Flames, raging flames.
Fire brigades had already begun to arrive. At this point in time, the Japanese fire departments were not as abstract as they would become twenty years later.
Nearby residents fearfully steered clear of the area. After all, many who lived in the Old Town remembered the great fire from ten years ago.
Emiya Shirou was among them.
He stood before the Matou Residence, looking at the ruins and the roaring blaze, feeling an immense chill in his heart.
That ancient mansion, once eerie yet magnificent, was now being consumed by the fire.
"Sakura..." He instinctively tried to rush into the sea of fire, but Artoria held him back firmly.
"Master! You can't go over there!" she urged. "There's something wrong with these flames!"
On the side, Archer also held Tohsaka Rin in a tight grip. "Calm down, Rin!"
"How can I be calm!" Tohsaka Rin said with bloodshot eyes. "Sakura is inside!"
"I... Shinji Matou!" She turned to look at the last person. "Tell me, Sakura wasn't home today, right?!"
"..." The latter said nothing, staring blankly as his home burned in the fire.
"Speak!" Tohsaka Rin aimed her Gems at him, looking as if she was about to explode.
Medusa took a symbolic step forward, shielding him.
Among the six people present, she was the one who knew the situation best. Although she was constrained by Shinji Matou, the foundation of the contract still lay with Sakura. She could feel that Sakura was alive and well.
"My ancestral home..." Shinji Matou murmured as he watched the fire. "Gone, it's all gone..."
"Be careful, Master," Artoria suddenly pushed Emiya Shirou behind her. "Something is coming out!"
"Rin, get back," Archer also projected his weapons, waiting in full readiness.
Judging by the look of these flames, it was likely the one who gave them the biggest headache.
Thus, the group watched tensely as a figure gradually emerged from the fire.
"Hm? What a surprise," Xia Yu said as she walked slowly out of the flames, carrying Sakura in a princess carry. "I didn't expect you all to get here so fast."
"Sakura!" Seeing that familiar figure safe and sound, Emiya Shirou and Tohsaka Rin shouted simultaneously.
"Hey now, Miss Firefly," Archer said, staying on guard. "The Holy Grail War has rules; you can't start fights during the day."
"Oh, and so what?" Xia Yu tilted her head and asked.
"Those who violate the rules will be subject to a unified crusade by the other groups, organized by the Overseer," Archer spoke cautiously.
"So when do you plan to start?" Xia Yu said with a beaming smile. "Let's get this straight: you'd better gather all six people before coming over. Otherwise, I probably won't have much fun."
"As expected, when you have strength, you can do whatever you want," Archer said helplessly.
"Miss Firefly," Emiya Shirou stared intently at the Matou Sakura in her arms and asked, "Is Sakura okay?"
"She's having trouble," Xia Yu said plainly. "If I had come any later, the trouble would have been much bigger. Compared to that, what does a mere battle during the day matter?"
"But those are the rules of the Holy Grail War," Tohsaka Rin said, summoning her courage.
"Is that so? Well, what if I told you that if I snapped her neck right now, the entire world would judge that I had performed a virtuous deed?" Xia Yu looked at Archer behind her and said, "Isn't that right, Archer? After all, you've done that sort of thing quite often."
"...I don't know," Archer looked away upon hearing this.
"Choosing to escape, huh, Archer?" Xia Yu shook her head. "You regret it, don't you? Who told you to go and become some Counter Guardian? That taste isn't pleasant, is it?"
"...I've lost my memory," Archer said with a stiff face. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Let's go with that then," Xia Yu gave him a deep look and shrugged indifferently.
"I say, you guys..." Just then, Shinji Matou finally couldn't help but explode. "You're all talking so familiarly; do you think I, the heir of the Matou Family, don't exist?!"
"You!" He glared at Xia Yu. "A person whose body shows no sign of Magical Energy at all, a wild Magus, dares to offend the Matou Family with its five-hundred-year heritage!"
"Is there something wrong with his head?" Xia Yu's expression turned strange. She turned to Emiya Shirou and Tohsaka Rin. "I've already leveled his house, and he's still worried about whether I 'dare' to offend him?"
"He's... well, all that stuff has gone to his head." Emiya Shirou found it hard to comment, but Tohsaka Rin had no such reservations. She complained, "He can't read the situation at all."
But out of the goodness of her heart, she still offered a warning. "Hey, Shinji Matou, this isn't your—"
"Shut up!" Unfortunately, the man didn't appreciate it. The Book of the False Attendant in his hand flared with purple Magical Energy again. "I'll make you realize the consequences of offending a Magus Family. Rider, kill her!"
Hearing his command, Medusa raised her chains and rushed forward, but then Xia Yu placed Matou Sakura right in front of her!
The Servant consciously stayed her hand.
"What are you doing!" Shinji Matou was beyond furious.
"Sakura is in the opponent's hands," Medusa spoke for the first time.
"Then kill her along with her!" Shinji Matou's face twisted into a mask of ferocity. "Kill them all!"
The Matou Family was finished. Looking at the burning mansion, he realized this fact.
He realized even more that without the Matou Family, he was actually just an ordinary person... someone who couldn't even cast the simplest Magecraft.
"Kill her, kill her, kill her! I want her to be buried with the Matou Family!"
Following his command, Medusa was instantly punished by the contract.
"You're just a Familiar; just follow my orders obediently!"
"Kill—"
Before he could finish his sentence, several Golden Ripples lit up. Medusa made a move to intercept, but anyone could see the perfunctoriness in her actions.
Archer and Artoria on the other side were even less likely to help him.
And so, under Emiya Shirou's horrified gaze, Shinji Matou was instantly skewered by countless lances and short swords, nailed firmly to the ground.
A Long Spear even pierced directly through the top of his head and came out through his jaw.
Clearly, he was beyond saving.
"Shinji!" Emiya Shirou reached out toward him from a distance.
But it was too late.
Even though they had drifted apart recently, Emiya Shirou still cherished this friend.
But... but...
Death had come so suddenly.
"You didn't think we were just playing house with you, did you?" Xia Yu carried Matou Sakura to him and grinned. "The Holy Grail War... people die here."
"Emiya Shirou, the only reason you're alive right now is purely because of my kindness."
Once these words were spoken, no one could refute them.
"But, Shinji was just..." Emiya Shirou still hadn't come to his senses.
"A piece of scum who defiled his own sister. Killing him is just killing him," Xia Yu sneered. "What, do you still want to demand justice for him?"
"What did you say?!" Emiya Shirou looked up in disbelief.
"Oh, so you never knew," Xia Yu looked at him and shook her head.
"Hey, Berserker," Tohsaka Rin pushed Emiya Shirou aside. "Is what you're saying true?"
"Do I have any reason to lie to you?" Xia Yu tilted her head. "And for a dead man at that?"
Tohsaka Rin fell silent for two seconds. Then, she pulled out five Gems, infused them with Magical Energy, and fired them at Shinji Matou's corpse.
The next moment, the corpse was blown to pieces.
"Can you give Sakura to me?" Tohsaka Rin asked, panting heavily. "Please, Miss Firefly."
"I'm afraid not," Xia Yu smiled slightly. "She just called me 'Sister' a moment ago. No one has ever called me that in my life."
"But looking at you, I doubt you'll be content to let me just take her away. In that case, go gather your people."
"I'll be waiting for the day you take her back from me." Speaking up to here, Xia Yu looked at Archer and Artoria. "Make way, unless you want to have a decisive battle with me right here."
Hearing this, though reluctant, the two made way.
After all, they knew that if they fought a decisive battle here, they would not have a sliver of a chance.
"Yo, Anna, meeting again," Xia Yu walked up to Medusa, also known as Rider. "Though you probably don't remember, I have to say: long time no see."
"...How is Sakura?" Rider only looked at the Sakura in her arms.
"She's fine, she just needs a good rest," Xia Yu smiled. "As expected, one look at Sakura and I knew her compatibility with you was excellent."
"Just stay by their side. Treat it as if Sakura has been taken hostage by me. You, as the heroes, need to gather your companions and go on a crusade against me, the evil dragon who abducted the Princess. How about that?"
"...Did we know each other?" Rider suddenly asked.
"Yes, we did. You helped me out a big time," Xia Yu said with a smile.
Hearing this, the former glanced at the two Servants beside her.
Both were quite strong, especially Saber, but even they could only temporarily retreat in the face of this person.
In her current state... she had zero chance of winning a fight.
"I understand. I will save my Master from your hands."
"Good, it's a deal. Goodbye, everyone." Xia Yu carried Sakura and turned to walk home.
Just as she rounded a street corner, she saw Sella waiting there.
"Here, she's yours," Xia Yu impatiently pushed Sakura into her arms. "This is my trophy. Take her back and treat her well."
"I have things to do, I'm off!"
Without waiting for Sella to speak, she left directly.
The latter could only look at the sleeping girl in her arms, give a bitter laugh, and obediently turn to go home.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
"Are you Sakura's Servant?" Tohsaka Rin looked at Rider. "I thought so. I knew Medusa couldn't be this weak. It seems that piece of scum used some sort of trick."
"My Mana Supply is severely insufficient," Rider didn't hold back, speaking directly. "If you want me as a combat force, you must make up for this."
"I'll find a way," Tohsaka Rin sighed. "In that case, we have the strength of three Servants."
"Next, we just need to find the other three groups of participants, and the basic crusade team will be complete."
"That won't be easy to achieve," Emiya Shirou looked at the pile of ash that was recently named Shinji Matou and said with a complex expression. "Just Lancer alone has a great deal of hostility toward us."
Tohsaka Rin forced herself to perk up and said, "She acted too arrogantly; it just so happens to have given us an opportunity. The Holy Grail War has an Overseer."
"That priest. What she did today is enough for the priest to call on the other participants for a joint crusade. With Command Spells as a reward, plus the ability to eliminate the most powerful competitor, I believe many others will respond."
"Mm, well said," just then, a voice came from the side of the street.
"Who?!" Hearing the voice, the three Servants instantly went on alert. They hadn't heard a sound just now!
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Furina de Fontaine," Xia Yu had switched bodies and walked over with a flamboyant Furina-style smile on her face. "Caster's Master."
At the same time, Medea appeared beside her.
"Why are you appearing here?" Tohsaka Rin frowned and asked.
"With such a big commotion, one would think to come and take a look," Xia Yu spread her hands. "How should I put it? I've more or less watched the whole thing. I'm quite interested in your proposal, Head of the Tohsaka Family."
"After all, that knight... sigh, to be honest and not care if you laugh, I feel like she could send me and my Caster to the heavens with a single swing."
"Caster... I remember her appearing last night too," Tohsaka Rin recalled.
"Just watching from the side a bit," Xia Yu smiled slightly. "After all, in a Holy Grail War, intelligence is very important. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known that such a powerful opponent had appeared."
"Miss Furina should be from Europe. Which Magus Family are you from?" Tohsaka Rin asked cautiously.
"Not much of a family," Xia Yu shrugged and said, "Not very famous either. The Head of the Tohsaka Family has probably never heard of it."
"But, is now the time to be checking an ally's background? Shouldn't we join forces against the enemy first?"
"I was being reckless," Tohsaka Rin knew she had been too impatient and apologized, "I'm sorry, Miss Furina."
"Now we have four Servants here," she said, pulling herself together. "As long as we find Lancer and Assassin, the group will be more or less complete. Does Miss Furina have any news?"
"None. It's better for the Head of the Tohsaka Family to communicate with the Overseer," Xia Yu shook her head. "After all, I'm an outsider and unfamiliar with the place. How could I find the other participants in such a short time?"
"True," Tohsaka Rin nodded, then accidentally caught a glimpse of a bright light at the other's waist.
Wait, those are... gems?!
And they're the type of peerless gems! So large! So pure! Such beautiful gems!
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T/N: Shilling time! You can read ahead by subscribing to my patreon.com/quickinquickout... or not. You can still read Honkai Star Rail: Heroic Spirit Template and Lord Ravager Kiana in advance on my website: quick-tl.com.