"The situation on the battlefield is somewhat strange. Initially, it was a standoff between three parties, but after a clash between two sides, the Lancer faction surprisingly showed a trend of defeat.
Ding~
The sound of clashing metal and iron echoed from afar. Mars was particularly prominent in the night sky. Su Xiao and Dilmundo were locked in combat, and Dilmundo, who had already lost an arm, retreated repeatedly. It wouldn't be long before he would be defeated.
The counterattack shield once again blocked Dilmundo's thrust. Su Xiao swiftly swung a blade, leaving a deep bone-deep wound on Dilmundo's right arm.
...
Dilmundo's Master, Kenneth, observed the battle from a dilapidated building in the distance. His expression was bleak. If Dilmundo were to die in battle, he would also lose the qualification to continue participating in the Holy Grail War.
"Why... why is there such a huge difference in strength? Dilmundo, this waste... sigh~ there's no other choice; I can only temporarily retreat."
Kenneth raised his arm, preparing to use his Command Spells to save Dilmundo. If he issued an order now, commanding Dilmundo to appear by his side, even if Dilmundo didn't have spatial abilities, under the effect of the Holy Grail and the Command Spells, he would still appear by Kenneth's side.
This kind of forced command had many limitations. For instance, if he ordered Dilmundo to become stronger, it would be ineffective and a waste of a Command Spell. Each Master only had three Command Spells, which were the only means of controlling Servants.
"Dilmundo, I command you with a Command Spell to appear..."
Kenneth's Command Spell on the back of his hand flickered with a red light. Just as he was about to issue the order, footsteps could be heard coming from downstairs.
Kenneth's face changed drastically; his position had been exposed. Other Servants or Masters were approaching.
"I command you with a Command Spell to appear by my side immediately."
One of Kenneth's Command Spells shattered, and Dilmundo appeared beside him out of thin air.
With a thud, Dilmundo fell to the ground. He had over a dozen cuts on his body, and the marks from the lance of the Red Rose of Exorcism could faintly be seen, illustrating how sharp the Zanryuu Flash was.
As Dilmundo appeared, he vomited a mouthful of blood. Kenneth immediately used healing magic to treat Dilmundo, but a violent energy raged within Dilmundo's body, significantly reducing the effectiveness of the healing magic.
"Retreat."
Kenneth urgently wanted to leave this place now. With Dilmundo heavily injured and two other Servants present, staying here would be seeking death.
However, Kenneth's decisions weren't the only factor at play. Even if he wanted to leave, he needed to ask Emiya Kiritsugu downstairs for permission. The Mage Killer had quietly infiltrated the ruined building.
Dilmundo stood up from the ground, wiping the blood from his mouth. Just as he stood up, a figure charged up the ruined building and blocked the staircase.
"Emiya Kiritsugu."
Kenneth had thoroughly investigated Emiya Kiritsugu's information, so he recognised his identity as soon as he appeared.
"How's the injury?"
Kenneth looked at Dilmundo.
"I'm fine. At least protecting the Master and retreating isn't a problem."
As Dilmundo stood up, the motion caused his wounds to bleed again, and he began coughing up blood.
"You..."
Kenneth was momentarily speechless. He understood Dilmundo's intention. Dilmundo was trying to cover their retreat. This way, Dilmundo would likely die in the process.
"Master, I won't be able to hold on much longer. The Berserker-class Servant's nature is contrary to that of the Master. Only those with Command Spells possess the true power of Berserker. Perhaps due to the amplification effect of Mad Enhancement, that guy is a true monster. Moreover, his ability counters my Noble Phantasm. I'm no match for him. Hurry, Master."
Dilmundo stood before Kenneth, his gaze fixed on Emiya Kiritsugu at the staircase.
"A mere Servant won't be able to command me."
Kenneth raised his arm.
"I employ the power of the Command Spell. Dilmundo, heal your injuries."
A blood-red light flickered, and another Command Spell on Kenneth's hand disappeared, along with a considerable amount of his magical energy. This Command Spell forcefully treated Dilmundo's injuries with his magical energy.
The wounds on Dilmundos's body rapidly healed, but his severed arm couldn't be restored. It seemed that specific rules suppressed the power of the Command Spell.
"I employ the power of the Command Spell. Dilmundo, restore your lost arm."
Kenneth used up his last Command Spell, and the muscles around Dilmundo's severed arm began to move. The arm was slowly regrowing at a languid pace.
Just as Dilmundo's arm was halfway regenerated, a golden light emanated from the wound where his arm had been severed. It was as if he was wearing a golden armlet.
Dilmundo's newly regenerated arm shattered with a crack, and the golden armlet acted like a seal, suppressing the regeneration and recovery of the arm.
While Dilmundo couldn't restore his severed arm, his injuries had been healed, and Emiya Kiritsugu, who had been blocking the staircase, had disappeared. He seemed unwilling to confront a partially recovered Dilmundo head-on.
"Retreat."
Sweat covered Kenneth's face as his magical energy had been overextended.
"I'm sorry, Master. I still can't retreat with you."
Dilmundo knelt on one knee, bowing his head and performing a knight's salute to Kenneth.
"Don't think that I can't..."
"That 'monster' is coming."
Dilmundo took a deep breath, turning his head to look at the staircase of the ruined building. That was where Emiya Kiritsugu had stood before, but now, Su Xiao was standing there.
"Damn it."
Kenneth stared at Dilmundo for a while, then sighed.
"Dilmundo, you are a commendable knight."
After saying that, Kenneth turned and walked deeper into the ruined building. He was retreating; he didn't intend to live or die with Dilmundo.
"Being recognised by the Master, I, Dilmundo, have no regrets even if I die."
Dilmundo stood up, waving the Broken Red Rose in his one remaining arm.
"Come at me. Even if your abilities counter mine, you won't leave this place unscathed today."
Facing the determined Dilmundo, Su Xiao's emotions remained steady. First of all, Dilmundo wasn't summoned at his 'full strength'; his identity as a lancer greatly limited his abilities.
In this Holy Grail War, several Heroic Spirits were difficult to deal with, and some even had the ability to kill Su Xiao, but Dilmundo was definitely not one of them.
Di Lu Mu Duo's Master wasn't a top-tier magus and combined with his weak Heroic Spirit attributes, limited abilities, and Noble Phantasms, and his actual combat strength wasn't very high.
Moreover, the Counterforce Shield countered Dilmundo's Broken Red Rose, so he was no match for Su Xiao, which was quite reasonable.
If Su Xiao were to face Gilgamesh, Iskandar (King of Conquerors), and others, the outcome would be uncertain.
As for the Saber-class King of Knights, Saber, in close combat, several of her attributes were ranked at A. She could hold her own against Su Xiao and had a Noble Phantasm ranked at A++, a single strike of which could threaten Su Xiao.
The strength of Heroic Spirits wasn't fixed; it depended on the strength of their Master. A powerful Master could enhance a Heroic Spirit's attributes.
Currently, Emiya Kiritsugu serves as Saber's Master, resulting in Saber having A-ranked endurance, agility, magical energy, and an A++ Noble Phantasm.
Su Xiao and Dilmundo charged at each other inside the ruined building simultaneously, leaving behind a footprint with bloodstains. Su Xiao had been pierced by Dilmundo's lance earlier, but it had missed any vital areas.
Five minutes later, Di Lu Mu Duo leaned against a cement pillar while a faint blue smoke wafted around Su Xiao's hand as he approached Dilmundo.
"Why can't the Red Rose pierce that shield?"
Blood dripped from Dilmundo's mouth as he spoke. His arms had been severed, and he had wounds of varying depths all over his body. If he weren't leaning against the pillar, he would have collapsed.
"Who knows."
Su Xiao's hand, wreathed in a faint blue smoke, reached towards Dilmundo's face.
"Devourer of Spirits, indeed, you're a monster..."
The faint blue smoke gradually enveloped Dilmundo, and a smile appeared on his lips. He had successfully covered his Master's retreat and engaged in a satisfying battle against a formidable opponent. Even though he disapproved of Su Xiao's methods, he admired Su Xiao's straightforward and honourable fighting style.
"At least let me know who defeated me."
As the faint blue smoke fully enveloped Dilmundo, he said these words.
[You have slain Dilmundo (Heroic Spirit).]
[Dilmundo is one of the seven Heroic Spirits participating in the current Holy Grail War. He has obtained 10.5% of the World Origin. Currently, he has accumulated 15.7% of the World Origin.]
[Your talent 'Spirit Devourer' is triggered, permanently increasing your magical energy by 15 points. You now have 2148 points of magical energy.]
[You obtain the Heroic Spirit Pouch - Dark Purple (Heroic Spirit Pouch: Grants a random skill or Noble Phantasm of this Heroic Spirit).]
