"Found it."

  At that same moment, on the rooftop of a tall building in the distance, Emiya Kiritsugu adjusted his scope, aiming directly at Waver.

  Though he couldn't be certain if Waver was also using a decoy like Kayh, he wasn't about to let such a good opportunity slip by.

  Bang!

  A fsh of fire burst from the muzzle, and the sniper bullet shot straight toward Waver's head.

  g.

  Suddenly, silver liquid emerged from Waver's body, intercepting the bullet in mid-air.

  It was the Marrow of the Moon Spirit .

  Seeing this, Emiya Kiritsugu furrowed his brows, fused.

  How does Waver have access to the Volumen Hydrargyrum? Did Kayh create multiple versions of it?

  "So close…"

  Waver looked at the bullet on the ground with a sense of lingering fear. The silver liquid around him pooled together, taking the form of a mercury maid-like doll.

  This wasn't Kayh's Marrow of the Moon Sprit, but an autonomous doll that Waver had received from the golden treasure chest as a reward from a previous question-and-answer session. The doll was advanced enough that, iure, it would even develop its own personality.

  When Waver first received this doll, it had scared him out of his wits. After all, she had introduced herself as the T-1000, g to be a "terminator" sent from the future. It wasn't until El-Melloi II arrived that he mao clear up the misuanding.

  Whoosh.

  The shot hadn't gone unnoticed. Brynhildr had tracked down Kiritsugu's location, immediately giving chase.

  Naturally, Kiritsugu decided to retreat at once. He'd sidered firing another shot but ultimately thought better of it. With the mercury maid proteg Waver, his regur bullets were iive, and his in Bullets couldn't be used for le sniping anyway.

  Meanwhile, ba the battlefield, Brynhildr's pursuit of Kiritsugu helped relieve some of the pressure on Heroic Spirit Kiritsugu.

  With his agility and sharp instincts, he tinued dodging the bitacks of Diarmuid and El-Melloi II.

  "By the and Spell—kill him immediately," Kayh's voianded, fueling Diarmuid with the power of the and Spell.

  Today, Kayh was determio put ao Heroic Spirit Kiritsugu. Although the earlier ambush had only struck his decoy, it felt as though he himself had been targeted. And that was an insult Kayh could not five.

  He cursed the in of Emiya Kiritsugu's in Bullets, vihat without such a on, the so-called Magus Killer would be no match for him.

  Diarmuid's strength and speed surged with the and Spell's enha. His twin spears struck like a violent storm, attempting to overwhelm his target pletely.

  But Heroic Spirit Kiritsugu rarely engaged in direbat. He used Diarmuid's aggressive assault as a distra, gradually retreating from the battlefield.

  It was clearly a sign of withdrawal.

  Diarmuid, unwilling to let him escape, threw his crimson spear, Gáe Dearg, directly at Kiritsugu's fleeing form.

  Heroic Spirit Kiritsugu responded by firing a bullet at the oning spear, attempting to deflect it. But as expected, the bullet was simply repelled by Gáe Dearg.

  Thud.

  The spear's magic-breaking properties pierced Heroic Spirit Kiritsugu's armor, wounding his left shoulder.

  Yet despite the injury, Heroic Spirit Kiritsugu didn't pani fact, he appeared unfazed, as if he'd anticipated this.

  Diarmuid sensed something amiss, but before he could react, a sharp paied in his chest. Looking down, he was shocked to find a bullet wound that hadn't been there moments before.

  He couldn't uand it. He'd clearly seen the previous bullet deflected. How could it have hit him now?

  Diarmuid's spiritual core began to fracture, the telltale sign of the in Bullet's devastating effects.

  This bullet wasn't an ordinary ohe in Bullet held a unique power—capable of disrupting not just magical circuits, but the very essence of a Heroic Spirit's spiritual foundation.

  "How… did you do it?"

  Diarmuid fell to his knees, staring up at Heroic Spirit Kiritsugu in bewilderment. But Kiritsugu offered no expnation, merely turning away areating into the shadows.

  As Diarmuid faded bato the Throne of Heroes, he felt an ache ret. He hadn't even had the ce to duel Artoria as he'd loo.

  Watg this unfold, El-Melloi II felt a sharp pang of frustration.

  He didn't fully uand what Heroic Spirit Kiritsugu had done, but he suspected it involved an item or ability Kiritsugu or Emiya had obtained from a treasure chest.

  And he was right. Heroic Spirit Kiritsugu had used a specialized artifact—Magic Item: Fragarach.

  Emiya Kiritsugu had acquired this item from a broreasure chest. Fragarach had a unique ability: the power to reverse cause and effect. However, it was tricky to activate, only w when both parties attacked at the same time, and Kiritsugu's attack was timed as the st.

  Fragarach's ability allowed him to make his attack retroactively occur before Diarmuid's, bypassing the interference from Gáe Dearg. His bullet reached Diarmuid first, unimpeded, inflig a fatal wound.

  This had been Heroic Spirit Kiritsugu's strategy all along. Knowing that Diarmuid's spear would disrupt any magical defense, he'd used Fragarach's reversal effect to catch Diarmuid off guard.

  It all happened so quickly, leaving El-Melloi II stunned. Even Kayh, watg from a distance, was left speechless.

  His Servant… was simply gone.

  What… just happened?

  ---

  Meanwhile, on the mountain road outside Fuyuki City…

  "Tell me, King of Knights, where did you get that motorcycle?"

  Artoria and Iskandar had been rag through the streets. Due to vehicle issues, Iskandar had been struggling to keep up with Artoria, much to his frustration.

  I'm the Rider, he thought irritably. I shouldn't be losing just because of a car problem.

  "Don't even think about it. You 't get one of these," Artoria replied coolly, effectively dashing his hopes.

  "Hahaha, so cruel!" Iskandar ughed. "Still, since you led me all the way out here, I suppose it's time to settle things."

  He wasn't a fool—he'd realized that Artoria had been drawing him away from the others. But, eager for a proper battle with her, he'd followed willingly.

  Artoria shifted bato her battle attire, raising her sword. "As you wish, King of querors."

  "Excellent."

  Iskandar raised his hand, summoning his Ionioi Hetairoi, the vast desert where his loyal army gathered behind him, ready for battle.

  "e, King of Knights! Show me your true power!" Iskandar shouted as he mounted his warhorse.

  "I uand."

  Artoria took a deep breath, preparing to unleash her Noble Phantasm. She knew her ces were slim—Excalibur alone might not be enough to cut down Iskandar's entire army.

  But if there was even the slightest ce…

  ---

  Ba Fuyuki, trouble was brewing for Waver once again.

  As he attempted troup, an ued threat emerged—La, wielding a blue-fmed Gatling gun, suddenly appeared, ung a furious assault.

  Waver narrowly avoided death thanks to his Mercury Maid's prote, but the relentless attack left him scrambling for cover.

  El-Melloi II stepped in to assist, but everuggled to hold off La's frenzied barrage. His Uurning Formation was shattered, leaving them both vulnerable.

  her of them uood why La had chosen tet them so suddenly.

  Left with no choice, Waver sent a desperate plea for help to Iskandar.

  "What?!"

  Iskandar's face darkened upon receiving the message. He raised his hand, halting his army's advance.

  "What's going on?" Artoria asked, puzzled by his abrupt ge.

  "Today's battle is over," Iskandar announced, dispersing his soldiers and summoning his chariot. Without another word, he sped off in the dire of Waver's distress signal.

  Artoria stood there, stunned. She had been prepared to risk everything, but the fight had ended before it even began.

  The etle had sted only a few minutes. She hadn't even unleashed a proper attack.

  "What… was that?" she murmured, bewildered.

  As Iskandar arrived, La abruptly ceased his attack, retreating with surprising speed.

  Waver, equally baffled, struggled to prehend what was happening. It was as though La had received orders to withdraw.

  Iskandar gnced around, fusion written across his face. "Are you alright, little master?"

  "Uh… where did the enemy go?"

  Watg all this unfold, El-Melloi II found a quiet er and lit a cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke as he stared into the night.

  Just… what is going on tonight?

  ***

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