Outside the window, through the window, one could see machines of all sorts outside the building. On the ground, in the sky, metal was all that could be seen. Working, delivering, doing the jobs that a certain species would normally be doing themselves. Yet not a single human was found doing anything.

"..." Except for the one looking through the window. A hand resting on the glass window, as scarlet red eyes gazed both through the window, then at themselves.

Lifting their hand, it was clear that unlike the other beings outside, they themselves were different. Unusual.

Organic.

Were it not for the upload of information inserted before, the being would have assumed they were just something unknown. But instead, they knew what they were.

Human.

"Watching our empire, I see." Footsteps were heard, big ones. The sound of clunking metal impacting against one another is heard, followed by a deep chuckle. Turning, red eyes met with cold logical ones. A machine, one with a rather humanoid form, stood before her with a massive frame.

Zard.

That was its name. The de-facto leader of all of Spectra. The ruler of this mechanical nation and all that 'lived' in it. By his side, a smaller machine floated near him, looking rather curious.

"It seems you're finally ready to go." Zard then said, almost as if he was excited. Raising his hand, he then clenched it, where if he had a mouth, he'd undoubtedly be smiling. "Finally, at long last, Spectra has the weapon needed to deal with those insignificant bolts of Karma once and for all."

"Bolts! Bolts!" The smaller machine said, giggling like a child.

"Kar…ma?" The only one not excited was the human. Finding her head tilting, unsure of what to make of this.

"Hoh?" Crossing his arms, Zard hummed to himself. "Right. I see. It seems I forgot to download the data relating to Karma into you. Then again, I was busy ensuring battle-styles and combat positions were first inserted." The machine then shrugged. "Oh well, I can just tell you now."

A screen then popped up, revealing some kind of map that had the colors red and green. The green looked like it was expanding compared to the red. With data showing lines of losses and defeats.

"At this moment, those inferior programs of Karma have taken away Spectra's well-earned territory." Zard, sounding angry, spoke aloud. "Ever since they somehow managed to get a human by their side, this war between us has taken a heavy loss these past two years for Spectra. Defeat after defeat. Loss after loss." With a swing of his fist, Zard slammed against a nearby wall, making the smaller one yelp as she moved away from him.

Almost as if he were snarling, Zard then said, "Grah! And to think, Spectra had nearly won that day two years ago. We, the Three Pillars, nearly had domination over this world itself."

"Yeah!" The small one piped up. "Domination! Conquering!"

"Exactly!" Zard nodded, acting a bit more happy. "It would have been glorious. Spectra, ruling forever. With me, the head Administer, forever leading this world! Hahaha!" As Zard laughed, the smaller one clapped her hands and also laughed, with the human simply confused by their behavior.

Then, in a moment of wonder, the human said aloud, "...we…are going to rule?"

Her mind was still hazy. Just remembering things was…difficult. She knew she woke up in liquid…but it was tough to recall. Only knowing things like Spectra, combat moves, what she was, the rulers of Spectra, and simple things like that. And she…she is part of Spectra, yes?

"..." Zard then paused, stopping his laughing. The smaller one, still clapping her hands, slowly stopped as well when realizing this. Leaving the room in silence. "...huh?" Then, stepping forward, Zard's shadow loomed over the human girl, who felt something strange inside her. A feeling that she couldn't describe, as the tall machine stepped towards her.

"You? Rule with us?" Repeating her words, Zard looked at her as if she said something wrong. Then, with a bark, Zard laughed. "Hehe-haha! Hahaha! As if!" His head was suddenly near her own, intimidatingly at that. "As if I'd let a human rule Spectra like before!" He spoke coldly, almost as if he were angry.

It was then a new screen popped up, where on it, the human saw something that could only be described as one thing.

Destruction.

"This," Zard began. "Is the result of you humans!" On the screen, various buildings, landscapes, and more could be seen. Yet at the same time, all were ruined beyond imagination.

Buildings that crumbled.

Gouged pieces of land.

What were once forests were now burnt and tumbled wrecks.

Plantlife that was overgrown and either dying or simply covering ruined pieces of land.

Somewhere where it was dark, countless bits of metal floated all around in what the small caption of the screen mentioned: Atmosphere.

The small robot looked away, tapping her fingers. All while Zard gave a huff. "In the end, you humans don't deserve to rule. Not after what you did. Starving your own people. Using chemical warfare. Not to mention the whole Sky Striker that devastated both sides for years. If anything, my decision to make that weapon to obliterate you all was the best decision ever made."

That…weapon? What did Zard even mean? No, for the most part, she couldn't understand much of what he was saying. Chemicals? Starvation? None of it sounded good, yet how was such a thing implemented? Eyeing the smaller one, the human noticed the machine looked almost…down.

"Bah, whatever." Zard then said, waving his hand off. "In any case, while it's a pain, at least the battle between Spectra and Karma hasn't caused irreversible damage to the world. Once they're gone, I can have Spectra fix the damage." It was then that strange feeling came to the human's chest again. That uncomfortable feeling, as Zard looked at her as a chuckle escaped him.

"Yes. Fix the world again…In MY image." Spreading his arms, cape flowing at his action, another laugh escaped from Zard. "Soon, once Karma is gone, at long last a new age will be among us. And YOU will be the final weapon to deal that final blow!"

It was then one more holographic screen popped up. This one showing someone that…looked similar to her. A…human.

"Once Karma's human is dealt with, Karma will be crushed under Spectra's heel, and at long last the next age will arrive. No more Age of Man. Instead," Zard raised his hand with the small machine, Cyanos, nodding. "It will be the Age of Machine. The Age of Spectra itself. And this time," Zard looked at her. "There will be no humans to ruin it for us."

Snapping his fingers, two machines then came in, and each grabbed the human girl by her arms. "Take her to the central learning chamber. I'll install the last bits of information in her and turn her into our greatest weapon, A Sky Striker Ace itself!"

The girl felt herself being pulled back, that uncomfortable feeling coming back, stronger now as she felt something drip down her neck.

"Granted, you might experience some memory loss as I input the last data," Zard hummed before turning back, then stomping down the hall, Cyranos following him. "But who cares about that. As long as you obey us, it doesn't matter. Soon, the war you humans started will at last end with Spectra in command. Where it all ends with you…Roze."

Roze….Was that her name?

In the end, the human girl didn't even have time to consider this as she soon found herself feeling something cold and sharp dig into her skin. A syringe. One with a liquid that made her feel tired. Weak.

Unable to keep her eyes open, the girl soon found herself sleeping. All while wondering one last thing before she went asleep.

What did Zard mean by…the war humans started?

Stepping into the building, Irisviel looked around to see if anybody was nearby. For the most part, there wasn't anybody nearby. That was good, as Irisviel didn't want to be followed by anybody that could be a potential enemy.

Coming up to the room her husband was in, Irisviel readied herself just a little bit. While she technically did nothing wrong, she knew that Kiri wouldn't exactly be happy with how Rider once again left on her own. If anything, Kiritsugu would be rather displeased and may take drastic measures. Something Irisviel didn't want as it could be risky and may even hurt Rider.

'Even if she is disobedient, she's still a troubled girl.' While there were things Irisviel couldn't claim she liked of what Rider said, the fact was, Rider seems unsettled. Hurt, even.

There was just so much about her that Irisviel didn't know. Worse how nothing she did could help her realize who she even was. As far as history itself is concerned, Rider didn't seem to exist.

Yet she had to, as the Grail chose Heroic Spirits of the past, did it not?

"Maybe Kiritsugu found something." Irisviel wondered aloud as she entered the apartment building. Though as soon as she entered, she noticed all the lights were out. Was Kiritsugu asleep?

After a little looking, Irisviel then noticed that the balcony was open, where through the curtains she saw someone else was there. "Kiritsugu." Walking through the apartment, Irisviel saw Kiritsugu's back, looking hunched as he leaned over the fence. The scent of smoke coming off of him.

'Smoking,' Irisviel thought, before her eyes settled on a gun sitting on a table. 'Or…' Breathing in, Irisviel ignored it. She wasn't blind though to her husband's actions. If anything, she felt sorry for him.

So much time spent with her and little Illya, being a father as best he could. That father was now gone, replaced by the man he used to be. The man he may still be. Including the man that he hated to be.

"...Kiri." She called out to him one last time, where from there, he turned to her.

"..." A look of confliction was on his face. One that seemed miserable, as if he was told something horrible in itself. It frightened her a little. Not because he looked sad, but because he was just showing it without even hiding it. Him. The man who always kept his emotions in check, no matter how hard he sometimes wanted to express himself.

"What's wrong?" As such, as his wife, Irisviel was determined to be with him, no matter what.

Walking near him, Kiritsugu turned away, his face not changing one bit. Once she stood near him, the pair stood in a long silence, looking outside beneath the sky that turned dark.

"I saw the future," It was then Kiritsugu spoke at last to her. What he said didn't register to her at first. 'He saw the future.' Only after giving it more thought that she realized what he meant. The future. The future of their world.

"You did?" But to Irisviel, everything he said would be true to her. Not doubting his words, mearley listening. She remained silent so he may continue on.

"Rider, I saw her past. Through my dreams." Ah, yes, dreams. Through the contract between Master and Servant, it was possible for both sides, through this connection, to see the others' memories. Meaning one may see a Servant's past and see just what it is they did, or more importantly, see just who and what they were.

With Kiritsugu at last seeing Riders. Saying aloud, "It seems there was a reason why we couldn't discover who Rider was in the past. Because she isn't from the past."

Irisviel kept quiet, but took Kiritsugu's words into consideration.

Catalysts. They served to summon a Heroic Spirit through who they were bonded to. Or related to in some cases. In which case, a Master must find a relic of a certain 'hero's' past so that when used as a catalyst, the summoning circle will have something of a reference in order to find the hero connected to the relic in question. Otherwise, without a catalyst, then in the most usual circumstances, it will be the Master themselves used as a reference and catalyst to find a Servant similar to them.

Yet, what Kiritsugu was saying felt outlandish. That somehow, despite using King Arthur's sacred sheathe, Avalon, a girl from the future was summoned.

It should have been impossible, not because Irisviel doubted there were Heroic Spirits of the future (the Throne of Heroes being outside of space and time itself ), but because their existence had no foundation, no presence in the consciousness of humanity, it meant Heroic Spirits of the future could never be summoned as Servants.

"I suppose this Grail War has been summoning oddities since it began." But Irisviel never considered the idea Kiritsugu was mistaken, or lying for that part. If anything, Roze's appearance and weapons made more sense if she is from the future.

As for Kiritsugu, he grunted before continuing on, looking ever displeased. "Her past…our future, told me what is in store for this world." For a moment, a snarl expressed itself onto Kiritsugu's face. As if the word itself was poison. "War."

"..."

"The Age of Man, the age where we left the Gods, and all humans have accomplished was nothing but war." Death. Destruction. Every era there were always humans fighting one another, without consideration of the masses who didn't want war. Who just wanted to live the way they were, in peace.

Yet those who sought war dragged them in. As conscripts, forced into being soldiers for the glory of their nation . With the result leading to the usual thing. Collapse.

"For many years, humanity has fought. Killed one another. Betrayed. From the day we picked up a stone, to the creation of weapons that would wipe out entire armies." World War 1 being a miserable reminder. Especially with the introduction of chemical warfare. "And it seems war will continue to happen…until humanity is gone for good." As if he'd eaten a lemon, Kiritsugu turned sour.

"The Age of Man will be over. And eventually…It'll be the machines' turn to take over."

"Machines?" Irisviel's voice sounded incredulous at the idea. Machines taking over? As in…like the shows Kiritsugu watched with her.

Her husband gave a curt nod. Looking none too pleased. "A foolish thing to consider, yet hasn't humanity done things we once considered impossible?" Kiritsgu waved his hand to the city below. "Our life span has increased through medicines and nutrients. We've built buildings that touch the sky, and planes that go even higher. Created vehicles faster than a horse, and devices that allow long-range communication."

In the past, all these things would have been considered impossible.

A pipe-dream that humans of the past only thought of when thinking of humanity's future.

"Yet here we are now, with proof right in front of us." Living in a present where humans accomplished all of that and so much more, even with collapsing eras and mountains of the dead paving through that path. Yet seeing that dream, of Roze's past, it all told Kiritsugu one thing only. "And it seems in the future, mankind will create machines that will do war for us. Until eventually…all humans are wiped out by their own hubris."

While Rider, Roze's, past didn't detail everything, it was very much clear that in her time, there were likely little humans left if machines were ruling now. Something that should have been fiction was instead the normal for her present time.

It all made so much sense now.

Her weapons. Her armor. That skill of hers, Artificial Human. It was all there right in front of Kiritsugu, that she was a Heroic Spirit of the future. One where humanity brought itself so low, that their own inventions took over for them with humans like Roze likely on the bottom of the totem pole.

And the future was not good.

"I…I have to win this Holy Grail War." His hands clenched themselves, his face hardening. "How could I allow such a thing to happen? To let such an event pass." It was difficult to even stomach. To witness that centuries from now, humanity's own foolishness in fighting would end with them losing their own age.

"Then I suppose we'll need to fight harder, now more than ever." Sticking close to Kiritsugu, Iriviel sighed. "But that does mean you need to get along with Rider."

"Hah." A dry scoff escaped Kiritsugu's lips. "I'm not even sure if I can. Apparently, she sees me as someone worse than Zard."

"Zard?"

"Her maker from what I can guess." The way he spoke how she was a weapon alongside her Artificial Human Skill meant he, or this Spectra group, made her like a homunculus only superior.

"In the end, I'm uncertain if we can find proper ground." Kiritsugu looked at his Command Seals. "Still, if I can use her right, then it won't matter if our relationship is bad. As long as I can have the earth avoid this calamitous future, then forgoing our relationship is fine by me."

"..." After a bit, Irisviel wondered if she should tell him now of what happened earlier, and of the alliance suggested by Saber. If he'd consider at least that.

Instead, not noticing his wife's solemn stare, Kiritsugu turned away as he adjusted his coat. "I have work that needs to be done." What should have been a good night of rest turned into a revelation of this world's fate. He can rest properly after he wins. "I need to get going.

"Maiya should be doing her job in locating Kariya Matou, meaning I can set up a trap. As for what happened earlier…tell me later." He then left IrIsviel, a cold determination in his eyes as he set off to do what must be done. With his wife unable to say anything whatsoever, yet noted one thing.

That Kiritsugu held an expression meant for going all out, without holding anything back. A face she's seen when he needed to deal with something as efficiently as possible. The natural response when one felt they had to do whatever it took to avoid something dangerous.

'And yet,' Irisviel thought as she saw her husband's back getting smaller and smaller, before it vanished outright. 'You look even sadder than ever.'

Kariya heard how in past Holy Grail Wars that sometimes, to get further ahead, Masters would work together at times to progress. With some Matou's having done just that to win, even if they, and by extension, everyone else failed in the winning part.

Even so, Kariya kept his guard up as best he could, especially when in front of a genuine magus.

"Well then, Matou," One who was now meeting him face to face with a glass of wine in his hand, a beautiful lady near him, with a confident smile on his face. "I'm glad to see you made a wise decision in joining me here on this lovely night."

Kariya shrugged. Not really much for critique and manners with high-class junk. More so when he could barely even talk still, damn worms messing with his ability to even say hi. So, as best he could, he gave a wet cough and nodded.

Kayneth frowned a bit, though seemed to understand that Kariya wasn't trying to be rude at the very least. Still, Kariya wanted to be careful.

He may have been a piss-poor magus, but even he knew enough that entering another magus' workshop could end very badly for him. This guy, Kayneth as he called himself, may be courteous now, but that could easily change if the conversation turned ugly. So, just to ensure his own survival, Kariya decided to add to the conversation.

"Anyway, Mr. El-Melloi," Through some kind of wooden board that was actually a mystic code. Apparently the dude had a bunch of them, and one of them was for people who couldn't talk.

Something about how it translated the users thoughts to words that then appeared on the board. Weird. But also very convenient. "…I imagine you made contact for more than just a talk… Or write down anyway." Limping near Berserker, who seemed a bit calmer now towards him, Kariya nudged his head towards her. His intentions are clear.

"Hehe. Already figured it out, huh?" That being, an alliance. Sipping some of his wine, the woman just rolling her eyes for some reason, Kayneth smirked. "Personally, I won't deny I have my qualms of the Berserker Class. Many past wars I reviewed mentioned the problems they can pose on one's…health, as you may understand."

Kariya ensured the board wouldn't write down his thoughts to show a, 'Jeez, really?' Hell, problems with one's health? He was already dealing with it. Still, he nodded so as to not offend the guy who had more power than anything Kariya had.

"Even so," Kayneth resumed, "The Berserker Class are very well-known for their superior strength."

"Got it in one." The magic board wrote down Kariya's thoughts. "Berserker held her own against a dragon."

"Hm, did she?" Kayneth sounded more impressed, taking a moment to observe Berserker's figure, specifically her armor and weapon. "Well, I suppose it was obvious, wasn't it."

"You think." Giving a small snark, the pretty woman with the frown pointed at Berserker. "She literally has a helmet that looks like a dragon."

"So she does." Kayneth chuckled. His lips thinned down. "In any case, Matou, as you already said, I desire a temporary partnership between us." From behind Kayneth, possibly as a show of good-will, his own Servant came out, Caster. Ignoring its odd Class, Kariya has seen it in action, and it was good.

"With your Servant's strength and my Servant's versatility, I believe the two of us could make it quite far. Especially against the other Masters and their own Servants, no?" On that, Kariya could agree. That fight in the construction yard and the park was more than enough proof.

The other Servants were pretty tough in their own way. Rider was very fast while the Saber had better skill than his own Servant. While he hasn't seen Lancer, he already heard how the apparent Assassin caused a load of damage in the city and was supposedly indestructible by the overseer. That wasn't even mentioning that woman, Archer, who could summon a literal dragon from nowhere. Were it not for his own Servant being geared to counter them, a single blast could kill the average Servant.

"Well, I can't deny having a partnership with a magus of your standing would be good." Kariya's little board wrote down with a small compliment to get on Kayneth's good side. "If anything, let me guess, you're the brain and I provide the muscle."

Kayneth took his words well, preening at it even. "Well, I suppose I wouldn't mind making a strategy for us, if you do not mind."

"Go for it. I'm not exactly the great planner type." Kariya wasn't ashamed to admit that. He wasn't some great thinker that could make ten steps ahead of someone, let aside two. He lived a normal life and had a normal job. Nothing that involved commanding people in any way either.

"Very well." Kayneth accepted the position between them. "Then I shall ensure that our Servants are put to good use during this war. Together, I imagine we can accomplish great things." Before they turned against each other, the words left unsaid.

Granted, at the very least Kayneth didn't seem like the guy who'd just backstab Kariya in a moment's notice. Still, Kariya would be careful around him just in case. Because he can bet Kayneth will prepare for him and Berserker when this alliance ends. If anything, it'd be stupid not to. Still, just to put aside the implications of a later betrayal, Kariya then 'wrote' down on his little board, "So, I imagine we're going after Assassin."

More Command Seals was a pretty good deal. Something that Kayneth enjoyed as well, considering his smile.

"Indeed.: Already he was in agreement. "Even if it were not for the overseer telling us, a true magus would deal with the foolish distaste Assassin and his Master have done. Honestly, attacking in broad daylight. Such an act demands punishment for daring to expose magecraft. The risk to us all" Apparently Kayneth didn't seem to care much about the many people dying.

Still, it wasn't as if Kariya was blind to the dangers of magecraft being revealed. Since magecraft can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Or to be specific, hands that had no qualms on showing it off as Assassin and his Master just did. Kariya may not have known the people who were killed, but he wasn't cold-hearted enough to not feel bad for them. After all, were the circumstances different, he himself could have been one of those victims.

Or more importantly, the woman he knew and her children.

As such, Kariya didn't mind going after those two. "So," Kariya showed his board. "When do we get started?"

"Heh." Kayneth grinned. "If anything, why not start no-" The ground buckled.

The entire building collapsed then and there. Crashing down onto the streets below without warning.

It was sudden. It came out of nowhere.

Those who were close and nearby claimed they saw a flash of light coming from the bottom of the building. Those very same ones were lucky to even escape alive, as the collapse of the entire building wasn't one many could escape from easily enough.

Even at this distance, the screams and shouts could be heard all the way here. Kiritsugu, smoking on his cigar, watched from this very distance in a cold silence.

Ever since he was told where Kayneth was living at, he had already set up bombs pre-hand. Thanks to Maiya tracking down Kariya, to where Kayneth was exactly at, Kiritsugu realized that two targets were now in the same place at the same time.

The world was at stake, and he couldn't hesitate one bit.

In his hand, the button pushed had released the signal for all the bombs underground to go off at the same time. Matou and El-Melloi should be dead now, seeing as they couldn't possibly be prepared to have expected the entire building to collapse in on itself. Especially from the height they just fell.

Looking down, Kiritsugu noted the sound of sirens were now accompanying the voices of terror. It was…Ultimately it was the logical decision to make. For the deaths of hundreds will ensure the survival of thousands in the future. Kiritsugu made the right decision overall, ensuring he was ahead in this Holy Grail War to make that sacred wish.

To ensure this world's future, no price was too small.

"Maiya," Kiritsugu raised the radio in his hand. "Where done. Let's go home."

A brief bout of silence and the radio came to life. "Understood. I'm on my way."

They'll rendezvous at another hotel, then head out elsewhere. He doubted anybody would know this was his doing, so he shouldn't be a prime target at the very least. Not to mention everything he did utilized only mundane methods, no magecraft involved.

With all that in mind, Kiritsugu left as cold as the night itself. Tomorrow was another day to ready himself for the killings he must do. All for the sake of mankind.

Well, that happened.

And it seems Kiritsugu, after seeing Roze's past, has now come to the conclusion that her world is his present's future. Which, while wrong, is understandable why he believes it. I mean, Roze does live on Earth, just one that ended up war-torn because of humanity and later, their machines.

And after seeing just a glimpse of Roze's world, Kiritsugu is entering full blown cold logic mode. So, yeah, he didn't bother turning on the hotel's alarms and just blew it up immediately. The people inside, all of them dead or trapped in rubble bleeding out. As for Kariya and Kayneth…well, it'll be somewhat like canon…but with a slight change here.

Either way, this will bite Kiritsugu's ass in more ways than one.