After severing Mordred's head, the Plane of Euthymia also collapsed. Like glass shattering, cracks appeared one after another until, under the spread of violet light, the surrounding background was erased, restoring the plain to how it had been at the start.
It was still nighttime. Though the battle had not been short, it had not lasted even an hour.
Mordred's kneeling, headless body remained motionless for a few seconds before dissolving into blue light particles, scattering into the night.
"Saber! How could this be?!"
Kairi Sisigou, who had been using Command Spells to keep track of Saber's position, turned pale at this sight. Finally, in despair, he collapsed to the ground.
There had been no warning at all—suddenly, his connection with Saber vanished, the figure itself gone. Just like that, she had exited the stage. It left him utterly dazed. He had thought he could hold out another night—no, perhaps even until the very last day—because he had Saber.
But reality slapped him harshly in the face. Though one Command Spell remained, it disappeared all the same. He never imagined that Saber, one of the mainstay classes, would fall so early!
In this Holy Grail War, without a doubt… he had lost. It was that simple.
In this situation… if the other side wished to kill him, it would be no surprise. With trembling hands, he lit a cigarette and held it in his mouth, ready to take the road onward.
"You may leave."
The Shogun only glanced at him briefly before speaking simply.
"?"
Kairi froze, then lifted his head to look at the kimono-adorned woman before him, holding Musou Isshin. She wasn't going to kill him?
"You have lost your qualification. That makes you a mortal. I do not cut down mortals."
If he forced himself to seek death, that would be an exception. Then he could not blame her for being merciless.
The Shogun's beautiful eyes lowered as she looked at the man collapsed on the ground, her voice cold.
"…"
Kairi instinctively glanced at the blade hanging at her side, swallowing nervously. Fortunately, this woman lived by her principles.
"Ah… I see… Black's Saber, I've lost."
Relieved, Kairi leaned back against the nearby car, chuckled, and took a drag from his cigarette, admitting complete defeat. At times like these, there was no choice but to yield—for the sake of his own life.
Hearing this, the Shogun no longer paid him any attention. She shifted her gaze, surveying the plain around her.
She had no idea how the battle elsewhere was faring. Could it be that Karna and Vlad III were still fighting? By the looks of it… yes, indeed.
Sigh… their side had finished fighting, yet those two were still dragging it out. Truly equally matched opponents.
But then—the next moment, voices of quarreling reached her ears. Turning toward the source, she saw Rider along with that homunculus… and by their side stood another woman.
The Shogun narrowed her eyes slightly, recalling the woman's identity… she seemed to be Rider's Master.
...
On the other side…
"Hey… Rider… tell me your true name~"
Black Rider's Master, Celenike, now stood before Astolfo, her face wearing a façade of 'kindness' as she gave her order. Around them stretched nothing but the boundless plain.
"Astolfo, one of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne… and then what?"
Astolfo's expression showed obvious reluctance. Instinctively, he moved in front of Sieg, the homunculus who had barely survived being electrocuted by Berserker earlier.
"No, that's not it at all!"
But Celenike only put on an exaggerated smile, bluntly denying him.
"Eh?"
"You're a Servant—nothing more than a defective copy of the Heroic Spirit Astolfo!"
She wasn't wrong. Servants were not true Heroic Spirits, but high-grade replicas projected into reality by the Holy Grail. That was exactly why some Masters looked down upon them.
But for Sieg, hearing such words at this moment was unbearable. To him, Astolfo was his savior. Mocking his benefactor like this only filled him with hatred. His eyes blazed with anger as he glared at Celenike.
Celenike noticed his expression and sneered disdainfully.
"Mm… well, I suppose you could put it that way. Though I personally don't really think so."
Astolfo scratched his face awkwardly.
"So you see… I never once believed you were Astolfo. You're just a Servant! Just a familiar! Just a toy!"
Screaming wildly, she clutched at her hair with both hands, pulling and twisting it violently. The sound of crack crack echoed as she tore at her scalp. The sight left Astolfo and Sieg dumbfounded… instinctively, they both took a step back, wary that she might go completely mad.
"Always like this! Always like this!! Always like this!!! Yet you act like some idiot!! Reckless, always for the sake of this stray fly! Making me lose face again and again!!"
Crack! Crack!
Her nails tore through her scalp until blood seeped down, strands of hair yanked free, her rage so vicious it was grotesque. Her screams were so raw her throat nearly split.
"!" ×2
The two before her were so shaken that neither dared to move rashly.
"From the very day you were summoned, count how many things you've actually done right! You're utterly useless, a fool at everything! And yet all you ever do is cause trouble!"
"You helped that trash escape—it was you! You blocked us from capturing him—it was you! You spoke for him—it was you! And now, still, you stand before him! And look at you just now—beaten like a dog by Red Saber!! Berserker had to bail you out, and now what?! Berserker is gone too!!"
Under the relentless storm of insults, Astolfo faltered, glancing back at Sieg, who was drenched in cold sweat.
"This is bad, Sieg… hurry and escape."
He whispered urgently.
"Look at Fiore's Servant!! That Saber… that's the kind of Servant I want!! Strong and obedient! And then look at you!! Always defying orders, always shaming me! You worthless trash! Is it because of this garbage?!"
Her face twisted with fury as she glared at Sieg.
"Run!!"
Astolfo shouted frantically to Sieg.
Whoosh!
Celenike suddenly pulled out a silver needle wreathed in dark light and hurled it straight into Sieg's leg!
Stab!
"Urraghhh!!"
Sieg cried out in agony and collapsed to the ground, his body utterly powerless.
"Sieg! Stop this, Master!!"
Rider rushed to support Sieg, glaring at Celenike in fury.
"Trash should be cleaned up properly. But trash dirties the hands, and I won't do that. Isn't that what familiars are for?"
"What—?!"
"By the Command Spell of Black—I order you! Kill that homunculus! At once!"
Celenike raised her hand, Command Seal glowing crimson as she issued her first order.
Buzz!!
The Command Spell took effect.
"Ghhahhh!!"
Rider suddenly felt his body seized by a power he could not resist. A knight's lance appeared in his grip. Under its compulsion, he stepped forward, thrusting toward Sieg's heart!
"Move!! Hurry!!"
He screamed desperately. But Sieg, his body completely paralyzed, could do nothing but watch as the spearpoint drew closer and closer. Despair filled his eyes.
Yet—
Step… step…
Celenike sensed footsteps behind her. Just as she turned—
Smack!
A hand chop struck her neck. Her consciousness blurred instantly, and she collapsed into unconsciousness, her limp body caught by the newcomer.
With her defeat, the Command Spell's order was nullified. Rider dropped to his knees, panting heavily in relief. Bewildered, he turned around—
It was Saber. The Shogun.
The Shogun laid the unconscious Celenike gently onto the ground, then lifted her cold eyes to sweep briefly over the two. Without a word, she rose and prepared to leave.
"W-wait! Thank you… Saber."
Rider awkwardly voiced his gratitude.
"…"
The Shogun halted her steps.
"What she said… was not without reason."
"Eh?"
Astolfo blinked, startled by her sudden words.
"Someone as careless as you—no matter which Master you serve, they will be troubled by you. Take care to reflect."
She did not turn her head, leaving only the slender silhouette of her back in the moonlight.
Thankfully, he was not summoned by Fiore. Otherwise, that softhearted girl would have suffered endlessly if burdened with such a Servant.
"Why… why would you…"
Sieg, trembling with pain in his leg, forced out the words.
"…"
The Shogun understood his question. At last, she turned her head slightly, her gaze from the corner of her eye resting on the boy on the ground.
"Tonight I spared your life. You had best prove worthy of it. Otherwise… your life is mine to give, and mine to take."
Though she knew he was a disposable creation, regardless of the purpose, he had been brought into existence.
"!"
Sieg shivered instinctively, his body trembling. Hastily, he nodded, scooting backward in fear.
The Shogun paid him no further heed. Without another glance, she turned and departed, leaving the two behind.