Chapter 107: [107] After the Battle
"Berserker... This is going to be tough," Kazuya rubbed his forehead.
Now, in a battle against Berserker, there was no chance of winning unless he used more than two Command Spells.
"I'll go first, Assassin—"
Saying this, Kazuya became completely transparent—
"Hmm? What's this?" Matou Zouken squinted slightly, "Berserker—Don't let him escape!"
"Roar!"
Boom!
Berserker—
In the moment Kazuya saw this person, he confirmed his identity—Heracles!
He hadn't expected Matou Zouken to possess his Noble Phantasm and summon him... this was troublesome.
However, by using the Wind Flow technique to hide his presence... although it wasn't as effective as concealing his aura, he could still be seen if looked at closely. But escaping with Assassin nearby shouldn't be a problem!
...
"We're almost there! The church," Ryosuke said to make Ishizakibelieve that the Holy Grail War had indeed begun.
Dragging him reluctantly, they took the train towards the church.
"Slow down! Let me rest, I'm exhausted..." Ishizaki panted. Although they had a train to sit on, the church was far from the city, just like the forest they had encountered earlier. A significant portion of the way still required walking... No, running.
"Why rest now? It might start at any moment, and those are Heroic Spirits! We might seem slow, but they could have already fought hundreds of rounds in a minute, and the battle might be over in two minutes!"
"..... I say, ease up a bit." Ishizaki told his overly dramatic companion, "How can something like a Holy Grail War even exist?"
"But, didn't you see it earlier? That golden thing disappearing," Ryosuke scoffed, "If there's a Holy Grail War, it's bound to involve the Church. Let's go! The evidence is there! We need to hurry!"
Boom!
"Roar!"
Just then, there was an explosion-like sound from ahead, along with a monstrous roar.
"It's starting! Let's go quickly!"
"No... uh... maybe we should reconsider?" Ishizaki's legs were trembling, partly from exhaustion and partly from fear.
Could it really be the Holy Grail War?
If it was, they'd probably be taken out right away.
He didn't want to die—
"What... you're not coming? Well, I won't wait for you," Ryosuke said, disregarding everything and running straight ahead.
"Hey, wait!" Ishizaki shouted and reached out his hand, but... he didn't have the courage to follow.
Before, it was fine since so many people were going together, giving him a sense of "there's safety in numbers." But now... there was only him and his friend. It was terrifying... so terrifying.
"Huff, huff," Ishizaki panted.
He could hear his heart beating wildly in his chest.
"Huh? What was that just now?"
Suddenly, he felt like he had glimpsed a shadow before him. "Priest?"
It seemed like he had seen the priest being carried away by someone...
What... was going on?
"Well... forget it. Let's go check it out." He calmed his breathing and slowly walked forward. "There's no way something like a Holy Grail War exists. That's right, it doesn't exist at all. It must be like that... but I shouldn't let Ryosuke get lost, so I'll go and see."
"Ah—"
At that moment, a distant scream echoed.
"Huh? Ryosuke?" Ishizaki froze, unable to lift his legs, standing stiffly in place.
...
"Did he run away... I didn't expect Caster and Assassin to team up. Well, if it wasn't for that, none of them would have escaped." Matou Zouken said, watching the approaching young man. "It seems we can have an extra meal now, hehehe."
Ryosuke's eyes lit up as he looked at the colossal black figure. "So it really exists! The Holy Grail War! Is this Berserker? Wow, he's so cool!"
"Huh?"
The next moment, he froze.
Countless insects blocked his view in front of him. "Isn't this impossible?"
He only managed to let out a scream before he was devoured entirely.
"Well then... let's go, wait for the next battlefield."
After what felt like a long time, Ishizaki took cautious steps, looking around carefully as he walked forward. "What... is going on?"
The church that used to be there was now in ruins, with the main gate seemingly smashed as if by a car. No, not even a car could have had this much force.
Then—
He saw it.
Several pieces of flesh on the ground, along with the torn clothes that his friend had been wearing. "This... can't be true, can it?"
...
"Ugh..." Kotomine Risei rubbed his forehead and opened his eyes.
"Father, are you alright?"
"Kirei? Where is this..." Kotomine Risei asked with some confusion.
"This is my residence. Father's church has been destroyed," Kotomine Kirei said emotionlessly as he walked over.
"What happened exactly?"
Kotomine Kirei explained the developments truthfully: the battle between Caster and Assassin, Caster's immortality, and the intervention of Berserker.
The failed escape of Caster and Assassin.
Afterward, Caster had used an alchemy-like technique to create a cavity underground, and Assassin had seized the opportunity to cut Berserker's eye. Although it had healed in about a second, it was enough.
The space around them was covered in countless stone blades created by Caster, and they attacked Berserker and his Master.
Assassin had taken the chance to escape through the hole in the church.
And Caster had disappeared.
"I see... so many things happened," Kotomine Risei shook his head, trying to clear his still hazy mind. "But my Command Spells have also been taken. That Caster has a mesmerizing technique."
"I understand. I will report to my mentor about this."
"Very well," Kotomine Risei nodded and said nothing more.
As for being dragged into a dream by Kazuya, he had completely forgotten about it...
After communicating through magical devices with Tohsaka Tokiomi, when Kotomine Kirei returned, Kotomine Risei had almost fully recovered. "Next, I will return to the church."
"So soon? You might still be under attack if you go back now!"
"Yes... that's true. But even so, I must return. Fuyuki City is very sensitive right now... If by tomorrow morning, others find the damaged church and the missing priest, they might start suspecting something... I should keep such things hidden, and I must fully repair the church tonight, which has been damaged due to the battle!"
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