Einzbern Castle.
This place was originally enveloped by multiple layers of powerful bounded fields, shielding it from curses and demonic beasts.
The resident here was none other than Illyasviel von Einzbern, the Einzbern family's representative in this Holy Grail War.
Under normal circumstances, thanks to the surrounding bounded fields, this should have been a rare sanctuary in the wilderness, even housing pets.
But today—
BOOM!
With an earth-shaking explosion, the bounded fields shattered.
A monstrous figure, its body resembling solid muscle, dashed across the darkened plains like a missile.
Another pitch-black figure, petite as a young girl, moved like the tip of a blade, weaving through the battlefield.
The steel-muscled monster and the cold, sword-wielding girl clashed relentlessly.
Each collision caused the earth to sink and violent winds to howl.
Dust and debris filled the air, the very sky itself seeming to lose colour.
The ground trembled violently.
The muscular monster, wielding a massive axe-sword, swung down with rocket-like force, aiming to cleave both the swordswoman and the earth beneath her.
The girl showed no fear. Her expression remained indifferent as mana, dense as liquid, surged from her body, coating her black holy sword in a blood-red aura. She met the strike head-on.
CRASH—!!!
The earth cracked like a spiderweb, forming a crater several feet deep.
Both combatants were sent flying, hot blood splattering across the battlefield.
Yet, they quickly regained their footing and charged at each other once more, like speeding trains. In the midst of their fierce exchange, the chaotic winds sharpened into blades, carving deep gashes into the ground.
The thunderous sounds of their clashes were like unending war drums, leaving no room for silence, their impacts painful even to the ears.
"Impossible… How is this happening?!"
At the castle gates, Illya's face was pale with panic.
"In such a short time, Berserker has lost three lives! What is that blackened Saber?! My Berserker is supposed to be invincible!"
The Einzbern family had summoned Heracles, the greatest hero of Greek mythology, as their Berserker-class Servant in this Holy Grail War. A demigod elevated to divine status by Zeus himself after death.
But as a Berserker, most of Heracles' abilities were sealed.
His sole Noble Phantasm, "God Hand," stored multiple lives and provided exceptional defense. Against opponents of similar strength, it allowed him to slowly build an overwhelming advantage.
But against an enemy who outright surpassed him in raw power?
He became little more than a "giant wooden stake"—powerless.
In a normal Holy Grail War, encountering a Servant stronger than Heracles was nearly impossible.
But these days… what even counted as a "normal" Holy Grail War?
Even in this world, where the Fifth War seemed relatively stable, there was an undeniable madness lurking beneath.
And this time—
Facing the blackened Saber, Berserker was at a severe disadvantage.
The blackened Saber's mana seemed limitless. With her "Mana Burst" skill enhancing her physical abilities, her close-combat prowess far surpassed Heracles'.
The lives stored within his Noble Phantasm were steadily whittled away under her relentless assault.
It wasn't instant death.
It was more like a countdown—an executioner's blade slowly descending.
The dwindling number of Berserker's remaining lives filled Illya with unbearable anxiety.
***
"...What the hell is that?"
Rin pressed a hand tightly over her mouth, barely suppressing her voice.
She was terrified that even the slightest sound might draw the attention of the two monsters locked in battle.
Yet, despite her efforts, her words were thick with fear.
The battle between the blackened Saber and Berserker had long surpassed what most would consider a normal Servant fight. Their speed, strength, and destructive power were all far beyond human comprehension.
They were like walking artillery, every slash carving deep into the earth, every strike tearing through stone walls like paper.
A fragile human body wouldn't survive even a glancing blow.
The mere aftermath of their clashes could easily be fatal.
No human could witness such a battle without feeling sheer terror.
Roy stood beside Rin.
His expression was equally grim.
Upon learning that the blackened Saber had begun moving—and had targeted the Einzbern castle—he and Rin had rushed here immediately.
Though the battle before them was terrifying, his mind remained steady.
Yet, one question gnawed at him.
"Why is the blackened Saber targeting Berserker?"
The blackened Servants had remained in their respective territories outside Fuyuki City for over a day.
Until now, they had stayed within their zones, unmoving, undisturbed.
So why had the blackened Saber suddenly acted—and why go after Berserker, of all targets?
Was she eliminating competition for the Greater Grail?
If so, why start with one of the strongest opponents?
Logically, if the goal was to remove rivals, she should have picked off the weaker ones first, gradually clearing the field before engaging the most powerful.
The blackened Saber's thought process differed from her untainted counterpart, but in theory, her corrupted state should have made her even more ruthless, more tactically precise.
She wouldn't make such a basic mistake.
Nor would she arrogantly think, "I'll take out the strongest first, then deal with the trash."
Roy frowned, scanning the battlefield.
'Archer, if you had to fight either of them, how far could you go?'
Rin's voice was heavy as she posed the question to her Servant.
After witnessing that battle, she had already accepted that her Archer stood no chance in a direct confrontation.
She needed to assess his limits against such foes and prepare support measures accordingly.
'Hah… I can guess what you're thinking, but give it up, Rin. Don't even consider fighting those two alone. Berserker's Noble Phantasm stores multiple lives—you'd have to kill him twelve times to finish him off. As for the blackened Saber? She's simply too strong. And because her strength is so straightforward, it's even harder to counter. Against them, the only option is to team up with others.'
Archer's voice was cool yet resigned, echoing in Rin's mind.
On the way here, she had learned his true identity—an "unorthodox" Heroic Spirit from the modern era, one who knew about the usual Servants of the Fifth War.
But with the worldline so drastically altered, knowing a few names didn't mean much.
"Roy, you—Huh?! Where did he go?!"
Rin turned to consult Roy, only to find he had vanished without a trace.
"He left a while ago. His Servant too."
Archer's voice was dry, as if he were standing there with his arms crossed, exasperated.
***
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