The deserted outskirts of the new city.
Thanks to his inherent skills, "Battle Continuation" and "Rejuvenation," Lancer had been holding out against Berserker's relentless pursuit for over an hour!
"Tch!"
Gripping his spear and sprinting with all his might, Lancer, whose body was almost entirely covered in injuries, glanced back at the persistently chasing Berserker and clicked his tongue heavily in frustration.
Lancer was troubled. How did it come to this?
For the first time in this Holy Grail War, he could fight with all his might without holding back!
For the first time, he wasn't bound by command spells (to fight all Servants but not kill them, and to let the first opponent he faced live)!
Two sources of joy combined, and this joy should have brought him immense happiness.
It should have been a time of blissful satisfaction, like a dream!
But...
Why?
Why did it have to be Berserker?!
He couldn't defeat him, couldn't kill him (killing him once only rendered the previous move ineffective), and Berserker pursued him relentlessly...
What on earth did I do to deserve this?
And that silver-haired little girl, what did she mean by "Just happened to encounter a Lancer, let's use him to prove our strength"?
What on earth does that mean?
What do you take me for?
Speaking of which, it seems like my little brother is in danger, and I can't free myself to save him.
Little brother, you're on your own...
Sigh—
With a long sigh, Lancer muttered to himself, "Master, I'm sorry. I can only hold out until dawn. The opponent's Noble Phantasm is just too overpowered."
With that, Lancer suddenly (and forcibly) stopped, skidding several meters before coming to a complete halt!
Lancer turned around, left leg stepping back, both hands gripping his spear tightly, his entire demeanor shifting! His eyes, filled with the will to fight to the death, locked onto the still-pursuing Berserker!
"Roar—!!!"
Seeing the enemy stop, Berserker's speed visibly increased!
Boom!
With a powerful push of his legs, Berserker shattered the ground, leaping high with his stone sword raised, charging at Lancer!
"Come on! If we're going to fight, let's make it a good..."
Before Lancer could finish his sentence, he suddenly vanished from in front of the incoming Berserker!
Not only Berserker and Illya, who were left behind, but even Lancer himself, who was suddenly transported to the church, standing before Kirei, didn't expect this turn of events!
To save him, Master used the third command spell?!
"Hmph!"
Kirei coldly snorted without saying a word, turned around with his hands behind his back, and walked slowly toward the nearby staircase.
Putting away his spear, Lancer watched Kirei's slow ascent, feeling an unexpected pang of guilt.
Though he disliked his Master, this was the second time!
The second time his Master used a command spell to save him!
Had he misunderstood his Master? Despite being a rule-breaking scoundrel, did his Master have a good side?
It wasn't until Kirei disappeared around the stairwell corner that Lancer remembered another matter: his little brother was still in danger!
...
The scene shifts to Ryuudou Temple.
"Are you alright?"
Archer, standing in front of Shinji and facing Caster, asked.
With all the threads cut, Shinji flexed his wrists and neck, coming back to his senses and replying, "Yeah, I'm fine. You are... that Tohsaka..."
"Hmph, I just happened to be passing by and repaid her a favor."
Archer huffed coldly, then turned to the somewhat agitated Caster and continued, "By the way, have you figured out why this woman is after you?"
"She said she wanted to borrow my brain or something..." Shinji replied honestly.
Upon hearing this, Archer's face twisted into a strange expression. He looked at the seething Caster, who was muttering curses under her breath, and asked a question that struck straight to her heart.
"...You don't have one?"
In an instant, Caster exploded in rage, wanting to kill the two in front of her immediately. She had suffered this kind of insult twice in one day!
It was unbearable!
Before Caster could erupt, Archer spoke again, "Well, as for Assassin, he's currently confronting Saber. Although I don't know who that warrior is, to be able to hold off Saber, he must be quite the swordsman. You should give him some praise, right?"
Saber? Shinji was taken aback.
Saber is here too?
What is going on? Why does it feel like I've stumbled into a scene unrelated to me?
Or is it just a coincidence?
"—Hmph! Don't make me laugh!"
Caster's words interrupted Shinji's thoughts.
"How can anyone call themselves a hero if they can't even stop you? That man isn't worthy of being called a swordsman!"
"I see, so Assassin is indeed your ally. Then, it makes sense that your Master is cooperating with someone else. Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense for there to be two Servants at one location."
Seeing Caster remain silent, Archer continued, "Well, I guessed as much before. Even those unrelated to the Holy Grail War have noticed it."
Listening to Archer's pointed words, Shinji maintained a neutral expression but inwardly grumbled.
Is this guy trying to set me up?
It's obvious he's talking about me!
At the same time, Archer observed Shinji closely, noticing no unusual emotional response, and felt a bit disappointed. He then refocused on Caster.
"Hahaha..." Caster suddenly started laughing. "I don't know what you're talking about! Cooperation? That's laughable, hahaha..."
"Hm?" Archer frowned. "Isn't it? I was quite sure you were allies."
"Eh, wrong again." Caster stopped laughing, her voice dripping with the superiority Shinji disliked, "Allies? Me and that dog in a cooperative relationship? That man is just a pawn of mine."
With that, Caster burst into laughter again.
Hearing her inappropriate, mocking laughter, Shinji couldn't help but frown and sigh inwardly.
This woman really is a first-time villain with no self-discipline.
Meanwhile, Archer realized something and grew hostile, glaring at Caster.
Caster sensed Archer's sudden hostility but remained unfazed and spoke calmly.
"Yes, as you guessed, Archer. My Master isn't cooperating with anyone. Similarly, Assassin's Master isn't either. Actually, that dog doesn't even have a Master..."
Two more chapters to come in the evening.
Just got home from work and found the power's out. Heading to a shop for now, will continue writing tonight when I get back home.