Sitting in the room with Kiritsugu, Irisviel observed with him about the current news trend featured on the television.
"-with destruction all around in the park!" With none of it being considered good news for anything. On screen, trees were shown toppled, the ground cracked and broken, more worrisome, the clear sign of giant foot-steps embedded on the grass itself.
"Curiously, nobody claims to have seen anything. Yet others nearby stated to have heard loud noises that sounded like an animal. A very large animal." It was clear what had happened last night. For some reason, be it intentional or not, Servants fought against one another last night. Ferociously at that.
Such a thing wouldn't be considered a problem, of course. However…
"While police are claiming this is just a cover-up by criminals, the damage here brings to mind what happened at the construction site just a while back." The reporter narrowed their eyes. "It makes one wonder if there's more to the situation than one believes."
Clicking his tongue, Kiritsugu put a cigar in his mouth. Irisviel frowned, able to smell the scent coming from it already. Worried too, seeing as Kiritsugu was supposed to have stopped.
It meant the situation was more stressful to him than he'd cared to admit.
"Those fools." With Kiritsugu making it clear he didn't approve of what went down last night. Though Irisviel suspected it wasn't just because people could have gotten hurt. "Police activity may start increasing now, with a possibility of military appearance." Instead, thinking more pragmatically. It was cold, but as Irisviel learned to accept, people died in Holy Grail Wars. A natural thing when the prize is an omnipotent wish-making device.
And to Kiritsugu, who had seen many die before, it didn't matter if a few more perished in this war. All that mattered was ensuring those who remained stayed safe. No matter the cost.
'Plus, I can't deny even this is a bit much.' Irsiviel saw the devastation brought onto the park. "I wonder why the Masters even allowed this? Do you think there's more to this than meets the eye?"
"Possibly." Grunting, the magus killer himself adjusted his seating. "But the fight happened so suddenly, it's impossible to tell just what caused it all to begin with." A grudge? An opportunity? Or simple foolishness that jeopardizes the war? "All I can say is whoever started this clearly wasn't subtle. Though, I may have an idea on who played a role in this."
"Really?" That was surprising. "I thought it would be impossible considering nobody knew how this began."
"Normally, you'd be right." The way Kiritsugu spoke so coolly showed he clearly knew something. A glint in his normally empty eyes as he revealed what he knew. "But once I got word of what happened, I had Maiya decide to check out the Church quickly. To report if anybody came by it an hour after the fight." She didn't disappoint.
"Tohsaka visited."
"He started it?" Now that was surprising. Unexpected, even. While Irisviel didn't know the man personally, she knew much about the Tohsaka's, one of the three families that helped make the Holy Grail system itself. Providing the very land they fought on, acting with honor and prestige, no matter the war.
Something Kiritsugu knew, shaking his head at Irisviel's hasty conclusion. "No. I do not believe someone as 'honorable' as Tohsaka did this. Not on purpose anyway." The Tohsaka's, Tokiomi, always acted within the guidelines of the rules. Being outright sticklers to it.
Sure, Kiritsugu had his own opinions on them, believing they weren't as clean as they appeared, acting rather suspiciously at times. Even so, Tokomi felt the least likely to cause all of this, even if he had an opportunity to do so. The man was many things, but acting as unsubtle as a rampaging beast which could cause the potential reveal of Servants and magecraft, impossible. Not his style.
"My opinion is that perhaps he was either forced or attacked by a Servant and had to unleash his own against the other Master." Folding his arms, Kiritsugu narrowed his eyes. "Though it does leave the question on who his Servant is exactly, alongside just what Servant caused him to look so pale?"
It's a fact that Servants consumed mana to keep themselves anchored in existence alongside their contract with a Master. Using it to live, but also to fight. With how the park currently appears, combined with Maiya revealing Tokiomi looking rather pale, stumbling even, meant his mana was rather drained to fight this mystery Servant. As a high ranking magus Tokiomi had adequate mana levels, meaning the fight must have been quite taxing to affect his body like that.
"Regardless, it doesn't change the fact that his actions alongside his opponent may have made things difficult here in the city." Kiritsugu pitied the Church in that regard, considering they're the ones who dealt with the aftermath. In charge of making plausible cover-ups,it wasn't so simple creating one when the damage became too much. You could only use gas leaks so many times before people began demanding real answers. Answers not so easily provided.
"Well, at the very least we can hope the worst of it is over." Standing up, Irisviel walked out of the room. As she opened the door to leave the apartment, she turned to Kiritsugu and said, "Oh, I should let you know, I'll be going out today."
"Really?" Kiritsugu didn't sound opposed to it, nor surprised. Instead, he kept his eye on the screen, likely wanting to see more information, just in case. "Are you sure?"
"Mhm." Giggling, Irisviel gave a childish smile. "I plan on having a girls gathering out in town."
"Girls gathering?" Hearing that last part, brows hunching up, Kiritsugu turned with a narrow gaze, not liking what Irisviel was suggesting. "You mean-"
"Yup." Affirming his thoughts, Irisviel showed no sign of regret. Looking pleased in fact. "Rider actually agreed to come with me this time when I asked her." Something Irisviel was willing to capitalize on, the change in attitude giving her hope that she could make a more meaningful connection with the girl. "Maybe I can show her around, have a little fun."
"Or risk more disobedience." Huffing, Kiritsugu turned back. "Still, I know you can't be stopped. Just be certain she doesn't do anything that will cause more trouble. Perhaps you can even dig for clues to figure out who she is." Another pragmatic approach, one Irisviel fully understood.
"Right…" She just didn't approve of it.
Much as she loved her husband, understood his reasoning and approach, even she couldn't help but feel he lacked certain boundaries when it came to people. How he could act insensitive at times. Still, he wasn't wrong, and Irisviel originally did plan to ask Rider about herself. Just to see what was beneath her cold exterior though, not for the chance to gain private information.
Putting away Kiritsugu's words, Irisviel turned and left. Closing and locking the door along the way as she stepped out of the apartment before sighing. Soon, she'll be made to live in another place Kiritsugu bought a while ago. Not that'd he'd come with her, instead, claiming he'd be with Maiya still to work alongside her. It made Irisviel feel…a bit downhearted.
"Are you coming or not?" Then, slicing through her insecurities, Irisviel looked up to see Rider, arms crossed and usual frown present. Wearing her military-like uniform as boldly as she had before, with striking eyes and hair to highlight it.
"R-Right. I am. Sorry." Rider snorted, but said no more.
It still confused Irisviel why Rider accepted her invitation to enter the city. Still, maybe she just had a change of heart, or something similar. Regardless of the reasoning, Irisviel was just happy she could potentially get to know Rider more and have a little fun in the city. Even if it wasn't considered a tourist site, it was still new and refreshing to Irisviel.
"Alright then, Rider. Let's go." Giving a smile, Irisviel held out her hand. Rider then notably tensed up, eyes widening, almost as if she recognized the action. Her ruby red eyes settled on Irisiviel's hands, as if she were tempted to grab hold of it.
Then, similar to Kiritsugu, she clicked her tongue and turned away. Walking forward without looking back, leaving Irisviel perplexed at the momentary impression Rider unwittingly left. Looking at her own hand, pondering if there had been something on it. There was nothing.
"...Strange." Shrugging, Irisviel then quickly gave chase to Rider to catch up. Hoping this can be the time to get along with the Servant in question.
"Gruagh!" A spectral claw slammed onto the ground next to Tokiomi. The man, who was the aspect of upholding his dignity, could only lay on the ground, sweating and panting. A mixture of shock and fear in his eyes as the same dragon he saw causing havoc hissed down at him. Looking as if it would just eat him then and there. Be done with him.
Even worse, Tokiomi was still to tired to do anything. Pale as a ghost, unable to cast even the simplest of spells. He was at the dragon's mercy.
Mercy it had little of.
"Blue-Eyes. No." Then, even if loathed, the voice of Archer came like a soothing lullaby. She said very little, yet the dragon's demeanor seemed to calm down in an instant. Gone was the fury, the rage in its eyes. Becoming almost serene even.
"Grrrr." But it still hissed at Tokiomi for one last time. Jaws opening ever slightly before snapping down hard. It didn't take a genius to know that Tokiomi had just been threatened by it. The spectral claws left marks on his workshop floor while its blue eyes left Tokiomi a message. A warning.
Then the dragon vanished into light, leaving just Tokiomi and Archer in his workshop. Calming down, no longer feeling small, Tokiomi attempted to stand up again. Regaining his voice as he decided to speak to Archer for what she did. More than a little upset at what she caused.
Once he stood straight, Tokiomi said, "Archer, I-"
Slap!
Then, from nowhere, Tokiomi felt a stinging pain before he could even vocalize his disappointment in Archer. His grievances replaced by shock and pain, his cheek turned red as he nearly collapsed once more on the ground. Touching his cheek, Tokiomi's eyes widened in a daze as he looked up at Archer. A brief lapse of anger forming on his face at what she just did.
"You disappoint me." All that meant nothing to Archer, who took his expression no different from a parent talking to their angry child. The woman in question gazes at Tokiomi as if he did some kind of wrong. Like he was the criminal in question, not her. Such arrogance. Such mockery. Tokiomi was a mage and deserved more respect than this.
"I-"
"Don't speak." Not even a chance to defend himself, let aside show his opinion. Archer took the stage and leaned closer to Tokiomi, shaking her head. "I must say…'Master'," She spoke the word with the slightest bit of scorn on her voice. As if it was an insult to even speak it. "I understood you weren't happy with my declaration from earlier, but this," She waved a hand to his hand, with one Command Seal now absent. "I see now that you have no intention of letting me walk freely."
"Freely? Freely?!" Having had enough, the dignified expression Tokiomi usually had begun to collapse. Replaced by a barely held concealed fury as his voice pitched up. "You attacked in public, in the city itself! Acting no different from a wild dog maiming a child in the open. And you talk about walking freely?"
Archer showed no shame. No ounce of regret. It served to anger Tokiomi further, bewildered at how his own Servant is reacting as if she did no wrong. "Do you not even understand the consequences of what you have done?"
"Do you?" Archer shot back, still quiet in her tone and undisturbed by his raised voice. "I am not entirely blind to what occurred, Tokiomi." She spoke his name instead of the proper title he had over her. Not even using his surname as a sign of respect. Respect she clearly had little for him.
"I am aware that Blue-Eyes did attack in an open space where people could have gotten hurt. That much, I am aware of." Her eyes narrowed down. She spoke more coldly, like a blizzard itself. "However, know this. My other half did not initiate the battle that began. That belonged to the woman who struck. Blue-Eyes was simply defending herself alongside the others and I."
'Others?'
"And to continue this debate, I am not upset you had Blue-Eyes stop her attack. I'm aware that as a dragon, my other half's attacks aren't something to be ignored. Castles and fortresses have fallen to her attacks in the past." Archer crossed her arms, appearing troubled even. "No. What upsets us both is that you simply forced us to stop, instead of simply asking."
"Asking?!" Ask a dragon to stop. Was Archer deranged to believe that? Though it would appear that despite not stating this grievance, Tokiomi didn't do well to conceal his baffled expression.
"Contrary to what you think, Blue-Eyes isn't some wild animal you seem to believe she is." The way Archer spoke, it was apparent that she was more upset for Blue-Eyes than for herself. Offended, even. "She may be destructive, even a bit unruly at times, however, Blue-Eyes is capable of listening to others beyond myself. All one needs to do is simply trust her." Archer's next words grew frigid and distant. "Trust you lost when you took away her ability to be herself. Taking away her free-will."
Command Seals. The most powerful tool a Master had.
With them, they not only established a hierarchy between the Master and Servant, but, in a sense, were contingent in telling the Servant that just as easily they could boost their power or escape, they could also strip away their own free will. A frightening thing. More so for beings with great pride in themselves, such as Blue-Eyes.
Turning around, Archer's form began to turn intangible, entering spirit form. But not before she told Tokiomi one last thing. "You are not my Master, and as such, Blue-Eyes and I have no reason to work with you."
"!?" The words fell like a sword. Cleaving through any remaining displeasure Tokiomi had and instead exposed something else he had. Panic. "W-wha-?" He stuttered. Bewildered at what Archer was saying, coming to realize that Archer, his own Servant, was abandoning him here and now. Effectively leaving him Servantless.
His eyes wandered to his Command Seals.
"Gruagh!" That glance didn't go unnoticed, as the ground next to Tokiomi's hand was instantly pounded by a spectral claw. Blue-Eyes' leaving an even more profound warning compared to before.
With the threat made clear, Archer and Blue-Eyes fully vanished away, leaving Tokiomi alone in his workshop. Only silence accompanied him.
"And I haven't seen her since, with any messages I sent her ignored." Gripping his mug, it looked as if it might shatter under his hands. If not that, then his own gaze as Tokiomi's eyes had turned into a glare.
Sitting across from him, sighing, Risei clasped his hands together as he adjusted his sitting position. Tokiomi had brought him some…interesting news, so to say.
"I must say, this is certainly disturbing news. If only because it puts a hamper on our…plans, so to say." While the Church should be neutral, truthfully, Risei had decided to nudge those rules to work with Tokiomi and his plan to win. Better him who simply wanted the Root then others who could potentially ruin the world with whatever wish they had.
"Hampered? Risei, I believe this is worse than what we think." A hamper is an understatement as far as Tokiomi could tell. This situation was a disaster. "My own Servant left me. All because I made a slight to her pet dragon." The grip on his mug tightened, Tokiomi's voice being raised much louder than Risei usually recognized.
Beside Risei, Kirei stayed quiet, which Risei was happy for. It must be difficult for Kirei to see his own teacher be this vocally upset. Even Risei can't deny he saw this side of Tokiomi too often, even with all the years they spent together.
'And can I blame him?' Tokiomi acted as befitting of a mage should. Ensuring magecraft was kept concealed and prevented any form of exposure. Many would actually laud Tokiomi for thinking quickly the way he did.
Archer, however, clearly thought otherwise.
"The way I see it, it seems you two just had a lack of understanding." Lancer seemed to have a different viewpoint though, speaking aloud for all to hear.
"Hm?" Tokiomi, visibly upset, turned to see Lancer who was near her own Master, smiling as always. Not in a good mood,in a vexed tone Tokiomi asked, "Excuse me?"
"Apologies." Lancer made a small bow to Tokiomi, ever polite. "It's just, after hearing your story, I truly understand your lament. After all, everything you did was proper and correct." She turned to Kirei. "Wouldn't you agree, Master?"
Everyone turned to Kirei, though the former executioner showed no reaction to the attention. At best, he just furrowed his brows at Lancer forcing him to speak. Sighing, he said, "I do not know what you wish for me to say. Though, yes, I do agree my teacher wasn't wrong in his actions, restraining the dragon from further rampaging on the city. To do so would be foolish and expose the truth to everyone."
A dragon out in the open was a very dangerous thing. Not just because it wasn't something that could be hidden so easily, and could expose magecraft in general, but because dragons were beings that could cripple entire cities depending on their power. Phantasmals that brought ruin to all unless those who could slay them appeared, such as Sigurd or sir Georgios. And last Kirei checked, there were few if any dragon slayers in this current world.
"That you are." Lancer nods, not even disagreeing with Kirei's answer. Yet she didn't stop speaking, instead adding, "However, while saddening to say this Mr. Tohsaka, I do believe that while you were correct in your judgment, in the end, you still never considered your Servant's point of view."
At Tokiomi's frown, Lancer kept her smiling expression and explained herself. "From what I understood, you never really had a chance to speak with her, no?"
"I didn't. She simply left after threatening me." Tokiomi admitted.
"Then, yes, we can't deny she is at fault for not properly communicating with you, her Master." Despite seemingly speaking positively of Tokiomi's position, Kirei couldn't help but feel there was more to her words than just this. Whatever it was though, he wouldn't find out as Lancer said, "However, have any of us considered asking why she refused to work with you from start to end?"
"How is that relevant to the situation at hand?" Tokiomi grunted. Though he then attempted to compose himself as he realized his words were coming out more spiteful than usual. With a breath, Tokiomi arranged his pasture to try and better himself, saying, "In the end, she simply left."
"Yet just as she didn't understand you, you didn't understand her." Eyes settling on Risei, Lancer asked, "What do you make of this, Risei."
"Me?" Blinking, Risei felt himself under watch by Tokiomi. Internally, the old overseer sighed. While he didn't blame Tokiomi for the events that occurred, including the destruction, well… "I suppose that in the end, we knew little of Archer's life and the principles she lived by to understand her."
"Mmm. Indeed." Lancer agreed with this. "In the end, there must have been a reason why she didn't just wish to serve you. After all, I imagine some Servants who had lived in high positions weren't keen on serving people in general, no?"
"...that is true." Kirei acknowledged Lancer's words, with Risei in similar agreement. "Past Holy Grail Wars have dictated that some Servants had noncooperation with their Masters due to the different values and standards during their time alive." Some which even ended in a Master's own death, Command Seals or not.
"Regardless, none of this really matters." Attempting to change the topic, Tokiomi bitterly said, "Her viewpoints or not, she has effectively left me, making our plans to obtain the Holy Grail at risk. We need a new strategy now."
With Archer truly gone, that left only Lancer on their side. A woman who claimed she couldn't fight against the clearly combat oriented Servants that were left, aside from the missing Assassin who has yet to be seen. How they could face them, including Berserker, is unknown to them all.
"Hmmm." Though Risei may have had an idea. "Well, there may be one way." It would be tricky, and they'd have to ensure that the group's own weaknesses weren't revealed. "I may have a suggestion that can help."
Tokiomi gazed grimly. He already has an idea on Risei's suggestion, and he couldn't find his mood improving. But if it allowed him victory then so be it. All that would be left was dealing with the others, including Berserker.
Alongside Archer, perhaps.
It had been a long night, yesterday. From dealing with a surprise visit from Archer, to being in the center of a fight between a dragon and a dragon slayer. Waver was pretty sure he fell asleep immediately when he got back home. Well, after running as fast as he could, becoming sweaty, out of breath, then forced to deal with his 'grandparents' concerns when he came back looking like he ran a marathon or two. That wasn't even mentioning his exhaustion from depleting his mana to sloppily hypnotize people.
All things considered, he fell onto his bed like he was a sack of rocks and didn't wake up until noon. Where his own odor woke him up, forcing him to take a quick shower. After that, well, Waver found his host family had left for work but left him some breakfast with the television still on.
"-ople now wondering what's going on in this city?"
"If only they knew." Standing beside Waver, who ate his eggs while sitting, Saber shaked his head. "I wonder just why a death battle must occur in an active city and not elsewhere."
"It involves the leylines here." Drinking his juice, swallowing, Waver added, "Can't just put a Holy Grail anywhere. The reports I read stated the grail needed to be placed on land with strong leylines to connect to."
"Still feels wrong, but I suppose nothing can be done about it."
"...pretty much." Just as Waver realized leaving the war wasn't as easy as it looked. To think, he could have died just by being near two Servants fighting. By the shockwaves their attacks produced themselves. Along with his own teacher setting sights on him, Waver's previous joy in joining the Holy Grail War was at an all time low.
Setting down his cup, Waver sighed as he stretched his neck and looked up at the ceiling. At the very least, Waver believed he wouldn't be targeted immediately. Heck, he was even saved last night from Berserker by by Archer, who's hopefully okay after she vanished. Plus, who knows, maybe El-Melloi will fight someone else and be killed during it. Though it did feel unlikely.
'Much as I hate the man, he is a genius.' He knew spells that put Waver's own to shame, and had the resources to enforce his own power. Meanwhile, all Waver had were a few supplies and a base of operations that didn't even have a bounded field to protect him. If anything, Waver needed to think of a way to increase his chances of survival. But how?
Tapping the table, Waver concentrated. Imagining a way that could let him survive just a little longer, past the war even. He'd also like a way to win, but there was no point in doing that if he ended up dead. Best to focus on himself first.
As for Saber, noting the serious expression his Master cast, he himself also began pondering a way to help out. Even if he never asked to be part of this war, it didn't mean he should just leave the poor boy alone. Besides, it wasn't as if this was his first time caught in an unpredictable predicament.
Like the time he found goblins imitating his look.
Very weird.
"Oh. Master!" An idea then formed, with Waver turning to him.
"Yeah."
"I believe I may have a solution that may help us."
Waver's mood went up. "Really? What is it then?"
Lips tugging upward, Saber leaned near a wall and tilted his head. "Let's just say we should go out and talk."
Walking down the street, Irisviel hummed with her mouth stretched to a grin, arms swinging back and forth as she walked down the street. A few people, be it man or woman, twisted their faces at the sight of the homunculus woman. A red tinge on their faces as they all saw what could only be described as a breathtaking beauty.
While Irisviel wasn't exactly vain, she did feel bits of joy at the positive attraction towards her. Not that it could compare to when Kiritsugu, when he does, wraps his arms around her and speaks to her in whispers during the night. Those were good days.
'And I do hope he can still have those. Especially when the war is over.' Where soon after she would be…
"Are we just walking, or do we actually have a destination in mind?" Blinking, Irisviel turned to see Rider close behind her. Like her, the Servant also attracted some looks. Though that may have been because of her outfit, which was military in style. Not that Rider seemed to care, ignoring the people around her.
"Oh. That." Despite hearing the irritation coming off of Rider's voice, Irisviel kept up her usual attitude. Chipper like a bird. "I just thought it'd be fine if we just looked around. I mean, this is technically your first time in a new place, no?"
"...it is…I suppose." Eyes wandering, Rider took a peek around her. The buildings, the cars, the people, then settled back to looking at Irisviel. "It isn't very impressive."
"Really?" Irisviel wondered why that was.
"Everything is so…primitive. Simple." As she said this, in Rider's mind, the images of advanced technology came to mind. Of flying vehicles in the air. Of machines on the ground marching forward.
With only a dead silence everywhere aside from moving contraptions.
"...it is," The bustling sounds of humans produced could be heard all around her. "More noisy here, I suppose."
"Maybe you can tell me more about your home then." Irisviel suggested, anticipating any stories Rider might have. "After all, I can only imagine you must have lived an interesting life."
"...life." Being told to fight. Commanded to kill the final human and Karma itself. Was that a life? Fingers twitching, Rider regards Irisviel's mood and couldn't help but compare it to the only other human she knew. The only human beside her, up until those other two were born.
A frown formed on Rider's face. "There's no reason to talk about it." No reason to tell her Master's wife about anything. "I came here to fight. No more, no less."
Looking unsettled, Irisviel simply sighed. Here she hoped she could get Rider to open up more, to maybe talk things out. It was clear the tension between Rider and everyone else, including Kiritsugu, was still there. And it would stay that way unless whatever lingering problem between them persisted.
Unfortunately, Irisviel knew Kiritsugu wasn't one to just talk his feelings out, especially to his own Servant. To him, he only saw Rider as a tool with its own troublesome thoughts and little more than that. Meaning she must be the one to try and hope she could lift the pressure that rested on everyone's shoulder.
'I just need to figure out how?' Glancing at Rider, it frustrated Irisviel how like Kiritsugu, she didn't bother showing much emotion. Making it hard to get a read on her, like Kiritsugu, like Maiya. Oh, why was she always surrounded by those who thought it best to conceal their emotions?
"Makes things so difficult." Irisviel whispered to herself, a bit irked now. Looking around, Irisviel then pondered if maybe she should just invite Rider to eat out in a restaurant. That might get her to be less guarded.
Giving some quick glances, Irisviel was about to suggest a restaurant she saw when she noticed Rider stopped moving. "Is something wrong?"
"...no. Nothing." Rider resumed moving, yet gave a brief glance behind her. "Just thought I noticed something." But it had just been her imagination.
At least, she thought so.
"Ugh. Who knew following one's lesser rivals would be so tedious." Atop a building, coming into view, Assassin had at last decided to make his move. The last few days have been full of chaos caused by Servants fighting, including the morning. It made him just a bit jealous.
'After all, only I should be causing chaos.' Grinning, Assassin kept a close eye on Rider. Admittingly, he couldn't deny that it did surprise him when she looked in his direction. Granted, he wasn't using Presence Concealment but his own natural ability to be invisible. He was close to a ghost's existence from what he understood, yet the girl managed to sense him.
Skill? Or perhaps the Servant's power to detect others? In the end, it didn't matter. What did was Assassin making his own move instead of letting this little game continue on.
"Heh. Games." Another difference in this world, that being, no duel monsters at all. Sure, Assassin enjoyed crushing those beneath him with his own hands, but seriously, one couldn't fight with the power of cards? Goes to show this world wasn't as sophisticated if they couldn't develop such an elegant game such as duel monsters.
"Still," Stretching his back, Assassin smirked. "I suppose it can't be helped."
"Oh, are you going to fight now?" Stopping the urge to groan aloud, Assassin just sighed. He almost forgot about that guy.
"Yes, I'll be joining in the fun soon enough." Assassin told his so-called Master, Ryuunosuke.
"Awesome!" The man who managed to summon him shouted excitedly. "Then please show me how you kill! It'll be great I bet!"
"Of course." Assassin's face was one of someone looking at garbage. "I'll be sure to tell you of my exploits."
"Neat! I'll keep an eye on the news while playing with the kid I have here." Like so, the mental communication was cut off. Good. Talking to a human, any human, was beneath a Number like Assassin. Still, even if that human was pathetic, at least he didn't care about Assassin's allegiance to destruction and chaos. After all, the Holy Grail did inform him that 'heroes' were called on to fight each other, yet Assassin knew he was no real hero.
'Shame Astral and Yuma weren't summoned.' Those two on the other hand would indeed be considered heroes by the putrid mass that is humanity. Speaking of humanity, Assassin could see so many of them out here in the open. How funny.
Wasn't there two disasters that had happened just earlier. Actually, make that three. Some blue pillar of light happened just before the construction site disaster. Yet still these humans had that blustering ego to just go out like nothing was wrong. Quite conceited of them.
"Let's change that." Let the humans arrogance be their own undoing. "Noble Phantasm." Behind Assassin, a large rectangular card appeared, colored brown with a black dot in the center. One that then flipped over to reveal something he recognized as both himself and not himself.
The power he gained upon becoming a Heroic Spirit.
"Independent Summoning." The 'card' then shone, where behind Assassin, the form of a large monstrous being revealed itself with hissing sounds coming from its frightening large maw.
Let the chaos begin.
So Archer ditches Tokiomi while Assassin proves he gives little care over the secrecy of magecraft. And Rider continues to ignore Irisviel's responses while who knows what Berserker did to Kariya after being denied to kill Blue-Eyes. All this while once more Fuyuki is about to have another attack in freakin daylight.
The Servants of this war are really unruly.