Under the serene and hazy night sky, the city gradually shed its daytime clamor. Streets that had been crowded were now almost deserted, while vibrant neon lights painted the city into a sleepless wonderland.
Far from the bustling downtown, in the courtyard of a secluded villa, tranquility reigned. Cool moonlight fell like silk, draping everything in a pale, ghostly hue that cast a foreboding stillness over the villa. The only sound was the faint rustling of leaves stirred by the night breeze.
Inside the villa, the ambiance grew even more somber. The Tohsaka family rarely used modern electric lights, favoring dim oil lamps placed in the hallways' shadowed corners. Yet their weak glow could not dispel the encompassing darkness, and their flickering added to the villa's eerie silence.
"You were just like my father, Master—you never truly understood me," said a man, his voice laced with cold amusement.
This man was tall and lean, with sharp features and a meticulous outfit in shades of black and gray. He was none other than Kirei Kotomine.
Near his feet lay the body of a man dressed in red, face down in a pool of blood. A sharp dagger jutted from his back, where scarlet blood oozed, filling the air with a metallic tang. The man's profile, even in death, was strikingly handsome—Tokiomi Tohsaka.
"What a disappointing end," a voice sneered.
A figure shimmered into sight beside him—a man with golden hair and regal features, with eyes like stars and a fit, wiry build. This was Gilgamesh.
He nudged Tohsaka's body with his foot, scoffing, "Just look at that ridiculous death pose. He had the audacity to deceive the great King of Heroes—Tokiomi Tohsaka could never atone for such a crime."
Kirei must have already disclosed to Gilgamesh that the essence of the Holy Grail War was a quest to reach the root of magic. Tokiomi's plan to command his Servant to self-terminate upon victory to open the way to Akasha (the Root) had now been laid bare.
Tokiomi's grave mistake was his careless trust in Kirei, divulging his scheme without reservation.
"No wonder he was so careless," Kirei said with a mocking smile. "After all, he had a spirit following in astral form nearby."
"Learning to jest already, are we?" Gilgamesh chuckled. "Your progress is swift, Kirei. To have killed your own father and now your teacher—how does it feel?"
"Not bad," Kirei replied, lips curling in satisfaction. "Still, it went smoothly thanks to having sent that troublesome character away."
"Oh?" Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow, amused. "That one, you say? Whether she likes it or not, she'll come to belong to me. A jewel cast aside inevitably returns to its rightful owner."
"She's not one to be easily handled," Kirei replied with a faint smirk. "Are you sure this is a wise course?"
"Don't get too ambitious with my generosity, mongrel," Gilgamesh's brow twitched, his tone icy. "Are you doubting the King of Heroes' strength and authority?"
"Forgive me, King of Heroes," Kirei said, bowing his head with respect. "Shall I go and retrieve her now?"
"Bringing her back would be the right thing, yes, but that would only spoil the game," Gilgamesh replied with a smirk. "Kirei, you must learn patience and learn to savor the process. Rushing will only yield bitter, unripe fruit."
"Understood."
As for the one they spoke of, she was presently in a luxurious hotel room in downtown Fuyuki. This five-star establishment, the finest in the city, boasted elegant, lavish decor and opulent furnishings. While it was no match for six- or seven-star hotels abroad, it was still outstanding.
Everything in the suite was tastefully extravagant, from the plush wool carpets to the intricately carved pearwood furniture. Masterful oil paintings adorned the walls, and an ornate crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, adding an air of grandeur.
At the room's center, a lavish bed stood resplendent. Large enough to fit four or five people, it was crafted from sandalwood, with delicate patterns carved into the frame. A soft feather duvet covered it, and from above, a sheer canopy cascaded down like mist, shrouding the bed's interior in mystery.
Behind the veil, faint, indistinct shadows intertwined on the bed, accompanied by whispered sighs that drifted faintly through the air, a soft melody in the silence of the night.
As dawn broke, tranquility returned to the room.
Clear sunlight shone through the windows, casting a gentle glow over the bed. Perhaps feeling the light, the person in bed furrowed her brows, long lashes fluttering as she slowly opened her hazy eyes.
Instinctively, she reached out, but her arm found only emptiness beside her.
"Already gone?" Kaguya sat up and stretched languidly, her bare, graceful figure bathed in morning light.
Recalling the previous night, Kaguya's lips curved into a mischievous smile.
"Ah, saying no, but your body was so honest," she murmured with a smirk. Who would've thought that the steadfast King of Knights would reveal such an expression? It was truly a surprise.
But to her surprise, Saber hadn't attacked her come morning; she'd simply slipped away. Kaguya had half-expected to wake up with Saber furiously swinging her sword.
"What a cute girl," Kaguya mused, brushing her fingertips across her lips, savoring the lingering trace of fragrance from last night.
Yet something felt different this morning, as though the night's events had bestowed a change. Her body brimmed with mana, full to bursting, leaving her feeling almost overly sated.
Could the tales of "mana replenishment" actually be true?
Though Kaguya had enjoyed a wonderful evening, her lingering doubts had only grown.
There was an unsettling sense that something was amiss, as if everything was more convoluted than it appeared.
Why had she found out that Tohsaka Rin and Sakura had moved days ago, just after she'd picked up the "Urban Legends" and left? Why had Berserker, not Rider, unexpectedly disguised himself as her and abducted Irisviel? And just as she'd been on her way back, Saber had conveniently appeared in her path and fought her.
Everything felt like looking at a reflection in water or a flower in fog—obscured by dense layers of mystery, like something was intentionally stalling her.
Stalling…
Kaguya's brows furrowed as she pressed a fingertip to her chin, deep in thought.
If someone were indeed trying to keep her away, delaying her return, then everything fell into place.
But why keep her from returning? Could someone be planning something sinister and worried she would interfere, going as far as to ensure she'd be absent?
Suddenly, a flash of realization struck her like a bolt of lightning, dispersing the mist in her mind.
Could Kirei Kotomine be planning to make a move on Tokiomi Tohsaka?
If that were the case, then everything made sense. Kaguya was bound by an agreement with Tokiomi and counted as an ally. With her present, Kirei would certainly be restrained; even with Gilgamesh on his side, Kirei would find it difficult to kill Tokiomi. And if he were exposed, Tokiomi would likely use a command spell to dispose of Gilgamesh immediately.
There was no time to waste—she needed to hurry back. Even if Tokiomi had already been harmed, returning now might offer a small window of opportunity.
With that thought, Kaguya made her decision. She stepped forward, launching herself into the air, streaking swiftly in the direction of Tokiomi's villa.
As she rode the wind, her lips curled into a cold smile, a faint purple gleam flashing in her clear eyes. If these people dared to manipulate even her, then it would be time to settle accounts. Being toyed with was enough to make her feel entirely irritated—but thankfully, it hadn't been all for nothing.
After about the time it would take to drink a cup of tea, she heard the distant clang of weapons clashing. From ahead, the sounds of battle were carried by the wind, and it was clear the fight was fierce. Far off, trees were being sliced down in swathes, debris scattering amid billowing dust clouds.
In Fuyuki City, there were only a handful with the strength for this kind of devastation, and those would all be Servants.
When she arrived, Kaguya stopped in surprise. The two combatants were both familiar to her. One was a small-framed, beautiful young woman clad in pale blue armor—Saber, whom she had parted from not long ago. The other wore black armor that emitted dark, misty energy like a cloud of shadows. It was Berserker.
Why were they here? Doubt stirred in her heart.
The battle between the two had reached a fever pitch. The air around them crackled with their intense mana, whipping up violent gales as though their power had taken physical form.
With a series of explosive clashes, sparks scattered as Saber's sword locked with Berserker's. Blades flashed, tearing down thick trees and splitting stones with each strike, shattering rocks that sent debris hurtling through the air, stirring up clouds of dust.
Both fighters were unyielding, but Saber was clearly at a disadvantage. Her breathing had grown heavy, sweat glistened on her forehead, and her body was sheened in a thin layer of perspiration. Even more telling were her arms, which had begun to tremble slightly—a detail likely unnoticed by others but one that Kaguya's keen eyes quickly caught.
Was it perhaps due to last night's "mana replenishment" that Saber was already so exhausted?
In hindsight, she had indeed gone overboard the previous night, trying out various positions and pushing Saber beyond her limits. By morning, Saber's legs had wobbled when she left, and though she had been on the verge of cutting down the peacefully sleeping Kaguya, something had stopped her.
Suddenly, Saber halted, clutching her sword with a surge of mana. A powerful aura erupted from her like a raging tornado, stirring a fierce gust. At that moment, Saber's sword began to glow, revealing its true form as it emitted a dazzling golden light that intensified like the rising sun.
Kaguya's eyes widened in shock, immediately recognizing what was happening. Without hesitation, she pushed off with a burst of speed, shooting forward like an arrow from the bowstring.
Saber was about to unleash her Noble Phantasm, Excalibur. In her current condition, wielding such a powerful attack would only lead to severe consequences. Forcing it out would result in intense exhaustion—she might even face a fate similar to what befell her in Fate/stay night, fading away altogether.
But before Kaguya could use her Yellow Springs Hirazaka technique to intervene, it was too late. Saber's sword had already transformed into a golden beam, launching forward like a radiant arc across the sky.
With a deafening roar, an immense surge of golden energy exploded outward, sweeping over everything like an unstoppable tidal wave, leveling everything around it. Stones cracked, trees were uprooted, dust billowed, and golden light shot into the sky.
When the chaos subsided, the once-lush forest had been completely altered. The landscape had turned into a desolate wasteland, and a massive crater scarred the earth. Shattered trees and burnt leaves were scattered across the ground, exuding a scorched scent.
As the dust cleared, Berserker's form became visible. His black armor was broken and warped like twisted scrap metal, with smoke rising from his body, and blood spurted from his wounds, pooling around him and staining the earth dark red.
He was beyond recovery, and in moments, Berserker's body disintegrated into fragments of light, dissipating into the air.
Berserker's fate was of little interest to Kaguya; her only concern was Saber. She darted over to Saber's side in a flash, catching her frail body in her arms.
Seeing Saber's injuries, Kaguya's eyes widened.