Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Second Front

Eighteen kilometers southwest of the container terminal where the battle was unfolding, the three master-and-apprentice figures were gathered once more in the Tohsaka family's underground magecraft workshop. On the table, the crystal chess pieces representing Lancer and Rider had been placed together at the terminal's location on the map, touching one another.

"It appears this is not a formal engagement, but a sparring match between allies," Kirei Kotomine said, maintaining his sensory link to relay the battlefield situation to Tokiomi Tohsaka and Ryunosuke Uryu. "Rider has summoned five nameless Heroic Spirits to surround Lancer, and the Masters of both sides have gathered together."

"What is the probability of a direct strike against the two Masters?" Tokiomi pondered, moving the piece representing Assassin to the edge of the battlefield.

"Very low. Since they have formed an alliance, the opposing Servants would immediately cease their duel to provide support should an external enemy appear. Before that happens, Assassin's abilities would be insufficient to deal enough damage to force them out of the war—even with Berserker's help." Ryunosuke pushed the Berserker crystal piece forward alongside Assassin, but after a moment of serious thought, he withdrew both pieces.

"If we could persuade the King of Heroes to intervene..." Kirei began, only to shake his head and abandon the suggestion.

Gilgamesh would only act if a Heroic Spirit possessing sufficient strength or charisma appeared. To force him into an act resembling a sneak attack would waste far more than three Command Spells—spells that would be better used to soothe his murderous intent toward those who dared offend him throughout the remainder of the war. Even if one were to explain the danger of the enemy alliance, the only response would likely be, "Garbage gathered together is still just a heap of trash."

"In any case, Ryunosuke, get closer to the site and keep Berserker on standby; there might be an opening," Tokiomi said with a frown. He took the Assassin and Berserker pieces and placed them forcefully onto the marker for the container terminal, causing the Rider and Lancer pieces to wobble. "Kirei, deploy more Assassins. If there is no opportunity to strike the Masters, proceed with the original plan."

"Understood." "Yes."

***

Kiritsugu Emiya was observing the battlefield through his scope.

Thanks to Maiya Hisau's reconnaissance, he had been tracking Lancer ever since the Servant appeared in the Shinto shopping district. He had not overlooked Kayneth, who was trailing behind. The invisibility magecraft Kayneth employed might deceive magic sensors and the naked eye, but it was meaningless before the scope Kiritsugu had specifically modified. Within the sniper sight, the glowing humanoid figure representing the flow of magical energy was crystal clear.

Lancer and Rider were sparring. If he opened fire on the gathered Masters now, there was a high probability of severely wounding or killing one, but it would be impossible to escape the pursuit of the enraged Servants. Even if he called Saber Alter for assistance, she could not withstand a pincer attack from four Servants simultaneously.

Yes, four. There was no doubt Assassin was nearby, and Berserker was likely lurking as well. As for the Archer who had attacked Einzbern Castle that morning, if he had been severely wounded by Saber Lily’s Noble Phantasm, he might be absent.

Kiritsugu’s current advantage was that no one knew he was there, and he had an accomplice.

"Maiya, have you spotted Assassin?" Kiritsugu contacted his assistant at another vantage point in the terminal. He was currently tucked into a gap between high-stacked containers. While the bridge crane offered a better position, he wasn't the only one who would think of that—in fact, only a fool would occupy such a spot. Thus, Kiritsugu had chosen a secondary location.

"From my direction, I can see a hole in the back of a container near the site of the engagement. Assassin might be inside."

"Good. Keep observing for any other approaching Heroic Spirits."

***

Because this was a friendly sparring match, intelligence might be leaked during the fight. Was that why they had dispatched Assassin for close-range surveillance? If so, it might be possible to mislead both sides, causing them to focus their attention on the nearby Assassin. By now, the participants surely knew that Assassin was not a single entity; where one appeared, a group might follow. Once they became vigilant and tightened their defensive lines, that would be his chance to strike.

And the target... Kiritsugu’s scope remained locked on the young man currently being lectured.

To an ordinary mage, this youth named Waver being led by the nose by his own Servant would seem like a grave failure. But to the Mage Killer, it was not good news. His behavior was completely inconsistent with the standard reactions of mages under various circumstances. Furthermore, a Servant granted free will would actively protect its Master; at that point, the sniper rifle would be useless, as its bullets could not penetrate the defenses of a prepared Heroic Spirit.

If he could force Rider to withdraw, the loss of that high-speed vehicle would greatly increase his chances of escape after an attack. However, being the first to strike was a poor strategy. The best option was to stir the waters when Tokiomi Tohsaka lost his patience and ordered Berserker, Assassin, or Archer to intervene.

With this in mind, Kiritsugu continued to monitor the battlefield.

***

Separated by the lane where Rider and Lancer were fighting, Maiya Hisau was positioned on a different stack of containers, directly opposite Kiritsugu. She had chosen her hiding spot per Kiritsugu's instructions, allowing her to monitor the freight exit of the open-air warehouse with a slight turn of her head.

This was not to guard against Servants, who could use spirit form to bypass conventional surveillance. But Masters lacked such abilities. A mage's invisibility could be easily detected by Kiritsugu's modified scope, and if a Servant lacked the "Independent Action" ability, their presence meant their Master was certainly nearby.

Lancer’s provocative behavior during the day would surely attract more than one Master. It was highly likely the Tohsaka camp would send someone to scout—likely the other disciple who hadn't summoned Assassin.

Maiya's task was to report their appearance immediately, allowing Kiritsugu to formulate a strategy based on the situation: either incite a conflict between the two sides or strike one heavily before retreating. Maiya was not adept at such analysis; she might offer her own opinion, but whatever strategy Kiritsugu proposed, she would execute without hesitation. Long years of cooperation had proven it to be the most correct course of action.

"Maiya, any sightings?" Kiritsugu’s voice came through the earpiece.

"No, not yet. But I cannot confirm if Assassin has left that container." Maiya turned her scope to the battlefield, where the duel between Rider and Lancer was nearing its end. The dual-wielding Heroic Spirit had defeated nearly all the soldiers summoned by Rider and was saying something to the red-haired giant on the chariot. The vehicle's exit remained as quiet as ever.

"Keep a close eye on the entrance. The Tohsaka family cannot be doing nothing in this battle," Kiritsugu replied quickly.

"Understood." Maiya hung up after hearing Kiritsugu cut the line.

If the enemy wasn't coming by the main road, they might be using the sewers. But Maiya had already placed bat familiars near all sewer entrances leading into the terminal; even the most paranoid mage could not check every common bat in the tunnels one by one.

"No one can escape my eyes," she whispered to herself.

"Really?"

"Clang—" Maiya drew her tactical knife without hesitation, thrusting it at the smiling young man with orange hair who had appeared abruptly beside her. But before it could strike, it felt as if it had sunk into viscous liquid, unable to move a millimeter.

A mage! She immediately pulled the trigger of the firearm in her other hand, pointing it toward him. Even if it couldn't threaten him, the sound of the gunshot and the bullet would alert Kiritsugu, and it would be even better if it startled the fighting Rider and Lancer.

But the expected gunshot did not ring out. Maiya realized the weapon in her hand had turned a terrifying black, entwined with blood-red lightning. The figure gripping her gun, shrouded in darkness and emanating an ominous magical aura, was, of course...

Before Maiya could think of any way to signal danger, a heavy hand-chop struck the back of her neck. She collapsed slowly onto the container, a look of resentment etched on her face.

***

"Aa—rr—thur—"

Near the riverbank, far from the container battlefield, a bestial roar suddenly erupted. Following the sound, a figure enveloped in ominous black mist charged straight toward a blonde woman in a black suit standing by the water.

"Eh? Wait?" A surprised voice came from where he had lunged. It was Ryunosuke Uryu, carrying the unconscious Maiya Hisau. "What the? Found King Arthur?"

In the midst of his charge, Berserker snatched up a fallen tree. In the next instant, it transformed into a massive, pitch-black weapon entwined with blood-red patterns, swinging viciously toward the blonde woman who seemed not to have reacted.

*Swish—Hum—*

"Huh?" The dodging, parrying, or transformation that Ryunosuke had expected never occurred. The blonde woman in the black suit—presumed to be Saber—simply raised her hand and tossed something resembling a box. Berserker’s terrifying weapon disintegrated and vanished, and the Berserker, who should have lacked self-will, stood frozen on the spot.

Through the emotional link of their magical connection, Ryunosuke even felt a kind of twisted joy—something inconceivable for a Berserker who had been overflowing with hatred.

"Oh, is that you, Sir Lancelot?" The blonde woman turned around. Her imposing countenance and the pressure from her dragon-like, golden-slit pupils left the dark figure almost unable to move. "It seems you still have the potential to acknowledge the methods of governance I adopted."

"Guaaaaaaah—" Berserker snapped out of his trance, stumbling back two steps before lunging at a pile of materials by the road to grab two logs.

"I see. You are not that noble Sir Lancelot who firmly opposed my methods until the very end," Saber Alter sneered. "A knight destined for rebellion—it’s like some kind of curse."

"Aa—rr—thur—" The Berserker transformed the two logs into ominous weapons once more and charged at Saber.

"In that case, I shall release you from this tragic wish." Saber gripped her hands at her side. A vortex, equally filled with black and red, appeared and converged into a blood-red longsword that made Ryunosuke feel endless dread just by looking at it.

As it manifested, it began to absorb the surrounding darkness, causing the area around Saber to brighten instead.

One strike from that sword, and Berserker would surely die.

Ryunosuke turned and ran without hesitation, simultaneously focusing his magical energy on the Command Spells on his hand.

"[Excalibur—]"

"By the name of the Command Spell, Berserker, appear by my side immediately and carry me back to the Tohsaka residence at full speed—"