"Saber!", Vast magical energy flowed from the spear tip along the spear shaft. Cu Chulainn's eyes widened, veins bulged from his forehead, making him look like an enraged beast.
"Since you already know my true na, then you should know this move of mine. Do you have the guts to take it head-on?"
"Milady, according to legend, the Noble Phantasm of Ireland's Child of Light, Cu Chulainn, is—"
"Mm, I know," Before Sella could finish explaining, Illya interrupted.
She said, "I believe in Berserker!"
In truth, she had asked Shirou, and Shirou replied it was fine.
Her small hand was tightly clenched, 'You must win, Berserker!'
"Co, Lancer," Shirou's eyes were even calr than still water, while terrifying magical energy gathered along the blade.
Of course he knew what Cu Chulainn's Noble Phantasm was.
As a great hero of Celtic half-god descent, his Noble Phantasm had two forms.
The first form was Gae Bolg, a sure-kill technique against individuals, derived from the original anti-army throwing version of the spear, "Gae Bolg: Barbed Spear That Pierces with Death."

A trump card that reverses cause and effect. In the instant of Noble Phantasm activation, the "result" of the heart being pierced occurs in advance.
A cheat move that's virtually unavoidable under any circumstances.
However, because Cu Chulainn always had low Luck whenever summoned, despite using this Noble Phantasm, he almost never truly managed to finish off an opponent.
So, countering it was actually quite simple. Either create distance, or like Dumb Saber, rely on extrely high Luck and the Instinct skill that allows brief glimpses into the future to barely avoid fatal injuries.
The second form was Gae Bolg's most powerful attack: "Gae Bolg: Soaring Spear That Strikes with Death."

This required a running start and launching into the air, utilizing full-body magical energy. Unlike the low-cost "Barbed Spear That Pierces with Death," the "Soaring Spear That Strikes with Death" consud massive magical energy and could be used for carpet-bombing enemy forces, thus, a true anti-army Noble Phantasm.
At this mont, what Cu Chulainn was about to use was the first form of the Noble Phantasm.
Shirou's Luck wasn't high, only C, but under Hosting mode, his combat instincts were top-tier. So he could dodge.
Seeing Shirou, even after learning what his Noble Phantasm was, not only refusing to back down but gathering magical energy to face it head-on, Cu Chulainn was not alard but rather pleased.
"That's right, Saber," He charged forward, stepping out as the earth beneath his feet dented inward.
The surrounding fallen leaves were swept up by magic, forming a spiraling vortex.
"This is the absolute death match I've been waiting for! Finally, it's here! Co! Show your Noble Phantasm! Show the glory of a true Hero!"
"As you wish, Lancer."
Shirou shifted from one-handed reverse grip to two-handed grip, his eyes focused and sharp, as if ready to split the sky.
"With this one strike, we decide victory!"
A glint of cold light ca first, then the spear followed like a dragon.
"Noble Phantasm, Soaring Spear That Strikes with Death (Gae Bolg)!"
"Sure-Kill: Ordinary One Sword!"
Illya: "?"
Bazett: "??"
Cu Chulainn: "..."
Shirou: "!!!"
'System-san, next ti could you pick a better na? Sothing not so… literal?'
RIPPPP!
At the exact mont Illya suddenly stood up with a "screech," Cu Chulainn's magic spear pierced through Shirou.
"LANCER!", Bazett scread in horror.
"You never intended to dodge from the start?", Cu Chulainn pressed hard on the wound running from his left shoulder down to his right thigh.
In the instant Gae Bolg struck Shirou, Shirou's not-so-ordinary "Ordinary Attack" also landed on Cu Chulainn.
It was an exchange of blows. Against an opponent with Battle Continuation, Shirou aid for a one-hit kill.
However, he failed.
In that critical mont, Cu Chulainn's sharp battle instincts made him abandon piercing Shirou's heart and instead go for his sword-wielding right arm.
As a result, the fully charged sword strike failed to deliver a fatal blow.
Such a wound was negligible to Cu Chulainn, who possessed Battle Continuation.
"You actually gave up piercing my heart at the last second," said Shirou, clutching his bleeding arm, his tone calm but with rare confusion, "Why?"
"You're asking why?", Cu Chulainn looked absolutely stunned, "You bastard, were you seriously planning to die with ?"
"No, that's not it," He laughed, "Seeing your reaction, looks like I made the right choice."
Shirou fell silent.
Cu Chulainn raised an eyebrow, then let out a cruel laugh, "So there really was a way to dodge it, huh. Seems like my impulse saved my life."
"Impulse…?", Shirou repeated those two syllables.
Cu Chulainn said lazily, "That's right. In that mont of attack, I thought it'd be too much of a loss to go out like that. At the very least, I should fight a few more rounds. So, our battle will be postponed to the end, Saber. Until then… don't you dare die!"
In truth, Bazett had issued the order to retreat.
Their opponent knew his True Na. His trump-card Noble Phantasm clearly didn't scare the enemy. Their bottom card in this fight had been stripped away from the start.
Continuing to fight would be utterly irrational.
Most importantly, it was daybreak. That's right. As everyone knows, the Holy Grail War is an activity that takes place at night.
So, under Shirou's watchful gaze, Cu Chulainn departed with Bazett, and before leaving, he didn't forget to throw out a harsh line, "Saber, if you want to chase after us, go ahead. But be prepared to bow out early."
Shirou said nothing, watching Cu Chulainn vanish.
'Hosting-san, was that the 0.1 of uncontrollable factor you ntioned?'
Apparently, the 20% probability had risen to 99.9%.
Who would've expected Cu Chulainn's battlefield instincts, honed through countless fights, would make him choose the best option at the critical mont?
Not even the system foresaw it, Shirou was equally confused.
'Isn't his Luck supposed to be E? Why didn't that work against ?'
He had learned a lot from this battle.
Shirou carefully digested the combat experience, and with his newly acquired, still E-rank reinforcent magic, he quickly returned to Einzbern Castle.
It was one thing that Cu Chulainn hadn't been dealt with, but now he had to face the wrath of a white-haired loilta.
'Being a Servant isn't easy.'
'It's all your fault, system. Why didn't you account for Cu Chulainn backing off from piercing my heart?'
["Recomndation for next ti: combine with the armor imdiately."]
'Ah… the value of efficiency and accuracy. Indeed a proper choice.'
Exchanging playful words with the system, Shirou stepped into the front gate of Einzbern Castle.
"BERSERKER!"
The white-haired brat stord over aggressively, "Didn't you say everything would be fine? Why are you hurt? Also, taking Lancer's Noble Phantasm head-on, why didn't you talk to beforehand?"
Before Shirou could answer, Sella, who also knew what happened during the battle, rebuked him, "Berserker, I'm not against you luring the enemy to the Einzbern Castle territory. But before you do sothing like that, shouldn't you at least discuss it with us? Give us ti to prepare."
Shirou opened his mouth… and closed it. He couldn't exactly say he was too weak and had been mistaken for a harmless lab mouse.
That would be too humiliating.
"Berserker… next ti… you have to tell us," Even Leysritt voiced her protest.
Clearly, Shirou's actions were unpopular. What else could he do?
"…Sorry," All he could do was apologize.
And only after cooking a huge al did he finally calm the three of them down.
Today's Emiya household dinner was full of conflict.
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