Chapter 121

Even before stepping into the dark, stone church basement, the overwhelming scent of formalin was already unbearable.

Tick-tock, tick-tock...

The sound of dripping water came from behind the tightly closed door.

'If possible, it's best not to go in.'

Two seconds ago, Archer, who had entered first, conveyed this message to Rin, who could clearly sense the anger in Archer's words.

"Huh? Best not to go in?" Rin was puzzled, but before Archer could explain, an unfamiliar man's voice and Kirei's voice suddenly echoed from inside the room.

"Kotomine, it seems you've gotten careless."

"Heh heh heh... Indeed, I didn't expect Rider's Master to be her, but it doesn't matter. No matter how much you struggle, the outcome won't change as long as you're here..."

Clang, clang, clang!!

Boom, boom, boom!!

Although Rin didn't know what was happening inside or who the unfamiliar man was, she understood that the sounds of clashing weapons and chaotic footsteps meant the battle had already begun!

Reaching into her pocket to grip a gemstone, Rin prepared to follow Bazett and break into the room, her palms slightly sweaty.

"Danger!"

Bazett, about to open the door and rush in, sensed danger and immediately lunged at Rin!

Boom!!

Rin, knocked to the side of the door by Bazett, barely had time to react before hearing an explosion right at her feet!

As Bazett got up first, Rin slowly stood up, and seeing Archer and Rider, both holding weapons and bearing some injuries, standing in front of the shattered door, she was momentarily stunned.

"This can't be real... Neither of them managed to take down the enemy, and they got hurt too. Just who is the enemy...?"

Rin's eyes widened, and her words trailed off.

Because at that moment, through the gap between Rider and Archer, she saw the room's hellish scene!

There were corpses!

Corpses everywhere!

The thick stench of corpses was masked by the smell of chemicals!

The dripping sound was from nutrient fluids dripping onto the corpses' lips!

The slightly parted lips of those "corpses" had rotted over the years, their chins' flesh like lumps of mud!

They're still alive! They looked skeletal, their limbs long severed, leaving only their heads and torsos on stone beds. They were still alive!

Rin immediately saw that these "corpses" had merged with the coffins, their magical energy... no, something akin to their souls being extracted by the coffins!

They had long lost the ability to make sounds, leaving only a trachea to sustain their lives! Endless pain, perceptible only through weak breaths!

One of the "corpses" might have retained some dull consciousness, noticing the newcomers and slightly turning its head, as if trying to see the ones who opened the gates of hell.

...That should have been the case.

But in that moment of attempting to move its head, the nearly lifeless, rotted "once human" had its eyeballs fall from their sockets.

"Kirei!!"

Clenching her fists tightly, Rin stared through the gap between her Servants at the familiar yet strangely indifferent man.

"Heh heh~ I didn't expect my disciple to appear at such a time. It feels like a bit of a waste, my carefully nurtured pawn..."

Hearing the man's delighted voice, Rin felt a chill run through her body.

What is this man saying? Carefully nurtured pawn? Me? How long has he been nurturing me? A year? Three years? Or... ten years?

Seeing Rin's wide, reddened eyes with faint tears, Kirei's lips curved up again.

"Heh~ As expected of my excellent disciple, you perceived the truth with just a few words? Impressive..."

With that, Kirei glanced at Gilgamesh, who had been standing beside him with a similarly joyful expression, then raised his right hand.

"By the command spell, come, Lancer..."

With those words, one of the many command spells emitted a blinding light, and then... the command spell's vast magical power activated!

Appearing instantly in the basement, the blue lancer noticed Bazett standing outside the door, fists clenched, ready for battle.

"Ba...Bazett..."

Seeing the newcomer, a complex emotion flashed across Bazett's face. Regardless, her deep admiration for Lancer and the wish to change his tragic fate hadn't changed.

"So you're still alive..."

Lancer's words carried some joy, but before he could celebrate, Kirei continued.

"Lancer, leave the enemies to you..."

At that moment, Lancer, who had assessed the situation upon arrival, turned his displeased gaze to Gilgamesh.

"Fighting is fine, but... who is this guy? You've never mentioned him, Kotomine."

Seeing the wary looks and Lancer's displeasure, Kirei spoke again: "—Well, though it's unnecessary for you now, let me introduce him. He is Archer, a Servant who partnered with me in the last Holy Grail War."

"Well then, what should we do, Kotomine?"

Gilgamesh glanced disdainfully at Lancer, then looked at the enemies standing at the door with equal disdain. "Settling this in such a cramped place? Hardly a grand performance."

"Don't say that. I'm surprised too, but bear with it for now. If you want to complain, wait a bit." Kirei showed a hint of helplessness, then looked at Bazett, "But... it's not entirely dull. Fighting your once-admired Servant could be an interesting spectacle, don't you think?"

Lancer spoke at the same time: "What's going on, Kotomine? Is that man also your Servant?"

"Ah, I didn't explain. He was my Servant in the last war. After the Holy Grail War, we came to an agreement. He follows me, and I prepared this food supply for him, forming this cooperative relationship."

"These people... all just food..." Rin struggled to control her anger, "You demon...!"

Ignoring Rin's words, Kirei showed some regret and continued talking to himself: "But I didn't expect you to be the first to find this place. A bit of a pity, really. If it were Shirou Emiya..."

Hearing Kirei's somewhat regretful tone, Rin, frowning, asked, "What do you mean? What's with Shirou?"

"Because..." Kirei's lips curved again, hands behind his back, turning to the "corpses," "The material here, in a way, are Shirou Emiya's brothers... They are all survivors of the fire ten years ago..."

Hearing this, Red Archer also sentenced this man to death in his heart. Today... he must die!

"Alright, reminiscing time is over. The rest is up to you."

"Making me fight in such a narrow place? Your guts are growing, Kotomine."

"Well, I didn't expect it to turn out this way. But if you're unhappy, feel free to destroy this place. Our goal is only the final..."

The delayed battle... finally began!

Seeing Lancer with his spear, brimming with fighting spirit, Bazett was reluctant to fight him.

"Lancer, you..."

"Sorry, Bazett, though I dislike that man, this time I'll fight with all my strength to the end! Be prepared!"

Hearing this, Rin, feeling that all men are indeed selfish, gave orders to Red Archer.

"Archer! Prepare for battle!"

"Understood..." Bazett, after a brief struggle, gave the same order to Rider, "Rider! No holding back!"

"I understand, Bazett."

With that, Rider stepped forward and warned the others: "During the battle, stay out of my sight. I'll handle Lancer..."

Hearing Rider's words and seeing her reach for her blindfold and the tattoos on her forehead, Red Archer realized something.

"I see, I didn't expect Rider to be..." He looked at Gilgamesh, "Rin, we need to prepare..."

At the same time, Bazett, receiving a secret message from Rider, nodded slightly and turned her gaze to Gilgamesh.

Seeing Rider step forward, Lancer smiled slightly, understanding her intention—to duel outside.

"Perfect, I had the same thought. After losing to you so many times, I finally have a chance to settle it!"

With that, Rider and Lancer disappeared from the basement in spirit form, leaving the others knowing they went outside to duel.

"Two mongrels and a faker, it won't be too boring..."

Gilgamesh said this, summoning a dozen B-class Noble Phantasms with a wave of his hand.

"You've got to be kidding... They're all Noble Phantasms..." Rin exclaimed but remained alert.

The instant the sounds of Lancer and Rider's battle above began, the fight in the basement also started!

...

In the large cave beneath Ryuudou Temple, Shinji, who had been sitting with his eyes closed for over an hour and a half, finally opened his eyes.

"Even after studying all the magic books at home, I must admit, this ritual's complexity is astonishing. It drained half my energy. But..."

He stood up, hands in his pockets, lips curling into a smile, and walked step by step towards the center of the ritual.

"...I've mastered it!"

At this moment, if Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern, the creator of the Holy Grail system, were in front of Shinji, he would certainly utter the famous line from a certain Lancer in the Fourth Holy Grail War.

—"Before me, you stand as if stark naked!"