FATE: Target of Grand Master

"The four participating teams are divided into pairs, with the winners advancing. Each point counts as one point, and teams will rotate when receiving serves. The first team to reach 21 points wins. After a draw, the Shirou & Saber team will face the Sakura & Rider team, and the Xia Yan & Berserker team will face the Rin & Archer team."

After Ilya announced the competition rules and the draw results, the first group of matches officially began.

"Please guide me, senior."

"Bring it on, Sakura."

Sakura tossed the volleyball high into the air and then slammed it out. Her ample breasts were dazzling during the movement, attracting many male spectators to stop and watch.

Shirou assumed a receiving stance and caught the ball precisely.

The ball bounced above Artoria.

"Well done, Shirou."

Artoria leaped high, ready to smash.

"Don't even think about it."

A tall, slender figure blocked the net; it was none other than the tall Medusa.

Snapped!

Artoria's spike was successfully blocked by Medusa, and the ball landed on Shirou and Saber's side.

"Sakura & Rider team, one point!"

Ilya, who was both the host and referee, announced the score, and the two maids turned the page next to the scoreboard.

"With Rider around, we have a significant advantage."

Sakura clenched her fist and cheered herself on.

"This might be one of the few advantages of this tall and imposing physique."

Medusa muttered a self-deprecating remark to herself.

Just then, a cheering sound came from outside the stadium, cheering for Sakura and Medusa.

Compared to a certain king who, while cute, was not generous, male viewers naturally sided with the wealthy and generous Sakura Group.

This made Sakura feel flattered, but it also ignited Artoria's competitive spirit.

"Shirou, give it your all!"

Subsequently, the two teams traded points, making the game a close contest.

In the end, the Shirou & Saber team narrowly defeated the Sakura & Rider team 21-19.

A chorus of disappointed voices immediately arose from the surrounding crowd, as they could no longer enjoy such a visually appealing match.

"It seems that neither side's Artoria possesses undeniable athletic talent. Xia Yan, it's our turn."

Morgan and Xia Yan walked onto the court, while Rin and the Heroic Spirit Emiya stood on the other side of the net.

"Let's begin!"

Emiya jumped to serve, and the volleyball was noticeably faster than the previous two sets, indicating that the opponent was not holding back at all.

Xia Yan hurriedly tried to catch the ball, and his strength was even greater than expected. However, after special training and strengthening, Xia Yan's physical fitness was also improving imperceptibly.

Boom!

The ball bounced high and flew near Morgan.

Morgan's height of 170 cm immediately proved advantageous; she leaped high and hit the ball towards Rin's side, who was clearly weaker.

Rin tried desperately to save the ball, and although she touched it, she couldn't save it.

"The ball goes out of bounds. Xia Yan & Berserker team score one point."

And so, the competition between the two groups officially began.

Although both sides have a Master and Servant setup, Xia Yan's height of 181cm plus Morgan's height of 170cm is still more balanced than Rin's height of 159cm plus Emiya's height of 187cm.

This advantage was also reflected in the score.

As Xia Yan's team scored another point, Ilya announced the score: "Xia Yan & Berserker team scores one point, making the score 19 to 15."

Seeing that Xia Yan's team only needed to score 2 more points to win, Rin pulled Emiya to her side and whispered something to him.

"Hey, Rin, isn't that a bit much?"

"I can't worry about that now. I'm going to win! All those gems are mine! Archer, just control your strength a bit, don't actually hurt him."

Seeing that he really had to "win by any means necessary," the Heroic Spirit Emiya sighed and picked up the volleyball.

"Enhancement, begin!"

Morgan keenly detected the faint flow of magic and immediately turned to Xia Yan, who was about to catch the ball, and shouted, "Xia Yan, don't catch it!"

Bang!

The volleyball slammed into the sandpit at Xia Yan's feet like a rocket, the force of which even caused the ball to emit faint smoke.

So it really came to this?

Xia Yan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. From this moment on, this field was no longer a sports field, but a battlefield where life and death hung in the balance.

The whistle blew, and Ilya signaled that the score was valid.

"Hey, little girl, they used magic, isn't that a foul?" Morgan protested.

Ilya scratched her head and said, "Sorry, Berserker, the initial rules didn't prohibit contestants from using magic, so Rin and the others didn't break the rules."

"Oh? Is that so? So I can understand that we can also use magic here, right?"

Morgan narrowed his eyes as he watched Rin across from him let out a strange "hehehe" laugh, completely carried away by his own smugness.

"Yes, that's right, you can use it too."

Ilya revealed a smile that suggested she was enjoying the spectacle.

"Archer, keep this up and take this game straight."

"it is good."

Emiya used his enhancement magic again and then fired another rocket.

This time, however, Morgan was the one receiving the ball. She got into position and then easily bounced the ball up.

Xia Yan, perfectly at ease, passed the ball back to Morgan.

Morgan leaped high, aiming for the back of the opposing team's court.

"Archer, don't touch it, the ball will go out of bounds."

Rin skillfully predicted the ball's landing point.

However, something unexpected happened: the ball suddenly plummeted just before it went out of bounds, as if gravity had increased several times in an instant.

Ultimately, the volleyball landed within the bounds with an extremely unnatural trajectory.

"Referee, that's a foul!"

This time it was Rin's turn to file a complaint.

Illya ignored Rin's complaint and declared the score valid.

"Damn it, if they score just one more point, we'll lose."

Rin grabbed her hair in frustration.

Seeing that his Master had gone mad again, the Heroic Spirit Emiya could only comfort him, "Now that we know their moves, we can naturally counter them. The key to their move is to suddenly change the ball's trajectory, so as long as we successfully block it and don't give them a chance to change the ball's path, we'll be fine."

"That makes sense. Archer, are you some kind of genius?"

"You should be able to figure that out yourself if you calm down. Don't get carried away, Rin, the match isn't over yet."

"Yes, Archer, let's defeat our despicable opponent and achieve final victory!"

Xia Yan really couldn't understand how the two people opposite could act so righteous and high-spirited even after committing a foul first.

Never mind, we only need one more point to win. This victory will be ours.

Xia Yan also devised a surprise plan and secretly told Morgan about it.

"Take this!"

The rocket launched, but Morgan caught it again. Then, Xia Yan passed the ball, and Morgan jumped high again, just like last time.

"Don't think you'll get to smash that again this time!"

Emiya quickly ran to the net, preparing to jump and block.

Just then, Xia Yan's pupils changed color, and the Petrification Demon Eye was activated!

Xia Yan's Mystic Eyes were far less powerful than Medusa's due to his ordinary magical abilities. Furthermore, since the Heroic Spirit Emiya also possessed magical resistance, the petrification effect was not even visible to the naked eye. However, this was the effect Xia Yan had hoped for.

Heroic Spirit Emiya felt his body stiffen instantly. Although he still managed to jump, he missed the best opportunity to block the ball.

"In bounds! Point! The winner is Xia Yan & Berserker team!"

"Hmph. This is a natural consequence."

Morgan flicked her slightly sweaty silver hair and took Xia Yan's hand as they walked out of the stadium.

"Hey, Rin, cheer up!" Emiya shouted.

On the other hand, a woman who was not very lucky with money was so sad that she almost fainted.