When Kirei Kotomine brought Satsuki and Angra Mainyu to the Holy Church, it was already near dusk.
The structure was lavish. The pews, carved from redwood, gleamed spotless. Golden lamps adorned the white prayer walls on either side, radiating a soft golden glow. At the center stood the iconic altar, surrounded by ornate decorations.
Awaiting them were Risei Kotomine, the Church's overseer, and Lancer's Master, Kayneth.
As Satsuki and her companion entered the altar area, Risei's gaze upon Angra Mainyu carried clear astonishment.
A brief sweep with her Tenseigan told Satsuki why. The family she had casually chosen as her vessel's template appeared to have deep ties with this Holy Grail War. Though this priest served the Church, as its supervisor of the Grail War, he could not possibly be ignorant of its origins.
Especially since he himself had once organized the Third Holy Grail War.
"How rare. Two Einzbern participants in this Holy Grail War?" Risei's words carried a peculiar tone. "Compared to that, the appearance of a Servant straying beyond the Seven Classes hardly seems unacceptable."
Satsuki cared little for his speculation, but it did not seem hostile from his stance. At least openly, Angra Mainyu was the Master. She stepped forward to exchange greetings with Risei and Kayneth. Naturally, her true name could not be revealed, so she improvised one on the spot.
"Miss Iphis, to encounter a magus like you in a small place like Fuyuki City is quite astonishing." Kayneth's first impression of her was favorable. "May I ask which department at the Clock Tower you are studying under?"
"Lord Kayneth, even in remote places one hears of your genius," Angra Mainyu replied smoothly. "Since birth I have been trained within my family. I have never studied abroad."
"Oh, such a conservative family… er…"
Kayneth nearly criticized her family's ways, but her calm demeanor dissuaded him. No, it was certainly not because her earlier flattery left him embarrassed.
Meanwhile, Father Risei wore a helpless smile.
Roughly an hour had passed since the signal summoning Masters had been sent. Yet only two had arrived in person, while four familiars gathered in their stead. Apart from Caster's Master, Ryuunosuke, who lacked the ability to perceive the signal, all other Masters had dispatched "representatives." Even Tokiomi Tohsaka had sent only a familiar.
This too was understandable. After all, Archer's encounter with the mysterious eighth Servant had been anything but pleasant. The Masters held deep wariness toward a Servant capable of repelling Gilgamesh head-on.
After a brief preface, the old priest addressed the pews:
"The Holy Grail War, the means to realize your dearest wishes, now faces a grave crisis. Ordinarily, the Grail grants its power only to those who seek it alongside their Heroic Spirits. Yet now, one betrayer has emerged. Together with his Servant, he has turned that gift to satisfy shallow desires."
Perhaps accustomed to sermons, Risei continued speaking regardless of his audience's reactions.
"Caster's Master. Yesterday we discovered he is the culprit behind Fuyuki's recent serial murders and kidnappings. Using his Servant to commit crimes, he makes no effort to hide them. Such blatant violations of secrecy—surely you all know the consequences."
Satsuki and Angra Mainyu showed no response, but fury twisted Kayneth's face. Through their familiars, the other Masters likely wavered as well. Just as Tokiomi had that morning, their reactions were normal for magi. (Kiritsugu Emiya, of course, was the exception.)
"He and his Servant are no longer merely your personal enemies. They are now enemies of the Holy Grail itself, a threat to the summoning ritual. Therefore, by my authority as supervisor, I hereby enact an emergency change to the rules of the Holy Grail War."
Speaking solemnly, Risei Kotomine rolled up his right sleeve, revealing his arm. Though his muscles had aged, the traces of former strength still lingered. From elbow to wrist, strange markings covered his skin like tattoos—yet every Master present knew at a glance what they truly were.
"These were retrieved from past Holy Grail Wars and entrusted to me as this War's overseer. The Command Spells left behind by Masters who lost their Servants before the final battle."
At this proof, none could doubt the priest's authority. The Command Spells—also called Holy Seals—were the mark of those bound to the Grail War. Beyond their symbolic meaning, they were tools to control Servants. Though miraculous in nature, they were still a consumable enchantment, capable of being transplanted or transferred by ritual.
"I may grant these spare Command Spells at my discretion. You who hold Servants should understand their value."
His tone grew fervent, drifting into a sermon.
"All Masters shall cease their current battles. Join forces to annihilate Caster. To whomever accomplishes this task, I will award additional Command Spells as a special measure. If one Master alone achieves it, they alone shall receive them. If several cooperate, all contributors shall be rewarded. Once Caster's destruction is confirmed, the Grail War shall resume."
Lowering his sleeve again, Risei asked: "Now then, if there are questions, speak."
The church fell into a murmur. Chairs scraped, footsteps sounded, voices blended in confusion, then gradually faded as most departed. The announcement was clear; there was no reason to remain. Masters had new tasks to prepare for.
Yet not all left. Satsuki, Angra Mainyu, Kayneth, and Kirei Kotomine remained.
"Since you have finished, Father, I have a commission I wish to make under the Church's witness—to Miss Iphis and the executor of the Holy Church."
"You mean you wish to commission me to send my Servant against Saber's Master?"
"Exactly." Kayneth nodded. "As one of a magus family, you know well the bond between magecraft and secrecy. Yet Saber's Master, Kiritsugu Emiya, disregards all rules of magecraft, even exposing the existence of our battles to the public. In effect, his deeds are no different from Caster's Master."
"There is a difference, Lord Kayneth. At the very least, I have yet to see reports of casualties from that Hyatt Hotel attack."
"This…" For a moment, Kayneth faltered. Was it not precisely because her Servant had contained the damage? Why ask what he already knew?
"In truth, you need only phrase it directly: Kiritsugu Emiya's existence threatens your life. Therefore, you are willing to pay a price to hire us to erase him."
Her refined face bore a pure smile, but her words were cold enough to chill the blood.
"Such a commission does not displease me. But does the Holy Church consent?"
Facing the altar's statue, Risei spoke slowly: "As supervisor of this Grail War, after reviewing Kiritsugu Emiya's actions in detail, I grant Lord Kayneth's request."
"Good."
Iphis turned her gaze back to Kayneth, her voice sweet as music: "As one of the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower, what price are you prepared to offer?"
While Angra Mainyu—under the alias of Iphis—conversed with Kayneth, Satsuki fixed her gaze upon a certain point in the sky, as if observing something unseen.
"Mysterious Servant, we have crossed paths many times now. Will you still not share your true name?"
Lancer—Karna, son of the Sun God—appeared beside her in spirit form.
"I have many titles. But in this position, the name most fitting for you to know is Satsuki Ōtsutsuki."
"Satsuki Ōtsutsuki?" Karna repeated. "That seems a Japanese name. Yet I know of no Heroic Spirit by such a surname."
"That is not the point." Satsuki coolly saw through his discomfort. "Speak plainly, Lancer. What is your purpose in approaching me?"
"…Was it so obvious?"
For a brief moment his face stiffened, then returned to its usual solemn composure, eyes sharp and filled with confidence.
"This time, I indeed come with a personal matter, seeking your help."
"What is it?"
"I wish for you to investigate the Servant summoned as Berserker in this Holy Grail War," Karna said, somewhat uneasy. "Just earlier, I felt a sudden intuition—that he may be someone connected to me."
Connected to Karna?
Satsuki's expression showed intrigue. If he believed so, it could only mean another figure from Indian mythology.
And for one of Satsuki's identities, the gods of India held a subtle connection. Yet the shroud of her Vipralopa's power concealed that side well enough.
Even so, she spoke frankly.
"Even if your intuition proves true, even if he was once your comrade, as a Berserker he will most likely be beyond reason. The result of meeting him may be nothing but bloodshed." Satsuki's golden Tenseigan flicked toward a distant direction. "At that time, I will not show mercy."
"Do not worry. He is not one so easily defeated."
At those words, Karna fell into silence.
Turning back, Satsuki's radiant eyes locked upon Lancer. "I accept. But I have one condition."
Before he could ask, she continued: "Next time we fight, use your full strength. Defeating you easily brings me no satisfaction."
With that, her figure vanished from the world, leaving Karna standing dumbfounded.
After a long while, he murmured to himself: "If that is your wish, then I must answer it."
...
Elsewhere, Iphis and Kayneth concluded their negotiations. The terms: to transfer the right to wish upon the Grail after victory.
Ordinarily, such a condition could never be considered. If wishes could be traded, there would be no need to fight the Holy Grail War at all.
But Kayneth admitted it openly: he had not joined the War for any dire necessity. Rather, he sought only to add a tale of valor to his legacy. To be recorded as a deed of "military achievement." Though he did not underestimate the desperation of the Three Founding Families, his arrogance as Lord El-Melloi assured him that his genius alone could outmatch them.
After all, he had crafted a supreme Mystic Code like the Volumen Hydrargyrum at only twenty-five years of age.
His brilliance was undeniable. He had every right to his pride.
Yet to Iphis, the agreement was laughable. As All the World's Evil, she knew the truth: this Holy Grail War was already tainted by her corruption. No wish could ever be granted properly.
But that mattered little to her. The only thing that truly held her attention was the Heroic Spirit who had pulled her from the abyss of darkness.
In her eyes, that figure had shown only the nature of a battle maniac these past days. Fighting this one, clashing with that one, yet never striking to kill.
Angra Mainyu knew full well the true might of her Servant. If Satsuki chose to unleash her real power, this Holy Grail War would end in an instant.
On their way back, Angra Mainyu could no longer contain her doubt. For the first time, she asked: "Why did you drag me into this war? What is it you want?"
"There is no special purpose. If I must name one, it is to explore the unknown and challenge the strong."
"And what do you gain from this?"
"My ultimate goal has never been about gaining some tangible result. That is but part of the cause and effect. I am simply enjoying the process."
At last, Angra Mainyu understood the nature of her Servant, and could not help but complain: "You truly are selfish."
Selfish? Perhaps.
Satsuki did not deny it. She bore few bonds, few shackles. Even if they existed, she could sever them without hesitation. That was the primal, final state of existence for any living being.
Her former life had sought to escape such a state. Yet now, she relished it.
At that moment, an old warning instinct stirred in Satsuki's heart. Instinctively, her gaze lifted once more to the starry sky, her eyes glimmering with a mysterious light.
Even Angra Mainyu at her side sensed the sudden surge of unusual power from her.
"What is it?"
"It seems Berserker has awakened earlier than I expected. Did something change?" Satsuki murmured, her gaze drifting toward a place she found distasteful.
"Return first. There is something I must deal with."
With those words, Satsuki vanished, leaving behind only the princess-like figure of Angra Mainyu. She stomped her foot in frustration, then resignedly turned back the way they had come.
By now, it was deep into the night.
When Satsuki reappeared, she stood before a mansion built upon a spiritual foundation—the Matou residence, one of the Three Families of the Holy Grail War. In her Tenseigan's sight, they had long hidden behind shrouds of mystery.
It was not their strength that warranted caution. Magi in this world were simply too weak—pitifully so. Flesh corrupted with insects, bodies ravaged, spirits broken, all to produce worthless magic circuits. Their methods were too crude to even deserve her scorn.
Thus, she wasted no words on these "insects." Extending her hand, she summoned a storm of Truth-Seeking Orbs that surged toward the mansion.
But just as the storm was about to engulf the Matou estate, a black humanoid figure appeared before her.
With a single raised hand, he effortlessly dissolved the attack.
Suspended in the air, golden mechanical wings stretched from his back. Around him floated six orbs, each differing in size and color, like planets adrift in orbit. His long white hair flowed freely, and a pair of blue horns jutted from his forehead—proof of a non-human nature.
In his eyes, Satsuki saw neither the madness of Berserker nor the reason of man. Instead, there was only emptiness—an inhuman coldness. Not the gaze of a beast, but the scanning of a machine.
There was no need for words. This was no human being, but a Heroic Spirit sung of in myth.
Berserker!