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"Who?"
Scathach moved fast, stepping in front of Rin before she could even react. Her crimson spear sliced through the air with a quick twirl, its sharp tip aimed at the two figures hiding in the shadows. "Come out, you sneaky rats!" she said, her voice firm and fierce.
"Heh, what a coincidence. I didn't expect a simple walk to turn into such a crowd."
Under the wary eyes of the group, a stunning girl stepped out from beneath the streetlight. Her long, shapely legs carried her with poise. She had smooth, purple hair that spilled over her shoulders, glinting softly in the dim light. Her yellow-and-white top hugged her full chest, paired with a flowing black skirt that brushed past her knees. White socks and pale yellow shoes gave her a refined, graceful look; like a proper lady from an old, noble family.
But her figure wasn't what caught everyone's attention. It was the invisible presence next to her. Every Master and Servant could feel it: a Spiritron-based Servant, not yet revealed, standing right at her side.
"Matou Sakura?" Yuto said under his breath, recognizing her at once. Her purple hair, her schoolgirl skirt, and her striking curves stood out, way more than Rin or Artoria's flatter builds. In the original story, she was a tragic soul, but here, she radiated a quiet confidence. 'She's nothing like the broken girl from the original,' he thought. 'No scars from the worm pit or that old creep Matou Zouken. With Artoria as just a normal high schooler here, it figures her fate shifted too.'
"Careful, Rin," Scathach warned, her eyes narrowing at the unseen Servant. "That one's no pushover."
Rin peeked out from behind Scathach, her blue eyes wide. "Sakura… why are you here?"
In a flash of blue light, the hidden Servant appeared. She was a tall, striking woman with knee-length purple hair. Her black-and-pink skirt showed off her toned legs, and delicate red glasses perched on her sharp nose, framing thin, crimson lips. She gave off a cool, mature vibe, and the magical energy pouring from her proved she wasn't just for show.
"Good evening, everyone," the purple-haired girl said, lifting her skirt in a small, elegant curtsy. Her gaze swept over them with calm assurance. "This is my Servant, Saber. And I'm her Master, Sakura Edelfelt. I'm here to take the Holy Grail." She paused, her voice hardening. "Oh, and one more thing: the Edelfelt family loves collecting rare treasures. If you get in our way, we'll cut you down without a second thought."
'She's not messing around,' Yuto thought. Artoria, hiding behind him, blinked in awe at Sakura's boldness.
"Edelfelt family…" Rin muttered, her blue eyes studying the girl who was supposed to be her sister. "Sakura, is this about revenge?"
"Revenge?" Sakura's face stayed calm. "There's no bad blood between us, just different goals."
"Goals?" Rin frowned.
"Exactly. The Tohsaka family isn't strong enough to challenge the Edelfelts right now. You and your Servant are just small bumps on our road to the Grail."
Sakura's eyes lingered on Rin for a moment, softening slightly. "But if you give up now, I might let you walk away."
"Give up?" Rin's eyes flared, her pride kicking in. "This is Tohsaka land! You're the outsider here, strutting around like you own it!" She crossed her arms, glaring. "If you want a fight, you'd better be ready to lose!"
"Big words from someone who's always been second-rate," Sakura replied coldly.
"Excuse me?!"
The two sisters locked eyes, the air between them buzzing with tension.
"Saber!" Sakura snapped.
"Lancer!" Rin shot back.
Scathach stepped forward, ready to fight, but Sakura's Saber, Medusa didn't move. Instead, she fixed her gaze on Yuto, staring him down.
"Saber, what are you doing?" Sakura asked, turning to her Servant with a flash of annoyance.
Yuto shifted as Medusa leaned closer, sniffing the air around him like a curious dog. 'What's her problem?' he wondered, feeling a bit awkward.
"Archer… why do you smell like Pegasus?" Medusa asked, her voice quiet and confused.
"Pegasus?" Yuto blinked. "I've got no idea what you mean."
He decided to play dumb. In the Holy Grail War, knowledge was everything, and he wasn't about to spill anything, not with Artoria's safety on the line. But Medusa had already sniffed out his link to Pegasus, her senses sharp as a Saber-class Servant.
Sakura, catching Medusa's whispered words, raised an eyebrow. 'Pegasus? Is he tied to Bellerophon from Greek myths?' she thought. 'But he doesn't look greek.' Still, it piqued her interest. 'Maybe I can test him and show Rin what I'm capable of now.'
"Archer's Master," Sakura called, her tone sharp and taunting. "My Saber wants to spar with your Archer. You're not afraid, are you?"
"W-What?" Artoria jumped, glancing nervously at Rin, who just shrugged. "Don't look at me, we're rivals now."
Artoria hesitated, then turned to Yuto, her green eyes uncertain.
"Master," Yuto said, stepping in front of her. "Trust me, and I'll win this for you."
His steady confidence made her blush. 'He's like a knight from a storybook,' she thought, looking away shyly. "Okay, Archer… go for it."
Sakura smirked. "About time. Saber, show them what you've got!"
In an instant, Medusa vanished, reappearing with a black-and-red dagger in hand. Purple energy sparked around the blade as she charged at Yuto, striking with full force.
Yuto met her head-on, summoning his twin swords, Kanshou and Bakuya, to block the blow.
Bang!
The impact rang out like a gunshot, kicking up dust in all directions. Medusa's slim frame hid insane strength, and even Yuto hadn't expected the sheer power behind her attack.
Scathach flicked her wrist, a glowing rune appearing to shield her and Rin from the blast. Artoria, caught off guard, shut her eyes tight but nothing hit her. When she looked up, Yuto stood tall in front of her, splitting the shockwave like a wall. A shimmering rune hovered before him, soaking up the force.
"Thank you, Archer," she whispered, her heart pounding.
"Your Master can't even defend herself?" Sakura said, deflecting the blast with a blue gem. "She is pretty weak."
"She's my responsibility," Yuto replied, his voice low and firm. "Watch what you say, or I won't hold back."
Sakura's face flushed with anger. "Let's see you try! Saber, use the Golden Sword!"
Medusa nodded, her dagger shifting into a huge golden blade. She swung it down, unleashing a wave of golden energy that swallowed Yuto and Artoria whole.
Boom!
The ground cracked, magic bursting in loud explosions. Artoria gasped, fearing the worst but then a torrent of sword energy ripped through the flames, slashing toward Medusa in midair.
"Noble Phantasm:Harpe!"
The attack broke through Medusa's guard, leaving thin cuts across her body. That sword canceled out immortality. It's a weapon that Perseus once used to kill Medusa. It was her perfect counter.
With a sharp cry, Medusa stumbled back, blood dripping from her wounds.
"Saber!" Sakura ran to her side, her confidence crumbling. The cuts wouldn't close; some strange power made them worse, blood flowing faster.
Yuto stepped closer, his expression hard. Sakura, who'd been so smug before, now looked scared. "S-Stay back!" she stammered.
"Apologize to my Master," Yuto said.
Sakura's face went white. She'd wanted to show off to Rin, but in moments, she'd been brought low.
Nearby, Rin watched her sister with a mix of sympathy and quiet glee.
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