"Splendid, truly splendid."
A voice full of arrogance and mockery drifted from the shadows of the study.
Golden particles of light converged.
Gilgamesh, dressed in casual clothes, stood with his hands in his pockets, leaning leisurely against the bookshelf.
In his crimson, snake-like pupils, there was no grief for his former master's death; instead, they were filled with the satisfaction of having watched a good show.
"I thought you would hesitate, Kirei."
Gilgamesh looked at the corpse on the floor as if looking at a bag of trash. "I didn't expect you to be even more decisive than I imagined."
"That's it. This is how someone who pursues 'pleasure' should act."
"King of Heroes..."
Before he could finish, Kirei Kotomine frowned and looked down.
Originally, he had lost his status as a master with Assassin's death, but at this moment, a burning, sharp pain suddenly radiated from the back of his right hand.
command spells.
New command spells were forming right then and there.
The blood-stained Azoth Sword fell to the floor with a crisp "clang."
"What... is going on?"
"It seems the Holy Grail has already made the choice for you—right now, it's far from time for you to leave the stage."
Gilgamesh walked over and kicked aside the body of Tohsaka Tokiomi blocking his path. "Always spouting boring theories, he had neither the caliber of a king nor the self-awareness of a clown."
"Staying with such a person, my very body was starting to rust."
Gilgamesh walked up to Kirei and looked down at him.
"In contrast, Kirei, your soul right now is emitting a fascinating scent."
"I'll take that evaluation as a compliment."
Kirei Kotomine wiped his hands and regained his flat tone. "Since I have regained my command spells, and you are currently without a master..."
Gilgamesh grinned, revealing a row of stark white teeth, and reached out a hand toward Kirei Kotomine.
"Since you have proven your resolve, I shall give you a chance."
"Come, Kirei! Rather than being a puppet who only follows orders, join me in turning this boring Holy Grail War into a true carnival."
Kirei Kotomine looked at the hand before him. Within him, the long-dormant ambition and evil desires throbbed frantically.
He reached out and grasped Gilgamesh's hand.
Hum—!
The contract was established.
At that moment, the immoral Servant and the pleasure-seeking master reached a consensus in the blood-scented room... The next day, at dusk.
The setting sun dyed the river surface blood-red, and the evening wind howled, making the cables at the top of the Fuyuki Bridge hum.
It was currently rush hour, and the bridge was heavy with traffic.
No one noticed that atop the hundred-meter-high bridge arch, two figures were standing.
"I say... Rider! Do we really have to do this? We'll be seen by ordinary people! The Mages' Association will definitely go crazy!"
Waver Velvet clung tightly to a steel cable, his legs shaking and his face pale.
Just one look at this height made his stomach churn.
In contrast, the red-haired giant stood as steady as a mountain.
Rider Iskandar stood with his arms crossed, his large red cloak flapping loudly in the high-altitude currents.
He looked down at the ant-like traffic and the city below, his eyes burning with intense fighting spirit.
"No matter. Ordinary people cannot sense the release of magical energy, and they are not my target anyway!"
Rider suddenly turned his head and slapped Waver's thin back, nearly knocking the poor student right off the bridge.
"Cough, cough, cough! Ow, ow, ow..."
"You saw the banquet last night, didn't you?"
Rider grinned, his eyes gleaming with a longing for the strong. "Whether it's that monster-like Ruler, that golden but ill-mannered Archer, or that lost little girl Saber."
"They are all true kings."
Rider took a deep breath, his chest swelling high.
"Since we are kings, we should settle this in the way of kings! Hiding is for Assassins; the King of Conquerors shall crush them head-on with dignity!"
Waver rubbed his back, looking at this excessively large Servant.
Although he was unreasonable and reckless to a fault... this was indeed the King of Conquerors.
"I understand... Then let's do it."
Waver sighed and let go of the steel cable. Though his legs were still shaking, his gaze became a bit firmer.
"Anyway... ever since the day I stole the Catalyst, there's been no turning back for me."
"Hahaha! Now that's my master!"
Rider laughed thrice, then his expression turned solemn.
Boom—!
A terrifying surge of magical energy erupted from his body without warning.
It wasn't for an attack, but merely to announce his presence.
The powerful magical energy soared into the sky, instantly forming rapidly condensing dark clouds at the top of the bridge, with Berserk lightning brewing amidst the churning.
A storm was gathering.
Cars below the bridge began to honk out of control, and pedestrians looked up at the sky in terror.
This was the King of Conquerors declaring war on the world. The crashing thunder echoed over the city like a heroic proclamation, lingering for a long time... Einzbern Castle.
Hansen was sitting on the sofa with a game controller in his hand, playing the latest fighting game with Illya.
Beside him, Sakura was obediently peeling an orange, feeding it to him segment by segment.
Nearby, Tohsaka Rin, wearing a short skirt and over-the-knee socks, sat on the sofa, gazing out the window with a melancholy expression.
Clearly, human joys and sorrows are not shared.
Hearing the roar from outside, Hansen's movements did not stop.
On the screen, his character executed a smooth combo, instantly draining Illya's character's health.
"K.O.!"
"Ah—! Big brother is cheating! You promised to let me win!"
Illya threw down the controller in a huff and pounced on Hansen's back, messing up his hair.
Hansen laughed as he pulled the little girl off, took the orange Sakura handed him, and looked at the spreading dark clouds and lightning outside.
"That big guy really has a short fuse."
Saber, who was nearby, had already stood up. She was wearing blue and white loungewear, her expression serious.
"Ruler, this is a challenge." Saber clenched her fists, a hint of complexity flashing in her eyes. "Rider is forcing us into a decisive battle."
"Then let's go."
He stood up and stretched. The lazy aura around him instantly vanished, replaced by a heart-palpitating sense of pressure.
"It's been so many days; it's time to bring this war to an end."
...Fuyuki Church.
Kirei Kotomine stood by the window, watching the gathering lightning storm outside. A man's contemptuous voice came from behind him.
"Hmph, what a noisy insect."
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