Bang! Bang! Bang!!! Seeing Sola fall, Kiritsugu Emiya added a few more shots to be certain. After realizing he had been lured into a magecraft trap, he had focused on locating the caster. It was a perilous situation, but also an opportunity. With careful control, he could turn the tables.
Lancer's Master had been far too careless. For someone so negligent, he had numerous ways to end their life. By pushing his body into a state of near-suspended animation, he successfully baited her into revealing a flaw.
Using his speed as a weapon, he appeared to 'teleport' in Sola's perception. This was why she only noticed him after the first bullet hit. Kiritsugu Emiya could manipulate his own internal flow of time—the power of "Time Alter."
Though it placed an immense burden on his body, Kiritsugu was well-acquainted with the cost. This time, he had used the side effects of his magecraft to mimic true death, effectively deceiving Sola.
'I must leave quickly...' After confirming Sola's fatal injuries, Kiritsugu knew he couldn't linger. Based on the Servant's link, Lancer would already be rushing to this location. He couldn't afford to waste a Command Spell to summon Saber again.
Vroom vroom!! With the bounded field collapsed, he floor the accelerator and evacuated the scene.
...
"!" "How can this be?" Kyoko Sakura had been in the middle of chasing Jonouchi when she suddenly froze. The contract was beginning to dissolve; she sensed something was horribly wrong.
"Why did she die?! What on earth was that man protecting?" Unable to comprehend, Kyoko grew furious. Why had this happened? While she was distracted by Caster, her own Master had been killed? Thinking of Kayneth's arrogant face, her anger peaked. He acted so superior, yet he couldn't even protect his own fiancée?
Sola's death was too sudden. Kyoko didn't even know what had transpired. If she had been in danger, why hadn't she used a Command Spell to summon her? How could she be killed so abruptly?
"Hmm?" Jonouchi watched Lancer's sudden stop and noticed her change in expression. He didn't understand the intricacies of magecraft, but he could see the shift.
'Her LP is decreasing...' Like data on a screen, Jonouchi saw the 'Life Points' fading from Kyoko Sakura. Much like his own situation, they were steadily dropping. If they hit zero, it meant defeat.
"Your partner... have they also died?" Jonouchi asked, his voice heavy and serious.
"Cheh! This time..." Kyoko Sakura regained her composure and glanced at him. She wanted to fire back a sharp retort, but noticed the magic circle binding her was finally dissipate.
"Go. And... you're too young to be thinking so much about killing people."
At Caster's irritating remark, Kyoko didn't stay to argue. The trap was gone, and her hands were free. She vanished into the night sky, heading toward the place where Sola had fallen.
"Well, that's one problem solved. Now, for the rest."
Jonouchi turned his attention nearby. "Mongrel! Disrespect toward this King shall be repaid with death!" The golden-armored King barked a reprimand at the white Emperor.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!! Flying swords and blades crashed against the energy shield of the mecha, triggering a series of explosions.
"Rider! This is getting out of hand! We won't last much longer if this continues!" Waver shouted, watching the alarms blaring within the cockpit.
"Hmm..." Lelouch remained calm. His goal had been to test Archer's power, and the results exceeded his expectations. Realizing the opponent might still have deeper trump cards, he decided against pushing further at this time.
If necessary, he might have to unite other Servants to bring down this golden King. Of course, that was only the direct approach. Servants might be powerful, but their Masters were far more vulnerable.
"Saber, I shall await news from you and that man. I hope you bring a satisfactory answer."
Retreating back into the safety of his mecha, Lelouch and the massive machine vanished into the air. "Hmph, mongrel..." Gilgamesh noted the retreat. He decided that he would personally execute this 'fake King' who dared to disrespect him.
Whoosh! A sudden sound of cutting air made Gilgamesh tilt his head. A bolt of light grazed his handsome face, leaving a scarlet scratch. Looking down, he saw Berserker in the distance, holding a golden longbow and preparing another shot. The opponent looked more like a proper 'Archer' than he did.
"Assassin... tsk. Was he summoned away?" Gilgamesh realized something as he watched Kenshin vanish. It meant Kirei Kotomine was in trouble.
With the departure of Lancer, Rider, and Assassin, only Saber, Berserker, Archer, and Caster remained. Berserker had timed his attack perfectly with Assassin's exit—a clear provocation to Gilgamesh.
"That weapon was forged from Dragon bone, blood, and flesh, wasn't it? Did you slay a Dragon that held the concept of 'Divinity'?" Gilgamesh asked coldly, seeing through the nature of the bow.
"A Dragon? Divinity?" Saber looked over, recalling the unusual greatsword she had seen earlier. This golden longbow radiated an immense Divine Might. If one focused, the essence of a dragon was unmistakable.
'A hero who specializes in dragon-slaying?' Saber wondered. Such heroes existed in myth, but she couldn't yet identify this one. The presence of 'Divinity' was the key; while dragon legends were many, those with divine attributes were rare.
Berserker gave no answer, simply drawing his bow once more. The weapon had been crafted from the remains of a monster he had defeated—a 'Primal,' the Light Dragon Bahamut. This legendary creature had once brought calamity to the world. For Berserker, turning defeated foes into weapons was common practice.
"Then let this King be your opponent. I am very interested in seeing the face hidden beneath that helmet."
Gilgamesh, finally feeling the urge to exert himself, decided to stay. He was curious about Berserker's origins; he hadn't encountered such an intriguing opponent in a long time.