Emiya Shirou doesn't want to work overtime

Even the attacks they inflicted on each other during their fight were less damaging to their bodies than the damage caused by the possession of the evil spirit.

If you want to hurt the other party, there are only two ways.

One approach is to use forceful methods to directly break through the defenses of the evil spirit's possession.

However, in such a narrow corridor, with both Kishinami Hakuno and Tohsaka Rin present, neither Archer nor Emiya Shirou would use any large-scale destructive attacks.

The second method is to find a way to break the opponent's defenses against the evil spirits before launching an attack.

Clearly, Archer doesn't possess any honor like the other Heroic Spirits Shirou Emiya encountered before.

He would launch a sneak attack almost immediately whenever he could.

As for Shirou Emiya, his combat experience is indeed not as rich as Archer's, nor is his decisiveness.

Archer projected a bow and arrows at Shirou Emiya almost the instant he was freed from the demon's possession.

Shirou Emiya considered launching a sneak attack on this level, but did not make a move, instead remaining wary of Archer.

The instant Archer made his move, Shirou Emiya reacted with lightning speed.

Actually, it was Shirou Emiya's long-standing combat experience that led him to this idea, but he didn't act on it as decisively as Archer.

"Was it blocked? What a pity—!"

Looking at Shirou Emiya standing in front of him with piercing eyes, Archer sighed with great regret and slowly put down the black bow in his hand.

Now that we've been exposed, there's no need to continue shooting.

Such a confined space is not conducive to his fighting.

This is also detrimental to Shirou Emiya's battle.

If Shirou Emiya hadn't reacted to the flying arrow, his chest would have been pierced through, ending the fifth battle.

That's why Archer sighed.

"We really can't relax for a moment!"

Emiya Shirou responded to Archer, slowly lowering his golden longbow and staring intently at Archer.

"Let's go, Master—!"

Archer, revealing his resolute face, merely smiled disdainfully, then turned his back to Shirou Emiya as if he were completely unguarded, looking at Hakuno Kishinami.

Kishinami Hakuno was still in a daze, completely unaware of what had just happened.

However, the conflict should end here.

Looking at Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka not far away, Hakuno Kishinami nodded at them for some reason, then turned around and left.

Meanwhile, Shirou Emiya stood in front of Rin Tohsaka, watching Archer leave.

For some reason, his intuition told him that if he dared to turn his head, Archer would immediately turn around and shoot at him.

"You're really being cautious. I trust you so much that I can entrust my back to you, so why can't you trust me with yours?"

After leaving the corridor, Archer glanced back and clicked his tongue in amazement.

Chapter 648 Disadvantages in the Battle of Noble Phantasms

"Archer, do you know Emiya-kun?"

Inside the room, Kishinami Hakuno looked at Archer, who was sitting with his legs crossed, leaning against the messy tables and chairs, with one leg stretched out on the chair in front of him, like a lord, and asked him a question.

"Well, in a way, I'd say we know each other—"

Archer replied to Kishinami Hakuno somewhat vaguely.

Since the opponent in this battle was not a Servant, there could not be any information about Emiya Shirou recorded in historical records.

So after obtaining the key and finishing the battle, Hakuno Kishinami and Archer returned to their room.

Moreover, Kishinami Hakuno had countless questions he wanted to ask Archer.

In particular, the mirror-like confrontation allowed Kishinami Hakuno, who was already skilled at deduction, to immediately find the possible points of conflict.

They even came up with some key insights.

Valhalla has no concept of time.

The heroic spirits of the future, they do indeed exist.

This also explains why I could never find any legends about Archer in the library.

It was precisely because Kishinami Hakuno had fought alongside Archer for so long and was extremely familiar with him that he made this judgment.

Emiya Shirou might be the past of his own Servant.

stare--------

Hearing Archer's answer, Kishinami Hakuno was clearly not satisfied. He stood in front of him, hands on his hips, staring intently at him.

Archer, completely unconcerned and utterly fearless, met Kishinami Hakuno's gaze.

Several tens of minutes later.

Archer's lips trembled slightly.

It wasn't because Archer couldn't stand the eye contact between them for too long.

Only ten minutes have passed. If you really want to shake Archer's will, please extend this time by at least several days.

After staring at each other for several minutes, Kishinami Hakuno seemed to realize that he couldn't get the truth out of him in this way.

He then revealed the three scarlet marks on the back of his right hand.

Archer's lips also began to twitch.

At this point, although Kishinami Hakuno still lacked combat experience, he was no longer the clueless person he was when he first participated in the Holy Grail War.

At this point, she was also beginning to get used to the battles of the Holy Grail War.

Archer also found the meaning of her continued fighting. She understood that even when facing Leo, she would never give up, but would use all her strength to find a way to upgrade.

"Although to some extent he and I represent the same person, we are indeed different beings."

Seeing Kishinami Hakuno reveal his Command Seals, Archer had no choice but to explain in detail.

But upon hearing Archer's words, Hakuno Kishinami's eyes couldn't help but look puzzled.

"You mean, he's not from your past?"

Have you ever heard of parallel universes?

Kishinami Hakuno is quick to accept new things. After all, for her, this Holy Grail War and this entire virtual world are new things, things she has never seen before.

But she accepted it in such a short time and has come all the way to where she is now.

"If it were you in a parallel universe, wouldn't we have a very high chance of winning?"

Seeing Archer's slightly furrowed brows, Kishinami Hakuno was somewhat puzzled.

Based on Shirou Emiya's age, he should still be on his way to the future.

It's impossible for your future self to be defeated by your past self.

At the very least, if Kishinami Hakuno were the future version of himself who had experienced everything and found all the meaning of existence, he could easily defeat his current, half-baked self.

"No, my experiences in the parallel world are not exactly the same, and besides, the quality of his projection is far superior to the quality of mine."

Archer shook his head slightly, seemingly contemplating what might happen during the final battle.

“But Archer, haven’t you experienced more than Emiya-kun? You also have more combat experience than Emiya-kun.”

"I have no way to break through the demon-possessed defenses without using Noble Phantasms or illusion collapse—!"

Possessed by evil spirits is an extremely troublesome armor. It is precisely because he can project himself that he can feel just how troublesome Possessed by evil spirits really is.

Normal combat is almost impossible to harm Shirou Emiya when he is possessed by demons, which is why he is able to fight against a Servant with extremely powerful skills like Cú Chulainn.

Even when suppressed, they won't suffer much harm under the protection of the evil spirits.

Therefore, during the battle with Emiya Shirou, those Servants would easily be dragged into the Noble Phantasm battle.

Emiya Shirou's fighting skills are not that bad. If it is a matter of trading blows, then Emiya Shirou, who is wearing armor, has the advantage.

This is why Servants who have an advantage in combat skills still choose to use their Noble Phantasms to end the battle.

His ability to suppress Emiya Shirou in close combat would only be temporary.

Once he realizes that their battle is actually a contest of Noble Phantasms, he will be extremely vulnerable to being at a disadvantage.

Archer was unaware of the exact difference in their Noble Phantasms compared to Shirou Emiya.

However, in a clash of the same Noble Phantasms, one will inevitably be at a disadvantage.

"Are there any other ways to deal with this besides these?"

Upon hearing Archer's words, Kishinami Hakuno recalled the two weapons that shattered in Archer's hands at the last moment, and the sword arrows that could only be used to fight against him with the help of magic.

The situation was not as optimistic as Kishinami Hakuno had imagined; in fact, she was more worried than anything else.

Because he was regarded by Kishinami Hakuno as his greatest enemy, and by the pure white wall that blocked his way like the sky, he was defeated by Emiya Shirou.

But he himself was just a magician who had no memories, understood nothing, and was only half-baked.

"There's no need to worry too much; much of it is just my speculation."

Archer waved his hand. Although he was at a disadvantage in the clash of Noble Phantasms, it didn't mean he had no way to counter Emiya Shirou.

At least in terms of mastering Unlimited Blade Works, Archer believes he is more proficient than Shirou Emiya.

Archer wasn't thinking about just how powerful Shirou Emiya was, but rather how to fight him and how to win.

He couldn't possibly admit defeat to his past self so easily.

Moreover, it's a version of myself from a parallel universe.

It is also another version of yourself that has signed the same but different contract with you.

Chapter 649 Seizing the Initiative