Chapter 5: Death of a Great Warrior

More Servants dying. Soon we'll only be left with the most important ones relevant to the fic. And yes, Goldie still gets eaten by Angra. No one likes him anyway (lol)

WARNING: Before anyone reads and complains about it, this chapter is about what happens on Day 7 (Saber+Archer VS Zouken) and Day 8 (Saber VS Assassin). There is barely any action from Kousuke or Caster, so except for some minor storyline tweaks to adjust for the different Caster, it's pretty much identical to the actual VN. So unless you're completely bored or forgot about the contents of the route, feel free to read on, but don't say I didn't warn you. And for those of you who didn't completely forget the route, but wonder if you want to skip this, I'll summarize it. Saber gets eaten by the shadow. There you go.

EXTRA WARNING: Seriously, read the above warning again. Even after reading the warning and you want to read the chapter but find that it has less new content than you thought and feel dissatisfied and want to review with an extremely long rant and complaint, it's all your own fault.

Disclaimer: Kohappi~

-Kousuke-

-Day 7, 6th December (Wednesday), Ryuudouji-

After leaving the hotel, I made straight for Ryuudouji with Caster. Upon our arrival, we noticed that the sickening feeling had lessened somewhat, but still lingered in the air. After requesting an audience with the head monk, we told him that he and the monks had to evacuate as soon as possible.

"May I know the reason?"

"Something terrible is brewing in Fuyuki," I answered "A great disaster is about to happen."

"I see…I understand. I'll call my son home from school and inform the monks immediately."

"Thanks you for your understanding and cooperation."

To be honest, I was surprised that they agreed so willingly. In the worst case scenario, I would have Caster hypnotize all the monks and have them leave. I didn't want to, but I had too. Sighing, the head monk spoke.

"In the past, terrible things have happened in this city. And with each passing event, they have gotten worse and worse."

Suddenly, the head monk bowed at us.

"Yagami-sama, please save our city. I beg of you. In our absence, you may use our temple in any way you want."

"…You have my word."

-Guest house-

With all the monks evacuated safely, Caster began making breakfast while I fell onto the futon with a groan. My whole body was sore and aching from last night's skirmish, and even after Caster healed my shoulder wound, my brain still remembered the feeling of Rider's dagger piercing my flesh. Slowly, I inched towards one of my bags, making sure Caster didn't notice me.

XXX

-Caster-

"Hm hm hm~"

Since we rushed back to the temple early in the morning, we hadn't had breakfast yet, so I was now preparing it for the both of us. Yesterday was a stressful night for me…even though Kousuke said that he would be doing melee combat while I fully Reinforced his body and augmented his physical skills while preparing my own spells, I still don't like seeing him fighting…Servants are supposed to fight Servants, not Masters. That aside, Master really is incredible…even with all that magical enhancement, he is still a human, and he's able to fight Servants at the most basic level…but every morning after we encounter a Servant, Master doesn't show it, but I know that his body is aching from the exertion…I really have to talk to him about changing our battle strategy…eh? What's that smell? This is…blood?!

"Goshujin-sama?!"

XXX

-Kousuke-

I hastily turned around as I heard Tamamo call my name and stuffed the empty pack back into the bag.

"Yes, Tamamo?"

"I smelt blood! Are you alright?"

"Yes, why? You must have imagined it."

"If you say so…goshujin-sama…"

I watched as Caster went back into the kitchen and let out a small sigh. Usually, I would only do this whenever Tamamo wasn't anywhere near me, but I needed it this morning.

"Well, I guess I should go help her…"

XXX

-Shirou-

-Homurahara Gakuen-

Once again, I was up on the rooftop with Tohsaka. Because I skipped school the day after she told me about her suspicions about Ryuudouji, she thought that I had went to the temple to face off with Caster and something had happened to me.

"So it was just a fever."

"Yeah, sorry for making you worried I guess."

"Well, I guess you must not be a complete idiot, since you didn't go running of to Ryuudouji after I gave you the information."

Tohsaka sighed.

"But still, what the hell is going on up there?"

"What do you mean?"

"Last night, a huge spike in mana levels was detected at the temple. But this morning it was back to normal."

"What?!"

A huge mana spike?! Did any Servants get into a fight at the temple? As I asked her that question, she replied.

"Most probably. But…it was strange…from what Archer told me, the mana wasn't a Servant's or a Master's."

"Really?"

"And that's not all. In the same night, Archer told me he saw a woman being attacked by what seemed to be a black shadow."

"Shadow?"

"Yes. He tried to save her, but the shadow escaped and the woman was already dead. It's most probably a Servant who did that."

Yeah…Assassin.

"I see…so, what do you think?"
"Huh? Me?"

"Yeah, you think it's strange, don't you? I don't think you'll forfeit from the war. But don't you want to clear up all this stuff about Ryuudouji and the black shadow before you start fighting for the Holy Grail? You want to put off fighting Masters until after that?"

"You're right. This Holy Grail War is suspicious. It seems different from the one I heard about from my dad. I think there's something different going on where we can't see it."

"Then Tohsaka…"

"Yes, I won't follow the rules of the Holy Grail War until I'm convinced. It can't be helped if I'm being used, but I don't like not knowing the harm I may be imposing on others. You don't like such a thing right? So I'm not going to be fighting other Masters until I get this cleared up."

"I see…can I take this as a truce offer?"

"If you would accept it. If you won't fight me until this case is settled, then I won't hurt you either."

Tohsaka asked me silently with her eyes. She doesn't even need to ask.

"That's my line. I won't fight you as long as you don't come attacking me. And even if there comes a time when we do fight, it'll be fair and square. Until then-"

"Then it's decided. I expected you to agree, but I'm glad to hear it all the same."

"Huh?"

Tohsaka held out her right hand. I realized that she wanted to shake hands, so…

"Y-Yeah, please give me your best regards."

"All right, our contract is set. Please give me your best regards too, Emiya-kun."

-Night, Park-

"…!"

The instant I stepped into the park, the abnormal presence made me feel like vomiting. The air was polluted here. The stench of rot and decay seeped into my nose. My gastric juices were regurgitated just by standing there. The discomfort and dizziness almost broke my mind.

"Emiya-kun?!"

Saber and I were just as surprised as Tohsaka and Archer at each other's presence. But we weren't the only ones there.

"Hm? New enemies?"

And that old man, Matou Zouken. I understood the situation right away. Tohsaka was fighting Matou Zouken. I saw dozens of something so small I couldn't distinguish them surrounding Tohsaka. Archer had many more around him. It seemed that Matou Zouken used those things to attack them.

"Hm. Well if it isn't Saber's Master. So you've prepared a backup? For Tohsaka's daughter, you are surprisingly smart."

"You're wrong. Archer and I are more than enough to beat a confession out of you. They're just spectators. They have nothing to do with me."

Tohsaka continued to glare at Zouken, but her back was…

"What were you thinking, coming at a time like this!? Do you want to die?!"

…harshly scolding me.

"Shirou."

"I know. This isn't the time to be arguing with Tohsaka."

Just as how Tohsaka was not looking away from the old man, I could sense danger from him.

"Hm. I wanted to keep this hidden, but I guess it cannot be helped. I cannot survive against two Servants."

He made a sound with his cane. The instant it struck the bricks beneath his feet, something horrifying rose up from the ground before him.

"Th-Those things! How?!" exclaimed Tohsaka.

Emerging from the ground before him were a number of grotesque demons that seemed to be comprised of masses of tentacles with circular mouth-like openings marked with shark-like blades. Saber balked when she saw them, then yelled at Zouken.

"How is this possible?! They should have been completely destroyed when Caster was killed!"

"You know these creatures, Saber? That should not happen. Servants do not retain memories from previous wars. But I guess, you are an exception."

"Saber…what are those things?!"

"They're familiars…used by the Caster of the previous Grail War."

"What?!"

"Both the previous War's Caster and his Master were deranged, bloodthirsty maniacs. They held no regard for human life and conducted mass murder in the city. Those creatures were used by Caster in battle as well as to murder innocents…"

"That's horrible!"

Zouken nodded.

"Indeed. The problem was so serious, the Overseer of that War proclaimed that the Caster must be stopped before the War could continue, and was gave an extra Command Spell to the Master of the Servant who killed it. Right, Saber."

Saber simply stared him down.

"Answer me, how did you come into possession of them, let alone keep them alive for so long without their master?!"

"I was interested, in their nature, and somehow managed to capture some of them. Then, I learned that they would survive as long as they are fed on flesh, blood and prana. I was also delightfully surprised when they stayed alive after Caster's demise. And so, I continuously fed them with a healthy supply of fresh livestock and my prana until a day came where I would require their services."

"You!"

Enraged, Saber dashed at Zouken, but one of the tentacle monsters leapt at her. Of course, Saber easily sliced it in half, but the creature's insides let out a sickening cloud of purple fog which would have been deadly to a human, but was completely ignored by Saber. Slashing her way through the rest of the Horrors, Matou Zouken seemed to have disappeared. He sacrificed his eldritch abominations to escape. But-

"Archer!"

"Hm?!"

That was why Saber took care of the Horrors. Archer ignored them completely, pursued their controller, and…

"That's it."

Cut Matou Zouken's body in half.

"Guh-"

Zouken's upper body fell to the ground.

"Hm?! Ugh, my…"

A dragging sound. Even though blood and entrails were spilling out of his body, the old man still lived. He crawled across the ground with his arms, trying to get away from Archer.

"This is the end, magus. My past experiences have taught me to quickly finish off monsters like you."

Archer raised his falchion above Zouken. That was the end. No matter how immortal Matou Zouken was, he will die once his head is crushed. And he was almost dead already. It's not like he has self-healing powers like Servants, and his horrific wound was taking him closer to death every second. But unwilling to take any chances, Archer killed the magus with his sword.

"…What?"

No, he tried to kill Zouken but stopped. It's not only Archer who felt it. Everyone here did. Tohsaka, Saber, Archer and I. Even Matou Zouken, hovering on the edge of death, shuddered at its appearance.

Darkness covered the park.

The damp air froze in an instant.

My heart was beating at a higher pitch, but the rate was slower.

Something bad was close by.

So I had to run away.

I can't concern myself with that thing.

My body understood it instinctively, yet refused to move.

It was meaningless to run away.

My body knew that.

I moved my trembling body and turned my numb neck. I looked towards the entrance of the park. There…

…stood the 'shadow'.

Space was distorted. I wanted to believe it was just my imagination, a product of my disordered sense of balance caused by extreme tension. I've never seen anything like it. It's insubstantial, as if a shadow suddenly stood up. Its existence was so light that it could be blown away. And yet, its presence dominated the place. It lacked intelligence and reason, and probably wasn't even alive. The black shadow stood there like a mirage. So…

Why did I find it so familiar?

"Impossible."

I heard a hoarse voice. The only one able to speak here was the dying old man.

"Impossible, impossible, impossible!"

He crawled while screaming. Matou Zouken pulled himself away from Archer and out of the park. It's not that Zouken had that much strength left. It's just that…fear of the shadow drove him.

Nobody was able to move. Tohsaka and I stood still, transfixed with fear. Even Archer and Saber seemed entranced. It was like…a deep sea monster. The shadow swayed in the silent world where everything was still.

And…

It showed something like a will for the first time.

"Ah-"

It lacked limbs, eyes or a body. Yet it still cast a shadow at its base. Outlined by moonlight, the shadow began to stretch and elongate. Like a snake that had found its prey, it pointed at Tohsaka and-

"…"

Oblivious to the change, Tohsaka did not move. Saber was too far away. Archer had started running, but he would not make it in time.

"Toh-"

The shadow lashed out. Without showing any sign, the shadow abruptly covered tens of meters and…

"-saka, watch out!"

I frantically pushed Tohsaka aside.

"…-kun?!"

I couldn't hear her voice. The instant I pushed Tohsaka away, something engulfed me. A splashing sound and a sensation on something trying to crush my body.

"-Ah."

My presentiment wasn't wrong. Water had come crushing down on me, and I was now sinking into the sea.

But it's hot. This seawater was too hot. Boiling coal tar. It stuck to my skin and cut off my life, and I didn't feel like I was in the sea.

"Ah….guh….."

And the world turned to static, right before it turned to black.

-Some time later-

"…kun, Emiya-kun!"

"Agh…gu."

I woke up. My body was hot. My nausea wasn't fading, my head was shaking, and I couldn't even stand up by myself.

"Are you awake, can you tell who I am?!"

She slapped my cheeks.

"I can tell. Only Tohsaka would slap someone at a time like this."

"…Good. I guess you're alright if you can talk back like that."

…That was just my honest opinion right now.

"You idiot, why are you smiling? I'm not going to thank you, okay? Don't ever do that again. I can't return the favor if you die trying to save me."

She glared at me. But Tohsaka was still rubbing my back with one hand and holding my hand with the other to check my temperature.

"Tohsaka, what happened to that weird thing?"

"It disappeared. It vanished when you stepped onto the shadow and fainted…I think it came from over that way."

"I see. But I think I was entangled in it for a while."

"Really? It hasn't even been 10 seconds since you pushed me, see?"

"Shirou!"

Saber ran up to me.

"You acted reckless again!"

Saber supported me and pulled me away from Tohsaka.

"Get away, Archer's Master. I shall treat you as an enemy if you come any closer to my Master."

"What? I'm your enemy as well?"

"Of course. You are a Master, and Archer is with you. I do not know why Shirou protected you, but I cannot let you near my Master before my eyes."

Saber glared at Tohsaka. Crap, guess I never told Saber about our current truce.

"No, you're wrong Saber, we made a truce, and we're at peace now."

"But…understood. I will not fight her if that is your will."

"Yeah, I'm sorry…I can't talk anymore."

I endured the nausea and the chill that tried to get me unconscious. I have to get home before I faint. I have to stay conscious.

"So, you survived huh? Well you didn't touch the main body, so the most it could do was get you ill."

Archer approached. He was expressionless even though Zouken got away, and was the only calm one there.

"Archer. Do you know what that shadow is?"

"Who knows, But that shadow is definitely the one that has been draining the life from the townspeople lately."

He answered as if not interested. Then, Archer looked down at me, lying on the ground.

"It seems this is no time to pursue personal grudges. Is that right, Emiya Shirou?"

"What?"

"As for what that shadow was, your intuition was correct. Hmph. I am summoned as a Servant, but I'm to fight it after all."

"Archer…who are you?"

"I see…you are not a guardian yet. Then you must not have fought something like that before…It seems that I'll be doing the same thing no matter where I go."

The knight in red beckoned Tohsaka to go. But right before they left…

"No…it's not that hopeless. It has not occurred yet. I might be able to finish it beforehand, or I might end up cleaning after the event. I might have a chance of stopping it this time.

He looked up at the sky and murmured those words.

XXX

-Day 8, 7th December (Thursday), Emiya Household-

After talking to Saber and before leaving for school, I decided to give Kousuke a call. To tell him about what happened yesterday night. But, when I tried to…

"Save your breath. We already saw everything that happened there.'

"You did?! How?"

"My Servant is Caster. It's a bit late to tell you, but most of the streets of Fuyuki are under our surveillance. The only places where we can't watch are inside buildings and such."

"I see…do you know…what that shadow was?"

"Unfortunately, no. But, what we could tell was that that thing is extremely dangerous. Even through Caster's mirrors, we could feel its extreme evil from all the way over there."

"That's too bad…"

"I have something else to tell you. About Ryuudouji."

"What?"

"I have told all the monks in the temple to evacuate."

"Eh? Why?"

"I fear that there may be something potentially dangerous under the temple, especially near the lake. I had Caster place seals, barriers and Bounded Fields throughout the whole area, but there is no guarantee that we'll be able to keep it, whatever it is, at bay."

"I see…thanks. One of my friends lives at Ryuudouji. It's good to know that he'll be well away from this war."

"Is he the son of the head monk?"

"Yes, he is. Ryuudou Issei. Do you know him?"

"Yes, we have met, but we barely talked. Well anyway, I have to hang up now-"

"Ah, wait!"

"Yes?"

"I almost forgot. I have made a truce with Tohsaka as well."

"Tohsaka…the Second Owner?"

'Um…I think so. But she doesn't know about our truce yet."

"What kind of truce was it?"

"A ceasefire until we've figured out what is wrong with this war, especially that shadow."

"So? Do you expect us to meet up, at some point?"

"Well, that would be for the best."

'I see. What about tonight?"

Tonight? No…tonight Saber and I would attempt to go an challenge the shadow, so it wasn't a good idea.

"What about…tomorrow?"

"Alright then. I'll be looking forward to it, Shirou."

"Thanks for understanding. Bye."

And we hung up.

-Night-

Since I had divided the workload between myself and Tohsaka, tonight, Saber and I were to go search for the shadow and investigate it.

"So, where do we investigate, Shirou?"

"Well…Kousuke and Caster pretty much have Ryuudouji covered. If something appears there, they would realize instantly. So let's go search the city. We'll investigate the areas where most people have fallen unconscious."

"Very well Shirou. Let's go."

-Somewhere in Fuyuki-

Carefully, we entered the shrine. According to the evening news, the family that was taking care of this shrine fell into a coma around midnight, so we were now investigating it. Going through the compound and climbing up the entryway, we carefully walked through the dark wooden hallway, and the floor creaked with each step.

"Nothing seems strange…How about you, Saber?"

"It is the same for me. But, I can't help but feel like someone has been watching us…ever since we entered."

"Yeah…me too."

As we were about to walk behind the shrine, at that instant!

"Shirou!"

"Saber?!"

I was shoved into the shrine by Saber. Realizing that she just pushed me, I tried to go back out to the hallway, but the exit has been firmly shut by Saber!

"Saber?! What are you doing, you idiot?!"

I banged on the door. I had no idea what kind of magic it was, but the door was as hard as steel.

"Hey, what are you doing, Saber!?"

The door refused to budge, even when I threw my weight against it. And from the other side of the door-

"Please protect yourself there, Shirou! This opponent will only target you!"

"What?! Who's the enemy?! Is it that shadow?!"

"No! But this Servant is the natural enemy of Masters! I am sorry, but I cannot protect you at the battleground. I have to fight Assassin one-on-one, of he will kill you first!"

"Assassin?!"

I didn't even sense him! Wait, I have to call Kousuke!"

"…Tch, no signal."

"I will finish the battle with one blow. Please do not move until then!"

Saber's presence faded. Her footsteps were loud. She must have repelled Assassin's attacks as she charged within range.

"Damn."

Looking around, I picked up a stick the length of a sword and did my best to Reinforce it.

"Hurry…"

I have to make this into a sword and break down the door. An ominous feeling, a mysterious uneasiness, filled my mind. Although Saber could definitely handle Assassin on her own, for some reason it felt like a fatal mistake to leave Saber out there all alone, so I have to hurry and-!

"!?"

The lights went out. What little light that was shining into the shrine vanished. The moonlight has been blocked off by clouds.

"…!"

I smelt something. The smell of rotten meat and the sound of bugs flying around.

"…Matou Zouken."

I glared into the darkness.

"Hah. Talk about walking into a trap, young lad."

A snicker. That old magus. He was hiding somewhere.

"Saber…"

I readied the Reinforced weapon. I had no fear, even with a century-old monster in front of me. The only thoughts in my mind were that of concern for Saber.

XXX

She ran across the hallway to corner the skull mask. The fifteen metres between them have been reduced to five. Saber should be able to close in with one step and slash her enemy along with the skull mask.

But the enemy knew that as well. He used projectile weapons because he knewhe will be no match at close range, and he retreats because he did not want her coming near him. Although not as fast as Saber, the skull still retreated with the speed of a running beast. He slithered across the floor, not slowing down even at corners. Does he have eyes on the back of his head, or is his mask on the back of his head. Assassin steadily retreated from the opponent, maintaining the distance between them.

-A spray of sparks. Three daggers are released without any motion, but have no effect on Saber. Like Lancer, Saber has protection against projectile weapons. Lancer reads the course of the projectile attack using the sound of cutting air and the enemy's murderous intent. Saber uses the cutting air and her own instinct. 'Imperceivable attacks' are not much of a threat against Heroic Spirits. It is those attacks that cannot be blocked, even when detected and understood, that are the fatal ones.

In that regard, Lancer's lance is appropriate to be called a Noble Phantasm. A weapon that always strikes the heart cannot be blocked merely by knowing about it. If one is to oppose that demonic lance, one must prepare a shield overwhelming the magical energy of the lance, have great enough luck to change the fate of the lance, or prevent him from using the lance in the first place.

Compared to that, Assassin's daggers are easy to manage. They can be fatal if they strike any vital points, but they are no different from throwing stones.

"Tch."

Over 40 Darks have been thrown. Having used up his supply of daggers, Assassin stopped.

"Mm-"

Saber stopped as well, hesitating. The enemy that did not want her to come near stopped. There was something, for sure, and an ominous feeling surrounded Assassin. This was no situation where she could step in without care.

"Have you given up, Assassin?"

Saber knew it was best to kill Assassin now, but she took a step back in spite of that. She should not advance. The instincts she had sharpened over the years have kept her alive for a long time. Those instincts were screaming. Do not advance. Stay away from the deep darkness.

"Yes, I have given up Saber. I am out of ammunition. I was ready to be killed in one blow, so why are you not coming any closer?"

"…"

Saber did not answer and raised her sword a bit. She pointed her sword at the enemy. There were seven metres between them. I would take two steps to get close enough to strike. As a swordsman, she must close in on her opponent. But she has a secret technique that can be used at all ranges, though it can only be used once.

Assassin's black cloak fluttered. He did not know where the wind was coming from.

"Hah, so you do not wish to talk to me? Well, talk is voluntary. Let me talk as I wish."

Assassin's voice was strong and clear, in contrast to his appearance. Saber narrowed her eyes, thinking that his voice was similar to Lancer's.

"But how did you repel them? I threw my daggers so that you would not be able to see them. Were you able to perceive them?"

"I could not, but I could read their course. I would not be using this sword of I was afraid of what I could not see."

"Haha. I see. So I was never a match for you. I am an Assassin, after all. I cannot be expected to match other Servants. We are beings that lurk in shadow. There are no Heroic Spirits appropriate for this role."

"What-"

"Therefore, our role is to assassinate. We are failures that only specialize in killing Masters, not Servants. Well, in that regard, there was only one target for me. Do you understand, Saber? All my actions tonight were done to kill your Master."

"-Shirou."

"Exactly. My Master is welcoming your Master. Even though you have separated me from him, he will soon feed Zouken's worms if you do not hurry."

"!"

Light emanated from Saber's sword. Or rather, the golden sword was revealing its true shape.

"Oh! So you were hiding your sword with the curse of the wind. I see, you can attack me with mere air pressure from where you are standing. There is no need for you to step into the land of death."

The black cloak sunk. The prey he was supposed to lure in turned out to have a projectile attack. There was no place for schemes now. If Saber intends to kill Assassin without coming close, then he must close the distance to kill her first.

"Our positions are reversed now, Assassin. Will you step into Invisible Air?"

"What a terrible woman, telling me to jump into a swarm of locusts. Yet a dragon's fury will soon be unleashed…well, this is a dilemma."

The skull mask crawled on the ground. It looked like a spider on a wall. The compressed wind became a swirl of vacuum, ready to be unleashed at Assassin. He must be insane. Does he think he can survive the fatal whirlwind by lying flat on the ground?

"Well, this should be the end no matter what. But let me talk before that. You said that you can beat me one-on-one, is that correct?"

Saber raised her sword. He cannot even withdraw while he was talking. Saber was staring at Assassin. Even if Assassin were to teleport, she would kill him before it even took place.

"That is why you drew him away from your Master. You were correct to protect him from me."

Her sword was raised above her head. With the attack poised to strike, Assassin crawled even lower.

"But did that decision include protecting yourself?"

An inquiring voice. To that…

"-I am in a hurry. Farewell, Assassin."

Saber replied in a single attack.

The match was decided. Unlike the simple, instant but still strong burst of wind used against Kousuke, this windstorm was like a heavenly dragon, its serpentine body winding about to devour its prey. There was no chance of defense or evasion. This is like Lancer's lance. This is a blow that cannot be blocked unless one has more magical energy than the full power of Invisible Air.

Assassin's magical energy is far short of Saber's. The only way for him to survive the attack was to prevent Saber from releasing it. But that is too late, and the whirlwind had been released. His black cloak will be torn to shreds a mere second after the blade descended. The dislocation of death closed in with a swirl. With that in front of him…

"مع هذه اللعنة، أنا محمية من الرياح!"

Assassin charged at the wave of vacuum with a yell of delight.

"—Guh…!"

An attack aimed for the neck. Saber repelled in at once, and the black figure vaulted overhead to land behind her.

"You-!"

In a flash, she turned and slashed behind her. But Assassin had already jumped out of her range. At the same time-

"—What?"

The 'ominous presence' she has been feeling has covered the ground beneath her.

"Well. You were unfortunate in two ways, Saber."

The shadow expanded. The mud-like pollution invaded on her silver.

"One is affinity. A curse to ward of storms is a necessity for travelers in the desert. The only magic I know is the warding of wind. And-"

Darkness swallowed the pathway. A shadow that did not reveal itself even in the moonlight. And-

She saw it dimly, through the haze of her fading consciousness.

"Assassin—You—;

"That's right, Saber. The other is that you chose this place as the battlefield. You should have known something ominous inhabited this place."

"Ah—"

She cannot even hear Assassin's words. She would disappear in a matter of seconds. This shadow swallows Servants. Her body detested it before her fading mind.

"Ha-h…AAAAHHHH!"

She did not care how. She had to escape, even if she used up all her prana. Only her feet have been engulfed. If she fought with all her power, she could still break free. Even if she may lose most of her prana and both her feet, escaping this shadow was top priority now. But-

"No. You will disappear here, Saber."

The shadow was not her only enemy. The skull, watching Saber get swallowed, was Death that would finish her off.

"So…from the start!"

"You said you could beat me one-on-one. Yes, that was your mistake. You are alone, but there are two on my side. I merely had to distract you."

The shadow kept invading.

"…! Ah! Guh…hah!"

Her existence rotted from her feet. She could not feel her toes or feet. Her legs were already something that did not exist in this world.

"Servants cannot oppose al-layl, the true night. All the more if you are a proper Heroic Spirit. Even I, one who is close to it, get my prana drained if I touch it. A genuine like you should lose consciousness just by touching it. But that would be a shameful waste. My goal cannot be accomplished if I let you disappear. I shall take your heart."

"What—you will?"

"Is it strange? I have run out of daggers, and I cannot go near the shadow. Do you think it's impossible for me to kill you?"

Murderous intent lighted up the skull. Faint traces of prana gathered in his right arm. Assassin's right arm is a stick. A deformed arm without a hand that cannot be used as an arm. It could not hold a dagger, nor could it be used to strike someone. But now, that arm bends. With the snap of breaking bones, it flapped like a tattered wing.

It was an abomination.

What a long arm.

The clubbed stump at its end was actually the elbow. The arm was folded back at the elbow, with the hand stitched to Assassin's shoulder.

"—"

Saber's mind froze. It would reach. That arm will reach her. It would reach her and rip her heart out. His arm flapped, sending a shudder through her body, and-

The cursed arm was thrust like a lance.

A sound of cutting meat and gushing blood.

Her blood dripped onto the floor, staining the shadow crimson.

"…ki."

Madness leaked out of the skull mask.

The outstretched arm is stained red.

After finishing its job, the arm folded back to Assassin.

"Ki, kikikikikikikiki!"

And is severed at the elbow.

"Y-You! How dare you do that with that dying body of yours!"

"Haa…haa…"

Her upraised sword fell to the ground. Assassin's cursed arm did not reach Saber. Saber's sword had cut the cursed arm before it could gouge out the reflected image of the heart. No matter how cornered she may be, Assassin's Noble Phantasm was not enough to kill Saber.

No. As she has blocked Lancer's lance, which reversed cause and effect, she could not allow herself to be defeated by this cursed arm.

"Ah…guh…"

But that was her last act of resistance. She had put the power to escape into that attack. She has no power to escape now, and even if she did, it would be too late. The ominous presence now emanated from within herself. The shadow had invaded her legs and was now up to her waist. She was becoming part of the darkness, which swallowed up even moonlight. Then…everything was too late.

The shadow crept up. As her vision faded, the silver swordsman…

"I'm sorry…Shirou…"

Managed one last, apologetic gasp before sinking into the deep mud.

XXX

-Shirou-

I was knocked to the ground. And the next thing I knew, Zouken was gone and in his place…was Assassin.

"—"

I'm going to die. Pain on my left hand. My numb mind. My heart accepted the death coming in the next moment and pounded loudly. And I accepted the weapons thrown at my forehead, throat, heart and stomach.

A flash of silver light repelled the weapons. The four daggers that tried to take my life are blocked.

"—"

There's only one person that would do such a thing. My left hand still hurt. My Command Spells were still there. Then-

"Sa-…ber?"

"What?"

Looking up, I saw that my savior was none other than-

"Ri…der?"

"…"

There was no doubt about it. That was definitely Shinji's Servant, Rider. Why was she here, and why did she save me?!

"Are you going to oppose me…!? I don't care! Assassin! Kill her too is she gets in our way!"

The skull answered Zouken's screamed command. The long hair fluttered.

And the fight was on. Knowing how Rider easily lost to Saber, I expected her to be defeated by the hail of daggers thrown by Assassin, but-

"Wha-"

I realized the abnormality after the superiority was made clear. The daggers have not hit her. Not a single one of those dozens of daggers hit their target.

"You-"

A voice came from overhead. Apparently out of knives, Assassin looked down at his enemy with undisguised loathing. There…

…existed one giant serpent.

I couldn't believe it. So many. Rider evaded the countless daggers with pure speed. It was different from when she saved me. Rider avoided all the daggers by crawling on the ground, as if saying there was no need to repel them.

"What are you playing around for, Assassin?! You don't need to go easy just because she's my grandson's Servant! Finish her!"

"I cannot do that…she is different from before."

Assassin stared at Rider while clinging from the ceiling. Rider was different from before. Her magical energy and coercion were on a whole new level. Even if she's still not as strong as Saber, she certainly was stronger that Assassin. Sinking her body even lower, she suddenly jumped up to the ceiling, while Assassin jumped down to the floor, their blades clashing in midair.

"Kii!"

They landed facing away from each other. Rider was unharmed, but in contrast, Rider's dagger was piercing Assassin's shoulder.

"I can't pull it out?!"

Assassin attempted to pull out the dagger, but with a clinking of chain links-

'W—Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!"

Rider hurled Assassin through the air!

"Gah-gii-"

The skull mask let out a scream of anguish. Not saying a word, Rider continued mercilessly swinging Assassin about the room. It was just like a flail. Unable to do anything, Assassin was smashed against every surface in the room, his limbs bending in all directions.

"Whoa!"

I ducked to avoid Assassin coming in like a whirlwind. This isn't just on a level of being strong. After flailing Assassin to her content, she used the centrifugal force and let go. It was just like a hammer throw. Assassin, his bones broken, was thrown into a wall head-first.

"Gah!"

He flew away. Like a piece of lifeless trash, the masked Servant was thrown through the wall, out of the compound and over the wall, leaving trails of blood wherever he struck.

"Oh…wow."

How brutal. I'm sure Servants weren't as weak as too die from that, but he should be unable to continue fighting, at the very least.

"…Fool."

Zouken's presence disappeared. He must think he was at a disadvantage, since he fled after snarling a curse at Rider. All the worms within the shrine followed him out as well.

-Shrine Hallway-

"…"

I understood right away that this was the place. The corridor was silent. The whole place was destroyed as if a storm passed by. In it…was a small red stain on the only part of the ground that hadn't been destroyed. I couldn't tell whose blood it was. But, my legs lost strength the instant I saw it, and I crumpled to my knees.

"…"

I reached out and touched it. The blood was dry, and didn't stick to my fingers. The only thing the stain told me was that she disappeared here.

"My role is to protect you, Shirou."

How many times did I hear that line? Those words were a comfort and a source of worry. She only cared about me, and never said anything about protecting herself.

"…"

I scratched at the mark. Saber fought here and fell here. That's what happens in battle. I knew before I made a contract with her that this would be a battle to the death. I accepted the fact and took her hand, and she merely answered me.

"Saber…"

The girl who protected me, even though she was smaller than me. When I told her I wanted to put priority on the black shadow over the Holy Grail, she simple nodded, ignoring the premonitions of her end. And this was the result. I lost her, lost my rights as a Master, and am back to being an amateur. I am now alone, with no means of fighting…

…I have to carry through with what I have to do.

"—Then I have to go."

I slowly rubbed the bloodstain one more time. That's it. I didn't bow or thank her, and let my fingers go. Pain assailed my left hand, and it disappeared. The moment I acknowledged her death and said goodbye, the Command Spell on my left hand disappeared without a trace. One does not just lose the Command Spell because one has lost his Servant. It only disappears when a magus loses his right to be a Master.

"I see. So I…"

I don't know what happened here tonight. There is only one certainty. I lost Saber…and lost my rights…to be a Master…

And here we go, the end of this chapter! Thank god that's over. Now that we finally got Saber's defeat over, we can move onto the more 'interesting' stuff. Anyway thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, following, and hopefully, I'll be able to finish the next chapter by the end of this week! Or…next week…or next next week. I'm gonna be really busy these few days. Busy with my PSP. CCC isn't going to clear itself you know!