---
Diarmuid: "Ah, it seems we are the first to cross bdes, King of Knights."
Artoria: "Ihis is a good e to gauge your strength, Lancer."
Diarmuid: "You may be disappointed, as my true skill lies with the sword. If this were a proper Holy Grail War, our csh might have taken a different form."
Artoria: "Is that so? Then it's a shame."
---
["Swoosh, swoosh..."]
With a swift motion, Diarmuid took up his two spears, assuming a battle stance.
["Buzz..."]
As Artoria observed him, magical energy enveloped her. When it faded, she was her iic blue and silver armor, wielding an invisible sword in her hand.
["Irisviel, stay bad keep out of harm's way."]
After issuing the and, Artoria's gaze remained fixed on Diarmuid. Both women, Artoria and Irisviel, couldn't help but feel a sense of disfort as they faced the spearman.
"Is that… charm magic?" Irisviel's voice was filled with distaste.
Diarmuid responded with a helpless smile, "I am afraid it is. It is a curse I was born with, nothing I trol. Bme it on the unfortuure of being a woman in my presence."
Artoria's eyes narrowed. "Do not think such a thing will hinder my sword, Lancer."
"Of course not," Diarmuid chuckled lightly. "It seems the anti-magic properties of the Saber css are indeed formidable. I am relieved. After all, I would lose face if I were to defeat an oppo who had fallen for my curse."
---
Artoria: "You possess charm magic, Diarmuid?"
---
Diarmuid: "As I said in the video, it is an affli I carry. I have no trol over it."
---
Waver: "I know about this, it's the Love Spot, isn't it?"
---
Waver tinued, "It's said that Diarmuid was favored by the Goddess of Youth, who made him her lover aowed upon him a magical beauty mark, a Love Spot, that would charm any woman who id eyes on him."
---
Diarmuid: "Yes, that story is not far from the truth. But calling it a blessing is far from accurate—it is, iy, a curse."
---
Diarmuid: "In any case, King of Knights, rest assured. I've already rid myself of that troublesome mark."
---
Waver: "Rid yourself of it? How?"
---
Diarmuid: "I sold it… to the system."
---
Keh: "You… sold a part of your own body to the system?!"
---
Diarmuid: "Io be ho, I didn't expect the system to accept such a thing, but it truly is extraordinary."
---
Chihiro was quietly impressed. Who would have thought that Diarmuid could manage such a feat? Without the Love Spot, the ill-fated romah Keh's fiancée So-Ui might never e to pass.
---
[After some bad-forth, the duel betweewo finally enced.]
The figures of the two batants iwined, moving at impossible speeds as their ons cshed. The force behind each blow shattered nearby streetlights aed metal tainers, their duel leaving marks upon the enviro with every exge.
For now, it was merely a test of strength, a warm-up.
[After several bouts, the two separated again.]
Artoria's eyes remained fixed on Diarmuid's twin spears, unsure of which to guard against, for she had yet to determine which on was his true trump card.
The video paused, and the first question appeared.
---
[Question: What will be the oute of this duel?]
[A: Saber wins; B: Lancer wins; C: Both sides draw; D: The duel is interrupted.]
[You have five mio submit your answers. Failing to do so will t as forfeiting the question.]
---
Waver: "We have to predict the oute of the battle?"
---
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Judging from the fight so far, it seems that the two are evenly matched."
---
Keh: "Oh, how hey haven't even unleashed their Noble Phantasms yet."
---
Zhang Jiao, unsure of how to approach this type of question, turo Chihiro. "What do you think, young one?"
Having no familiarity with the legends of Artoria and Diarmuid, Zhang Jiao could only trust Chihiro's judgment.
Chihiro grinned. "The answer is D."
Zhang Jiao raised an eyebrow. "Interrupted? Why do you say that?"
"Remember, this isn't just a battle between two Servants. The Holy Grail War involves several pyers, and they won't stand idly by while two rivals settle things in a fair duel," Chihiro expined. "Especially sidering a certain king who holds nard for honor."
Zhang Jiao smirked knowingly. "I see your point. It's clear that character doesn't strike me as someone who would abide by rules."
---
[The time for submitting answers has passed. The results will now be revealed.]
---
[The fight between Diarmuid and Artoria tinues.]
The two warriors cshed fiercely, her willing to yield as their bdes and spears sang in the night air. But as time went on, it became clear that her could gain a definitive advantage.
["Lancer, stop wasting time ahis!"]
Keh's voice rang out from the top of a nearby warehouse. "I grant you permission to use your Noble Phantasm!"
He had already sidered the risk that their prolonged skirmish would draw other Servants to the area.
["Uood, my Master."]
Diarmuid gave a faint smile, tossing the spear in his left hand to the ground. He then unraveled the cloth ing the spear in his right hand, revealing a crimson nce.
["Is this your Noble Phantasm, Lancer?" Artoria thought, her expression turning serious.]
"You've heard my Master's order. Now, prepare yourself. This time, I shall take your head," Diarmuid decred, ung into a relentless assault.
With his Noble Phantasm in hand, Diarmuid's strength surged, driving Artoria back step by step. She struggled to keep up, overwhelmed by the sudden increase in pressure.
But then, trusting her intuition, Artoria saportunity and decided to block the spear's strike with her armor, pnning to ter with a fatal ssh.
Unfortunately, things did not go as she expected.
In an instant, Diarmuid's spear pierced through her waist armor, drawing blood that spilled freely down her side.
"Irisviel!" Artoria's voice came out strained as she stumbled back, her eyes wide with shock.
Irisviel immediately sprang into a, using healing magic to tend to the wound.
---
Artoria: "How could this happen? My armor… was breached?"
---
Waver: "It seems the effect of his Noble Phantasm is at py."
---
Chihiro: "Artoria, have you truly fought in so many battles?"
---
Chihiro's voice was ced with mild rebuke as he spoke aloud. "You didn't even sider the possibility that the enemy's on might have some special property. Using your armor to block it without knowing the nature of the attack… that was reckless, even for a seasoned warrior."
