Grand Foreigner (Chapters 1- 200)

Chapter 170

There was a feeling of tension in the air...

Probably.

Archer wasn't sure if what he's feeling was real, but usually when armies were to begin a big battle, the protagonists were supposed to say something like that. Though Archer himself couldn't say he felt anything like that.

He's a bit too lazy to try and figure out why.

Edison and his army, split into three groups, were ready to move at the trigger, beginning the final battle of the Servants in this Singularity.

And the role of trigger in this case went to Archer, that was why he was inside Cu Alter's city. No, it was not a suicide mission, it made sense, as a somewhat invisible Servant, for lack of Assassins on Edison's side, he was the best option to conduct reconnaissance. Especially considering his other abilities were similarly suited to such a role.

Archer didn't want to do it, of course, but he forced himself by reassuring himself that by having fulfilled his role now, he might not have to do anything else in the future. Still, Archer's abilities were not well suited to open combat, so Edison was simply being pragmatic.

That's why Archer used his Noble Phantasm at its best... well, as 'best' as he could.

Appearing as a faceless ghost, he would fire a couple of shots into the enemy's army, killing those he could before once again disappearing into the crowd, before any of the enemy Servants appeared.

After all, Edison also understood the necessity of preparing for battle beforehand.

After he'd taken out a preset number of the enemy's forces, he would then provoke an attack by the enemy Servants, preferably only one, and then lure them into an ambush he'd already prepared. Not that such a plan was particularly elegant, but in the current situation, especially given the contingent of Servants on Cu Chulainn Alter's side, it seemed the most prudent plan for both Archer and Edison.

Well, that was the plan anyway, but reality had a curious power to never live up to expectations.

So when Archer sensed the approach of a tremendous force, seemingly sweeping away everything in its path, he realized, without any extra skill or Noble Phantasm informing him, that something had not gone according to plan.

The feeling of the approaching Servant was that of a mad beast, a vast and unbounded, unstoppable rage. Before Archer had time to realize that a much bigger fish had bitten his bait, it had already covered half the distance separating it and Archer.

For a moment, the thought that Archer had somehow managed to attract Cu Chulainn Alter flashed through his mind. That picture? There was nothing good about it.

Archer was totally unsuited to an open battle with any Servants, but someone of Cu Chulainn Alter's level? It couldn't even be called a fight.

Moments later, Archer rushed away, momentarily concealed by his cloak, Archer escaped. In one deft leap, he had climbed onto the roof of a random building and darted away towards the city walls, the roof of the building cracking beneath his feet, like glass cracking from a stone impact.

Then came a loud sound, as if a jet had just rammed itself full speed into the building, and only then did Archer realize that the house under his feet was already rubble. Had he hesitated even for a moment, he might have already died then and there.

Not that he had escaped the danger yet.

Thanks to his abilities as a Servant, Archer managed to easily orient himself at the last second and land on the ground, instantly on his feet to escape. But it was too late, he was caught.