Chapter 63: Irisviel’s Awakening & The Unlucky Kayneth

"Illya…"

Irisviel gazed at the petite figure before her, tears welling in her eyes.

The girl standing there wasn't just Illyasviel—

She was the Illya from ten years later.

Even though Illya still looked like a young girl,

Her height was slightly taller, her presence more mature.

As a mother, Irisviel could tell.

"She survived…

Illya… she lived through those ten years!"

A mix of relief and anxiety filled Irisviel's heart.

She was glad to see her daughter had grown up—

But the very fact that Illya had memories of ten years later…

Meant she had fought in the Holy Grail War!

Even if Rin had already assured her that Illya would survive,

Irisviel couldn't stop worrying.

Would she still survive… in this changed timeline?

A thought crept into Irisviel's mind.

"As long as Illya stays by that man—Lucien… she'll be safe."

"Not just Illya… but me too."

"If I choose to follow him—"

"Would he… save me as well?"

Irisviel shook her head violently.

"No… No, I mustn't think like this!"

She desperately tried to rid herself of the selfish thought.

But deep down—

She knew.

Her mind had already begun to change.

A thought she had never dared to consider before…

Was slowly taking root.

"If Kiritsugu's ideal of the Grail is a lie…"

"Then maybe…"

"Maybe it's not wrong for me to resist my own fate."

"MOM!!~~"

Just then, Illya rushed into her embrace.

She wasn't the little girl from before—

She was the Illya who had endured ten years without her mother.

"Mm! Illya!"

Irisviel gently ran her fingers through Illya's soft white hair,

Her eyes brimming with warmth.

She saw her daughter's matured features,

So similar to her own.

A proud, yet bittersweet smile formed on her lips.

The battlefield by the river had completely transformed.

The once intense boss fight had turned into…

A reunion scene.

Meanwhile… Kiritsugu Emiya was on the move. "BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!"

A series of explosions rang out, shaking the battlefield.

The entire building where Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi was staying—

Collapsed into rubble.

Both sides had intelligence.

Kayneth knew Kiritsugu had rigged the hotel with explosives. Kiritsugu knew Kayneth had Moon Cell Mystic Code, allowing him to survive explosions.

So—

This battle had become a mind game.

Before Kayneth could escape—

Kiritsugu detonated the bombs ahead of schedule!

"Even if the Grail is corrupted…"

"I will still win this war."

"I must destroy the Grail—

And stop the corrupted wish from coming true!"

Kiritsugu's eyes burned with conviction.

This was… his atonement.

With Rin's knowledge of the future,

Kiritsugu now knew the most efficient way to deal with the Grail.

He had learned from the future him—

How to properly destroy the Holy Grail.

"I wasn't there ten years later…

But at least, I can do my part now."

Suddenly—

A figure emerged from the debris.

"Target sighted."

Kiritsugu tightened his grip on his sniper rifle.

A sphere of liquid mercury spread outward, forming a protective shield around Kayneth.

That was—

The Moon Cell Mystic Code: Volumen Hydrargyrum.

Just like in the original timeline,

All of Kayneth's other Mystic Codes had been destroyed—

Only Volumen Hydrargyrum remained.

But this time, due to the unexpected attack,

Lancer was on his way to the river battle.

Kayneth… had only been able to protect himself.

His fiancée was left exposed. "Sola!! Sola, are you okay?!"

Kayneth rushed forward, his voice trembling.

His tears streamed down.

Even though he knew that Sola had betrayed him,

He refused to blame her.

"It wasn't her fault!"

"Everything…

Everything is that treacherous knight's fault!!"

Yes.

It was Diarmuid Ua Duibhne's fault!

His cursed beauty mark—

That damned tear-shaped mole carried an unnatural charm.

It was an unforgivable sin, a curse from birth!

His chivalry—

His blind loyalty to honor—

Made him a slave to his own ideals.

And because of that—

Everyone near him was doomed to tragedy.

At that moment—

Lancer finally arrived, having been recalled by a Command Seal.

Unaware that his Master was currently cursing his very existence.

"Master, we must leave immediately!

The enemy could strike at any moment!"

Lancer brandished his twin spears, his golden eyes scanning for threats.

"Shut up, you treacherous dog!!"

Kayneth roared.

"You are nothing but a disgraceful servant—

A filthy beast that seduces his lord's woman!"

Lancer froze.

"...?"

What the hell was happening?

"You are a slave to your so-called chivalry!

All you care about is honor—

Even if it means abandoning your Master!"

Kayneth's fury exploded.

"You swore to fight for me—"

"Yet you left me vulnerable!!"

"THIS is the result of your foolish sense of duty!!"

"Master… I only did as you ordered."

Lancer's expression darkened.

"You commanded me to fight… for your sake.

For the Command Seals. For the Grail."

"SHUT UP!!!"

Kayneth pointed at the ruins around him.

At his unconscious fiancée.

"Was this your idea of protecting me!?"

Lancer's eyes widened.

For the first time in centuries,

His pride as a knight wavered.

"Sola…"

Kayneth dropped Volumen Hydrargyrum and rushed to her side.

He needed to save her!

He had to believe that she still—

Still loved him.

If only…

If only Diarmuid had never been summoned!

If only she had never fallen under his cursed charm!

Then…

Sola would have been his!

"Master, don't lower your defenses!"

Lancer stepped forward, alarmed.

"The enemy may attack at any moment!"

"Tch— Stop being so paranoid!"

Kayneth scoffed.

"You expect me to believe a mere firearm is faster than your reflexes?"

Lancer hesitated.

Because… Kayneth wasn't wrong.

Even if the enemy fired a bullet,

Lancer could block it mid-air.

But neither of them noticed—

That Kiritsugu had already pulled the trigger.

Meanwhile, from the rooftop… "Kayneth…"

Kiritsugu smirked, aligning his sights.

"Your time is up."

"Maiya, take the shot."

"Understood."

"BANG! BANG!"

Two gunshots rang out simultaneously!

"MASTER!! WATCH OUT!!"

Lancer lunged forward, his red spear flashing—

"CLANG!"

The first bullet was deflected.

But the second bullet—

"THUNK!"

It sank into Kayneth's chest.

"GAH—!!"

Blood exploded outward!

The Moon Cell Mystic Code shuddered violently,

Its mercury tendrils retracting from the shockwave.

Before collapsing entirely.

"MASTER!!"

Lancer caught Kayneth's limp body, his face twisted in horror.

"Two bullets… we underestimated them…"

Lancer's heart pounded.

Neither he nor Kayneth had expected two simultaneous shots.

They had let their guard down.

"Lancer…"

Kayneth's voice was weak.

"Take me away… from here… please…"

"I understand, Master!"

Lancer lifted Kayneth onto his back.

But then—

A voice dripped with amusement cut through the air.

"Tsk, tsk… so tragic."

"Kayneth, even in a different timeline,

You're just as pitiful."

"WHO GOES THERE?!"

Lancer's eyes sharpened as he turned.

Standing before him—

A young man exuding an overwhelming presence.

He stood casually, yet his mere existence commanded the world.

Even among heroes and kings,

His charisma was absolute.

"You…"

Lancer instantly recognized him.

"You're that man…

The one who sealed away the Sea Demon!"

His grip tightened on his spears.

"Why are you here?!" Lucien smirked.

"I'm here to collect."

"And…"

Lucien raised his hand—

A small flame dancing at his fingertips.

"To fulfill your wish."

"BOOM!"

The tiny flame streaked forward—

Smashing directly into Kiritsugu's rifle.

Kiritsugu instinctively released the weapon—

Only to watch it melt into molten slag.

"Alright."

Lucien clapped his hands together.

"Now that Kiritsugu is out of the way…"

"Let's talk about us."

Lucien smirked, his sword resting against his shoulder.

A blade that pulsed with both light and darkness—

A weapon far beyond human comprehension.

The Radiant Shadow Dragon Blade.

A name ridiculously dramatic,

Yet undeniably powerful.

"You want to fight me?"

Diarmuid tightened his grip on his twin lances.

His golden eyes locked onto Lucien's smirking face.

"You're not a Master… nor a Servant."

"Then why are you interfering in the Holy Grail War?"

Lucien tilted his head.

"You're right. I'm neither a Master nor a Heroic Spirit."

"I'm just a passing Devil… who happens to be interested in the Grail."

Diarmuid narrowed his eyes.

"I see. Then that gives us reason to fight."

With a deep breath, he firmly planted his feet—

Prepared to carve a path through this new obstacle.

"Let's go, Master—"

Diarmuid hoisted Kayneth onto his back.

"BZZT!"

A strange green aura expanded outward from Lucien's position.

It surged across the battlefield like a rippling tide.

"What is this?!"

Diarmuid's instincts flared—

He leaped away before the green aura could envelop him.

"Damn it!"

Kayneth gritted his teeth.

His weakened body trembled as he struggled to hold onto Diarmuid's back.

"THAT'S A HEALING FIELD, YOU MORON!!"

Diarmuid froze mid-step.

His face twisted in confusion.

"...Healing?"

"Wait. Then why am I running away?"

"PUT ME BACK INSIDE, DAMN YOU!!!"

Kayneth roared.

His face flushed red with frustration.

"Oh. Uh… Right."

Diarmuid awkwardly stepped forward again,

His foot cautiously tapping into the green zone.

The moment they re-entered the healing aura…

Kayneth's body surged with vitality.

A warm, soothing sensation washed over him.

His pain faded. His wounds mended.

"Ahhh~ Yes. That's it."

Kayneth's expression melted into pure relief.

It was almost euphoric.

...Until it stopped.

The warm feeling vanished.

The pain began creeping back.

"Huh?!"

Kayneth snapped his eyes open.

His gaze darted toward Lucien.

Lucien stood there, smirking.

And…

He was retracting the healing field.

"...You stopped?!"

Kayneth's eye twitched.

Lucien shrugged.

"Of course."

"I'm not here to heal you completely."

"I'm here… for entertainment."

"YOU BASTARD!!"

Kayneth's face twisted in rage.

His fists clenched so hard his knuckles cracked.

But deep inside—

A part of him understood.

Lucien wasn't here to save anyone.

He was here to play.

"You absolute sadist…"

Kayneth muttered.

But…

He didn't reject the treatment.

Because the alternative… was death.