Shadow Clone Technique

A sharp cry filled the room as a graceful woman rushed forward, embracing Tokiomi Tohsaka's still form—none other than Aoi Tohsaka herself. As she touched him, however, she froze, her expression one of disbelief as her eyes widened.

Tokiomi's body was already cold and rigid.

The signs of life had long since left him, his skin ashen, his eyes wide open and vacant, his body cold as stone.

Rin Tohsaka quickly ran over, touching her father's hand in disbelief. "This has to be a lie, right?" she murmured. "This can't be real…"

Aoi gently placed Tokiomi back onto the sofa, then raised her head, her voice trembling but gradually rising. "To think we took you in, and this is how you repay us… Was the Holy Grail really worth this much to you?" Her voice broke into a scream, eyes streaming with tears that traced down her cheeks.

"Onee-chan, it wasn't you, right?" Rin lifted her tear-streaked face and gazed uncertainly at Kaguya. Beside her, Sakura Matou also looked up, her wide, worried eyes fixed on Kaguya, awaiting her response.

Kaguya smirked slightly. "And if I say I didn't do it?"

What an absurdly melodramatic scene—it reminded her of a cheap daytime drama, utterly predictable and uninspired. If this was the script Kirei Kotomine had concocted, he could have done better.

"Who else could it be if not you?" Aoi accused through her tears, pointing to Tokiomi's body. "And that Azoth Dagger… isn't it the one he gave to you?"

Looking down, Kaguya saw a short dagger lodged in Tokiomi's back—the infamous Azoth Dagger, known as a keepsake passed between mentors and students. Unlike the original story, Tokiomi had presented it to her as a symbol of their alliance rather than giving it to Kotomine. She had carelessly tossed it aside, only for it to reappear here, in her hands, as the murder weapon.

It seemed Kirei had meticulously planned every detail, perhaps intending to pin the blame on her from the start.

And that placement… right in the lower back? Kaguya grimaced. How spiteful could he get?

"Seems you've already made up your mind," Kaguya said dryly. "Does it really matter what I say?"

"I don't believe it." Rin wiped her eyes, shaking her head firmly. "I refuse to believe you would hurt him."

"Neither do I," Sakura echoed sincerely, her gaze steady.

Compared to Rin, Sakura seemed more inclined to trust Kaguya. Perhaps it was because Kaguya had twice saved her in times of distress, making Sakura feel a closeness and sense of reliance that far exceeded even her familial bonds. After all, it was her family who had handed her over to the Matou household, leading to many painful memories. The notion that she could have no resentment toward them would be impossible.

What a sweet child, Kaguya thought, her lips curving up slightly. It seemed her efforts hadn't been in vain after all. If she had been met with hostility, Kaguya wouldn't have hesitated to teach them a lesson.

Suddenly, Kaguya turned, directing a mocking smile at the upper floor. "What an abysmal performance, Kirei—and Gilgamesh too. You've been watching for quite some time. Isn't it time the stars of the show made their appearance?"

A low laugh echoed as golden motes of light swirled into existence, revealing a tall, regal figure holding a golden chalice in hand—Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes.

"I see you've found me out," he said, his smirk widening. "True, as you say, this little play has lost its entertainment value now that it's exposed."

"And shouldn't your new Master also show himself?" Kaguya's gaze shifted to the shadows on the upper floor. "You killed your own father, then your teacher… Kirei, your father and teacher both never saw your true nature, did they? How tragic."

"It's their fault for being so oblivious."Kirei Kotomine emerged from the shadows with a slight scoff.

Aoi, hearing this, finally understood. The true murderer of her husband wasn't Kaguya, but rather Tokiomi's own disciple, Kirei.

"Why would you do this?" she demanded, her voice shaking with rage. "Tokiomi never wronged you! You were his student. Why would you betray him?"

"Why?" Kirei's voice was calm and cold. "There's no reason—call it a compulsion if you will. Acting on it brings me a strange satisfaction."

"All for such a twisted reason?" Aoi's face twisted in disbelief. "You killed your own teacher over something so absurd?"

"Indeed. It's also the answer I sought and the reason I want the Holy Grail." Kirei's tone was devoid of remorse. "I had hoped to stage an entertaining drama, but I underestimated your perceptiveness. A mistake on my part, though I'm certain we'll have more opportunities to cross paths."

He spared Kaguya a sidelong glance and turned to leave.

"Hold on," Kaguya said, stepping forward with narrowed eyes. "Was it you who took Irisviel?"

"Oh?" Kirei glanced back indifferently. "If you mean that woman, she no longer serves as a proper vessel, so she was of no use to me. I killed her."

Kaguya's eyes narrowed, her expression icy as she replied, "You really think you're leaving after all of this?" A cold, murderous aura seeped into her voice. She had officially reached her breaking point with Kirei.

"While I have little interest in such trivial matters," Gilgamesh interjected, stepping forward with a smirk, "this fellow is my Master. It would be quite undignified of me not to protect him, don't you agree?"

"You plan to get in my way?" Kaguya's lip curled in disdain. "Perfect. I'll take both of you on." A glint of sharp determination flashed in her eyes.

"Is that so?" Gilgamesh took a leisurely sip of wine, letting out a soft laugh as if her words barely registered. "Does the little kitten have claws? But no matter how fierce, a kitten is a kitten—it can never compare to a lion. If you obey, I'll overlook this offense. Otherwise, disrespecting a great king carries serious consequences."

"Acting this arrogant must be a medical condition," Kaguya replied dryly, glancing at him with a smirk. "I recommend seeing Dr. Yang for electrotherapy. Might cure you yet."

"Dr. Yang?" Gilgamesh raised a curious brow. "Who might that be? Another king?"

"Indeed," Kaguya nodded, her tone mock-serious. "The mighty 'King of Electromagnetic Warriors.' He can zap you into a fool… I mean, treat your condition."

Though unfamiliar with "electromagnetic warriors" or "conditions," Gilgamesh's golden eyes narrowed—he wasn't foolish enough to miss her sarcasm.

"So, you dare mock me?" His face darkened, voice dangerously low. "Do you think this is some sort of game?"

"Caught on, have you?" Kaguya replied, unconcerned, a smirk playing on her lips. "The moment you both decided to set me up, you became my enemies. And as my enemies, you'd better be ready for the consequences."

"Oh?" Gilgamesh chuckled with amused disdain. "You alone, kill the mighty King of Heroes? You're not worth so much as my glance."

"Then why don't we see about that?" Kaguya's smile sharpened. "After all, a shiny Pokémon like you belongs in a Master Ball."

"Amusing," Gilgamesh remarked, glancing dismissively toward Rin Tohsaka and her family nearby. "These nuisances… they serve no purpose here any longer."

With that, golden portals flickered into existence around him, and weapons of all shapes—blades, spears, axes—protruded from the shimmering circles, aimed at Rin, Sakura, and Aoi. In an instant, they hurtled toward them in a deadly barrage.

The sudden onslaught left the Tohsaka family frozen in terror. Rin and Sakura's eyes widened, panic-stricken, while Aoi instinctively shielded them with her own body. But flesh and bone could hardly stop the oncoming storm of treasure—it would be like trying to block bullets with one's bare hands.

Yet just as the weapons were about to strike, a bright flash illuminated the area, blinding everyone momentarily. When the light faded, the familiar interior of the Tohsaka estate was gone, replaced by a vast, grassy field stretching endlessly in every direction.

A deafening explosion ripped through the air behind them, splintering rocks and sending earth flying as Gilgamesh's barrage struck where the family had stood only moments before. When the smoke cleared, the ground was littered with his weapons, but Rin, Sakura, and Aoi were nowhere to be found.

It was Kaguya's "Heavenly Transference."

In that split second before impact, she had transported them to the safe haven of her dimensional space, shielding them from harm.

"To avoid any unnecessary interference," Kaguya remarked coolly, a faint shimmer outlining a long, invisible sword in her hand—a projection of Saber's Excalibur.

Glancing around, Gilgamesh gave the grasslands a cursory look, smirking. "A fine ability, I'll give you that," he drawled. "But it's useless against me. A beautiful woman without a brain is nothing but a vase. If you were wise, you wouldn't try such a power on me."

Confident that Kaguya's spatial ability was no threat to him, Gilgamesh hardly felt concerned. His treasure vault housed a weapon that could shatter dimensions themselves—the anti-world Noble Phantasm, Ea. Just as he had used Ea to destroy Rider's Reality Marble in their original battle, he was confident he could do the same here.

"A vase?" Kaguya's expression soured, a glint of anger flashing across her face. "Let's see if this 'vase' can break your arrogance."

Without another word, she swept her arm forward, and her invisible sword shot through the air like a flash of lightning, closing the distance in a heartbeat.

"Is that all?" Gilgamesh scoffed, barely amused. "If this is all you've got, you may as well surrender. In fact, if you yield now, I might just let you off without punishment."

A golden array of portals opened behind him, each releasing a gleaming sword aimed directly at Kaguya's invisible blade.

But just as the two sets of weapons were about to clash, Kaguya's lips curled into a knowing smile.

"Projection of Excalibur—Shadow Clone Technique!"

Her sword split in mid-air—one blade became two, two became four, four became eight. In an instant, the sky filled with countless replicas of Excalibur, each as sharp as the original, raining down upon Gilgamesh like an unrelenting storm of blades.

"What—?!" Gilgamesh's composure slipped as he looked up, caught off guard by the sudden deluge of golden swords. Yet a heartbeat later, he relaxed again, smirking with a superior air. "You think cheap tricks will fool me? Pathetic—"

He didn't get to finish.

The barrage of replicated Excaliburs fell upon him, the deafening sound of crashing steel and erupting blasts filling the air. Smoke, debris, and a cloud of shattered earth engulfed the battlefield, swallowing Gilgamesh within its fury.