Fate/Twin Roses Chapter 12: Firm at all Costs

By Bluestar076

Hello everyone! Bluestar here with a new chapter, hoping that it will take less than the previous one! And so…after one big battle between all participants of the Holy Grail War and a small break to give them some air, the second part of the story has finally started, and already with this episode, you'll see that the premises will be a lot more intense with…well…you'll see. Let's just say that resolution is something that helps a lot through battles. I won't add more, so we can start off with the chapter! As always, I hope you enjoy!

Note: I do not own Fate. All rights and characters belong to Kinoko Nasu and TYPE-MOON


Chapter 12: Firm at all Costs

Tokyo – Ikebukuro – 17th April 2021 – 7.00 A.M

A new day had come, and like it usually happened, the streets of Tokyo started to get filled with lots of people. And now that the morning had come, even for the participants of the Holy Grail War, it was time for new struggles.

The day of recover from the conflict of Kabuki-Cho had ended, and both factions were now ready to study new plans to win. And one of them, who was much tender than his colleagues, knew it well.

Once it was early morning, Alvis came out from his room and stood at the hotel entrance, remaining still for some minutes. He took some deep breaths and looked up at the sky, noticing that it was another sunny day, and this time, he felt more secure than before, as he seemed to have thought about her Servant's words the previous day and what happened during the most recent fights.

Overall…maybe everything that they have told him was just right. And unfortunately, he had to accept them. Especially…if he wanted to pursue the reason why he participated in the Holy Grail War in the first place.

It was Cahya's words who made him remember what was actually more important for him. In fact…those words…made him remember that day.

"Here…these…are yours now…please…take care of them…"

"W-What!? No, don't say things like these! I-I know that there still can be a way!"

"Alvis…please…try to understand. It's true…I am the one with magical powers…but…I don't think I can do something…with this illness. I think…that this is it."

"N-Noah…don't say things like this…Who else I'll be with!? Can't you understand!? You're…the only one I have left…where in the world could I go if you die!? Come on! I know there's something I can do!"

"No, Alvis! GHA!"

"NOAH!"

"Kh…I…I know…how you feel…I don't want this either but…sometimes…there are things that we cannot change…If it was possible, I would make this stop and get back to our normal lives…but I can't…anf…anf…"

"Noah…please…try to breathe…"

"…Hey…Alvis…we…really had a lot of fun together, eh? It's…sad that it has to end like this. But…I thank you…if it wasn't for you…maybe my life would have been an abyss of boredom…and sorrow. At least…I've had you…who could make me some company. I've really wanted to tell you about all the awesome things I could have learned at the Clock Tower…but It's still ok…at least…I can say that I've been happy."

"…"

"You've…asked me if there was something you could do…well…there actually is one."

"Tell me, I'll do anything!"

"The catalyst…and the Command Spells I gave to you…please use them…to participate in the next Holy Grail War. At least…bring the pride of the Deimos family with you…even if I'll die…please try to fight with no regrets…and strive on to…grant any type of wish you want. Try to live…without any type of regrets…just like I did…"

"But I can't…I don't know how to use magecraft…"

"That's not true…we've learned something together. Even if little…it will still be enough for you to fight. I know…how much you care for me. So…I'm asking you as a dear friend. Please…continue to live out your life…do it…for me….

"Noah? NOAH! NO, DON'T LEAVE ME! PLEASE! OPEN YOUR EYES!"

Alvis could still remember that moment, when his friend passed away. Both his mouth and the blankets filled with a large stain of blood…his eyes close, never to open again…and the sensation of loneliness that immediately hit Alvis's heart…as soon as his dearest friend drew his last breath. Once again…he was alone. Left only with the Command Spells and the catalyst that would have summoned a Servant for the Holy Grail War.

He had to accept it…he couldn't do anything to bring his friend back. But…at least…he could grant his last will. At least…he could do this last favor of his.

Ever since he was recruited by Marcus and started to fight in this conflict…his beliefs and his kindness had slowed him down. He wanted to believe that there could have been other ways. But maybe…what the others said to him…weren't wrong at all. Even Noah said it to him. There were things that couldn't be changed. And even his own Servant had to scold him. So, he thought that maybe…it was time to wake up and make his friend happy from the other side.

Suddenly, Rider of Red appeared beside him. "Is there something wrong, Master? You look asleep on your feet." She asked.

"Uh? No, don't worry. I was just thinking." Alvis told her. "About what?" The Servant asked. "About many things. You know…those times when you can think of a lot at the same moment. Even about what you said to me yesterday." Her Master said.

These words made Rider of Red feel pleaded. "Oh…so I suppose that my words are finally reaching out to you? Maybe some day we'll finally able to-" She was already licking her lips and expecting something more…intense, but naturally, Alvis pushed her away. "NOT IN THAT WAY! Gee…I was talking about how I should actually…fight more serious without no self-constrains, that's all."

The Servant snorted. "Like always…" But then…she made a smile. "Well…glad to see that, at least, you're starting to be more self-critic. So…ready to fight as a true warrior? I expect some results considering that all the Servants of the opposite factions are alive."

"I'll do my best. Let's go." Alvis replied, meaning it with all sincerity. With that said, the two of them started to head over their headquarter, to discuss of another day of battles.

"Time to show off our pride! The Eternal Lady is ready to shine!" Rider of Red exclaimed.

"We'll both shine. I'll do it…for Noah."

Both were ready…to unleash themselves against anyone.


[Katekyo Hitman Reborn – Boys and Girls]

*Seven Cards that represent the seven classes of Servants appear one by one before splitting in two different decks, each one having the seven cards*

[Boys and Girls be ambitious, Boys and Girls keep it real, Boys and Girls be ambitious, Boys and Girls keep it real]

*Kazuto and Archer of Red open their eyes, and then Kazuto with flames on his hands and on his head starts to perform various melee attacks while Archer of Red attacks with the katana, the naginata and her bow. After that, the two start to fly in the sky*

[Following the manual, jumping out of everyday, you are a boy…]

*Kazuto wakes up and quickly prepares himself to leave the house with Archer of Red while having a croissant in his mouth. The two of them leave while Hinobu looks at them with a smile from a window.*

[Not able to become an adult, but not able to stay as a child, times like that will come…]

*Kazuto and Archer of Red are reached by the remaining members of the Red Rose Faction. With Gordon give some punch to the air, Saber of Red give his Master a pat on his shoulder with a big smile, Calem walking with a smile and his guitar on his back, Lancer of Red walking with her eyes closed, Alvis looking at the phone while Rider of Red tries to get his attentions by licking her lips, Marcus giving tips to the group, Astrea joining the chat by talking alongside Caster of Red, Cahya who looks at the group with a light smile and Assassin of Red that walks happy with her hands on the back of her head*

[Where everyone is in a hurry, in the world that we live in…]

*Meanwhile from the top of a roof, Seram, Isak, Cynthia, Tygo, Adewale, Oeneus and Maximilian along with their Servant are watching the Red Rose Faction, with Cynthia giving a quite serious stare at Kazuto*

[We stopped upon a shooting star!]

*Suddenly Kazuto and the other members of the Red Rose Faction stop and turn around, noticing the constellation of a rose in the sky. Then, the camera zooms at Kazuto's eyes before the screen becomes white*

[One thing that I cannot give up, with just one, I can become strong!]

*Fergus Mac Ròich and Saber of White clash their swords and make a battle cry, while Rider of Red runs on her carriage to reach Rider of White, who summons her giant to attack her. Meanwhile, Cleopatra and Assassin of White both make a fight pose before attacking each other with melee attack. Then Cleopatra releases some golden stardust with a determined face while Assassin of White throws plates with a grin on her face.*

[You were scared and I pulled your hand, we keep walking!]

*Lancer of Red gets surrounded in purple flames before creating purple dragons that are cut in half by Vlad III with his lance, who jumps towards her with an excited face.*

[Our breath increasing in the head wind!]

*Caster of White attacks Astrea with magical beams, but the girl is saved by Caster of Red, who cuts the beams with her staff and is ready to fight, while Berserker of White dives with anger to attack Berserker of Red, who is furious as well and he's ready to attack her. *

[Boys and Girls be ambitious!]

*Then, Kanashimi holding the Black Keys with a worried face, Hinobu making a smile with a thumb up and Avenger turning around with a diabolical smirk while surrounded in a dark aura*

[ Boys and Girls keep it real! Boys and Girls be ambitious! Boys and Girls keep it real!]

*Archer of Red is preparing a flaming arrow while Archer of White is ready to shoot with his gun. The two Servants throw their blasts which clash against each other and form an explosion. Then the screen turns white and, in the end, all the Masters and their Servants are seen striking a pose while a rose stands on the center. The opening ends*


Tokyo – White Rose Headquarter – 17th April 2021- 9.00 A.M

Maximilian Icecolle was looking at the horizon from the entrance, apparently more focused than the usual. The night before, he didn't fall asleep immediately, since he was starting to elaborate many ways to put his next strategy into act.

But at least…the first part was successful, as the two persons he was looking for, accepted to follow him in his idea.

He heard some footsteps behind him that made him turn around, only to see that Cynthia and Seram were heading towards him.

"Are we early birds today, Maximilian?" Cynthia asked. "Well…when we talk about something as crucial as this, you usually lose some sleep and tend to wake up earlier. It's like when you get the chance to have the work of your dreams and you make sure to be the first in line to get it and pass all the texts." The Icecolle mage replied with a serious tone

"You seem to take this quite seriously. You usually are more naïve and take it lightly." Seram commented. Naturally, Maximilian made a sceptic face when he heard her comment, but she was actually right, considering what were his first actions. He then looked back at the horizon. "It's just a simple matter. Much like anyone here, I want my wish granted as well, and for that, I intend to take my role as both a participant and the chief strategist in a more serious way. I'm done playing."

Assassin of White was both surprised and amazed by this sudden change of mood from his Master. Needless to say, that she loved it, and even blushed. "Woaaah…Master…you're so cool when you get all serious…I kinda…love it…it makes me feel hot…" She thought.

"And what about you, little girl? I've never expected you to be cooperative. Are you feeling ready?" Maximilian asked, turning to the Qlippah mage. In a certain way, the idea of working alongside their strongest Servant made him feel at ease, though he couldn't know what could have happened.

Seram simply looked elsewhere with the eyes and gave her answer. "I want to find new ways to take down the enemies, even if I don't like social activities. Plus, I'm 23 years old, I'm not that little." Her tone remained the usual apathetic one.

"That aside…I'm impressed as well, Maximilian. It seems that you really improved yourself since the day when you attacked Kazuto. Ironic…considering that he's our target." Cynthia commented.

"Heh…right. He may be not one of the most dangerous ones of the opposite faction…but he ended up being quite a nuisance for the three of us. And on the other hand, the ringleader that brought us to cooperate. You two want your revenge on him, Cynthia especially, and I want to make myself useful for the team. There couldn't be any better occasion." The Icecolle mage answered.

"Yes…I agree, Icecolle!" Archer of White, who stood near Cynthia, added. "It seems that all the stuff that happened during the previous battles had pumped up your blood…quite a lot."

"You seem excited as well, Archer…could it be that all this stuff made you enthusiastic as well?" Cynthia asked, noticing her Servant's happiness. To this, the Heroic Spirit couldn't help but make an innocent smile.

"You know me well, Master. A simple idea like this and the result that might come out of it is enough to make an old man like me pumped up as well. The idea that we, the stars of this show are starting a development…and the beautiful battle scenario that will happen…it's art for my eyes and music for my ears. Don't you agree?"

"Yes…even If I'm more composed than you." Cynthia jokingly answered. This made the Servant happy. It seemed that confronting herself with Seram the other day helped her out to return to her usual self, even more resolute. Just what he needed from her.

"Who could've guessed a small trio like this would eventually appear. Not that I dislike the idea…" A voice from behind them said.

The three pairs of Masters and Servants turned around to see Isak and Lancer of White, looking at them with a satisfied grin. "It seems that you have a plan on your heads…and that you are dead serious about it." He spoke out. "What about it, Seram? Are you willing to follow this?" He then asked to his 'pupil'.

Seram fully turned around on him and nodded. "Yes…maybe…this will make me stronger." She simply answered. With that, the leader of the White Rose slowly came closer to her and started to gently stroke her head. She let him do that. She usually didn't want to be touched by the others, but he…was an exception.

"That's just great. I'm sure that this will surely give you a newfound strength to get rid of everything that you'll find on your road and finally find the peace you are longing for. You know what they say…teamwork is important." He explained.

"…I understand." The girl simply replied. Isak then raised his head up and looked at the other two members. "I'm glad to see that all of you are starting to get serious as well. It seems that I'm not the only one who felt motivated by what happened at Kabuki-Cho."

"Are you saying that the others are doing something as well?" Cynthia asked, making her leader nod. "Yes. Oeneus and Caster seem to be building something special that could help us, while Tygo and Adewale are experimenting their magecraft skills while they wander through the city. I think…I'll do the same, while studying some methods to get our Grail. We could never know what those of the Red Rose are planning for us after all and then…there's also that Avenger to keep an eye on. So, I hope that everyone will start to give results." Isak replied before turning on Maximilian. "The same can be said for you, Maximilian. I hope you won't disappoint me."

"No need to get worried. I have my…cards to play on the field." Maximilian replied. By hearing that answer, Isak made an innocent smile. "Then I suppose that there's nothing else to add. I could hear what you guys were plotting to do today. And by knowing you three…there is a high percentage that it could work." With those words he turned around and started to walk away. "Oh…and by the way, Seram…he had started to show around here. This could be a chance to show him how much you grew with our special training." He said with a grin.

Seram slightly stretched her eyes by hearing the word 'he', making clear that she knew who he was talking about. "…Yes." She simply replied. The leader of the White Rose didn't feel to add anything more and simply moved away.

"The fact that she is eager to talk with him out of most people here still makes me curious…" Archer of White commented. "Me too…but to be fair…I wouldn't try to ask them why…at least for now, knowing both of them." Cynthia added.

"And…who is this… 'he'?" Assassin of White asked to Seram. The little girl seemed to tremble for some seconds, but she then quickly stopped. "It's…a private thing." She replied.

"Hmm…maybe it's better if I don't insist…" The Servant said.

With that, Cynthia turned on Maximilian. "So…what's the plan?" She asked him, happy to finally confront the Master of the Red Rose again.

"Unfortunately, we cannot act immediately, since fights between Servants in daytime are prohibited. For now, we'll limit ourselves to simply observe his movements. Thanks to your skills that makes you observe someone's action in real time, we can have an idea of where he's going. Then…at night, we'll slowly follow him and give him a surprise when he least expects it. We'll make sure to get our first victory…and a personal one for you two." The Icecolle mage explained.

"He did become our prey, didn't he? It seems that you have followed my suggestions carefully." Assassin of White commented. This naturally pleaded Maximilian, as he turned around to her with a grin. "Naturally, I wouldn't ignore my queen after all." With that, they both gave each other a kiss on the lips.

"Ew…" Cynthia commented, feeling a little bit disgusted. Seram simply didn't reply, unlike her Servant. "What's wrong with this guy?" Saber of White wondered.

"Well…guess that now there really isn't anything to add, right?" Maximilian asked to the two girls, who nodded. "Then it's time to go. I know the other times didn't work. But now…I'll make sure that if my plans go correctly…we'll come back here with a satisfying result. It's what we want…am I correct?"

"You can bet on it." Cynthia simply replied with a serious tone. "With all my heart." Seram added. "Then let us departure! And let the masquerade begin!" Archer of White concluded. "I've just found out that I didn't talk that much now…kind of unusual from me…" He added.

And so, the three pairs started to head out from the headquarter, ready to follow Maximilain's plan…and one specific target.

The chief strategist was sure of his plan…but at the same time thoughtful about it. Still…he decided to keep going and no one would have made him change his mind. "I know that I may sound like an average playboy for the others…but when I want…I can give out something impressive. Everything for my desire to be myself, nothing more. Many people had blocked me on this wish, but I'll make sure that things will go differently once that I'll have the Grail. I have something that I want to accomplish as well. And If I have to bring out the worst of me…so be it. This time, the Icecolle will gonna listen." He thought.

Back at the castle, Isak looked at them go while drinking a glass of red wine. "Sure…what we had done two days ago will still remain a big mess but…I can say that those three can bring out true chaos…if they want." Lancer of White commented.

"Oh, trust me, Lancer. They will. They have their motivations to do so. And the best part is that…this will turn out useful for me…" He replied before giving another sip to the glass.


Tokyo – Red Rose Headquarter – 17th April 2021 – 10.30 A.M

After reaching the building and pronouncing the 'password', Alvis entered inside the headquarter, and could see a normal scenario: most of the other members were simply waiting while a few of them were doing some activities. Though at the same time…he could see something new, like Astrea who was throwing some fists at the air alongside Caster of Red or Gordon that was sitting in a chair while his Servant, Saber of Red, was massaging his shoulders. Naturally, it was the latter that noticed them first, since there was his past lover. "Oh! Rider and Alvis! Welcome!" He said with his usual loud voice, making the others turn around and see them as well.

The Walker mage was a little bit embarrassed but still saluted. "Ehm…hello!"

"It's strange to see you as the last one…" Cahya commented. "I hope she didn't do anything to you!" Assassin of Red naturally added.

"Oh, if you want to know, I've tried but this guy is tough as a rock, BUT THIS IS NOT THE POINT!" Rider of Red countered.

"You don't know what you're missing, she's talented, if you know what I mean!" Fergus said to Alvis, who naturally felt uncomfortable. Not only him, but Gordon as well. "Don't start again!"

"It's amazing how every time I get in here, it's almost as if I've entered the first time…" Kazuto commented. "Well…at least we can say that it's a lively place." Archer of Red told him, making him chuckle. "Heh…kinda…"

"Right…now that everyone is here, let's have our usual discussion. We have some things to point out, but at the same time…I think that this reunion won't take as much time as the others." Marcus then proclaimed, calling everyone out at the large table.

"Wait! All these punches make me feel thirsty…" Astrea advised as she took a drink out of the bridge. "She's starting to sweat…they grow so fast…" Caster of Red commented, almost moved. By hearing that, Astrea made a sceptic face.

"Master, let's go." Lancer of Red told her Master, who was more thoughtful than usual. Even the others noticed that he talked less than the usual but didn't pay that attention. "…Master?" The female Servant asked again.

"Ah…right…I'm coming." Calem said, sounding like he just woke up from a dream.

"Very well…now that everyone is here…we can discuss on what recently happened and see if there's something new to add." Marcus started, as soon as everyone was sitting at the table. "As we could see, there wasn't any Holy Grail back at Kabuki-Cho, which implied that the signal I've heard was a false one…even if…it seemed so real…" He added showing some confusion in his tone.

"You said that you've felt like a big source of magical energy was calling you, right? That would have meant a call from the Grail itself, but if it wasn't there…then what was that called you? Though…I've also had a feeling that…maybe there was something off. I'm a newbie compared to you guys, but I've read something about the Holy Grail War…and I remember that it was said that the Grail usually appears when most of the Servants are gone…" Astrea commented.

"I can see your point, but I don't see what else he could have felt. If he described it as a giant source of energy…the only answer I could think of is the Grail itself." Gordon answered. "Even the leader of the opposite faction had felt it, and the White Rose headed there just like us. But if there wasn't anything…then what was it? Maybe the Grail wanted to joke with us?" Saber of Red added.

"Really? If that's true, that would be pretty messed up!" Assassin of Red exclaimed. "No, let's think of it…while the Grail can have a will of its own, I don't think it would do such thing. But then…I don't know how to explain what happened back there…" Lancer of Red countered.

"…It may have been a joke that we all fell for…but maybe…from something else…" Kazuto pointed out. "But I don't know if we can prove it yet…"

"Two days had passed, and this is still a mystery…the idea that I've been played makes me only more furious…but…let's ignore it for now. Since we couldn't find the Grail back there, I suggest to turn back to our main goal to take out the enemy Servants and win the war. Eventually…it will appear. All that we have to do is to make sure that it will end up on our hands!" Marcus announced. "And now…I think we all agree that we should also discuss about the second event that occurred that night…" He added.

"The fifteenth Servant…" Everyone else in the room said, leaving Marcus surprised.

"You said it in unison…guess I'm not the only one shocked about it…" The Leader of the Red Rose commented.

"It's only natural…we all thought that the fourteen of us were the only one summoned in this war…so where this additional Heroic Spirit comes from?" Caster of Red asked.

"He surely wasn't summoned by the Grail, especially considering that he's an Avenger-Class Servant. Which implies…that there must be another mage participating behind our backs." Archer of Red suggested.

"And this makes two questions rise…who? And most importantly…how?" Cahya wondered. "As far as I remember…the Grail had chosen each one of us with the marks of the two rose. So…seeing someone who's neutral…makes me…confused…"

"Oh, don't worry, Master…we all are…" Assassin of Red told him.

"And the worst thing is that the identity and the truth about his Master aren't the only concerning issues about him…there's also the problem…about his strength…" Rider of Red then pointed out.

"Right…He was able to fight and resist against all fourteen Servants reunited, even if we didn't take him together. It was also a miracle that you could resist to his Noble Phantasm…" Fergus remembered.

"Oh, right…what was it called? Enter Bourdeau d'Imp…?" Astrea asked. "Enfer Chateau D'If." Her Servant corrected her. "And the strange thing is that, despite using it, I…still think about what his identity could be…" Caster of Red then added.

"It's not the first time that I hear 'Chateau d'If', if I have to be honest…but…I still can't remember…where I've heard it…" Kazuto spoke.

"Either way…we can all agree that he's going to be a real pain in the ass…though I think it's only because we were injured that we've got pushed back! Next time I'll make sure to choke him for good!" Rider of Red exclaimed, showing some will.

"Well…be careful to not underestimate him, then…" Caster of Red advised her, even if she didn't take it well. "Uh!? What does that mean!?" Rider of Red exclaimed.

"N-Nothing! I was just saying to be careful. You saw what he's capable of…" The other Servant answered. Alvis's Servant sighed but she was still pumped up. "I know. But I bet he doesn't know what I can do." She insisted.

Alvis looked at her a little bit worried, but he could understand her point of view. After all, they both said earlier that they wanted a breakthrough.

"Oh, right…with Marcus's permission, I've also warned the overseer about him." Kazuto then said. Everyone then turned to the Yggdmillenia mage, who nodded. "Considering that this can be considered an occurring irregularity for the Holy Grail War as a whole, I've consented Kazuto to warn him. Speaking of which…what did he say?" He asked.

"Kanashimi said that he doesn't know how this happened as well…and he feels a little bit guilty about it. Because of this, he told me that he would start an investigation to find out the truth." The Tohsaka mage answered.

"How to blame him…no one could expect it, after all. And considering that we are at one of the world's biggest cities, find a single individual will be an almost impossible task. Though I think we should do the same as well. Maybe we could use a portion of our time to carefully inspect the parts of Tokyo where we end up, to see if there's something incorrect." Marcus suggested.

"It seems fine to me…" Lancer of Red answered. And since they were talking about it, her Master, Calem, thought that it was only fair to tell them what he saw the previous day. "Speaking of which…I would like you to take it with a grain of salt what I'm going to say, but…I may have a vague idea of who this fifteenth Master could be…" He spoke.

Everyone was naturally surprised and turned him around. "Y-You do?! Holy cow, you didn't tell me that you've had some detective guts!" Astrea exclaimed. "Master, he said to not take it as the absolute truth…" Caster of Red told her. "Oh…right. Sorry, Maste- I mean…Caster." Astrea concluded.

"Though it could be a start! What is it about, Calem?" Archer of Red asked.

Lancer of Red looked at her Master, worried that talking about it would have made him feel uncomfortable. And she could understand why. That man was indeed creepy and strange in his own way. But Calem knew what to do and started to tell.

"You see…during our break day, I've had encountered this man that was talking in a…rather bizarre way. And when we both came out of the train we were using…he said that I had a nice Servant…meaning that he could see Lancer."

Everyone felt alert once Calem finished to talk. True, it could have been only an omen, but hearing that someone could see a Servant wasn't something to ignore.

"W-What do you mean…?" Assassin of Red asked. "Then…there really are…other mages here?" Gordon asked.

"If that's so…that could be worrying…but at the same time…we could have a lead. What he looked like?" Marcus asked.

"He was tall…slim…and was wearing a butler uniform for some reason. He also had a strange mark on the right side of his face." Calem explained.

The human mages tried to think about it…but could not guess out. "Hmm…I don't remember someone with that look. Maybe he's not from the Mages Association…" Gordon spoke out. "Could it be that he comes from a hidden family? I know that there are some of them…" Kazuto added. For some reason, Astrea trembled at the idea. "I…know something about it…" She thought.

"In that case…we could start by investigate about him…and anyone that could be just as suspicious as him. Is there someone that can use a magecraft skill that can track something in the city?" The leader of the Red Rose then asked.

"I can see if I have a tarot card that can help me with that. I think that the wheel card can do something…" Astrea suggested. "I can use my wolves as well. Even if they are made of water, they can still sense physical beings. If they find this man Calem talked about, they can tell me." Alvis added.

Marcus was naturally pleased by hearing this. "Heh…it seems that the mages I've got are really something. I should have expected it, considering that I was the one who recruited them. Well…now we know what to do when it comes to Avenger. For the rest…I don't think that there's that much to say, as we all know it. Apart from Avenger, Saber of White is by far our biggest threat, and we need a strong strategy to get rid of him." He then looked at Kazuto and his Servant. "Are you still willing to look for Berserker of White as your target?"

"Affirmative." Kazuto replied. "I feel that if I see her better, I can figure out her identity." Archer of Red added.

"Good. Then I think that there's nothing else to add. You are dismissed. We can wait for tonight to go in action." Marcus then concluded.

Everyone stood up and started to head to different places. Some mages like Cahya, Astrea and Marcus headed towards the exit, while others remained inside the building.

Kazuto remained there, fixing his gloves. "It seems that, at least, we still have some ideas on where to go. Will you be ready for tonight, Archer?" He asked to his Servant.

"Ready as always. Back at Kabuki-Cho, we didn't get the chance to see Berserker of White clearly, so now we can get the chance…well…hoping that nothing else gets in the way." Archer of Red answered. "Though…we still need to wait for that…what should we do in the meantime?"

"Hmmm…good question…" Kazuto wondered. It was in that moment that Alvis thought of an idea. Since they were free...maybe he could ask them something.

"Well…if you really don't know what to do…would you like to help me with some practice?" He proposed. Both Kazuto and Gordon looked at him surprise. Even if he was cooperative, it was usually the others who offered him to train or spar. But even if it was unusual, an offering of getting stronger shouldn't be turned down. And both Gordon and Fergus both knew it well, considering their passion of the rumble.

"Well…if you ask, we're here." Kazuto answered with a smile. "Count me as well." Gordon immediately added. Naturally, Rider of Red was pleased to know that Saber of Red would have been there. "That's just perfect!" She commented.

A few minutes later, the three pairs were at the upper floor, spending time in training. Alvis asked both Kazuto and Marcus to get his punches with appropriate gloves while the three Servants practiced with their weapons through the mannequins that were put in there by Marcus.

"Hm!" Alvis was swiftly using his fists and sometimes, switched from bare hands to his rapier and deliver some quick attacks (while also being careful to not cut the two boys' hands).

"Good, you are using speed in a balanced way. Let's see if you can also dodge!" Gordon then said before suddenly throw a surprise fist, astonishing Kazuto while Alvis successfully jumped back to dodge it.

"H-Hey, Gordon! Wasn't that a little unfair!?" The Tohsaka mage exclaimed. "I wanted to see if he had the reflexes ready. You should have them all the time. And it seems that he had them. He did improve through time." The Fragarthach one defended his position.

"Anf…don't worry Kazuto! I'm actually glad that he did so. At least I can dodge in time, eheh!" Alvis assured the other mage…who had an idea.

"…Then…" Kazuto quietly spoke before dashing with the fire to deliver a burned fist to Alvis. The Walker mage didn't expect this, but out of instinct, he was able to put his rapier in front of him to block the attack at the last second. What followed was a small impact that made a pile of smoke rose. This time, it was Gordon the one who was astonished.

"Dammit, Kazuto! Contain yourself next time! You could have destroyed the dojo!" He exclaimed. "S-Sorry! I've wanted to make the same surprise effect you did…maybe I've exaggerated…" Kazuto apologized while Alvis was still there with the rapier high. "That…was close!"

"It seems that your Master is also quite pumped up! Maybe it could be useful for him if he has to fight Berserker of White's Master. From that little I could see…he was tough." Saber of Red commented after seeing Kazuto.

"So, you two are going to fight her, right? That's just great!" Rider of Red added, happy to hear the news. "Archer! Make sure to make a number on that pussycat! She still hasn't paid for what she had done to me that day!"

Naturally, Archer of Red had a sceptic face. "You…still didn't slip it out…right?" She asked. "OF COURSE NOT! As the Eternal Lady, and the one who's going to step on the top of the world, it's absolutely necessary that someone who disrespected me has to pay!" Rider of Red insisted. "That's my girl!" Saber of Red exclaimed.

"Well…she's still our enemy, so I can still defeat her for you as well…I guess…" Archer of Red answered, still confused. This made the other Servant feel in awe. "R-Really!?" She asked with a cute voice.

"Err…yes?" Kazuto's Servant repeated. "THANK YOU! Here! Have a drink of this special liquor of mine as a sign of gratitude! I'm so happy that I could count on a friend like you!" Rider of Red shouted before handing a literal bottle of liquor at the other Servant.

At the sight of the Alcohol, Archer of Red immediately blushed and tried in every way to avoid a drink from that. "No, please! I can't handle alcohol! If I drink even a single glass, then I'm not myself anymore!" She exclaimed. "That's better! Come on, I wouldn't mind seeing your hidden side, Archer-chan!" Rider of Red insisted.

Luckily for the samurai woman, Alvis was there to hold his Servant back. "Rider, if she doesn't want to, don't push her…" He spoke out.

But in fact, Archer of Red thought that it would have been rude to not make her happy, so she limited herself to, at least a glass of liquor.

"Are you sure you can handle it?" Kazuto asked her. "A-As long as it's just one glass…" The Servant replied, still embarrassed.

"Either way…I wish the best of luck for you two. As Saber said, that guy was tough, especially with those skills with alchemy. Though I think that your magecraft of fire could be a nice counter weapon to them." Alvis then said, referring to Kazuto.

"It could be…even though, those of the White Rose I fought with usually found some ways to defend themselves. Last time I was able to defeat my counterpart of their faction but…she still reduced me to a sieve." Kazuto reflected.

"In that case, you just need to go harder and focus on the battle himself. Don't fall on the ground, just focus on your target." Gordon suggested. What he said actually made him remember on how he was able to defeat Cynthia two days earlier. In a certain way, it was like Gordon said, but still…he couldn't understand where all that sudden power came from, since he was just furious for the words that mage of the White Rose used.

Did he…always had that fire in his magical circuits? Was he…always like this?

"…" Kazuto couldn't think of a plausible answer yet. To find out, he had to use his fire in combat again. "I'll…try." He said, trying to give a response to Gordon's advice. "Speaking of which…it also seems that you are going to be busy as well, Alvis. Finding the fifteenth Master won't be easy…" He then added, talking to Alvis.

"It will take some time…but with my skills, I could give some results that can help our faction. Please, have some trust in me." The Walker mage answered with a small smile. It was in that moment that even the Tohsaka mage spotted something different in Alvis. As if…his ways were starting to change.

"Now that you make me think of it…you seem…more confident." He spoke.

"Uh? You…think?" Alvis asked. "Yes…even I can say that today you acted differently than the usual. Did something happen?" Gordon spoke as well.

"Well…see you noticing it makes me satisfied, but really, it's not that of a big deal. Only that…I've just thought that maybe…it's about time that I stop to wait for a situation where everything goes the way I would like to. Two members of the White Rose already took advantage of me, and…I don't want that to happen anymore. It's time I get productive as well." The Walker mage explained.

"Even the idea of not killing anyone?" Gordon asked him. Alvis tilted at that question...since he was still convinced that there wasn't any reason for that…but this time, he understood the others' point. "I'm not saying that I've changed my mind. Just that…I'll start to be less of a nuisance…from now on. I…I want to win as well." Alvis continued.

The Fragarthach mage remained in silence for some seconds before turning around. "Guess you've really grown up a bit." He commented. Even Kazuto was of the same opinion, as he made a light smile. "Guess that…everyone is changing…I wonder if the same will happen to me…no…it has to be…" He thought. In that moment, he reached out his fist while looking at Alvis. "In that case…let's both do our best." He simply spoke.

Alvis looked at this gest with surprise but was glad to see this. With that, he fist bumped with pleasure. "Got it!"

Archer of Red looked at them with a smile as well before taking her weapons back. "Well…since there's still a lot of time before the sunset, I think I could still spend some time with these mannequins. I intend to do my best as well." She spoke.

"I couldn't have said it better! How about you two jump on me?" Fergus then proposed. "Both of us?" Rider of Red asked, liking the idea. "YES! COME AT ME!" Saber of Red shouted back. While Rider of Red was pleased, Archer of Red made a sceptic face.

Naturally, this reaction made Gordon facepalm. "When will he stop-?"

Meanwhile, Astrea was already in another zone of the city, ready to prepare her cards. "Are those the tarots you're going to use?" Caster of Red asked.

"Yup! They can get useful sometimes! Especially in situations like this!" Astrea replied before checking the deck carefully. "Now…I need to see which cards could be useful to find that guy Calem talked about…or Avenger's Master at best…hmm…maybe the card of the wheel could help us? Or maybe the moon…or the star? There are a lot of choiches…first I should open the-" When she opened the deck, she stopped herself for a second to see the first card that was on the deck. She didn't remember the last time she put the cards in their place, so maybe the order was random. But seeing that card as the first one…still gave her a strange effect.

"Is everything ok?" Caster of Red asked. "Yes! Don't worry." The girl quickly answered. But she wasn't' so sure of that answer, as her thoughts were of a different opinion because of that card.

"Strange…why was that card on top?"


Tokyo – 17th April 2021 – 21.00 P.M

And then…the night arrived. With this, the moments of relax really ended, and the mages with their Servants were ready to dive into battle yet again. Some of them in particular were just waiting for this moment.

As the city started to get filled with thousands of lights, Cynthia was using his signature's magecraft to localize Kazuto's current position, while Maximilian and Seram looked at the vision that the female mage had materialized in her hand. "Gotta say…this skill of yours is pretty useful!" Maximilian commented.

"Like it? It took me some year to develop this skill. To be able to use this, I've imagined myself for some time to be a star in the sky." Cynthia replied.

"A star?" The Icecolle mage asked. Cynthia nodded and explained. "As you surely know, the stars exist from billions and billions of years as they were generated in the big bang that created the whole universe. Considering that they distant from earth range from thousands of light years, you could say that from one of them, you could actually see the planet earth as a whole. I've wanted to make that vision mine, and in the end, I was able to achieve it. A complete vision of the earth in real time, with the possibility of seeing the current position of anyone I want."

"Yesterday you said that you wanted to show to your family what the Rosi could be capable of. You really mean it if you came up with something like this…" Seram commented. "So, where's that guy?" She then asked.

Cynthia was just waiting for that question, and she was more than glad to show them. In the projection she made, the three mages could see Kazuto flying around with his fire magecraft. "It seems that he's heading towards the more external areas of Tokyo. In particular…he's going to the direction of the Hinohara forest. Unfortunately, I can only see the images in real time, not hear them too, so whatever the reason is... I can't know it."

"Oh well, it's not that of a big problem in my opinion." Archer of White said while shrugging. "What matters the most is that we know where he is right now. We can proceed to attack him at any time."

"Then let's do it! I want my first victory, dammit!" Saber of White exclaimed, eager to descend into battle after being frustrated for the result of the previous ones.

"Wait, my firing friend. Let's not be that hasty." Archer of Red told him. The monstrous Servant naturally didn't take it well. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, BASTARD!? WE CAN CRUSH HIM RIGHT NOW!" He shouted.

"I agree! But we need to be careful as well! Make case that we make it all wrong. Before starting to attack…I would like to know the position of the other Masters and Servants at the moment. If we want to assault him, we have to make sure that he's completely alone. There can be the possibility that other mages of the Red Rose might help the boy and we need the right measures for that eventuality. I know how to do sneak attacks, so…it's always a priority I want to get." Archer of White explained with a smile.

"True…I wouldn't want to be outnumbered as well…nice thought, Archer! Let me see…" Cynthia answered as she moved the magical map to see the other Masters' positions.

Apparently, the rest of the members of the Red Rose were in separate parts of the city, some together, some of their own. But either way, this turned out to be a relief for those three mages, since they could have the confirm.

Kazuto was alone. And vulnerable.

It was indeed the perfect chance for all of them. Cynthia could take her revenge on that boy, Seram could see what it meant to work with other humans even if she despised them (and in a certain way, taking revenge on him as well for that time he used fire on her), and Maximilian could start to make a change for the rest of the faction and show that they could rely on him as well. For them, this could have been considered a text to see if they could overcome their own doubts and have the right to win the war. They've only had to defeat that single mage and bring upon the first victory of the White Rose Faction.

One single victory…to raise both hope and self-esteem in their hearts.

"Then this is the right moment…come on Maximilian…he had pushed you away before, but it was only because he took you by surprise. Time to get serious now…start by this, and you'll slowly get the change you have been waiting for…" The Icecolle mage thought.

"Are you ok, darling?" Assassin of White asked to him, seeing him looking at the horizon in silence. "Yes, Assassin." Maximilian answered. He then turned around to see the other two Masters. "Let's head for that forest then. We can set up the right trap for him once we're there."

"Aaaah, yes! My favorite part!" Archer of White exclaimed all happy. Even Cynthia smirked, since she couldn't wait anymore. "Ready to follow you, then." She spoke. "Count me in as well…" Seram added while her eyes glowed to the darkness of the night.

With that settled, the three of them started to move in the direction of the forest, attempting to go in there before Kazuto and expecting for them to achieve the plan. Even though…fate can sometimes be unpredictable.

Sendagaya

By taking advantage of the absence of people in the zone he was standing at the moment, Alvis started to materialize several wolves made of water, giving them the task to split and search for potential mages that could have the identity of Avenger's Master, including the man Calem saw the previous day.

"Search for any human that has magical circuits in their bodies and see if they can be a potential threat." He ordered to the wolves, who nodded and started to run.

"Woaah! I never knew you could do that!" Rider of Red exclaimed. "I've usually used them to combat, but they can serve as great scouts as well. Glad that you liked them…" The Walker mage replied with his cheeks slightly red. "They kinda look like the soldiers I create with blood. Who would have thought that we had similar skills!" The Servant continued before turning around. "Speaking of which, considering this skill of yours and the fact that we are once again accompanied by my man, this is going to be a fantastic night! I'll assure it!" She said, mentioning that even this time, Gordon and Saber of Red decided to join them.

"Every time I hear you say my name is like a melody for me! Glad to be of a great help for you!" Fergus said all happy.

"Speaking of which…why did you decide to join me, Gordon?" Alvis asked to Saber's Master. "I just thought that, in case you end up discovering Avenger's Master, or getting involved with Avenger himself, you might need some tough backup. Plus, if I do encounter Avenger, I would like to have my rematch. This time, that bastard with the hat won't pass it." Gordon explained.

"Does that mean…that you are worried for me?" Alvis then asked, understanding that. Gordon silenced for some seconds but then gave his answer. "If you…can consider that."

"Oh, he actually does, but he doesn't want to admit it! Friends are a delicate argument for him!" Fergus spoke out, making his Master sigh. He didn't confess it all out, but that answer was enough to make Alvis smile. "I still appreciate your effort. Well…with that, we can-" He was going to add something but then…

A strange sign.

Both Alvis and Gordon widened their eyes as soon as they've felt it. It was…a strange feeling…or rather…a presence that was…kind of unusual.

"Did…did you hear that too, Alvis?" Gordon asked. "Y-Yes…" The other mage simply replied, still shocked.

The two Servants naturally got alarmed at this sudden reaction. "Master, what happened!?" Fergus asked to his Master.

They were afraid to say the answer, but at the same time, they were eager to say it. "A…a strong magical energy…this is the first time I'm sensing something…of these dimensions…" Gordon answered.

"T-The same goes for me as well…I've never sensed something like this…" Alvis added. The reaction was similar to when Marcus and Isak both felt what seemed to have been the Grail, but the two mages had now to be careful to not be deluded a second time.

Yet…this presence could not be ignored. Maybe it was what they were looking for.

Both Alvis and Gordon looked at each other in silence for some seconds. Both of them had their eyes wide open and the front full of sweat because of this sudden presence. They had the thought that maybe, following this presence might have brought them to a suicide, but if it was really Avenger's Master or that other man, there could have been a small progress that would have led the Red Rose nearer to victory.

To confirm this possibility, a wolf of water started to bark from a few meters away, right in the position the two mages sensed the magical energy.

Gordon and Alvis looked at each other for some minutes. It was a high risk…but it could have been worth it a lot. "So…do you have the guts to do this?" The Fragarthach mage asked.

Alvis looked down for some seconds. Even if he wanted to dare, he still had some doubts and wanted to be 100% sure of what he was going to do. But…maybe by doing so…he could have repeated the same error he made the other times. And…he wanted a turn in all of this. After all…this is what his dear friend told him once.

"Try to live…without any type of regrets…just like I did…"

He was right. Sometimes…a risk was worth it. He was there for him after all. So…firm like never before, he looked at Gordon with a serious stare and nodded. "I'm on it…let's fucking do this!"

Gordon made a large smirk and already stood on a fight stance. "That's what I wanted to hear! LET'S GET THAT BASTARD'S HEAD!" He shouted. With that in mind, the two mages started to run. It is needless to say that their Servants agreed on that. "Rider! Activate your chariot!" Alvis then said to Rider of Red.

"No need to say it twice! So where are we going?" She asked while summoning her trusted chariot. "We are going towards victory! Follow that wolf, Rider!" Alvis promptly answered. The female Servant was pleased with this answer. It seemed that Alvis was going to give her one satisfaction after another, and even if he didn't want to 'consume' their relationship, Rider of Red was pleased to see that he was going to take the words she used for him seriously. "Then let's go, my proud paladins!" She exclaimed.

"At once, my queen!" Fergus answered. The chariot then started to fly, while the wolf of water started to run to show them the direction of that anonymous presence. A tough battle could have started, but to get their wishes granted, this and much more.

Hinohara

The Hinohara forest is situated in a mountain close to Mt. Nito, standing far away from the urban part of the capital of Japan. This position was actually helpful for those who wanted to go in there, since the place was mostly known for the famous 'Forest Therapy', which was used by people who wanted to stay away from the city and feel more in peace and one with nature, by living a simple life for some time and doing simple jobs. A practice like this is shown in Haruki Murakami's novel Norwegian Wood.

Much like every other Master that participated in the Holy Grail War, Adewale and Berserker of White could be anywhere inside the city, and since the other time didn't work out well, Kazuto decided to explore even the farthest limits of the area, including the ones far from the metropolitan part of the city, like a forest for example.

The Tohsaka mage used his fire to fly up and started to see the tall forest situated in the mountain, hoping to find what he was looking for. "There we are…he could be here…" He spoke.

"Judging from that little that we could see, and also from Saber and Rider's words, Berserker of White seems to be a Heroic Spirit affiliated with nature…so her staying in a place like a wood would give her a great advantage over the enemies and there could be a high probability that she might be in a place like this." Archer of Red added. "Hmmm…a bond with nature…and Archer-like skills…maybe I have a lead…but I need more confirms…" She then thought.

"Fighting a Berserker on our own won't be easy…but Archer here can handle tough challenges well. We just need the same charge of the other times and maybe-" Even Kazuto thought of what could have happened as well, but his thought was put to a stop, when he suddenly felt something wrong: some…presences. "What…what is this?" He wondered as he looked around.

Apparently, he didn't notice anything, but that feeling was still there. "I'm…sensing something. Is someone…already here?"

"Master, what's wrong?" Archer of Red asked, seeing his Master disturbed. "Archer! Stay on guard!" The Tohsaka mage advised her Servant, while he got ready to attack at the first sight of something coming for him.

Meanwhile, as agreed, Maximilian, Cynthia and Seram were already at the forest while still being updated with Kazuto's movements thanks to the Rosi mage's skill.

"He's starting to panic…I have to say…I like what I'm seeing…" Seram commented. "What do you say? Is it time? I don't want to rush you, but I'm quite eager to start this…revenge of mine." Cynthia asked as her glittering eyes shined like stars for a moment.

Maximilian grinned at this question. "Absolutely, dear lady. But…if you'll excuse me…" He replied. He then started to move his hands in a specific way, as several knives made of dark energy started to appear behind him. "I would like to be the one to start this operation. After all…he does owe me one after the humiliation he gave me when this war started. Once I'll throw these knives…be free to attack in every way you prefer."

"Uuuh! We are quite sadistic here! I like it! True…after all…it's how a predator should act…start with calm at first…and then attack!" Archer of White commented.

"Not only that…but we should also remember that…revenge is a dish that must be served cold. You're learning well, darling…and I love it…" Assassin of White added while she secreted some poison from her lips.

In the meantime, Alvis, Gordon and their two Servants were still following the presence they've heard, and they've ended up getting close to the Hinohara forest as well. The wolf made of water continued to bark and run, and Rider's Chariot followed it as fast as the two bulls could.

"Do you think we are getting close?" Gordon asked. "We could! They can't run forever!" Alvis replied. But then, from that chariot, he could spot something on the distance.

It was Kazuto, who seemed to look around while staying in mid-air.

Somehow, this gave the young Walker mage a bad feeling. Maybe that presence was targeting him?

"Kazuto? This is bad…" He thought before looking at his Servant. "Rider! Quicker!" He ordered. Even if she was usually the one giving orders, Rider of Red did so and pulled the strings to make the bulls go faster. "Please…make it in time!" Alvis thought while the first drops of sweat started to come down from his head.

"…Now." Maximilian commented, as he started to direct the shadow knives at his target.

"Uh!?" As soon as he spotted the rain of penknives head towards him, out of instinct and a little bit of panic, Kazuto started to use a barrage of fists of fire to divert them.

"Master!" Archer of Red exclaimed. She didn't think twice, and immediately started to jump in Kazuto's direction to help him.

Kazuto was fast, but the knives seemed to be too many even for him. "Ngh! T-these knives…this can mean only one thing…" He said before looking towards the forest. "Maximilian!"

The Oni Servant made a large jump to reach her Master and start to attack the knives with her two blades. "Don't worry! I've got your back!" She said, trying to reassure him.

But this was just what the White Rose wanted.

"Attack." Maximilian, Cynthia and Seram gave this simple order at the same moment, meaning that they've wanted this at the same manner. They've said it with different tones, but the message was clear.

Reclaim one life.

The three Servants immediately started to dash and jump towards the target. Due to their nature as Heroic Spirits, their speed could easily surpass that of a regular human being, so it was only a matter of one or two minutes before they could reach the Tohsaka mage and his Servant.

"Hey! Is that Kazuto!? OH MY GOD…" Gordon exclaimed, as he witnessed what was going to happen. He and Alvis could already see the three Servants of the White Rose head towards the boy from down below.

Alvis felt his heart stop for an instant, for the fear of losing a companion. But at the same time, he felt the urge of doing something…and quickly.

"No…YOU WON'T GET US BY SURPRISE ONCE AGAIN!"

Rider of Red immediately understood what he wanted to mean and used her magical energy to boost up the speed of her chariots. "Ok, my precious one! Run as you've never did before!" She exclaimed. "HANG ON! HERE COMES THE CAVALRY!" Saber of Red added while he took his blade and Gordon started to activate the magic runes in his body.

"C-Come on Archer! Hang in there! We just need to get rid of these-" Kazuto and Archer of Red did their best to get out from that situation. But the distraction caused by Maximilian was planned and successful, since the two of them couldn't realize…what was going to happen in that exact moment.

"GRAAAAH!" Saber, Archer and Assassin of White jumped high to surround Kazuto and the female samurai, attempting to fight.

The young mage and Archer of Red widened their eyes in shock and horror as they witnessed this scene. Two small bunnies taken hostage by three giant falcons.

They couldn't even elaborate another way that their thought was the same. They were done for. And all because their distraction worked. There was no way that they could dodge someone as strong as those three Heroic Spirits…

"RIGHT BACK AT YA, ASSHOLES!"

Suddenly, a long whip surrounded the pair of the Red Rose and started to spin fast to attack the three Servants of the White Rose and pushed them back to the mountain. "GAH!"

"What!?" Cynthia exclaimed. "W-Where did that come from!?" Seram added, starting to get furious. Maximilian was shocked as well, but mostly frustrated. He did think of this eventuality, but they thought that the rest of the other Masters were distant enough to not guard him in time. So how?

He didn't want to admit it, but maybe he underestimated them…yet again.

Kazuto and Archer of Red could take some seconds to breath before noticing that it was Rider of Red alongside Saber of Red and their Masters who rescued them. "Rider!" Archer of Red said, relieved to be safe.

"Get in! Quick!" Rider of Red adverted. The other pair didn't think twice and immediately jumped on the chariot.

"NGH! DAMMIT! WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAPPEN!?" Saber of White shouted. His body was already firing up, making even some light in the forest. Even though the attack didn't work, Archer of White was of a different opinion after seeing Saber and Rider of Red. "Well, well, well…fate can surely be strange sometimes, eh? The big boy and his pretty lady are once again my foes! How charming…I was…kinda waiting for this to happen. I've just wanted to have fun with them once again…"

Assassin of White simply limited herself to glare at them. "Things have gotten words, uh? Fine…I'll take this challenge. My darling had waited for this occasion, and I surely won't let you ruin it…time to go wild again…" She thought.

"Tch…what do we do?" Cynthia asked. "I think the answer is obvious. Even if there are three of them now, we can still take them on. We still have the strength to win. I wouldn't mind if we took down three enemies instead of one. I'm just tired of waiting…" Seram answered, wanting to turn into her dead face form and throw herself into the battlefield.

"I actually agree with her. True…it didn't go exactly as planned…but that Tohsaka guy is still there, and he surely knows that at this point they cannot escape." Maximilian added while taking his knives with a serious stare but still with a convinced smirk on his face. "Our plan is still possible. All we need is to take them down. I won't let this chance slip it out from my grasp!" He proclaimed. "Assassin…get back here. It's time to rumble." He then said to his Servant through their connection. Cynthia and Seram did the same.

"…Eheh…got it, Master." Assassin of White was more than glad to hear this order and quickly materialized near him.

On the other hand, the three pairs of the Red Rose were still on Rider of Red's chariot, trying to make Kazuto recover from what just happened. "Anf…anf…anf…"

"Are you safe, Kazuto?" Gordon asked. "Yes…thanks…I…didn't expect such a sneak attack…even though this is not the first time it happens…" The boy replied.

"And to make it worse…we're talking about three of the most dangerous Servants…" Alvis added.

"What should we do? At this point, I find it hard that they'll make us escape…" Archer of Red asked. It was Rider of Red who decided to answer for her. "Come on! I think the answer is obvious! Plus, wouldn't you want some revenge after taking you by surprise while you were busy with something else!? There's three of us and three of them. That Saber of theirs might be dangerous, but we can still take him on!"

"I agree! I cannot wait for a rematch against him!" Saber of Red added. Archer of Red looked down for some seconds. True, it was a dangerous situation but…at this point…there wasn't much other things to do. Escape was a near-impossible task. Since their initial plan failed, they would have probably headed for a more direct attack that would have led to serious troubles for both her and her Master. So…she decided to follow their reasoning. After all, she already faced those three Servants. Maybe this time, she could avget e gotten a chance she could never have. "Master…" She said to Kazuto, who turned on her. "I, too, think that we should fight."

"I don't know about you guys, but our Servants made it clear." Gordon commented before making his knuckles crack. "Call me stupid but getting the chance to fight three Servants like that is more than appealing."

Kazuto and Alvis both looked at each other in silence for some seconds. Maybe…they were right after all. Plus, after everything that had happened until now, they, too, wanted a change in this war. Alvis even said that he was ready to do have his turn. And Kazuto, on the other hand, surely didn't like the treatment he just received…and he also thought of what Kanashimi told him. If he really wanted to turn on a new leaf, he had to fight.

"Do you want to do this?" Kazuto asked to Alvis, who nodded. "I'm more than ready!"

"Yes! Round two from two Servants for me! THEN LET'S GO!" Saber of Red shouted. "Time to go, then!" Rider of Red added while making her chariot go towards the forest.

It didn't take it long for the beasts to reach the enemies, who were waiting for them, certain that they wouldn't have escaped.

After Rider of Red made her chariot disappear (for the moment), once again, the Red Rose and the White Rose were glaring at each other. Even if there weren't all the members this time, the pressure was still high.

Cynthia slightly stretched her eyes after seeing that Kazuto decided to go after them. Even Gordon was there, someone who she fought with and somehow, made her altered. She still remembered that time he spat on her and called her a coward. So, what better chance than this to get her revenge on both of them? "So…glad to see that none of you decided to escape…" She spoke out.

Kazuto looked at her counterpart and could see by both her expression and her tone that she was eager to see him again. It was natural, after all. "I should have expected to see you again, soon. Are you perhaps still mad at me?" he asked. But to his surprise, it was Maximilian, who intervened.

"It's not only about that!" He exclaimed.

"Uh?" Kazuto spoke.

"True, the three of us hold a grudge against you. But to see that you've ended up being rescued only makes us happier! And I'm sure that you guys are happy as well. In the end, what we want is the same, right? We all want to finally take down the enemy. Well, call it coincidence or fate, BUT THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE NOW!" The Icecolle mage explained with a tone of excitement.

"…I'm starting to like him." Seram commented after hearing him like that. "Ah yes, that's my precious!" Assassin of White added before turning on Archer of Red. "And also, we finally meet again, Archer! I hope you haven't forgot that arrow you threw at me!" She said before licking her lips.

As a response, Archer of Red held her two blades tightly. "Of course not. Perhaps you want another one? Or maybe a taste of these?" She answered with sarcasm.

"Oh, please, do me the favor of counting me as well! Even though…I would like my rematch with the big boy as well. I don't hide the fact that I've had a lot of fun, last time!" Archer of White answered.

Naturally, Saber of Red smirked and took his blade. "But of course! This time I'll see whether my swords will get out from your traps! And don't think that a rain of arrows will help you out this time!" He answered. This could only please Archer of White. "Oh, trust me…I won't need it."

"I don't care who I have to fight or if I have a grudge against anyone! THE IMPORTANT IS THAT I CRUSH YOU ALL! HOW ABOUT WE START ALREADY!?" Saber of White shouted with impatience.

"Do you act like this all the time? You really need to chill out already! But…" Rider of Red told him before using her 'Fergus, my dear' ability, to materialize a replica of Fergus's Caladbolg on her hands and use it. "I can understand your point. This time, I'll be the one to make you all bow!" She exclaimed.

"Then I guess that there's really nothing else to say at this point…" Maximilian spoke. "I agree. You said it before, right? We all came for one reason. Time to respect it…with all myself!" Alvis answered. Though for a moment, his mind was on something else he noticed. "Though it's strange…was it really their magical energy the one me and Gordon I've felt? True, Saber of White possesses a lot of it, but…the energy I've felt before…was different…no, I shouldn't think of this! The enemy is going to approach you! Stop thinking and fight! Yes…I'm ready!"

"Then I hope you won't mind if I charge at you LIKE THIS!" Gordon in the meantime, took off his jacked and already dashed towards his enemies at high speed. Kazuto decided to follow him by dashing with fire. "COUNT ME AS WELL!"

"Oh, don't worry, I WAS JUST WAITING FOR THIS!" Seram on the other hand activated her dead face transformation to answer to them properly. Maximilian was already backing her up with tons of knives attached to several strings that were tied to the surrounding area.

Alvis saw through this and already generated several wolves made of water to head towards the knives and make them unusable. "What!?" Maximilian exclaimed before noticing that the wolves were already ready to behead him with one bite after getting rid of his knives. The Icecolle mage gritted his teeth and generated several spears of darkness to destroy the wolves. "That mage…he saw through my idea to destroy it! I guess that they don't want to joke around anymore, eh?" He thought. Maximilian then widened his eyes to see that between all the water that exploded, Alvis was jumping towards him with his rapier, ready to make a dive attack.

"AH!" Maximilian quickly took some knives to defend himself from that sudden attack. Due to the fact that he took his weapons at the last instant, Alvis's rapier came close enough to make Maximilian's forehead slightly bleed. "Y-You little…!"

"Surprised? You're not the only one who can make sneak attacks like this! GET READY FOR MORE!" Alvis shouted as he started to throw several attacks with his rapier. Maximilian used his knives to defend himself, but he realized that the mage of the Red Rose was starting to slowly overwhelm him by making him walk backwards. Alvis was going like a train, wanting to show himself and the others how far he could go.

"W-What's the deal with this mage!? Adewale and Tygo didn't tell me that he could be this fast! Dammit, I need to answer quickly, or he'll make me fall off the mountain!" Maximilian thought. Since he needed to get out from Alvis's grasp, he used his dark arts skill to turn into smoke and appear a few centimeters away from him.

"What's this? Now you're escaping!?" Alvis exclaimed before putting his palm to the ground to summon three wolves made of water that headed directly at Maximilian. The Icecolle mage summoned several knives of shadow and threw them at the wolves. While his magecraft did so, he quickly dashed towards Alvis and attacked him with a few knives on his hands.

The Walker mage ended up getting a cut on his arm, but he was able to push Maximilian a way with a kick on his chest. The mage of the White Rose spit some blood from his mouth, but he looked up at his enemy with a grin. "You should know it better. I don't want to escape, not now that I have this chance!" He shouted out while Alvis stood ready.

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" On the other hand, Seram was ready to receive the other two mages of the opposite faction, and by their surprise, she was able to block both attacks. "Finally…I get to be at your level..." She spoke as she glared at them with red glowing eyes.

"NGHHHH…Guess that this time it won't be easy to smash her down!" Gordon exclaimed while he pushed forward. "Wait…I've got an idea…" Kazuto was about to do something in order to break the deadlock, but in that moment, Cynthia gave the girl an advice.

"SERAM! LOWER YOUR HEAD!"

The girl didn't think twice and did so, ending up avoiding a small burst of fire by Kazuto. "W-What!?" He exclaimed. In that moment, Cynthia jumped up and pushed both Kazuto and Gordon against a tree with an attack of her blade. "TAKE THIS!"

"GAAAH!" Both mages of the Red Rose slammed their backs against the trunk and fell. "Dammit…I've forgot that bitch can see a few seconds in the future!" Gordon exclaimed. "Wait…remember that it doesn't always work. We just need to make sure that her prediction doesn't become reality." Kazuto told him.

"You…really saved me." Seram told Cynthia, who still held her blade. "You helped me out yesterday, this is just the minimum, remember." She then looked at her two enemies. "Come on! Last time we fought, you worked harder!" She exclaimed. Seram on the other hand, made her aura glow. "COME AT US, RIGHT NOW!"

"Wish granted…HERE WE GO!" Gordon naturally answered as he and Kazuto both dashed against them. The impact caused by the four mages generated a small shockwave that made some leaves fall down and some birds fly away. They then continued with a barrage of attacks and with no hesitation.

"GRAAAH!" Kazuto delivered several fists of fire against Cynthia, who blocked them with her blade. "You have no idea how much I've been waiting for this moment! I can throw you back everything you've done to me at our last fight!" Cynthia exclaimed, starting to throw quicker attacks. But Kazuto didn't want to slow down and defended himself with the same energy. "Well don't think I'll leave you this one only because you're offended! I WANT TO FIGHT AS WELL!" He shouted, ready to give her a stronger punch. Cynthia used her mystic eyes to see the trajectory of this attack, so that she could move her head away from it and answer back.

But to her surprise moved his head to the right to dodge it, only for her to get a direct fist from Gordon. "GAH!" The Rosi mage had to recoil and for an instant, she even listened her eardrum whistle for a moment. Gordon, on the other hand, was handling a one-on-one combat with Seram, but he opened himself up for a moment just to catch Cynthia by surprise. This chance helped Kazuto but left the Fragarthach mage open to the dead face, who started to scratch his body with her hands. "GHHH!"

"DON'T YOU DARE TURN YOUR BACK ON ME!" She then joined hands and pushed Gordon away with an heavy attack directed at the belly, she didn't realize that Kazuto was still there and started to attack him with punches. "D-DAMM YOU!" Seram was more furious than ever, and she even had Isak's voice to support her back.

"Do not hesitate! This is your chance to get him back! ATTACK!"

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" With more power and speed, Seram relentlessly attacked Kazuto, who did his best to defend himself, but he could feel that her attacks were getting stronger. For a moment, he could look behind him and notice that Cynthia was already going towards him, ready to stab him on the back. "Now I have you…" She spoke.

"CRAP! N-No…keep calm…you can block both…" He thought to calm himself down. He made some step back from her opponent, who tried to chase him. In the exact moment when he had both Cynthia and Seram a few inches away from him, Kazuto made a double finger snap to fully hit them with two explosions. "GAAAAAAAAH!"

Kazuto took the chance to get close to Gordon. "Are you ok?" He asked to the other mage, who stood up. "Yes…it's like you said…we need to get them when they at least expect it…speaking of which…have you ever thought of powering up your explosions?" He asked.

"Uh? What do you mean?" Kazuto said. As an answer, Gordon empowered the runes on his body to a point between the standard and the high-up output. "Oh, I know a way…"

From the other side, Seram and Cynthia stood up. "Dammit…these two are really a pain in the ass…one with flames and one with inhuman strength…" Cynthia commented.

"What do you suggest then?" Seram asked. "Something that could limit their movements…we need them as open as possible…" The Rosi mage answered. But they couldn't have time to think about it, as they noticed that their enemies were already making the next move.

Kazuto started to snap his fingers several times while Gordon punched the ground to throw several explosive debris, thus generating a large sequence of explosions that surrounded their area.

"W-WHAT!? AAAGH!" Both Seram and Cynthia couldn't expect this one coming, and they've got pushed away again. "GAAH! H-HANG ON, SERAM!" Out of instinct, the girl took Seram's hand and tried to stick out with her.

"G-GH! W-What do you intend to do!?" Seram asked.

"Something crazy, hang on!" Cynthia told her. She then started to run between the explosions, using her mystical eyes to see where a single explosion would have occurred and then did her best to avoid them. It was a hard task for her to do so. Not only because the risk of getting hit by an explosion was high, but also because her mystic eyes weren't exactly at their full potential, so she couldn't predict that many attacks at once. By doing so, she would have started to have dizziness. But she was there for a purpose, so she would accept that gamble.

She started to run as fast as she could with Seram following her, hoping that her plan was correct. They've got hit by some explosions, but they then stood up and continued to do so.

"Do you see them!?" Gordon asked. "Keep shooting in case!" Kazuto told him. Though they needed to know, as they couldn't expect what Cynthia had in plan for them.

Once they were close enough, Cynthia smirked and put her hands on the bottom of her back. "Now, Jump!" She exclaimed to Seram. The Qlippah mage, after understanding what her idea was, nodded and did so. Her jump made her go higher than the explosion, so that she could reach the two enemies, while Cynthia was fully blown away by the explosions. "NGHHHHHHHH!"

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Seram didn't hesitate and dived towards them and used her dark energy to generate two dark swipes that rotated around her and fully hit Kazuto and Gordon once she was between them.

"WHAT!? GAAAAAAAAAAH!" The two mages were once again down while Seram landed, and Cynthia reached her, even if she wasn't at her best.

"Gh…dammit…they took us by surprise…" Gordon commented. "We should know it better…we all are determined to get the enemy down…so we cannot expect less from them…but our attacks work…we just need to continue this way…" Kazuto told him. Gordon smirked and stood in a fighting pose. "You're all starting to be of a liking for me, you know that?"

"Your strategy worked…" Seram told at Cynthia. "We promised to focus on the enemy and take them down, right? And I surely hold promises as long as I can…" The Rosi mage replied while she stood on a fighting pose as well. Rosi was disorientated. This was the first time…she felt well with another human. But she took that thought aside to get back into combat. If Cynthia was so eager to help her, she would have done the same.

Meanwhile, to start the battle Rider of Red summoned her chariot to push over the three Servants, while Saber and Archer of Red followed her.

"NGHHHH!" Saber of White tried to block the chariot for some seconds, but he ended up pushed away. "GAAH! DAMM YOU!" Out of anger, he released a laser beam from his eyes that destroyed the chariot, but not the bulls that were moving it.

"Special delivery for you all! Hope you like it!" Archer of White exclaimed, as he used his coffin to throw several missiles at the three Servants, but he got surprised when he saw several arrows go against them, making them explode. He looked down to see Archer of Red put her bow back and start to reach him. The Oni Servant used her Oni-Kind Demon skill to increase her speed and reach the enemy Servant in a short time. When she jumped to attack Archer of White with her katana, she got suddenly blocked by a familiar gourd bottle. "What!?" When she turned around, she could see Assassin of White already glaring at her, eager to start a fight.

"Sorry, Archer, but I want to fight her for some minutes!" She declared before pushing Archer of Red away with the bottle and start a clash with her.

"Hey! That was my opponent!" Archer of White exclaimed, before looking down and noticing that Saber of Red was already reaching him. In an instant, their weapons clashed.

"You can be with me if you want!" Saber of Red sarcastically told him. The Servant of the White Rose liked that answer and gave his own one. "Why, thank you! I was actually also looking for settling things with you, big boy!" He started to push with his coffin, but Saber of Red saw through this and jumped away. Once he landed, he planted his sword to the ground, which started to crack and erupt thanks to the power of the blade. This impact made Archer of White get pushed away, and once he regained balance, he started to use his coffin as a machine gun to fill Saber of Red with bullets.

Fergus started to run against him while deflecting the bullets with the sword impeccably until he reached him. The two clashed their weapons yet again. "Sorry, buddy! But I've already seen your attacks once and I could figure out how they work! Show me some new stuff if you want to entertain me!" Saber of Red exclaimed.

"Eheh, as expected from one of the Knights of the Red Branch. Your passion for fighting makes you also have right decisions. In that case, I suppose that I need to show you an old trick of the fighting art." Archer of White replied.

"And what is it?" Fergus asked before getting a direct elbow attack from Archer of White. "GAH!"

"PLAY DIRTY!" Archer of White told him with a pleased smile. By taking advantage of Saber of Red's momentary stun, Cynthia's Servant used his coffin to make him fly away. "And it's homerun! Even though that's an American sport…"

In the meantime, Archer of Red and Assassin of White were making their weapons clash. The female samurai could count on two weapons, but the gourd bottle of the purple demon turned out to be a lot stronger, so Kazuto's Servant had to sweat if she wanted to keep the pace with her.

"How is it now, Archer of Red? Am I satisfying your expectations?" Assassin of White asked while continuing.

"I've never said you were weak, just that I was about to punish you once again!" Archer of Red exclaimed while jumping behind Assassin of White and grab her back with her legs.

"What?!" Assassin of White exclaimed. She didn't have a moment to answer that Archer of Red threw her away backwards, making her crash against a tree which fell. Maximilian's Servant stood up, furious and activated her Oni-Kind Demon skill as well, reaching Archer of Red in a short time.

"Uh!? GAH!" Archer of Red got immediately attacked at the belly by Assassin of White's claws. "If there's one thing that I hate, is being offended multiple times!" The second oni Servant shouted as she started to release a combo of physical attacks that overwhelmed Archer of Red.

"GAAAH!" This time, it was her that got pushed back. But Assassin of White didn't want it to end there and took several plates to throw them at the enemy.

When Archer of Red opened her eyes, she immediately had to use her two blades to destroy the plate, and when she did so, she saw Assassin of White already coming towards her. To answer and get safe, she slammed her naginata to the ground to push the opponent away and then jumped towards her to stab her with the katana.

She was able to stab her in the shoulder, but despite the pain, Assassin of White girtted her teeth and pushed Archer of Red away with a kick.

"GAAAAAH!" Archer of Red crashed against the trunk of a tree and then the two Servants glared at each other while panting.

"Anf…I…almost forgot that you are an Oni demon as well…I'm starting to see your true colors…guess I'll have to intensify the flames of my weapon to take you down…" Archer of Red said.

"I think I could say the same of you. Though I wonder…what did you do to become just like me? You're a demon, yet you sound more human-like. Could it be that something happened?" Assassin of White replied.

"Gh!" Archer of Red blocked herself for a moment, since it was a delicate argument for her. But she calmed herself down to not become weaker. "It doesn't regard you. And even if I'm-" She couldn't finish what she was saying that a laser beam passed between the two Oni demons, making them turn around. "Uh!?"

It was Rider of Red, who was trying to attack Saber of White. The female Servant knew well that she couldn't handle another Servant like him in a direct combat, so she was trying to create an opening to attack him while distracting him with the laser beams from her crown. But Saber of White knew well how to defend himself and continuously deflected the beams with his sword and answered back with his laser beams, who fully hit Rider of Red. "GAAAAAAAAAH!"

"Don't you see? You trying to get through me is like a worm that tries to lift a mountain! GIVE IT UP AND BURN ALREADY!" Saber of White shouted.

"Gh…" Rider of Red started to show the first burns in her body, but she tried to stand up with the replica of Caladbolg. He was right, but she needed to find a way somehow…she looked around and noticed the two Oni Servants confronting each other. It was in that moment that she came up with something. Sure, it wasn't something that right, but it could have been a way. So she called out.

"ARCHER!"

Archer of Red turned on her and saw that she was already using her whip. "How about we switch enemies?" Rider of Red asked.

"WHAT!?" Both Saber and Assassin of White shouted.

Archer of Red could see that, in fact, she was pretty messed up against the enemy she had, so if it was to save an ally, she would have done so. "Got it! I'll cover you up!" She exclaimed before jumping towards Saber of White.

"H-Hey! Stop- WUAH!" Assassin of White wanted to stop Archer of Red, but the whip caught her in time and dragged her towards Rider of Red. "Na-ah! You're mine now! Be honored!" The female Servant exclaimed.

"OH, I DON'T THI- GAH!" Saber of White, on the other hand, tried to take Rider of Red before it was too late, but he got hit by an arrow of fire and pushed away as well. When he opened his eyes, he could see that Archer of Red was already making a dive attack with her two blades. The monster gritted his teeth and used his own blade to defend himself, making Archer of Red jump back.

"This won't be an easy battle…but I can deliver some damage to him, just like the other time…" Archer of Red thought, naturally afraid to fight Saber of White, who stood up. "So, it's you again, uh? Fine…after all…I couldn't get my revenge for your intervention when I was about to kill your Assassin. THIS MEANS THAT YOU'LL GIVE ME AN ADDING SATISFACTION!" He shouted before activating his Monstrous Strength skill to increase his attack.

"Kh…BRING IT ON, THEN!" Archer of Red then started to run around him while throwing several arrows of fire. Thanks to the Oni-Kind Demon skill, Tomoe could move and deliver her attacks faster, but even this wasn't enough to make Saber of White stumble. The titan of fire got hit by some of the arrows, who got stuck in his body, but most of them were deflected by his sword. "GRAAAAH!" With a roar, he then charged against her and pushed her away with the shoulder.

"GAAAAH!" Archer of Red ended up bleeding from her nose and slammed against a rock. "K-Kh…UH!?" She stood up but noticed that alongside Saber of White, several missiles were going towards her. The chances of avoiding these attacks were minimum, but right in that moment, Saber of Red appeared in front of her and destroyed the missiles with his sword. "Saber!"

"Don't worry, lady! I've got your back!" Fergus told her, while she stood up near him.

"Ah, shoot! So close…" Archer of White commented while going near Saber of White. "I suppose that It won't bother you if I'm here fighting." He then asked to his colleague. "Just shut up and fight." Saber of White told him.

"If you want to face that monster, you'll need some backup! I just can't wait to put my sword against the other Saber!" Saber of Red told Archer of Red.

"Fine by me…" Archer of Red replied with a smile before glaring at the enemies. "Then let's go!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Much like their Masters, the four Servants dashed against each other and clashed. What came after was a match between weapons. "Happy to see me again, Saber of White!?" Saber of Red asked to his opponent.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT, DIPSHIT!" The other Saber naturally shouted. As an answer, Fergus made a loud laugh. "IN THAT CASE SORRY IF I'LL BE A PAIN IN YOUR ASS AGAIN! GET READY!" He declared as he attacked with his sword.

"HA!" On the other hand, his former lover, Rider of Red, was clashing her blade with the gourd bottle belonging to Assassin of White. Even though neither was specialized in blade, it turned out that they were attacking intensively, being careful to deliver their blows and defend themselves.

"I was in the middle of something important, if you really insist on being annoying, it means that I'll stab your chest first!" Assassin of White exclaimed while she continued to attack.

"Oh well! Then you must know that it will happen a lot of time IF YOU WANT TO WIN!" Rider of Red answered back with the same tone while pushing further with Caladbolg, being able to actually push the other Servant as well. She then took the whip and wrapped her up again, starting to make her slam to the ground several times.

"NGH! Just what kind of Servant are you!?" Assassin of White asked while she managed to free one hand from the whip, so that she could throw some plates at the enemy's face.

"AGH!" Rider of Red was forced to leave the grip, while Assassin of White got free and ran towards her, with the intend of scratch her with her claws. "THERE! If you say to me that it will happen then I'll let you know that I'm rea-"

Then, while she continued, Rider of Red suddenly gave her an heavy headbutt, making her lose blood from her nose and recoil. "GH! W-What the!?" She couldn't even realize what just happened that Rider of Red already started to slap her face repeatedly.

"How do you like it, uh!? I'm sure that my hand is too pure and burning for a demon like you!" Rider of Red shouted. But Assassin of White stood firm and suddenly threw a punch on her belly, making her recoil. "BLARGH!" The female Servant spat out blood and couldn't have the time to answer back that Assassin of White was already attacking with the gourd bottle. "AH!" At the last moment, she defended herself with Caladbolg.

"You spit out those words, yet you are the one in disadvantage. What gives you the permission to do so? Perhaps it's better if you wake up and learn to stay at your place!" Assassin of White exclaimed. But much to her dismay, Rider of Red continued to push.

"Oh, I do have the permission! I want to remind you that I'm the Eternal Lady! The one destined to rule over all men and world! And now that I've got the chance to fight at full potential don't think that a demon like you can stop me!" The Servant answered back.

"GRRRR!" Meanwhile, Maximilian threw several knives made of darkness at Alvis, who deflected them with his rapier. The Walker mage then put his hand to the ground and summoned several wolves made of water.

The Icecolle mage turned into smoke to dodge them and then reappeared behind Alvis, only to stab him at the back with three knives.

"GHHH!" Alvis gritted his teeth and tried to resist. He then turned around, ready to answer with the rapier, but Maximilian jumped in time and pushed him away with a dive kick. "GAH!"

"Hope you like that!" Maximilian said before creating more strings to bring more knives directly at him. But Alvis noticed that and generated a water wolf that jumped high and converted into a large explosion of water, in order to deflect all the knives.

"Anf…anf…anf…" Alvis took a breath before noticing that he got closer to the others fighting. He could see the other two pairs fighting against each other and even his own Servant battling Maximilian's one.

The battle was heated up, and he was giving his all. But at the same time, this vision made him afraid. Now that he was there, not only Maximilian could continue the fight, but he could also help Seram and Cynthia from afar thanks to his skills of the dark arts. And he wasn't sure that Kazuto and Gordon could resist to the attack of three mages. He had to invent something…and he could think of only one thing.

Kazuto, Gordon, Cynthia and Seram stopped themselves when they noticed the other two Masters.

"What is it, mage? Did you perhaps brought me here just that you could rely on the others? Perhaps you have underestimated us a little too far." Maximilian said while starting to generate more knives of shadow.

But in reality, Alvis already decided what to do. For once, he was the one who would have helped the others and fought seriously. "Oh no…I think you've made a mistake. It is you who underestimated me!" He exclaimed, as he used his rapier to generate a green powder that got near Maximilian.

"W-What!? What is this!? AGH!" The Icecolle mage ended up inhaling some of the powder, and his senses started to tarnish, and for some reason…he started to panic. "GAAAH! B-BASTARD! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!?"

"W-What's wrong with him!?" Cynthia exclaimed.

"The powder…" Kazuto quietly said. "So, he really is determined to win!" Gordon added.

"WREAAAAAH!" Alvis immediately jumped behind Maximilian to push him away with the rapier.

"NGAH!" Like the Walker mage wanted, Maximilian ended up near his Servant, who got terrified to see her Master to the ground. "M-Master!"

"Rider! Use your Noble Phantasm to push them away! We're moving out!" Alvis then advised his Servant, surprising mostly everyone.

"What!?" Seram exclaimed. "Alvis! Are you sure!?" Kazuto asked, worried.

"Don't worry about me! You need to focus on the battle without him around! He can be dangerous! I'll take care of him! And then I'll come back!" The Walker mage answered back with a serious tone. "Just trust me…"

Unfortunately, Kazuto and Gordon couldn't have the time to tell him something else, but seeing how he was behaving, they decided to trust him. After all, he was a fighter, too. "Got it Alvis! SMASH HIS HEAD!" Gordon shouted. "Good luck…" Kazuto simply added.

"NO! WAI-GH!" Cynthia tried to do something, but Kazuto blocked her. "Hey, brownie! Didn't you want to get revenge over me?" He asked. This made Cynthia triggered. It was already enough to get blows by him again, if he dared to mock, she considered him dead. "Fine…you asked for it." She said while starting to swing her sword against Kazuto, who answered with punches made of fire.

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" In order to win faster, Seram increased once again her dark aura, so that she could attack Gordon with more ferocity. But the Fragarthach mage was ready to answer, as his magic runes started to glow. "COME AT ME! WE CAN START UP ROUND 2!"

With that, Alvis started to run towards her Servant. "RIDER, NOW!"

Rider of Red listened to him the whole time and was more than happy to satisfy him. "THIS is what I wanted to hear from my Master!" With that said, she started to concentrate the energy to manifest the chariot once again.

"Ah! She's using it!" Archer of Red noticed. "You know my queen, Archer! A blast like that couldn't destroy it forever!" Saber of Red added.

"BULLSHIT! I wrecked it with my laser beam! DON'T YOU DARE- GHH…" Saber of White wanted to intervene, but he had to deal with the two Servants of the Red Rose first. "Fine! Then I'll handle it myself!" Archer of White exclaimed before shooting two missiles. Archer of Red used her Oni-Kind Demon skill once again to quickly reach the missiles and destroy them before they could reach Rider of Red. "SHIT! YOU ARE STARTING TO GET ANNOYING AS MUCH AS THAT CRAPPY DETECTIVE YOU KNOW THAT!?" Archer of Red shouted.

"If she wants to go, then you'll let her…GOT IT!?" Archer of Red answered with a tone of challenge, which made Archer of White get annoyed.

Assassin of White did her best to protect her Master from the upcoming attack, but at this point, the Eternal Lady was ready.

"Get ready to feel it…All the power is my power, the authority of government, the steel of oppression and the terror of domination!" Clear blue shockwave surrounded her as her magical chariot started to manifest and head right towards her enemy.

"CHARIOT MY LOVE!"

Assassin of White tried to stop it with her gourd bottle, but she got inevitably hit and thrown away with his Servant. "GAAAAAAAAAH!"

Alvis jumped in time to the chariot, who started to move in the direction of the enemy. "Fergus, my beloved! I'll come back soon and dedicate my victory in your name!" Rider of Red proclaimed.

"I'm sure of it, my love! Good luck!" Saber of Red replied with happiness before turning on his opponents.

"Just be careful…" Kazuto said as he looked at the chariot, which moved away and started to disappear among the trees.

"Well…he made one enemy distracted…let's not waste this opportunity!" Gordon told Kazuto.

"Guess it's up to us for the moment, right? Are you ready, Seram?" Cynthia asked to the other girl, who nodded. Now that there was the risk that Maximilian could be defeated, they couldn't waste anymore time.

"Yes…let's take them down…and then help Maximilian." Seram replied, surprising the Rosi mage.

"She got worried for him…that's already something." Cynthia thought before looking straight at the enemy. Even if Maximilian wasn't there to support them, he still gave her the perfect chance to get her revenge.

She could say that she was grateful to him.


Tokyo – Hinohara – 17th April 2021 – 21.00 P.M

Assassin of White and her Master ended up several meters away from the point they were before. "Here…drink this…" Maximilian was still under the effect of the powder, so The Servant gave her one of her drinks that effect go away.

Soon, thanks to the effects of the drink, Maximilian started to see again, and all of the panic faded away. "Kh…those two maggots…they've pushed us away from the others…clever move, indeed…" He spoke. The two of them then heard a thunder noise that made them raise their head up. And the sight of Alvis and Rider of Red coming down from the chariot didn't surely make them feel better.

Maximilian was furious for the trick the mage of the Red Rose was able to make him, but he did his best to not lose his composure. He already did it once with Kazuto and promised to not do it again. He wasn't going to back up. Not this time.

The two mages and the two Heroic Spirits glared at each other in silence for some seconds. But then…it was Assassin of White who broke up that silence.

"I see…" She spoke with her usual smirk on her face. "You must be the famous Medb, aren't you?" She asked, referring to Rider of Red.

"Ah!" Both Alvis and Rider of Red exclaimed with eyes slightly stretched. "You were able to figure out her identity?" The mage asked.

"Yes…the fact that she's so close to Fergus Mac Ròich, that she likes to call herself 'The Eternal Lady' and that she wants to control all men and the name of her Noble Phantasm, made me realize that she could only be the famous queen of Connacht." Assassin of White continued.

Rider of Red, now revealed as Medb, gulped for a second but then turned back to her usual smirk. "Well, congrats. Since you've realized it, I won't hiding it. But just so you know, the fact that you discovered my real identity won't change anything. If anything, my name and titles are what truly represent me and I'll make sure that you'll remember them during your second last moments, demon!" She proclaimed, pointing at Assassin of White with her index finger.

"Rider…" Alvis said with a small smile before looking back at Maximilian.

"About you…mage. Why did you bring us here? You are well known that your strength isn't really the best, then why did you push away from your allies? Are you really that willing to confront me?" The Icecolle mage asked.

"There isn't a complex answer like you think. I'm just doing what you said when the battle began. I'm pursuing the same thing you did when you targeted Kazuto. That is to win. I have already made too many mistakes before, but at least, with this, I'll know that I'll make their situation easier by pushing you away from them. I could guess that you were the brain and the supporter among you three, so with you off, they could lose someone significant, even if they still have powerful Servants, just like you. But don't think that you can scare me because of that! This time none of us will retire! Someone will win, right here and right now!" Alvis exclaimed.

Maximilian was impressed by these words. He surely didn't expect him, of all people to say something like this. In a way, he found him…adorable, since he reminded him when he was a little bit younger.

"I don't intend to be stuck in this lifestyle and with this magecraft forever! Once I'll win that Grail, everything will change! I guarantee it!"

The tone was pretty much the same. This…overall made him have a small laugh. "Judging by those words of yours…you seem serious with your desire for the Grail. Deciding to face me on even if you couldn't come out of it alive…what is your name, mage?" He asked.

"I'm Alvis Walker." Alvis presented himself with still serious stare.

"Alivs…I admire that resolution of yours. Maybe because…in this moment…" Maximilian continued before summoning more knives made of darkness above him. "I, Maximilian Icecolle, have it as well. If you really wish to take on me, then I accept your challenge. I'll just let you know…that I don't intend to go down that easily."

Alvis took out a deep breath to calm himself down, after seeing his enemy getting serious. He could clearly see that he was going to make those words into reality. But that was what he wanted as well. He wished for the others of the Red Rose, and maybe his friend to give him the energy for this. And he was ready.

"Expect the same from me, Maximilian…" He simply spoke.

After looking at their respective Masters, the two female Servants looked at each other again. "Well, you've heard them, Medb. Consider those words for us as well. Plus…you dared to harm my precious Maximilian…therefore…I want you to know that you won't receive any mercy from me." Assassin of White asked.

Rider of Red chuckled and jumped down, equipped with both the whip and the replica of Caladbolg. "I couldn't ask for more. Prepare to feel the dance of the Eternal Lady directly on your skin!" She exclaimed, as she started to attack with her whip.

Assassin of White widened her eyes and started to move fast in order to dodge the barrage of attacks caused by the whip. To make sure that she had the right strength to finish her off, Assassin of White re-used her Oni-Kind Demon skill again to become faster and stronger.

In that moment, it was like she could see each movement of the whip and dodge them properly to reach out Rider of Red and start to attack with her claw. "GRAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"AH!" Medb gasped, as she quickly used the blade to block the nails of the opponent. To response, she started to attack her repeatedly with such blade, but Assassin of White started to become more rapid with her movements and blocks. She was caught off by surprise before, but now that she had a clear purpose in mind, nothing would have made her falter again. Suddenly, with her hand, she moved the blade to the right in order to deflect it and give a strong karate chop that pushed Rider of Red away.

"NGAH!" Medb ended up a few meters away from her opponent. But she didn't give up and started to spit some blood from her mouth, so that she could generate a pair of soldiers from it.

"What!?" Assassin of White exclaimed.

"ATTACK!" Rider of Red ordered to the soldiers, who started to charge. The Servant of the White Rose gritted her teeth and started to run at high speed towards her opponent, starting to tear off the soldiers. Though with this, she started to have some troubles. Not only because there were more soldiers that she had expected, but also because several laser beams started to push her back by hitting her.

"GAH! W-What is this!?" Assassin of White exclaimed. When she looked better, she could see that it was Rider of Red herself that was shooting them from her crown. The queen of Connacht kept shooting with a convinced smile on her face. "I told you! I wouldn't lose against someone like you!" She exclaimed.

Assassin of White wanted to be done with her tricks, so she glowed her eyes and used another one of her skills: Intoxicating Aroma of Fruits, which allowed her to make her enemies dead drunk. To the soldiers' case, he simply lowered their strength, since they really didn't have a will of her own. But this was enough for her to instantly destroy them with one single swipe of poison.

"Kh!" Rider of Red gasped at the sight of her opponent staying still while drops of blood started to fall around her.

Showing her will to end the fight, Assassin of White stomped with her foot and dashed at high speed against Rider of Red.

The Servant of the Red Rose was seriously panicked after seeing this sudden change. And at this point, she found herself forced to use another one of her skills. "Kh…CONCHOBAR, MY LOVE!" A skill she took from one of her past lovers, which granted her the vision of future, like Cynthia one, but that worked better. With this, she could see that Assassin of White was going to close her in a grip to finish her off, and with that speed, it was probable that it could have happened.

With that in mind, Rider of Red used her whip to the ground to quickly jump high in order to dodge it. Once again, Assassin of White was shocked to see Rider of Red in action. That girl didn't seem to be strong, so how was she possible to have so many skills that could help her in battle.

"KIYAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Rider of Red dived down to attack Assassin of White with her blade, and she was able to give her a long cut on her body.

"GAAAAH!" Assassin of White had to hold herself for the pain and turned around.

Rider of Red was still there, swinging the blade with a smile. "Anf…see? Now I think you understand who you're messing with." She said before using her blood to materialize more soldiers in order to surround her.

Assassin of White immediately punched to the ground to destroy the soldiers and then threw three plates at the enemy.

Medb used once again her future vision to see the trajectory of the plates in order to destroy them with the whip. But then…

"GAH!" She felt an agonizing pain in her belly and when she looked down, she could see Assassin of White with the hand stuck in her bloody belly. The Oni Servant had her head lowered, but Medb could see a contorted smile on her face. And then…a laugh.

"Eheheheheh…KEHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!" It was loud enough to make Rider of Red shiver for a second. "Did you really think you were the only one enjoying this battle? I've already said it to Assassin of Red last time…whenever someone starts to push me back…I get excited…. congratulations, Medb!" Assassin of White said. "You'll get to see me pumped up!" She added before taking off her arm and starting to punch the Servant of the Red Rose repeatedly before throwing her away with a strong karate chop.

"GAAAH!" Rider of Red crashed several times to the ground before falling. When she raised her head up, she could see Assassin of White already approaching her with still that smile. "Come on…didn't you say that you wanted to finish me off? That you would have showed me your dance?" Maximilian's Servant asked.

The Eternal Lady saw it as a challenge, so she stood up again and still smirked. "THAT'S RIGHT! BRING IT!"

"GRAAAAAH!" On the other hand, Alvis and Maximilian clashed several times with their weapons before the Icecolle mage tried to attack him from each angle with penknives attached to the trees with the strings he could have.

Alvis widened his eyes and immediately surrounded himself with a barrier of water that could block the knives and made them fall down.

"That water is too much of a nuisance…" Maximilian commented before trying to directly jump against Alvis to assault him with a pair of knives he was holding, hoping that the mage enemy couldn't see him due to the water. But to his surprise, Alvis could, and quickly blocked him with the rapier he was holding.

"Grrr!" Maximilian was forced to jump back and shoot a sphere of darkness from his hand. This actually caught Alvis by surprise, as he never saw him do an attack like this. The ball ended up attacking him and make him fly several meters away.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Alvis ended up slamming his back against a tree and started to bleed. Maximilian didn't hesitate and immediately ran towards him to fill his body with several knives. When the Walker mage opened his eyes, he immediately touched the trunk of the tree to materialize a wolf that caught Maximilian.

"Ngh, WHAT!?" To his surprise, the water wolf turned into a giant bubble that then converged into an explosion, and the mage of the White Rose ended up flying away as well. This time, he slammed his back against a root larger than the usual. "GAAAH!"

Alvis could stand up again. His front was bleeding, and he could feel a strong pain on his back. But the sight of the enemy laying down to the ground gave him the strength to continue. It gave him the certainty that he could win. So he pushed forward and charged with the rapier. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"GRRRR!" Even if he got pushed back and forces were starting to slowly abandon him, Maximilian hung on and created a purple mist around himself as a defense to escape from Alvis.

The mist soon expanded itself to the surrounding area, making the mage of the Red Rose confused as he started to look around. "Where did he go? GAH!" Suddenly, he started to feel several cuts all over his body.

Maximilian was going as fast as he could in making him unable to move, now that he was well aware that mage could have been a large threat for him. "This is the perfect chance! All I need now is to attack him until he won't be able to move anymore! Just a few more moments…a few more moments in this state…and I'll finally be able to move beyond!" He thought, giving his hope at this strategy while being clearly afraid.

But this hope was soon shattered, as Alvis put his hand to the ground again, but this time…to generate a whirlpool that first appeared around him and eradicated the mist, and then surrounded the two mages.

Alvis could see again, and Maximilian was devoid of a secure defense. "SHIT!" He shouted.

"GRRRR!" Alvis quickly sliced Maximilian's belly, making him fly against the barrier.

"GAH!"

"You're not the only one who can do such thing!" Alvis shouted at him. "I've wasted this spell against my counterpart at Kabuki-Cho. I'll make sure to use it properly this time!" He then promised to himself before running against Maximilian.

The Icecolle mage stood up and already summoned several knives of darkness at Alvis. But to his surprise and dismay, the other mage jumped through them and dived against him. For only a matter of seconds, Maximilian could block the attack, but that didn't stop Alvis to push forward. Maximilian was once again forced to slowly move backwards, and this time, the space at his disposition was limited. "No…I WON'T LET YOU!" Maximilian tried to push back, but this time, Alvis pushed his rapier up to deprive him of his knives, and then…

SPLAT!

Alvis attacked him at the face, slicing it and form a large scar on his right eye, making it bleed severely. "GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Never in his life felt a pain as big as this, and he was forced to use one hand to hold it.

Alvis felt bad at the sight of this. He was the first one who wanted to spare his opponents, so seeing himself make a tremendous injury, was something that almost made him feel sick. But…he did his best to accept it. He wanted to win…so this was the price for it. And now that his opponent was badly injured, he got the chance to finish it off.

He raised his rapier and went for the coup de grace. "HERE I COME! MAXIMI-"

But then…

SPLAT!

"GAH!"

Maximilian suddenly moved up and stabbed Alvis's belly. An unexpected attack after seeing the conditions in which he was pouring. But Maximilian kept his spirit intact just to continue with this blow. He then took his hand off and made a few steps backwards.

Even Alvis started to make a few steps backwards, and both mages couldn't say anything immediately…and looked at each other in silence while heavily breathing.

They were gravely injured…but stood still.

"KEAHAHAHAHAH! / CONNACHT, MY LOVE!" Meanwhile, the two female warriors were continuing their struggle, with Rider of Red counting on the many skills she had in her disposition to dodge the attacks of her enemy, whose excitement continued to grow.

Assassin of White was going for a direct attack, with the Servant of the Red Rose dodging it by moving to the right and then jump away thanks to her future vision.

But as soon as she did this, Assassin of White jumped as well and reached Rider of Red in a matter of seconds to punch her in the belly.

"BLARGH!" Medb had to spit out blood because of this blow, but she gritted her teeth and used her whip to push Assassin of White away. Once the enemy was repulsed, she insisted on using the whip to make her not move.

Maximilian's Servant used her hands quickly to deflect all the attacks, but she then got hit twice at the legs, and Rider of Red took advantage of this to come closer and stab her with Caladbolg.

Before she could stab her deeply, Assassin of White grabbed the sword and made sure that the wound would have been only superficial. "Ngh…damned demon!" Rider of Red exclaimed. "WREAAAH!" Assassin of White then pushed the blade away and gave to the enemy a kick in the chin which made her fly up.

"NGAH!" Assassin of White then jumped to reach her and slam her back to the ground with another kick. She then tried to proceed with a dive attack with her gourd bottle to finish her off. But Rider of Red didn't want to hear another thing, as she looked up and quickly summoned her chariot. "What?! GAH!" Assassin of White ended up pushed away and fell.

"Sure, you may be excited about this fight! But this doesn't mean that I don't want to take you down anymore! As a queen, I always make sure that the words I speak out become reality, don't forget it!" Medb exclaimed.

"Oh really? In that case, what I've said to you before will also become reality! No one must dare to hurt my precious so much!" Assassin of White shouted back.

And it was in that moment that Rider of Red started to guess out something. Just like her opponent did a few moments earlier. The fact that she seemed attracted by her Master…and the fact that she was a demon…made her realize it. "…Now I get it…" She spoke.

"Uh?" Assassin of White asked.

"Shuten-Douji!" The Servant of the Red Rose suddenly exclaimed, making the other Heroic Spirit flinch for a moment. "Right…the famous Oni demon of Mount Ooe. The one who tended to took men into her lair and then killed them with the help of her alcohol…"

Assassin of White, with her name revealed, shivered for a second after hearing out part of her story. For a moment, she felt the cut of the blade that beheaded her. But she calmed herself down immediately.

"Now I get why you are so attached to your Master. After all…it is in your nature to be luxurious. Could it be, then? Is your Master your next victim? Could it be that you are baiting him with your romance just so that you can take advantage of him once you'll win the Grail?" Medb continued.

Assassin of White was speechless but started to tremble. Not for fear…but for anger. The more she spent time fighting with that woman…and the more the hate for her grew. This time…she said something she wasn't supposed to.

"…Keheheh…so this is what you think…right?" She said before raising her head up. Her eyes were wide open, and her mouth showed her pointy fangs. "BUT YOU ARE WRONG!" She shouted.

Rider of Red was surprised by this sudden reaction.

"Everything you said about me was true…I used to lure men in trap so that I could consume their bodies…this is what my life is, after all…struggle my life with intoxicated alcohol and cheat with my body…it's just the lifestyle that I adore. But…I feel that this time is different…to see that man pleased because of me…to see that he has the same sense of luxury as me…" Shuten-Douji started to explain. Her expression turned into a contorted smile with her cheeks lightly pink and even some drool coming out from her mouth. "Makes me feel…happy…it makes me feel like…even a demon like me…can know what true love is…and hearing out the words you just said…just pisses me of. You, of all people…should not talk like this, you who subjugated men as well!"

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!?" Medb shouted furious before charging with her chariot. Assassin of White started to run away from it while throwing several plates at the chariot. The items turned out to be tougher than before, as the chariot started to crack up. The sight of this made Rider of Red more furious as she used her while to get the enemy.

"GAH!" Maximilian's Servant ended up caught and Rider of Red brought her to herself. "Don't you ever day something like that to me, are we clear, DEMON!?" She shouted out of anger.

"GRRR!" Shuten-Douji quickly spanned with her claws to get free of the whip and start to attack Rider of Red with her bare hands. The two Servants ended up on making a more direct rumble on the top of the chariot.

"I'm only saying the truth! You used to corrupt men with your alcohol and power so that you could have all of them bow to your feet, all thanks to your sense of superiority! Fergus is a clear example of this! You took him away from his wife so that you could have him as your personal dog!" The Servant of the White Rose accused.

"ENOUGH WITH THIS!" Medb pushed forward with the sword and started to attack relentlessly. Even Shuten-Douji started to do so. "I may have done so, but those men willingly decided to follow me even so! It's not my fault if they decided to abandon their families to stay with the strongest army of all! I like all men, there's nothing I can do about it! And I surely wouldn't try to brutally murder them like you do! If I want to be the queen of the world, I need to have all of them by my side!" Rider of Red continued.

"Even so, you have the same sin as me! We have the same defect! Don't think that you are that perfect, because you are flawed as well! Depriving them of their beloved one is a sin as big as murdering them! Plus…are you really sure that you can have all of them by your side? If I'm not wrong…THAT guy didn't want to listen to your whining!" Shuten-Douji countered.

Medb blocked herself for a moment…she knew well who Assassin of White was talking about. That one. Single flaw that occurred in her life. Just the mention of that man…was what served to make Medb's blood boil with anger. "GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! DON'T YOU EVER DARE SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS!" She shouted, as she pushed Assassin of White away and attacked her quickly with Caladbolg.

"GAAAAH!" The Servant of the White Rose ended up with some cuts on her body and her kimono completely shattered, leaving her only with the metallic parts and her body mostly exposed.

"WREAAAAAAH!" Full of anger, Rider of Red pushed the Servant away from her Chariot by kicking her down and then charged the large vehicle against the enemy Servant. "I MAY HAVE FAILED ONCE, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN! ME AND MY MASTER WILL SHOW THE WHOLE WORLD WHAT WE ARE MADE OF!"

"YOU JUST NEED TO ACCEPT IT, RIDER OF RED! WE ARE BOTH SINNERS! WE ARE BOTH LUXURIOUS! WE ARE BOTH DEMONS!" Shuten-Douji shouted back, as she moved to the right and stabbed the chariot with her gourd bottle, making it crash to pieces.

"GAAH!" Rider of Red ended up falling after getting crashed by the remains of the chariot. The beasts were not dead yet but fell as well. "ANF…ANF…ANF…" Rider stood up. She was in the state she despised the most. Dirty…soaked with blood…panting…and with her strengths at their minimum. Even her white jacked got teared up by Assassin of White's attacks, leaving her only with her a white dress. The complete opposite of the figure she always wanted to have. But at this point…she didn't care. All that she cared about…was getting rid of the figure she was standing in front of her in this moment. She had gone too far, both physically and psychologically.

"You still wish to fight…?" Shuten-Douji asked.

"Absolutely…THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS!" Medb shouted back.

In the meantime, Alvis and Maximilian were standing still, glaring at each other. They both gave a serious wound to each other…but nothing that could kill them any time soon. Yet…they both had short energy left.

"Anf…anf…anf…Im…Impressive…of all people…I've never guessed that you would have been able to cause this…to think that you could manage to give me this scar…" The Icecolle mage commented.

"I can apologize for this…but I guess there's no need for you to explain why I did it…you…think you can still go, even if your space is limited and you are badly wounded?" Alvis asked.

"I could say the same for you…that wound on the belly may not be mortal…but it still makes its effect. You could faint at any moment…" Maximilian answered back.

Hearing that, Alvis took his rapier with all his strength. "I-If that's so…it means that I can still have one chance to…finish this!" He spoke.

"You really are incredible…yet stupid, just like me. Why do you continue? What is…that you want so much from the Grail?" Maximilian then asked. After seeing him getting up and answer so many times, it was only natural to ask him this question. The one reason…he kept on doing so and stand in his way.

Alvis looked down. There could be only one answer for that. He stared at his body, and the wound Maximilian gave him. To see his shirt soaked in blood…reminded him of that day…

Noah, his friend, was on a similar situation while he was giving out his last breathes. The only friend who wanted to spend time with him…and that left him. The question Maximilian gave…Alvis could not think of a different answer.

It was also thanks to him…if Alvis was right there in that moment. Remembering that moment made him want to cry, just like when he shed tears when this beloved one died. But…he resisted. He thought that…by doing so…maybe Noah would have been sad from the other side.

"…Hey…Alvis…we…really had a lot of fun together, eh? It's…sad that it has to end like this. But…I thank you…if it wasn't for you…maybe my life would have been an abyss of boredom…and sorrow. At least…I've had you…who could make me some company. I've really wanted to tell you about all the awesome things I could have learned at the Clock Tower…but It's still ok…at least…I can say that I've been happy."

"So…I'm asking you as a dear friend. Please…continue to live out your life…without regrets. Do it…for me…"

…Alvis looked up to Maximilian and gave him his answer. "I've lived a sad life…but…a dear friend showed me that there could also be happy moments…and asked me…to be here in his place." He started before making a deep sigh. Continuing the phrase would have been painful for him, since too many memories were already passing by. But he did so.

"…What I wish…is to live without regrets…and maybe…have a family one day."

Maximilian slightly stretched his eyes out. Sure…it wasn't that much of a wish…but it was able to still…move him, somehow. Because…once again…

He reminded of himself.

He thought of all the times he was denied of something because he was tied to the rules of his family…and because of those dammed dark arts. Why couldn't he and his familiars live out a different life? Just because of some law someone made thousands of years ago? All he wanted…was to live out and enjoy his life…

Just like Alvis.

This made Maximilian have a sincere smile. "Heh…fate can really be cruel sometime…living a life without regrets…so that you could make your friend happy…that's…cute…I, too…wish for that…it's incredible how many similarities with your enemies you can meet up when you're a mage…I…respect that, Alvis…after seeing you this way…" He spoke out.

"If so…why do you have to do this? We…can stop this fight if you want." Alvis asked. His last attempt to spare someone. But Maximilian already made up his mind.

"Eheh…sorry…but…I just can't do that…like I said to your friend homunculus…I want to get free…from the chains of the Icecolle lineage…and because of this…I cannot afford to lose here…" The Icecolle mage replied before getting ready. "But please…don't be sad about it…you still showed some guts…therefore…I ask you to do it again…if you dare. For one…last…time…" He then raised up his stare with a large smile and his glowing eyes wide open. "SHOW ME THAT YOU CAN OVERCOME YOUR INTERNAL SORROW!"

Alvis looked at him. To hear being rejected once again made him feel sad. But…for once…he accepted it. These were the prices of the Holy Grail War after all. But…he was ready to see through this.

For once…he wanted to fight…this is what he promised.

"I'm ready then…one last thing…thank you for listening to me…" Alvis told him. Maximilian felt something in his heart…but then started to charge one last ball of darkness as the final strike.

"Then…HERE I COME!" Alvis started to dash towards him with the rapier while Maximilian kept on charging. Judging by the time, Alvis would have been the one to attack first. But as a strategist, the mage of the White Rose knew how to prevent this.

Four knives of darkness appeared above the mage of the Red Rose and stabbed him at the back. "GAH!"

"To make sure that this final attack works, I'm ready at everything! I HOPE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND, ALVIS WA-" Maximilian was sure to throw the ball with this…

But he was wrong.

"GAH!" He suddenly felt the rapier stabbing his belly, as he witnessed with error…that Alvis was still moving, even if the knives were still attached to his back. "W-What!?"

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" For his colleagues, for Noah…but most importantly…for himself, Alvis continued to push forward with the rapier on Maximilian's body. "GREAT WATER, WANDERING SEA, GIVE ME YOUR STRENGTH!" He shouted out, as the water barrier started to open and converge all into Alvis's blade, to power it up.

"NGHHHHHH! A-ARE YOU THAT FIRM!?" Maximilian asked, as he could feel the water in the injury. Alvis looked up to him while he continued like a powerful wolf to charge, followed by a stream of water behind him. "ABSOLUTELY! I WAS READY FOR SUCH CONVENIENCE! SO, FEEL FREE TO GET THIS SURPRISE!" He answered. But he wasn't done there.

"RIDER!" He shouted.

Her Servant could hear him from the other side. "Master?"

Alvis raised his hand high. "I order you by this command spell…USE YOUR MIGHTY CHARIOT TO ACHIEVE THE ULTIMATE VICTORY!" He shouted while using one of the Command Spells at his disposition. While he did so, Maximilian gritted his teeth in panic…but still mumbled something. The Walker mage was focused in his attack that he didn't listen well. He and his Servant were going to get the victory they were waiting for.

Medb could feel a newfound energy flow in her body, all thanks to her Master. At this point…she could only say one thing with a smirk. "Master…thank you…you REALLY are a warrior!" She exclaimed, as the two bulls came closer to her while she rebuilt the Chariot. Shuten-Douji widened her eyes while trying to get ready for it. "M-Master…" She spoke out.

"GET READY, SHUTEN-DOUJI! I'VE TOLD YOU MULTIPLE TIMES! GET READY FOR THE DANCE OF THE ETERNAL LADY!" With those words, The queen of Connacht was ready to deliver her blow. Her beloved Noble Phantasm.

"CHARIOT, MY LOVE!"

With all her power she made the bulls charge towards her and get Assassin of White, who tried to resist as long as she could.

This was it. Now, the enemy could have done nothing to save herself. All that she needed was to push forward. "What you said before is true…BUT THE GRAIL DECIDED TO GIVE ME A SECOND CHANCE! THIS TIME…I WILL MAKE IT RIGHT!" She shouted. And while their enemies were getting pushed back…both Alvis and Medb gave their last charge to win.

"TAKE THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-"

"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Suddenly…the bulls that were moving Rider of Red's chariot started to scream out of pain…and the Servant herself felt like she was starting to sink down.

"What...? What is…going on? AH!" When she looked down…Medb witnessed her eyes in horror for what she saw.

Both the two bulls and the chariot were starting to slowly get corroded and disintegrated by what seemed to be a large puddle of acid. "W-What is this!?" She exclaimed…and when she looked up…she found the answer for herself.

Shuten-Douji was looking at her with a grin while she was holding a plate ground-facing. There was a green drop from the plate, implying that the liquid came from it.

"Multitude of Colors – Providential Poison"

Her Noble Phantasm. The poison that led her to her death in the previous life and that now became her general existence as a Heroic Spirit. What could assimilate every bad status aliment and converge it into this liquid that could pollute…and destroy anything. And that now…was destroying Rider of Red's ultimate weapon.

"N-No…I…I was winning- AH!" Alvis's Servant could not do anything that Assassin of White was already moving towards her with the gourd bottle. "WREAAAAAAAAAAH!"

SPLAT!

"BLAAAAARGH!" Medb could feel her chest getting pierced by the opponent's giant weapon, and her mouth getting filled with blood she had to puke. The red liquid ended up on the poison below, giving it a mixed color.

"HIYAH!" As the last thing, Shuten-Douji threw Rider of Red away from the gourd bottle, making her fall down to the large puddle of poison, to make her feel the same pollution her beloved beasts felt before her.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Utter pain. The Servant of the Red Rose could feel a terrible burning pass all over her body as well as life slowly leaving her. At this point there was nothing more to do…just…to suffer. The future queen of the world…was now bathing in a liquid of poison and was completely disfigured.

Once she was done, Assassin of White called the liquid back to the plate…and drank it, feeling a good taste overall. "Aaaah…I win." She gently spoke.

Meanwhile, While Alvis was charging against Maximilian, he suddenly felt himself stop. Not only that…he felt like he couldn't move at all. "GH! W-What the!? W-What is happening!? Why can't I move!?" He tried to struggle with what remained of his strength…but it was all futile. He felt like his body ended up getting tied by something strong.

"NGHHHH! C-COME ON!" He shouted. But then…he realized it…after he saw them… "N-NO…"

Thousands of strings…were surrounding all the trees and all the rocks of the area they were standing in this moment. It was them…that were holding the Walker's mage body, making him unable to finish the attack. He just couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Was he getting…surpassed?

"Anf…anf…NGHH!" Now that the attack stopped, Maximilian used his strength to get out from the rapier and jumped back.

"Anf…anf…it was a terrible gamble to make…but…glad that it worked…" He spoke.

"W-WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?" Alvis asked.

"I figured out that once you would have gotten the upper hand, you would have removed the barrier and went for the finish. It was a fair reasoning, there was nothing to stop you anymore…just a few more moments and victory would have been yours. But…this was the time I was waiting for…" Maximilian explained.

Alvis widened his eyes…once he realized what was his plan all along. It made him understand…that he was seeing through it all along. "You…you put these strings everywhere…since we started to fight here…"

"Correct…I understood what your intent was…and I've thought of a way to counterattack it. While we were fighting…and moving…each one of these strings were put on by me. But…let me say it…I was afraid for a moment…you…could actually defeated me…if even a single string was attached in a wrong way. It was just…some strategy…and a bit of luck…that helped me. We were both firm…but in the end…I was the more resolute one."

Maximilian raised up his hand and a large amount of shadow knives appeared above Alvis. The Walker mage looked at his enemy with…terror now…and regret. Maybe…if he had noticed them earlier…things would have gotten different. Only for this…he couldn't win.

"Please…don't do this…" He asked.

He couldn't understand why…but Maximilian started to feel a sense of anguish after seeing him in this way. But…he knew what has to be done. He wanted his wish granted.

"…Forgive me. Our duel…had been fun." He simply spoke. With that…he lowered his hand…and the shadow knives went all through Alvis like heavy rain.

"GAAAAH!" The mage of the Red Rose could feel his senses slowly leave him…and for a moment…he saw his hand…and noticed that the remaining Command Spells…started to disappear. "R-Rider…"

When the knives broke away from his body, he ended up being thrown away…and started to fall down through the forest.

…This was it…right?

He had lost. And this time…he couldn't afford on someone else's help. This was his gamble to help out his friends. He did his best…but he still lost.

He was starting to faint…but…he couldn't afford to have a lot of things pass through his mind. What would have the others reacted…at the news of his defeat? How…could they face the fact to have one companion short? But most importantly…how could he move on…if a miracle happened and he was somehow being able to survive? How…could he make amend?

To everyone else…and to Noah. The one that gave him the catalyst and the Command Spells…and the one who made him promise.

This time he did his best. He swore…he could do anything in his hands to prevail and put his desire to spare the enemies aside…but he lost. Why? Whose fault, was it?

Was it his companions? Was it Kazuto, who was the White Rose's target at the start? Was it of the presence that he felt at the beginning and that he brought him to face these enemies? Was it Maximilian, who surpassed him with such tricks? Was it Noah himself, who gave him those things that made him participate in the Holy Grail War? Was it…himself? Who just couldn't stand up properly to his enemies?

…No. He soon stopped to have these feelings. At least…he wanted to have the mind in peace, even if he couldn't.

The fault was not of anyone.

He just decided to face him directly to help out Kazuto and Gordon…he fought…and he lost. He put all the resolution and the good will to prevail even if he wasn't that strong. For a moment…he could surpass his enemy. But it wasn't enough…

It simply…wasn't enough. And he had to accept it.

…But how could he? After everything he had done to be a reliable friend…he got defeated. And even if he didn't like it…he had to accept it.

The only thing he could hope…was that…his efforts would have helped his companion in the future…or maybe…that he could help his friends in the future of a miracle occourred...and he would have survived. And…hope that they could forgive him.

He also hoped…that despite everything…Noah had forgiven him.

"I…I hope that I could make you happy…Noah…I've did…like I said…and…if I ever survive…I'll make sure to do it again…and…" He started to tear up…even if he would have closed his eyes soon. "Kazuto…Gordon…Archer…Saber…I hope you can forgive me…I did my best to block him…but it wasn't enough…you too…Marcus…Astrea…Cahya…Calem…I hope…you can forgive me…" He thought to himself…

"Rider…I also hope…that I was a worthy warrior for you…like you asked…"

With those last thought…Alvis closed his eyes…and finally touched ground…at the bottom of the forest…

Back to the other side…with her body burnt out and a large hole in the chest…at this point, Rider of Red could do nothing more than lay on the ground…and make her last breathes on this world.

Assassin of White still stood close to her…glaring at her with a calmer stare. Victory was hers…but she also had to thank Maximilian for it as well…since the words he mumbled while being attacked by Alvis…were actually for her. It was thanks to him that she used her Noble Phantasm while getting attacked

"I order you by this Command Spell…destroy Rider of Red's Chariot with your poison."

She reminded herself to be grateful for that…but first…she needed to see her enemy expire. So she made a few steps closer.

"Ironic…the Eternal Lady…is now living her last moments…again. Though…don't say I didn't warn you. I said that I would have stabbed your heart…and I did that. I hope you understand now…nothing goes on forever…and not everybody…wants to be tamed." She spoke.

At this point…Medb couldn't have the strength to answer…or to do anything at all. She…was done for. Yet…her steer will continued to burn…and she started to wonder…

"Why…why did it…happen…again…?"

Once again…she was on the verge of death…once again…she was defeated. She…just couldn't accept it. The Holy Grail gave her this second opportunity to reclaim the place she thought she was destined to occupy. And yet…she got defeated.

The Eternal Lady…ended her journey again. She thought that the Grail would have been another one of her many treasures. Yet this Oni Demon prevented her from doing so…and made her fail a second time.

In fact…the words she used…made her remind…of the man Shuten-Douji mentioned…that one single man…that single knight with a blue armor, blue hair…and a red spear on his hands…who refused to be of his property.

"Why!? Why won't you be mine!? I don't understand! You have outstanding abilities and I have an invincible army! Think about it! The Child of Light and the Eternal Lady together! Unbeatable and at the peak of the world! Even your friend Fergus decided to join me, so WHY WON'T YOU!?"

"Gee, for being a queen, you are really loud! I'm going to say it once, and I hope you listen well. I don't intend to be bound to anyone. I'm a knight that goes for what he thinks he's right! Plus, considering that you've turned a dear friend of mine against me there's more than one reason for not joining you. Keep in mind that not everyone wants to be tamed!"

"Grrrr…I'LL MAKE YOU REGRET WHAT YOU SAID ONE DAY!"

In the end, she was able to get her revenge…but with no satisfaction…just like now. The humiliation of that time…was the same of now. She was the perfect woman…so…why did she lost?

As she wondered this…she could notice that the first sparkles of pink light were starting to fly away from her body. She stretched her eyes…which started to tear. "Kh…no…I…I don't want to go…" She spoke out. But…for once…she curbed her own will. At this point…considering that Alvis wouldn't have appeared in that moment…she understood it.

That was it.

"Man…this…is so annoying…and the worst part is…that I can't do anything…to prevent this…I just wanted…a second chance…" Just like her Master…she thought of many things…

She thought of the other Servants…who could have been with her, celebrating over the victory for the Grail. She even thought of Assassin of Red. Even if they've ended up arguing several times…she never admitted it…but she acknowledged her as a warrior…she wasn't that bad at all…at least…she could have been happier now.

She thought about Fergus…her former lover. Who was going to comfort him now? Or support him into battle? The idea of losing him as well…made her feel a tremendous sorrow.

And then…she thought about her Master, Alvis. Ever since she was summoned by him…their bond wasn't one of the best ones. Though…he always did his best to support her. He didn't want to become hers…but…at the same time…she accepted him…especially…after finally deciding to fight for good…after what she had told him.

And now…both of them had lost. And she just had to accept it. But maybe…it was better this way. At least…she didn't have to get any more delusions…though…she thought that life was unfair for her.

Her body started to get slowly turning into pink light…and slowly disappear…

"I…I just wanted to be the queen of the world…but…the gods decided to reject me again…why…I…I wanted to give my best…" She said while sobbing.

"…I…I know that you are not here…Alvis…but…I'm happy that we could fight together…I wish…we could have been…victorious…together…"

With those words…Medb, the queen of Connacht…faded away into pink light…that flew high in the sky.

Shuten-Douji looked in silence as the specks of light went towards the sky full of stars. Her expression was neutral. True…she hated her…but she had to admit that she was able to put up a tough fight.

She then heard some footsteps coming closer which made her turn around to see her Master approaching her.

"Master!" Assassin of White exclaimed before running towards him after seeing his injuries. "I'm glad to see that you're ok…"

Maximilian nodded and saw the specks as well. "I guess that…" He spoke. His Servant nodded. "Yes…thanks to your Command Spell…I could defeat her. We took down one enemy."

"…Heh…in the end…the goal of a victory was still achieved…" Maximilian answered…though…judging by his tone…he didn't seem that happy about it. The Servant of the White Rose actually noticed it.

"Uh? Master? Are you ok?" She asked.

"Yes…don't worry…though…I'm kinda messed up. I was able to defeat the Master as well. Anf…victory is definitely ours…" The Icecolle mage replied in order to lie low.

"Even though…it seems that he messed up with you, too…" Shuten-Douji commented, after seeing his state, especially the scar on his right eye. "What…should we do now?"

"…I think…it's better if we go back to the others…I can't fight in the state I am…but you can still do something. We could still need as a backup. Just…make sure to watch my back." Maximilian told her.

Assassin of White was concerned about this…but still decided to go along with him. She still trusted him.

With that said, Assassin of White started to carry him on back to the others. Though…she actually wanted to tell him something. "Say…Master…"

"Hm?" Maximilian said.

"Do…do I really look like a monstrous demon…to you? Well…the answer is obvious but…do you perhaps think…that I could take…advantage of you?" Shuten-Douji asked. She thought deeply about what Medb told her. It was probable that he knew of her past since he summoned her. So…with those thoughts…she wanted to hear the answer directly from him.

The Icecolle mage looked at her in silence and then looked down. "Well…even if you do take advantage of me…that would be fine for me…" He answered, surprising the Servant. "After all…for me…getting murdered by a woman like you…would be an honor. True, you are a demon…but…it's what you are in the end…after all…I am a sinner too."

That answer made the Servant relieve. Maybe…even if she was mostly a demon of lust…she could actually have a spot for romance as well. Maybe…she could be in a true love with someone. "Thank you…" She said, almost moved.

Maximilian nodded and looked behind him while they kept on moving. He was actually still thinking about Alvis. Even if he was weak…that mage was able to put…some thoughts on his mind…and actually…make him…feel sorry for an enemy…

Maybe it was for this…that he used weaker knives of shadow to finish him off.


Tokyo – Hinohara – 17th April 2021 – 22.30 P.M

"GRAAAAAH! /HIYAAAAAAAH!" Back to the rest of the fighters, Archer of Red and Saber of White clashed their weapons before jumping back. "Just for how long you are planning to clash those weapons of yours!?" The monstrous Servant shouted.

"There's no need for me to answer, right!?" Archer of Red answered back before starting to shoot several arrows of fire.

"Grrr!" Saber of White quickly used his sword to destroy all of them, and while he did so, Archer of Red quickly ran towards him to start a fast sequence of attacks with both her katana and Naginata. At first the beast of fire was taken by surprise and suffered some of her attacks, but then he planted his sword to the ground to release a small explosion of fire. "DON'T FUCK WITH ME!" He shouted out.

"GAAAH! Archer of Red got inevitably hit and flew a few meters away. "Ngh…even surprise attacks don't work on him…Uh!?" She said before noticing that Archer of White was already shooting several missiles at him. "Don't think you can forget about me, samurai girl!" He exclaimed.

Archer of Red quickly held her weapons and started to slice some of them. Luckily, Saber of Red jumped in her help and attacked the missiles as well with her blade. "And don't think you can forget about me as well!" He exclaimed.

"Oh, trust me, I didn't…" Archer of White replied before landing on Saber of White's hand. "Ready?"

"TAKE THEIR HEADS, OLD MAN!" Saber of White shouted. At this point, he was so frustrated that he agreed on getting someone else's help. So, he threw him at the enemies.

"What!?" Both Archer and Saber of Red exclaimed before getting overwhelmed by Archer of White's coffin, which made them fly away. "Liked it?" The Servant of the White Rose asked.

"GRAAAAAH!" Kazuto was, on the other hand, throwing several explosions against Seram, who ran quick on the ground to avoid them. "YOUR EXPLOSIONS DON'T SCARE ME ANYMORE! I'M REACHING YOUR HEAD NOW!" She shouted before jumping high to reach him. Before she could stab him, Gordon jumped as well and pushed her back with a heavy punch. "KAZUTO! NOW!" He exclaimed.

Kazuto didn't hesitate and descended towards her helped by his fire, like a rocket. He tried to give her an explosive punch, But Cynthia, in that moment, put herself in front of him and blocked his attack with her sword. "NGH!" Kazuto tried to push back, but the Rosi mage was durable. "Guess this is deja-vu, uh?" She asked him before attacking with the sword, forcing the Tohsaka mage to jump back. "Maybe for you!" He answered back before throwing a flame of fire.

Cynthia used her mystic eyes to see how the attack words and then jumped high to avoid it. She then tried to dive attack him, but Gordon immediately appeared and sent her back with his whole arm.

"GAH!" Cynthia flew away but got grabbed by Seram, who put her down. "Dammit…they don't want to cease…" The Rosi mage said. "At this point we could all fall down exhausted…" She added.

"I don't think so…this form makes me able to consume as much energies as I want. I'll back you up in case." Seram answered, referring to her dead face form. "Glad to know that…" Cynthia told her back.

"Anf…anf…anf…" Even if he could still use his fire magecraft, Kazuto started to feel the fatigue on his muscles. "Don't exaggerate…these two can still move…" Gordon suggested.

"I know…I've already defeated one of them last time…I'm well aware of what they are capable of." Kazuto answered.

"HAAAAAAAAAAH!" Meanwhile, Saber of Red clashed his sword with that of Saber of White. "IT WAS ABOUT TIME WE DID THIS AGAIN!" He shouted.

"AND MAYBE FOR THE LAST TIME!" Saber of White shouted back before attacking with the sword. The blow even released a small explosion that forced Gordon's Servant to jump backwards.

"Come now, do not say it! Where's the fun in that!?" Fergus said before attacking Saber of White with his sword, forcing him to several clashes of blades. "I've faced many enemies in my life, but never a titan like you! Finishing the battle already would leave a bad taste in my mouth!" He added.

"This is only a rehash of our previous battle! Do you really think that something different would happen!?" Saber of White exclaimed before releasing a laser beam from his eyes that forced Fergus to recoil. "Ngh…In that case I'll make out something different! HOW ABOUT THIS!" He shouted before planting his sword to the ground to lift some massive rocks and throw them at Saber of White.

"WHAT!?" Seram's Servant surely didn't expect this and got hit by all the rocks. Saber of Red took advantage of this and made him a cut on his belly. "NGHHHH! YOU BASTARD…"

"How's that for something different!?" Saber of Red asked with a mocking smile.

Meanwhile, Archer of White started to repeatedly shoot his counterpart with his coffin in the machine gun form.

Archer of Red blocked the bullets with his two weapons for a while and then went to rotate with her two weapons, who started to get surrounded by fire, making her look like a wheel of fire that headed towards Cynthia's Servant.

"What the fuck, she can do that!?" Archer of White exclaimed as he used the coffin to defend himself.

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Archer of Red didn't want to lose the grip and continued to rotate surrounded by the flames. For once, the gentleman Servant started to sweat. "Ok, change of program!" He said before turning his coffin to the chainsaw. With that, the impact caused some sparkles for a while and the Servants kept on like this before jumping back.

Archer of White then tried to slam her down with the coffin, but then Archer of Red relied on her Oni-Kind-Demon skill to increase her speed and dodge it with a twirl jump. "WHAT!?"

Archer of Red immediately reached him and grabbed his arm to throw him against Saber of White. "TAKE THIS!"

"GAH!" The two Servants of the White Rose ended up clashing against each other, while Saber of Red turned around and smirked at his companion. "I see where you are going! How about a boost?" He asked.

"Thanks! I'll accept it gladly!" With her accepting, Saber of Red grabbed Archer of Red to throw her against the enemies, hoping to attack them at the same time…but then…

"GAH!" Suddenly…she got kicked away by someone else.

"ARCHER! AH! W-What!? You!?" Saber of Red called out for her companion…but stopped himself…when he saw her…

Assassin of White was standing there, panting for the attack since she was still tired…but she was there. "Guess who's back…" She said with one of her usual smirks.

Even the four Masters stopped at the sight of this. "Assassin!" Cynthia exclaimed. "She made it back!" Seram added.

"W-What!? Are…are you kidding me!?" Gordon asked, bewildered. "B-But…if he's here…" Kazuto was going to add something…but then felt something stabbing his belly. "GAH!" He had to spit blood and when he looked behind him…he saw him. "No…"

"Anf…anf…anf…looks like we made it…" Maximilian, standing near a tree, spoke out. As soon as he reached the area, he immediately threw a Kazuto…just like the first time they've met.

The Tohsaka mage gritted his teeth out of anger…but he was also scared of this sight. Cynthia, on the other hand, seemed to be relieved by this sight.

Archer and Saber of Red were shocked by this sudden appearance…mostly because…he was there, but Alvis and Rider of Red weren't with them.

"T-This can't be…how did you come back!? What did you do to Alvis!?" Gordon asked furious.

Maximilian panted…but then looked straight at him in the eyes with a cold stare. "You should know it better…if me and my Servant are here…it means only…that I've got rid of them." He answered.

…A thick in the heart suddenly filled the two pairs of the Red Rose…as they widened their eyes in terror. Was it…was it really true? Did they…really do that?

"No…you…does that mean…?" Archer of Red asked, worried. Assassin of White was more than eager to give her the answer. "That's correct…you of the Red Rose…have lost your Rider." She answered out.

That confirm…is what made their heart feel utter sorrow and discomfort. One of their companions…got ultimately defeated. And now…there were just two of them…against those three.

"No…this…can't be…" Kazuto spoke. "Ah! Master! Please compose yourself!" Archer of Red tried to calm him down.

Cynthia and Seram, on the other hand, were surprised…and started to be more optimistic. "He…he did it…" The former said. "He…won…" The latter added. "Heh…just like I've expected from a couple like you…" Even Archer of White felt the urge to feel anything.

But…the most offended…and disturbed one…was Saber of Red, whose body started to tremble…and the veins on his muscles started to get bigger. He didn't say anything initially…but his Master noticed that there was something wrong with him. "S-Saber?" He asked.

Fergus slowly turned to Assassin. "You…" He spoke. "Uh?" Shuten-Douji turned on him.

At this point…the figure of the happy fighter who wanted a better challenge…started to temporarily fall down…replaced…by that…of a vengeful warlord. That Servant…that demon…had dared to do one thing she should have never done.

"You…" He then made something unexpected: He…opened his eyes. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY QUEEN MEDB!? GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Furious as never before, Saber of Red started to get filled with electrical energy and immediately jumped towards Assassin of White to crush her with his sword.

The Oni Servant couldn't see this one coming and ended up getting overwhelmed by this sudden strength. "GAAAAAH!

"ASSASSIN!" Maximilian shouted out before gritting his teeth and preparing more shadow knives.

Saber of Red wasn't done there, as he grabbed Assassin of White from her hair to lift her up. "Our Rider was the most beautiful that mankind had ever seen…and you dared to brutally murder her…you know what they say in modern times like this…DEMONS MUST BE SENT BACK TO HELL WHERE THEY BELONG!" He exclaimed before starting to hit Assassin of White nonstop.

Exhausted and overwhelmed by this strength, there wasn't much that she could do, and Shuten-Douji ended up getting most of those blows. "GAH! GH! BLARGH!"

"DIE YOU PIECE OF-" Before Fergus continued, a laser beam sent him to fly away. "GAAAH!"

"WHAT IS IT? NOW YOU WANT TO CHANGE TARGET!? DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!" Saber of White shouted before starting to reach Saber of Red, followed by Archer of White.

"NO! SABE- GAH!" Archer of Red tried to reach his friend to help him, but in that moment, Assassin of White, who got out from where she was in the meantime, cut her at the back with the gourd bottle and pulled her back. "Don't think you can escape me, girl…where were we?" She spoke out before starting to attack relentlessly her opponent, who ended up getting forced to answer.

At this point, Gordon was desperate and was forced to power up the runes to the high output in order to backup his Servant by attacking Archer of White. "GRAAAAAAAAH!"

"Oh, you want to join too? Fine by me!" Archer of White exclaimed, as he started to engage a battle with him. Thanks to the runes, Gordon was able to keep up with the Heroic Spirit and start to attack with a barrage of punches.

"WAIT! GORDON! Oh no…" Kazuto wanted to help out the friend, but he then realized one thing: he had to deal with two girls first. He turned around and tried to attack them, but they instantly reached out for him and gave him a double punch at the chest. "BLARGH!"

"It's our moment now, Seram…LET'S GIVE HIM EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT!" Cynthia shouted out, full of determination. "DIE ALREADY!" Seram added. The two girls, after hearing the news, and finally having the chance to get their revenge, started to attack Kazuto with no mercy. Blow after blow, fist after fist, attack after attack. They just wanted to see him bleed. Much like it happened.

Kazuto's whole face started to turn red after all the injuries he got. Still…he tried to answer. "GRAAAH!" With a snap, he made an explosion that made the two women move away and he was ready to go…if it was that he felt more knives at his back. "GAH!" When he turned around…he saw that Maximilian as well, even if he was exhausted, was starting to attack him.

"Anf…guess we're going back to our original plan, girls! BY THE WAY KAZUTO, REMEMBER THAT TIME WHEN YOU SUMMONED YOUR SERVANT!? HOW ABOUT YOU LET ME PAY YOU BACK FROM THAT!?" The Icecolle mage shouted, as he continued to throw more spells at him.

"GAH! NGH! GRRAH! GHOOO!" Kazuto was soon overwhelmed with those attacks. But he realized that…it was only fair. They wanted their revenge…and he had to answer…but how could he?

"SEE? HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE UTTERLY HUMILIATED!? THIS IS WHAT YOU MADE ME FEEL! ALL MY SORROW, NOW YOU'LL RECEIVE IT!" Cynthia shouted. "AND ALL MY HATE! YOU SHALL BE THE FIRST ONE TO RECEIVE IT! DIE, YOU SHIT!" Seram added.

Not only him, but also Gordon and the two Servants, even with all of their good will, were starting to get overwhelmed. True…they turned out to be stronger than expected…but they couldn't do much in that moment.

They were outnumbered and standing against tougher enemies all together. If they continued…at this rate, they would have followed the same fate as their fallen companion. At this point…the resolution of the White Rose was too high to make them stop. They wanted to finish this war properly.

Gordon didn't like it…but both he and Kazuto realized…that there was only one way to make it through…on their hands…there was that one single hope. So, they've pronounced it together.

"I ORDER YOU BY THIS COMMAND SPELL! CARVE TO US A ROAD TO SURVIVE!"

Thanks to the energy of the Command Spell…Saber and Archer of Red got filled with new energy…and their instinct…they've used to do what their Masters told them to do.

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Saber of Red planted his sword to the ground, and from that point, a large explosion of light came out. "CALADBOLG!"

"WHAT!? GRAAAAAH!" Both Saber and Archer of White got suddenly overwhelmed by that light and sent away. "D-Dammit!" Maximilian added.

Archer of Red, on the other hand…got filled with a strange energy…and her eyes started even to change color…from red to yellow…as both her blades started to get surrounded by flames. "HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" She used them to make a double severe cut to Assassin of White, but not fatal.

"GAAAAAAAH!" Shuten-Douji got hit and sent away as well, while Archer of Red immediately jumped towards Kazuto to send the two women fly away with the blades…and with the same impact.

Both Cynthia and Seram ended up with a deep cut on their bodies. "GAAAAH! D-DAMMIT! I'VE FORGOT ABOUT IT! I-IS THIS ARCHER OF RED'S TRUE POWER!? GAAAH!" Cynthia shouted out. "N-NO! NOT YET! NGAAAH!" Seram got pushed away as well, and once the road was free, both Archer and Saber of Red got their Masters and started to quickly run and jump away as fast as they could…the two mages of the Red Rose were safe. Though…even if they wanted…they couldn't celebrate.

"Anf…they…managed to escape…sometimes…I underestimate the power of the Command Spells…I had to use one to win…" Maximilian commented. Even though the remaining opponents escaped…he wasn't that frustrated. Because he knew that…in the end…they were the victorious one…and they were able to leave at least…one result behind. He turned around to check on his Servant and his companions.

"Anf…anf…for little…" Shuten-Douji commented. "Are…you ok, Master?" She still asked. "Don't worry…I was far enough for them…" Maximilian answered.

"Ngh…I…wanted so badly to finish him off…" Seram mumbled…but Cynthia…on the other end…seemed to be satisfied… "Well…at least we made really a number on him! For me…it's already a start…" She said before standing up. She even reached out for Seram's hand to help her stand up. "Don't worry…next time…we'll get him for good."

The Qlippah mage, once again, was surprised by this sudden reaction. When was the last time someone did that to her? Even so…she actually found that gest…cute…and actually grabbed her hand to stand up.

Archer of White looked at the mess that forest became after their struggle and made a pleased face. "Aaah yes…sublime! This is the chaos I've wanted to see! Though…if battles will start to be like this…I'd better be ready to activate my Noble Phantasm sooner or later…" He said with a smirk.

"Grrr…dammit…another battle won…but with no deaths…GRRR! Better than nothing at least…" Saber of White said. He didn't want to stay there any longer, even if they won at the end, so he turned into his spiritual form.

With everything over…the two women of the White Rose headed towards Maximilian. "So…is it true? You've…defeated that Master and their Servant?" Cynthia asked.

Maximilian looked down and made a deep breath. Overall…maybe he was sad…but…satisfied at the same moment. "That's right. As you can see…he did give us a lot of troubles…but…as a good strategist…I've surpassed him." He spoke.

Cynthia…liked that answer…and it made her chuckle. "You know…after what happened at the beginning of the war, I thought that you were a little bit dummy…but now…I have to change mi mind…you're actually…a battle genius." She spoke.

"…I agree. Maybe…cooperating…isn't that bad as I thought…" Even Seram felt to add something.

Finally…he got it. The recognition he wanted from his colleagues. It was a tap that he was pleased to have but…still…he felt like…this satisfaction left him a sour taste…after what he had to do to get his victory.

But…both he and his opponent knew…what had to be done. It was their resolution…that decided it. And he had to go with that.

"Eheh…it feels good to hear it…true…it may have not been Kazuto…but still…the first victory of the Holy Grail War…is ours. We can leave satisfied…" Maximilian said.

"You said it…plus, I need to thank you for giving me the opportunity to blow off some steam with that Tohsaka…so…I'll make sure to repay you…now come here…you need someone to help you…" Cynthia answered while both he and Assassin of White helped him to walk. They were all exhausted and injured and they walked very slowly because of the pain...but... they were satisfied.

"Master…good job…" Shuten-Douji told him with a smile. Overall…Maximilian felt calm…even with still some thoughts. "You too…Assassin…"

Meanwhile…the two pairs of the Red Rose ended up escaping at the bottom of the mountain…where they had to regain some air.

"Anf…anf…anf…"

"This time…I'll accept retreat…I just…couldn't go as much as I wanted…" Gordon commented.

"Though…GRRR….DAMMIT!" Kazuto shouted out of rage before smashing his fist against a rock. "Master…" Archer of Red said.

"It's all my fault, ok!? It's because of me that Alvis lost! They were going after me! YET HE WAS THE ONE WHO ENDED UP DEFEATED! Dammit…maybe I should really learn to stay at my-" He was going to let it all out but…just like two days earlier…

Archer of Red gave him a slap to calm him down.

"…Master…please…don't say things like this…" She spoke.

"Gh…A-Archer…" Kazuto replied with tears on his eyes.

"We…we couldn't know what could have happened…and…if anything…it's thanks to him that we got rescued….and if we're alive…so…please...don't act like this. It was his choice…will you leave it to him?" The samurai Servant asked with a comforting smile.

Kazuto started to tremble…out of frustration and sadness. But…she was right…once again…

"…Your Servant is right. I could see it in his eyes. He…was ready to do this. To help us…he made the risk. He just…lost…" Gordon said.

Saber of Red nodded. "That's right…even…Gh…D-Dammit…Medb…" He spoke out, releasing tears from his eyes. He was the most scarred one out of all. He couldn't guess that they would have ended up on the same war and on the same time. For him…it was an event of utter pleasure. To be at the same side of a woman he loved. So…losing her…so soon…he just couldn't handle it.

"…Saber…I'm…sorry…I'm sure…she did her best." Archer of Red tried to comfort the big man as well. But Fergus kept on shedding his tears.

"S-Sorry if you see me like this, but…it's just natural. True…she pushed me away from my wife and my best friend in the past…but she was still a woman I respected and loved…kh…sorry…I…I'll make sure that Assassin of White will pay…" He promised.

"It's ok, buddy…even men cry sometimes…" Gordon answered. Kazuto then turned around…and actually saw him. "AH!" He gasped out, starting to run towards him. The others then noticed him as well…and started to run towards him.

Alvis was still there…with his body above a small puddle of blood.

"ALVIS!" Kazuto shouted out. Even Gordon immediately ran towards him and tried to shake him. "Alvis! Please, open your eyes! Come on!" He tried to call out for him…but with no answer. Everyone started to panic, so Kazuto put his ear on his boy chest to feel anything…

"Ah! There's a pulse! He's…he's still alive…but…his heart is beating slowly…" He spoke. "W-What should we do?" Archer of Red asked.

"Kh…Cahya and Astrea are probably outside at this moment…Kazuto…put him on your shoulders and fly quick! We'll bring him to the closer hospital!" Gordon told the other boy, who nodded and did so. "Come on…let's follow him…" Gordon said to the two Servants, who turned on their spiritual form to follow them faster. The Fragarthach mage simply started to run to the same direction at Kazuto's.

The Tohsaka mage started to fly through the sky of Tokyo…but with sadness in his hearts. Even with all the promises he made…and all the determination he had…he couldn't prevent the first loss. Even if the others told him that it was all ok…he still felt like…it was his fault.

While carrying him…Kazuto checked Alvis's hand…and just like he thought…there was nothing. "…The Command Spells have disappeared. She's…really gone." He said with a deep sigh. They lost…but at least…he could try…to save his life. "Hang on Alvis…I…I won't let you die!" He exclaimed as he went faster.

Even Gordon did his best…and it was in that moment…that he had the same feeling Alvis had before. "…That presence we heard…was it really belonging to those three mages of the White Rose…or their Servants?"

Alvis was passed out…but…unconsciously…he said something. "No…ah…"

"Ah!" In the meantime, Marcus looked up at the sky…as he felt…that there was a change. "I've…I've felt it…an omen…of a change…" He spoke.

Even the other Masters felt it as well…for some reason…they all looked up…at that beautiful sky of stars…there was something in the air. Almost as they could felt what just happened.

The first one to know it was Isak, who was naturally pleased. "…It finally happened. And this is only the beginning…" He said with a grin.

And in the end…the specks of pink light reached the sky…so that even Avenger could see them from the top of a skycraper. He, too, realized what happened, and could only be happy for it.

"…Minus one."

Astrea was among the many mages that looked up at the sky…and had an omen. "Master…are you ok?" Caster of Red asked.

Due to her clairvoyant nature…she felt like it was written somewhere in her mind that something would have happened.

Her cards.

She reminded of that one. Now…even if she probably put the deck in a wrong way…she had the certainty that the card…wasn't just there for a coincidence. She looked at it with concern.

The tarot card…of death.


And…we're done. In the end, even this one turned out to be a very long chapter! I'm sorry, this time it wasn't intentional XD! But if you managed to arrive here, thank you again.

And yes…as you could see, not only this chapter turned out to be pretty intense with action and emotion, but it also turned out to be an important one, since we've finally arrived to it: the first Servant death. Yeah, we would have arrived at this point sooner or later, and I didn't want to wait that long. Maybe it's actually because this was an important moment that I've spent the past days on this chapter, probably because this is also the first major defeat/death I've ever written on a fanfiction. If you had read other stories, there had been various deaths in my stories, but never one that involved an important character. And if I'm correct, I also think this is the first time that a Servant died in a Fate SYOC story, I don't want to brag, absolutely! All respect for those who worked before! I haven't read all of them, so I'm not sure, maybe I'll check later.

And…I surely won't hide the fact that this had been one of the most difficult choices I've ever made for a story so far. Since naturally, seeing your Servant getting defeated first isn't surely a likeable thing to do. While Medb was the choice I've made since a long time ago for the first Servant to be defeated…it was actually difficult to put the idea into the story…since I've thought of the reaction you guys could have. I've thought of some alternatives ways but…for me…they weren't really appropriate…so I've decided to stick with the original one I've had…even though it actually saddened me, because it made me think to the one who submitted Alvis as a character.

Ventus Knight 2, if you're reading this…I want to tell you that I'm sorry if I ended up picking your character as the first one. It was only because I thought it was the most plausible one. I hope I haven't made you sad with this and I hope I could give your character and Servant an epic battle before the latter ended her journey.

Ventus was one of the submitters that talked most to me when it comes to the story in general and his character, and I've really enjoyed our chats. So…ending up with this choice, even if it was decided a long time ago…made me feel sad for him and I hope he continues to enjoy the story, also because, as you could see, this won't be the end of Alvis, as we still have to see a lot of this character, even if he's not a Master anymore. And since Medb was going to die, I've wanted to send her off with one last honorable battle for her, even if she ended up losing. I hope to satisfy you more in the future and I thank you for submitting your character.

Speaking of which, you could also notice that I've eclipsed much of the battle between the two Sabers and the two Archers, because I've wanted to focus mostly on the two protagonists of this chapter: Alvis and Maximilian. When it comes to our strategy of the White Rose, I've felt like ever since I've started the story…I've actually put him a lot aside, since he didn't do much. So, with this chapter, I've wanted to give him some spot and his own epic moment, hoping that I can develop him as a character as well. But I've also did my best with the rest of the Masters and Servants that participated in this episode, as I've also put a particular in Archer of Red that will return in the future chapters. I'll do my best to explore each one of them, since they're your characters after all! This is my repayment for you to participate in this!

Plus, like I said, I've wanted to give Medb a good farewell, because I've always felt that many Servants didn't get their proper farewell in the various Fate series. Mostly in Apocrypha and in Grand Order, but sometimes even in Stay Night, some Servants get killed off without having a proper last moment and getting out only for the plot to move on. True, they're narrative choices, but I've wanted to do something different, so if Medb's death felt a bit long it's because I've wanted to give her a right goodbye with even some references to her past, specifically her bond with a dog- I mean, character we all know well.

So, we've said pretty much everything that was needed to say. And yes, it's said to see the first death, but much like I said in the rules for the story…it was necessary. That's how Fate works unfortunately. The next chapter will be about the aftermath and more insight about some of the characters before passing on the big next event of the story.

And, of course, I leave the last words to you. Did you like the chapter? What did you think of the battles, but most importantly, what are your opinions on this first death of the Holy Grail War? Do you agree or disagree with my choice? As always, let me know with your reviews! Your opinion is always important. With this said, we can say goodbye for now and see you next time!

From Bluestar here, Arrivederci!