Staring at the figure of the girl in white armor ahead, and at the sword that was identical to the one in her memory in every way save for a slight difference in color, the girl named Artoria felt a surge of inexplicable dread and unease. Clinging to the thought, "I hope this is just a coincidence," her world seemed to halt the instant the girl before her spoke her name.

Her thoughts stalled, trapped in a loop echoing a single phrase: Impossible? Impossible? Impossible? Impossible? Impossible...

Time rewound thirty minutes. The King of Knights, filled with the conviction of impending victory, felt the deliberate provocation of the Spear Knight. The young girl fearlessly accepted the challenge, and thus, two warriors, both deeply imbued with the spirit of chivalry, commenced a brutal, fatal, yet entirely impartial duel.

It was a savage battle, the kind that seemed relegated only to ancient history, saturated moment by moment with the danger of death. Yet, as the King of Knights, even in such an environment, even wounded by the opponent's Noble Phantasm, even facing imminent death on the next exchange... fear found no lodging in the girl's heart; she accepted everything bravely.

Subsequently, facing the forceful intervention and oppression of the King of Conquerors, the only emotion in the girl's heart was anger. Even the subsequent humiliation and verbal abuse from the Golden Heroic Spirit, coupled with an even greater display of martial intimidation, elicited only more intense fury.

Even when confronted by the Black Knight, whose presence was like a vengeful spirit, radiating murder intent towards her, enduring his almost tyrannical onslaught—an assault swirling with the endless resentment of a hellish ghoul—even if she might be pulverized the next moment, the girl still knew no fear. But—

What was happening now?

She had clearly been saved; she had retreated from the most terrifying battlefield, yet why did looking at the white-clad girl who rescued her stir such profound, unprecedented fear and anxiety within her soul?

Was it because they looked exactly alike? Because she wielded the Excalibur, so terribly familiar to her? Or because... her name was also Arthur Pendragon? Was it the worry that a more powerful 'self' might usurp her position?

No, that wasn't right.

It shouldn't be that superficial. If a more perfect 'self' existed who could replace her as the ideal King, that shouldn't inspire fear in her, but rather relief... because wouldn't that mean her wish to participate in the Holy Grail War had been fulfilled?

But... no. That fear stemmed from a deeper source. What exactly was it?

The girl felt her body tremble slightly. Forcing down the immense confusion and internal unrest, she looked up. Across the way, the small, white silhouette had already engaged the tall, dark figure in battle...

...Upon her entrance, Saber Lily, much like the King of Conquerors, declared her name with unshakeable courage. Ignoring the stunned and questioning gazes of the other Heroic Spirits present, she gripped Excalibur and charged towards the Black Knight.

Facing the powerful and mysterious Black Knight, the Pure White Knight held nothing back, operating at full capacity. Her speed, so blindingly fast it dazzled the eye, astonished even the King of Conquerors and the Spear Knight, Diarmuid, both high-ranking Heroic Spirits.

The true identity of the Black Knight was Lancelot, the foremost Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend. Hating King Arthur, he immediately launched a merciless, furious assault upon seeing the girl who was the King of Knights. Although Lily had now intercepted this attack, the Black Knight, having gained the Berserker class and been subject to Mad Enhancement, possessed no rationality whatsoever; perhaps only the face of the King of Knights remained vividly etched in his obsessive resentment. Thus, seeing the Pure White Knight rush toward him, he spared no hesitation, casually grabbing a nearby street lamp post and hurling it violently at his opponent.

Lancelot's abilities were extraordinarily unique. A Heroic Spirit's Noble Phantasm did not always manifest as a fixed, tangible object; sometimes, depending on the Spirit's special aptitudes, it transformed into various kinds of Noble Phantasms, and Lancelot was such a case. One of his Noble Phantasms allowed him to transmute anything held in his hands into his own Noble Phantasm—be it a roadside lamp post, a stone, or even someone else's Phantasm.

Though Lily was unaware of his identity and lacked full understanding of his abilities, possessing combat intuition superior to the original King of Knights, she had gleaned some information during the brief observation. Therefore, after dodging several iron pillars thrown by her opponent, she did not immediately attack. Instead, she spun, moving with lightning speed to instantly flank the Black Knight, slashing her Excalibur diagonally across his back.

It was the pinnacle of speed, surpassing everyone present, yet... He casually picked up a nearby long spear—a Noble Phantasm seized from the King of Heroes during their prior fight. Due to its unique properties, these items had become his weapons. Furthermore, the King of Heroes had disdained those Phantasms once they had been wielded by the Berserker. At this moment, more than a dozen variously shaped Noble Phantasms lay scattered around his feet like refuse. While his mobility paled in comparison to Lily's, his reaction speed as a Berserker was in no way inferior. The instant he grasped the spear, it became his Noble Phantasm, and with a mere backhand swing, he blocked Lily's lightning-fast strike.

This was only natural. In Arthurian legend, Lancelot's martial prowess surpassed that of King Arthur. He possessed the skill Knight of Invictory, perfectly fusing mind, body, and technique to unleash his combat capabilities optimally under any circumstances. And after becoming a Berserker, though rationality was lost, Knight of Invictory ascended further, becoming fully comparable to Saber's Combat Intuition.

Having failed the strike, the Pure White Knight immediately disengaged and retreated. Before the Black Knight could counter, she traced paths of afterimages on the ground and charged once more. In that moment, she pushed her inherent speed to the absolute limit; aside from flashes of sword light, her figure was completely imperceptible to the naked eye. Facing such an assault, the Black Knight showed no disadvantage, wielding the Noble Phantasms discarded by the King of Heroes in both hands, maximizing Knight of Invictory... In the center of the battlefield, two figures, one black and one white, engaged in a high-tempo tug-of-war.

"Lily seems stronger than before," Lin Luo murmured, watching the battle in the street. He had initially worried that the White Saber might not be able to handle Lancelot's combat strength, but now it seemed they were evenly matched. White Saber was clearly much stronger than she had been in the A Certain Magical Index world, showing marked increases in both speed and power.

"Yes, she absolutely will not lose," Rin stated confidently, though her face was etched with deep seriousness. While White Saber was powerful, the enemy was no weakling. Even from this distance, she could feel the near-resentful magical energy emanating from the Black Knight, chilling her to the bone; it was evident he was no common foe.

"The Black Knight is Lancelot," Lin Luo suddenly said quietly.

"What?" Rin gasped in shock, nearly crying out before catching herself and clapping a hand over her mouth to whisper, "The first Knight of the Round Table who betrayed King Arthur?" Seeing Lin Luo nod, Rin clicked her tongue in amazement, yet also felt a flicker of doubt, asking him, "How do you know that?"

"I know plenty of things. Don't ask. Keep watching," Lin Luo brushed her off casually, turning his attention back to the fight in the street. "You..." Rin ground her teeth, but realizing she couldn't force an answer from him, she finally gave up. As her gaze returned to the Black Knight battling White Saber, she couldn't help but feel astonished by his identity: the First Knight of the Round Table versus King Arthur—this was truly...

Rin was not the only one feeling surprised. Everyone observing this battle, whether openly present or hidden in the shadows, was filled with shock and confusion. In fact, this level of astonishment had been fully evident on their faces the moment the Pure White Knight appeared. Setting aside those concealed in the darkness, the expressions of those few figures currently on the field were quite remarkable.

"This, this is..." Diarmuid, the Spear Knight, filled with chivalry, had been prepared to lend aid to the King of Knights against the Black Knight, but Lily's forceful intrusion had made him a step too late. Then, upon seeing two girls who were identical in every aspect save for armor and weaponry, he was dumbfounded. What was going on with two Kings of Knights? This was something he could not comprehend. What shocked him even more was that the white-clad King of Knights was also—SABER. There could only be one SABER in a Holy Grail War; this was an unshakeable fact. But now... why were there two SABERs?

"Two... two SABERs? R—RIDER, why is this happening?" In the middle of the street, about fifty meters from the main clash between White Saber and the Black Knight, a classical war chariot with dual figureheads was halted. Instead of warhorses, powerful bulls with rolling, sculpted musculature were harnessed to the shafts. Their hooves struck sparks of purple lightning, and though stationary, they emitted a deep, rumbling sound... This was the King of Conquerors' Noble Phantasm—Ionioi Hetairoi (Although the official name of the Conqueror's Phantasm is Chariot of the Sun God, the wheel sounded un-regal, like a mere rolling wheel, so I renamed it War Chariot. Please do not dwell on this item.) The one speaking from atop the War Chariot was a boy of about fifteen or sixteen, whose gaze flickered between White Saber and Blue Saber, his expression utterly terrified, stammering so badly he could barely speak. He was the Master of the King of Conquerors—Waver. A Clock Tower student who had stolen the catalyst for summoning the King of Conquerors from his mentor and fled all the way from London to Fuyuki City to participate in the Holy Grail War.

"Don't panic, little Master," the King of Conquerors, as massive and imposing as a giant, stood on the driver's platform and gently patted Waver's shoulder, laughing heartily... Although he said 'gently,' that pat nearly sent the slender boy sprawling. "Rest assured, though this situation is slightly beyond my imagination, it's nothing major. I, Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, am destined to seize ultimate hegemony. A mere small mishap is insignificant... How strange, why are there two SABERs?" He trailed off, suddenly lowering his voice, scratching his chin with a look of deep confusion.

"RIDER, seeing you like this doesn't put my mind at ease at all," the boy complained, rubbing his sore shoulder with evident frustration. "Hahahaha..." The large man, bold and straightforward, offered an embarrassed chuckle before turning serious. "This Holy Grail War has indeed become somewhat bizarre, but... as a King, nothing is worthy of fear. A heart full of dread can never lead to victory. So, cheer up, youngster. Since you are the Master of my King of Conquerors, you must summon the courage to face everything head-on." "..." Waver frowned in contemplation. Although what the King of Conquerors said seemed nonsensical, it wasn't entirely without merit... perhaps?

During the time they were speaking, the situation on the battlefield had changed significantly. Although Lily was able to fight the Black Knight to a standstill initially due to her speed, such an aggressive style consumed tremendous stamina. Pushing speed to the limit while maintaining precise attacks and defenses required intense concentration and exerted immense mental pressure. The Black Knight, however, was in a state of frenzy; his raw strength was already enhanced, and coupled with his peerless martial arts, every blow was almost instinctual, a conditioned reflex, consuming far less energy and focus than Lily's exertions. Thus, through this imbalance, White Saber gradually fell into a defensive posture, attacking less and defending more.

"It looks like she's going to lose," the King of Conquerors observed thoughtfully. In fact, everyone watching the fight shared this sentiment. Of course, Lin Luo and Rin were the exceptions. This wasn't blind faith in White Saber, but because Lily had yet to deploy her Noble Phantasm...

Clang, clang, clang. Gritting her teeth, the girl blocked three furious strikes from the Black Knight, a faint sheen of sweat appearing on her brow. When the opponent swung his great axe for the fourth blow, the girl finally faltered, sent flying backward until she staggered to a stop seven or eight meters away.

"You really are troublesome," the girl said gravely. Then, under the gaze of everyone watching, she performed an action that left them all slack-jawed. Slowly, she raised both hands, the golden longsword in her right hand, the ethereal scabbard manifesting in her left. Then... she slid the sword into the sheath.

"What... what is she doing?" Everyone looked utterly perplexed—not just the other Heroic Spirits and humans present, but even the King of Knights could not understand what this girl who shared her name and appearance intended. Was she preparing to give up? Just as most people assumed this, the pure white girl completely ignored the Noble Phantasm the Black Knight had just hurled at her. Instead, she placed both hands on the hilt and jammed the sword hard into the ground.

Noble Phantasm Release—Appeal to Heaven. "Kneel," the Pure White Knight commanded sternly. The moment the sound faded, the entire space compressed, and an irresistible aura surged outward from her, spreading in all directions. Taking the brunt of it was the Black Knight opposite her... BOOM. In that instant, the Noble Phantasm thrown by the Black Knight was pulverized into dust by this imposing aura. An Anti-Army Noble Phantasm—a true Anti-Army Noble Phantasm. This time, the onlookers were not just shocked; they were awestruck. While Anti-Army Noble Phantasms varied in rank from E to EX, their scope also differed—from a small radius capturing a dozen people to a massive area capable of encompassing thousands. However, the Anti-Army Noble Phantasm released by this pure white girl was undoubtedly high-ranking, at least A+ grade, possibly even A++. And its maximum capture range certainly exceeded three digits.

With Appeal to Heaven unleashed, the Black Knight, squarely in the center, was the primary target, concentrating over seventy percent of the power onto him. His body immediately sagged, and he nearly collapsed to his knees. The King of Conquerors, the Lancer, and the original King of Knights, standing dozens of meters outside the blast radius, felt the pressure instantly. Although this pressure posed no significant threat to them, it sent a profound shockwave through their minds. If even fellow Heroic Spirits felt the pressure, it was even more so for the two non-Heroic Spirits present. Almost simultaneously upon enduring the pressure, the King of Conquerors and the King of Knights immediately stepped in front of their respective Masters, shielding them from the Phantasm's force.

"Irisviel?" The knight girl turned her gaze towards the woman behind her. "I-I'm fine, thank you, SABER," Irisviel smiled faintly, assuring her she was unharmed, yet her eyes held deep worry—not just because of the Noble Phantasm, but likely more importantly, because of the girl's identity. "How about you, little Master?" The King of Conquerors also inquired of the young man behind him. "T-Too terrifying, this SABER... too terrifying," Waver leaned against the giant's sturdy frame, his face flushed as he nearly vomited. Irisviel might have been slightly better protected by the Saber she carried within her, but as an ordinary person and not a powerful magus, the instant she felt the impact of Lily's Noble Phantasm, she could barely stand. If the King of Conquerors hadn't shielded her in time, she likely would have fallen.

The moment Lily released her Noble Phantasm, Appeal to Heaven, every observer of the battle turned their attention, focusing more intently on this unknown SABER. But... it wasn't over yet. "Kneel." She drove the Excalibur into the ground a second time, and an even more surging aura swept toward the Black Knight again... The Black Knight, who had just regained his footing, trembled once more. "Kneel." A third release; the earth cracked. "Kneel." A fourth release; space violently distorted, all energy seemingly condensing into a single line, surging entirely toward the Black Knight. "Kneel." "Kneel." "Kneel." "Kneel." ... Releasing the might of the Noble Phantasm continuously, finally, on the twelfth repetition, the Black Knight could sustain it no longer. With a cry of unwilling sorrow, he crashed down—BOOM—and knelt. This was the Pure White Knight SABER Lily's Noble Phantasm—Appeal to Heaven. Complete Version V

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