Several figures blurred in many directions, sharing a similar background — a fiery ball of fire rising to the black heavens.
As Archer kept an eye on the battlefield, covering for his Master, Assassin carried Rin in his arms, tracing an untraceable path through the forest.
Because of the simultaneous use of Assassin's Noble Phantasm and Archer's Noble Phantasm-like attack, Rin had instantly passed out.
Even though she possessed Mana much greater than an average Mage, it wasn't nearly enough to power two Heroic Servants' full-powered attacks.
Not far from Assassin, Saber carried Shirou on her back as she matched Assassin's speed.
Her fight with Berserker and Saber Alter had left a heavy impression on her heart. With the images of their moves shadowing her thoughts, she didn't even realize that she was still carrying her invisible sword with a tight grip, instead of making it disappear.
Surprisingly, and to both Assassin and Saber's utter shock, they weren't the first to run away, taking advantage of Archer's attack.
It was the person running a few steps ahead of them.
Black carried Sakura in his arms as he became a streak through the forest.
There was no way Ainz Ooal Gown's Dimension Lock-like spell could cover more than a few hundred meters.
In other timelines, the Overlord might have covered an entire world under this spell.
But this was a timeline from the Fate Random World. It bent the knees of the greatest Characters. Much less needed to be said about Ainz Ooal Gown — as apparent by the black cruciforms stuck deep into his eye sockets.
Through Ad Infinitum and Lucky Intuitions, Black had already confirmed that those cruciforms were restrictions placed on the Overlord by either Root itself or by Timeline using Root's help.
If Kai and Black hadn't borrowed fates from Berserker and Illya after arriving in the timeline, and had instead tried to barge their way through the Holy Grail War, this would have been their fates as well.
Still, regardless of who restricted Ainz Ooal Gown, and by what amount, Black still didn't think he could do something about a Storyline Character who had surpassed his own timeline.
Not to mention, even though Dark Sakura and Saber Alter seemed to have been incapacitated, it was only momentary.
To top it off, Enkidu and Gilgamesh would be coming over anytime soon as well.
This was a mistake… Black realized, frowning as he kicked the earth, blasting forward. Confronting any Servant in the open in this Holy Grail War now has the potential to turn into a full-scale War.
Such a thing wouldn't have mattered to Kai or Black.
However, it became crucial when there were players involved who could injure, constrain, or even — in the worst case scenario — defeat them, if not kill them outright.
Black recalled the Noble Phantasm whose nature he had instantly realized, but failed to unearth its mystery, despite having Ancient Magical Script at his disposal.
Recalling that attack, Black looked over his shoulder, his eyes landing on Assassin's hooded face.
Is he really him?! Black asked him, looking away in annoyance. Kiritsugu Emiya?!
Kiritsugu Emiya was Saber's Master in the previous Holy Grail War — and the winner, too.
However, realizing that the Grail had been corrupted, he had instead destroyed it, shattering the Holy Grail itself.
At some point in time, in some distant future of foreign time, Kiritsugu Emiya became a Servant of Assassin-Class — more famously known as Counter Guardian.
After becoming a Servant, Kiritsugu's Origin of Severing and Binding also became his Noble Phantasm. It could sever Magic Circuits and restructure them, causing incomprehensible damage.
But that wasn't the most hideous thing known to Contestants about Emiya the Assassin.
It was the fact that the Counter Guardian was the Holy Grail's beloved. In layman's terms, Assassin was just —
— extremely lucky.
Medea! Black called out Caster in his mind, entering the city. Now!
Everything could be thought over and planned later. Escaping this nonsense full of unknown and unpredictable variables came first.
Far into the distance, still indulged in a magical battle with Ainz Ooal Gown, Medea suddenly paused.
"… Your Death Magic," she said, a purple glow oozing out of her body. "… I haven't seen such a mastery in ages…"
"Thank you," Ainz Ooal Gown said, staying his hand as well. "I had forgotten the feeling of a good magical battle. Perhaps, we can continue this later…"
Distant booms already heralded the arrival of Ruler-Class Servant.
Even the Overlord didn't want to stay here with two broken Servants against him, especially when Dark Sakura and Saber Alter couldn't go all out.
So, nodding at each other, both Medea and Ainz Ooal Gown blurred out of existence.
Standing on a skyscraper, Archer pushed his dwindling Mana reserves to the extreme, creating one more arrow.
Rin might not agree with him later, but, as her Servant, he would ensure that any opportunity of victory didn't go to waste.
Even after looking for Berserker, he had failed to find it.
Still, Berserker's foolish Master was out in the open, running right in his direction.
So, knocking the arrow, aiming at the white-haired boy's head, Archer fired the arrow.
In the blink of an eye, the arrow reached in front of Black.
Suddenly, Black and Sakura's figures collapsed into themselves, becoming a blue ball of fire, a massive magical circle manifesting under their feet.
A boom rang out on the highway as the arrow landed, missing the target entirely.
At the same time, just as Black finally vanished with Sakura, somewhere far, a mass of black tendrils tore out of the ground.
In the next instant, all the black tendrils, carrying an uncountable number of worms, coiled around each other, becoming Berserker.
"… Ugh!" Venom jerked his shoulders, cracking his neck. "That was…"
"Gae—"
Suddenly, the white balls on his head widened as large as saucers, a chill running down his spine. Even Kai, who had left everything to a Sub-AI and Venom, snapped open his eyes.
Sadly, it was already too late.
Lancer thrust the spear in his hand, the weapon bleeding red.
"— Bolg!"
Yellow lightning thundered around Berserker as Kai involuntarily used Advanced Haki, dodging the attack.
Then, the entire reality twisted, the cause and effect distorting under the might of Lancer's Noble Phantasm.
The red beam of light suddenly traced back its path as if time had frozen, and —
— tore through Berserker's heart, red-blue blood showering against the blackness of night.
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