Meanwhile, back in Chaldea, a beautiful youth looked at Hinako's empty coffin chamber and yelled in frustration, "Lady Hinako, you forgot about me again ahhhhhh!!"
Oh no! She'd forgotten her Servant in Chaldea yet again!
Hinako deeply realized her oversight now. Under normal circumstances, she would team up with Morgan. So when clearing anomalies and defeating enemies, it was always Hinako getting her hands dirty while Morgan was the one responsible for making the plan. And sometimes they both would together kill the grail's guardian without even needing a Servant.
But how could a mere Master so brazenly talk of killing Heroic Spirits? Well, Hinako was no ordinary Master - like Gray and Mash, she possessed great power in her own right.
And she wasn't human either, but an Elemental born from the planet. In the Nasuverse, she was also the same as Arcueid - a True Ancestor with tremendous power.
So when clearing connection points, Hinako usually took action herself while her Servant cheered from the sidelines.
As a result, she'd often forget about him.
But hey, it couldn't be helped!
If push came to shove, she'd just have to go it alone!
Hinako pushed up her glasses and rolled up her right sleeve, revealing her slender, fair arm.
"Ohhh—! Hinako senpai is going to take action!" one of the newbies yelled.
"!"
Crap, she'd forgotten the newbies were still here!
Hinako's mood soured a little.
As a True Ancestor, Hinako wanted nothing to do with humans, let alone fight for them. If Morgan hadn't dragged her to Chaldea, she probably would've rejected Marisbury's invitation long ago. The Inner Sea was far more appealing.
Yet at Chaldea she often teamed up with Morgan. As fellow oddities, they could cut loose without restraint when clearing connection points together. With Team A or the other teams though, she concealed her abilities, using Gao Changgong to pose as an ordinary Master.
But now, not only was she leading newbies, she'd absentmindedly left Gao behind...
What should she do?
Seeing the expectant faces of the newbies, Hinako blurted out in a deep voice, "Run!"
Kiara and the other newbies: "?"
...
Shirou: "?"
What's going on?
He was completely confused. As the guardian stationed in this world, he could observe the status of his Servants through the black grail, even if he couldn't perceive what was happening outside.
He had sent Assassin off to die...
Yet instead of dying, Chaldea's side started running?
And they were even being desperately chased by Assassin...
What on earth was going on?
That wasn't Semiramis or King Hassan, not even Jack the Ripper... it was just Hundred Faced Hassan, slightly stronger than the average magus!
What nonsense was this?
It would be laughable to suggest Chaldea lacked the ability to kill Hundred Faced Hassan. Even the newbie Masters should have veteran Masters accompanying them.
Even if the Masters themselves weren't incredibly powerful like Gray or Mash, they could still command Servants! Failing to defeat a below-average Assassin like Hundred Faced Hassan... besides his child Caster version in the Fourth War, who else would that be?
So in other words...
Could this be a scheme?
Shirou stroked his chin, thinking about the reason behind their escape.
"Ah, I see now!"
Suddenly the realization dawned on him. How could one so adept at thinking failed to realize this point?
"Trying to catch everything in one net huh. Quite bold!"
He nodded in understanding.
To think someone could be so weak that Hundred Faced Hassan was chasing them...this had to be a scheme!
And for what purpose?
Obviously it was meant to lure the other Servants in and then defeat them all at once.
Faking a defeat to trap your enemy, how crafty!
Shirou stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Well, if that was their plan, he would lend them a hand!
A glint flashed in his eyes. Through the black grail, he issued an order to the Heroic Spirits:
"Go! Kill the Chaldea Masters!"
In an instant, the Servants that had been wandering Fuyuki City swarmed towards Hinako and the newbies' location.
Hinako ran wildly with Kiara and the others, dodging the pursuit of Assassin.
Why flee when she clearly had the strength to punch Hundred Faced Hassan to death with one blow?
Wasn't the reason obvious?
Hinako didn't like humans, and humans didn't like oddities either.
If her true identity was discovered, there likely wouldn't be a place for her at Chaldea anymore.
Up until now, she had been extremely careful - it was key to her survival.
But...this whole situation was so damn frustrating!
Glancing back at the pursuing Assassin, Hinako felt a swell of annoyance. Still, she endured for the moment.
"H-Hinako senpai, what do we do?! What do we do?!" Kiara asked anxiously.
What to do? Very simple - just gouge all your eyes out! Hinako thought, rolling her eyes.
The air was filled with a stifling atmosphere. Killing intent started to brew from the distance as more altered Servants emerged, their murderous auras in full display.
"Kyaa—! M-More enemies!" Kiara yelled out in a panic.
Ayaka and the others were anxious too. They clenched their fists tightly, slender arms trembling.
"Wh-what do we do, Hinako senpai?" Kiara asked.
"Stop yapping. Run!" Hinako said calmly.
"Mm...!" Kiara pursed her lips and fled quickly.
Should I use it...? But if Teacher finds out, I'll definitely get scolded...
Teacher said if I only rely on my other half's power when in danger, I'll become trash that can only depend on her.
Uu...I don't want to be a trash!
Kiara pouted as she ran.
Chasing them were four Servants - Assassin Hundred Faced Hassan, Lancer Diarmuid, Rider Medusa, and the Archer James Moriarty.
Hinako led the escape, but most were just ordinary humans. Their speed was no match for the pursuing Heroic Spirits.
Ayaka Sajyou was the first targeted by Diarmuid. Wielding his dual spears, the Crimson Rose shot toward Ayaka like a red comet.
"Ayaka!" Kiara shouted.
Hinako frowned, about to intervene, when—
A flash of cold light cut through the darkness. A jet-black sword slammed Diarmuid's Crimson Rose with a clang, sending the Lancer flying back.
Ayaka gazed at the girl now standing before her - that beautiful yet cold face, dark gold hair, clad in pitch-black armor radiating an abyssal aura. Her obsidian sword looked like a dragon stained with despair.
The girl swung her sword heavily, forcing Diarmuid back. Then she turned, her cold golden eyes landed on Ayaka.
Seeing those golden eyes, Ayaka couldn't help but murmur, "A-Arthur..."
"Another Saberface lady!" Kiara exclaimed in shock. "At this rate I'll end up like Senpai, unable to tell anyone apart!"
"Saber...?" Diarmuid spun his spears, eyeing her with bewildered frown.
"I see, so you broke free of Berserker's control huh." James Moriarty narrowed his eyes, giving off the feeling of an old fox.
"Hahahaha... Blood! Blood!" Medusa cackled madly, swinging her scythe at Salter.
Salter's golden eyes followed Medusa's wild charge. Dark energy erupted along the length of her ebony sword as she swung it heavily—
The barrier of wind vaporized. The massive slash now held the crushing weight of iron from the abyss itself as it slammed into Medusa.
Boom! Steel met steel. Medusa was forced back several steps.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—"
A torrent of mana bullets shot through the air toward Salter. But with an almost bored sweep of her sword, the terrifying magical slashes obliterated them all.
Salter's cold gaze turned to James Moriarty, the source of those bullets.
"Pincer attack!" Moriarty yelled. "Take down this traitor first!"
The other Heroic Spirits nodded in agreement, surrounding Salter from all sides.
Facing the rushing servants, Salter unleashed a terrifying torrent of magical energy, like a mana furnace. She fended off all four without losing ground.
Just then, Diarmuid feinted with his spear only to break free, charging straight for Hinako with killing intent flashing in his eyes.
Salter glanced over with an icy tone. "Going after civilians instead of me, Lancer? Some knight you turned out to be."
Diarmuid cackled wildly. "Honor? What rubbish! Hahaha!" To him, so-called knightly honor was now worth less than dog shit. He shot toward Hinako like a blazing meteor.