No one present could have anticipated the shot from the distant sky, piercing straight through the girl's heart, catching everyone off guard.
Alvin's eyes slowly widened, his mind going blank for a moment.
At that moment, a special interface notification quietly appeared in his vision.
[Congratulations on unlocking a special CG achievement: The Choice of the Shura Field: Part Three]
[Congratulations on unlocking a special achievement: Root Connection (Gold)]
[Root Connection: The princess endowed with omniscience and omnipotence, who sees through everything in the world, led a life as blank as paper until your appearance brought vibrant colors to it.
Before her 'life' faded, she made a significant decision, sharing the privilege of touching the Root with you.]
The cold notification in his mind, along with the snowflakes falling on his face, finally snapped Alvin back to reality.
Even though he had completed this special achievement, he felt no joy at all.
In a sense, the omniscient and omnipotent Manaka Sajyou was a walking bug.
How could such an extraordinary existence... fail to notice a bullet from afar?
And hadn't he yet to complete all of Manaka Sajyou's CG collection?
How could she die?
How could she possibly die?
In that moment, Alvin felt as if he stood at the intersection of light and shadow, countless voices screaming in his ears, indescribable chaotic visions flashing through his mind like a runaway film projector.
Atop the distant streetlamp, Gilgamesh's expression remained utterly indifferent, coldly observing the girl who had completely lost all signs of life.
The shot was too lethal, designed for a one-hit kill, and the bullet had struck Manaka Sajyou's heart without the slightest deviation.
Alvin knelt beside Manaka Sajyou, gently taking her small hand.
Perhaps because of the winter snow or the rapidly fading life, her skin grew increasingly cold, as if even her blood was turning icy.
Yet the snow beneath her was melting, even beginning to steam.
Gilgamesh vaguely sensed something unusual as he looked at Alvin with surprise.
His Master was dead, yet Saber's magical energy showed no signs of weakening?
No... not only that, Alvin's magical energy was not only undiminished but had become far more terrifying than when he was first summoned.
Was it due to the power of Independent Manifestation?
No... even if some Servants could continue with [Independent Manifestation] after their Master's death, without a mana supply, their magical energy should weaken.
But now...
Morgan le Fay instinctively glanced at Alvin, noticing something unusual as well.
She murmured, "The manifestation of a Beast?"
The White Dragon was a mythical creature, but in a sense, it could also be considered a Beast.
Even without a Master's mana supply, Alvin's own magical energy was sufficient for remarkable endurance.
In an instant, his immense perception covered nearly half the area, and his gaze suddenly locked onto a rooftop in the distance.
"Elder Sister, keep an eye on Manaka for me."
Morgan was about to speak, but upon seeing Alvin, she froze.
Because at this moment, the boy's eyes were filled with suppressed anger... ferocious, like a wild beast.
Was it because of his feelings for Manaka Sajyou, or something else...?
Morgan le Fay thought instinctively.
In the next moment, Alvin's figure vanished into the night, leaving only the four Servants behind.
Gilgamesh looked at the girl lying in a pool of blood and said slowly, "Attacking a Master directly to win the Holy Grail War? It seems this Master didn't have much faith in their Servant."
But it looks like this might give us a chance to see Saber's other Noble Phantasms... Thinking this, Gilgamesh gazed toward a distant rooftop with keen interest.
"Rider, let's get out of here. This place feels a bit dangerous..."
Waver said, his voice trembling slightly.
Seeing a powerful mage like Saber's Master sniped in a single shot, it was impossible not to feel fear.
At this moment, Waver wanted nothing more than to flee this dangerous place immediately.
"Not so fast... Let's watch a bit longer."
The Conqueror King said,
"Besides, the opponent's initial target was Saber's Master. Now that their plan has succeeded, they won't stay here any longer."
"But of course, whether they can leave after killing that girl... isn't up to them."
Waver froze for a moment and said, "They must have a Servant with them, right? As long as they're well-protected, Saber probably can't do much—"
"Not necessarily." A rare hint of gravity appeared in the Conqueror King's eyes as he said slowly, "Saber's presence seems far stronger than before."
Waver's heart tightened slightly.
For Rider to say something like that... it wasn't hard to imagine just how dangerous Saber was right now.
Mordred looked in the direction Alvin had gone, instinctively wanting to follow.
"Lancer, don't act on your own for now."
At that moment, Kayneth's voice quickly reached her. "We still don't know if there's only one enemy... Be cautious of a trap."
Mordred's steps, about to move forward, halted abruptly as she frowned tightly and said, "Are we just going to let him face the enemy alone?"
"You said he's your father, didn't you... You trust him, don't you? Not just because of the bond and emotions between you, but also his strength," Kayneth asked.
"Of course... There's no Servant in the Holy Grail War stronger than him, at least I don't think anyone can beat him."
Mordred clicked her tongue in frustration, saying, "That's exactly why someone would resort to sniping his Master."
However, once her father's Master was dead, even with [Independent Manifestation], he wouldn't be able to sustain his spiritual form for long.
Can he kill the enemy before his mana ran out?
Thinking of this, Mordred's heart filled with worry.
"What's wrong, Sister?"
Not far away, Altria noticed Morgan le Fay deep in thought and couldn't help but ask.
Since earlier, Morgan had remained silent, only staring at the girl lying in the snow not far away.
Morgan le Fay could sense that Manaka Sajyou was pierced in her, and thus, had already reached the end of her life.
It was precisely because Alvin knew this that he was so enraged, rushing off alone to the enemy's stronghold after locking onto their position.
"Something feels off..."
Morgan furrowed her brow slightly, speaking softly.
The princess endowed with omniscience and omnipotence should have known her own future even before the Holy Grail War began.
If so, she couldn't have been unaware that a Master planned to kill her and that she would actually die in the Holy Grail War.
...If she had foreseen the future, why didn't she try to change it?
Snowflakes fell from the sky, landing on the girl's cheeks.
Morgan stepped forward, gently touching Manaka Sajyou's face, feeling the cold sensation of a life already gone.
At Manaka's chest, a faint deep-blue barrier faintly covered the area.
Morgan froze for a moment, her eyes flickering slightly.
Altria also sensed something unusual and said instinctively, "She used a defensive spell to protect her heart in advance?"
"But if that's the case, how did the bullet pierce through?"
And... why, when Manaka Sajyou's life had already faded, was her magical energy still so potent?
...
....
Meanwhile, on the other side.
On a rooftop high above.
Kiritsugu Emiya, facing the cold wind, packed up his sniper rifle, took out his communicator, and said in a low voice, "Prepare to withdraw."
"Understood."
Maiya Hisau silently put away her communicator, then packed up her own sniper rifle, turning to look at Berserker, or rather, Vortigern—beside her.
"We should go."
However, as she spoke, she noticed Vortigern hadn't moved at all.
Instead, he was looking ahead into the deep darkness with a cheerful smile.
"Maiya Hisau... Did you overestimate your stealth abilities, or underestimate Saber?"
"When did you get the illusion that you could kill Saber's Master and still escape smoothly?"
Maiya froze, then her body suddenly trembled slightly, a dense chill crawling up her spine.
As she stepped back quickly and drew her pistol, a hand immediately pressed her down.
"Stand back. Leave this to me."
Vortigern smiled as he looked ahead. "In this Holy Grail War... the only one worthy of facing him is me."
At some point, in the snowy night on the rooftop, a black figure appeared silently like a phantom in their vision.
The black robe fluttered in the night wind, and beneath the white mask, a pair of dark eyes quietly fixed on them.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time, Alvin."
Vortigern spread his arms with a smile, his demeanor tinged with madness. "From the day I was summoned, I've been eagerly awaiting our meeting."
"Do you remember back in Britain, when you and Morgan devoured me together?"
"Now, I'll do the same—devour your flesh and blood—"
Boom!
Before he could finish, a holy lance appeared in Alvin's hand, golden magical energy rapidly gathering.
—Shining at the End of the World (Rhongomyniad)!
In the next moment, a golden beam erupted from the lance!
Vortigern's pupils contracted sharply as he raised his right hand.
The wings symbolizing a 'fairy' on his back unfurled, and in the next instant, his body seemed to turn ethereal, the holy lance narrowly grazing past him.
Boom!
The next moment, a deafening explosion of magical energy resounded in the sky behind Vortigern.
The muscles on Maiya Hisau's face twitched slightly as she gazed solemnly at the black-robed Servant in front of her.
This guy... his Master is dead, so why is his magical energy still so potent?
"The holy lance is in your hands?" Vortigern said, surprised, before shaking his head. "No... this doesn't seem to be the true holy lance, merely a shadow of it?"
Having once been killed by the legendary Anchor of the Storm that binds the stars, the holy lance, Vortigern knew its power all too well.
Alvin glanced at Maiya Hisau and said, "You're not the one who acted... Where's Kiritsugu Emiya?"
"Hey, hey, even though he's the one who sniped your Master... your opponent right now is me, isn't it?"
Vortigern smiled. "If you want to find him... you'll have to get through me first."
"But with just a mere shadow of the holy lance, I'm afraid that's far from enough—"
Vortigern's voice suddenly faltered.
His gaze locked onto Alvin or more precisely, the holy sword now forming in Alvin's hand.
Maiya Hisau looked at Vortigern in confusion, unsure of what was happening.
[Round Table Resolution—]
As a faint voice echoed, a chorus of "agreement" seemed to resound continuously from the holy lance.
Vortigern's expression changed drastically, a trace of fear in his voice: "The Holy Sword?!"
Upon hearing the voice through the communicator, Kiritsugu Emiya silently closed his eyes.
As expected, after his Master's death, Saber had indeed gone completely berserk?
And... Berserker might not even be able to stop him.
Though somewhat unexpected, it was still within the scope of the plan.
At the very least, with Saber's Master dead, victory in the Holy Grail War was one step closer.
Kiritsugu stubbed out his cigarette, turning to head back to the Einzbern Castle.
Beep...
But at that moment, his phone suddenly rang with a sharp tone.
In the darkness, the sound was particularly jarring.
Kiritsugu took out his phone and glanced at it, his brow furrowing slightly.
...A call from the Einzbern Castle.
For some reason, an uneasy feeling crept into his heart.
Picking up the phone, Kiritsugu spoke in a low, grim tone: "What is it?"
On the other end was the old butler of the Einzbern Castle, his voice filled with urgency: "Kiritsugu... hurry, come back quickly!"
"Irisviel and Illya have been taken!"
*Boom!*
In an instant, Kiritsugu's mind buzzed, and for the first time, a trace of murderous intent and panic, flashed in his ashen eyes.
This man, who had always considered himself a partner of justice, had sacrificed far too much for his grand ideals.
Participating in the Holy Grail War as a hired hand was also for the sake of using the Holy Grail to wish for world peace.
Yet, even so, there were people he couldn't bear to lose.
His wife... and his daughter.
At that moment, Kiritsugu suddenly heard a clear, pleasant voice through the phone.
But to his ears, that voice was like a specter returning from the underworld, sending chills down his spine.
"Hello, hello? Can you hear me, Mr. Kiritsugu Emiya?"
...Manaka Sajyou!!!
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