A/N: Once again, I left you guys hanging for about four months, and for that, I sincerely apologize for my absence. To be perfectly honest, I spent the last month intentionally trying to keep a low profile. If you've been following my profile, you probably know why already. If you don't, you're free to shoot me a PM about it, and I'll gladly answer your questions through that venue. (Not that I think you're that invested in my well-being and whatnot, but I digress. :P)

And, as if things couldn't get any worse, I came down with a seasonal allergy that left me feeling down physically. I'm actually still a little sick as I'm writing this chapter, so I apologize if certain parts of the chapter don't look like they're of the usual caliber you expect from me. Plus, I had to juggle between finishing up my midterms and planning my ongoing and planned fics, not to mention making long-term economic plans for myself... Holy. I haven't entered the workforce yet, but I think I already know what it'll be like once I graduate from college. Ugh...

Alright, I'm rambling yet again. Let's get on with this overdue chapter! ENJOY!

P.S.: A small disclaimer for you all; much of this chapter actually takes place at the same time as the last chapter. There will be some slight intersection with the last chapter. That much will be proven to you with the end of this chapter.

P.P.S.: I wish you all a belated happy Thanksgiving, one and all! Or, for those living internationally who celebrate their country's counterpart to Thanksgiving, I wish you a happy holiday!

The Tohsaka Residence, Miyama Town
– The next day –

"Welcome, fine Masters of White. Let us begin this meeting right away."

All seven White Masters were congregated around an oblong table, surrounded in all corners by the Musik homunculi and Arturia, who was insistent on remaining in her materialized state. Tokiomi, the only White Master standing, smiled with pride and took a seat in his large, luxurious chair at the head of the table.

"First and foremost," he said with courtesy, "I would like to congratulate Olesya Animusphere and Kayneth El-Melloi for their marvelous performances in the first clash that occurred last night." He gestured gracefully towards the two magi.

"I extend my humblest thanks, Tohsaka," Kayneth replied smugly as he bowed his head. "After all, it is truly an honor to fight alongside the ranks of other talented magi in this prestigious Grail War."

"Fight alongside the ranks, huh?" repeated Olesya, a teasing smirk creeping upon her face. "All you did was pick us up, Kayneth. You didn't do any fighting at all. How pitiful."

A vein bulged in Kayneth's forehead as he raised his head and retorted, "All of the contributions I make for this White Faction, in this Impossible Grail War, are considered marks of honor, Animusphere, regardless of the context! After all, if it were not for my timely intervention, you and your Servant would've been slain where you were standing!"

"Your dear Rider was the one who made a timely intervention, not you." Olesya then chuckled heartily. "Not to mention he made a very loud intervention as well. How very elegant of him." Her eye suddenly twinkled. "Although you were loud as well, only from a distance. Perhaps you and your Servant have that much in common-"

"It's better than leaving you for dead, Animusphere!" Kayneth interrupted furiously. He then clutched the sides of his head in frustration. "Oh, must you make me regret my choices last night?!"

"Steady, El-Melloi," Tokiomi interjected calmly. "It is the beginning of another fine day, a lovely prelude for the battles that are ahead. It is best if you keep your emotions in check for preparation."

"Y-Yes, Tohsaka, o-of course..." Kayneth bowed his head again, very briefly this time, and then remained silent, though he shot Olesya an irritated glare.

"Now then, onto the more significant issue at hand..." The White Faction leader clasped his hands and tapped his index fingers surreptitiously. "We must investigate where the Black Faction holds their base. The Master of Assassin of White reported to me last night that his Servant found no viable leads on a possible location where the Black Masters could be situated at. Her exploration of Fuyuki City yielded no substantial clues."

"Of course Assassin couldn't," Bram replied. He sneered at Sieg, who was sitting idly in his chair with a blank, robotic expression. "After all, her Master is nothing more than a useless homunculi."

"My orders to Assassin were simple," an unblinking Sieg responded in a monotone voice. It didn't even sound like a real attempt at defending himself. "Find the Black Faction base. There was nothing more I could give her."

"It matters not," said Tokiomi. "Under the leadership of the Magus Killer, the Black Faction is poorly composed. That was proven to us last night, during the battle at Miyama Park. Which is why I urge everyone to pay attention during tonight's clash. Sooner or later, a Black Master is bound to make a mistake, and we will capitalize on it. Once we learn the source of the Black Faction's power, they will all be finished."

"If I may, Tokiomi Tohsaka," Fiore piped up with caution, "shouldn't we tread lightly every time we have an opportunity to learn more information on the Black Faction's base? We've only learned about their Saber, Lancer, and Rider Servants. That means we're completely unprepared for their Archer, Caster, and Berserker. Just because we've had an advantage over them doesn't mean fortune will be guaranteed to us for every battle."

At the mention of Caster of Black, Arturia clenched her fists. She could still imagine his mad ramblings, his insane grin...

"That is true. Such a possibility did not escape my mind." Tokiomi's brow furrowed with concern. "Archer Servants are known for their projectile weapons and extremely powerful Noble Phantasms. They are perfect for executing ambushes using long-range attacks. Meanwhile, Casters have the Territory Creation Class Skill, which gives them the advantage in any terrain they apply the Skill to. More likely than not will their Caster use the Skill on their base. Even lower-ranked Territory Creation Class Skills are capable of granting a Caster Servant a unique advantage."

"And let's not forget those Berserkers, whose jobs are to go berserk," added Bram.

However, Kayneth was frowning with disapproval. "Who cares if we don't know what kinds of abilities Archer, Caster, and Berserker of Black have?!" He raised a clenched, gloved fist of confidence and determination. "I am not one to brag, but my Servant boasts a Noble Phantasm unlike any other! It can annihilate multiple enemies at once, even Servants, and reduce those bothersome Black Masters into miserable pulp! All you have to do is give me the first move, and once they see the kind of power I have alone, the Black Faction will be running for their lives, cursing the days they allowed that Magus Killer to become their leader in the Grail War!"

"Really, now?" Olesya asked, smirking at Kayneth's bursting arrogance. "Does that Noble Phantasm involve yelling a lot and prematurely recruiting the enemy to a deluded cause?"

In the background, Sola-Ui could be heard scoffing ambiguously at the joke. Kayneth pursed his lips and his face turned redder and redder by the minute as he struggled to contain his anger. As for Tokiomi, he narrowed his eyes slightly at his appointed lieutenant.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm in suppressing the enemy, Kayneth El-Melloi," he said, "but you must keep in mind that expending your trump card so early in the battle will deplete your mana considerably and leave your Servant useless for the most part." He closed his eyes. "The Magus Killer probably has your strategies in mind. He will find an underhanded tactic to undermine them. We must also be careful in that regard."

"Y-Yes, Tohsaka," Kayneth replied, the red draining from his face as an almost humiliated look replaced his outrage. "O-Of course..."

Tokiomi opened his azure eyes. "Speaking of first moves, I do think it is still necessary for us to begin the battle on our own terms. Doing so will give us an inherent advantage on the battlefield." He looked at Bram. "Sophia-Ri."

"Yes, Tohsaka?" the redheaded magus asked.

"I entrust you with the responsibility of making the White Faction's first move. Archer's Gate of Babylon will prove to be most effective in wearing out our foes. And of course, we must remember to refrain him from having direct contact with other Servants in the battlefield, regardless if they are friend or foe."

Tokiomi briefly looked at Kayneth, who pursed his lips with annoyance, not at his leader, but towards his own Servant, even if he was not on the physical plane at the moment. Meanwhile, Bram was silent for a brief moment, as if he were waiting for someone else to speak before him. A couple of beads of sweat had broken out on his forehead.

When he was met with awkward silence, the Sophia-Ri quickly bowed his head and replied, "Thank you, Tohsaka. I am most humbled by your generosity and your faith in my abilities, a-and those of my Servant. I promise you, I will not fail this Faction."

"Kayneth," the Tohsaka Master said, "you will have Rider lead the charge. His chariot is perfect for brute force and hit-and-run attacks. They will be enough to stun the Black Faction's cavalry. Then, you will have Rider fly around and save our colleagues when it is needed."

"As you command, Tohsaka," the El-Melloi replied.

"My Servant will lead the main offensive. His defensive abilities are unlike any other Servant, and his Noble Phantasm is guaranteed to lay waste to the Black Faction. Our enemies will certainly be outmatched by it."

"And what of our Berserker, Caster, and Lancer?" Fiore asked.

"Kayneth will give you the order should the necessity arise. And if Kayneth falls in battle, then expect to hear the order from Bram. Understood?"

The handicapped girl nodded. "Understood."

"As for my plans for Caster of White..." Tokiomi glanced towards Itsuki, who was sitting in a brand-new, magic-powered wheelchair. "Well, that is something I will have to discuss with Himuro in private."

"And why is that, Tohsaka?" Bram asked, his eyebrow raised.

"Caster possesses an item that I believe will turn the tide of any battle should it be used. I cannot go into specifics, but I can say it requires extraordinary magical aptitude. I must consult further with Himuro on its capabilities and whether or not it is appropriate on the battlefield."

Bram cast a suspicious glance towards the pale Itsuki, who refused to make eye contact. Though his golden eyes were narrowed, he loyally replied, "If you say so, Tohsaka."

"And speaking of Casters..." Tokiomi leaned back on his chair. "I have developed the perfect strategy when it comes to Caster of Black. We are all aware of his true identity, are we not?" When the other White Masters nodded in response, he continued confidently, "We must isolate him from the rest of the Black Faction and keep him occupied from there. Ruler can't observe two independent battles at the same time. For that, the responsibility of separating Caster of Black must fall on two of our Servants."

"And who would those be, Tohsaka?" Olesya asked.

"Lancer and Assassin."

Arturia glanced at Tokiomi with surprise, while Olesya said inquisitively, "Lancer?"

"Indeed. It is unfortunate that Lancer is no longer at her most optimal battling condition, but judging by your report of the duel at Homurahara Academy, she will still be an excellent fighter on foot. This should be quite enough for the King of Knights to have an equal footing with Caster of Black. And I assure you, Animusphere, the White Faction has placed finding and defeating Lancer of Black as a priority. Hopefully we can dispatch that Servant as early as possible so you can regain your trump card. Is that understood?"

"Of course. Thank you for understanding the circumstances behind my dilemma."

Meanwhile, Arturia clenched her fists with delight at this prospect. To have an opportunity to teach that mad Servant a lesson in decorum on the battlefield was an unexpected but welcome development for her.

"Then, once Lancer and Assassin have laid their claim on the battlefield, my student and Ruler's Master, Kirei Kotomine, will appoint himself as the overseer of that clash, since Ruler cannot prioritize both battles simultaneously. This will allow Caster of Black's true identity to remain unnoticed by her, thus continuing her impartiality."

"A brilliant strategy, Tohsaka, just brilliant!" Kayneth cried, the powerful mage applauding slowly and dramatically.

Tokiomi then scanned the room. "Does anyone wish to make a comment on the strategy that I have presented for you all? I strongly encourage you all to speak your mind."

A brief silence fell upon the room. Soon, Tokiomi heard a soft shuffling at the corner of the table, and turned towards the sound.

"Himuro, you have not spoken at all during this meeting," he said. "Do you have anything to say?"

"Well..." Itsuki Himuro replied hesitantly with a slight croak, "I think I do..." Adjusting his body again, he looked at Sieg, who was giving a blank, seemingly robotic stare at the polished wooden body of the table. "Master of Assassin, you say your Servant has wandered around Fuyuki City for any and all clues regarding the Black Faction's whereabouts, yes?"

"That is correct," Sieg responded as he lifted his stare from the wood.

"Hmmm... Are you sure that is correct?"

"...I do not understand..."

"Well, surely Assassin must've found something. Anything. When it comes to finding a Master and their Servant, there's always a trace left behind, usually originating on the battlefields such as the ones from last night."

Sieg blinked idly, then replied, "Assassin did find traces of mana in Shinto-"

"And why did you not inform us of this minutes before?!" Bram snapped in outrage. "You moronic homunculus! Not only are you completely useless, you are utterly defective! And to think Shirou Kotomine wanted to use you to swap out of the Grail War!"

The gray-haired homunculus stared vacantly at Bram, absorbing the unbridled criticism without emotion. "They were small traces, and they were scattered all over the streets and alleyways. Assassin could not make out a singular path that would have led the White Faction to a base."

"Scattered all over the streets and alleyways?" repeated Tokiomi, before Bram could make an outburst again. "What do you mean by that?"

"Whoever left those traces was wandering around aimlessly in Shinto. There was no rhyme or reason with them."

"Interesting..." Tokiomi raised his head slightly with intrigue. "I can't think of a mage that would do something as risky and thoughtless as that. The only logical conclusion, then, is that it's the work of Caster of Black." He glanced towards Sieg again. "Did Assassin have anything else to report?"

"Only that there was a constant scent of death everywhere."

"Caster of Black, the Heroic Spirit of Spells and Sorcery," Olesya said, rubbing her chin with her thumb and index finger. "Could Caster be setting up a Bounded Field all over Shinto? It could explain the indiscriminate movements around that area."

"Perhaps. Some of us should go to Shinto and search for possible sigils to dismantle. The rest of us will stay here and prepare for the impending battle."

"I'll go," volunteered Olesya, the silver-haired woman standing up from her chair insistently. "I've disarmed many sigils over the years while helping the Mage's Association hunt down magi handed with Sealing Designations. It matters not if Caster forged these sigils. They should be child's play for me."

"I'll go as well," Fiore piped up.

"I'm afraid I can't allow that, Yggdmillennia," Tokiomi replied quickly. "You know why."

He eyed Lancer for a brief second, causing the King of Knights to raise an eyebrow with curiosity.

"I promise you, Tohsaka, my hold on Berserker is completely unshakable thanks to the power of my Command Seals. He will not pose a problem no matter where we are."

"Even so, certain circumstances could aggravate him. You run a great risk bringing him out in the open in close proximity with..." Tokiomi's voice trailed off, but Lancer noticed an ambiguous look on Olesya's face, leaving her more intrigued.

"I swear on the name of my family that I can restrain Berserker, Tohsaka. Grandfather Darnic entrusted me to this great Faction for a good reason, and as the future elder of the Yggdmillennia, I have disciplined my body and soul for many, many years so I could meet his expectations. Otherwise, I would not run the risk of allowing Berserker to succumb to the full throes of his violent madness."

"Are you sure about that, Yggdmillennia?" Kayneth asked. "Even if you can control your Servant just fine, there's still the possibility of you coming under attack by the Black Faction."

"But the Church mandates that all of the battles take place in the nighttime. It's the middle of the day right now, and I doubt the Black Faction would stoop low enough to attack when there is a plethora of witnesses all around us."

"Even so..." The El-Melloi eyed the air around Fiore, before settling his pupils on her wheelchair. "You, a frail girl, are the Master of an unruly Berserker-"

"You probably should not judge our fellow White Master based on appearances, Archibald," Olesya interrupted suddenly. As for Arturia, she glared at Kayneth with extreme disapproval at his behavior. "Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia places a great deal of trust on her, presumably rightfully so."

"Do not expect me to take the word of a mage who leads a lowly collective of third-rate families, Animusphere."

Fiore's eyes narrowed slightly at Kayneth's insulting tone. "I can control Berserker just fine, Archibald. Do you mean to presume I am at an inherent disadvantage in doing so, based on my handicap and my lineage?"

Kayneth blinked slowly and hesitantly, before he gave a subtle sneer. "No, no, not at all, Yggdmillennia. Not at all. But perhaps it is I who should go and take part in the search-"

"Moments ago, you were at my throat for being a thorn in your side, El-Melloi," Olesya interrupted again; her eye was twinkling craftily. "Now you wish to be at my side yet again in Fuyuki?"

Kayneth stuck up his chin slightly. "Do not take it as willingness to be in your companionship, Animusphere. My abilities to disarm sigils are top-notch as well!"

But Olesya had already seized her opportunity to tease her former classmate some more. "Well, well, well! Perhaps deep inside, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald couldn't bear to waste another second without my teasing, lest he go totally mad with boredom! Like a tsundere-"

"To spend precious seconds without your irritating mannerisms is heaven of the highest order for me!" snapped Kayneth. "I only wished to satiate my Servant's incessant desires to see the outside world, but now that you have provided your input, I think he needs to exercise utmost patience for a time longer!" He then glared at Fiore without any regrets. "If you insist, Yggdmillennia! I shall grant your wish! You may keep her company! Keep her occupied for all I care! But do not blame me if this wretched woman gets under your skin, for she has an inherent skill in doing that! It is borderline magic on its own!"

Olesya giggled at the almost complimentary outburst, eliciting a low but audible growl from the El-Melloi. Meanwhile, Tokiomi lowered his head into his palms and sharply exhaled with dismay. This was going to be a tough choice for him...

Shinto
– A few hours later –

"I must thank you, Animusphere, for stepping in and defending my family's honor."

"You're welcome, Yggdmillennia."

Right now, Olesya was pushing Fiore's wheelchair down the busy sidewalks of Shinto, with Arturia silently but faithfully trotting beside them. Flanking them were a half-dozen homunculi supplied by the Musiks; their empty stares and servant clothing attracted more than a few intrigued and confused glances from passersby.

"I am surprised a woman from such a prestigious family like yourself, and affiliated with the Mage's Association, would have the thought of jumping to my defense," continued Fiore, who was smiling kindly ahead. "After all, I'm well aware of the Yggdmillennia's reputation in the Mage's Association."

"My family's values come before the Mage's Association," Olesya replied, her stare slightly hardened. "And regardless of your family's, well...unconventional methods, my family is never one to judge. We strongly adhere to a code of respect and rationality, especially when it comes to our allies, no matter what the tools of their trade are."

Arturia suddenly looked at Olesya with a strange look, but then, she eventually refocused on the path ahead.

"Master," she said, her voice cold, serious, "do you still sense any traces of mana?"

"Nothing is coming within my immediate radar. Whatever Caster of Black was doing last night, he seems to have ceased his activities for the day."

"You say you encountered him last night." Fiore looked up at Olesya with a curiosity that almost seemed childlike. "Was he really that mad?"

"He was," Arturia suddenly replied in the place of her Master. Her hands were clenching into fists. "He believed, from the bottom of his heart, that I was his beloved, Jeanne d'Arc. He thought that meant he won the Grail." The King of Knights' fists tightened so much that they were trembling. "He mocked the true prayers of all the other Heroic Spirits in this fight. He did so without shame..."

"I see." Fiore's brow furrowed. "So I guess that means he mocked the prayers of all the Masters too." She breathed out a heavy sigh. "This Black Faction knows no bounds."

"You say this, even as your brother mingles among them?" Olesya asked.

"He is not my brother, only my enemy. Even our bond by blood cannot be a determining factor to my fate in this fight."

"That is something very heavy to say from a very young girl like you." Silence briefly fell upon them, and then the silver-haired woman blinked with slight interest. "Tell me, Yggdmillennia, what is your true prayer? From one White Master to another, what do you wish from the Holy Grail?"

"What do I wish from the Grail?" The serious look vanished from the girl's fair face, and a sweet smile crept onto it. "To abandon the confines of this chair. To walk again."

"To walk again?" Olesya repeated. She blinked again, this time with surprise. "That's a very simple wish. And to think I'm hearing this from the next elder of the Yggdmillennia family..."

"I know it is a very selfish wish. I'm almost ashamed of it-"

"Oh, don't be! Compared to the wishes of the other White Masters, yours is very down-to-earth in comparison. It's more of a comfort, than anything else, knowing that I'm not pushing the wheelchair of someone who wishes to bend reality to suit their own needs, or something else apocalyptic."

Fiore giggled momentarily before asking, "What about you, Animusphere? What is your wish for the Grail?"

"My wish?"

At that moment, the small group merged into a crowd of pedestrians congregated at the corner of a crosswalk, waiting for their turn to pass. They were in the center of Shinto, and the Sun bore down on the area with its brilliant light.

"I have none. The sole purpose of my participation is to bring honor to my family's name. That is all my family expects out of me."

However, Fiore was confused. "But...the Animuspheres have long excelled in the field of Astronomy! They've made major contributions to our understanding of Gaia! They're one of the top ten families at the Clock Tower! And you're said to be the pinnacle of their success, what with everything you've accomplished in your lifetime! To participate in a battle royale such as this and achieve possession of the Holy Grail just seems like another accomplishment on your family's belt! Why would your family take great pride in something such as this when making a revolutionary discovery in their field would be just as beneficial?"

"Sometimes, I have questioned my family's reasons to participate. But I suppose it is for the reasons that you had just described, Yggdmillennia. The Animuspheres are the prodigy of the Astronomy Faculty. The greatest research compiled on that field, we can be traced back to in some way. In a sense, our reputation has been restricted to that field, and my accomplishments. Fighting a grand fight that we'd normally not have any investment in would be the last achievement my family would strive for." Olesya stared ahead determinedly. "Even if I die, even if I do not attain the Holy Grail, all I have to do is fight. Fight for my family's pride. Fight for my pride.

"That is what I desire from the Grail. To simply fight the fight that would bring respect to all magi."

At that moment, the sidewalk lights turned green, permitting the crowd to cross. Olesya, Arturia, and the homunculi all followed suit, while Fiore looked up at the sky as she was rolled along.

"You say my wish is down-to-earth, Animusphere," the handicapped Master said, "but yours, well...it's not all that grand either. Oh, but I don't mean that as an insult!"

"I never reached that interpretation." Then, Olesya looked down at Fiore again. "But..." Her grip slightly tightened on the upper handles of the wheelchair. "Even if your wish isn't one that would alter the very fabric of space and time, it is still an obstacle to the achievement of my wish. Thus, I will view you as an enemy once the number of Masters and Servants is whittled down by half. Mark my words, Yggdmillennia, for when we are on the opposite sides of the battlefield, I will not go easy on you."

Fiore still continued to smile. "As will I, Animusphere."

By that point, everyone had finished crossing the street, and Olesya and Fiore's group continued onward through Shinto. Silence had fallen upon them for several minutes as they continued to look out for possible traces of mana in the air. But after a while, it seemed as if their search did not yield any fruit.

"It appears Assassin of White was misinformed," Arturia eventually remarked. "I don't sense Caster of Black anywhere."

"Nor have I detected even the slightest trace of mana ever since we entered Shinto," replied Olesya. "If Caster of Black was planning on setting up a Bounded Field here, he has definitely not started yet. But I do not believe Assassin of White was mistaken. Remember what else Musik's homunculus said of Assassin's findings?"

"Only that there was a constant scent of death everywhere."

"A constant scent of death everywhere..." repeated Arturia. "What did he mean by that...?"

"Assassin Servants, especially the Hassan-i-Sabbah, were professional killers in their lifetimes," Olesya explained. "They have made the act of taking a life an art of itself. Assassin of White must have known blood was shed throughout these streets. This, coupled with the traces of mana she detected, could only mean one thing." Olesya's golden eyes narrowed. "Caster of Black has resorted to killing random civilians in order to accumulate mana for himself."

"Killing random civilians?!" Arturia looked utterly repulsed at the possibility. She looked around to see if the pedestrians were listening in before continuing in a hushed voice, "Is that even allowed?!"

"Yes, as long as the Church can easily cover up the deaths and disappearances."

The King of Knights narrowed her eyes. "This cannot be allowed, Olesya! If the citizens are in mortal danger, then Ruler and the Overseers have to intervene!"

"Normal Grail War rules do not lay out standards on how to energize Servants with mana. There is something that can be done, but only in extreme circumstances..."

"And what are those circumstances, Olesya?"

Olesya was about to reply to her Servant's question when a stack of newspapers suddenly caught her attention for some strange reason. She looked at the topmost and saw the headline written in bold Japanese characters. Fortunately for her, she brushed herself up on Japanese calligraphy, so she was able to read the lettering just fine.

What was not fine was the fact that her suspicions were proven to be true...and then some.

FUYUKI SERIAL KILLER STILL AT LARGE: 20 MORE CHILDREN GO MISSING

"That, Lancer. That."

Unbeknownst to anyone in Fiore and Olesya's group, someone was spying on them, closely, from the safety of a rooftop belonging to a high-rise office building a few blocks away. He was wearing a light-colored snow-patterned ghillie suit that still provided him effective camouflage in the rooftop's white, rough surface. But the roof's color did nothing to obscure the menacing barrel of a Walther WA2000 semiautomatic sniper rifle as it protruded from the edge of the rooftop, aiming itself precariously on the crowd below. The man exhaled, his soft breath merging with the low whistle of the cool breeze. His single dark eye narrowed slightly as he stared through the scope.

Kiritsugu had to hand it to that Waver Velvet boy. His strategy, as crude as it was, was working.

With multiple Assassins stationed throughout a number of key points in Fuyuki City, all of them answering to a select few in the Black Faction (himself included), and combined with the watchful eyes of his own familiars, Kiritsugu literally had a close eye on the entire battlefield of the Grail War. One Assassin, who was assigned to be in close contact with him, was quick to report to Kiritsugu the sudden departure of Olesya Mylène Animusphere and Fiore Forvedge Yggdmillennia from the Tohsaka residence. Then, with even more Assassins reporting to the first Assassin on every last movement the White Masters made, this gave Kiritsugu ample opportunity to calculate the perfect spot from which he could observe them.

He could do all of that and more, with so much time to spare. And so did-

"I have acquired the targets," a feminine voice said from a walkie-talkie. "Down the block at your 10 o'clock."

Subtly, and without averting his magnified gaze on Olesya and Fiore, Kiritsugu pressed a button and replied in a cold and calculated voice, "Copy that. Hold your position and observe them, Maiya."

"Understood."

Kiritsugu deactivated the walkie-talkie and refocused the whole of his attention on the White Masters. They were talking about something indiscernible to him, but judging by their physical interactions, they were getting along quite well. Not that it mattered. He knew they knew they were going to be enemies in the future. This was all just a formality, a way of proving their families could get along when they needed to. Such a presentation made Kiritsugu scoff under his breath.

Then, the Magus Killer focused on Lancer of White. For whatever reason, she was not in spirit form, and wearing civilian clothing befitting of someone under the servitude of the Animuspheres. He pursed his lips a little as he kept his empty eye trained on the Servant.

He maintained that position for an unknown number of minutes, maybe even hours. During that time, Kiritsugu did not budge at all from his position. Instead, he watched on, trying his best to read his targets' lips as they conversed, hoping he could glean something useful from their interactions. It did not take long for Olesya and Fiore's group to stop beside a newspaper stand. A minute later, their expressions suddenly changed and hardened, causing the Magus Killer to assume they had switched the topic to more pressing matters...matters involving the Black Faction.

Then, at the corner of the scope's line of sight, Kiritsugu noticed the newspapers themselves, the Japanese on the paper almost ineligible. Budging the Walther by a mere centimeter, he read the headline...and then narrowed his eye slightly.

At that moment, Olesya seemed to notice them as well, for her head turned towards their direction, and she took a step of curiosity towards the stand. When Fiore and Lancer of White's postures became rigid, Kiritsugu closed his eye and sighed. It looks like the White Faction found out about Caster of Black's horrendous atrocities. Even worse, without having any further context on the situation at hand, the White Faction would think the Black Faction was sanctioning this kind of disgusting behavior from their Servant.

He prepared to reach for his walkie-talkie when he suddenly felt the breeze lower in strength, just a little. Normally, this wouldn't bother the Magus Killer...if it weren't for the fact that the left side of his face became a little cooler at the same time.

With a jolt of energy, Kiritsugu rolled away and threw off his ghillie suit, revealing his Calico M950 underneath. He aimed it at the rooftop of the doorway from which he came from...only to see a murder of crows perched there, in the place of the unknown object that had brought a disconcerting chill down his spine.

Kiritsugu narrowed his dark eyes with suspicion as he lowered his sidearm. He knew someone had been standing there earlier, watching him just as closely as he was watching Olesya and Fiore...

...

Suddenly, Kiritsugu noticed why he had been so disturbed in that seemingly infinitesimal moment. All of the crows were staring at him...

With a hardened gaze, he aimed the Calico again and fired one shot at the edge of the rooftop on which the crows were perched. The murder squawked collectively with terror, and shot off into the air, leaving behind a few loose feathers in their wake. These feathers fluttered to the floor all around Kiritsugu, like some sort of black, muddy rain. Kiritsugu kept his eyes on the murder, closely examining their flight patterns and herd behavior.

Once it seemed as if he scared the birds off, the Magus Killer took a quick glance at the street below. It didn't seem as if his shot had disturbed anyone on the ground.

Suddenly, Maiya's voice called out from the walkie-talkie.

"Kiritsugu? Kiritsugu, do you copy? I heard the shot from your position. Report to me ASAP. Kiritsugu?"

Kiritsugu quickly approached the walkie-talkie and answered, "Maiya, withdraw right now."

"What happened, Kiritsugu?"

"I'll explain later. We'll rendezvous at your favorite tea shop."

"...Understood. Over and out."

Kiritsugu hung up, packed up his gear, and was about to leave the rooftop when he felt that chill down his spine again. Glaring at the murder of crows, he realized they had landed on a different spot of the rooftop and were staring at him in unison again. Kiritsugu narrowed his eyes even more...before dashing through the doorway and traveling down the set of stairs leading to the topmost floor. As he ran, he kept his hand on the Calico, ready for combat.

"Those crows," he thought, his expression hardening even more as he ran down the hallway. "They were familiars. That can only mean...someone has an eye on me..."

Within a couple of minutes, Kiritsugu reached the other end of the hallway, where a bay of elevators was. He clicked the button to summon them, just as he heard a door open. He glared at the room in question and saw a couple coming out, conversing like it was a normal day. At first, Kiritsugu was about to disregard them.

Then, he noticed the beads of sweat on their foreheads.

He aimed the Calico, just as another person from inside the room, clad in all black, wrapped a lean arm around the two civilians' necks, jumped out into the hallway, and fired from a Socimi Type 821 submachine gun that was perched on the man's shoulder. The two civilians, now human shields, screamed in pain and terror as the automatic gunfire hammered mercilessly at their eardrums.

As for Kiritsugu, he refused to fire back and instead avoided the peppering hail of gunfire while taking cover in a nearby bathroom. Then, he procured a canister from his black coat, pulled the pin, and threw it out into the hallway, towards his attacker. He heard the two hostages scream in terror, followed by a small explosion, though there wasn't any force to it. The hallway was just illuminated by a quick, blinding flash of light, which was then followed by a small, billowing cloud of white smoke, as well as coughing.

Quickly raising his Calico, Kiritsugu peered his head out of the doorway to check the hallway. He could see the hostages cowering on the floor, covering their ears and coughing violently. Whoever used them as shields was now gone...

Then, Kiritsugu noticed another open door.

He stuck his arm, the one holding his gun, far out of the doorway of the bathroom and started firing at the other open doorway. Prompted by the retaliatory action, the assailant jumped out of his own room, firing from his own gun. In just a matter of a few seconds, he literally burst through the door of the room on the other side of the hall, avoiding bullets in the process. Kiritsugu took this time to withdraw back into the bathroom and reload his weapon, all the while thinking about what he just saw.

The gunman had a mat of slightly untidy black hair and was wearing dark clothing, just like him. But he couldn't see his face, for the lower part of it was mostly obscured by a black kerchief with unknown white patterns. As for the upper part of his face, well, he could make out dark, vacant eyes, just like his own as well.

Those eyes...they were shockingly young, just like...like...

Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by a soft, metallic clanking that neared his position, accompanied by the chilling noise of a hiss. The Magus Killer gritted his teeth, retreated to the far end of the bathroom, and aimed his gun towards the doorway. He barely had enough time to pull out a gas mask from his sack before gray smoke poured into the room.

As Kiritsugu put on the mask as quickly as he could, the hissing noise was drowned out by the piercing sound of the fire alarms. Flashing crimson lights shone dimly through the thick smoke, painting the hallway outside in its color. And then, through the blaring of the alarms, Kiritsugu heard a young voice speak calmly to the hostages.

"Here, these are for you two." There was an even softer clattering noise. "You did not see me at all."

Kiritsugu heard the civilians scatter away in fear. Then, he heard a ringing noise that signaled the elevator's arrival, and quickly procured a sting grenade. But before he could make his next move, the same young voice spoke again, directly to him. Now that the speaker was in closer proximity to him, Kiritsugu could hear the cold, hollow tone of his voice.

"Disappointing. I almost expected more from the famous Magus Killer. But, I can't exactly say these circumstances were fair for you."

At that moment, Kiritsugu heard the attacker begin to reload his submachine gun.

"Nevertheless, we all do what we have to do. You should understand."

As soon as the elevator doors quickly slid open, the Magus Killer ran over to the bathroom doorway and tossed the sting grenade outside. He heard a rapid but organized shuffling of feet, followed by an even more powerful explosion and the peppering impacts of rubber shrapnel and balls. Cautiously peering from the doorway, Kiritsugu saw the hall was vacant again; even the hostages were gone.

Choosing to act quickly, he made a mad dash towards the elevator. As soon as he did, he heard the sound of gunshots and even felt the bullets whizzing by him. Fortunately, he entered the elevator uninjured and pressed the button to the main lobby. He then aimed his gun at the doors as they slid themselves shut, but he did not hear his assailant fire back any further. Perhaps his sting grenade got him and incapacitated him?

...

In his gut, Kiritsugu doubted that possibility.

BOOM!

Kiritsugu felt the vibration of the explosion and looked up with narrowed eyes. His assailant had apparently set off an actual grenade for whatever reason.

A couple of minutes passed, and the elevator violently jerked to an abrupt stop, nearly knocking Kiritsugu over. Glancing at the floor count, he realized he had gone down only a fourth of the building before the fire alarm automatically stopped all elevators. Pursing his lips and sighing, the Magus Killer removed his gas mask, put it back into his sack, and jammed his fingers in-between the elevator doors, manually forcing them as far open as possible in less than two minutes. Then, he lightly tossed his sack out of the elevator and climbed onto the floor, just in time to see a line of office workers being ushered down an emergency stairwell by a security officer.

Kiritsugu cleared his throat, straightened his dark tie, picked up his sack, and took advantage of a couple of employees distracted by phone conversations to slip into the line unnoticed. As he entered the stairwell with the others, he looked up at the concrete ceiling.

Just a couple of minutes ago, he had been wondering who this assailant was, what his affiliation was, and what stake he had in this Grail War. But now that he heard him reveal something about himself, there no longer any doubt in his mind. No other alternative explanation would've made sense to him. And it was this conclusion that nearly made his heart stop mid-beat.

Shirou Kotomine just tried to have him killed.

"What happened here?" Olesya asked as she and the others watched a great number of people flood out of the high-rise office building. She then looked up and saw smoke leaking out of the windows of the top floor.

"It doesn't matter, Olesya," Arturia replied. "We should return to our base and report our findings to our allies."

But before the group could proceed, the crowd of office workers evacuating from their workplace overwhelmed them in a matter of seconds. Fiore's eyes widened, and then she lowered her head and clutched the sides of it with her hands.

"Yggdmillennia?!" Olesya cried with concern, looking down at her teammate. "What's wrong?!"

"B-Berserker..." the Yggdmillennia Master replied with a moan. "He's...acting up... There's...There's too much noise..."

"It's alright, Yggdmillennia, it's alright." The young, silver-haired woman promptly started pushing Fiore's wheelchair in the opposite direction, followed by Arturia and the Musik homunculi. "We'll be out of here in no time. Just keep Berserker under control."

"No! I...I can control him-"

"Clearly not in these conditions! We got what we came for; now we must make our leave-"

But Fiore looked as if Berserker's madness was affecting her as well. "M-Madness..." she remarked, her voice almost a hiss. "All I can hear is...the roars of madness."

"Don't worry, Fiore," Olesya replied, suddenly breaking character. "Just conduct yourself. We will back at Tohsaka's place in no time."

Meanwhile, Arturia briefly stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoulder to take a look at the smoke coming out of the office tower. She didn't know why, but she felt a strange sense of foreboding, looking at the rising smoke. Whatever happened to cause this incident, it definitely couldn't have been an accident. It was all certainly suspicious...

The disguised King of Knights moved forward again, only to suddenly bump into someone.

"Oh!" Arturia exclaimed, bowing her head with humility. "Forgive me, mister!"

"It's no problem," a cold, calculating voice replied. "No problem at all."

Arturia's skin crawled at the robotic sound of the voice, and she raised her head, only to see empty space in front of her. She then looked around on instinct, searching desperately for the speaker, but she saw nothing but average, nameless faces everywhere. In fact, everyone within earshot was looking at her, surprised to see a foreigner in their midst. None of their reactions to her presence earned any suspicion from the King of Knights.

"Lance- Arturia!" a voice called, and Arturia turned towards Olesya; her Master was now a few feet away from her, with a small mass of people separating the two of them. "Arturia, why'd you stop?! Come on! We must return to Tohsaka!"

Arturia took one last apprehensive look over her shoulder before replying, "Right!"

Once he was sure he put enough distance between himself and Lancer of White, Kiritsugu looked over his own shoulder to see if he had aroused her suspicions. He was sure he did, but even then, there was nothing she could do about it now. The Factions were not allowed to spar during the day, and besides, they were in the middle of a massive crowd. If what he learned about her and her legend was true, she wouldn't risk the collateral damage.

Such a way of thinking almost made him chuckle dryly.

Then, Kiritsugu looked up at the office tower, towards the smoke coming out of the top floor.

"Why did he do that?" he thought. "Why did he set up a scenario that would flush me out in the open? He is giving me too many opportunities to escape under his nose. If he is a contract killer trying to take my life, he's putting too much to chance. If this is supposed to be an ambush, then he is a fan of covering up one death with dozens or even hundreds of others. ...That kind of modus operandi... It would've been something every mercenary would know about in an instant."

He placed his hands in his pockets and started walking away.

"I need to have Maiya, the Assassins, and my familiars conduct further research..."

The Tohsaka Residence, Miyama Town

Tokiomi trained his azure eyes on the phonograph-like device he liked to use for communications.

"Is Ruler present, Father Risei?" he asked.

"She is on her way back from the school, Tokiomi," Risei's voice replied. "Due to the severe damage dealt by last night's duel between Saber of Black and Lancer of White, classes have been canceled indefinitely."

The Tohsaka blinked idly. "I suppose this complicates things..."

"Indeed. Our communications regarding certain topics will be limited. I only pray to God that no excuses to discuss said topics will be presented."

"Let us not get ahead of ourselves, Risei." Tokiomi leaned forward slightly, towards the device. "Fortunately for all of us, my allies and I have agreed on the perfect strategy to keep Ruler's attention diverted from Caster of Black. I only require Kirei's consent to participate, for he has a direct and integral role."

"That, I can guarantee without reservation."

"I expect nothing less."

"Tohsaka-san?" a new voice suddenly asked weakly. Tokiomi glanced at the doorway of his personal study and saw Itsuki Himuro sitting in his wheelchair, which was manned by a Musik homunculus.

"Ah, Himuro," he greeted. "Please, come on in. I was just getting finished with my conversation." The Tohsaka looked at the phonograph again. "I must take my leave, Father Risei. The Himuro Master has just arrived and I do have something urgent to discuss with him."

"Alright," Risei's voice replied sagely. "Take care, Tokiomi."

"And to you, Father." Once the connection ended, Tokiomi looked back at Itsuki, who was being wheeled in by the Musik homunculus. "Welcome to my study, Himuro. As we speak, you are making history, for no Himuro has entered this room in nearly two centuries."

"I assume it's because of the advent of the Holy Grail Wars?" asked Itsuki, his voice slightly hoarse.

"Obviously." Tokiomi craned his neck by a centimeter to look at the homunculus. "Leave us."

The artificial human bowed her head and began to walk out of the room with a stiff, robotic pace. Tokiomi stood up and followed her to the doorway. Once she left the study, he gripped the doors and closed them.

"You wished to consult with me in private on a strategy regarding Caster?"

"Yes, and not just any strategy." Next, Tokiomi walked up to his desk and opened up the largest compartment within it. He reached inside and pulled out a golden coat of fur that almost gleamed magnificently with the light from the outside. "Do you recognize this, Caster?"

Caster of White suddenly materialized beside Itsuki. To no one's surprise, there was a bitter frown on the witch's face as she glared at the coat of fur.

"Yes," she replied with a toxic voice. "That is the fleece of the winged ram Chrysomallos. It was a token of honor given to my father. I helped pry it from his cold, dead hands. How ironic that it was summoned into this world with me, yet it is of no use to me."

"Perhaps not for you..." But Tokiomi gazed upon the fleece fondly. "But we all know how useful it is for the White Faction, only if one knows how to properly use it. It will provide us with yet another weapon that we could use against the Black Faction. Perhaps it will be one of our most powerful." He then looked at Itsuki, who was also gazing at the fleece with an expression of wonder. "I know you haven't directly contributed in the battlefield yet, so I assume you've continued your efforts to tap deeper and deeper into your magical potential?"

"Indeed, I have been working hard and testing my limits, thanks to my new teacher." Itsuki looked up at Caster, who did not meet his gaze in return. "I think we can both say with confidence that we are at our maximum potential."

"I concur," Caster added nonchalantly.

"Excellent," replied a pleased Tokiomi. "Then, do you think you will be able to use this, Himuro?" He raised the brilliant, golden coat slightly. "If and when it is necessary?"

"I'm confident that my magical potential is unmatched when it comes to this. And I promise you, Tokiomi Tohsaka, I will make up for my physical weakness with the tools I can provide this Faction for the first stage of the War. All you have to do is give me the order, and Caster and I will gladly provide."

"Very well, then." Tokiomi walked up to Itsuki and held out the coat towards him. "I hereby bestow this Argon Coin, the key to the true power of Colchis, upon you, Itsuki Himuro."

"I am most honored." The wheelchair-bound boy took the coat, stared at it with wonder, and slowly ran one hand across it. "The fleece... It's so soft and smooth... Like the perfect bed..." Then, he chuckled with embarrassment and looked up at Tokiomi. "I know this sounds unusual...but as someone who's never had the pleasures of walking and playing on his own, I've come to view the bed as my sanctuary. Inaction would be my best course of action in this Grail War, if I were so inclined to consider it. But of course, the magnitude of this War is entirely different, and I do not have any choice on that matter..."

"I am sure the feeling is mutual with many of the other Masters, Black and White alike." Tokiomi went over to his chair behind the desk and sat down on it. "The Impossible Holy Grail War was forced upon us without warning, while we were all expecting it to be a standard Grail War, like the ones that preceded it. Nevertheless, as responsible magi, we all must accept our situation with honor and humility. Reserve system or not, the Holy Grail War system is a mark of great honor for magi families all across the world. To hold the omnipotent cup of power in your hand and use it to fulfill your heart's deepest desire is an achievement any mage would strive for."

Itsuki suddenly chuckled briefly. He held up the Argon Coin for Caster to take, and as she expertly de-materialized it for safekeeping, her disabled Master used his magical abilities to will his wheelchair into moving, allowing him to approach Tokiomi's desk without difficulty.

"I apologize, Tohsaka, but I find it amusing, you telling me, the future enemy, this." The boy took a deep breath. "You've never fully lost your appreciation for the Himuros, have you?"

"Your family was once aligned with my family. Their contributions to the construction of the Holy Grail War system was small but nevertheless vital." Tokiomi leaned forward slightly. "And I owe a small debt to your family. Their formulas for jewel magic have supplemented my own research, which I plan on passing down to my beloved daughter, Rin."

"Rin," Itsuki repeated. "I believe my cousin once mentioned her in passing. They go to the same elementary school." He blinked. "She does not know her schoolmate is the descendant of a mage as well."

"Unfortunately, ever since your family fell from grace in the wake of the Second War, the world of mages has decided to cut its losses and move on. To associate ourselves with a family that has sullied its own honor in the most heinous way possible would be akin to cultural suicide. My father emphasized that point as I grew up." But Tokiomi smiled proudly as he gazed upon Itsuki. "But your participation in this War, regardless of the ultimate outcome, will no doubt be enough to salvage your family's reputation. The Himuros will find their way back into the world that cast them out. I will have to admit, Himuro, you are the Master I have my eye on the most."

Itsuki's eyebrows shot up with interest. "I...I am...?"

"Indeed. I am a strong believer in the preservation of one's magical lineage in all forms, to ensure the family will make a distinct mark on mage society. And I sincerely hope you survive this War. After all, you will, naturally, be the one to bear new heirs to the Himuro legacy, and you alone. That, I think, the Himuros deserve."

Itsuki was awkwardly silent for a moment. Then, he exerted a great amount of strength to bow his head humbly at the Tohsaka Master.

"I appreciate your faith in me, Tokiomi Tohsaka. I promise you, I will bring back the honor that my family lost..."

It didn't take long for Itsuki and Tokiomi to plan a strategy for the Argon Coin. Once they were done, Itsuki was quick to make his leave from the Tohsaka's study, while the White Faction leader remained behind to attend to other matters. He still used his magic to move the wheelchair he was in, allowing himself to hover down the set of well-carpeted stairs with no difficulty. All the while, Caster hovered after him, like a wraith.

When he was midway down the staircase, Itsuki said in Greek, "Caster?"

"Yes, my Master?" Caster replied, also speaking in Greek.

The meek, unassuming, innocent expression abruptly disappeared from Itsuki's pale, youthful face, being replaced with a startlingly horrific grin.

"I want you to go after his Servant first, when the opportunity strikes."

Caster looked down at her Master. "But are you sure about that, Master? I've taken more of a fancy to Lancer..." A grin of pure sadism crept onto her face, and she licked her purple lips lustfully. "I think she will be a better toy for me than the silent, hulking knight of Tohsaka's. It will be a great pleasure for me to see how much I could squeeze that hardy resolve of hers until it breaks..."

"Lancer's too powerful, and her Magic Resistance is quite phenomenal. She will see your attacks coming and react before you could land a single blow. But I have a suspicion about Saber's weakness, which I intend to have confirmed when we face off against the Black Faction. When I have the information necessary for our plans, you will take advantage of the opening I give you. Once you have Saber under your control, then you can go after Lancer. After all, by that time, you'll have a weapon that'll match her with ease."

"I suppose so-"

Caster suddenly stopped talking, and Itsuki realized exactly why: the wife of Kayneth El-Melloi was standing a couple of feet from the bottom of the staircase. Sola-Ui, he believed the name was. She was looking up at them with an unknown expression, and there was some sort of lit fire in her red eyes.

"Oh, why hello there, Ms. Kayneth El-Melloi," he greeted gently in Japanese. "How are you doing today?"

"Well..." Sola-Ui replied, her red eye suddenly glinting mysteriously. "And you, Himuro? What are you doing right now?"

"Why, I'm fine!" Itsuki coughed a little. "I just got done discussing my strategy with Tohsaka-san."

"Uh-huh." Looking away, the redheaded woman started casually cleaning the underside of her fingernails. "And then you and your Servant were plotting to somehow take control of Saber of White, Lancer of White, and presumably the other White Servants, am I not mistaken?"

Itsuki's face paled even more than usual, but he cleared his throat and said in a composed manner, "Why, I have no idea what you're talking about, Ms. Kayneth El-Melloi. And you probably shouldn't be flinging false accusations like that-"

"Oh, don't you believe I have no inkling on the language of the Greeks, Himuro," Sola-Ui interrupted, silencing the boy. She stared at him with an arrogant look. "As the distinguished wife of a very powerful ninth-generation mage and Clock Tower instructor, I had to condition myself so I could be...even more suited to his needs. All under the supervision of my family, of course."

Itsuki opened his mouth, but Caster spoke first. "Impressive, my dear... Very impressive..." Her sinister smile widened. "And...do you intend to tell your distinguished husband about our scheming...?"

Sola-Ui blinked slowly, and her lips quickly twitched ambiguously. Itsuki looked nervous, his face paling even more at the thought of being exposed in such an anticlimactic way. Caster, on the other hand, showed no signs of fear or hesitation, just pure confidence that everything was still going her way.

Indeed, Caster was right to not be concerned, for Sola-Ui smiled just as deviously.

"Why, I can't allow that to happen," the redheaded woman replied. She took a couple of steps forward and stared down at Itsuki, who looked immensely relieved at her response. "After all, my dear, dear husband and brother need to have all of their focus on the battles ahead. If they knew their most powerful teammates were scheming behind their backs, well, they'd be reduced to neurotic messes. The White Faction needs to prevail in the first stage of this War."

"So," said Caster, "what will you do about our treachery, Sophia-Ri? Surely you can't just sweep this under the rug, not after all that you've heard."

Sola-Ui shrugged nonchalantly and spoke in a snobbish tone. "Well, since I'm technically a member of the White Faction myself, I think it is my duty to keep you two in check. As such, I shall keep an eye on the both of you at all times. There will be no more plotting out of you two in the foreseeable future."

Her red eye shone cleverly at the last two words, prompting Caster to smile even more.

"Those sound like agreeable terms," the witch said. "What do you think, Master?"

"O-Of course," Itsuki stammered, not catching on to the undertone of Sola-Ui and Caster's conversation just as quickly.

Sola-Ui's grin widened as she replied, "This is the Himuros' first Holy Grail War in over a century and they're seeking to do some backstabbing already? Your family really is coming back in a big way-"

"No," Itsuki interrupted. "No, they don't know I've been planning this." His eyes narrowed angrily. "They wish to return to the world of mages, but they can only do so by cooperating with the very magi that shunned them in the first place? And they proudly take that route, without comprehending how pathetic and contradictory it is? That...That I simply can't tolerate. What's left of the Himuros' dignity is being dragged through the mud and I can't bear to watch helplessly any longer. If I am to inherit my family's long-lost magic, then I must do it on my terms."

Sola-Ui could've sworn she saw a fire light up in Itsuki's eyes.

"And I must see to it that the world of mages never regrets crossing the name Himuro," he finished with determination.

Sola-Ui blinked with legitimate surprise. "So your family had no input in this?"

"No, and I'd prefer it stay that way." The frail but determined boy looked up at the older woman. "This is something my family must not hear about, okay?"

The woman hesitated briefly before nodding and replying, "Alright..." Then, she smirked slightly as she stared down at the wheelchair-ridden boy. "And to think you were such a helpless little boy who couldn't get out of bed. Instead, you're just as conniving as your Servant..."

Itsuki smirked back, realizing he now had the allegiance of someone associated with a vital part of his plan.

"I guess that makes two of us," he responded.

"Make that three of us..." Caster added, her voice a sinister whisper.

The three stood at the foot of the staircase, staring at each other knowingly.

In the courtyard that defined the Tohsaka manor backyard, Bram was sitting by one of the marble statues and looking at his hand admirably, enjoying how his white Command Seals seemed to gleam in the sunlight that was bathing him and the courtyard. All the while, he couldn't help but gleefully anticipate the impending battle between the two Factions, like a child about to be rewarded with candy. Soon, soon, he will have the perfect opportunity to show his true worth...

"Hmph. Very, very impressive..."

It took an extraordinary amount of effort for Bram to hold back a surprised gasp. Without a second thought, he stood up from his siting position and, like a pathetic, groveling sycophant, bowed his head as Gilgamesh coolly materialized in the middle of the bedroom. He was wearing the high-end and strikingly stylish civilian clothing Bram purchased for him, all under his orders, of course. Even if he wasn't wearing his suit of golden armor, the sunlight still seemed to reflect from Gilgamesh's very body, especially his blond hair; he was almost even flashier than the light itself.

"My king..." Bram greeted with a slightly shaky voice. Fortunately, and rather strangely, it went unnoticed by the golden King of Heroes.

"For a boring retainer, you look rather ferocious this afternoon," responded Gilgamesh, his voice bearing a brutal honesty that almost cut into Bram's soul. "I must say, the look doesn't suit you at all."

Trying his best to shrug off the insult, the Sophia-Ri Master replied with a shaky confidence, "But my king, tonight is the night where I...I mean, you get to conduct a most glorious demonstration of your powers at their finest! For tonight, we, the White Faction, plan on facing off against our enemies, the Black Faction!"

Gilgamesh scoffed dismissively. "Your proclamation is nothing more than empty words to me, my Master." His snakelike red eyes narrowed as he hissed, "Sniveling, groveling, meaningless appeal. I have already had my share of experiences with those kinds of retainers, and I was strongly hoping I would never have to deal with that kind of buffoonery again when I responded to your summons. Alas, there are some things in this world that can never change, no matter how much time has transpired."

"I-I don't understand, m-my king-" began Bram.

"Do you mean to tell me you were unaware of my presence during that meeting of yours?" For some reason, Gilgamesh was completely calm and composed as he brutally, unflinchingly criticized his Master...and that, to Bram, was an even more frightening display than a blatantly enraged King of Heroes. "Are your mental faculties so limited that you cannot even detect traces of my magnificent presence?"

Bram's head whipped upward as he confronted Gilgamesh over his assumptions.

"No, my king!" he cried. "N-Not at all! I was well aware of your presence! It's just that you..." Bram struggled to find his next words. "You were quiet for the entire meeting, that's all. It was odd-"

Gilgamesh grabbed Bram by the neck, lifted him off his feet, and squeezed his grip down with enough force that it didn't snap his Master's cervical vertebrae, but would if another ounce of pressure was applied.

"Do you mean to say you have developed an impression of me as a loud, boisterous, and unreasonable ruler?" the King of Heroes calmly asked as the redheaded magus struggled against his grip. "Like that faker who mocks my place as the one true king with false, laughable titles?" He then spoke the next words with a bored but mocking tone. "My Master?"

"For...give me..." Bram forced out between strained breaths. "Ack... That...That was not...my int..." Gilgamesh tightened his grip ever so slightly, and his lungs started to lose even more precious oxygen. "Intention..."

"How pathetic. You squirm for your life like a worm and spew sycophantic babbles, when minutes ago you were admiring your beloved Command Seals and boasting of an impending battle whose timeline is not entirely set..." Gilgamesh tilted his head to the left by a centimeter, watching with disinterest as Bram continued to struggle. "If this is the true quality of the one who summoned me to this world, then perhaps I should seek out a new retainer..."

"Pl-Pl-Please..." begged Bram, his eyes becoming teary. "Ack... R-Reconsider, my king... I...I may not be...worthy of...of your enter... Ack... Entertainment...at the m-moment..."

At this admission, Gilgamesh's vice-like grip on Bram's neck slackened slightly, allowing the redheaded Master's lungs to rejoice in inhaling more oxygen.

"But..." Bram continued desperately, "when...when the time comes... Ack... I will show you...my true...worth..."

"Yes..." Gilgamesh's red eyes glinted, and he suddenly tightened his grip again, depriving Bram of his essential oxygen for a second time. "By depriving me of direct contact on the battlefield. You say you were aware of my presence at that meeting? Then surely you remember Tokiomi Tohsaka's strategy to keep me away from the worthless mongrels whose powers dare threaten my standing, regardless of them being friend or foe, Bram."

Bram mentally cursed himself for not considering that. For a split-second, he considered using a Command Seal to stop Gilgamesh's actions, but he knew it would be a terrible waste to expend it on such a selfish, cowardly desire. Especially if said desire did not even involve the Grail War at all! No, he needed to rely on his silver tongue. It never failed him before and it shouldn't fail him now!

"Of course I was!" he forced out. "But naturally... Ack... I have...my own strategy...to counter that." Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow, but refused to let go, prompting Bram to add, "A strategy...crafted...specifically...with you in mind..."

Gilgamesh's other eyebrow slowly arched upward as well, and he spent a few seconds contemplating his next decision. Bram knew that at that point, the King of Heroes was not debating whether or not his Master was telling the truth, but whether or not his usefulness as a source of entertainment had truly expired.

It seemed as if his usefulness would still bear fruit for the King of Heroes, for Bram dropped to the ground, wheezing as his lungs embraced the onslaught of needed oxygen.

"So you plan on going against the words of that man, Tokiomi Tohsaka..." Gilgamesh said. He pursed his lips and stuck out his chin a little. "You are a man of clashing loyalties, Bram Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri. I grow very weary of those people every single time I come across them."

"Trust me, my king," croaked Bram. "My allegiance is to you and you alone. I will atone to my failures as a retainer, and prove my loyalty when we are on the battlefield." He looked up at Gilgamesh, who stared down at him with revulsion. "I will, even if it means betraying the White Faction."

"I will, even if it means betraying the White Faction."

Kayneth smirked with amusement as he observed Bram and Gilgamesh's less-than-friendly interactions from the balcony of his and Sola-Ui's luxury bedroom. Having worked with him for many years already, he knew his soon-to-be brother-in-law very well. Bram would never turn his back on the White Faction, and he would follow Tokiomi Tohsaka's instructions to the last word. His family honor depended on it. Of course, he was trying to be very conservative on his Command Seal usage, even to the point where he nearly got himself killed for it, but if it meant putting Archer of White in line once and for all, Bram would gladly use one.

But for now, it amused Kayneth to know Bram had such an unruly Servant under his command. Even if they were about to be indirectly bound through the sanctity of marriage, the ninth-generation magus could only see his valuable ally and future family member as nothing more than one of many stepping stones to his glorious victory. After all, the alliance of the White Faction was temporary. Once the Black Faction was dispatched for good, all of the White Masters and Servants would be going their separate ways in pursuit of the Holy Grail.

If the celebrated Clock Tower instructor Bram Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri could not get along with his powerful Servant already, then he would be easy pickings in the second stage. That, Kayneth was highly certain of. It mattered not if he was about to marry Bram's sister. The Sophia-Ri family honor did not hinge entirely on Bram's triumph.

In fact, they wouldn't care less if Bram perished at any point in the battle. Their union with the Archibald family was way more important, and Kayneth's acquisition of the Holy Grail was just an extremely appealing bonus.

Movement at the corner of Kayneth's eye suddenly caught his attention. Shifting his attention, he now watched as a half-dozen of the homunculi the Musik family provided were studiously cleaning up wreckage at the left side of the courtyard. A brief memory of the so-called battle between the White Faction and Assassin of Black flashed through the instructor's mind, and he pursed his lips.

Even if his soon-to-be brother-in-law had massive problems with his Servant, that was still the most obvious problem in the White Faction that he could discern and take advantage of. There are still five other Masters and Servants to study...

BANG! CLANG!

Kayneth gagged as the well-made door to his bedroom literally ripped itself open, revealing none other than the King of Conquerors, Iskandar. His cape, colored in the finest scarlet, was fluttering lightly and gently, like a curtain dramatically settling after a blast of wind. Kayneth's eyes widened in horror at the sight of his wrecked door.

"Rider?!" the El-Melloi exclaimed. "Wh-What is the meaning of this?! How dare you destroy that door, especially when it belongs to the residence of our most gracious host!"

"I apologize, my Master," Iskandar replied sincerely, "but the doorknob that would grant access to your quarters was too small and fragile for my great hands." He raised his large right hand for emphasis. "I guess my stature and the power I put in my own grip were too much for that knob to bear. Thus, I had to resort to force in order to gain entry."

"You could've just phased through the door while you were in spirit form, like any rational Servant would do!"

Iskandar blinked with confusion. "But how could I carry this?"

The King of Conquerors raised his left hand, which Kayneth noticed for the very first time was clutching a book. His eyes narrowed with disapproval.

"Rider," he said slowly, fearing the worst with every passing second, "what is that?"

"Oh, this?" The upbeat and optimistic attitude returned to Iskandar's form as he pointed at the object enthusiastically. "This is something the people of this day and age would call an atlas! I happened upon it in the library while exploring this manor and chose to recover it for further examination!" He opened up the book and flipped through the pages at high speeds, reading its contents with gleeful interest. "It is so fascinating! Page after page of maps, unlike any drafted in my age! HA HA!"

...

Kayneth deadpanned, "Rider, do you mean to tell me you destroyed that door, all because you wished to read an atlas of all things? In my private quarters, no less?"

"Why, yes of course, my Master!" Iskandar stared regretfully at the door and continued, "Though I am sorrowful of the outcome of your finely decorated door. Perhaps when we conquer this world, we could have a massive gate of dazzling and indestructible gold constructed in your honor! That way, no enemy would dare penetrate your quarters!"

"What in blazes are you even talking about, conquering this world?! Don't forget, Rider, we have a Grail War to win first! Has that prospect already escaped your head again?!"

"Of course not, Master. I am simply planning the aftermath of our victory and possession of the Holy Grail. Surely that is something you yourself have mulled over multiple times, am I correct?"

"Y-Yes, but-"

Iskandar cut Kayneth off. "Then we should continue to strive for those goals, boldly and proudly so, for the very prospect of our greatest wishes and our deepest desires being granted will be the motivation that we need to advance in this War! As long as we keep this in mind, then..."

With a swish of his magnificently scarlet cape, the King of Conquerors raised a clenched fist into the air. It was so high in fact that Kayneth feared he was going to punch a hole into the ceiling and jeopardize the structural integrity of his room.

"MAGNIFICENT GLORY AWAITS US BOTH!"

Kayneth had to cover his ears at that last part, for Iskandar's sudden outburst was so loud that it threatened to shatter the windows in his room.

"Now then, speaking of glory..." The Rider Servant flipped through the pages of the atlas for a second time, and finally settled on one particular map near the end. "Master, I require your assistance."

"What use would that atlas be to you?" Kayneth snarled impatiently. "This War is restricted to the boundaries of Fuyuki City, like all other Holy Grail Wars. That information is elementary!"

Iskandar's pupils flitted towards Kayneth's position, and the El-Melloi suddenly felt a chill run up his spine.

"I am well aware of that, my Master. Perhaps you should not be so quick to judge my comprehension of the Impossible Holy Grail War. And yet, I am..." The King of Conquerors casually sat down on Kayneth's bed, and the ninth-generation mage could hear its legs strain to accommodate his Servant's great weight. "Interested in learning where all of my old territories are now located. So, my Master, I implore you to allow me this little indulgence."

Realizing his Servant would not be satiated otherwise, Kayneth approached and looked down at the map Iskandar was examining, which turned out to be a world map. With an irritated sigh, he jabbed his index finger over the area around Greece and the Middle East.

"Here," the El-Melloi Master said. "Are you satisfied now, Rider?"

He watched as Iskandar stared down at the world map, his brow furrowed ambiguously. At first, Kayneth interpreted his Servant's reaction as one of utter disappointment at having ruled over what would now be considered a small empire, at least in comparison to the rest of the modern world. In his mind, the instructor was sneering with triumph, hoping that the disappointment would be enough to finally subjugate the Rider Servant and keep him under his permanent control.

Then, Kayneth's hopes were dashed when Iskandar started bellowing with laughter. He had to cover his ears to prevent the loud laughs from blowing out his eardrums.

"I've spent my life conquering that land and look how puny it is!" the King of Conquerors said, after a couple of minutes transpired with his earsplitting laughter. "Very well! I can't wait to get started!"

"Get started?" Kayneth repeated with displeasure. "Get started with what?"

"Why, my campaign of conquest, of course! Master, where are we right now on this map?"

Kayneth pursed his lips bitterly, but he leaned forward and pointed at Japan's spot on the world map, at the right end of it. Upon seeing this, Iskandar's red eyes lit up with absolute excitement.

"Ahhhhh, so on the other side of the round land, eh? Alright!" Iskandar leaped up on his two feet, his soles meeting the carpeted floor with loud and powerful booms. "Then we first conquer this land! It should be no challenge at all, given its tiny size! Then, we shall advance westward and go as fast as we can, conquering every land that we pass through, until we finally return to this land! I shall return to Macedonia in triumph, and my beloved people will jubilantly hold a festival in honor of my great revival!" The Servant chuckled optimistically at that prospect. "Now how splendid would that be?!"

Kayneth blinked with confusion as he tried to follow along Iskandar's strategy in conquering the world.

"This...is after we achieve possession of the Holy Grail, right...?" he asked slowly.

"Of course! Why wouldn't it be?!"

Kayneth rapidly blinked a few times as he recalled Iskandar's rant. Something was not adding up...

Something finally clicked in his mind as the instructor asked, "Co-Couldn't you just wish for the accomplishment of world conquest from the Holy Grail- AGH!"

He managed to dodge a slap of all things from his own Servant.

"Master, how could you suggest such a thing?!" Iskandar cried, offended. "To insinuate that I would leave the conquering to some mere cup?! What nonsense! Conquering the world is my dream to make true! The wish I would ask of the Holy Grail is a first step towards that goal!"

"Then what would you ask of the Holy Grail?"

Iskandar suddenly fell silent, and he fidgeted awkwardly in his posture. Kayneth couldn't help but notice the blush that was creeping onto his Servant's face, becoming redder and redder until it matched the color of his hair and robes.

Finally, the Servant replied, quickly, and with great reluctance, "Reincarnation."

...

...

...

"Reincarnation," Kayneth repeated.

"Yes, that is correct, my Master."

"That is all. Reincarnation. With no other specific instructions? No addendum? Just reincarnation."

"Why, yes, of course. I mean, I can't imagine what other perks I would want in conjunction with reincarnation-"

"Then how would you expect to accomplish world conquest if you gain a form as weak as those that the rabble bear, and then physically initiate a campaign all by yourself?!"

"Even if magic lends me form in this world," Iskandar explained passionately, "ultimately, I remain a Servant. I simply wish to live as flesh and blood within this world in which I find myself, and with nothing but my body, I shall defy both Heaven and Earth! Succeeding in that endeavor is the true meaning of conquest! Thus it begins, then proceeds onward, and finally is finished!" The King of Conquerors stared idealistically at the balcony, towards the lovely blue sky. "Such is the path of my conquest..."

Kayneth narrowed his eyes with disgust and disapproval. "King of Conquerors, you are destined to fail..."

Iskandar looked back at his Master curiously. "Hm? Pardon me?"

"You will fail if you go down that path..." He suddenly shouted, "Your views are no longer compatible with this world! You are not living in the same world you once lived in! No human would be mad enough to accept worldwide subjugation at the hands of one man and one man alone, let alone join a campaign to accomplish this!"

Iskandar raised his eyebrows, but calmly replied, "But my Master, if I was able to do it before, then I can most certainly do it again."

"Yes, you did it before...millennia ago, to be more precise!" The Clock Tower instructor clenched his fists with unbridled anger. He couldn't believe he was having this kind of conversation with his own Servant, a familiar of all things! "I...I...I forged a pact with you...to win the Holy Grail...with my family honor on the line...on the foundation of...A PATHETIC AND TRIVIAL WISH SUCH AS THAT?!"

Iskandar blinked twice. "Master, why are you so opposed to my wish?"

"Because the limits set by the rabble will not allow you to do what you wish to do any longer! You would be better off if you simply used the Grail to bend everyone in the world to your will unconditionally!"

"I could never do such a thing! I may wish to conquer land after land in this world, but the people I am about to conquer still have their honor. If I entrust world conquest to the omnipotent Holy Grail, then I would greatly sully their honor by not allowing them one last chance to defend their countries! What country would wish to fall that way, to something that was completely out of their control?"

Kayneth sighed. "I can't believe you would think those things, in spite of your obsession with conquest..."

"Master, you speak of these so-called limits as insurmountable, but I have defied many odds to form one of the largest and greatest empires in the world! My people thought we conquered all the lands of the world, and proudly so!" Iskandar slammed his fist into his outstretched palm. "I say the only limits in this world are the ones that one chooses to set up over your heart as protective shields. But you cannot truly accomplish anything unless you ride with your ideals, not by carriage, but by horseback!"

Kayneth rolled his eyes in utter disbelief. "You may not be aware of this, Rider, but the rabble have developed a collective consciousness. In this age, the rabble have set a high prioritization of democratic societies. Rule by the people for the people. The societies that exercise this way of thinking outnumber those that hold on to the tradition of a lone supreme ruler. And if I may recall, your home Macedonia had just declared its independence from a dominant socialist power and became a democracy itself!"

Iskandar arched his eyebrows again, this time with interest. "Really now?" He scratched his bearded chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps it's just because they have lost their way without my guidance and leadership-"

"Very well then, Rider!" Kayneth snapped angrily. "You may pursue your precious wish of reincarnation! And you may go on ahead and physically begin your campaign of world conquest! But I promise you, King of Conquerors, you will not get far in your pursuit, and you will see as the rabble around you, who you expect to succumb to your silver tongue, simply dismiss you as a madman and give you what they believe is a rightful punishment. In fact, I challenge you to go to your home Macedonia, when all is said and done in this War. I want you to see how the people there react to your presence, and your proclamation that you have returned!"

Iskandar narrowed his eyes as he said, "Are those orders I'm hearing, my Master...?"

"Yes, those are orders, Rider."

"Very well then! I shall move heaven and earth to ensure those orders are followed! And I will see to it that you are most certainly wrong about the world you live in, Master! When I accomplish that, in return, I want-"

"Oh, what is it that you want now, Rider?" Kayneth interrupted. "Wait, don't tell me...you wish for more of the rags that the rabble like to wear?"

"Huh. Why, yes."

The El-Melloi grumbled irritably, "I might as well get them for you now if you wish to be so persistent on the matter..."

Iskandar looked down at his Master with a mixture of pleasure and intrigue. "Master, do...do you mean to tell me you're now willing to expend some of your time and currency in order to retrieve me some clothes?"

Something finally snapped inside Kayneth's brain.

"OF COURSE NOT, DAMN IT!"

Einzbern Villa, outskirts of Fuyuki
– Several hours later –

"I just finished my interviews with the forensic investigators who were at the scene. They all strongly believe the incident earlier today was caused by faulty electrical wiring in one of the rooms. Your attacker covered up his tracks well, and his hostages certainly seem to have good incentive for not challenging that official narrative."

Kiritsugu blinked idly. "Understood," he replied. "By the way, Maiya, where are we with our new bases of operations?"

"They are nearly ready to go. I just need to make a couple more calls for further accommodations. Everything should be set by tomorrow."

"Good, thank you."

"Of course. Goodbye."

As soon as Maiya hung up, Kiritsugu put away his mobile phone and looked down at the map set before him on the large living room table. It was the original copy of the map he provided to Kairi Sisigou, but there were even more annotations on it, as well as privately-taken photos of certain people and locations. On either side of the map, tactically arranged all around the table, were documents and additional photos. Placed directly at the top of the map was a brand-new photo, taken from security footage graciously provided by a guard that needed some...convincing.

The person who tried to kill him.

Kiritsugu's research on him was limited, but the extensive reconnaissance of his familiars and Assassin of Black, covering the whole of Fuyuki City, showed the mercenary likely arrived in the area at least two days ago...and last night, he had been in the same neighborhood at the same time as...

Kiritsugu glared at the photo of Shirou Kotomine. It was just as he'd feared...

The Magus Killer sighed heavily and buried his face in his palms. As if coordinating his extremely disorganized and unruly Faction in their fight against the highly advantaged White Faction wasn't enough, Shirou Kotomine was exercising all of his personal resources to crack down on him...specifically...

There were so many obstacles in the way of his wish already, and so little time... Perhaps this was a sign? Some sort of divine intervention? Perhaps...

"Emiya."

Kiritsugu looked up and saw one of the Assassins of Black materializing beside the doorway in a veil of shadow. He was a tall, heavily scarred, and seemingly malnourished man, with gangling limbs and his ribcage sticking precariously through his severely shriveled skin. It was the Assassin who was specifically assigned to him.

"My Master has arrived with your Servant and wife," Assassin announced with a hoarse voice. "They are in good physical condition." The man bowed, but Kiritsugu could tell there was nothing humble about it. "Please, be at ease..."

"Alright," Kiritsugu replied. He looked away, but as the Assassin Servant made a move to de-materialize, the mercenary suddenly asked with some sort of realization, "Assassin?"

"Yes, Emiya?"

"Back at the office tower, when I was attacked..." Kiritsugu blinked idly. "You saw it coming, but didn't say anything to me, did you?"

To the Magus Killer's surprise, it didn't take long for Assassin to reply, "Yes." The Servant tilted his head mockingly. "Did you really expect us to be aligned with you, to treat you as a comrade-in-arms, to watch your back when you absolutely needed it?"

"No. I understand you perfectly well. I just wanted to make sure, so we're on the same page."

"Then be sure of this: we answer to our Master and him alone, as ineffective as he may be. But I'm sure you understand this as well, fellow assassin..."

Kiritsugu refused to look at him. "I understand completely. Thank you, Assassin."

Assassin chuckled malevolently as he finally de-materialized and went out of sight. A minute passed with a tense silence hanging in the air before Kiritsugu heaved out another sigh and stood up. As he did, a tiny smile appeared on his lips.

"How ironic..." he whispered to himself.

At that moment, the door burst open, but Kiritsugu didn't need to know who it was.

"Kiritsugu!" Irisviel cried.

"Iri-" the Magus Killer began, but he was quickly cut off when his wife ensnared him in a tight hug and started weeping into his shoulder. "Iri...?"

He looked at Kairi, who merely sighed heavily and shook his head, looking exhausted. Then, he looked at Mordred, and was greeted with a scathing, accusatory look. Upon seeing those emotions, Kiritsugu knew what had happened, and his heart fell even more.

"As if things couldn't get any worse..."

Chapter 9:
The Search for Glory

Jeanne: I wish to speak with your Master.

Kiritsugu: No battle is without collateral damage.

Shirou: Well, well, well...isn't this interesting...?

Saber of Black: TO WHAT DEPTHS DO YOU INTEND TO SINK IN YOUR PURSUIT?!

Caules: Pl-Pl-Please, I come in peace!

Jeanne: I will not deal with a Master who views these proceedings as a game!

Next Time:
A Visit from the Saint

A/N: FINALLY! I'M DONE, AT LONG LAST! :D

I feel like this chapter wasn't among my best works, at least when compared to the previous chapter, but I think I can attribute that to my months-long hiatus in writing for this story. I blame school and other personal matters for that. And I fully intend to make up for that by ramping up my efforts for this fic. Like I've been doing with my "Angel Beats" fic, I will do all I can to update it once every month, hopefully twice a month on occasion.

But, as always, I did enjoy further developing the characters and building up their arcs. I anticipate all of your reactions to what I have planned next! :D :D :D

As for the "Fate" fic that I announced in the last chapter (see the ending Author's Note in Chapter 12 for further details), it's still on the drawing board. My motivation to fully flesh out the AU universe I wish to share will hinge on my personal enjoyment in writing this fic, as well as my interests in other projects going forward into 2019. College has been pretty busy for me since I'm a full-time student, and I'm still trying to find a balance between school and writing fanfiction. It's entirely possible some potential projects will ultimately go down the drain. We'll see.

Well, I'd like to thank the following for reviewing:

-YuukiAsuna-Chan: Well, I plan on having multiple protagonists, a la "Soul Eater", and the female "Fate/Grand Order" protagonist will definitely be one of them. But yeah, Ritsuka Fujimaru will be the one with the predominant focus. Sorry.

-mastergamer98007:

1) Well, of course I'll mention everyone who reviews the preceding chapter! I think my reviewers deserve that much.

2) Thanks! I'm glad you're looking forward to that project! :D

3) Well, I get about ten reviews per chapter, not to mention over 45,000 views in total. I think this fic is popular enough.

-miguelgiuliano . co:

1) Just like before, I had to run your review through Google Translate. I hope my responses to your review are spot-on, but otherwise, I apologize if they aren't.

2) So St. George will be Arturia's greatest enemy in the battlefield, huh? Very interesting. Thanks for pointing that out! I think I already had that in mind when I arranged both of the Factions, but thanks to the passage of time, I forgot that. A reminder is always helpful, though, so once again, thanks!

3) Thanks for pointing out Arturia's fighting capabilities as a Lancer Servant as well! That will be very useful for me too!

4) I think the ship's already sailed when it comes to including a Rider-class version of Arturia in this story. Besides, even if I wanted to, I honestly still wouldn't, simply because a Rider Arturia doesn't exist in the Type-Moon canon yet. I don't really want to make a whole bunch of stuff up and risk making her overpowered or anything. All of the Servants I am or will write about are going to be based on existing characters.

-The Joining (guest reviewer):

1) Oh yeah, Waver's supposed to be Lord El-Melloi II in "Fate/Apocrypha". I can't believe I missed that... :(

2) Okay. Thanks for pointing your source out!

3) Oh, I'm sorry about the constant switch of POVs. To be honest, one of my primary goals for this story was to do what "Fate/Apocrypha" didn't and put a heavy emphasis on individual character development and interactions like "Fate/Zero" did, all while taking great advantage of the premise of a battle between Factions of Masters and Servants. I assume that "Fate/Apocrypha" cut down the number of Red Masters and made the Black Masters part of a singular organization with a singular goal in order to prevent this kind of POV-switching. It's understandable. Even so, I've always found that to be the most disappointing part about "Fate/Apocrypha", because the story would've been WAY more interesting if a group of self-centered mages with conflicting wishes and their Servants had to work together to overcome another such group as part of a stepping stone towards the Holy Grail. This opinion of mine served as the foundation for this story. Anyway, I'm talking too much at this point. I think I'll move on to other points.

4) I think that's the error I fixed in the last chapter. Thanks for pointing it out! :D

5) Well, I was never intending to have Kiritsugu sit out this War and make Kairi do all of the heavy lifting for him. As the end of the previous chapter implied, he had been doing his share of the work for the Black Faction too, just behind-the-scenes. And it's something you got to take a look at in this chapter. Nevertheless, I did find his scenes in the chapter to be my least favorite sections of the chapter. Fortunately, I do intend to officially give Kiritsugu the spotlight very soon. In fact, that'll happen when the Black and White Factions face off, which will be in the chapter after the next.

-TheMaster4444:

1) Indeed, Feend is right about Kiritsugu... ;)

2) I'm glad you enjoy Kariya and Klaus's interactions! Those will foreshadow how their story arcs will advance from that point onward... ;) ;) ;)

-ulttoanova:

1) I'm so happy you think my characterizations of everyone are spot-on! I guess all of those hours of watching and re-watching those episodes of "Fate/Zero" and "Fate/stay night" are paying off well!

2) Rest assured, my friend, Shirou will get some substantial scenes when the Black and White Factions face off. But for the most part, I plan on keeping him out of the spotlight for much of the first half of the story. For now, I do recommend paying close attention to his brother Kirei... ;)

-King of Fans: Actually, the only thing that the two brothers will actually agree on is their religion. When Kirei realizes what Shirou has to wish from the Holy Grail, well...things WILL get ugly...

-Ashe (guest reviewer):

1) Shirou Kotomine from "Fate/Apocrypha" in a timeline that is more reminiscent of "Fate/Zero". Indeed, that is quite a strange, unexpected mix.

2) It brings me so much joy to know I'm doing Shirou Kotomine more justice than the original work ever did, at least in your eyes! It really does! As for Jeanne, I hope to make her much more interesting in your eyes as well. She will have a starring role in the next chapter, so keep your eyes open for that one. And as for Sieg, well...I actually have a set plan for him, but I'm still wondering whether it's the perfect choice for him or whether I should take a different route with his character.

3) Shirou's daughter is actually a very strange case. That's all I have to say about her at the moment.

4) Trust me, Kirei's development will be something to look out for. ;)

5) Yes, Shirou is a Ruler-class Servant. However, like "Fate/Apocrypha", his summoning in the Third Holy Grail War went off without a hitch, while Jeanne's summoning was imperfect and she needed a host body because of Shirou's continued presence.

Wow, including the review responses, this is officially the longest chapter I've ever written for this story in a long while now. I honestly consider that an achievement.

Well, hope you enjoyed this chapter! TheCartoonFanatic01 is out. PEACE!