Kiritsugu is panting, he is currently running like his life on the line, which is quite accurate technically, the reason why he's running is within the forest of Einzbern.
Early on, when Saber and Lancer successfully repelled Caster away, he tried to contact Maiya and Irisveil but all he got was nothing, this worried him, so he left the castle to check on them, what he found then was horrifying, it was Maiya corpse, she was in a pool of her own blood killed with a stab wound on her stomach and Irisveil was missing.
On the ground where he found Maiya, he could find some sign of struggle but it was clearly a short struggle which means Irisveil is abducted by someone. Thankfully before her demise Maiya is conscious enough to leave clue to where the culprit is heading.
He would ordered Saber to go if she wasn't busy with her duel against Lancer back in the castle, damn chivalry, Kiritsugu thought. Not that he stopped Saber though if Saber could kill or stalled Lancer in her state he will consider it fair and thus let Saber to her duel while he rescue Irisveil.
And thus Kiritsugu is running like his life on the line to catch up to them, while running he is analyzing through the information of the master in the Holy Grail as to who is capable of doing this, the first suspect is Assassin and his master Kirei, but he quickly dismissed this, the way this is handle is to crude for an abduction, he would know after all.
He crossed Rider and Caster out, Caster is to obsessed with Saber to actually thought of going after Irisveil and while it could be done by his master Kiritsugu doubt just about anyone could kill Maiya in such fashion, Rider is too prideful to resort to abduction and Kiritsugu doubt he will let his master to do such a thing.
Archer is dead so there is no reason Tokiomi would do such action, so then that leaves behind Lancer and his master Kayneth or Berserker and his master Kariya, yes they figure that out way early, either way he needed to kill the culprit to get Irisveil back, Kiritsugu have already loaded his origin bullet on his Thompson ready too shoot at the first chance he got.
There, at the far front he could see a figure walking with some sort of blob at his side, cautiously Kiritsugu is approaching them trying to get a glimpse at the figure, but then the figure stopped walking, shit, Kiritsugu thought, they noticed him. Kiritsugu quickly prepared himself for a battle.
Just as Kiritsugu prepared for the first strike, the figure spoke first identifying himself to Kiritsugu.
Kayneth is currently delighted, how can he not? tonight was completely perfect for him, not only he found Caster lurking around by chance he also managed to safely contained the Einzbern Holy Grail vessel inside his Volumen Hydrargyrum.
By now Lancer should've already killed Caster and is about to face Saber, a crippled one at that, there's little to no reason for Lancer to failed to kill Saber now, after this its just a matter of time for him to win the Holy Grail war and when he does he will impress Sola with this achievement. Kayneth chuckled, truly tonight is his.
Just at that moment he felt a reaction from his Volumen Hydrargyrum, Kayneth ultimate mystic code Volumen Hydrargyrum is a blob of silver mercury which he can bend and form into whatever shape he wanted to, it can also detect the surrounding liveform by means of vibration, and just now he felt a reaction from it, Kayneth stopped walking and smiled bigger when he realized this.
'Lancer, keep Saber occupied as long as possible it's fine if you don't kill her' Kayneth order Lancer, with her current self Saber is not a strong threat, so Kayneth can tolerate this much.
'Understood master' Lancer replied back, Kayneth nodded in satisfaction, now to the matter at hand.
"Come on out, I know you're there" Kayneth called out to the dark forest.
No response. He expected it not everyone had the guts to confront an elite Mage like himself, well its a good thing he know how rile someone.
"Well, come on out, Master of Saber, face me like a real magi and not like some rat" Kayneth called out again.
No response again, perhaps the opponent is taken aback? Let's try again shall we.
"Aren't you curious how I figure it out? It wasnt that hard actually, after I took care of the Einzbern pet, she tried to resist against me, unfortunately her effort is futile against me" Kayneth speak to the silent forest.
"Imagine my surprise when I realized the doll was not the real master of Saber, though in hindsight it was obvious, I will admit it was a good trick, but in the end no trick can last against me" Kayneth continue.
At this point Kayneth is just rambling, he knew it, but he needed distraction so he can pinpoint the opponent position to attack, after all Volumen Hydrargyrum do have a limited range of attack.
"Found you" Kayneth suddenly said, several silver spear shoot out from Volumen Hydrargyrum toward a certain direction.
Kiritsugu rolled to the side, he looked at the tree it was impaled with several spears, Kiritsugu quickly move to avoid being skewered.
Several spears are coming at Kiritsugu faster than he imagined, but thankfully for Kiritsugu he can still match it with magecraft.
"Double Accel" Kiritsugu uses his family magecraft, time manipulation, to dodge the attack. He retaliated by shooting a hail of bullet toward Kayneth.
Kayneth instead of blocking the bullets with his Volumen, he calmly cover himself behind a tree.
"Gun? You are truly a disgrace to magi, and besides can't you see where we are, we're in a forest" Kayneth said in disdain.
"I don't even need to use magecraft to defend myself"
Tha hail of bullet stopped, and Kayneth once again lost sight of Kiritsugu.
Kayneth tched in frustration, he called out again.
"Well are you not gonna save your precious doll, rat? Are you giving up the Holy Grail now? Answer me you RAT?"
In response something hit the ground near Kayneth, it's a smoke grenade, then from the grenade burst a thick amount of smoke covering Kayneth vision.
"If you think a mere smoke will save you then yo..." Kayneth is interrupted by Volumen Hydrargyrum suddenly covering him from a hail of bullet from his side.
"Damned rat" Kayneth mumbled.
Kiritsugu is hiding behind a tree, his body is aching from the use of his magecraft. He is currently the one with disadvantage in this battle, while Kayneth could and will kill him given the chance he needed Kayneth alive to interrogate him about Irisveil whereabouts, this make it hard for him because the initiative then falls to Kayneth. Frustrated, Kiritsugu looked toward his Command Seal contemplating to use them.
Kiritsugu decided to against this because even if he called Saber Kayneth can just called Lancer to counter him, better not waste a Command Seal. Kiritsugu then started making plans to defeat Kayneth without killing him, which is as hard as he imagined to be.
The smoke is about to be dissipated, Kiritsugu thought, time to face the music.
Kiritsugu leapt out from behind the tree. When Kayneth, who is awaiting for Kiritsugu assault, reacted, Kiritsugu immediately opened fire with the Calico in his left hand at the magus whose eyes is squinting in disdain.
Although Kayneth was disappointed, the Volumen Hydrargyrum still displayed its abilities accurately and loyally this time. The protective membrane opened up in the blink of an eye and again blocked the storm of 9mm bullets.
"Tch, these are just boring tricks!"
What Kayneth didn't know is that the opponent, had figured out the weakness of his automated defense.
Before the Calico stopped firing, Kiritsugu's free right hand had already pulled out the Contender and fired a shot at the center of the expanded, semi-circular mercury membrane.
Volumen Hydrargyrum had already adapted to the best physical shape to protect against the Calico. However, the initial velocity of the .30-06 Springfield is 2.5 times higher than the 9mm bullets, and its destructive power seven times the latter.
Kiritsugu had completely seen through the speed of Volumen Hydrargyrum, which came from pressure. Although a blob of mercury can quickly spread out into a membrane faster than a bullet through hydraulic pressure, it is impossible to quickly go back to a blob from a membrane using pressure alone. That is the limit of hydrodynamics.
Therefore, when another sudden massive force is launched against it, the mercury can't react quickly and form a powerful defense against his Thompson Contender.
A big hole was punched right through the mirror-smooth surface of the mercury membrane. Judging from Kayneth's wails, the Springfield bullet has hit the target.
"Spears!"
Following a roar filled with the intent to kill, the mercury unleashed a killing move. Kiritsugu sidestep just a bit; you can't hit what you can't touch, and the mercury blade only managed to cut the hem of his flowing coat.
Volumen Hydrargyrum's characteristics can be grasped by just observing its attacks once. Despite being a very fast attack, it is comparatively simple. Kiritsugu was running before the opponent could continue to attack.
"Damn it" Seeing this, Kayneth cursed never in his imagination that a rat who relied on guns is capable of harm to him.
Annoyance was eating away at Kayneth drop by drop. He is a first-rate magus, he would never lose his composure due to emotions, especially when facing a situation when he is fighting for his life. But he can't help it in this situation to feel a smidgen of annoyance.
He had to admit though Master of Saber is more of a challenge than he thought, his use of innate time control to dodge his attack is creative to say the least, but the way the enemy act is unlike that of a proper magi. The pain of the wound on his right shoulder throbbed and invaded his senses as if reminding Kayneth.
"A curse? Not bad" even now as Kayneth used a spell to heal his wound for some reason his hand is still not able to function as usual, not only that he tried to remove the curse yet nothing happened, quite curious.
Kayneth's icy cold face was as expressionless as a mask, not loudly swearing or gritting his teeth.The opponent is as insignificant as an ant, not worthy to be called an enemy.
"If that is how you want to play, then two can play the game, little rat"
Kayneth is not a fool, he can roughly guess what the enemy is planning. Currently the vessel of the Holy Grail is in his possession, but his enemy doesn't know where, so he must be planning to incapacitate him to interrogate and figure out where he hid the vessel, that is why Master of Saber didn't use his most powerful spell and instead using a curse against him.
Well time to show this little rat some hope, before he crush it.
When Kayneth found Kiritsugu, it basically fitted the setting Kiritsugu expected. The confrontation with Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald.
Kayneth's Volumen Hydrargyrum has potentially fatal speed and power within a radius of seven-and-a-half meters. The initiative remains with Kiritsugu until Kayneth can get in range.
In his left hand – fifty rounds of 9mm bullets in a fresh helical magazine, the Calico waited for the moment to open fire. And his Mystic Code, the Contender Custom, in his right hand. The "magecraft bullet" was already loaded in the single-shot chamber.
Kiritsugu didn't show any fear or beg for mercy; he merely stood silently holding two guns.
"You wouldn't think that the previous method would still work, right?"
It won't work. It would be a problem for Kiritsugu if it did work – however, he needn't tell the other person this. He needed to have Kayneth think that Kiritsugu is stupid enough to repeat the exact same attack.
Kiritsugu is confident enough that this strike will be enough to incapacitate Kayneth before he forced him to tell Irisveil whereabouts. Kayneth slowly walked towards Kiritsugu step by step.
Towards Kayneth, who was looming nearer, Kiritsugu first used the Calico in his left hand, firing a rain of 9mm bullets in full-automatic. It was a completely identical replay of that sneak attack in the first floor corridor, a pinning attack made to trigger Volumen Hydrargyrum's automatic defence. In order to make it unable to take the following strike by the Contender, this is a feint made to weaken the mercury's defensive membrane.
Of course, Kayneth would not fall for the same trick twice. But strangely Kayneth didn't uses a stronger defense instead it was only a membrane of mercury to block the hail of bullet.
Kiritsugu seeing this point the Thompson in his hand toward Kayneth ready to shoot, suddenly the membrane shielding Kayneth fall down showing kiritsugu what is behind the cover.
His eye widened at what he see.
Irisveil.
Held by a cross made of mercury her eyes is closed as if sleeping. On the back is Kayneth using her as a cover from Kiritsugu assault.
"Surprised? All this time she has never left my side" Kayneth revealed.
"Now, what are you gonna..." Kayneth suddenly paused.
Bang
What?
Kayneth is bending down clutching his chest blood dripping from his wound, his mind is filled with chaos, disbelief, confusion, and rage. WHAT KIND OF PERSON IN HELL SHOT THE HOSTAGE?
The cross that hold Irisveil is melting, Kayneth is to shocked in order to control it manually. Irisveil empty eyes is open as she fall to the ground, her blood is dripping down creating a pool of blood.
Kayneth original plan was to used the vessel as leverage to force Master of Saber to sign a geass for submission, so that he can use Saber in exchange for the vessel. But never in his imagination that rat would rather shot the vessel to get to him!
The rage on his mind that had nowhere to go come showing on Kayneth face, he was livid at the action of the bastard in front of him, he will kill him, oh hewon't just simply kill this bastard. He will heal his lungs and heart to make them revive, then slowly deal with starting from toes, he will make him die in regret, in pain, in despair.
"You bastard" Kayneth started mumbling.
"YOU FUCKING BASTARD" Kayneth screamed at Kiritsugu, only for something fell on his side he looked at it, it's a fragmentation grenade, kayneth eyes widened as it exploded. The force of the explosion throw Irisveil body to the side the fragment damaging her more, Kayneth meanwhile is safe barely able to protect himself with Volumen Hydrargyrum.
"I WILL KILL Y...""BANG"
Kayneth screamed was halted as another bullet lodge itself to his chest, right where his heart is. Kiritsugu barely have the time to reload his gun after throwing the grenade, he even use his magecraft to speed up his movement in order to deal the last blow to Kayneth.
Kayneth fall to his knees his rage gone leaving him no more strength to stand, in Kayneth's mind a figure of a beautiful woman came to him before his body slump to the ground.
"Sola-ui" was the last word Kayneth said before everything is devoured by darkness.
Seeing this Kiritsugu relaxed he let his guns fall to the ground, before shakily walk toward Irisveil body, he is surprisingly calm his face a stoic mask unperturbed by anything.
Only when he reached Irisveil remains Kiritsugu fall to his knees, all energy leaving his body while looking at his wife corpse. He touched her face she is still warm, he thought.
"Irisveil...I"
"I am not worthy of you" Kiritsugu choked.
The night has never been colder to kiritsugu.
Lancer sighed, he looked at his dissipating hand, how foolish he thought, not only he failed to kill Saber he also failed to protect his Master. Lancer head is down in shame and disappointment for himself. He let his spear fall to the ground.
"Perhaps this is fate" Lancer mused, remembering his own life while touching the mole on his face.
"Lancer" Saber looked at Lancer feeling pity in her heart.
Lancer looked at Saber, who is looking at him with pity, the King of Britain in all of her glory is looking at him with pity, truly she is an honorable knight he envied the knights of the round table to be able to serve such a King, but alas.
"Don't look at me with such eyes Saber, you dishonor me"
"Lancer" Saber looked on guiltily there is no doubt in her mind that Kiritsugu is the cause of this.
"This is a natural fate for a failure wench like me" Lancer said with self-loathing and regret.
"That is not true" Saber shook he her head and denied him.
"You are not a failure Lancer, even until the end you tried to fulfill your duty and prove you're loyalty to your master. You're a splendid knight with pride and honor don't let anything say otherwise"
Lancer looked at Saber for a moment and snort, a small smile appear on his face.
"Your word flattered me Saber, thank you" Lancer said in gratitude, he then looked toward the night sky.
"Let this blessing become the last word of Diarmuid Ua Duibhne the son of Donn, I prayed from the bottom of my heart that the winner of the Holy Grail War will have their wish granted to them" Lancer said while bowing elegantly to Saber.
"Farewell Saber, may we meet again in another chance"
Saber looked on while Lancer perish in bright light.
When Kiritsugu return to the castle, he saw Saber coming at him.
"Kiritsugu!!" She screamed walking over to him.
"What have you done!!?" she suddenly stopped in shocked, her rage was cooled down by what she saw.
She saw kiritsugu holding Irisveil in his hand, this scene would be romantic if it isn't for the fact that Irisveil in Kiritsugu hold is dead. Irisveil is dirty and bloody, her clothes and body is filled with tear and wound.
"Wh...what happened?" Saber asked.
Kiritsugu ignored her and kept walking to the castle, this incensed Saber.
"Kiri..." she stopped halfway when Kiritsugu addressed her for the first time.
"You asked me what am I gonna do if Rider came with his master"
Kiritsugu speak to Saber behind him, Saber could feel something in his tone something dark. He turned and looked at Saber right in the eye.
"I will killed him, before he killed me" Kiritsugu declared.
Saber shuddered, the look in Kiritsugu eyes unnerved her from her perspective his previously dead and empty eyes is now filled with determination, rage, and self-loathing a look of someone who had nothing to lose.
After his declaration Kiritsugu continued his walk to the castle undisturbed, Saber looked on in pity.
"Kiritsugu" she said while following him back to the castle.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar sounded beside her ears. The roar came from a nearby thunder, Saber, who was following Kiritsugu tense up and started quickening her steps.
Galloped through the tragically ruined castle; their destination was the terrace outside of the door. Since the opponent was attacking from the front, they should be able to meet him there.
"The thunder just then, and this senseless tactic… the opponent should be Rider." Kiritsugu said.
Saber remembered the overwhelming power of the Noble Phantasm 'Gordius Wheel' she witnessed a few days ago at the warehouse street. The chariot entwined with thunder and pulled by divine bulls.
"Oi, King of Knights! I especially came to meet you, come out, aye?" a shout can be heard from where they stand.
"Saber" kiritsugu called.
"Dealt with him" he ordered.
Saber just nod, before sprinting to the castle, the sound came from the main hall; it looks like the other party had already entered the door. Without a doubt, the enemy was the King of Conquerors, Alexander. Judging by his powerful and reverberating call, his tone was not like a warrior about to fight.
But Saber didn't dare to be slack, she prepared for battle.
Saber finally went past the corridors and came to the terrace, but when she saw the enemy Servant standing in the hall with his chest puffed out, she didn't know what to say.
"…"
"Yo, Saber. I wanted to have a look after I heard about the castle here, what happened to it, aye?"
Not apologetic at all, Rider smiled, baring his teeth.
On the other side of the city, on top of the skyscrapers building.
Berserker is looking at Assassin in front of him.
"Berserker, I came for an alliance with you" Assassin said.
Berserker just looked at her silently