In some nameless sewer, Kariya hid in a dark corner, desperately fighting back his groans.
He clawed fiercely at his throat and chest. As his skin broke and blood seeped out, his fingernails snapped one by one, leaving him in agonizing pain.
Then, Kariya suddenly felt the marrow-deep pain vanish.
Could it be... had Berserker failed?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Kariya found it hard to believe. How could a Berserker this powerful be killed?
Then... what would happen to Sakura?
Kariya fell into a daze. With Berserker defeated, where was he supposed to go from here?
As Shichen collapsed to the ground, the tension in the air mounted once more.
Saber and Irisviel exchanged glances, instantly grasping each other's intentions.
They were going to save Shichen!
Saber sprinted toward Shichen, only to be unexpectedly blocked by a single figure.
"Lancer?!" Saber stared in disbelief at the figure barring her path.
Lancer wore a look of utter humiliation as he shouted into the empty air:
"I, Diarmuid, swear by my honor that I shall finish Saber! My Lord! At least grant me the dignity of facing Saber eye to eye—"
"Denied."
Lancer's plea was mercilessly cut short as his Master's voice rang out with harsher severity:
"Lancer, by my Command Spells, I order you to kill Saber and Caster!"
The crimson spearhead whipped around instantly, aiming straight for the prone form of Shichen. At that split second, Saber acted just in time, intercepting the fatal strike. The tip of the spear grazed past her, emitting a harsh screech through the air.
"Lancer!"
Saber cried out, but her words choked off mid-sentence.
She noticed that as Lancer turned back to face her, his features were twisted with rage and humiliation.
That face, brimming with fury and sorrow, conveyed Lancer's inner turmoil far more profoundly than any explanation could.
Bound by the Command Spells, Lancer's body no longer obeyed his will, reducing him to a ruthless machine of a Servant.
His overwhelming hatred was palpable to everyone present—a torment no one would ever wish to endure.
"...Saber... I am sorry..."
Lancer groaned in agony as he slowly closed in on Saber.
Though his face betrayed deep shame and anger, his twin demonic spears radiated a piercing chill, lunging forward like phantoms.
Saber calmly gazed at the fatal threat before her, calculating her next move.
Her left wrist had sustained severe damage, rendering her Noble Phantasm unusable. Was this to be a battle to the death, then?
Just as the two sides stood on the razor's edge, a thunderclap shook the heavens.
A lightning-veined chariot slammed into the ground.
Lancer scrambled out of danger just in time, while Saber leaped back to safety.
Rider stood unconcernedly on the chariot, rolling his neck until it cracked, before shouting toward the sky:
"Lancer's Master, I know not where you hide to watch the shadows, but pray do not taint a knightly duel with such despicable tricks... Though, speaking of honor to magicians like you is likely a waste of breath."
Rider paused, pointed at Lancer, and continued:
"Call Lancer back. If you continue to humiliate him, I shall side with Saber, and together we will eliminate your Servant. Besides, the man lying on the ground is my prospective subject; I cannot have him dying first."
Lancer's Master was furious, but the rage did not last.
"Retire, Lancer. Tonight... ends here."
Hearing those words, Lancer let out a relieved sigh and lowered his spear.
"My deepest thanks, Conqueror King."
Hearing Lancer's whispered gratitude, Rider flashed a satisfied grin.
"Think nothing of it. I am simply a man who loves the finer sights of the battlefield."
Lancer thanked Rider with a final look, then nodded to Saber.
No superfluous words were needed for them to understand one another.
Lancer dissolved into spirit form, his figure vanishing.
Gilgamesh had no intention of fighting anyway and simply vanished from his beloved streetlamp.
After exchanging words with Saber, accompanied by a peal of thunder, Rider's chariot bolted toward the southern sky.
Saber watched Rider depart, then turned and walked over to Shichen and Irisviel.
She knelt to check on Shichen, finding him merely unconscious with no threat to his life. The surrounding silence was broken only by the whistling wind.
"Indeed, this was a grave mistake. Rider is entirely right—if we do not settle things with Lancer first and lift the curse upon your wound, it will inevitably interfere with our battles against other Servants."
Saber said softly, her tone carrying a trace of resolve.
"...Thank you, Saber. I survived only because of the valiant efforts you and Caster put forth."
Irisviel lowered her head, then slowly looked back up at Saber.
"I am able to fight enemies without distraction only because you stand behind me, Irisviel."
"The true trials of this contest are only just beginning, Irisviel. Tonight's turbulence is merely the prelude to the battles ahead."
Irisviel nodded slightly in agreement. "...Yes."
"Every enemy is a formidable opponent, heroes summoned from different eras... Not one of them will be easy to deal with."
"Such is... the Holy Grail War."
Some days later...
"The hell?!" Shichen jolted awake from a grand bed.
Where is this?
Shichen sat up, taking in the luxurious and unfamiliar surroundings, and only then realized he was inside the Einzbern castle.
At that moment, the door was shoved wide open, and his Master—the sunny youth Ryunosuke—walked in carrying a cup of hot tea.
"Bro, you're finally awake! I thought I was gonna have to pick out a cemetery for you again."
Shichen's blood pressure instantly spiked a billion-fold; he wanted nothing more than to blast Ryunosuke away right this second.
Huh? Wait. Since when does this kid serve me tea? Has the sun risen from the west?
Noticing Shichen's skeptical gaze, Ryunosuke chuckled and said, "Hehe, bro, after being whipped into shape by Lady Irisviel, I've finally become a qualified Master."
Shichen eyed him suspiciously. "Really?"
Ryunosuke scratched his head. "Really! Look at this tea, I brewed it specially for you."
Shichen took the cup and took a sip. The taste was surprisingly... not bad?
Could this guy Ryunosuke have actually turned over a new leaf???
"How many days have I been out?"
"About a day or two, I guess."
Shichen rubbed his eyes. A day or two, huh... uh...
Wait a minute. Why did I sleep for so long?
Could it be that I used time-stop too much and wrecked my body from exhaustion!?
Looks like I shouldn't abuse that power anymore...