Night has finally arrived at Fuyuki.
Unlike the restless day, the early night was unexpectedly peaceful. It was as if the stress filled and the frustration of the day absorbed by the night.
Well as peaceful as they can be at least. In the many roads of Fuyuki police is patrolling here and there trying their best to keep the city safe. But, other than that everything is in peace and quiet.
Unfortunately, this peace was only the prelude of the ongoing war for the sake of the Holy Grail power.
Five out of seven servant has been vanquished along with their master, the last two pair of survivor had already been too deep into the abyss to give up on the Grail, this alone is enough fact to make both participants desperate enough to use all means to win.
And tonight the final victor will rise from the ashes of their enemy.
Or perhaps nothing but ashes will be left in the end.
On the main road of Fuyuki city a black Mercedes-Benz is driving away on an empty road.
Inside the Mercedes-Benz is Saber and Kiritsugu, both silently sitting in the car.
The patrolling police is not a problem now with Kiritsugu back in action, a simple hypnosis is enough to get rid of the authorities from their back.
The air in the car is awkward, the incident from the morning still fresh from both of their mind, still, they managed to keep their professionalism in check and making a rather solid plan for the moment.
Their objective is to locate Rider and make an alliance to face Berserker before facing each other in a duel, or if that's not possible they wanted to make a non aggression pact so that they can fight Berserker without worry.
Berserker has been a walking nightmare for the pair of master and servant in this rather short time in the war, after Berserker literally nuke the Einzbern castle, both Saber and Kiritsugu is wary of another surprise attack.
Assassins challenge and Irisveil being taken away didn't make thing easier for the pair nerve, especially Kiritsugu.
Seriously, Archer is dead and yet they still need to watch over their head for any stray projectile coming their way, it would be funny of they weren't the victim.
Problem was while they wanted to rid of Berserker, Kiritsugu fear Rider will join in the fight and ruin everything. So, Saber suggested (coerced) to make an alliance with him, unaware of his untimely demise.
Truthfully speaking, Kiritsugu wasn't sure about this plan out paranoia if Rider stab them in the back, but Saber vouch for Rider chivalry and considering he didn't really have any other option available to give, he can only followed Saber whim. (Apparently killing Waver is not an option anymore under Saber watchful eyes)
After the morning incident, both of them saw fit for Kiritsugu to properly rest (more of Saber than him really). After a proper rest and some nutritious intake, Kiritsugu and Saber started to plan their next move in this war. Of course this time Saber was taking the lead in the planning with Kiritsugu mostly listening to her (Saber didn't take no for an answer). With a solid plan, a proper rest, and a bit of modern gun in his belt, the pair finally set out at night.
Still, a solid and a good preparation didn't make the awkward air any better.
Glancing at the man driving the car, the source of the awkwardness, Saber called out to Kiritsugu.
"Master, you know..." Saber started.
"If you have something to say, you can just say it to me." Saber informed Kiritsugu, but then ignore her.
'He is sulking.' Saber thought to herself, it would be cute if the sulking one isn't an adult men with blood in his hand.
Sighing, Saber once again talked to Kiritsugu.
"If you have a problem, it's better to let it out now, Master..." Saber said.
"We might not have another chance in the future." Saber warned, she had seen many tragedies that comes due to unspoken words, in fact she herself is a victim of this mistake.
Now knowing how important or life changing is if some words were just spoken rather than hidden how can she let others make the same mistakes sheave in life when she can help them. Unfortunately for Saber the person she tried to help is a rather difficult one.
Kiritsugu didn't responding much to Saber annoyances, she called out again in frustration.
"Master, are you lis..." Before Saber could finished speaking, Kiritsugu interrupted her.
"This plan of your..." Kiritsugu started speaking, his tone neutral as if he didn't notice Saber irritation.
To be fair, it's not that Kiritsugu is ignoring Saber its actually more that he didn't know how to speak to Saber outside of fulfilling his objectives. Kiritsugu is after all, not a social person and he also rarely needed others help or assistance, so Saber attempt to help him as a person is an alien concept to him.
Still his reaction to Saber is nothing else but annoying and irritating to her.
'Damn it!' Saber thought with a twitching eyebrow.
"Will it truly work?" Kiritsugu asked her.
Seeing Kiritsugu didn't even look at her while speaking, she sighed before getting comfortable in her seat.
"Of course it will." Saber said with confidence in her tone.
Glancing at her Kiritsugu asked again for clarification.
"How do you know?" Saber merely smirk.
"I think you'd already notice, Rider is a rather prideful individual..." Saber explained.
"At his personal might, at his follower strength, and his own legend." Saber stopped here to look at Kiritsugu, this time he returned her look.
"What do you think will happened if we ask such a man for a temporary truce to rid a mutual enemy?" Saber asked him.
"He will ask for a compensation." Kiritsugu answered smoothly.
"The Holy Grail itself. But, obviously he knew we can't accept such price so..." Saber continued.
"He'll go for the next best thing." Kiritsugu concluded.
"The elimination of a mutual enemy." Saber finished.
"He will agree to this alliance, master." Saber assured him.
"And even if he won't, we can always request a non-aggression pact until Berserker is defeated, which is our primary objective in the first place." She finished.
Both Saber and Kiritsugu is confident that Saber is still the most powerful between her and Berserker, the only thing they feared was if Rider interfere it will give Berserker a chance to get away And to retaliate on another day.
Kiritsugu response is only a silent nod, which Saber take it as satisfaction. The awkwardness is now lessening as silent return to the car.
"Is that all you want to ask, master?" Saber suddenly asked Kiritsugu.
Unfortunately for her, this time he didn't replied to her question at all. Sighing, Saber speak towards Kiritsugu regardless.
"Did you think I will betray you, master?" Saber asked, her concern is valid considering what kind of man her master is.
For a second Kiritsugu reacted before calming himself, unfortunately for him Saber notices it. Sighing once again Saber spoke again.
"Master, I will not betrayed you, after all I..." Suddenly Saber goes wide eyed as she noticing something and quickly leap towards Kiritsugu surprising him.
Crack!
The car window suddenly break in front of Kiritsugu, in Saber hand there was an arrow caught. Saber had just saved him from a surprise attack! Unfortunately they didnt have time to feel relief, as she can saw many more coming.
"Master!" Saber shouted, but Kiritsugu was already moving. In a swift move he undid his seatbelt, open the door, and left the car to hide into the alleyway.
Saber was even more swift, as soon as she notices Kiritsugu safety, she kicked the door out of its hinges and jump into the street ready to fight.
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
Ding!
BOOM!
Just as she left the car though multiple arrows hit the car destroying it in an explosion. Thankfully, with it she can track where the arrows coming from, looking at sources of the assault, Saber clicked her tongue.
To think that Berserker has found them first. Now the initiative has fall out of their hand and into Berserker's, 'Shit' Saber thought this situation is the exact one they wishes to avoided.
Currently, Kiritsugu is observing quietly in the alleyway and tried to find a way to counterattack while Saber prepared herself for another wave of attack while looking at where Berserker is.
There, at the top of the skyscrapers stand Berserker with his bow ready to snipe his enemies, to him finding Saber and her master was not a problem.
After he was done with checking the Grail position and making preparation for the battle with Saber, he left to find Saber under his master blessing.
Unlike before when he face Rider and his chariot without any preparation, now he had no problem whatsoever. While his practical knowledge about magecraft is not up to standard, it was enough for Berserker to absorb energy from the leyline for him to use in this battle. At the very least now he had nothing to worry about energy consumption.
Around Berserker there is five black distorted arrows stab into the pavement around him, taking the one nearest from him, he notched it to his bow, poured energy to it making it glow in crimson red light and called out its true name before releasing it.
"Hrunting."