Chapter 22: Assassin

As I follow Sakura, the area around me dims more and more until I dive into the darkness of the cold night. The sounds of the spear and the sudden outbursts of Berserker have been left far behind. Only the silence accompanies me. Soon, I catch up to Sakura, but Rider is nowhere to be seen.

"Sakura, where is Rider?", I ask as I gasp for air.

Sakura looks around and points towards the sea.

"Rider went that way", she mentions.

So, they went to the beach, but why? It is quite a distance. Nonetheless, the situation plays out well, because barely anyone lives around the beach, let alone walk around at a time like this. I nod and signalize Sakura to follow Rider. So, we run to the desolate beach.

As we reach the sea, the blanket of silence woven by the absence of anything lies heavily on the beach and sea as well. The lights of the sky reflect on the lazy water.

"Why is no one here…", I mumble to myself.

I look to Sakura, but she is as irritated as I am.

"I am sure Rider was here… I can still feel her around", Sakura explains.

She looks up to the sky. It disturbs me how silent it is. I go around to look for anyone around. Sakura and I are the only humans, or even living beings around here. Utterly confused, I sit down on a nearby stone.

"Senpai?", Sakura asks upset.

"No, everything is okay. I am just confused. First Berserker, then this weird attack and now a Servant with a mask. On top of that, I can't summon Saber. Nothing, absolutely nothing worked out today"

"This question bothered me as well, but why exactly can't you summon Saber?", Sakura questions, "A Servant shouldn't be able to decline a Command Spell, so I wonder why you are unable to summon her"

What should I say? I cannot tell her from the voice in my head, I cannot tell her how that person is… observing… us… right now. Yes, that is right. She is observing us, so she must know where Rider, Archer and Tohsaka are! Hey, can you hear me? Where are the others? You are behind this all, right?

"Yes, indeed", the voice finally answers.

"I've just wanted to test something very important. You know, from time to time, others possess some extraordinary skills I'd really, really like to have. However, I can't simply acquire them by just wanting them. I can't steal them, either. Therefore, I have no other choice left than to copy these techniques", she elaborates.

And where is the connection to our situation right now? I do not see how your personal problems matter to me right now.

"Well, well, well; seems like someone is in a hurry. Basically, I was interested in Assassin's skills. So, I tried them out and now I got even better than he could ever dream to. His Presence Concealment is appliable to only himself. With this skill he can hide his own presence as a Servant. However, I developed it and now I can… conceal entire areas. Helpful, indeed"

I do not care about your plays, but where is- wait, did you say Assassin?

"Seems like your ears are still connected to your tiny developed brain"

Why do you always have to insult me?

"Why do humans insult lesser beings? Despite, I will show you my mercy and lift the veil of lies"

The whole world twists and melts. Eventually, it tears down. Sakura falls down out of surprise and I immediately jump up from the stone.

"W-what is happening? Why is everything-", Sakura stutters.

The world reassembles itself as fast as it fell apart. Now, the beach around is no longer as calm as before. Right behind Sakura is Tohsaka. She shouts something. The beach's appearance changed as well. The sand is no longer well-ordered. It is a pure chaos- scars of a battle burned upon the beach. A strong wind comes in our direction, hence Tohsaka is forced to take a step backward. Now, she notices that there is someone behind her.

"Who- wha-?!", Tohsaka stammers as she turns her head to see Sakura.

"You?! Here?", Tohsaka exclaims as she distances herself from Sakura.

I rush to them and Tohsaka seems surprised to see me as well.

"Wait, where did you two come from?", Tohsaka asks perplexed.

"I don't know; the world just- we were here with no one else when suddenly… I-I am unsure what is happening myself" Sakura tries to explain.

I jump in to explain what happened.

"It's hard to explain, let's just say we were played for fools"

"Can't say it better", Tohsaka concludes.

Luckily, she is satisfied with the answer. I have no other options to describe it better.

"So, what exactly happened?", I ask Tohsaka.

"Well, it seems were played for fools as well. The Servant with the mask has led us to the beach. Archer and Rider are fighting him right now", Tohsaka tells us.

"Where is Rider?", Sakura wants to know.

"Right there", Tohsaka responds while pointing towards the other side of the beach.

It is a wonder we have not noticed it until now. It is the first thing a stranger would see, if they came to the beach. Right now, Rider is throwing one of her chains against a stone. On this very stone is the Servant with the mask- Assassin. Archer jumps up from behind and attacks Assassin who barely manages to escape. It is so close that Archer's attack hits the dust caused by Assassin who dashed away. Rider's chain almost hits Archer. It leaves a slightly damaged stone.

"Tohsaka!", I shout.

"Yes?"

"The Servant is an Assassin"

"How do you know that?"

"Just… believe me. It's just a suggestion, but he looks suspiciously like one. It would help to attack"

Tohsaka looks at me with a tad bit of wariness.

"Hmph, fine. I'll let Archer know, but don't you think I'll let you off the hook so fast"

She forms a funnel with her hand in front of her mouth and shouts:

"Archer! The Servant is an Assassin! He will utilize dirty tricks, but probably has no chance in a melee combat"

Archer shortly looks to Tohsaka. He nods and says something to Rider. He is probably informing her as well. Rider nods as well.

Rider jumps up extremely high. Her hair floats in the air and intertwines with the stars like snakes seeking for their victim before entwining their prey. She moves her head around until she finds something. A chain bursts out of Rider's sleeve and bolts towards a nearby bush.

"RYYYUAAAAHHHRRKKK", someone screams in pain.

Rider falls down to the ground and pulls the chain back. At the end of the chain is Assassin. His ankle has been pierced by the end of the chain which looks like a dagger. She pulls him towards herself. Archer's twin blades appear in his hands and he attacks with both of them right at Assassin's head. Assassin on the other hand, has a dagger to counterattack this, although he cannot really compete with Archer in strength. Still, he manages to avoid getting severely hurt by Archer. Rider pulls him to herself regardless and he tries to get away. He is practically surfing on the sand towards Rider as his left foot is being pulled towards her while his right foot attempts to escape from the inevitable towards the opposite direction. With his one hand, he tries to get rid of Rider's chain, but it is too deep in his ankle to remove it that fast. The sliding causes sand to whirl up, effectively darkening the area. Tohsaka, Sakura and I even hold up our hands against all the sand that reaches us, even though we are on the other side of the beach.

Finally, Rider pulls the chain out of the storm and with her other hand she throws a chain against… air.

The black creature emerges from the sand. Around seven meters away from each Archer and Rider. He is in between those two.

"How did you reject my chain? It is simply impossible for an opponent like you to avoid to Servants"

Strangely, Assassin deeply breathes in and laughs.

"Hah, let's say luck has sided with me. Just in time, I acquired the thing I lacked most: Intelligence", Assassin says in a calm deep voice.

What does he mean by that? Does that mean he was stupid before? Tohsaka interrupts my train of elevated thoughts.

"Archer, attack him, so Rider can finish him!", she commands Archer.

Archer sprints towards Assassin, but surprisingly he dashes to the left. Still, Archer hits him with the back of his left twin blade. It causes Assassin to be blown away towards the sea. He lands next to the water. Rider jumps towards him, albeit her feet are aimed at him. It looks like a missile strike at close range. However, Assassin evades the attack and Rider's attack only hits the bare ground. The impact creates a decently sized crater and the sound hurts my ears. Unimpressed, Assassin runs towards our side. Rider chases him.

Assassin throws one dagger behind him at Rider who effortlessly blocks it.

"Stay out of my line, Emiya-kun!", Tohsaka orders me. I get aside, thus Tohsaka stretches out her left arm. She aims at Assassin and shoots at him several times, but to no avail. He is way too fast. As unbelievably fast as he is, Rider slowly comes close and closer. Assassin tries to escape his predator by dashing left and right.

I look over to Archer to see that he has a bow in his hands. He aims at Assassin. Even though I have not touched a bow in a long time, I know right now is the perfect moment to strike. Apparently, I am right, because in this very moment Archer shoots an arrow at Assassin. It is even faster than Assassin can react and he is hit in one of his arms.

"Ghhhrrrrr- damn you, Archer!", Assassin states as he comes to a halt. He is surrounded by all sides now. To his left is the sea, to the front Archer and Rider and to his back are we. We are maybe less of a threat, but it is probably enough time for either Rider or Archer to engage in an attack. Still, he maintains a distance to every party. He is breathing very heavily.

"It's over Assassin, you are outnumbered! There is no way you can flee now", I threaten him.

"Courageous boy", Assassin states without looking back, "but you might be right. I am outnumbered and too weak to engage in melee combat. I must disappoint you though, because I have one way left to flee. There is a specific reason I chose this terrain as the area of combat. It is gives me an advantage. I've played you for fools"

Suddenly, Assassin lunges to the open sea.

"Hey, wait!", Archer warns him.

It is too late. He has been consumed by the water. Still, there is something… wrong.

"Rider, Archer! Get away from the water!", I yell towards both Servants.

They are startled by my statement, but soon they leap away. The water is no longer calm and silent. It is becoming more and more turbulent, the currents becoming unpredictable. The sea parts away as something huge emerges from the sea in the distance. It takes a few moments until the shape is clear. It is… a boat?! A giant boat sitting at top of the water. On the ship bow is Assassin. The ship rapidly advances towards us.

"We must get away from here, Senpai!", Sakura tells me.

I nod to her and we retreat as well as Tohsaka and Rider and Archer.

"Where does that ship come from?", Archer wonders.

It is a big ship that appears mostly green. Only the sails are white. On these very sails is… the same symbol like the soldiers had in the school! A seagull. I hear something firing very loudly and it is Rider who defends us from the incoming cannonball. Assassin jumps down from the ship.

"Well, well, well, how the tables turned", he says.

He is right. Assassin is the little problem. Literally. Now, we have to go against a whole ship.