FateZero Paradox

by Praxus84

The Fourth Holy Grail War of Fuyuki City: Seven Masters, Fourteen Servants- wait, what? Someone's been messing around with the rules, for once not you-know-who. But the stakes are still very real, and the Grail can only belong to one Master and two Servants at maximum... Fate/Zero belongs to Type-Moon, and all foreign characters their respective owners, I own nothing but the plot.

25. Chapter 23: Rage, Rage

-38:30:52

Maiya Hisau knew something was wrong the moment all eight ninja hounds' ears promptly flicked back and their teeth became exposed. "What do you smell?"

"Nothing," Pakkun reported before he hopped up onto Bull, the larger dog looming protectively over a still Irisviel. "We can't pick up any scents, not even that of Kakashi's clone. That's the problem."

Akino and Shiba positioned themselves on either side of the shed's door while Urushi and Biscuit had moved to the Magic Circle. The final two, Ūhei and Guruko, circled Maiya as she readied gun and blade. The former was trained in front of her towards the door, but she knew it wasn't guaranteed whatever intruder would come in from there. How did they even find us? This residence was the secret the entire team had put the most effort in keeping hidden. Maiya closed her eyes. Didn't matter. It was already going to be tough enough dealing with these intruders without Assassin X or Saber.

"Miss Maiya… boys…"

"Steady, ma'am," the woman replied without looking to her ward. "Just stay in the circle." She slowed her breath, sight and hearing stretched out as far as she could manage alongside Reinforcement…

Ding-ding.

Maiya whirled to her left and up, two shots ringing out inside the space. The bullets pierced the ceiling but didn't seem to hit anything else. Biscuit snarled at a shadow flitting past the window. Everyone inside the shed stilled as they waited for their "guest's" next move.

The sole human there reluctantly holstered her Glock; whoever was paying them a visit most probably couldn't be stopped with regular rounds. Besides, she needed one hand free to- A dull thud sounded against the door, followed by another. Each blow left a sizable dent in the metal. Maiya barely managed to finish her action before the door finally caved in with the eighth strike.

A growling shadow with a glowing outline of violet leaned snarling into the shed… and was promptly blasted backwards from the collection of paper bombs Assassin X's Shadow Clone had set up over the doorway.

Outside, the dark figure fell to the grass with a frustrated howl just as two more suddenly found themselves assailed by traps of shuriken and kunai. Yet another thrashed atop the roof in an effort to tear free of the wires wrapped tightly around its arms and legs. Little bells rang from its struggles.

Still, the Copy Ninja's precautions were at best a deterrent against Servant-grade assailants. A new form zipped through the doorway and would've reached Irisviel if Bull and Pakkun hadn't intercepted it. As the two dogs tried to bite the intruder, Maiya finally managed to get a good look at it… and a primal part of her mind almost wished she hadn't.

It was an Assassin, she realized from the dark robes and the skull mask affixed over his face. That alone was shocking enough -later, Maiya would curse herself for falling for a trick she had seen through once- but what drew her attention was the eerily violet glow of the Servant's eyes and veins. Irisviel couldn't help but tremble slightly at the sight of him. Or rather, the corroded feeling his mana gave off. Words such as twisted, perverted came to the homunculus' mind in trying to describe it… unclean.

A sound disturbingly between a growl and a moan emanated from him before he pried a growling Pakkun off of him and hurled him to the floor. The concrete cracked upon the tiny pug impacting it, and he Poofed away with a little yip.

"Pakkun!" Irisviel tried to sit up, but her arms wobbled like jelly, and she fell onto her back again. She had no strength left, no chance to even try to assist in the fight. All she could do was watch with mounting horror as the pack had to engage two more Assassins coming in. Biscuit disappeared from a stab, and Bull soon joined him, albeit while taking his Assassin's arm with him.

Meanwhile, Maiya's frown became a scowl. Whatever these assailants were, they had just made this personal.

She rolled under the slash of one Assassin's blade, a few strands of her hair drifting to the ground, and countered with her own swing. It skipped backwards hissing, a thin line of purple on her bare stomach. Maiya rose to a standing crouch, adjusting her grip on her kunai. Thank you, Kakashi. She spared a glance at the little addition to her arsenal. Better than flowers.

Normal weapons couldn't touch a Heroic Spirit, she'd learned that firsthand in her encounter with Archer X. But a weapon originating from another Heroic Spirit, even one not a Noble Phantasm, produced more satisfactory results. Best of all, the four daggers Assassin X had given Maiya didn't diminish his own supplies in the least.

She lunged for another opening, but the female Hassan sidestepped and countered with a kick that went through the wall. It would've crushed Maiya's skull if she hadn't stopped in time. She couldn't even catch her breath, for the Assassin slashed wildly at her with her own blade. The weapon itself seemed thankfully colorless, ergo untouched by whatever the hell had turned the Servant into this current feral state, but it took all of the woman's combat training just to avoid getting disemboweled, and counterattacking was a pipe dream.

She couldn't ask for furry backup, either; the remaining five dogs were busy dealing with eight other Assassins, all of which oozing that same sickening energy. Urushi nimbly flipped around particularly large arms as he searched for a good spot to bite onto. Guruko and Shiba double-teamed the one who had lost an arm to Bull, knocking him to the ground, then split apart to evade the thrust of another.

These boys had years' worth of combat experience and teamwork, and this was hardly the scariest thing they'd seen. Still, numbers weren't on their side, and in an enclosed space like this, they were nearly as much hampered in maneuverability as their dance partners.

Before long, Akino was gone, too, and Irisviel appeared to be wide open. A sweating Maiya appeared to be caught up in noticing these details, leaving herself wide open for the Assassin to run her through.

Poof! The moment the knife's tip made contact, smoke erupted from the former child soldier's body, blinding the Assassin. It opened its eyes to find its blade stuck in a piece of rusty scrap metal. Meanwhile, Maiya Hisau reached the edge of the Magic Circle in time to flip another dark assailant over her hip while leaving a nasty gash along his left arm. For all the good it did; the spirit didn't so much as flinch from its injuries, neither did his compatriots. He drew a knife and slashed at her snarling. She actually saw foam dripping.

Whatever Kotomine had done to his Servant(s), it had stripped them of pain, fear or reason. These Assassins were frankly more bestial than Kakashi's ninja hounds. An intelligence network reduced to a motley group of Berserker-lites.

Then again, that could work in her favor.

Maiya crouched under another swipe, her free hand traveling to inside her jacket, then slashed while Reinforcing her other arm. The kunai carved into the Assassin's neck, but no blood splashed out. Instead, the wound glowed that same ominous purple. Undeterred, Maiya shoved a sheet of paper into the wound and kicked the lean body away just as it ignited.

She turned away from the subsequent flash of heat and smoke to see a female Assassin had snatched up Irisviel. "Ma'am!" The remaining four dogs were dealing with the rest, so Maiya sucked in a breath and made to follow-

Fingers wrapped around her throat like a vice, cutting off her air supply, then she was lifted off her feet and slammed into the ground. Lights danced about in green eyes as they tried to focus. Maiya was lifted again, barely making out the Assassin's groaning head dangling by a strip of meat from its neck. Yet its eyes continued to burn violet.

Maiya fumbled for a kunai even while lack of oxygen made her vision blur, but even nearly headless, the Assassin didn't falter in hurling her straight at the wall. She landed hard, gasping out air and drops of blood on impact. Sliding to the ground, Maiya tried in vain to get up or grab a weapon. Her midsection burned from front to back, she couldn't coordinate her legs or fingers, her thoughts were a jumble of information and pain.

She could barely make out Akino (or was it Ūhei?) calling for her or the Assassin heading towards her, knife glinting in the moonlight. So… This is it for me, then. …I'm sorry… K-

Then light flared up in front of her, and her ears rang with a familiar song: Chirchirchirchirchirchirchirchirchirchirchirchir…

---

-38:30:52

"…Ultimately, it took Baraka an entire day to pull his blades free. He spent that time cursing and snapping his teeth at anyone who offered him assistance."

Assassin X chuckled a little. "Going by how you've described Outworld, that wasn't a lot of-" Memories flashed inside his head so quickly he couldn't hide his shock in time.

Saber, Lancer X and Caster X and Berserker paused in their chatter at the sight of the suddenly still Servant of the Shadows. "Is something the matter, Assassin X?" Gandalf asked carefully, noting a distinct increase of turmoil and concern.

Rather than answer, the Copy Ninja turned to where his Master was standing near a seated "Irisviel." She hasn't disappeared yet, so… Kiritsugu was reaching inside his coat. 'Saber, Kiritsugu.' Both tensed at the uncommon urgency in his telepathic message. 'Assassin's still alive! My clone just got taken out after finding one of them near the safehouse!'

Kiritsugu's eyes widened slightly, and Saber barely stopped herself from reacting more vocally. 'Irisviel's location is compromised?! But how could Assassin have survived? We saw Rider wipe them all out!'

'…Rider wiped a large number of them out,' the Mage Killer corrected with a hard frown. 'We just assumed that every last one had been cut down in his Reality Marble.' He cursed himself for his carelessness before fixing his glare at a seemingly perplexed Tokiomi. 'This whole meeting was a setup. He wanted to draw us away from Iri so Kotomine's allegedly dead Servant could capture-'

'I don't think Tokiomi has anything to do with this.' He paused and threw the interrupter a skeptical look. But Assassin X went on. 'This kind of subtlety isn't Tokiomi's style. Besides, Gandalf's the one who organized this, and he'd never work with Rider X or his associates willingly.'

Saber picked up on his last word. 'Meaning, Assassin saw an opportunity with all of us distracted and took it.' Inwardly, she sighed a little in relief; she didn't want to believe Lancelot would've deceived her with his wish to make amends or the wizard responsible for this complicit in such skullduggery. However, there remained plenty to worry about.

Kiritsugu was still doubtful about the Tohsaka Master's complicity, but his Servant "spoke" again to keep him on track. 'Look, there's no time for this. We need to get back there now!' He knew what Assassin X was alluding to, and like it or not, the shinobi's instincts hadn't let him or the others down once. And they both knew Kiritsugu's top priority.

On the rooftop of a building far away, a certain man gave his Shadow Clone specific instructions.

Tokiomi and Kariya watched in wary confusion as Kiritsugu Emiya('s clone) raised his left arm, but he ignored them. Good thing I've been saving them, the original noted while his hand glowed with mana. He spoke quickly before the other Masters and Servants could intervene. "By the power of my Command Seal, Assassin X, return to the safehouse immediately!"

Mana swelled up around the addressed. One moment, Kakashi Hatake was standing before a small collection of trees, the next, he was inside the shed, right behind a semi-headless Assassin looming over Maiya.

Assassin X didn't even bother to go through the handsigns for his Noble Phantasm. Instead, Lightning Blade blazed inside his right hand right before he plunged it into the Assassin's back. Violet blood-like liquid splashed out onto the floor, but the other Servant didn't seem particularly affected by this development. Dark Energon, huh? Assassin X theorized, Waver Velvet's words coming to mind. Okay…

He retracted his hand, more tainted bodily fluids hissing against the electricity. Assassin made to turn around, but Assassin X was faster. Lightning Blade blurred into a flurry of hand chops that diced the Servant's body into tiny pieces, the Sharingan tracking each one carefully as it fell.

Assassin X noted twitching in some and lack thereof in others. The smaller the pieces, the better… Thanks for the advice, King Iskandar. He then leaned away from a thrust to his head and kicked backwards. That Assassin stumbled away, but just as he- well, it seemed about to charge him, it… stiffened. Then it was out the door along with its "siblings," leaving only one Servant, four winded hounds and one human woman.

The latter had been trying to get back up, but every time Maiya moved, a jolt of pain swept through her. She closed her eyes to force it down (she had taken more than her fair share of punishment in her life) and after some success, opened them again to find Assassin X kneeling in front of her. "A…" Maiya hissed from the air rushing against many fresh tender spots in her mouth, then tried again. "Ma'am… they took her… Tried to stop… but…"

"I know," Kakashi assured her while gently checking her for the scope of her injuries. "I've sent my boys after her." Her right shoulder was dislocated, left ankle sprained, bruised ribs, maybe even broken, high probability of internal bleeding, right side of her face was swelling a little. He luckily found no signs of brain damage, and even better, Megatron's little corruptive cocktail didn't seem to have touched her.

Nevertheless, Maiya was in critical shape, and he wasn't good enough a medic to help her. That was Rin's expertise… "I need to get you to a hospital."

But she shook her head. "No time… slowing you down… You need to… save Ma'am…" She adjusted her position against the wall while trying not to scream. "I'll be… fine… Can patch myself… up…" Maiya winced, and not just from the pain. A baby wouldn't wouldn't buy that lie. "Kiritsugu… on his way… Don't worry about me… but Ma'am."

"I can do both." A familiar handsign, and then two Kakashi's were in front of her. "I'm fairly good at multitasking, after all." The original then made for the exit, pausing briefly to shoot her one last look as his clone scooped her up as carefully as possible.

Groaning at his actions, Maiya still tried to protest. "Just… go…" She wheezed out while being lifted from the ground; definitely a broken rib. Maybe two. "My life… not as… valuable… as Ma'am's…" The Shadow Clone Jutsu depleted Kakashi's energy, and he would need every bit to save Irisviel. He couldn't afford to waste time or anything else on her.

"I disagree."

Those two words hung in the air even after Assassin X was gone and his clone was carrying Maiya out bridal style. If it weren't for her condition, the duplicate ninja would've felt a lot more awkward about this arrangement.

Maiya Hisau barely noticed. Inside her battered head, her brain was firing all kinds of contrary signals: Frustration, weakness, anger at herself, confusion… and a few other things she couldn't name. But unlike the prior ones, they were all directed at the template behind the one swiftly carrying her along the streets of Miyama Town.

Why? The word burned on her tongue, just waiting to be yelled out. She was a weapon in Kiritsugu's arsenal, a tool for him to be used however he needed. So, why did this guy from another world keep treating her like a normal person? Why was he always showing her these little kindnesses here and there? The concern, the sweets, the conversations? Why did he keep helping her? Why did he keep showing up whenever she needed-?

Why would Kakashi Hatake squander his strength on saving Maiya Hisau's life, a life no one except for Kiritsugu Emiya had ever seen value in?

Maiya opened her mouth to ask… and shut it again. She stared at the intense gaze of those heterochromatic eyes as they searched for Fuyuki General Hospital, and despite her nerves flaring up in protest, her lips slipped into a tiny smile.

She knew this man well enough to guess what his answer would be: Because you're my comrade.

Well, that's good enough. …I suppose.

---

Despite what others may say, Kariya Matou wasn't a complete moron. He understood being in close proximity to a magus other magi considered extremely dangerous was risky. Ergo, he had been bracing for the worst when the man all of a sudden called upon his Command Seal. But now, all the Master could do was stare in confusion at the spot where Assassin X had been standing. "…Okay, what the hell is going on?"

His Servants were similarly befuddled, though Caster X slowly began piecing the oddities together. Berserker turned to his King for an explanation, but Saber's gaze was focused on the double of her own Master. She wasn't sure why Kiritsugu had sent Kakashi alone to Irisviel and Maiya. Perhaps he didn't want to expend too many Command Seals, perhaps he decided to keep Saber around in case the other Servants present tried to attack. …Or perhaps it was so she could stay and wipe them all out with Excalibur.

Artoria Pendragon's first instinct in light of this thought was to refuse very vocally. Does he actually expect me to just- But she bit down on her lip and reined in her temper. Saber's relationship with Kiritsugu Emiya was rickety and fragile compared to the level of trust either had forged with Assassin X. With him absent, one cross word would only lead to conflict. Conflict that could lead to him ordering her with a Seal to destroy the group purely out of spite. This was no time to lash out.

So, the Heroic Spirit once King of Britain drew upon every shred of patience and diplomacy she had learned in her original life and her time spent with her newest friend. The result was one simple question: 'Do we have time or energy to expend here, Master?'

Kiritsugu Emiya fought to keep so much as a hint of emotion from showing. Part of his mind couldn't help but notice her phrasing. Appealing to my pragmatism, he scoffed to himself. So, even the King of Knights can pick up a trick or two from the Man of a Thousand Techniques.

This wasn't the time for mirth, though. …Nor, he admitted, was it the time for picking a fight with three Servants and two Masters, all of whom were obviously expecting him to call down Saber's sword on them. Kiritsugu had considered the idea, sure, but in a situation like this, that tactic was suicide. And suicide wouldn't be helping Iri or Maiya at all.

On that note, he glanced towards Maiya's disguised clone. The fact she was still there (and the lack of alarm from his little finger) indicated she was still alive (he huffed in relief at that), but if she were to disappear now, it would raise questions. Right, then… no point lingering.

The copy-Mage Killer adopted a more relaxed stance and addressed his sole remaining Servant. "Saber, head for Assassin X's location. Cut down anything and anyone that tries to stop you." He then nodded at "Iri" who understood and made to leave alongside him. Meanwhile, his progenitor quickly packed up his equipment and headed for the building's stairwell.

Saber didn't let her relief manifest as more than a quick exhale while she moved to comply. "Now, wait one moment." Then Lancer X was suddenly blocking her path, her frown apparent even with her mask on. "I was under the impression that we would be acting as a united front. Now you simply leave us?"

Lancelot bristled instinctively at her behavior towards his King, but Saber remained calm. "Forgive me, Lancer X," her gaze moved to the other two Servants, "I truly had hoped to aid you in this fight. But… a very important friend of ours is currently in danger. Assassin X was sent in advance to aid them, and…" Then she met Lancer X's stare. "I cannot turn my back on my comrade. Not for anything. He wouldn't if our places were reversed."

Kiritsugu's clone nodded subtly to himself, pleased that Saber was showing care not to reveal Iri's nature.

Jade locked eyes with her, searching for any trace of deceit… and finding only pure conviction and concern. Smiling underneath her mask, she quietly stepped aside. Gandalf shared a smile with his partner at ease again and said, "Then go to him, Artoria King, and do so with your conscience at ease. With or without your sword, we shall triumph tonight, and I hope you and Kakashi do so as well."

King Arthur spared a second to smile back at him. "The circumstances of this War aside, I hope we meet again after our tasks are done, Gandalf. I still owe you a debt and your partner my final decision." Her spirit soared as the Knight of the Lake bowed proudly his head to her, right hand slung across his chest. How she would've wished this moment could last a while longer.

Still, Saber had responsibilities to her kingdom and her comrades.

While this exchange between Servants was taking place, Kiritsugu's clone was having a slightly more tense talk with the Masters. "One could consider this an elaborate misdirection, Mr. Emiya," Tokiomi warned him, adjusting his grip on his cane ever so slightly.

"Maybe," the hunter of magi admitted. "But look at it this way: while my team is busy drawing attention, you and Matou have plenty of free time on your hands." He gave the red-clothed father a pointed look. "Chances are, Rider X is involved in our current private… problem, too."

Kiritsugu could practically see the gears turning inside Tokiomi and Kariya's eyes. Even if Saber and Assassin X weren't part of their attack plan anymore, they still had three top-notch Servants, four if Tokiomi could get Archer to join in, and they had a chance to rush Zouken while his partner was away. And that meant less resistance to get Sakura out of that nightmare factory… Kariya answered first. "Fair enough, best of luck to you and yours then."

Tokiomi eyed him a little irritated for speaking for him, but he let it slide. He'd come to the same conclusion. So, he relaxed and moved aside. Besides… "At least between the two of your Servants, that metallic abomination shouldn't be a problem much longer."

Kiritsugu nodded and began to leave along with "Iri" … then paused as a thought came to mind. "It's not Rider X who's kidnapping our associate, Tohsaka." Tokiomi turned back to him with a raised eyebrow. "According to Assassin X, his counterpart did the deed."

The Mage Killer's Shadow Clone watched as shock emerged plain as day on Tohsaka's face. It was only for a moment, but it couldn't have been faked. "Impossible…" More proof to Assassin X's claim that this Master didn't anything to do with the attack on the safehouse.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kariya glared at the two men confused. "Rider's army wiped Assassin out at that crazy banquet! I saw it happen!"

Tokiomi glanced away, trying to piece this together. "Yes… they were all killed… They needed to… To reveal Rider's trump card… That's what I told-" He quickly stopped himself.

But not quickly enough for Kiritsugu to figure what he was going to blurt out. "That's what you told Kirei Kotomine to do, didn't you? Send all of Assassin on a suicide mission to provoke Rider?" Tokiomi recomposed himself with a small huff despite Kariya glaring at him anew. Kiritsugu suppressed a smile while adding, "Looks like your secret ally hasn't been following your instructions to the letter." With that, he led "Iri" away until they were out of sight, the Shadow Clones promptly releasing themselves.

Kariya Matou didn't bother watching them go, too busy annoyed at his "ally" for yet another trick on his part and at himself for not seeing it coming. Stern looks from Gandalf and Lancelot kept him from lingering on it, though. Tokiomi's behind-the-scenes antics didn't matter right now, so he settled for nodding his head in the direction of a house he'd been avoiding for too long. "Come on. Window of opportunity, remember?"

"…Right." Tokiomi Tohsaka squared his shoulders, tabling his inner strife for later. He spared one last thought, I may have to establish a little order in my house… assuming Emiya was telling the truth. For now, his daughter's safety took precedence.

---

Assassin X raced down the length of a longer roof before leaping off of it, gaining a precious few more meters after his quarry. The Assassins were moving east, towards the Shinto district. If they reached those tall buildings and wide streets, there would be a dozen places for them to hide, and Kakashi and his dogs were having a hard enough time tracking them already.

The Copy Ninja jumped from another roof over a darker spot and had to twist in midair to avoid the knife thrust at him. The female Assassin was missing her right leg (Kakashi noted with pride bite spots on the torn area), but she slashed and snarled with all the ferocity of a rabid animal. Just as Maiya and his boys had said: Dark Energon seemed to erase pain of anyone infected and replace it with destructive rage.

Regardless, a missing leg was a hindrance in battle. As they landed on the ground, Assassin swayed off balance from the impact on a single foot, leaving her open to a Fire Ball Jutsu so hot it incinerated her completely. Assassin X returned his mask to its usual spot and sprinted over her ashes to continue the chase. He couldn't waste time on analysis or one-liners.

That said, there was something distinctly off about the situation. He counted seven remaining Assassins with the Sharingan, all jumping across Miyama in a single group. They could've split apart to attack Assassin X or try and confound him, make the most out of their numbers. So why stay clustered together? Pain immunity aside, damage done by his traps and the pack was slowing them down, even if just by a little.

Assassin X nimbly climbed up a tree and springboarded off of its highest branches while considering the possibilities. Maybe Rider X's little "donation" is doing more than just making them a little angrier. Again, he remembered that boy Master's retelling. It could be like a Berserker's Mad Enhancement. They can't think let alone strategize for themselves, they can only follow the commands Megatron gives them. Yeah, that sounds like him. Well, just playing catchup isn't getting me anywhere. Let's see if I can't slow them down.

They were physically out of range, but that didn't leave him without options. He clasped his hands together into a sequence of handsigns that resulted in a series of slashing winds. The Assassin group was forced to split apart to evade them, and one or two still received a few lacerations. Good start, even if Kakashi had strained to be careful for Irisviel's sake.

He could barely tell for sure which one had her. The pollutive energy coursing inside of the Assassins made it difficult to differentiate for even his special eye, but he could still make out a flash of burgundy red that was surely her jacket.

He'd gotten a bit closer again, but his darker counterparts had already regrouped on a street, two moving to confront him. But Assassin X wasn't worried about them or their compatriots about to take off. Looks like their awareness has been compromised, too.

None of the Hassan's had bothered to notice the approaching sound of a motor until Saber tore along the street and split one of the rear ones in half with one swipe of her sword. She twisted the Yamaha's handlebars to turn a hundred-eighty degrees effortlessly, her blade nearly beheading another of the Assassins, but they quickly leaped to a roof out of range.

The King of Knights glared at them from the street. Not eager to leave her cycle behind, she began calculating the odds of her riding it along the roofs in pursuit when a sound behind her interrupted such daredevil thoughts. She turned in time to see both halves of the downed Assassin lunging for her.

Twin kunai buried themselves in the polluted flesh, bundles of burning paper bombs hanging from their tassels. Saber lifted her arm in time to shield herself from the explosions that followed, scattering pieces of Assassin across the street. Invisible Air luckily ensured none of said pieces reached her or the Yamaha. She relaxed to find her partner landing next to her. "Are you alright?"

"For the most part," Assassin X huffed. He then rolled his shoulders, fresh energy running through him as he sighed in some relief. "Maiya's at the hospital. She's taken a nasty beating, but my clone hypnotized some staff members into wheeling her to intensive care. From there…"

Artoria noticed his right fist clenching. "You did all you could for her, Kakashi, given the circumstances, and Maiya's strong. She'll survive." He nodded relaxing just a little. "What about you?"

"I haven't taken any damage, but the boys are all tired out, and I haven't had much luck in catching up to Irisviel. Good news is, though, there are now only six Assassins left, I'm positive they're the last of their number."

Saber nodded while she watched the last pieces of the obliterated Assassin fade away. She revved up her bike and nodded to Assassin X, who slipped onto the Yamaha behind her before she took off again. An additional passenger did nothing to diminish the advanced motorcycle's speed; they rapidly began to match the Assassins' pace. Saber couldn't help but frown in disgust, though, as they continued their discussion. "And you said they were beginning to have doubts in their allegiance? That one child Assassin you met told you that?"

"Sounds far-fetched, I know," he tossed a spread of shuriken towards their quarry, hitting some but doing little damage, "but considering who their Master and partner are, and what with their current state, I actually believe her. She was… terrified, right up to the point another Assassin smashed her to pulp."

"One killing another, much less a child? Despicable." Saber swerved slightly to evade a piece of chimney hurled their way. "And just as I would expect of Megatron." Her eyes traveled from the road to the violet-glowing glare a large-armed Assassin shot at her. "So, this is the power that Waver boy spoke of? This Dark… Energon Megatron used to face Rider?"

"Looks like it. It's almost like the Assassins have been turned into mindless puppets. They don't speak, they don't feel pain or fear, and I bet they can't even think for themselves anymore." To prove his point, Assassin X channeled his od into electricity that traveled along the wires attached to the shuriken he'd thrown. Two Assassins that had been struck stiffened as the currents ran through them, but they did not cry out or make other sounds of pain.

Still, it halted them for a crucial second, causing their two "brothers" behind them to plow right into them. The result: A tumbled pile of four Assassins on the roof. "There is no way that would've happened in their normal state," Kakashi concluded while releasing the wires.

Saber accelerated even as she summoned her mana and shifted the Yamaha into Saber Motored Cuirassier. She smirked slightly upon noticing her partner's raised eyebrow. "I cannot let you come up with every unconventional idea," the armored motorcycle revved up and towards the roof, "that's hardly a fair partnership."

Assassin X tightened his grip on the bike but laughed all the same. "Who's complaining?" He scanned the thrashing pile before them; no sign of Irisviel there, so she must still be with the two still on the move. The Copy Ninja tapped the King of Knights' shoulder, a signal he was about to jump off. In their disorderly state, the four Assassins even empowered would be easy pickings for him while Saber caught up with-

A familiar whine tore him from his plans and he barely made out a silver shape. "Incoming!"

Violet plasma struck the side of Cuirassier, sending it spiraling back towards the street. Assassin X's warning had allowed Saber to avoid being blasted herself, but she managed only through sheer Instinct to land her bike on two wheels without being thrown off in the process. Her passenger wasn't so lucky, but he was able to flip onto the side of a house.

Crouching along the horizontal surface, the shinobi glared up at the aircraft hovering over them. A chilling laugh could be heard even over its engine's noise.

"You didn't think I would let it be this easy, did you?"

Saber's burning gaze traveled from Rider X to her Yamaha, smoke curling around the scorch marks on its armor. Between it and Invisible Air, fortunately no damage had been inflicted on the vehicle's most crucial parts. "You have one chance for mercy, Megatron, one you do not deserve" she called up in a clear and authoritative tone. "Have your lackeys release our Master, and you shall receive a quick death."

"Quick…" The ship descended a little before transforming into the Decepticon tyrant in all his glory. He landed onto an empty supermarket's rooftop, shingles cracking underneath his weight. "But not painless?" Rider X's violet optics leered down at his next opponent. "King of Knights, you wield such dismal guile. That Einzbern woman is not and has never been your Master, but she is no less vital to claiming the Holy Grail." His sight flickered to the other enemy Servant. "Come now, Assassin X, you and I have traveled so far for the sake of this splendid miracle, further than the 'heroes' of this world. One as noble as you would surely not deny either of us something so wondrous?"

A kunai danced between Kakashi's fingers before resting in his left hand. "I'd sooner see the Grail smashed to dust than let you anywhere near it. Besides, you never struck me as the sharing type."

"You know me so well," Rider X agreed with a cackle. He waved his left hand, and the Darkened Hassan's gathered around him, snarling and growling and clawing at the air towards them. "No matter, I have my own Assassins. They're not quite as… eloquent in debates, but they have their uses."

Assassin X's temper burned hotter with every moment he had to see his counterpart, Rider X's partner, his comrade, in such a twisted state. But Saber was the first to find her voice. "Uses?" She spat out the word like it was poison. "You let your own partner throw themselves into a fight they could've never won, then turned what was left of them into your playthings! Are there any depravities you would not sink to?!"

Megatron's expression darkened briefly. "I had nothing to do with that imbecilic assault. All it did was prove Tokiomi's stupidity." Then he calmed down and tilted his head towards the six gathered Assassins. "As for them, they thought they could change sides behind my back. And after all they had done to help me further my plans…"

The two Servants of Kiritsugu Emiya frowned in unison, neither liking what this blackhearted creature was implying. They already knew him guilty of forming the faction of rogue Servants, unleashing Caster's madness in full and turning Rider's army against him… but were these crimes, heinous though they were, the scope of it? What else was Rider X responsible for?

Smirking at their posture, he continued. "So, I gave them a portion of my Noble Phantasm to strengthen them and maintain their… cooperation. After all, the moment a ruler fails to exert power over their subjects, insurrection becomes inevitable." He leaned forward as his smirk broadened. "Wouldn't you agree, King Arthur?"

Excalibur appeared in its shrouded state within Saber's iron grip. She breathed heavily through her nose, the logical part of her mind warning her she was being baited. "Ah, tragedy after tragedy I read, such was the pitiful end of Camelot…" He's just trying to provoke me…

"You really should've put down Mordred when you had the chance."

Saber's body seemed to vanish for an instant before appearing high above him. Megatron's arm blade deployed just in time to block the two-handed vertical slash of her sword. The force of her attack sent him skidding a little down the roof… before he stopped.

Dark Energon bubbling inside of him, Rider X grinned at the second King to be defeated in this War. "Still so passionate… and so shortsighted." He pushed her off with one swing of his arm. A glaring Saber landed barely on the edge of the roof, sword at the ready. He stood tall with another chuckle. "My deceased fellow Rider was right about one thing: You are nothing more than a hot-tempered naïve child playacting a King who can stand alone."

He leaped forward while five Assassins lunged simultaneously at her from all angles. "Well, at least you can die alone… again."

As her enemies surrounded her, Artoria Pendragon… smirked back. "Alone, am I?"

A kunai knocked a knife out of one Assassin's grip before its paper bomb detonated, four shuriken embedded themselves into another's eyes, a third was flipped into a fourth, and the final one received a roundhouse kick strong enough to snap its neck.

All of this happened in the same instant Rider X reached Saber. She in turn diverted his thrust and used his own momentum to send him flying off the roof, even slashing him across the back once for good measure. The heavy metal body crashed hard into the street below, but Megatron quickly recovered to spring to his feet again while the Hassan's tumbled down all around him. He paid them no mind as he glared up at the two looking down on him.

"Yeah, I respectfully dispute that claim," Kakashi quipped standing to Saber's left. 'Mind giving me a warning next time instead of jumping the gun?' He complained over their link.

Artoria spared him a quick look. 'Oh shush, it's not like you didn't know what I would do.' Part of her felt a teensy bit guilty for letting her temper get the better of her, but she hadn't feared for her own life. Not with the man she had for a comrade in this Holy Grail War.

Her mirth fell away the longer she locked glares with those violet inhuman eyes. 'He stopped my strike one-handed and with little effort,' Saber surmised. 'This Dark Energon must enhance his physical strength as well as dominating whoever is infected with it.'

'And unlike his battle with Iskandar, he's not busy commanding half an army and polluting a Reality Marble while fighting personally.' Assassin X eyed the five Darkened pawns springing to their feet with varying injuries and growls of varying pitch. 'He doesn't need to divide his concentration too much.' He then set the Sharingan on the one Assassin who had hung back, two blocks away, Irisviel still in his grip. 'Meanwhile, we're on a rescue mission.'

'And Megatron's well aware of our Noble Phantasms and tactics by now.' This late in the Grail War, there were precious few secrets left among the Servants. Few… but not none. Saber frowned when the memory of him surviving Excalibur returned. 'Whereas he has one final weapon left, one he's been hiding until now.' Not the most optimal conditions for them.

But Assassin X didn't let any worry show. 'He might know about our Noble Phantasms,' he gently corrected, 'but he doesn't know all of our tricks.'

Saber nodded slightly while readying alongside her friend for the next move. Rider X had primed his cannon all while spurring his twisted puppets into action, and the one holding Irisviel hostage was on the move again. 'Then let's educate him.'

---

Despite the tension inside him, Tokiomi Tohsaka couldn't help but spare a glance towards the border of the two districts. "Sounds like Emiya's team is causing a fair bit of noise with their business," he mused out loud. "Good."

Lancer X tilted her head towards him while they kept walking. "Did you really doubt them?"

"A little," he confessed. "With a man like Kiritsugu Emiya, it's best to keep your guard up."

"I'd want to argue, but you've seen my memories of Outworld." Grudging though her words were, Jade found herself quietly relieved by how relaxed she could converse with her Master. They were still walking alongside a (technically) rival team through Miyama to Zouken Matou's lair, but there was no additional tension among them. Even Kariya Matou wasn't throwing any hostility their way, for once.

Then again, that was largely due to the man having his own debate with his Servants. "And you're really sure about this? I still have two Seals left, Lancelot…"

"I understand, Master," the Knight of the Lake replied in a reassuring, confident tone, For Someone's Glory currently inactive to give Kariya a break, "but in my current condition, I am positive I can manage it on my own. If not, invoke a Command Seal, but it would otherwise be best to save them until absolutely needed."

"I concur with my partner." Caster X chimed in, one arm around Kariya's shoulders while the other carried his staff. "Who knows what awaits us inside that house…" His eyes narrowed for a moment straight ahead where the Matou family home would soon be visible.

The onetime Berserker smiled but said nothing, simply too relieved that even after having failed him once, this wise, patient person was still willing to trust him. And if his words alone weren't proof enough, he'd received something more tangible a few minutes ago.

But it was nearly time for Lancelot to prove himself. He donned his helmet and prepared to dematerialize but stopped upon registering a new presence, as did the others.

Golden mana sparkling in the air before the five heralded Archer's arrival. He strutted calmly towards them, no urgency or anger in his step, and a cryptic smirk playing on his lips.

What drew his audience's attention, though, was the little souvenir from his battle with Berserker X. Even though Jade and Tokiomi had already seen it, they couldn't help but eye the scar above his left eyebrow, that thin symbol screaming out to the world that the self-proclaimed greatest Heroic Spirit of this world was not untouchable. His Master and partner knew better than let their gazes linger.

Berserker's helmet hid his surprise, but Kariya was for once grateful that the Worms inside him had damaged his facial muscles. He knew gawking like a fish at Archer would've been both humiliating and very probably hazardous for his health.

Caster X alone kept his composure among the three. "Hail, Archer King of Heroes," he greeted with a bow of his head, every bit as respectful as when they had last spoken. Then he paused. "Or would you prefer I address you by name?"

It was a grievous crime to utter Gilgamesh's True Name without due deference. But the King doubted such an event possible with the wise being before him, so he acquiesced with a flick of his fingers, his expression sobering for just a second. "This privilege is yours."

Tokiomi traded a quick look with Lancer X over his mercurial Servant's civility, both of them wondering how Gandalf had achieved such an incredible feat. But he simply nodded and finished his bow. "Hail Gilgamesh then, King of Uruk." The addressed nodded slightly at the humble sign of tribute, baffling the others even more. Underneath his helmet, though, Lancelot smiled for just a moment. Speaking with Archer affably… Why am I not surprised?

As he straightened, Caster X tilted his head. "Forgive me, but I was wondering why you did not join our earlier meeting."

"It was of no interest to me, wizard." And just like that, Archer was back to his usual self. The one that gave his partner a near-irrepressible urge to punch his teeth in. "Why bother listening to the prattle of alliances that will collapse in less than a day?"

"Perhaps if you were more willing to assist, we would not need to resort to forging alliances so fragile," Lancer X replied testily. This fresh after meeting the Matou and Emiya Servants, she was lamenting her fortune at having this pompous despot for a partner. "We have a most important task ahead of us, so perhaps you may deign to lend us your strength." Just a little.

The Babylonian tyrant scoffed at her obvious sarcasm. "Mind your tongue, mongrel. You expect me to assist in crushing one insect and rescuing another?" He laughed even as anger surged around him. "You embarrass yourself enough by merely asking other mongrels to aid you, do not presume I would lower myself to your level."

"Just a little" was a bit of an understatement. The Edenian Servant's fists tightened with each word that came from Archer's smug. "Well, I needn't humiliate myself if my 'partner' were of any use for once-"

She wanted to strike him. She wanted to tear that scar open and beat some sense into his foul brain until it came out of his ears. She knew it was suicide, but to hear him dismiss a little girl being held hostage as an insect… But a hand gripped her right arm, and Jade snapped her head at Tokiomi.

He met her incredulous glare and shook his head, a silent plea in his own eyes. This was no time for her to throw herself into an unwinnable fight, not with Sakura's life at stake, and… Tokiomi sighed to himself in confession. It was absolutely ridiculous for a Tohsaka, but…

He didn't want his daughter's friend… his friend… to die.

Archer watched with mounting contempt as the defiant cur that was his "partner" stared at the little traitor before finally standing down. Such a proud warrior, such stalwart devotion, a truly meritorious quality… And it was utterly misplaced. "My King…" He silenced Tokiomi with a stare colder than the deepest blizzards. This is the worm you waste your loyalty on, Jade? He would offer us up on a platter without a second thought for his precious Akasha.

Oh, how badly he wanted to tell her what Tokiomi Tohsaka had planned for them… And why shouldn't he? Wasn't it his duty as her "partner" to warn her of such dangers? He prepared to speak-

"Then what is it the King of Heroes seeks?" A weighty baritone rumbled through his ears and rattled his thoughts. Startled, Archer turned to the source, remembering his "team" was not alone.

Caster X was holding his staff to hold both Master and fellow Servant back. Even at his most heated in conversing with his King did Berserker not feel so tempted to revert to his class' tendencies than right now. And Kariya Matou had actually loosed some of his Blade Wing Worms. Sure, they were probably useless, but to hear this golden bastard be so cavalier about Sakura, to just dismiss her life…

It was only their stony-faced friend that kept them from forgetting what truly mattered here and now. Archer recognized this and echoed the wizard's head tilt. "Mere curiosity, Caster X. You've certainly pushed things quite a bit past my expectations."

Indeed, the very idea of Tokiomi and Kariya being a united front even if for a single night… Even with all of his wisdom, this development had taken Gilgamesh aback.

"I wouldn't say I 'pushed' things into the way they are now," Gandalf the Gray contradicted as politely as he could manage. He needed a hefty dose of patience to stem his own fury, but it would be worth it if he could just navigate them through this storm in front of them. "I simply encouraged them to consider another path. Is it not to your liking?"

The golden King hummed slightly. "It is not to my expectations… but I can find joy in surprises." He settled for a little test. "Now then, will you petition me for my aid as Lancer X does? Victory would be a certainty if I agreed."

Seeing an opportunity, Tokiomi made to prostrate himself, but the wizard stopped him with a look. "Of that, I have little doubt, Gilgamesh. But it seems we would be asking you to go against your own desires then. Would you rather we be enemies instead?"

Archer's smirk half-returned; Caster X had seen right through his ploy. "Does your wisdom fall to faulty memory? I know we have had this conversation before."

Masters and Servants alike wondered just what these two had discussed two nights ago, but the Gray Pilgrim continued to focus on the Golden King. "We have, yes… but not all things are just as they were then." Another truth: Rider and Berserker X were gone, two beings that had drawn Archer's attention. Otherwise, there remained only Saber and Rider X, and he might've made his mind up about them already. One thought, and the Gate of Babylon could eradicate every last individual standing before Archer, and with them, any hope Sakura Tohsaka had of being saved. They all knew this fact, too, even if they weren't happy about it.

All of existence seemed to hold its breath as Archer's crimson eyes scrutinized the blue ones of Caster X, all humor gone now. They searched for trickery, weakness, any reason to doubt this oddly diverting being… "Then let me declare my decision anew: I will not help you, Gray Wizard…"

The first hero of this world then stepped aside, arm cast towards the Matou estate. "And I will not hinder you."

Five souls sighed to themselves in relief as Caster X bowed silently in gratitude, Lancelot, Jade and Tokiomi emulating his movements. Not the ideal outcome, Archer's Master mused, but better than nothing. Gilgamesh won't go back on his word.

He was growing to understand what a blessing it was that a talentless shirker like Kariya Matou had summoned such a sorcerer to this Holy Grail War.

One by one, the little fellowship passed Archer, Lancer X biting her tongue but meeting his stare step for step. He said nothing until Caster X walked by him as the final one. "Go. Show me where your journey of sowing kindness and decency leads. I cannot wait to see its end."

The words could've been a taunt, but while carrying Archer's typical arrogance, they lacked any cruelty. Perhaps because of this, Gandalf paused to smile gently at him. "The journey never truly ends, Gilgamesh. Not for any of us. It simply changes form… or destination." He bowed his head again. "And for what it is worth, I wish you the best with yours."

After a moment, the King of Heroes closed his eyes and nodded, a quiet laugh rippling from him. "You needn't concern yourself with my journey, Olórin." His voice dipped so as to prevent others from hearing the Istar's first name; Gilgamesh had no intention of letting knowledge only he knew become common. He nodded pointedly. "There are plenty wayward mongrels scurrying about. And rest assured, I shall always find ways to entertain myself."

Interpreting this as his dismissal, Caster X chuckled himself and went on to catch up with the rest. Archer watched him go before his stare sharpened at a certain red-suited figure. Consider this my final charity to you, Tokiomi, he growled to himself. Though you will be punished for your treachery in due time, this farce of a War you dragged me into has provided me with ample interesting things. Diverting opponents, an upstart I shall thoroughly enjoy putting in his place, a vexingly odd pupil to mold, an illuminant bride-to-be… and an interlocutor who never ceases to fascinate me.

He fade into spirit form, an uncharacteristically soft smile gracing his lips as certain person came to mind. I wonder what you would have made of Olórin… My friend.

---

-36:48:24

Kiritsugu spun the steering wheel about, his car's wheels screeching as it swerved around the oncoming piece of masonry by mere inches. He grunted while straightening out his ride again, the Assassin carrying Iri just ahead.

To his right, Saber jumped from roof to roof while avoiding energy blasts from Rider X who in turn assumed his aerial form and blasted off right before she reached him. On the other side, a clone of Assassin X was grappling with the Assassin blinded by shuriken earlier, and the original warded off others with alternating slashes of water and wind.

A shockwave rippled through the air to crack the left side of Kiritsugu's windshield, but he calmly shifted to a higher gear and drove on. He knew just being this close to the Servants' struggle was putting his life at risk, but there was little other choice.

Setting up a Bounded Field was tricky enough, but keeping it mobile, well, that was a special challenge for a seasoned magus, and Kiritsugu Emiya wouldn't consider himself that. Good news was, the battle didn't attract many witnesses at nighttime.

Then again, that was about the only good news he could see. What the hell is going on here? Why the big chase, why won't they actually fight Assassin X and Saber or just disappear? The Assassins were one thing, but Kiritsugu could tell with one look that their partner wasn't giving it his all. Tokiomi had nothing to do with this, so is this Rider X's plan? Or is it Kirei Kotomine's? Nothing about this feels right at all.

Similar thoughts were passing through Assassin X's mind even while he was fending off blows from three Darkened puppets. He ducked and swept his leg to knock them off their feet, then flipped backwards to open up the street beneath them with an Earth Style jutsu. But all three climbed out of the hastily made chasm before he could seal it shut.

As for Saber, she had been forced to park her beloved modern-day steed over an hour ago in a spot that would hopefully be out of range of whatever attacks. The Yamaha even in its Cuirassier state was sadly of little help against an airborne foe.

Speaking of which, Rider X had regained altitude and was coming in for another strafe. Saber hopped off her current roof, landing in an open field; hopefully less casualties this way. She set her stance, sword before her to meet the imminent shots, when a warning sensation made her duck. The massive fist of the Assassin behind whistled harmlessly over her head, then she cut it off at the elbow before stabbing the chest and slicing upwards.

Megatron's approach did not go unheard, nor did Saber fail to register the energy bolts speeding her way. She evaded them even as they tore what was left of the Hassan to shreds. The Cybertronian flew on unconcerned with the loss of another pawn. An acceptable loss for keeping the plan on track.

Assassin X tossed a smoke bomb and broke off from his own fight, racing along the house's sides in yet another attempt to finally catch the Assassin holding Irisviel. 'Two blocks down to the south,' Kiritsugu advised him and Saber, the latter sprinting across the field.

Their intent to scissor the fleeing Assassin was hampered by his "siblings" and more blaster runs from Rider X. Eventually, the duo was forced to meet up just so they could ward off the multiple-pronged attacks in unison. "We're not getting anywhere like this," Assassin X muttered after releasing a burst of flame from his mouth. "They're too mobile."

"Megatron especially." The King of Knights tracked her enemy's flight path in frustration. They had been battling for over an hour now, and every attempt to ground that tyrant in his vehicular form had failed. She had even unleashed Strike Air a little over half an hour ago in the hope of blasting him out of the sky, but Rider X had proven too experienced a flier for that sort of tactic. "They're not trying to kill us, but at this rate, we'll be chasing them around through the night and into the morning."

Assassin X made to nod at this assessment when he suddenly perked up. "Or maybe we just caught a break." Saber turned to see the reason for this statement and found four Assassins joining together in a group between them and the fifth, their knives glinting purple. They clearly wanted to pool their efforts into one murder-suicide rush.

But in doing so, they made things easier in Kakashi Hatake's opinion. "I think it's time for a field test with our little… experiment."

Artoria Pendragon started before glancing at the group again, a little hum escaping her. "Are you sure? We agreed it was still a work in progress…" Despite her uncertainty, she was already considering the likelihood of this gambit's success. "I doubt we can catch Megatron with it."

"We'll still have a window of opportunity if it works," her friend countered weaving through handsigns. "And we've already established the theory's solid. Besides, you have an alternative in mind?" He mentally sent her the rest of his plan, waiting for her answer.

"…Let's do it."

Rider X twisted about in midflight to soar down the street from the opposite end of his Darkened minions. He'd enjoyed riling up the little King and her partner, but his excitement had grown with each clash. Now he wanted to speed things up a bit. They would box in these two wily opponents, whittle them down further until they were too weak to continue the chase. Alt-Mode Starship's blasters primed for another volley-

Then Assassin X turned to face him. "Lightning Style Illusion: Flash Pillar!"

Blinding light erupted from the ninja's body, rising from him into a white pillar that obscured all else. Rider X cursed to himself as his optical and guidance systems were disrupted from the massive flare. Miyama's houses were built too closely together, veering or turning ran the risk of crashing into them. He was left with no choice but to pull up.

Assassin X's genjutsu had succeeded in blinding the Hassan's as well. Saber was the only one spared from this optical assault, an opportunity both capitalized on by racing straight for the disoriented quartet. Lightning Blade blazed to life in its creator's right hand, but he didn't ready it as a thrust. No, this time it held out to his right where Saber matched his speed.

The electricity sang its chirps as it stretched out from Assassin X's hand and met the swirling vortex around Saber's blade. Invisible Air did not dispel it upon contact, however; its wielder concentrated, ordering the winds to travel in such a way that they collected the lightning. It was tricky work, and Saber had been given little time to practice. Then again, Kakashi was making a conscious effort to direct his lightning just so it could flow in synch with her winds, a feat only possible via the Sharingan. And if there was one virtue King Arthur could never be accused of lacking, it was determination.

Another second, and a solid line of crackling, electrified wind had been established between Artoria's sword and Lightning Blade. It was a rarity among Servant techniques, possibly the first of its kind: a combination Noble Phantasm. One both Servants chanted in unison as they charged towards the Darkened Assassins:

"Strike Lightning Cable!"

One Assassin remained blind from the earlier shuriken, but his brethren regained sight just in time for the Emiya Servants to reach them. The first to be struck by the stream between them was split cleanly in half and electrocuted at the same time, every part of his body burned from the inside out. Both halves fell smoking to the ground, and not even Dark Energon could make them fight on. Just as Saber and Assassin X had hoped. They wasted no time with celebrating their victory, instead rushing through the next two. The final one tried to stab Saber, but she was too fast. And thus, only one Hassan of the Hundred Faces was left.

Rider X knew most of his pawns had been eliminated even before his optics could register anything more than brightness. When they finally cleared, however, they were greeted with an absolutely unpleasant sight: pieces of four Assassins shimmering away into mana, and Saber and Assassin X pursuing the final one with some kind of massive electric current between them.

The persistence of heroes, Rider X growled while he flew down after them, blasters blazing. How I loathe it- Only then did he realize they were baiting him now.

He veered up and to the right, but Assassin X suddenly twisted around and put an extra spur into his charge and leaped up after him, Strike Lightning Cable trailing after him. Rider X snarled in fury as the electric line clipped his wing and he began spiraling. The damage was minor but enough to destabilize him for a little while.

But Kakashi was far from done. Attaching himself via the Tree-Climbing Exercise to the silver aircraft, he summoned a Shadow Clone before promptly jumping off again. The ninja duplicate only lingered in existence long enough to apply a regular Lightning Blade to its center. He was rewarded with a snarl of pain just before releasing himself; the thrust had missed Rider X's Spark, and with Dark Energon, he'd recover, but it still hurt. A lot.

The original Assassin X landed beside his partner with a satisfied huff. "That one's for you, Maiya." Now for one last problem: Irisviel still in the clutches of the sole remaining Hassan.

This time, Saber had the winning idea. "Launch me." It was a credit to their friendship that Assassin X didn't even think to question it. He simply slid his right arm underneath her boots, gripped her shoulder with his left hand, took one long stride forward, and hurled her after their fleeing quarry with every bit of his For One's Comrades-enhanced strength.

Saber for her part weighed only forty-two kilograms, and by applying Mana Burst as well to bolster her flight, she crossed the distance of five blocks within one second. The Assassin couldn't even turn around as the Heroic Spirit twisted in midair to slice him into twelve separate pieces. Such was the absolute final death of Hassan of the Hundred Faces, Servant Assassin.

Artoria barely registered this upon landing onto the street. No sooner did her feet touch the ground was she moving again, sword dispelled, to catch her friend in midair. "It's alright-" Feeling no pulse, she worriedly adjusted her hold on Irisviel…

…Only to find in her arms a plastic life-sized doll used by designer stores to display their products, complete with burgundy red sweater, dress and white wig. "…A decoy…" The Servant of the Sword glared at the lifeless thing before flinging it to the street. Its head without features bounced loose and rolled dully about. An approaching Kakashi, followed shortly by Kiritsugu, needed only one glance at the doll to reach the same conclusion she had:

Megatron had set them up from the start. He knew that the undead Assassins' presence would rattle Master and Servants alike and convince them Irisviel was in their clutches. So, they'd go on a wild goose chase after the hooded fiends, aerial attacks from Rider X included, while their frail friend had been stashed away somewhere else.

"I wondered why he didn't strafe us from the start…" Assassin X muttered, glaring up at the night sky. "He must've switched her with the double and hidden her when I wasn't looking." His voice cracked slightly with the last words, guilt curling around his shoulders. How could I have missed this?

Kiritsugu turned away from the doll towards where a certain metallic monster of a Servant had crashed, but as he expected, Rider X had already recovered and was long gone. "Not even sticking around to rub it in our faces," he spat out. "Guess we should be grateful."

Saber's gauntlets creaked from the pressure of her fingers. "Oh, I'll be sure to show him my gratitude when next we meet." She shook her head to clear it of revenge. "Is there any chance we can still find Irisviel?"

"I'll retrace the Assassins' steps, call up my hounds so they might catch her scent…" Assassin X trailed off with a sigh. Artoria and Kiritsugu knew he would work straight through the night on the tiniest chance he might find their kidnapped teammate, and for that, they were grateful to have him as a friend. Even though Kiritsugu might never say it out loud.

But all three of them knew it was a forlorn hope. Rider X and the Assassins, maybe Kirei Kotomine himself, had set this up too thoroughly to leave anything to chance. This round had ended in Team Emiya's defeat.

---

-37:54:09

Sakura sat in her room's chair and tried so very hard not to fidget. The… things inside of her were resting, it felt like, but they wouldn't for long. They never did. That fear alone would've been enough to make her shiver normally.

"There's no need to hide, my dear…"

But this time, it was the "man" circling her where she sat. Those red-ringed yellow eyes never flickered away from her no matter where he was. She felt their presence even when she wasn't looking. And the way he talked, almost like a whisper, but Sakura could make out every word. "No need to be ashamed of what you feel…" It sounded gentle, but…

Avenger X rested an arm on the back of the girl's seat and loomed over her. "Yes, you have quite a few things buried deep inside of you, don't you, little one? No, no…" He shook his head when she glanced away. "I do not speak of your grandfather's little creations. Though…" He waved his fingers, watching how she shivered from them rustling about. "It's certainly a way to help you along."

"H-help…?" Sakura whimpered when one Worm bit down on a sore spot near the top of her spine. But she didn't cry. It wasn't that bad. Not yet. "H-how does h-h-hurting me… help me…?"

Maul stepped out of her field of vision to smile. Having spent this much time with her, he could now sense the magical power this young soul possessed, power the Crest Worms greedily sought. No wonder Zouken was so happy to receive you. The Servant of Vengeance had wondered his new Master might disagree with his interest in his "granddaughter," only to be encouraged. Zouken was apparently curious to see what Avenger X could do with Sakura.

Sakura, yes… He refocused on his budding pupil. "I know it hurts," he kept his voice soft. Growling would only scare her, and there was fear aplenty inside her. "But it's not just the little things playing about with your insides… Isn't it?" He laid a hand on her shoulder, the girl flinching from the touch. "You carry another kind of pain… deeper…"

Sakura couldn't help but stare back into the Servant's eyes while he spoke. "Tell me… why do you carry this pain?"

"I… I… Grandfather… he brought me to the basement…" She shuddered at the memories of her first night inside this house. "H-he… put them in me…"

"Did he, now?" Avenger X nodded sympathetically, as though he didn't already know the girl's story of anguish and abandonment. "Such a cruel thing to do to his granddaughter." But as Lord Sidious had taught him, sometimes, a lesson (or a deception) could be done with just a little prodding. "How could he do this? Why didn't your parents stop him?"

Parents. Sakura tore her gaze away, looking down at the floor, at her bed in the corner, anywhere else. "T-they didn't…" Images of … and … flashed before her eyes. She shut them hoping it would be enough. "I… I don't have parents anymore. The Matous are my family now…"

"Now…?" Maul turned away to hide his smirk. It only lasted for an instant, though, so he turned back to the girl. "So, they weren't before? Oh, my dear… You were once part of another family?"

Sakura went still despite the Crest Worms rummaging about. Her purple eyes desperately darted around trying to stare at anything but him. It didn't stop him from talking. "So, you were… I sense you had a father…" Please no, she whispered to himself. "A mother…" N-no more… Please… "…A sister."

This time, there was no stopping the tears that poured from her. … was there again smiling at her, offering a ribbon for her to give back. The one she still had in her hair. A constant reminder of what she'd lost. More tears and snot came as Worms ran along her spine and chewed on her Magic Circuits, every little pang another reminder that this was her life now.

Avenger X stared down at the little girl crying into her tiny hands. "They abandoned you…" he murmured unsmiling. "They gave you away, left you here to suffer." Her former family was indeed the key, especially the sister. Anger flashed inside him at the word, and he let it burn. This was necessary, he told himself. She needed this to grow strong. Such was the way of the dark side.

"I was taken from my family, too." Sakura hesitated, then glanced up to that black and red face. "My own mother gave me away to my master…" He knelt down so their eyes were at the same level. "As part of an old… arrangement between them. I was so young then… I barely remember her… I do not even remember the name I was born with." Only the one master gave me…

Maul's mouth was a straight line, his inner flame burning steadily. "I had a brother… I nearly forgot about him… until he found me at my worst. He saved me." He closed his eyes. "We fought together for a time… then he was cut down before my eyes." Why am I telling her this? To sway her further? Yes… Yes, this is part of the training. That's all.

"I'm sorry…" His eyes opened to see her still crying but staring at him, an odd emotion in those purple little orbs. One he couldn't identify for sure…

Maul cleared his throat, stoking his fire. "My master killed him. He killed my mother as well. He trained me in the ways of the dark side, declared me his apprentice, and then abandoned me without a second thought when it seemed I had perished." Yes, with each word, the heat inside him rose, burning his blood and raging in his head. "I was nothing but a pawn to him, a tool for his little plans to be discarded when I had served my purpose. He left me to die… but he had trained me too well.

"This pain inside of you?" He gently prodded her chest. "The feelings of being abandoned, of having to suffer?" She looked down at his finger and then at his face. "I know them well. I learned to harness them, to turn them into fuel for my body and spirit. They kept me alive when I was but half a man and broken in mind, because I knew I had one driving goal."

The Worms weren't letting up at all, in fact, they seemed to be scurrying faster with every word the spirit said. But Sakura only noticed the pain in passing. Her attention was completely drawn to him like a moth to a flame. "W-what was it?" she asked. "What is it I'm supposed to feel… t-to make the pain stop?" She already knew the name for this feeling inside her, though, the one born from the pain and fear.

Darth Maul bared his teeth. He knew she knew it, but he prepared to say it anyway. Understanding was only the first step of any lesson. "Hatr-"

Ding dong.

Sakura turned towards the open doorway, as did Avenger X in startled anger. She hadn't heard that sound often but recognized it all the same. The… doorbell? She blinked, something like a fog clearing away before her sight. Who would show up here at this… hour…?

She blinked again, her crying slowing to a trickle as she patted her chest. Huh… they weren't moving around that much. They weren't even moving at all, let alone biting her. Maybe they were all taking a nap again… but somehow, Sakura felt they wouldn't be waking up so fast. It felt… nice-

A finger tapped against her forehead. Sleep.

Avenger X watched as the girl's tearstained eyes fluttered shut and she slumped forward. He caught her before she could fall out of the chair, a frown curling along his lips. He sensed people just outside the house, one unpleasant presence in particular. Rather inconvenient timing, he growled to himself, but he picked up little Sakura and walked out of her room. But I suppose this encounter was bound to happen. And all the better it happen now.

We wouldn't want pesky light or false hope to interrupt Sakura's education, now would we?

---

Byakuya Matou limped along the wall of his home, a bundle of bottles in the crook of his arm. The damage from that crazy Servant bitch could still be felt through his body, and dear old "Dad" couldn't be bothered to help him heal. Then again, Byakuya preferred to drink and suffer rather than try out whatever freaky remedies he cooked up.

And at least the bitch got herself killed last night. Hearing that would've made him smile were it not for his bruised jaw.

He rounded the corner and saw someone he hadn't expected (or really wanted) to see. "…Kariya?"

His little brother shifted to look back at him, his one good eye widening. "Byakuya? What're you doing out this…?" He trailed off when he saw the bag, one bottle poking out. "Never mind, I get it."

"Oh, like you've got any right to judge me," Byakuya snapped. He began to wind up and let his holier-than-thou coward of a brother have it for running off and abandoning him to that bastard… but one look at the guy who was hardly in better shape than him, and he settled for a "…Whatever. Don't know why you're here, don't care."

He made to brush past him when a hand grabbed his arm. "Hey, why don't you…" Kariya fumbled for a second, then sighed. "Maybe you should stay out tonight. Go to a hotel or something."

"What're you-"

"Trust me, Byakuya." He froze at the hard look his battered baby brother gave him. Only then did Byakuya notice he wasn't alone. "You don't want to be in the house tonight."

---

Ding dong. Zouken Matou didn't scramble or trip over himself as he made his way to the front door. No, he kept his own pace, grateful for his elderly body's limited speed. He already knew through the Bounded Field he had late guests, but the fact they had even set foot on his property only made his frown deepen. How could they get through the Field?!

And at a time like this where he was down one Servant and Megatron was off making his own fun. Sure, Avenger X was still around, and Zouken himself had a few tricks up his sleeve, but for someone to reach the front door without his knowledge let alone his permission…

He stepped into the ante room, cane tapping alongside his sluggish steps, when the door suddenly flew off its hinges and smashed into the wall above his head. Splinters rained down around him as he sent a telepathic message and watched with an arched brow as a feminine body walked gracefully through the mansion's now doorless entrance, followed by another.

Lancer X scanned the room before tilting her head back to her Master. "Like I said, knocking is much more effective."

"And much more costly, dear…" Tokiomi Tohsaka shot back before adopting a polite smile. "Ah, Lord Zouken! Apologies for coming so late and unannounced…" a doorknob rolled about on the dark carpet, "…and for the door. My Servant can be a little restless at times."

The fellow patriarch spoke in a smooth, even tone, but there was a curious undercurrent in his words, and Zouken noted his smile didn't reach his lips. "Forgive me, Master," the Servant spoke before he could, in much the same tone as Tokiomi, "my patience feels a little strained at the moment. But ringing the bell seemed to be yielding little results."

"Oh come now," Tokiomi gestured to him with his free hand, his other holding his cane rather tightly, "Lord Zouken was clearly on his way to opening it. You cannot expect a man of his maturity to cross his home quickly. And now I must reimburse him for his door."

Lancer X's hand lingered by those glowing rods at her hip as well. "Please don't demean yourself by putting on the impoverished patrician façade. It's not as though you haven't the funds to spare for a single door." At this point, Zouken had quite enough of their little routine. Him clearing his throat made both (pretend to) focus on him. "Ah, I fear we're being discourteous with our host."

Tokiomi shot her a wry look. "How astute of you." He then faced Zouken fully while Jade gave a quiet huff. "My deepest apologies for my Servant, Lord Zouken, she grew up in Outworld. A barbaric place, really, it'll leave a lasting impact on anyone." He tutted a bit to himself, both hands resting on his cane's crimson jewel.

"I'd be delighted to hear tales of an alternate world, Lord Tokiomi," Zouken began with a toothy grin, "but I prefer to hear them earlier in the day. For that matter, the Matou family does not usually accept visitors at this late an hour. Especially when they come uninvited." He leaned forward on his own cane, dark eyes flickering from one to the other. "If I may be blunt, I wouldn't have expected such behavior from you, Lord Tokiomi."

"Yes, and I hope not to make a habit of it, sir," the Tohsaka family head bowed in apology while keeping Zouken within sight, "but I received most troubling news not long ago. I sought to determine their veracity as quickly as possible, but circumstances prevented me from doing so. The Grail War's progress, Father Risei's murder… I've been preoccupied."

"I can imagine," Zouken drawled. Inwardly, he was admittedly a bit taken aback. Tokiomi had always been a smug little brat, but he wasn't the man who'd banter around to put others off guard; despite what he may think of himself, he lacked the wit for that. Still, the senior magus suspected the reason for his arrival, but he didn't mind a little playing around. "Tell me, what sort of news bothers you? Can the Matou family be of any help?"

Tokiomi's face twitched, but lifetime practice helped him keep his composure. "As a matter of fact, yes." He walked slowly into the house, Jade in sync with him. "You see, I've heard a rumor of sorts concerning your family's methods of magecraft. Now, normally I wouldn't think of telling another head how to conduct his business…" A mental Ha echoed inside his brain. Oh, shut up. "…But this rumor circulates around Sakura."

Lancer X's skin crawled from the crooked grin Zouken flashed. "My, what a surprise this is! I assure you, we have been teaching her to the very best of her ability, but why would this be of any concern to you, Lord Tohsaka? She is no longer of your house, so this is frankly none of your business."

Her fingers twitched slightly. "Be that as it may, wouldn't you like to show how Sakura has prospered under your," Jade fought not to spit the next word out, "tutelage? You can hardly blame Tokiomi for wishing to make sure these allegations are baseless." It took all of her strength not to run this disgusting rat through. He was practically a hairless Shang Tsung.

"Where did these allegations even come from? No, let me guess:" Zouken's grin twitched just a little. "Kariya." So, that ungrateful little whelp actually went and told him of Sakura, did he? Zouken cackled. "Lord Tokiomi, surely you would not take the word of a whiny, sniveling disgrace over that of the patriarch of a family yours has kept positive relations with for generations! He and I are… not on best terms, he hasn't handled our training well. I'm ashamed to admit he is far from the champion I had hoped for in this Grail War."

"Wow…" He froze at the new voice intruding in the conversation, staring as Tokiomi made room for another to walk into the house. His own boy Kariya glared coldly at him. "Those might be the nicest things you've ever said about me, 'Father.' I'm touched."

Before Zouken could rebut him or react otherwise, Berserker silently joined his ramshackle Master, followed by the greatest source of frustration he had ever encountered in his long life. Of course… who else could have instigated this? Who else could meddle with my plans so much merely by existing? Before Zouken could stop himself, he growled, "I thought I made it clear, Kariya. You are not welcome here until you've won the Grail, and that familiar is not welcome at all."

Caster X coolly returned the glare sent his way, fingers wrapped tightly around his staff. "I am no Servant to you, Zouken Matou. It was only out of courtesy and loyalty to Kariya that I did not return to this house yet. But now, it is time for you to face judgment for what you have done."

The monster barked a vicious cackle. "Everything I've done, fool, is well within the legal bounds of a magus family. According to the rules of our society, Tokiomi forswore any say over what happens to dear Sakura the moment he foisted her on us. I provided her with food, lodging and the chance to cultivate all of her brilliant potential. Was that so-" A Gandr flashed past his head close enough to burn his wrinkled skin.

Mana crackled from Tokiomi's fingertip, all humor faded away. "I would very much like to see Sakura now, Lord Zouken," the Tohsaka Master enunciated with a barely level voice. "One Matou has clearly been lying to me, so let's make this simple. Show me my daughter," his magic swelled again, "right now, so I can decide whether to annul her arrangements or not."

Zouken glared from one end of the five gathered before him to the next, weighing which targets should be first. His glare focused on Caster X, of course, when a new presence appeared by his side. "So be it, Tokiomi Tohsaka," Avenger X snarled into the room. "See for yourself what your judgment has wrought for this young soul."

He laid a sleeping little girl down on the floor before them. At first, Tokiomi wasn't quite sure; the clothes aside, Sakura had black hair, not purple. But a gasp from Kariya and the distress on his face made something in his heart snap into place. This was indeed his daughter. His daughter, Tokiomi scanned with magecraft and mounting fury, who was carrying many of the little parasites infecting Kariya. 'It's true… It's all true…'

Even without her Master's anguish washing through her, Jade was already about to move when a buzzing sound caught her attention. Her eyes blazed at the sight of those wretched insects hovering over Sakura's closed eyes. "Let. Her. Go."

"I think not," Zouken replied smoothly, more of his Worms gathering around him. "Your Master gave her to me, and as much as it would pain me to nip such potential in the bud…" He cackled again. "Well, Kariya has surely told you what a petty man I am."

The mentioned Master's lip bled from where he had chomped down. "But it looks like you're going senile, old man. Do you honestly think one lousy Servant can protect you from these three?" Gandalf, Lancelot and Jade all stood ready for battle.

Darth Maul scoffed at the threat before curling his fingers at him. On cue, Kariya's eyes bulged as an invisible hand seemed to wrap around his throat. The wizard put a stop to it with a tap of his staff, but the message was clear. "I am far from an ordinary Servant." He moved to in front of his Master and his unconscious apprentice. Another presence rang out in his mind, and he smirked. "Besides, count again."

Heavy footsteps rang out, and Zouken's eyes darted over to where Rider X was sauntering into the room. He hadn't even realized his presence even with the Bounded Field, but the tyrannical Servant was a welcome sight. "My my, what an odd little collection this is," he sneered at the group standing before him. His massive strides carried him easily over to Avenger X's side. "So many of my enemies in one place… Fortune favors us."

Zouken's excitement grew with passing second. Megatron's power coupled with Avenger X's, plus his latest experiments… Oh, this was going to be delicious. "Well, my friend, you can help me show my dear guests some Matou hospitality." He tapped his cane against the floor. "I trust you remember our deal, but do leave Kariya to me. After all, spare the rod…"

The two Servants stepped towards the house's intruders, Lancer X, Caster X and Berserker moving to confront them. Avenger X unclipped his lightsaber from his belt, anticipation bubbling inside of him. Talking and scheming was all well and good, but this was where he belonged. "Shall we see, Megatron, which of us can kill a Servant first?"

"I have a better idea."

Something big and silver blurred in front of Maul's face before he could react. The next thing knew, he was flying through several walls. The former Sith Apprentice finally crashed hard onto the ground of the mansion's basement. Gongs were ringing inside his head, but he flipped to his feet with a growl. So, that's how it is… He kicked himself upon finally registering a familiar presence.

Zouken spun in shock to his ally still in punching position; how could this timing possibly be opportune for Megatron to betray them? "What is the meaning of-?!" His words died in his mouth at what transpired before his eyes.

Shadows whirled about "Rider X's" massive frame before it seemingly shrunk in on itself, his armor's silver fading away… into black. Zouken could only stare in furious shock at Berserker as he marched on through the path Avenger X's body had made in its impromptu flight. He whirled about in time to see the one standing next to Caster X dissolve into mist. An illusion! Lancer X then disappeared in a flash of green at her Master's nod.

The deactivation of Mad Enhancement naturally resulted in a rank down for Sir Lancelot's parameters, but it opened in turn some new possibilities. For one, he had finally been able to lay his feelings bare before his King. For another, the true power of For Someone's Glory was no longer inhibited, allowing him to disguise himself near perfectly as another.

So great was this Noble Phantasm's power of deception that not even the former Sith apprentice's connection to The Force had seen through it. Avenger X cursed himself for his foolishness. I should have known Megatron would not bother coming to our aid even if he wasn't fighting his own battle.

He was testing his jaw's functionality when he was forced to dodge a slash aimed at his back. Returning Lancer X's glare behind him, the Heroic Spirit of Fury lashed out with a kick that she parried, blocked two punches, and summoned The Force to push her away. She lunged untouched through the blast, however, and nearly drove her blade through his abdomen. He somersaulted out of range, and Lancer X teleported out of sight.

Avenger X landed on his prosthetic feet, furiously scanning the wide room for his opponent. Heavy measured steps drew his attention, and he snarled at the source. "A clever trick, Berserker, but do you really think this is enough to stop me?"

"I am here to make sure of that." As he stormed down the wretched basement's steps, the Knight of the Lake reached by his side and drew free a magnificent sword… not his own.

It wasn't that long ago, so he still remembered his surprise when Gandalf had offered him his sheathed Noble Phantasm. "I may not be helpless with a blade," the wizard chuckled modestly, "but Glamdring deserves to be wielded by a hero of proper skill. And I can think of no finer swordsman than you, sir."

Berserker understood the practical reasoning behind his partner's decision: He definitely could make the most out of this fabled blade, more so than a Caster, and it wouldn't be as draining for their Master as him drawing his own blade. Arondight was too costly in mana for him to swing carelessly. Nevertheless, to be entrusted with a sword like Glamdring, whose legacy he could sense through the handle despite stemming from another world…

Any protest Lancelot would've made died on his lips at the sight of Gandalf's kind smile. He still couldn't believe he would receive such faith after all he had done in life and as a "Heroic" Spirit, let alone that he was worthy of it. But he knew better than to question his friend and comrade by now.

Instead, the Arthurian Servant gripped the Elvish Noble Phantasm with both hands and settled into a classic stance two meters apart from his opponent.

Meanwhile, a certain female warrior teleported into the room close to Lancelot's position, trading a brief nod with him while both of her weapons folded out.

The Son of Dathomir's glare only sharpened as he brandished Crimson Dawn before him in one hand, the other by his side, and ignited the front blade, then the back one.

And so began this world's first duel between Sith and Knight and Edenian.

---

Oh, how Kariya wished he had a camera on him right now. The look on Zouken's face was almost worth every bite, every flash of pain he'd had to endure this past year. For once, he'd managed to pull a fast one over the old cockroach! Okay, technically, it was all Gandalf's idea… But he sobered upon seeing Sakura still by his side. Eyes open, you idiot. We still have to get her out safely, and he's not going to let her go without a fight. …And hey, the only thing better than watching Zouken sweat is seeing him burn.

As his "son" expected, Zouken was far from willing to concede defeat. "You…" He snatched up Sakura in his free hand, demonic insects buzzing about him. "You don't actually think you can win this easily, do you?!" His scowl was directed at one being in particular, the architect for all of this. "It'll take more than one decrepit familiar to stop me, you fools."

"Jade and Lancelot will deal with your angry pet, but you, Zouken?" Tokiomi tapped his cane's glowing jewel against his palm, a cold smile enhancing the glint of his turquoise eyes. Flames danced around his red suit. "You're mine."

"Ah bup bup, Tokiomi," Kariya limped next to him with a much broader and fiercer grin, "we agreed on fifty-fifty, remember? I've been waiting my whole life for this moment." He knew none of his Crest Worms would ever go up against their creator, which is why he'd kept his other Servant close at hand.

Gandalf raised his staff towards the being he should've destroyed the moment he was summoned. "I am inclined to agree with my Master, Lord Tokiomi."

The other Master sighed in good nature. "Forty-five, fifty-five, but I land the final blow."

After a moment, Kariya nodded, his eye flickering down to the slumbering Sakura before returning to Zouken. "Fair enough."

Those black pits glared back at them before a blood-chilling cackle rippled through the air. "Ah, Tokiomi…" Zouken Matou shook his head with the sigh a professor would give a student slow to catch on. "Do you know which two qualities every Tohsaka I ever met had in common?" He smiled cruelly. "Readiness to declare victory at the drop of a hat," his cane tapped the ground, "and pitiful anticipatory skills."

A chittering noise rumbled along the mansion's walls, surrounding the two men and the Servant. Caster X warily raised his staff, its knotted crown glimmering to illuminate their surroundings. Thus, massive, slimy, winged… things were revealed.

They dropped heavily to the ground, slimy appendages thrashing about while large insectoid wings buzzed. Barbed stingers and massive jaws filled with rows upon rows of teeth chattered as the unholy creatures shuffled towards the trio. Unholy… Tokiomi's eyes widened as he realized why they seemed so familiar, Gandalf already at the same realization.

"Caster was such a wonderful guest to my humble abode." Zouken stroked his hand along what appeared to be the unholy cross of a centipede and an octopus. It... shivered at his touch. "He insisted so much on repaying me for my hospitality, and, well… I couldn't help but be… inspired every time I caught a glimpse of Prelati's Spellbook." A Blade Wing Worm buzzed to land on its progenitor's shoulder. "My little ones found its pages quite nourishing." His grin broadened. "Now, about that hospitality…" The mutations skittered forward at the snap of his fingers.

Caster X stepped forward, his magic already swelling about to protect the humans. Tokiomi and Kariya grudgingly moved back-to-back as the mutations surrounded them.

Meanwhile, Sakura Tohsaka slumbered surprisingly peacefully, considering the battles raging around her.

---

Sharp readers might've noticed a tiny hint of Zouken's… insurance policy in the final scene of Chapter 12: "Depths of Darkness."

The combination move Saber and Assassin X pulled off here was based on the latter's Lightning Cable jutsu in canon. While I was re-watching the scene of Naruto and Sasuke combine Rasenshuriken with Inferno Style (you know, the one with Minato's super-long and nonsensical name), I latched onto the idea of Fire Style being bolstered with Wind Style and wondered if based on the relation of elements, Wind Style could be bolstered with Lightning Style. Invisible Air could be technically classified a Wind Style jutsu, and with Kakashi's creativity, well…

On another note, I have watched and re-watched Oppenheimer and wonder what sort of Heroic Spirit he could be if summoned in Grand Order. Granted, he wouldn't be much of a powerhouse with stories of him not even being a century old, but his contributions to the Manhattan Project and the conceptualization/creation of the atomic bomb might make for an interesting Servant sheet.

(Please note I have not and WILL NOT watch the Barbie movie, "Barbenheimer" be damned)

But back on track: Next chapter's gonna be the battle at Matou Manor. Place your bets, folks! Who will win? Who will live? Who will die? And the biggest question of all: What will happen to Sakura?