Bloodshot eyes widened in surprise, a pang of mild recognition running through Saber's mind. 

A beautiful blade.

A familiar blade.

[i]But t'is not that blade. Nothing compares.[/i]

Saber made no effort to move as the blade of light came crashing down upon it, eerily calm when it shuts its eyes. The impact could be felt through out the stadium, a thunderous noise coming from where Saber had evidently been hit. Chunks of dirt and grass flew from the epicentre, a cloud of dust obscuring Lancer's vision from her handy work. It couldn't be that easy, could it?

Of course not.

The Knight's warped blade cut through the obtrusive dust, sending it to the wind and allowing to see Saber in all his unharmed glory. The spot of ground at its feet remained untouched as well - the air warped and contorted in black hexagonal shapes clustered around Saber. 

[i]"Admirable effort, Lancer. That strike would have left a most difficult to manage wound, even with my Battle Continuation. Nor did I expect to have to draw this Noble Phantasm," [/i]It gestured to the black ephemeral hexagons around it, [i]"to such an extent so soon."[/i]

It lowered its blade, both hands gripping the hilt. It got into stance, an aggressive looking thing with a few openings in it. To the trained eye it would be evident that the openings are purely bait; there to punish anyone silly enough to bite for them. 

[i]"Effort should be rewarded. This is Aswad Hafiz, the Black Shield. Had you been less eager to finish this so quickly, then your attack may have been strong enough to bypass it - but that is not the case."[/i]

Its plated foot dug into the ground, cratering under the force of Saber launching towards Lancer at speeds only a Servant could move and keep up with. Saber brought its large, wicked blade down upon Lancer.