Sometimes, plans can't keep up with changes.
Just when you've calculated every move and victory is within reach, unexpected events arise—such is the nature of unforeseen circumstances.
…
Roar…
Flames raged through Fuyuki City, flickering wildly.
"Sigh…"
A young man's faint sigh echoed as he walked through the fire-strewn streets.
Holding a silver staff, the young man moved through Fuyuki's chaos. With a sigh, blue light flickered from the staff's tip, forming countless threads of mana that wove a rain-summoning array on the ground.
No elaborate preparations or rituals were needed—the array was completed in an instant. He channeled mana, activating a grand magical formation from the Book of the Law, borrowing the power of the Archangel of Water to bring rain.
In a moment, as he stepped forward, dark clouds gathered, swiftly connecting into a seamless line. Soon, a light drizzle began to wash over Fuyuki's streets. As he poured more mana, a thunderous whoosh followed, and a torrential downpour cascaded from the sky like a collapsing heavens.
The heavy rain struck like bullets, rattling leaves and soaking anyone in moments, enough to make them question their existence.
Normally, such rain would drive people to seek shelter. But now…
Gazing at the falling rain, Fuyuki's residents, along with firefighters and rescuers, wore expressions of indescribable joy.
It was over. It was all over…
The purple gate in the sky, the countless golden ripples, and the rain of destruction had vanished. The divine punishment had ended.
In the church, those taking refuge realized the explosions had ceased, the destruction halted. They exchanged glances, believing their prayers had moved a merciful deity, and began worshiping the cross, grateful for divine grace.
The rain came so suddenly, so perfectly timed, it felt like a miracle.
Before tonight, they might have been shocked. But after witnessing the apocalyptic clash of gods, with a quarter of Fuyuki reduced to rubble in their battle's aftermath, the residents could accept anything. Compared to the world-ending light of destruction, this rain was a welcome turn for the better.
"What a downpour…"
Standing beside Roy in the rain, Scáthach watched the mana-infused droplets fall, her gaze shifting to the rain-summoning array covering nearly all of Fuyuki. Concern flickered in her eyes.
"Master, after that battle and unleashing a Noble Phantasm, your reserves are dangerously low. Even with Avalon, recovery will take time. Sustaining such a massive array…"
"It's fine, Shishou."
Scáthach began to protest, but Roy, standing in the rain, shook his head.
"This battle was our doing. Too many lives were lost in its wake. If we don't quell this fire and destruction quickly, half of Fuyuki could burn."
He looked skyward, letting the rain strike his face, water streaming from his eyes. Scáthach couldn't tell if it was rain or tears in his sorrowful gaze.
She couldn't refute his words.
The catastrophe stemmed from their clash with Gilgamesh. Though unavoidable in the Holy Grail War, and most destruction came from Gilgamesh's Fantasy Collapse, he had returned to the Throne of Heroes, leaving Roy and Scáthach to bear the guilt.
"Are you grieving, Master?"
"Yes, grieving… but more self-blame. I didn't expect Gilgamesh to unleash such firepower, breaking my dispersal barrier so easily. I failed to force him to use Ea immediately, leading to prolonged fighting. The battle, meant for Ryuudou Temple and Enzou Mountain, spilled over, causing this devastation."
Roy nodded, speaking helplessly. "The world's probably in chaos now because of us. The boundary between reality and mystery has been shattered. Tomorrow, mage organizations might face global scrutiny and sanctions."
"…"
Scáthach nodded, surveying the ravaged city, agreeing they'd fought too recklessly, only realizing the extent after turning the world upside down.
Unlike Roy, she felt only mild discomfort, not grief. In her mythic era, toppling continents while hunting beasts or evil gods was nothing unusual.
"Well, it's too late for regrets. Let's claim the Holy Grail. With the other six Servants gone, Kiritsugu and Kirei can't purify or destroy it. I've won."
The grief didn't linger long. Roy rallied, looking toward the gymnasium. "Next, we retrieve the Grail and make our wish."
"If my plan works, the Grail might just clean up this mess."
The incident had caused an unprecedented uproar, likely alarming nations and mystic organizations across the globe.
The prime minister's office in Japan was probably swamped, scrambling to explain.
No time to delay—best to resolve this now.
Raising his hand, Roy used Volumen Hydrargyrum to craft a silver umbrella for Scáthach, shielding her revealing outfit from the rain's inappropriate effect. He walked alone in the downpour, finding it calmed him.
But as he and Scáthach leisurely approached the Greater Grail, suddenly…
"This is…"
A strange mana surge gripped Roy's heart, his eyes widening.
"Saber!!"
He snapped toward the gymnasium, shouting the name of one who should've vanished, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Not just him—Scáthach sensed the familiar holy sword's aura too.
"It's Saber's mana. But hasn't she already left?"
Scáthach looked at Roy, surprised.
She knew of Artoria's fate, having witnessed Roy's battle against her—a human surpassing a Heroic Spirit's legend.
Though his tactics—psychological and physical, even wrestling Saber to the ground without chivalry—weren't pretty, Roy won fair and square. She'd merely observed.
Their battle ended with Artoria's defeat and enlightenment. To prevent further interference, Roy used Runes and the Philosopher's Stone alchemy to sever her contract with Kiritsugu, cutting her mana supply before leaving.
Saber wasn't Archer—she shouldn't persist without mana!!
At this point…
Artoria should've long vanished. Why was she still here?
Could her Magic Resistance have broken his spell?
No, impossible—his trap would've alerted him.
Consuming souls for mana?
Unthinkable—Artoria, having found peace, wouldn't stoop to such atrocities. So what was happening? Another unforeseen variable?!
Sensing the holy sword's aura, Roy couldn't dawdle.
Other matters aside, this was urgent.
If it were just Kiritsugu and Kirei, he wouldn't rush—they couldn't harm the Grail. But with Saber…
"My Holy Grail!!"
Recalling the Fate timeline's two Grail Wars where Saber's sword destroyed the Grail, Roy let out a shriek rivaling Kayneth's.
Destroying the Grail was beyond Kiritsugu and Kirei, but Artoria was an expert. Her holy sword was practically made for it. If she was there, the Grail might already be in pieces.
That would ruin his entire Fourth Holy Grail War strategy.
Not only would he fail to test his hypothesis about returning to his world, but he'd have no way to fix this mess.
He'd join Kiritsugu as a clown in Gotham, seeking Batman.
Roy cursed his carelessness, wishing he'd finished Saber off. Why play cool and spare her for Merlin's sake?
What face did Merlin have?!
If this went wrong, it was over.
"Damn, damn, damn…"
Roy, heedless of decorum, urged the swifter Scáthach to carry him to the Grail before Saber could destroy it.
"Carry you? Really? No problem!"
Scáthach's eyes lit up. She tossed the Volumen Hydrargyrum umbrella, scooping Roy into a princess carry.
Instantly, Roy felt an odd sensation.
Scáthach's outfit was too thin, the rain outlining her form. The brief contact sent a shock through him, his hands frozen, afraid of improper moves.
"Oh? Master, you're blushing?"
Noticing his reaction, Scáthach, speeding forward, found her remarkable Master's expression novel.
A powerful warrior and mage, a genius like him should be aloof and independent.
Yet Roy was different. A formidable mage, his demeanor and personality mirrored ordinary people.
Brave, kind, wise—qualities that should distance a mage from humanity. Yet he remained grounded, piquing Scáthach's interest.
She'd even considered inviting him to live in the Land of Shadows, to train him as she did Cú Chulainn, into the one she awaited. But he always declined.
Such an intriguing, composed Master showing such a flustered expression amused her, tempting her to tease him.
"Stop it, Shishou. Tease me later," Roy, sensing her intent, quickly intervened. "We need to stop Saber. If we're late, it's over."
From their time together, he'd learned his initial view of Scáthach was too narrow. She was a stern warrior queen, an excellent professor, and a flawless partner.
But her free-spirited style caused trouble, like Aozaki Touko. More crucially, Scáthach's seriousness was a facade—strict in battle, lively otherwise, often causing him headaches.
Normally, he'd brush off her teasing, but now there was no time. Stopping Artoria from touching the Grail was paramount.
"Fine. I thought I'd see an interesting reaction. Bad timing."
Seeing his serious expression, Scáthach ceased joking, accelerating.
In minutes, she crossed a third of the city.
A few breaths later, her purple figure descended from the sky, landing with Roy before the gymnasium.
"We're here, Master."
"Thank you, Shishou."
The moment they landed, Roy sensed a peculiar mana and overwhelming malice, confirming the All The World's Evil had begun to spill out.
"Good. It's still here… We're not too late."
Seeing the intact gymnasium, he sighed in relief.
No explosion meant Saber hadn't reenacted her Grail-destroying act. There was still time.
"Shishou, let's go!"
As he prepared to enter with Scáthach to stop Saber, they froze. A chilling sensation crept up behind them. They spun around, summoning weapons and equipment, ready for battle.
"Oh? You sensed me so quickly, just from a hint of my presence? Impressive, Queen of the Land of Shadows. And you, boy—your strength and vigilance are remarkable. My long observation wasn't wasted. You've achieved surprising results. I meant to meet you myself, but a bet with Merlin barred me from guiding you until all was settled. Hence, the delay."
Like sugar water tainted with an indescribable impurity, an unfamiliar yet familiar sensation emerged. Behind Roy and Scáthach stood a tall elderly man.
Hands behind his back, the elder spoke as if greeting an old friend, addressing Roy for the first time.
"One who shouldn't exist in this world, an Outsider, bringing countless variables to this timeline—perhaps even its destruction…"
***
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