The ruins of the building.
Kirei helped his teacher to stand up. Tokiomi was wounded but still alive. Right now both of them were standing among the ruins of the blasted structure where the short fight between masters took place. The Master of Archer was exhausted and wanted to leave. However, the young priest was thinking about something different. He had other reasons to be there.
'I was certain he would appear here tonight. Kiritsugu Emiya.'
Kirei's greatest interest in this war was absent yet again. Ever since the Grail War started, the young priest hadn't the time to seek out the Magus Killer. He'd hoped that at least tonight he would appear, but luck wasn't on his side. Kirei let out a sigh as he stared at the horizon.
'This war is nothing but a hindrance. And now the teacher needs to be evacuated as well.'
Tohsaka's manor wouldn't do. It was attacked once and it was devastated beyond relief. He was certain Avenger wouldn't hesitate to flatten it entirely the next time. The church wouldn't work either, but there were no other options.
His father wasn't going to be happy with tonight's events, but Kirei was sure his teacher would reassure older Kotomine.
"Kirei, we need to leave right now." Tokiomi coughed as his student helped him to move. "We need to find Risei and get command seals. Gilgamesh is starting to act too risky. I need more command seals to restrain him."
Restraining that arrogant king? Kirei felt like laughing at such a ridiculous idea. Archer did what he wanted when he wanted. He already understood that by now, thanks to the numerous times when the King of Heroes appeared in his cellar and started to drink more of his wine collection. Still, because of conversation with his highness Kirei started to think more about his desires, especially finding and learning what kind of man Magus Killer was.
"Kirei, are you listening—"
BANG
Kirei didn't bother waiting for his teacher's body to slump. Immediately after a hole opened up in Tokiomi's chest, he sent a few black keys flying in the direction of the shooter. His eyes went wide when in the distance, he saw him.
Kiritsugu Emiya was standing among the trees. Thompson Contender in his hands. Kirei saw the look in his eyes. They were as cold and empty like his own. For some reason, the priest became excited and wanted to rush forward towards the Magus Killer.
He wanted to fight him. To learn if they were similar but then someone stopped him. Kirei looked down and found his teacher was still pulling on his leg.
The usual calm facade of Tokiomi Tohsaka was gone. Now there was a face full of shock and anguish. At that time neither of them knew that the Magus Killer used his most dangerous weapon, Origin Bullet. A simple weapon in its own regard, a powerful and deadly tool against a mage, they had yet to realize.
They would never regenerate properly and the original function will be forever lost. While it would be bad for a living being to be hit by it, this bullet posed an even graver threat to magi. Once the bullet made contact, any and every Magic Circuit in use would short-circuit. It would destroy the active ones themselves but didn't stop there. As soon as they were rendered useless, they were haphazardly repaired, resulting in a messy jumble of hastily restored connections that was not the same as healing or mending.
The result was permanent, unmitigated, and irrecoverable damage.
Tokiomi couldn't even scream as the immense pain stopped him from crying out. His body would feel as if it was on fire. His circuits themselves would be misfiring and burning with uncontrolled prana.
However, as Kirei looked down upon his suffering master, he felt something strange inside, something nice and satisfying.
Kirei quickly stopped these thoughts and concentrated on reality. He looked back in the direction where Magus Killer was standing but saw no one. He lost his chance, but Kirei was now more focused on helping his teacher. He carried him back to the church. His father would surely know how to help Tokiomi.
***
Under the rubbles of the crushed building, two masters were hiding inside the huge mercury sphere.
After the destruction of the hotel where Kayneth was hiding, Lelouch saw the utility of his Volumen Hydrargyrum. The rooftop was a good place not only because of the view it gave but also because they had a strategy to escape and bury other masters under it. Because of Kayneth's magecraft, they didn't need to worry about dying as they fell. The reliable metallic liquid would save them as it had done so right now.
However, both masters were busy with different issues.
"Lancer is dead!" Kayneth hissed. Anger and frustrations started to consume him. The Servant that he had summoned was now dead! His pride as magi couldn't allow such a thing, but it happened! And what's worse, now he was buried under the building waiting for Avenger to rescue them. Or until construction workers would appear around his sphere that he would have to hypnotize them again.
"Calm down, Kayneth. First, we would need to focus on getting out of this thing. After that, you can worry about Lancer all you want." Lelouch said with a calm tone but the Demon Emperor was concerned by the death of the spear-wielding Servant as well.
He and Nobunaga just lost a useful tool. While Lancer had lost his main selling point, the spear that could leave a permanent curse, the Heroic Spirit still had his potential uses. Even at a minimum, he was still a historically relevant fighter.
Now, however, Lelouch needed to come up with a new plan to take down his enemies. He eyed Kayneth. Perhaps he would need to end this partnership sooner than he expected.
His thoughts were interrupted by the noise outside the sphere. Soon they heard the familiar voice of the female Daimyo.
"It is safe. You can get out now."
Lelouch smiled when he heard Nobunaga's voice. Kayneth wasn't as happy as the young man, but the blonde magi disassembled the mercury sphere. Soon they saw the smiling face of Avenger. However, Lelouch noticed that his servant was tired and worn out. Avenger wasted no time and closed the distance between herself and him. Soon, Lelouch felt how she put her hand behind his neck and hugged him tightly.
"Good news, Caster is dead. Bad news, Lancer is dead too." Nobunaga said with a satisfied tone. But then, she whispered into her master's ear. "I used my noble phantasm and I need to rest badly."
Lelouch nodded wordlessly. He was about to suggest leaving when they heard something. It sounded like a man. Kayneth sent his mercury forward and soon it found something among the debris. Lelouch smiled when he saw a familiar face.
"Well, Kayneth. Lancer might be a lost cause, but it doesn't mean we've run out of Servants to use, no? Perhaps, our new friend wouldn't mind helping us."
'After his little speech, I might know how to push him. He was so adamant about killing the master of Archer no matter what. He and his servant would be useful.'
Before them on the ground was lying down the deformed man, Kariya Matou. He was unconscious and wounded but he didn't die. The worms inside him wouldn't allow it.
Even now they could see how they were moving under his skin. The man's face showed only pain but despite this, he managed to say something. A single word that meant the world to him before he'd lost consciousness.
"S—Sa…kura…"