Although her appearance remained that of a young girl, Artoria was a true knight.
In the concept of chivalry, launching a sneak attack while others were dueling was a despicable and shameless act.
Furthermore, Iskandar before her had other pressing concerns.
Artoria raised her head, looking towards the place where the bullet had flown from.
A person holding a sniper rifle came into her field of vision. Their silhouette was sharp against the fiery backdrop.
The young swordswoman could feel a magical energy supply connection between herself and him. A familiar tether, despite his hidden presence.
Yes.
This was her Master, the man named Kiritsugu Emiya, who had never shown himself.
The moment she confirmed his identity, an extremely strong feeling of repulsion was born within her. A deep-seated conflict arose in her heart.
She could feel that Kiritsugu Emiya's nature and her own code of conduct were in severe contradiction. Their principles clashed like steel on stone.
He wanted to achieve victory by killing other Masters, not hesitating to use underhanded means for that purpose. His methods were those of an assassin.
Meanwhile, she hoped to determine the final victor through honorable duels fought in the open. Her ideals were those of a knight.
Whether in terms of concepts or methods of action, there was absolutely no compatibility between the two of them. Their paths were fundamentally different.
Artoria finally understood why Kiritsugu Emiya had directly made Irisviel his proxy Master from the beginning.
Because if he had truly made her cooperate with his actions, irreconcilable contradictions would have surely arisen. Their partnership would have crumbled.
Compared to that, proactively making Irisviel the proxy and then arranging the action plan from behind was naturally much safer. It allowed him to work in the shadows.
In the sea of fire, Kiritsugu Emiya also noticed Artoria's obstruction. He saw her intervention.
The two, one high above and one below, stared at each other. An unspoken disagreement was clearly evident between them.
However—
This mutual gaze did not last too long.
Because Kiritsugu Emiya soon disappeared from Artoria's sight. He vanished from her view.
What happened?! She wondered.
Had he left?! Her mind raced with possibilities.
Artoria couldn't help but consider many things.
She did indeed feel repulsion towards Kiritsugu Emiya.
But she cared very much about Irisviel, who was her friend. A bond of affection held her concern.
However—
The truth of the matter was not that complicated.
On the rooftop of the building surrounded by the great fire, Kiritsugu Emiya lay slumped on the ground. His body felt heavy.
The sniper rifle that had just fired the Origin Bullet now lay quietly beside him, unmoving, as if witnessing a death. Its cold metal felt heavy in the silent air.
To improve the accuracy of the Origin Bullet, Kiritsugu Emiya had specifically used his magecraft "Time Alter: Double Accel" when firing it. He distorted time around himself.
This was a powerful magecraft that could accelerate or decelerate his own time.
Under its effect, Kiritsugu Emiya could complete all aiming and shooting of firearms within an extremely short period (at least, so it seemed from the outside). Actions unfolded in a blur.
This was also one of the reasons why he was extremely efficient in handling matters as an assassin. His speed was terrifying.
But—
It was not without cost. There was a price to pay for manipulating time.
The adjusted time would not disappear; after the magecraft ended, it would return to normal. The compressed time would snap back into place.
Kiritsugu Emiya's internal time would also be forcibly restored to its original state through physical means. His body would reel from the sudden shift.
The most obvious reactions included accelerated blood flow, a geometrically rising heart rate, and ruptured capillaries due to the sudden high-speed flow. Pain shot through him.
If it were during normal times, the situation might not have been so bad.
After all, to avoid dying from this magecraft, Kiritsugu Emiya would usually only activate the less impactful double speed or double stagnation.
With a little rest and some healing magecraft for assistance, he could recover.
But the current situation was not that easy.
This great fire, caused by Caster and sweeping through multiple blocks, was far more complex than imagined. The heat was intense, suffocating.
The time it would take for Kiritsugu Emiya to recover where he was would be enough to turn him into charcoal. The flames licked at the edges of the rooftop.
He felt his vision becoming increasingly blurry, as if everything around him was melting. The world warped before his eyes.
Was he going to die in a place like this? He thought grimly.
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible, he told himself.
The man struggled to crawl back up in the fire. His muscles ached.
He knew that there was still something he absolutely had to accomplish. His mission was not yet complete.
Meanwhile, the duel between Iskandar and Sakata Kintoki was still ongoing. They fought fiercely amidst the flames.
They did not know what Sir Ian had done in the shadows.
At this moment, the eyes of the two Servants were fixed only on each other, on the opponent they were attacking.
The Gordias Wheel, driven by Iskandar, reached its maximum speed. The divine bulls surged forward.
Of course.
This was only the limit that could be reached at the current level.
After all—
The Holy Grail War was not solely determined by the Servants themselves; the capability of the Master also affected the actual performance.
And Waver's amateur level as a magus had instead become a restriction for Iskandar at this moment. His lack of power held Rider back.
The Gordias Wheel pulverized the ground it traveled upon. Buildings crumbled in its path.
Lightning bolts streaked behind the divine bulls, like the exhaust fumes of a race car, looking incredibly destructive. The air crackled with power.
But Sakata Kintoki, holding his halberd, was not afraid of this. His stance was firm.
Furthermore, he seemed to have become even more excited because he saw that his opponent also wielded the power of lightning. A grin spread across his face.
"Golden—!" he roared, his voice full of exhilaration.
Bang—!
The two forces collided, plunging everything into white light. A blinding flash erupted at the point of impact.
The bright flames in the blocks were momentarily overshadowed by the flickering of the lightning, their original color replaced by the brilliant discharge.
[This was an extremely fierce Servant confrontation.]
[But it also made Waver feel the cruelty of the Holy Grail War.]
[At that time, he only felt that the scene was incredibly shocking.]
[But thinking back now, he only found how much his own existence had hindered things.]
[He couldn't provide enough magical energy for Iskandar, and he also made him restricted everywhere because he needed to protect him.]
"Teacher Waver?"
"Teacher Waver!"
"Teacher Waver?!"
Tohsaka Sakura called out three times in succession, finally pulling Waver back from his memories of the past. His eyes blinked, returning to the present.
"What's wrong with you?" she asked, concern in her voice.
"..."
Waver, recalling the unpleasant past, became somewhat annoyed. His expression hardened.
He spoke quite angrily:
"It's nothing!" he snapped.
"Stop asking me about these things!" he demanded.
"Just go and read the report properly yourself!" he instructed curtly.
After saying this, Waver tossed his hair and sat down directly on the other side of the hall. His back was stiff.
Tohsaka Sakura was a little taken aback, unsure how to react.
And just at this moment, Vivian, who had just finished the check-in procedures, walked back. Her steps were light.
Seeing her student standing there, she asked:
"Sakura, what's wrong?"
Seeing that it was her teacher Vivian, Tohsaka Sakura didn't think too much and directly told her everything that had just happened, without omitting anything. Her words tumbled out.
After listening, Vivian glanced at Waver not far away and smiled. A gentle, understanding smile.
"Isn't this very normal?" she said softly.
"Sakura, Teacher Waver is someone who was eliminated in the Holy Grail War... how could he possibly be willing to recall the events of that period?" she explained the situation.
"Huh?"
Tohsaka Sakura seemed a little confused. Her brow furrowed slightly.
"Does that mean if you failed, you can't talk about it anymore?" she asked, puzzled.
"No," Vivian shook her head, refuting the idea. "It's not that the old matters cannot be mentioned again," she clarified.
Speaking of this, the witch appeared a little sad. A shadow crossed her face.
"It's that it's difficult to face the memories of living together with a Servant," she said, her voice tinged with melancholy.
"Difficult to face the memories of living together with a Servant?" Tohsaka Sakura repeated, trying to understand.
"Yes," Vivian nodded.
"After all, in the end, a Servant isn't a machine or anything," she explained simply.
"They are people who truly existed in history, just like us," she stated the profound truth.
"As long as they are human, they will definitely have emotions... it's quite normal for various kinds of thoughts to arise during this process," she mused.
"I think—"
"The reason Teacher Waver is so resistant to remembering those things is probably because of this," she concluded.
"..."
"Is that really true?" Tohsaka Sakura didn't seem to fully agree with this explanation. Doubt lingered in her eyes.
But Vivian didn't mind.
She quickly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, Sakura, what is it that you want to know?"
"Teacher has another investigation report here," she offered kindly.
"Maybe it can help you," she suggested.
"Eh?!"
Tohsaka Sakura blinked her eyes, looking completely surprised that Vivian would say something like that. Her mouth parted slightly.
But she quickly realized that the other person wasn't joking. Vivian's expression was serious.
After thinking for a moment, she asked the question in her heart.
"Teacher... where did this report come from?" she inquired cautiously.
"Theoretically, at the Clock Tower, the only person who could know about the Holy Grail War is Teacher Waver, right?" she reasoned, laying out her understanding.
"..."
"Yes, Sakura, you are correct," Vivian did not deny what Tohsaka Sakura had deduced. Her analysis was sound.
"So—"
"This is not a report from the Clock Tower," she revealed.
"Then where is it from?" Tohsaka Sakura pressed.
"The Church," Vivian said, word by word. Her voice was low.
"There was also a witness from the Church regarding the fire caused by Caster," she explained.
"They revealed a fact: that in this subjugation, Caster was not the only Servant who died," she stated, dropping a heavy truth.
[This was a record of the Fourth Holy Grail War from another perspective.]
[The provider was Kirei Kotomine, who worked for the Church.]
[But including Vivian, who received it, no one knew that this was a fabricated record.]
[Behind it lay a more cruel truth.]
Let's go back to the moment of the fire ten years ago.
The Via Expugnatio and the Golden Spar created an extremely terrifying collision. Power met power in a devastating impact.
The surrounding buildings that were previously burning were all shattered by the shockwave generated by their collision. Dust and debris filled the air.
Countless fragments flew in the air, merging with the lightning under the illumination of the fierce fire, forming a series of blades. The swirling debris became sharp projectiles.
But miraculously, after that, Waver found himself unharmed. He was untouched by the destruction.
However, he soon understood what was happening—it was his Servant Iskandar who had blocked everything. Rider had shielded him.
But this cheerful King of Conquerors did not look very good. His breathing was ragged.
"Rider, are you alright?" Waver asked anxiously, his voice filled with worry.
"No problem," Iskandar panted heavily, catching his breath.
"I just feel a little short of breath, that's all," he admitted, though his strength seemed strained.
"But—"
This generous hero looked at Sakata Kintoki before him.
Although he didn't know the other's name yet, he already felt a hint of admiration in his heart. His opponent had proven his might.
After all, this was someone who had squarely taken on the Via Expugnatio; his strength was naturally quite good.
"I won't stop!" he declared, his voice firm despite his labored breathing.
"I absolutely must return to the side of that old couple!" he insisted, his eyes fixed on his goal.
Like a command, the hooves of the divine bulls once again pounded on the ground. Their power surged again.
That was Iskandar's intention to continue the charge. His determination was unwavering.
And just at this moment—
"Wait a moment!"
Artoria's voice carried over to them.
"Rider, if I'm not mistaken, you're in a hurry to save someone, aren't you?" she inquired, her tone calm but purposeful.
"..."
Hearing the voice, Iskandar turned his head and saw the young swordswoman. Her form was small compared to his, but her presence was significant.
"How did you know?" he couldn't help but ask, surprised.
"Because—"
"I witnessed you rushing here all the way from another block," she explained clearly.
"If you weren't in a hurry to save someone, you wouldn't do that, right?" she reasoned simply.
"So?" Iskandar looked at the Saber before him. "What are you trying to say?" he asked, waiting for her point.
Artoria took a deep breath, as if steeling herself. She made a decision.
She spoke:
"Rider, stop this duel!" she urged.
"Go and save the person you want to save first!" she commanded, her voice firm.
"..."
Iskandar's hand moved on the reins. He was taken aback by the Saber before him offering such a suggestion.
For a while, this big man only spoke his second sentence.
"Saber, are you helping me?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"No," Artoria shook her head. "I just understand that feeling of missing an opportunity that won't come again." The weight of past regrets was in her words.
"I... don't want you to engage in a duel with such thoughts," she admitted.
"That wouldn't be fair," she stated, adhering to her knightly code.
"I see."
"Indeed, that makes sense," Iskandar nodded thoughtfully. Her words resonated with him.
"But—" he pointed to Sakata Kintoki nearby, who was also breathing heavily.
"How do you plan to persuade him?" he questioned, indicating the other powerful Servant.
"..."
Artoria did not directly answer Iskandar, but instead directly called out to Sakata Kintoki over there. Her voice was clear and strong.
An idea had already formed in her mind.
That was the protection from her beloved Ian, and now was the time to use it.
"Berserker, stop!" she commanded.
"This person... is also a friend of Father!" she declared, a surprising statement.
These were words that Iskandar and Waver completely failed to understand. They exchanged puzzled glances.
But it quickly took effect like a magic spell, making the restless Sakata Kintoki immediately become docile. His wild energy subsided.
"Golden—!" he exclaimed, a sound of recognition.
"So it's Father's friend, no wonder he's so strong!" he realized, his voice filled with admiration.
"Golden, I'm sorry!" he apologized earnestly.
Watching everything unfold as she had envisioned, Artoria breathed a sigh of relief, and a sense of longing for Ian filled her heart. His memory was a source of strength.
But she knew that now was not the time to dwell on these feelings.
"Alright, Rider," she said, turning back to Iskandar.
"Go and do what you need to do... as for the duel, we can talk about it later!" she instructed him.
Seeing that Sakata Kintoki had indeed cleared a path for him, Iskandar, eager to rescue the couple, didn't think any further.
"Saber, I will remember this kindness of yours," he said gratefully.
"Farewell!" he called out.
Watching Rider ride away, Artoria gave instructions to Sakata Kintoki.
"Berserker," she said.
The young swordswoman looked at the tall building where her Master had fallen. Its silhouette was dark against the flames.
Although she disliked that man greatly, for Irisviel's sake, she still had to go there to confirm the situation.
"I need to leave for a moment; you go back to your Master for now!" she instructed him clearly.
"Gold understands completely," Sakata Kintoki replied obediently.
Sakata Kintoki himself wasn't sure why he trusted Saber so much.
But he felt from the bottom of his heart that she was Father's friend. Her words felt true to him.
If Father were here, he would definitely have him protect her.
No.
Father would probably protect her himself.
So—
He just watched as she walked away. His gaze followed her receding figure.
However, Sakata Kintoki did not realize.
As Artoria walked away, he instead fell into a new crisis after finding his Master, Kariya Matou, together with him.
"Your performance surprises this King."
"To be able to fight Rider to that extent—is worthy of this King's recognition," Gilgamesh's arrogant voice drifted over, mixed with the sparks of fire.
Amidst the crimson landscape, Gilgamesh appeared in the sky. His golden armor gleamed.
"Then—"
"This King shall grant you the supreme reward," he declared imperiously.
Saying this, golden light began to shine from behind Gilgamesh. The Gate of Babylon was opening.
"Berserker," he addressed Sakata Kintoki.
"You and your Master are permitted to die beneath this King's feet," he stated, a chilling pronouncement of doom.