Given that Black and Kai had borrowed Illya and Berserker's fates, they didn't need to care about the storyline events.
In this, Kai's Main Mission in the Harry Potter Random World was much different from this Side Mission in the Fate Random World.
In the Harry Potter timeline, despite the disappearance of the Basilisk not directly being his fault, Kai had received the notification to act in the serpent's stead, continuing the storyline events from thereon.
Here, there was no such thing, as apparent by the Black and Kai's unhinged actions of getting Medea and killing Assassin through her, using Kirei to kill Zouken, and birthing the Dark Sakura.
Kai didn't face the repercussions of these abhorrent actions, as he faced no Timeline Backlash.
However, in contrast to the freedom to act as he pleased, there were some things that he still must do.
Black wasn't just Black anymore.
By borrowing Illya's fate, he had also borrowed all interactions she had, or expected to have, by the end of her death.
That was one of the reasons he had taken the form of an Einzbern Homunculus, instead of just using Biokinesis and Facelessness to become Illya. Because in the latter case, he would have needed to play out all actions by the book, then.
Black had arrived here to confront Shirou and Rin and their Servants with this in mind as well. Of course, pleasing Illya's fate wasn't the only reason.
First, Kai had borrowed Berserker's fate.
So, one way or another, he needed to go through it anyway.
Second, there was the matter of the new Assassin, his identity, and his Master.
The Ad Infinitum and Lucky Intuitions were almost a hundred percent sure that either Rin or Shirou had summoned Assassin as an extra Servant.
It wasn't in Kai's nature to leave things on unknown percentages, though. No matter how small. So, with this battle, he was expecting to figure out the truth, forcing Assassin's hand.
Third, it was Sakura… if she was still Sakura.
Black looked at the girl in a white gown, who was looking over her shoulder at him. It hadn't taken long for him to realize that the girl had changed after waking up.
Sakura Matou wasn't a Servant. She wasn't a Spiritual Being, given form by the Holy Grail. She had no imprint in the Root, either.
So, when My House, My Rules forced the Dark Sakura out of the girl, it created a hole within them.
The Sakura in white represented All Good within Sakura Matou.
While the Dark Sakura, in whom Angra Mainyu's Will had manifested, was All Evil of Sakura Matou.
Realizing the lack of malice within her right away, all Black had done was to tell her the truth… and nothing but the truth.
He planned to put an end to the Holy Grail War once and for all by containing it within him and conquering the timeline itself.
That had been enough for this Sakura to promise her full support because all other paths led to the continuation of this cycle for eternity.
Of course, she had conditions of her own.
Servants were spiritual beings and must die to manifest the Holy Grail at the end of the war. So, Sakura had asked Black not to kill any Master —
— something Black and Kai couldn't do anyway.
…
"You are wrong, Shirou," Sakura said, looking at him with mercy. "Black is not a murderer. He didn't harm anyone that night. My grandfather… died because of his sins."
Shirou couldn't believe what he was hearing.
He'd thought that all that talk about Black being her boyfriend was just a joke. Not to mention, he knew Sakura. She wouldn't support someone like Black. No matter what lies he must have told her.
So, the only option left was that Black must have done something to her.
What Shirou needed to do was to wake Sakura up, making her realize the truth about Black by herself.
"Not a murderer…" Shirou let out a low laugh. "Why is Shinji dead, then? Why innocents died that day… Tell me. Wasn't it because…"
Sakura sighed, a tear rolling down her cheek. "It was I."
Rin gasped.
Shirou's eyes went wide. "What… What do you mean…"
"I killed Shinji," Sakura answered, looking at Shirou. "Not Black. Those people who died… it was because of me as well… If Black hadn't done that, then… I wouldn't have been alive today. Not in the way you are seeing me, Shirou. So, if you have to blame someone, then blame me.
"Black is not a murderer… He is a Savior. One day, you will understand."
…
[
Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn
You have unlocked a new Title
…
Title: Hero
Specification: Have loyal followers across timelines that unconditionally believe in you as their timeline's Savior
Status: (3/7)
Effect:
— Skill: A Hero Never Turns His Back
— Skill: A Hero's Will Is Unmatched
— Skill: A Hero Lives On
]
…
Black stared at the notification with a gobsmacked expression.
Who are the other two fools?! He thought, shaking his head with amusement.
"Are you done with your questions, Shirou?" Black asked. "I am not holding Sakura against her will. But… she needs protection from herself. You must know what I am talking about, no, Rin?"
Rin frowned, remembering Kirei's mentioning of the Holy Grail's Curse manifesting as The Shadow.
"I can protect her, too," Shirou said, narrowing his eyes at Black. "We…"
"Oh…" Black grinned at Shirou. "Can you? Shall we put it to the test, then? You do realize that everyone here is a Master… and the Holy Grail War must continue — one way or another."
A chill ran down Rin's spine.
"Archer!" Rin shouted in her mind. "Take the high ground! Assassin! Don't intervene until absolutely necessary…"
"Shirou!" Rin ran up to him and pulled him back. "Let's focus on surviving…"
"Sakura!" Shirou screamed as he got pulled back. "You don't have to…"
Sakura held the golden cruciform and shook her head. "This is the only way, Shirou. You must not resist…"
Black's lips twitched at that as he held back a laugh.
"Berserker—" he commanded, the massive black being behind him growling like a beast. "Go get them."
*****************
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