"It seems my Master has been taken over by someone else. Truly, this is not a good thing."
Lancer sighed as he hoisted his red spear head and charged at Saber.
At that moment, the injury on Saber's left wrist was healing rapidly, giving her the means to counterattack.
Grasping the hilt tightly, she used her blade to parry Lancer's spearhead.
"I am sorry. This must be the work of someone on my side."
"There is no need for apologies, Saber. To my mind, if I can have a proper bout with you, it is well worth it."
Even as he spoke, Lancer threw every ounce of his strength into the assault, desperately trying to drive Saber to her death.
Saber remained silent, repelling Lancer's fierce onslaught time and time again.
"Saber, you need not worry about my strength. Even though one of my Noble Phantasms has been broken, I am still not weak."
Lancer paused for a moment before continuing:
"King of Knights! Show me your true power. You must still remember the oath between us! Come, let me fulfill the promise we made, at least before I die!"
Hearing these words, Saber's expression grew stern.
"You are right, Lancer. An oath between knights must be honored, and I was negligent before. Now, it is time to fulfill our promise!"
Saber no longer intended to hold back. The previously invisible Holy Sword finally revealed its true form, its blade gleaming with a biting, razor-sharp light as transparent as frozen ice, yet radiating a scorching heat.
Grasping the Holy Sword in both hands, Saber unleashed a powerful wave of energy that rippled outward from her center.
Feeling that immense power, a flash of excitement and resolve crossed Lancer's eyes.
"Now this is the true Sword of Promised Victory."
With a loud roar, he whipped his red spear faster than ever, the tip tearing through the air with a shrill whistle.
Raising the Holy Sword high, Saber charged at Lancer, and the two of them plunged into a breathtaking clash.
"Ha!" With a fierce cry, Saber and Lancer's figures instantly intertwined.
Like two ferocious beasts, they grappled tightly, neither willing to yield an inch.
Saber's gleaming blade thrust toward Lancer with the force of a thunderbolt.
Lancer met her blow without a shred of cowardice, his razor-sharp spear rising to intercept the blade like a dragon emerging from the sea.
In an instant, spear tip and sword edge collided in a shower of sparks, ringing out in an unbroken chain of metallic clashes.
Both knights exerted themselves to the absolute limit, every single strike and stance imbued with boundless power and technique.
Their muscles strained, sweat pouring like rain, yet their gazes remained steadfast and burning with fervor. Within their hearts burned a fierce dedication to the spirit of chivalry and that unbreakable oath.
As she swung the Holy Sword, Saber silently swore an oath in her heart:
"No matter what, I must complete this battle with the highest standards of chivalry."
Amidst the fierce combat, the surrounding air seemed to ignite, thick with tension and excitement.
Every swing of Saber's Holy Sword carried such astonishing power that when it sheared through the air, it triggered a series of deafening explosions and violent shockwaves.
Gradually, Lancer began to falter under this overwhelming offensive.
He fought desperately with his spear to block, but every collision drove him back several paces beneath a crushing, mountainous force.
Struggling just to avoid total defeat, Lancer was driven into a defensive disadvantage.
Amidst the dazzling flurry of flashing blades, Saber's form moved like a phantom.
Her gaze was piercing as she locked onto Lancer's every move, waiting for the optimal moment to strike.
Finally, Lancer left an opening during a spear thrust.
Seizing the fleeting opportunity without a moment's hesitation, Saber leaped violently into the air. Her sword flashed with a cold light as she brought it down hard upon Lancer.
A deafening clang echoed out as sparks scattered in all directions. The impact was so tremendously powerful that Lancer was sent stumbling backward.
His heels scraped frantically against the ground with a harsh screech, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Though Lancer tried with all his might to steady himself, Saber's power was simply too overwhelming, and he could not stop his retreat, flying backward dozens of meters in the blink of an eye!
Standing her ground, Saber's eyes burned with unwavering determination. She gripped the holy-radiant blade tightly.
As she exerted a fraction more force through her hands, the surrounding air began to tremble violently, as if stirred by an invisible hand.
At that same moment, the ambient mana between heaven and earth seemed to answer a summons, rushing frantically toward Saber.
Like a raging, turbulent flood, the mana poured ceaselessly into the Holy Sword in her grasp.
Saber drew a deep breath, parted her lips, and began to chant in a voice both crisp and majestic:
"O ceaseless gale, in the name of the king, I command you to unleash the power granted by the great spirit of the lake! By the glory of knighthood, I call upon your name—manifest, EXCALIBUR!"
With her chant, the blade of the Holy Sword suddenly burst with dazzling, blinding light, brilliant as a shooting star streaking across the night sky.
The radiant light instantly illuminated the entire space, making it almost impossible to look directly at her.
At the same time, a sudden tempest rose, howling as it swept across the surroundings with the destructive might of a shattering world.
Saber rushed toward Lancer, bringing the Holy Sword down with world-shattering force.
Lancer did not evade; instead, he puffed out his chest and met her head-on.
In an instant, energy ripples spread outward like a tidal wave, fracturing the ground beneath them.
"The time has come to fulfill our oath, Saber!" Lancer shouted, his face etched with resolve.
A flicker of reluctance crossed Saber's eyes, but she pressed the Holy Sword down all the same.
With a sharp snap, Lancer's spear was severed, and the Holy Sword pierced straight through his body.
Lancer slowly sank to the ground, a satisfied smile resting on the corners of his lips. "To die by your blade is an honor indeed, King of Knights."
Saber gave a slight nod, her gaze calm and solemn as she looked down upon the dying Lancer, and murmured softly: "You are an adversary worthy of respect."
Though brief, the respect contained within those words was immeasurable.
Saber turned and walked away, striding into the distance with unwavering conviction, leaving Lancer lying upon the battle-scarred earth as the sunlight broke through to bathe his final glory in light.