Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover-Chapter 632

Chapter 632: This Punch of Mine Can Turn You into Eight-Treasure Porridge

"Haah... haah..."

In the pitch-black private room, the breathing of the girls rose and fell in succession. The night was like a veil of soft texture, silently draping over the space, blurring the outlines of the room. Moonlight brushed against the fabric of the darkness, flowing through reality and blending with the illusions of dreams, concocting a fragrance both enchanting and sweet.

The scent of the girls drifted with the wind, gradually filling the space.

Had Hakuno been awake, she would surely have recalled a certain young man’s words—"A private room needs no added fragrance. That’s not even gilding the lily, it’s just adding legs to a snake"—and then laughed in admiration of his foresight. Or perhaps she would have blushed and shyly muttered about his gentlemanly remarks.

But now, she lay with her hands crossed over her chest, lost in sweet dreams. Compared to the well-behaved girl, her Servant was far more unrestrained. The red-clad emperor turned her babyishly adorable sleeping face toward her Master, her right arm wrapped around the girl’s waist while her left hand mischievously slipped beneath her clothes, indulging in the softness of her Master—something that would surely incite jealousy if the owner knew.

Easily accomplishing what Sakatsuki could not—truly, as expected of you, Nero-chan.

Of course, Alice and her counterparts were also asleep in this room, lying side by side on a small bed, embracing each other, so adorable that one couldn’t help but feel the urge to "raise a daughter or a cat."

And so they slept peacefully, even as towering waves crashed outside, as schemes and machinations ran rampant, staining the march of the Moon Holy Grail War with unease.

Yes, ample rest was necessary. No one would disturb this moment of tranquility—

Bzzzt!

The terminal’s notification sound barged in, rudely shattering the peace within the room. Hakuno let out a soft whimper, her bleary eyes fluttering open as she answered the terminal purely out of instinct.

"Hello—"

"Something terrible has happened, Hakuno!"

The voice of the Resistance leader—the tsundere Rin—exploded through the line. Of course, she knew calling in the dead of night was improper, but she also knew exactly how to reboot the person on the other end of the line:

"Sakatsuki—he’s left the private room!"

Oh, Sakatsuki left the private room... Well, nothing to be done. Might as well go back to sleep...

Wait.

Sakatsuki.

Sakatsuki?!

"WHAT—DID—YOU—SAY?!" Nero’s suddenly raised soprano voice shook the room, proving her self-proclaimed artistry truly rivaled that of the god of music, Apollo. "The Governor has left the safe zone?"

As Nero awoke, Hakuno’s face abruptly flushed crimson, her eyes growing watery with a mix of shock and flustered anger. She silently looked down at her chest, which had seemingly grown to an E-cup overnight and was still being groped incessantly... until Nero, with an awkward chuckle, finally withdrew her wandering hands.

"From now on, you’re sleeping on the couch."

"Master?!"

For the sake of Alice, who was rubbing her eyes sleepily, Hakuno suppressed her embarrassment and returned to the matter at hand. "Rin, what’s the situation now?"

"To my shame, by the time I received the familiar’s message, half an hour had already passed..." Rin didn’t explain the reason—after all, it was too embarrassing to admit that a magical girl like her had been trapped under the covers. "But when I opened the magical monitor, I saw Sakatsuki throwing punches!"

"Go on, Rin." Hakuno swiftly changed into her combat attire, tying up her long hair with a spirited elegance while still finding time to joke. "As long as you’re not spouting lines like ’shaking with rage,’ ’can this world get any worse,’ or ’my hands and feet are ice-cold in broad daylight,’ I can handle it."

"???" Rin, of course, had no idea what kind of bizarre things Sakatsuki had stuffed into Hakuno’s mind. "From the combat footage, Sakatsuki is only fighting one Servant, but their strength is undoubtedly top-tier. The enemy has red hair and wears gold-and-red martial attire—likely a martial artist from China!"

"From China?"

"This isn’t speculation. Both Sakatsuki and this martial artist are using the same skill in battle!" Rin swallowed hard, unable to tear her eyes away from the intense fight. "No mistake about it—that’s the ancient Chinese martial art, Bājíquán!"

Hakuno paused slightly as the memory of the martial artist who had spared her life in the assassination space resurfaced. "I see. That must be Julius’s Servant."

"What?!" Rin jolted upright as if shocked back to life. "You mean Julius? That gloomy-faced bastard who assassinated who-knows-how-many Masters? That’s his Servant? No, no—more importantly, you’re saying Sakatsuki’s opponent is just an Assassin?!"

How could the weakest class be fighting Sakatsuki evenly—no, even gaining the upper hand?!

"Sakatsuki must be holding back, or Julius’s Servant has some special trait." Removing the hair tie from her mouth, Hakuno gathered her cascading locks and strode toward the door. "But regardless, Sakatsuki’s location is exposed now. Before more Masters arrive... I need to help him."

"But you’ll eventually have to face him as an opponent, right? Are you confident you can beat Sakatsuki one-on-one?"

Hearing Rin’s murmur, Hakuno didn’t stop. She pushed open the door, her tone light.

"Then, Rin, why did you tell me about this in the first place?"

"Eh? That’s..."

Without a trace of worry for the future, the tea-haired girl’s eyes shone brightly as she politely bid Rin farewell and ended the call. Then, she and Nero began sprinting down the hallway.

Silence fell on the other end of the call. In another room, the twin-tailed girl sniffled and pulled her blanket tighter. The dim room was illuminated only by the flickering glow of the magical screen, casting a kaleidoscopic shimmer in Rin’s gem-like eyes.

After a long pause, a complicated sigh escaped her lips.

"She completely dodged the question... You’re getting more and more cunning, Hakuno."

————

The same skill manifests differently in different hands.

For example, though both possess the highest rank (EX) of Clairvoyance, the Flower Magus Merlin can only see the present, while the King of Heroes Gilgamesh perceives the future. Only the King of Mages Solomon can see any point along the axis of time.

The same principle applies to Noble Phantasms. Even if Gray, a disciple of Lord El-Melloi II, wields King Arthur’s Holy Lance, she cannot unleash the full power of Rhongomyniad as her ancestor once did.

The Chinese martial art (Bajiquan), which had already reached the pinnacle through its profound principles, was even more demanding and rigorous. Due to its highest level of difficulty in mastery, this skill differed from others—only an A-rank could truly be considered "acquired," while a +++ rating signified a master among masters.

Sakatsuki now faced a martial artist who had pushed the art of interpreting the universe’s ultimate truths to its zenith. Compared to other diverse methods, confronting him with Bajiquan was far more perilous and arduous—like brandishing a broadsword before Guan Yu. Before such a grandmaster of martial arts, no variable or technique could escape the honed experience and ruthless fists forged over years.

His name was Li Shuwen—the martial artist known as "One Strike, One Kill" and "Peerless Divine Spear"!

Even someone as proud as Sakatsuki had to admit that, in terms of close-quarters combat skill alone, he was no match for Li Shuwen.

Boom!

Veins bulged on his arm—though human, it struck like a battering ram, slamming heavily into the young man’s chest. Yet the youth endured the full force of the blow with the resilience of a fortress wall.

Then, a spinning backfist!

"Too wide an opening!" Though lean in frame, Li Shuwen’s presence roared like a lion or tiger. He tilted his head to evade before driving a fist straight into Sakatsuki’s skull!

Crack! The crisp sound of bone fracturing echoed. The defensive strength of a Phantasmal Species shattered as blood streaked from the corner of Sakatsuki’s eye. Yet his golden vertical pupils showed no dimming—steadily retreating to create space, he unleashed a right hook, forcing Li Shuwen to abandon his offensive. Seizing the moment, Sakatsuki lunged forward, attempting a takedown.

Li Shuwen’s crimson-gold robes fluttered as he used Sakatsuki’s spine as a stepping stone, tucking his body like a swallow mid-flight before landing. In the blink of an eye, their positions reversed. Without looking back, he rolled away, narrowly dodging Sakatsuki’s spinning whip-like fist.

"Hah..." A white mist surged from Sakatsuki’s mouth like a dragon exhaling clouds. As the Third Magic activated, the dizziness from the direct hit swiftly faded. The young man hunched slightly, adopting a boxing guard as he advanced toward Li Shuwen.

Then—a lightning-fast jab tore through the air!

The atmosphere detonated as time seemed to slow. Li Shuwen swiftly dipped beneath the strike, only to realize Sakatsuki’s jab had been a feint. The howling wind sharpened—his pupils contracted as the young man’s knee, ramming forward like a battering prow, filled his vision in that instant.

Thud!

As if struck head-on by a charging beast, Li Shuwen was launched into the air. A warrior’s instinct made him raise his guard defensively, while Sakatsuki exhaled sharply and stomped forward without hesitation.

Dragonkind Modification—Full Release!

Blood surged as if boiling. The young man’s upper body tensed like a fully drawn horn bow. With a series of explosive cracks from his bones and muscles, he unleashed a devastating straight punch—unstoppable as a loosed arrow!

A visible shockwave erupted with a sonic boom, sending the crimson-gold robes flying like broken wings. Sakatsuki saw through Li Shuwen’s attempt to create distance and strode forward. Yet the moment Li Shuwen landed, he swept a hand across the shattered floor, flinging a handful of gravel-laced debris at Sakatsuki.

Blinding Sand Toss!

A simple yet effective trick—even a Servant’s senses could be obscured. By the time Sakatsuki’s vision cleared, Li Shuwen’s blood-streaked, demonic visage was inches away.

Even gravely wounded, his ferocity only grew—advancing where others would retreat!

This is bad... Sakatsuki’s heart skipped a beat as he instinctively stepped back, but an iron pillar-like leg was already planted between his thighs. The slightest contact shattered his stance completely.

There was no time to change tactics now!

"Ha!" Li Shuwen’s tiger-like eyes gleamed with killing intent as his hand blade sliced through Sakatsuki’s blocking arm. Channeling his entire body’s strength, he advanced horizontally, transforming a push into a strike. His raised arm swept forward like a malevolent star, imprinting itself brutally against the young man’s chest.

Eight Extremities Fist·Heart-Piercing Elbow!

The same technique Sakatsuki had used to obliterate the Saber Servant was now being unleashed upon him with even greater ferocity by Li Shuwen. Rather than being sent flying, Sakatsuki dropped to one knee, blood and unidentifiable fragments leaking uncontrollably from his mouth.

The sound of cracking eggshells echoed through his body, peeling away layer by layer. Every organ in his torso seemed to have exploded in that instant - now he was just a bowl filled with congee, where the slightest jostle would spill its contents.

"Using one’s own strength by borrowing the opponent’s force. This is martial arts. This is principle."

Wiping the blood from his face, Li Shuwen clasped his hands behind his back and spoke solemnly: "The Eight Extremities Fist reaches to the eight farthest directions, but that is its limit. Unlike weapons, the range of fist techniques extends only within inches."

"Sending your opponent flying means surrendering the initiative." He shook his head. "This is not the correct path."

As for what constituted the correct approach, Grandmaster Li had personally demonstrated it, giving someone the privilege of firsthand experience.

"Sakatsuki! We’re here to help—!"

The shout approached from down the corridor as Nero and Hakuno rushed over, positioning themselves protectively before the kneeling, battered-looking Sakatsuki.

Having ended her communication, Hakuno naturally lacked means to monitor the battlefield and had only witnessed the latter half of the fight. Seeing Sakatsuki’s bloodstained lips and pallid face filled her with both heartache and fury: "Saber!"

"Understood, Praetor!" Nero raised her sword defensively, eyeing Li Shuwen warily. "Fear not, Governor. With me here, none shall harm you."

"You’ve always protected me before." Hakuno’s gaze overflowed with tenderness. "Now it’s my turn to protect you, Teacher."

"Heh, never thought I’d see Sakatsuki looking so vulnerable."

"Then it’s time we showed our feminine strength, Saber."

"Mm, leave it to me!"

Master and Servant stood ready to impress their beloved, failing to notice Sakatsuki’s deadpan expression as he gently pushed past the two girls. Straightening his attire, he faced the martial arts grandmaster squarely.

Clasping his hands, he bowed deeply in the disciple’s salute.

"I humbly accept your teaching."

"Eh? Eh?!" Nero’s angry expression morphed into bewilderment, her ahoge curling into a question mark. Beside her, Hakuno’s eyes widened in disbelief, her face a picture of confusion.

Wait—weren’t you two trying to kill each other moments ago? Sakatsuki nearly punched the old master to death, while Li Shuwen almost beat Sakatsuki’s brains out. What’s with this sudden shift? A life-or-death battle turning into a master-disciple relationship?

Or is this just how martial artists are?

Observing the solemn Sakatsuki and the dumbfounded Hakuno and Nero, a subtle amusement flashed through Li Shuwen’s eyes: "Very well, I shall accept your bow. But you should know—the true challenge lies elsewhere."

"Naturally." Having completed his salute, Sakatsuki stood up amiably. "Then I take my leave."

Thus, with his back openly exposed to the assassin who could kill with a single strike—the unparalleled grandmaster of martial arts—he walked step by step, disappearing into the end of the corridor.

When they reached the corner, Nero and Hakuno, who had been following Sakatsuki, barely had time to ask what was happening before the young man stopped in his tracks. "I see now," he said. "Having Assassin drain my stamina was all for your victory."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a scorching heat radiated outward, invisible tongues of flame licking at Sakatsuki and the others. Even though they were acutely aware that it was the dead of night, the brilliance illuminating the end of the hallway could only be described as radiant as the sun itself.

Dawn had arrived.

Where the sun rose stood a knight as gallant as a prince on a white horse, side by side with the ideal king of saints.

Leo, and his Servant, Gawain.

"Good evening, everyone," Leo greeted the three with a composed smile.

"We’ve been waiting for you."

————

Once the commotion had settled, Julius, the captain of the Western European conglomerate’s anti-terrorist unit and Leo’s half-brother, approached his Servant.

"Why did you let them go? If you had finished them off, Leo wouldn’t have had to waste his energy." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Faced with his Master’s questioning, the grandmaster—still clad in his gold-and-red martial attire and bearing the vigor of youth—let out a bitter laugh. In this moment of solitude, he finally relaxed his will, releasing his tightly clenched arms and raising them for his Master to see.

"!!!" Julius fell into stunned silence at the sight of his Servant’s violently trembling arms.

"As you can see, Master, my arms are completely useless now." Li Shuwen laughed heartily at the grim reality. "Ah, to think there still exists a fortress so sturdy that it could withstand my fists."

Though Li Shuwen spoke with the authority of a grandmaster and Sakatsuki paid him the respect of a disciple, both knew in their hearts who the true victor of their clash had been.

Had Sakatsuki been willing to cast off his restraints and fight beyond mere martial arts, the frail body of an assassin would never have lasted even ten rounds against him.

But—so what?

Recalling the life-and-death struggle that had left even his soul trembling, Li Shuwen’s smile naturally twisted into something ferocious.

"Though I warned myself not to act recklessly, when such a deliciously wicked brew is placed before me, how could I not drink my fill?"

Julius felt no sympathy for the mutual admiration between warriors. He merely frowned. "How long until you can fight again?"

"So long as I have sufficient magical energy, these minor injuries are nothing to speak of."

Li Shuwen answered casually, then seemed to realize something as he turned his gaze to his Master.

"However, I don’t believe there’s any point in ambushing them now."

"Why do you say that?"

"Hah..." At this, Li Shuwen shook his head with a rueful sigh.

"That young man—he is no longer an opponent a Servant can defeat."

On the eighteenth night of the Holy Grail War, the grandmaster who stood at the pinnacle of martial arts solemnly warned his Master:

"That is no mere human, but a true monster (Māra, the Demon King) wearing human skin."