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Ox… Snake… Tiger… He clicked his tongue in annoyance. That's not right… His fingers drifted apart before folding back together again, this time performing the correct sequence of odd signs. He repeated the process twice, then a third time with a half-second more speed. I'm nowhere near the level where I can cast jutsu without handsigns, so I'll have to go through them as fast as I can. Combining speed and efficiency was the key.

The machine that is Kiritsugu Emiya paused in his practicing to scan his surroundings, but the forest space just on the city's border was still empty. He had spent the day alternating between monitoring the other Masters' residences, the Matou grounds in particular, and refreshing his arsenal. Assassin X had suggested (much more tentatively than usual) he try ninjutsu of a slightly higher difficulty, and given the increasing threat level of this Grail War, it sounded like a smart move. Kiritsugu and a Shadow Clone of his had been alternately continuing surveillance and practicing new techniques in the forest such as the Hidden Mole Jutsu.

Burrowing underground for the first time had been… disconcerting. Kiritsugu may've never been claustrophobic in his life, but he certainly understood now how the fear could be born. Fortunately, he managed to keep himself from panicking by recalling his Servant's advice… and dreams.

The Mage Killer ended his handsign practice and pulled out the Calico from his jacket. Moving over to a tree stump, he sat down even as his hands already began fiddling with the gun. Magecraft and jutsu were useful, but so were firearms, and they needed to be checked periodically. Can't have a faulty safety or a bullet out of place gumming up the gun.

The machine's hands deftly slid apart the many pieces, laying each carefully down on a small tarp he'd spread out, but the man's vision kept flickering: The helical-feed magazine became a pouch for a split second; the muzzle looked briefly like a kunai; when he picked up the handle, he suddenly thought he was holding the-

It clattered to the tarp, and Kiritsugu shut his eyes as tightly as he could. When he opened them, it was once again the handle of a Calico M950. Not that of the White Light Chakra Sabre.

He whispered a curse. The final thought he'd had before going to sleep last night sprang to mind. "My head ought to be less cluttered come morning…" Kiritsugu set aside the Calico's pieces and withdrew his cigarette pack and lighter. "I just had to go and jinx myself."

His mind refused to move on from those dreams since he'd woken up this morning. Only his experience in compartmentalizing such things had left Kiritsugu with any chance of focusing on his work, and even then, Assassin X's memories had surged about in his head so much it felt like an agitated beehive. The worst part came when they started mingling with his own memories. Peering at a target through the scope of his rifle shifted into lurking inside a tree's leaves over an enemy on the prowl, testing Innate Time Control became jutsu practice…

When his mind drifted back to that night his father died, he found himself peering down at a crumpled form on tatami mats, back turned back to him, silver hair contrasting with the blood pooling underneath him.

The cigarette in Kiritsugu's mouth burned halfway down with one drag. Get over it, you idiot, he growled to himself while releasing a cloud of smoke. So, it turns out you have a few things in common with Assassin X. His brain inadvertently dredged up images of the white dog mask the Copy Ninja had worn as an Anbu member. Running across battlefields covered in flames and bodies. Listening to others gripe about how stoic and callous he was. Dispatching enemy shinobi, one after the other, until he received other epithets: "The Man of One Thousand Techniques." "Cold-Blooded Kakashi."

"Comrade-Killer."

The Mage Killer sighed out some more smoke before amending himself. Okay, you have more in common with him than you thought. And… you were wrong about him. His sight dropped down to the inside of his right hand as it apparently lit up with electricity and dripped with blood. Rin Nohara's blood. He knows exactly what it means to sacrifice…

But for all the answers Kiritsugu Emiya had received about Kakashi Hatake, new questions had arisen that confounded him. The cold logic he had used in his last argument with Obito had struck a number of familiar chords:

"As shinobi, completing the mission takes priority, even if it means sometimes sacrificing one's comrades." Sound, mature reasoning, even if Kiritsugu's heart lurched a tiny bit at hearing it from a twelve-year-old boy's mouth.

"If this mission fails, this war will stretch on, and even more sacrifices will have to be made." Another lurch, but, again, correct. Tough choices made in the present ensured that more lives will be spared the horrors of war in the future. "Sacrifice the few for the sake of the many," that was the core principle behind Kiritsugu's decisions. Besides, he noted sadly, Assassin X had firsthand experience with what the wrong choice could do in such a situation.

"If you accept unnecessary things, they'll just end up excess baggage." Such a statement sounded cruel, but it had been for Obito's sake as well as for the mission's. That hotheaded boy was a fool in Kiritsugu's eyes, always wasting his time and that of his team's with gratuitous sentiments. He'd help old ladies cross the street when he was supposed to be at a meeting, then make a big fuss over his teammate's attitude, all while trying to impress Rin with talk of how he'd be Hokage one day. Just the kind of stupid, romantic kid he pitied, inspired by tales of exaggerated heroism and chivalry like the ones of Saber. Well, he was still a kid. They all were. A shame Obito and Rin never got the chance to grow up…

"The most important thing for a shinobi is to be a tool that completes the mission. Emotions are unimportant." A fundamental rule for all shinobi of that world. And yet, so few of them were actually capable of following it. And for a man with a lifestyle like the Mage Killer's, it was just as well. Natalia would've agreed if she'd ever heard it. Shut off your emotions, be a tool… like a machine.

He removed the stub of a cigarette from his mouth, watching the last few glimmers before dropping it to the moist earth. The life Assassin X had chosen, the things he had been taught, the people he had lost… He partially wanted to discuss all of this with the enigmatic Servant, but he hadn't known what to say throughout the day especially after last night's quarrel. The similarities between them were just so blinding. They're not the same, Kiritsugu rubbed his eyes in irritation. Assassin X didn't kill his father like I did. The White Fang did cause a lot of trouble, though, for compromising the mission to save a few comrades. Many more died because of him.

It was odd that he didn't feel any resentment towards Sakumo Hatake for this, though. If anything, the memory of how his Servant lost his father was just dejecting. The magus hunter's calculating side was appalled at how wasteful the Hidden Leaf Village was in letting such a skilled warrior of theirs fall into depression. Another part, the bitter one, felt the outcome was just typical of the "justice" people prattled on about and used to condemn others without taking the full situation into account.

…And maybe there was a microscopic part of him that sympathized with Assassin X over growing up without a father. Hell, I'm lucky compared to him, at least I had a "mother"…

Kiritsugu turned back to the disassembled Calico, but even while his hands slid the pieces smoothly back together, his musings rumbled about in his mind.

He just couldn't understand it. How could Assassin X wear that headband with pride when the village that gave it to him had trained him and other youths into weapons, choice or no choice?

How could he walk and talk so casually (and read porn) after the horrors of war he'd been exposed to?

How could he interact like a regular person with him, Maiya, Iri or Saber, his partner a very paragon of the heroism his father was condemned for?

How could he open his heart again to three naïve brats he was expected to turn into semi-decent ninja, a heart so broken from all the comrades he had lost?

The last piece slid into place, and Kiritsugu hefted his handgun to aim it at his imaginary target. Nothing seemed out of place with the Calico, as was the Walther he had inspected an hour ago. And the Contender twenty minutes ago. They were all in top shape.

A pity he couldn't say the same of his thoughts. He lowered the gun and stared at the Command Seals on his left hand, partially wondering if the answers were hidden inside that swirl.

"…How can he still have faith?"

His eyes traced the crimson lines again and again, so many times he almost thought he was hypnotizing himself, but the questions remained. He let his hand drop with a sigh. The sun was just about down, the other teams would be getting ready for the next battles. Tohsaka, Kariya and Zouken Matou, that kid: only four Masters and nine Servants left. Thirteen targets in total. And even if the Master still didn't know how the hell to discuss these infuriating questions with the familiar he hadn't planned on summoning, he couldn't deny Assassin X's assistance had been priceless so far. They'd already discussed which target should be-

Static crackled suddenly from the headset around his neck, then a panicked voice rang out. "Kiritsugu, are you okay?! Oh man, please respond!"

The Mage Killer pulled the set into place with a confused frown. "I'm fine, Ūhei." He'd summoned the ninja hound (he checked his watch) roughly forty minutes ago to scout the immediate. "Calm down, what's going on?"

An audible sigh of relief rippled into his ear. "Thank goodness…" Ūhei's anxiety was troublesome; dog or not, he was trained alongside his pack into certifiable shinobi. These boys didn't spook easy. Okay, maybe Kiritsugu was a little touched that any of them would show concern for him… "I picked up Archer X's scent a while back and traced it. And it's bad, Kiritsugu. Real bad."

He stiffened. "Was she at the safehouse, Ūhei? Is Iri's location compromised?"

"No, no. She didn't anywhere close to it, I'd bet my snout on that, and so would the others." He relaxed just a bit. "But the garage… the one who you and Maiya stored your… bigger gear?" The tension returned. "That's where she was!"

"What?!" Kiritsugu bolted from the stump, his legs already carrying him towards his car.

"I'm standing in it, and it's empty, Kiritsugu! The whole place has been picked clean!" Damnit! That was bad. The oil tanker, the explosives and modifications it sported courtesy of Maiya… In the hands of Archer X, a Heroic Spirit obviously well-versed in guerilla warfare? No, "bad" didn't even come close to describing the potential fallout. "I-I think I can track her. If not Archer X, then maybe the gas or the C-4."

"Then give it a shot, Ūhei, but watch yourself," Kiritsugu commanded as he strode out of the forest. "I'll bring the team up to speed, then we'll coordinate the search-"

A dull BOOM rang out in the distance, cutting him off. He glanced up to see a large funnel of red-tinged smoke rise from the middle of the Shinto district.

The Mage Killer was too used to such scenes to let them rattle him for long. "Ūhei, return to the pack and tell them to stand by. We're going to need you boys at your best." He barely registered the affirmative bark over his headset as he opened the car door and slid into the seat. 'Saber, Assassin X,' he contacted his Servants as levelly as he could, 'we've got a situation.'

Flames and smoke billowed from within the Hyatt hotel, most of its windows shattered or pitch-black. Its occupants could be heard shrieking in a panic as the building began to split halfway of its height. The upper half slowly began to collapse against the lower with a loud groan, prompting the people on the streets below to bolt panicked away.

It took about a few minutes for the Hyatt to finish its destruction. Between its staff and the guests who had checked in for the night, roughly a thousand people had been inside when the bombs had gone off.

But Agent Texas simply strode atop the ruins until she reached the highest point, ready and waiting. What better way to lure in all the other players than with the damn place where she had been summoned and all of her misery in the Holy Grail War had started?

She caught a glimpse of a tiny hand sticking out of the rubble, limp and covered in blood and dirt, but she simply clenched her fists tighter. It had to be done. This would all be over soon.

Tires squealed on the street below, and lightning crackled along with an all-too-familiar rumbling and snorting. Archer X rolled her shoulders. Here we go…

As he steered the Gordius Wheel towards the Servant presence they had only noticed right before hearing the explosion, Rider gazed stonily over the smoldering ruins, noting how the street was just about empty of bystanders. No surprise considering the devastation, and yet the King of Conquerors noted something curious about that.

"Pretty low-key for a bitch with her temper, huh?" Berserker X rumbled next to him by the railings.

Their Master stared up at the foreign swordsman in disbelief. "You call this low-key?"

"No, he's right." Iskandar nodded at how his friend shared his reasoning, brutish though he seemed in appearance and action. "The destruction is fierce but restrained to only one single building." He hummed to himself while adjusting their flight path. "…Didn't Qrow say this location was the main fort for Lancer and his Masters?"

Waver frowned while turning back to the destroyed building, nodding in confirmation after a moment of recollecting his fallen mentor's reports. "She chose to target that building alone," Rider continued as they descended among the smoke wafting from below. "The place where she perhaps first came to this world alongside Lancer and later turned on her Master. For whatever reason, that building was significant to Archer X, significant enough for her to erase it from the face of this city."

Another monarch shared these musings as she sped down the street on her new ride. The exhilaration Saber had savored while familiarizing herself with the Yamaha V-Max had shifted to anger at this wanton destruction. Did Archer X instigate it simply to draw me out for killing Lancer? If so, she has succumbed to an insanity like Caster's. But the King of Knights knew even while thinking so this comparison wasn't quite accurate. Caster had been dependent on his demonic monsters, whereas Archer X was far more capable in combat.

Kiritsugu had warned her and Assassin X about this rogue having raided his arsenal, and Saber doubted she had all expended all of her plunder for the Hyatt bombing. Once close enough, she parked her motorcycle into a nearby alley (voicing a silent prayer that it be left untouched by the battle to come) and transitioned to her armor in mid-sprint.

At the same time, Irisviel sat anxiously in her Mercedes with Maiya at the wheel, the sleek car squealing to a stop not close by. As close as Maiya permitted; even if the homunculus' earlier confession hadn't increased her concerns, the mercenary knew they could only provide support and from a distance. Kiritsugu's instructions for the time being were to stand by and keep an eye out for the signs of the other rogues.

They stepped warily out of the car, Maiya glancing just for a second up to see a human-sized blur pass above them. Assassin X, she noted instinctively while readying her Steyr. The ordinary gun was useless against a Servant, but she felt more at ease with a weapon in hand.

The Copy Ninja flipped up onto a building opposite from the Hyatt's remains and still intact. Archer X glared at him from her perch, her fingers twitching at the prospect of wringing that aggravating bastard's neck. The only way said prospect could be more satisfying to the Freelancer was if she did so in front of those women hiding in the alley's shadows… and his partner, storming towards her with that damn sword hidden by the wind. That self-righteous little doll, judging her just for fighting like they really were in a war and not a fancy dueling club. That "King" who had caught Lancer's attention and then cut him down before her eyes.

Those damn green eyes glared right back at her without trepidation, and for just a moment, Tex could've sworn Caroline was standing there. But she soon snapped back to reality when Saber opened her mouth. "This ends tonight, Archer X."

She stared at the defiance in those eyes, and whatever doubts had lingered faded away. "Nobody knows that better than me."

Rider's chariot descended to roughly equal height with the rogue. "A bold claim, black one. But Caster has already tried using mass destruction as his weapon, and we stopped him as well. What good has your little explosion done you?"

'An excellent question, Archer X,' Zouken's voice slithered its way into her mind. 'I don't recall Rider X or me giving you permission for such a brazen assault. We still need more time.'

"What can I say?" She replied to both her Master and the enemies before her. "Maybe I'm just sick of playing hide-and-seek in this goddamned city. Maybe it's time we stopped pretending we're all a bunch of noble heroes fighting for honor and all that shit."

Saber's grip tightened around her blade. "I've heard more than enough disparaging comments towards honor in the last few days, and whatever your grievances with me, you have no right to drag innocent lives into-"

"Oh, cut the crap." Tex began to march down the ruins, scorched cement and metal crunching beneath the fury of her steps. "At the end of the day, we're all just a bunch of self-righteous strangers from other times and worlds, called here by smug little men with magic tricks all so we can kill each other for the sake of a miracle. There were bound to be casualties from the minute we were summoned. But you guys apparently keep forgetting we're in the Holy Grail War. This right here?" She spread her arms wide. "This is war. Mass destruction, lots of people dying in stupid, pointless ways." She brought her hands together and started cracking her knuckles, one loud pop at a time. "Servants are just weapons to make all that happen, right? So, I think it's high time we stopped pretending this city was still going be around after all the fighting was done."

Something blurred, and she barely twisted away from Assassin X thrusting his hand into her torso again. Archer X lashed out with a kick, widening the distance, then she ducked under a swing from Saber before rolling further down the ravaged Hyatt until stopping at the street. Blood trickled from the horizontal gash Lightning Blade had carved in her armor.

Assassin X straightened and glared with both eyes down at her, his Noble Phantasm sparkling. "So, that's your excuse for blowing up this particular hotel? Or did it just remind you of Lancer?" He didn't need the Sharingan to notice her stiffening at that. "War always comes with casualties, yes. But don't go twisting harsh truths to justify your selfishness. And if you think we're going to let you do as you please-"

"You're not paying attention, wise guy," the Servant of the Bow interrupted with a snarl. "What I'm saying is, I'm done pulling my punches. So just try and stop me." Her right index finger moved to her left forearm and began pressing buttons hidden there.

Saber and Assassin X both sensed the shift in her mana and rushed as one towards her. Higher up, Berserker X vaulted over the Wheel's rail and hurtled downwards as well, sword raised above his head. He didn't give a damn about the black-armored woman's yakking, but she'd been on his list of candidates for a fight too.

But before either could reach the Servant, she typed in the final part of the sequence. "Or should I say… Us?"

Blinding light erupted from her body, blinding all three attackers as well as Rider and the non-Servant onlookers. Berserker X landed feet-first onto the street with a curse, but the sudden flare would hardly stop a warrior who rendered himself half-blind on a daily basis. He gauged he wasn't too far from Archer X and lashed out with his nodachi, feeling the long blade cut into something… and then stop.

Then the light dimmed again, and everyone saw that Kenpachi's sword had indeed found Archer X.

Or, well, one of her.

Where before there had been a single Archer X, now multiple people in black armor stood there in front of the razed hotel. Unlike the (supposedly) late Assassin, however, they all appeared exactly the same in height, build, armor details, and even mana from what the onlookers' senses could determine. Assassin X scanned from one end of the crowd to the next, searching for any clue of where the original might be, but they stood too closely together and were all too much alike. All he could determine was their number. "One hundred," he muttered just loud enough that Saber and the others listening via comm could hear. "One hundred duplicates in total."

This was Heroic Spirit Agent Texas' final Noble Phantasm: 100 Tex Battle: "The Director's Many Attempts."

The Servant of Madness blinked repeatedly to expedite his eyesight returning, then he saw how one of the many clones had grabbed his sword with both hands, halting its path through her left shoulder. He smirked. "First Caster and now you… You rogues are all just a bunch of backstabbing shits hiding your best tricks, huh?"

"Big talk for a musclehead who's outnumbered," another Archer X snarled as she put the barrel of a freshly materialized shotgun to his forehead. "There's a hundred of us, and we're not those loser Assassins-"

The shotgun was smacked away, its shot firing wide, then the other Tex Drone took a heavy kick to the gut. She could only double grunting over before Kenpachi's nodachi finished splitting her in half, and when her fellow drone tried to swing her rifle around, the blade flashed high and claimed her head.

Not even three seconds had passed.

"Two down." Berserker X brandished his nodachi with a fresh hungry grin. "Who's next?"

The army of Archer X's bristled collectively, but even on the other side of them, the skirmish hadn't escaped Assassin X and Saber's notice. 'A mite more fragile than the original, aren't they?' The knight-class Servant nodded slightly at her friend's observation. Berserker X was easily one of the strongest melee combatants in this Grail War, but for him to fell two duplicates of Archer X so casually indicated they were of lesser strength. It made sense, too; a Noble Phantasm like this always came with some sort of disadvantage.

Rider was thinking much of the same while watching from above. The number of their adversaries was roughly that of an average company, and bunched up like they were, he could've easily pulled them all into Ionioi Hetairoi. But with Megatron nowhere to be seen, he decided to hold off on invoking his trump card now. Besides, Via Expugnatio was perfect for mowing down these kinds of crowds.

Eyeing the mass of black, temperamental Servants below, Waver tightened his grip on the chariot's rails as the King of Conquerors made to snap his reins right as another explosion went off further east. "What the-?" The boy exclaimed in surprise.

The others on the ground level heard it, too, and saw the fresh column of smoke emerging. New screams were echoing down the streets. "You dumbasses didn't think all I'd set up for tonight was just one building going down in flames, did you?" They turned back to the crowd of Archer X's (though it was impossible to tell which one had spoken) and realized immediately that was a mistake. The outermost ring activated multiple flashbangs simultaneously, the resulting burst of light and sound painfully disorienting for a Servant's heightened senses.

As Saber, Assassin X, Rider and Berserker X stepped back, trying to shake off the debilitating effects, the ninety-seven Tex Drones as well as the original activated their cloaking devices with one last taunt. "Let's see how good you 'real heroes' are at saving lives instead of just taking them."

By the time they could see again, not a single Archer X remained. Assassin X clicked his tongue at this development. "Of course, she wouldn't keep all of her clones bunched up like this. One strike from Excalibur, Rider's chariot or Berserker X, and they'd have been wiped out."

Saber frowned at his words. "So, all of this was just her putting on a show to draw us out-" She stopped when Assassin X thrust out with his right hand, Lightning Blade still active, towards her-

No, over her. She heard a gurgle, then he retracted his arm as one Archer X flickered into view with an open gash in her throat. She fell past Saber onto the ground before fading away into mana particles. Kakashi then nodded sharply to across the street, and his friend immediately understood the message.

Maiya was busy helping Irisviel who was still reeling from the flashbangs' effects, so both wouldn't have registered the two Tex Drones that had snuck up on them. Fortunately, they were under watch. One Drone was bisected by Saber's wind-shrouded sword, the other Lightning Blade impaled through the back. Irisviel's vision cleared just in time to see both Archer X's dissipating. The sight helped realign her thoughts to the current situation. "Are any more of them still around?"

Assassin X glared about the area before shaking his head. "They're scattering across the district. Another three minutes or so, and they might be all over Fuyuki City." He turned back to the street. "And Rider and Berserker X have taken off, too, most likely to hunt them down. They'll be having a hard time with that if Archer X and her clones maintain their stealth mode."

"That possibility's unlikely." All four turned with some surprise to see Kiritsugu striding in from the alley. "Archer X has raided my supplies, and there's no way she won't be putting them to use," the Shadow Clone of Saber and Assassin X's true Master continued. "This isn't just a city-wide game of cat-and-mouse. She must be planning something big."

Saber digested these words before shaking her head. "But this makes little sense. Archer X certainly has a temper, but she's received extensive training in cloak-and-dagger tactics. You yourself have compared her movements to your own, Kiritsugu." She gestured to the ravaged Hyatt. "This here is basically Archer X throwing down the gauntlet to all of the other Servants, not just me and Assassin X. What could she be possibly thinking with an assault this brazen? This isn't like Caster and his abomination, this is practically suicide."

"Maybe this isn't her idea," Maiya offered as calmly as she could. "Her Master might've come up with this. Or maybe it was Rider X. This kind of unreadable tactic, chaos erupting all around us, making us scramble to react? It does seem his style."

Assassin X hummed at the suggestion. "It could be… except I don't sense him anywhere near us." He shook his head. "And either way, we've sadly given Archer X ample reason to want to see us all dead and ashes in the wind." Saber's gaze briefly shifted to the ground; she was likely remembering her cutting down Lancer. "It could just be she's finally snapped and decided to ensure that happens to us, even if she dies in the process."

Those words made something lurch inside Artoria. She had managed to settle the matter with Diarmuid as honorably as it had been possible (and with no small thanks because of Kakashi's efforts), and she didn't regret the outcome. But the consequences that had emerged from this: Archer X's slipping into violent madness, these bombings she was orchestrating…

This isn't my fault, Saber affirmed to herself before noting the tension in her friend's posture, nor is it Kakashi's, no matter what he may think. But… we did play a part in her mental state deteriorating. And we made Diarmuid a promise on his deathbed.

"Regardless, we have to stop her here and now before she reduces the whole city to a pile of rubble." She suppressed her smile; of course, Assassin X was on the same page.

Kiritsugu on the other hand frowned at the determination in his Servant's tone. "We don't even know how many bombs Archer X has set up, let alone where they could be. The most obvious target she might've had, she just blew off the map." Using my own precision blasting, too, from the looks of it… he grumbled to himself. "Even if we tried to stop her from detonating them, where would we begin to look?"

"When in doubt," Assassin X's hands blurred into a series of signs they all recognized, "follow your nose." He slapped his palm against the ground, and all eight ninja hounds appeared in a burst of smoke. They fixed their full attention to him. "Archer X has summoned duplicates of herself and scattered them as well as explosives across the city. We need you boys to sniff the latter out." He tilted his head thoughtfully while speaking. "These bombs were likely made with components she'd stolen from Kiritsugu's warehouse, so a good starting point is looking for spots that have traces of Archer X's scent mingling with Kiritsugu's or Maiya's."

Irisviel watched amazed at how the hounds she'd enjoyed cuddling with often these last days absorbed these instructions so calmly. And to think their owner was able to think all of this through despite the chaos… Once again, she was reminded that the dogs and Assassin X were veterans of war.

Kiritsugu was similarly impressed with the professionalism before him. But he couldn't help but think there were a few gaps in this plan. "Do you even know anything about disarming the type of bombs she uses?"

"Not much," the silver-haired Servant admitted readily while turning towards Kiritsugu with a calculating gleam in his eye. "Not as much as you and Maiya do."

Wait… what?

The latter addressee was the one who found her voice first. "You… you trust us to disarm them? Archer X is from another world, and her weapons might have similar functions to this world's modern ones, but they're not the same. Who knows if we could even understand anything she's built?"

"If you can put an explosive together, then you ought to have a good idea of how to take it apart without blowing up," he explained with impressive calm given the situation. "And with your Shadow Clones, we can spread out and disable more of Archer X's bombs quickly."

Saber nodded sharply at her comrade's words. "Besides, Kakashi and I will deal with Archer X and her duplicates, as will the other Servants. All you two need to concern yourselves with are the bombs while we keep them off you."

"We've still got the trackers and cameras you loaned us," Pakkun chimed in while pawing the technology affixed to Bull's collar, "so even if you or clones get separated from us, you can still figure out where we are." With that, the eight dogs dispersed in the blink of an eye.

"The other Masters might not be able to follow the same plan we are, but they won't let Archer X do as she pleases either," Assassin X continued. "They'll be sending the Servants out to take down as many of her duplicates as they can find. And like you said, Kiritsugu, a surefire way of shutting down a Noble Phantasm is to kill its origin. Rider and Caster X are bound to figure that out, too, ergo, one of us ought to catch the real Archer X if we're all hunting for her."

Maiya was actually beginning to agree with this strategy, which was baffling since Kiritsugu visibly disagreed. But that didn't stop her from pointing out another detail. "Plus, if Archer X is using her own equipment along with ours, those will automatically disappear along with her once she's dispatched." She eyed her savior cautiously. "It'll go a long way."

Kiritsugu acknowledged the logic in these arguments despite a tiny part of him being baffled that Maiya would indirectly voice them. "That still leaves our weapons, though, and they won't just disappear when she dies." Still, this all felt too naïve for what was the simple truth. "Fuyuki might not be the biggest city in the world, but there's still a sizable number of square miles for us to cover even with Shadow Clones," he countered. Iri turned to him in concern (and some disappointment, he noted as he felt his heart grow a heavier) but he kept his gaze on the one who perplexed him most of all. "Even if we put all of our energy into stopping Archer X, there's no guarantee we can find all of her traps or clones in time."

Saber almost lost her temper again upon realizing what their Master's current plans were. But she took a breath while remembering her conversation with Kakashi and Maiya earlier today and responded with as even a tone as she could manage. "So, you're basically saying you and Maiya should conserve your energy and focus on eliminating the other Masters as per our original strategy?"

Emiya for his part showed perhaps just a bit more courtesy by facing her when he spoke. "You and Assassin X can still dispatch Archer X and any other rogues you encounter, but it's impossible to save every single life, Saber, even if you're a Heroic Spirit." The lack of venom in those last two words took her a bit aback, but his gaze remained cold and dispassionate as ever. "And like I've said before, the Holy Grail is our top priority."

As dangerous as the current situation had become, Kiritsugu still felt the old adage, "Crisis breeds opportunity" applied here as well. Assassin X was right about the other Masters not letting the rogues do as they pleased, so they'd be amply distracted scrambling after the Archer X's and would therefore let their guards down. The Mage Killer had been in warzones often enough to know the effectiveness of such tactics. He felt nothing towards Archer X, neither hatred nor camaraderie; their methods were similar, but that simply made her an enemy for him to be especially wary of. Still, her onslaught provided an opportunity.

Contrary to what Saber or an increasingly mortified Irisviel might've thought of him, Kiritsugu Emiya didn't like considering taking advantage of the chaos like this, but he saw it as the best course of action… At least, until that Servant opened his mouth.

"The Holy Grail might slip beyond our reach yet." Assassin X stared levelly right back at him. "Do you honestly think we'll be able to continue the Grail War if we let her blow up half the city, Kiritsugu? Magic aside, the rest of Japan if not the whole world will take notice of what's going on. And what do you suppose this land's government would do to protect its people?"

Kiritsugu's frown deepened as once again the Servant's arguments burrowed through the cracks in his logic. Damnit, he's right. There was no way Archer X's explosive rampage wouldn't make the hottest news, especially with the multiple kidnappings and the confrontation with Caster at the Mion River. The latter incidents had barely been covered up, but it was starting to look like third time's the charm. The Japanese government could send its troops into Fuyuki City to confront the terrorists presumably responsible for these fiascos. Worst-case scenario was total evacuation and lockdown of the city; they could theoretically still conduct the Grail War with that, but if the Magus Association intervened, too…

Kakashi Hatake didn't need to Sharingan to see the conflict inside his Master's features. Ever the pragmatist. Or rather, convincing himself he is one. He stood by what he'd said to Irisviel and Artoria hours ago, and he wasn't about to give up on the man just yet. "Kiritsugu Emiya, I know you believe in sacrificing the few for the sake of the many, and you're probably right that it's impossible to save everyone in this situation." Something flickered in those dark eyes, spurring the Copy Ninja's words on. Pragmatism had pried open the door, now it was time to try and slip through. "But doing nothing saves no one." Another flicker. With that, he judged now was the time to ask one crucial question. "Can you really live with that?"

Whatever retort Kiritsugu might've been able to muster caught in his throat. Assassin X knew he'd struck a vulnerable point but hoped the blow wasn't too deep. The man before him, the Mage Killer feared and loathed among magus society, the broken soul what lay within… He had been taught by Natalia Kaminski and this world itself that saving every person just wasn't possible. In order to save one, you had to sacrifice another. Such was life.

But Kakashi believed that for all of his utilitarian, cold-hearted decisions, Kiritsugu Emiya was fundamentally invested in protecting people, not killing them. The only reason he hadn't cracked under the weight of his "sacrifice the few for the sake of the many" principle was because he told himself there was a "many." You know you can't save the world, the Servant mused sadly, so you're fighting with all you have for a miracle that can. Deep beneath all of the bitterness and pain that encompasses your heart lies the question Shirley asked you, doesn't it? Even after so many years, so many sacrifices, you still want to keep your promise.

He didn't voice these thoughts aloud, though, out of respect for his Master's privacy. Artoria was giving him a conflicted stare, no doubt having determined that Kakashi knew more about this dark man than she did but trying to be graceful enough not to pry. His respect for her deepened all the more for that. She carries a stronger will than I ever did, he mused with a mental chuckle despite the severity of the situation. No wonder she's such a legendary King.

On either side of the Heroic Spirit duo and their Master, two women stood watching this apprehensively. Irisviel von Einzbern was silently praying to whatever merciful deities existed in this world or another that the man she loved would listen, even while she cursed her own weakness. It was taking everything she had to keep standing tall. Maiya Hisau, on the other hand, remained silent. She had said her part, more than usual for her, in fact, but she wouldn't go against the wishes of the man who had given her everything. Not for… anyone.

Another explosion rang out, drawing the others' attention due to it being slightly closer than the previous one. Saber's legs tensed to spring out into the fray, but she forced the impulse down and turned back to Kiritsugu. "One way or another, we cannot just linger here."

"You don't need to tell me that." Two sets of index and middle fingers formed a t-shape, and with a Poof! four Shadow Clones appeared next to Kiritsugu Emiya. "Four's the maximum I can manage for now," he grumbled, "but so long as we don't actually fight, it might work." All five scoffed at the triumphant look the King of Knights shot them (and ignored the exuberant one from Iri). "We're just doing our part so there isn't outside interference afterwards."

Another Kiritsugu muttered, "There's still no guarantee we can save all of the city, anyway."

"No," Assassin X conceded with a relieved shrug, "but a little bit can go a long way. Besides, you can at least give the hero thing a try for once."

"Haven't got the practice for that," a third scoffed before turning to Maiya who had just quintupled herself, too. "Looks like we're the Grail War's bomb squad. Comms?"

One of the dark-haired women nodded and retrieved a duffle bag filled with radio equipment. "Good thing I stocked up after Assassin X taught me the Shadow Clone Jutsu. We can listen in on the pack's findings, trace them and coordinate to cover more ground like this."

"And I'll assist, too." Irisviel stepped forward, her own fingers shifting into the same handsign. Seven more white-haired homunculi appeared behind her, and they all did so with the original's determined glare that shut up the Kiritsugu's. "Even if I don't know anything about explosives, we can provide mana and healing spells for the rest of you. We all need to contribute if this city is to survive." Iri knew this wouldn't do her deteriorating condition any favors, but there was no point whining about her own weakness. Not if she wished to see her love's dream come true. It was high time she followed the example of the two Servants who had befriended her and earned her admiration.

Saber smiled at her friend's newfound strength before nodding to her comrade. "Shall we get down to business, then?"

Assassin X stretched out his arm and bowed slightly. "After you." With that, both Heroic Spirits leaped off to hunt down Archer X and her duplicates, determination spurring them on to save as lives as they could.

As they raced along the buildings, one sent a little private message to the other. 'And here I thought Charisma is my Skill.'

'Nah, I'm just a believer.'

The remaining group scattered as well, Kiritsugus and Maiyas quickly commandeering vehicles to ferry them and the Irisviel clones as widely apart as possible and all the while tuning their communicators and viewscreens to the hounds' frequencies. Amidst these actions, the Mage Killer gave a tiny scoff to himself. There was a pretty big chance they couldn't save any lives tonight, yet he was, rushing off like some idealistic kid to try anyway. Maybe he had pushed a little too far against Assassin X, and the latter had countered him.

But despite the crisis, Kiritsugu's heart felt oddly… lighter.

-58:12:04

A growl emanated from Rider X as he stormed in spirit form up to Fuyuki Church's roof. I did not authorize this assault, it is far too early! He had intended to channel Archer X's fury into whittling away at his enemies step-by-step, reducing their numbers. Saber and Rider, his chief rivals, each retained deadly partners as direct aid, and the team of Caster X and Berserker was still in play and on good terms with both. The battle with Caster had proven that these Servants were too strong when united.

And now that impulsive brute had gone and given them another reason to join forces! I suppose this is only to be expected when you trade a treacherous pawn for an unstable one… Or… A dark suspicion crept its way into his processor. He materialized to batter aside the door and step into the open air. Smoke was still wafting about above Shinto, and he could already sense battle in Miyama. 'Zouken, why is Archer X acting than we agreed upon?'

'Believe me, I only learned of it myself with the first explosion,' the old worm replied smoothly. 'She really is good at sneaking around. And it seems Avenger X may have encouraged her a little to take the initiative.'

'Did he now?' Megatron's sharpened denta ground against one another. He knew that newcomer could pose as much a threat as an asset, and it seems the time he had spent nurturing Kirei's potential had been exploited. 'Well, call her off then! There's still time for us to salvage that wench before her impulsiveness robs us of our weapon. You still retain her Command Seals, don't you?' Gunshots rang out in the distance, and a smoke cloud was suddenly split apart as though by a gust of wind. Or a powerful slash.

His tautness grew at the tone of Zouken's reply. 'I do, but frankly, I see little reason to expend them at the moment.' The human went on, overriding Rider X's words. 'We both know she would simply run off for another attempt the moment we drop our guards, and I would have to use my final Seal just to wrangle her in again. So, we might as well put her attack to good use while our enemies are scrambling panicked about, don't you think?'

A fair point. Whereas Caster's nautical horror show had lured the allied Servants to Mion River and effectively bottled the clashes in one location, Archer X's widespread bombing runs would force the groups apart to stem her destruction. They couldn't cooperate with each other so easily, and that would allow for picking off individual targets. Which also provides you with another opportunity to erase Caster X, eh, Zouken?

The logic did little to curb Rider X's anger over this happening in spite of his authority. Did Zouken and Avenger X believe him unaware of their own schemes?'Alright, Zouken, I see your point,' he answered as calmly as he could even as his temper boiled. 'Then let's make the most of this debacle.'

The Cybertronian Servant barely registered Matou's triumphant cackle on account of approaching footsteps. He turned to see Kirei Kotomine leaning against the battered door. "Do you seek to leash me tonight for my own safety, Master?" Rider X asked sardonically.

The freshly tainted priest scoffed at that. "If you were concerned about your safety, you wouldn't be loitering about on an enemy Master's property." He rapped a finger against the broken wood. "Though I would appreciate you not taking out your frustrations on the church. Doors do cost money."

A smirk twitched across the Heroic Spirit's face. "How refreshing to see your sense of humor is developing alongside your passion, Kirei. I take it then that you will not try to oppose me?" He had not chosen these words carelessly. Between the Dark Energon inside Kirei and the Command Seals he carried, it was still unclear whether Master or Servant held more power in this arrangement. Now might've been an inopportune time to test it, but if need be…

But the Master simply shrugged. "I am already busy enough coordinating the church's efforts to keep bystanders out of the proceedings. So, I would appreciate it if you try not to stand out too much tonight, regardless of what you do." He turned to head back inside while muttering, "Hopefully we don't come up with an explanation for a monster attack two nights in a row…"

"Better not tempt fate like that, Kirei," Rider X shot after him with a chuckle. But then he sobered and leaped high to transform into Alt-Mode Starship, his thrusters taking him up into the higher clouds. He needed to gain a clearer view of the battlefield before making his next decision. Perhaps Avenger X had provided him an opportunity or two with releasing Archer X into the wild. Megatron could certainly think of one confrontation he'd enjoy.

But that didn't mean he'd let that horned wretch or his Master off the hook so quickly. I'll let you play your little games for now, parasite. If you get rid of your rival, then all the better for me as well. But if you dare to stand in my way… then two or two hundred Servants would not save you from the promise I made when we first met.

Zouken Matou leaned pleased back in his study's chair, sensing the "conversation" was over for now. He was under no illusions of how powerful or dangerous his unexpected ally was, but for the time being, he was confident the malevolent titan would be preoccupied with making heads and tails of Archer X's rampage. Thus, he shifted his black eyes to the room's only other occupant. "Well, you've evaded Rider X's wrath for now. But there will most likely be a reckoning to come."

"There always is," Avenger X replied without a hint of anxiety, his fiery gaze locked on the scene outside the windows. He drew in a long breath, like he was trying to inhale the chaos, then continued. "He and I are bound to face each other sooner or later. Provided one of us does not perish before the moment comes. Until then, I see no reason as to let him set the pace for this War." His eyes sharpened for just a moment. "I made that mistake in life, but I will not make it now."

Zouken hummed while absorbing this information. He'd received tiny flashes in what few dreams he received (the Matou patriarch had conditioned himself long ago to minimize his need for sleep, as enemies could be dealt more easily awake), and they had all spoken of pain, hatred, but also… subservience. Fear of a man "Darth Maul" had known as "master." This one's used to being a pawn in someone else's game. And now he's striving to be a player.

Well, this was a different game from the one the Servant was used to. And he was far from the only player, as the Master was quick to remind him. "Seeing as I'm graciously indulging you and Archer X, you can show your gratitude with a particular mission."

Those yellow eyes finally turned towards Zouken. "Caster X," Avenger X inferred. "You still consider him the priority target to be cut down, then?" The Sith easily sensed the enmity swirling about in the ancient body seated before him. But he couldn't deny his own instincts were pushing him to rid the Holy Grail War of that wizard. Perhaps even more so than Saber, despite the loathsome purity of her sword which he had witnessed.

The Master inclined his chin, those black beads sharpening like daggers. A little smile played along Maul's lips, and he bowed slightly. "Then I had best be on my way." Thus, he shimmered away into spirit form.

"And I'll be waiting," Zouken murmured, flicking a finger, "and watching." A buzzing bit through the study's silence as his insects headed out into the night. They would trail Avenger X to make sure he understood his responsibilities. Naturally, Zouken would've preferred witnessing that abominable being's demise in person, but his little familiars would suffice. Besides, he could still enjoy Kariya's subsequent tumble into madness and despair. And for the moment, his other Servant was stirring up quite some entertainment herself, even if her prior defiance was a little grating. No wonder Kayneth El-Melloi had been at odds with her.

But there was one other detail that honestly perplexed Zouken: How could Archer X spread out her doppelgangers so much? A single battlefield was one thing, but they were scattering to all across both halves of Fuyuki. Her Noble Phantasm bears some similarity to Rider's, he contemplated, only with fewer numbers and a bit more strength among each individual soldier. But Rider's army is restrained to combat within the Reality Marble; he could probably call forth only a handful outside, and even that wouldn't last more than a minute. Archer X can't even imagine a Reality Marble let alone create one, and with her sub-average mana levels, she shouldn't be able to sustain the duplicates at such a large and wide distance, even if I don't sever my connection to her.

Yet as his Crest Worm flyers could confirm, not only was both Archer X and her clones still present, but they were fighting, too. How was this possible…?

Did Rider X- Zouken shook his aged head at the ridiculous thought. No matter how much she had snapped, Archer X would've sooner ripped out her own heart than accept power from someone she didn't trust. Besides, Megatron wasn't one to share anything, much less power. He hadn't even shared the location of the Reactor's new hiding place, having deemed the Matou manor as apparently not safe enough for his new mana source.

The five-hundred-year-old drummed his fingers against his cane's head, considering one hypothesis after another until two words came to mind: Independent Action.

Of course… Zouken's smile returned at the amusing conjecture: Under regular circumstances, Archer X could function without a Master's mana for two days. It was how she'd been unaffected by killing El-Melloi prior to making a new contract with the Matou family head. And now she's somehow channeling that time into maintaining her Noble Phantasm, Zouken surmised with a little laugh. He wasn't quite sure how she'd managed to pull it off, but the idea of her burning her own life away just for a possibility of victory tickled him. She's literally gambling her life on this single battle. Win or lose, this is Archer X's final night in the Holy Grail War.

…What a pair she would've made with Kariya had he summoned her. The image of his useless "son" screaming and raging about, flanked by two equally volatile Servants in black armor, made him briefly double over into a laughing fit.

But sadly, fate had other plans for that useless pup of his. Zouken's mirth faded as he recalled that infernal wizard. Right then. Archer X could go off on her exaggerated suicide mission with his blessing, she was bound to drag at least one Servant down with her. In the meantime, Avenger X could make up for his earlier fun with her by taking care of a certain nuisance in a gray beard and pointy hat during the chaos ensuing.

And just in case… He lifted the little book containing what was originally a Command Seal for Caster and was now Avenger X's, held it over his left hand where two more sat for Archer X, and concentrated before pausing. On second thought, he watched one of his hand's Seals evaporate, I might as well toss a little oil onto her fire. Now she can put forth an even more spirited performance, perhaps even enough that my dear partner doesn't survive this city-wide crossfire.

Zouken sighed to himself while transferring the last Seal to his book. Let no one say I'm not a generous fellow.

-57:28:39

The Yamaha's motor roared as it carried its driver along the streets. Saber weaved left and right as the Tex Drone ahead of her emptied her assault rifle's ammo, bullets flying. Not a single one reached the mounted knight even as she closed the distance and cut both of her adversaries down with one swing of her sword. She took one glance behind her to check the two she'd found were fading away before speeding on.

Meanwhile, Urushi had found one bomb underneath another skyscraper and alerted one of Maiya's Shadow Clones. Said dark-haired woman was now crouching by a concrete pillar to slowly peel off the outer casing. She narrowed her eyes at what lay before her. "Failsafes, dummy leads, booby traps…" she murmured underneath her breath. "…It's a work of art."

A clone of Irisviel hovered nervously over her. All the homunculus saw was a compact mess of wires and hardware. "But can you disarm it?" It had baffled her how easily Maiya had snuck them both into the garage and to the column, but the timer read "01:56" and was steadily counting down. There'd be no time to evacuate the building even if they didn't get arrested for trespassing.

"Maybe…" Maiya gently moved some wires with a set of metallic prods, tracing the wires. "It's definitely a mesh of her equipment and the tools stolen from Kiritsugu. Definitely another precaution to try and make sure they still go off even if she dies. But Archer X didn't have much time to set this up, and it's not like foreign equipment just slides together even if the designs are similar …" She glanced down to the fidgeting dog beside her. "Go search for others, Urushi. Whether or not this one goes off, our originals will learn from the outcome."

The grey little hound whimpered but nodded. "Please don't blow up, 'kay?" He then sprang out through the driveway.

The Maiya clone ignored her heart fluttering at the dog's plea in favor of returning to the task at hand. "Can you cast a small Bounded Field to block outside noise and intruders, Ma'am? I'll need as much quiet as I can get if I want this to work." A light tremor reverberated along the walls, probably a different bomb going off. But there was still time for the one right here.

"Right." The white-haired clone nodded before concentrating. Even if she shared the original's physical weakness, she could still perform magecraft well enough to prevent outside interference so long as said interference wasn't from a Servant.

The air shimmered about inside the garage, but Maiya paid it no mind as she adjusted the wires' places with deft movements. According to the timer, she had one minute and three seconds left before it triggered; not much room for dithering.

She drew in a breath and released it to suppress what little anxiety swelled inside her. For as long as she could remember, she had spent her life on one battlefield or another. (00:55) This sort of life-or-death situation was second nature to her. She could see the many little pieces of the trigger, the timer, the explosive itself, but traps had been laid inside it as well. One slip-up and they'd be gone. Well, the two women were only Shadow Clones. If they dispersed, their originals would receive the data and have a chance to do better next time. (00:47)

But there wouldn't be a "next time" for anyone caught in this building's destruction. The Maiya clone knew that but could acknowledge it with clinical indifference due to sharing the original's emotions as well as her knowledge. (00:41) But she felt something else too. A… drive. She closed her eyes in discomfort; she'd narrowed it down to three different wires and didn't need anything misleading-

Maiya's eyes snapped open. She slipped the clippers away from a red wire and cut a black one with yellow stripes. Behind her, Irisviel flinched at a beep-

But the timer remained frozen at thirty-five seconds. Both women sighed in relief before Maiya proceeded to carefully strip away the components. "One down," she murmured while stowing away some familiar C-4. "Almost fell for a dummy lead," she clicked her tongue. "Sloppy."

The Shadow Clone of Irisviel von Einzbern giggled at the faint annoyance in her comrade's tone, then dispelled the Bounded Field with a wave of her hand. "We should tell the others this one's been handled and how you disabled it. Maybe it can help them with theirs."

Maiya nodded at the suggestion. "Good point. Archer X didn't have much time for adding any major variations while she'd been putting these together. They ought to have more or less the same inner workings." She retrieved her earpiece and briskly reported the details over Kiritsugu's frequency. It would help if I could send pictures over my piece or phone…

Then Shiba interjected with the finding of another bomb about two blocks from them, and they hurried towards the car Maiya's clone had hotwired. This was going to be a long night.

-56:59:34

Berserker X smashed through a brick wall, sword at the ready. The dust scattered by the impact wafted through the air before seemingly hanging over four humanoid shapes in front of him. His grin returned as he registered one pointing a gun at him. "About damn time. I hate chasing down rabbits."

The Tex Drone fired her shotgun while her fellow copies moved to swarm him, but the Shinigami Servant casually swatted the pellets away before raising his sword high…

"ULULULULULULUIIII!"

Only to hold it in place as Rider swooped down in his chariot. All four of the adversaries were mowed down like black grass as the Gordius Wheel's bulls trampled over them, and the two outer ones were unlucky enough to get caught in its blades. Bloody chunks of meat and armor splattered across the place.

A vein bulged above a twitching hairless brow as Berserker X glared up at his friend. "Hey, I saw them first, Kandy!"

"U-um…"

"Oh, come now, you were the one who claimed the first kills," Iskandar shot back while steering his ride to turn around, "and I let you have the last two we found! Now we're of an even score."

"G-guys…"

"Look, I like you, but that don't give you the right to steal my kills. You're lucky I didn't chop you up along with them!"

"Idiots…"

"Hah, I'll well aware of your strength, but don't think you could hope to destroy my mighty chariot without removing your eye-"

At this point, Waver jumped in between them with a near-manic look. "Bomb! Right there!" He pointed wildly at a metallic tower before him, a box with wires and a beeping clock strapped to one of its supports. "Do something, Idiots!"

The Servants eyed the explosive forty-nine seconds away from, well, exploding, and Waver just sighed into his hands. He didn't know anything about bombs aside from the odd thriller novel he'd read, and these two boneheads barely had a functioning braincell between them, what could they hope to-

Berserker X crossed the distance to it in three quick strides, tore it loose from the metal with one jerk of his left hand, and hurled it with all of his might straight upwards.

So quick were his actions, the internal anti-tampering devices set off the trigger precisely one second after it had been removed, and it finally exploded thankfully high enough in the sky to not cause any damage.

Waver Velvet and Rider stared up at the massive smoke cloud a while longer before slowly tilting their gazes down to a grumpy, bored Berserker X. "There," he huffed. "Done. Let's go find some more Archer X's."

"A fine plan of action, Kenpachi!" The King of Conquerors laughed heartily as his friend climbed up onto the Wheel. "Let us settle our petty quarrel by moving as a united front onwards! And the first who spots an Archer X may claim her as his!"

That offer mollified the fight-loving Heroic Spirit as expected, and the "Wheel of Heaven's Authority" carried both off joking away for the next battle while its third occupant just cradled his face in his hands. Of course, Rider would appreciate this kind of solution…

-56:42:58

The telltale rattling of a minigun sounded through the night, multiple shells clattering to the pavement. The Tohsaka manor's Bounded Field flickered from the rounds battering against it, bolts of mana sparking out into the night, but none had yet to pierce it. Lancer X weaved among the barrage, green magik dancing along her body as she released Promise Keeper. The Noble Phantasm spun in a wide arc that first sliced off one Archer X's hand and then embedded itself into the minigun's barrels. The damaged firearm promptly burst apart, its owner forced to drop it and then cross her arms to block the strike that followed.

Edenian Sojourner Staff broke its target's right ulna with an audible crack before it whirled around for another swing that decapitated the Tex Drone. Lancer X then sidestepped the stomp kick from one of her two other foes, the one now missing a hand. She parried the succeeding knife jabs and slashes with her Staff before stabbing it into the ground to vault over the duplicate and lash out with a magik-enhanced double kick strong enough to reduce her torso to pulp. She landed just as the final Tex Drone who brandished a semiautomatic.

Jade leaped again to strike her head with her staff, then teleported behind her while summoning Promise Keeper back into her hand. The collapsed blades sank into the Drone's back before being dragged down along her spine. Next the Edenian warrior teleported again to the staggering clone's front and unfurled her Noble Phantasm's blades while slicing her throat open, then tossed it high, caught it, stabbed it into her head and finished the combo with a charged kick that pulverized her.

She returned to a standing form but kept both of her Noble Phantasms deployed. 'Are there any more in the area?'

'Not at the moment,' Tokiomi's voice replied from inside the manor. 'The defenses are holding as well, and I've searched every inch inside. There's no trace of any sort of explosives, just as I said.'

'Perhaps,' Lancer X forced herself not to return the agitation in her Master's last words, 'but it pays to make sure when dealing with shifty opponents.' She walked cautiously along the perimeter, tracking the sounds of battle coming from the city. 'What of the other rogues?'

Inside his workshop, the Tohsaka Master loomed over his desk, a set of special gems arrayed atop a map of Fuyuki. He watched the gems' movement attentively, noting which one was represented by which Servant. Masters couldn't be discerned due to them having less pronounced mana signatures, and Archer X's duplicates were proving difficult to trace, but he'd managed to get a general with a peculiar powder an uncle of his had produced forty-one years ago by crushing mana-charged quartz. 'Rider X and Avenger X both appear to be on the move, but neither one has engaged in battle themselves. Curious…' Tokiomi stroked his goatee pensively while watching an amethyst and dark ruby move across the map.

'With respect, Master, I'm not sure letting Archer move out alone will be enough to quell this attack on the city.' He noted Lancer X's deliberately neutral tone, as well as a slight hesitation unlike her. 'He may have chosen to go of his own volition but didn't display more motivation than usual. Seeing as the grounds are currently secure, perhaps I should depart as well to aid the other Servants.' There it was again, the slight waiting where she would normally be more decisive in her words.

It's like she's more trepid with me now, as if she expects us to begin arguing again with one wrong word. Tokiomi considered. Well, considering how our last debate ended… His eyes followed the tourmaline lazily moving through the Shinto district before moving down.

He should've been pleased that his Servant was holding her tongue around him, and that she was actually awaiting orders rather than just rushing off on her own as Archer had. That was how a familiar was supposed to act around its Master. But… Tokiomi found himself missing her dry wit and assertiveness. It didn't sit right with him to see Jade forcing herself to act so docile, as if she were back in Outworld, trying not to incite Shao Kahn's wrath.

Besides, he knew what her true aim would be if she left the grounds. His turquoise gaze lifted again to stare at a certain spot in Miyama Town.

Outside, Lancer X sensed another explosion occurring further away, but her attention kept shifting towards somewhere a bit closer, thankfully untouched by Archer X's rampage. She had been wrestling with herself throughout the entire day not to barge into the Matou house and rip Sakura free of Zouken's filthy hands. But she still had enough sense to realize the cretin wouldn't take notice of Servants running amuck without taking precautions in case of Archer X throwing a stray explosive at his home. Jade didn't need anyone to tell her that charging recklessly into enemy terrain was a foolish move.

However, she sensed her restraint eroding with passing minute as her mind dredged up all sorts of vivid-

'Jade, I need you to listen to me carefully,' Tokiomi's voice thankfully broke through her imagination, and the Servant's agitation ceased slightly as she registered her Master addressing her by her True Name. 'I have a very important task for you.'

-56:40:52

A Kiritsugu-Shadow Clone ducked even further into the power station's shadows, fingers wrapped tightly around the wire clippers. He'd believed himself lucky at moving solo while following Bull's lead to this explosive, but then two of Archer X's clones had appeared close to the area locked in battle with one of Assassin X's, then three more black-armored thugs had dropped in out of nowhere and overwhelmed him. Good thing it wasn't the real one…

And instead of moving on, they were remaining at the station and slowly combing through each part of it. Do they know I'm here? Kiritsugu wondered despite trying to focus on the bomb's mechanics. No, they would've found me by now. More likely, they're just making sure nobody stumbles upon their little surprise here by accident or otherwise.

He huddled into his corner, gauging the device strapped to the station's main systems. If it were to go off, all of the power in this block of Shinto would go off, causing even more of a panic. A sound guerilla strategy, and between the pack's reports of other locations where they'd found bombs (as well as those who detonated too quickly to be reached or for them to be disarmed), the Mage Killer was beginning to recognize a familiarity. She isn't just demolishing random buildings, he contemplated while sorting through the wires, she's targeting the city's crucial points: power, communication, water supply. Classic guerilla playbook. The Hyatt was just a personal sore spot to Archer X… and maybe a message at me. She could be trying to tell me I'm not the only one who knows to fight this kind of war.

Kiritsugu cut through the wire Maiya's clone had indicated a couple of minutes ago; her intel had expedited the dismantling process for quite a few others. But his previous thoughts wouldn't go away. She obviously blames Saber and Assassin X for Lancer's death, so I'm most likely on her kill list, too. She stole my equipment and the oil tanker, and I can see some of my components in this explosive. Does she want to frame me? Is she trying to draw my original out into the open? Or is all this just a mask to cover up her sanity unravelling?

Either way, the timer was out of commission… but he could hear footsteps approaching. Two sets of footsteps, from either side, and even if these copies were weaker than the original, Kiritsugu still couldn't hope to take one on, let alone five. Well, the Shadow Clone could release himself, but they could just as easily fix the wire and start it up again. Damnit…

That's when the footsteps stopped, and only then did Kiritsugu recognize a new presence.

"I have little interest in tromping into this filthy place, so do yourselves a favor and come out now, ants." Gilgamesh, King of Heroes, stood before the power station, arms crossed in front of his chest and an impatient glare adorning his eyes. The building suddenly exploding hadn't escaped his notice, and he'd initially been tempted to see just what sort of entertainment his counterpart could provide. But now as they stormed full of bravado out of the building, he felt disappointment wash over them. Pitiful.

One Drone stomped forward and cracked first her knuckles, then her neck, the others following suit. "Well, look who finally decided to get off of his gold-lacquered ass. What say we find out who's the top Archer in this Grail War?"

"I thought that'd be obvious," the one on her far left sneered as she trained her missile pod on their target. One shot out instantly, the projectile leaving smoke in its wake as it hurtled through the air, only to be intercepted by a golden portal. Smoke billowed from the impact.

The clouds swiftly cleared to reveal the King of Heroes hadn't moved an inch. "Indeed."

A set of fingers in golden gauntlets snapped, and multiple flashes of gold were the last thing the Tex Drone quintet saw.

"As though I would waste my time with a contest of power against a gaggle of black ants." Archer eyed the roof wreckage and body parts skewered by his treasures fading way before closing his crimson eyes with a dismissive scoff. "It seems I overestimated the female mutt."

He turned away, his eyes opening again to glare in the direction of his "Master's" home. All of this noise had done little to distract him from the fact that Tokiomi had been stringing him along from the beginning to be his weapon and sacrifice. Archer had half a mind to return to the manor and decorate its walls with a certain arrogant little magus' entrails. That green minx of a partner of mine may protest this… or she may decide to join me in the pastime if I reveal the truth to her as well. His lips shifted into a wolfish grin. Oh, that would be a fine sight to enjoy with a bit of wine. It's the loyal ones who always suffer the most when betrayed.

But just as he would've considered making his musings reality, a familiar presence prickled against the back of his mind. Humming in curiosity, Archer turned away from the manor and slipped into spirit form, following a familiar sound.

A few seconds later, Kiritsugu Emiya's Shadow Clone walked out of the station, cradling a disassembled explosive. He sighed while surveying his ravaged surroundings. "I suppose Heroic Spirits have their uses after all."

The central building's back wall was reduced to smithereens as a Tex Drone crashed through it. She tumbled cursing along the floor as her attacker stomped in after her. Berserker X pulled back his sheathed sword with a smirk. "There's more where that came from, princess."

He made to draw his nodachi free when she flipped to her feet and brandished a combat knife. "When I'm through with you, you're gonna need that eyepatch for real, nutjob!" she promised while lunging at him.

Back outside, Rider had left Waver alone on his chariot to grapple with another duplicate. She wasn't quite as strong as the original Archer X, but she still carried her combat training and knowledge. She slipped under his meaty arms and drove an elbow into his nose, making him stagger slightly back as she drew forth a shotgun and pressed it under his chin.

But Iskandar had honed martial skills of his own throughout his many conquests. He slipped loose of the gun's barrel even as it fired, kneed her in the stomach, and brought down his spatha roaring. It cut through the armored shoulder and into her chest, then Rider struck the Tex Drone with his fist to send her to the ground. His blade was wrenched free by the motion, and he finished her with a stomp of his right foot. No need to prolong her suffering.

The Drone still inside the building with Berserker X tried to run her knife through his throat, but it only bounced off without leaving so much as a scratch. He only scoffed while ceasing to draw his sword; too much effort for a scrub who couldn't even get past his Mana Burst. So, he smacked its handle against her helmet hard enough to shatter the visor and knock her back down, then crushed her with one overhead swing.

Kenpachi turned away from the dissipating mangled body with a bored huff. "They're not much trouble on their own," he grumbled, swinging his blade up onto his shoulder, "but this hide-and-seek game's getting boring-" A Bang from down the hall cut him off, making him glance over with a "hm?"

A third Tex Drone fired again, the white-haired woman's body turning into smoke from the impact. "What the hell was that all about…?" She muttered before shrugging. "Eh, who gives a shit, the bitches moved quick and quiet, don't they…?" She checked the device strapped to the center building's supporting structure, then moved on for the rest when satisfied. A skyscraper this big falling over, at just the right angle, was bound to crush any others in its wake like a set of dominoes.

A good plan, and the building was almost entirely empty, which should have meant no heroic idiots trying to mess up the game plan. But then while this Drone trio had been distracted by Rider and Berserker X arriving in the center's vicinity, the white doll Saber had taken everywhere with her and her other bodyguard had somehow slipped in and found their payloads. Worse, they had successfully disarmed all except the last one before the Tex Drone found and got rid of them.

Okay, it doesn't look like they had the time to dismantle them, she considered as she approached a disabled explosive. If it's just a couple of clipped wires, I can patch them up no problem- Then a tremor swept through the floor that almost made the solider lose her footing. What the- She whirled around to check on the only active bomb. There's still a minute on the thing! The wall on her left crumbled, and she drew sighing her gun. Of fucking course.

The wall burst into dust and rubble as the Gordius Wheel's bovines trampled through the wall and turned a pair of desks into toothpicks, but Archer X's clone was already firing her gun. "Whoa!" Rider grunted while just barely leaning away, one round singing part of his beard.

Berserker X, on the other hand, batted away the bullets near him with his sword before deciding to throw it. The Tex Drone had no time to react as the chipped, impromptu javelin soared through the room to sink into her chest and pin her to the wall. A crater formed from her impact, and she weakly tried to reach for the bandaged handle protruding from her until its wielder crossed the distance and pulled the entire nodachi upwards, splitting her in half.

"Remind me to thank Qrow for that move." Kenpachi flicked the blade clean before whistling at the many bombs around them. "Where the hell did she get all of this crap?"

"Well, at least we know how she was able to disperse them across this city in so little time," Iskandar noted as he hopped off of the chariot and leaned down to inspect one. "Impressive how something so tiny could unleash such destruction and panic." He poked its digital clock with a finger. "But it seems someone was already here before us and disabled them. Fortune smiles on us still…" A sad smile twitched above his beard.

Waver had left the Wheel, too, and was idly staring at another while bracing himself against the wall. He couldn't really see anything broken about the device other than its frozen timer, and he didn't sense any traces of mana on it. What kind of magus would know how to disarm a bomb without using magecraft? He wondered, frowning while he looked at another…

And his eyes widened like dinner plates at the timer counting down. "T-that one!" The Servants turned to see their young Master pointing at the bomb. "I-It's still active, and there's only fifteen seconds left!" He hurried back towards the Gordius Wheel. "We need to leave-"

But neither Heroic Spirit joined him. In fact, they were now looming over the bomb. "What do you suppose the odds are, this one going boom will make the others go boom too?" Berserker X had never had problems before heavy thinking to other people, but he didn't need to be a scientist to have a bad feeling.

Rider, who likewise hadn't paid much attention to his science tutors, shared his apprehension. "A mite too high for my liking." He frowned at the broad room. "And judging by their placement, they're meant to collapse the entire structure." Nine seconds left. The Gordius Wheel could easily carry them to safety in that time, but many lives would be lost, admittedly not an outcome he could stomach easily. The King of Conquerors knew casualties were a companion of all wars, but there was nothing to praise in Archer X's wanton murder.

He also knew, though, that there was a difference in operating a game controller and dealing with this explosive, especially with only five seconds remaining. He looked hopefully to Kenpachi and almost felt his hopes dashed at his friend's frown… when an idea came to him.

"No window to throw it out this time, maybe I can smash some holes in the- Hey!" Berserker X's mutterings were cut off as his partner shoved him onto the bomb just as the timer reached zero. Waver ducked desperately into the Wheel's seat and covered his head-

A dull boom sounded through the room.

The budding magus opened his eyes to see he was still in one piece and hesitantly pulled himself up (thanking whatever benevolent deities out there that his pants remained dry) to look coughing around. Aside from the smoke gathering around and setting off the fire alarms, the room and by extension the building was miraculously undamaged. He slumped relieved back against the Gordius Wheel before realizing that meant Rider must still be alive too.

But that still left one person unaccounted for. Waver released a weak wind spell to disperse some of the smoke. Sure enough, Rider stood unharmed, beaming about at his idea having been a success. Berserker X was crouching over the crumbling wall, though, smoke wafting from him. He slowly turned around just as either began to worry…

And they saw his entire front covered in a little soot but otherwise just fine. A hand reached up to wipe some black off of his face, revealing a mouth set in a straight line and a flat gaze. "Okay," Kenpachi Zaraki finally muttered, "that was honestly the most fun I've had all night."

Waver just sighed against the rails as Rider laughed in triumph. "Well, I've had plenty of excitement for tonight," the former grumbled, "and we might as well get going so you two can fill your bloody quotas." He waved his hand towards the hole they'd made to get here.

The Macedonian King jovially clapped his slightly shorter partner on the back, dislodging some soot. "And our Master has finally understood how we think, what an adventure! Oh, don't give me that look, Kenpachi, I trusted you would be too powerful to let a measly explosion like that do you in."

"Uh huh, well next time, you can hug the damn bomb." Berserker X was smiling as he said that, though, and they walked in good nature back to their transport. There was no point in trying to mess with the deactivated bombs themselves, between the alarms and the noise, professionals would be here soon. The trio were ready to leave with this small victory.

…When they sensed a new presence entering the room.

Saber's wrist twitched on the handlebars, the Yamaha V-Max accelerating even more. She ducked underneath a lobbed grenade just before it exploded a couple of feet behind her. Two more duplicates of Archer X were speeding along the street of Shinto's western outskirt, each piloting a Suzuki LT500 "quadzilla." She'd encountered them near the Civic Center in Shinto, one trying to blast it and its panicking occupants apart with a rocket launcher, and given chase.

The ATVs rumbled smoothly along despite their riders' weight; under normal circumstances, their max speed of a little over 130 km/h wouldn't have been enough to outpace the inhuman speeds of Saber's motorcycle. But upon pilfering them and some very high-quality fuel tanks, Texas had performed a few of her own modifications with her Engineer Skill, turbocharging the Suzuki's to far beyond their regular performance. Granted, a few minutes of that kind of driving would melt the engines down to slag, but, well, they were rentals.

Besides, the rockets, grenades and other nasty surprises they dropped behind themselves also hampered Saber somewhat. The mountain wall on her right suddenly blew apart, and heavy chunks of rock began raining down towards her. Keeping her left hand on its handle, the King of Knights drew her sword and swiftly sliced them to pebbles. The dust cloud generated in the process, though, obscured her sight, and it was only her Instinct that allowed her to dodge the next rocket.

Saber gritted her teeth as it whistled past her and struck the road. At least five cars and one truck had already been wrecked during this chase despite her best efforts. She had to put an end to this. She willed her blade away and engaged the Yamaha's throttle, her speed increasing within seconds as she tore down the road. The sudden acceleration made the bike's front wheel jump upwards and with her slim build and weight, she might've been thrown off. Instead, Saber kept an iron grip on the handles, and a quick application of Mana Burst kept both wheels turning on the asphalt. Soon, she began closing the distance to her prey, which wasn't lost on the latter two. The Tex Drone not lugging a rocket launcher with her summoned an SMG and leaned back to let loose. Bullets zipped past Saber, one tearing part of her suit's left shoulder, another grazing her cheek, and a few coming dangerously close to her ride's engine. She reluctantly reduced speed slightly to dodge the rapid fire, widening the gap again.

The SMG soon began emitting a clicking sound, indicating it was empty, but then the other Archer X swung around her armament and fired one-handed. The rocket blasted the road behind them apart, almost throwing Saber and the Yamaha over the side. She sucked in a breath, swung her entire bike around in midair with Mana Burst, the momentum behind her swing carrying her back, and smoothly drove on the moment both wheels touched the ground.

A metallic creaking slipped out, barely noticeable over the surrounding noises, but Saber's ears picked it up, nonetheless. She spared a glance at her ride: there were a few scratches in the chassis from Archer X's bullets, but the real damage was self-inflicted, she realized. Even if the motorcycle can reach higher velocities than a regular model, it's still comprised of average materials. It can't handle me driving this fast at a sustained duration. But, she rounded a corner without slowing, if I decelerate, they will escape me.

Artoria Pendragon would wonder later if the next idea would've been inspired by her partner's knack for out-of-the-box thinking. But at the moment, she settled for concentrating.

One of the Tex Drones glanced behind her Suzuki just in time to see a glow surround Saber. "The hell…?" Fierce winds seemed to shroud the blonde woman's bike, solidifying into sleek silver metal that wrapped itself around the front, back and sides of the vehicle.

Saber noted pleased the creaking had stopped, hence her gambit had paid off. She had never tried adorning anything or anyone other than herself in her armor before but using Invisible Air as a buffer had aided the process a great deal. And unlike any ordinary reinforcement, this did nothing to impede the Yamaha's speed, quite the contrary. Now she could go full throttle without worrying about it being shredded apart by the velocity.

And as a bonus, it also rendered the motorcycle impervious to the freshly reloaded SMG's rounds. The Drone emptied its entire magazine before cursing at it doing absolutely nothing. The silver blur drew closer once again, and this time, it didn't seem like blowing up the road would make a difference.

As copies of "Archer X," both Tex Drones shared her aggression and hatred for that blonde little Heroic Spirit. So, them promptly forcing their Suzuki's into screeching U-turns that would render them junk within the next minute came as no surprise. But for the moment, both bikes were still functional, and that was all they needed. "Let's crush her!" One snarled.

"Hell, yeah!" Both gunned their ATVs and drew forth new guns as they barreled down on Saber.

Despite this, the corner of her lip twitched. "Challenging the King of Knights to a jousting match? Brave of you." She revved her engine anew. "Foolish, but brave."

The Yamaha in its current state easily outpaced the ravaged bikes, allowing Saber to split one alongside its passenger in half with one swing of her sword while passing her. That Drone didn't even get the chance to pull her rifle's trigger.

The other one, by contrast, swung her Suzuki cursing around and opened fire with her minigun, but Saber crouched low and swerved into a smooth U-turn, rounds flying over her, then charged forward. Once in range, she thrust her veiled steel forward like a short lance. With her current speed, it blasted straight through the heavy gun and the Archer X's torso.

Artoria shifted left and came to a graceful stop, surveying her handiwork. Both duplicates faded away as she watched, and their vehicles were… no longer vehicles. She looked back at the road and winced a little at the damage her pursuit had left in its wake. Fortunately, it didn't seem like any civilian vehicles were close by, thus no more witnesses or casualties caused. Still, the chase had taken her a fair distance from the city, and she needed to head back. Quickly. Saber started up her engine and began speeding back, maintaining her beloved ride's protective casing in the process. It cost more mana, but her speed was well worth it.

What would be a good name for this combination? Part of her mind wondered idly despite her driving and the situation. Saber Motored Cuirassier… Yes, that has a certain ring to it.

-56:29:24

Kariya Matou ducked out of sight as something bounced off of Caster X's magical shield with a high-pitched sound. A misshapen lump of metal clattered to the ground. And here I thought being pinned down by sniper fire only happened in the damn movies, the Master sighed to himself as two more Archer X's approached them.

The Matou Master's team had been heading for the house he'd called home long, long ago as soon as the sun had gone down. But then the bombings happened, they sensed Archer X's presence, and two of the Servant attacked their car. Berserker and Gandalf dealt with them quickly enough, but the latter insisted they stop the real one before they sunder all of Fuyuki. Kariya had been admittedly reluctant to pass up the opportunity, but he knew Sakura, Rin and Aoi would never look at him the same way if he let a crazy Servant destroy their city just because it was less convenient. And he mightn't be able to look at himself in the mirror.

Assassin X had passed through and hurriedly elaborated on the situation before following some weird dog, leaving them with enough knowledge about Archer X's duplicates and explosives. Gandalf managed to track down another one of each and summoned a barrier to contain the latter's explosion while Berserker snapped the former's neck, then their trail had taken them to Fuyuki's resident sacred mountain.

And home to one of the evocation points for the Holy Grail, but it didn't seem like Archer X knew or cared about that fact. Rather, her doppelgangers' aim, the wizard and knight discerned quickly and much to their concern, had been to set off a series of explosions along Enzou's side and cause a rockslide that would crush multiple homes and countless people.

Luck was on the team's side, though: the mountain's Bounded Field continued to prevent Servants of any kind or origin from moving around on it except for the path to Ryuudou Temple. That apparently included second-rate knockoffs, seeing as Kariya and Gandalf had stumbled upon a group of three cursing up a storm as they tried and failed to climb up through Enzou's forest. They confronted the trio only to find there was a fourth a fair distance away with a sniper rifle at the ready. Gandalf's hat sacrificed itself to alert them to the latter fact.

Now, the Grey Wizard had enveloped himself and his Master inside a white bubble as two of the Archer X's advanced on them while firing their handguns and the third was running up the path stairs, a sling of explosives by her side. None of the bullets had broken through the shield yet, but it kept them pinned to the spot. Still, neither Kariya nor Caster X were worried. There was a reason only the two were there, after all.

On a rooftop two kilometers away, a Tex Drone was exchanging an empty clip on her rifle for a fresh one. Her actions were so ingrained she could perform them even while taking her surroundings into account. Almost two hours had gone by, and the city wasn't even half as damaged as their estimations had gone. Even that bastard Assassin X couldn't have found and stopped so many of the bombs on his own. What the hell was going on-?

Too late did the Drone realize while sliding in her new clip that she had company. One precise blow to the back of her neck shattered it, and a gauntlet shrouded in darkness reached over her vanishing body for the fallen rifle.

A second later, a bullet sped through the air and pierced its target.

"What the-" One Tex Drone swore as her partner collapsed onto the sidewalk with a smoking hole in her head. But before she could react, Caster X dispersed his shield and cut her down with Glamdring.

At the same time on Mt. Enzou, the final Drone had stopped climbing the stairs halfway. She had been testing the Bounded Field for any holes or gaps and come up short, but a new idea struck her. Okay, she loosened the sling of explosives around her torso, even if this stupid barrier doesn't let Servants walk around, maybe it'll still let their equipment slip through. She hefted the collection her original had plundered from that asshole's garage. Especially if it's man-made.

She primed the charges and began whirling the whole set around like a lasso. Even with her proportionately lesser strength, the Tex Drone could easily reach a nice rocky outcropping on the right side. The stones there were bound to make a lovely avalanche.

The mountain's many trees and Bounded Field made it hard for a certain black-armored sniper to find his final target, and he finally caught a bead and pulled the trigger just as the Tex Drone released her grip on the payload. The sniper round went clean through her throat, but the explosives flew nonetheless through the air.

Gandalf's eyes could see far more clearly than those of any human, and his widened upon seeing what was headed for the mountainside's largest outcropping. He raised his staff and hoped his range would suffice when something dark sped through the air and penetrated all of the explosives in one swift move. They detonated in midair, far from the rocks and thereby preventing any avalanche. The Istar joined his Master in staring in disbelief for a moment before turning his head with a relieved smile. 'Well done, Sir.'

Further away, Berserker lowered his new rifle with an almost modest tilt of his head. 'Please, it was- Gandalf, watch out!'

Red flashed over his partner and friend.

Assassin X leaped and rolled while dropping a few smoke pellets, making his airborne attacker's shots go wide. He flipped to a crouching position in time to see Rider X's aerial mode veer back around for another run. But the Archer X rushing towards him left him little chance to do anything. The battle atop the roofs of Mount Miyama would've made an engaging scene for any onlookers, but the shopping district was thankfully bare.

The shinobi ducked under a burst from her assault rifle before leaning away just as its butt would've struck his chin, kunai spinning in his right fingertips. That's when his earpiece crackled before Ūhei's voice filtered through. "Kakashi, I found the bomb and disarmed it. Wasn't easy, but it shouldn't be a problem no more."

"Good work, Ūhei," he whispered back while sinking one kunai into his opponent's right arm and slashing her shoulder with another. Maiya's suggestion that the boys could try to disable the explosives as well as find them had gone a long way in making the search easier. She kind of has a knack for out-of-the-box thinking given the chance. Granted, they had never dealt with such devices back home, but with a little coaching from Maiya and Kiritsugu's clones (hurried though the lessons had been), they managed to have some success. Never underestimate the dexterity of a dog's fangs.

A bullet grazed his leg, cutting off his thoughts. The Archer X adjusted her left-handed aim to his head. "Okay, seeing as you're not going Poof from that scratch, I guess I've got me the real deal here." The next shot blasted Assassin X's blade from his hands. "Lucky me."

The Copy Ninja's eyes briefly traveled to his right, then he said, "If you say so." before flipping backwards. The Tex Drone had no time to react as Rider X barreled down on them, blowing her and the roof to pieces with his blasters. Assassin X landed on one of the Chinese restaurant's remaining solid spots, watching it fade away. Looks like I don't share her luck. His Sharingan tracked the other attacker's flight path, and he hurled a spread of shuriken carrying paper bombs just as it made to turn again. Rider X isn't showing much care for his allies. Are relations between them getting tenser?

Either way, even with the bomb out of commission, the robotic Servant had more than enough power to level the district, and he certainly wouldn't care about casualties any more than Archer X did. I don't have much od in my current state, Assassin X readied his Lightning Blade, but I'll just have to make do.

The silver aircraft soared slightly singed out of the smoke cloud, but then it suddenly decelerated to turn. Before Assassin X could react, Rider X increased his thrusters again, heading east. What's he up to now?

Avenger X adjusted his grip with a sneer, pushing Crimson Dawn with more strength down onto his prey. Caster X grunted as he took a step backwards, his staff pressed against Glamdring to try and hold off the red beam. His reflexes are better than expected, but he cannot beat me in a match of strength.

Then the wizard suddenly shifted his hold on his staff, causing the wood to spin around and strike against the Sith's knee. Its cybernetic nature prevented the blow from inflicting pain, but it still forced the joint to ben slightly, allowing Caster X to slip away from the lock and counterattack with his sword. Maul quickly compensated for his imbalance, though, and used his lightsaber to parry the slash before swinging its other blade upwards. Caster X shifted away from the humming crimson energy even as it incinerated some hairs of his beard, then narrowly countered three more slashes with Glamdring before thrusting his staff at a gap.

Avenger X leaped over the wood while slashing yet again, then landed on his feet to spin Crimson Dawn. Four bullets melted away under his precise slashes. He rolled chuckling his shoulders, swinging his weapon to behind him. "You're a capable warrior…" He tilted his head out of the way of another shot, "for a Caster." He took a step towards his panting enemy while idly twirling the lightsaber. "But I sense Berserker is the better combatant between the two of you," the bloodred blur intercepted more bullets, "and by the time he gets here, it will be far too late, wizard." The fallen Sith stretched out his free hand, fingers curling.

Gandalf the Gray sensed the mana swelling before him and swiftly raised his staff to counter. Twin invisible pressures clashed in the space between the Servants, warping the air until it burst like a bubble. Kariya Matou, the Master who could do little more than watch and try to keep up with the battle, was nearly thrown off his feet. Both combatants staggered back from the release, a wooden staff planting on the ground for its wielder to find purchase. Caster X shuffled over to in front of his kneeling Master, neither taking their eyes off of their assailant. "You should not be too hasty with such assumptions, dark one," the wizard retorted as he readied his weapons. "Your Master should have warned you I am not so easy to kill."

Master… Kariya's eyes narrowed at the connections. Of course! Zouken must've set all of this up to give his Servants a shot at killing Gandalf and tormenting me!

"Oh, so you know whom I call Master, do you?" Darth Maul settled back into a crouch, both hands wrapping around his Noble Phantasm's hilt. He should've known The Force would not be so potent against a Servant specializing in sorcery, but the anger and agitation from that crippled worm of a Master spurred him on. "You should've chosen your enemies more wisely, old one. And your allies." The ground shattered beneath his feet as he pounced, both hands snapping up to summon a small whirlwind of debris and metal around Caster X.

His staff's glowed as he warded off the attack, but he realized it had been a feint. Avenger X landed behind him and in front of Kariya, stabbing his energy blade down-

Only for a flash of green energy to appear.

Avenger X halted his thrust to parry the glowing rod that nearly struck his nose, but he couldn't stop the kick to his midsection. He staggered cursing backwards and almost let himself be run through by Caster X's sword in the process. Another leap carried him away from the two, but the newcomer -Lancer X- followed him to clash her staff against Crimson Dawn's blades. He pushed her off just before a bullet sliced open his temple.

Lancer X landed on the ground simultaneously with Berserker appearing before his Master, smoke wafting from his new sniper rifle. The female Servant spared him a glance, but he made no move against her, so she turned back to where Avenger X crouched. "It seems Caster X chose his allies better than you give him credit for."

The Servant of Vengeance snarled at the lot of them, furious that Kariya Matou had escaped death. That would've left Berserker without a Master, and he would've left this world or become a tentative ally. Or so Avenger X had believed. Now, though, he sensed far less rage within the black knight than he had the night before. Or rather, it was still there with his madness, but he was somehow suppressing it now. He, or…

The Son of Dathomir's glare focused on the old one that had joined his Master's side. Zouken should have never let that being live this long. But it was too late to lament, and Darth Maul had always relished battle. "Then one by one," Crimson Dawn was a blur, "you shall all fall."

"Well, I should tell you," Lancer X replied with an audible smirk, "I was merely the fastest to arrive."

A blaze of mana surged down upon Avenger X, and he barely turned in time to a demon bathed in golden energy hurtling towards him with a sword as feral as its smile.

The collision released a shockwave powerful enough to make even the watching Servants back away. Kariya would've fallen over again if his Servants weren't holding him steady. "What the… was that… Berserker X?" He mumbled in shock.

A crack of lightning preempted any response he might've received. "Good to see you again, Mithrandir!" The Master turned around to see Rider's chariot swooping down to land beside him and the others, its pilot raising a hand in greeting. "A shame that circumstances are such tense, or else I would invite you and your partner for another round of wine!"

Gandalf returned his smile while bowing his head. "The offer is well appreciated, Iskandar King," he answered graciously, "as is your partner's assistance." He turned a bit to where the only female present stood. "I assume Lancer X told you both of our current struggle?"

"Well, I was already on my way to meet with you three," Jade explained, "but then my Master sensed Avenger X's presence nearing yours, so I decided a quick detour was in order." She bowed her head as well to the chariot. "You, Berserker X and your Master have my thanks as well, King of Conquerors." The Servant's title aside, she could tell this one was a far less malicious soul than Shao Kahn.

"No need for thanks…" Waver Velvet muttered while swaying into view. I think my stomach's getting used to the constant take-offs and landings of this typhoon on two wheels. Not that's a good thing, though…

Rider laughed, slapping his Master on the back. "Indeed, we are the one who should be grateful to you, Lancer X! After all," his red eyes gleamed with a promise for violence, "that Servant killed a good friend and drinking partner of mine."

"Yeah, thanks. Now go on and get outta here." Berserker X's voice rumbled from the crater he'd made. The dust finally cleared to reveal the brutish Servant pushing his shorter, clearly unhappy opponent to one knee, sparks flying from their locked blades. "We've got some unfinished business with hornhead here, and you lot will only get in the way."

The other Berserker bristled from the comment, or rather, pretended to. Ever since Gandalf had deactivated his Mad Enhancement, he wasn't quite so quick to throw himself at his enemies (or his King), but Lancelot had decided to keep up appearances. He stood a better chance of surprising their enemies if they still believed him to be unreasonable, after all.

The Gordius Wheel rumbled past them towards the crater before Rider hopped off, drawing his sword as well. Waver remained at his spot but watched attentively. "As Kenpachi says, this is our battle now," the King of Conquerors agreed. "I'm certain that you all have more important matter s to deal with, such as Archer X's antics." He stopped briefly to glance over his shoulder, his tone lowering to a more respectful one. "You most of all, Mithrandir."

The Grey Wizard acknowledged this with a nod and a grateful smile. "All paths of a King inherently carry flaws," he noted while accepting his retrieved hat from Kariya, "but welcoming Qrow Branwen in your quest was certainly not one of them, King of Conquerors."

The proud Servant's grin softened slightly, then he turned towards where Avenger X had slipped away from Kenpachi's steel and was obviously aiming to strike him in the back. That wouldn't do.

The rogue was given no time to regain his position as Rider slashed at him, forcing him to dodge instinctively. The Sword of the Kupriotes was no Noble Phantasm, Avenger X realized with a glance, so his lightsaber would make short work of it. But before he could make that a reality, Berserker X was already swinging at him too.

As another shockwave rippled out from the battle, those not involved did as they'd been advised and strode away. Kariya said, "Come, Berserker," while Caster X nodded to his partner, a quick act for his supposed madness that knight continued with a rattle of his armor and a growl. Best to keep up appearances, even if they were on amicable terms with Lancer X and Rider's team.

Once they'd reached their car, Kariya addressed the only Servant presently not affiliated with him. "You said you had a message for us, Lancer X?"

"From Tokiomi, yes." Jade noticed a slight tightening in the human's jaw, but that seemed to be the extent of his irritation. He's also in a bit better shape than usual despite having to keep up with his Servants… "I would ask that we discuss it in private."

"Of course, milady." Caster X opened the passenger for her and Kariya before nodding to Berserker who made for the driver's seat. The latter didn't possess Riding, but his Noble Phantasm still served as a surrogate well enough, especially now that he wasn't quite so… enthusiastic. Once inside, the wizard cast a spell over their car to prevent others from seeing or listening to what was inside the car.

As the Toyota drove off, another Servant stepped out of nowhere, twirling a black cap on his finger. "Hmm… an interesting development." Gilgamesh mumbled with a quizzical tilt. "Though I should have expected such surprises from you, Olórin. Perhaps you can even make Tokiomi a little less boring." His lips curled even while turning toward the sounds of battle.

Irisviel huddled nervously over her husband. "Can you do it, Kiritsugu?"

"I think I'm getting closer," the Mage Killer muttered through gritted teeth, trying not to take out his frustration on her. "Archer X really outdid herself with this one." He fiddled with a few wires, trying not to set off a failsafe and accidentally triggering a booby trap in the process. They were at an oil refinery right on the very outskirts south of Shinto. The complex itself wasn't very big, but the petroleum stored here was the main source of fuel for the entire city. All it would take to make the whole thing go up in flames was a sizable combustion in the right spot, and naturally Archer X knew just how to do it.

The Servant had planted a slightly larger version of her usual explosives onto the main fuel tank; if it were to detonate, the flames would instantly spread to the other reserves and blow the entire refinery off of Fuyuki's map. And as a bonus, she had made this one's workings even more complex than the others. Kiritsugu had already accidentally triggered it twice now, and seeing as he wasn't a Shadow Clone, there'd be no learning from the experience if third time was the charm.

He worked his way carefully around another booby trap, years of experience helping him suppress any anxiety when he glanced at the timer. 00:27. "I was hoping this wouldn't turn into a race-against-the-clock action cliché," Kiritsugu grumbled to himself.

It was just loud enough that Iri could hear it, though, and she couldn't help but giggle. "You mean like that one we watched on our fourth anniversary, the one that played in Germany with the ambassadors and the American special agent who was just on vacation?"

A smile crept on his face despite the tension. "That's the one. But this explosion won't be nearly as cheesy as the one Agent Steel prevented." He could still remember his exasperation back then when Iri had persisted in calling him that for the next couple of weeks. He'd welcomed it back then, though; nothing symbolized how far the homunculus had grown as a real person than a sense of humor.

He almost slapped himself as his clippers almost cut through the red wire. Damnit, I just determined that one to be a trap! Stupid, sentimental fool… The timer was reading 00:14, and he still wasn't sure if blue or yellow was for the trigger. His hands kept shifting between the two, he could already smell the petroleum burning, the explosion was bound to cripple the city for months, he'd lose his chance at the Holy Grail, sweat was gathering on his brow…

Then a cloth was against his skin, absorbing the moisture there. Kiritsugu spared a second to glance at Iri crouching next to him. She was showing her nerves more than he was, but she still gave him a little smile that silently said, "I believe in you."

The Mage Killer drew in a long breath before returning her smile, then returned to the explosive. 00:09. Okay, I know the yellow runs through there and connects to… But the blue warps around a dummy lead… Somehow, his mind shifted back to the right function. The machine that is Kiritsugu Emiya steadily worked through every step of the internal workings, rechecking every observation he had catalogued, cross-referencing it against those he and his released clones had already tampered with. 00:05. Even as his inner eye gazed at the blueprints spread out before it, the clippers were already sliding into position.

A twitch, and the wire was cut. Kiritsugu and Irisviel braced themselves for the final moment…

But no explosion came, and the timer shut off at 00:01 with a slight whirr. Kiritsugu finally let his shoulders slump. "Almost cut the yellow one."

His wife's giggles sounded just a little bit panicked, but she seemed otherwise alright. "A good thing you're not color-blind-" Her head jerked from a sudden impact.

"Iri!" Kiritsugu called out, his arms reaching out by reflex to catch her dead body when it disappeared with a Poof! Right, he told himself, she was just a Shadow Clone. Not the real one…

"Should've figured we'd find you here," Archer X (or rather, one of her) stepped into view, "Mage Killer." She took her left hand off of the smoking assault rifle to grab Kiritsugu by his coat's collar and hurl him away from the fuel tank. He landed with his shoulder first onto the asphalt with a grunt. "Well, look at that," the pseudo-Servant sneered as she sauntered, "you're not going Poof from just a little love tap, so that must mean you're the real deal."

Kiritsugu hauled himself groaning onto one knee, his hand reaching into his coat. "Lucky you."

"Lucky us." Two more shimmered into view behind him, cracking their knuckles. "We've got something special in mind just for you, pal." One growled down at him.

The other snagged hold of his right arm, stopping him from drawing the Contender. "If you had never summoned that Saber bitch and her pet," she snarled, "Lancer would still be alive."

He knew it was stupid to antagonize them, but Kiritsugu still scoffed. "You mean, alive and with you? Don't kid yourself." He glared at the three. "Sorry, yourselves. Lancer was doomed from the moment you abandoned him. If it hadn't been my Servants who had dealt with him, then another. One who probably wouldn't have bothered giving him a 'dignified' send-off."

The one on his left cracked him against the jaw, making lights dance before his eyes. He could barely make out a blurry orange visor in front of him while gloved hands gripped his face. "We're to bring you to the chief alive," the visor spat out, "but nobody said anything about bringing you in mint condition. Or in one piece, so if you're smart, you'll keep your trap shut."

Another stepped into his field of vision. "And look at that, you actually managed to disarm our special. Not bad, Mage Killer," she aimed a gun at the tank, "but you of all people ought to know there's more than one way to trigger an explosion."

"You should've lead with that…" Now both of Kiritsugu's arms were caught in iron grips. There was no way for him to make handsigns like this, and he didn't know any magecraft that could slip him free, either. Blood was trickling down his lip, but by some miracle his jaw was still intact, and his mind had cleared again.

He already knew he wasn't going to like what would happen next. "From one professional to another, the simple solutions are usually the best."

The Tex Drone scoffed at the jackass while readying her rocket launcher. "Way to state the-"

As has been previously noted, all of the Drones shared the original's temperament and thought process, which meant they all had all gotten so caught up with capturing Emiya and blowing up the refinery they'd failed to notice he was distracting them from a new arrival.

An engine's rumble was the first sign they had company before Saber burst out from the trees, the Yamaha's speed carrying her over the refinery's fence. The faux-Archer X was cut down by her sword while she was turning around. Both halves of the rocket launcher cluttered to the asphalt.

No sooner did the motorcycle's wheels touch were Saber already leaping off of it towards the other two. Kiritsugu ducked as his Servant crashed into them, the momentum pushing all three through the metal fence and back out of the woods. Smart, the Master acknowledged a little grudgingly while wiping some blood from his lips, she's taking the fight away from the refinery to minimize the risk.

Saber flipped gracefully to her feet in her armored dress to face her opponents. One Archer X now sported a bloody cut across her chest but was still eager to fight judging from how she squared her shoulders. She darted right before charging at her, knife glinting in the moonlight, while her partner summoned an assault rifle and fired at Saber. The blonde Servant dodged the bullets and slashed at the closer one who rolled under her swing and made for a jab. It glanced off of Saber's armor, and she cracked her invisible sword's hilt against her helmet, downing the bigger Servant before she sliced through more bullets. The other Tex Drone kept firing with one hand while materializing a grenade in her other, but as she made to yank out the pin with her thumb, something struck her shoulder hard enough to make her spin slightly with a "Fuck!" Saber didn't bother questioning it as she charged.

Kiritsugu snapped the Thompson Contender to the side to clear its smoke and eject the spent cartridge. So, the Rounds can work on a Servant. Or at least, an artificial one.

The Tex Drone bit back a scream as she dropped her weapons from the pain. She'd been shot before and knew such injuries could be a bitch, but this was different. She could feel the hole was sealed up again, and there wasn't any blood, but it was still… wrong. Her arm's nerves and blood vessels weren't working anymore. It was like some quack had popped out of nowhere to patch her up and botched the job! "What the hell did he shoot me wi-" Shunk.

Saber understood fully well that they couldn't afford to play around with these terrorists, and they had already spat upon honor with their destructive undertakings. She didn't need any "encouragement" from her Master to sink her sword through the clone's chest while she was distracted. She didn't even have words to spare while making to pull her blade out.

An arm in black armor snaked around her head and pulled her into the bleeding chest, however. "What?!" Saber tried to push herself free, but another weight crashed against her back, trapping her between the two masses. The other Archer X?! I thought she was down!

The Tex Drone glared down at the smaller Servant through her mangled helmet while pulling her "sister" into a tight hug. "The boss already told you…"

The other finished as mana danced about them. "Like hell am I going down that easy!"

Artoria was technically stronger than the two of them together, but they'd sandwiched her in such a way that she couldn't use her strength right. She squirmed and struggled between the Drones, her eyes widening upon registering the multiple grenades falling around them. A suicide move to take me with them?! Her struggles doubled; she didn't want to test her armor against so many point-blank explosions. But the knight still couldn't get loose even as pins clattered to the grass…

Watching from afar, Kiritsugu's eyes narrowed.

The King of Knights blinked in surprise. One moment, she had been struggling against the two Archer X's restraining her, then mana had surged about her…

And now she stood near Kiritsugu Emiya who had pocketed his gun and was walking back towards the fuel tank. Part of the forest exploded, making her spin around, but it was far enough from the refinery to not cause any trouble. She turned back to her Master and adjusted her gaze to see one of the Command Seals on his right hand had faded. Did he just… save my life?

Kiritsugu Emiya busied himself with pulling the detonator loose from the bomb before him, then finally met her perplexed face with a cold gaze. "We still have a lot of work ahead," was all that came from his mouth.

But Saber understood the message in those dark eyes perfectly: "Don't make me regret this."

She nodded once and replied in an even tone, "Then let's not waste time." This was about the best cooperation the King of Knights and the Mage Killer could hope for with each other… but perhaps it may be enough.

-55:51:37

Agent Texas was not in a good mood. More than Two hours had passed since she'd started her attack, and the city was still standing! Only about twenty percent of the bombs she'd painstakingly put together and hidden all over both districts had gone off, and none of the damn enemy Servants were dead yet. In fact, she was running low on Tex Drones. She couldn't see or hear through them, but she did have an innate sense of how many were active at a time and when one was taken out. And after all the trouble I put into bringing them out!

100 Tex Battle was the weapon in Archer X's arsenal she hated using the most. Sure, it was great for boosting numbers, and even tapping into just a fraction of it helped her stop the Mage Killer's demolition effort (how ironic that she'd finish the job herself three nights later), but the damn clones were so much weaker than her. Sure, they had access to all of her knowledge, Skills and Weapons of War, but Archer X's other Noble Phantasm didn't actually increase in storage, so she was forced to share her guns with them even while fighting alongside them. In the end, they were just a big heap of cheap knockoffs. Useless imitations.

And to top it off, she was running out of time. That old bastard of a Master's charity might've given her a little more breathing room, but maintaining all of the Drones, let alone making them spread out through the city, was burning through her mana like cheap gas. Tex could feel her life slipping away. She only had an hour left, if that, before those self-righteous bastards won by default-

NO. Like hell were they going to get a victory that easy. She had come too far, put too much on the line just to fade away like a bad memory. She will win the Holy Grail.

She will make her wish.

She will be free.

Okay. She shut off her cloaking and turned to the two Drones standing by, suppressing the urge to hit them. Instead, she walked past them towards the heavy vehicle parked before her. Looks like it's time for the big finale.

Irisviel von Einzbern noticed her friend slightly tenser. "Maiya, are you alright?"

"Fine," the mercenary assured her despite the umpteenth bomb sitting in front of her. The energy of a Shadow Clone had just returned to her, along with its memory of an Archer X snapping its neck. Fortunately, there wasn't a bomb involved there, which could be a good sign. "Besides this one, I haven't heard of the boys finding any more traps," she noted while inspecting the wires. Most of the Servant's bombs had run on timers, but she, Kiritsugu, and the hounds had stumbled upon models like this one that didn't come with one, meaning it was set to an external detonator. Tricky things; they'd have to be careful that one of Archer X's clones didn't find them and trigger it.

"Neither have I," Irisviel agreed, smiling a little while she applied more mana to the Bounded Field. "Maybe we are finally nearing the end of them. Archer X couldn't have made an infinite number by herself, and we've been working nonstop for two hours."

"Two and a half, to be exact." Both women looked up to see Assassin X sitting on the edge of the building. He gave them a tired wave while glancing up at the Miyama water tower. "Say what you want about Archer X, she isn't lacking in creativity or persistence." He sighed. "My boys and I have been bouncing all across the city, and we haven't always been fast enough."

"The same applies for all of us," Irisviel tried to assure him even as she shuddered. "Experiencing the various deaths of my clones has been… disconcerting." She could recall being shot, stabbed, her neck snapped, crushed against something… Archer X truly was creative, especially when angry. That said, her Shadow Clones' demises had the net positive outcome of helping her… prepare herself. After all, her own time would be coming soon…

Maiya continued to inspect the wiring, it seeming a little more complicated than usual. "At least we've managed to reduce damage to the city and the population." There had been a few screwups, but Miyama Town and Shinto were for the most part in one piece. "What about Kiritsugu?"

"Just got word that he and Saber are heading in from the oil refinery," Assassin X confirmed, inwardly relieved that the two could at least travel together without complaining. Thank Kami they're both professionals… Still, he didn't relax his guard just yet. Among all of the Archer X's he or his clones had eliminated, the real one had yet to show herself. She must still be out there, as was Rider X. And who knew what sort of surprises they had-

He stiffened. There was a rumble in the air, but not anything natural like thunder. No, this was the kind of sound made by a motor. A powerful one by the sound of it, he noted while scanning the streets. Maiya heard it, too, and felt the vibrations through the metal beams her hand was touching. Something very big and very heavy, and the sound was kind of familiar.

Her eyes went wide as she bolted up from the bomb and headed to the ledge. "Miss Maiya?" Irisviel exclaimed in surprise, but she focused on the streets until her sight locked onto it just as Kakashi's did: The tanker…

There on Miyama's main street rumbled the oil tanker, nearly taking up both ways with its sheer size, yet moving at a steady pace forward. And as Assassin X realized in growing worry, forward meant headed straight for Fuyuki Bridge. If that thing detonates, it could wipe out the entire structure!

The veteran shinobi hurriedly told his friends, "Stay here!" before launching himself from the ledge at the truck. It was already less than four blocks from the bridge and not losing any speed. Any cars in its path were nonchalantly battered aside, thankfully without passengers.

The two stared after the Servant for a moment, then Maiya forced herself to look away and return to the bomb. "W-why the bridge?" Irisviel whispered behind her. "It doesn't connect to the city's leylines in any notable way…"

"It's a landmark and the connection between Fuyuki's districts. Destroying it causes mass panic in the short term and isolation in the long." The dark-haired woman concentrated on the bomb even while explaining. "Archer X isn't a magus, Ma'am. She isn't considering leylines or hotspots for the Grail to emerge, she's doing what a soldier would in enemy territory: take out crucial points of the city, soften her enemies up right before wiping them out."

"But… Kiritsugu and Saber… and the other teams… they're nowhere near the bridge…"

"Maybe, but Archer X is unstable and no doubt angry at the lack of results her clones have to show at this point. So, she's falling back on what she knows and crossing her fingers that it will all somehow go the way she wants it to." Maiya could feel the look the innocent woman was giving her. "I have a lot of experience with her personality type."

Irisviel noted from her tone that topic was better left alone and settled for turning back towards the bridge. "Is there anything we can do to help?" But she already knew the answer.

As did Maiya, who had isolated the main mechanism. "The best we can do is deal with this bomb and not get in the way." Simple logic, yet it didn't diminish her own anxiety any more than it did the other woman's.

Assassin X sprinted with every bit of strength in his legs, his mind racing through the options. Launching any kind of attack could ignite the oil inside the tanker, and putting up a wall would only lead to a crash and the same result. There was one trick that might work, but the drawbacks could be problematic after wards. Alright, I guess the best option is to stop it, he decided. That means neutralizing the driver. He put more strength into his next jump and managed to reach the tanker's rear, anchoring his feet with od to the metal. He briskly began stepping along the length when a gunshot rang out, and he narrowly avoided a bullet.

"Should've figured it wouldn't be this easy…" He grumbled as a quad-bike pulled up to the side of the trailer, its driver's right hand aiming a rifle at him. His Sharingan narrowed at the damage in her armor, then at her mana: This was the real Archer X.

Said Servant ejected the spent shell one-handed and ratcheted a new one before training it atop the trailer. "I've never liked hitchhikers."

Assassin X rolled just as he heard the next shot, but it still grazed his back. Then more rounds started flying, Archer X having apparently exchanged her gun for one with more firing speed. A few metallic pings could be heard from bullets glancing against the truck, but she was taking care not to blow her weapon in her own face, much less before it reached the bridge. Which was now just one block away.

Time was running out for all participants, so Assassin X retaliated with a spread of shuriken that promptly multiplied, the dozens of stars forcing Archer X to pull away from the truck. She continued firing, but the swerving threw off her aim, and he swiftly reached the front of the trailer…

Where the clone in the passenger seat was waiting for him with a primed shotgun. "Great…"

The blast blew apart the windshield, and Kakashi barely managed to grab ahold of the driver's side, blood trickling down his arm. His new position kept him safe from the shotgun but almost left him open for a knife in his eye when the driver jabbed at him. With a grunt, he found purchase on the foothold for his right foot and swung himself forward again, hands blurring against each other. Assassin X landed crouching on the truck's grill and thrust both of his hands forward. "Lightning Style: Thunderbolt!" Both Tex Drones twitched uncontrollably as they were electrocuted, their screams fading away along with their bodies.

Assassin X wasted no time in climbing through the broken windshield; he didn't have the Riding Skill, but with a little luck, he could stop the- The truck shook violently, and he tumbled back out the front. Archer X growled before ramming her Suzuki against its side again, making it veer dangerously close to the side. They'd just reached the foot of the bridge, so the explosion wouldn't cause as much damage as if it were in the front, but Tex would take what she could get. Besides, her modifications to the explosives might make it qualify as Servant-made enough to get rid of the masked bastard always getting in her way.

As for the masked bastard, he fell against the bridge's pavement and rolled grunting onto his back just in time to see the whole truck flipping over and onto him. His eyes narrowed, one shifting slightly…

Archer X brought her battered ATV to a halt a fair distance away and turned to watch the fireworks… only to see a weird twisting thing in the air. "What the-?!"

The spiral expanded to encompass the entire trailer even as the fuel inside began to ignite, then it promptly sealed itself, leaving no trace behind. Assassin X slumped onto his knees, the Mangekyō Sharingan glaring up at the spot where it had been. That was too close for comfort.

Using Kamui without any preparation sapped his strength even more than usual, but as a furious scream rippled through the air, he knew he wasn't going to get a chance to catch his breath. "THAT'S IT!" Archer X raced straight at Assassin X, unloading her SMG, but he threw himself to the side before bullet or ATV reached him and threw a kunai at the front wheel. It blew apart, and the bike flipped forward, throwing its rider off in the process.

Archer X crashed onto the foot of the bridge and rolled to her feet, spinning around with the ferocity of a rabid animal. "I've had enough of you, your magic ninja bullshit, and that fucking partner of yours!" She materialized her missile pod and fired, the projectile narrowly missing a ducking Assassin X and blowing up a car behind him. I need to lead her away from the bridge and any civilians, he thought while retaliating with kunai and shuriken. Then he spun on his heel and jumped for a nearby ally, the irate Servant hot on his trail. "Hold still!"

He didn't listen to her request, no matter how sweetly spoken, and raced for a nearby alley in Miyama. Better keep the fight in a nice and narrow space. Another missile soared over his head. Good thing she hates me so much, otherwise she wouldn't follow me so easily.

Sure enough, Texas was so utterly fed up with the Servant she hated the most that she charged raging after him, spewing profanity and missiles all along the way. His ninja training helped evade all of those, though, and he swiftly climbed into the shadows of the alley's walls. It was a little bigger than he'd hoped for, but he could work with it.

The former ace of Project Freelancer stormed into the alley three seconds after him, reloading her pod. "Get out here and quit screwing around, Assassin X. I'm through playing games with you."

"Really?" he called from seemingly nowhere. "As I recall, you were the one who decided tonight's game would be hide-and-seek. It's not very sporting of you to just try and quit when you're not winning, is it?" While the Servant of the Shadows spoke, he felt a slight tingling over his body and his earlier wounds healing. Irisviel.

"Shut up!" The shout from Archer X resonated along the walls until they reached a certain Mercedes parked near the other end.

Its loving owner, standing close enough that she could see what was happening inside there, ceased concentrating after another second and smiled tiredly to her driver. "He's alright. I've restored as much of his mana as I could." Maiya nodded in response and shifted her position in front of Irisviel. It was her job to protect the latter even when she insisted on straying so close to the action.

"I will win!" The Servant of the Bow continued to rant, whirling in every direction to try and find her target. "As soon as I'm done with you, I'm going after Saber next, and I'll shove that invisible pig-sticker of hers right up her skinny ass for what she took from me!"

"I truly regret that Lancer had to die, and Saber regrets cutting him down even more, but I wasn't aware he was 'yours,' Archer X." Assassin X slipped down to another shadow, preparing his next move. "You're the one who killed El-Melloi and severed ties with him, after all. And don't go pinning the blame on me or Saber for that, those were your choices."

"I-I did it for him, too!" The pod's grips began to creak from her grip. "Lancer was too gullible… He thought this was all just a friendly little contest where everyone would play by the rules and that jackass of a Master was someone he could count on. Archibald killed himself by letting his guard down around somebody known as the goddamn Mage Killer!"

"It's curious that you know that name when neither your Master nor your partner did. It sounds to me like you had a little inside information. Maybe it was a gift from someone who wanted you on his side?" She remained silent. "Let me guess… Rider X approached you, didn't he? He offered you what, a seat at his table? A chance to put your skills to use with someone who could actually appreciate them? Did he tell you he wouldn't lay a finger on Lancer if you cooperated? Did you really believe betraying him would protect him?"

"Don't pretend you understand why I did what I did! I don't need a lecture about right and wrong from a Servant who specializes in backstabbing. C'mon, what would you do to protect your partner and get your wish?"

A pause, then, "A fair number of things if I saw no other choice," Assassin X admitted. "But I wouldn't ask her not to resent me if I betrayed her. And seeing as you brought it up, what kind of wish would be worth putting your honor and your relationship with the Servant who trusted you more than any other on the line? What wish could justify outright terrorism?"

She growled. "I don't need to explain a damn thing to you-"

"If not to me, how about Diarmuid? Didn't he deserve to know the reason you stabbed him in the back? Even after he trusted you…" He noticed her flinch, "…and you loved him?" Another flinch as she hunched over, grumbling something he couldn't hear. "If that wasn't enough to stay loyal to him, what are you really after? Power? Recognition for your strength and talents? Maybe you sought world domination like Rider X-"

"I wanted a normal life!"

The outburst stopped his words inside his throat. Irisviel and even Maiya paused at this, too.

"I just want to be free…" Texas' voice had dropped to a harsh whisper, but she continued to scan the area for signs of him. "All throughout my existence -yeah, existence, not a life- I was just a soldier… a weapon to show up and take down all of the other losers and clean up the messes everybody else made. They strung me along like a puppet, made me think I was a person when the truth was, I was just made off the memory of someone else who had died!"

Assassin X absorbed these words knowing, laced as they were with bitterness and rage, they weren't any lies. Despite his long animosity with this ruthless woman, he made no attempt to interrupt her; Saber had continued to show her opponent Lancer courtesy up to the end. It was only right he try and do the same even if Archer X would never reciprocate.

"So yeah, that's my wish… to just be a normal person having a normal life with the people I… care for, with no galactic war and special Freelancer programs where you get sent on harsh missions all the time. No idiots or Directors or memories who show up and drag you into their shit regardless of whether you think or want, just so you can take on all the things they couldn't handle!" She squeezed the trigger in her fury, and a missile shot out to obliterate a nearby dumpster. A waste of ammo.

Beta shook her head in fury and no small amount of exhaustion. "Just a simple life… a real one…" Her shoulders buckled a moment from the pod's weight before she lifted it again. "That's all I wanted when I was first summoned to this damn War. Is that so wrong?"

"Not at all," Assassin X admitted from his perch, smoothly evading the missile that blasted near him, "and aside from needing to get my own wish granted, I don't have a problem with yours per say." He tossed a pair of shuriken over her head that made her fire again and slipped a little closer. "But a wish for a normal life doesn't justify you betraying your Master and partner and terrorizing a city. And for all of your hatred of me and Saber, you didn't do Lancer any favors with your methods either. I know what it means to prioritize victory-"

"Oh please, big noble heroes like you and that dress-up King of yours have no idea what it's like to fail at everything when it counts the most! To push yourself time and time again, to put every last scrap of energy you have into completing the mission, into trying to save someone you care about, just to trip and fall on your face right at the last fucking step!"

The sudden tirade had rattled Assassin X a little bit, yet it didn't take him long to find his voice again. "…You'd be surprised."

Archer X scoffed before lowering her voice. "Yeah right. As if a guy like you who's just amazing at anything he does could understand losing everything…" Her left hand drifted away from the pod… before clenching around a freshly summoned flashbang. "Like this fight!" She pulled out the pin and tossed it straight up, the magnesium-aluminium compound inside lighting up the entire alley. She hefted the missile pod and searched for him.

"Yes," his voice rippled underneath the flashbang… right behind her. "I can."

She threw herself forward to avoid the literal backstabbing, accidentally firing another missile that flew way off course, and tripped over chains stretched out in front of her. A swearing Archer X fell down, barely blocking the fireball launched at her with her gun… and realizing too late that was a bad move. The flames ignited its payload and blasted her into the alley's walls, bricks raining down onto her.

Assassin X approached the newly formed pile warily, electricity dancing around his kunai to finish the job, when his hearing picked up more cracking sounds. He looked up to see that last rocket had struck the right wall's roof. Pieces had broken loose and were falling down towards Maiya and Irisviel. He quickly clasped his hands together for a new jutsu.

Irisviel desperately raised her hands in an attempt to shield herself and Maiya from the rubble, unsure if she could channel her mana properly, when she heard, "Water Style: Severing Wave!" Thin streams of water sliced through the rocks and bricks, creating a pocket where they rained harmlessly around the women. Irisviel sighed in relief, idly wondering she could ever have the chance to learn techniques like that.

Her sigh was reciprocated by Kakashi, who then turned to hear a rumble from the pile. Maiya focused on it, readying her Calico as Archer X burst free with a new gun, bullets and bricks flying all over the place. She was almost concussed by a brick the size of her skull, quickly moving Irisviel back for the alley's exit. "Ma'am, we need to-"

"Maiya, look out!"

She barely registered the shout before something slammed hard into her chest.

Then she heard the telltale shots of a semiautomatic.

Maiya crashed into something soft with a grunt echoed by said something. No, someone, she realized, followed by recognizing Miss Irisviel's overcoat. The two women sprawled on the ground, the darker one instinctively reaching to cover her from more shots. She noticed only while moving to do so that she didn't feel any blood or injuries from her.

Her head shifted back towards where the armored woman stood among bricks, her SMG still aimed straight ahead with smoke wafting from the barrel…

Then her eyes shifted down, and Maiya could've sworn her heart stopped.

Kakashi Hatake lay between them and Archer X face-first on the asphalt. Blood poured from a dozen holes in the back of his vest, the crimson drops pooling together into a growing puddle around his midsection. His right hand still lay outstretched before him, the fingers reaching towards her.

"Dumbass." Archer X began to walk slowly towards them, a slight limp in her right steps. She had no trouble ejecting her gun's clip and slapping in a new one, though. "He could've stopped me shooting if he hadn't been distracted by your damsels in distress."

Maiya raised her Calico on reflex and pulled the trigger, unleashing all fifty Parabellum rounds within seconds. They flew straight through Archer X, not leaving so much as a scratch. The Servant barked a laugh. "Nice aim, but that kind of weapon can't touch me."

She didn't even bother replying, throwing aside the Calico to draw her Glock and train it on her enemy… the one who shot him…

Archer X stared down at the woman's hand shaking, then tilted up slightly to see a fire in those otherwise cold eyes that she recognized. "Hurts, doesn't it? Watching the people you'd do anything for die right in front of you and unable to do a damn thing to save them."

The Glock fired twice, but the bullets just passed through her head. She sighed at that blazing glare before aiming her own gun. "I need the doll behind you to get the Grail and make Saber and her jackass Master pay, but in your case, it's nothing personal," she promised. Her thumb curled around the trigger…

That's when Assassin X's head jerked up, his left eye locked onto Texas' back. "Kamui!"

A familiar spiral appeared, warping the space before it with its rotations. Even Archer X couldn't stop a pained cry from escaping. It felt like she was being pulled back-first into some kind of whirlpool, and the sensation was boring into her body despite her armor. Then before she could even think of turning around, the spiral snapped shut again, sucking up most of her torso in the process.

Across Fuyuki City, whether they were battling Saber or Lancer or Caster X and Berserker or trying to set up new explosives, the remaining Tex Drones suddenly flickered and disappeared into embers of mana.

The heavy Servant stood swaying at the spot, then she fell backwards to the asphalt, blood splashed from the large gaping hole in her midsection. The last of her strength began fading away, no matter how she tried to get up and fight again, for the Holy Grail, for Lancer, for a real life, for Carolina and Alpha…

"Only… one real… difference… between us," Assassin X wheezed out as he forced himself onto one elbow, his left eye returning to normal. "I'm not… alone."

Those were the last words Beta, aka Agent Texas, Servant Archer X of Fuyuki's Fourth Holy Grail War heard before her passing. Well… shit…

Maiya Hisau stood glaring at the spot where the Servant had lain just a second ago, then she started at Kakashi collapsing onto his face again. She bolted to his side and gently flipped him over, Irisviel hurrying over to the other side. "Sorry about… the drama…" the ninja coughed up underneath his mask. "A-any… injuries?"

Something lodged itself inside her throat, forcing her to swallow before she could reply. "W-we're fine…" Maiya whispered as she cradled his head. "Worry about yourself, damn you…"

"Kind of… moot… point… now…" He gasped out before giving them that odd smile with his eyes. "Glad you're… alright…" He tried to push himself up but fell right back to the ground. "Please say… sorry… to… Ar-Artoria… and… Ki-Ki-Kiri…tsugu… for me…"

"You can apologize to them yourself," Maiya snapped despite herself, pressing one hand over his perforated chest next to Irisviel's. She knew this was futile; she only knew the basics about first aid, and after spending a lifetime in warzones, it was blatantly obvious there was no way to heal these wounds.

This wasn't the first man to die in front of the woman calling herself "Maiya Hisau." Death had long since been her companion, and her heart shouldn't have wavered while in its presence. So, why was it beating so erratically right now? Why was her vision blurring? Why did she keep hearing a little voice in the back of her mind: Don't die… Please don't die…

Her nostrils flared and her fingers curled against the fabric, and for some reason, she looked over at the homunculus who had claimed once the only heart she had cared for- "Ma'am… I-isn't there anything…?"

Irisviel stared back, stunned at the bare concern and desperation in the other woman's eyes. Tears welled up in her own because she knew she couldn't counter these emotions. The homunculus could sense Assassin X's life force wavering as clearly as she could Saber's hurried approach; no doubt she too sensed something had happened to her comrade. She glanced hesitantly back down to the Servant's bullet-ridden, bloodstained chest. One could've perforated his spirit core, Iri thought as her body trembled. If that was the case, then her friend was doomed like Saber X.

No. There was something she could do.

She blinked the tears away and focused within. A gentle light began to gather in her center, then she released Kakashi to hold her hands before her chest. Something blue and golden began to emerge before Maiya's stunned eyes. Slowly but surely, the light solidified into a clear form similar to that of a blade but with no edges. It gave off a warm, calming sensation that even soothed her heart just a little. She'd never seen this object before but still knew its name. "Avalon…"

Irisviel opened her eyes with a slight gasp, weakness washing over her body. She nearly fell over but caught herself, shaking off Maiya's steadying hand. She sensed her material form already beginning to degrade quicker now that King Arthur's fabled sheath no longer resided inside her, but the woman knew the risks and didn't regret her decision. She placed Avalon without hesitation onto Kakashi, the Heroic Spirit's body slowly absorbing "The Everdistant Utopia" by her will. There was no trace of it within seconds.

"Irisviel!" She looked up to see Saber running towards them, emerald eyes lighting up with concern as she came closer. "Kakashi!" The King of Knights dropped to her knees beside Maiya who hadn't taken her gaze off of the downed Servant. "What happened to him?"

"He saved us…" Irisviel gasped out, noting Kiritsugu arrive as well. "Archer X is dead…"

Her husband nodded subconsciously at that, his dark eyes trained on the rapidly healing chest of his familiar. Then they shifted to her wilting form, but her own eyes met them doggedly. "This was my choice," she stated quietly but clearly: Her body would've continued to break down as the War neared its end. Having Avalon wring out a few more hours of life for the homunculus was worth little if it meant letting the man who had done so much for her, Saber, Kiritsugu and Maiya die when he could be saved.

A gasp drew the group's attention, and Kakashi Hatake bolted into a sitting position with a "Whoa!" Maiya's arms instinctively reached around to hold him steady as he panted. "What in the world…?" he mumbled but didn't shake her grip loose.

"Easy," a smiling Artoria Pendragon squeezed her comrade's shoulder, eyes shimmering a little, "you've been through quite an ordeal tonight."

The Man of a Thousand Techniques slowly patted his chest; not a single hole was left there or in his back, and he could tell the bullets lodged in between were gone, too. Aside from his mangled, bloodstained clothes, it was as if he hadn't been injured at all tonight. "…We all have," he finally muttered as he patted Maiya's arm, realizing just what had pulled him back from the Throne of Heroes. So, this is the power of Avalon…? A little chuckle escaped the shinobi. "And to think all I have to offer this team is a hand jab and a friend's eye."

Relieved laughter bubbled up from Saber before she slapped his chest. "Liar," she playfully scolded this infuriatingly humble friend of theirs. Irisviel was giggling, too, even as she slumped on the pavement, now all the more certain she'd made the right decision.

Even Maiya briefly gave a tiny smile just before she released Assassin X, but despite her usual stoic expression, she continued to watch him attentively as he got up from the ground. A familiar question rippled inside her brain, one that kept popping up in the presence of this person: What the hell's wrong with me? Then she brushed it aside to help him gently lift Irisviel up as well. Well, it probably doesn't matter…

As for Kiritsugu Emiya, he simply reached over to support his wife as well. Internally, he was satisfied that one more Servant had been taken out of the equation, concerned about Iri's health without Avalon, wary about the lack of other rogues' sightings throughout the night…

…And taking just a little solace in the fact that Assassin X wasn't gone just yet.

-55:39:28

Avenger X soared above the roofs of Shinto, hand pressing over the large cut in his chest. He flipped around in midair and angled himself to land against a larger building's side, cracks erupting beneath his feet at the point of impact. To think I'd find an even wilder beast than Savage, he mused, grinning despite the danger. No, because of the danger.

Windows and concrete burst apart as he pushed off, Crimson Dawn blazing in his hands as he thrust it forward. The plasma struck metal, and normally it would've melted clean through. But this blade, worn and chipped along its entire length, was charged with such mana that it actually pushed back the lightsaber, just as it had in the last dozen clashes. The two swordsmen landed simultaneously on a new roof, mana rippling from them.

"Not bad," Berserker X smirked. "You can put up a pretty good fight when you're not scrambling away like a little red chicken." He raised his sword to the side. "I'd be pissed if Qrow had gotten himself killed by some coward with a glowing sword."

Avenger X scoffed back. "And you are but a beast with more power than sanity. A Berserker true to form." His lightsaber danced about him before he settled into a classic Jar'Kai stance. He snapped out his hand and curled it towards him, The Force pulling the one-eyed brute over where he waited with Crimson Dawn. But instead of fighting against the pull, Berserker X went with the flow, allowing the plasma blade to burn his shoulder even as he attacked.

Maul flipped away, a new cut precariously close to his eye. Perhaps he had grown too accustomed to facing noble warriors with refined swordplay in life and as a Servant, thereby shaken by this one's savage fighting style. But savagery alone couldn't defeat him. He roared and swung his lightsaber anew, the brute parrying the slash before swinging his own sword in a rising arc that blasted Avenger X and most of the roof into the air. Such power…!

If it weren't for his obligation to hunt down the wizard, he would've relished this battle a little more.

Alas, the Berserker wasn't alone, as Avenger X was reminded in the form of two bulls slamming into him in midair. He barely held onto the creatures' horns to glare at a grinning Rider. "Don't forget that the man you killed had more than one partner! Yah!" He snapped the reins to make his Wheel's bulls buck their heads and throw the rogue anew. A cursing Avenger X launched his weapon at them, but Rider swiftly ducked his head and that of his Master's under the scarlet wheel.

While hanging onto the bars, Waver's eyes drifted down to the streets. It's a good thing everyone's in hiding because of the bombings. There's no way a normal Bounded Field would be able to hide these guys fighting all over the place, you'd have to place one over half the city.

Crimson Dawn returned to its master's hand in time to block another strike from Berserker X, but the force behind it blasted him straight for the Shinto street below-

And then a silver blur intercepted him just before he hit the pavement. 'Recall your Servant, Zouken,' Rider X told his new passenger and his Master over the telepathic link. 'I'm certain you can find a better use for him elsewhere, and I have my own business to attend to.' His "tone" left no room for a discussion. Avenger X growled atop the spaceship that was his alleged ally but disappeared all the same.

Iskandar hoisted his partner up onto the Gordius Wheel before frowning at how his rival rose to equal height, hovered in place, and then heading slowly north. "We're being invited."

"Well, let's not stand it up," Kenpachi replied while sheathing his blade. "He owes us a fight for butting into our business with that horned bastard."

"Aye." Waver gave no comment to his Servants' usual eagerness; his earlier activities had done him wonders in letting him keep up with their battling across the city. He was feeling a little tired but not enough that he'd keel over from another two minutes of Rider and Berserker X cutting loose. Besides, the young man glanced down at the markings on his hands, if need be, I can power them up or call them off.

He still had a bad feeling about this, though…

Before long, they had followed Rider X over to Fuyuki Bridge. Their guide had already assumed his true form and was waiting calmly for them in its center. Arms crossed behind his back, sharp leer at them as they descended, the Decepticon appeared as he was in complete control of the situation. "How good of you to accept my summons," he bowed mockingly to them, "Iskandar."

"You seem to have much free time, Megatron." The King of Conquerors hadn't failed to notice the other Rider's absence throughout Archer X's rampage, quite unlike his behavior from last night. "Shall I take your refusal to stand with your ally as a sign of a falling out?"

Rider X waved his hand in dismissal. "Archer X dug her own grave when she attempted to drag you all into her little game. I have no more use for her," his optics focused on his rival, "especially seeing as you and I still have a most important matter to settle. I trust you remember the promise I gave you at your banquet?"

Iskandar flashed a tight grin. "I have forgotten nothing," he promised with a thump to his chest, "and my determination to defend my title has not wavered in the slightest!"

"How delightful." That metallic grin of his own widened.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, rustbucket," Berserker X interjected while stepping up to his friend's side. "You and me still have a dance to finish, and I'm not big on just being part of the audience." Waver inched slowly off of the Wheel, wondering if he should duck in cover before the sparks started flying. But just as he thought he couldn't be more nervous, his mind registered something that nearly made his heart stop.

"You're all getting ahead of yourselves." The three Servants and one human started as yet another Servant joined their gathering on Fuyuki Bridge.

Archer approached them in sharp strides and with a sharper expression. "I do not recall giving you lot permission to tear each other apart." His smile widened slightly. "I reserve that pleasure for myself."

I am so, so sorry I kept you all waiting this long.

Part of the problem was, I had written nearly most of this chapter when my computer crashed on me, taking all of my hard work with it! Luckily, I'd saved an earlier copy on my USB stick, but the problem there was, it was, y'know, an earlier copy. So, I had to rewrite the missing pieces from scratch, and then because I'm a picky perfectionist idiot, I decided to go and change a couple of scenes. Add one or two things in my personal life, plus my being an incorrigible sloth at times, and this sadly took me a whole month longer to post than I'd intended.

Seriously, my bad. If it's any consolation, I've already begun working on the next chapter, and based on this one's cliffhanger, it's gonna be a doozy. And I promise to do my abso-tively posi-lutely best to get it done as quickly (and cleanly) as possible. Partially because family's gonna be in town soon and I want to spend time with them too.

I tried my best to make this whole chapter engaging with the bombs and struggle to stop them while fighting Tex's army. If any of you feel the need to criticize me about mistakes I made concerning explosives and key points of a city, I'm all ears and, well, you can take my sloppiness as proof that I'm not a professional terrorist.

Oh, and because I kinda had to cut down the scenes of fighting the Tex Drones, here's a quick assessment of how many were taken down and by how:

*Saber killed 16 (DAH WINNAH!).

*Assassin X killed 12 and the original Archer X (ergo, honorable mention).

*Rider killed 9.

*Berserker X killed 13.

*Caster X killed 8.

*Berserker killed 11.

*Lancer X killed 8.

*Archer killed 6.

*2 blew themselves up in a kamikaze maneuver against Saber.

*Prior to the original's death, there were still 14 active.