"It's really lively, Rider."
"The battle between Lancer and Caster hasn't finished yet, and Saber and Assassin have started again."
Observing through his familiar, Waver had somewhat gotten used to such a daily life. These Heroic Spirits were more restless than the last...
"Rider, should we do something?"
Finding Lelouch didn't answer him, Waver was puzzled. After realizing Rider's reliability, he didn't have so many ideas of his own, but rather acted according to the other party's arrangement.
"If just watching the battle, it's enough with the familiar you sent out to monitor them."
"If you want to participate in the war, you must first ensure your own safety."
"Reckless actions will only put our side in a disadvantageous position."
Holding the teacup elegantly, Lelouch glanced at him and then reminded him. This Master looked a bit dull at first glance, but he wasn't that rigid.
"Uh..."
Hearing this, Waver was slightly stunned, scratching his head. He knew his Servant threw the right of choice to him. Although it was a trivial matter to Rider, as a Master, Waver was still very happy. At least it proved his Servant trusted and respected him.
He then began to think...
The mecha piloted by Rider, once it started fighting, would cause large-scale bombing. Not to mention the endurance issue, just the equipped machine guns could easily penetrate a street. The uncharged magical energy cannon could even raze part of the area to the ground...
Although the place where Lancer and Caster were located was not in the center of Fuyuki City, it couldn't be said to be remote either. If people hadn't been driven away nearby, there were still ordinary people living there.
Leting his Servant affect ordinary people at will... Waver, as a Magus, wasn't that frenzied yet, so that side couldn't be visited.
"Let's go, Rider. We'll go find Saber and Assassin."
Clearing his thoughts, Waver then made a decision.
"Heh..."
Listening to Waver's words, Lelouch showed a light smile on his face. No matter how Waver chose, it actually didn't affect him much.
Leaving aside the remaining Archer and Berserker. Saber, Lancer, Caster, Assassin. He had temporarily thought of countermeasures for the above four Servants.
"Must stir up the situation... at least draw out Archer and Berserker."
Not showing their faces was the biggest instability factor, just like them hiding all along. The current group of people had entanglements with each other, which was why they attacked so actively.
And someone like him didn't have so many worries. After provoking two families, as long as he lurked and didn't leave any tail, no one could trace him. So right now, Lelouch only cared about the two Servants, Archer and Berserker.
...
Clang!
Bang! Bang! Bang!!
The sound of clashing blades rang out; Saber was constantly fighting with Assassin.
"Dragon Nest Flash!"
Waving the broken sword in his hand, he performed rapid random strikes, but they were all parried by Saber. Compared to before, Saber obviously gained the upper hand this time.
"As an Assassin, you are indeed very strong!"
Looking directly at the opponent in front of her, Saber was frank. Relying only on superb swordsmanship and agile movement, being able to face her with the weakest Class... that wasn't something any Heroic Spirit could do.
'Your swordsmanship... every move is full of attacks intending to put people to death.'
'Once not avoided, it will cause great damage.'
'But now that the sword is broken, there isn't such sufficient threat.'
Wholehearted vigilance and defense mixed with an Assassin holding only a broken sword... it was insufficient to make Saber possibly injured. No matter how powerful a swordsman was, a broken sword was no different from an injured hand.
Although she didn't know why Assassin's sword broke, at this moment she wouldn't be hypocritical enough to go easy on him.
"Hah!"
The sword hidden in the wind pressure swung away. Kenshin's eyes narrowed, his body leaping and twisting in the air.
"Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu: Ryukansen (Dragon Coil Flash)!"
While avoiding the direct hit, he used the inertia in the air to stab the broken sword towards Saber's head.
Bang!
But it was blocked by Saber using the single hand that released the sword. The broken sword smashed on the gauntlet and was then bounced off. After landing, Kenshin quickly pulled away from her.
'Sure enough... it's too reluctant to confront her with this sword.'
Frowning, Kenshin never had such a urgent moment. Even if his sword broke in the past, he could still kill the enemy just the same. But this time it wouldn't work... Heroic Spirits! Those were experts comparable to himself. A slight carelessness or negligence, and the one defeated would be himself.
But unfortunately, the timing of Saber's arrival this time was too coincidental; he had no free time to let his Master prepare another good sword. What's more, now both Master and Servant were pinned down in their respective battlefields.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!!
Cling! Cling! Cling!!!
Using Black Keys to deflect the incoming bullets, Kirei Kotomine wouldn't give Kiritsugu Emiya a second chance like that. That step close to failure really made him sweat a little. Fortunately, Assassin arrived in time.
"Tch."
Watching Kirei running close, Kiritsugu could only retreat backwards. Judging from the opponent's skill, close combat would be very disadvantageous to him.
Whoosh!
Avoiding the shot Black Keys, Kiritsugu immediately raised the gun in his hand and fired rapidly at the front.
Bang! Bang! Bang!!
A series of shots successfully froze Kirei Kotomine's movements in place.
"Kiritsugu..."
"I found Madam."
"There were no obstacles along the way except for the seal of magecraft."
Maiya's voice sounded in his ear, and Kiritsugu's expression moved slightly.
"She is fine, but it is said the scabbard has been taken away by Kirei Kotomine."
"Is that so? Then remember to be careful."
Originally hearing Irisviel was successfully rescued, his heart settled, but he always had an uneasy feeling.
"Was that woman found?"
Seeming to guess something, Kirei Kotomine put down his raised hands and then said calmly.
"Although it wasn't you personally going, I more or less considered it."
"The assistant and wife should be your few concerns, right?"
"!"
The more he heard Kirei Kotomine speak like this, the more violent the uneasiness in his heart became. And in the next second, it was verified.
"If you lose them... will you be in pain?"
BOOM!!
A roaring explosion sounded; soaring firelight flashed from behind the priest.
...
Pupils dilating for an instant, Kiritsugu understood the source of that uneasiness only now. 'There were no obstacles along the way except for the seal of magecraft.' Maiya's sentence still echoed in his ears; it sounded so piercing now.
He should have discovered it earlier... if there had been a reminder, maybe they could have been saved. The hand holding the gun clenched unconsciously.
"Bombs..."
"This fighting style not sticking to conventions is indeed very convenient."
"In that situation, unless it was you, neither of them could survive."
Staring at Kiritsugu Emiya's expression, Kirei Kotomine sought a trace of satisfaction. This man sure enough would still be moved. When understanding this point, Kirei Kotomine felt that this arrangement was not in vain.
When that woman was brought back by Assassin, he had the thought of probing. For this woman and the scabbard buried in her body, how much would Kiritsugu Emiya pay?
Having figured out the causes and consequences, Kiritsugu Emiya also saw through the man Kirei Kotomine. Using Iri to set a trap, luring him to rescue. But Kirei Kotomine anticipated his situation and knew the final result.
Saber must be used to guard against Assassin. And he himself must face Kirei Kotomine... The only one who could act was the assistant Maiya. Everything was calculated by Kirei Kotomine!
And luring Maiya over to "entrap and kill" together with Iri was the result Kirei Kotomine wanted most.
"I just wanted to know..."
"Will you, known as the Magus Killer, affect sorrow for losing others?"
"From the results, it seems you will."
"Your heart is crying..."
"Kiritsugu Emiya."