Emiya Kiritsugu…
A man dubbed the Magus Killer, a notorious pariah in the magecraft world. With a record of slaying nearly a hundred magi, he was a dangerous figure even globally.
Yet, this perilous man's expression was steeped in sorrow.
Under the cold night, the disheveled, pale-faced man bled from his mouth, his body wracked with excruciating pain, paralyzing him. His usually stoic face twisted in agony. If he could, he'd smoke to calm himself.
But Artoria, dragging a cart with him aboard, clearly didn't grasp his intent.
In the chill night, the mismatched Master-Servant pair—one pulling, one lying—silently trudged through a grove.
"…"
Exhausted, Kiritsugu blinked, wanting to speak, but his dry throat stopped him. Mustering strength, he reached into his pocket with a numb hand, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it.
Relief…
The pain eased slightly.
Nicotine soothed his brow. Cigarette in mouth, Kiritsugu gazed hollowly at the night sky, replaying the disastrous battle.
By any measure, tonight's plan and fight were a complete failure.
His situation was dire.
First, as a Master, he was utterly outmatched by Kayneth, with no chance to retaliate.
His only gain was trading half his life for scraps of intel: his foe was confirmed as Clock Tower's newest Lord, head of Mineralogy, leader of the El-Melloi faction, ninth-generation scion of a magecraft dynasty, and Color-ranked magus, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald.
Though he knew two Clock Tower magi were in this Grail War, he hadn't expected a Lord, let alone one so absurdly formidable.
A ninth-generation, aristocratic, Color-ranked magus like Kayneth should be arrogant, dismissive of lesser magi like Kiritsugu, not using full strength in battle, giving him a chance to counter with his trump card—the [Origin Bullet].
In ignorance of its nature, one hit could fell any magus, no matter how powerful, ensuring a first-strike kill.
But Kiritsugu couldn't fathom what drove Kayneth.
For a rural magecraft ritual, Kayneth was armed to the teeth—defense, stealth, scouting, targeting, amplification—everything imaginable, a rogue warrior among magi, survival instinct maxed out.
That alone, Kiritsugu could handle. Worse, Kayneth never entered the fray himself, using a puppet to fight, exposing all of Kiritsugu's cards.
Hounded relentlessly by Kayneth, cornered, Kiritsugu gambled everything.
He baited with injuries, reducing himself to this state, luring Kayneth into a pre-set trap. Then, heedless of danger, he unleashed a Stinger RPG at near-point-blank range.
Seeing the explosion obliterate Kayneth's area and nearby containers, Kiritsugu grinned, roaring inwardly.
"The times have changed!!"
Indeed, the issue was insufficient firepower.
Eating a Stinger RPG, no matter how prepared, should've left Kayneth gravely wounded. One Origin Bullet would end it.
But as Kiritsugu prepared to finish with the bullet…
The unthinkable happened. Before he could fire, mocking applause echoed from a corner, and another Kayneth emerged, unscathed.
In that moment, Kiritsugu's mouth twitched, his psyche collapsing, his hand trembling with the Origin Bullet.
Last night, to defeat this foe, he traded wounds, feigned weakness like a caged beast, attacking chaotically and exposing flaws. His modern weapons drew Kayneth's scorn, as intended.
With the vast power gap, only a fleeting opening could turn the tide.
Kiritsugu seized it, luring Kayneth into his trap, using pre-arranged heavy weapons to blast him at close range despite his injuries.
The plan was flawless, executed with skill and resolve.
Thus, with stacked advantages, he succeeded… in killing Kayneth's double!
Seeing Kayneth consumed by the blast, he smiled, having felled a top foe. Soloing a Clock Tower Lord was a rare feat in the occult world. Despite his state, trading for such an enemy's exit was a bargain!!
Then Kayneth smiled too. Though he lost a costly double bought from a Grand puppeteer, he exposed the Magus Killer's magecraft and trump cards, reducing a major threat. Meant for his disciple, it wasn't wasted on such a vile opponent. He had plenty more preparations.
Both felt they profited, but Kayneth gained a bit more.
He was about to eliminate Kiritsugu. What's business with a dead man?
Yet, Kiritsugu, battle-hardened, didn't give up. Seeing Kayneth reappear, he suppressed his breaking mind, seizing another chance. Burning his life for a fivefold Time Alter burst, he closed in, used a flashbang, and fired the Origin Bullet for a final stand.
The result?
It nearly worked.
Facing the bullet, Kayneth scoffed, ready to block with magecraft and his Volumen Hydrargyrum to shred it.
He was careless, unaware of the bullet's secret.
Kiritsugu had won! He'd trade a limb for Kayneth's life.
But at the critical moment, another Master intervened.
Before the bullet fired, an unknown youth emerged from the port's corner, joining the fray. Shockingly, he knew of the Origin Bullet. Disarming Kiritsugu's gun with a pre-prepared spell, he left Kiritsugu stunned.
Worse, the youth called Kayneth "professor."
The situation spiraled.
Luckily, the lemon-head shifted focus to the youth, giving Kiritsugu a chance to slip away.
Inhaling deeply, Kiritsugu's heart grew heavier.
He hadn't expected such a defeat on the first night. Kayneth's caution was maddening, leaving no openings.
The youth's timely intervention, saving Kayneth from the bullet, wasn't the worst.
Fleeing hastily, Kiritsugu dropped the Origin Bullet's gun, likely now in their hands. If its secret was uncovered…
Shuddering at the thought, Kiritsugu knew exposure would make him a target of the entire magecraft world.
No magus would tolerate such a weapon!
He realized failure meant no return to normal life—formaldehyde and the Clock Tower's Sealing Designation awaited.
This Grail War was his last chance. He had to win, at any cost!!
…
Artoria's state was no better, having endured a brutal lesson.
Outmaneuvered by Fionn, she boldly entered his home turf with Irisviel, nearly swallowed by endless waves. The later Servants were each more formidable than the last.
The black knight, inexplicably fixated on her after Archer's exit, attacked like a rabid dog, overwhelming her.
A Berserker, yet he outmatched her martially. Without her Noble Phantasm, victory was impossible.
Fortunately, she gleaned the Servants' traits.
The golden Archer was undeniably strongest, his thousand-Noble-Phantasm display overwhelming. Artoria knew she couldn't match him.
Golden Lancer Fionn and purple-haired Lancer Scáthach showcased immense power and skill.
Various factors kept her from facing Scáthach, but Fionn's prowess was clear. His martial skill, water control, endurance, and healing were terrifying.
After their prolonged fight, she was battered, yet Fionn casually healed himself with a water bottle, fully recovering.
His versatility struck her—healing, water control, offense, endurance—a hexagonal warrior. Without her Noble Phantasm, she couldn't beat him.
Rider Iskandar showed little, but his aura and mana marked him as no ordinary foe. The Conqueror was a major threat.
All were exceptional Servants. Even the "weakest" black knight outclassed her martially, making Artoria question…
Was she too weak? Was this the Grail War's true intensity?
The famed King Arthur seemed mediocre here…
Without Avalon and with mana supply issues, she was thoroughly suppressed.
Had numbers not forced mutual caution, she wouldn't have left the port alive in a melee.
After this night, the already strained Saber-Master pair was utterly exhausted. But Kiritsugu knew rest wasn't an option.
His assistant reported Assassin hadn't exited, spotted via night vision. He needed to investigate why.
Per Saber, two Lancers existing required scrutiny. Was someone cheating? Who summoned the second Lancer? The unseen Caster?
Kayneth and the youth who knew of his Origin Bullet needed probing too. Too much to do, no time to rest.
This Grail War exceeded expectations. He'd have Saber take Irisviel back to the stronghold and hold position while he devised a new plan.
"Hm?"
Kiritsugu's brow furrowed, eyes widening, realizing a critical issue.
Spitting out his cigarette, he urgently asked Artoria, still pulling the cart, "Saber, where's Irisviel, whom I told you to protect?!"
Only after sorting intel and thoughts did the exhausted Kiritsugu realize…
His wife was missing!!
Artoria's eyes widened, turning to him, equally shocked.
"Irisviel hasn't returned to the base?!"
"…"
Kiritsugu's silence was her only answer.
***
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