The Third Holy Grail War (Part 6)

"Archer."

"Yes, Master?"

"Prepare to take out Saber. I'll use a Command Spell to boost your attack to make sure that he is killed."

"You don't have to use a Command Seal for this, Master."

"It's not that I don't trust your skills, Archer, but remember that the enemy Masters also have Command Spells and they can use them to counter your arrows."

"Reasonable enough. Then, do I need to target the other Servants as well?"

"Yes. After you successfully confirmed the strike on Saber, give them hell."

"Well then." I inhaled deeply and stared at the red tattoos on the back of my left hand. "May the goddess Armaiti bless your bow and arrows... By the power of this Command Spell, I order you, Archer, shoot down Saber and kill him."

The crystallization of a great magic worked its miracles and Arash, who was atop a building a few kilometers away instantly felt its compliance. It was as if a divine blessing was bestowed, his parameters were all raised and the arrow on his bow was amplified to the highest degrees.

He knew that this shot would not miss. Both the experience of a legendary bowmaster and Heroic Spirit were screaming at him that the moment the arrow was released, the purple knight would be pierced no matter what even if the nature of causality must be reversed.

Arash obeyed and the unavoidable arrow flew to the sky. It traveled through the city- No, it didn't even fly. It materialized before the younger Lancelot and penetrated his purple armor. The Knight of the Lake's heart was pierced. And thus, he collapsed onto the ground.

He was dead.

For killing a Servant during the Holy Grail War +30,000,000,000 EXP

You have leveled up! +5 SP

Hahaha... Hahaha, hah. I do not understand why would you waste your precious Command Seals on something like Spatial Transportation since all you have to do is to avoid being in danger in the first place.

Increasing a Servant's parameters is great but why won't you simply use the crystallization of great magic to make sure one of your hits do not miss? It's not like Lancelot has a Skill or Noble Phantasm that can protect him.

Sure, the arrow is originally many times weaker than even the lowest-ranking Noble Phantasms. Nonetheless, all I have to make sure is just the arrow will hit my foe no matter the consequences.

It's usually incredibly stupid to use a Command Spell to boost a single strike unless it's the Servant's ultimate attack. However, won't everyone detect the surge of magical energy from using it? It's too conspicuous after all.

For killing a Servant during the Holy Grail War, you will receive a random Skill or Noble Phantasm from the defeated Servant.

Class Skill: [Magic Resistance B]

Class Skill: [Riding B]

Personal Skill: [Knight of the Lake A]

Personal Skill: [Eternal Arms Mastership A+]

Personal Skill: [Protection of the Fairies A]

Noble Phantasm: [Arondight: The Unfading Light of the Lake A]

Noble Phantasm: [Arondight - Overload: Breaking All Restraints - Overloaded Light of the Lake A++]

The wheel of fortune appeared before me once again.

I'd take Riding with a grain of salt. I know how to drive normal vehicles, but I can't pilot planes nor helicopters. I'll be able to use fighter planes, jets, tanks, and even battleships... with a crew, of course. Sadly, I can't ride Phantasmal Species with the Skill being B rank.

Magic Resistance is an incredible Skill to have. I will become the bane of Mages and shrug off powerful spells like nothing. The personal Skills aren't all so bad as well, though I wouldn't want them over the other choices either...

Oh! The Noble Phantasms took up the same slot and its size is doubled. Looks like my prediction was right. You can't use the Anti-Army beam if you don't even have the holy sword, right?

Then, Lord System, please, please give me the Noble Phantasms...

Here goes nothing. Spin spin spin, aaannndd-

You have received the Skill: [Protection of the Fairies A]

[Protection of the Fairies]

Rank: A

The skill which indicates the blessing from Elementals, the capacity to increase one's Luck in dangerous situations. Activation is limited to battlefields, where it is possible to perform feats of arms.

At this rank, one's luck can be greatly increased during combat.

Why have you forsaken me, System? "..." I truly have no words for this. I mean, this is the best Skill amongst Lancelot's Personal Skills since [Knight of the Lake] only boost you when you're near sizable bodies of water.

But why won't you give me something else? Come on, Lady Luck, didn't a Cosmic Entity tell me that I was fairly lucky? I just- No, nevermind. It doesn't matter. I have gotten stronger thanks to the experience points. I have also received a good Skill and managed to lower the amount of enemies I'll have to face in the future.

I should not complain. Nonetheless, it's quite worrying that Archer has not replied to me yet...

"Archer, did you fail to kill the other Servants?"

"Yes, Master. I have heavily wounded Rider but Lancer got in the way of the final blow and deflected the following arrows. I am currently relocating from my previous position since Lancer is trying to trail me."

"Godspeed, Archer."

I do not have to be concerned about this. Fionn can't exceed Arash's speed unless he is boosted by a Command Seal. All in all, it's a great harvest today. Ah, I do wonder how will the Holy Church and the Mage's Association cover up the incident with all those brilliant fireworks caused by the clash of three Noble Phantasms.

And what's going to happen to the younger Edelfelt? Will she still be kidnapped or killed like in the canon? Hmhmhm.

-x-X-x-

"Argh!"

Annelia screamed out in pain as she felt entire hand burning. The last Command Spell which remained on the back of her hand glowed in red and slowly faded away. "W-What?" She widened her eyes and stared at her hand dully.

"Did, did Saber...?" She felt her connection with her Servant cut off a few seconds ago. However, wasn't Saber alive and kicking? He might have been wounded and exhausted, but he was certainly fine...

"N-No way..." Her Servant has died. She was no longer a Master. She could no longer participate in the Heaven's Feel ritual. She couldn't show her sister who's the more talented heiress. She couldn't-

"Haha, ha."

All of a sudden, a voice sounded from behind her. 'Who...?' Annelia was currently located in an open area which was connected to the back alleys of Fuyuki City. No one should have been able to find her because she has set up a Bounded Field that prevented detection... unless they are...

"What do we have here? A lost little lamb?" A man in his forties stepped out of the shadows. He hair was grey-black, and his grey eyes shined in a dangerous light. The ruby embedded atop the wooden cane he held reflected the moonlight as a teasing smile formed on his face.

"You are... The Tohsaka Master?" Annelia muttered.

"Yes, I am." Tohsaka Hisahito chuckled and lifted his hand. Then, the darkness on every side twisted and a figure became visible.

It was Caster.

"W-What are you trying to- Kyaah!" The shadows turned solid. Tens of black limbs materialized and headed straight for the young woman. Annelia tried to resist by throwing gemstones at them but all the explosions were swallowed by the endless darkness.

She reinforced herself and turned around. "What-" However, before her escape attempt could even begin, she found herself bound by hundreds of formless shades. "N-No, wait, what are you doing?! I am Annelia Edelfelt, one of the two heiresses of the Edelfelt family! You can't do-"

As if nothing has happened, the shadows disappeared and the silhouettes of Caster, Annelia, and Hisahito completely vanished from the now silent open space.

-x-X-x-

"Status report, Lancer." A calm voice transmitted to Fionn's mind.

"I lost Archer, Master."

"It's fine, you do not have to worry about it. Return for now, and make sure not to be tracked."

"Understood."

As their mental link was cut off, Darnic smiled. Yes, he smiled. What's wrong with him smiling? He's happy. If you considered what happened tonight, then the one who profited the most was him and the two unknown Masters.

Although Lancer was wounded, he can heal him back to full health without much efforts. He hasn't expended a single Command Seal, and one of the Sabers just went and die off himself. Oh, Rider was fatally injured as well!

Archer was the one who got the kill, and he was also the one who defeated another Servant yesterday. Every Masters and Servants must have known what have happened in the streets of Fuyuki.

The two unknown Masters are the remaining members of the Three Founding Families, Einzbern and Tohsaka. The Einzbern is in the possession of the Lesser Grail, and the Tohsaka is the second owner of Fuyuki City, there's no way that they have not observed the events.

Because of the two kills, all the heat will be on Archer and his Master. They are now the most dangerous and primary target of every participants of the Heaven's Feel ritual. Soon, those two will be killed, and it is highly likely that they are going to take a couple more Servants down with them before dying.

In fact, all that's been exposed tonight is his Servant's true name, and it's not even certain that the observers have managed to listen in during the unleashing of the Noble Phantasms.

He's safe, he's in an alliance with one of the other Masters, his ally is considerably weaker than him, his Servant still has two unused Noble Phantasms, and lastly, he has yet to call in the support of the German Army.

Truly, everything's going according to his grand plan of stealing the Holy Grail.

-x-X-x-

"...I got you."

"Archer, 120 degrees southeast, five blocks away from the neighborhood fill with western mansions. Male, in his thirties with curly blue hair, do you see him?"

"Yes, I can see the Master of Rider."

"Take the shot, Rider doesn't have the ability to intercept your arrows. You can use as much Prana as you need since I can use the few gems I have to supply myself. So make sure that he's dead in one hit."

Archer went silent when he heard my command. No, he's not hesitating. He's not against killing Kaito. No, he knew that the pale man was a Mage who chose to join a death tournament himself. He was prepared to die from the start, so there is no need for hesitation.

Arash Kamangir is a man who does what must be done at a time where it needs to be done. I merely stopped him from Master-killing in order to improve our relationship in the first place. However, there isn't a reason for that anymore... because Arash will die in this war.

For killing a Master during the Holy Grail War +5,000,000,000 EXP

For killing a Servant during the Holy Grail War +30,000,000,000 EXP

You have leveled up! +5 SP

"...Good job, Archer. Please return for the night, we have already killed three people... That's enough bloodshed for the night."

"Yes. I agree, Master."

For killing a Servant during the Holy Grail War, you will receive a random Skill or Noble Phantasm from the defeated Servant.

Class Skill: [Riding A]

Class Skill: [Magic Resistance D]

Personal Skill: [Oath to the Goddess B]

Personal Skill: [Battle Continuation A]

Personal Skill: [Protection from Andraste]

Noble Phantasm: [Chariot of Boudica: Chariot Without Promised Protection B+]

Noble Phantasm: [Sword of Boudica: Sword Without Promised Victory B]

"..."

You have received the Skill: [Riding A]

[Riding]

Rank: A

The skill denoting the ability to ride mounts and vehicles.

At this rank, all vehicles and all creatures but those of Phantasmal Beast and Divine Beast-rank can be used as mounts.

I wonder why... Despite successfully removing three Servants from the Holy Grail War in only two nights... I do not feel an ounce of pride within myself.

Is it because I want someone to know my achievements? Is it because I want to be acknowledged for my deeds? Is it because I am not satisfied with the rewards? Is it because the kills are not clean enough? Is it because I murdered someone and trampled on their dreams of peace?

Really... Human hearts are so fickle at times. Mine is also the same. As long as I remain human and think like a human, I'll forever be bound by the compassion and the seven sins of man... But I do not regret it-

No. I do regret it.

Because I know that's she's kind. Because I know that she truly desired peace for her subjects. Because I knew that she fought to the end for her kingdom.

Ah... Fenric... Why are you like this? Just because you know her better than the others, just because you know the genuine history behind her doesn't make you-

"-Her daughters were exhaustively raped as much as possible, these little children begging for mercy in their thin voices while in tears. That very incident, expressed formerly through her voice and appearance, is what she thought of while on the verge of death. Justice. Maybe she have discovered that she may have already let go of what she truly wanted to protect-"

Yes. It's because I genuinely admired someone like her.

I admired someone who can still be brilliant in the darkest times. She can stand tall while her flesh and blood flows endlessly. She fought for her ideals, the people's freedom, and the justice and order that shielded all the innocents. In the end, for ones who are meant to stand in the shadows like me...

The light. Have always been too bright for us...

I knew it from the start. For an ordinary man like me, to be reborn into a world of full of true cruelty- I was not prepared for it. I tried to lie to myself, I invested all my time into honing my skills and gaining more wisdom-

Because I was scared.

The dream of an everlasting life. A limitless eternity. It's not something you can attain even with the foreknowledge of future events. A life of misery was promised to me the moment I chose to walk the harder path.

The path of a Magus, the path of death, the path for immortality.

I am frankly frightened, frightened by how calm I am. It's not as if I do not feel human emotions. I am scared, because I have the full control to all my emotions. I can reach my boiling point almost instantly, and I can still feel as cool as the breeze because I can't lose myself to unnecessary sentiments.

I have never once questioned it. I have acted like a psychopath in order to make me seem more human. No, to make me seem more sane... At the boundary of absolute composure, one does not feel perturbed by anything or everything.

You will never lose it. You will always observe your loved ones as if you're a stranger. What if I were to become inhuman one day? Hah... I will probably be the same person as I always were because-

Huh.

Who and what am I to doubt the morality and mortality of men...?

It is too late by now, Fenric... It is too late.

...I am sorry, 'Onee-san.'