The most direct effect was to turn enemies into stone. If the enemy didn't have magic resistance or their magic resistance was below C-rank, she could petrify them with just a glance. Even with B-rank magic resistance, she could use probability to determine whether to petrify them. As for A-rank magic resistance, while she couldn't petrify them, she could inflict a heavy pressure effect, forcibly reducing all of their attributes by one rank. It was essentially applying a debuff with just a gaze.
Although the Caster class was skilled in magic, they generally lacked magic resistance. So, if he was truly a Caster, he would be petrified the moment he met her gaze!
Rider thought, taking off her eye mask and staring at Wang Xiaoming with wide eyes. The petrifying ability activated instantly, and her purple eyes glowed.
At the same time Rider opened her eyes, Wang Xiaoming also opened his eyes and looked at her, and they stared at each other.
However, there was no sign of petrification on Wang Xiaoming. As a Godslayer, his magic resistance was at least A-rank in the Fate world. Plus, there was the curse absorption ability from Esther. The petrification was completely useless against Wang Xiaoming.
This situation didn't surprise Rider, as she had already guessed that Wang Xiaoming wasn't a Caster. He was likely a Saber, as Sabers were always considered the most well-rounded class of the seven.
Seeing that Wang Xiaoming wasn't petrified, Rider figured that he should have been affected by her heavy pressure, and his attributes had been reduced. In that case, her strength should be greater than his.
So, Rider tugged on the chains.
As Rider tugged on the chains, Wang Xiaoming tugged on them at the same time. As a result, Rider was pulled directly towards Wang Xiaoming, who grabbed her neck with one hand.
Just as Wang Xiaoming grabbed Rider's neck and lifted her off the ground, a young girl's cry came from the side.
"Wait! Xiaoming-gege, don't kill Rider."
758. The Holy Grail War That's About to End
When facing Sakura, Wang Xiaoming introduced himself with his real name, rather than the god Arthur. He directly introduced himself as Wang Xiaoming.
But the name Wang Xiaoming was the most deeply imprinted in Sakura's memory.
After Wang Xiaoming left this world, Sakura grew up under the care of Matou Kariya and understood that the Xiaoming-gege who saved her was actually the legendary Arthur. So, she began to aspire to become an excellent mage when she grew up, so that she could summon Arthur, her Xiaoming-gege, in the next Holy Grail War.
But unfortunately, even with the super-sized sword that Xiaoming-gege had left behind, she couldn't summon Xiaoming-gege.
This made her lose interest in participating in the Holy Grail War. Although the first night of the Holy Grail War had begun, she had no intention of going out, nor did she want Rider to go out.
Of course, having summoned Rider, she had to be responsible for letting Rider participate in the Holy Grail War. After all, Rider also had her own wish to fulfill. Therefore, she wasn't completely against participating in the Holy Grail War. She planned to rest for a day, let herself calm down from her disappointment, and then take Rider to participate in the Holy Grail War.
According to Rider's assessment, once she transformed into a dragon, plus the Anti-Ship Sword, her combat power could directly reach the level of a Servant. She could completely participate as a Servant-level combatant, crushing those Masters.
So, Rider strongly agreed with Sakura's suggestion. This was a Master with the same level of combat power as herself. Having such a Master to cooperate with would significantly increase the probability of winning the Holy Grail War. There was absolutely no reason to refuse.
Moreover, because Sakura could dragonize, Rider had a very high degree of recognition for Sakura. The two of them already had a high affinity, and Rider possessed the attribute of a monster, and Sakura could also dragonize. Dragonization was also a type of monsterization in the Fate world. What a perfect combination: a Master with monster attributes and a Servant with monster attributes.
Thus, on the first night of the Holy Grail War, Rider rested in the Matou household according to Sakura's arrangement, waiting for Sakura to calm down the next day before taking her out to wreak havoc.
As a result, the next day hadn't even arrived yet, and someone had already come to their door. And most importantly, the Servant who came to their door was Xiaoming-gege, whom Sakura had always wanted to summon!
"Xiaoming-gege, this is Rider, the Servant I summoned. She's the Medusa of Greek mythology."
Standing in front of Wang Xiaoming, Matou Sakura happily introduced Rider's identity to Wang Xiaoming. She really wanted to tell Wang Xiaoming that she wanted to summon him, but unfortunately, she didn't succeed and summoned Rider instead. But saying that would hurt Rider, so she didn't say it.
"Xiaoming-gege, were you also summoned in this Holy Grail War?"
"Yes, I was summoned, as a Caster."
"Eh? Xiaoming-gege, you're a Caster again this time?"
Sakura was very surprised. When she was little, she didn't know what Caster meant. After growing up and learning about the Holy Grail War, she also knew what the Caster class meant. She was very puzzled that Wang Xiaoming, the Arthur, was assigned to the Caster class. After all, the Saber in the previous Holy Grail War didn't show much, and they didn't even know her name, so the mages called her the Unknown Saber.
However, one thing could be known: that Saber was a fan of Arthur, liked to dress up as Arthur, and even her weapon was a replica of Arthur's. Perhaps her figure could be found in history, a girl who admired Arthur and yearned for knighthood, such a character.
"Master, you seem to know this... Caster."
Rider stood behind Sakura, watching Sakura happily talking to Wang Xiaoming, and couldn't help but feel puzzled, especially hearing from her own Master that the other party was a Caster, and even the word "again". That meant he had already come to the Holy Grail War last time?
"Rider, this is the Xiaoming-gege I told you about."
"But, Master, didn't you say that your Xiaoming-gege was Arthur?"
"That's right, this is Arthur."
"But you said he's a Caster."
"That's right, in the previous Holy Grail War, he was also a Caster."
An Arthur in the Caster class, this is really...
Rider felt speechless. She could understand Arthur, and she could understand him having such power. After all, he was Arthur. Coming from a heavy sword knight background, his strength wouldn't be low. And having magic resistance was understandable, after all, Arthur was said to have been blessed in various ways. But why would he appear in the Caster class?
Although puzzled, Rider didn't continue to ask. She continued to watch Sakura and Wang Xiaoming communicate from behind.
Little Sakura is now a high school student, and her figure has far surpassed that of an average high schooler. Her strong physique, coupled with ample nutrition, has made her develop even better than in the original story. Standing before Wang Xiaoming, he felt that she had already reached the level of his wife, Ya Zi. And what level is Ya Zi? Those who know, know.
"Xiaoming-gege, how do you plan to handle this Holy Grail War?"
The last Holy Grail War was completely carried out by Wang Xiaoming alone, a complete solo carry. Little Sakura, who has full trust in Wang Xiaoming, knows that this time he will definitely solo carry again.
"Actually, there's not much to handle anymore."
Wang Xiaoming smiled and began to explain.
"From the time I joined the battlefield until now, I have already dealt with Saber, Archer, and Berserker."
"Xiaoming-gege is still so amazing, resolving three Servants in one night."
Sakura clapped her hands happily in praise, while Rider behind her was once again dumbfounded.
Are you serious? You've already dealt with three in one night?
"Speaking of which, some of the Servants this time are people everyone knows. Saber is also the Saber from the last Holy Grail War, the fan who likes to dress up and look very similar to me. As for Berserker, it's the Hercules from Greek mythology, whom Rider should be very familiar with."
Faced with Wang Xiaoming's explanation, Rider nodded seriously. She was very familiar with Hercules. Although she, Medusa, didn't have any conflicts with him, his reputation was loud. She was even more familiar with another demigod, Perseus.
"Among the remaining Servants, Assassin is a subordinate of mine. I can directly use a Command Seal to have him return to the Throne of Heroes. And Lancer has been severely injured by me, and I have also locked onto his location, so I can easily catch up and deal with him. Essentially, only Rider and I are left."
"So, this Holy Grail War is about to end?"
Sakura tilted her head, asking Wang Xiaoming.
"That's right, this Holy Grail War is about to end."
759. Farewell to Matou Sakura
The Fourth Holy Grail War took a total of one night to resolve. Wang Xiaoming solo carried the entire night, and Sakura grew up listening to the legends.
As a result, in the Fifth Holy Grail War, Wang Xiaoming was "summoned" again, and then he solo carried the entire night, ending the Holy Grail War. Among the remaining Servants, except for Lancer, the rest were all his own people. Whether Assassin leaves or not is just a matter of a word. This Holy Grail War is essentially over.
As for whether Lancer can make a comeback, in Sakura's view, there is absolutely no possibility, because Wang Xiaoming is the most powerful Servant she has ever seen.
Of course, she hasn't seen other Servants either. Although Rider was summoned by her, she sincerely feels that Rider is no match for Wang Xiaoming. See, she was grabbed by the neck by Wang Xiaoming upon meeting him and couldn't move at all. If she hadn't intervened, Rider might have already been dealt with.
So, what they need to discuss now is only the wish-granting issue of the Greater Grail after the Holy Grail War ends.
Only the victor will be qualified to make a wish. It's impossible for everyone to be qualified, and the magic power of the Greater Grail doesn't support so many people making wishes.
Moreover, Wang Xiaoming won't waste the opportunity on others. He needs the Greater Grail to create a key to other worlds for him.
If the Greater Grail can't create a key for him, then participating in this Holy Grail War wouldn't be meaningful.
On the point of making a wish, Sakura said that she has nothing to wish for. Her childhood was indeed tragic. She was sent away by her own father and became a member of the Matou family. Originally, she thought that becoming a member of the Matou family was just a change of elders, but she didn't expect to be thrown directly into the worm pit, experiencing inhuman torture. Finally, she met someone who saved her, but that person suddenly gave her a heart transplant.
Fortunately, the heart transplant saved her and even gave her an incredibly powerful heart, allowing her to take off directly and become one of the strongest mages.
In the past ten years, her life has been smooth sailing. The enemies that made her angry were basically killed directly with a greatsword or crushed to death with her bare hands. Although she has a gentle personality, under the guidance of Wang Xiaoming and a certain unreliable court mage, she deeply understands the essence of assassination. She kills when she needs to, never hesitating! She even smiles as she goes to chop people.
It was precisely because of this behavior that her half-sister started learning Bajiquan, forced into becoming a Bajiquan master.
If she had a wish she wanted to fulfill, it would probably be to see her Xiaoming-gege, who saved her, again. And now, her wish has been fulfilled.
As for Rider Medusa, she does have a wish she wants to fulfill, but Wang Xiaoming didn't even bother to ask her, because fulfilling her wish would definitely consume the magic power of the Greater Grail, so Wang Xiaoming directly passed her over.
As for Caster, Wang Xiaoming probably knows what Caster's wish is. Wang Xiaoming picked her up as a bargain. Although they haven't been in contact for long, Wang Xiaoming understands Caster's thoughts. Her wish is probably to live with a lover who will never betray her. This doesn't require the Greater Grail to fulfill; Wang Xiaoming can do it!
After all, Wang Xiaoming has already picked her up as a bargain, so her subsequent psychological reliance will definitely be on Wang Xiaoming. That's right, Wang Xiaoming plans to take Medea back to be his wife.
It's been a while since he's had a new wife. He's run through several worlds without finding one of his former wives. It's a pity. This time, he finally met his former wife in the FSN world, so Wang Xiaoming definitely wants to take her back. This is also why Wang Xiaoming went to pick up Medea as a bargain. If he just wanted to clear the Holy Grail War, Wang Xiaoming wouldn't need to pick up Medea.
And Medea's wish is also very simple to fulfill. She doesn't even need a physical body, because as long as there is enough magic power, Medea can continue to exist. And Wang Xiaoming doesn't lack magic power at all. Even without the support of the Greater Grail, he can continue to maintain Medea's existence.
As for whether Medea will be forcibly returned to the Throne of Heroes due to the end of the Holy Grail War, this is not a problem for her at all. Do you understand the value of an Age of Gods mage? Medea can slightly modify the magic on the Greater Grail to illegally summon an Assassin. She can modify it so that the magic supply completely changes from the Greater Grail to the Master, and then she can continue to exist in the world without the permission of the Greater Grail. Wouldn't that work?
Moreover, as for the matter of a physical body, Wang Xiaoming can later find a way to create one for Medea together, such as the technology of Homunculi. It's not like Wang Xiaoming doesn't have it. He has 6,500 Homunculus girls raised in his own little world. He even created a Homunculus Merlin himself. It's too easy to create a body for Medea.
So, in this situation, only Wang Xiaoming actually needs to fulfill a wish.
Very good, that's settled then.
Rider: What about me?
In a very friendly atmosphere, Wang Xiaoming and Sakura chatted happily, mainly with Sakura telling Wang Xiaoming about her life over the past decade, what kind of abilities she had mastered, and expressing her gratitude to Wang Xiaoming for giving her this power and saving her.
It wouldn't be wrong for Sakura to attribute all her power to Wang Xiaoming.
After all, according to the original trajectory, Sakura's magic circuits were modified, so the old man changed her magic attribute to Water instead of the original Void. Although she had magical talent, her magical achievements were quite ordinary.
But after Wang Xiaoming replaced her heart with Siegfried's, she became incredibly powerful. Ordinary mages who encountered her wouldn't even be able to scratch her, even if they stood there and let her opponent attack for a long time.
Although she couldn't pull out the Apology Sword and fire a magic cannon like Chicken Bro, she was completely maxed out in terms of durability. Moreover, because of the dragon's heart, she had a lot of magical power, and the consumed magical power could be quickly restored with simple breathing, just like King Arthur possessed the heart of the Red Dragon. Matou Sakura also possessed the heart of Fafnir.
Listening to Sakura recounting the story of how she became the guardian of Fuyuki and displayed her divine power over the past decade, Wang Xiaoming was also very satisfied. Wasn't the reason he saved her in the first place because he hoped she could live a good life?
After coming to see Sakura's life and confirming that there were no problems, 99% of the battle part of this Holy Grail War was basically over. Next, he just needed to eliminate Lancer.
Who is 7r's Master?
Lancer's team was hiding in a corner of Fuyuki City. Wang Xiaoming really wanted to know who Lancer's Master was. Was it Bazett?
If it wasn't Bazett, who could it be? After all, Kirei Kotomine had already been eliminated by him, and Gilgamesh had already been eliminated by him in the previous Holy Grail War. The old worm had also been eliminated by him. This Holy Grail War no longer had a mastermind behind the scenes. It was just a very normal Holy Grail War.
In this situation, who could Lancer's Master be?
Therefore, Wang Xiaoming still needed to see who Lancer's Master was. If it was an unknown mastermind who jumped out of nowhere, Wang Xiaoming would have to directly erase him.
So, after talking with Sakura for a while, Wang Xiaoming and Sakura became allies, and then prepared to eliminate Lancer.
From beginning to end, Rin Tohsaka was watching from the sidelines, and throughout the entire process, Rin Tohsaka was dumbfounded.
Her own sister, Sakura, was sent out of the Tohsaka family eleven years ago to become the heir to the Matou family. As a result, not only did she not inherit the power of the Matou family, but she became incredibly powerful. Was it all because of this King Arthur?
Although Rin Tohsaka didn't know why Sakura kept calling King Arthur Wang Xiaoming 'brother,' from their conversation, Rin Tohsaka also understood that the two had known each other for a long time. They had known each other during the last Holy Grail War, and King Arthur had taught Sakura many things. Even the legendary magician Merlin had taught Sakura many things. Moreover, Wang Xiaoming had replaced Sakura's heart, which was why Sakura was so powerful.
Good heavens, her own sister had such a good relationship with King Arthur without her knowing! No wonder she couldn't catch up with her. This was King Arthur personally replacing her heart and teaching her, and the court magician Merlin leading her by the hand to teach her magic. What did she have? She only had an old man who knew how to play with jewel magic. How could she compare to her!
Fortunately, because her sister had a good relationship with King Arthur, she didn't have to worry about her own life being taken by Wang Xiaoming. After all, Sakura was quite nice to her. They chatted and laughed at school, but she just wasn't willing to call her 'sister,' usually only calling her 'senpai' or 'older schoolmate.'
Although this Holy Grail War was destined to fail, at least she learned some secrets about her sister, which made her quite happy, except that these secrets made her feel that her future hope was even more渺茫.
After agreeing, Wang Xiaoming asked Rin Tohsaka to accompany Sakura to chat, while he himself began to deal with Lancer.
Lancer didn't know where he had been summoned to by his Master, but for Wang Xiaoming, finding him was not difficult. Wang Xiaoming stretched out his right hand, and Est transformed into the Golden Holy Sword, appearing in his hand, and then he waved it at the air in front of him.
"It's that again!"
Rin Tohsaka immediately shouted after seeing Wang Xiaoming's actions.
"Tohsaka-senpai, what's wrong?"
Sakura asked curiously from the side.
"This action seems to be a Noble Phantasm of King Arthur. As long as he waves the sword, the other Servants will be summoned back to him. My Archer was defeated by this move, as were Saber and Berserker."
Rin Tohsaka whispered to Sakura about her encounters and experiences.
Although Sakura knew Wang Xiaoming, she had never seen Wang Xiaoming fight, so she was completely unaware of Wang Xiaoming's fighting methods. Now, hearing Rin Tohsaka say this, she curiously craned her neck to look at Wang Xiaoming.
"Before, after he made this gesture, Archer and the others would run over and kneel on the ground. Now that he's doing this, he must be using a Noble Phantasm on Lancer. That's how my Archer was before. He had clearly escaped, but he was summoned back all at once."
As Rin Tohsaka said, Wang Xiaoming was summoning Lancer. With the activation condition of 'Empty-Handed Blade Catch,' Lancer could be said to have no way to escape. He knew Lancer's True Name and appearance very well.
The moment Wang Xiaoming swung the sword down, in the suburbs of Fuyuki City, a full 5 kilometers away from here, Lancer directly rushed out of the hidden house, transforming into a blue afterimage, rushing towards Wang Xiaoming's location, with a speed that was so fast that he pushed it to the limit!
So much so that his Master behind him, watching him rush out, didn't react at all, and could only stare blankly at the big hole in front of him. When he reacted, he contacted Lancer through the contract.
"Lancer, what's going on?"
"I don't know, but it should be related to Caster. I can't control my body. I'm moving quickly in one direction, very similar to the ability of Caster that I told you about before. I don't know how Caster did it, but you might need to use a Command Spell to save me later, Master."
Lancer replied to his Master while uncontrollably running fast.
"I understand. Tell me directly when you need a Command Spell to help, and I will summon you back immediately."
Lancer was the key to winning the Holy Grail War. If he could be saved, he would be saved as much as possible!
Lancer ran wildly in Fuyuki City, even exceeding the speed of sound. After running almost through Fuyuki City, Lancer finally arrived at the gate of the Matou family, and then slid on his knees to Wang Xiaoming's feet, throwing away the spear in his hand and clasping the sword in Wang Xiaoming's hand with both hands.
