside Diarmuid's body, making the healing magecraft's effect minimal.
"Retreat."
Kayneth urgently wanted to leave this place. Now that Diarmuid was severely wounded, and there were two other Servants present, staying here was suicide.
But the situation was no longer under Kayneth's control. Even if he wanted to leave, he had to see if Emiya Kiritsugu downstairs agreed. This Magus Killer had already quietly infiltrated this unfinished building.
Diarmuid stood up from the ground, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. As soon as he got up, a figure had already rushed up the unfinished building, blocking the stairwell entrance.
"Emiya Kiritsugu."
Kayneth had already thoroughly investigated Emiya Kiritsugu's information, so he recognized him the moment he appeared.
"How are your injuries?"
Kayneth looked at Diarmuid.
"It's nothing. At least enough to ensure Master's retreat is no problem."
Diarmuid's movement to stand up pulled at his sword wounds, and he began coughing up blood again.
"You..."
Kayneth was momentarily speechless. He understood Diarmuid's meaning. This was to cover his retreat. In doing so, Diarmuid would likely die in battle here.
"Master, I can't hold out much longer. The Berserker camp's Servant and Master have reversed identities. The one with the Command Seals is the real Berserker. Perhaps due to the Mad Enhancement's effect, that guy is a monster. Moreover, some of his abilities counter my Noble Phantasm. I am no match for him. Go quickly, Master."
Diarmuid stood in front of Kayneth, his eyes fixed on Emiya Kiritsugu at the stairwell.
"A mere Servant, don't you dare order me around."
Kayneth raised his arm.
"I command by the power of the Command Seal, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, heal the wounds you have suffered."
Blood-red light flickered. Another Command Seal on Kayneth's hand disappeared. At the same time, a large amount of his magical energy was consumed. The Command Seal was using his magical energy to forcibly heal Diarmuid's injuries.
The sword wounds on Diarmuid's body healed quickly, but the severed arm could not be restored. The power of the Command Seal seemed to be suppressed by some rule.
"I command by the power of the Command Seal, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, restore the arm you have lost."
Kayneth used the last Command Seal on his hand. The muscles at the wound on Diarmuid's severed arm writhed, and the lost arm began to regrow at an extremely slow pace.
Just as Diarmuid's arm had grown halfway, golden light surged from the original wound site on his severed arm, as if placing a golden armlet on him.
With a "puff" sound, Diarmuid's newly grown arm shattered. That armlet acted like a seal, inhibiting the regeneration and recovery of this arm.
Although Diarmuid couldn't restore his severed arm, his other injuries had healed. Moreover, Emiya Kiritsugu, who had been blocking the stairwell, was nowhere to be seen. It seemed he wasn't prepared to fight Diarmuid head-on now that most of his injuries were healed.
"Retreat."
Kayneth's face was covered in sweat. His magical energy was somewhat overdrawn.
"Forgive me, Master. I still cannot retreat with you."
Diarmuid knelt on one knee, bowing his head to Kayneth in a knight's salute.
"Don't think that just because I have no Command Seals left, I..."
"That 'monster' is coming."
Diarmuid took a deep breath, turning his head to look at the stairwell entrance of the unfinished building. That was where Emiya Kiritsugu had stood before. Now, Su Xiao was standing there.
"Damn it."
Kayneth stared at Diarmuid for a moment, then finally sighed.
"Diarmuid, you are a fine knight."
Having said that, Kayneth turned and walked deeper into the unfinished building. He retreated, unwilling to share life or death with Diarmuid.
"To receive Master's recognition, I, Diarmuid, have no regrets even in death."
Diarmuid stood up, twirling the *Gae Dearg* in his remaining hand.
"Come at me, then. Even if my abilities are countered by yours, you won't leave this place unscathed today."
Faced with Diarmuid's surging fighting spirit, Su Xiao's emotions were not greatly stirred. First of all, Diarmuid was not summoned at his 'peak strength'. The Lancer class greatly limited his power.
In this Holy Grail War, there were indeed a few Servants who were very difficult to deal with, even capable of killing Su Xiao, but Diarmuid was definitely not among them.
Diarmuid's Master was not a top-tier magus. Coupled with the Servant's relatively weak stats and the limited capabilities of his skills and Noble Phantasm, Diarmuid's actual combat strength was not very high.
Moreover, Diarmuid's *Gae Dearg* was countered by the Counter Shield, so it was normal for him to be no match for Su Xiao.
If Su Xiao were to fight Gilgamesh, Iskandar (King of Conquerors), or others, the outcome would be unknown.
As for the Knight King Saber, in close combat, Saber, with several A-ranked stats, could hold Su Xiao off. Furthermore, Saber possessed an A++ ranked Noble Phantasm. If she unleashed her ultimate attack and slashed down, Su Xiao would have to temporarily avoid its edge.
The strength of a Servant was not fixed. It also depended on whether the Master was powerful. A powerful Master could enhance the Servant's stats.
Currently, Emiya Kiritsugu was Saber's Master, so Saber's Endurance, Agility, and Mana were all A, and her Noble Phantasm was even A++.
Inside the unfinished building, Su Xiao and Diarmuid simultaneously stomped the ground and charged at each other. However, there was blood on the footprint Su Xiao left behind. He had been stabbed by Diarmuid earlier, but it hadn't hit a vital spot.
Five minutes later, Diarmuid leaned against a concrete pillar. Su Xiao's hand was wreathed in faint blue smoke as he slowly approached Diarmuid.
"Red Rose... why couldn't it pierce that shield?"
Blood dripped from the corner of Diarmuid's mouth. Both his arms had been severed, and there were over a dozen sword wounds of varying depths on his body. If he weren't leaning against the concrete pillar, he would have already fallen.
"Who knows."
Su Xiao's hand, wreathed in faint blue smoke, reached for Diarmuid's face.
"Devouring Servant energy... As I thought, you really are a monster..."
The faint blue smoke gradually enveloped Diarmuid, yet a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He had successfully covered his Master's retreat and fought a good battle against a strong enemy. Although he didn't agree with Su Xiao's methods, he did acknowledge Su Xiao's straightforward, head-on fighting style.
"At least let me know... who it was that defeated me."
As the faint blue smoke completely enveloped Diarmuid, he spoke these words.
[You have killed Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (Servant)]
[Diarmuid Ua Duibhne was one of the seven Servants participating in this Holy Grail War. Obtained World Source 10.5%. Total World Source obtained now: 15.7%.]
[Your talent 'Soul Devourer' has been activated. Permanently increases Mana Points by 15. Current Mana Points: 2148.]
[You have obtained Servant Box · Dark Purple (Servant Box: Can randomly draw any one skill or Noble Phantasm from this Servant).]