Tohsaka Mansion
In a circle, Berserker, Archer, Assassin, Saber, Medea, and Rider stood, looking at the dagger that Shirou had projected.
Even without someone channeling the Mana that it could access across the Parallel Worlds, the Heroic Spirits could feel the power it contained.
Yet…
"… It will not be enough…" Medea claimed.
Berserker nodded, thin, black tendrils lashing out on his face. "It can hold Sakura on bay at best," he said, his slitted eyes narrowing. "Whoever wields it will be too occupied to assist anyone else."
"They will be keeping her near to the Greater Grail," Rider said. "Whoever wields it will have to cross an army to reach her…"
Berserker and Rider had already shared their doubts regarding Sakura pulling out more dead Servants to reinforce the enemies already broken strength.
They had also shared the most horrible possibility of Blackened Rider summoning a Divine Entity, making all faces pale instantly.
"Leave Saber Alter to me…"
All Heroic Spirits' heads snapped toward Berserker.
If he had said it before taking out Lancer, then they would have scoffed at him. The night when Saber Alter had defeated him singlehandedly was still fresh in all minds. But now, it seemed that Berserker hadn't been showcasing his full power at that time.
A Reality Marble was no joke, no matter who could cast it.
Perhaps Berserker could truly take on Saber Alter. Perhaps, he just wanted to occupy her time, preventing her from joining others.
Regardless, Berserker's proclamation was enough for the Heroic Spirits to nod at him in gratitude because neither of them was sure to take on that thing… and win.
Rider, who was about to say the same thing as Berserker, held back her tongue.
"My evil counterpart is the wildest card, if summoned," Medusa added. "That transformation cannot be maintained over a limit and is uncontrollable. So, even if she lets It manifest through her, she will only do it during the battle… When it happens will decide victory and defeat. We have no choice but to hope that Ruler will join us, then."
A silence fell upon them.
Now that they really thought about it, Berserker had made the smartest move, going after Saber Alter. Because the greatest threat to them and their Masters' lives wasn't from Saber Alter, it seemed.
"I am willing to exchange positions with any one of you," Berserker said, smiling. "If you think you can keep Saber Alter occupied…"
That settled it.
Assassin sighed. "… If I use my Noble Phantasms," he said, shocking all of them, including Berserker, "I can take down Blackened Rider instantly."
Noble Phantasms?!!
Assassin had one more Noble Phantasm?!!
"Are you sure?" Medea asked. "Bold statements like these shouldn't be uttered so carelessly… Hehe…"
Assassin didn't deign to reply to Caster and just nodded.
And, without someone mentioning, they instantly knew why Assassin had begun the sentence with IF.
All heads turned to Archer. Assassin using over one Noble Phantasms would mean Archer wouldn't be able to use his, as Rin wouldn't be able to supply her Mana in that case.
As Archer kept his eyes closed, saying nothing, Saber took over. "I have talked to Shirou. We will go after Gilgamesh. I have fought him before… in the previous Holy Grail War. With Shirou's newfound abilities, I am sure we can handle him."
"My Master and I will go after the enemy who attacked Einzbern Castle," Caster added. "I am sure the 10th Servant will join us as well."
"I will go after the Lich," Rider said. "If Blackened Lancer appears, can you handle him, Archer?"
Archer had been standing quietly till now. As Saber finally called him out, he opened his eyes and looked up at the sky.
Then, still saying nothing, he turned around and walked away.
"…"
As everyone wondered what had happened, Archer looked over his shoulder and stared at Medea.
"Caster…" he said. "… A word?"
…
Rin looked at the Heroic Spirits from the window as they concluded their meeting.
Behind her, both Shirou and Black were sleeping. For hours, they had been working upon the Jeweled Sword of Zelretch, draining all their strength. Still, in the end, they had succeeded, successfully projecting the sword.
Even though it was a much inferior version of the true sword, Rin knew it would work just fine.
Then, her eyes landed on the Sword of Azoth, which still held an immense amount of her Mana.
She had thought of giving it to Shirou.
But Shirou, surprisingly, asked her to give it to Black instead, stating that Black needed a sword more than him.
In a way, Rin found that logical, given Shirou's broken Projection Magic.
Still, she couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that Shirou and Black were… acting as friends…
"Are you enjoying yourself, Big Sister?"
Rin's head snapped up with a jolt, a chill running down her spine.
In front of her, the shadows had enlarged, engulfing the entire room.
Slowly, those shadows merged and took the shape of a girl, large, shadow tendrils flailing in her surroundings.
"… Sakura…" Rin hissed, naming the intruder.
She noticed that neither Black nor Shirou had woken up. Not to mention, as none of the Heroic Spirits appeared, it meant this was an illusion tailored for her.
"How do you feel, Big Sister?" The Shadow asked, carrying a sadistic tone. "How do you feel… after stealing Shirou from me?! First, you stole my life… the life that I was supposed to live… Now, him, too?!"
Rin scoffed. "Only you are delusional enough to think something like that," she said. "Don't worry. I am coming to take my sister back from you…"
"Hahaha!" The Shadow laughed maniacally. "Your sister? YOUR sister?! Where was this YOUR SISTER when I really needed you, Rin?!! Where were you when that old bastard was torturing me?!! WHERE?!!"
As the entire room rattled with shadows, Rin made fists, her knuckles going white.
"Come… Come, Big Sister… Hehe…" The Shadow said, flickering. "Only Hell is waiting for you here now… for each one of you…"
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