"Requiescat in Pace, mi amico."
With those words the One Clad In Black, who was actually in white now, stabbed the dark robe that he had worn into the ground with a dagger.
It was a sort-of funeral for his friend. He stood there for a few minutes, staring at the ground.
He moved on.
He had other things to do.
"I like this dark bow, Saber." Evans said as he admired the feel of his new, black bow. The structure of the bow resembled metal that had been burned into a shade of deep black. It was huge, reaching from Evans' ankles to above his head.
"No need to thank me, Master."
"It's wonderful." He said. "We're here."
They looked up. They could feel someone up there.
"Now we wait."
Underground, the two of them began to eat their rations.
The crystals were glowing.
"Perfect. Be fine, Berserker."
Kiyousukei sat on a chair at his Servant's bedside.
She was asleep. He had prepared defences that only a magi would be affected by, traps, tripwire, crystalline boundaries, and golems as a last resort.
But it was not enough. Not enough to prevent his Servant, the one he wanted to protect, from being hurt.
He cursed his own failure.
I've been fighting this war like a game until this point, but that ends now.
Kiyousukei balled up his fists. In his hands he held Berserker's left hand.
I will not let this happen to Berserker again.
Kenichi Tohno was at his bed, recovering. This had been the second time in this War that he had been forced to lay in bed. Rider stood guard nearby, just in case.
"Your guests have arrived."
Four shadowy figures entered the room.
"From here on, we travel together." One of the hooded figures spoke up. "It's too risky to be moving on our own." The other figure nodded while the other two stayed stock-still.
Just wait until I'm out of bed. Nakasorachi won't be the only one who'll die.
"Cheers, Lancer." Tensai said as he put up a set of lights. They were Christmas lights, the kind you would easily find at the store.
"What's the occasion, Master?"
"Nothing, just the completion of a proper workshop for a magus." Tensai said.
Lancer nodded.
The awkwardness was still there.
But neither of them seemed to mind.
"Archer, are they in position?"
"Yes, Master."
"Good. I don't want anyone entering here."
Hashimoto was on the run again. While he had been getting ready, someone had set fire to his area. The city's fire department should be able to handle it. As if to reassure him, a fire truck rushed past, already extending its hose to battle the blaze.
Right now he was fleeing towards the bridge for his life, his every step pressured and heavy, as if there was an enemy Servant hot on his heels.
Berserker said nothing as always.
Archer was silent.
They stepped onto the bridge.
"It's been a long time, Shin'ichi. I'm sorry about your hideout, but we couldn't get there in time." A tall redhead came forth to greet him. In his group were a young, blond-haired and jade-eyed girl with armor, a short man who had also built up a reserve of fat and the tall, lean man behind him who twirled a flute. Next came the tall, lean one in the habit who appeared to be alone. The last was a huge man in both breadth and height, who was standing next to an unshaven man with a malevolent and bloody red lance.
"H-Harvey." Shin'ichi stammered. "Thank God you're here."
"I'll be taking command. Your Berserker comes with me, Archer goes with Caster here." He said. "Travel in teams of two and alert each other if you're attacked. Remember to use your Link Crystals if you need help." With these words he raised the blue gem that encased his palm. "These things only have one charge, so if you use them, make sure you kill whoever you saw, got that?"
They nodded.
"Then let's go. Rider, into the air! Berserker with me!"
They already knew what they had to do.
All that was left was to execute it.
