—Gáe Bolg Alternative, a legendary technique.
In Celtic myth, this infallible spear reversed causality itself. The moment it left Scáthach's hand, the enemy's fate—being struck—was sealed.
First, a melee strike pinned the foe in space, stripping their freedom. Then, the second spear was thrown with full force, ending their life. Naturally, any enemy in its path was doomed.
Prepared, Artoria reacted the moment Scáthach unleashed her Noble Phantasm, gripping her radiant holy sword, aiming to counter with her own.
But unlike Scáthach's instant strike, her Noble Phantasm required chanting and charging, her sword needing time to unleash. In this split-second battle, she struggled to wield its full power.
—Swoosh!!
Blinding red light pierced her sight. Facing the terrifying spear, Artoria relied on her exceptional Instinct, shifting her body, swinging the Sword of Promised Victory to unleash a radiant glow, attempting to block the twin red streaks. But the fated strike was predetermined, rendering her efforts futile.
Scáthach's signature Noble Phantasm, Gáe Bolg Alternative, embodied her martial pinnacle, transcending human limits into the realm of causality only gods could fathom.
Once thrown, the enemy's fate was sealed—unavoidable. The cause merely supplemented the inevitable effect. Without extraordinary luck, this was an instant-death strike.
Under Artoria's stunned gaze, the crimson light slipped through the partial glow of her golden sword.
In the next moment, it struck near her chest, perilously close to her heart.
"Guh!!"
A pained cry escaped as Artoria felt the spear's unstoppable force nearly pierce her heart. Spitting blood, her body was flung back, kicking up thick smoke in the ruins.
Undoubtedly, Scáthach's lethal strike had hit.
Gáe Bolg Alternative, true to its nature, precisely targeted the heart, but...
"Hmph... Fate's whim, Saber—no, King of Knights. To survive my causality-reversing strike."
Scáthach retracted her spear, offering unreserved praise.
Though she felt the strike should've landed, the outcome differed. At the critical moment, Artoria somehow deflected the spear slightly, piercing only part of her chest, not her heart.
Pondering the cause, Scáthach approached to deliver a final blow.
"Hm?"
A faint fragrance wafted, followed by pale pink petals, hinting at the reason and conjuring an annoying figure in her mind.
"So, that meddler interfered? Hmph, nosy fool..."
Seeing the petals, Scáthach understood her miss and who caused it.
"Ugh... Gáe Bolg, the Celtic myth's spear. True to its fame, it nearly took my life in an instant... Queen Scáthach, your martial prowess far exceeds mine."
Clutching her pierced chest, Artoria struggled to her feet, leaning on her sword, facing Scáthach with a grave expression.
Not nearly—it should've killed you. Without interference, you'd be dead...
Shaking her head at Artoria's remark, Scáthach spun her spear, eyeing the gravely wounded Sword Heroic Spirit, hesitating.
Should she finish her?
In battle, the defeated should accept death, and her Master's orders were to eliminate her. But that dream demon...
She owed him a favor. Her summoning and bond with Roy were partly his doing. Now, he clearly wanted Artoria spared, putting Scáthach in a bind.
"What's wrong, Lancer? Something up?"
Roy, observing through a familiar, noticed Scáthach's hesitation, questioning why she hadn't followed his order to eliminate Artoria.
"Nothing, Master," Scáthach replied softly to the familiar voice, shaking her head.
"I want to spare Saber this time. What do you think?"
"Spare... Saber?"
Roy, hidden, was clearly surprised.
But he didn't rage or chastise her from a Master's stance, nor use a Command Seal. He asked patiently, "Can you share your reason?"
"It's complicated. In short, I owe someone a big favor, and they're calling it in, so I'd like to let Saber go."
"You owe someone, so you want to spare Saber?"
Hearing Scáthach's vague explanation, Roy fell into thought.
Considering Saber's identity and those tied to her, he pieced things together.
He knew his bond with Scáthach wasn't a typical Master-Servant one. He treated her not as a familiar or weapon but as a partner, aligning with her wishes for mutual understanding.
From past experiences and their time together, Roy knew Scáthach's resolute nature. Once decided, no one, not even her Master, could sway her. Even if forced, she'd find a way to spare Artoria.
So, he went with the flow, replying, "If she's your opponent, it's your call, Scáthach."
"You agree, Master?"
Surprised by Roy's quick consent to her whim, Scáthach dispersed the runes in her hand, smiling. She'd even prepared to defy a Command Seal.
But her Master's understanding caught her off guard and pleased her.
Indeed, partnering with a sharp, compatible ally saved effort. Her Master was that ally.
Cough cough...
As Scáthach approached, the gravely wounded Artoria spat blood, her condition dire.
"Breath of the stars..."
Gritting her teeth, ready to unleash her Noble Phantasm in a final stand, Artoria began its true name...
"Arrrrrrrr—!!!"
A furious roar interrupted the battlefield.
Saber, about to unleash her Noble Phantasm, and Scáthach, preparing to leave, froze. A black figure crashed into the battlefield like a cannonball.
—Boom!!
A dark silhouette, volatile aura, and piercing roar stunned both, their ears ringing. A terrifying figure, crouching like a hound, emerged from the smoke.
Berserker.
"...Lancelot? Why's he here? Is he after King Arthur?"
Seeing the black figure, Scáthach frowned, sensing trouble.
She'd seen Lancelot's hatred for Artoria, his relentless, frenzied pursuit.
Having taken her Noble Phantasm, Artoria couldn't withstand the Knight of the Lake's rabid assault. Scáthach had to intervene.
"Berserker! Another enemy?"
Retreating, her wounded body trembling, Artoria's face darkened. Lancer and Berserker were here, plus the other two Servants. She was surrounded, escape impossible.
"Lancer, I'm here to help."
As the Black Knight appeared, a somewhat foolish-looking young man emerged from the smoke.
Kariya Matou...
...
An Hour Earlier
Matou Residence
During Assassin's assault on Kayneth, Zouken Matou received a call from Roy.
After brief consideration, he summoned Kariya to the living room.
"Understood?"
Explaining the situation, Zouken asked calmly.
He hadn't expected Tokiomi to ally with the Einzberns to bombard Kayneth, deploying multiple Servants.
Coincidentally, Kayneth's side had multiple Servants, setting the stage for a potential three-on-three melee.
Thus, he saw fit to send his Berserker into the fray.
Though allied with Roy, Zouken had his own schemes, instructing Kariya to arrive late.
Let the three-on-three play out, waiting for Servant casualties, then have Berserker sweep the remnants, securing an advantage. Ideally...
Let Tokiomi's Servant and Kayneth and Roy's powerful Servants fight to the death, mutually wounding each other...
Then Berserker could clean up effortlessly, claiming victory.
This vile old worm, scheming even now...
Hearing Zouken's orders, Kariya inwardly cursed his treachery, growing more disgusted.
"I understand. Clean up the remnants, take out Tokiomi's Servant, right?"
Under Zouken's roof, Kariya had to bide his time, enduring until the right moment.
Confidently patting his chest, he assured Zouken to leave it to him.
It was just thwarting Tokiomi, his favorite pastime.
Whoever opposed Tokiomi, Kariya would back!!
...
Thus, this scene unfolded.
Arriving, Kariya surveyed the area, finding no trace of Assassin or Archer, surprised.
After exploring, Berserker sensed something, dragging him swiftly here.
What he saw shocked him.
Scáthach and a gravely wounded Artoria stood on the battlefield.
Though Saber wasn't Tokiomi's Servant, Kariya knew Scáthach was his ally. By extension, her enemy was his.
Without hesitation, he ordered Lancelot, "Go, Berserker. Didn't you always want to face Saber? Here's your chance."
Pointing at Saber, Kariya watched as Berserker charged—not at her, but at Scáthach, shielding Artoria.
Kariya, baffled, shouted, "Get back, Berserker! I said attack Saber, not Lancer!!"
But Lancelot ignored him, charging Scáthach.
"Out of control?"
Artoria, in despair, froze, staring at the Black Knight's resolute back, feeling a flicker of familiarity.
Could it be...
Before she could ponder, Kiritsugu's urgent voice crackled through her communicator.
"What are you waiting for, Saber? They're fighting—retreat! Maiya has a vehicle ready nearby!"
"Oh... right."
Hearing Kiritsugu's urgency, Artoria set aside her thoughts.
Struggling to her feet, she unleashed mana to boost her speed, fleeing toward the ruined streets without looking back.
Before leaving, she thanked the Berserker holding Scáthach.
"Arrrrrrr—!!!"
Her thanks drove the already unstable Berserker into further frenzy.
Kariya, flustered, waved to Scáthach, protesting his innocence.
"No, it's not me! I'm not with Saber!"
"Berserker, what are you doing? Get back!"
Furious at Berserker for letting Saber escape, Kariya cursed.
But, provoked by Saber's injury, Berserker saw Scáthach as the enemy, ignoring Kariya.
...Completely berserk?
"What a hassle."
Scáthach, uninterested in pursuing Saber, frowned.
Though she wanted to respect her ally Berserker, she couldn't tolerate this.
"Let's cool you down, Knight of the Lake."
Amid Kariya's shouts, two allied Servants began a new battle on the ruins.
"Stop! Don't fight anymore!"
"Please, stop fighting!"
Kariya's ill-timed pleas made the Servants' clash oddly comical.
Even Roy facepalmed, sighing, "Let them play."
Saber was gone, and as long as Scáthach didn't use her Noble Phantasm, Lancelot's skill should keep him safe.
But seeing Lancelot's erratic behavior, Roy reassessed his unpredictability.
Fine without Artoria, but near her, he'd charge like a rabid dog.
Helping him was futile; he'd bite back if you harmed Artoria, as now.
Verdict: a stray dog. Strong, but brainless. Keeping him risked chaos.
With Kariya's unused Command Seals, Assassin gone, and Saber crippled, plus their three Servants, everything was set.
Next, use Lancelot to swiftly deal with Tokiomi's forces...
Kariya's body wouldn't last long, so some plans needed advancing, and his own were nearing completion.
It was time to end that old worm—not kill, but grant ascension.
For Zouken Matou, Roy's next act was mercy and kindness.
"—Amen."
He murmured with compassion.
...
"This... this is..."
Through lingering familiars, Tokiomi monitored the battlefield. Hearing that familiar voice, he froze.
"It's... Kariya Matou?!!"
"Kariya Matou?"
Not just Tokiomi, Kirei was stunned, asking, "Didn't he abandon magecraft and leave Fuyuki? Without formal training, how could he become a mage so quickly..."
"So he chose the easiest-to-control Berserker... The Matou haven't given up."
Tokiomi frowned, analyzing calmly.
"But if the Matou's Servant isn't Caster or Scáthach, but Berserker, and Kayneth's is Fionn, with Waver Velvet summoning Rider, then who are Caster and Scáthach's Masters?"
Tokiomi's brow furrowed, his eyes puzzled.
Kariya's appearance upended his predictions, plunging the situation into mystery.
Even with Assassin eliminated, he still couldn't identify Caster and Scáthach's Masters or their faction.
He'd thought Zouken Matou, manipulating Caster, was behind the irregular summoning, given his rule expertise. But...
Kariya Matou, a Master?
Tokiomi couldn't accept it.
He knew Kariya well.
His defeated rival, the Matou's sole talent, once Zouken's heir.
Tokiomi admitted Kariya's talent might slightly surpass his, but he didn't care.
Many mages outshone him, but through effort, he surpassed them, earning his place in the Clock Tower's lectures and academic exchanges, achievements beyond even gifted mages.
This stemmed from duty and his love for magecraft, for which he'd sacrifice everything.
But Kariya, a coward who abandoned magecraft, dared return to compete in the Holy Grail War?
Such a traitor, worthy? Daring to return infuriated Tokiomi.
"Kariya Matou..."
Feeling the situation was set, Tokiomi cut his familiar's link, murmuring the name, his expression colder than ever.
***
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