241-245

Chapter 241: Kariya Matou’s “One Against Two” 

For Kariya Matou, both Kenneth and Emiya Kiritsugu were untouchable titans. One was a prodigy mage, reaching heights in his youth that others couldn’t dream of in a lifetime. The other was the infamous Mage Killer, ruthlessly dispatching mages like they were nothing. 

Kariya, a rookie who barely qualified for the Holy Grail War thanks to his insect magecraft, felt utterly out of place. How was he worthy of facing these two powerhouses teaming up against him? Worse still, he couldn’t even use his insect magecraft anymore—his bugs were gone. Kariya Matou, despite his raw talent, was a blank slate, undeveloped and unrefined. 

“How about you two duke it out first? You’re gonna have to settle things eventually anyway,” Kariya suggested, half-joking. It was a desperate attempt, but neither Kiritsugu nor Kenneth paid him any mind. 

Emiya Kiritsugu, the Mage Killer, drew his weapon—a Calico M950A submachine gun. Ever since he shot his own father as a boy, Kiritsugu had learned a harsh truth: times had changed. No matter how powerful a mage was, a single bullet could end them. Magecraft, firearms—it didn’t matter. They were just tools to get the job done, and he’d use whichever was most efficient. 

Facing Kiritsugu’s drawn weapon, Kariya gave an awkward smile. Oddly, he didn’t seem too afraid. 

Rat-tat-tat! 

Kiritsugu didn’t hesitate, firing a burst of bullets at Kariya. What happened next stunned both him and Kenneth. 

Thud-thud-thud! 

The bullets hit Kariya, meeting no resistance. He had no defensive measures, letting the rounds tear into him. But they posed no threat. Holes riddled his body, only for the bullets to be pushed out as his wounds healed in the blink of an eye, leaving him completely unscathed. 

“A Dead Apostle?!” Kiritsugu and Kenneth gasped in unison. Kariya’s rapid regeneration screamed vampiric nature, and not just any vampire—this was Dead Apostle-level recovery. Normal vampires lacked such clarity of mind or this insane healing ability. 

Conventional weapons were nearly useless against Dead Apostles. The stronger they were, the faster they regenerated. Even the Holy Church, a major power, could only seal away Ancestor-level Dead Apostles, unable to kill them outright. 

“No way… Kariya Matou, how are you a Dead Apostle?!” Kiritsugu’s disbelief was palpable. His intel painted Kariya as a novice mage with barely any skill, not someone capable of this kind of power. 

Kiritsugu was no stranger to Dead Apostles and vampires. They’d haunted his life, forcing him to make brutal choices—killing his father over Dead Apostle research, then his adoptive mother due to “Dead Apostle bees.” It was almost a curse: whenever a Dead Apostle appeared, Kiritsugu’s life spiraled, often costing him someone he loved. If this pattern held, Aliceviel would be the next to fall. 

“Things are getting interesting. A Dead Apostle in the mix,” Kenneth remarked with a smirk. The Holy Grail War was growing wilder by the minute. He wondered how the Holy Church would react, especially since Fuyuki’s church had been razed. 

“It’s because of that Devil guy, isn’t it?” Kiritsugu said, piecing it together. He’d long suspected Riku (the “Devil”) wasn’t human. No ordinary person could wield such power—only a centuries-old Dead Apostle could. 

“Lord Riku gave me a new life,” Kariya said earnestly. It was true. Without Riku, he’d have died days ago, unable to save Sakura. He owed everything to him. 

“You call that a life? You threw away your humanity!” Kiritsugu scoffed, swapping his gun for a strange one—the Thompson Contender. Aiming at Kariya, he made it clear: unkillable or not, he had ways to deal with him. 

“What even is ‘human,’ Emiya Kiritsugu? Do you know?” Kariya shot back, unfazed by the mockery. Sure, biologically, he wasn’t human anymore—he’d become a ghoul. But he felt more human than many mages, who often acted less human than he did. 

“Hmph. Sophistry,” Kiritsugu muttered, firing. A single Origin Bullet rocketed toward Kariya. Even a Dead Apostle wasn’t immune if they had magic circuits—his Origin Bullet was their bane. 

For Kariya to warrant an Origin Bullet was a twisted kind of respect. Kiritsugu didn’t waste them on mediocre mages. The bullet worked by converting a mage’s mana into raw damage. A mage like Kenneth, with, say, 3000 MP, would take 3000 points of damage. But someone like Waver, with maybe 5 MP, would barely feel it. Against Waver, Kiritsugu wouldn’t bother. Origin Bullets were for prodigies with robust magic circuits. 

Kariya, who wasn’t actively using magecraft, wouldn’t take the full brunt. But Berserker was draining his mana constantly, meaning his circuits were active, making the bullet effective. Supporting Berserker’s massive mana consumption meant Kariya’s circuits were anything but weak. 

Bang! 

The Thompson Contender roared, its specially modified barrel firing an Origin Bullet with devastating force. Designed for unique calibers and enhanced with magecraft-forged components, it forced targets to burn massive mana to defend, amplifying the bullet’s effect. 

Thud! 

The bullet struck Kariya, nearly knocking him off his feet. The gun’s raw power was undeniable. But there was no penetration, no bleeding—just a patch of dead-looking flesh where the bullet hit. 

Hiss! 

Kariya grimaced in agony as his magic circuits shattered. But what happened next left Kiritsugu dumbfounded. His infallible Origin Bullet had failed. Kariya’s circuits, though broken, regenerated almost instantly. 

“Impossible!” Kiritsugu’s voice cracked. If Kariya being a Dead Apostle was a intel error, this was an assault on his entire worldview. His Origin, “Severing and Binding,” wasn’t just destruction and regeneration—it caused irreversible change. Named “Kiritsugu” for this very reason, his power severed and reconnected things in a way that warped them forever, not restored them. 

In life, this manifested as attempts to fix things often backfiring. His Origin Bullet, crafted from two of his ribs, embodied this—66 bullets, 37 already used, each one a death sentence for mages by mangling their circuits beyond repair. No mage had ever survived it. Until now. 

“You’re the real monster here, taking out so many mages!” Kariya said, still reeling. If not for Riku’s (the “Devil”) power, that shot would’ve left him helpless, and Berserker would’ve faded from lack of mana. 

Even Kenneth eyed Kiritsugu warily. That attack was pure poison to mages. As an orthodox mage, Kenneth naturally despised the Mage Killer. 

“…” Kiritsugu regained his composure, but Kariya’s jab stung. Who’s the monster? The guy who shrugged off an Origin Bullet? 

The Masters’ fight stalled with Kariya’s apparent invincibility. Kenneth didn’t even bother trying—Origin Bullets failed, so what could he do? 

The real spectacle was the Servants’ battle. Saber and Berserker’s clash was tilting heavily in one direction. Under Berserker Lancelot’s relentless assault, Saber Artoria was on the back foot. Her stats were impressive, but Berserker’s, fueled by ample mana, were monstrous, and his peerless martial skill left her dodging with her A-rank Instinct. 

Instinct, a combat ability to instantly choose the best course of action, bordered on future prediction—think Haki of Observation from One Piece. It was Saber’s lifeline. 

“Arthur!” Lancelot roared, swinging Arondight, the Unfading Light of the Lake, at Artoria. Part of her struggle might’ve stemmed from Arondight’s bonus damage against dragon-attributed Servants, and with Artoria’s third of red dragon blood, it hit harder. 

Buzz! 

Saber unleashed bursts of mana, reinforcing herself to match Lancelot’s strength and speed. Despite her frail appearance, her A-rank Mana Burst let her trade blows with a titan. 

“Sir Lancelot…” Artoria’s expression was pained. She tried to reach him, but his Madness Enhancement made it futile. Lancelot wanted to respond, but his frenzied state left him no choice. 

In contrast, Riku’s fight with Lancer Diarmuid was straightforward, aimed at ending it quickly. Pshh! Diarmuid’s Gáe Dearg, the Crimson Rose of Exorcism, stabbed into Riku’s Herculean armor, but only pierced slightly, startling the Lancer. 

“It’s not made of mana?” Diarmuid had assumed the armor was magical, but it was absurdly tough. 

“Uh…” Riku blinked. The attack wasn’t as sharp as he’d feared. He’d underestimated his own enhanced physique. While it didn’t boost his offense, his HP and defense were off the charts—tough as nails. 

Clang! 

Riku swung his blade, forcing Diarmuid to parry hastily. The Lancer refocused, already sporting wounds from Riku’s ghostly movements. One blade burned with fire, another frosted with ice, hitting Diarmuid with a brutal ice-and-fire combo. 

Huff! 

Riku exhaled. He wasn’t leaning heavily on his Blood Demon Techniques against Diarmuid. Instead, he was using the Lancer’s superior martial skill and battle IQ to hone his own swordsmanship. With so many flashy skills, his core combat technique had lagged, and this was a chance to sharpen it. 

Chapter 242: Lancer’s Exit, Unable to Go All Out 

It’s pretty normal, right? Once you’ve activated something like “Wind Spirit Moon Shadow,” would you still bother studying techniques like parrying, dodging, or even trimming your nails? Probably not. After all, not many people enjoy making things harder for themselves. But sometimes, external power isn’t always reliable. Your own strength is what you’ve got to build up. When there’s a chance to level up your own abilities, you grab it. Cheats are cheats, but your true power is what’s really yours. 

Riku faced Diarmuid with utmost seriousness. As one of the most famous members of the Fianna Knights, Diarmuid’s combat skills definitely lived up to his reputation. 

This was happening in Neon (Japan), though. If they were in Ireland, or even anywhere in the British Isles or Europe, Diarmuid would be far stronger than he was now. 

While the Fianna Knights often appear in the shadows of stories about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, their global fame doesn’t hold a candle to the Round Table’s. Both stem from Celtic mythology, but compared to the Round Table, which blends chivalric ideals and Christianity, the Fianna Knights feel a bit too localized. Cú Chulainn’s Ulster Cycle is even more primal, especially since Cú Chulainn is a big-shot hero from way before Diarmuid’s time. 

In Fuyuki City’s Holy Grail War, these two Celtic Lancers—Diarmuid and Cú Chulainn—weren’t shining nearly as brightly as “King Arthur” Altria. 

Splurch! Splurch! 

Two more wounds appeared on Diarmuid’s body. Meanwhile, the spear he thrust into Riku didn’t do any real damage. Riku’s Rc cells quickly reformed, filling the gaps. 

“Lancer’s not holding up,” one observer noted. 

The three Masters stood apart, each trying to keep up with the battle. But at this level of combat, it was tough to see everything clearly. They could only catch glimpses during brief pauses. The Servants’ all-out speed was just too fast. 

Still, the fight between Riku and Lancer Diarmuid was telling. From the growing number of wounds on Diarmuid, it was clear Riku had gained a solid upper hand. 

“Lancer! What are you doing?! Use your Noble Phantasm!” Kenneth barked, his face darkening. 

He didn’t have much to say, though. After all, Riku had already taken down his own Rider, Iskandar. This time, he couldn’t even blame Waver Velvet. Biting his lip, Kenneth held back from healing Lancer’s wounds—it would feel like admitting defeat. 

“…” 

Diarmuid’s lips tightened, a hint of embarrassment in his expression. He was using his Noble Phantasms. Both Gáe Dearg (Crimson Rose of Exorcism) and Gáe Buidhe (Yellow Rose of Mortality) had already revealed their true forms. 

But they weren’t working! He couldn’t break through Riku’s defense at all! 

Riku’s outer layer of kagune armor was thick. Diarmuid could pierce it, but not deeply enough. Neither Gáe Dearg’s magic-nullifying effect nor Gáe Buidhe’s curse of unhealable wounds worked. The results were baffling. If this kagune was a magical effect, Gáe Dearg should counter it. If it was flesh, Gáe Buidhe should prevent it from healing. But this thing wasn’t magic, nor was it flesh—yet it didn’t seem like a lifeless object either! 

Lancer Diarmuid’s head throbbed. Facing an opponent like Riku made him miss his other two “brushes” (weapons), especially the one known for its sharpness. At least that one might’ve pierced through Riku’s shell. 

Whoosh! 

Riku took a deep breath and swung his long blade, unleashing a massive crescent-shaped slash. He was starting to tap into his other abilities. 

Caught off guard, Diarmuid blocked it purely on instinct. His Lancer class severely limited his potential—his stats didn’t even include something like “Instinct.” But with his talent, martial skill, and combat experience, Diarmuid should’ve had at least B-rank Instinct. That level of Instinct, backed by innate talent and experience, didn’t let you predict the future, but it gave you the ability to seize even a 1% chance of victory. 

For Diarmuid right now, though, it was pure despair. He couldn’t even see that 1% chance. 

Hastily blocking the crescent slash, Diarmuid had no time to catch his breath. Riku was already closing in again. 

Crackle! 

Diarmuid froze. The slash had carried frost, and as it shattered, the icy chill spread, forming ice crystals in the air around him. 

Boom! 

Two blades came crashing down. Diarmuid, unable to dodge, could only brace himself. The ground beneath him cracked, fractures spreading outward. 

Hum! 

Kenneth couldn’t stand by any longer. He immediately began casting support magic for Diarmuid. He wasn’t arrogant enough to jump into a fight between two Servants, but he could at least heal Diarmuid’s wounds. Though it went against his pride, watching Lancer lose was even less acceptable. 

“Thank you,” Diarmuid said quickly, grateful for the healing. 

Riku’s mouth twitched. This Lancer was a bit too devoted. Even with a Master like Kenneth, Diarmuid remained loyal. These summoned Servants all had their quirks, didn’t they? 

Crack, crack, crack. 

Without hesitation, Riku summoned several flesh puppets and sent them to tangle with Kenneth. Not to kill him—though that wouldn’t matter much, since Kenneth’s fiancée, Sola, was the one supplying Diarmuid’s mana. 

Yeah, Sola—the woman who fell for Diarmuid. She even went so far as to force a crippled Kenneth to hand over his Command Seals. You couldn’t entirely blame Diarmuid’s “Mole of Love” for that. Sola, raised as a political tool rather than inheriting a Magic Crest, still came from a top-tier mage family. She had strong resistance to charms like the Mole of Love. Her feelings for Diarmuid weren’t because of it—she was just genuinely smitten. Only someone with Luck Rank E like Diarmuid could stumble into a one-in-a-million love-at-first-sight situation. 

Luck E is rare, even for a Saber, seen only in Diarmuid and Siegfried. There aren’t many Lancers with Luck E either. Luck doesn’t seem tied to class, though. 

Facing Riku’s flesh puppets, Kenneth stayed calm. He pulled out his proudest creation: a test tube filled with silvery liquid. It looked light and small, but thanks to weight-reduction magic, it actually weighed nearly 140 kg and held about 10 liters. Kenneth called it Moon Spirit Marrow. 

“Boil, my blood,” Kenneth chanted, activating his Mystic Code. 

This was his trump card, the El-Melloi family’s supreme Mystic Code—a treasure worthy of being a family heirloom. That Kenneth crafted it before age 25 spoke volumes about his talent. 

The flesh puppets charged with reckless abandon, activating Sandevistan and sprouting various kagune as they rushed Kenneth. 

Clang! 

Their sharp kagune struck a silver shield. The Moon Spirit Marrow—essentially enchanted mercury—formed a layered barrier with incredible defensive power, deftly blocking attacks from all directions. 

Controlled via Kenneth’s Magic Crest, it also had an autonomous mode. The mercury memorized various patterns and reacted optimally to different situations, functioning almost like a combat golem in a unique form. 

But such “programmed” weapons had a weakness: once their patterns were figured out, they were easy to exploit. The more complex the Moon Spirit Marrow’s transformations, the slower its reactions and the greater the mana cost. 

“Auto-attack,” Kenneth commanded. 

Beyond defense, the Moon Spirit Marrow could attack and track enemies automatically. It was practically a computer. After Kenneth’s death, Waver, his successor, even turned it into an “autonomous maid golem” based on his suggestions. 

Boom! 

The Moon Spirit Marrow morphed into blades, slashing at the flesh puppets. But with their speed, the puppets easily dodged. Dead objects, no matter how strong or fast—capable of cutting titanium or diamond—lacked flexibility. Anyone with combat experience could read their trajectories and dodge. A Servant with Instinct, like Saber, would consider getting nicked a loss. 

Riku’s puppets didn’t have Instinct, but their explosive power and Sandevistan (an older model) made dodging rigid attacks a breeze. 

“This Kenneth guy’s impressive,” Emiya Kiritsugu observed, his eyes narrowing. 

Even he’d struggle against the Moon Spirit Marrow at first, likely taking some hits. He was also surprised by Riku’s flesh puppets. Watching Riku fight, Kiritsugu couldn’t tell much—Riku was too fast, using Shadow Step for near-instant movement. But when the puppets used Sandevistan, Kiritsugu felt a jolt of recognition. Wasn’t that his Time Alter? 

Time Alter wasn’t exclusive to the Emiya family; similar magic existed in the past. But the Emiyas, thanks to Kiritsugu’s father, Noritaka, had refined it. Unlike his father’s cosmic ambitions, Kiritsugu limited his Reality Marble to his own body, adjusting time within himself to accelerate or slow his blood flow, metabolism, and muscles for superhuman feats—a magical Sandevistan. 

The drawback? It strained the body immensely. The time discrepancy between the internal Reality Marble and the outside world caused excruciating pain post-use. 

“Is this Devil guy from the Mage’s Association? But isn’t Kenneth the one from there? They don’t seem to know each other,” Kiritsugu mused, confused. 

His father’s research had mostly been taken by the Mage’s Association, so suspecting Riku’s ties made sense. But it didn’t add up. Kenneth, a Clock Tower bigshot—head of Mineralogy, a first-class Spirit Evocation instructor, and one of the twelve Lords—would surely know if the Association had someone like “Devil.” Yet, Riku was a total enigma, harder to pin down than the Servants’ identities. 

Boom! 

While Kiritsugu puzzled, Riku had completely overwhelmed Lancer. As Riku unleashed more abilities, Diarmuid—armed only with two magic spears and no other tricks—struggled to keep up. To Diarmuid, Riku’s powers should’ve been countered by Gáe Dearg’s anti-magic, but they weren’t. Frost slowed him, crescent slashes came relentlessly, and occasional electric shocks left him feeling like two spears weren’t enough. 

Splurch! 

Finally, Diarmuid faltered. Riku’s fiery blade pierced his chest, the flames searing his insides. 

“Sorry, my lord…” Diarmuid propped himself up with his spear, looking at Kenneth. Though Kenneth wasn’t his ideal Master, he’d fought to the end for him, only regretting he couldn’t bring victory. 

“Mr. Devil, you’re strong. It was an honor to fight you. Shame I couldn’t go all out,” Diarmuid said, nodding to Riku with a satisfied smile tinged with regret. The Lancer class had held him back, preventing him from fighting at his peak. 

“I had the advantage,” Riku replied with a smile, speaking honestly. Diarmuid wasn’t at full strength, and Riku’s win came with that edge. 

“You’re too modest,” Diarmuid chuckled, then fell silent. His body began to fade. 

Kenneth had no time to watch, as the flesh puppets were starting to predict the Moon Spirit Marrow’s patterns, putting him on the defensive. 

[Ding! Experience +2200] 

[Current Experience: 2800/3300] 

As Lancer vanished, the system pinged. Riku was close to leveling up again. Defeating Rider Iskandar had given him 2600 EXP, leveling him to 19 and granting 1 attribute point, 1 skill point, and 1 skill optimization point. Rider’s high EXP likely came from his summoned army, as his individual combat strength shouldn’t outshine Lancer’s by that much. 

Chapter 243: The Light Only You Can Shine 

Riku allocated one attribute point to Agility, bringing it to 19 points. This time, instead of investing the skill point in [Ultimate Lifeform], he opted to put it into [Super Strength Lv1]. It was an experiment—after all, [Super Strength] is a rare percentage-based ability. If it worked well, a single skill point could yield several attribute points, making it a high-return investment. 

Currently, Riku’s base Strength is 20 points. With the boost from [Super Strength Lv1], it effectively reaches 30 points. This unique trait is undeniably powerful. 

The results from [Super Strength Lv2], however, were somewhat underwhelming. The boost increased from 1.5x to 1.75x, equivalent to an additional 5 Strength points. Still, compared to upgrading [Ultimate Lifeform], it’s slightly more cost-effective. 

Upgrading [Ultimate Lifeform] one level grants 1 point each to Strength, Agility, and Intelligence, plus possibly 1 to Charisma, totaling four points. The key difference is that one provides a small, all-around boost, while the other focuses on enhancing a single attribute. 

Riku felt that upgrading [Super Strength Lv2] was the better deal, especially for the future. Right now, a 1.75x multiplier adds 15 Strength points, but if his base Strength reached 100, that would mean a whopping 75 extra points! 

That’s the beauty of percentage-based abilities! 

It’s similar to [White Reaper]. Though it only offers a 5% boost, these percentage traits grow stronger as the user does. Currently, [White Reaper] grants Riku 4 Constitution, 1 Strength, 1 Intelligence, 0.95 Agility, and 0.75 Charisma. It might seem minor now, but those numbers will become significant later. 

Riku started wondering if he should prioritize [Task Master Lv1] higher. The speed of gaining experience points is crucial too! Right now, it’s just a 10% EXP boost, but a few more levels could mean daily double EXP! 

As for the final [Skill Optimization Point], Riku didn’t hesitate to put it into [Ultimate Lifeform]. The result caught him off guard. 

The optimized trait was still “Mimicry,” but this time it evolved into “Perfect Mimicry.” In simple terms, like Kibutsuji Muzan, he gained the ability to freely change his appearance, gender, scent, and more, no longer bound by his original form. 

Riku found this ability quite useful. It gave him another tool—transforming into someone else’s appearance is way cooler than Hassan’s “Hundred Faces” multiple-personality shtick. 

Of course, he’d need to use it cautiously. Overusing it might mess with his sense of identity. 

“Devil-san! Since Lancer has already been eliminated, can we call a truce?” 

While Riku was reflecting on his battle with Lancer, Kenneth was struggling. Under the relentless assault of Riku’s flesh puppets, he was in dire straits. The automated system of his “Moon Spirit Marrow” couldn’t keep up. 

Using “Moon Spirit Marrow” at such high intensity was draining his magical energy fast. It’s an extraordinary Mystic Code, not meant for this kind of sustained use. Most Masters would’ve collapsed under the strain of supporting both a Servant and “Moon Spirit Marrow,” but Kenneth’s exceptional talent allowed him to modify the Holy Grail’s summoning system, which was the main reason he could hold out this long. 

The system, designed by Matou Zouken, has Masters supply magical energy to their Servants, binding them with Command Seals. Kenneth, with his genius, separated the magical energy supply from the Command Seal authority, splitting the roles between two mages. 

He held the Command Seals, making him the true Master, while his fiancée, Sola, provided the magical energy to sustain the Servant. This freed up his own magical energy to deal with other competitors. 

You have to admit, Kenneth lived up to his “genius” title from childhood. He’s a mage with the potential to reach the “Grand” rank—practically invincible if he didn’t cross paths with Emiya Kiritsugu. 

“Ha, trying to back out now? Isn’t it a bit late for that?” 

Riku glanced at Kenneth and sneered. A noble mage, a Clock Tower Lord, yet so adaptable? 

“Devil-san, we have no personal grudge. There’s no need to go all out, right? The Holy Grail War doesn’t require Masters to fight to the death.” 

Kenneth tried to stay composed. Lancer’s elimination rendered his fight meaningless. He never imagined that Lancer, armed with just two straightforward Noble Phantasms, would lose to this Devil in direct combat! And Devil didn’t even use any high-powered Noble Phantasms! 

Kenneth, who always thought highly of himself, finally hit a wall in this Holy Grail War. Not only was his summoned Servant outmatched, but his own abilities were severely challenged. For someone who never knew what failure felt like, this was a massive blow. 

“Fair point.” 

Riku nodded. Mages didn’t necessarily need to settle things with a deathmatch. Summoning the Holy Grail didn’t require sacrificing Masters, and not everyone was as ruthlessly efficient as Emiya Kiritsugu. 

That said, Riku’s flesh puppets didn’t stop their attacks, continuing to hammer Kenneth relentlessly. 

“Webber-kun, what do you think of Kenneth-san’s proposal?” 

Riku turned to Webber Velvet, catching him off guard. Webber clearly hadn’t expected to be asked for his opinion. He’d been keeping a low profile, practically kneeling to avoid attention! 

“I think there’s no need for it…” 

Webber spoke cautiously, but deep down, he didn’t want anything to happen to Kenneth. 

Even though Kenneth had dismissed his thesis like it was trash, Webber secretly admired and envied him. He longed to be as exceptional as Kenneth. 

Putting personality aside, Kenneth’s talent as a mage and his effortless ability to excel in everything were enviable. 

That’s also why Kenneth developed such a personality. Raised in an environment where he was hailed as a genius and superior to others, it became second nature to him. 

“Such a touching teacher-student bond.” 

Riku chuckled, then glanced at Kenneth, wondering if he appreciated it. After all, Webber, who stole his Saint’s Relic to join the war, had caused the kind of unexpected chaos Kenneth despised, catching him off guard. 

“…” 

Kenneth’s expression darkened at his rebellious student’s plea. He didn’t want to accept it. To him, Webber’s theft of the Saint’s Relic was utterly unacceptable—an insult and a blasphemy. 

“No need for your pity.” 

Kenneth’s pride clearly wouldn’t let him accept this, and he arrogantly believed that, given his status, this Devil wouldn’t dare do anything pointless like kill him. What would Devil gain from it? 

“…” 

Webber’s face fell, clearly hurt by Kenneth’s attitude. But he had no grounds to complain. He was in the wrong, after all. Still, all he wanted was to prove his own strength! 

The Mage’s Association and Clock Tower were monopolized by mage dynasties. As a third-generation mage, Webber faced constant discrimination and disdain. He believed he was a genius, just unrecognized, and acted impulsively to prove himself! 

Webber wanted to show Kenneth he had talent, that it wasn’t about bloodlines or legacy. He was just as much a genius as Kenneth! 

Clearly, at this point, Webber Velvet was still in a delusional, overconfident chuunibyou phase, thinking the world didn’t understand his brilliance. Surviving the Holy Grail War was pure luck, thanks to Kenneth summoning the “Great Emperor” as his Servant. Otherwise, Webber would’ve died countless times. 

“Devil, what do you want? Name your terms.” 

Seeing Riku hold back, Kenneth regained his confidence, assuming Riku wouldn’t dare kill him and was just looking to extort something. 

As a genius who believed the world revolved around him, Kenneth’s judgments often diverged from common sense. Just as ordinary people struggle to understand mage logic, different environments shape different mindsets. 

Whoosh! 

A shadow darted across the ground. In an instant, Riku appeared beside Kenneth, his long blade piercing Kenneth’s neck before “Moon Spirit Marrow” could react. 

Kenneth’s eyes widened in disbelief. The lack of response from “Moon Spirit Marrow” was partly his own fault—he’d been so confident Riku wouldn’t risk killing him that he’d let his guard down, stepping out of his turtle shell. 

“Cough… cough…” 

Kenneth tried to speak, but frost from the blade spread, freezing his neck. With a twist from Riku, the ice shattered, and Kenneth’s head rolled to the ground, stopping right in front of the kneeling Webber Velvet. 

“…” 

Webber stared blankly at the head. The invincible Kenneth, Lord of the El-Melloi faction, was dead just like that? 

“Ugh, I can’t stand pretentious types.” 

Riku sheathed his blade into the shadow scabbard and muttered a complaint. To normal people, Kenneth’s annoying attitude probably rivaled that of Gilgamesh. 

They were enemies, after all. Instead of begging properly, Kenneth put on airs. Riku didn’t hesitate to send him to his next life. Normally, he might’ve let it slide, but as enemies, killing him felt satisfying. 

Riku placed his hand on “Moon Spirit Marrow.” As it began to dissolve into a puddle of mercury without its master, he collected it. This thing was pretty interesting. 

As for Kenneth’s Magic Crest, Riku wasn’t too interested, but the knowledge within it piqued his curiosity. 

Kenneth was a versatile mage with achievements in many fields. His Magic Crest surely held valuable knowledge, perfect for supplementing Riku’s “study materials.” The Matou and Tohsaka families’ resources weren’t quite enough. 

“Emiya Kiritsugu-san, still not giving up?” 

After dealing with Kenneth, Riku turned to Emiya Kiritsugu. The only remaining Servants were Saber and Berserker, still locked in a fierce struggle. In fact, with sufficient magical energy, Saber’s “Instinct A” allowed her to hold her own against Berserker for a long time. 

“Curry Stick” is impressive, but it shares a flaw with Gilgamesh’s Noble Phantasms: a wind-up time. Even a brief one is a huge weakness in a fight between equals. Unless distance is created from the start, it’s nearly impossible to use in close combat. 

“By the power of my Command Seal, Saber, come to my side.” 

Emiya Kiritsugu clearly wasn’t giving up. He used a Command Seal. 

Saber paused, then obeyed, teleporting to his side. She quickly grasped her Master’s intent. 

“Release your Noble Phantasm!” 

Since Berserker kept her in close combat, Saber couldn’t unleash her Noble Phantasm. So Kiritsugu used a Command Seal to create distance—essentially using it as a teleport! 

You have to hand it to the Mage Killer—his quick thinking outshone Tohsaka Tokiomi by miles. If Tokiomi had this kind of adaptability, things might’ve turned out differently. But then again, if he did, he wouldn’t be the Tokiomi who always drops the ball at critical moments. 

“Excalibur!” 

Saber Artoria didn’t hesitate, unleashing her Noble Phantasm. Her target wasn’t Riku but the last remaining Servant, Berserker. Once Berserker was out, the Holy Grail War would end! 

Though Saber’s heart ached seeing Berserker Lancelot in this state, it only strengthened her resolve to win the Holy Grail and change everything! 

In a way, Saber Artoria and Emiya Kiritsugu were somewhat compatible. Both were steadfast in their goals, though Artoria had more of a moral line, unlike Kiritsugu, who’d bet everything. 

The sword at the pinnacle of holy swords, forged by the planet itself rather than humans, revealed its true form. This ultimate divine weapon was fueled by faith. 

As Saber called out, the holy sword emitted a radiant glow—a noble, sacred light born from the collective beliefs and aspirations of countless people. 

Berserker Lancelot stood there. Despite his supreme martial skill, he didn’t know how to respond—or rather, he had no intention of responding. 

Gazing at the light transformed from magical energy, the holy sword embodying humanity’s beliefs and dreams, and the saintly figure of the girl bathed in that glow, Berserker Lancelot’s madness faded. He returned to the form of the perfect knight. 

“Only you could shine with such light.” 

Lancelot spoke, his voice no longer a roar but a gentle, masculine tone. His soft words reached Saber Artoria’s ears, causing her expression to change dramatically. 

Chapter 244: A Sudden Turn, Summoning the Holy Grail 

A blinding light erupted, blasting straight toward Berserker. Under that radiance, the entire dock looked like it had been plowed by some terrifying weapon. Everything caught in the beam’s path practically evaporated. Saber had deliberately held back its power—otherwise, this place would’ve been obliterated. 

“Phew… finally.” 

Seeing this, Emiya Kiritsugu let out a huge sigh of relief. He’d taken a gamble. If they didn’t take down Berserker right then and there, he and Saber stood no chance against Riku and Berserker’s combined assault. 

After all, Kiritsugu knew he’d be powerless against Riku. He couldn’t even handle Matō Kariya, let alone someone like Riku. 

“Wait—what?!” 

But just as he let himself feel a moment of relief, Kiritsugu froze. Something was wrong. Irisviel clearly hadn’t absorbed enough souls—Berserker wasn’t defeated. 

“Talk about a close call, Emiya Kiritsugu. Gotta hand it to you, that was a clever move. Almost caught me off guard.” 

A shadowy gate opened nearby, and out stepped Riku with Berserker in tow. Riku had reverted to his human form. When he’d rushed to save Berserker, that light cannon had grazed him, shredding his kagune shell in an instant. The power of Excalibur was no joke. 

But still, he had to save Berserker. That guy was worth experience points! No way was he letting Saber’s light cannon steal that from him! 

“…” 

Seeing Riku and Berserker unscathed, Kiritsugu’s face darkened. He couldn’t believe they’d dodged that. This Devil’s abilities were way too absurd! 

Of course, Kiritsugu knew part of the blame lay with Saber. This Saber… she really wasn’t cut out for the big stuff. 

He shot a glance at Saber. The young Knight King’s expression was complicated as she stared at the now-frenzied Black Knight, Berserker. She’d hesitated for a moment back there. 

“We need to go all out and wipe them out completely,” Kiritsugu said bluntly, not bothering to scold Saber. They were at the critical moment—holding back now? Was that even human?! 

“That would hurt innocent people,” Saber shot back, her eyes flashing with disapproval as she looked at Kiritsugu. This was the core difference between them. To Saber, Kiritsugu treated lives like they didn’t matter. But she’d never do that. She refused to drag innocents into this. 

“Tch, tch, tch. Fighting amongst yourselves at a time like this?” Riku chuckled, amused by the dysfunctional duo. This was what happened when you forced a summoning with a Servant you didn’t sync with. They couldn’t even agree on the basics—talk about a mess. 

Kiritsugu stuck to his ruthless, victory-at-all-costs strategy, while Altria, with her knightly honor, looked down on that approach. The two could barely exchange a sentence without clashing. 

“…” 

Kiritsugu’s face darkened further. He sighed, raising his hand without hesitation, ready to force Saber’s hand. There was no time to coddle her anymore—Riku and Berserker weren’t going to give him a chance to breathe. 

“With this Command Spell, I order you, Saber, unleash your Noble Phantasm on Berserker with full power!” 

Another Command Spell vanished from Kiritsugu’s hand, its power transforming into a binding force that pressed down on Saber. 

Saber was furious, seething. As a king, as someone with her own pride, being forced like this was unbearable—especially since it went against everything she stood for. She fought with all her might to control her body, resisting the Command Spell’s power. 

Her A-rank Magic Resistance came into play here. With such a high resistance, she could even fight off a single Command Spell. Saber grit her teeth, locking her body in place, refusing to attack. Kiritsugu hadn’t expected this. 

Now he was in a bind. He only had one Command Spell left. If he used it, he’d lose all control over Saber. Without that leverage, he’d be completely at the mercy of a Servant—an utter reversal of power. 

“Damn it!” Kiritsugu cursed inwardly. Why did this Arthur have to be this stubborn?! 

“Sorry, Emiya Kiritsugu, but hesitation leads to defeat.” 

In that split second of indecision, the moment slipped away. Berserker was already moving again, and Riku had closed in on Saber. 

“With this Command Spell, I order you, Saber, unleash your Noble Phantasm!” 

Kiritsugu couldn’t afford to hesitate any longer. Another moment’s delay, and he’d be dead under Berserker’s blade. 

This time, Riku didn’t send Berserker to attack Saber. He was going for the experience points himself—this was his best shot. 

“No! Kiritsugu!” Saber cried out, unable to hold back any longer. Her body moved on its own, mana surging as she raised her holy sword, Excalibur. 

“Let me put you out of your misery,” Riku said with a smirk, his long blade already swinging. He was confident he could cut down this conflicted Knight King before she could swing her sword. 

Altria’s mind was in chaos. Berserker Lancelot’s reaction had shaken her, and now Kiritsugu was forcing her to use her Noble Phantasm, heedless of the innocent lives it might claim. One thing after another—it was overwhelming. 

Facing Riku’s blade, she almost forgot her lifelong pursuit. Maybe it was better to just exit the stage like this, rather than violate her principles and harm innocents. 

Not far from the dock was Fuyuki City’s residential district. A full-powered blast from her light cannon would definitely hit civilians. She’d rather control the output herself! 

Saber closed her eyes. But then, a clash of steel rang out. A black knight’s figure appeared before her, blocking Riku’s strike. 

“You’ve gotta be kidding me!” Riku blurted out, staring at Berserker Lancelot. What was Matō Kariya doing?! Couldn’t he even control his own Servant?! 

“Excalibur!” 

But there was no time for Riku to complain. Saber, unable to hold back any longer, shouted her Noble Phantasm’s name and swung her radiant holy sword. 

“Damn it!” Riku cursed, caught off guard by the situation. 

Determined not to lose out, Riku grabbed Berserker’s Noble Phantasm, Arondight, the Unfading Light of the Lake. To his surprise, Berserker let go without resistance—his mind still clouded, likely acting on some faint instinct not to defy Riku. That earlier block was probably a desperate act of will. 

Buzz! 

Riku vanished, dodging the holy sword’s edge. Berserker, however, was too close and too sudden to escape. He was engulfed by Excalibur’s light. 

This blast was far stronger than the last. Under the Command Spell’s order, Saber had poured every ounce of her mana into the attack. The terrifying sword beam stretched far, slicing into the residential district. The collateral damage was likely massive—worse than Riku’s nuclear strike or Gilgamesh’s EA, which hadn’t been used at full power. 

Berserker was done for. His soul was captured, absorbed into the Lesser Grail, Irisviel, who by now had completely lost her sense of self. 

“…” 

Saber’s eyes widened, trembling as she took in the devastation. This wasn’t what she wanted. She never wanted to harm innocents. 

And Berserker Lancelot saving her? That shook her to her core. She’d always thought his madness stemmed from hatred toward her. But the truth hit differently. 

“King, to us Knights of the Round Table, you were the greatest king. Every one of us believed that. Please, don’t doubt yourself. Trust that the path you walked was right.” 

Before his soul was fully absorbed, a lucid Lancelot conveyed those heartfelt words to her. His love, his loyalty, his recognition of her as king—it overwhelmed Altria. 

She’d always seen herself as a failure. But now she realized Lancelot’s madness came from his own regret. His spiritual affair with Queen Guinevere had crossed the line of the era’s dominant religion and tarnished Altria’s image as a ruler. He’d longed for her to punish him, but she forgave him. Unable to forgive himself, he’d lived in torment over his actions. 

“Sir Lancelot…” Altria lowered her holy sword, dazed. The Holy Grail, her wish to undo her kingship—all of it faded from her mind. She was left with nothing but confusion. 

“What the hell was that?” Riku reappeared beside Matō Kariya, though he looked rough—half his body was gone. 

In an instant, flesh writhed, and he regenerated fully, his prosthetic body long since fused with his flesh. Thanks to his “see-the-light-and-die” weakness being reduced to “weak-to-light,” he could use his prosthetics even in daylight, though without the flesh’s enhancements. If they broke, no need to run to the old man for repairs—his body auto-fixed itself. Convenient and cost-effective. 

“This…” Kariya was the one truly stunned. Riku was asking him what happened? How would he know? Berserker had always been unhinged. Maybe something triggered him? 

Riku rolled his eyes. Kariya was unreliable, but what could you expect from a rush-job Master? 

“Where you going, Emiya Kiritsugu?” Riku’s gaze shifted to Kiritsugu, who was carrying Irisviel toward the city. 

“Fuyuki Central Park,” Kiritsugu answered without hiding it. He’d won, and Riku had no reason to keep fighting him. 

The final summoning ritual required a specific location to tap into the leyline’s power. That was why the Tōsaka family was involved. Each Holy Grail War drained Fuyuki’s leyline, needing 60 years to recharge enough for the Greater Grail to manifest. Fuyuki had four designated spots for the Grail’s descent, used in rotation. This time, it was Central Park. 

“Should we follow?” Kariya blinked, turning to Riku. Everything had happened so fast—they were out of the game. Was there even a point in going? 

“Of course. This is just the beginning,” Riku said with a nod. He’d been waiting for this. Who won didn’t matter to him—he wasn’t here to make a wish. His interest was in the Holy Grail system itself. Plus, wishing wasn’t even an option right now. 

“Hey, Saber, you coming or what?” Riku called out to the shell-shocked Saber as he and Kariya followed Kiritsugu. She’d won the Holy Grail War, but her face looked like she’d lost everything. 

“…” 

Saber snapped out of it, moving stiffly, her mind still on Lancelot and the past. 

“Pathetic. Someone who denies their entire past like that…” Riku shook his head, looking at Altria. Going back to the moment of her selection as king to choose a different one? Was that a joke? 

“What do you know?!” Saber snapped, like a cat with its tail stepped on. Lancelot’s words had already shaken her, and now this. 

“Your struggles, your efforts, the people who wrote history alongside you—were they all just a joke? You think you can erase it all because of your own selfish wish? Did you ever consider what others thought? Is this really the Arthur, so selfish? Just a little girl who never grew up?” 

Riku scoffed. If Altria’s wish was to “go back and change everything,” he’d get it. That’s the essence of a redo—fixing your failures, giving your loyal allies a better ending, foiling your enemies’ schemes, punishing betrayers. But “go back and give up being king”? What kind of nonsense was that? It’s like starting a badass isekai only to choose to do nothing! 

To Riku, there was only one word for that: coward. 

He had nothing more to say to a coward like her. Ignoring Saber, he and Kariya caught up to Kiritsugu. 

Saber stood frozen, stung by Riku’s blunt words and Lancelot’s heartfelt confession. Was her wish really just selfish, one-sided thinking? 

Chapter 245: Attempting to Control the Holy Grail 

Fuyuki City’s Central Park lies at the heart of the residential district east of the Mion River, which cuts through the city. This area is the true urban hub of Fuyuki, bustling with facilities and a dense population. The Fuyuki train station and the port are both located here, near the coast, thanks to the abundance of flat land.  

In contrast, the “Miyama Town” area west of the Mion River is built along the mountains, with steep slopes that make large-scale construction impractical. 

These past few days, the urban district has been through hell. The Fuyuki Church, perched on a southeastern hillside, was ground zero for the chaos. That hillside is now just a massive crater, completely sealed off by authorities. 

Fortunately, the church’s isolated, sprawling grounds meant that Riku’s battle with Gilgamesh didn’t cause many casualties. 

Now, Emiya Kiritsugu has brought Irisviel to Central Park to perform the final summoning ritual. 

The poor residential district barely survived one disaster, only to face another. It’s as if destruction is inevitable. 

Kiritsugu himself doesn’t see this as particularly dangerous. The Holy Grail War has happened three times before without any catastrophic incidents, so he has no real concerns. 

Fuyuki has four locations suitable for the summoning ritual: Ryuudou Temple on Mount Enzou, the Tohsaka mansion, the Fuyuki Church, and Central Park. The first summoning was at Ryuudou Temple, where the entire Grail system was set up. The second was at the Tohsaka mansion, the third at the church, and now, Central Park is the last viable option. 

Being the least discreet of the four, Central Park still has people lingering even at night—some even sleeping on benches. But Kiritsugu ignores them, heading straight for the Fuyuki Civic Hall, the designated arrival point for the Holy Grail. 

At this moment, Central Park is starting to show strange phenomena. After five Servants were eliminated, the Lesser Grail began connecting to the underground Greater Grail system. When the sixth Servant fell, magical energy started overflowing, creating noticeable anomalies at the arrival point. 

“Iri…” 

Inside the Fuyuki Civic Hall, Kiritsugu gazes at Irisviel, lifeless in his arms, his face a mix of pain, relief, and worry. Relief comes from finally reaching this point after countless hardships; worry stems from the fear that Riku’s warnings might be true. 

“Let me see for myself.” 

Despite his conflicted emotions, Kiritsugu stubbornly makes his final decision. He needs to witness the outcome with his own eyes. 

He places Irisviel’s body on the altar. Under his gaze, her artificial form reveals its true nature: a dazzling golden chalice—the Lesser Grail. 

Outside, in Central Park, Riku, Matou Kariya, and Saber look up, all noticing the eerie black hole in the sky. 

At this point, the souls of the six defeated Servants in the Lesser Grail have begun their return, opening a pathway to the “Throne of Heroes.” The magical energy accumulated over sixty years is now surging, desperately trying to stabilize that pathway. 

Per the original plan, securing this world-piercing pathway would allow one to hitch a ride on the Servants’ connection to reach the Root. 

“So, if I go into that hole, I can reach the Root?”  

Matou Kariya stares blankly at the “hole” in the sky, asking Riku. The hole is unsettling, like a tear in the sky, pitch-black and leading to who-knows-where. 

“How should I know? I’m not a mage.” 

Riku rolls his eyes. Of course, he knows this hole doesn’t lead to the “Root” yet. The true pathway hasn’t appeared—or perhaps it’s invisible to ordinary people. 

This hole only connects to the Greater Grail, where one would first encounter “Angra Mainyu,” that unfortunate entity. 

During the Third Holy Grail War, the Einzbern family cheated by summoning an eighth class, the “Avenger” Servant Angra Mainyu, hoping for victory. Instead, it backfired spectacularly. 

This Angra Mainyu was pathetically weak. Despite bearing the title of “All the World’s Evil,” it was a complete pushover in combat. 

In ancient Persian mythology, Angra Mainyu is the dark god of Zoroastrianism, considered the “chief of evil gods,” responsible for all human misdeeds. By all accounts, summoning a true god should be impossible. Beyond whether the Grail could summon a god or if a god would lower themselves to become a Servant, in the modern age where the Age of Gods has faded, divine beings have dissolved into nature and cannot be summoned. 

Riku has no idea what the Einzberns were thinking, but the “Angra Mainyu” they summoned wasn’t a god—just an ordinary young man used as a sacrificial scapegoat, branded with “All the World’s Evil” and tortured to death. 

Though this youth, through hatred and legend, became an “Anti-Hero” and “Demon” specialized against humans, his power was still that of an ordinary person—utterly useless in the superhuman battlefield of the Holy Grail War. 

His only impact came after being absorbed by the Grail, where he thoroughly corrupted the entire system, tainting its nature. 

“Let’s have a chat.” 

Riku’s face lights up with excitement as he transforms into his demon form and dives into the black hole, plunging into the magic-filled Greater Grail. The magical energy is now polluted, transformed into ominous black mud. 

Riku isn’t worried about being consumed. Angra Mainyu couldn’t even handle Gilgamesh. Even given centuries, it couldn’t shake the system. 

Whoosh! 

Riku’s body plunges into the black mud, entering the still-forming Greater Grail. The mud surges toward him, trying to corrupt and control him, but it has no effect. Not even a single illusion forms in his mind, blocked entirely by his system. 

His intrusion immediately catches Angra Mainyu’s attention, but it’s too busy tempting Kiritsugu to deal with this reckless intruder. 

In Riku’s eyes, the space is filled with black mud. Kiritsugu stands within it, speaking to Angra Mainyu, who wears Irisviel’s face, his expression crazed. 

“What do you think the Holy Grail is? It can only grant wishes in the way you understand them.” 

Angra Mainyu mercilessly shatters Kiritsugu’s hopes. Wearing Irisviel’s face, this “Will of the Grail” echoes Riku’s warnings. 

“See, I told you so.” 

Riku shakes his head, standing beside the crumbling Kiritsugu, who is lost in the illusions crafted by the Grail’s magic and doesn’t hear him. 

Bang! 

A gunshot rings out. Kiritsugu rejects the Grail, rejects Angra Mainyu. This Grail cannot fulfill his wish. 

Pfft! 

Kiritsugu is spat out of the Grail. Having refused to make a wish, he’s now useless to Angra Mainyu. 

“AAAAHHH!!!” 

Inside the Greater Grail, Angra Mainyu screams in Irisviel’s voice and form. 

Calling itself the “Will of the Grail,” it’s nothing but a trapped soul, unable to exist independently without borrowing Irisviel’s personality. 

As the “Will of the Grail,” it can’t do anything. Without Kiritsugu making a wish, it can’t control the black mud or release the Grail’s magical energy. 

If it could act on its own, it wouldn’t waste time arguing with Kiritsugu. What a pointless effort. 

“What the hell are you?!” 

Angra Mainyu finally turns to Riku, instantly sensing he isn’t human. As a human-killer, it’s highly attuned to humans, and this creature clearly isn’t one. 

“Goddamn, I’m the weird thing? You’re the one without an independent personality, just a wandering ghost.” 

Riku’s brow twitches. Sure, he’s not human, but compared to this “Angra Mainyu,” he’s far more normal. Calling it Angra Mainyu isn’t even accurate—it’s more like a conceptual entity, unable to exist without a personality to latch onto. 

Angra Mainyu, stung by Riku’s sharp retort, starts to lose it. It wants to escape the Grail through a wish, manifesting in the world as a physical entity. 

Without a wish, it’s powerless—just a useless ghost, as Riku said. 

Inside the Fuyuki Civic Hall, Saber and Matou Kariya have entered, spotting the Lesser Grail floating in the air. Kiritsugu sits nearby, smoking. 

“Emiya, what’s going on?” 

Kariya approaches, but seeing Kiritsugu’s expression, he already has a guess. Things are probably as Riku predicted. 

The Lesser Grail, overflowing with black mud, doesn’t look like a proper wish-granting device. The mud reeks of intense malice toward humanity. 

“The Grail is a scam.” 

As expected, Kiritsugu speaks, his voice heavy with dejection and pain. Everything he sacrificed was for nothing. 

“How…” 

Saber stands stunned, but a faint sense of relief rises within her. The Grail can’t fulfill her wish or change her past, so she no longer has to agonize over it. 

“So what do we do now? Just wait?” 

Kariya looks at the floating Lesser Grail. The black mud isn’t spilling out quickly, as no mage has made a wish to release its magical energy. 

“According to Devil, we just wait. The magical energy will deplete.” 

Kiritsugu doesn’t know what to do. The Einzberns didn’t fully brief him, so he’s not well-versed in the Grail system. 

Per Riku, if no wish is made, the magical energy will gradually deplete while maintaining the connection to the Throne of Heroes. That’s the Grail War system’s original design; granting wishes is just a byproduct. 

Looking up at the Grail, Kiritsugu’s emotions are a tangled mess. Deep down, he wants to destroy this corrupted Grail and its system. 

But Riku already told him that destroying the Lesser Grail here is pointless—it’s just a key. To end the Holy Grail War, the Greater Grail must be destroyed. 

The Greater Grail, formed from the body of the “Saint of Winter” Justeaze, is an incomplete Third Magic. Connected to Fuyuki’s ley lines, it draws magical energy and touches the Throne of Heroes, forming the foundation of the Holy Grail War. It lies in the great cavern beneath Ryuudou Temple. 

To end the war, that entire system must be dismantled. Acting here risks leaking the stored magical energy, and even a small leak could destroy half of Fuyuki. 

Kiritsugu chooses to trust this explanation. If they don’t stir trouble, this war should end safely. The previous three wars didn’t involve wishes, and Fuyuki didn’t suffer catastrophic damage. 

“Where’s Devil?” 

Kiritsugu snaps back to reality, realizing Devil isn’t here. 

“He rushed into the hole outside.” 

Kariya answers, unsure of what Riku is up to. 

Buzz! 

Suddenly, the Lesser Grail trembles, becoming unstable. Kiritsugu, Kariya, and Saber tense up. Riku warned that if something goes wrong, it could take half of Fuyuki with it. 

Inside the “hole,” Riku is attempting to control the Greater Grail. He entered through the hole, diving into the system’s core, aiming to seize complete control. 

Though the Grail is formed from Justeaze, a homunculus and a “walking chalice,” Riku believes he could’ve controlled or converted her even when she was alive. Now, dismantled as she is, there’s no reason he can’t do it. 

(Chapter End)