AN: Ben Dover has won the Sunday Author's Quiz #4, gaining Free Subscription of Trial Tier [2 Advance Chapters and 3 Backlog Chapters] as a reward. Congratulations!
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Black found himself standing on snow.
There was an etherealness about this place.
It was like touching a ghost or tasting the air… the silence was alive.
Suddenly, through the silent whiteness, Black heard steps, plunging deep into the snow as they approached him.
He looked to his right.
Illya, wearing a long white gown, walked toward him, her head down, her long silver hair brushing against the snow.
She stopped.
Slowly, the girl looked up, her red gaze falling on Black.
"… Papa…" she said, her breath misting. "… Is that you, Papa?!"
A chill ran down Black's spine.
…
Outside, Black fell, spraying Sakura's white gown with blood, her screams landing on his buzzing ears.
However, it wasn't the sudden backlash of Grail Heart that worried him.
Nor was he truly concerned about the sudden downfall of Luck. With Unlucky Gossip, how many Points he would lose wasn't set in stone, to begin with. He had always known that there were chances of losing a massive chunk of Luck at the most crucial time.
So, no.
His Luck falling to 5 Points didn't pale Black's face.
It was Assassin — appearing behind Shirou, his hood falling off because of the sheer speed of his arrival.
Even the bandages on his face had come loose miraculously.
And, for the first time, Assassin's face came out in the open, all eyes landing on him.
"… No…" Shirou gasped, his eyes widening.
Saber, who had also appeared behind Black, stood there, stunned. She had an idea, but to actually see that face… to confirm that it was indeed him…
Even Sakura, who had been hearing about this person from Shirou for years, looked at the Heroic Spirit in pure fascination.
Of course, Assassin couldn't have cared for any of them.
Just as the Grail Heart had thumped within Black, making him experience that vision, Assassin had also heard the call of Illya's soul.
The Heroic Spirit hadn't known his own past before. Even if he had known — Kiritsugu Emiya wasn't a person who would have let it become a problem, affecting his Servant status.
But… when he heard Illya and realized what happened to her, wrath, from the depths of his Source, oozed out, his hand wrapping around the dagger's hilt… to activate the Noble Phantasm.
And being hit by Assassin's Noble Phantasm meant a sure kill for Black at this moment.
The Grail Heart within him was connected to the Magic Crests, which had also become his Command Spells.
If they got injured, not only would Black lose his status as the Lesser Grail, but even Kai would lose his status as Servant.
As if time had frozen, Assassin raised his dagger, spewing rage toward Black.
Defying all logic, Medea appeared in front of Black, her face gaining a red tinge as boundless magic erupted from her.
And, in between everyone, Sakura found her entire world crumbling.
"I said…" she cried, holding her head, looking at the blood on her gown. "STOP IT!!!"
Booooooooooooooooom!!!
Giant Hollow spheres popped into existence around Sakura.
From the spheres, lance-like spikes burst out and hit the two Servants, sending them flying hundreds of meters away, blood spurting out in swaths where the imaginary element touched them.
Two of the spikes also lodged themselves in Shirou and Black's shoulders.
However, as Hollow Element wasn't as effective against humans as it was against Spirits, it only drew blood from them, instead of causing significant damage.
Rin helped Assassin stand up in the distance, his entire right arm disintegrating in light, blue particles.
Behind Black, Saber looked at Caster as half her waist vanished, making her cough blood.
Sakura sobbed, still holding her head, sitting down between the Hollow spikes. "Please… Please…" she cried. "Don't fight… Can you two just… not fight?!"
Black and Shirou looked at each other past Sakura, both bleeding… and begrudgingly nodded.
"Alright…" Shirou said, looking over his shoulder at Assassin and then back at Caster.
Black noticed his Luck rising again, looking at Caster and then at Assassin. "… let's talk."
…
Enkidu stared at the fish as they danced around his feet in the pond.
A rustle spooked the fish, making them swim away, suddenly.
From the bushes, Betty Shaw and his newly grained Servant — Jeanne d'Arc — walked out.
Enkidu looked over his shoulder, narrowed his eyes at the Holy Maiden, recognizing her vast powers, before his gaze landed on the Command Seals on Betty Shaw's hands.
"Those Magic Circuits…" Enkidu commented, smiling. "Jewel Magecraft?!"
Betty Shaw suddenly paused. He had been wondering about his Master status ever since last night because he possessed no Magic Circuits, as required by a Mage.
He had the Blessing of Anti-Spiral. He had never liked it, but it was also the power that had helped him become a 12th-floor Contestant.
The only drawback was that Betty Shaw couldn't practice the Magecraft of Fate Bubble, as that required Magic Circuits, which he couldn't have.
That's why he had never wanted Zouken's Inheritance, to begin with.
"I see…" Enkidu's smile widened, seeing the confusion on Betty's face. He then looked at the Heroic Spirit. "So, you are the 10th Servant."
Jeanne d'Arc nodded. "We do not seek the Holy Grail, as I had already stated," she declared. "However, our enemy possesses my Master's all powers, leaving us vulnerable. We need your assistance. As the Ruler of this Holy Grail War, it is your duty to help a Master and Servant from external threats. Also… from what I've gathered, you need our help, too. Will you lend us your hand and enter an alliance…"
"Sure."
"…" Both Betty Shaw and Jeanne looked at Enkidu with open mouths. That easy?!
"Haha!" Enkidu laughed, looking into the pond again as the fish returned. "Well… I do need help, you see…"
…
Deep underneath an unknown mountain… where the Holy Grail War ritual had originally begun, terrifying figures began taking shape as well.
Ainz Ooal Gown, flanked by Saber Alter and Dark Sakura, looked at the massive statue of the Greater Grail in front of them.
"I didn't know we were having guests…" The Overlord suddenly remarked, turning around.
From the darkness behind them, Gilgamesh walked out, Kirei, Lancer, and… the Evil Betty Shaw following a step behind him.
"The time has come…" Gilgamesh declared, staring and grinning at Dark Sakura. "… you Mongrels!"
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