"Whew," Lelouch stopped to catch his breath. "This should be far enough."
Leaning Kariya against a tree, they made to take a short break. After noting they'd just be in the way of their Servants' battle, they'd left the ruined church to seek shelter in the woods behind it.
Technically not the best option should Archer have opted to flee here and hide from Avenger's ranged harassment, but considering he'd initially planned for her to hide in the forest beforehand, Nobu being a deterrent coincided with her being the lynchpin.
For the two Masters, one frail and physically drained, the other a mere child that was exhausted, this was the best place to hide.
"You sure… Haaah… that the bastard isn't… gonna come for us?"
"Yes." For now, at least. "With Berserker and Avenger herding him, there's no chance for Gilgamesh to escape alive."
Not unless he had a contingency plan or a tool hidden in his armoury capable of letting him slip away. No plan survived contact with the enemy, but with two Servants that were direct counters to the King of Uruk, it was highly unlikely they'd fail tonight.
The Demon Emperor sat on a tree stump to catch his breath. Even now, he wasn't as physically fit as his role demanded him to be. Just carrying an adult who weighed less than the average man was exhausting. A certain immortal girl would likely be mocking him for it, not that he wouldn't welcome some criticism said in her voice.
Being nostalgic in the middle of a mission was unacceptable. But now that they'd taken care of three out of four priority targets, he need not stress himself too much.
Tohsaka Tokiomi, Kotomine Kirei and Kayneth Archibald. Three of the original seven masters had been removed from the war permanently. With this and the risk he took to expose Kayneth in front of Kariya, it should be enough to convince the man of the miracle he could create for him and the child he wished to save. Speaking of,
"How do you feel?" Lelouch asked. With the Crest worms having awakened, it meant that, once Sola-Ui's potion has expired, he'd undergo the strenuous pain of being eaten alive once more. The man didn't look bothered though, in fact, he looked satisfied. Yet Lelouch wasn't one to observe only what others showed. "Can you still keep moving?"
"Yeah… Ngh!" Lelouch noted a light squirming as Kariya's hand shot up to touch his belly, but other than the grunt, the man made to sigh lightly. "Haaah… If not for the sudden awakening of these little pests inside me, I can probably keep up with you with just this victory high." Kariya chuckled slightly before his smile withered. "I… should've killed that priest from the start… instead of letting his words… get to me—"
"If you did that, I wouldn't have been able to expose Kayneth," Lelouch interrupted with a simple shaking of his head. "Relax. Kotomine Kirei is no more. Do not worry about him or what he'd said. It's all in the past now."
The man's expression lightened slightly, but it went back to souring mere moments after. As expected of a man whose true nature was exposed, Matou Kariya moving on from it all would prove to be a little more difficult than he expected. Lelouch sighed, drawing the man's attention.
"From what I overheard, that fake priest had been trying to provoke you. Since he'd claimed to have tailed us all and even knew the hidden location of Emiya Kiritsugu, it's safe to guess he knows about your current state as well. Most likely, he hoped to agitate you enough that the worms would finish you off before he expired himself."
"Heh… And people say priests are kind and understanding." Kariya scoffed.
"Then, let this be a lesson to both of us. That no matter how holy a man claims to be, they still have their demons." Lelouch agreed with a scoff of his own. "Really now, to cause suffering because they lack enjoyment in other mediums…"
Adding that last bit was meant to imply that Kariya at least killed for the sake of another. Not out of selfish reasons. That he was able to relax slightly with a nod was a good sign. "So, what now?"
"We stay in hiding until Avenger gives us the all-clear. Getting rid of Archer before he finds another Master is a top priority. Staying as far away from their fight would allow the two the leeway to go all-out."
Even if he was the brains of this operation, the fact still remained that he was just a normal person, in a way. He, as well as Kariya, would only be obstacles, unlike the other Masters who were capable of riding into battle alongside their Servants.
Kariya nodding along meant he too understood the facts. Even after losing his temper earlier, he was at least able to comprehend the line of reasoning.
"After they're done, we'll have to retreat to a safe place." Lelouch continued. "With both the arbiter and his son dead, other magi circles might try to intervene in the Grail War. We can't be caught unawares should they try. Kayneth has served his purpose, but with Sola-Ui departing Japan soon, we can't rely on their old base. Avenger and I have a base of our own, but… it's located on the far end of the city…"
"We can crash at my place." Kariya offered. "My motel shouldn't be too far from here. It isn't spacious enough for all of us, but it's out of sight for the common folk yet densely populated enough that those magi bastards wouldn't try anything too flashy."
"That'll work," Lelouch said. "No need to worry about the space. I'm sure I can convince her to be frugal for a day or two."
"I'll take your word for it."
Kariya relaxed against the tree bark even more. The sounds of fighting had started to die down. Taking a peak towards the graveyard where the three Servants were last seen heading, Lelouch thought that they might have succeeded by now. The lack of flashing lights and explosions in the distance told him as much.
However, Lelouch felt something familiar churn his insides.
'This sensation… a drain on my mana reserves… Nobu finally used her noble phantasm.' So she and Berserker managed to cut off Archer's escape route and successfully lured him close enough for her to catch him in her world. Then, it was their win now! 'This is it! Another down. Mission success—'
'Lulu… sorry, but… I got careless—'
"Hm?" However, as soon as Lelouch heard her voice, his insides churned with a different feeling. One that came only when the worst was to be expected. Keeping his mouth shut, he asked. 'What happened?'
'Bastard had a world-ending ace up his sleeve. He managed to temporarily destroy my Reality Marble and escaped me at the last second.'
Lelouch paused in silence for a moment. A world-ending power… wasn't in the realms of impossibility. Having been made known of the legends of Gilgamesh and given a rundown of how the Gate of Babylon seemed to work, Lelouch was aware that Archer's noble phantasm was the greatest, if not the only, Pandora's Box.
As they didn't know its full potential, he was likely able to do anything. The only thing keeping him from doing so was his flippant attitude. Perhaps, Archer used a getaway-one-use tool to escape, but he couldn't rely on such a vague guess without gleaning the details from Nobu later.
In any case, they may have gotten three out of the four, but they couldn't leave without eliminating Gilgamesh entirely. He was dangerous, yes. But he was also his most vulnerable now without a master. If they left him alone, the blonde servant may somehow be able to find another replacement and recover his wounds. The fact that the Archer class had an Independent Action skill partnered with his until-recently unknown escaping tool made him more of a hassle to finish off than defeat.
'Perhaps it would've been ideal to get Rider on board in the first place—No, that wouldn't work.'
Nobunaga would likely be against it, even if Iskandar didn't reject him first. Rivalries often got in the way sometimes. Regardless, he had to focus right now. He directed his orders to Nobunaga.
'Search area. Locate and end him as soon as you can. We can't let him escape after revealing this much.' If the demigod survived, he would be more cautious as to how he would handle them. The only reason they'd gotten this far was because Archer had underestimated them until now.
If Nobu's words weren't an exaggeration and he really did have a weapon capable of destroying the world, then he'd likely use that against them as soon as he was able to.
"What happened?" Sensing his unease, Kariya spoke up, grunting lightly when he pushed his back off of his tree. "Is it done? Is Archer defeated?"
"He is, but he isn't dead yet." He opted not to lie as he turned to face the man still resting. Berserker, mad as he was, would likely be able to communicate still to his Master. "Gilgamesh managed to escape, but he's wounded and on the back foot. I've ordered Avenger to give chase before he manages to run away—"
"No one is running away, Lelouch Lamperouge."
The familiar voice had both of them stiffening. Kariya out of surprise and fear, but Lelouch out of frustration. 'Of all the places for him to be…'
Lelouch didn't need to be told where Gilgamesh was. Kariya's pale expression told him enough about where the Servant chose to materialize. He simply raised a hand to stop and calm his ally before Berserker was accidentally summoned to their aid.
Even weakened like Nobu said he was, Archer would still be able to kill them faster than they could initiate a command seal.
'Nobu, he's here with us in the forest.' He didn't hear the response but sensed anger through their bond. His partner was certain to rush towards their position. 'Calm down. He hasn't told us what he wants yet—'
"Turn around and face me, Lelouch Lamperouge." He gulped. So much for asking her to be patient.
Having no choice but to obey, Lelouch did as demanded and turned to face the king who could kill him with a simple flick of his wrist.
The image that greeted him nearly had him retching into his own palm.
Archer was a bloody mess. And that was saying it lightly.
He was missing his left arm. The clean-cut continued to gush out with blood, most likely dealt by Nobunaga. That is unless Berserker managed to find a good sword to fight with. However, he was certain it was his Servant that did the rest of the damage.
The King of Heroes' once-pristine armour was but shattered metal riddled with round and haphazardly-scattered bullet holes. His skin was reddened and marred with ash… or, his skin had been burnt to ashes as the man's fair complexion had been replaced by raw and smoking flesh. His hair was in a similar state, having lost its golden lustre.
Even more disturbing was the lack of a lower-body for, as the demigod leaned back against a tree-like Kariya, only his upper half existed. A bloody mess pooled and seeped into the forest floor beneath him as he stared them down from his low stature.
Even with his face looking like he'd taken to diving face-first into a pool of lit kerosene, the man's confident air and the danger he posed remained.
Yet, with bloodshot eyes and slow laboured breaths, it only took a glance for Lelouch to know that Archer didn't have much time left.
In the presence of two people already Masters, that meant he either came to end them or die trying.
While Kariya had managed to crawl himself up to stand out of fear, Lelouch's shoulders relaxed slightly. A polite smile hid away his disgusted expression.
"Well, well. To be visited by Your Highness in such a condition… Should I consider this an honour, or would you prefer I get you medical attention?"
Gilgamesh chuckled. "Normally I would strike you down for such mockery but I have come for a chat." He eyed Kariya as he added. "One where insects are not invited."
Lelouch gently sent a reassuring nod to his ally. That Gilgamesh would lie here, even in this state, seemed impossible for the haughty king. If all he wanted was their deaths, he would've killed them already, not let one get away.
If he desired a chat, Lelouch would give him a lengthy one. So long as Nobu could arrive as soon as she could and Kariya could escape, then he would willingly act as the bait.
Kariya seemed hesitant at first, but giving him a stern glare convinced the man he wasn't needed. As quick as his one good leg and arm could take him, he scurried off on his limp.
"You need to look for better allies," said the king as soon as Kariya was beyond earshot. "The first time it was an airy nobleman too full of himself. Now, it's a handicapped worm that could so easily snap under pressure at a moment's notice."
"I won't deny your assessment of Kayneth. He'd served his purpose, albeit if I could've worked with any other, I would've. Matou Kariya, on another hand, is someone worth fighting alongside. That, I'm afraid not even your words cannot dissuade me." Lelouch replied as politely as he could give.
"Oh yes, that worm's plight to save a child abandoned by the woman he loves and the man he hates." Gilgamesh nodded, earning Lelouch's surprise. "It was quite the plot for a potentially acceptable tragedy. A shame though that Kirei's story writing not only lacked a few pieces but also a proper climax."
"So, you'd heard about his wish?"
"Kirei and Assassin had more to their uses than Tokiomi ever did. His, Tokiomi, your former ally's and that of the boy's, who last I heard is the Master of Rider. I was made aware of all that they sought in this petty squabble."
"Am I to take that as you not being made aware of the wishes of Caster's and Saber's Masters?"
"I wasn't interested in what that abomination or his lunatic of a pooch wanted. Fanatics never appealed to me in my time, the ones in yours, less so. As for that of Saber's Master, I could care less of a man who doesn't hold their head high in a war they ought to be winning." Gilgamesh carefully eyed him. "But the greatest mystery of all is you, boy."
"Hoh?" Lelouch feigned surprise while remaining standing. "Forgive me for being surprised at this honor… but I was under the impression you were more interested in Saber, milord."
"Truly, that naïve girl's shine is one that piques at my inner desires the most, but as Saber isn't here, I can only turn my attention to you. You who went so far as to use not just your ally, but even yourself as bait." Lelouch couldn't help but narrow his gaze. "No need to be surprised, Lelouch Lamperouge. As you are the one who I find the most curious, it only stands to reason that you'd leave yourself before me while your own lapdog rushes her way to save you."
For the target to willingly accept being baited, Lelouch didn't know if that was the arrogance or resignation talking. The man's bisected torso was telling enough that he couldn't escape should she arrive. That meant he wasn't merely waiting for his end to come.
Curious, Lelouch designed to entertain him a little longer. "You're free to call me Lelouch, your Highness. With how much time you have left, it would be a waste to spend it on a mere surname."
"Then, answer me this, Lelouch. What is it that drew you to this war? With such a suicidal method to put even yourself in harm's way, why do you fight so?"
"'Why?' My methods are simply a means to an end." A false smile overtook his expression. "I simply want to win like everyone else, no matter the method, for a loss in any battle is a loss for me entirely. Knowing I will die if I lose or that I can still die even if I win, I'm willing to use anything and everything at my disposal for victory. Even if I, myself, put into danger, nothing will stand in my way of winning this war."
"You have spirit, Lelouch. I'll commend you that." Being complimented by half a corpse of a man should've been out of place if not for Gilgamesh's continued casual tone. "But as far as the Grail is concerned, what is it that you desire? What is your wish? Are you perhaps… planning to use it to return to your own world?"