Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 695: Chapter 694: Just Need a Tiny Bit of Influence...

Logically, approaching ARCHER, especially one specialized in hunting in the woods, is a difficult task. But that only applies under normal circumstances. For Fang Zheng, naturally, there were other methods.

For instance, Kurumi’s... Shadow Space, was an excellent means of moving without detection.

The position is about right.

Watching the video feed on the screen, Fang Zheng nodded. He didn’t watch Red ARCHER directly because long-range Professionals are generally sensitive to others’ gazes. If Fang Zheng observed the opponent with his eyes, it was very likely that Red ARCHER would notice. Hence, he chose to monitor the entire area using Little Ding Dong and selected a route forward based on the signals and maps detected by the Star Spirit Observer.

”Little Hei, follow the plan we discussed earlier. I’ll make the first move, and then you block Red ARCHER’s path. Remember, don’t give her a chance. Seize it and it’s a one-hit kill. Don’t worry about her attacks. The defense I’ve put on you should theoretically block all her attacks except for Noble Phantasms.”

Fang Zheng was so confident not without reason. On Little Hei’s person, he had applied a series of Protection Magic like ”Shield Spell,” ”Protective Arrows,” ”Mage Armor,” and ”Detection Evasion.” Little Hei might not be wearing any heavy armor, but her defensive Attribute Level was now comparable to a Knight in Magic Armor. Even ARCHER, without using a Noble Phantasm, wouldn’t dream of penetrating Little Hei’s magical defense.

”Understood, big brother. Leave it to me.”

Little Hei was eager to try her hand, especially since Illya had bungled earlier, and she absolutely couldn’t mess up. If she didn’t perform better as an older sister than her younger sister, that would be a complete disaster. Not to mention, unlike Illya, Little Hei wasn’t affected by Class Restraint; hence, the gap in attributes between them wasn’t significant.

So what needed attention was Red ARCHER’s skills and Noble Phantasms...

Everything was ready to go, but Fang Zheng didn’t immediately have Little Hei take action. At this moment on the screen, he saw Black SABER and Black BERSERKER encountering Red RIDER.

At the same time, Red ARCHER was also ready to support.

Indeed, the screen showed that the two sides barely exchanged words before fighting broke out. Unfortunately, the gap in strength was too great.

Despite having two Servants on the Black Camp’s side, they both seemed outmatched by Red RIDER. Black BERSERKER couldn’t even land a hit before being kicked away by Red RIDER. Black SABER fared slightly better than Black BERSERKER, but not by much. In the face of Black SABER’s onslaught, Red RIDER appeared quite at ease, almost counter-killing Black SABER. If it wasn’t for the formidable defense of Black SABER’s Dragon Blood Armor, he would likely have been instantly killed.

”Should we make a move, big brother?”

”No, wait a little longer.”

Observing the ongoing battle, Fang Zheng suddenly changed his mind. He originally thought that with two Servants on his side, they should be able to handle one. But now it seemed like Black SABER might be taken out by Red RIDER. If that was the case, waiting for Red RIDER to deal with Black SABER before making a move wasn’t too late.

After all, as a Chief Dragon, Fang Zheng had no fondness for Dragon Slayers. If he could take out Black SABER with the Red Faction’s help, he wouldn’t miss the opportunity.

Would the situation develop as he anticipated?

With this thought, Fang Zheng reached out, grabbed a gemstone from his inventory, and spread it out before him. Immediately after, mysterious magic power began to emerge at his fingertips, and in the blink of an eye, a whole new scene unfolded in his mind.

The fierce battle continued, with Black SABER attempting to use his Noble Phantasm, but canceling it at the last moment, subsequently leaving the battlefield... An intense battle that should have been a life-or-death struggle ended inconclusively... The reason being, Black SABER’s Master hesitated, causing the outcome.

This wouldn’t do...

Opening his eyes, Fang Zheng shook his head, then turned to look at the Kurumi clone standing in the dark shadows. Sometimes, changing fate only requires a tiny influence...

”Kurumi, there’s something I need you to do right away...”

The battle continued.

Watching on the screen as his own Servant fought Red RIDER, Gold clenched his fists tightly as he sat on the sofa. He gnashed his teeth while watching the battle and pounded the armrest forcefully.

”SABER, what on earth is he doing? Why doesn’t he quickly kill that RIDER! That’s RIDER!”

Gold was also seething with rage. Initially, when he drew SABER, he was quite proud, as Black SABER Siegfried had quite strong attributes and Noble Phantasms, with virtually no flaws apart from the fatal weakness that came with his notoriety. At that time, Gold even believed that he would undoubtedly achieve victory and prove his power as a first-rate Magician!

But reality turned out to be completely different from Gold’s expectations.

From the very beginning, in the battle with Red LANCER, a mysterious Knight intervened, resulting in Gold and SABER retreating in disgrace without showing their strength.

If that had been all, it wouldn’t be too bad, but after that, the sting from Fang Zheng killing Red SABER deeply upset Gold.

That was SABER!!

Although everyone agreed that Fang Zheng must have used an ASSASSIN to kill Red SABER’s Master, leading to Red SABER’s withdrawal, for Gold, that didn’t matter. He had hoped his own Servant would prove his power in combat with Red SABER, but now with Red SABER dead, it was impossible to show off against her.

Therefore, the only way to directly demonstrate his Servant’s prowess would be to kill one of the Three Riders, LANCER or ARCHER.

But now, facing Red RIDER, could his own SABER not prevail for so long?!

Red RIDER was completely unharmed. It was time to use the Noble Phantasm, use it!

Although Gold gave the command to SABER, the other party didn’t follow through at all, which made Gold increasingly anxious. Was SABER planning not to follow his orders? Why? What good would that do him? Or was he just enjoying the fight?

Damn it, these Servants are complete lunatics! It seems he’s gotten so fired up that he’s forgotten his own mission!

”Boom!!”

Just at that moment, suddenly, Gold saw his own SABER as if struck by something, directly blasted away and then nailed firmly to a tree trunk.

”How could this happen!?”

Seeing this scene, Gold stood up in surprise, he couldn’t believe his eyes!

His own Servant—the Dragon Slayer Hero was actually blown away?

Gold was well aware that his Servant possessed a Noble Phantasm called the ”Blood Armor of the Evil Dragon,” a defensive Noble Phantasm that could nullify physical and Magic Attacks below rank B; and for attacks that were rank A or above, it would deduct a defensive value equivalent to rank B before calculating damage, meaning regular B rank attacks couldn’t inflict any damage on Siegfried.

But the arrow that just struck had pierced through Siegfried’s defenses—was it the attack from the opposing ARCHER? Does that mean the opponent is capable of executing an attack with a force exceeding rank A?

I can’t let this go on!

With that thought, Gold hesitated for a moment, then raised his right hand.

”By the name of the Command Seal, I order you, Siegfried, use your Noble Phantasm to strike down the Red Faction’s RIDER—!!”

Following Gold’s command, the Command Seals on his right hand began to emit a dazzling radiance.

At the same time, Black SABER’s body slowly, without his control, began to move.

To use the Noble Phantasm?

Realizing this, Black SABER was also taken aback. During the battle just now, he noticed that the opponent’s RIDER also possessed an ability that was nearly immortal, similar to his own; thus, even though his MASTER had been urging him to use the Noble Phantasm, Black SABER decided not to act rashly without understanding the opponent’s abilities and the effects of their Noble Phantasm.

But now it seemed his MASTER had run out of patience.

”Oh ho...!”

Noticing Black SABER’s movements, the Red RIDER, who was confronting Black BERSERKER, turned his head and looked at him with interest.

”A Noble Phantasm, is it? I don’t mind! If you think you can do it, then give it a try!”

No, I can’t suppress it any longer...!

Slowly lifting his greatsword, Black SABER clenched his teeth, the power of the Command Seal forcibly seizing control of his body’s movements, leaving him with only one thing to do...

”Good, that’s it!”

Watching Black SABER unfold his Noble Phantasm on the screen, Gold shouted, but then, suddenly, he hesitated.

Is this really the right thing to do?

Exposing one’s Noble Phantasm without guessing the enemy’s True Name, especially when it’s Siegfried who has a lethal weakness—was this too reckless?

But now, the Noble Phantasm was almost released, the only way to take it back was...

With that thought, Gold once again glanced at the back of his right hand, where now only two strokes of the Command Seal remained.

So...

”By the Command Seal...”

”Hehehe...”

Just as Gold decided to regret and call off the Noble Phantasm, suddenly, he heard a girl’s soft laughter close to his ear. Hearing this laughter, Gold was startled, then he quickly looked around him.

”Who’s there? Who’s laughing?!”

But in the room around Gold, besides himself, there was nobody else.

And at the same time...

”Balmung (Phantasmal Greatsword, Felling of the Sky Demon)!”

Siegfried was already roaring, swinging his Noble Phantasm at the enemy before him.