Chapter 4. The Fight Without All-Out Effort

I Will Eventually Embark on the Path of No Return Called a Hero [Arc2] - Chapter 4. The Fight Without All-Out Effort

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"How did you find me?"

Hades's helmet off, Cyd looked curiously at the Red Faction's Lancer, Karna, who blocked his way.

"Footprints," Karna pointed at a row of shallow footprints behind Cyd with the tip of his spear.

"Ah~ I was careless. I forgot this place is near the sea, so the ground is quite moist," Cyd patted his head.

"Even if you can't sense the presence, the feeling of being targeted by a blade is too strong," Karna, holding his spear, wasn't in a hurry to carry out the task given by his Master.

"Is that so? Then, Red Faction's Lancer, do you have any business with me, the Ruler? I should clarify that all command spells are with another Ruler, so I have no direct authority over you," Cyd tilted his head. "And you two hiding over there, you can come out now."

"Ahem… Ruler, we came to find you…" A young man with glasses pulled out a girl dressed in what looked like a wedding gown. If not for the girl's obvious abnormal aura, Cyd might have thought they were a couple here for a photo shoot… just kidding.

"Mm, so you are the Black Faction's Servant and Master," Cyd nodded.

"Mm--" The girl growled, positioning herself defensively in front of the young man and glaring fiercely at Karna through her bangs.

"Do you want to fight me? No, do you want to protect your Master?" Karna nodded. "Don't worry, I don't have the extra energy to harm your Master right now."

"Mm--" The girl continued to glare at Karna, unwilling to yield.

"Young man, what's your name?" Cyd silently appeared behind the young man.

"Ca… Caules," the young man jolted as if caught by a teacher while daydreaming.

"Ah!!!" The girl growled and lunged at Cyd from behind Caules.

"I'm a Ruler. You don't need to be so wary of me," Cyd nimbly evaded the girl's chaotic attacks. Fortunately, the girl's intent was only to protect Caules, and she calmed down once Cyd withdrew to a certain distance.

"Don't worry, Berserker, I'll be fine," Caules nervously held the girl's hand. Their purpose this time was to see if they could persuade the Ruler. Even if they didn't succeed, they needed to avoid making the Ruler hostile. But it seemed quite difficult now.

Why was I chosen for this? Knowing that my Servant is the most unlikely to take orders, Berserker.

But thinking it over, it had to be him. Caster needs to make homunculi, Lancer needs to guard territory, his sister is incapacitated, and Rider, with that unreliable demeanor, how could he possibly follow orders?

Seemingly sensing Caules's inner turmoil, the Black Faction's Berserker, Frankenstein, glared fiercely at Caules.

"Don't worry, his current target is me. We'll probably fight until dawn, so you can stay as you wish," Cyd extended his left hand and took down the [Reforged Pandora] from his back.

"Need any help?" Caules asked tentatively. Perhaps they could take the opportunity to deal with the Red Faction's Servants by teaming up with the Ruler.

Karna frowned. The instinct of the hero from his soul wanted him to fight Cyd. In fact, the moment he saw Cyd, he had a vague sense of destiny. If possible, he didn't want anyone else to interfere with his fight with Cyd.

"Thank you for the offer, but he's here for me, and I can't let you be caught in the crossfire," Cyd smiled and waved his hand.

Besides, the difference in levels between you and him is too great; you'd be eliminated instantly.

"Well… Can we stay here then?" Caules asked, bracing himself.

At least they wanted to see if they could deduce the true name of the Red Faction's Lancer or, at the very least, gauge his strength.

Cyd glanced at Karna.

"Fine," Karna nodded slightly. After all, the order from the priest did not include eliminating the Black Faction's Servants and Master.

"Then please stay away. In a moment…" Cyd grabbed the [Reforged Pandora] with his left hand and placed it on his shoulder. A crimson glow erupted, and the black box began to change shape.

[Reforged Pandora] — Ares Form

"It might get a bit violent," Cyd's pupils flickered with blood-red light as he smirked.

Frankenstein's eyes narrowed. Her instinctive sense of danger made her immediately grab Caules and run several meters away.

"Is it really that exaggerated!" Caules shouted, nearly losing his glasses from the jostling.

"Mm!" Frankenstein growled anxiously.

[Very dangerous!]

"Boom----"

Watching the earth being tossed up, Caules understood why Frankenstein was so anxious.

"Clang----"

The massive sword clashed with the long spear, the sparks illuminating Karna's somewhat blank face. The gale from the clash stirred their white hair.

"Impressive strength," Karna glanced at the sunken soil beneath him. In terms of pure power, Cyd had him suppressed, and Cyd was using only one hand.

"Is that so?!" Cyd grinned, clenching his right fist. Black scales formed sharp knuckles on the back of his hand.

Karna's eyes twitched. He tilted his head to avoid Cyd's straight punch, but his face was still slashed by a thin line of blood.

However, Cyd's attack wasn't over. After missing the punch, he opened his right hand and grabbed at Karna's head, his dragon-claw-like hand making Karna's eyes widen.

Mana Release — Flame

Searing flames burst from Karna, pushing Cyd's right hand away. Karna seized the opportunity to strike Cyd, sending him flying.

"You've endured battles so long it's hard to imagine, haven't you?" Karna touched the wound on his face.

"Ah~ It really was a long day," Cyd waved [Reforged Pandora] in his hand. "But Red Faction's Lancer, since you're aiming to take my life, why not go all out?"

"Apologies, it's not that I look down on you," Karna said somewhat apologetically. He also had his own considerations.

If possible, he didn't want to burden his Master, whom he had never met.

Moreover, the orders now came from the priest. He wasn't sure what his Master wanted, and his true trump card could only be used once. It wasn't very wise to use it against the Ruler when his goal was to help his Master obtain the Holy Grail.

"Forget it. You're not that kind of person. Let's enjoy the fight without holding back!" Cyd raised [Reforged Pandora] in his hand. The massive sword, appearing crude, transformed into a spear shape.

[Reforged Pandora] — Athena Form

"Thank you!" Karna leaped towards Cyd, his exaggerated long spear aiming at Cyd's head.

Cyd grinned, his left hand deflecting Karna's attack. At the same time, the crystal representing Zeus on his left wrist glowed, and violent lightning surged from his body, countering the flames on Karna. His thunderous right hand reached for Karna's chest.

"Clang----"

Karna rotated his spear, using the shaft to block Cyd's right hand. The collision even created glaring sparks.

"Got you!" Cyd seized the chance to grab Karna's spear and swung him like a wooden post, sending Karna into the air. Cyd's left hand wielded [Reforged Pandora], unleashing a torrential storm of attacks at Karna.

Karna, unfazed by being in the air, skillfully wielded his spear. Each strike accurately met Cyd's spearhead, and he used Cyd's force to maintain his balance in mid-air.

"Earlier… I was thinking of asking you to help," Caules sat on the ground, somewhat dazed, watching Cyd and Karna fight.

"Mm…" Frankenstein scratched her head. There was no doubt that if she intervened, she might be eliminated by either side immediately.

"And… I still can't deduce the true name of the Red Faction's Lancer, but as for the Ruler…" Caules's expression grew peculiar. "I think I have an idea."

"Nice skill. How about this!" Cyd grinned widely and swung the spear in his hand.

"Hmm?" Karna, though puzzled, saw Cyd clear a wide area in front of himself. Seizing the opportunity, Karna instinctively thrust his spear towards Cyd's chest.

It wouldn't hurt to be struck once anyway.

"Boom----"

The slender spear instantly transformed into a giant hammer. Karna, unable to react in time, could only watch as the hammer smashed into him, sending him flying like a shooting star.

"This destructive power…" Caules swallowed hard.

"Mm…" Frankenstein pulled Caules, urging him to leave quickly.

"Uh? There are still a few hours until sunrise," Cyd glanced at the sky. The moon, once high in the sky, had vanished.

"Ahem, a beautiful strike," Karna, somewhat disheveled, flew back from afar.

"You can fly?" Cyd raised an eyebrow.

"Just a simple application of mana release," Karna dusted himself off.

"You should head back," Cyd stretched lazily as the giant hammer in his hand reverted to the black box.

"It's not dawn yet," Karna said seriously.

Clearly, he intended to keep fighting Cyd until morning.

"There will be plenty of opportunities. We've just begun. Also…" Cyd looked at the sky. "It's the time when the sun and moon are about to exchange, and I might…"

Silver and orange patterns slowly etched along Cyd's left arm, which was exposed. Cyd, originally wrapped in lightning, started to manifest something else.

"I'll make sure you have to go all out."

After a moment of silence, Karna nodded. "Looking forward to our next battle."

With that, Karna vanished into spirit form.

"You've managed to stay calm and not flee. Young man, you will surely achieve great things in the future," Cyd strapped [Reforged Pandora] to his back.

"I was just a bit shaky," Caules adjusted his glasses. This was a chance to observe the opponent's Servant up close. Although he didn't figure out the opponent's true name, he clearly understood the immense power on display.

"Wow, that Lancer is really strong," Cyd patted the blood-red tear on his torn clothes. "He actually managed to break my defense. I always thought only complete gods could hurt me."

"Um… Ruler, would you like to come to our Black Faction's camp?" Caules asked.

Now he had deduced the Ruler's true name. If it was as he suspected, he was confident he could get the Ruler to come to the Black Faction's camp.

"Did you come by car?" Cyd tilted his head, asking an unexpected question.

"No," Caules scratched his head.

"Then never mind. You probably can't keep up with my pace," Cyd patted Caules on the shoulder. "Good luck with the Holy Grail War~"

With that, Cyd, like Karna, vanished into spirit form.

"Is Berserker still around?" Caules looked confused.

"Ugh…" Frankenstein shook her head.

"Ahhhh! At least wait until I finish talking!" Caules, head in hands, looked frustrated.

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