A Feast for the Gods

Ashes—

That's probably the only way to describe the scene before him.

The underground reservoir, which served as Caster's magic workshop, had been utterly destroyed by Rider's Noble Phantasm, Gordius Wheel.

Everything had been torn apart by the storm of lightning.

The figure of Caster, nearly two meters tall and reminiscent of a figure from a Munch painting, returned to the ruined workshop with a grim expression. The agents of the Church, responsible for managing the Holy Grail War's aftermath and disguising its traces, had been put under a trance-like spell, and behind Caster followed five children, similarly hypnotized and helpless.

Caster's face held an expression as if he had lost everything. In his heart, this 'great' madman carried a deep sorrow.

After Ryuunosuke Uryuu's death, the Church had not issued the reward for the elimination of the Caster faction to the Einzbern family. It was clear that Caster, without the Independent Action skill, had not disappeared following his Master's death. He was still being supplied with mana from some other source.

Now, he had escalated his killings even further.

Caster raised his Prelati's Spellbook, chanting fervently. From the flesh, he summoned grotesque creatures, which slithered through the sewage system into the Mion River.

In front of this cursed seeker, the children huddled together, trembling in despair, unable to see any light of salvation.

The words of Ryuunosuke, so full of twisted philosophy, echoed in the mind of the deranged marshal.

——The gods have written this play, performed by billions of people. They love songs of courage and hope, but they equally delight in the screams of blood and despair.

That's why the inner colors of humanity shine so vividly.

"Ryuunosuke..." Caster wept sorrowfully. "Blasphemy or praise, it doesn't matter!"

"Let me paint the heavens in the brightest colors of despair and lament!"

"Ryuunosuke, look at this!"

"This is the coolest masterpiece I'm offering to you!"

The rising sea of grotesque monsters engulfed the empty underground world, roaring and writhing as they surged toward the Mion River.

——

What is true joy?

Is it feeling happiness from others' suffering?

Lying back in his chair, Kirei Kotomine pondered, his thoughts unknowingly aligning with those of the golden Servant.

He should have been relaxed now. With Assassin eliminated and even the Command Spells on the back of his hand gone, why did his heart feel no sense of release?

The crimson eyes of that ancient king had become the focal point of everything, and like a serpent tempting Eve, Gilgamesh had pried open Kirei's heart.

Savoring the suffering and lament of the man named Kariya Matou, Kirei imagined licking the sin and guilt that would come from killing his childhood friend's husband, or perhaps the pain of failure.

To Kirei's surprise, something seemed to sprout in his heart.

A violent pain surged through his body, stopping at his left arm, transforming into a burning sensation. The feeling was all too familiar—just like when he had first received his Command Spells three years ago.

Sure enough, the scarlet Command Spells reappeared, one mark after another, etched onto the back of Kirei Kotomine's hand.

The Holy Grail is responding to someone like me? Kirei stared blankly at his hand.

"Hahaha, excellent, excellent!" The golden king laughed maniacally, downing the last of his wine. "Kirei Kotomine, you must harbor a wish in your heart strong enough for the Grail to respond."

With his golden hair cascading down, Gilgamesh appeared unexpectedly wicked.

"Go and claim another powerful Servant," said the King of Heroes, his crimson eyes gleaming with pleasure. Then, amidst a dazzling display of light, he vanished.

Kirei Kotomine stood up, feeling a bit lost.

He saw it—the expression of the serpent from the Garden of Eden, as described in the Bible.

Whatever.

Casting aside all hesitation, Kirei left the Church.

A new restaurant had opened in Miyama Town, and one of the dishes there had also caught his fancy.

——

The sun had already dipped below the horizon at the far end of the Mion River, leaving behind an endless orange glow between the sky and the sea.

From the rising tide, a thin mist began to form.

Kurumi, holding Sakura's hand, walked barefoot across the fine white sand. Two small sets of footprints gradually faded into the foam-like waves.

Sakura wore a large bonnet, decorated with pink cherry blossoms. The small, soft hands carefully held the hat in place—it was a gift Kurumi had picked out for her that afternoon.

A gift in honor of her name, Sakura.

The red ribbon she once clutched so tightly was now wrapped around her slender wrist.

Peeking shyly through the lace trim of her hat, Sakura looked up at Kurumi, who always wore that gentle smile.

Although she smiled at everyone, her smile was different when it was for Sakura.

Sakura encouraged herself silently.

But deep down, she knew—this Holy Grail War would only last for seven days. The heroic spirit Kurumi, bound to this battle, wouldn't be able to stay with her for long.

The mist grew thicker and heavier.

It began to emit a nauseating, sticky magical energy.

A sense of dread crept over every Master and Servant alike.

Kurumi looked at Sakura with concern as a spasmodic feeling swept through the girl's small frame. The resilient child merely furrowed her brows.

"It's okay... compared to the worm pit, this is nothing," Sakura mumbled, not wanting the day's journey to end just yet.

The abnormal disruption in the surrounding mana affected her, throwing her magic circuits out of sync.

Sakura, being so young, couldn't fully control her circuits.

Kurumi held her close, gazing toward the direction of the Fuyuki Bridge over the Mion River.

"Caster..."

Such a vast surge of mana, a ritual requiring the power of dozens, could only be caused by Caster.

Of all the Servants in Fuyuki, Caster was by far the most dangerous.

The shadow beneath their feet stretched toward the Fuyuki Bridge, while Kurumi herself headed in the opposite direction.

Sakura was a precious little kitten, and Kurumi needed to return her to the Einzbern fortress.

The mist thickened, and Kurumi kissed Sakura gently on the forehead.

"Let's go home first."

Sakura buried her head in Kurumi's shoulder, saying nothing.

The sun had finally set completely, leaving Kurumi's slender figure standing alone like a solitary soldier on a battlefield.

Tonight's battle was about to begin.

The Holy Grail War... was still far from over.

Amidst the thick fog, only the scattered lights of Fuyuki Bridge remained faintly visible.

—84:35:07

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