Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover

A pitch-black axe-sword spread open like wings, its height exceeding that of most humans—perhaps only a nearly three-meter-tall giant could wield it with ease.

And because of this, when Sakatsuki swung this ferocious weapon, the impact it created was more intense than ever before.

Saber had unleashed a variant of her Noble Phantasm, "Invisible Air"—a momentary release of compressed air that slashed at her enemy in a sweeping strike, "Strike Air."

However, the violent storm was torn apart by the rapid nine-fold slashes of the axe-sword. The once-lethal wind blades were reduced to nothing more than chaotic air currents. Even Saber hadn't expected that Sakatsuki, whose arms appeared so slender in comparison to the massive weapon, would be able to wield such a monstrous thing.

Style: Shooting the Hundred Heads.

The Noble Phantasm most trusted by the Heroic Spirit Heracles, once used to slay the immortal Hydra.

Through wielded weapons or even barehanded combat techniques, this skill had been crystallized into a "Technique Noble Phantasm" akin to "A Knight Does Not Die with Empty Hands." It maximized a weapon's full potential, shifting between different forms to suit the situation—ranging from anti-personnel strikes to anti-army and even siege-level attacks.

If used with a sword, it manifested as nine instantaneous slashes. If used with a bow, it became nine dragon-shaped homing lasers.

Sakatsuki's Projection Magecraft had been inherited from Shirou Emiya—a rule-breaking ability that allowed him to replicate weapons while also acquiring fragments of their original wielder's skills. That was why, even as Sakatsuki wielded Heracles' secret technique, he still had enough leeway to retreat and vanish from Saber's line of sight.

Once Saber confirmed Sakatsuki's presence had disappeared, her signature ahoge twitched slightly. She retracted her radiant Sword of Victory and returned to Irisviel's side.

"Are you alright, Irisviel?"

"I'm fine, thank you, Saber."

But there was little relief on Irisviel's face. She gazed at the massive axe sword, which was slowly dissipating into magical energy, her ruby-red eyes filled with concern.

"You're worried about Sakatsuki, aren't you?"

Saber asked.

"Why not just say it?"

Her concern turned into guilt. The pure-hearted Winter Princess lowered her head and remained silent.

What was Irisviel looking at?

Curious, Saber imitated her gaze but saw nothing more than a flat concrete surface.

After a long pause, a faint voice broke the silence.

"I have no right to look at that child."

The silver-haired homunculus, whose emotions were more delicate than anyone else's, murmured softly.

"He's helped us so much… and yet we are forced to be his enemies."

That was the contradiction Irisviel carried within her—the reason she had remained silent from the beginning.

Since his sudden appearance a year ago, Sakatsuki had never shown hostility toward her. Even now, as they stood on opposing sides in the Holy Grail War, the young man had been silently protecting her and Saber…

At least, that was true tonight. If Sakatsuki hadn't intervened, they would have faced Lancer's spear and Berserker's onslaught instead.

But the Holy Grail was singular. Irisviel understood that they had no choice but to fight, and she had steeled herself for it. What she hadn't expected was Kiritsugu's decisiveness—bombing an entire hotel during Sakatsuki's battle with Lancer's Master, and launching an immediate assassination attempt when Sakatsuki appeared. Judging from Sakatsuki's response, he had likely come within a step of succeeding.

On one side was Sakatsuki, who had never harmed her. On the other was the Einzbern family's wish and her husband's mission.

Caught between the two, Irisviel, with her kind heart, naturally felt tormented.

Saber silently watched the woman she had sworn to protect and sighed inwardly.

Had she not faced the same dilemma in the past?

She had not condemned Guinevere for her affair with Lancelot, yet the Knights of the Round Table had not forgiven them. In the end, as king, she had been forced to send Guinevere to the stake, setting off a chain of tragedies.

Until the battle between Sakatsuki and Kiritsugu was settled, even Saber could not free Irisviel from this pain.

The golden-haired knight gazed up, her azure eyes reflecting the cold moonlight.

All she could do was follow her oath and silently protect the pure-hearted Winter Princess.

As she stood in silence, another thought suddenly struck her.

Where had that Sakatsuki gone after their battle?

***

"By the power of my Command Seal!"

Kirei Kotomine raised his right hand, chanting swiftly like a precision machine.

"Assassin, appear before me immediately!"

The Command Seal on Kirei's right hand burst into a dazzling light, activating an abnormal level of magical energy.

For the Assassin collective scattered throughout Fuyuki City, the moment Kirei's command was issued, their perception of space was completely ripped away—forcibly dragged into an unknown "transfer."

This was an ability only possible through a Command Seal specialized in Servant control.

At speeds reaching a fraction of lightspeed, moving so fast it defied causality, the Command Seal instantly warped Assassin across the battlefield.

Between Kirei Kotomine and his attacker, a swarm of black-robed figures emerged like a dark tide—after all, the Command Seal had targeted "Assassin", and even if they had split into hundreds using "Zabaniya: Delusional Illusion," they were still fundamentally the same Servant.

Though caught off guard, their assassin instincts kicked in instantly, and they swiftly took combat stances, scrutinizing their attacker.

Golden eyes blazed like a burning fire in the darkness.

Master: Sakuya.

A Master who fought Lancer head-on.

A monster who exchanged blows with the King of Heroes.

His white cloak billowed, his red attire fluttered, and his black-and-white twin swords gleamed sharply as they reflected the light.

Faced with an army of Servants, the young man did not falter nor retreat. Instead—He launched a ferocious attack as if he could hardly wait!

Caught off guard, Assassins' heads flew into the air, severed by his merciless blades.

"Trace on!"

His initial twin swords were discarded—whirling through the black-robed ranks like a reaper's scythe. Then, Sakatsuki's hands crossed, grasping tightly—new blades materialized instantly, and he plunged into the fray once more.

"Eight of you, cover my retreat! The rest, delay him—do not engage directly!"

From the moment Kirei summoned Assassin, he had already made up his mind.

Despite having Servants at his disposal, despite his own formidable combat skills, he had no intention of fighting Sakatsuki.

His only goal was to escape.

"You think you can run?"

Easily dodging several flying daggers and shattering an Assassin's skull with the flat of his blade, Sakatsuki sneered as he saw Kirei retreating.

A cold, ruthless smile spread across his lips.

"Full Projection: Continuous Layer Writing!"

A golden storm of countless weapons roared toward Kirei—

A tactic eerily reminiscent of the King of Heroes.

In that moment, Sakatsuki's resolve became clear—

He was determined to kill Kirei Kotomine.

At the same time, a deep, resonant incantation shook the magical energy in the air.

"I am the bone of my sword."

***

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