Kirei Kotomine is many things, and a good man isn't one of them.

From an objective standpoint, he can be seen as one. He was a priest at the local church and gave advice to people. He's done nothing to warrant any anger from others, and never broke the laws. While some citizens who meet him do feel unnerved by him at times, ultimately Kirei has done nothing to warrant such worry. Why, he did his job admirably and is considered a decent person.

Beneath that, lied what one can call an evil but remorseful man. A human that enjoyed the pain of others yet would gladly lend a hand to another if needed. A man who diligently killed the non-humans who threatened the residents of Fuyuki yet would use them if he wanted to.

Kirei Kotomine was born like this. It was his nature, a distorted one since he was a child. A distortion many couldn't see or realize, and instead just thought he was just a silent man. Nothing more, nothing less.

'And I kept obeying him. Man, I'm an idiot.' Lancer thought with regret, as he ripped out the spear from Archer's chest. Where the heart used to be. Kotomine forcing him to use the Command Seal to ensure the bastard stayed dead. Oh, sure he was still breathing, Lancer seeing his mouth gasping and his fingers moving. However, while there are some Servants that can operate even without a heart, this guy isn't one of them. As Archer fell to the ground, eyes wide open from the betrayal, Lancer was reminded of someone else.

A woman that should have been his Master.

He didn't really know her though. All he knew was that she had the brightest smile on her face when she saw him. Lancer had been about to greet her when suddenly, she died.

Arm ripped off, bleeding exponentially. All because of that priest who didn't even show guilt and just smiled. Taking control of the contract with Lancer unable to do anything but watch. Obey him as what a Servant should do.

"Kill Shirou." Now Lancer was about to kill the only people who could probably stop this disaster. He saw the amount of Grimm down here and knew that thing in the center was beyond bad news. That's why he joined up with them. Because for all his flaws, Lancer wasn't heartless enough to let these monsters stay and kill people for the purpose of slaughter.

'But here I am, forced to listen to the bastard I should have killed the second he took command of me.' Lancer thought as he was already in front of Shirou. 'Just how pathetic can I be?' The girl Rin tried to move Shirou away, but it's too late. Lancer was just that fast and the kid Shirou knew it. Didn't stop him from looking scared though, as the kid already got stabbed once.

Lancer's spear was just an inch away from going clean through his heart.

Shing!

Only for the spear, to thankfully, be deflected by Saber herself. While she looked pissed, she also gave Lancer a look of pity. Where she then asked, "Crummy Master?"

"Got it in one." Lancer then bent the spear somehow in a way that naturally defined physics, the sharp end already headed towards Saber's face. She bent backward and narrowly avoided having a hole through her head, and then began launching a series of strikes with her sword while Lancer reluctantly fought against her. The Command Seal forcing his body to move while Shirou fell down on the ground, gasping.

'I-I almost-!' Phantom pain came to his chest, as he remembered what it was like when he first got stabbed. It wasn't funny, and he nearly got killed had it not been for Saber. Saving him at that last moment.

"Archer!" Though it couldn't be the same for Archer. The Servant on the ground, breathing weakly as blood poured out of his wound. His Spirit Origin broken where despite still having a Master it meant nothing as he was dying. Or, vanishing away back to the throne where he would be sent elsewhere as per always. All while he saw the Grimm still running at them, and some great evil left to do who knows what while he went away.

'Just great.' Archer thought as he saw Rin running toward him. Her eyes looking a little watery as she rushed toward his side, with a pang of pain coming out of him.

"Hold on Archer." Rin then told him as she then looked down at the wound he had. "I-i can help. Maybe I c-can stop the wound." How admirable, yet naive all the same.

"Rin." Archer slowly said, ignoring the pain and the noise being made from Saber and Lancer's battle. Assassin stayed behind knowing he had to unless he wanted the Grimm from behind to get them. Already running towards them to slow them down. "It's…too late for me." Archer told his Master.

"What, no way!" Rin then held her Command Seals. "I can-I can just use these to-"

"Waste them for nothing." The Grimm were coming closer. Saber was too busy dealing with Lancer, and Assassin, for as fast as he is, can't handle all these numbers himself. Forcing himself, despite the pain, Archer began standing up to Rin's shock.

"What are you doing?"

"My job." Is the answer as Archer's eyes focused on the Grimm in front of them. His eyes wandered to Rin and how scared she looked, not because of those pests, but for him. 'Hehe.' Archer thought as he then smiled at Rin, despite how weak he felt. 'I guess she did like me after all.' He then focused back on the approaching Grimm heading towards them. With the huge numbers here, they could easily overtake the city by storm and spread out. Killing everyone, including Rin.

He won't let that happen. But if he was going to do this, he'd need help. "Rin." He called out to his Master. "Use the remaining Command Seals and power me up. To the max." If he was to ensure Rin survived and even the others, he needed as much power as possible. He won't last long at this rate.

"..." Rin saw the Grimm and knew what he wanted. This will kill him though much faster, but she held her hand up and obeyed. Saying, "Archer," She looked at him in the eye, where despite the fact he was dying he smiled for her. It was wonderful. "Kill all of them with all you're might."

The final Seals vanished, and Archer felt himself being empowered. The magic flowing through his body while he closed his eyes. His reasons for being here, to once change the past so he no longer lived the miserable life he did. But he would forgo all of that if it meant saving Rin.

The Grimm, sensing the powerful magic, shrieked as they ran even faster. Saber saw this but could do nothing as Lancer continuously tried to get through her to get at Shirou. Hindering her, yet at the same time she also stopped him from doing any sneak attacks on Archer who was clearly about to do something to save them. No doubt his Master wanting Archer stopped. In any case, it was best to begin his preparations. Before he did though, Archer wanted to know something.

"Shirou." He spoke to Shirou, who listened at Archer's words.

"Yeah?"

"Tell me. Do you still want to be a hero?" The ground began to shake, and those glowing red eyes had them on their sights. Well, he had his eyes on them to, with no mercy either.

"What are you asking exactly?" Shirou questioned Archer's motives.

"Simple really." Archer talked as he focused all the mana on him for one final attack. Knowing it'd be his death. "You've tried to be a hero but look where it got you." Archer referred to all of Shirou's failures.

"Beaten up by Servants who outclass you. Incapable of stopping the bad guy with your own two hands. Incompetence with magecraft, the very thing needed to battle Masters. Kidnapped by Illya, incapable of saving your friends and allies like Ozpin. Not to mention losing your own arm." Yes, all of this was true. Throughout the war Shirou hasn't been able to do anything proper with his own two hands.

To say he did anything worthy as a hero is a lie.

He's been facing all these enemies but lost because he wasn't a fighter or someone who had skill. He was an ordinary person just a while ago who couldn't even project right. Even when Ozpin came and gave him aura, the lack of time to truly train showed when he got defeated so easily.

In the end, for all that Shirou did to be a hero, setback and failure was all he faced. Where Sakura herself, a person he considered a friend, became the enemy while Grimm are destroying his city. Now here he was, unable to do a damn thing to help as Saber risked her life to protect him.

"So, tell me, Shirou Emiya," Archer finally had the time to turn around, where his own eyes met Shirou's. "Do you still wish to be a hero?"

Shirou has been faced with this question before. When told if he wanted to quit by Saber herself and giving her the answer, he had. But it was strange, as despite all the points Archer made, Shirou found himself believing…that question wasn't truly aimed at him. If anything, it felt like the question Archer asked is for someone else.

"..." Shirou let out his breath and stood up. Ignoring the dangers coming towards him and the others, he said, "I have no doubt I'll find failure even after this." Archer narrowed his eyes. "But that doesn't mean I'll just quit." Shirou looked straight at Archer while showing his resolve through his eyes. The Servant seeing it as Shirou continued to speak out.

"This world can be cruel. And in a way, to be a Hero of Justice that saves everyone…can be naïve." All those setbacks Shirou faced told him that much. Despite his desire to save, people died like Ozpin, and problems reared up when nobody wanted them. "This war showed me that to be someone to save everyone…is impossible."

Archer, despite logically knowing this, for just a bit…Looked disappointed by the answer. "However," So it was a surprise to hear Shirou continue on. "That doesn't mean I have to stop trying."

That's right. This war time and again showed that trying to be a hero was not easy. Hell, the Servants here are testaments of that fact. Tragedy, war, loss, some of these Servants faced these things and despite being revered as heroes, ultimately, they gained such a title after these hardships. If one tried to be a hero, then they have best be prepared for trouble and hardship to come across that path. Something Shirou knew well.

"Even so, " Shirou lifted his new arm made from his aura. "Despite the fears and the reality, I faced, if I gave up would things have gotten better?" No. If Shirou had quit since day one, chances are he'd have died. Chances are he wouldn't have met Rin and Shinji as an ally. Nor would he have gained aura which allowed him to survive. "The path of a hero is one full of obstacles, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth it."

Such simple words. Stupid really. People could curse and regret such thinking later on, if faced with a tragedy great enough to harm their core. Yet despite knowing all this, recalling the pain, for just the briefest of moments, Archer recalled the faces of those engraved within his heart.

The man who saved him and spurned his desire to save.

The sister who died but smiled even after she expired before him.

The Servant he summoned, forever remembered in his soul.

The stranger who saved his life when he 'died' and awoke with only a pendant to remember his savior.

'These ideals are still childish and will bring more harm than good.' Archer then turned around as he saw the Grimm now ever closer. Ready to tear them all apart. 'But I suppose the ideals themselves aren't worthless.' A small smile came on his lips. "You have one minute." He then spoke aloud. "After that, the rest is on you." Rin then felt all the mana Archer had drained away. Only knowing one thing that would use such power and realized what he was up to. "So, as I say…UNLIMITED BLADE WORKS!"

Light emitted from Archer's body and an invisible wave could be felt. The hundreds of Grimm that would have torn them all suddenly vanishing one by one with none of the Grimm able to stop it. All they could do was shriek as they vanished away with Archer taking them down with him. Lancer also vanished away with the Grimm, to ensure that Kotomine couldn't use him any further for the moment. The Servant smirking as he accepted it. By the end only a scant few Grimm remained within the cavern, no longer the army that could have wiped Fuyuki out or the heroes.

Shirou, seeing this, could only shake his head while saying, "Bastard. Showing off to the very end."

Rin chuckled at that, as she wiped her eyes. "Yeah. He is." Giving a warm smile, knowing that with the damage done to Archer will ensure that he won't be coming back. "He really is."

"Then we should not waste any more time." Assassin said as he walked towards them. "Those pools over there, they seem to be producing more Grimm." Indeed. Archer managed to take away at least over ninety-eight percent of the army away into his Reality Marble. However, despite that immense loss, if one looked closely, they'd see the pool surrounding the unborn monstrosity in the center, more were bursting out.

"Then we better get started." Rin won't let Archer's end be for nothing. "For the time being, I need to ask you two something?" Rin faced the two swordsmen. "Do either of you have a Noble Phantasm to kill…that?" The Greater Grail, whatever became of it, has allowed the slow creation of some abomination that produced Grimm. It was also massive, and Rin doubted she could actually destroy it. Thus, leaving the Servants to hopefully deal with it.

"No." Assassin told her. "While my blade can cut through the skin of this abomination, it's unlikely it will kill it." His sword was meant to cleave men, not giant creatures. Kojiro also felt that it would be pointless against this strange being. Which left Musashi who twirled some of her hair.

"I do have one Noble Phantasm. Albeit an imperfect one." One she used when helping that girl on that island. Defeating those Oni while also facing a grudge from the past.

"Is it powerful?" Shirou asked with Musashi waving her hand in a so-so manner.

"Basically put, I gather a whole bunch of energy into my blades and shoot it out like some super beam of sorts." Her attempt at attaining the power above one itself. The power of zero itself. "It's not my ideal Noble Phantasm," Musashi held both her blades, which shone. "But it does kill my enemies and is super fancy."

Kojiro tilted his head. Musashi, fancy? My how the man has changed by acting in this realistic disguise as a woman.

"Think it can kill that." Shirou looked at the creature that gave him visions of the past. Still feeling sick from looking at that hole above it.

"Not sure. But if I pour enough power, it might cause so much damage it dies anyway." Musashi didn't really see herself killing this thing with her imperfect Noble Phantasm. However, she's tested it before on other beings and creatures. Some would be vaporized; others would be missing a lot of their body. She tested it on a mountain before, and a huge gouge was left behind. So, it should work on this creature and the few Grimm popping up.

"Then you might as well get to it." A screech could be heard, coming from the outside. The Wyvern no doubt, and whatever Grimm were out there. "Better to finish this quick and fast before the Grimm comes as reinforcements."

"Got it. Step back." Everyone did, as they went behind Musashi as she held her blades out. The swords began to shine while Musashi's outline glowed just a bit. Her sword ki being focused into her blades, as she poured in her power to cause as much damage as possible to that monstrosity.

While Shirou and Rin thought this was amazing, their expressions couldn't match the confliction of awe and confusion on Kojiro. As a swordsman, he knew things about the sword the humans didn't know, and also knew of Musashi and his capability. As such, he was shocked that his hated rival had this much power.

'Hm.' Kojiro thought with a smirk. 'When we fight, it seems it'll be more fun than I believed.'

Four lights escaped Musashi and as she raised her blades together, a beam of energy burst from them creating a pillar of light. Then, for some weird reason Shirou and Rin swore they saw the visage of a massive four-armed demon with his own blades before it vanished. Must be their imagination, while Kojiro's jaw just dropped. Musashi's eyes then opened, as she faced the being that was clearly the root cause of the Grimm and who knows what else. With the Grimm themselves, despite their normal hostility, actually backing away.

For all their lack of self-preservation aside from the elder ones, the young Grimm always attacked. Yet here and now, they began fleeing as even the youngest realized this power would be their very end. Something Musashi will do starting now.

"Alright then," She then roared out as she lifted her weapons high and the light glowing brighter. "Time for you all to die! Face the power that wishes to touch zero!" Musashi then swung down her two blades with the pillar of energy following suit. The light burning bright with the Grimm that were in the way shrieking as they felt themselves instantly die out.

As for the being, the one known as Angra Mainyu, it realized the light was a threat. It could do nothing however to stop it itself though, as it wasn't even born. All it could do, with what little self-awareness it even had, was watch as the light was ready to consume it and likely destroy it. Shirou, Rin, and Kojiro, all watching what would finally put an end to everything.

Then…the pool of Grimm moved.

FWWWSSSHHHHHHHHH!

All the liquid that had been poured out from the hole suddenly surged forward. Condensing all around as if it were alive, and in some ways it was. This liquid brought forth the Grimm into existence, and as such had a type of will that allowed it to recognize that the unborn being was its greatest chance at killing humanity and all they built. As such, all the Grimm liquid moved and then erupted like a massive geyser.

The liquid slamming against the beam in its attempt to stop it.

The four, with Musashi the most, shocked by such a thing as her attack landed and slammed into the vile tar-liquid and slowly burned it away from existence. The great beam still continued on, yet hindered by the liquid until eventually, it finally vaporized it and slammed into the alamagration of curses that has yet to be allowed its own birth. The damage had been done however, as when the light vanished and everyone could see, they saw what was done.

"Shit." With Rin gritting her teeth as she saw that while that abomination had a nasty burn-mark on it, it was alive and well. That liquid had tanked most of the attack's power to save the creature. "Musashi," She then called out to Saber. "Can you do it again?"

Musashi breathed out and looked at her swords. "Yeah." She told Rin. "But it'll be weaker compared to before."

"You might as well do it anyway." Shirou told her. "Look!" Musashi saw what he meant, as the hole was still releasing the Grimm liquid down. However, it was doing it at a slower rate meaning they needed to act fast. While Musashi, if she chose to attack, Noble Phantasm would be weaker, wait too long and the hole will ensure enough liquid is produced for more Grimm.

"Alright." Musashi nodded. "Let's do this!" Musashi got ready to launch her attack again. While she did that Rin looked at Shirou.

Telling him, "Don't just stand there. Power her up!"

"Huh?" At first the Master of Saber was confused. Then Shirou looked at his Command Seals and realized what Rin meant. "Right. Got it!" Shirou then held out his hand, where he then focused on the Command Seals. To give Musashi the power-up she needed to stop this monster. "Saber!" He shouted as his Command Seals glowed briefly. "By this Command Seal, I-"

"Will do nothing." A voice unknown to anyone then said, where a beam of a rainbow-colored light came out of nowhere. Slamming into Musashi who screamed as it burned through her back and exited through the other side. With blood bursting from the wound like a popped water balloon.

"You!" Kojiro turned with anger. Loathsome as he is towards his hated rival, to use such dishonorable tactics infuriated the Assassin. Reminding him of his own death.

He already knew the position of this assailant, and with impressive speed, was already in front of the attacker and used his Noble Phantasm Tsubame Gaeshi onto them. In that instant, three swords burst from the world and cut down the would-be killer into three pieces. The body slumping down with Kojiro having already finished the job.

The hand then moved and raised its finger.

Glyphs appeared and Grimm hands came out and lifted Kojiro up in the air, wrapping themselves tight around him to his shock. That move should have killed the attacker, as even a Servant would die from being hacked into three pieces of meat. So, his eyes could only widen when he saw the three pieces of meat reform into one person.

Salem.

"Hello." She then moved her arm, and the Grimm limbs threw him across the cavern floor where he landed back towards the group he came with. Shirou was busy helping Saber with Rin watching Kojiro land, where she then looked at the new person that entered.

"The hell…" Then backed up as she could feel it. Massive reserves of mana coming out of her. She had to be a Servant, yet that only made Rin start questioning many things. Who was she? How can there be an additional Servant in the war? What was with the amount of mana she emitted? What is her purpose? All Rin knew was that she was no friend. Especially with a look like that.

As for the Servant, Salem, she just looked past the bothersome four and gazed at what was behind them. Feeling a dark presence that reminded her a bit too much of him yet also intrigued her. "So, this is what that man was talking about."

Her new servant told her of what she needed to know, like for starters, how she's on another planet. She wouldn't have believed such a thing if not for the fact that the moon was as whole as day. Regardless, he spoke of how she was summoned to participate in some ridiculous battle called a Holy Grail War, where the winner gets a wish. Salem didn't really believe that part, but she did believe the man when he spoke of the grand power of the Grail and how it was apparently the cause of the Grimm somehow being here.

So, she left him with his granddaughter to see if what he said was true. Whereas she went to the temple, ignoring all the death the Grimm were causing alongside havoc, she entered the temple. Quickly sensing a presence like no other alongside a powerful force of energy. She dealt with the latter, and while it had been surprising to see what was a Servant 'kill' her with an interesting display of swordsmanship, it was just small amusement.

Making a single blade turn to three to kill a person. Big deal. She had some kings butcher her into many pieces to convince them of her immortality. So being sliced apart wasn't much compared to what she saw before her. Of the presence of something that made even her feel small and fearful.

'This must also be why the Grimm were acting a bit different.' Yes, they obeyed their natural instincts, and clearly that girl to a degree. But she sensed that they were also following the commands of something else, and she now knew what. This 'Angra Mainyu' as her servant, Zouken he called himself, told her about. She didn't know all the details since she just wanted the main details, but it's clear that this thing is a powerful force. One that has yet to be born.

"Mmm." Salem grinned as she let herself bask at this horrific yet beautiful sight. Her eyes also observing the hole which led to somewhere beyond here. "Perhaps this can be of use after all."

She just needed to do one thing first.

Looking away from the unborn creature, Salem turned to the four individuals, two Servants and two humans. The boy glared at her but was busy taking care of the female Servant. The other two just stood doing nothing, clearly realizing they needed a plan before they acted. Well, time for their preparations to go to waste. With her hand raised and this new grand power of hers overflowing within her body, Salem gave them a slight grin.

"Good-bye." Then like so, a concentrated flame came out and headed towards the four. The two humans screamed as they were then consumed by her fire. By the time she let up, only the burnt ground is seen while at last some Grimm were being born. "Two down," Salem turned as she recalled what the man said. That the other Servants needed to be taken down to gain a wish. "More to go."

Salem then turned herself into a cloud of sorts and shot forward and out of the cavern to meet up with Zouken again. Time to continue on with business.

We'll be going back to the normal Friday schedule, as I'm now going back to work. No longer am I harmed by Covid, and I was one of the luckier ones since I had a vaccine, yet STILL ended up sick. Be careful outside folks. Moving on:

Pretty close to victory, Shirou and the others were in. They were cornered, surrounded, and quite frankly some of those Grimm were old meaning they would have died. Then Archer comes, finds some peace with himself, and shows WHY he's a badass as he takes an army of Grimm into his Reality Marble. Spoiler, he's dead but in an epic fashion while one-upping Shirou.

Then we had Musashi ready to finish Angra once and for all by showing the famous 'Saber beam' that all Sabers should have. If Musashi had hit Angra Mainyu, then it would have been a happy ending for all.

Too bad Salem came and got in the way. Zouken tells her what was up (but not everything of course), where she comes and pretty much kills everyone. So yeah, the story is done. It's over. We have just hit the bad end…

Pff. As if heroes truly die. Until Next Time.