TYPE-MOON Universe, Earth, Japan, Fuyuki City.
After school let out for the day, instead of going straight home, Rin, accompanied by Archer in his astral form, took a stroll around Miyama Town. She wanted to extend that stroll to the whole of Fuyuki City. However, when considering that it was already late afternoon, she decided to keep the stroll to the suburbs.
On top of the late hour, Rin had forgotten to reset the clocks in her house last night. And that included her alarm clock. So, she had gotten up an hour earlier than usual. In addition to that, she did not even remember the issue with the clocks in her home until she had already gotten to school and run into the captain of the Archery Team, Mitsuzuri Ayako.
Even so, despite spending a lot of her day yawning, Rin made it through the day. She even had lunch with her sister, which definitely made the day more bearable.
As for right now, Rin was making her way back to the school after realizing that she and Archer had not had the opportunity to get a full picture of her school.
{"By the way, Master."} Archer said over the telepathic link all Master -Servant pairs possess. {"That girl, Sakura, your sister, you are aware that she is a Master, too, yes?"}
{"I am."} Rin replied nonchalantly. {"But we don't' have to worry about her for now. Actually, she asked me to work with her and another Magus during this Holy Grail War."}
{"Hmm… Interesting."} Archer replied. {"And why would three Magi team up for a ritual such as this?"}
{"Well, from what the woman Sakura is supposedly working with said…"} Rin said, starting the explanation she heard a little more than three weeks ago.
With that, Rin explained everything she knew about the Grail, the corruption that latched onto it, and the consequences of making a wish with the Grail in its current condition. All the while, Archer listened without interrupting. Though, if Rin would have been able to see his face, she would have known that he knew more about the situation than she did.
During Rin's explanation, she and Archer had returned to Homurahara Academy and entered the main school building while aimlessly walking through its halls.
{"The problem is…"} Rin said after finishing her explanation. {"I don't know what to do. I mean, if what they said was true, then winning the Grail and making a wish would lead to disaster. But what if she only told this story to me and Sakura to get us to help them thin the competition before taking us out herself."}
{"That's quite the dilemma, indeed."} Archer replied as he and Rin he walked up the stairs towards the roof of the school.
{"I know that."} Rin said in an exasperated tone. {"I was asking for your opinion, not just an affirmation of the situation I'm in."}
In response, Archer chuckled, making Rin bristle even more.
{"Well, as a Master, that's your decision to make."} Archer said, intentionally pressing Rin's buttons. {"But let me ask you this…"}
As Archer paused for dramatic effect, Rin could feel the atmosphere shift, her link to Archer making it clear that he was going to say something important.
{"Do you trust your sister?"} Archer asked, his tone much more serious now. {"Do you trust that she has the ability to judge the people she's put her trust in correctly? If you can answer that question, then the answer to your dilemma should be simple, should it not?"}
By now, Rin had reached the top of the stairs and was just about to take a hold of the doorknob leading to the school's rooftop. Yet, when she heard Archer's words, she froze in place, a contemplative expression making its way onto her face.
{"*Sigh* I do trust Sakura."} Rin said, breaking the silence while shaking her head. {"but it's not that simple. This is the chance I've been working for my whole life. And giving it up just like that…"}
As she spoke, Rin pulled the door to the rooftop open. Yet, as soon as she did, her expression changed completely. Gone was the uncertainty, replaced by a sharp expression that meant she was ready for battle.
"Archer, someone just entered the school grounds." Rin said, foregoing the telepathic link. "And it's a Magus, most likely, a Master. I need you to look towards the school gate and tell me what you see."
{"Understood."} Archer replied, not coming out of his astral form.
Quickly, Rin rushed towards the edge of the roof facing the school's front gate. She then stood near the edge and waited to hear from Archer.
{"You were right, Master."} Archer replied. {"A woman with fuchsia hair is walking towards the school building while looking around. And although I can't tell if she's a Magus from this far away, I can feel the presence of a Servant near her."}
"It's not them, huh?" Rin muttered to herself while raising her right hand to her chin to take a moment to think.
{"How should we proceed?"} Archer asked, just as calmly as he had been when the two were conversing during their stroll.
"That new priest said the Grail War would officially begin today… So…" Rin said quietly.
A moment later, she raised her head and looked toward the school gate.
"Wait until she's far enough onto school grounds so that she can't escape." Rin said in a resolute tone. "Then, open fire. With the high ground, we should have the advantage."
{"Understood."} Archer replied.
Not even a second later, Archer shifted to his physical form. Then, a black longbow materialized in his left hand. Next, a sword with a strange, narrow, drill-shaped blade materialized in his right hand.
Finally, in a posture reminiscent of Traditional Japanese Archery, also known as, Kyūdō, Archer raised both the bow and sword while his eyes stayed locked on the fuchsia-haired woman, Bazett. And when the pommel of the sword came in contact with the bowstring, something strange happened.
The sword transmuted into the form of an arrow. Though, the arrow head was still in a spiral shape like that of the sword.
Completely unbothered by this change, as he was the one who caused it, Archer simply continued to aim his arrow while drawing the bow. Then, once the bow was at full draw, he released the arrow, letting it fly towards his target.
*Boom!*
The arrow left the bow with such velocity that it caused a sonic boom, startling Rin, who jumped because of the sudden loud noise. Luckily, the shockwave did not affect her too much. Otherwise, she would have probably fallen off the roof.
Meanwhile, in the school's courtyard, Bazett, who had just been getting a lay of the Miyama Town area and wandered into the school to complete her mental map, was also startled by the sonic boom. Unfortunately, the arrow that was fired was too fast for her to react.
Luckily, Lancer was nearby in his astral form.
Appearing in front of Bazett, Lancer brandished his crimson red spear, deflecting the arrow away. However, due to the force behind the arrow, he was forced backwards, his feet leaving trenches in the walk way while forcing Bazett to jump aside so she would not be knocked away.
*Boom!*
At the same time, the sound of a small explosion sounded to the side of the walkway. And when Bazett and lancer looked, they could see the shaft and fletching of an arrow sticking out of a shallow crater.
"Well, I guess we found the Archer." Lancer said with a smile on his face as he flipped a piece of concrete off of the ground with his foot. Then, before the concrete could fall, he snatched it out of the air and continued speaking. "And since he already said hello, it would only be right to return the favor, wouldn't it?"
With that, Lancer used his mana to write a few [Runes] on the piece of concrete in his hand. Then, he reeled his arm back before…
"So, hello!" Lancer shouted as he threw the piece of concrete with all his might.
"He's about to counter attack." Archer said calmly as he watched Lancer draw his arm back.
"What?" Rin cried in alarm. She then quickly ran towards the roof's edge. "Archer, I'll leave the landing to you."
Then, without hesitation, Rin jumped from the roof, flying towards the courtyard below.
*Boom!*
The sound of yet another explosion echoed throughout the area, the light of the explosion brightening the courtyard.
Shortly afterwards, Rin felt a pair of arms wrap around her. And when she looked down, she saw they were covered in red cloth, letting her know that it was Archer who caught her.
About a second later, Archer landed in the courtyard before putting Rin on the ground. Meanwhile, Rin, able to see the Master-Servant pair a lot better now that she was closer and there was a light source, narrowed her eyes.
"So, it's Tohsaka Rin." Bazett said calmly as she readied herself for battle. "I guess it wouldn't be a Holy Grail War without someone from your family participating, would it?"
"Should we continue to fight?" Archer asked quietly. "Or, should we prioritize escape. Though the loud noises wouldn't draw too much attention, the fire will definitely draw the police and fire fighters to this location before too long."
"It looks like they plan to make that decision for us." Rin said just as quietly. "Get ready, he's coming. Show me what you can do, Archer."
"Yes." Archer replied as he took a step forward.
And just as Rin said, Lancer was already rushing forward to engage in close combat. Meanwhile, Bazett had started drawing [Runes] on her arms, legs, hands, and feet, clearly preparing for battle herself.
Archer, on the other hand, manifested a pair of swords in his hands. The two short swords were curved double-edged blades with one being white and the other black. And each had a yin-yang symbol engraved near the base of the blade.
"How curious, a bowman using a pair of blades." Lancer said, scoffing as he saw Archer's weapon choice. "Can you even use those things properly?"
"There's only one way to find out, isn't there?" Archer shot back.
With that, Archer sprung forward and the deadly dance between Servants began.
*Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!* *Clang!*
With the advantage in reach, Lancer thrust forward with his spear, forcing Archer to parry with the blade in his left hand. Archer then stepped inside the range of Lancer's spear, swinging the blade in his right hand diagonally, looking to cleave Lancer from his left shoulder to his right waist.
Yet, Lancer pulled his spear back quickly, guarding against Archer's strike with the shaft of his spear. He then flicked the butt of his spear at Archer's neck, causing him to guard in return by bringing up his left blade.
Lancer then followed up by sweeping the blade of his spear at Archer's chest. However, Archer was able to cross his blades in time, sparks flying from the collision. At the same time, Archer was forced back thanks to the difference in strength.
Even so, as Archer slid backwards, he threw both blades at Lancer, the swords spinning through the air like boomerangs.
"You give up your weapons so easily?" Lancer asked in an almost offended tone. "You really should just stick to shooting arrows from a distance instead of pretending to be a swordsman."
*Clang!*
As he spoke, Lancer turned his body to avoid the black blade while knocking the white blade away. Then, once he was clear, he dashed forward, his spear primed to thrust once again.
Meanwhile, Archer took a few more steps back, the white sord that was knocked away, dematerializing as what appeared to be a new one materialized in his left hand.
"So, you can call it back to your hand, huh?" Lancer said, a bit of praise in his tone. "Still, it looks like it only works with one."
Lancer then thrust forward with is spear, Archer forced to parry the blow with only one blade. Yet, it was clear that he was not as proficient in one handed combat, a detail that Lancer definitely did not miss.
However, before Lancer could press the advantage, his instincts warned him, and he leapt to the side.
*Swish!*
In the next instant, the black blade that Archer had thrown earlier, spun through the place where Lancer's head once was before Archer caught its hilt, regaining his normal fighting style.
"Tch! Cheap trick. Lancer said as he once again charged forward. "But since you couldn't end the battle with it on the first try, don't expect it to work in the future."
Archer did not respond. Instead, he reengaged Lancer in melee combat. However, one peculiar thing that happened repeatedly during the encounter was the fact that Archer's weapons broke repeatedly. Though, only an instant after they would break, a new one would appear in his hand.
Though he found this phenomenon strange, Lancer was even more frustrated, as he was unable to take advantage of being able to break Archer's weapons.
Meanwhile, things were not looking good for Rin. Unlike most Magi, Bazett preferred to fight up close. And while Rin had been trained in martial arts, Bajiquan to be exact, she was nowhere near the level of Bazett in terms of close quarters combat.
So, when firing a barrage of a German Curse called [Gandr] in rapid succession did not work to stop Bazett from approaching, Rin found herself in trouble.
The force behind Bazett's punches, kicks, elbow strikes, and knee strikes were more than Rin could handle. With that said, however, Rin had not been defeated yet. She was trained in Bajiquan by Kotomine Kirei, one of the Holy Church's best Executors in his prime, after all.
Still, it was only a matter of time before Rin fell in battle. And it was unfortunate, but it looked like that time was drawing near.
Blocking another punch from Bazett, Rin's balance was disturbed greatly. And Bazett, not one to miss an opportunity, quickly followed up by sweeping Rin's legs out from under her.
"Gahh!" Rin groaned as her back slammed into the ground and the wind was forced out of her lungs.
Catching this scene out of the corner of his eye, Archer wanted to disengage to save Rin from what he knew was coming next, as Bazett had drawn her fist back, aiming at Rin's head to end the fight. Unfortunately, Lancer had no intention of letting Archer interfere.
*Clatter!*
However, before Bazett could deal the finishing blow, the sound of something falling to the floor could be heard from one of the halls of the school.
"There's still someone here!" Rin exclaimed breathlessly as her eyes shot wide open.
At the same time, Bazett, Lancer, and Archer all stopped dead in their tracks. Then, both Bazett and Lancer narrowed their eyes.
"Lancer, go." Bazett ordered, her short order more than enough to convey her instructions.
Then, without even replying, Lancer, the fastest person on the battlefield, dashed off. His target, the person who had more than likely witnessed the supernatural battle. Bazett, on the other hand, knew that time was running out. So, she focused back on Rin, understanding that even if Archer came to save her, she would have enough time to finish her off and still defend herself.
'Although I don't like killing people as young as you, I have to do what needs to be done.' Bazett thought to herself as she brought her fist down at Rin's head.
As for Rin, when she felt Bazett's killing intent and saw her fist coming down to end her life, everything seemed to move in slow motion. At the same time, she saw her life flash before her eyes.
'Well, I guess this is how it ends.' Rin thought to herself. 'I just hope Sakura will be okay after she finds out. Damn it! We were just reunited as sisters. And it's going to end so soon.'
While those thoughts ran through her head, Rin caught Archer dashing towards her out of the corner of her eyes. But just as Bazett had surmised, he would not be able to make it in time to save her.
Accepting her fate, Rin was just about to close her eyes to welcome her death. However, just as she did, she caught sight of something she had seen before, about three weeks ago.
'Is that a… string.' Rin thought to herself as she watched the thin line move quickly and wrap around Bazett's wrist. 'Then, does that mean…'
As her thought finished, Bazett's fist came to a sudden stop less than two inches away from her head. The wind pressure from the punch causing her pain. At the same time, her slowed perception of time returned to normal.
Meanwhile, Bazett, just like Rin, recognized the thread that wrapped around her wrist immediately. Because, also like Rin, Bazett had been saved by these very threads, as well. However, this time they were being used to save someone else.
"If you're here, why don't' you show yourself, Elicia Taylor?" Bazett asked as she stood up while using her free hand, which was covered in [Runes], to cut through the thread holding her.
"No problem." Elicia said as she dropped her [Camouflage Magic] while waving at Bazett. "Hey, Bazett. It's been a while since the last time I saw you. How have you been since then?"
"Why are you getting in my way?" Bazett asked in a stern tone. "I would think that getting rid of the other Masters and Servants would be beneficial for you."
"Well, there are a couple of reasons, actually." Elicia replied with a shrug. "One of them is personal. So, I won't' get into that. But the other is because I really don't like killing. Especially when all that killing is pretty much meaning less."
Hearing that, Bazett frowned.
"And you think you can win this Holy Grail War without killing any of the Masters?" Bazett asked in an annoyed tone.
"Yeah, I do." Elicia replied, shrugging once again. "Even without killing… I would win. I'm the strongest. Well, the strongest Master in this Holy Grail War, anyway."
{"Nice Gojo references."} Tatsuo said over the telepathic link. {"Kinda ruined them with that last part, though."}
{"Huh? Who's Gojo?"} Lici replied, her confusion evident in her tone.
The fact that Elicia did not know who Gojo Satoru was caught Tatsuo off guard. However, since now was not the time to linger on that, he would push it to the back of his mind, along with amental note to send the Jujutsu Kaisen Anime and manga to everyone in the [Chat] once this [Mission] was over.