"You've been injured again?"
Kirei Kotomine watched his Servant return, his brow furrowing slightly at the sight. He had sent Assassin out simply to probe the Matou family; how had he managed to come back with fresh wounds so quickly?
Fortunately, he now possessed the healing scabbard, Avalon. Its presence ensured that such injuries wouldn't hinder their subsequent actions for long.
"That was Berserker," Himura Kenshin replied. He didn't offer any excuses, opting for a blunt, honest assessment. "He discovered me before I could even get close to the mansion. He is incredibly strong... my senses tell me he might even surpass Saber."
Kenshin knew his limits. Dealing with human opponents was well within his capabilities, but facing enemies with such extraordinary power and divine equipment was a different matter entirely. Against such foes, his current skills were simply not enough.
Saber had been a challenge, but Berserker was in a realm beyond anything he could handle alone.
"There is no need to belittle yourself," Kotomine said, his voice deep and resonant. "To have challenged Saber with an Assassin's limitations is already an impressive feat. While this war may contain transcendent beings, every Servant has a Master—and as long as Masters exist, there are always weaknesses to exploit."
Kirei could sense the flicker of doubt in Kenshin's heart, likely born from the encounter with the monstrous Berserker.
The Matou family... they drew an excellent card this time, Kirei thought. I still don't know who their Master is. If even Assassin couldn't approach, ordinary familiars will be useless for scouting.
He noted that the only Servant yet to reveal themselves was Rider. Without dwelling further on the matter, he prepared to report back to his teacher, Tokiomi Tohsaka—though exactly how much information he would share remained to be seen.
...
"As a participant, you're interacting this closely with the Church?" Kiritsugu Emiya muttered, his eyes narrowing as he exchanged intelligence with Maiya and Saber in their hidden safehouse. "It seems this so-called Supervisor cannot be trusted after all."
Kiritsugu knew exactly who was pulling Assassin's strings. Kirei Kotomine. A single glance at the man had sent a chill down his spine—Kirei was a volatile, dangerous element in this game.
Knowing Kotomine was both a Master and deeply entrenched in the Church made things much more difficult. Kiritsugu didn't believe for a second that there were no "backdoors" being exploited. Having the referee and a contestant working together was a recipe for disaster.
"We move soon," Kiritsugu decided. "We can't wait for nightfall."
...
Irisviel von Einzbern, now awake and dressed in a nun's habit, sat in a chair and watched the wounded Assassin with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. A massive gash had been tore across his chest, the work of some immense cutting weapon.
She found it hard to imagine a Servant capable of delivering such a blow. Even Saber, with all her power, had struggled to find an opening against this elusive man.
"This scabbard..." Kenshin murmured, feeling the magical energy from Avalon knitting his flesh back together. It was a miracle of healing. If I could bring this back... perhaps Tomoe could be saved.
His thoughts drifted back to the time before his summoning. Kenshin's original wish had been a simple, perhaps even mediocre, one: peace for a world weary of war. For that dream, he had defied his master, Hiko Seijuro, and left the mountain to join the Restorationists, beginning years of bloodshed.
It wasn't until "Tomoe" appeared that he rediscovered his own humanity. But then she was taken from him, her life hanging by a thread. The promise of the Dragon Balls had been his only hope—a straw for a drowning man to clutch.
But participating in this Holy Grail War had been a harsh wake-up call. He had vastly overestimated himself and underestimated the legends he was forced to fight. He wasn't the only hero here; he was surrounded by titans whose power dwarfed his own.
He hadn't even mastered the final secrets of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, yet he was being thrust into battles against gods. Saber could react to his greatest speed, and the mysterious Berserker had stood motionless while Kenshin's strikes shattered against his armor. Then there was the magical bombardment at the sea and the golden Archer who called himself "King."
These were enemies unlike any he had ever known. And still, Lancer, Rider, and Caster remained unknown.
Bang!
His wound partially closed, Assassin stood up and prepared to leave. Irisviel watched the shifting emotions on his face, but she knew better than to ask. He wouldn't answer. The room was sealed with powerful magecraft; she was a prisoner here.
She felt a gnawing sense of dread, not for herself, but for Kiritsugu. She never expected to survive her injuries, but Saber's scabbard had worked wonders. Now, Kirei Kotomine had stolen it to use on his own Servant. He hadn't made any demands of her; he had simply locked her away.
The silence of the room felt like an omen.
...
"I truly didn't expect you to have such an anxious moment, Kiritsugu Emiya."
Kirei Kotomine didn't flinch as bullets tore through the air toward him at his residence.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Kiritsugu was firing relentlessly from across the room. Kirei's priest's vestments were reinforced with bulletproof fibers; he didn't fear the lead, only ensuring his exposed skin remained protected.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The bullets bounced off his clothing with a rhythmic, metallic ring.
"I know Saber is nearby, guarding against Assassin," Kirei said, his voice calm even as he moved. "And I know you sent your assistant to rescue Irisviel. You want to kill me, yet you lack the opportunity."
A subtle smile touched his lips. He was enjoying this—the constant tension, the feeling of his opponent's frustration. He liked having Kiritsugu helpless, forced to listen to him speak. It was a delightful new sensation.
But his amusement was cut short by a burst of speed he wasn't prepared for.
Time Alter: Double Accel!
Kiritsugu invoked his innate time-control magecraft.
Bang! Bang!
"!?"
Kirei's eyes widened. One Origin Bullet... and one ordinary one.
Kiritsugu had used his magic to perfectly sync his shots. The projectiles were closing in before Kirei could even raise a hand to deflect them. At this range, they would be fatal.
'Too late...'
Clang!
A flash of broken steel swept the bullets aside at the last possible microsecond, saving Kirei's life.
"Hmph! Assassin?" Kiritsugu spat, his eyes cold.
Only a Servant could have moved that fast. Kiritsugu's frustration grew; it seemed Saber hadn't been able to pin the man down. If he had just a second more, he could have ended Kirei Kotomine right here.
A pity.