Morning,
Einzbern Castle
In the Grand Hall of the rebuilt castle, an unusual, but insanely powerful, crowd had gathered.
On one side was Black Von Einzbern, flanked by Medea the Caster on his right, and Sakura and Rider on his left. The two homunculus maids were standing behind his high-back chair with disgust and shock on their faces, their gazes kept lifting to see that man…
That man was one of the figures standing opposite Black.
Shirou and Rin sat on a large sofa, Archer, Saber, and… Assassin, without a hood and the bandages, standing behind them.
Berserker was still nowhere to be seen.
After last night's falling out, Sakura had invited Shirou and Rin back to Einzbern Castle, stating it to be much secure given the enemies' vast powers.
First, you sowed the seed of doubt in Sakura's heart regarding the Evil existence that attacked us, Medea said in Black's mind. I'd thought you wanted her to act against that boy… I was wrong.
Instead of festering that doubt, you planted the idea in her to tag along with you and clear things up with Shirou face-to-face… That hadn't made any sense to me… But now… You planned for this moment, didn't you… Master?!
Black sighed.
Not exactly, he replied. Not in this manner. Shirou Emiya has gone beyond my imagination… It would be hard to finish what I had planned for him.
Not only had Black failed to cripple Shirou's Magic Circuits, but, after coming here, Archer had already helped the boy strengthen them even more.
Now, with that absurd Sword Origin permeating through his entire body, along with fully awakened Magic Circuits, Shirou Emiya was a threat at a Heroic Spirit level.
And, if it was indeedZelretch behind his unusual state, and not some random timeline divergence, then it was even more troublesome.
For now, Black needed to take care of two greatest threats to his existence in this timeline… before the entire hell erupted, beginning the end of this Holy Grail War.
First, it was Assassin — Emiya Kiritsugu — Illya's father before he became a Heroic Spirit, and the Prime Character of the last Holy Grail War.
Black didn't know what conversations had taken place between Shirou, Rin, and their Servants after arriving here.
However, from the way both Assassin and Shirou kept looking at him with hateful, murderous gazes, it seemed the Heroic Spirit had recalled its past fully.
Now, they wanted the soul resting in the Grail Heart within Black.
"… If you want to work together," Rin said, knowing the delicate stalemate, "then you must return that girl's soul to us…"
Sella and Leysritt nodded heavily at that.
"That is out of the question," Black rejected flatly.
Assassin's fingers balled into fists, and Shirou's teeth creaked as he rubbed them against each other.
Black's eyes landed on Archer. "Surely there's one among you that recognizes the hideous situation we are in, right?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. "Or do you take my coming for truce to you as a sign of my weakness?"
"What do you mean?" Rin asked.
Black Von Einzbern was the Lesser Grail, a fact now known to all because of the Grail Heart sensed by Assassin within him.
There always remained a chance that the Holy Grail would manifest through Black, instead of the Greater Grail's husk that rested on top of the leyline, deep under Mount Enzo.
For this simple fact, it was inevitable that all those who stood on Dark Sakura's side would come after him — to let her devour him.
Then there was Sakura, seated next to him.
The Dark Sakura would come for her sooner or later as well.
And even though Shirou and Rin were willing to stand up for this Sakura, it still left Black himself in a precarious situation.
Even with Berserker, Medea, and Rider by his side, he might not last against so many enemies.
So, it was obvious that he needed Shirou and Rin, and their Servants' help the most.
Of course, some were shrewd enough to recognize that the opposite was true as well.
Archer and Medea had sensed it quite a long time ago. Assassin would have sensed it as well, had it not been because of anger overwhelming his senses.
"He means that before doom comes for him," Archer said, crossing his arms.
Medea giggled, finishing Archer's words, "… you will already be dead."
Rin's eyes widened.
"… Count the number of Servants here," Black said.
Shirou's angry face suddenly gained a confused expression.
However, Rin, whose eyes had widened, almost stood up, her face paling.
"If we are to ignore the Blackened Saber, there are ten Servants in Fuyuki City," Black continued. "Out of those ten, six are right here. Sakura has the Imaginary Element. With me as her protector, the only one who will come after her is The Shadow, not other Heroic Spirits. And I am stronger than an ordinary Heroic Spirit. With Caster, Rider, and Berserker backing us up, even Gilgamesh and Ruler-Class Servant will think twice before attacking us…"
"… On our side, we have me," Archer said, closing his eyes with a sigh. "Old man has already shown his trump card… And Saber is barely strong enough to hold back her evil counterpart…"
Even Shirou, forgetting the hate for Black he carried within, realized what Archer meant.
If a large-scale fight truly broke out, then — he and Rin would be the first ones to die…
"I give you my word that I will release the girl's soul," Black said, "transferring it to other homunculus… It's up to you to believe that or not. Regardless of Lesser or Greater Grail… only one Master and Servant can win this War. But before that War, we must settle the matter with those evil bastards who want to end the world… because…"
Black stared into their souls, leaning forward. "All evil must perish…"
…
Outside the Einzbern Castle, Kai took shape, clasping his hands behind his back.
Finally, it was time to take care of the second threat against his existence…
… It was time — to give Zelretch an answer.
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