Right after Stella struck the castle,
All the Servants were severely injured, especially Assassin.
She was on the verge of having her Spirit Core destroyed, dangerously close to death.
And Jalter?
"Ouch, that damn Assassin..."
She was trapped under the collapsed walls, in a dark and cramped space with just a bit of room to move.
She touched her head and felt blood, gritting her teeth as she wiped it away.
"What's wrong, missy?"
Hearing that irritating voice, she turned her head toward the sound.
Like her, the person was also trapped, but their injuries were even worse.
"You bastard, you're really reckless, throwing your life away like that?" She glared at him.
"Come on, I'm a Servant, so I've been dead for a long time. Though, losing my life over this would be a bit embarrassing."
"Yeah, well, I'm even more humiliated! I'll definitely burn you to ashes!" Jalter angrily tried to grab her weapon.
"Give it up. You don't even have the strength to recover, not even half as much as me."
"What's that supposed to mean? Underestimating me?"
"Nah."
Nura's wounds gradually began to heal, and his legs, which had been lost, started to regrow.
"Ugh, so slow. Turning into a Servant has made my recovery weaker than when I was alive," he said, rotating his arm with a satisfying crack.
"Now then."
He looked at Jalter.
Jalter was furious but helpless. The Archer on his side had fired a nuclear-level bomb so powerful that it left her completely defenseless.
Now, it was highly likely he'd finish her off right then and there, rendering all her efforts—everything—wasted.
Everything... her revenge, her goals... Damn it...
Nura crawled closer, drawing his katana.
Jalter broke into a cold sweat, desperately reaching for her sword.
Just as she was about to grab it, the katana came dangerously close.
'Gill...!'
Clang!
A sound that had nothing to do with stabbing flesh rang out. She opened her eyes and saw him slashing at a large rock pinning her down, creating more space.
Then, he pulled her out from under it and sheathed his katana.
He noticed her staring at him.
"What? Thought I was going to finish you off?"
"That's obvious! But you didn't?! Are you pitying me?!"
"Yup."
That single word made her boil with rage.
"If you think doing this will make me fall for you, forget it. I'm not that soft or easily swayed!"
"Aw, I wish you'd actually think that."
"You womanizer!"
Then he flashed a smile.
"But... I don't regret it. Looking at you closely like this, I've come to understand a few things through your eyes."
"I told you—"
"Pitiful, pitiable, but also blameworthy. Using your pain to create pain for others—oh, beautiful girl, you're both cruel and stunning."
"Shut up!"
His words were no different from Gilles, but it felt like he was mocking her even more.
"I've met a few people like you. Most of them let their hatred consume them to the point they couldn't even recognize themselves anymore."
"I don't want to get involved, but I also want to save them. And, coincidentally, you're a lot like them..."
"Stop talking nonsense. I don't need saving by an enemy."
"Really?"
Nura looked at her, making her even more irritated.
He... he had already seen through her true nature.
"You're lonely. You're always alone, with no one to protect you. Everyone hates you, giving you an unjust death just because you resemble her. You want to replace her, yet also want to be different from her, and in the end..."
"You need care—someone's care to warm that thorny heart of yours. Am I right?"
"..."
Seeing Jalter's silence, Nura only smiled.
"Too bad I won't be that person. So, I'll give you a bit of my genuine kindness and hope you find someone you can rely on."
With that, Nura mustered his strength and kicked hard at the collapsed walls.
A blinding light flashed in her eyes.
"Goodbye, poor little girl. I hope we don't meet again because I don't want to have to kill you."
The dazzling light was blocked by his figure, making it hard for Jalter to see the person in front of her clearly.
And then, he was gone.
"Oh, the Master's stuck here? Talk about bad luck."
Vlad III approached and hoisted her up.
"...Retreat."
"Understood."
"Except for you, Rider," Jalter pointed at Rider, who was also injured.
"You—go find the ones who attacked us and kill them. They're allies of that Assassin."
"Understood."
"But if you see that Assassin, try to catch him and bring him to me"
"...can I ask why?"
"...I will be the one who murder him"
***
"Hmph, I still haven't heard back from Nura. Did Arash's Noble Phantasm kill him for good?"
What do you mean?! You just fired a nuclear bomb strong enough to destroy the world!!
"From what I've heard, Nura-san seems to be your favorite Servant, huh?" Chen Gong asked.
"Yeah! He's my husband!" (No.)
"Interesting. Though, I'd advise you two not to let your relationship interfere with battle. The one who survives will be the one who suffers."
"Thanks, Geng Chon."
"My name is Chen Gong."
"Enemies!" Jeanne sensed someone approaching, gripping her flag tightly.
Everyone immediately got into position.
Only for a cloud of black smoke to appear, revealing Nura, tattered and heavily injured.
"NURA!"
Gudako rushed forward and hugged Nura tightly, her hand accidentally pressing on his unhealed wound.
"Senpai, I think you should let go of Nura..."
"Mash, are you jealous or something?! Nura's mine!"
"No... That's not the issue..." Mash glanced at Nura's face, who was forcing a smile despite the pain.
"How did you sense him so well? He's an Assassin with high-level concealment skills," Caster Cú asked Jeanne.
"No idea... Maybe because I'm a Ruler?"
"Master, I can't recover anymore. I need mana," Nura said wearily.
"Mana?! Everyone, scram! Let me and Nura go into the forest for a mana transfer!"
[You don't need to do that! Just a drop of sweat will do!]
"Ugh..."
Seeing that she didn't have a single drop of sweat, Gudako puckered her lips, ready to kiss Nura.
"Get serious, Master," Nura said, blocking Gudako's mouth.
"But I'm very serious—"
"Then just put some saliva on my skin. Mana transfer is about physical contact between Master and Servant, after all," Nura reasoned.
Gudako's face twisted in anger.
"Hawk tuah! Happy now?!"
Nura's face was now slick with spit, but his wounds began to heal rapidly.
"Pretty satisfied."