In between the two nuclear explosions, three separate, but equally relevant events were happening, putting this Holy Grail War on a much grander scale than almost all the ones from different Key timelines.
The first, and with most of the characters, was the stage that the first three nuclear missiles had created for Masters, Servants, and Ainz Ooal Gown.
It was hard to say who was gaining the upper hand in this battle.
Every next move and act sent the ball rolling on the other side of the court.
The good side, who didn't want the Greater Grail to come into being, certainly had the advantage of numbers.
The evil side not only had the advantage of quality, but, with the Overlord on the battlefield and the Staff of Ainz's capability of independent action, its disadvantage of numbers was only a faux as well.
At any moment, the battle could tip on any side's corner.
And, despite the circumstances demanding their utmost, they all knew it would all depend on the cards they had yet to reveal.
Assassin. The Evil Contestant… and Medusa Alter.
…
The second event was happening in a different space, cut off from the main battlefield by a Bounded Field.
Rin walked through the darkness, following tiny, shadowy figures.
Suddenly, a pinkish wave of light washed over her vision as she stepped out of the dark tunnel.
For the first time, Rin's gaze landed on the Greater Grail, surrounded by raw Mana, as it fueled itself through its connection to The Root, taking the shape of a blue-rimmed black hole overhead.
Rin gulped and went down the cliff, walking toward the Greater Grail.
"… You came all the way here… You came… Hehe… Big Sister…"
Rin's eyes narrowed. Between her and the Greater Grail, strips of red-black dress converged, becoming a huge ball. Then, the ball of strips exploded, revealing the entity within.
It was Dark Sakura.
"I've been thinking…" Sakura said. "About you, Shirou… Black. Grandfather. My idiot brother. I think… I hate this world. I hate everyone. This peaceful city. Everyone who didn't make an effort to save me… They are all unforgivable."
"That's not true," Rin said, intervening. "You can blame me, Sakura. I do not deny my lack of action when it comes to you. But Shirou helped you… so many times. And Black. Didn't he help you right after meeting you?! How can you…"
"NO!" Sakura snapped, her eyes gaining a redder, fiery tinge. "Shirou helped me?! Then how come he wanted to save one part of me only, and not the other?! WAS I NOT SAKURA, TOO?! Black is even worse! You do not have the wits to even contemplate the words of that filthy manipulator! … Hehe… Hahaha… I am angry, Big Sister. And I will take out my anger on all of you… on everyone! Why? Because I am strong. Stronger than all of you combined! I can do anything I want to now!"
"Oh?" Rin let out a breath, trying to remain calm. "Have you gotten used to murder, then?"
Sakura grinned, the red, cursed marks on her face twitching on her neck. "Yes. The emptiness doesn't bother me now."
"How sad…" Rin shook her head. "You really have given up on your humanity…"
"Trying to act calm and cool, Big Sister?" Sakura chuckled, lifting her hands. "You are jealous of this power, right? You want to snatch it from me so that you and you alone can be happy, right?! You can't have it! It's mine… but… you can have two things. Regret and Despair."
Hissss!
A darkness swept the land, suddenly.
Between Rin and Sakura, tiny shadowy figures appeared, surrounding a creepy redness.
The redness cast the tiny figures' shadows all over the place as they began dancing around it.
Soon, the enormous shadows on the walls began taking shape, becoming solid, their steps quaking the entire chamber.
These weren't just mere solidified shadows.
They were condensed Hollow Element, powered by Angra Mainyu's Will, each holding unsurmountable power on par with Heroic Spirits.
"You shall drown in the Grail of Heaven," Dark Sakura declared. "Like a bug in a lake… Hehe…"
Then, with one motion of her hand, all the shadows attacked together, looming over Rin like shadowy bringers of death.
…
The third event was happening well above Earth's atmosphere.
With the dark space serving as the stage and the spirits of the dead as the audience, the two friends were playing the best drama of their lives, enjoying each and every moment.
Booms-Bangs rang out as Noble Phantasms after Noble Phantasms lit the sky with nuclear explosions — each one of them grander than the first.
Bare-chested and covered in blood, a sight that could have shocked all Masters and Servants, Gilgamesh roared out a laughter as he boomed across the space.
Like a hypersonic missile, Enkidu's figure blurred, carrying a sword in his hands and a smile on his face.
The point in space where the two friends greeted each other — ceased to exist.
In the new reality that filled the gap left behind by the destroyed one, Enkidu stood midair, staring at Gilgamesh, who now looked a touch of breath, blood dripping down his chin and…
… a large scar running down from his left shoulder to his waist.
"You dare look at me like that?!" Gilgamesh roared with fake anger, grinning. "Do you really think this is enough to keep me from fighting at my best?!!"
Enkidu shook his head, chuckling. "No, I don't," he agreed. "But you have never been a fool, Gil. Can't you see… I am winning…"
Gilgamesh's smile flickered.
Where Enkidu was being powered by Counter Force endlessly, Gilgamesh was drawing his Mana from Kirei Kotomine. Despite him having his own tremendous Mana reserves, when it came to fighting Enkidu, even those reserves felt…
Suddenly, a buzz resounded behind Gilgamesh as insects gathered, taking form.
The Evil Betty Shaw, wearing a black suit and wielding a Video Camera on his shoulder, grinned. "Dear Audience," he began, directing the scene. "Gilgamesh…"
"You Mongrel!" Gilgamesh's face flattened, his eyes losing all joy.
Enkidu shook his head as well. "You have no right to meddle…"
Then, together, the two friends hammered the judgment. "BEGONE!!!"
A thick beam of redness left Gilgamesh as Ea roared in anger, and golden beams shook the space as the Chains of Heaven rattled in annoyance.
All insects were pulverized instantly, and even their ashes ceased to exist.
Glitches were strong… but not that strong.
A Director must know when not to be too presumptuous.
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