The Ultimate Lich King of the Multiverse

Through the crystal ball, Kiritsugu Emiya observed the battle between the two Servants. Although Saber appeared to be at a disadvantage at the moment, he wasn't the least bit worried. Saber, after all, was the strongest Heroic Spirit of the sword. Even with her wrist injured, she was more than capable of dealing with a Caster.

What he truly needed to watch out for was enemies approaching from elsewhere. Since Caster had come after them, it was inevitable that other factions wouldn't remain idle—whether they planned to take down Caster or pursue some other objective.

"Kiritsugu, someone's coming—fast!" Maiya Hisau warned.

At the front gate of the Matou residence, just as the Servants clashed at the back, a man in a black cloak appeared at the entrance.

"You filthy mongrel… For someone like you to take part in the sacred Holy Grail War—it's an utter disgrace."

The words were seething with contempt. The face that lifted into view was Kayneth, who had barely survived the explosion the night before.

The elaborate defenses he had set up had been torn through like a joke. Expecting an honorable battle between mages, he had instead been dealt with using cowardly tactics. The proud Kayneth found such humiliation unbearable.

"What did those petty tricks gain you, Kiritsugu Emiya? I'll make sure you understand—before a true mage, you're nothing but a pathetic dead man!"

Smiling coldly, he placed the large ceramic jar tucked under his arm onto the ground. As soon as it left his hand, it sank into the earth with a heavy thud. Though enchanted with a weight-reduction spell for carrying, its true weight was close to 140 kilograms.

"Fervor, meisanguis." (Boil, my blood.)

As he chanted, a silvery liquid writhed and spread across the ground like a living organism. The strange light that reflected in Kayneth's eyes glimmered with savage cruelty.

Inside the house, Kiritsugu and Maiya had just finished packing their materials and magical tools. Immediately after, something crashed through the window, slicing the long table clean in half.

A mercury-like substance lashed through the room, easily tearing through the walls. From the shattered opening, Kayneth stepped inside, hands behind his back and a cruel smile on his face as he stared at Kiritsugu and Maiya.

"Come, mage killer. Let me teach you what a true battle between mages looks like!"

"Maiya, go. Get out of here."

Calm and composed, Kiritsugu gave the order as Kayneth approached, full of killing intent.

Understanding she couldn't offer much help, Maiya nodded and quickly exited the room.

"Going somewhere?"

But Kayneth clearly had no intention of letting anyone connected to Kiritsugu leave. With a flick of thought, the silver sphere at his feet formed into a blade and slashed toward Maiya.

Seeing the blade drop, Kiritsugu tried to intercept it—but he was already too late. At that moment, with a loud buzzing, a swarm of black insects burst from deeper within the mansion. Like a locust storm, they swept past Maiya and intercepted the strike.

"W-what?!"

After blocking the attack, the insects flew out through the broken wall without harming Kayneth, as if delivering only a warning.

Kayneth stood on edge, unsure of how to respond, when a hoarse and gravelly voice echoed from the darkness inside.

"You youngsters really are getting more and more arrogant these days…"

"W-who's there?!"

Kayneth instinctively took a step back, asking with guarded wariness.

He had never taken the declining Matou family seriously, but the ancient monster hidden within it—Zōken Matou—was another matter entirely. If memory served, the man calling himself Zōken Matou had been alive for hundreds of years. Whether he was truly the same person from back then, Kayneth didn't know. But one thing was certain—this ancient, undying creature was exceedingly dangerous.

"The Holy Grail War is a free-for-all. Settle your grudges. Fight your battles. It's your business. But if you disturb my rest again…"

The voice deepened with menace.

"I will be displeased."

"Tch…"

Kayneth clicked his tongue in frustration but dared not act recklessly. That brief skirmish had been more than enough to tell him how unfathomably strong the old monster was.

"Kiritsugu Emiya! If you're a real man, come outside and face me head-on! Let's fight fair and square!"

With that, Kayneth turned and exited the Matou residence, and Kiritsugu followed without hesitation.

He knew that Zōken stepping in once was more than he could've hoped for. Dealing with Kayneth was still his own responsibility.

As the Matou residence became the eye of the storm, many others hidden in the shadows were already making their way there.

Among them were Yoru, Irisviel, and Flandre.

Originally, Yoru had only intended to observe from the sidelines. But after seeing Gilles's horrific actions, he could no longer remain still.

Perhaps the lives of others didn't concern him. But those had been children. Completely innocent. And because of his moment of hesitation, they had all been slaughtered mercilessly.

When he saw those kids die, Yoru couldn't help but think of Illya and Sakura. A wave of anger surged in his chest.

He knew the children's bodies had already been implanted with demonic seeds. Their deaths were inevitable. But still… they had died right in front of him.

"I'm sorry… I couldn't save you. But at the very least, I'll avenge you."

Lowering his head, Yoru murmured to himself, then gently let go of Irisviel.

"Flandre, protect Iris for me."

"Eh… Yoru, what are you—?"

Irisviel blinked in confusion, unsure of what her husband intended to do.

But Yoru had already leapt from the platform, rushing toward the battlefield where Saber and Caster were locked in combat.

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