Shinji Matou at Your Service-Chapter 916 - : I Was Wrong

Scáthach's "But feel free to laugh" was meant as a graceful remark, not a genuine invitation to laugh.

But someone couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

Of course, it wasn't Shinji. He could tell when Scathach was being sincere or just polite. The one who laughed out loud was the beast-like man dressed in blue armor.

Shinji glanced at Cu Chulainn, who was clutching his stomach and laughing heartily and sighed.

Big dog, if heaven doesn't punish you, your own foolishness will. Why don't you understand? There's no malicious fate this time, so are you planning to get yourself killed for nothing? Don't you have any idea what kind of person our Shishou is?

As Shinji expected, Scáthach's expression instantly became dangerous upon hearing the laughter. Her red hair swayed in the night wind, still vibrant, but her aura shifted from the flame-like fighting spirit to a chill ten times colder than a winter night.

"Did you find what I said that funny?"

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"Eeek~~"

Cu Chulainn tensed up, his laughter abruptly stopping as if someone had grabbed his throat.

At this moment, he realized just how foolish his action had been. Even though he had just reflected on his behavior, his body reacted faster than his brain in a similar situation.

Reacting quickly is usually a good thing, especially on the battlefield where it makes him unbeatable, but in this case, reacting too quickly is a disaster.

Seeing the woman he both admired and feared pointing her spear at him from afar, the fearless Child of Light cowered and bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle as fast as he could, saying:

"I'm really, really sorry. I was wrong."

Since he was her most outstanding student, and Scáthach knew Cu Chulainn's nature well, she didn't press the matter further once he admitted fault. She simply gave him a cold glare and snorted.

Scáthach's anger subsided, but another woman, who also wore red, grew increasingly displeased—Cu Chulainn's Master and his fan, Bazett!

"Lancer, why are you bowing and scraping to this woman?"

"Master, keep your voice down, no, actually, just stop talking."

Cu Chulainn shuddered and quickly tried to cover Bazett's mouth.

Bazett's top-tier combat skills kicked in, and she dodged his hand, continuing to ask:

"Why can't I say it? What's your relationship with her?"

"She's my Shishou," Cu Chulainn scratched his blue hair, "She taught me everything I know about combat and runes."

"Shishou!!!"

Bazett was dumbfounded, her reaction mirroring that of both Kirie and Medea moments earlier.

"I thought your Shishou was... the Queen of the Land of Shadows?"

"Yeah, that's her. I never dreamed I'd meet her again."

"Hmm..."

Bazett fell silent.

Scáthach, unfazed by Bazett's rudeness, shifted her spear towards Shinji.

"Now it's time to show your true strength. What you just did won't be enough to defeat me."

"That was just a warm-up."

Shinji cracked his neck, and magical power surged from his body, weaving into a pure white outfit, both elegant like a noble's formal wear and functional for battle. This was a combat suit designed by Justeaze in a parallel world, worn only when facing powerful foes.

"This spear doesn't suit me at all; it's seriously affecting my performance."

"Not suitable?"

Scáthach twirled her spear effortlessly.

"This is the finest spear I've ever made, a weapon only the most excellent disciple can wield. That guy over there beat over twenty competitors to earn it—yet you say it's not suitable?"

"Not suitable means not suitable. The patterns on it hurt my hands." Shinji's expression was innocent.

"And as for most excellent, that may have been true back then, but not anymore!"

"Then show me if you're worthy of claiming that title. If you succeed, the spear will be yours."

"That's my spear!" protested Cu Chulainn from the side, but he backed down after a single glare from Scáthach.

Even if Cu Chulainn were willing to give it, Shinji wouldn't want it.

"Can I get a different reward? I have a better spear."

"A better spear?"

Scáthach raised her red eyebrows in clear anticipation.

"Then what are you waiting for? Show me."

"Here it comes."

A golden light shone, and a massive golden spear, over three meters long with a blade over one meter, appeared in Shinji's hand, its aura rivaling the divine presence emanating from Cu Chulainn.

As soon as the divine spear materialized, Shinji's body moved again.

Then, the golden spear tore through the air, roaring like thunder.

In response, Scáthach unleashed her spear strike, accompanied by a shrill whistle.

The two spears clashed.

Sparks flew.

The massive forces caused the entire stadium to tremble.

At this distance, Shinji naturally had the upper hand. The golden divine spear was long, while Scáthach's crimson spear was closer to a throwing weapon, with nearly a meter of difference in length. The distance between them now was the same as when Scáthach was unarmed and Shinji held her crimson spear.

And Shinji's earlier comment about the spear being unsuitable wasn't just an excuse. With his new weapon, his attacks became noticeably fiercer, and his strikes and withdrawals, the transitions between moves, were far more fluid. Scáthach tried several times to close the gap but was repeatedly pushed back.

This was the result of Shinji's relentless training since returning from the parallel world. Having received Karna's gift, Shinji spent the past five years honing his spear skills to perfection, determined not to waste the strongest weapon he had. He absorbed not only the basics of spear techniques from Scáthach but also the experience he gained from battles with Chiron, Achilles, Shirou, and Karna himself.

Now, Shinji was no longer the jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none fighter who relied on surprise tactics and equipment. He hadn't abandoned his versatility, but he had also found a path to mastery.

His spear techniques were no longer just flashy displays that fooled the inexperienced but real, combat-proven skills. He could now earn the title of a true Lancer even without cheating.

However—

"No, it's no good, just no good," Cu Chulainn, who had been watching the duel closely, shook his head and sighed.

"What's no good?" asked Bazett, still in shock from learning Scáthach's identity.

"That guy's spear techniques. They're not bad, but they're far from great—at this rate, he won't even surpass me, let alone those other disciples I defeated."