Super God: If I punch you, you will die

Rider gripped the reins in his chariot and lashed the warhorse with his whip. The thunderous neighing of the horses instantly shook the entire battlefield.

"Come on, let's start the battle! I, 'Red' Rider... will lead the charge right now!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Rider brought the chariot down to the ground. Homunculi and golems blocked his way. But putting aside the combat-specialized homunculus, even the golems, weighing over a ton, were utterly helpless against the immortal steed bestowed by the sea god and were crushed into dust.

A colossal mixer is slicing through the earth and the world at bullet speed. Just speeding across the ground, the vehicle piloted by "Red" Rider can ravage the entire battlefield.

"Come on, Servants of the 'Black' faction! Show us your power! If anyone can stop my Rider's chariot, then come and try!"

It was not the Servant who responded to his provocation, but the Puppet.

The three golems walked up to the chariot that was suddenly speeding forward. The astonished "Red" Rider naturally chose to crush them to pieces.

"Get out of my way, you bunch of scum!"

Upon hearing this, Caster Ami, who was overlooking the battlefield from afar, responded:

"That's not necessarily true, 'Red' Rider."

In the instant of the conflict, all three puppets scattered simultaneously. Before the astonished Rider, the puppets suddenly hardened the moment they were entangled in the hooves of the warhorses.

"Ugh...!"

The "Red" Rider's chariot, which had been advancing at breakneck speed, finally came to a stop. Seeing this, the androids all raised their battle axes and jumped towards the chariot.

Don't try any tricks on me!

"Red" Rider released the reins, drew his sword from his waist, and simultaneously gripped the Hero Killer's Gun in his other hand before leaping from the driver's seat.

The encounter was instantaneous. In that instant, Rider swiftly claimed the lives of every single one of the attacking androids. The gushing blood rained down on the earth.

"There is a flaw!"

A Servant spotted an opening at that moment, and Rider's body reacted instantly to the overwhelming killing intent. However, the androids' blood obscured his vision.

As if weaving through corpses, the arrow hurtled toward Rider's neck.

"..."

Although his reaction was a fraction of a second too slow, "Red" Rider still managed to deflect the arrow with his sword, likely thanks to his agility. Nevertheless, he couldn't completely knock the arrow down; it changed trajectory and grazed his neck.

With a "whoosh," bright red blood dripped out. He was injured... This surprise was not humiliation for Rider, but rather joy.

That's right, the Servant who can cause harm to the "black" side... that's Archer!

Standing atop the driver's seat, Rider shouted in a commanding manner:

"Where is 'Black' Archer! Let's continue the battle that wasn't over before! Tonight, let's have some serious slaughter!"

As if in response, arrows were fired at him again. However, as long as there was nothing obstructing his view, shooting down the arrows was an easy task for Rider.

"Where is it! 'Black' Archer!"

"It's much closer than you think."

In the instant he turned around, Archer, hiding behind the puppet, skillfully concealed everything except the bow and arrow while simultaneously firing an arrow. Because it was infused with magic, it was much faster than the previous arrow…!

"Ugh...!"

The target was the face... or more precisely, the right eye. Rider deflected the arrow with the blade of his sword. However, his vision was momentarily obstructed. Archer seized the opportunity to leap behind another golem, mount it, and unleash another arrow.

"hateful……!"

Archer never revealed himself, hiding behind the running puppets while firing arrows at Rider one after another.

They're trying to lure me there.

The puppet gradually moved away from the center of the battlefield. Ah, I see… Rider suddenly understood. If “Red” Rider and the chariot were stationed in the center of the battlefield, it would be very difficult for the “Black” side to deploy their forces.

Of course, he could ignore Archer's enticements. Forests are an excellent geographical advantage for archers. They can hide in various shadows and fire arrows at their opponents. Conversely, fighting in the forest is a fatal condition for Riders. After all, they cannot use their most crucial chariots.

However, this only applies to ordinary Rider-class Servants. At least for "Red" Riders, this statement is completely untrue.

0156 The Divine Horse Bestowed by the Sea God [Please Subscribe]

Although the Rider riding the chariot was indeed exceptionally powerful, stopping that sturdy, lightning-fast chariot was an extremely difficult task. Of the three warhorses, one was just an ordinary steed, but the other two were divine horses bestowed by the sea god.

Therefore, if the goal is to slaughter the enemy on the battlefield and achieve victory, then he should not accept Archer's provocation. He should simply cut the puppet that is entangled with the army horses in two and continue to ravage the enemy's battle lines here... That would be the correct judgment.

However, this theoretical proposal has a flaw. If someone hailed as a hero chooses to run away at this point, can they truly be considered a hero?

No, the answer is absolutely no. For the sake of his father, a great hero; for the sake of his mother, a goddess; and for the sake of the honor of his eternal friend with whom he shared life's joys and sorrows, he absolutely could not choose to run away.

"Wait a minute..." Rider shouted as he left the battlefield. He first made the wagon materialize, then walked into the forest on his own two legs. "Black" Archer must be chuckling to himself, Rider thought. Because he had lured the enemy into an area advantageous to him, while simultaneously eliminating Rider's own advantages.

Yes, Rider doesn't understand Archer yet. He thinks he doesn't. Should he pay more attention and consider the lower possibilities more carefully?

That's probably useless anyway. Whether hesitation arises first or later is a negligible difference.

To avoid missing the sound of the bowstring being drawn, Rider focused all his attention on searching for any enemies around him. He could sense the Servant's presence without a doubt. However, he didn't know their exact location. He only knew that he was within Archer's attack range.

He vowed never to make the same mistake again… Rider had long ago made that promise. Suddenly, as he wandered around, he stepped on a dry branch. In the instant the sound of a rustling echoed through the utterly silent forest… the arrow was released from the bow.

I saw through that trick a long time ago.

He instantly deflected the arrow with the butt of his spear. Rider had, to some extent, anticipated Archer's arrow trajectory. He had calmly recalled the details of their previous battle and meticulously analyzed how Archer would coordinate his movements.

"Don't think you can succeed the second or third time, archers! Next up is my turn... to launch the attack!"

It all happened in an instant. He leaped into the air, using his feet to push off nearby tree trunks to achieve high-speed movement. While this is a superhuman ability, it's not impossible for a Servant. However, even considering that he's a Servant, it was incredibly fast.

It was practically teleportation. As if he didn't care about the obstacles at all, he was speeding towards the direction from which the arrows came at an astonishing pace.

A soft "whoosh!" sound reached his ears. It seemed the other person had moved as well. Because they were still moving hidden in the shadows of the trees, he could only vaguely make out a figure flitting by. If it were "Red" Archer, he might be able to use scent as a clue, but Rider's nose wasn't as sharp as hers.

Arrows rained down one after another… their trajectories were easily predictable; they were just random arrows fired at him. He smiled and deflected them one by one with his gun. Dodging or parrying was incredibly easy. He had his opponent cornered… he had that real feeling.

That's the next arrow. After the next arrow is shot, I can catch up with him... or her.

Shoot, shoot, hurry up and shoot it out!

Rider's wish came true. He caught the arrow that had been shot, brought his face close to the other person's, and smiled:

"Gotcha."

"Black" Archer should have been surprised. No, he had to be surprised. The archers were completely cornered, all their attacks were shut down, and even their most lethal advantage—range advantage—was eliminated.

Despite this, the man's expression remained incredibly calm. He even moved closer to him...

Rider smiled.

No, wait a minute.

I had seen this man before.

No, I even spoke with him, received his guidance, and shared a dormitory and meals with him...

"You...you are..."

"That's right, that's your weakness."

"Black," Archer said calmly, then kicked the man in front of him in the chest, sending him flying. Rider's body was sent flying into the air by the powerful impact. After landing, Archer drew his bow and nocked an arrow with the fluidity of water... and released it.

"..."

The moment Rider realized he was being targeted in a vital spot, every nerve in his body tensed. He twisted his body to the limit, trying to deflect the arrow's trajectory.

They missed each other.

The arrow missed a vital spot, piercing his side. Despite the intense pain coursing through Rider's body, he paid it no heed. The man standing before him was the real problem.

All the mysteries surrounding "Black" Archer have been solved. It's only natural that he possesses archery skills comparable to "Red" Archer. After all, he was the teacher of many heroes, including himself.

Rider pulled the arrow from his side and tossed it aside, then stood up. Archer remained motionless, bow in hand, as if waiting for Rider to speak.

"Why...why would you..."

"Is that even a question? In this Holy Grail War, I appeared in the world as the 'Black' Archer, and you appeared as the 'Red' Rider. We each have our own desires and our own attachments. That's why we're here, both of us."

"..."

Rider lowered his head and fell silent. Archer sighed and comforted him:

"You're so naive. Have you never been able to shake this habit since you were alive? Although you can become incredibly violent when facing those you consider enemies, you become magnanimous and trusting when you see your own people or 'good guys.' This may be an admirable trait for a hero. But this is the Holy Grail War... There should be no room for mercy, even for someone like you who is called a hero, right?"

Do you understand, Achilles?

Archer called to him by his real name, "Red" Rider. The young man, called Achilles, nodded with the seriousness of a student receiving instruction from a teacher.

"Black" Lancer didn't lift a finger. He wasn't carrying a gun; he simply let the horse run forward.

The Dragon Fang soldiers sensed Lancer's approach and began to stir. Their numbers were not just a couple hundred, but over five hundred Dragon Fang soldiers surged towards him.

Of course, for him as a Servant, such a bunch of henchmen posed no obstacle whatsoever. However, barging in would be nothing more than a foolish act of reckless bravery.

0157 The Moment of Punishment [Please Subscribe]

Lancer spurred his bronze horse and leaped high into the air. He spread his arms wide and proclaimed to those around him:

"Come, barbarians who trample my land! Now is the time for punishment! Mercy and wrath will become scorching iron stakes that will pierce you one by one! And these stakes are endless, so despair before them... Moisten your throats with your own blood! 'King of Extreme Execution'!"

A slight tremor ran through the earth. The Dragon Fang soldiers reflexively looked down at their feet… Instantly, countless slender iron stakes were summoned from the surrounding area, shooting up one after another and piercing their bodies. Rustling… many trees sprouted on the grassland. The iron stakes were the slender trunks, and the leaves and branches were made of bones.

Only three seconds had passed since the Noble Phantasm was activated, and all five hundred Dragon Fang Soldiers were wiped out in an instant.

Lancer completely ignored all of this and simply headed straight for the Sky Garden.

Of course, those who noticed him immediately rose up to fight back.

"Are you coming?"

Lancer watched as the Servants charged toward him at breakneck speed. One of them was an archer, and the other a spearman… those were “Red” Archer and “Red” Lancer.

While basking in a strange joy at the prospect of a duel between equals, "Black" Lancer turned his attention to them, simultaneously summoning multiple iron stakes. On the grasslands they galloped across, countless more iron stakes sprouted. Archer, who had been galloping with a light, almost nimble gait, began to slow.

The iron stake appeared before her. She grabbed it, spun around like an ape, and at the same time fired an arrow at Lancer, who was riding on horseback.

However, an iron stake that appeared in front of Lancer blocked the arrow. Lancer remained mounted on his horse, standing leisurely in place. "Red" Archer continued to fire several more arrows, but each one was blocked by the emerging iron stakes.

This Servant is protected by iron stakes… “Red” Archer has to admit this fact. It seems these stakes are a treasure to him. If that's the case, then as Father Shirou said, he is “Black” Lancer, and his true name is…

“'Black' Lancer, I think you must be Vlad III.”

As "Red" Lancer...Garna proclaimed, he must be Vlad III, the great hero of Romania.

"Oh, so you're the 'Red' Lancer who calls me by my real name."

"That's right, for a certain reason, I must punish you. Don't blame me for showing no mercy."

"No, no, I have no reason to blame you. You had no choice but to kill me, and I had no choice but to kill you. It's regrettable, but it's only natural. Besides, it's the duty of a king to defeat the rats who invade my land. So, you don't need to lament about it."

Iron stakes suddenly emerged from the ground right in front of the "Red" Lancer.

"Ah."

However, the "Red" Lancer's sharpshooter easily shattered the iron stake.

"So that's how it is. These iron stakes are indeed a treasure... But the sheer number of them is too unusual."

The surrounding iron stakes were riddled with the corpses of countless Dragon Tooth soldiers. The scene resembled countless human corpses, pierced to death, turning into piles of white bones over a long period of time.

That's right, it's fine that the iron stakes themselves are Noble Phantasms; if they were single objects, they wouldn't have much destructive power, and their speed is also very slow... However, the sheer number of them is frightening, probably exceeding a thousand. Moreover, they are things that suddenly appear from the ground, making it extremely difficult to dodge them.

The sheer number... that's arguably the most striking feature of this Noble Phantasm. It can deploy approximately 20,000 iron stakes. That alone is already exceptional. Indeed, among anti-army or anti-city Noble Phantasms, there are those capable of annihilating hundreds or even thousands of people in an instant.

However, when it comes to Noble Phantasms with tens of thousands of units, they are extremely rare.

This is because his Noble Phantasm is not something like a holy sword or holy spear, but rather a recreation of a "real event" that happened in history... the legend of 20,000 Ottoman Turkish soldiers being impaled on iron stakes.

Indeed, each of those iron stakes might be a trivial thing that hardly qualifies as a Noble Phantasm.

However… faced with the overwhelming number of 20,000, even the most resolute Heroic Spirits felt an invisible pressure. Despite its frenzied atmosphere, it was the most intense and impactful military demonstration of its kind. It was something that humans could absolutely never accomplish.

Therefore, this treasure is called "King of Extreme Punishment," the most terrifying treasure bearing the name of its owner.

"Lancer...!"

"Red" Archer called out to "Red" Lancer. Lancer, of course, understood perfectly. The vortex of magic was converging towards the "Black" Lancer standing before him…!

"Then, you sinners who have wantonly trampled on my homeland without permission, it is time for your execution. Let your corpses lie exposed in the wilderness alongside those Dragon Tooth soldiers."

"Black" Lancer's fingertips twitched slightly...in an instant.

The iron stakes suddenly thrust out towards the two Red Team Servants. Archer reflexively dodged into the air, but the iron stakes continued to surge out one after another as if they had been aimed at that spot all along.