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[img]https://image.ibb.co/dqueFJ/Theoderic_Border.png[/img]
[h2][color=gold]Black Rider[/color][/h2]
[h3]Einzbern Forest Outskirts, Miyama[/h3]
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[@Breo][@Phonic][@Crusader Lord]
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Right as Lancer's spear strikes Rider's hand, the ground below erupts and explodes as dirt launches up into the air, leaving a small but very noticeable hole in the ground, as if Lancer had missed his attack and struck the ground right under his target despite striking true. It's all due to a property of Rider's armor, that distributes the force of whatever attacks it towards the opposite direction, that caused such an effect. It's also due to this effect that Rider was able to absorb the blow, at least for the most part. Another property of Rider's armor allowed him to nullify the damage of most attacks to an extent. Indeed, a full-powered strike from Lancer would definitely be an attack at the rank of B+, but to Rider, he had only felt the force of an E+ attack to his hand; still a formidable attack for a lesser Servant, but merely an inconvenience for the likes of Rider, who is anything but lesser. Gritting his teeth at the blow, the attack merely caused Rider to drop his sword.

At this point, Rider was just about certain of his opponent's identity. That speed of his coupled with his magnificently crafted armor, which had treated his own attack as if it were nothing, had painted a picture to Rider of a warrior who many would indeed consider [i]the fastest.[/i] One who was undoubtedly the [i]Greatest Hero[/i] in a war fought by many heroes. Such a great hero was exactly what Rider had sought when he allowed himself to be summoned by the grail, who could not help but give a half-smile at this realization. Such a well-sung hero would make the perfect opponent for Rider to best in order to complete his wish...

And such a well-sung hero would also have a very obvious weakness, as well.

Sending a burst of magical energy through his now-empty arm, he launched it upwards, towards Lancer's spear, firmly grasping the shaft just below, or in this instance, above, the head. Reinforcing his grip with both mana as well as his own strength, he pulled down on Lancer's spear with as much force as he could exert, releasing more of his energy in the effort to pull his opponent's weapon down. Rider's intent wasn't to disarm his opponent, however, anticipating that Lancer would keep a tight-enough grip on his weapon in order to bring him off-balance. Afterwards, Rider pushed the ground with yet another blast of magical energy, springing his legs up sending himself upwards, positioning himself, mid-air, to the side of his opponent, reinforcing his entire left side with even more prana.

Such brazen overuse of magical energy would easily tire most Servants, but for Rider, whose veins surge with the blood of dragonkind, using excessive amounts of magical energy to such a degree is easily affordable. Compared to a Magi, whose magic circuits could be considered as machines made to create magical energy, Rider's could be considered to the likes of an entire power plant supplying him with an absurd amount magical energy. It also helped that his Master was able to supply him with a nigh-infinite amount of mana, which further grants Rider the privilege to be more reckless with his power output. Where other heroes use their supply of magical energy to shoot lasers out of their swords or worlds out of their shields, Rider simply uses his own to empower himself and his attacks.

First off, Rider launched his arm into a reinforced left hook, aiming to hit Lancer in the back of his head with the edge of his shield. While this attack was meant to disorient him, it was not his true target. Immediately following up with the momentum of his strike came his left leg, which he swung with all his might, focusing most of his energy and weight into this one kick.

Before the attack had made contact, Rider uttered a simple phrase to his opponent. He did earn himself an answer, after all.

[center][color=gold]"You will find nothing here but destruction, Achaean!"[/color][/center]

And so, Rider launched his kick, aimed just right above Lancer's ankle. He chose not to strike Lancer in the leg purely to taunt him. He wanted his opponent to know that not only does he know of his weakness, but that he [i]can[/i] strike it if he so wished, even though all it took was a needlessly complicated and inefficient body check to accomplish such a feat. An attack that would bring both himself and his opponent to the ground.