Somewhere in Fuyuki.
Far away from Hyatt Hotel among smaller buildings was an unremarkable motel. The old building wasn't big and didn't have a lot of residents. However, it was cheap and the main reason why one specific person lived there. Inside one of the smaller motel's rooms lived an unremarkable person whose only unusual trait was his white hair.
Kariya Matou stared at the mirror, studying his damaged eye. Sometimes he wondered if it was worth it all and if he could do it alone. Could he really save he-However, he immediately stopped that thought as he clenched his fist.
'Stop thinking like this! I will save her as I promised! I must! I can't give up now!' The Master of Berserker screamed inside his head but his hands were shaking. Kariya took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
Ever since his brother helped him, Kariya didn't know how to feel. Byakuya was hardly a kind man, especially after what happened to his wife. Kariya winced. Poor Shinji. However, it would seem that his brother decided to take pity on him. No doubt Byakuya is thinking he won't survive, let alone win this war. Kariya would win, he must for Sakura's sake! His brother and that old parasite can think whatever they want! Kariya won't stop trying to save her!
'...Byakuya might be doing it out of pity but at the very least I can be thankful to him.' Kariya thought while heading to the living room. The motel was cheap but it was enough for him. He needed to rest and prepare for the next fight. Berserker was demanding too much mana, something Kariya had problems with affording. He needed time to prepare and find his next targets. Preferably Tokiomi. Kariya was absolutely sure that Golden Archer was his servant. 'He was just as arrogant as him! My Berserker will kill them all!'
Still, the wild servant was anything but easy to control. During the fight in the docks, the black knight had become uncontrollable when he saw Saber. Kariya didn't know what had gotten into him but his servant was supposed to kill Archer first! Doesn't matter now anyway. Everyone is going after Caster and his master. The white-haired man was sure he just needed to wait for someone to start another fight like one at the docks. The moment it starts he will send Berserker there and kill them all.
Kariya's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden knock at the front door. He glanced at it and heard another knock. Was it a motel staff? Nobody knew he was here with the exception of Byakuya. However, for some reason, he had a bad feeling. When he went to open the door, Kariya's good eye went wide for a mere second then he was glaring at the person standing before him.
"What are you doing here?"
"What? Is that how you treat your father?" Zouken let out a small laugh while Kariya continued to glare at him. "May I enter?"
He wanted to say no but if Zouken really wanted to enter then Kariya won't be able to stop him. He stayed silent and moved from the way. The old monster smirked before entering the room. The old man looked around before turning to him.
"What a shabby place. It does suit you but if you want you can come back home, Kariya." Zouken's smile was one of the creepiest things Kariya had seen in his life.
"Thanks but no. I'm fine with this place. Not to mention I don't want to be a burden at home."
"Too late to worry about it, don't you think? This place was paid for by your brother with family money after all." The old parasite smirked when his son winced.
"Well, nobody asked him for help! I would have been fine without Byakuya trying to play the big brother role!" Kariya lied hoping Zouken would just leave him alone. The last thing he wanted today was to see the old worm. In fact, Kariya wished he never knew him to begin with.
"Hehe, both you and your brother managed to surprise me even after all these years. Still-" Suddenly his tone became more serious. "I'm not here to discuss family issues, well not today at least. It is about the Grail War."
Kariya narrowed his only functional eye. "What about it? I told you, I will win no matter what and you will get your damn Grail."
Zouken snorted. "Your overconfidence aside. Last night things changed and I don't like where this is going."
The master of Berserker blinked."What do you mean?"
The old worm was silent for a moment before speaking. "Last night, the Caster of this war fought with Avenger and lost." He raised his hand to stop Kariya when the latter opened his mouth. "Caster is still alive but he spent a lot of mana. After the fight, he and his master decided to start collecting mana for Caster to use… And it would seem like they decided to go after me." For the first time in his life, Kariya heard Zouken's voice tremble.
If Kariya was surprised before now he was shocked. However, shock quickly turned into joy. The old worm Zouken was afraid of someone? That was enough to make Kariya jump in happiness if he could. Never had he or Byakuya heard their 'father' sound like this! He had to thank Caster before killing him for such a wonderful gift.
Zouken noticed how his son was smiling and with an irritated tone said. "You do understand that if something happens to me you will lose your only ally, right? Byakuya just took pity on you. Kariya, you are smarter than this." Zouken then smirked. "Besides, if I die, who knows what will happen to poor little Sakura."
Kariya froze. In the next moment, his entire body was shaking with a fury that would make even his Berserker proud. The Master didn't pay attention to the crest worms inside his body that started to move. He ignored the pain inside of him and focused solely on his anger. How dare this worm use Sakura to threaten him like this?! Wasn't there anything sacred to Zouken?! Kariya wanted to scream, he wanted to do anything to hurt a man that was mocking him, that was calling himself his 'father'.
"How amusing. It would appear you and your servant are not too different after all, Kariya. This anger will give you more strength, good. You will need it soon."
The white-haired man bit his cheek until he felt the taste of blood inside his mouth. "What do you want, Zouken?" he asked through clenched teeth.
"To get rid of Caster of course! However, I cannot fight a servant on my own. No. To kill a servant, I need another. Do you understand?" Kariya stayed silent, his good eye glaring at him. "I want you to kill Caster and his master as soon as possible. Don't worry. I know you don't have what it takes to find Caster yourself so I will help you in that regard as well." Zouken smirked mockingly. "In the end, I'm your only ally in this war, Kariya."
***
Ruins of Hyatt Hotel.
Lelouch opened his eyes to see the familiar face of Avenger who was holding him in a bridal carry. The red-haired woman winked at him while a pink shade appeared on the former emperor's face before he cleared his throat.
"What happened?" he asked before looking around. Glancing at the side he saw his allies. He and the others were inside Kayneth's mercury shield.
"The hotel exploded, master." His servant answered with an oddly pleased smile. Lelouch blinked but decided to focus on other matters first.
The man who created the shield spoke, "It must be Emiya! No one but that accursed Magus Killer would have done something like this!" He roared with a red face, veins were visible on his skin. Lelouch quickly got on his feet from Avenger's arms, much to her displeasure. "My perfect labyrinth!"
While the master of Lancer screamed at nothing, Lelouch ignored him and turned to Sola-Ui. "How is the situation outside."
"We took a quick peek but there's no fire around us. Luckily, there's no debris above us either."
"And enemy servants?"
Sola-Ui sighed. "Can't tell. All of our boundary fields were destroyed thanks to the explosion."
"Any idea what to do next? My lord seems to be, uh, distracted by other things." Lancer said and quickly glanced at his master who was busy with his temper tantrum.
"Curse you Emiya!"
Lelouch didn't pay Kayneth any mind. He turned to his Avenger wondering if she could feel anything but she shook her head. He nodded before speaking. "It would seem that the enemy tried to take us with a simple exposition but failed. I know little about this Magus Killer but I will agree with Kayneth that it was most likely him."
It didn't make sense for Kirei and his Assassins to kill them right now. Lelouch suspected that it wasn't from any known masters either. Caster and Rider didn't give the impression of being able to do something like this. In fact, it looked like something he would have done, no doubt Avenger supporting his idea. The former terrorist smirked.
'Magus Killer. Now I'm intrigued by you.'
"Master, your orders." Lelouch turned to Avenger before glancing at Kayneth who was still enraged
"No point talking to him right now when he is like this." He murmured to his servant who agreed. He walked to Sola and said. "Your fiance needs to cool down. The enemy must be thinking that he killed or at least wounded us, therefore there won't be another attack tonight." He stopped for a moment for Sola-Ui to think about it before she nodded for him to continue. "Seeing that you lost your base, I would have suggested my place as a temporary replacement but I don't think either of us wants it." While living together might bring benefits for the alliance but Lelouch was careful. Having someone like Kayneth and Sola-Ui under the same roof didn't sound like the safest option for him, mostly because he didn't want to hear the blonde magi's voice longer than it was needed. 'I'm sure Avenger will agree with me.'
"Indeed, we will find another place to hide...Hmm, we need to communicate somehow." Sola-Ui pointed out before pulling out something interesting. Interest sparked in both Lelouch and Avenger's eyes when they saw something akin to a small scroll. "Usually, magi use it to speak at long distances. I will give you mine. Kayneth will contact you using his." Unhappy with her life, the woman handed over to him the magic paper.
Lelouch took it before asking. "How do I use it?"
"We will contact you when we will find a new place to stay. Until then, carry it with you." Lelouch's face stayed neutral but he made sure to be careful of this thing. His understanding of magecraft was limited and it would seem like his new allies wanted to use it. He didn't need to look at Avenger to know that she was thinking the same.
The female servant quickly glanced at Lancer and his master before walking closer to Lelouch. "Very well, in that case, we will wait for your message."
***
It was another dream. And once again Nobunaga was inside this different world.
This time instead of a battle in the sky, she found herself inside a city that looked like it was from the future. Tall buildings that she never saw and modern architecture she couldn't recognize. And yet for some reason, she felt a familiar sensation like she was there before. Then she saw soldiers dressed in unusual clothes who were standing in two rows. However, they were all frozen, not daring to move. Soon something else caught her attention.
In the middle of the street stood some kind of podium with a throne on it. Before it stood a lone figure in black clothes with a black mask. In his hands, Nobunaga saw a red sword...with blood dripping from it. Blood was dripping and forming a bloody trail. Slowly she looked down, following a trail and froze.
Her red eyes went wide.
There, in front of the throne was his body. Lying slouched with blood on his clothes. His eyes were murky. There was someone else near him, someone in red but Nobunaga didn't pay her any mind. Her full attention was on him. Then she heard him say something...something she couldn't comprehend.
"Yes, I have...destroyed the world...and created it...a..new."
These were the last words of Lelouch vi Britannia. Demon Emperor.
***
"I don't understand." She muttered to herself after she awoke from her slumber.