The Fortress of Millennia stood at the northeastern edge of Trifas, surrounded by roughly three hectares of forest. Trifas itself rose steadily from west to east, with the fortress situated at its highest point.
Around nine o'clock that evening, Kairi Sisigou and Mordred began scouting from the southern outskirts of Trifas, hoping to find a suitable vantage point to observe the fortress.
By now, night had fallen. The pale moon hid shyly behind the clouds, and the townsfolk had mostly retreated indoors. The streets were quiet and nearly deserted, shrouded in dimness broken only by the glow of lanterns and streetlamps.
"Ahh… this feels great! Sorry, Master, I made you spend money on me."
Mordred, wearing a brand new outfit, twirled happily on the cobblestone street like a child receiving a gift.
"Don't worry about it. It's part of the necessary expenses."
Kairi walked beside his Servant, carrying himself casually, almost like a father with his child.
"But… it's strange. We've barged into enemy territory, and yet no one's attacked us."
They did not realize that several dark figures had been following them from afar, eyes locked on their backs, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"Relax. This town is under Yggdmillennia's management."
"Oh? Meaning?"
Mordred tilted her head in confusion.
Step, step…
Kairi suddenly halted, and Mordred followed suit.
He gestured forward with his chin.
"Hm?"
Mordred looked ahead in puzzlement.
Blocking their path now were dozens of homunculi in white uniforms—men and women alike—accompanied by several massive golems. The homunculi held polearms in hand, their faces blank, eyes cold and unfeeling as they stared at the intruders.
The golems' mechanical eyes glowed eerily. And it wasn't just the front—their enemies had also surrounded them from behind and even on the rooftops.
Clack…
Without a word, Kairi pulled out his short double-barreled shotgun and loaded it with a snap.
"Haha… I see, I see!"
Pat, pat…
Mordred, as if reading her Master's intent, slapped him hard on the back in excitement.
"Ugh… cough!"
Kairi choked under the force of her strike.
"So you're using not just me but yourself as bait too, huh? Master, you're crazier than I thought!"
"The golems are yours. I'll handle the homunculi. Show me your strength, Saber!"
With that, Kairi dashed forward, shotgun in one hand. The homunculi brandished their weapons and charged at him, while archers on the rooftops trained their arrows on his back.
"Ah… got it."
A tremor shook the ground as one of the golems swung its massive concrete club down at Mordred!
She answered leisurely, raising her hand—
Boom!!
—and caught the strike single-handedly.
Crack…
Her palm closed on the concrete weapon, and with a single motion, she flung both club and wielder into a nearby house.
The next moment, another golem raised its massive fist, aiming to smash her from above!
But crimson lightning coursed across Mordred's body as she flashed back in an instant!
Boom!
The fist slammed into the street with a thunderous crash, the stone pavement shattering in all directions.
Mordred leapt high, her body wrapped in red mana. Red-and-white armor materialized across her frame. Planting her feet briefly against the wall mid-air—
Boom!!
—the air exploded as she launched forward like a fired cannonball, colliding with the golem's chest.
Crash!
Her knee shattered its torso. Landing smoothly, she followed through with a single punch—
Boom!
—and reduced another to rubble, shards spraying across its allies.
Bzzzzt!!
A red-and-white greatsword appeared in her grasp, crackling with crimson lightning.
Slash, slash!!
In seconds, her figure blurred, cutting through the battlefield dozens of times. Each swing was a single decisive strike, and in an instant, every golem around her was reduced to dust.
"Heh… pathetic trash."
With a mocking laugh, Mordred tilted her head upward.
Clack!
Several crisp clicks rang out as the mechanisms of her armor engaged. Her helmet closed over her face, concealing her wild grin. She unleashed a burst of sword energy—
Boom!!
—obliterating entire ranks of golems.
On the other side, Kairi Sisigou had nearly finished cutting down the homunculi. His combat style relied heavily on firearms and poison gas grenades, with the occasional use of magecraft.
A few minutes later, silence fell once more over Trifas.
...
Meanwhile, inside the Fortress of Millennia's great hall, everyone was watching the battle through the eyes of an artificial eagle—a familiar crafted by Caster. Projected onto a screen of air like a moving picture, the scene displayed the clash between their homunculi and golems against the Red Faction's Saber and her Master.
Seeing their forces annihilated within minutes, all present—even Fiore—were shaken, save for Vlad and the Shogun.
So this was the power of Servants. The girl's heart trembled with awe. Her attention was less on Kairi, and more on the Red Faction's Saber. As Saber's Master herself, she could not help but think ahead to the battles to come.
"As expected of Saber…"
Vlad III rested his head upon his hand upon the throne, his voice low. Beside him, Darnic nodded.
"The enemy's Saber must be a formidable foe. Her overall parameters are abnormally high."
Her origin unknown, her Noble Phantasm and true name still a mystery—she was undoubtedly troublesome.
"…What do the rest of you think?"
Vlad's gaze fell upon the gathered Masters.
"..." ×N
None offered an answer.
His eyes then shifted to the Shogun, who had not looked at the projection once, her gaze instead fixed beyond the window.
"Saber, can you defeat her?"
The others also turned their attention to her. Fiore, too, turned toward her Servant.
"…"
The Shogun returned from her reverie, turning her violet eyes toward the Grand Prince. Lightning glimmered faintly like stars in her gaze.
"A foolish question. If she is the enemy… one slash will suffice."
She spoke coldly, then looked away once more.
"!" ×N
The room stirred with shock once again. This was beyond confidence—it bordered on arrogance.
"…"
Fiore was not surprised. She had already grown accustomed to such words from her Servant. Instead, pride swelled in her heart. Regardless of arrogance, such spirit was impressive among the gathered.
"Oh~ truly befitting a god. Such lofty bearing is to my liking."
Vlad chuckled. Yes… every army needed one figure whose spirit could not be overshadowed.
Caules, however, felt conflicted. Could his sister truly control this Raiden Shogun? Would her nature bring Fiore trouble… or danger?
Nearby, Archer—Chiron—let out a quiet laugh.
"Archer, what do you think?"
Vlad turned to him.
"Without doubt, she is a difficult opponent—especially since her Noble Phantasm remains unknown. But fortunately, our Saber should be capable of meeting her in battle."
Chiron glanced at the Shogun with a smile.
"Moreover, Fiore's mana reserves are exceptional. Sufficient to sustain Saber's full strength."
Darnic added smoothly.
Though she had seemed absent-minded, the Shogun heard every word. At the mention of Fiore, she turned her eyes toward her Master, finding Fiore already looking back at her. Their gazes met; Fiore flushed faintly, but quickly composed herself and smiled, nodding reassuringly.
Her expression seemed to say: Do not worry about mana—use it as you wish.
"By the way, Uncle… do you know who the Red Faction's Saber's Master is?"
Fiore turned to Darnic.
"Yes. Kairi Sisigou—a necromancer who makes his living on bounties. A freelancer who accepts any commission, from the Clock Tower or otherwise."
"Tch. A filthy man who uses magecraft for profit!"
Gordes sneered.
"…"
Fiore lowered her head in thought. After all, dealing with the Master would be her responsibility.
"In any case, they are strong. Do not underestimate them, Fiore."
"Yes… I understand."
...
At that moment, Shirou knelt alone within the moonlit chapel, a golden cross clasped in his hands as he prayed.
Hum~!
Behind him, golden motes of light converged, forming into the figure of a radiant warrior.
A striking man of flawless build, clad in sleek golden armor over black underclothes, sharp spikes adorning his arms and shoulders, and a flowing crimson cape trailing behind him. His very presence radiated nobility.
"I have received my Master's order to aid you…"
His magnetic yet cold voice reverberated through the chapel.
"Indeed."
Shirou rose to his feet and met his gaze.
"Ruler is on her way to Trifas. No matter what, she will become an obstacle to us."
He raised the cross, its surface gleaming white under the moonlight.
"I ask you to eliminate her, Karna."
"I understand."
Karna lifted his cold blue eyes and answered quietly.