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Kiritsugu Emiya leaned against his jeep, parked on the highway at the edge of the Einzbern forest, his gaze fixed on the distant castle, barely visible through the trees.
A phone rang inside the jeep. He reached in, grabbed it, and answered.
"Kiritsugu Emiya?" Kirei Kotomine's voice came through the speaker.
Kiritsugu glanced at Maiya Hisau, who immediately turned the laptop towards him.
Kirei's profile, captured by a hidden familiar, filled the screen—clearly a surveillance feed.
"Speak," Kiritsugu said, his eyes fixed on the screen.
"My Master's Servant has launched a surprise attack, severely wounding two of the Einzbern's Servants. They are now under attack by the enraged True Magic user and the King of Conquerors. As per our agreement, it's your turn to act," Kirei said, his voice flat, emotionless.
Kirei knew that Kiritsugu, having witnessed the destructive power of Gilgamesh's [Noble Phantasms]—would expect results from a surprise attack.
And that Haru, the suspected True Magic user, and Iskandar, who'd escaped unharmed the previous night, might have avoided the attack. Only with such an outcome would Kiritsugu believe him and deploy his Servant.
"And the Masters? What about Waver Velvet and the Einzbern homunculus?" Kiritsugu asked, exhaling a plume of smoke.
"The homunculus was spared. She's wounded, however, and unable to move freely." Kirei replied, his expression unchanging.
Kiritsugu's eyes narrowed, carefully studying Kirei's lips, confirming it was indeed him, then he spoke.
"Then, as per our plan, Diarmuid will join the attack. And the Tohsaka—they must deploy all of their Assassins to eliminate the remaining Masters."
Kirei's eyes flickered. "Still holding Lancelot back as a precaution against me…?" he thought.
"Very well. I agree." Tokiomi Tohsaka's voice came through Kirei's communication device. "Kirei, use a Command Spell to activate Hassan."
Kirei's face hardened, a flash of anger in his eyes at Tokiomi's blatant disregard for his opinion.
He hesitated, then, under Tokiomi's insistent prodding, he raised his hand, activating a Command Spell. "By my Command Spell, I order you, Hassan-i Sabbah: eliminate Waver Velvet and capture the Einzbern homunculus."
Kiritsugu, watching Kirei's reaction—the genuine anger, the hesitation—nodded at Maiya.
"Diarmuid, proceed to the Einzbern Castle at once. Join the assault on the True Magic user. Lancelot, return to our location," Maiya said into the communicator, her voice cold and precise.
Kirei stood in the basement, a subtle smile playing on his lips. Command Spells had a limited effect on a Servant's true form. And Hassan-i Sabbah's will, tempered by years of training, was strong enough to resist.
Kiritsugu, believing he could control Lancelot with a Command Spell, sending the more—honorable Diarmuid instead—it was a mistake. He didn't understand Lancelot's true nature.
Had his—"Master"—not enlightened him, even he wouldn't have known that Lancelot, who'd betrayed King Arthur for Guinevere's love, desired only one thing—to be judged by the king he had betrayed.
Kiritsugu Emiya, unaware of this, was doomed. And Kirei would be the one to deliver the final blow, the coup de grâce of despair and ruin.
"It's done. But Kirei-sama, the signal jammer will only last for ten seconds," one of Hassan's clones said, holding the captured bat familiar and a small device.
"That's—more than enough." Kirei smiled, turning to leave the basement.
"Indeed." The Hassan clone stepped into Kirei's place, its form shifting and changing until it was an exact replica of the priest. As one of the "One Hundred Faces" Hassans, such transformations were child's play.
Kirei, now disguised as a biker, a helmet concealing his face, roared out of the Church's garage on a motorcycle, heading towards the Einzbern Castle.
Kiritsugu, watching the static-filled screen of his laptop, frowned. A trick of the light? He glanced at the Command Spells on his hand, then took a drag from his cigarette, his face etched with a sudden—unease.
——
In the Einzbern forest.
Diarmuid watched as Lancelot crushed the communicator in his hand.
Facing an enraged True Magic user and the King of Conquerors—even Diarmuid couldn't guarantee his safe return. But for Kayneth's sake, he had to try.
"Farewell, my friend." Diarmuid clapped Lancelot on the shoulder, then, leaping from the tree branch, he retrieved his weapons—two spears, two swords—and set off towards the Einzbern Castle.
"I will use this life you've spared—to save your Master," Lancelot said, his voice grim, as he watched Diarmuid go.
Diarmuid paused, his voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you. To have met you, a fellow knight, in this—strange land—it was an honor."
He turned and ran, his powerful aura, a challenge, radiating outwards, just as he'd done the previous night.
As a knight, even under such dire circumstances, he wouldn't resort to a sneak attack.
——
At the Einzbern Castle's gates.
Diarmuid stopped, his eyes fixed on Saber, who stood waiting, her sword at the ready.
Through the open doors behind her, he saw Haru, holding Kiyohime, Illyasviel, and Hassan-i Sabbah sitting beside them on a sofa, all watching him with—interest.
Diarmuid's face paled. He was supposed to be joining the Queen of Heroes in an assault on the True Magic user and the King of Conquerors. But this—it looked like he was about to be ganged up on by four Servants.
He knew, instantly, that Kiritsugu's intel had been wrong. But strangely—he felt a sense of—relief. He was going to die, but Kiritsugu wouldn't get away with it either. He wouldn't give that—scheming bastard the satisfaction of knowing the truth.
"So, you've arrived, Diarmuid," Saber said, a subtle smile on her lips, her hand resting on the hilt of [Excalibur].
"Saber, what is…?" Diarmuid began, his voice filled with confusion. This wasn't what he'd expected.
Saber exchanged a glance with Haru, then turned back to Diarmuid.
"Both I, and the one who commands me, wish to offer you—a true knightly duel. A fair fight."
"And Diarmuid," Haru added, his voice warm, "Regardless of the outcome, I will guarantee your Master's safety."
Diarmuid's shoulders slumped, a wave of relief washing over him. "That—is an offer I cannot refuse."
"Then, Knight of the Round Table, Artoria Pendragon, at your service!" Saber raised [Excalibur], its invisible blade shimmering in the moonlight.
Diarmuid's smile widened. Though he had learned Saber's True Name from Lancelot, she didn't know his. Her willingness to reveal her identity—it spoke volumes about her desire for a true, honorable duel.
"Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, Knight of Fianna!" He drew [Gáe Dearg] and his broadsword.
And just like the previous night, the sound of steel clashing against steel echoed through the air.
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