"Oh, are you both just going to start this party without me?" Archer made his way into the courtyard, materializing out of thin air as he approached the two kings seated apart from one another, "If I had known there was a banquet going on, I would've brought a meal for a proper feast."

His bow was slung over his shoulder, but both Servants present knew he meant no harm. At least for the time being.

Irisviel blinked in surprise by Archer's sudden appearance, not having heard much from him in quite a while. On the other hand, Rider's master seemed to back away in fear from having witnessed such a Servant's power, especially against a foe as vicious as Berserker.

Rider hummed to himself, pulling forth another fill of wine from the barrel and drinking. He turned to Saber before looking back at the Archer approaching them with a quizzical look, "This is a banquet between kings, Archer, I wasn't sure whether or not you wanted to come."

Saber shook her head at his words, not sure whether to laugh or scoff at the red-haired brute's words. He himself barged into their quarters, ruined as it may be, right as they return from the city and had the audacity to request such a thing.

And he was unsure whether to invite Archer?

Saber was surprised she and Irisviel even agreed to this, but the opposing King seemed to be in no mood for battle. Truth be told, neither was she.

So they sat in silence, drinking from the barrel of wine the giant had brought with him, waiting for the other to speak up on the subject matters that the man wished to discuss.

"You wound me, King of Conquerors," Archer continued his approach and halting before his chosen rival, kneeling down and seating himself between the two kings, legs crossed while his hands fell in his lap, "You seem to forget that I have familiarized myself with others who wished to call themselves kings, especially an old foolish friend of mine. Besides-"

Rider held out the empty cup to the Archer in mid-speech, who grabbed it in his massive tanned hand.

"-This argument between kings is irrelevant anyway, our wish for the Grail should be all that matters," he took the empty cup from the man's hands, scooping out the dark red liquor and bringing to his lips, swigging it back and letting out a sigh, "Nevertheless, I wish to apologize for coming alone, my Master continues to be quite a coward, sequestering himself away in that manor of his."

His gaze turned to Waver as he drank once again before turning back to his Servant, "I'll admit, Rider, your Master seems to fare better than my own… you'll make a good retainer of him yet."

Iskandar only chuckled at the thought, ignoring the diminutive boy's distraught look, "You flatter me, Archer… but I'm afraid that'll get you nowhere."

Archer hummed at his answer. Smacking his lips, the Servant was satisfied with the aftertaste of the wine provided and tossed the cup to Saber, who caught it immediately. The Saber-class Servant thought back on the words of the lion-maned giant, looking back at him with a fierce determination in her eyes, "Then what do you wish for, Archer?"

The Servant of the Bow tilted his head, his eyes boring into the opposing Knight class as he shrugged his shoulders, "I would say, but what would that accomplish? If anything, your curiosity to know my wish has me piqued on what yours is, o' King of Knights."

Saber grimaced at the Archer, on the verge of retaliating with a few scathing words of her own before Rider coughed slightly. Both Servants turned their attention to the man.

"I'd like to state mine first, if only to… break the ice, I believe the saying goes," the King of Conquerors spoke. He looked between them, seeing that he now had their attention, "My wish… is to be reborn once more."

He spoke it with conviction, the fire in his eyes burning brighter than any flame of conquest ever burned before.

And that fire was directed at Archer.

Saber wore an unreadable expression upon her face, "If I may interject, Rider, I was under the impression that a man like yourself would simply wish for world conquest."

The man barked a contemptuous laugh while his Master only appeared ever more uneased from Saber's ever growing scowl, "How naive of you, King of Knights. You should know the difference between a goal and a wish."

Her eye twitched at his presumptuous tone, she opened her mouth to retort such an insult-

"Your goal is to conquer… and your wish is simply the means to attain that goal. Hah, you've failed to disappoint me yet again, Rider, not wishing for such an easy way to victory," but alas, it appeared that Archer was a faster foe in both power and words, nodding at the larger man with what appeared to be an air of respect.

Rider beat a fist to his chest, resounding off like a thunderclap, "And why would I? The world is a beautiful garden ripe for the picking, there'd be no reason not to take it for myself and taste the fruits that lie within. A life fully lived in flesh and blood to explore the wonders that this era has to offer… that is my wish."

"That… is not the way anyone should act," a voice responded, both men turned to the source of that voice, seeing that it was the girl that sat before them, looking down at her own cup with a thinly veiled look of scorn upon her face, "And even less is the conduct of he who calls himself a Heroic Spirit that has been summoned into this war. I never would have expected more from you, King of Conquerors."

"And you would know to explain the merits of a king and hero?" Archer rested his chin on a single fist, eyes gleaming curiously at the little girl's proclamation towards the both of them. He had already said that debating over kingship was pointless, but now her fiery response had his attention.

Iskandar drank from his mug, concerned but just as curious as to what Saber wished to say.

"A hero acts with the honor and nobility that one righteously gives and returns, even through such struggles," she spoke, the fire in her eyes gleaming just as brightly as Iskandar did, "The path of a hero is a path walked alone, simultaneously desecrated and formed by the lives of those that dared to fight alongside us and perished in the aftermath."

It was a simple response, one that both hero and king pondered.

"You're correct, for the most part," Archer hummed to himself, sliding his mug aside as he straightened himself back up, earning no response from Iskandar, who merely listened, "But you fail to understand the meaning behind such heroism."

Saber almost faltered as those eyes stared back at her, like two cut slabs of marble that held no room for error in the marvel that was perfection.

"A hero is not simply a hero because the people deem them to be just by happenstance," Archer's low voice sounded strange under the context of lecture, but he spoke from experience nevertheless, "A hero is the representation of human aspect, a symbol for others to fall back on when all hope is lost."

He then turned to the middling in height, directing his voice to Iskandar.

"Rider, you were known as Alexander the Great to many who have heard of your exploits. A peerless warrior and king who conquered the land from the Balkans to Persia to India," Rider nodded at her listing of his deeds throughout life. He wouldn't deny these claims, they were simply fact, "To your men, they saw you as the crystallization of the conquering spirit, your army knew no fear with every victory you claimed before your own demise. You were even worth the respect of the Persian king and your closest rival, the Persian King Darius, if I remember correctly."

Rider crossed his arms and closed his eyes, nodding his head as a slight grin appeared on his face. He was thankful for the praise received from the hero.

"And you were known as King Arthur," Archer turned to the shortest, who almost winced at the blatant proclamation of her identity, "The King of Britain and the perfected idol of nobility. The Round Table and your rule were the symbols of your heroism, despite your own fall as well."

"Being a hero is like being a king," Archer continued, holding both hands out like they were scales, "It is a double-edged sword, whether I speak from my own experience or on behalf of others I served alongside. You inspire others to fight and die on your behalf and often do you fight for them as well."

Saber shook her head, how could man who dared not to sit upon a throne know the importance of both aspects? "A king fights for her people and lives to serve her country. The path of kingship is to stand alone and deliver both justice and salvation to the people that they rule over without impartiality."

"I disagree, Saber," Rider's gaze cut sharper than any steel that had once pierced Artoria's flesh, yet she still held firm against his own judgement, "A kingdom without a king would surely fall. It would be the other way around, the people live to serve their king. They would love and be loved by their ruler in order to perform such a sacrifice for the sake of his rule."

"That is the rule of a tyrant, Rider!" a flash of emotion showed itself on Saber's face, unbridled rage at the man's way of thinking, "To live truly as a king, such feelings should be cast aside. How else would punishment be delivered upon wrongdoers if all you ever do is proclaim your love to each and every one of your people?"

The man directed his gaze at her, but even then it felt as though he seeing through her rather than at her directly, "I will admit, Saber, the rule of a king is to be seen as a tyrant, and thus a hero. To deliver your people without ever knowing them is merely an empty rule, you'd be no more hollow than a mere flower vase."

"To be a king is to no longer simply be human," she ignored his base insults and responded justly.

"Indeed," Archer replied, turning his gaze to Saber, "It is to simply stop being human, but whether to be more or less is up to the king themselves."

He stretched an arm out to Iskandar, "You live, laugh, and shout more than any more than your fellow man, loving them as though they were your own sons. Rider was known for his conquest more so than his kingship. His humanity was what made him him. But as for you-"

The other arm found itself before Saber.

"You truly were a hero and a king that delivered your people, but you tread a thorny path that no one would walk alongside," Saber's gaze faltered, eyes flickering between the two as Archer continued to dissect her views with the skill of a trained surgeon, "In a way, we are alike. The people saw us, but never truly knew us… the difference being that you made no effort to. How many your knights did you truly know, aside from their affections towards you?"

For once, the girl-king found herself unable to speak, barely able to get a single word out.

"I…"

"The King knows not the hearts of others…"

The words of Sir Tristan never meant more to her until now. She knew not the meaning of those words when they were uttered… but she realized that they had left an impression of how her men saw her.

They idolized the King like she was God Himself. Why try to figure out the intentions of God if you simply knew them to be good and righteous?

Gawain, Gareth, Tristan, Agravain, Percival, Bedivere.

Lancelot and… Mordred.

Names and faces flashed through her mind. In her lap, her hands balled into fists until they nearly bled from the pain.

She remembered herself upon that field of battle. Son and estranged father dueled upon that mountain of bodies until one finally remained, both impaled by their blades yet only one still stood. There, Artoria Pendragon was offered a chance at redemption… another that one of her knights had made off with that finally gave her the opportunity to set things right.

The Holy Grail…

'Galahad…'

Finally she spoke, her voice a faint rasp of what it once was, the guilt on her face told him the answer he needed, "And what about you, Archer?"

"Perhaps I spoke too little of myself," the giant hummed to himself, stroking his bare chin thoughtfully as he tasted for an answer from the cup in hand, "I once knew a man who desired kingship. He was a man who held similar ideals to your own, Saber, but the task to ascend the throne was too much for him alone, so he enlisted the help of others, with myself being one the men that journeyed alongside him."

Saber and Rider listened, one concerned with knowing his intentions and the other being familiar with the story being told.

"He sought for peace and prosperity, thinking on that dream of the future to attain his rule and become king. His wish became his sole obsession," he craned his neck towards the two of them, "But you both know that those two things are impossible together, correct?"

For once, both Kings agreed on that. Saber's wish for the peace of her people and Rider's longing for prosperity were two opposing sides of a coin that would never see eye to eye.

Whoever sought these two in tandem might as well have been a walking contradiction.

"But even then, he sought it out. Enlisting the help of sailors, soldiers, heroes throughout the lands that were willing to answer the call," he chuckled to himself, "And we did. I did as well. Saber, when I said that the men that heard of me never truly knew me, this man who sought to be king was the only one who ever saw me as a mere man rather than a tool of the gods."

"He was a fool and a coward, but he was the most humane man I ever knew, someone I couldn't help but respect despite his flaws," Archer muttered, silently tracing his finger along the ground. "In a way, he helped seek out that feeling of camaraderie that I had never felt until then. But alas… his dream was all for naught. He died alone, unhappy, and crushed by the very same object of his legend that helped him nearly achieve that dream."

A picture began to take shape, the demigod's finger forming a crude drawing of a boat from the makeshift sediment of dust and wine. A mighty ship with vast sails and countless oars that could beat away the waves by pure might alone.

Saber stayed silent, absorbing the words that the gargantuan man had told her, but dared not to speak even then.

"And your wish, Archer?" Rider broke the silence, speaking for Saber as they both held the same question, "What would you want of the Grail?"

"I have no need for the Grail," he answered, his voice concise but bearing only an inkling of haste, "It is simply part of my nature to answer the calls of a Master, be they divine or otherwise. Simply put, each class container of a Servant summons mere aspects of our own forms. As an Archer, this places me in my most natural state as that of a hero. Perhaps if I was a Rider or Assassin, then I would have a relevant wish."

"And what about you, Saber?"

"I…" Saber looked at her mug, drained of wine as it was, "Despite my rule, I had led my country to ruins. I had given and done everything asked of me as a king, and yet my knights each abandoned me one by one through my own faults. Despite doing what I can for my people, they still turned against me… but I know that if I had done things differently, there'd be a chance to save my homeland. I…"

"-wish I had never been king."

"...wish to avert the destruction of my kingdom," she omitted the full truth, lying through her teeth. She sighed, finally able to confess a slight modicum of her feelings.

And yet… silence overtook them. Saber was confused, the mere confession of her wish couldn't be enough to force them into silence. Unless...

"It's like you didn't learn a thing," Archer shook his head, the interest in his eyes died as he looked away, "I had hoped you'd gain something from this, King of Knights. But I'm afraid I was let down."

Saber winced at his scolding, her face flushed red in anger at his retort at her, "You dare to lecture me on the workings of kingship?"

"I didn't," he answered, "I listened to your own thoughts on kingship, even understood the meaning behind it, but never did I think that someone such as yourself had the audacity to regret their own rule."

Rider turned to Archer with surprise on his face. He too was disappointed by Saber's wish, but he never saw the man so wrathful.

"You actually had the nerve to lecture us on the tenets and merits of being a hero and a ruler, and then you simultaneously spit on your own words by admitting your own regretful nature," Archer's hands shook, running his fingers through his wild lion-esque mane, "You truly are a broken soul, Pendragon."

"I gave everything, sacrificed my own freedom for the sake of others, Archer! I'd walk that same path of damnation a thousand times over if it meant the salvation of my people."

"You only care about yourself, little girl," Archer spat, forcing Saber on the backstep as he rose to his feet, "From the very beginning, you decide the rule of your kingdom, to undo the destruction would be to undo your own rule. You may change whatever event you like, but you cannot change your own isolated nature."

"W-what…?" Saber's couldn't get a word out. Trying to disguise the true intentions of her wish and Archer had already figured it out. Just who the hell was this man?

"You say you'd walk that path of damnation a thousand times? I'd believe you, but don't you dare tell me that it was for a selfless cause. Because at the end of that road is a glorified escape to damn someone else in your place," the man shook his head, "You disgust me, Saber. You sweep away the sacrifices of your own men just for the opportunity to deny them. Your regrets had been your undoing and even then as a Servant do they continue to haunt you."

His words cut through to her like a blade to the heart. The Servant of the Sword quickly rose to her feet, "Archer-"

"Do not dare to speak with me until you can see the folly of your own actions," Archer began to take his leave, "If you knew what was best for you, take that sword of yours and fall on it, return to the Throne with at least some honor intact."

Saber's eyes widened at his words. Whatever resolve that held her heart in place had finally began to crack. Silently, ever so slightly, her body began to shake and shiver, her eyes obscured by her hair as she turned away.

No tears came, how could they? She had long since thrown away her feelings in order to rule and pass judgement without impartiality, she had been forced to do so to Guinevere after she and Lancelot's infidelity had been discovered. To pass judgement against even allies who had committed crimes had been another cross for her to bear.

And yet… she allowed it when it was merely a secret. She forgave Lancelot and continued her friendship with her queen… it was truly the height of hypocrisy.

Archer merely found a way to expose that truth to her. But she refused to let that sway her wish.

"And what of our business, Archer?" Rider queried, in no mood to speak with the girl as well but still piqued by the challenge the Servant had first proposed, "Would you not offer a duel here to test my own worthiness?"

"E-eh?!" a squeak caused the three Servants to turn away before an answer could be given, Waver quickly ran to his Servant, cowering behind the larger man, his eyes widened with fright, "W-what the hell is that!?"

The three Servants turned to the source of the diminutive young man's terror. Taking up arms at the sight of their adversary.

No… adversaries.

Seven creatures each stood atop the rooftops of the Einzbern manor, their bodies demonic, muscled, and colored in a blue-purple hide that resembled a bruise. Horns and razor sharp teeth jutted out from their faces while they each possessed a pair of shadowy bat-like wings along their spine.

Each one stood roughly as tall as Rider.

"Irisviel, get behind me!" Saber yelled, clutching her sword in hand as the three Servants backed closer towards one another. Her eyes flickered between three of them while she assumed Rider and Archer did the same.

They made no effort to attack as the homunculus rejoined her friend.

"W-what are these things?" her voice tinged with fear, yet still composed,

"Demons," Archer readied his bow, nocking an arrow but did not take aim quite yet, "Or rather… some strange imitation of them," the giant turned to his rival, "Would you like to offer these things an alliance as well, King of Conquerors?"

"I'm afraid my offer for companionship has been put on hold for now," unsheathing the spatha at his side and pushing Waver behind him, "Keep still, boy, we'll make short work of these creatures yet."

They each stepped down in unison, hitting the ground of the courtyard in a dull crash, the stony floors beneath their feet crumbling like tissue paper as they landed. With each step they took, the five that had been surrounded noticed an inky black fog begin to roll ever closer.

Until finally… they acted.

The last step they took became a leap, their bat-like wings expanded and stretched out to the sky as they took flight, disengaging from the manor as they flew off into the distance.

"I… what?" Waver whispered to himself.

"They couldn't have been Servants, perhaps a Noble Phantasm. A weak one at that," Iskander lowered his blade, "Maybe they knew they stood no chance against a true Servant… a shame, I was looking forward to a battle."

"Be careful what you wish for, Rider," Archer spoke grimly, "I don't believe they fled out of cowardice. Did you happen to know which direction they were heading?"

"What do you mea… oh…"

Rider's eyes widened as realization sank like a stone. Saber quickly caught on as well, whatever sent those things knew to hide their presence, using the entire city of Fuyuki as both a hostage and a battleground.

Immediately and without hesitation, the man raised his sword and cleaved the very air, the Gordius Wheel shortly appeared before him once again, the familiar braying of bulls growing closer as crackling electricity quickly disappeared.

"Come now, Saber," Rider looked away from her as he and his Master stepped onto his Noble Phantasm, "We shall forget this conversation held for now. What matters right this very second is that we take care of this infestation."

Saber shook her head for a moment, turning towards Irisviel, who nodded at her with determination in her eyes. With a breath, the Servant stepped into the chariot alongside the giant, looking towards the Archer, "And as for you?"

"I'll be right behind you two," he nodded to the both of them, unslinging his bow, "The safety of the city is all that matters right now."

Rider grunted in affirmation before taking the reins, snapping them as his transport quickly obeyed, the solid wheels of wood and bronze crackled and creaked to life as they were then pulled into the air with a short "Hiya!"

As they three rode off towards the city, Archer and Irisviel watched as they disappeared. The Heroic Spirit looked down at the smaller woman, who only looked back up in concern.

"What will you do now?"

His question caught Irisviel off guard, but her decision was resolute, wishing for Kiritsugu's wish to come to fruition. She would help him defend the city, "I'll go with them."

The gargantuan man looked down at her, a glint of curiosity in his eyes as he slowly nodded. Finally, he knelt down, holding his hand out to the woman. "Come then, it would take too long if you simply went on your own."

"How do I know this isn't some kind of trick?" she seemed to glare at the man, who only chuckled at her skepticism.

Archer turned his head side to side, getting a view of the manor that had been easily infiltrated before looking back down, "You'd be putting yourself at risk on the frontlines, rather than by my side away from the battlefield while our allies fight those bastards head on."

She still kept that gaze, but eventually nodded. Irisviel took the Servant's hand as he then lifted her up and sat her on his shoulder, "If you try anything clever, I will fight back."

"And I'm sure I'd lose," Archer hummed to himself in amusement, "Hold on now, this will be a… bumpy ride, I believe they say here."

As they followed behind the other two Servants, Irisviel could do nothing but pray for her husband's safety.

"Kiritsugu… please be safe…" she whispered, hoping that he would hear it by some miracle.

-oOo-

"What the hell…?" was all the Magus Killer was able to make out as the city around him was suddenly in turmoil.

The city was engulfed in a haze of fog, the streets and lights morphed before his very eyes as craters of magma sprouted forth like a burst welt on skin. The trees melted away, blue plants he didn't recognize took their place as the air grew ever more rancid and poisonous. Those unlucky enough to have been on the streets before this sudden attack fell unconscious from the fumes, whether it was truly lethal remained to be seen.

Then came the attackers. Kiritsugu had watched as one of the citizens' skin seemed to tear and burst open suddenly, a grotesque and gigantic creature crawling forth from the blood and viscera, like a snake took large for its old skin. Sporting razor sharp teeth and talons, wicked horns, batlike wings, and indigo skin… this had to be the work of a Noble Phantasm.

Kiritsugu remained in his hotel room, looking down at his Command Seals and considering summoning Saber… no, she was better off protecting Irisviel. This couldn't have been the works of Lancer, Archer, or Rider either.

That left Berserker, Assassin, and… oh…

"Caster…" the magus muttered to himself.

Click!

"Kiritsugu, are you alright?" a hand placed itself on his shoulder. His trusted associate, Maiya Hisau, took hold of his Thompson Contender after redressing herself. Kiritsugu gave the woman a short nod before taking the oversized handgun, hiding it in the folds of his clothes.

"I'm fine, Maiya," he shook his head, "We need to head to safety until this all dies down. The Servants and the Church will be able to take care of this while it blows over, besides-"

A flock of bats flew by the window, screeching as they passed back and causing the man to stumble back in fright. The most eerie part of them being the uncannily human faces that rested upon their necks...

The man regained composure and turned away, walking over to the briefcase filled with his usual assortment of weapons, "-We're in no position to fight them in the state we're in right now."

They couldn't hope to kill a demon, let alone the dozens that seemed to sprout from the streets like ants from a hill. They were everywhere, molding the earth and city to their own twisted and desired hellscape. Thus they needed to prioritize taking out a much easier target while his Servant took to the frontlines.

The crackling of lightning boomed faintly in the distance as blue flickering light peeked through the blinds of the windows. Kiritsugu smirked at the fortunate introduction, perhaps Rider would provide a well enough distraction for those creatures as well.

Nevertheless, the man reached into the case, pulling out an assortment of familiar weapon parts and assembling them back together as each seamlessly stuck with an immaculate click!

Finally, Kiritsugu latched the magazine onto the weapon at his side, the weight telling him it was loaded with approximately fifty rounds. His trusted Calico did its job against lesser enemies, and taking out a Master would simply require a distraction before his Mystic Code finally came into play.

If they couldn't take out those monsters, then they'd have to settle for the remaining Masters likely to belong to the Servants

"Iri…" he muttered to himself, pangs of pain found itself within his chest before shaking it off, hoping that his wife was safe wherever she was. Even if he knew she would eventually become the Grail, he didn't know what he'd do if she died in this horrific event.

Until then, the heart of the Magus Killer turned to steel, that cold persona taking effect once more as he and Maiya left the room.

-oOo-

"Risei, what's the situation in Fuyuki?" Tokiomi queried the Overseer, seated within the basement of his own home, speaking through that speaker-like construct he had designed for communication between allies. He had received word from Kirei that his daughter had been found wandering the city and was currently being escorted by Assassin.

He'd have to thank his apprentice later for his actions, but right now was not the time.

"Kirei has just informed me that Saber and Rider have currently entered the fray," Risei responded, his voice firm and resolute, "And that Berserker and Lancer have been eliminated."

"This is fortunate news, Father Kotomine," the Tohsaka magus smirked to himself, "That narrows down our suspect to Caster."

"Indeed. Unfortunately, it is unbecoming of me to say that I had neglected his presence throughout the War," the priest shook his head shamefully, "However, I'll make amends."

"Oh?" this got Tokiomi's attention, "And how will you do that?"

"That should be obvious, Tohsaka-kun," Risei's voice was still resolute, but bore a twinge of amusement that even the magus managed to catch on, "I will be issuing an official order throughout the battle. Whoever manages to kill Caster… will receive an additional command seal."

Despite the kind and devout nature that Risei Kotomine possessed, he was also the same man willing to conspire against the others and bend the rules of impartiality in favor of the Tohsaka lineage in secret.

What was happening in Fuyuki was a major breach in the mysteries of the Moonlit World and something neither the Mage's Association nor the Church would stand for. But neither the priest nor the magus would lie to themselves and say it wasn't an opportunity to take advantage of the situation presented.

"Understood, Father Kotomine," was all Tokiomi responded, "It would be unfortunate for the Master that did kill Caster if they were unaware of the rewards presented."

"Indeed," Risei nodded, readjusting the lining of his cassock as his face shifted into a frown, "However, if they do indeed ask for a reward, I will have to oblige as Mediator of the War. I believe taking any opportunity presented would be a wise decision, Tohsaka."

He listened as the Magus hummed to himself in thought before going silent. No other words needed to be was all that needed to be said.

All they had to do was wait for the fruits of their labors to finally ripen.

-oOo-

"Assassin, status update," Kirei's voice sounded pressed, currently possessing an edge to it that the Spartan hadn't really taken notice of until now.

"Currently returning Tohsaka's daughter right now," the Servant had been forced to stay out of spirit form as the little girl slept, despite the need to replenish his dangerously low mana reserves, "Is there an issue?"

"You can call it that," a series of images flashed before Assassin's mind as he peered through his Master's eyes for a brief moment. Images of horrific creatures and the city shifting into some dark and hellish landscape, "I've sent word to the Overseer that Saber, Rider, and Archer are currently engaging the situation."

Magnum Opus… the words whispered through the shadowy Servant's ear.

A tinge of anger flashed through Assassin before managing to quickly quell the emotion. He'd gotten sloppy already and this is how that error was repaid. Right as he was already too drained to even fight, the enemy finally pulls yet another card out of his sleeve.

"Lancer and Berserker have currently been eliminated, so that only leaves Caster as the perpetrator," the Executor deduced, "How fast would it take for you to return to the city after escorting Rin?"

Assassin didn't even have enough mana in him to fight a full battle on his own, let alone call forth MJOLNIR again. His weapons had been spent and destroyed, all he had left was his own body, wounded and in full disrepair as it was. All he was good for right now was…

The Servant listened as the little girl shifted around in her sleep, for once letting out a hollow sniggering to himself at the absurdity of what he had gone through. An actual laugh that although was formed out of grief, was one of his most genuine.

A heroic spirit that was summoned to fight, only to act as a scout for most of the war until finally coming face to face with two true legendary heroes, unlike himself who for sure didn't even exist in this time or even on the same world yet. Sure it was a two-on-one battle, but even then he only managed to gain the upper hand through trickery.

'But isn't that the whole point of being Assassin?' said Assassin began to ponder to himself as he continued to march to his intended location with haste. His class severely contrasted with his true abilities… with his main Noble Phantasm classifying as a suit of armor with a set of shields, not something a shadowy killer of men would wear when committing a murder without being seen.

And yet he was born within a land devoid of magic or mystery or anything like that. Something like Magic Resistance for the knight classes or even Rider would've been unbefitting.

"An hour at most, Master. Don't use a Command Seal unless absolutely necessary," he finally answered Kirei. He received no reply as he continued his pace, but didn't question the reason as to why. The tether that tied between Master and Servant was thin considering their growing distance, but it was certainly still there, meaning that the priest was still alive.

Assassin decided to shift his thoughts elsewhere. Right now he had to focus on returning the girl rather than on the attack in Fuyuki in the meantime.

Minutes passed and Assassin had healed himself enough to no longer walk with a limp in his step. The wound in his shoulder had finally mended itself shut while the gouge in his abdomen was nearly healed. Everything else was simply internal bleeding and strained muscles, but Battle Continuation was a helluva useful skill to possess.

He just had to keep walking.

Clink!

The Servant stopped walking, turning around at the source of the noise to see something reflecting the moonlight off of its smooth surface.

Shifting Rin over his shoulder, Assassin knelt down and picked up the thing.

It was an emerald, an emerald half the size of its palm. The Servant had no interest in wealth or jewels, but what caught his attention was the surprising amount of mana that seemed to be stored within. His attention then shifted to the little girl in his arms.

Jewel Magecraft… that's what the Tohsaka's specialized in, right?

There wasn't enough mana to refill him completely, but enough to give him maybe one or two fights left before returning to the condition he was in right now.

Nevertheless, he pocketed the little jewel as he continued to carry the girl.

With enough to fight once more for the night, he'd probably have enough time to finally get rid of Caster. There was no way he'd waste an opportunity like this again.

"Belay that order, Master," he spoke to the priest through the link, a plan formulating within his mind, "I know just how to use your last Command Seal."

Silence on the other end for only a second until, "...What do you have in mind?"

-oOo-

"Woah woah!" Rider shouted to the two divine bulls, the chariot coming to a quick halt as they met the streets with a sudden crash, a sickening crunch followed after as the wheels of his Noble Phantasm was suddenly smattered with blood.

It'd be funny to say that the first devilish being to be killed was literally crushed under the weight of a chariot, but neither Servants nor Master could react so inappropriately during a time like this.

Saber stumbled slightly as she climbed off the chariot and onto solid ground, landing near the bridge connecting the city together. Letting out a breath, she got a better look at her surroundings, seeing the river trailing off into the ocean as moonlight reflected off of the surface.

It was a beautiful night, tis a shame that it had to be spent like this.

"Hmph, these creatures don't appear to be that strong. Most ridiculous excuses for demons I've seen so far," Rider grumbled to himself as he nudged the dying creature with a foot before turning his attention to Saber, the demon crumbled to ash, leaving behind the scent of ash and sulfur, "Is this battlefield well enough to your liking, King of Knights?"

"You've chosen an adequate location, Rider," Saber responded neutrally, eyes flickering throughout the area, "The buildings would provide too much cover for these devils, not to mention the collateral damage that would follow if we used our Noble Phantasms."

"Quite so, Saber, I can appreciate such a sharp eye. Only a shame you refuse to use it in my stead as well," the man grinned before turning his attention to his Master, deliberately ignoring said twitching sharp eyes from the opposing Servant, "Boy, I will need your assistance as well."

Waver stiffened up at his Servant's request before nodding, "I-I can probably trace back Caster's magic signature if I had enough time and the proper materials."

The King of Conquerors gave a short nod back to his Master before looking back to Saber, "So far we've chosen the battlefield and they too shall respond to our presence. I take it you noticed it too."

Saber returned a nod, her sword in hand and wreathed in that mask of air. The knightess had watched from below as they wandered their new hellish home before they took notice of the flying lightning chariot.

Their responses were slow and sluggish, as if they were newborn calves birthed from the womb of a mother… only uglier and more ferocious. They'd respond soon, but that only gave Saber, Rider, and Archer all the more time to prepare.

Those bruise-colored demons seemed to be attracted to their magical signature, but they also seemed coordinated in some sort of aspect. Something controlled them like a queen bee to her workers. They had the self-restraint to listen to orders, but the link appeared quite… unstable.

Saber knew not of who had summoned them. Her closest guesses being either Assassin or Caster due to their absence. If each were the case, she'd cut those snakes down as soon as she possibly could.

A sharp cacophony of shrieks filled the air like a deathly chorus, all of them too unearthly to belong to either man or beast. Blots of black tinged the dark-blue sky, rising forth from the city like bats from a cave as they sensed the presence of Servants.

They stormed forth from the city, that same black fog following behind them as the world itself seemed to bend to their will. The grass below wilted away from the stench of death, trees twisted and morphed to suit such hellish forms, the waters behind Saber and Rider slowly began to muddy and blacken, becoming a thick and viscous tar-like substance that clung to the shorelines.

Hell upon Earth began to draw ever nearer to the Servants, all of them ready to take on those demonic beasts til their very last breath.

Saber's face appeared determined, the body that was Artoria Pendragon took up that same honored battle stance as those creatures drew closer. And yet her hands trembled at the thought…

The King of Knights' face turned to confusion, why was she shaking? She had no reason to be afraid, she'd faced down legions of bloodthirsty barbarians, Romans, and warring factions over the domain of England, this would be nothing!

But perhaps… she was afraid for the safety of her associates. Thoughts of Irisviel flashed before her mind, placed in harms way even though she was far from the battlefield, and…

She shook her head and turned back to her enemies, prioritizing the death of her foes for the sake of her comrades.

"Stay safe," she muttered to herself, desperately hoping they had heard her prayer.

Damned flesh wreathed in smoke drew ever closer, their mangled maws and talons itching to maim and tear flesh from bone, especially those wreathed in mana.

The sword of Saber rose into that same battle stance she always fell into. Right now, both Kings alike had one goal in mind as their enemies finally reached them.

Without hesitation, they struck, claiming the first casualty of this battle.