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"Has it begun?"
Mika landed the Gordius Wheel smoothly on the ground, his gaze fixed on the ongoing battle, a somber expression on his face.
It was a particularly tragic fight.
Two individuals, denied redemption, clashed fiercely.
Each driven by their own desperate desires.
One sought to overcome all enemies, achieve ultimate victory, and claim the wish-granting Holy Grail.
The other yearned for a final, all-out battle, culminating in death at the hands of their opponent.
Perhaps it was a mutual longing for release.
Shaking his head, Mika turned away and addressed Waver. "Let's go. We're leaving."
"Huh? Aren't we going to watch?"
"No."
Looking up at the dark sky, Mika spoke with a resolute tone. "This battle doesn't need witnesses."
"Even if it did, it wouldn't be us."
With that, Mika steered the Gordius Wheel towards the central altar of Ryudou Temple.
"You're back, Mika?"
Merlin exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief, as he saw Mika's unscathed form. "You defeated Iskandar just like that? Without any injuries?"
"Can't you tell whether I'm injured or not?"
Mika chuckled, jumping down from the Gordius Wheel. He then turned his attention to Kiritsugu Emiya and Irisviel von Einzbern.
"Yo, good evening to you both!"
"Uh... Good evening?" Irisviel responded hesitantly, while Kiritsugu remained silent.
Mika simply smiled and said nothing more, his focus shifting to the Lesser Grail in the distance.
He held no particular fondness or animosity towards Kiritsugu Emiya.
While Kiritsugu possessed a cold and ruthless nature, as long as he didn't harm Mika's friends, Mika had no intention of interfering with him.
As for why he had summoned Kiritsugu to witness the descent of the Grail?
It was simply because Kiritsugu was Artoria's Master.
There was no other reason.
"Gabriel!"
"I'm here!"
Upon hearing Mika's call, Gabriel, who had received her instructions earlier, flew towards the Grail suspended in mid-air.
"Mika, now that you're back, I'll go check on Artoria."
"Alright, don't forget to bring my sword back."
Merlin couldn't help but roll his eyes at Mika's words.
The sword Mika referred to was Lancelot's holy blade, Arondight.
As a weapon master with a penchant for collecting powerful artifacts, how could Mika possibly resist claiming the holy sword wielded by his own Servant?
Arondight had already been converted into one of Mika's Nen weapons.
However, Lancelot possessed the same ability, "Knight Does Not Die with Empty Hands," which allowed him to temporarily manifest it as his Noble Phantasm once more.
This was precisely why Mika had chosen to convert Lancelot's Noble Phantasm so early.
"Alright, alright, I understand," Merlin said dismissively, his figure vanishing before their eyes.
Thus, only Mika, Kiritsugu, Irisviel, and Waver remained.
Glancing at Mika and Waver, a thought crossed Kiritsugu's mind.
If he were to kill Mika here, perhaps he could turn the tide of the war.
He was currently facing a desperate situation.
Although he hadn't lost yet, and according to Merlin's plan, Artoria was one of the two finalists, he was trapped within enemy territory, with no escape route in sight.
Considering Merlin's ability to effortlessly abduct Irisviel from Artoria's side using illusions, Kiritsugu believed that even if Merlin killed him, Artoria might remain oblivious.
This highlighted the perilous situation he was in.
If the Holy Grail was indeed corrupted as Merlin claimed, then his participation in the Holy Grail War had been in vain.
And even if it was a lie, he was still in grave danger, with Merlin holding a metaphorical blade to his throat, ready to strike at any moment.
Therefore, despite not having lost yet, Kiritsugu had no realistic path to victory.
However, if he eliminated Mika here, everything could change.
Perhaps he could still salvage the situation.
After a moment of contemplation, Kiritsugu abandoned this tempting idea.
There were too many factors influencing his decision.
Firstly, after questioning Irisviel, he now believed Merlin's claims to be eighty percent true. The remaining twenty percent was fueled by his own stubborn refusal to give up.
At this point, preserving Irisviel's life was more important than grasping at a desperate chance for victory.
Secondly, for his plan to succeed, Mika had to be Merlin's Master.
However, the Matou faction clearly had two Masters, and the other one had remained hidden throughout the conflict. Kiritsugu couldn't afford to gamble on Mika's true identity.
Was he Merlin's Master or Lancelot's?
Finally, there was a high probability that he simply couldn't defeat Mika.
He had observed Mika's battle against Gilgamesh within Ionioi Hetairoi from afar.
Mika's combat prowess, capable of rivaling a Servant, was far beyond what an "ordinary person" like him could handle.
Moreover, what had Mika said upon his return?
He had single-handedly defeated Iskandar, the King of Conquerors.
With such overwhelming strength, if they clashed, Kiritsugu and Irisviel would likely be swiftly subdued, with no chance to retaliate.
Therefore, after careful consideration, Kiritsugu dismissed the idea of assassination.
Meanwhile, sensing Kiritsugu's gaze, Mika turned his head and met his eyes, a knowing smile on his face.
At that moment, a thought struck Mika.
"Kiritsugu Emiya, I know about you," Mika said, his gaze fixed on the stoic magus. "While you're still waiting for definitive proof, I believe you've already made your decision in your heart, haven't you?"
"But have you considered other possibilities?"
"What possibilities?" Kiritsugu asked calmly, his expression unchanged.
"Your future, for instance. Have you not considered the possibility that if you fail, you might never see your daughter, Illya, again?"
"Illya!"
Kiritsugu's voice suddenly rose in intensity.
Of course he had thought about it.
On the very first day of the Holy Grail War, after learning that he was being targeted by Kirei Kotomine, he had contemplated escaping.
With Artoria's help, they could return to the Einzbern Castle and reclaim his daughter, Illya.
But that plan had ultimately failed.
And now it was too late.
"I can help you achieve that wish. I can bring your daughter back and even help restore her health."
"What do you think of this offer?" Mika asked with a sly smile.
He was suddenly curious to see whether Illya, with this altered fate, would become the legendary Magical Girl Illya.
---
Mika was curious.
Would Illya, raised by Kiritsugu and Irisviel and living a happy life, still embark on the path of a magical girl?
Of course, this morbid curiosity was just a fleeting thought.
His true objective was something else entirely.
"What do you want?"
Kiritsugu's voice was serious, his hand clenching into a fist within his pocket as Mika's words struck a nerve.
"Naturally, I want Saber," Mika replied calmly, as Irisviel gasped in surprise.
The reason Mika proposed this trade was for Merlin's sake.
As Artoria's mentor, Merlin deeply desired her redemption, her release from endless suffering.
According to the original timeline, this task would have fallen upon Shirou Emiya.
However, Mika was almost certain that Shirou would never appear in this altered timeline.
The "fate" that brought Shirou and Kiritsugu together had been disrupted by Mika's actions.
Thus, Artoria's redemption had become a distant possibility.
That's when Mika had a sudden realization.
Rather than allowing her to return to the Throne of Heroes, where she would be tormented by the burdens of her past, wouldn't it be better to keep her in the present world as a valuable ally?
Perhaps, amidst the prosperity of the future, she might one day awaken to the truth and find her salvation.
While this approach was uncertain, it was still far better than endlessly waiting for an opportunity that might never come within the confines of the Throne of Heroes.
After all, no matter how long she waited, her wish would never be fulfilled.
"Saber?"
Upon hearing Mika's request, Kiritsugu instantly understood their intentions.
They aimed to purify the corrupted Greater Grail.
This made sense. Obtaining Artoria's Master rights held no strategic value for Mika at this point, as victory was already within their grasp.
Moreover, Servants were bound to return to the Throne of Heroes once the Holy Grail War concluded, unless there was a way to keep them in the present world.
If Artoria could remain, then Merlin, from the Matou faction, could also stay.
A powerful magus like Merlin, coupled with their ability to manipulate the Grail…
Kiritsugu's mind raced as the pieces fell into place.
The corruption of the Greater Grail was real, but that didn't mean it was beyond saving.
After all, the Holy Grail War was a ritual created by the Einzberns, Tohsaka, and Matou families.
While it was undoubtedly a powerful artifact, it wasn't necessarily beyond the capabilities of a magus like Merlin to repair it.
So, what they lacked was time?
Their plan involved the period after the current Holy Grail War and before the next one?
And to achieve this, they needed to start gathering allies now?
This realization sparked a flicker of hope within Kiritsugu's weary heart, but he quickly extinguished it.
Even if they could restore the Greater Grail, it no longer held any significance for him.
His priorities were Irisviel and Illya.
"I accept your terms," Kiritsugu declared resolutely, having confirmed the Grail's corruption.
"Kiritsugu!"
Irisviel's voice was filled with anguish as she gripped his arm tightly.
Although Artoria was merely a Servant, they had formed a close bond during their time together. Irisviel considered her a dear friend.
Yet, Kiritsugu was willing to give her up.
And all for the sake of Illya.
This decision tore at Irisviel's heart.
Sensing her pain, Kiritsugu turned to her and offered a comforting smile. "Entrusting Saber to them is the best outcome, both for us and for Saber."
"We no longer have a chance to obtain the Holy Grail, but they still do. By their side, Saber might still have a chance to fulfill her wish."
"Wouldn't that be better for her than staying with us?"
Irisviel's expression softened as she listened to Kiritsugu's words. She nodded slowly, a bittersweet smile on her lips.
Indeed.
Artoria's mentor, Merlin, was also part of their faction.
Perhaps, with them, Artoria might truly achieve her tragic yet noble dream.
"Yes, as Kiritsugu said, this is the best outcome," Mika affirmed with a gentle smile.
Suddenly, Mika felt a strange sensation coursing through his body.
In an instant, the connection between him and Lancelot vanished.
Simultaneously, the Lesser Grail on the altar reached completion, radiating a brilliant light.
"It seems the battle between Artoria and Lancelot has concluded," Mika murmured, looking at his hand.
Kiritsugu cursed inwardly as he witnessed this scene.
"As I suspected, you weren't Merlin's Master. He must have been hiding in a safe location, patiently awaiting victory."
Relieved by his accurate judgment, Kiritsugu's heart pounded with anticipation.
He looked up at the Lesser Grail, his gaze filled with a strange sense of acceptance.
He had chosen to believe Merlin's words, and now he was merely witnessing the inevitable.
As Kiritsugu watched, a black sludge began to pour out of the Grail, rapidly overflowing and dripping down.
Below, the Vessel of Emptiness, a Nen tool crafted by Gabriel, swiftly collected the black ooze, containing it within its confines.
According to the rules of the Holy Grail War, when only two Servants remained, the Grail would manifest, revealing its glory to the finalists.
Once the victor was decided, it would grant their wish.
However, the corrupted Grail's display of "glory" involved unleashing its inner darkness upon the world, showcasing its destructive nature.
But now, the black mud was being contained within the Vessel of Emptiness.
This was a Nen tool that Mika had commissioned Gabriel to create, specifically designed to counter the black mud within the Grail. As a master researcher who had long studied the Holy Grail system, Gabriel had swiftly fulfilled Mika's request.
Thanks to her creation, the surrounding area of Mount Enzou would be spared from the Grail's corruption.
"This is the Holy Grail..."
Kiritsugu's face contorted in disgust as he stared at the black mud oozing from the Grail.
He sensed pure, unadulterated malice emanating from the dark substance.
"Is this the collective malice of humanity?"
Angra Mainyu, the All the Evils of This World, that was the true nature of the black mud.
"Mika, I'll transfer Saber's command spells to you now," Kiritsugu said hurriedly, his voice strained. As a magus who aspired to be a hero of justice, he couldn't bear to remain in this place any longer.
He had wasted years pursuing this corrupted artifact.
The thought was unbearable.
"Let's go home, Irisviel," he said, turning to his wife, his face etched with despair.
In this moment, the dream of the Magus Killer, the hero of justice, shattered completely.
...
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