While Grimm were spread across all over Fuyuki, that wasn't to say they were everywhere in general. It was only thanks to this that the remaining officers around managed to evacuate the people. Even certain gangs and yakuza were aiding the evacuations as people desperately got on vehicles and drove off. Only those who didn't have any form of transportation either had to go on foot, wait, or got killed.

As such, one area was somewhat safe for the time being. A place that had been abandoned for a slight while now. But still having the supplies needed to live in and the comforts of home.

"Nice to see this place hasn't been ransacked." Lancer then kicked down the door much to Shirou's anger. In his hand, the keys to the house.

"Oh, come on." Shirou muttered as he then entered while cursing a bit. Following him is Rin and Musashi, who let themselves in while Shirou went to the kitchen to make some food. The girls sitting in the living room while Lancer decided to relax but still kept his guard up just in case.

"I suppose this is a decent enough place to start planning." Rin said, secretly glad as well since the Matou home is compromised and her home could be the same. That, and Shirou's house gave a nice comfy feeling anyway.

"Yeah, it is." Musashi grinned. "Hey Master, can you make some food?"

"Sure." Shirou called out to her. "Just give me some time and it'll be done." The young Master then opened some cabinets, glad to see nothing had expired. He'll probably make some burgers, being in the mood for that.

Though as Shirou started cooking, Rin just sighed as she looked out the window. Seeing the flames and smoke, while occasionally seeing some flying Grimm a great distance away. The magus then saw a remote control and grabbed it. While she didn't like tech, she could still use some basic stuff like this and turned the television on. I only gave static and flipping through the channels showed not much else at all.

"That doesn't bode well." Lancer then came in. "Guess the Grimm must have attacked some powerlines or whatever."

"It's more than just that." Rin grunted as she leaned back on her chair. "Right now, those things are probably crawling everywhere and destroying whatever they could see." Humans in this case. "Even worse, safe to say we failed in destroying the corrupt Grail."

Damn those Grimm ghost things. If those freaks weren't there, maybe Shirou could have commanded Saber to attack again. Instead, they had to run since apparently those Grimm could force death onto their victims as Lancer proclaimed. Which reminded Rin something as she looked at her new Servant asking, "How are you feeling?" Lancer looked at her. "One of those things entered you."

"Doing fine already." Lancer responded. "As a Servant, those things couldn't actually harm me. I did feel some damage along with the creeps voice, but that's about it." Lancer then frowned. "Still, from what I felt those creatures, when they enter a body, they cause all body functions to actually cease."

The heart stopped beating. Blood flow began entering a standstill. Brain functions dipped down until there was almost nothing. The body itself actually became a lot colder as it stopped emitting heat. If anything, a person may as well be dead unless someone had the right equipment to restart the body before it truly died.

"Troublesome." Rin mutters. "Leaving was the right choice after all. Especially since I had no preparations for that."

"You can prepare for instant death?" Shirou then called out from the kitchen as he set the pot down with oil and started pre-heating it. A bit surprised to learn that Rin can apparently stop an instant death move.

Rin explained saying, "There are some spells one can use. Usually for evil spirits, though those Grimm should count." Maybe, since despite the similarities to wraiths the Grimm were a subset of different creatures. "Either way, I'll try and prepare something to ensure we don't get possessed."

"Neat." Musashi likes that idea. "This means we can gain an advantage, right?"

"I can only hope so. But the problem is that damn thing keeps producing more Grimm." Rin still remembered seeing how those monsters burst from the mud. It reminded her of another legend, one involving a myth of genesis. A Goddess that supposedly helped make the world before she was killed off by a warrior who used an ax.

"An army of monsters, no problem." Lancer gave a thumbs up. "I have a Noble Phantasm that can actually help, and once the other missy is charged up, her Noble Phantasm can help too." What Lancer referred to is one of the other Noble Phantasms his Gae Bolg can use, alongside Saber's own incomplete version. Both of their attacks could wipe out entire armies, which included armies made of monsters.

"Great then." Shirou, trying to remain optimistic, then said. "That means if we time it right, we can destroy the Greater Grail to ensure no more Grimm are mass produced."

"I suppose that would be for the best." This is actually the best course of action, as far as Rin could tell. "Still, it'd be nice if we have more back-up."

"Assassin is probably still there." Lancer says recalling the swordsman. "Although I have no idea about Berserker and Rider."

"Oh yeah, those two." Musashi then frowned when she recalled Rider. Or more importantly, Zouken. "Ignoring Rider for now, Berserker should be on our side still."

"As a rodent." Rin pointed out. Shirou then came in with some drinks which he gave to everyone. Rin takes it and drinks it up. After giving a small thanks to Shirou, she says, "Besides. By, Illya's kidnapped, and Berserker should be far away since Shinji left."

"Huh?" Stopping his cooking, Shirou asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"I made it so that Shinji and Berserker could leave." Rin explains to them. "With Shinji having lost Rider and Berserker the way he is, they can't be of any use to us." Just a big load that shouldn't even be bothered with. He's probably left the city by this point, meaning it was just them.

SMASH!

As if to defy those expectations, suddenly the roof collapsed.

Lancer got his weapon out, thinking this was an enemy attack. Musashi also took out her own blades, not wishing harm for her Master and her newfound allies. Rin just stood back, ready to allow Lancer to fight to defeat whoever this was.

"Ahhhhhhh!" Shirou came out with his jaw wide open and pain in his eyes. His roof smashed and the living room now a complete wreck.

"Uhh." Suddenly, a familiar whining voice can be heard. One that then threw up as a body landed on the ground. Another giggled as she also landed. The last then grunted, where when the dust settled the glorious body of Heracles was seen. Everyone in the living room only watched in silence.

"There's a door right there!" Except for Shirou who shouted at the three. Angry that they ruined his house which had somehow withstood what may as well be the coming apocalypse. Come on, couldn't these guys use their common sense? Doors were made for a reason, and Shirou wasn't exactly rich either.

"Oni-chan!" Not noticing his plight, Illya then ran to Shirou and hugged him. "I'm so glad you're okay." She yelled.

"I-Illya!" The girl smiled as she looked at her brother.

"?" Then she noticed a glowing arm attacked to him. "Huh…EH?" Illya backed away. "Y-Y-You have an arm?"

"Bluh!" Shinji continued emptying his stomach while Heracles just stood there. It seems things were becoming a little messy. Growling, Rin stood up to give these bastards a piece of her mind.

Crash!

The window then shattered where Rider came through it. Shirou screaming on the inside as his house was now facing so much damage already. Musashi got her blades ready, since last she checked Rider is an enemy. So, it was surprising when Rider said, "Is everyone okay?" Then Rider realized everyone inside and how the house is all ruined on the inside. "Hm. I see." She nodded. "It seems everything is okay."

"No, it isn't!" Shirou pointed at her in anger. "Do Servants not understand what a door is?"

Another loud sound is heard and breaking through the back door two people came inside as if they owned the place. A tall man with long hair and a girl wearing a hood which covered her face. "We heard some noise." The man said. "Is everything alright?"

Then he saw everyone in the house from Musashi holding Shirou back to Heracles just looking at them. All the way to some guy throwing up and the Tohsaka girl looking as if she's about to burst a vein.

"Master." The girl then says as the mood becomes much awkward. "I don't think everything is okay."

"Agreed." The man said, as the strangest gathering in Fuyuki has occurred. All while Shirou lamented on the state of his house.

"Alright then. Let me see if I have everything right." Once things calmed down, Rin decided to get right to the root of the matter. Everyone sitting down across the living room, with the Servants standing behind their respective Masters while also keeping their guard up. Shirou, while still mad at the damage done to his house, served everyone drinks and some food which everyone was eating.

"First, we have Shinji and Illya. The former who actually found her." In response to Rin's words, Shinji puffed his chest with pride. Taking all the credit since he did do a good job himself. Despite being smug, Shirou did give him a nod of approval with Shinji's ego growing again.

"Hmph." Illya just looked annoyed.

"Then thanks to Illya's quick thinking, she used a Command Seal to revert Heracles back to normal." Heracles growled with Illya nodding as she patted Hercules's leg. Showing herself to be also just as smug as she had turned what should have been a tiny squirrel into a powerful Servant again.

"Now we have the most powerful Servant active again." Illya bragged while Lancer rolled his eyes and Musashi wanting to fight Heracles again. If only to see how she'd fare against him again while El Melloi II gulped a little. After all, to see one of the greatest Greek Heroes here and alive, while also looking rather terrifying, put El Melloi II in unease.

"Sure, we do." Rin gave a half-hearted reply but relented otherwise. "Anyway, we then have Rider here," Said Servant just stood behind El Melloi, who Rin is surprised to see. Having never thought that she'd see the famous teacher here in Fuyuki, along with a rather cute girl. "Who happens to be with El Melloi II and his assistant, right?"

"Indeed." Gray gave a proper bow while she stood next to her teacher. "I help sir whenever there is trouble."

"Meaning you guys were here with the sent magus from the Association." Rin said with the two nodding. "Right, anyway. So, Rider," Rin looked at the rather cool mystery vibe Servant. "Last I recall, you were with Zouken. But now you're with El Melloi II, your contract with Zouken broken I assume."

"Correct. Not that I know how though." Rider then gave a quick explanation of what occurred. "One minute I was forced to obey that vile man. The next thing I know, our contract is broken and I began losing mana."

"Where I then made a contract with her." El Melloi II then said as he recalled how he met Rider. Where she would have faded away, until he ensured she wouldn't. It's rather strange that he gained a Rider Servant again. He'd have preferred him as his Servant, however, El Melloi II knew letting go of a valuable ally is idiotic. Especially since he needed to know what's going on here.

"Uh-hu." As curious as Rin is about what occurred with Rider, more important stuff needed to be discussed. At the very least Rider is back on their side again. "Cool. Great. That should be pretty much everything. Oh, especially when Illya told us that apparently the Einzebern's have decided to screw the Holy Grail on their own!"

When Shinji told them what Illya told him, Rin had been more than a little upset. Why wouldn't she? To learn that one of the creators of the Holy Grail War, the family who made the best homunculus, epically screwed up and turned the Holy Grail into what is essentially a cursed bomb. Even El Melloi II muttered at the stupidity of what the family did with Illya unable to really retort, let aside defend her family.

'And no doubt having the Grimm liquid added to the mix made things any better.' Rin rubbed her head in annoyance. Still, at the very least she now knew more than yesterday. "So, I guess that's everything, unless anybody else has something to add." Rin checked to see if anybody did.

"We should be good. Granted, I do have questions of my own, but they can be answered later." El Melloi the second then smoked and let out a breath. "Particularly, solving the problems involving this Sakura girl, the new Servant, and of course the Grimm spawning from the corrupt Grail. Uhh." El Melloi II groaned. "The fourth Holy Grail War wasn't nearly as bad as this one."

"You were part of a Holy Grail War?" Shirou asked with some interest, with Musashi joining in.

"Was it awesome?" Musashi asked.

"Did you have cool battles?" Lancer also wanted to know about the Servants of the past and if any of them were worth facing.

"Guys. Really." Rin admonished them for getting off topic. She then turned to El Melloi II asking, "Was my father as cool as he was during the fight?"

"Really Rin?" Illya rolled her eyes though held back on asking about her mother and father. Because right now, they needed to get to solving the big problems here. "Let's focus."

"Uh, right. Yes, of course." Rin coughed while El Melloi II sighed in relief. No way he wanted to explain the ongoing events of the fourth Holy Grail War. The chaos, the trauma, his epiphany, the weirdos, and the dream and courage he gained from it all.

'That, and some things are left better unsaid.' El Melloi II thought of the times he screamed when on Rider's carriage. That wouldn't make for a good story at all. Gray giggled a bit as she knew what her teacher was trying to hide. How cute.

"Anyway!" Rin decided to get back on point and focus. "It seems we all have the same goal." She referred to everyone in this room. "Stop the Greater Grail from making more Grimm, and defeating Zouken, his new Servant, and…Sakura." Shirou and Lancer noticed how Rin spoke the last word softly. Granted, Lancer didn't know the reasons why and neither did Shirou, yet even so, both could tell there was something up with her.

"Not to mention Kotomine." Illya reminded everyone of their other enemy. "He might not be as dangerous as a Servant, but he's still around."

"Yeah. Him." Rin grunted while El Melloi II shivered a bit. While the two had different thoughts of the man, neither had good opinions of him. More so since they learned Kotomine had used Lancer to try and betray them at a critical moment. Had it not been for him, the Greater Grail could have been destroyed and the problem with it no longer around. "When I get my hands on him, I'm kicking his ass!" Rin declared.

"I'll help as well." Lancer then grinned. "I have a rune that will work wonders on his body." Wonderful agony that is. Though really, Lancer would be more likely to stab his heart and be done with it after his new Master kicked his ass.

"Ahem. Barring torture fantasies aside, we should probably get started on first dealing with the Grimm, no?" Musashi then tried to steer the topic back to what they were originally talking about.

"She's right. We need to destroy the Greater Grail to stop the Grimm, which should also cause all Servants to vanish. Maybe even free Sakura as well." Shirou had listened very carefully when Shinji spoke up about Angra Mainyu. How apparently, Zouken did something to his friend Sakura, and used her like some sicko to implant a broken shard within. Causing her to become an imperfect yet deadly Lesser Grail while becoming deranged.

But if they destroy the Greater Grail, then everything should be solved. At least, he hoped so.

"That would be the ideal course." El Melloi II actually agreed with such a plan. "All Servants, no matter how powerful, ultimately cannot live in our realm without mana." From the weakest like Rider to the strongest such as Berserker. Despite the fact these familiars could crush any human and even countries, they held a massive weakness. Mana.

Without that, even if they had an anchor, they'd vanish away like dust. In a way, no different from the Grimm meaning by taking out the Greater Grail, the very item that brought them here, all of them, even this new deadly Servant would go away. Where this Angra Mainyu connected to Sakura would also vanish which should help her out.

"Granted, we'll still have to deal with the Grimm since they don't seem reliant on mana to exist." El Melloi then crushed his cigarette and put it on a napkin. "However, they'll be easier to handle once they can no longer bolster their numbers. Though from our discussion, you mentioned many Grimm are guarding the Greater Grail."

"They are." Rin grunted. "And some of them seem to have deadly powers, but nothing some preparations can't fix."

"Then taking out the Greater Grail would be our best chance." El Melloi II gave his seal of approval. "However," Too bad just because everyone agreed, didn't mean the world would obey. "We should be ready on the off chance we face any of our enemies."

A former Burial Agent member from the Church, capable of defeating magus and Dead Apostles. With skill that would put most of everyone here aside from Gray and the Servants to shame.

An ancient magus with a sick tendency to use and treat people as tools. Having somehow regained his youth by devouring an unknown magus called Ozpin. Who, from what El Melloi II learned, came here to deal with the Grimm problem. Shame he was gone, seeing as the Clock Tower teacher wanted to ask him questions.

Then there were the three main threats.

The Grimm, who while normally would be considered cannon fodder, had a few powerful ancient threats like the Wyvern. The girl turned mad Sakura Matou, who has the power to kill Servants. Even manipulate Grimm to a degree. Then the final Servant, whose identity is unknown. With power that apparently surpassed the Caster of this war. There's no denying any of these enemies could pop up and potentially hinder their goal. Meaning just going to the cavern where the Greater Grail is, won't be a simple walk.

"He's right. Thankfully, we already have Servants to help us out against them when they get in our way." Rin agreed with the man while also hiding her slight joy she's with a famous magus like him. Sure, he's horrible at actual magecraft, but he's also a great teacher. Plus, he's kinda handsome.

"?" El Melloi II got confused when Gray got closer to him. Shirou also just felt a bit jealous for some reason. Giving a slight glare at this somewhat handsome long-haired man where Gray gave a similar glare towards him. Now El Melloi II just felt awkward.

Rider just sighed.

"Well then, we may as well get started in heading towards the Greater Grail." Lancer then spoke, deciding that continuing to talk should be over and action is needed.

"Huh? But what about these killer ghosts!" Shinji then points out, having heard of this nasty Grimm.

"I can make a rune for that." Lancer chuckled as he then spun his spear. "It'll protect you from those things."

"Besides, staying here won't help anyone." Musashi also wanted to move out. "If anything, we should strike while the iron's hot."

"Probably. But for now, we should rest." Rin then yawned. "As much as I'd like to continue on, I'm just tired." Shirou looked like he wanted to argue, however he would be lying if he said he isn't tired. Because the truth is, he's been active for so long his legs felt weak when they moved.

"Agreed." El Melloi II nodded. "You Servants might be alright with all of this moving, however we humans can't exactly pull all-nighters so easily. I've tried." Where Waver then suffered the price for it. Having once played his favorite game for an entire night without even stopping. His eyes burned and he couldn't be bothered to leave the floor at all.

"Then we move out in the morning." Illya said while hearing a howl along with everyone else. "Hopefully by then, before the end of the day, we'll have stopped this invasion while ensuring no more tragedy happens in this city."

"Yeah. Same here." Shirou agreed as he turned to his home. Feeling pain as he saw the horizon filled with smoke and hearing the Grimm. To think, after everything that has happened it's only been just a single day. Now it's night and there were probably many people suffering, unable to find salvation as they were hunted. With Sakura, wandering with a new hatred for the world.

Shirou truly hoped that as Illya said, by tomorrow, everything will be over.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" Inside an alleyway, where blood could be seen along with ripped apart clothes, Zouken cursed at his misfortune as he regained his youthful body again. "Damn you Ozpin!" A body that seemed to be a curse.

Gripping his head, Zouken snarled as he spat on the corpse he devoured, only to instantly feel guilt at the action he had done. Repulsed even while realizing just what kind of monster he is. "No. No!"

Zouken then slammed his fist against the wall and cracked it, his own aura shimmering. Not that it stopped his anger. "These aren't my feelings. They are his! His! Not mine." Zouken then gripped his naked chest, seeing as when he lost many of his worms, he couldn't make proper clothing from them. "I…I need to get rid of his influence."

These emotions were holding him back. From fulfilling the heaven's feel. Had it not been for those emotions, Zouken could do whatever he wanted. Instead, he's now feeling pathetic emotions like regret and sorrow, guilt and disgust, self-loathing and denial. All because of Ozpin holding back his full potential.

"Or am I holding myself back?" Zouken then asked himself, a look of horror on his face. "Everything I've done, could it have been for nothing?" A single memory then came to him, involving a beautiful woman from his past. "Maybe…Maybe all I have been doing is just prolonging my suffering and killing myself with these horrible actions."

Suddenly any regret became replaced with fury. "OZPIN!"

"No need to yell. I'm right here." Zouken then turned around, where he then saw him. The same face, the same clothes, the same eyes. While transparent and ghost-like, Zouken recognized the figure as Ozpin, the man he ate to steal his immortality.

"You." Zouken hissed.

"Indeed, hello Zouken. Or is it Makiri Zolgen? That is what you were called, no?" Zouken ran at Ozpin, as if trying to kill him. Only for his hand to pass through Ozpin who dared used that name.

"Damn little rat. How did you survive?" Zouken then questioned with aggression. "That ritual should have made your identity cease."

"Is that what it does? I didn't know." Ozpin answered honestly. "However, you said you tried to erase my identity…which one?" Zouken blinked at his words. Then snarled again with a dark glint in his eyes.

"Don't play the fool befor-" Ozpin interrupted him there.

"You say that, but I'm not lying." He told Zouken. "In the end, I did feel…myself slip after I got devoured. Similar to whenever I died and waited to find a new host." Every time Ozpin died, it wasn't as if he would gain a new host instantly. As such, in the in-between moments, Ozpin couldn't think let alone be aware of his situation whenever he died. Almost as if he was sleeping until eventually, he woke up again. "But in the end, you only accounted for one identity, not the whole. And eventually…I simply woke up."

"Graauh!" Zouken shrieked. "You think you can come and mock me. Do you have any idea who I am? The power I wield!?"

"All I see is a pitiful man who fell under his own despair and lashed out against the world. Turning himself into a monster." Ozpin told Zouken without any fear. "Who has long forgotten himself and is nothing more but a vile creature who brought his own suffering onto themselves."

Zouken's body began to shake. His own 'flesh' shrieking as it unraveled to reveal the many bugs and worms beneath it. So upset and angry that some nearby Grimm came and tried to attack him.

Zap!

They were killed instantly, yet it did little to stop Zouken's anger. "You think you can manipulate me? Insult me?!" Zoukenhas felt anger before, however he can usually get rid of it by simply harming or torturing the one who did it. Leading and manipulating them like a fool, such as his pathetic son Kairya. Even Shinji and Sakura.

"I can." Ozpin then gave Zouken a pitiful look. "Especially seeing as you try to live, but for no real purpose." Ozpin then shaked his head. "Well, you did have one before. You just long forgotten about it ever since you caused your own body and soul to rot. All on your own."

"Shut up!" Zouken saw visions. Visions of the past that he couldn't quite recall. Some that he felt were familiar, yet others he couldn't quite place. All coming back to him at once. "You think these emotions of yours can fool me?"

"The ones involving her are indeed mine." Ozpin was not smiling as his eyes grew dark as he mentioned her in passing. "But everything else are all yours."

"...what?"

"Your soul was rotting, something even I didn't know was possible." Ozpin says as he continues speaking to Zouken, as if he spoke to a student who didn't know better. "Because of your rotting, you lost access to genuine emotions with only the negative ones left aside from the superficial feelings of joy whenever you hurt someone. But that all changed when you began merging my soul with your own."

That ritual did more than just give Zouken a chance at gaining immortality. It also caused Zouken the ability to regain what he lost. His old feelings.

"Now that you've regained parts of your old soul, it's only natural old feelings will come back. Feelings…that can never reconcile with all you have done." Zouken had assumed the emotions he felt were Ozpin's. In truth, they weren't Ozpin's at all. When Zouken met Salem, that actually acted as a catalyst to let Ozpin wake up then and there. Meaning all Zouken felt, the regrets, the disgust, the sorrow, all on him.

"That's…impossible." Zouken says, not believing it for a second. Thinking it must be a trick. A lie. As if a superior being like him could ever feel guilt. A magus pushed aside anything like morals and ethics for the sake of their goals.

"It isn't." Ozpin lamented towards Zouken. "In the end, everything you feel comes from the one before your current state. And if you truly don't believe me," Ozpin held out his hand. "Then let me show you."

A light then came from Ozpin's form and soon Zouken became blinded by it. Everything became white as he then heard, "Let's go back to where it all started. The origin of that naive yet pure dream you had."

Ozpin was never awake. The ritual worked as intended and suppressed Ozpin's ego until Zouken saw Salem. Causing Ozpin's soul to 'awaken' as he remembered his mission. Everything Zouken felt, as Ozpin put it, is all on Zouken himself as the man he once was feels nothing but disgust for what he became. Similar to how maybe a future self may hate their past self.

I imagine Zouken's past self, along with many readers, would indeed agree that present-day Zouken is a piece of $hit. Next chapter, a walk through the mind and heart.