As soon as Kirei Kotomine stepped into the church, his years of experience as an agent made him smell blood.
He paused for a moment, then cautiously walked inside.
The first thing he saw was Risei Kotomine lying on the ground.
"Father..."
Kirei Kotomine walked over numbly and quietly examined his father's body. Years of experience told him the fatal wound was a stab wound. He rolled up the sleeve and found that all the Command Spells on his arm had disappeared... Kirei Kotomine frowned. Command Spells were protected by holy words and couldn't be broken by magical means. But now, the Command Spells had indeed been taken, which meant the perpetrator had used non-magical methods. Combined with the stab wound, Kirei Kotomine immediately knew who had done it.
Tears streamed down his face. As a human, it was natural to cry over the death of one's father.
But Kirei Kotomine felt a sensation he had never experienced before. When was the last time he cried? Was it before that woman's death?
Now, he was feeling that sensation again—a feeling he couldn't comprehend, yet truly experienced, a feeling he had always been searching for!
"Pleasure!" The word suddenly appeared in his mind. The words of both Gilgamesh and Ryougi Raku echoed in his head simultaneously. He was now truly experiencing it.
He stood up, made the sign of the cross, and began to recite scripture.
He had found this feeling, this sensation, this pleasure, this thing he had been pursuing! His confusion, he felt, was dissipating. Soon, he would finally understand what he had been seeking all along... After Ryougi Raku left, he summoned Lancer... "Lord Ryougi!" Lancer said respectfully.
This was in a corner of the city.
"Lancer! What I needed to do is complete... Now, your Noble Phantasm is broken, and Saber's wounds have healed. There's no more suitable time than now!" Ryougi Raku said with his back to Lancer.
Lancer didn't know what Ryougi Raku meant by "what needed to be done," but he didn't ask further, just continued listening.
Ryougi Raku suddenly turned around and revealed a Command Spell on his hand, "Lancer, go! Go find Saber, go complete your unfinished duel! Go carry out my will!" His voice was cold and firm.
As he spoke, one of the Command Spells disappeared. The compulsory binding force on a Servant made it impossible for Lancer to refuse... But Lancer didn't want to refuse either! Feeling an unprecedented desire for battle surging through his body due to the Command Spell, "...You didn't need to use a Command Spell. Fighting Saber is my wish!" Lancer said firmly. This was indeed the most opportune moment. Caster and Assassin were dead, and Rider, Archer, and Berserker were also injured. No one could disturb their battle anymore!
Although Saber's stamina was somewhat depleted from the previous battle, Lancer had also lost a Noble Phantasm because of her. This was a godsent opportunity!
"...Heh, something that will be used eventually, what's the point of keeping it? Even if I no longer have Command Spells, am I not still your Master?" Ryougi Raku asked with a light laugh.
"No, you are the lord I, Diarmuid, shall serve in this life! I shall, as a knight, protect you until the very end!" Lancer said firmly, looking into Ryougi Raku's eyes.
"Then, go, Lancer, end this unfinished feast!"
"Your will!" Kneeling on one knee, the Heroic Spirit Diarmuid solemnly swore!
---
Saber was driving a Mercedes, with Irisviel in the passenger seat.
"Saber, a little while ago, I received a message from Raku. He said to meet us in the suburbs..." Irisviel said worriedly.
"Iris, did Raku say what it was about?" Saber asked while driving.
Irisviel thought for a moment, then shook her head, "He didn't say anything else, just gave me an address."
"Saber, could it be... dangerous?" After some thought, Irisviel still voiced her concern.
"I trust him!" Saber said firmly, driving forward without hesitation.
Irisviel thought about it. A person who could make his Servant break a Noble Phantasm was indeed trustworthy. She eased her worry slightly and nodded... "Maiya, come with me to this location!" Kiritsugu Emiya said, pointing to a spot, to Maiya Hisau next to him.
Maiya Hisau nodded, not asking any further questions.
The location he pointed to was exactly where Ryougi Raku had arranged to meet Saber... 'What are you planning, Ryougi Raku!' He found Ryougi Raku's thought process increasingly incomprehensible. He had no idea what Ryougi Raku was truly pursuing. If it was the Holy Grail, then he wouldn't have allowed Lancer to give up a part of his combat strength, nor would he have let him go back then. But if it wasn't, then why did he kill a Clock Tower instructor to participate in this war?
The unknown was the most terrifying. Facing Ryougi Raku, Kiritsugu Emiya had always acted cautiously. He could understand Kirei Kotomine to some extent, but Ryougi Raku, he truly had no starting point... When Saber arrived, she saw Lancer and Ryougi Raku already standing there, having waited for a long time.
This was an abandoned factory in the suburbs. Not to mention at night, even during the day, few people came here.
There was still some time until dawn, and the recent major battle still left the distant city center bustling.
Saber and Irisviel got out of the car and came before Ryougi Raku and Lancer.
"May I ask what you called us here for?" As she asked, Saber looked towards Ryougi Raku. She knew that Ryougi Raku was always the one in charge.
"Heh heh, Saber, don't you think now is the best time?" Ryougi Raku chuckled lightly, then continued on his own, "Now is the time when no one will disturb us. Your battle with Lancer has dragged on for too, too long. How about we end this duel here and now?"
As soon as Ryougi Raku finished speaking, Lancer stepped forward, his spear pointed, his fighting spirit more intense than ever before!
"Saber, I follow the will of Lord Ryougi and challenge you again in this place. Do you dare to accept the challenge?!"
Saber's expression was calm. She silently stepped forward, her body surging with fighting spirit, small in stature but like a Valkyrie!
However, she had a hint of a smile, "It's exactly what I wanted! I always thought now was the best time, without any other disturbances. There's still some time until dawn. I was just wondering how to find you, but I didn't expect you to have the same idea!"
There was fighting spirit for the battle that was about to happen, and joy that both sides' opinions coincided.
Lancer showed a slight smile, "...I didn't expect Saber, your thoughts are the same as my lord's!"
Wielding the spear in his hand, he took up his starting stance.
"Iris, stay away from me, don't get hurt by the aftermath of the battle!" Saber instructed Irisviel, but the reason was merely the aftermath of the battle, not a sneak attack from the opposing Master. It was clear that she had great trust in Ryougi Raku's character.
Irisviel nodded, looked worriedly at Saber, then stood at a distance, clasping her hands in front of her chest.
Saber dispelled the Invisible Air, revealing her magnificent sword. Against Lancer's spear, this magic was useless; it was better to face him openly.
The air gradually became stern, and the aura of the two made the air flow stagnate.
Ryougi Raku was naturally unaffected, but even at a distance, Irisviel felt as if her body couldn't move.
The opponents decided days ago, this battle could finally truly begin and end now...
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(˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶) ‹ (TL : More Chapters @patreon.com/c/Gooberilla)