Morning in fuyuki is not met with grace.
Passerby is walking rather quickly, authorities were scrambling around the places, and the majority of the shops is closed.
Long story short, people of Fuyuki is panicking and wanted answer yet given none, the atmosphere is tense with a lots of people on edge.
To know the cause of this situation, all you need to do is watch the morning news.
"Last night, a large explosion occurred at the Fuyuki city harbor, resulting in extensive damage to the port area. The exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but authorities suspect foul play."
"Along with the firefighters, law enforcement officials were dispatched to the scene and made an intriguing discovery—a black Mercedes-Benz believed to be associated with the incident."
"Unfortunately, the individuals inside the Mercedes-Benz managed to escape before they could be apprehended by the authorities. Currently, the police are actively patrolling the area in an attempt to locate and capture the suspects."
"The investigation into this incident is ongoing, and authorities are working diligently to gather more information and identify those responsible."
"As more details emerge and the investigation progresses, updates will be provided to ensure the public remains informed about the incident."
On another TV channel, a similar but different news is aired.
"In a disturbing development related to the recent explosion at the Fuyuki city harbor, a deceased body has been discovered in a warehouse located within the port area."
"The victim has been identified as Kotomine Kirei, the son of local priest Kotomine Risei."
"According to the police, it appears that the victim suffered from severe injuries, indicative of torture, leading to his untimely demise. The motives behind this heinous act are currently unknown, and investigators are working diligently to establish a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the murder."
"Authorities are hopeful that once the culprits responsible for both incidents are apprehended, more information will come to light, shedding light on the motive behind the murder."
"In a tragic turn of events, upon receiving the news of his son's death, priest Kotomine Risei has fallen into a coma."
"As the investigation progresses and further details emerge, updates will be provided to keep the public informed about the case and any developments in the pursuit of justice."
In the street, several people is flocking in front of an electronic shop watching a completely different news.
"Another devastating incident took place at a downtown hotel. Reports indicate that a smaller explosion occurred, followed by an appalling discovery made by the arriving police officers. The hotel staff and guests had fallen victim to a merciless massacre, resulting in a shocking total of 18 deaths."
"Law enforcement officials swiftly initiated an investigation into the incident, recognizing the gravity of the situation. The suspected perpetrator of this gruesome act is believed to be the mass killer who is currently on large. However, at present, there is a lack of concrete evidence or eyewitness testimonies to substantiate these suspicions."
"The police are diligently working to gather information, sift through evidence, and piece together the events leading up to the massacre. Every effort is being made to identify and apprehend the responsible individual or individuals, ensuring that justice is served for the victims and their families."
Beside the television, another news is being broadcast.
"In a shocking incident, a death body has been found earlier this morning within the train tunnel of Fuyuki city. The investigation is currently underway to determine the identity of the victim, although initial suspicions point towards the individual being a foreigner."
"The state in which the body was discovered is described as gruesome, leading the police to restrict the amount of visual documentation taken at the scene. This measure is likely intended to preserve the dignity of the victim and maintain the integrity of the ongoing investigation."
"Given the recent series of violent incidents that have unfolded in the city, authorities suspect that the same mass murderer responsible for the previous acts may also be connected to this latest tragedy. Law enforcement agencies are working diligently to gather evidence and establish any potential links between the various cases."
The news then change to another incident.
"Fuyuki city authorities also found multiple areas in a state of devastation. The extent of the damage spans from near the Fuyuki Bridge to the vicinity of the Fuyuki city rail trail. These incidents have prompted authorities to suspect a potential connection to the previously discovered body inside the train tunnel."
Listening on all of the news while walking on the street, a man walked towards a certain neighborhood. Touching his hat to prevent it from falling, the man finally stopped in front of a western style house.
Tokiomi sighed, he feels emotionally and physically exhausted. One night! One night, is all it took for everything to gone to hell. The environment damage, the death tolls, the involvement of the authority, and he can't even mention the media exposure or the fact some people started to get suspicious of some supernatural incident.
As if that's not enough, last night, after his outburst Risei fainted and become unconscious until now making him unavailable to fulfill his duty of damage control forcing him as the second owner to take this job in the place of Risei. Situation wise he wasn't supposed to leave the church after receiving their grace until the war finished, unfortunately the situation called for urgency.
Just before he left the church he met a pair of police, they come to confirm the identity of Kirei who's body was found by the investigating police in the port. He had to use hypnosis to send then away after confirming some information.
'Kirei' Tokiomi thought sadly.
The death of his student and perhaps close friend of his brought immense guilt to his heart, perhaps he should have stopped Kirei last night from going, if he actually did then maybe yesterday tragedy won't happen.
Tokiomi shakes his head.
Unfortunately regret always come too late and now, he had to going around the city to do some damage control. Looking at the tense and agitated citizen, Tokiomi harden his will. It wouldn't do to dwell in the past and let things spiral out of control, he is a magi and he will act like one.
Knocking on the door, he waited for a moment before he was greeted by an old man.
This man is Glen Mckenzie, the husband of one Martha Mckenzie and also the host of Waver Velvet and Rider. Tokiomi managed to find out about this after he visited the police station to erase some information, he accidentally overheard one of the police said he saw a pair of foreign people going out from the Mckenzie residence, a pair of a big man and a child. A bit of hypnosis allows him to get the details of the information and also the address of the couple.
It didn't take long for him to visit the old couple.
"Yes? May I help you?" Glen Mckenzie said kindly to him. To which Tokiomi replied with a smile, manners do make a man after all.
"Ah, yes. May I come in? My name is Tohsaka Tokiomi, an acquaintance of your grandson." He said with an added of suggestion in his word, dispelling any doubt the old man had before it even form.
"O...of course, come inside." The man said emotionless, gesturing for Tokiomi to come inside.
Once he was done with the old couple, Tokiomi swiftly left the Mckenzie residence with a bag filled with Waver belongings in his hand.
He didn't do much with them, merely some memory manipulation. Now they thought their grandson had returned back to England just last night. He just relive the poor couple worry about their currently missing 'grandson'.
Looking back at the house, Tokiomi didn't know know if he want to praise or scold Waver for choosing a random house for a HQ. After all the place was poorly defended, no bounded field, no safety path, and ragtag supplies, it's as if he didn't come for war whatsoever, yet for those reason it was hidden from the gaze of every magi participant, was it an ingenious plan or merely dumb luck? Well, it didn't matter anymore, it wouldn't do to speak ill of the dead.
On his way back to the church, Tokiomi heard another news from the television in front of the electronic shop.
"Last night, a significant number of individuals reported sighting a large creature near the Fuyuki city bridge, causing panic and alarm among the witnesses."
"Experts are suggesting that this sighting may be attributed to mass hysteria, potentially brought about by heightened levels of stress and anxiety within the community."
Tokiomi sighed again, great! Now he had to visit the police station to get rid of the evidence, again! And deal with the aftermath of the battle last night.
Truly, the live of a magi is filled with annoyances.
Opening his eyes slowly, Kiritsugu noticed that he was standing in the middle of nowhere. The ground he stood for was wet and muddy, the weather was filled with dark cloud, and the atmosphere around him was heavy.
Looking down Kiritsugu noticed a trail of blood leaking to his shoes from behind him, turning his back his eyes widened at what he saw.
A mountain of corpses.
Hundreds of corpses, stack around creating a mountain of them, fresh blood was leaking from their cold bodies like a river made of blood. In the background the twilight looks like a fire that burned the world.
But what takes Kiritsugu attention was the person kneeling at the top of the corpses.
Saber.
Unlike before, where she looked like an elegant and regal royal knight now she looks haggard with her shoulder dropping and is powerless on her knees, leaning towards her sword. But, what Kiritsugu found interesting was Saber expression, she looks utterly defeated.
There was no word that can explain when he saw her expression as some understanding came to his mind.
'Ah, you're the same isn't it.' Kiritsugu thought as he looked at Saber unmoving form.
'A victim of war.' Was the last thing Kiritsugu thought as he suddenly engulfed in darkness.
Waking up, Kiritsugu immediately checked his surrounding. When he was sure there was no danger within vicinity Kiritsugu started to check his condition, he was sitting on the car held by the seatbelt, his body is a bit sore and weak, not to mention his clothes is still dirty with blood, but other than that he was otherwise fine.
Going out of the car, Kiritsugu saw Saber standing guard nearby.
His presence was felt by Saber as she caught sight of him, walking towards him she proceed to checked his condition.
"Master, are you alright?" Saber asked which Kiritsugu nod in confirmation. Looking at their surroundings he turned towards Saber, his tone a bit somber.
"Why are we here?" He asked Saber, who nod in understanding and sympathy.
They were currently at the ruins of the Einzbern castle, the place where - for Kiritsugu - everything started to gone wrong.
"Understood master..." Saber said as she started to explain their current situation.
Saber explains that after Kiritsugu went unconscious, she then proceed to leave the port to immediately. But, on the way she was caught the sight of authorities, in a panic Saber decided to escape - a good decision Kiritsugu thought - which create suspicions and was chased around by the police.
Thankfully she managed to leave the authorities in her dust but due to Kiritsugu still unconscious at the time Saber goes towards the safest place she can think of,
The Einzbern castle, or whatever is left of it. After that she kept guard until Kiritsugu awake until now.
After Saber finished her report Kiritsugu merely hummed as he assess the information he just get from her, and it wasn't a good situation. While their identity remain unknown it didn't change the fact they were now wanted by the authorities, which other master will used to their advantage.
And that was the lesser problem they faced, the real problem came from the source of Kiritsugu immediate stress.
Irisveil, or her lack of presence.
Due to Kiritsugu distracted by Kirei challenge, he failed to protect Irisveil and she was taken by a third party.
Kiritsugu suspected it was Tokiomi scheme in an attempt to return to the battlefield formally.
His suspicions came from the fact that other than him no other participants gain advatage by taking Irisveil, at least there was no immediate advantage by taking her right now.
No advantage except for a bargaining tool and the only one who can gains that advantage is Tohsaka Tokiomi. By trading Irisveil for a chance to get an alliance so he had the opportunity to join the war and win the holy grail. Such was the value of the vessel of the Holy Grail to other participants.
If this is happened, this will be the worst outcome to Kiritsugu.
Truthfully speaking, if it was on any other circumstances Kiritsugu wouldn't have worried so much. But unfortunately his situation was as dire as it can be.
The lost of his Thompson Contender have decreased his battle power considerably, without it he is vulnerable against magi and their craft. While he wasn't weak when it come to magecraft he can't call himself formidable as well, especially against a first class magi he was considerably outclassed.
First things first, he needed to get Tokiomi out of the picture, but how? Kiritsugu had no doubt the man is hiding inside the church. With the church protection he had no way to reach Tokiomi, at least not without making the whole Vatican his enemy.
And the church is one of several organizations that is capable to make Kiritsugu regret ever making an enemy of.
Frontal assault is out of the question, without bringing the church political influence it was unknown what protection Tokiomi put inside the church.
Perhaps kidnapping his family as a bait will...
"MASTER!!? NO!!" Saber suddenly shouted to him breaking Kiritsugu from his thought.
Looking at Saber, Kiritsugu noticed the hurt expression on her face. Seeing her expression Kiritsugu cursed inside his heart as he realized his blunder.
'Shit, I said that outloud isn't it.' Kiritsugu thought.
That was not a question.
Saber was worried about her master.
Not only about his physical condition but also his mental condition, how can she not? These few days have proven to be very trying, emotionally, for the pair, especially her master.
Not only he lost both his assistant and wife, now he also lost his wife body to the enemy. Suffice to say Saber is very much worried the man will do something reckless out of stress.
And she was proven correct, after she finished her report about what happened after he fainted, her master started to mumbling to himself about kidnapping a hostage for bait.
Saber as a knight was horrified, she could not allowed Kiritsugu to fall to such level, not in front of her! Never!
"MASTER!!? NO!!" Saber shouted surprising Kiritsugu and stealing his attention to her, from his expression he seems to realize what his mistake is, good.
"Master, we are not abducting anyone." Saber said with righteousness in her tone, but to Kiritsugu it sound like a condemnation as his expression turned into a frown. Saber notices the change in his expression as she continued to talk.
"Master, there is no need to involve an outsiders into this conflict" Saber tried to convince Kiritsugu.
"I understand you're feeling, but dragging innocent people into this war is unnecessary and cruel."
"Please Master, there must be another way." Saber said begging Kiritsugu not to proceed with his plan. Unfortunately for her by the time she finished Kiritsugu patience is already at his limit.
"Do you understand what you are saying, Saber?" Kiritsugu said slowly yet there was a scalding tone inside it. The heat in his voice was enough to make Saber take a step back.
Kiritsugu anger came from the fact that he had lost his Thompson and is considerably weaken his firepower against a magi, if he faced Tokiomi in his state even he wasn't sure of victory.
"You would defend someone who sacrificed his own student just for a chance to rejoin the war!?" Kiritsugu scolded Saber heatedly. Saber recoiled before she argued back, she will not back down on this!
"I defended the innocent from getting dragged into this war!" Saber said with equal heat.
"And how is that will win us the Grail!?" Kiritsugu asked angrily.
Saber is either underestimating or unaware the bargaining power of Irisveil, as long as Tokiomi have her he can use the vessel.of the Holy Grail to establish an alliance with either Rider or Berserker.
If that were to happen it would be a nightmare to Kiritsugu, Saber might be able to face either Rider or Berserker with equal force but he can't face two magi at the same time regardless, at least not without his Thompson.
Kiritsugu frown deeper as he remembered his lost Thompson, he hated to admit it but this lost didn't just weaken his power but also his confidence at himself in battle.
"It won't. But, it will preserve our honor." Saber said righteously. Hearing Saber response Kiritsugu felt something snap inside of him.
"Honor? HONOR!!?" Kiritsugu said almost screaming, this time the rage in his heart is very much clear, even Saber was surprised at his outburst.
For Saber, who only knew the utterly cruel, emotionless Kiritsugu, the first time she saw Emiya Kiritsugu's other side was when his wife and assistant demise, showing a man crushed by endless anguish and sorrow. But now she saw another version of her master, a desperate and rage filled man.
"Where is honor in the senseless murder!? Where is glory in the unneeded bloodshed!? There is no honor in the battlefield!! Only pain and suffering exist in war!!!" His word were harsh as Kiritsugu let out all his feeling into Saber.
"No matter in what era, the battlefield has always been a veritable hell. In the battlefield, there is no place for hope. What lies there is only cold despair and a sin called victory, built on the pain of the defeated!!" He was practically screaming at this moment, all of his rage, pain, sorrow, and anguish can be felt from his word.
"War brings nothing but pain and suffering!! So it is best to end them in the maximum efficiency and at the least cost, least time..." kiritsugu stopped for a moment before continuing in a softer tone.
"And the least victim, if you called that a dishonorable then do as you wish. Justice cannot save the world. I have no interest in things like that." He ended with a breath, and a relief as he finally let out all his vexation with Saber.
Saber was silently listening to Kiritsugu before retorting back.
"You might be right, but! The end does not justify the means, I refuse to use such a low method of action!" Saber said, frustrating Kiritsugu.
To be fair, if it was the usual Kiritsugu, he might just ignore Saber opinion altogether and went off on his own regardless of how Saber felt. But the multiple blow to his confidence in the last few days has worn out his spirit and he needed a way to vent but the fact he chose to snap at Saber was not a coincidence at this point. Unknowingly Kiritsugu have come to trust Saber in the short time they had been together, enough to laid his thought to her and having this debate with her. But honestly speaking even he himself doesn't know why he bother to have this conversation with Saber.
What is it that he try to achieve in this conversation? Kiritsugu himself didn't know, but he felt that if he were to leave just like that without listening to Saber thought he might have lose something, something that he absolutely doesn't want to lose.
"Even if it's a matter of life or death, even if it means suffering in the pits of hell, as long as it is the action of humans it must have rules and beliefs that allow no violation. Righteousness must not be lost! Otherwise what are the differences between us and the very evil that plague the world!" Saber said evenly to Kiritsugu.
"Are you hearing yourself talking!!?" Kiritsugu screamed at Saber.
"What is the point of suffering if in the end only failures exist!? There is no victory without sacrifice!! If we can end the war early then the less suffering the people face!! How can you not understand that simple logic!??" Kiritsugu countered.
"At the cost of our humanity!? What was the point of victory if you were barely a human being at the end??" Saber screamed back, surprising Kiritsugu with her loud voice before replying back.
"I have save my nation numerous time, if I were to use such lowly method the people themselves won't be saved by the conflict cause by such action!!" Saber said, speaking from experience.
"You're right that at the end of a war, what's left is pain and suffering, but victory alone is not enough to healed the spirit of the people, that is where righteousness came in the first place, to show hope for the future." Saber said denying Kiritsugu opinion.
"What a joke! You said, you save your nations with chivalry!? Then let me ask you this, what happened to your nations in the end of your life?" Kiritsugu asked Saber, knowing how cruel this question is to her.
"Chivalry cannot save the world. It was so in past histories, and it will be so in the future. Those people promoted the idea that there is a difference of good and evil when it comes to the method of battle, and acted on the battlefield as if they have pride. In the end pride comes before the fall, what a joke!" Kiritsugu said in front of Saber with a small smile.
Saber clench her armored gloves as the image of her beloved kingdom end appear in her mind. Putting the image at the back of her mind, she quickly retaliated. She can't let Kiritsugu to have the last word.
"What of it? It didn't change the fact that if you continue on this path nothing but scorn and despise you will find in the end." Saber said with heat on her tone, clearly the last question touch a sore spot.
"If it means saving the world from that hell, then such an end is acceptable." Kiritsugu said solemnly stunning Saber.
"What? What are you talking about?" Saber said confused, saving the world?
Of course Saber will be confused, Kiritsugu action that she saw all this time show a desperate attempt at victory at all cost, with such action she could not imagine all of that was for saving the world.
Seeing her confusion Kiritsugu felt as if his body is moving automatically as he started to explain himself.
"To spare the world from the hell that is war, to erase the suffering cause by the endless battlefield, and to spare Ilya from such hardship," He said to the shock Saber.
"Tell me Saber will you denied me of this wish?" Kiritsugu said to her, in the same tone Saber used when convincing Kiritsugu.
Saber, hearing this tone faltered, can she denied such a noble goal knowing the path to reach it? No she can't, but at the very least let her spare some innocent people from his bloody path.
"Even so, If you do evil to fight evil, at the end all that's left will be evil. The rage and hatred that sprouted forth there will cause new wars once again." Saber said with a pleading tone.
Faced with Saber's heavy words, Kiritsugu replied while staring at the empty air.
"I will stop the endless cycles. That's why I need the Holy Grail." Indeed, as if talking to himself, he said loudly.
"I'll use this miracle to complete the revolution of this world, the revolution of all human souls. I will make the blood shed within Fuyuki city as the final bloodshed of all human beings. For that, even if I am to carry 'all the evils of this world' – it won't matter. If that can save the world, then I'd gladly accept it." He said shocking Saber once more.
"Why? Why go that far?" Saber asked slowly, to which Kiritsugu replied easily.
"Because someone had to." Kiritsugu said without any emotion.
Speechless, Saber look at Kiritsugu before shutting her eyes as if she is in pain and the turning her back from her master. She could not bear to see such a broken person.
Kiritugu who saw this, also close his eyes on futility. As expected, they cannot see each other eye to eye.
'Perhaps it was time for them to go on their separate ways' Kiritsugu thought, it would make it easier for them to move freely from each other and completing their own individual goals.
Kiritsugu started to turned around and goes towards the car before Saber suddenly called him out.
"Wait." Kiritsugu stopped but he didn't turned back, something in Saber tone forces him to stopped. Seeing that Kiritsugu stopped walking away, Saber continued speaking.
"What was that you said? Saving the world?" Saber started by rhetorically asking.
"What a joke..." Saber said, this word is enough to turn Kiritsugu body's cold as he slowly touch his command seal.
"Saving the world by sacrificing the innocent? I shudder to imagine such a world..." Saber continue to speak ignoring the clearly petrified Kiritsugu.
"With such a thought and method I cannot allow someone as dangerous as you to save the world." Kiritsugu literally stopped breathing after Saber said this, trembling he prepared to use his command seal in case Saber attacked him.
"That's why..." Ignoring Kiritsugu reaction Saber continues.
"I will be the one to save the world." Saber said shocking Kiritsugu.
What?
Quickly turning around what greeted him is a confidently smiling Saber.
And thus the gears of fate started to move into a different direction.
Is it for the better or for worse, only the future will tell.
A/N
Saber line of thoughts will be explained at the next chapter.