And now, the hunt has begun.
According to Angela's words, all the servants were summoned, and the Holy Grail War could begin properly. She also told Hector that Angra Mainyu had already begun to form, and the deaths of other servants would speed his transformation up. This left a simple task for the representatives of House Einzbern.
Extermination.
Hector's task was to find any master, anyone with strong sources of magic, and destroy them. With his new servant, this task didn't seem as insurmountable as before.
"Hm…" Hector said quietly, watching around the city. He and Iskandar got up to a higher place and watched for Fuyuki at night. No one would catch them atop a construction machine, but they had a bird's eye view. "No one yet. Either they are cowards or in hiding." He said with disgust and disappointment. "They would try to hide themselves to avoid being easy victims, but one has to slip up sooner or later."
"Bah, is that the only strategy you can think of?" Iskandar stood behind him, a proud King who obeyed his master but did not hesitate to call him out when he felt like it. As annoyed as Hector was by it, he understood that one does not become a King and a conqueror without such confidence. "Standing in a comfortable spot and waiting for your enemy to come at your doorstep is a fool's errand; we have to be the ones seeking them out."
"That would only expose us."
"And so? We are in a time and place where six powerful heroes roam right beneath our noses, and each of them presents an opportunity for a glorious duel. I'd look into the eyes of each one, see their spark for battle, and then they shall either bend their knee or perish like true warriors. If it comes to it, I would fight them all at once!"
"Enough, that won't happen on my watch," Hector responded quietly, remembering what Angela told him. He had to stay confident and never forget that he is the master and Iskandar the servant."
"Then it seems to me that you don't care for getting the Grail as much as you pretend to," Alexander said calmly with an undertone of disappointment. "Would you like to see someone else lay their hands on it while you sit here and watch?"
"I don't need the Holy Grail; Angela does."
"Ah, the Archer's master…It's clear that the two of you have formed some kind of an alliance."
"It's more than that. The Holy Grail belongs to her, and I am in this war to help her get it."
"Truly?" Iskandar said with wonder. "Hah, you couldn't think of a funnier story if you tried! Here you are, among the seven chosen masters, you have a chance to conquer this entire town along with the Holy Grail itself, and yet you have no ambition whatsoever?"
"I want someone truly worthy to claim the Grail. Isn't that an ambition?"
"And you say Angela is worthy? Why is that?"
"What kind of question is that? She taught me everything I know and is an incredibly powerful mage who can handle the Grail! How is she not worthy?" Hector claimed his fist, ready to explode at any moment.
"Then tell me this, boy, why is she not leading her subjects into battle? Why does she hide in the shadows without even informing you of what exactly she is planning? She has good traits for a schemer and perhaps a strategist, but she seems to lack the courage necessary for a leader. Mingling with the Grail's power is no small burden…"
"Stop it already." Hector shook his head. "I am not going to argue about this. She saved me, and I'm not going to fight against her, not after what I promised!"
"She saved you, you say?" Rider wondered, making Hector look away as he realized he said something he shouldn't have.
"I…Back when I was a child, my town was flooded. I was the only one who escaped alive, all thanks to her. She became my family after I saw mine…After I saw them…" Even speaking of it made Hector shake, forcing the image of his parents drowning in front of his eyes.
"I see…So you are bound by honor."
"No, that's…Doesn't matter, call it however you want." Hector was about to say something else, but his focus suddenly shifted. There was a change in the magical field around them, for an incredibly powerful source unveiled itself a few streets away.
"You can feel it too, I take it?" Alexander looked at his master.
"It's unmistakable, and it can only mean one thing…"
He looked down, trying to trace down the energy, and eventually, he saw a young woman lurking in the shadows. She must have been a master.
"The time has come!" Iskandar announced loudly. "I feel it. This battle will be glorious!"
…
Even after summoning a servant of immeasurable power, Sakura still felt defenseless against the threats before her. She knew nothing of who else the Grail chose, but after studying the Grail Wars, she realized that the being that resides beneath Fuyuki has no qualms about granting its blessing to monstrous and repugnant people. They would not hesitate to attack her even if she never joined the battle. There was no way but to stay vigilant. Sakura hoped she could stay home to ensure her safety, but she was well aware this was not enough. If an enemy master finds her within the confines of her own home, she will be cornered and easily beaten.
Instead, she chose to employ another strategy.
When the night fell, Sakura went outside for a walk in the park, much like she usually did. She enjoyed the quiet and serene streets of Fuyuki, especially after the crime rate dropped in the last few years, making them much safer. Of course, she had her sworn protector following her in spirit form. Gilgamesh was among the strongest servants; he could stand up to any enemy short of Angra Mainyu himself, but he would also lure the more curious masters, leading them to reveal themselves. This was the simplest way to come in contact; from there, Sakura could either forge an alliance or fight them off without revealing the location of her home. It was a risky plan, but Sakura was certain that it was the best available course.
"Inviting enemies to come for you directly…" Gilgamesh's intrigued voice echoed in Sakura's mind. "A bold move, the one befitting a king, but it is suicide unless you know you can face any challenge ahead of you."
"With you at my side, I can."
"Is that an attempt at flattery, or are you simply stating a fact? Either way, you are in luck." Gilgamesh said proudly as Sakura sat on a bench at the nearby park. "Six great heroes from different eras, is that it? All of them are not even children compared to me, and they will be crushed."
"I don't want to crush anyone unless it's absolutely necessary…" Sakura shook her head. "I didn't choose to join this war, you know."
"But there must be something you want from the Grail; you are a mere human; after all, your kind is incapable of turning down such an opportunity."
"It doesn't matter what I want, I know the Grail is corrupted. It can only grant wishes through killing and destruction…And Fuyuki has seen enough of that."
"Seems like someone tainted my treasured possession while I was gone…Preposterous."
"I'm sorry if that's not what you wanted when you were summoned by the Grail…But I need you to survive."
"Are you 'always' sorry when you try to follow your basic survival instincts? If that's so, I wonder how you managed to live that long." Gilgamesh said mockingly; Sakura realized that he was the type to always speak his mind. "I never cared for being summoned, that's true, but now that I am here, perhaps I can yet find something amusing."
"Then I guess we are…" Before Sakura could finish, she felt chills going up her spine as her eye caught something strange. It was a shadowy silhouette that emerged underneath the moonlight, and it was approaching her with incredible swiftness and precision. Soon, Sakura realized that this was none other than a flying chariot, which could only mean one thing…She was discovered by this war's Rider. It was terrifying to stare into the eyes of a servant, but Sakura ignored her desire to run. After all, she did not have to fight alone.
"At my side, Caster!"
The moment Sakura gave the order, the golden silhouette of a proud hero emerged by her side. A man in a crimson robe holding a grimoire in one hand, and a deadly axe in the other. His golden hair gleamed with light, and his eager eyes started at the approaching enemy.
"You shall go no further!" Gilgamesh commanded and created a few weapons out of pure magic. Transforming them into golden energy, he unleashed them upon the chariot, forcing it to change its course and stop.
"Ah-ha, now that was an impressive display!" A bulky man in a dark red robe and eyes full of vigor and excitement exited the chariot, and another one, a young, brown-haired man of Sakura's age. This must have been the master…And seeing him put Sakura's mind at a relative ease. He was just human…Like her, Shirou, Rin, Souichirou. Masters were human, and many of them could be reasonable. She did not sense any malice coming from this man. Eventually, Gilgamesh broke the silence, looking at Rider.
"Is this everything you have to say, mongrel? You lay your eyes on the most powerful man to ever live, yet I hear no veneration."
"Veneration won't come from a single spell, Caster. The battle to come will be your judgment…Unless, of course, you would like to swear your loyalty to me, King of Conquerors, and join my perilous journey."
Gilgamesh couldn't hold back his laughter.
"And here I thought I would face a Rider, not a jester. The mere thought of you judging me is insolent enough, but to swear loyalty to an inferior 'king.' Never."
Another voice emerged, this time of Rider's master. A calm and collected tone, though not the one that could mask his visible disappointment.
"There is no point with this one. He would never bow to anyone."
"'This one'?" Gilgamesh raised his eyebrow. "Who are you to speak of me in such a manner?"
"Someone who studied the history of the Grail War, that's all. You were summoned twenty years ago, even though it was a different class, correct? King of Heroes, Gilgamesh…"
"Not half-bad, mongrel."
Sakura realized that her opponent has done his research, but so did she. The enemy servant was familiar, she read about someone exactly like this in the records, he was summoned in the same war as Gilgamesh.
"I know your servant, too," Sakura spoke up. "Alexander the Great, the King of Conquerors."
"Smart girl!" Iskandar exclaimed. "I'm glad my name hasn't been forgotten."
"Then I take it we both looked into the records," Hector said as his and Sakura's eyes met.
"Have you come to attack me?"
"No, I want to talk, first and foremost." He said in a surprisingly polite manner. "Who are you?"
"You really want me to just reveal my identity?" Sakura spoke with suspicion.
"Just a name will do. It's easier for reference. I can tell you mine, I am Hector.
"Sakura."
"A beautiful name makes me think of cherry blossoms…A lot of Europeans visit your country to see them."
"What do you want from me?"
"Alright, straight to the point…" Hector sighed. "Let's say I am a part of an association that seeks to protect the holy grail from those that seek to destroy it."
"Someone wants to destroy it?"
"Oh, I see you are not up to speed on this. Lord El-Melloi the second started a campaign to dismantle the Grail of Fuyuki, and this was almost the exact moment we were granted our command seals."
"So the Grail started a war as a last resort…To defend itself?"
"Most likely. My mentor and I want to defend the Grail from those insurgents who want to rid our world of such a powerful and useful tool."
"This 'tool' killed hundreds of people."
"In the wrong hands it did, but my mentor is willing to do everything in her power to subdue it. She is the most talented mage I know, and she can do it." Sakura heard words like those before, Zouken was just as certain, this would not lead to anything but more destruction. "If you and your servant would like to join you, we welcome you with open arms."
"And what if I refuse?"
"Then our servants will fight until only one man is left standing. We are amidst a war, after all.
"I'm sorry, but I can't accept your offer," Sakura said, resisting her fear of the inevitable battle. "You seem like a clever mage, but you did not see or feel the Grail's power like I did. I would not wish that upon anyone, ever! If this Lord El-Melloi truly decided to destroy the Grail, then I have nothing but respect and admiration for him!"
"A shame. In that case…" Hector turned towards Iskandar. "Caster is all yours. Show no mercy."
"And so it begins." Iskandar drew his sword, readying himself to clash with the King of Heroes.
"Protect us both, Gilgamesh!"
"I'll do much more than that."
Iskandar was the first to attack, attempting to pierce Gilgamesh, but Caster was more than prepared to face the onslaught. He created a defensive field of gold magic before launching powerful bolts of energy into his enemy. Rider raised his sword, deflecting one strike after another. Only a single attack managed to get close enough to weaken his armor. It was a miniature distraction for Rider, but it was enough for Gilgamesh to exploit the opening and launch more destructive spells at Iskandar.
"You call yourself king, yet it doesn't seem like you can live up to the name." Caster mocked his opponent, making Sakura clench her teeth in worry. This would make the situation worse; who knew what Iskandar was capable of at his full strength.
"You are not the first of my opponents who made the mistake of celebrating ahead of their victory." Iskandar smiled. "Do you know what happened with the others?"
"I don't care to hear about you squashing some gnats; they are not my equal."
"Prove it, then!"
Rider deflected Caster's spells and summoned his chariot to him, pushing his ruthless opponent aside. Iskandar used the opportunity and charged at Gilgamesh, attempting to pierce his very heart. King of Heroes responded in kind, raising his axe to block Rider's attack. The two kings clashed in a contest of skill and strength.
"If you truly are the King of Heroes…" Iskandar spoke. "Then you must possess the legendary Gates of Babylon? Truly a worthy opponent!"
"And you expect me to open its gates for an insolent brat like you? Nonsense!"
Caster pushed back, unveiling a powerful explosive spell.
"Even mundane magic of Babylonia will be enough to crush you!" Gilgamesh shouted, unleashing an arrow of destructive spells that heated Iskandar's armor up. The King of Conquerors grunted and took a step back, it was hard to break through his defenses, but Sakura had faith.
"He's getting weaker, you can do it, Caster!"
"Of course I can." Gilgamesh snarled in response before focusing on Iskandar again. A few more attacks hit right at Rider's armor, forcing him to retreat once again.
"Rider, fight harder!" Hector gave a command with worry in his voice.
"It's not as simple as it might look, boy. We are up against one of the strongest servants, but I will not stop resisting!"
"You can use your noble phantasm!"
"And waste so much of my energy this early? No, there is another way."
"Let me teach you a lesson, 'king'…" Gilgamesh spoke as he approached. "There is only one fate that awaits those who dare to call themselves my equals, and that is…"
However, before Gilgamesh could attack, something stopped him. An array of arrows rained down the sky, piercing Gilgamesh's exposed hand and soaking it in blood.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Caster raged as a proud smile emerged on Hector's face.
"Just in time!"
A tall, mysterious man emerged, jumping down from the nearby roof. He had a tanned skin, short white hair and red clothing. A very strong and agile individual, and the magic radiated from him, showing that he could be none other than a servant.
"And who will you be?" Gilgamesh wondered.
"Let's just say, I'm here to end your clownish tirade." The servant said proudly, but another voice soon emerged. A cloaked silhouette of a smiling woman stood beside him, command seals gleaming on her wrist.
"No need to be rude, Archer. After all, if Angra Mainyu chose this woman and her servant, that means he considers them worthy."
"I see…" Iskandar added. "Our ally from the shadows."
"Didn't you say you were not going to show yourself?" Hector wondered as he looked at the woman, they clearly knew each other. Sakura felt her fear re-emerge as she clearly realized that she was against two allied masters at the same time. Even Gilgamesh's strength might not be enough, but there was no evident fear in his eyes. This arrogance and confidence were starting to become highly dangerous for them…
"I decided that the appearance of Gilgamesh himself requires my attention." The woman smiled.
"Who are you?" Sakura asked cautiously.
"I am Angela von Einzbern…I assume you don't need me to tell you what that name means?" She said with smug pride, making Sakura feel the icy cold in her knees. She hadn't heard that name since her days with Illya, yet here she was, another magus who would claim the prize for their family, no matter how destructive it was. Again and again. "I must say, you've done a good job trying to escape your life. You changed your name, but your face is still recognizable for anyone who kept their eye on the members of the three families responsible for the Grail, as are your powers." She knew the truth… "A pleasure to meet you, Matou Sakura." She declared, making Hector gasp in shock, and Sakura realized that no matter how much she tried to hide, the world of the mages would still reach her.
"You mean she is a member of one of the families?"
"She was once until she decided to decry her heritage…And, as I take it, she decried the Grail, too?"
"She refused to join us, yes," Hector confirmed.
"I see." Angela sighed and walked towards Sakura, staring her right in the eyes with her borderline maniacal stare. "Let me make it as clear for you as possible, Sakura. You could have been standing beside me, and you could have been renowned as a savior of the Holy Grail, but you rejected this opportunity, so I will not allow you to interfere. I will claim the Holy Grail once and for all, and if you try to stop me, I will kill you. Understand?" There was a cold detachment in her voice, the kind Sakura heard from Zouken. No reason nor empathy, only determination, and fixation on a singular goal without any regard for the casualties. "I'll give you one chance to withdraw from this war, but if I ever see you again, you will not be spared."
"I…" Sakura's voice trembled.
"I refuse!" Gilgamesh spoke out with vehement rage. "I will not have pathetic worms like you command me to surrender. None of you is worthy to lay your eyes on a treasure that once belonged to me, and I will make you pay for your insolence."
"Gilgamesh, what are you doing?" Sakura panicked as Rider and Archer entered their battle stances. You can't win against two servants…And Angela is powerful; she is much more experienced than I am!"
"I don't care how powerful any of them are; all I see are a bunch of mongrels who ought to be…"
There was no other way.
"By my command seal, I order you…Retreat."
…
It was time to return to Fuyuki.
Multiple years have passed since Shirou last visited his hometown. He barely had any time for a trip home when he was on a journey that took him all around Japan and even Europe. A journey that saw him saving everyone he possibly good, all while honing his skills. In time, Shirou grew into a talented fighter and mage, much like Kiritsugu. This strength was necessary for him to continue on the path of the hero, the only path that would lead him to the other side.
Now, however, it was Fuyuki who needed him the most. He knew how devastating the Holy Grail Wars could be, especially when monsters like Kotomine get command seals, but he wasn't willing to let the people of Fuyuki or their descendants suffer again. Lord El-Melloi arrived in the city a day earlier than Shirou and Rin, and the group decided to slip to avoid attracting too much attention. He told Shirou about an estate on the outskirts of Fuyuki that he had purchased, and this would become their base of operations against the Grail and other masters.
A day after, Shirou and Rin followed. They returned to Fuyuki and rented a car, which Shirou drove towards the designated place. Rin sat by his side, gloomier than she usually was, and of course, wherever they went, the Assassin followed them in his spirit form.
"So, how did you meet this El-Melloi?" Shirou wondered.
"He was one of my teachers during my studies at the Clock Tower, one of the few non-annoying ones. By the way, his real name is Waver Velvet, though try not to call him that. I became the best student in his class, so he began to notice me more. That's when he started to become a bit of a bore, pedantic to a fault…Also said something about me being too full of myself."
"I can see where he comes from…"
"Oh, shut up, Emiya. Eventually, we talked about the Holy Grail War and learned that we were both participants in different ones. We shared our experience, as well as what we've seen of the Grail and other masters…That was when he shared his idea, which he pondered for a while but didn't act upon."
"And that is?"
"The Grail should not be allowed to exist any longer. If I didn't know what Kirei did at the end of the last war, I probably would've protested…But your tale stuck with me. The Grail is a corrupted, destructive force, and Waver is right to seek to destroy it. I supported his idea, and that's how our 'campaign' was born."
"He seems like a smart man and someone who saw Kiritsugu and Saber twenty years ago…"
"He doesn't like to talk about that time unless it's necessary, so we should just focus on the present. It's not the best situation. Apart from you, we only know of two masters, another one who likely has the seals, and three more who remain a complete mystery. I don't have much hope for them, considering that Angra Mainyu is especially picky this time."
"This isn't what we fought for…Not what Saber sacrificed herself for." Shirou looked down, barely holding back his anger.
"Listen, it wasn't in vain. Saber didn't end the Holy Grail, but without her, many more people would've died, including us."
"I know, I just…I hope she found a way to escape this hellish cycle." Shirou said. "And what of the current masters? Who is the most dangerous?"
"Angela von Einzbern, assuming she has the seals, which is very likely."
"I heard of her…Seems like Einzberns had to give the reigns to the tuners to make their bid."
"I doubt they're happy about that, but their house is dying out, and there are no other options. She is a powerful mage and has proven herself many times. Unfortunately, we don't know what hero or even what class she will summon as a servant…Apart from them not being an Assassin, of course." Rin noted. "You may not like this servant very much, but I feel calmer knowing that I won't get backstabbed from the shadows at a random moment. It's…" Rin paused, likely noticing that Shirou was too focused on his surroundings as if drifting away. "You alright there?"
"I should've returned here earlier. There are people who waited to hear from me, I'm sure of it…And I was too focused on being a hero."
"Too late for regrets." Rin shrugged. "We'll visit them together after we're done with this mess. Taiga, Sakura, Ayako, Issei, they're all still here from what I've heard."
"Maybe, but that's not everyone."
"What do you…Oh." Rin sighed. "You mean Illya? Emiya, I know you two have gone very soft on each other at the end of the war, but she's not exactly a friend. She tried to kill us both and make you into her toy; it's unfair to equate her with Sakura, Issei, and others."
"Maybe, but I feel that she wanted us to meet again. Maybe on that playground, maybe somewhere else…There was something that she wanted to talk about, I felt it…" All Shirou knew was that soon after the war, Illya fell sick and couldn't survive. A swift, merciless death for a girl who deserves to live a much longer life. If only he could save her from this fate…
But Emiya got no opportunity to continue his wallowing. In but a few moments, he saw her. A beautiful woman with bright blonde hair, beautiful white skin, and clad in silvery armor. The sight of her made Shirou's heart skip a beat, as he could almost see his beloved stand before him. To see her descend upon this earth, transcending the realm of Avalon and death itself, all for the possibility of a reunion, a continuation of their shared dream.
"Emiya!" Rin's shout made Shirou snap back to reality and force the sweet illusion away from his eyes. The woman before them was not Artoria, but she was no regular human, either. She swung her blade, unleashing a powerful slash of pure light at the car.
"Trace on!" All Shirou could do at the moment was to project and materialize a boulder to minimize impact. This softened the blow but was not enough to stop the attack completely. The slash broke two of the car's doors and forced it to flip on its side, making Shirou and Rin jump out to the empty road.
"Do not resort to tricks; stand proud and fight with honor." The woman declared and put her sword forth.
"You're a servant, aren't you?" Shirou stood up and prepared to defend himself. "Saber, by the looks of it…"
"Indeed." The woman responded. Before she could attack, Shirou noticed a figure behind her. They were hooded grey robes that hid their face and bodies, but they had to be Saber's master.
"I know who you are, both of you!" Rin spoke up. "You are Jeanne d'Arc, liberator of Orleans and hero of France. We knew you'd be one of the servants…"
"It is a great honor to know that I have not been forgotten many generations into the future."
"I heard about her," Shirou said. "But from what I read, Jeanne has a unique class…" He noted, and Rin quickly followed with an explanation.
"This is not the default state for her, but as someone who used a blade while she was alive, summoning her as Saber class servant is theoretically possible…And now we know it works in practice, too." Rin said before switching her gaze to the hooded figure. "You don't have to hose your face, Everec Kammerer. I know it was you who had the relic to summon Jeanne."
"Very shrewd…Or should I say nosy?" The figure spoke with the voice of an old man. He took his cowl away and revealed himself. A mage with pale hair and determined brown eyes, the one Shirou read about in El-Melloi's files. A German mage and an 'exemplary' member of the Association, a man who is willing to do anything for power and status, including making a bid for Angra Mainyu. "You've proven yourself to be an incredible nuisance over the last few years, Tohsaka. Perhaps this is why the Grail avoided choosing you." He said in a mocking tone. "But the man beside you…" Everec looked at Shirou's command seals. "I give you one chance. Summon your servant and fight with honor, or I will crush you here and now!"
Shirou remained stoic, hearing a whisper in his mind.
"I am ready. Give me the orders, and I will cut his throat." Assassin was ready for action, yet Shirou was not so sure. "Master, why are you hesitating?"
"Focus on Everec, take him out of the battle without killing him."
"That would be ineffective…"
"That's my order, understand?"
"As you wish."
Assassin didn't hesitate to join the battle. A shadowy cloud emerged behind Everec with the skull-shaped face of a ruthless murderer within. Hassan of the Cursed Arm took his blades, striking at the mage's back. He could've gone for the neck or the head, but Shirou could see he was an obedient servant, one of his main advantages. Even if Kammerer was as corrupt and selfish as Rin claimed, Shirou did not want to resort to murder when it could have been avoidable. However, the moment Hassan's daggers slightly pierced the mage's back, a protective pale aura emerged around his skin. Jeanne was quick to rush to her master's defense, forcing Assassin away.
"Damn it!" Shirou said to himself, realizing that while Everec was bleeding, the time Assassin had was not enough to force him out of the battle. Saber was there to guard her master, and when it came to open combat, Assassin had no power to defeat her.
"How preposterous," Jeanne said, looking at Hassan. "My master told me that Shirou Emiya is a folk hero, and yet his servant is a murderer with no honor?"
"Honor is a fool's game, Saber." Assassin spoke up. "For those of us who weren't blessed with insurmountable power the likes of you have, the shadows are our favored ally."
"Let's see if shadows can protect you against the wrath of my blade."
The two heroes began fighting, with Saber going on the offensive and unleashing one blow after the other. She reminded Shirou of Artoria even now, her flawless moves, ruthless yet clean and honorable fighting style…If only Shirou didn't restrict Artoria, she would've fought just as much. This must have been the vigor with which she faced the King of Heroes. Hassan could not defeat her, but he did a valiant job of avoiding Saber's strikes and stalling her. Meanwhile, Shirou had to face the master. He used his projection magecraft again, manifesting a pistol in his hand. Shirou hoped that a quick, unexpected shot at the elbow would weaken Kammerer enough, but the old magus was prepared. He quickly teleported a few meters away, revealing his magical talent.
"Seriously? A firearm? A mage can do better than that."
"You think?" Rin said mockingly before unleashing an elemental spell of fire upon Everec. It was a quick strike, making the old man let out a pained grunt as he moved away.
"Not bad…"
"Tohsaka, wait!" Shirou spoke up and turned to Everec. "Fighting shouldn't be our first course of action, not in this war." He knew that he had attacked the mage twice, but they still had to try and reason with him before this battle got too bloody. "Everec, you were chosen by the Grail to be a master, but you did not take part in previous wars…"
"And why would that matter?"
"You haven't seen the true extent of the Grail's power, of Angra Mainyu's power! Twenty years ago, when a victor attempted to fulfill his wish, the Grail unleashed a fire that spread through Fuyuki and killed countless people. Ten years ago, the same thing was about to happen. I was there, stared into the heart of its darkness…It is a dangerous weapon."
"A weapon that will give the world to anyone who controls it," Everec said arrogantly. "It gave me a chance to subdue its power. What kind of mage turns down an opportunity like that!? I know why you stand by Tohsaka's side…You want to destroy the Grail despite being a master, all because you are too scared to try and tame it. You'd sooner be a coward and reject your own wish."
"If acknowledging the price of this 'victory' makes me a coward, then I am the most pathetic of them all. Perhaps you should consider it too. Otherwise, you will end up at the top of a mountain of corpses…And you'll live just long enough to see it before you let out your last breath."
"I…" Kammerer paused for a moment, but the hesitation did not last. "Even that is better than to live knowing I rejected such a chance!"
Kammerer unleashed magical arrows, causing Shirou to jump aside. Some of them would have pierced his skin, but Rin unleashed another fiery spell that annihilated the weapons and hit Everec himself. This distracted him, allowing Shirou to take a clear shot.
"Aaargh!" Kammerer clung to his bleeding elbow and spoke up with hateful spite. "You insolent…Saber, to me!"
"Master?" Jeanne spoke and paused, allowing Hassan an opportunity to strike and force her on the defensive.
"Kill those two fools, now!"
"I would crush them in but a few moments…"
"Exactly, so do it!"
"That would not be a fair fight; crushing weaker masters would be disgraceful."
"It doesn't matter; they are the enemy, and they will fall with their servant!"
"I will not…"
"You will. By my command seal, I order you to kill Rin Tohsaka and Shirou Emiya now!"
"I…" Jeanne could not resist the will of the seal, immediately turning towards Emiya and Tohsaka.
"He's very careless to waste a seal like that…" Rin said, making Shirou side-eye her.
"That should not be your main concern now; get behind me!"
Shirou attempted to shoot advancing Saber, and Rin helped him with her spells, but none of them could damage the mighty warrior. Assassin followed her in an attempt to stop the onslaught, but he couldn't reach Saber quickly enough…
However, Shirou didn't feel the fury of Saber's blade upon him. Instead, it was a powerful blow of wind that pushed him to the ground.
"Emiya, look out!"
He heard Rin's voice as she rushed to his defense. Shirou raised his eyes, seeing the Assassin cloak him and take most of the damage unto himself, but the blow of wind did not stop. Instead, it grew stronger as Shirou felt a powerful source of magic emerge between himself and Everec. It seemed like a third challenger was about to enter the fray, and it could only be another master.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Kammerer sounded furious, and Saber returned to his side to defend him. "Who dares interrupt my battle?"
Soon, everyone present heard a loud, psychotic laughter. It came from a small hurricane, a tornado that moved towards them with a silhouette within. Shirou knew it was a human, and the wind around him must have been some powerful form of magecraft or perhaps even his servant.
"Interrupt, you say?" An arrogant, playful voice echoed from beyond the wind. "I will do much, much more than that! It seems like the two of you were unlucky enough to be chosen as masters in this war…Oh, I pity you, I do. For I intend to rip out each and every command seal out of your hands. You will live long enough to feel the wind ripping your bodies to shreds…I promise I will make it a moment to cherish."
"Who are you, madman?" Everec demanded.
"Oh, forgive me for not introducing myself…Berserker, break the veil!"
The wind grew quieter, and eventually the tornado changed its shape, much to Shirou's amusement. The flow gained shame and sturdiness, all of its energy transformed into a silhouette of a tall, black haired man with clouded crimson eyes. His robes were in dark black color, and his winged sandals were drenched in blood. They were the telltale sign of a known Greek God.
"Hermes…" Rin spoke out, trying not to attract much attention from the enemy masters and servants.
"Looks like Berserker has shown himself," Shirou added. "What do we know about his master?"
"Nothing…We never found any trace; this is the first time I see him."
The master that stood beside Hermes was a youthful man with bright hair and maniacal blue eyes. He was of Shirou's age, yet the hero could see that this man is an embodiment of everything he utterly despised.
"I know you very well, Everec Kammerer." Berserker's master spoke with glee. "A pathetic old magus who no doubt loved to deny me the privilege and acknowledgment of my research…But do you remember me? That's the real question."
"Do you expect me to remember the name of every deranged charlatan that crosses my path?"
"Does the name Iseri remind you of anything?"
"Iseri…" Everec paused before an apparent realization hit him. "You are the one who tried to join the association with presenting that destructive wind magecraft, aren't you?"
"Bingo! And they rejected me, those fools….In doing so, they rejected the future!"
"The grail must be really desperate if it chose you of all people."
"The Grail simply sees what you fools can't! I am the future of magecraft, the future of this entire world! And when I have the Grail in my hands…"
"Do you think that you have any hope of controlling Angra Mainyu? You are even more of an idiot than I thought!"
"Why would I seek to control it? After all, I am the only one who understands it. I will give it freedom and relish in its devouring darkness, and I will savor every moment as I watch it tear apart every single member of your Association. The Clock Tower will burn…And if the world burns with it, all the more reason to prepare for the show!"
"You'll never get that far! Saber, attack!"
Jeanne entered the fray, clashing with the living embodiment of wind that was Hermes. The god could not speak. He only let out occasional moans and roared the moment his eyes met Jeanne's. The two battled fiercely, with Hermes trying to rip Jeanne's armor with his wind and Saber attempting to pierce his ever-changing body. Berserker…The most chaotic and destructive servant class. In the previous war, Illya was Berserker's master, and her heritage and training allowed her to control him. This young mage didn't care to control him at all. All he craved was destruction, and his servant was a perfect opportunity for just that.
"Emiya!" He could hear Rin calling out to him, and Assassin was by his side. "This is our opportunity. We need to leave while those two are at each other's throats!"
"What? And leave this Iseri to cause more chaos and destruction?"
"We have no chance against both Saber and Berserker; if they chose to unite against us, it'd be over!"
"I…" As it often was, Rin was the voice of reason that Shirou had to listen to avoid getting himself into outright suicidal situations, and this was one of them. They could not afford any hesitation or delays…Otherwise, they would get annihilated. All Shirou could do was to promise himself that he would do everything in his power to save as many lives as possible…This was his resolution before him, Rin, and Assassin disappeared into the shadows.