The more Lancer spoke, the more Kirei knew he should kill her. Yet he didn't, too drawn into the tale she was telling him.

The words that came out of her mouth. The story that history never knew, even if it wasn't from this world itself. Even so, just listening made Kirei realize that if any other members of the church were here, they would kill this woman for simply existing.

A heretic is what she is.

Yet he simply sat and listened, not even raising a concern. Ignoring the whispers in his mind that shouted at him to use the Command Seals to end her.

Because whether he truly wanted to admit it or not…he found himself engaged in this conversation.

"Hmm." Lancer whispered, her lips tugging upward. "I must say, you're taking this very well." After everything, Kirei hadn't even made a single comment during this tale, let alone expressed any anger at her. Having simply sat patiently without interrupting.

The story she told would have gotten a reaction out of anybody else. From those who worked with the church to eager magus. Researchers who would have enjoyed what Lancer had to say in comparison to the church who would have silenced her for the 'heresy' that left her lips.

And it would be for a good reason, on both sides.

While Kirei was a bit skeptical believing that Lancer came from another world, what he had seen of Lancers memories and her own explanation on who she was seemed to prove it. The woman coming from a world where Solomon lived for far longer than the one in his world's history. One where the ether of the world hadn't dwindled as much compared to this one.

All the way to the reveal of the Angel that lost grace with the Lord in Heaven.

Lucifer.

In the world of magecraft, a world hidden from the mundane parts of society, countless myths, legends, and tales were all true. Perhaps the modern world may have considered some legends to have a hint of truth, but those who dwelled in magecraft could prove such existence. With physical evidence and relics validating such myths that they were indeed real.

Christianity by default and its own roots and origins were the same.

Solomon. Saint Martha. The Son of God. All were real, born into this world with those in the world of Mystery knowing of their existence. Solomon the most as he was the one, through his connection with God, created the entire magecraft system itself. Not even the Clocktower could deny the power Solomon possessed, including his benefactor.

While the Clock Tower certainly held different views of the Abrahamic Lord, they did acknowledge the Lord's presence, even if for their own reasons. Of course, such acknowledgement also meant that his existence must also be real. The Light-Bringer. The Morning Star. The first who fell and became fallen.

Lucifer, the fallen angel. Or as Lancer has stated, the first Darklord.

"You don't seem surprised that he does exist." With a smile that edged towards teasing, Lancer gave Kirei an entertaining look. "Does the Church teach you lessons about him? Of his history and deeds."

"No." Kirei answered back, curtley. "Aside from his role, and other basic stories told to the public, the Church that detaches itself from the normal world itself simply speaks of God's love and how we of the Church must spread his word to the masses. Although, I do admit that by accepting God, we of the Church accept Lucifer existed, even if from long ago."

"How amusing." Lancer didn't even seem to care. "Still, I suppose this just means he's still down there, waiting." She spoke words that would have made other members lift their blades on such hersey. That such an event would even happen on their watch. The implications of it all.

Still, Kirei had a good idea on what she meant. "Judgement Day."

"Yes." Lancer gave a smirk. "Maybe if I was my older-self, my connection would be there. Or maybe not." Lancer shrugged. "Your world seems to be lacking in mana."

"After Solomon's death, including other factors, mana as a whole has decreased." A fact that magus in general didn't really like.

"Mmm. Really." Coyly, Lancer chuckled. "A shame. It was a little easier to get down to the pit where all sinful souls await."

"You speak of hell."

"I do." Speaking that word seemed to bring Lancer great joy. "It was quite the sight, you know. Truthfully, my memories of its existence have been somewhat wiped, yet the experience I felt back then never left, including the screams I heard." With a small chuckle, Lancer resumed. "And sitting on the throne, the first of the Darklords awaited me. The Morningstar himself. And my, he was quite the sight."

'So she had entered the afterlife'. Kirei would like to think such a concept was impossible, but things were different in the past. Greater Mystery and ether existed, where the path to the Root itself held more options than today.

It was even admitted that certain places that were no longer accessible in today's era, such as the Land of Shadows, could be accessed back then. Perhaps entering the pits of fire where the damned found themselves in could have also been accessed through certain methods. With Lancer meeting the one who once stood by the Lord himself. The one where depictions would refer to them as Satan.

'...what would he think of me?' Then came another whisper. A treacherous one at that. Kirei tried to shake it off, but couldn't. His curiosity peaked from within at the question he thought. Of how the fallen angel would react to someone like him, who worked for the Lord himself.

Kirei's mouth twisted.

"There, there. No need to feel judged." Lancer spoke slowly, like she knew what he was thinking. "In all honesty, while I can't guarantee it, I do believe the Morningstar wouldn't outright reject you like most people if they knew your little…problems."

"What problems would that be?" His words were hasty. As if he was trying to protect himself, even though there was no need for that. Yet his instincts said otherwise.

"Come, you know what I mean." She walked around him. Slowly. Like a predator circling its prey. "I told you my story. Of how I stole from Solomon's treasury. How I rejected God's offer of redemption. How I met Lucifer and spoke of him in good will-" Her hands rested on his shoulders, with Kirei finding himself unable to breath. "-with you doing nothing about it."

She had caught him. She knew.

With his breath caught in his throat, Kirei realized she had managed to see him. See the abnormality within him. Her eyes outright staring through him, having figured him out.

Even then, she still spoke sweetly, as if she didn't blame him. "Anybody else in your group would have Commanded me to die. And truthfully, if I had told them the rest of my story, they wouldn't have hesitated in sending me to hell."

There was more to her story? 'But what more could there even be?'

Worse, the way she spoke of it made it clear it was something that would be against the Church itself. She hadn't said anything, yet Kirei somehow just knew it.

All while he continued to sit, as if he were waiting.

"...I…I cannot simply judge you." With the slightest shake in his voice, a pause between breaths, Kirei autonomously found himself saying, "As a member of the Church, it is my duty to hear you out. I should not make any judgment before you finish."

"Liar." She saw through his empty words. It hadn't been difficult. Even Kirei felt the excuse fall on ears.

Her hands gripped his shoulders tighter. Lips right next to his ear, saying, "You know I should be killed. But the truth is…you want to hear more. More of what I have to say."

"...no." Yes.

"Disappointing." Her words made Kirei flinch. His own body reacting no different from a child feeling bad for lying to their parents. Even though he never felt such a feeling the few times he did lie to his own father. To his teacher.

To God.

Her hands continued to rub his shoulders gently. Forgiving. "I will not say any more, unless you ask to." Her hands left him, as she walked a small distance from him. "Though, I suppose so long as you play the role of a member of the Church, you'll continue to deny yourself of your own wants."

She then sat across from him, a chalice in her hand. The chalice she stole, now touching her lips as she drank from it. "Wouldn't God forgive you for asking." She smirked. "I'm sure just a small indulgence wouldn't harm you."

His hands turned to fists, shaking. "It's wrong."

"Really. Hm." Lancer relaxed back. "Then I suppose now is the time you'll have me killed. A being as I, who went against the Lord, should be punished, no?"

Once more she pointed out the obvious.

And once more all Kirei did was sit.

Her past. Her story. Her blatant reveal of how she willingly committed crimes and spoke of the fallen Angel with respect instead of scorn. All actions that should be punished. This wasn't the time for Kirei to sit down. It was the time to rid the world of this dissident before she poisoned others with her words alone.

Judgment didn't fall on her. Just as much as Kirei realized…she hadn't judged him.

"...why?"

"Oh?"

"Why not kill me?" Kirei found himself saying, his head blurring. "Why haven't you tried to convert me? To…lure me away from the path I'm on."

"Really, Kirei." Lancer shook her head. "Are you looking for more excuses now?" Her words had more impact than he thought. The way she looked at him, disapproving. Different from his father and Tokiomi's gazes that showed only respect and admiration.

None could be seen on her face. "Is this what you're after?" She scoffed. "Wanting me to turn you, so you could say that I am the one at fault?" A small chuckle this time. "Your faith must be weak."

"It isn't." Kirei snapped, only to wince.

Lancer didn't let his comment go. "Then kill me." She lifted her hand. "Go on, kill me. If you're truly loyal, then end me as I said before."

"I…I canno-" Lancer was now in front of him. Before he could say anything, he heard flesh meeting flesh. The sound of a hand slapping a cheek.

His cheek.

"Lies." She looked less amused than before. Another expression nobody has ever given him. "You can. You know you can. But here you are, using excuse after excuse to not do so. Too afraid to ask what you really want." This time it was discontent. Her eyes showed nothing but displeasure. All everyone else gave him were looks of awe at what he managed to achieve. Appraising his skill and way of life.

His heart beated, pleasurably.

His chest beated soon after, quickly. Mainly because a hand gripped his throat, lifted him, and oxygen becoming more difficult to enter his lungs as he choked.

"Say what you want. Say it." She all but threatened him. No longer joking around. Gone was the woman who teased him before. Who treated him with respect as she did father and Tokiomi.

"Or die while clutching these false attachments of yours."

She was completely serious. Lancer was genuinely trying to kill him. It made no sense. Didn't she want to win? Be granted a wish from the Holy Grail? Or was she acting on her desire to kill someone who followed the Lord's path. It was clear now that she didn't hold great feelings towards the Lord.

Her grip lessened just a bit. Enough for Kirei to speak.

"I-I-!" Panic filled Kirei. A combination of impatience and desire followed soon after. Oddly, none of it towards his own impending death. Was it because he knew he could kill Lancer, with a simple Command Seal? Or…because he still wanted to know more than what he knew.

Memories flashed to him, all the way from the start. To when the Command Seals first came. No. Further than even that. All to a man who simply felt discontent to everything around him.

Risei Kotomine raised him properly and showed him only love.

Food. Water. Everything a human wanted was always given to him.

Time and time again he learned as much as he could on one path before going to another.

He married a woman and had a child. Then he watched his wife die.

When the Holy Grail War came, he did nothing at all on his own will. He just stood no different from a homunculus and followed Tokiomi's desire. Where he still felt nothing at all during the war, just like he felt nothing in his entire life.

'N-No… That's not…' There were feelings. Two of them.

The first was something he hid. Hid so deeply inside himself that nobody would find it, not even himself. An emotion brought whenever he thought of those who suffered poorly. Those in pain. Those in agony. When his wife died. When his father was hurt.

His heart beating rapidly, all as one more thought came to him. One name.

'Kiritsugu Emiya.'

He still remembered it clearly. When he was assisting Tokiomi with his work before the ritual, preparing. When he found a file on Kiritsugu, who Tokiomi proclaimed as a man that cared for only money and disrespected magecraft as a whole.

'But he didn't.' Kirei thought as he found his hands grabbing at Lancer's arm pointlessly. Knowing a human couldn't move a Servant, no matter how hard he tried. 'Kiritsugu didn't want money. I could tell. I could see it.'

Kiritsugu Emiya and Kirei Kotomine never met. But for the latter, as he read Kiritsugu's history, the papers detailing his history, his descriptions, an emotion in him bloomed. Identible compared to the emotion he buried beneath his focus on the job.

Curiosity.

'He went to war. Killed. Used any method to attain his goal, eliminating anyone in his way. Never resting. Never stopping. Always persisting until the very end.' Kirei let go of Lancer's arm, as if he was giving up on life. 'It was like Kiristugu was searching for something. As if he were trying to fill a void inside him.' A void that never could be fulfilled. A void like Kirei's own.

…Until the last page of Kiritsugu's file told Kirei that suddenly, from nowhere, Kiritsugu then stopped.

True. Kiritsugu continued his jobs. Still active in the community as a mercenary. Yet when Kiritsugu came to the Einzbern family… His presence in warfields had all but ceased.

He had found an answer. An answer that for the first time caused Kirei to suddenly gain his curiosity. Where it was then overtaken by a desire to see him.

'But…' He's gone.

Dead. Crushed by El-Melloi's Servant, who had become something else. The hidden spies and methods he utilized to know this were all used just to see if maybe, just maybe…Kiritsugu hadn't died.

'But he did. Along with his answer.' If anything, why was Kirei even in this war in the first place?

To help Tokiomi? To fulfill his duty as a member of the church? Was he only given the seals as Tokiomi stated as fact, that the Holy Grail wanted to help Tokiomi? As he slowly felt himself strangling to his death, it was then Kirei realized something. His eyes looked down to Lancer, who stared impassionately at her Master's slow death.

She said he was using excuses.

Said he would die while clutching false attachment.

Did she… Did she know the answer he wanted?

Her past made it clear that she searched for something in the very void she possessed. She had everything a person could want. Loving parents. Food. Opportunity to live a good life, just like him.

Only to give it all up when she sinned. A criminal act that had been condemned by Solomon himself. Yet, why…

'Why did I not judge her for it?' Even when seeing her transgressions, her violation to the Lord himself, not once did Kirei ever feel the urge to be disgusted. To be offended. If anything, inside him he had felt… Envious.

"I-I-" He finally spoke. Lancer listened dully, as he moved his mouth while his vision grew darker. "I!" Inside him, the very ugly feelings he felt and hid from the world started to worm their way out. An act compared to a wolf releasing a howling death cry before they perished.

"Lancer!" Kirei spoke clearly. Not an iota of anger in his tone. If anything, only a small sense of desperation, and not even to live at that. "I," he began, Lancer leaning in just a bit closer. "I-uh-want to know-uhh. I wa-u-nt to know…how you…huh…feel!"

A stupid demand. One so ridiculous anybody would have proclaimed his coming death was well-deserved. Not even using his Command Seals to save himself. Simply choking out a request that would have likely ended in his death.

"Is that it?" Likely.

A hand released its grip, and Kirei fell onto the ground. Choking as he could breathe again.

Looking up, he saw Lancer smiling as innocently as she did before. Yet it felt more genuine. Sincere. It didn't give him the strange feeling that it was all a facade. Where she then kneeled and her right hand stretched itself to lift him back on his legs.

"Well, I suppose if a man wants to know my feelings, then I must comply." Earnestly, with a devout face Lancer looked more charming than Kirei ever felt to admit. Where at this moment Kirei realized why he asked for that demand despite his near death. The real reason he kept Lancer alive, as he wanted to know one thing about his Servant. From a woman who stands against his faith and all he had been taught.

About why someone as sinful as Lancer could find joy where he could not?

"What do you want to know?" Lancer asked patiently, with Kirei watching her as he grabbed her hand. His questions piling up as the feelings he hid, those ugly ones that involved his very birth, blossoming forth at long last.

He had much to ask about. And he would have plenty of time, as the sun slowly set to night.

Even though everyone else was ready for bed, with the sun sinking down for night to come, ready for sweet dreams, one person had another thought entirely. Unrelated to sweet dreams, or even the troubles the ongoing ritual was producing.

"..." Instead, all Rider wondered was if maybe she should have aimed her blade at the Einzbern family instead of Kiritsugu, Irisviel at last finishing her tale; about family. Her face looked pale, though certainly not because of the story she told.

"...How long?" Rider asked Irisviel, the truth unveiled to her. Eyes now concerned for her Master, her hands gripping her knees. The two are sitting in a house that Kiritsugu had bought in an unremarkable neighborhood. A good place to hide, relax, and talk.

Though such talk was far from comforting, with Irisviel smiling thinly. "Not very long." She admitted. "With two Servants dead, the Grail inside me is slowly supplanting my own consciousness. And once I gain the souls of more…" The being known as Irisviel Einzbern would fully cease to be.

It wasn't right, Rider wanted to say. That it was wrong.

Her eyes shifted into anger, as she couldn't believe anybody could do that.

Yet her mind went back to her creator, Zard.

How he, and by extension, Spectra, only made her as a tool. While they certainly didn't see her as disposable entirely, the discomforting feelings she felt when Zard wanted her to be asleep in stasis settled on her mind. It seems there were humans who had similar thinking to Zard, as Irisviel was just a tool to her own family.

So it was confusing when she realized one thing, involving her former Master. "Kiritsugu," his name became associated with him standing next to Irisviel. "You said you were…together."

"We were." It didn't escape Rider's notice the twinge of sorrow that filled Irisviel's eyes. Undoubtedly still affected by his death. "Kiritsugu knew what my fate was, what I would become." Her smile, while still sad, also became radiant. "He accepted my hand. Stuck with me, even when he had no reason to."

Rider didn't really know love. Raye is the closest friend she has, even then she didn't think what she felt was love. Maybe? Even so, Irisviel's words did cause Rider to ponder just a bit on love, how it seemingly made Irisviel so devoted to the man.

It made the young Servant wonder just what Kiritsugu was like then, the other side of him she never saw. All while the man knew his wife was going to die the longer the war went on, with each Servant dying meant Irisviel herself would soon join them. It felt unfair.

Which was probably why Kiritsugu was after the Holy Grail in the first place, including everybody else. Because life wasn't fair. A wish sought out when one couldn't make them come true with their own power. Desires that could help the world or put it to rest. As such, the Holy Grail was coveted precisely because it could grant these wanted miracles and make them a reality.

'All at the cost of one who has dreams of her own.' What a sick thing to do. Create life only to ensure they would die after a scant few years. Had it not been for Kiritsugu, then as Irisviel herself put it, she likely would have been no better than a machine. Just obeying the whims of her family without a second thought.

In a sense, no different when Rider first started out. Until Raye reached out to her and extended a hand to join Karma. A hand that Rider at first refused out of fear, uncertainty. And in truth, hesitation if she should leave her first home, Spectra.

"Why?" As such, it confused Rider greatly. Baffled her even, with Irisviel looking at the girl who held similar similarities to the homunculus. Two girls made as tools to obey the one that made them. "Why do you accept such a fate? It's…It's absurd." For all the complications Rider had at Spectra, at least they weren't actively wanting her dead.

As machines they would choose the most logical course of action to fulfill their programming. In a way these Einzbern were similar yet worse as they were living had thought that maybe…maybe like Raye, people could be good.

Azalea came to mind. Kiritsugu's actions at the same time. The Einzberns, they chose to be like machines, choosing a logical path when it comes to treatment of what they it willingly as Azalea chose to be a monster worse than any machine.

Irisviel's family wanted her dead if it meant the Greater Grail would come and grant their wish. It was disgusting, so Irisviel must have had complaints. Anger at her destiny.

"Because I want to make Kiritsugu's wish come true." Meaning Rider was caught off guard from Irisviel's simple earnest desire. A desire that didn't involve revenge. Curses towards her family. Her Masterinstead simply thinks back to the times before she and Kiritsugu came to this city.

The time spent with their little daughter.

"I want a place where he and Illya would have a home where everything is at peace. Where nobody hurts one another. Where war would cease." Maiya came to mind and the story she brought with her. "If I'm honest, what I want is selfish." Irisviel admitted. "I can't say I care much entirely for other people, since I don't know them. This wish I hold is just for Kiritsugu and Illya, so that they can live in peace."

Alas, the one she cherished wasn't part of this world anymore. "...but I can still rest knowing Illya won't have to share my fate, with maybe Maiya joining her." Unlikely as it was, Irisviel didn't mind if Maiya took Illya in. Her child would need someone to be with her, and why not the most trusted person Irisviel knew after Kiritsugu.

Blinking, Rider just stared. A bit off-guard by Irisviel's words, yet understanding of them all the same.

Even she, while willing to help locate other humans with brief bits of hope, truthfully, didn't mind if she didn't find any. Her own selfishness in the end, as someone who just wished to explore the greater world outside of Spectra and whatever remaining wonders it had.

"How many souls can you handle then?" Her mouth moved on its own, with Rider asking Irisviel this one thing. "How long until…until you cease?"

"...maybe two more." At best. "Once I get to the fifth, my mind will be replaced entirely by the Lesser Grail functions. My body will then simply change into what it should be. Before that, my body will slowly lose any normal function as a person." Her limbs began to feel heavy, her organs groaning in protest to even work.

"But my connection with you will remain." It wasn't news she knew Rider would like, but she said it all the same. "You'll still have mana provided to you, you can still fight. Even win, despite lacking any further commands." Irisviel weakly laughed. "Not that I'm good at giving commands." That had been Kiritsugu entirely.

"Still, I'll do my best."

It has been hours since then. The sun had long set, where all could now rest beneath the moonlight.

"..." Rider still remembered those words. Indeed, for all her worries, her Master, Irisviel, claimed she would do her best just as she said. Yet could Rider claim the exact same thing?

During this night, the Servant sat in the corner of a room, watching her Master. She didn't need to sleep, and it would be best if she kept an eye out anyway. Yet the conversation from earlier persisted even as she kept on guard. To think, this was the truth.

The truth that the Lesser Grail had always been frail. For all the years since the ritual of the Holy Grails War began, three times the container of the Lesser Grail had been destroyed. Invalidating the war from everyone as Irisviel told her. Which caused the Einzbern family to change things for the fourth war.

During this war, instead of risking the container to once more be destroyed, the head of the Einzbern family had decided to try something else.

Instead of simply risking the container, the very thing that would be the advent for the arrival of the Greater Grail itself to come, the Einzberns implemented a new method. A way to both hide the Grail but also protect it. As for how they would do it, the answer would be simple.

Simply give it arms and legs and hide it within a body. A disposable one at that.

A homunculus.

Irisviel.

"..." Even in her sleep, Rider could see Irisviel struggling to rest peacefully.

Today had been long and harsh, with exhaustion finally catching up fully for the both of them. Her Master was unwilling to shower or even eat, instead collapsing once their conversation was through.

Giving Rider a first-look at her Master's condition. The way Irisviel's face contorted, her limbs twitching while sweating. The visible aches that must be spreading across her from the discomfort of what is becoming

Something her Master will willingly go through though if it meant ensuring her husband's death wasn't in vain and the hope her daughter will be able to live peacefully instead of as a tool. It was amazing, in a sense.

'I just hope I can act on such words.' With apprehension forming around her, all Rider could think of was the Servants she faced before. Assassin. Caster. Odd beings that at first glance didn't look impressive in any way. Only for her expectations to be shattered at how powerful they could become.

She faced Raye who hadn't been easy to battle. Her 'sisters', Azalea and Camellia, weren't any better in defeating. These battles she had however seemed to reveal just how little her world had been when it came to conflict.

'I never faced anything like them. Let alone how to even fight them.' A creature with immense might that forced her to face it and no one else. A ghostly being that fought alongside an even greater monster than it.

There were also the other Servants at play who had who knows what on them. Where they could all be great threats that she may or may not be able to handle.

Breathing out, Rider could only hope she didn't let her Maser down. Irisviel was stronger than she gave her credit for. Much stronger. In a way, the two were the same. Both made for a single purpose. Both having uncaring creators. Yet where Rider held immense strength and a normal lifespan, Irisviel was weak and would die in a few years. Sooner since this Holy Grail War will end in her death one way or another.

Where all Rider could do was simply pray and hope that she could accomplish what Irisviel wanted. Or risk failing.

"Still," the young Servant thought, thinking back to Saber and his Master. "Maybe they could still help out." Even if she had her own shortcomings, the other two might be able to make up for any weaknesses she lacked. Not that she would let them do everything on their own. For example, when facing the dragon-her final Noble Phantasm should do the trick.

Its offensive power would greatly help her. Aside from the…demerit…that came with it, everything else should be alright. They'll need to meet up with Saber and his Master later on tomorrow. To defeat Archer, Berserker, and Lancer, then finally to defeat Saber last.

Letting loose another breath, Rider turned her head to look out the window. The night will eventually past and the sun will rise soon enough. Just four more Servants to go. Her Master's wish will be accomplished.

Even if it meant hurting herself.

"Ruler, you say?" A chuckle left old lips that looked as if they would crack at any time.

Kariya knew better.

"My. Isn't this quite the news to be shared." A 'frail' old hand rested on Sakura's shoulder. The girl said nothing, merely accepting it just as she did the worms. Her face betrayed no emotion.

All the while Zouken seemed happier than Kariya had ever seen him. "Now this is a turn of events I never expected. Hehehe." Then, with a mocking look of pity, Zouken said straight to Kariya's face, "I imagine this must all be so difficult for you, my dear boy."

Even though he sounded concerned, the underlying tone was that of amusement. Like Zouken would ever be concerned for him. If anything, it wouldn't be shocking if he was bellowing with laughter inside that body of his.

"Well…I can handle it either way." Kariya spoke with determination.

Zouken laughed. "What great news to hear then." Putting both of his decrypt hands together, the old worm smiled wide. "It pleases me that my own child will continue on this endeavor, even when you haven't accomplished anything thus far."

Kariya didn't want to admit it, but the jabbing insult hurt more than he'd like. Not because he cared for his father's care or approval, but because he was right. 'Two Servants are dead…but not because I did anything worthwhile.'

If anything, all Kariya managed thus far was just getting his mana drained and nothing more. Hell! Even during the fight with Assassin, he was the first to nearly perish. If Archer hadn't arrived, then he'd have been sliced into ribbons.

'And worse,' Kariya's fist shook. 'That Servant…that Servant was Tokiomi's.' Saber. Rider. Lancer. He saw the first two and their Master. While Lancer didn't say who her Master was, she never came to Tokiomi's side. By process of elimination, it was now easy to tell who Archer belonged to.

If he could scream, Kariya would. Angered by his helplessness and that he needed the enemy's aid to survive. Even so…

A look at Sakura told him what he needed to do.

"This won't stop me. It's just a new Servant. Nothing more."

"Says the fool who knows nothing." With a taunt, Zouken grinned. "Ruler can command all Servants, and are known to be powerful. They have to, in order to stop any Servant who breaks the rules." The worms inside Kariya twitched. "Or any Master who foolishly fights in the open."

'Berserker' seemed to flinch at Zouken's words, even if not aimed at her directly. It wasn't as if Kariya could blame her. She really did seem to regret all she did while under the influence of madness. Actions that could have been avoided were done simply because of the Class she was under.

"She won't stop me. I won't let her." Kariya declared his resolve as strong as ever. "So long as I don't intentionally get her angry, then I can still win this, no."

"Hmm. Can you?" Playing loose, Zouken shrugged. "Well, if you can somehow defeat the others without breaking any more rules, then I suppose you can win." Not that Zouken looked as if he trusted Kariya to win. Deep down Kariya already knew this. That his father didn't expect victory from him.

Just look at him. Crippled. Broken. Unable to even form an alliance with anybody without nearly dying. 'Berserker' fighting could kill him if he wasn't careful, even with a Class change.

"I will win." But Sakura needed Kariya to win. Kariya just knew it. Once he wins, everything will be alright. Better even. Placing a hand on 'Berserker's' shoulder, Kariya boldly stated, "Just wait and watch us, Zouken."

"...I will." Zouken grinned further. Standing up, the old magus then moved to leave the living room. Sakura and Kariya's brother, Byakuya, left to follow him. The old man not commenting any further, leaving Kariya alone with 'Berserker'. With a huff, Kariya bent his head down.

"...Berserker."

"Yes, Master?"

"How good are you at locating Servants?"

"...better than before." 'Berserker' states to him. "I had to hunt dragons down before slaying them, after all."

"Good." Very good. This gave Kariya a small chance. "In that case, I need you to find someone for me." His last alliance ended before it even began. And Tokiomi had a Servant that was more powerful than he expected. This meant Kariya had only one choice left.

"Let's make an alliance." With his words stated loud and clear, 'Berserker' showed no signs of rejecting them.

Merely asking, "With who?"

Kariya gave a small grimace. He didn't like who he was about to suggest, but no way in hell would he ever work with Tokiomi. As for the Master of Rider and Saber, it seemed they were already working together. Which left one option remaining.

"...Lancer."

Well, at last Kirei has begun falling off the path he followed since he was born. And done on his own will, since Lancer isn't someone to just corrupt someone by force, but instead, simply let them fall and slowly urging them to accept the parts they oh desperately try to hide in themselves.

Kirei hasn't played much of a role, more so since Kiritsugu died and he lost his answers. Well, here's his second chance.

And a chance to maybe screw with Kariya who's about to make a very bad decision. If only he knew what he was getting into.

Oh, and one more thing. I should have been more specific, so I'll correct it now. The thing inside the grail isn't actually a he. More of an 'it' that can become a 'he'. Even a 'she' if it wanted to. As stated before, it's like Angra Mainyu who also doesn't have a form and only became male because he got Shirou's body. Do what you will with this information.

Also, here's Berserker's new stats. Her younger self before she'll eventually transform into her Berserker-self later on again as the effects of Lancer's power wears off.

Name: Dragon Horn Hunter

Master: Kariya

Servant Class: Saber (Berserker) - Temporary Class Change

Alignment: Lawful Good

Strength: B -

Endurance: C

Agility: C

Mana: D

Luck: D+

Noble Phantasm: C

Class Skills:

Magic Resistance: D-

Riding: D

Personal Skills:

Dragon-Hunter (B+): As someone who sought dragons, Dragon Horn Hunter learned the necessary skills to find dragons. In comparison to her older-self who simply wandered for them in madness, Dragon Horn Hunter is much calmer in locating them.

Boost (Normal) (C): Against beings with no special powers, Dragon Horn Hunter gains a small attack gain and will feel no injury against them in battle.

Noble Phantasm:

Great-Sword (D+): A simple sword that can harm a dragon. It has yet to gain the power of dragon's blood in the future.