In the forest mansion constructed behind Arkans, the filming of the Einzbern Castle Battle sequence for Fate/Zero has reached its final stages.
The showdown between Kayneth and Kiritsugu spanned the entirety of the castle, requiring countless angle changes during the shoot.
The nonstop filming left everyone exhausted, including Edward, the director himself. But the effort was not in vain—most of the scenes had been completed, and all that remained was the climactic final battle between Kiritsugu and Kayneth.
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With his shoulder still aching from Kiritsugu's earlier attack, Kayneth marched forward, guided by the detection of his Volumen Hydrargyrum.
Normally, as a Clock Tower lord, Kayneth would never lose his composure due to emotional outbursts during battle.
However, the humiliation from the earlier encounter with this "disgusting little magus killer" had utterly shaken his pride and restraint.
The wound on his shoulder seemed to amplify his anger, igniting a fiery storm of pride and disdain within his chest.
His teeth clenched, and with an enraged voice, he spat,
"Impossible! For such a vile creature to make me bleed… Unthinkable! It should never have happened!"
His loyal Volumen Hydrargyrum, like a devoted servant, followed his every move, destroying any obstacles in his path and neutralizing any traps set by his foe.
Yet, rather than providing reassurance, this only deepened his feelings of shame and humiliation, further fueling his rage.
Finally, Kayneth cornered his quarry on the third floor of the castle.
This time, the enemy wasn't running or hiding; Kiritsugu stood motionless in the hallway, waiting for him.
"Fool…"
Kayneth sneered. He assumed that his opponent intended to repeat the same cheap tricks as before, not realizing that Kiritsugu had planned every detail of their final confrontation.
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The perspective shifts to Kiritsugu.
To him, Kayneth's arrival signaled the culmination of his plan.
The battlefield's layout was ideal, restricting Kayneth's Volumen Hydrargyrum and preventing it from attacking with full strength.
In his left hand, Kiritsugu gripped a gun loaded with standard rounds, while his right hand held his trump card: a specially modified weapon loaded with a single "Origin Bullet," designed to nullify any magical defense.
"You don't seriously believe that the same tactics will work again, do you, you lowly scum?"
Kayneth growled, his fury unabated. But Kiritsugu did not reply, maintaining his cold, calculating demeanor.
This only enraged Kayneth further. Advancing another step, he screamed,
"I won't let you die so easily! I'll regenerate your lungs and heart while torturing you, cutting you apart from the tips of your fingers!
"I'll make sure you suffer—anguish, despair, and regret! And as you die, curse your cowardly employer! Curse the Einzbern family for desecrating the Holy Grail War!!!"
Kiritsugu remained silent, unwavering.
When Kayneth stepped into the trap's designated zone, Kiritsugu fired the remaining rounds from his left-hand weapon.
The bullets failed to penetrate the Volumen Hydrargyrum, as expected, but Kiritsugu's objective was never to harm Kayneth directly—it was to provoke him into overextending.
And it worked.
"Boil, my blood! Fervor, mei sanguis!"
Kayneth unleashed a massive surge of magical energy, transforming his Volumen Hydrargyrum into an impenetrable forest of spiked tendrils that shielded him entirely.
The sheer power of this technique pushed his physical body to its limits, and his flesh began to strain under the overloading mana.
But Kayneth had bet everything on this gambit—he had no choice.
Victory was either immediate, or he would exhaust himself completely.
At that moment, Kiritsugu smirked. Slowly raising the weapon in his right hand, he aimed carefully and pulled the trigger.
The instant the Origin Bullet collided with the Volumen Hydrargyrum, Kayneth El-Melloi's fate was sealed.
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"Cut! That's it! We'll add the flashback sequences later. For now, let's prepare for the next scene," Edward instructed the crew. "Makeup team, get Kayneth's actor into pale, corpse-like makeup—he needs to look absolutely drained. This will be his permanent look going forward. Kayneth's actor, also take some time to practice walking with a cane for the upcoming scenes!"
As Edward finished giving directions, the set buzzed with activity.
Staff swarmed Kiritsugu and Kayneth's actors for touch-ups, while Saber and Lancer's actors approached Edward to confirm plans for their next fight sequence.
When Kayneth's makeup was done, the entire set burst into laughter—it was so grim that it transformed the normally affable actor into a convincingly sinister villain.
"Alright! Lancer, get ready. This is the final scene of the day. Once we're done, we're heading back to the city for some well-deserved rest!"
Hearing this, the exhausted crew let out a collective cheer.
After working endless hours with no breaks, the promise of downtime reinvigorated everyone.
Morale surged as they prepared for one last push to complete the shoot.
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