The third day of the Holy Grail War, early morning.
The largest hotel in Fuyuki City seemed to have suffered a terrorist attack last night, with the entire building collapsing after being blown up. At this moment, unusually, no personnel were handling the building's ruins, yet two young girls who shouldn't have appeared in these ruins were abruptly present.
The mercury sphere in the center of the ruins transformed into a pool of mercury on the ground, and two figures were exposed intact in the sight of Rin and Sakura. They were Kayneth, the Lord of the Clock Tower's El-Melloi Faction, and his fiancée Sola-Ui, the daughter of the Head of the Department of Evocation at the Clock Tower.
Looking at the two young girls present, Kayneth first carefully shielded his fiancée Sola-Ui behind him before speaking to Rin and Sakura.
"Oh, a backwoods Magus is just a backwoods Magus, actually sending two little girls to see me. Where is Tohsaka Tokiomi? Is he hiding in fear?"
"No, Lord Kayneth, my father is not participating in this Holy Grail War. The Masters representing the Tohsaka Family in this war are myself and my sister."
At this point, Sola-Ui, who was being protected behind Kayneth, couldn't help but speak up.
"Huh? Two little girls participating in the Holy Grail War? Hey Kayneth, is the ritual you said could establish 'merit' really such a joke? You actually intend to gift me the victory of such a ritual?"
"No, Sola-Ui, something must have gone wrong. This, this, this, something must be a mistake."
Rin frowned as she looked at Kayneth, who was hurriedly explaining to Sola-Ui. Rin knew her young age would definitely lead these fellows to ignore her, and she had prepared herself for this, but when this scene actually happened, she still couldn't help but get angry.
"Blood Drinker Hunting Red Cross."
One blue and one red Flame Sword, following the wave of Rin's hands, flew rapidly toward the ruins behind Kayneth.
Boom! An explosion and high heat were instantly generated. Seeing Kayneth turn back solemnly to face her again, and Lancer revealing himself out of concern for his Lord, Rin nodded with satisfaction and clapped her hands.
"Now, Lord Kayneth, can we communicate properly?"
"Amazing talent. I didn't expect that in this Far East magical desert, someone with talent like yours could appear. Was that a Rune just now? No, yours is the Nordic Rune, right?"
"That's right. As expected of the Clock Tower's Prodigy, the Lord of the El-Melloi Faction, Lord Kayneth."
"Then, I acknowledge your status as a Magus. What do you want?"
Rin didn't answer Kayneth's question but instead looked at Sakura. Sakura, who was in sync with Rin, also turned to look at her sister at the same time, and then the two of them nodded together.
Four figures emerged beside Rin and Sakura.
Archer, Caster, Assassin, and Berserker stood upon the earth!
Lancer looked at the four Servants appearing before him and assumed a combat stance with some tension.
"Master, the opponent has four Servants. If a battle occurs, I will do my best to cover your escape, Master."
Rin looked disdainfully at the Brush-guy before her. 'If I wanted to kill Kayneth right now, he would have died countless times already.'
Facing Kayneth, who was busy shielding his fiancée Sola, Rin calmly spread her hands to indicate she had no intention of fighting, then turned to look at the surrounding ruins and shouted loudly.
"Those of you watching from the sidelines, if you don't want to start a war right now, then show yourselves!"
Hahahaha! A hearty laugh erupted in the empty ruins following Rin's words, and an ancient chariot accompanied by thunder descended from mid-air into the ruins.
On the other side, Irisviel, with a gentle smile on her face, walked into the center of the ruins with Saber.
Looking at the arriving Saber team, Rin said unhappily to them.
"Where is Kiritsugu Emiya? Let me see." As she spoke, Rin used her magical energy to enhance her eyes and looked at the high ground nearby. Sure enough, Kiritsugu Emiya was holding a sniper rifle, aiming at this side.
"Hmph, as expected of the Magus Killer. Fine, anyway, you should be able to pass my words on to Kiritsugu Emiya, so it doesn't matter. However, Kiritsugu Emiya, shouldn't you and your assistant put down the guns in your hands? I don't have the habit of being aimed at by guns."
Waver, hearing that someone was aiming a gun at them, crouched down in a panic, hiding inside the chariot.
The King of Conquerors looked at Waver with some helplessness, stretched out his large, fan-like palm, and hoisted Waver up.
"Master, what's there to be afraid of regarding a rat that only dares to hide in dark corners? Stand up proudly."
"But, that's the famous Magus Killer, no way."
Kayneth's eyes twitched as he looked at his student, unable to believe it. 'Is this guy really someone I taught? Where did the courage to stand up to me go? And I was actually refuted by this King of Conquerors because of this student?'
"A bunch of mongrels. What a boring farce."
The statement from Gilgamesh finally brought everyone back to their senses, and they began to face the current situation seriously.
"Two Little Misses, to think you could gain the support of four Servants. It seems even I, the King of Conquerors, have been outdone. Hahahaha. But Little Misses, what do you intend to do?"
"It's simple. I intend to end this Holy Grail War tonight and, at the same time, tell you the truth about the Holy Grail. Oh, that's right, tonight I will be at the Zenjou Residence on the outskirts of Fuyuki City, waiting for your arrival."
After speaking, Rin and Sakura ignored the deep-in-thought crowd and left with their Servants.
Saber, recovering from her contemplation, watched Rin and Sakura leave with the four Servants and hurriedly shouted at their backs.
"Wait, the truth about the Holy Grail? What are you talking about? Don't go."
Irisviel gently pulled Saber, who was preparing to chase after them, and shook her head.
"Saber, don't chase them."
"That's right, King Arthur, it's too dangerous to chase after them alone." The King of Conquerors said while rubbing his chin.
At this moment, Kiritsugu Emiya arrived at the center of the ruins with his assistant and lover, Maiya Hisau.
Seeing the arriving Kiritsugu Emiya, Kayneth stepped forward to block him as he prepared to rendezvous with Saber, staring at him with a gaze full of battle intent.
Following Kayneth's action, Lancer also blocked the path of Saber, who was preparing to draw her sword. The scene was once again on the verge of conflict.
Kiritsugu Emiya calmly took a puff of his cigarette and pressed down the gun held by Maiya Hisau beside him.
"Now is not the time for us to fight, Kayneth, if you don't want to lose this Holy Grail War and slink back to the Clock Tower."
The King of Conquerors on the side also advised.
"That's right, the Little Misses already possess four Servants and have forcefully issued an invitation to us. If we fight now, I'm afraid..."
On the third evening of the Holy Grail War.
In his room, Kiritsugu Emiya opened the box in front of him with a solemn expression, took out a peculiar-looking pistol, and then carefully loaded an origin bullet into it.
Then he put on his trench coat, stowed away the pistol with the origin bullet, picked up the briefcase placed at the door, and left the room.
When Kiritsugu Emiya arrived at the castle hall with the briefcase, Irisviel, Maiya Hisau, and Saber were already waiting there.
"Iri, you don't need to go tonight."
Irisviel shook her head, then looked directly at Kiritsugu Emiya with determined eyes and said.
"No, Kiritsugu. The Tohsaka Family, as one of the Three Founding Families, must know that I am the lesser grail. If, tonight, by any chance... I won't be able to escape either."
Kayneth packed up his Mystic Code and was preparing to leave the temporary residence with Lancer.
When Kayneth and Lancer reached the main gate, Sola appeared there, having been prepared.
"Sola, why are you here?"
"Lord of the El-Melloi Faction, why can't I be here? You didn't think your little tricks could fool me, did you?"
"Sola, I was just worried about you. Tonight is really too dangerous."
"Since it's so dangerous, why go with Lancer?"
"Sola, the other party has already issued an invitation. Do you want me to hide on the sidelines and be a coward?"
"Then wouldn't it be better if you went alone?"
Kayneth looked at his fiancée in disbelief, then glared fiercely at Lancer.
Lancer immediately knelt on one knee.
"Please, say no more. As a knight to my Master, how could I let my Master face danger alone?"
Sola looked at the resolute Lancer, stunned for a moment, and then said decisively.
"Then take me with you."
Kayneth looked at his deeply loved fiancée, nodded helplessly, and said unwillingly.
"Lancer, I leave Sola's safety to you."
"As you command, Master. I swear in the name of the chief warrior of the Knights of Fianna, tonight I will give my all to protect you and Miss Sola."
Aboard the aerial chariot, the King of Conquerors, who was steering the chariot, saw Waver looking deep in thought with a worried gaze and reached out a hand, patting Waver on the head.
"Kid, such a display is not qualified for my subject. Cheer up. This is just a small hurdle on my path of conquest. I am the King of Conquerors who will conquer the end of the world. Hahahaha."
Waver looked at the King of Conquerors' majestic figure and clenched his fists firmly.
The King of Conquerors looked at Waver with satisfaction. It was precisely because, at critical moments, Waver's small body would be filled with incredible courage that the King of Conquerors accepted him as a subject.
Night fell. In the Zenjou Residence on the outskirts of Fuyuki City, all seven Heroic Spirits participating in this Holy Grail War and all relevant personnel were present.
Rin and Sakura, hand in hand, walked slowly into the courtyard accompanied by Tohsaka Tokiomi.
"I am Tohsaka Tokiomi, head of the Tohsaka Family. Because of my daughter's last-minute decision, I didn't have time to prepare. Please forgive the lack of hospitality."
The King of Conquerors casually picked up a glass of red wine from the table full of food and wine beside him and drank it in one gulp.
"Hahahaha, as long as there is wine, right Master?"
"Ah, you idiot!"
Compared to the two in the Rider team, everyone else present had a heavy atmosphere, silently waiting for Rin to speak.
Rin nodded with satisfaction, looking at the grand spectacle of the Holy Grail War she had created.
At this moment, Saber walked straight towards Rin. Just as she was about to reach Rin, Caster, who had been standing beside Rin, stretched out her left hand to block Saber's path.
"Saber, is it? If you have any questions, just ask them here."
Saber, who was eager to ask what the truth of the Holy Grail was, realized that she was currently still in a hostile relationship with Rin. She slowly calmed her eager mood before asking Rin.
"Excuse me, I was rude. However, Tohsaka Rin, I wonder if you could tell us the truth about the Holy Grail now? Isn't the Holy Grail War for that Holy Grail capable of granting all wishes?"
As Saber asked, the people around also looked over, seemingly very curious about what the true purpose of the Holy Grail War was.
Rin sized up Saber, who was eager to know the answer, and smiled slightly. To ensure everyone present could hear clearly, she spoke in a louder volume than usual.
"Saber, you might be disappointed. The Holy Grail cannot grant all wishes..."
At this point, Kayneth suddenly interrupted Rin's speech.
"I knew it. How could a magical ritual in a backwater place like this fulfill so-called wishes..."
Gilgamesh, holding a glass of red wine, was standing behind Rin. Seeing Rin's speech interrupted, Gilgamesh, who was originally prepared to enjoy Saber's 'beautiful' expression, said angrily.
"Shut up, mongrel!"
Following Gilgamesh's angry shout, several golden ripples appeared behind him. From the golden ripples, Noble Phantasms were extending, locking onto Kayneth.
Rin took a cross step to block in front of Gilgamesh and smiled slightly at him.
"king of heroes, why get angry at such a commoner? Please put away your power."
"Tch, very well, mongrel. For Rin's sake, I will spare you this time."
Seeing Gilgamesh give such face, Rin gave him a sweet smile.
"Thank you very much!"
She then continued.
"The Holy Grail can grant wishes. With the magical energy it has accumulated over 60 years, it can indeed grant most wishes."
Hearing this, Saber's previously dim expression was once again filled with hope.
"However, the Holy Grail was contaminated by all the worlds evils in the previous Holy Grail War. In other words, the wishes granted by the Holy Grail now will only start from the worst outcome. For example, if you want humanity to stop fighting, the Holy Grail would likely kill all of humanity to fulfill that wish."
Gilgamesh joyfully appreciated the constantly changing expressions of Saber and Kiritsugu Emiya, from full of despair to full of hope, and then full of despair again. For Gilgamesh, this was simply the most interesting scene he had seen since the start of this Holy Grail War.
"So the current Holy Grail is an evil Holy Grail. Everyone here, why not come to our palace and end this Holy Grail War in a straightforward and simple way."
As Rin finished speaking, a massive floating castle appeared above the Zenjou Residence...
Kayneth and Sola looked in disbelief at the floating castle that flashed and disappeared in the sky. Although the castle had disappeared from sight, the massive magical energy emitted by the castle was like a sun hanging in the sky; as long as one was a Magus, it could not be ignored.
"This is impossible. How could this thing appear! This..." Kayneth shouted. All along, Kayneth had only thought that this so-called Holy Grail War was just an ordinary magical ritual held by backwater Magi to show off their existence. Even though Kayneth knew at the pier on the first day of the Holy Grail War that this so-called Holy Grail War was not such a simple existence, as a prodigy of the Clock Tower and a Lord of the El-Melloi Faction, he still looked down on this magical ritual attended by backwater Magi and laymen from the bottom of his heart. But now, with the appearance of the 'hanging gardens of babylon', Kayneth finally realized that he was the ignorant one!
Sola hugged Kayneth's arm nervously, shivering as she sensed the castle in the sky.
"Kayneth, didn't you say this was just a backwater magical ritual? Why would something like this appear? This thing could probably easily destroy a country!"
Waver sensed the 'hanging gardens of babylon' solemnly and looked at the King of Conquerors with caution.
"Rider, is it okay!"
The King of Conquerors scratched the back of his head, his expression lacking its usual ease, yet he still replied with a chuckle.
"Ah, it seems, Little Miss, you have truly created something extraordinary. I really want to plunder it, hahahaha!"
Beside him, Kiritsugu Emiya sensed the 'hanging gardens of babylon' with a grave expression. He could not help but reach into his coat, gripping the pistol loaded with an origin bullet, and took an attacking stance, ready to fire the origin bullet at Tohsaka Rin at any moment!
Among those present, only King Arthur was indifferent to the 'hanging gardens of babylon'. Now, King Arthur only wanted to know if the current Holy Grail could still fulfill her tragic wish, even if it meant achieving it through the worst possible outcome. This was because King Arthur was now convinced that if someone else could replace her as king, no matter the result, they would be better than her!
Tohsaka Rin looked at the tense crowd and smiled proudly, seemingly satisfied with their reaction. However, when she saw King Arthur exuding a cold and gloomy aura, she put away her smile. 'Oh no, if King Arthur becomes corrupted, it will be troublesome. It seems I have no choice but to let Berserker reveal his identity early.'
"King Arthur, why are you so obsessed with the Holy Grail?"
Facing Tohsaka Rin's sudden question, King Arthur instinctively stepped forward and shouted aloud.
"I hope to use the Holy Grail to save my country, and for that, I will spare nothing!"
"Are you intending to deny the history you yourself have written?" the King of Conquerors asked, questioning her!
Seeing that they were about to head towards the original debate of kings, Tohsaka Rin quickly interrupted.
"Lord King of Conquerors, this is the time for a conversation between myself and King Arthur!"
"Very well, Little Miss. However, King Arthur, if that is your wish, I do not acknowledge you as a king like myself!"
"You!"
King Arthur was about to argue with the King of Conquerors, but Tohsaka Rin quickly gave Sakura a wink. Sakura moved her thoughts, and Berserker rushed to King Arthur's side in a flash, roaring at her continuously!
Mistakenly believing that Tohsaka Rin intended to launch an attack, the group hurriedly placed their hands on their weapons, ready to counterattack, but Tohsaka Rin's words stopped them from taking any further action.
"King Arthur, is your wish to save your homeland, your country? Then how do you intend to save it?"
"Naturally, by returning to before I became king, and allowing someone with more talent to serve as king."
"Then, King Arthur, why not listen to the opinion of your own subject?"
As she spoke, Sakura, beside Tohsaka Rin, smiled slightly, and Berserker revealed his true form. It was none other than Lancelot, one of the original members of the Knights of the Round Table, known as the Knight of the Lake!
Subsequently, Sakura raised her hand bearing the command spells and shouted!
"Berserker, by the command of the command spells, temporarily restore your reason!"
As only one stroke of the command spells remained on Sakura's hand, the berserk Lancelot returned to his original, calm appearance!
Having recovered, Lancelot immediately knelt on one knee before his former sovereign, King Arthur, Artoria, bowing his head, not daring to look directly at King Arthur.
King Arthur looked at her subject in front of her in surprise and hurriedly prepared to go up and support Lancelot!
"Sir Lancelot! How could it be you? Rise first!"
Lancelot brushed away the hands King Arthur had extended to help him up and said with his head bowed.
"My King, I hope you will punish me! It was precisely because of the mistakes I committed back then that all the subsequent events occurred. As such a treacherous subject, I only hope you can punish me."
"Ah! Sir Lancelot, why would I punish you? I have never felt that you did anything wrong. Guinevere and I, rather than being husband and wife, were more like friends. I failed to withstand the pressure to execute Guinevere by fire back then, and because you were able to protect Guinevere, I am even more filled with gratitude towards you. That you turned away from me must have been my own fault as a king."
Tohsaka Rin whispered a snarky comment on the side, "Gawain, you died so miserably!"
The King of Conquerors frowned as he watched this scene. However, since this was a matter between a king and her subject, and coupled with Tohsaka Rin's previous remarks, the King of Conquerors could only silently watch this scene, which was quite frustrating for him.
Gilgamesh watched with an expression of pleasure; this pair of sovereign and subject was like watching an incredibly wonderful drama!
Lancelot, who had always believed it was his own fault, looked at his sovereign in front of him, dumbfounded. A sense of desolation arose from his heart, and he said helplessly!
"Arthur, you truly do not understand the human heart!"
King Arthur, facing the words of her former subject, said excitedly.
"Sir Lancelot, why would you say that? As long as I obtain the Holy Grail, I will immediately reverse the tragedies of the past. There will surely be a better king to lead you all onto a life of happiness..."
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