Within the Toshuka residence. Archer, Rin, Shirou and Saber have just settled their next move.

'So are you all want to through this?' Archer questioned and the rest nodded.

Rin nodded " It is a lest worth a shot. For if we managed to convice the The Einzberns to help us against the shinigami we will have a better chance in taking them out"

Archer then folden his arms. "And if they decide to attack instead, I'll provide cover so that the rest of us can escape and then try are hand at the next master"

Shirou then gave an unsure look at Archer and Rin and then to Saber. 'And what if we of all the masters end up rejecting an alliance?' Question.

Archer then sigh. "Then our best option is to stay low and hope that the other servents and masters take some of the shinigami out and then when their numbers dwindle we can start picking them off one by one" he answered Bluntly.

However, Saber looked unconvinced.

"That might work in theory...but this ignores the fact that the Shinigami unlike the Servents and masters are all part of the same unit and thus it will not be out of the question that are just as likely to work together to take down the other Servents and Masters...until only the four of us remain"

Archer then hummed in acknowledgment. "True..." he then narrowed his eyes. "Which Means I can only hope that the Einzbern's are willing see the reasoning in this alliance, unlike that bastard Shinji..."

Shirou then gaze over at Archer and then back to flooor with a dismayed look. Upon remembering how that shinigmai vice captain nearly died and how the Captain was trying desperately to perserve her life which did not go unnoticed by Saber.

"Shirou is there something wrong?" She asked.

'It's just something I just now thought of…' he spoke up. 'These Shinigami…' They aren't really like servents when they die are they?"

Rin and archer then exchange glances with the former sighing.

"No, not really" Rin admitted. 'For unlike a servant who exist outside of space and time and the forms they are summon as are merely aspects of their real body within the throne of heroes…the shingami in spite of what their names suggest and the strength they wield…are still mortal souls bound to the cycle of reincarnation like any other living being" she said morbidly. "And killing them is essentially no different then killing another human being"

Archer then narrowed his eyes at Shirou. "You are proposing mercy on them?" He question bitterly.

Shirou then frown and let out a breath. "I know it might sound naïve to you but…I rather defeat these shinigmai without killing them and at least make them surrender…if it can be helped"

Archer growled bitterly at Shirou. "That would require holding yourself back and giving them a chance to kill you fool…" he harshly reminded the boy. " Do you honestly Believe that the rest of the Shinigami would be as merciful as the ones we just saved?"

Shirou then grunted in hesitation not sure how to respond but then saber placed her hand on his shoulder Who then looked back at her.

Shirou…' Saber spoke . 'I can understand about feeling hesitant in taking away a person's life…especially from one who is only following orders and serving their nation" she then stared back at Emyia. "However unless these shinigmai can be proven to be trusted and to not abuse the grail it is too much or a risk to not use lethal force against them"

"It is as she said kid"Archer backed up . "Sometimes when it comes to saving people…you got to take away lives in order to save them"

Shirou then stood silent knowing full well that was what his own adopted father Kier use to say to him and even now he still doesn't have a rebuttable to that.

The next day Shirou and the rest of his group arrived at Ishival manor and standing outside of it was was the master of Berserker.

Illyasviel who greeted them with a bow by lifting up her dress and offered them a cheerful smile.

'Well this is a present surprise…' the young magus spoke in a cheerful voice. "I was expecting some other guests to arrive at my doorstep, though not unwelcome'

Rin then raised an eyebrow at Illyasviel. "Just who exactly were you expecting?" she question, which made IIasyasil chuckled.

Well I might tell you…but that depends on what you have to offer me" She answered shyly.

Rin then groan at the Enizbern's mind games with her but calmed herself down and then looked at IIIasysail in the eye. "We came here in hopes of establishing a truce with you"

The child like Mangus then slightly lift one of her eyebrows intrigued. "Oh?"

Rin then cleared her voice before continuing. "Given how powerful the shinigami and their associates are and the fact they are working together to take out our servants and masters I thought that our best chance at victory is by doing the same" she explained. "So…are you willing to accept our proposal?"

Illyasviel stared at Rin long and hard and then at Shirou who looked at her in slight confusion. Which in a way reminded her of her captive Kurosaki and then she turn her gaze towards to Saber and then she hummed.

"Well…you certainly have made a point miss, Tousaka" Illyasviel responded. "In fact…there is one particular Shinigmai that I was hopping that all three of us can take down together" Her expression then darken and become more ominous. "Though what happens after said Shinigmai is taken care of will involve…further discussion about said alliance"

Rin then narrowed her eyes. 'So you are only willing aid us to just take down this one Shinigami?' She asked with doubt in her voice. But Illyasviel frown at the remark.

'I can assure you this shinigmai…who calls himself the Kenpachi is by far the most dangerous fighter within this entire war even among the Servents' Illyasviel declared in a stern yet icy tone that deeply contrasted her childlike appearance with Shirou, Rin and Saber feeling the chill and dread that came from the way she mention the Shinigami's name.

Rin then mentally commcated with her Servant. "Archer have you…heard anything about a Kenpachi within the Shinigmai ranks in your past life?"

Archer then furrowed his brow. "Not much as the shinigmai I usually meet just the rank…but from what I heard among a group of officers they spoke of a captain who was said to never die…and that the title Kenpachi was given only to the strongest of all shinigmai who lead the 11th division"

Rin's face then tightened in suspense. "You mean more powerful then The Shinigami who fought Rider?"

Archer hummed in unease. "That I don't know…However if this master is willing to work with us to take down at least that one we shouldn't pass this opportunity up"

Rin then nodded. 'No argument here…' she then looked back at IIIvasyel. "Alright you have yourself a deal"

Illyasviel then smiled cheerfully once more. "I'm glade we have come to an agreement"

However unknown to any of them Soi-Fon was keeping watch on the meeting just as she was prepared to infltrate the manor to retrieve Ichigo.

'So…' she mused in thought. 'Three of the Masters are planning on working together to take out Kenpachi Zaraki…' she then narrowed her eyes. 'All the more reason to rescue Kurosaki and warn the other captains'

But then just as she was about to do so, she then sense a red spear heading right towards her. focusing the captain to jump out of the way.

"Sorry to interrupt your little infiltration…" a man with with wild blue hair, red eyes clad in a blue spandex and with silver pladdins announced to the Soi-fon. "But your life ends here"

Suddenly all the Servents and Masters felt a massive surge of Spirtual power filling the entire air near the Einzbern castle while Illyasviel furrowed her brow.

'Have Ichigo's friends already made their attack?' She then analyzed the pressure further. '…no another servant has engaged a captain in'

IIIvasyail then gaze over to Shirou and Rin. "Is that Servent also an alley of yours?"

Shirou recognized the signature and gripped his chest. While Rin looked at at him in concern. "Not really…"

Illyasviel then raised her eyebrow in amusement and then smirked. "Well whatever the reason why that Servent is here. "It is clearly obvious that Captain is here to rescue my hostage"

Shirou, Rin and Saber looked at the master in surprise.

"I believe that the best way to prove both of your Servent's worth is to how they fair against the shingmai or Servent that comes out on top in their scuffle" she stated while Shirou narrowed his eye on Illyasviel.

"And the the hostage?" Shirou asked in concern and the young Mangus shrugged.

'You can protect him if you want…' she replied and then gave Shirou an almost devious grin towards him that made him nervous. "But so long as I have you at my side…" she then giggled.

"It doesn't really matter…"

Meanwhile across the rooftops of the nearby trees around the castle. Soi-fon and lancer exchanged in a swift and raided duel between spear and sword, as sparks ignited from the clashing blades of their respected weapons.

With Lancer launching multiple stabs at Soi-fon which she nimbly dodged with such flawless movement that it appeared as if she were dancing and then counterattacking her foe with swipes from her sword. Which the Servent expertly parried with the shaft of his barbed spear.

The two pressed their weapons against each other and tried to overpower the other. However Lancer proven to be the stronger of the two and pushed Soi-fon back with his spear, while the captain backed flip and landed on the trunk of a nearby tree.

"Well I got to admit…" Lancer spoke out. "I was really hoping that when I was facing a shinigmai captain you would put up more of a challenge…' he taunted his opponent while Soi-fon frown in response. 'I mean sure your pretty fast and strong , but nothing I haven't seen before"

So-fon then glared at the Servent and smirked. 'Really now, so you are saying that I don't compare To Ichigo Kurosaki?'

Lancer then raise an eyebrow. 'So you know that kid's named abd our battle?"

Soi-fon snorted. 'Every captain and every officer knows of that battle Servent" she responded bluntly. 'And practically everyone in the Soul Society knows who Ichigo Kurosaki is, in fact…' she then closed her eyes for moment before opening them again and narroewd them. "Many even refer to him as a hero with unparalleled potential and strength"

Lancer then gave off an impressive whistle. "Well now I guess that means if I managed to hold my own against someone like that. You must be just some sort of small fry then in comparison huh?"

So-fon then folded her arms. 'Don't get ahead of yourself, while it is true you managed to survive against Kurosaki, that isn't a feat worth boasting about' She then focused her gaze upon Lancer. 'After all, despite his strength as a fighter, he is far too soft when dealing with enemies like you"

Lancer then readied his stance. "Your saying that he was holding back against me?"

"Properly..." she shrugged. "But unless pressured Kurosaki loathes in taking another person's life regardless of how much danger they pose to him or even his friends or family…I on the otherhand..."

Soi-Fon then raised her sword to the side.

'Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi!'

Her zanpaktou then transform into a black gauntlet with golden outlines, while the left index finger was cover in a three segment stinger that was twice as long. with the bottom segment covered in a pattern of black and gold. While a small matching chain connected it to the rest of of gauntlet from its tip, while the upper two segments were pure gold.

"Will not make such a mistake"

Lancer then readied himself. 'So…' he thought to himself as he looked over at Su-fung's stinger. 'She is able to transform her zanapaktou by calling out a chant and its name huh?' He then flashed a grin. 'No matter, so long as I can keep my guard up-'

The Servent didn't even had time to finish that thought, when he suddenly noticed that Soi-Fon had grabbed hold of his shoulder and was stabbing her stinger right down at his neck!

Panic flushed over the Severnt's face as if he just snapped out of a haze an immediately backed away to dodge the stinger and then swung his spear upward at the the captain who nimbly dodge it and then upon seeing an opening kicked Lancer on the right side of his stomach and sent him crashing through several trees.

Luckily for the strike was more painful then fatal.

"Fuck…" he gasped while picking himself up. "Just…how the hell did she managed to move that fast!?" he spat to himself while groaning through the pain. "Hell she was even faster then-"

'Kurosaki?' The captain whispered behind his ear and Lancer this time swung his spear at her while turning around. While Soi-Fon did a back flip to narrowly avoid the strike.

Only for Soi-Fon to appear less then a second later right within Lancer's guard at below his knees and the Servent was barely allowed a brief fleeting moment of terror, before using all of his speed and ability to block a strike aimed at his heart…yet left his stomach open.

Which allowed Soi-Fon to knee him in the abs causing the servent to double over and lower his head and in turn allowing the captain to kick Lancer on the left side of his skull. Sending him flying and crashing through several trees at once.

"You may have thought you stood chance against me just because you kept up with Ichigo Kurosaki" Sui-Fung criticized. "But you failed to consider that just like the fact you servants can specialized in different classes so too can we Shinigami ' she then raised up her stinger. "For out of all the Captains of the Gotei 13 amy speed is practically unrivaled amongst all of them"

Soi-fon theb rushed ar Lancer with a flash step so fast. That for the first in what felt like forever the Servent completly lost track of his opponent and the very insant she reappeared. The golden stinger of Suzumebachi was already inches away from striking through the Heroric Spirts chest.

What then followed later was the sicking sound of piercing flesh and a splatter of freshly spilled blood...