[Semiramis frowned as she looked at the damaged arm guard.]
[Achilles: "Hmph, if I really wanted to kill you, I would've pierced through your armor, your arms, and your face."]
[Semiramis: "Maybe, but Rider, what you did just now was practically suicide."]
[Achilles: "I never agreed to changing my Master. Although I've never met my original Master, I can't betray him."]
[Amakusa Shirou: "This is probably just a difference in opinion. You didn't actually betray me."]
Tohsaka Rin: "Hmm? Achilles, you've never met your Master?"
Achilles: "Yeah, I'm afraid he was already under control by then."
[Atalanta: "Lancer, why are you interfering? Are you seriously going to acknowledge this guy as a Master?"]
[Karna: "Strictly speaking, he is a Master. But even I never agreed to a change in Master. You're just acting too hastily. Shouldn't we first figure out the truth of the situation?"]
Waver: "Honestly, Karna, your attitude is unsettling."
Tohsaka Rin: "Yeah, at least pretend. In the video, it's obvious you've sided with Amakusa Shirou."
Atalanta: "You seem kind of hypocritical."
Karna: "..."
He had no further explanation. After all, the situation in the video spoke for itself.
[Amakusa Shirou looked at Jeanne and said, "This Holy Grail War is as good as decided. Besides Assassin, there are only three Black Faction Servants remaining. So, Archer of Black, what do you plan to do in this situation?"]
[Chiron: "...It doesn't matter. Considering the current circumstances, Ruler is effectively on our side, and your Red Servants don't seem very united."]
["And what do you think of Black's Caster?"]
[Amakusa Shirou's gaze shifted to Avicebron, who had just arrived.]
["Honestly, I don't understand why you didn't attack Black's forces all at once and eliminate them entirely. The Command Seals in Ruler's hands wouldn't have stopped you."]
[Avicebron responded slowly: "Not to mention Archer and Ruler, if I were besieged by your forces, I would surely be annihilated. So I wonder—do you have any conditions to propose?"]
[Chiron: "Caster, you!"]
[It wasn't hard for him to understand that Avicebron was stalling, waiting for an offer.]
Tohsaka Rin: "Wow, someone's defecting even faster."
Waver: "Thankfully, the Black team isn't watching right now. Otherwise, things would have exploded again."
Kayneth: "It's clear that once today's quiz is over, the Black team will completely fall apart."
[Amakusa Shirou: "Indeed, Avicebron. Personally, I hope you'll surrender."]
[Avicebron: "But if you don't kill me, the Holy Grail won't activate, correct?"]
[Amakusa Shirou: "That's fine. I understand the Greater Holy Grail better than anyone. You don't need to worry. My wish and your wish can coexist without conflict."]
["Of course, that's assuming your wish is what I've guessed it to be."]
[Avicebron: "...I have one condition."]
[Amakusa Shirou: "Please tell me. I'll do my best to fulfill it."]
[Avicebron: "Regarding my former Master, Roche Frain Yggdmillennia, may I handle the matter personally?"]
[Amakusa Shirou: "You mean, ensure no harm comes to him."]
[Semiramis: "Oh, what a loyal Servant. You're willing to use yourself as a bargaining chip to protect your Master?"]
["Caster, you—!" Chiron's voice grew colder, reflecting his mounting anger.]
[Ignoring Chiron, Avicebron stepped forward and began negotiating a contract with Amakusa Shirou.]
[When Chiron tried to stop him, Karna intervened, preventing him from interfering.]
[Thus, with Roche left confused in the castle, Avicebron officially switched allegiances.]
---
Tohsaka Rin: "Well, at least this guy has some sense of loyalty."
Kayneth: "This is what they call a wise bird choosing the best tree to roost in. After all, Black's finished."
Waver: "Yeah, the Black team is done for. Only Caster and Archer remain. Actually, scratch that—now it's just Archer."
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "I doubt Archer will last much longer either."
Kayneth: "Haha, this really is shaping up to be a decisive one-shot battle."
---
[With his new Servant on board, Amakusa Shirou seemed pleased. "Surround them," he ordered.]
[Avicebron: "Understood, my lord."]
[At his command, several golems pushed open the doors, sealing them tightly and trapping Jeanne and Chiron inside.]
Illya: "Wow, Avicebron really has the traitor role down to a science."
Waver: "Now they're completely surrounded. Jeanne and Chiron are in big trouble."
Jeanne: "..."
---
[Amakusa Shirou: "Although I dislike using these methods, Ruler, your existence hinders my plans. So, I must eliminate both you and Black's Archer here."]
[At Amakusa Shirou's signal, Avicebron commanded his golems to attack, throwing the scene into chaos.]
["Archer, Lancer, Rider, join the fight if possible," Amakusa Shirou said, addressing the Red trio. "Or are you refraining because of the dignity of Heroic Spirits? Lancer, what's your take?"]
["I have no interest in accusing others of vile behavior. But if it must be done here, then so be it," Karna replied. "However, Shirou, I doubt your wish will be fulfilled."]
[Suddenly, a red lightning bolt streaked through the room, slicing multiple golems to pieces.]
[Needless to say, it was Mordred.]
---
Tohsaka Rin: "Oh, that's a bit unexpected."
Kotomine Shirou: "It seems we're still on opposing sides, Saber."
Mordred: "You're just spewing nonsense."
Sisigou: "Kotomine Shirou, don't forget—you were the one who started this. If I hadn't been more cautious, I might've shared the same fate as the others."
---
["I see," Amakusa Shirou said with a smile. Without Mordred's helmet, her identity was clear.]
["The Saber of the Red Faction—you, the one who ended King Arthur's glorious legend. The rebellious knight, Mordred."]
[Mordred: "Hmph! Don't go shouting my name everywhere!"]
[Semiramis: "Saber, are you betraying me?"]
[Mordred: "Are you stupid? You betrayed me first! Didn't you use underhanded tricks to kill my Master? From that moment, you became my enemy!"]
[Without hesitation, Mordred swung her sword. The powerful slash split the entire hall in two, separating Amakusa Shirou and Jeanne.]
[Then, two smoke bombs were tossed into the room, turning the lobby into a foggy battlefield. Jeanne and Chiron seized the opportunity to escape.]
---
Semiramis: "Hmph, you're not as foolish as you look."
Sisigou: "Miss, I'm a bounty hunter. Without brains, I'd have died ages ago."
[With their opponent clearly stronger, retreat was the best option. As for why Sisigou risked rescuing Jeanne and Chiron? To keep potential allies for the future—after all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.]
[Once the smoke cleared, before Amakusa Shirou could issue new orders, Avicebron volunteered to lead his golems in pursuit of Jeanne and the others.]
[However, as Avicebron pursued, he secretly contacted Roche via magic. Unaware of the situation, Roche followed his instructions and retrieved Avicebron's "core" from the basement.]
---
Tohsaka Rin: "Wow, this feels like Mission Impossible."
Waver: "Core? What on earth is Avicebron planning?"
---
[Meanwhile, after Jeanne and Chiron escaped from the Hanging Garden of Babylon, Mordred immediately left. Jeanne and Chiron proceeded to the edge of the fortress, intending to return to the Yggdmillennia castle.]
[The Black Faction suffered heavy losses during this battle, and Jeanne hoped to deal with Amakusa Shirou by forming an alliance.]
[Of course, this cooperation was currently just Chiron's wish. Convincing others would take effort.]
[Unbeknownst to Chiron, he was the Black Faction's last remaining Servant.]
[And Jeanne wasn't opposing Amakusa Shirou merely because he wanted to kill her.]
[Though he claimed to want to save humanity, Jeanne could sense that his methods would lead to something terrifying.]
---
Jeanne: "Amakusa Shirou, what exactly is your wish for the Holy Grail?"
Kotomine Shirou: "Let's save that discussion for after I obtain the Grail. Or wait a few more days—you'll see the end soon enough."
---
[Elsewhere, Mordred, carrying Sisigou, leapt from the Hanging Garden of Babylon. Sisigou's life flashed before his eyes, thinking he was about to die.]
[As for Avicebron, he rode his golems back to the ground but did not continue the chase. Instead, he met up with Roche.]
[Roche eagerly awaited with the "core", a massive, barrel-shaped key.]
[Excited, he could already guess what Avicebron was planning: the summoning of the ultimate golem they had secretly worked on together.]
***
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