Fujimaru Ritsuka looked at this familiar site.
Once upon a time, she and Mash had spent their first truly significant battle of their journey to save the world right here.
Fate was a strange thing; she had now returned to this place, this paradoxical time and space, where a former powerful enemy now stood beside her as a teammate.
The only difference was that the opposition this time was even stronger.
Furthermore, her own side was currently embroiled in infighting.
"This priest, you know, has declared his intention to let that thing be born," Illya said with a smile as she looked at Tohsaka Rin. "Big sister, congratulations. Your sister is about to be blessed with a child."
Upon hearing this, Tohsaka Rin's expression toward Kotomine Kirei became increasingly hostile.
"Why? You fake priest!" she said through gritted teeth.
"It is merely a simple pursuit," Kotomine Kirei said indifferently, looking at the struggling Cu Chulainn and the contract-bound Hassan. "I want to see what choice It will make once it is born."
"Just for a reason like that?!" Emiya Shirou stepped forward with clenched fists. "You bastard..."
"Lancer," Artoria frowned as she looked at the spearman before her. "This is betrayal!"
"Heh, as if I had much of a choice," Cu Chulainn replied, his face equally full of annoyance.
"Oh, I suddenly remembered something," Xia Yu said airily at that moment. "Rin, remember the Holy Grail War ten years ago?"
"Kotomine Kirei was supposedly your father's disciple, right? He participated in the Holy Grail War under that name, but in the end, he was the only survivor."
"I killed Gilgamesh earlier. Do you know why your father died, yet he was allowed to remain in Fuyuki?" The corners of Xia Yu's mouth curled slightly. "Because that wicked fellow was quite dissatisfied with a Master like your father."
"So, he stirred the heart of your current nominal guardian, this Mister Kotomine Kirei, and had him backstab your father. I believe the weapon used was called..."
"Azoth," Kotomine Kirei took over the sentence. "The Azoth Sword. It is a very popular gift in the Magecraft World, usually given by a teacher or parent to a Magus about to reach adulthood. Although it is a sword, its function is actually more of a Mystic Code used to assist one's own Magecraft."
"Yes, she is right, Rin," Kotomine Kirei stared at Tohsaka Rin's face. "Ten years ago, I was the one who killed your father."
"With the apprenticeship gift he gave me."
"By the way, that sword is the same one I gave you later."
Matou Sakura looked up in shock from behind Xia Yu.
"..." Tohsaka Rin raised the Jeweled Sword Zelretch in her hand without saying a word.
Boom!
A brilliant Mana Blast instantly pulverized the ground where he stood.
Kotomine Kirei had dodged before she even activated the Magecraft, but the Mana Blasts fired in rapid succession under the infinite Magical Energy amplified by the Jeweled Sword. The barrage was so intense he had no time to stop and enjoy Tohsaka Rin's crumbling expression.
However, from this continuous assault, he could also feel that her rationality had nearly collapsed.
Despite the constant dodging, the corners of Kotomine Kirei's mouth still tilted up uncontrollably.
Even though it's outside my control, this is just too delightful...
But in the next moment, at the spot where he landed, a fist seemed to have been waiting for him, slamming directly into his face.
The smirk hadn't even had time to settle before he took a heavy blow.
"You bastard!" Emiya Shirou had been waiting for a long time. After the punch, he closed in immediately, swinging his fist at the man's face again.
Kotomine Kirei blocked the attack clumsily. It wasn't that he couldn't defeat Emiya Shirou, but he had to remain wary of Tohsaka Rin. However, since the boy had delivered himself to his doorstep...
Watching Emiya Shirou engage in close-quarters combat with Kotomine Kirei, Tohsaka Rin shouted in exasperation, "You idiot! Why did you go up there? Couldn't you just let me blow him to pieces!"
At this distance, it was impossible for her to continue her attack; doing so would essentially mean killing both Emiya Shirou and Kotomine Kirei.
"Tohsaka, you and Miss Fujimaru go deal with Lancer," Emiya Shirou's mind was clear. "I'll tie him down! Subdue Lancer and Assassin first! We can't lose any..."
"Tie me down?" Kotomine Kirei tilted his head. He reached out to block Shirou's fist, then slammed a punch into Shirou's abdomen with his other hand, sending him doubling over in pain.
The gap in combat experience between the two was simply too vast.
"With just you? Emiya Shirou, I..."
Before he could finish, Shirou slammed a headbutt into his stomach.
Before Kirei could react, two very familiar weapons appeared in Shirou's hands, slashing toward him.
"You..." Kirei was stunned, but he chose to retreat further to avoid the sharp blades.
After all, he was currently empty-handed; getting cut was truly a life-threatening matter.
But just as he moved, he saw the young girl holding the Great Shield, who had been silent until now, appear behind him. She swung the massive shield!
Thud!
Like a ping-pong ball, Kotomine Kirei was sent flying into mid-air!
But unexpectedly, the Servant girl didn't pursue her advantage. Instead, she raised her shield to block in front of Emiya Shirou.
I see, so that's the plan...
Kirei looked back to see the Jeweled Sword Zelretch in Tohsaka Rin's hand glowing brilliantly, aimed right at him.
"Die!"
Accompanying Tohsaka Rin's voice of hatred, the Magical Energy from the Jeweled Sword poured out like a flood, heading straight for the mid-air Kotomine Kirei.
"Lancer!" Under the circumstances, the latter was forced to use a Command Spell, pulling Cu Chulainn directly in front of him.
"You piece of sh*t!" Cu Chulainn cursed loudly. Although Tohsaka Rin was just a young Magus, an attack formed by such massive Magical Energy wasn't something even a Servant like him could tank easily.
But that was the price of falling into the hands of this sh*tty priest.
Cu Chulainn was forced to throw out several rune stones, forming a Barrier in front of him. However, it wouldn't last long under the wash of that massive Mana Blast.
Fortunately, it bought him enough time. Cu Chulainn flickered away, carrying Kotomine Kirei out of Tohsaka Rin's range of attack.
"This is looking bad," Cu Chulainn muttered as he landed. He saw Saber and Archer, who had been cornering him earlier, closing in with hostile looks. Rider and Caster had blocked the exit of the hollow at some point, and his former teammate, Assassin...
Unable to resist the contract etched into his Spiritual Core by Caster, Hassan now stood on the opposite side as well.
"Surrender, Lancer," Artoria said, raising her sword. "You have no chance!"
"Actually, my intention wasn't to turn against you here," Cu Chulainn said, spreading his hands. "To be honest, I really wanted to continue that battle."
He looked toward Xia Yu's direction with regret. "A pity I ended up with such a sh*tty Master."
"Talking is useless!" Tohsaka Rin walked up with a grim face. "Kotomine Kirei! You're dead!"
"I am well aware," Kotomine Kirei acted with complete composure. "Although I want to let It be born, which theoretically puts me on her side, based on her behavior, I doubt she would help me."
"So, you still have a chance to give your last words," Tohsaka Rin said through gritted teeth. "Ten years ago, why did you kill my father!"
"For pleasure," Kotomine Kirei said without hesitation. "I really wanted to see the expression on the face of a man who thought he had everything under control when he was backstabbed by his unexpected disciple. It brings me pleasure."
"So, I did it."
"What an incredible piece of trash," Fujimaru Ritsuka said as she walked over. "Killing your own teacher for a reason like that..."
"Perhaps to you, this reason is absurd," Kotomine Kirei said unhurriedly. "But for someone like me who cannot feel much emotion from the heavens, it is enough."
"Miss Firefly—I'll call you that for now," he suddenly turned to look at Xia Yu. "Do you know why I had Assassin target Caster immediately? Because her Noble Phantasm is enough to sever the connection between Matou Sakura and the Holy Grail."
"That is their trump card!"
"Oh," Xia Yu nodded. "And?"
"...Are you not concerned?" Kotomine Kirei frowned.
"If they can get past me, then the Princess, Matou Sakura, is naturally their prize," Xia Yu said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "What they choose to do then is their right as the victors."
"If they can't... what can a single Noble Phantasm do?"
"...Heh, is that how you see it?" Kotomine Kirei turned to look at Medea.
"Then why were you already prepared?"
"Do you think my Master is some pushover?" Medea raised her head high, speaking with disdain. "Ever since the Assassin I summoned died, she has been tracking the mastermind behind the scenes."
"We identified you long ago. On top of that, you clearly knew of his existence yet told them that Assassin couldn't be found—is it that hard to figure out you were the problem?"
"By now, I expect my Master is already raiding your old nest."
"So that's what that girl went off to do," Tohsaka Rin stepped forward, her gaze dangerous. "Enough talk. Everyone, get him! Shred him into a thousand pieces!"
Tohsaka Rin could no longer control her emotions.
Over the past few days, the pressure from the Mages' Association, the pressure of her family's long-cherished wish, the pressure of her sister's life... all sorts of pressure had piled onto her shoulders.
Now, having learned this explosive news—that the man who was her father's disciple and her guardian was actually her father's killer, and for such an absurd reason...
Tohsaka Rin, who had been suffocating under the pressure of her family's heritage for years, simply snapped.
"It seems my journey in this Holy Grail War ends here," Cu Chulainn remarked, clicking his tongue. "But facing this many heroes... not bad."
"Sh*tty Master, it's the final hour. You'd better make yourself useful. Use a Command Spell!"
Boundless battle intent emerged in his eyes. He flourished his long spear, licking his lips as he looked at the hostile Heroic Spirits before him.
"Then, Lancer," Kotomine Kirei's voice rang out from behind him, "Commit suicide!"
"Right, then I'll—Wait? Suicide?" Cu Chulainn turned to look at Kotomine Kirei in disbelief, his long spear already involuntarily raising toward his own chest.
"Why?!"
"After I die, you might be forced into a new contract," Kotomine Kirei's eyes were filled with coldness. "Although she does not need my help, I will do my utmost to eliminate any obstacle preventing His birth."
"Furthermore, your death will add a charge to the Lesser Grail."
"You!" Cu Chulainn resisted the Command Spell's order with sheer willpower, but the spear tip drew closer and closer to his chest.
"I order you again. Commit suicide, Lancer!"
Kotomine Kirei's second Command Spell directly crushed his resistance. Just as the spear tip was about to pierce his chest, a strange cackle was heard.
True Assassin appeared from the shadows behind Cu Chulainn, thrusting a dagger directly into his back.
Rule Breaker!
The contract between Cu Chulainn and Kotomine Kirei was instantly severed, and the order from the Command Spell vanished.
"Hiss, that really hurts," Cu Chulainn looked at the spear tip that had shallowly pierced his chest, then turned to True Assassin. "Thanks, Assassin. And Caster."
Although the contract was severed, he could still manifest independently for a short while.
"Now," he looked at Kotomine Kirei with an unkind face, "We should..."
"You have to wait in line," Tohsaka Rin stepped past him, the Jeweled Sword Zelretch gripped tightly in her hand. "Kotomine Kirei!"
"Did I fail," Kotomine Kirei said, though not a single shred of regret showed on his face. "It's only natural, facing this many Servants."
"Do you have nothing to say to me?" Tohsaka Rin raised the Jeweled Sword, aiming it at his face.
"Are you expecting an apology? Or do you want to see me crawl and beg for mercy to save my life? Rin," a joyful smile appeared on Kotomine Kirei's face. "A pity. Someone like me is born incapable of understanding what an apology is."
"No," Tohsaka Rin shook her head. "I just wanted to see if, at the end of your life, a fake priest like you would confess to God."
"As it turns out, you really are a fake."
Even as she said this, the light from the Jeweled Sword grew brighter and brighter, becoming blinding.
Heaven knows how much Magical Energy she had accumulated in this one strike. After all, even if the mana was infinite, her capacity as the "outlet" was fixed.
The only reason she had allowed Kotomine Kirei to prattle on for so long without acting was simply because she was continuously charging her energy.
This time, there would be no escape!
Looking at that blinding light, Kotomine Kirei knew that there was no way he could evade this strike.
He reached out his hand toward that light quite openly.