Chapter 5 – Battle in the Night Part 2

Shirou's body, now covered entirely with unknown tattoos, glowed a sinister red as the energy emanated across the battlefield. Immediately upon Angra Mainyu's presence partially manifesting itself onto Shirou's body, all Shirou could instantly register was sheer pain in its rawest form. His Magic Circuits thrummed out of control, his nerves burned senselessly, and his head pounded with the ceaseless curse of "DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE!".

Despite all the tremendous pain inflicted on him, Shirou could finally begin to feel his senses becoming clearer and honed in at the obstacle before him. Even though Shirou was sure he was controlling the release of the evil deity's power, Shirou slightly frowned when he was able to feel the entity's supply of mana seeping through his body and giving him power he did not possess before. Regardless of the cause behind this phenomenon, Shirou didn't have the time to ponder the technicalities of it when the Assassin Servant's "innocent" gaze met his.

Shirou didn't need to think twice on what he's going to do. The goal was already set clear since before he accepted Angra Mainyu's help – and that is to save everybody present in the battlefield. Perhaps what he hoped to achieve right now is built upon the foundation of naivete, however, Shirou didn't care about the consequences and outcomes of his plan. He saw a confused child and a war built upon dysfunction. And Shirou was going to do everything he can to make sure everybody makes it out alive in this bloody battlefield no matter the cost on his behalf.

Opening his eyes as Shirou exhaled slowly while ignoring the nagging pain stabbing through his body, Shirou steeled his resolve as he surveyed the hellish scenery where everything shouted malicious evil and the collective fear of mankind.

Parting his lips, Shirou uttered the words to the mantra of his inner Reality Marble.

"I am the bone of my sword."

A surge of mana gushed out of Shirou as his words acted as the catalyst of endless curses proclaiming death's unforeseen arrival. No longer was Shirou considered a mere man. He was now the reincarnation of man's evil since the beginning of time.

Upon the uttered phrase, Shirou pumped mana into his legs as he blasted off the ground with inhuman force, flying at his target within a split second. Jack the Ripper widened her eyes – and for once in a long time – in quaking fear as she witnessed Shirou descending upon her in a blur. However, right before she could properly react by grabbing for her dagger, Shirou whizzed past the little girl Assassin as he traced out a familiar black blade in his right hand, throwing it instantly afterward in a forty-five degree angle straight ahead with unfathomable speeds.

The results were instantaneous when the blade blew up with a cacophony of explosions once it impacted a midflight airborne arrow charging straight at the defenseless and confused enemy Assassin.

Jack looked at the red-haired man in front of her with complete confusion and perhaps a tinge of curiosity. Did he … just protect her? Jack, as young and twisted as she is, shook the absurd thought away. No one cared for her. The only person who has and is allowed to care for her was her mother … and none other than her dear Master. And to disappoint her mother … to Jack, it was tantamount to ceasing to exist itself.

Grasping her dagger's hilt, Jack lashed out at the unknown yet dangerous man before her in a blink of an eye. Shirou, sensing impending danger before it hit, whirled around instantly to see a blurring flash striking for his side. Shirou, without taking the time to think, sidestepped the incoming blow and attempted to knock the blade away with a fully traced out Bakuya and Kanshou.

Jack, not relenting her persistent assault, lashed out with renewed vigor when she knelt down like a viper and leaped straight at Shirou's undefended backside. Shirou's eyes widened at the neck-breaking stunt when he managed to dodge against the lightning speed attack. However, despite Shirou's inhuman reaction speed, he didn't come out unscathed by the Assassin Class Servant's blow when a steady trickling line of blood oozed out of his wound given from the potent dagger.

If Shirou had not already been in the pain he was already in due to the countless curses bestowed upon him by Angra Mainyu, Shirou was sure he would have at least grimaced at the relatively deep wound marking his back.

Shirou, however, didn't dwell on those thoughts for any longer when another blow came from under him, aiming right for his ankles. Shirou promptly leaped over the flying danger when three projectiles shot out from the foggy darkness, effectively cutting his wrist and shoulder with minor lacerations when Shirou was unable to dodge effectively midair.

Prepared to parry a blow that he was sure to come, Shirou witnessed an unexpected sight of child Servant charging straight at him once again with raw and untamed emotions. Not with the expected emotion of the malicious intent to kill, but instead, Shirou witnessed true fear and denial on the girl's face. This girl was not the first-rate Assassin Shirou thought he knew any longer, instead, this girl – the summoned personification of Jack the Ripper – is a simple, lost, and confused child in distress.

Shirou easily parried the first blow coming down right on his head, but was unable to block a kick to his stomach by the frantic girl who is becoming more reckless every second. Shirou bit his lips as he held back a curse at his dire predicament. Despite possessing the aura of Angra Mainyu, Shirou's physical capabilities were still nevertheless inferior to that of a standard Servant.

While he is capable of fending himself from a Servant for a time, by no means did Shirou – under normal circumstances – is able to defeat a Servant. The only thing Shirou had in his arsenal capable of such an act is his Reality Marble, the ultimate weapon that is personal to him – namely Unlimited Blade Works. It was a reality that materializes his very soul and erodes onto the real world. It is a realm that is able to produce infinite swords limited to mankind's imaginations.

However, despite possessing such latent potential power, Shirou's magical reserves are typically unable to use – let alone summon – weapons from his Reality Marble. Shirou was a third-rate magus at best, and if not for his Reality Marble, Shirou was sure he would be labeled as one of the most inept magus ever recorded in history.

While Angra Mainyu's influencing presence on his body is further supporting Shirou's magical and physical strength, Shirou is nevertheless unable to fend off the near hysterical Servant before him.

Right slash, downward cut, straight forward jab, Shirou eyed Jack the Ripper's dancing blades carefully as he made the proper countermove against each lethal attack. However, how long could he draw this fight on for? Shirou, being fundamentally a flawed magus, knew he was never suited for drawn-out fights. The longer he is out fighting, the faster he loses energy and is thus more unable to summon any Noble Phantasms to aid his battle.

Shirou grimaced when a lace of pain hit him when he, for a split second, lost hold of his concentration to maintain the roaring evil presence of Angra Mainyu. That moment of distraction cost Shirou when Jack immediately lung forward and aimed for Shirou's head.

Shirou could dimly hear Jeanne yelling something, but Shirou was too engrossed in the life-threatening battle to clearly make out what the Ruler Servant was saying. Swiftly switching Bakuya in a backhanded position, Shirou swung with all his might as his blade met Jack the Ripper's jagged dagger with a resounding clang.

Like miniature fireworks, both forces pushed against each other with lightning speed and astounding strength. Gritting his teeth as Shirou continued to bear the roaring pain, Shirou began to notice something within the little girl Assassin's eyes that he didn't realize earlier.

Instead of the usual malice, bloodthirsty, and deranged look in the child's eyes, the little girl was now completely devoid of those emotions. What replaced was sheer terror, unsettling panic, and lingering dread within her dilating pupils.

With each hit that managed to scathe Shirou's scarred skin, the girl would involuntary flinch as if suffering from a split-second panic attack. Every hit that cut Shirou, her moves would once again resume being sloppy, allowing Shirou to have the momentary upper hand.

However, even with this "advantage", Shirou was having a difficult time himself coping with the new found "power". Trying to stand up and fight while carrying the burden of "All the World's Evil" in a controlled quantity was far from easy and sent Shirou's body and mind constantly into overdrive as pain lanced through the entirety of his being.

Another hit lightly impacted Shirou as Jack the Ripper, once more, widened her eyes with renewed fear.

"No," the girl whimpered as her blade thrust forward recklessly. If Shirou was anything like a Servant, right now Shirou would have been able to swiftly deal the final blow to the completely distracted Assassin due to her unknown inner turmoil. "No, no, no, NO, NO, NONONONONONONO!" Jack shouted louder and louder like a magical chant as she made a suicidal leap for Shirou's abdomen.

Memories flashed through Jack the Ripper's eyes like water gushing from a geyser. Shirou's tattoos glowed once more at Jack's momentary contact when the sin of rejection, pain, denial, and murder seared itself onto Jack's twisted and broken mind.

Beyond memories, humanity's collective sin from past to future entered Jack the Ripper's mind all at once. Jack gave an agonizing howl as her jagged blade clattered audibly on the ground. Holding her head tightly with a vice grip as if she was suffering from a severe migraine, Jack softly sobbed while kneeling down on the cobblestone street.

"Argh," the girl Assassin groaned as her whole body shook like a leaf.

Shirou glanced at the girl with a worried face. While Shirou understood that the Assassin Servant being unable to fight is a good thing since he is approaching his wit's end, Shirou nevertheless couldn't help himself but feel worried at the odd condition the Servant was currently in.

"Y-You—" Jack the Ripper spat out she tried to stand up with feeble legs. With tears gathering onto the corner of her eyes, the little girl gazed up at the horror before her who is none other than Shirou. "I-I don't w-want this," Jack choked between whimpers before her eyes glinted menacingly.

Faster than Shirou ever anticipated, mana began to resume gathering around the Servant in the form of a thick fog, instantly obscuring Shirou's vision within a second. Shirou's sense of smell once again assaulted him with far more power. Kneeling down in pain at the sensory overload, Shirou realized the grim truth behind the sudden massive concentration of mana unseen throughout the entirety of the battle.

Jack the Ripper was about to use her Noble Phantasm.

Shirou bit his lips in frustration. If he tries to save the child, he would more likely than not wind up dead. And as far Shirou could see it, he would need to kill the Servant to pave the way for his survival.

"To save one is to kill another."

A voice – a memory – flashed through Shirou's head like hot searing iron.

That's right … those were the words Archer spoke to him on that lonesome hill of blades. It was impossible to save all, his future self had told him. To reach and pursue his ideals was the height of hypocrisy, Archer had blatantly shouted at him. Everything he was and will be … is fake, the Counter Guardian had foretold.

Shirou gripped the projected married blades tightly in his hands. Is this how everything was going to end? Where Shirou ends up betraying his ideals by possibly killing a child or where he dies in the hands of a merciless killer he wanted to save? Is this his pitiful destiny that Archer had spoken about?

Shirou inwardly shook his head. Just as he promised himself, Saber, Tohsaka, Sakura, and Illya, he would be true to himself to the very end of his life.

No matter what the cost on his behalf, he is going to save the child Servant.

"Angra Mainyu," Shirou called out as he reached deep within his mind.

Time seemed to slow as Shirou reached for the mysterious entity within himself. The rolling fog seemed to slow and the descending throwing knife from above him seem to come to a crawling stop.

"I need you to release some of your power," Shirou requested. If right now Angra Mainyu was merely releasing his presence, then how much more capable would Shirou be able if he were to use some of the entity's strength?

Risky? Yes. However, Shirou was nevertheless willing to give the method a shot.

"You sure?"Angra Mainyu replied back with a carefree tone.

Shirou's emotions didn't waver at the question.

Sensing this, Angra Mainyu "nodded" in approval.

"Very well," Angra Mainyu drawled, eliciting terror running through Shirou's spine when he felt the entity smile menacingly as power seemingly radiated from "All the Evil of the World". "I will be glad to fulfill your wi—"

Angra Mainyu wasn't able to complete his sentence – let alone release his power into Shirou's willing body – when a blade covered with lightning red mana blazed through the air between Shirou and the Assassin Servant.

What soon followed made Shirou widened his eyes in surprise when the blade swung upward and knocked Jack the Ripper's throwing knife away from her hand painfully.

Unperturbed by the pain, Jack was about to retaliate when a hulk of armor pushed the girl's body down to the ground with its reinforced foot. The blade then arced past the evening moonlight and pointed straight at Jack's undefended neck as the new Servant glared at Assassin, sending an unnerving gaze of dissatisfaction onto the defeated Servant.

"This ends now," the feminine yet raspy voice shouted as her blade edged closer to Jack the Ripper's throat.

"Saber … of Red?" Shirou uttered in confusion. How did she got here so fast?

"I should end you," Saber spat out as she gazed into Assassin's petrified and traumatized eyes.

"Don't, Saber!" Shirou shouted instinctively as he tried to stand up immediately.

"Now that I think about it," Saber's armored helmet rotated to meet Shirou in the eyes. "I should end you as well."

"Huh?"

"A third-rate magus wielding your power?" Saber spat out sarcastically at the ridiculous notion. "You—" Saber paused as she glared at Shirou. "You almost remind me of my mother."

Saber of Red's grip tightened more on the pommel of her massive double-edged sword.

"Wai—" Shirou shouted but was then interrupted when Saber suddenly whirled around in shock as she batted away an explosive arrow that shot toward the group.

The explosive arrow immediately erupted midflight when it smashed onto Saber's mighty blade.

"Tch," Saber spat out with annoyance as she quickly relented her hold on Assassin's body when she put her left foot behind her and leaped past Shirou while batting another barrage of arrows off its trajectory.

Deducing solely from where the arrow is shooting her at, Saber of Red swiftly turned to the right as she gazed upward to see the outlined figure of the unknown Archer of Black. Rushing toward the tall looming wall without hesitation, Saber of Red immediately used Mana Burst as her legs pumped full of mana and propelled up her in the air instantly upon the magical activation, making her easily soar above the city walls.

"Archer of Black!" Saber roared as she did a three-sixty turn and swung her blade of judgment right at the Servant.

Fione, sitting on her wheelchair, gazed far into the deadly silent on top of a high standing wall while being comfortably beside her Servant, Archer, who is surveilling the deceivingly quiet Trifas City.

"Archer?" Fione finally voiced out an unspoken question after a lapse of several minutes.

Archer shook her head while keeping his eyes straight on the city.

"I have not seen anything yet," Archer replied in a professional manner.

Fione nodded her head in understanding. One of the keys to victory in the Great Holy Grail War was patience. If anything, Fione knew she would be expected to wait for long intervals of time in order to see proper results.

"Wait," Archer suddenly spoke as his eyes glowed brighter, signifying him activating his Servant skill to improve his sight. "Ruler and the red-haired boy, Shirou, are approaching an alleyway."

"Huh?" Fione cocked her head sideways. Other than Ruler's presence, how is that information relevant?

A shocking boom that quaked the earth answered her question when the loud sound met her ears.

"They are being comprehended by Caster's golems," Archer further informed calmly. "Shall I assist them?"

Fione shook her head. "Ruler is powerful enough to protect herself and Shirou. We should not reveal our whereabouts yet."

Archer nodded his head in understanding at the command.

While Archer continued to watch the ongoing battle, Fione couldn't help but think … what was Shirou doing here beside Ruler? Did Ruler not say that Shirou is not a participant of the Holy Grail War and thus other Masters could not in any way harm or involve him in the war? Then … why is he here?

Fione shelved the question back to the corner of her brain. Now was not the time to ponder over such meaningless questions.

"Saber of Red is approaching," Archer suddenly broke Fione's train of thought.

"Is Master of Red with her?" Fione immediately asked.

Archer's pupils dilated for a split-second. "Yes, a man with three sets of command seals is with the Servant."

Fione nodded. It was soon time to act.

"Are the homunculi ready?" Fione reconfirmed.

Archer nodded. "Awaiting orders from you whenever you deem necessary."

"Good. Archer, once Saber of Red contacts Caster's golem, find an opportunity to defeat her."

Archer frowned at the thought. "Master, Ruler and Shirou have already activated the trap."

Fione, as if undisturbed by the thought, came up with a counter-strategy. "In that case—"

"Assassin is here," Archer warned with a low voice.

"Assassin?!" Fione loudly whispered in surprise. "Which faction?"

Archer lightly shook his head. "I do not have the ability to know who are my allies unless I meet them beforehand."

Fione, this time, frowned in thought. From what information she knew, Assassin of Black was missing ever since the Yggdmillennian mage entered Trifas City to find a proper method to use his catalyst for summoning a Servant. However, that man never returned.

"Is Assassin's Master there?"

"I don't think so," Archer replied. "Though the incoming fog may be hindering my sight."

If that's the case, Fione knew it would be safer for her to end both Saber and Assassin in one go. Furthermore, not only was the Yggdmillennian magus that was supposed to summon Assassin presumed dead, but also the fact that this Assassin is bound to be the source of the epidemic for the unexpected deaths in Trifas City made Fione make up her mind in killing both the Servants and obtain victory in the battlefield.

"Archer, fire at will," Fione commanded.

"Yes, Master," Archer softly smiled before the expression got replaced with the face of a stone cold warrior.

Drawing his bowstring back, Archer swiftly knocked an arrow onto it as he aimed at the fighting Servants with a hawk's eyes. Exhaling a quiet breath, Archer released the arrow at blurring speed as it the projectile whizzed true to its aim. What followed next, however, crumbled everything Fione and Archer had planned for the night when the sound of a shrilling blade met the arrow midflight, causing it to detonate with a cacophony of explosions.

Fione widened her eyes at the unexpected outcome. Did someone … anticipated their move? Fione quickly shook her head at the impossibility. No one save for the Black Faction should know anything remotely related to their midnight plan. However …

A sudden blast of visible miasmic mana rushed throughout the city, blanketing the entire city square with its cursed presence. Even without reinforcing her senses, Fione's brain blared hysterically with the premonition of danger at the source of unknown evil.

Despite being a magus who has been trained to walk alongside with death, Fione, for once in a long time, felt fear clenching her heart like it has never before. Fione quickly swallowed the lump making its way up her throat. What … was that presence?

"Archer?" Fione turned around to look at her Servant. Her voice just slightly above a whisper, and despite her best efforts, she was unable to conceal the worry and concern that was leaking out of her voice.

Archer didn't immediately reply Fione upon her call as he gazed with a grim expression at the battlefield below while it continued to intensify.

"What's going on, Archer?" Fione asked once more when the silence began to become unbearable.

Not leaving his stern gaze upon the battle scene, Archer finally gave a concrete answer. "Assassin and Shirou are fighting each other. Though …" Archer trailed off with an incomprehensible silence.

Fione knew her Servant's true identity. He was none other than the mentor of the legendary Greek Hero, Achilles! His wisdom and knowledge was among the best of all the Servants in the war. However, for a situation to leave her Servant without an explanation is not only stunning but also potentially very dangerous.

Fione didn't have much time to continuously ponder on her inner thoughts when Archer began to pull back yet another arrow.

"Archer?" Fione whispered almost uncertainly.

"Master, I will be eliminating them all now," Archer calmly informed as he squinted his eyes with fervent determination.

Fione was taken back for a split-second at the sheer intensity of her Servant. But … didn't he just said Shirou was there, and fighting no less?

"But Shirou!" Fione immediately spoke out with concern.

Archer, not relenting his sight for one moment, responded calmly. "He needs to be eliminated."

"Wait. Archer, no!" Fione immediately shouted with distress.

Archer was instantly distracted by his Master's shout. "Master, Shirou is the source of this abominated presence. We need to eliminate him at all cost!" Archer sternly clarified as he drew the bow string and arrow further back. "This presence," Archer continued grimly as he whispered quietly in the wind, "is far worse than Adrestia."

"ARCH—"

Fione was interrupted when a gale of wind blasted her face as Archer released the arrow at supersonic speeds. A sonic boom followed immediately afterward as the arrow whizzed straight for its intended target. What soon followed was vibrant light of explosions coming from the source of the previously brewing battlefield.

Fione couldn't contain the gasp that made its way out her throat at the display of brute force she has never seen the centaur practice. Yes, this is a war for the Holy Grail between mages and Servants … but this? Fione didn't know what to think and consider with this display of bloodshed.

Archer slowly lowered his bow as he creased his brows with a deep frown. Fione snapped her head away from Archer's direction and gazed into the foggy streets to see the aftermath. A blink of electric red from afar caught Fione's attention when that blink rapidly morphed into a blast of crimson lightning shooting their way.

Archer didn't wait for Fione's orders when he immediately lifted up his bow and shot out three arrows in succession with professional ease.

However, despite the expertise and accuracy behind the shots, the incoming Saber Servant easily deflected and dodged the shots as the armor cladded knight continued to rush in their direction undeterred.

Archer peered seriously through the night with mild concern. "It looks like I won't come out of this battle unharmed," Archer stated a matter-of-factly as he rid away his weapon back to particles of mana and held himself with a hand-to-hand combative stance.

Fione didn't have to ask twice on what Archer was going to do. Even if what Archer had done earlier had shocked her to the core, Fione nevertheless knew that what Archer had perceived is most definitely a threat. While she does harbor doubts of her Servant's doings, now was not the time to inquire of them. She will need to do her part in eliminating Saber's Master just as they have planned earlier in the night. Afterward, Fione will properly talk to the centaur and fully understand everything behind his unauthorized moves.

With that, Fione's legs of machinery which hooked tightly on her back whirled to life as she jumped off the towering wall and into the moonlit night.

"Shirou!" a voice shouted to Shirou's left as the miasmic presence that Angra Mainyu infused into him still permeated across the battlefield atmosphere.

Shirou numbly turned around to see an extremely worried and cautious Jeanne moving his way.

Shirou gave an upbeat smile in spite of all the pain he's inflicted with at the moment. However, in spite of his best efforts, Jeanne could easily see through the blatant façade.

"I'm fine …" Shirou waved off Jeanne's concern as he made his way over to the fallen Assassin before stumbling unstably midway, consequently eliciting a surprised and worried "gasp" from Jeanne.

"Maybe I'm not doing all good," Shirou chuckled despite his current predicament.

But even though his physical body screamed for him to stop and succumb to the temptation of sweet sleep, Shirou nevertheless continued to press on forward, not yielding to his physical needs. What right now needs to be done is far more pressing. It was why he entered this bloody battlefield between Masters and Servants again. Because, it was for the purpose to save all.

Approaching the figure sprawled shamelessly on the ground, Shirou knelt down onto the floor beside her. Aside from the fact that Shirou wanted to get to eye-level distance with the girl, but also the fact that his body is at the brink of collapsing is another reason why he favored his current kneeling position.

The girl's hazy eyes cleared for a split-second as it immediately portrayed the fear and horror she felt for Shirou.

"Get away from us!" Assassin snarled as she tried to take her dagger out while scrambling away from the unknown threat known as Shirou.

Shirou didn't bother to stop the little girl's frantic retreat. "If you want," Shirou began as he stood up as steadily as he could, "let me help you up," Shirou finished with a small fleeting smile.

"Y-You killed us!" Jack shouted as a hint of malicious intent resurfaced up her face, overcoming the temporary fear the bound her so tightly.

Shirou shook his head solemnly. "I'm not here to kill you," Shirou began. "I'm here to save you."

"No," Jack the Ripper shook her head profusely as she moved further away from the abominated form of Shirou as miasmic mana continued to emanate from him lightly. "No, no, no, NO, NO, NONONONONONO!" Jack shouted at the top of her lungs like an insane madman.

"We will not be saved by YOU!" Jack the Ripper ended as she fled the battle scene without another word as she made a hasty retreat, leaving Shirou by himself in the cold foggy night of Trifas City.

As soon as Jack the Ripper left, consequently, the otherworldly force that kept Shirou powered through the battle effectively vanished upon Angra Mainyu "successfully" fulfilling Shirou's spoken wish.

Shirou gazed off in the distant where the little Assassin girl fled off to.

"Ah, I messed up, huh," Shirou murmured to himself with slight remorse. However, despite his shortcomings, Shirou was also a man who is never willing to give up regardless of the odds. He was a man who continuously forges his own destiny that leads ultimately to his ideals.

Upon the dissipation of "All the Sins of the World", Jeanne instantly came by Shirou's side and supported him by his shoulder. Shirou, with hazy eyes, looked down at his previously pain-racked body to see no visible injuries on him. While the pain felt like the flames of hell were licking his flesh with volcanic heat, Shirou couldn't see the aftermath of the force inflicted on his body. Was this how Angra Mainyu felt on a constant basis? If so, nobody should feel that horror. Not even Angra Mainyu, regardless of his crimes, deserves such a horrible eternal fate.

Turning his head back up to meet Jeanne's concern face, Shirou softly smiled in her direction with reassurance. No doubt, the Ruler Servant is bound to have a lot of questions for him. And much to his chagrin, Shirou knew he wouldn't be able to answer most of them unfortunately. He needed someone with Tohsaka's caliber of knowledge to take on the full brunt of Jeanne's … or anyone else's questions regarding the events that transpired today.

Shirou didn't have time for his self-musing when screeching metallic joints creaked in the air noisily. The sound of brick crumbling on the side of the building's walls soon followed as the noise continued to approach their direction.

Jeanne instantly turned her head around at the potential source of threat while holding Shirou's shoulder protectively.

The looming figure emerged out of the dimly lit alley as the girl hung between two brick buildings, using four extended metallic arms to support her midair position. With the four extra appendages, the girl looked in every way like a spider … a handicapped spider.

But, even with blurred vision, Shirou nevertheless was able to fully make out the figure before him.

"Fione?" Shirou uttered with a croak, inevitably making him realize that he was severely dehydrated after the battle.

Fione ignored Shirou and Ruler's presence as she stared at the only person of interest in the courtyard.

"Master of Red," Fione shouted in the night.

The dark browned hair man veered his eyes up as he gazed at Fione without a trace of amusement. No longer did he carried himself in a carefree manner. Now, the Master before them all is a hired tactician and warrior in the Holy Grail War.

"Now then," Master of Red began, "we haven't introduce ourselves, have we?" the man remarked.

"That's right. After all, there's no way we don't know each other's names," Fione responded in a deceivingly polite manner. "But can I still give you a warning?" Fione then directed a kind smile at the Master.

Master of Red sighed as he unconsciously reached for his coat inner pocket for some much needed cigarettes to calm his brain. "I have enough insanity for the night. So … keep it short?" the Master suggested as he stopped futilely looking for the pack of cigarettes.

"Retreat, Necromancer! All you see here is the territory of Yggdmillennia. I will overlook your behavior if you leave! But, if you are to ignore this warning, only death can be claimed as compensation for your insolence," Fione raised her voice as she uttered the warning. No longer did she carried herself with the façade of a kind person, now, she was a full-fledge participant of the Holy Grail War and the head of the Forvedge family. A magus who has made the choice to walk alongside death.

"Hoh?" the necromancer drawled with mild sarcasm. "And do you think I'll obey?"

"No," Fione replied with a smile that reminded Shirou of Tohsaka for a brief moment. "But by saying that first, it strengthens my resolve."

"I see," Master of Red paused then continued. "If only death can be claimed as compensation for my insolence, are you sure death is by your side?"

"Do not play around, Necromancer!" Fione raised her voice in a diplomatic manner. Now was a time of battle, and she was not going to be dragged down by the Necromancer's wiles and riddles.

"I'm not," the man shrugged. "You should know just as much as I do. The very manifestation of death itself is before your eyes. Now, are you sure you want to have a battle here?"

Fione widened her eyes at the implication. Unconsciously, her eyes focused immediately onto the kneeling form of Shirou behind the Master of Red. And beside the exhausted red-headed figure was without a doubt the Servant Ruler, Jeanne d'Arc. The pieces to the intangible puzzle behind what the Necromancer spoke quickly clicked in Fione's mind.

"You don't mea—"

Fione was interrupted when a piece of paper flew pass her face as it continued to drift in the midnight breeze. Fione's mouth gape when the sound of gunfire resounded at the precise moment the paper passed by her. The four appendages immediately reacted at Fione's surprise when the limbs loosened their hold on the brick building walls, effectively dropping Fione down toward the ground.

"Jupiter, protection!" Fione commanded as the thumb-like projectiles whizzed at her with blurring speeds.

A cacophony of explosions soon followed when the four armed appendages deflected the unorthodox bullets in the air.

"Shall we continue?" the Master of Red asked once Fione landed in a hazardous heap, clearly slightly injured from the surprise attack.

Fione swallowed down the sudden rush of fear and adrenaline as she stared into the eyes of the necromancer.

"Mars," Fione whispered, "… shoot."

Thus, the battle between the Masters of the two factions of Black and Red began in the midnight courtyard of Trifas City.

A shadowy figure zoomed past the open window sill as the blood red curtains to the room swayed at the sudden rush of wind. The sole inhabitant of the small inn immediately whirled around as she stopped whatever she was doing earlier.

"Jackie?" Reika, the Master of Assassin, whispered in question, being unable to see past the Presence Concealment Jack the Ripper possessed.

"Mommy," a timid voice whimpered as the figure revealed herself in front of Reika, slightly bloodied and bruised from the previous battle.

Reika frowned with concern at the sight. While these injuries are considered minor for Servants, for Jack the Ripper, it might as well be fatal considering she is unable to extract mana from her Master, Reika, who is not a trained magus but instead a lowly prostitute.

"Let me help with those wounds first, okay?" Reika spoke gently as she hurried for the medical cabinet in the small and simple inn.

Jack the Ripper nodded her head quietly.

Reika didn't need to be a genius to figure out something terribly wrong has happened to her "daughter". She was the girl's mother, and thus knew with certainty that a wound like this would not deter her daughter's advances in surviving the war, protecting her, and ultimately acquiring the Grail. However, to see the famed Jack the Ripper so utterly defeated mentally instead of physically must meant an extremely traumatic experience was inflicted upon her. Something far worse than the horrors Jack the Ripper has experienced through multiple different lives.

Reika came back to Jack's side in less than half a minute and swiftly began dressing the girl's wound. Jack the Ripper, being the infamous killer she is, didn't even flinch at the stinging contact while her mother tenderly cared for her.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Reika cooed soothingly. A mother's voice which Jack has been longing for her entire lifetime only to obtain after she's "dead".

Jack peered timidly into Reika's eyes as if searching for some existing comfort within it.

"Remember, I love you no matter what, okay?" Reika reassured her daughter.

Jack nodded slowly at the words. No matter how down she was, those words always sent a flicker of warmth through her cold and twisted heart.

"H-Hurt," Jack whimpered almost inaudibly.

"Mmhmm," Reika nodded as she hugged Jack tightly while patting her head soothingly, motioning for the girl to continue.

"P-Pain. Reject. Murder. Hate. … And death," Jack added.

"And what happened?" Reika murmured.

"I …" Jack swallowed as her body shook with unknown terror. "I … met daddy."

Caules Forvedge Yggdmillennia sprinted across the crisscrossing and dimly lit alleys of Trifas City. He knew of his sister's plans to intercept the Masters of Red, and if possible, defeat the potentially strongest opponent of them all, Saber of Red. However, everything changed when a blast of miasmic and wicked presence permeated throughout the entire city. And Caules was not dumb enough to turn a blind eye at such an unthought predicament.

Something very bad must have happened, and his sister is bound to have been wrapped around its entire ordeal.

"Squad one, there," Caules whispered as he stretched his hand over to the left side. "Two, to the right."

Both of the homunculi squads which Caules had by his side today obeyed his command without a question.

If the wicked presence is from a Servant just like Caules hypothesized, he is going to need much more manpower than what he has now. In fact, with the miniature trained army like he has now, Caules highly doubt he could even buy time for his sister and himself to escape if things got out of hand fast.

However, Caules is nevertheless willing to grab on to that string of hope that everything will work out and his sister will live through the whole midnight battle.

"Almost there," Caules whispered as the sound of bullets and ringing metal resounded the city courtyard. By now, the lurking evil presence has long since faded. However, Caules still felt extremely uneasy within the city area. Was it a Bounded Field? Caules shook his head, such a Bounded Field would serve little purpose in battle. Furthermore, if there was one, he or the group of homunculi should have been able to spot it upon their entrance to the city.

Finally, just two more blocks, Caules is going to arrive at the battle scene. And he was by no means going to hold back. If anything, holding back his attack at this point is bound to spell certain death for him.

"Ready your positions," Caules commanded the group of male and female homunculi as they readied their makeshift magical spears, swords, axes, and bows with arrows.

"And—" Caules raised his voice in preparation of stating the order of attack when a voice broke though the cold humid night.

"What are you doing?" a childish and youthful voice spoke in the dark.

"Who is it!" Caules hissed, immediately anticipating an ambush just like the other homunculi did when they readied their weapons in a combative stance toward the voice's direction.

Caules widened his eyes when the figure emerged out from the dark alleyway and under a shining street lamp.

"It's you!" Caules loudly whispered almost accusingly. "What are you doing here?"

The said person looked at Caules with an emotionless face. "Are you going to hurt Jeanne and Shirou?" the boy continued to ask, not sensing the potential danger he was in.

"What? No!" Caules defended himself. "Ruler made it clear we can't involve him in the war," Caules argued hurriedly, knowing that he should enter into the raging battlefield before everything is too late. However, right now, the boy homunculus in front of him held the key to their successful surprise attack.

"They're here," the boy continued. "And you are using my family to kill them," the child homunculus stated a matter-of-factly.

"We are not going to kill them," Caules stated firmly. "We can't lest we are kicked out of the war."

"Then why are the homunculi here?"

"There's something big out there that needs to be eliminated."

"Who?"

Caules gritted his teeth as his anxiety continued to rise. "Not right now, homunculus!" Caules spat out. There was a life on the line, and that person was his sister.

"Move out," Caules whispered an order to the two groups of homunculi.

"Are you going to use them as disposable tools?" the boy suddenly asked through the gust of wind as it passed by.

Caules froze his tracks before continuing, not paying any heed to the child homunculus.

Caules knew a homunculus's sole purpose is to serve its master in any way possible. These artificially manufactured "humans" were in every way a useful as well as disposable tools for mages – at least that was the principles he was taught by since childhood.

"I won't let you," the same childish voice spoke, although Caules couldn't help but turn around in surprise at the maturity that same voice held.

"By my name Yuuki, I will not let you kill the homunculi … my family!"

Thank you for reading!

Sorry for the late update. Originally, this was supposed to come out at the latest on Tuesday, however, recently I have not been feeling physically well and thus had to delay the update by a few days as my writing pace slowed. Because of this unexpected issue, it has also consequently put a dent in my plan to publish four chapters (not including the "extra" chapter for Fate Blade Zero) during the winter break. Of course, I'll still try my best in publishing the last chapter. However, please do understand that the university spring semester starts in two days and thus I will be incredibly busy.

All this which ultimately leads to the very sad news that unlike last semester, I will not be updating on a monthly basis for this semester. The reason why is simply because I am taking more credits this semester than that during the fall. Of course, if I manage to squeeze in some free time amongst all the piling workload, I will be more than happy to write … but I find that optimism quite unrealistic. In short, until May comes around, don't expect to see an update. However, be rest assured that WEEKLY updates will resume when the spring semester ends.

Next, some common FAQs for last chapter. Number 1, what happened to Mordred's Secret of Pedigree Noble Phantasm? I admit this is my mistake. For those that are not as well versed in Fate/Apocrypha, Mordred helmet, namely the Secret of Pedigree, makes it impossible for anybody to identify her true identity as well as her Noble Phantasm. So … in short, Shirou's tracing won't work on her if Mordred has her helmet on. If anything, the information Shirou would receive would perhaps resemble something like a mental static.

Number 2, isn't Angra Mainyu supposed to be weak? The answer, yes. Angra Mainyu is supposed to and is still weak. Just because Angra Mainyu has an overwhelming presence of evil does not immediately mean he is all powerful. Yes, Angra Mainyu has a degree of power, allowing Shirou to pull some stunts that are slightly beyond him. Otherwise, in terms of overall abilities, Shirou is still pretty weak which will become more and more evident in later chapters.

Hopefully, during the semester and whatever little time I have, I will be able to edit and polish up the previous chapter to make sure everything is accurate. But regardless of last chapter's inaccuracy, it won't deter the story's direction since everything falls into place within a chapter or two.

And for those who are wondering what Chiron (Archer) meant by the name Adrestia, Adrestia is in Greek mythology the god of evil. So … there you go!

Once again, thank you for reading and I will return writing on May! – SteelBlades333