Secret Influence

"You!..."

Kurumi placed Saber beside Einzbern, her high-tech blade crackling with electricity. Tiny lightning serpents coiled around the blade, constantly leaping along its edge.

She casually twirled the sword, and perhaps due to the particular material of the Raikiri, only those small lightning serpents flashed with light. From these "special effects," it was clear to everyone that this was likely another Noble Phantasm.

Kurumi engaged in a fierce battle with Berserker, her swordsmanship rapidly improving with each strike. Unlike Diarmuid, who had a natural advantage over Lancelot, Kurumi didn't possess the 'Crimson Rose of Exorcism,' a weapon that nullified magical defenses.

Gradually, Kurumi began to turn the tide without using her spirit power. However, defeating Berserker with sheer physical strength and skill alone would require Matou Kariya's death. His death would cut off Berserker's mana supply, giving Kurumi a decisive advantage in a prolonged fight.

"Boom!——"

With a dull thud, the black steel column Berserker wielded, a crude Noble Phantasm, finally gave in to Raikiri's slashes. The tiny lightning serpents seemed to devour the sparks.

In a filthy sewer, a white-haired young man hidden under a hood spat out a mouthful of blood. Several Crest Worms twisted within the blood, trying to crawl out of the phlegm. Despite Berserker being suppressed by the witch who resembled Caster, Matou Kariya was in a good mood.

He had seen Tohsaka Tokiomi's heroic spirit summoned back by a cowardly use of a Command Spell after barely exchanging blows with Berserker. This meant that, for the first time, he had defeated Tohsaka Tokiomi in his proud field of magecraft.

"Ugh, Berserker..."

On the cement ground, two lightning scars remained, with crushed stones still flickering with electricity. The King of Conquerors, driving his 'Gordius Wheel,' struck Berserker directly. The two bulls, endowed with divine power and strengthened by lightning, almost toppled Berserker. However, Matou Kariya's poor mana supply meant he couldn't heal Berserker's injuries after the collision.

Berserker struggled a few times on the ground, glaring fiercely at Saber before dissipating into black mist. The King of Conquerors continued driving his chariot, with a weary Waver slumped on the rack, still not used to such combat.

"Saber, and... Witch, is it alright if I call you that?"

Kurumi sheathed Raikiri into the ground and shrugged playfully. "Everyone calls me that. What can I do?"

"Today's battle was truly spectacular. I've witnessed the legendary King of Britain! Once your wounds heal, I'd like to fight you."

Saber nodded, though her left thumb still twitched slightly.

"As for that golden king...," Iskandar stroked his red beard, which rubbed against his rough skin. "We'll talk about him next time! Witch, it seems you've made quite a few enemies. If it has nothing to do with the Holy Grail War, I suggest you leave this city."

"Thanks for the advice, but I haven't yet fully appreciated Fuyuki's beauty~"

The King of Conquerors gave Kurumi a meaningful look. "I hope we meet again, heroes! Let's go, boy!"

He patted Waver, who slid into the chariot. The Gordius Wheel ascended into the sky, the bulls trampling lightning, creating a stunning visual effect.

Kurumi drew Raikiri once more, its lightning serpents still dancing energetically. With the King of Conquerors gone, only Kurumi, Saber, and Einzbern remained.

Seeing the 'Witch' unsheathe her blade again, Saber raised Excalibur, facing Kurumi cautiously.

Kurumi flipped her hand, making the electric blade disappear, and gave Saber a peculiar look. "You're ungrateful."

"What did you say?" Saber frowned.

"I said you're ungrateful!"

Saber's face stiffened, unsure how to respond to the witch.

"I just saved you, and now you point your sword at me."

Kurumi's figure suddenly appeared before Saber like a phantom. If not for Saber's remarkable control, her sword might have struck Kurumi's head.

"Is it that all 'kings' are so thick-skinned?"

The wind from Kurumi's swift movement brushed a few strands of her dark hair against Saber's face, bringing a fragrance that tickled slightly.

Saber retreated a few steps, alarmed. "Witch, what are you trying to do?"

Kurumi blinked. "To do you, of course, ~."

"You... you're shameless!"

"But you called me a witch first. I'm just an ordinary person."

"Ordinary person?" Saber's face twitched. "You're full of lies!"

"Ara, ara~," Kurumi giggled, covering her mouth. "Didn't you once call Guinevere a witch and burn her? And what happened...?"

Saber suppressed the urge to strike the witch, knowing her own condition. She had to stay calm and try to communicate. The witch didn't seem to want her to return to the Throne of Heroes. Why, she didn't know.

"Witch, I, Pendragon, will always remember your help."

"And then?"

Saber tightened her grip on her sword. "I will repay you."

"With your body?"

"Witch! Stop being so shameless!"

"Well," Kurumi laughed, her wine-red eyes narrowing into crescent moons, her 'charm' unconsciously spreading. This made the magically resistant Saber frown.

Kurumi's figure flashed, and their faces were just three centimeters apart. Kurumi's finger lightly lifted Saber's smooth chin as she whispered, "The only thing that interests me is your appearance~"

With that, she vanished into the air. Even the spear standing on the ground disappeared without a trace.

"Damn witch!" Saber gritted her teeth. She had felt a momentary numbness in her body, undoubtedly caused by the witch who claimed to be uninvolved in the Holy Grail War.

"Saber, are you alright? Your wrist..."

"Nothing, madam," Saber replied, slightly dejected.

...

A luxurious car sped along the nighttime highway, drifting around a bend for the first time.

"Madam... what happened to me just now?"