Gasping aloud, bloodshot eyes opened from the trauma he just endured. Soon after regret came as with awakening, physical feelings rushed in to inform him of the pain he could already feel across his body. A wet cough escaping his throat followed by saliva.
Eyes now adjusting, Kariya Matou felt the blurry world return to normal, with voices heard all around. It took some time, but he slowly overheard what was being said.
"We got another one. Pull them out!"
"Can't. There's a chance the debris could collapse around them. We'll need to call for extra aid."
"Someone get water."
"We need more bandages!"
"Help!"
"It hurts!"
Eyes shut, scrunching his face, Kariya breathed in and bit his lip. He then tried to move his arm, instead only feeling his finger twitch. As for his legs, he couldn't really feel them. That probably wasn't a good sign.
With a sharp breath, Kariya did his best to tune out the voices and opened his eyes again. He then tried his best to sit up, only to find he already was. He also felt something covering him, a blanket of some sort. Moaning, he then realized he was propped up against some boxes, where he then noticed countless people moving around back and forth.
"Wvv-ugh!" His attempt to speak failed once more. Really hating Zouken now as he could feel a squirming inside his throat. Guess that threw away his chances to ask for help and see what happened.
Happened…What did happen? Tilting his head, ignoring his body's protest as he leaned forward a bit, pushing aside the desire to rest, Kariya focused on what was all around him. The people. The sound of a siren. Crying. All while he saw a huge amount of rubble that looked very familiar. And it should be.
It was the very building he had just entered.
'Then that means…oh man!' With realization, came memory. A memory that proceeded to jump right at him like a salesperson who told him things he didn't want to know. In this case, the events that led to him surviving a collapsing building with nothing to show for it.
His meeting with that El-Melloi guy. The alliance. Then the ground breaking apart with Kariya desperately wishing he had the power to scream as he felt his stomach flip and even the worms inside him moving around as if they wanted to escape death. The darkness surrounding him as he fell farther and farther into the collapsing hole, rubble and screaming people beside him as everything fell apart. After what felt like an eternity he finally fell into unconsciousness after smashing onto something, which he believed was his body hitting the floor.
It was a miracle he survived that death trap. Still, it was clear that what happened wasn't normal. Kariya may not have been the smartest man alive, especially when it came to magecraft, but even he knew that this event was no accident. There was no earthquake, nor was there any hint that the building itself was unstable. No, this was a targeted attack of some kind. One he barely managed to scrape by.
'And I nearly died.' Then came the cold realization, a chill that settled on him as Kariya realized just how close he had been to dying then and there. Like the reaper itself was touching him and whispering, 'Until next time', to him.
His hands shook, he could feel the scratches all over him. His heart was beating so fast that it might just explode. The aches he felt weren't as bad anymore, though only because adrenaline was pumping in him. Gulping, it was now once again Kariya realized what this Holy Grail War came with.
A promise of victory, or a promise of death. Only one could remain while the other six are expected to be killed off. He had nearly been part of that latter group.
'And I…I hadn't even gotten close to winning.' Kariya accomplished nothing so far. He talked a big game, claiming he would save Sakura, defeat Tokiomi and stop Zouken, yet when the pieces had been moved, he had nearly been checked and mate. Hell, he nearly died when he was drained of mana, now this!
Another swallow accompanied with worm slime. His lips felt so dry.
"Master." Kariya then heard a voice, turning he then saw Berserker, who actually looked worried for him. Her face softened at him, nothing like from before. Strangely, nobody around seemed to stare at her, on why a strange woman was wearing strange armor. Then again, with so many injured and hurt, police keeping everyone out, it made sense none of them had time for her. They likely assumed she was just a survivor in a costume
Looking at her in silence, it was then Kariya decided to ask her something. "What…What happened?" He couldn't help but ask this, even if he knew what already occurred. Berserker answered regardless.
"Building collapsed. You fell down." Berserker looked at the destroyed building. "Other escaped." Other?
"El-Melloi!?" A bit more of his memory flashed before him. Of how in front of him, his new partner also fell down, where from behind, his Servant, Caster, moved right at them. Now it all made sense, why he was even only survived the fall thanks to Caster cushioning them as they fell to the bottom of the building. Prevented any rubble from crashing down on their bodies. Well that mystery was solved, although…
A quick look around caused Kariya to wonder just where Kayneth was at the moment.
The Einzbern Castle, built and made to be the base of whenever a Holy Grail War started. Unlike with the Tohsaka's and Matou's, who lived in Fuyuki, the Einzbern had no intentions of living here. This castle made simply so that when the Holy Grail War began, they'd have a place to stay.
It was located a bit outside the city, where magecraft was used to defend it. Having a protective bounded field that ensured the common folk couldn't find this building and prevented any sudden assaults from mages. Granted, it wasn't perfect as some people did end up finding the castle at times, but it was relegated to ghost stories and wasn't officially known to the city. Still, it was a good place to stay.
"Maiya, head out in the back. I'll stay here in the front to lay some more traps." Kiritsugu called out to his assistant and ally, who didn't bother to speak and instead nodded. She then left to fulfill her orders while Kiritsugu stayed behind.
Yes, the Einzbern Castle was, for the most part, unknown to the city's people. To the Tohsaka's and Einzbern, they did in fact know about it. As such, Kiritsugu considered it foolish to use this location as a base where everybody knew about it. Still, that didn't mean it couldn't have its uses.
Here and now, he was setting up traps all around it. From simple tripping wires to explosives that could be set off remotely. It was only a matter of time before a Master would come here to see if he or his wife were residing in, under the assumption this is where they were staying at. In which case, let them come and enter, believing that they would face him in some honorable duel.
In reality, they would set off a trap and be killed. Servants may be immune to modern weaponry, Masters on the other hand, not so much. 'Still,' Kiritsugu thought as he pulled out a bag with explosives. 'Just in case they do survive the traps, best to place some beneath the castle.'
Where, just like the hotel, he would have his enemies be crushed beneath rubble. Their bodies smashed, or, if that failed, they would live only for Kiritsugu to come at their weakest and finish them off.
With a plan made, Kiritsugu then stopped and pondered if there were perhaps any other methods he could use. A chance where he may stop them in their tracks before they even entered the castle. Perhaps, say, laying some traps outside in the forest.
"Mmm." Eyes narrowing, Kiritusgu looked at the front entrance, knowing beyond that is the forest ground where the bounded field could potentially be modified. A magus of Tohsaka's calibur would be capable of navigating through the illusions, but for lesser magus, they would find locating the castle more difficult. And who was to say they'd notice any hidden traps beneath some leaves or in a bush.
Internally cataloging what he had on him, Kiritsugu supposed he could place a few hidden cameras in the forest. As for traps, he did have quite a bit. Though perhaps he shouldn't use them all, as it wasn't logical to put a majority of his resources here when there was no guarantee a Master would come here in the first place.
In that case, simply place a few bombs and the like in places that a master would walk through when going through the forest. He would also leave behind a type of doll body here in the castle. Nothing special, nowhere near as impressive as a certain doll maker he's heard word about. A simple doll body that could be used as a dummy imposter and leave it in the castle. Make it so that someone would think a Master was living here.
Needless to say, Kiritsugu spent quite a bit of funds for the doll and equipment for this war. Intending to use each one whenever he could. Standing up, Kiritsugu prepared to contact Maiya to explain he'd need her later to place traps when suddenly, he froze.
"The bounded field…" It just sent a warning to him. Someone was here. It could be some normal people, unlikely as it was, though Kiritsugu knew better. The bounded field, it told him someone with mana was coming, a lot of it. Along with something large, moving without any finesse, no subtly to their actions.
Whoever did this acted without even finding a way to undermine the bounded field and just came in like a boar charging at prey. Overconfidence, or foolishness? Either way, they were coming, and fast. Kiritsugu stood up, he quickly went to make contact with Maiya and tell her what was happening.
CRASH!
Only for the entire ceiling and the floors above it to collapse right near him.
"Kiritsugu Emiya!." As if the words were related to trash itself, Kayneth spoke them in disdain. His pupils shrunk, his temperament full of rage.
If things were different, perhaps this assault would have been much different. Attack quickly but with elegance. Make his stand and tell his foe that they fight as two magus should.
Anger and hate said otherwise. Any formal fighting and honorable mentions had been put out just as his dear Sola had been. What he did now was no action a true magus would make and he didn't care one bit.
Now, here he was, already assaulting the Einzbern Castle, having come to whom he knew was the culprit to the tragedy he endured. As for how, well, Kiritsugu Emiya wasn't the only person who could track others down. As for how he knew it was this man that caused all of this, it was simple.
The information he had on this piece of trash claimed he fought with dishonorable methods with no regard in using magecraft as it should. Someone who would sooner shoot a rival's head than chant a beautiful spell.
Regardless of the methods of how Kayneth found out of Kiritsugu's involvement, the fact was he was here. Spiteful. Full of rage. His body twitching from the large volume of mana needed to sustain his Servant, or should he say, Divine Spirit.
'To think, a simple familiar could transform itself into a God.' It was a surprise to Kayneth, when he learned this. How a familiar like his own mystic code could ascend from its Servant container and become a Divine Spirit, one with enhanced abilities and new skills.
Now, it was massive, powerful, with an appearance that just told anybody who looked at it that they were facing their own doom. Truthfully, such a Noble Phantasm should have been saved. Used for a later time in a stratagem that would benefit him in the final stages of the war. That didn't matter anymore. All that did was killing this piece of filth from the face of the Earth.
He saw Kiritsugu Emiya, on his hands and looking a bit injured, but still alive and capable of moving.
Kayneth saw red.
"Your time has come, trash!" Kayneth found himself roaring aloud, staring directly at Kiritsugu who now noticed him. Good. Better to know who killed him, to squirm at the mistake he made. "You made a mistake on this day, Kiritsugu Emiya!" His transformed Caster, Egyptian God Slime, slammed its fist on the broken castle, moving aside the walls as it slowly entered the wrecked building.
It's shadow covering the fool as Kayneth proceeded to stare down at his hated foe.
"At this moment, your life has been forfeited." Yes, let this small insignificant man know how much trouble he brought upon his head. Then realize the mistake he had made before his life was snuffed.
Already he was bringing up his arm, a poor attempt at defending himself.
Of course, that wasn't at all what Kiritsugu was trying to do. 'No choice.' As the enemy spoke of his mistake and how he overstepped, Kiritsugu knew at that moment he could not win at all in this situation. One look was all he needed to realize this.
A human could not beat whatever this creature was.
With a single glance, Kiritsugu looked at his Command Seals. "Rider." It was time to use one of them. "Rider." They glew bright, Kiritusgu invoking its power and his rights as a Master to do so.
"Now, for these crimes," As for Kayneth, he still kept talking foolishly. Not even realizing what Kiritsugu was up to. "I will serve you the greatest of punishments." Even so, it seems he was about to act soon. "Death."
The giant monster kept a straight posture, it then moved forward. Kiritsugu had no more time. "Rider," If he was to save the world, he couldn't hesitate one bit now. "Get over here, now."
"Kiritsugu Emiya," Kayneth was ready to administer punishment.
"By this Command Seal," Kiritsugu would have none of that. "Come to me!" One of the tattooed seals vanished from its usage.
"Perish." With Kayneth just about done. "Perish for DARING to kill the one I held dear!"
But so was Kiritsugu, as in that very moment Rider came in. Soon after, just under a minute since Rider arrived, a fist would then fall towards them.
With all the might following the divine fist.
Without even bothering to stop, Rider turned and saw Kiritsugu. For a moment, instead of him, she saw a corpse that had been brutalized. She immediately grabbed him and leapt away. The fist smashing through the ground like paper, leaving a giant crater as it emotionlessly looked at them.
With the sound of a click, gunfire is heard as Kiritsugu, held tight by Rider, had lifted a simple gun and shot at Kayneth. At least, he thought he did.
All the bullets instead seemed to hit the proclaimed Egyptian God Slime, which naturally left no mark on it. Not even registering the attack as it moved forward, more of the building collapsing as it shoved itself into the building.
'Did I hit my head too hard?' Kiritsugu thought as he still felt his head thumping from that piece of concrete that slammed atop his head. At the same time, he was certain he had aimed for Kayneth, his general direction at the very least.
"Into the hallway." It didn't matter. What did was getting out of here, with Rider complying without complaint. Running with him without showing any strain in carrying him.
"No you don't!" With Kayneth unwilling to allow escape. "Egyptian God Slime!" His familiar obeyed, knowing his intentions. It surged forward, slowly, but it went on the offensive. Stepping forward, it raised its fist again and brought it down for divine retribution.
Clicking her tongue, Rider just went faster. Easily entering the hallway before the fist ever made its way to her. Even so, once it impacted the ground, one could practically feel the entire building itself shake from the attack. Glass windows shattered and vases fell, with the walls cracking or outright falling into pieces.
As the faster Servant, however, Rider was able to avoid anything that could fall onto her Master.
"Get outside." Kiritsugu told Rider, pointing at a window. "We need more open space." Actually agreeing with him, Rider did as she was told and leapt out a window. Breaking through it and landing on the ground, she then ran forward before coming to a stop. Putting her Master down, the two then looked back to see the tall behemoth that was Egyptian God Slime, as it was much bigger than the castle itself.
On its shoulder is Kayneth, who noticed the two outside. If he said anything, neither could hear. Though the fact that the monster slowly headed their way made it clear he told it where to go.
'...Maiya.' Kiritsugu then looked at where Maiya should be, on the other side of the castle. It was well likely she heard the noise, with the rumbles that accompanied it. Still, she should be safe.
'No. Don't worry about her, not now anyway.' Kiritsugu then reminded himself, needing to focus his attention on Kayneth and his Servant. He didn't know what Kayneth did, but it was safe to assume his Servant used a Noble Phantasm of some kind to transform itself.
Well, that won't matter for long.
As the two enemies made their way to them, breaking through the castle and reducing it to rubble, Kiritsugu took out his gun and calculated the distance between him and Kayneth. With its legs, the powerful Servant took another stride forward and Kayneth was now in range.
With a bam, intending to fire at Kayneth El-Melloi, Kiritsugu aimed and fired at Egyptian God Slime.
"!" Kiritusgu's eyes widened as his gun, instead of being pointed at Kayneth, was instead pointed at the monster rather than the Master themself. Immediately he aimed back at Kayneth…and his arm turned, firing at Egyptian God Slime. "Wha-." The monster lifted foot and went to stomp the two flat.
"Master!" Rider grabbed Kiritsugu and leapt, the ground where they had stood now having a new hole in it with the ground around it breaking apart from the force of the blow.
Once again, with gritted teeth, Kiritsugu went and fired.
Not a single bullet made its way to Kayneth. All of them hit Egyptian God Slime, because Kiritsugu had aimed for it and it alone. 'Just what the hell is this?' Kiritsugu connected himself to Rider. "Put me down and attack Kayneth."
Rider stayed quiet as she landed, then looked at Kayneth. She seemed to hesitate for a bit, as she knew what her Master meant. To kill the man, as he was connected to this monster, and killing the Master would end the threat. Yet a part of her just couldn't.
But what choice did she have?
Putting her Master down again, Rider then ran towards the Master and Servant and decided perhaps she could incapacitate Kayneth instead. Knock him out as she bent down, looked at Kayneth, then jumped…directly towards the giant behemoth's face.
"Eh?"
"Get her," In ear shot, Rider heard Kayneth scream. "Crush the girl." With his monster obeying, as it swung its hand to grab her and then pop her like the insignificant bug she was.
In panic, Rider swung her blade and an arc of air found itself cutting into Egyptian God Slime's palm, not even penetrating it as it got closer to her. Twisting in midair, Rider managed to avoid the monster's grip as it only grabbed air, where she felt her feet touch its fingers and immediately shot herself to the ground, turning so she landed feet-first. Growling, she then swung her blade intentionally at the monster, onto its feet.
"Kuh!" She felt her fingers loosen as her grip on the blade's hilt loosen when her sword clanged against the foot. It didn't even feel like she cut it. Its head then turned to face her.
Gunfire was heard and Rider could practically hear the sound of bullets meeting metal skin, accompanied by her Master's voice in her head, saying, "Rider, what are you doing?"
"Trying to stop him, obviously." Rider looked back at Kayneth, who still stood on the monster's shoulder. She jumped up and immediately made contact…her body hitting the monsters back. Now she knew what it felt like to jump face-first into a building wall. As she found herself falling, she saw the monster move forward, going towards Kiritsugu who kept on firing pointlessly.
It lifted its foot and to her horror, as she continued to fall, went and slammed it down onto Kiritsugu's area…Only to see her Master moving faster than a normal person should and avoid it. Still, the shockwave reached him and he fell flat on his back, easy pickings now.
Rider landed and instantly made her way to him. Strong and durable the monster was, but it was so slow. Even Karma's machines were faster than it as she grabbed her Master once more and ran into the forest, the monster and its Master following close behind.
"I can't hit him." Rider told her Master, informing him of what she knew. "Everytime I aim for the human…I instead aim for his…Servant?"
"That's not a Servant, not anymore." Kiritsugu couldn't see its stats anymore. Something clearly caused it to change. Not that it mattered at the moment, compared to their lives. "And you're right. Nothing I did to shoot at Kayneth did anything. I just kept firing at his monster." Which meant some kind of ability was being used.
Causing their attacks to be shifted from Kyaneth to his Servant. Troublesome. Very troublesome.
One of the whole reasons to aim for the Master was because it was just easier. A human fighting a Servant was suicidal. Maybe it wasn't outright impossible, but compared to literal super-humans (or monsters), overconfident magus were much easier to deal with. Now, it seemed they could only aim for the monster and just it. This Egyptian God Slime as Kayneth called it.
Unless… 'Maiya.'
Kiritsugu then motioned for Rider to put him down, having just enough distance between them. Though he needed to act fast, as he saw the monster already behind them and getting closer with each step. He took out his radio and said, "Maiya, are you there?"
After what felt like hours, the ground shaking from each stomp, a buzz was heard followed by Maiya's voice. "I'm here. And I got out to se-"
Seems she was up to speed, at least a little. Kiritsugu cut in and commanded, "I need you to get on the roof and fire at Kayneth." Perhaps she could attack from a distance compared to him and Rider, who were closer.
As for Maiya, instead of asking for more questions or insight, she responded almost instantly. "Alright. I'll get to it immediately."
The radio cut off, leaving just the two of them and a very close monster with its Master. Kiritsugu then turned to Rider, saying, "I assume none of your attacks can hurt it."
"...yes." Rider admitted, not liking her confession of weakness. Still, she knew when she was beat. "Its defenses are strong, maybe stronger than when it was first encountered. It feels…unstoppable."
Nothing was truly unstoppable. Many men who were stronger than Kiritsugu in so many ways would say the same thing. They were now in the ground, not even whole for that manner. Still, in this situation, Kiritsugu couldn't deny the monster before them may as well be invincible. Were it not for one thing.
As it got closer, Kiritsugu replied, "Even if the monster can't be harmed, it still needs mana." Kiritsugu used a basic spell to enhance his sight. He saw Kayneth, a permanent scowl on his face. He was also sweating, looking ragged despite being in a superior situation.
"It's unlikely Kayneth can support this monster for much longer." Perhaps a few more minutes or so. And he'd be right. Because even now, the circuits in Kayneth were slowly burning up from excessive use. Kayneth's body demanded he'd calm down, to take care of his body.
Anger was clouding his judgment though. A fact Kiritsugu could see through. He didn't know how Kayneth survived exactly, but it was easy to tell how agitated the man was. All he had to do was wait it out and-
"Watch out!" Rider grabbed his arm and pulled. A tree fell down and nearly crushed Kiritsugu into paste. He looked up and saw another tree coming down at him. Once more Rider grabbed him and ran further into the forest before the second could crash down on him. Still, this gave Kiritsugu an idea.
"Keep them close to the castle, may as well see if Maiya can attack Kayneth from this distance." The sounds of outrage can be heard from Kayneth. He was clearly losing it.
"And if it doesn't work?"
"Then Kayneth will burn himself out." As long as they kept a good distance from the two of them, then they had already won. Kiritsugu can see it already. A fight head on would end in Kayneth's victory ten times out of ten. He won't deny it, this Egyptian God Slime held power and defense commendable of those known as divine.
But in the end, power without strategy would achieve nothing. Stronger the monster may be, superior to Rider, Rider was much faster. She could easily run ahead with Kiritsugu safe in her hands. Looking at the two now, Kiritsugu only saw a man destined to burn himself out.
"It seems we have won already." Kiritsugu muttered aloud, Rider saying nothing to his words. All she could do was look back and see a human in anger and raising his hand. It also glew bright and…wait a second.
"-at them!" Immediately Kayneth's voice was heard followed by Egyptian God Slime standing in front of them. A Command Seal used for teleportation. It was so sudden that all Rider could do was crash into its foot and let go of Kiritsugu, who fell onto the ground and rolled forward. Shock present in his eyes just as much as Rider.
All while Kayneth, panting, raised his voice and commanded, "Go! Now!"
Egyptian God Slime obeyed. It lifted its foot and then swung it forward. Rider, right on its path, could only gasp as she felt the foot slam into her body. She immediately felt it. Bone cracking, muscles crying, a force greater than Raye herself meeting contact with her with a sickening crunch coming from her right arm with the wind blowing against her. With parts of her armor shattered, Rider had been kicked with enough force that she was sent rocketing away from the monster and its Master, including her own.
"!" Which left Kiritsugu by himself as he looked up to see the massive behemoth looking down on him alongside Kayneth. A wicked grin plastered on Kayneth's face even as he sweated while he continued to breath heavily. Kiritsugu immediately got up.
A hand came down and immediately caught him. Its grip was so tight that Kiritsugu felt his body straining, letting loose a gasp while his bones trembled from what was undoubtedly a light grip from the monster. Lifting him so that he was facing Kayneth and the monster face-to-face.
"I. Got. You." A laughter escaped Kayneth's mouth even though his own body was clearly struggling to allow him to stand. Kiritsugu was right. He was likely to burn himself out at this point, even if he stopped now, it would take months for him to recover from the damage he had done to his circuits.
Kanyaeth snapped his fingers and a quick reminder came that even if Kayneth died, it wouldn't be until after Kiritsugu got crushed first. The magus killer found himself gasping as he felt the light grip now tighten harder. All air leaving him while his own eyes felt like they would pop out of his skull. His heart was beating rapidly as he began to sweat.
He couldn't breathe. He couldn't move. He couldn't even speak. All that was happening was Kiritsugu being left at the mercy of a man that hated him very, very much. A brief bit of hope came when a sound was heard, one Kiritsugu recognized as the sound of gunfire coming from Maiya, who at last made the shot.
A spark of light came as a bullet hit Egyptian God's left eye.
"...ah." Kiritsugu grunted out, realizing his suggestion had failed. His eyes met Kayneth's, seeing rage and fury, all aimed at him. For a brief moment Kiritsugu wondered if Kayneth would now speak his words on why he won, why Kiritsugu was in this position, wasting precious moments that could potentially save Kiritsugu. He felt his right hand burn.
"Now-" It was tricky, but Kiritsugu immediately made contact with Rider in his mind. Ready to use another Command Seal to bring Rider here and use her Noble Phantasm.
"Rider!"
"-die." There were no more thoughts. No more anything. The word didn't even register into Kiritsugu, too focused on using his Command Seal to even hear it. All he knew was that if he was to survive and save the world, he must live and attain the Holy Grail.
Those were his last thoughts.
A sickening splat sound is heard with blood covering Egyptian God Slime's fist.
Somewhere, a distance away, a cry is heard where elsewhere, a Servant's connection with her Master was gone.
"Ah." Where for Kayneth, he found himself smiling. Eyes now blurry, unable to feel the tips of his fingers, the man looked up at the sky with that same smile, only more innocent now. "I've avenged you." Kayneth then closed his eyes, now realizing for some reason, he couldn't feel his body anymore, which had been burning ever since he used Metal Reflect's Slime Noble Phantasm.
He also didn't feel himself falling off the monster's shoulder. He was 'asleep' before his body even hit the ground. A thud was heard soon after.
"..." All the while the monster, now alone, stood still with no commands given to it at all. It turned its head and looked down on the ground, where it saw its Master still smiling, even as a red liquid escaped his body. For a brief period of silence it looked.
'How strange.', were its first and only thoughts, as it slowly vanished away. With its Master gone, Egyptian God Slime dematerialized until it was simply gone. Where it now left the entire ruined area in a calm cold silence. Almost as if nothing had happened here at all.
"?" Out in the city, awkwardly with Waver and Saber, Irisviel found herself turning to the east. Where for some reason she felt…a hole in her heart.
If canon hasn't diverged, it has now. If any of you thought Kiritsugu was getting out of this like canon, then sorry, that wasn't going to happen. Egyptian God Slime's power prevented Kiritsugu from doing anything at all against Kayneth, even if he did have an Origin Bullet.
And Kayneth…He just did anything he could to kill Kiritsugu. Honor. Formality. A prideful magus duel. He threw them all away and even wasted his Command Seals just to get at Kiritsugu to avenge Sola, even at the cost of his life.
All while Kiritsugu was caught unprepared, facing a force he couldn't outsmart, and was murdered before he could even act. The very same tactics he used against others.
With the result being two Masters dead. Sorry if this fight wasn't the most exciting, but I do hope you still enjoyed the chapter all the same. As now, Irisviel will be forced to decide her next move.