chapter 7

"Excuse me... what exactly are you doing, Rider?" Father Shirou Kotomine asked with a gentle but pained smile, looking at Achilles, who was poking the wall with his finger.

This wasn't Achilles' home.

"Huh?" Achilles, with a forehead full of bulging veins, looked up, clearly irritated.

"Alright, you can continue," Shirou sighed, knowing the hero's short temper and hoping to prevent him from causing more damage. Achilles' anger was evident, as was his tendency to express it destructively. Using a Command Spell to return him was the only way to stop his compulsive wall-poking.

"Just keep track of the time," Shirou said, standing in the center of the church. "Lancer, how strong is the Ruler on your side?"

"I didn't use full power, and nor did he," Karna replied, crossing his arms and becoming ethereal. "I need to discuss with my master the necessity of the Ruler's involvement."

Shirou's expression darkened, though he maintained a smile. "Your master has given me full authority."

Karna closed his eyes. "Even with my Noble Phantasm, I cannot assure victory."

"Not even a chance?" Shirou looked at Achilles, still poking the wall, and shook his head.

His strongest heroes, Karna and Achilles, were supposed to be exceptional. According to Archer Atalanta, the Ruler, Cyd, was invincible. He had no weaknesses and was said to be undefeated. This made Karna and Achilles powerless against him.

Achilles and Cyd had both bathed in the River Styx, granting them near invincibility. However, Cyd had no weaknesses, and his legend enhanced his defenses. Additionally, Cyd had Apollo's blessing, the very same that had caused Achilles' downfall.

Shirou could only rely on Karna's God Slayer Spear to defeat Cyd, but Karna's current attitude didn't inspire confidence.

The situation was troubling.

The closed front door of the church slowly creaked open. Karna and Achilles vanished, becoming ethereal.

"You are the Holy Grail War overseer," Kairi said, walking towards Father Shirou Kotomine. He asked Mordred, his Heroic Spirit, in a low voice, "Are there Heroic Spirits here?"

"Three," Mordred replied seriously. "I have a bad feeling."

"There are four Heroic Spirits here, including an assassin," Cyd added quietly.

"Welcome, my name is Shirou Kotomine," Shirou said with a tone that suggested more experience than his youthful appearance.

Suspicious...

"I'm Kairi. You should know me," Kairi said, sitting on a front bench, scrutinizing Shirou.

"Yes, as you suspect," Shirou tilted his head. "Would you like your Heroic Spirit to materialize?"

"Do you want to see me?" Mordred began to materialize, but Cyd beat her to it, sitting beside Kairi and casually placing a deathly sickle on his shoulder.

Shirou's expression stiffened.

"What's the matter? This is my Age of Gods relic, summoned by me through the Mage's Association," Kairi said, relaxing once he understood Cyd's intention.

Mordred: "..."

"This is the first time I've heard of a Ruler signing a contract with someone," Shirou said, recovering his smile.

"I'm not the usual type. Heroic Spirits can appear in different forms depending on their roles. Holy Grail Wars are not rare, but different roles aren't unusual," Cyd shrugged.

"You're tricking me," Shirou said, feeling less confident.

"Yes, I am," Cyd said, his sickle transforming back into a black box. "I am this Holy Grail War's Ruler, Cyd. Nice to meet you."

"Are you joking?" Kairi muttered, feeling a bit regretful for speaking out. He watched Shirou, now pinned by Cyd, and said, "Saber, show yourself."

Staring—

Kairi felt a chill run down his spine as Mordred remained silent, standing behind him with her great sword. Though her helmet obscured her face, Kairi could sense her sharp gaze. The Knight of Treachery was not someone to be trifled with.

The church's corner bench shattered as Achilles, clutching his long spear, glared frantically at Cyd.

"You said you're Cyd?"

"Achilles," Cyd narrowed his eyes. "Your mother and I share some history. I wanted to repay her, but I couldn't reach Tartarus."

"That doesn't matter! Fight me!" Achilles gripped his heart, "I've been waiting for this day!"

"Now's not the time," Cyd replied, not yet finished with his plans. "We need to deal with the Black faction first."

"These ridiculous customs!" Achilles swept aside several benches in frustration.

"Getting rid of me won't be easy," Cyd said, lifting his left hand and resting it on the bench.

"Be patient," Atalanta said, sitting beside Cyd, her presence marked by a golden light.

"Almost forgot about you big sis," Achilles grumbled, retracting his spear.

But even you can't beat him.

Those were words Achilles didn't dare say aloud.