Chapter 3: Fire!

The situation was dire. 

At least for Kiritsugu, things shouldn't have turned out this way. 

He couldn't determine the detection range of the enemy Servant, nor could he act rashly. 

Even a quick glance through the sniper scope had almost given away his position. 

"Maiya, be careful on your end." 

"A new Servant has appeared in the northeast." 

Kiritsugu pulled out his radio, giving instructions to his partner, while pondering how to deal with this tricky situation.

*Clang! Clang!*

The sound of swords clashing continued to echo from the beach, where Saber was engaged in a fierce battle with Assassin.

'His swordsmanship is sharp and swift...' 

'And he's incredibly agile as well...' 

'It's hard to believe this is Assassin.'

The longer Saber fought, the more she realized the exceptional skill of her opponent. 

If it weren't for her hidden Excalibur keeping him on edge, Assassin might have been even more aggressive in his approach.

"Hah!" 

Saber blocked a powerful overhead strike and pushed Assassin back with all her strength, not daring to relax her guard for a moment.

'Saber is being pressured?' 

Irisviel's eyes widened slightly as she watched the battle unfold, surprise written all over her face. 

It was common knowledge that Saber was one of the strongest among the seven classes. Only two other classes could hope to match her in a direct confrontation. 

Yet here was Assassin, defying expectations. Not only was he holding his own, but his swordsmanship was even suppressing Saber's movements.

If this Assassin had been summoned as a Saber-class Servant instead, he might have been even more dangerous.

"Who exactly is this person?" 

Such masterful swordsmanship could hardly have gone unnoticed in history. Judging by his attire and katana, he was clearly of Japanese origin. 

'The cross-shaped scar on his left cheek...' 

'Is he a local Heroic Spirit?' 

Irisviel thought back to her understanding of Heroic Spirits and realized that, if he were a well-known Japanese figure, Assassin might be benefiting from a fame boost due to the land's connection. 

In that case, facing Saber head-on wasn't impossible after all.

*Whoosh!* 

The figure darted toward Saber again, and she focused her attention, preparing for the next strike.

*Swish!* 

But just before their blades crossed, Assassin suddenly veered to the side. 

"Damn!" 

Realizing what was happening, Saber spun around, releasing a powerful burst of wind from her invisible sword, Excalibur. 

"Tch." 

Kenshin clicked his tongue in disappointment as the tip of his sword barely missed Saber's neck. The force of the wind sent him flying backward.

"Ugh..." 

Only then did Irisviel realize how close she had come to death. 

A thin line of blood appeared on her neck, the shallow cut a stark reminder of the danger she had just narrowly escaped.

"You bastard!" 

Saber rushed to Irisviel's side, her beautiful face filled with anger. 

If her reaction had been even a fraction of a second slower, she would have lost her Master.

She had never expected Assassin to use a feint, pretending to focus on the duel while actually seeking an opening to strike Irisviel.

'So... you have that instinct, do you?' 

Kenshin stood up, recalling the events of the previous moments. He now understood that his judgment had been correct. 

If he had attempted a surprise attack earlier, Saber's instincts would have reacted, and his efforts would have been in vain.

---

"Kirei, it seems Assassin is performing beyond expectations." 

"If he can hold off Saber like this, then we have a real chance."

Tokiomi Tohsaka sat in his workshop with his apprentice, Kirei Kotomine, observing the battle unfold. 

Tokiomi was very satisfied with Kenshin's performance. 

If Assassin could fight Saber to a standstill, then with Archer's help, they could easily overwhelm her. That would eliminate one of the strongest competitors from the war.

"Once we find the right opportunity, request the King to join the fight and annihilate the enemy!" 

As everyone schemed and plotted, something unimaginable was hiding high above the battlefield.

---

"Rider, are you sure about this?" 

Waver, sitting in the cockpit of the mecha, asked nervously as he watched the battle below.

"Relax. With their current level of awareness, there's no way they can detect this machine." 

Lelouch spoke confidently, his eyes focused on the display screen inside the machine. 

Perhaps due to becoming a Heroic Spirit, many things had changed, including his own equipment. 

This "Gawain," which had long since been damaged, was now fully operational, summoned by Lelouch for his use. 

Moreover, the mecha's performance and weaponry had been enhanced with magical power, far surpassing its original capabilities.

While this gave him many advantages, there was a downside: it required magic to operate. Fortunately, both he and Waver had plenty of magical energy to supply.

"I didn't expect to see three Servants in one place." 

"Saber, Assassin... and who's that guy in the golden armor? What class does he belong to?" 

"Aside from Saber's Master, who are the other two? Assassin's Master?" 

Waver, having received Lelouch's response, didn't dwell on his previous question. Instead, he pointed to the screen displaying Kiritsugu and Maiya's positions, filled with curiosity.

Thanks to Rider's advanced detection technology, all life forms in the vicinity had been locked onto instantly. 

Waver couldn't help but marvel at how effective modern technology was, far more convenient than traditional familiars and magic.

"It's about time." 

Lelouch's voice cut through Waver's thoughts as the battle between Saber and Assassin reignited on the screen.

"Uh..." 

Waver swallowed nervously, aware of what was about to happen. 

Rider had already informed him of their plan, and now, seeing his Servant preparing for action, Waver couldn't help but feel both nervous and excited.

If Rider's plan succeeded, they might be able to eliminate one or two major threats in one fell swoop. 

That would immediately reduce the pressure on their side.

"Now then... let's make our entrance with a bang." 

With the push of a button, purple energy began charging in the mecha's chest. 

Then, a powerful purple energy beam shot down toward the battlefield below.

"Huh?!" 

"!!" 

"!?!" 

In that instant, everyone below felt the overwhelming threat descending from the sky. 

Even without looking up, they could sense the sheer danger filling the brightly illuminated night sky.

"By my Command Spell, I order you! Saber, return to my side!" 

"No!" 

Sensing the impending attack, Kiritsugu wasted no time in using a Command Spell. 

Saber's figure disappeared from Irisviel's side, leaving her alone with Assassin.

At that moment, the beam from above crashed into the ground with an earth-shaking explosion.

*BOOM!!* 

Purple light engulfed the beach, shaking the ground and sending shockwaves across the sea. 

The destruction swept across the coastline, and the force of the impact even caused tremors throughout the nearby city, waking many from their sleep.

"What's going on?" 

"An earthquake?!" 

The violent shaking led many to suspect the worst.

"Could there be a fourth Servant involved?" 

Even Tohsaka and Kirei, watching from their workshop, hadn't expected this outcome.

"Kirei, how is Assassin?" 

Concerned for their side, Tohsaka had no choice but to ask about Assassin's condition.

"The contract hasn't been severed, but Assassin seems to be severely injured." 

Kirei frowned, feeling the flow of magical energy being slowly drained from him.

"That's good, at least." 

Tokiomi let out a breath of relief. He knew the King of Heroes would be fine, but losing Assassin unnecessarily would be a major setback.

"Who could it be?" 

The familiars they had sent to investigate had also been destroyed in the blast, leaving them completely in the dark about what had just happened.