Chapter 10: Wasted opportunity
"Are you injured again?"
Kirei Kotomine's brows furrowed involuntarily as he glanced at his Servant's appearance upon return. He had only instructed the other party to investigate the Matou family, so how did they return with injuries?
Fortunately, Avalon's healing abilities meant it wouldn't affect their upcoming actions too much.
"That must be Berserker. I was discovered by him even before I got too close to the mansion. He's formidable, even by my standards, possibly surpassing Saber."
Saber he could handle, but Berserker was almost beyond his capabilities.
"There's no need to belittle yourself. You, who can rival Saber with Assassin's abilities, are already outstanding. Perhaps there are entities transcending in this war, but as long as there are Masters, there will naturally be weaknesses."
Kirei said solemnly, perceiving the doubt hidden in his Servant's heart.
Perhaps the encounter between Assassin and Berserker was somewhat special, leading to such thoughts.
'The Matou family has drawn a good card. But who is their Master? If even Assassin can't get close, it'll be even harder for the familiars to gather intel.'
Although he had discerned the Servant class of the Matou family, he still didn't know who their Master was.
'What's left is Rider, who hasn't shown up yet.'
He thought, not dwelling too much on it as he planned to report to his mentor. As for how much specific information to disclose, that remained uncertain.
---
"So, two contestants are closely involved with the Church? It seems these so-called overseers cannot be fully trusted."
Kiritsugu remarked as he hid in a house, exchanging gathered intelligence with Maiya and Saber.
Gathering intel was one thing, but this revelation cast a long shadow. The supposed neutrality of the overseers seemed like a carefully constructed facade.
Kiritsugu knew exactly who Assassin's Master was. The name sent a jolt of unease through him – Kirei Kotomine. Just locking eyes with the man was enough to send shivers down his spine. He was a presence that radiated danger.
This knowledge curdled Kiritsugu's stomach. Not only was their opponent a formidable Master, but they were also deeply embedded within the very organization tasked with supervising the Holy Grail War. The stench of corruption hung thick in the air.
The idea of referees potentially siding with participants in this twisted game was deeply unsettling. The very foundation of the War seemed rotten to the core.
"We can't afford to wait until nightfall," Kiritsugu declared, his voice hardening with resolve. "We need to act, and soon."
---
A groan escaped Irisviel's lips as she stirred awake. Dressed in a simple nun's garb, she watched with a mix of concern and suspicion as Assassin received treatment. A deep gash marred his chest, a brutal testament to the force of the attack.
Irisviel struggled to imagine which Servant could inflict such a wound on the agile Assassin. Even Saber, with her incredible prowess, might find herself challenged against this opponent.
"This sheath..."
Kenshin murmured, a flicker of wonder crossing his features as he felt the soothing effects of the miraculous "equipment" Kirei had extracted from Irisviel. If he could return with this scabbard, could he save Tomoe?
The memory of his summoning flickered into his mind. Kenshin's wish had been far from grand – a yearning for a world bathed in peace. This desire had driven him to defy his Master, leading him down a solitary path toward reform and a brutal reign of bloodshed.
Only the arrival of "her" had rekindled his humanity.
Tragedy struck when she suffered a fatal wound. Grief-stricken and desperate, Kenshin clung to the legend of the Dragon Ball, a beacon of hope promising to heal her if he emerged victorious in battle.
Fueled by this desperate hope, Kenshin had thrown himself into the War. Reality, however, proved harsher than his naive optimism.
He had underestimated the strengths of his enemies. These weren't mere opponents; they were legends surpassing even his own.
His mastery of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu style remained incomplete, limiting his true potential.
Even Saber, considered the strongest, matched him in speed. The enigmatic Berserker shrugged off his blows with ease. And then there were the others – the devastating magic attack on the coast, the self-proclaimed "King," Archer... each a formidable existence Kenshin had never faced before.
Lancer, Rider, Caster – these names were also mysteries to him.
Bang!
A loud bang echoed through the room as Assassin, partially healed, rose abruptly and vanished out the door. Irisviel, despite her heightened senses, couldn't discern the reason for the sudden shift in his demeanor. Her attempts to question him were met with a wall of silence.
She was trapped. The house was sealed with strange magic, effectively barring her escape. Now, a new wave of worry washed over her—concern for Kiritsugu's safety.
When she awoke, barely clinging to life, she hadn't dared to hope for continued existence. It seemed Saber's scabbard, possessing an incredible restorative power, had pulled her back from the brink.
But it was a cruel twist of fate, for Kirei had claimed the scabbard and bestowed it upon Assassin.
Since regaining consciousness, Kirei hadn't issued any demands, simply keeping her confined to this room.
She had a bad feeling about this.
---
"This is unexpected. You, Kiritsugu Emiya, experiencing such raw anxiety as well?"
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!!!
Across from him, his opponent had already aimed a gun at him and fired in rapid succession. The clothing he wore had bulletproof capabilities; he wasn't concerned about ordinary bullets, just protecting his exposed body.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The bullets clanged harmlessly off his garments, the metallic symphony oddly pleasant to his ears.
"Of course, Saber is undoubtedly nearby, facing Assassin. You'll likely send your assistant to retrieve the woman after this little charade. While eliminating me was your objective, you lacked the necessary opportunity."
An unconscious smile played on Kirei's lips. The feeling of having his opponent cornered yet forced to listen to their taunts was exhilarating. A novel kind of pleasure, indeed.
But then, the unexpected happened.
Temporal Alteration! Double Acceleration!
Kiritsugu unleashed his own brand of magecraft, manipulating the very fabric of time.
Bam! Bam!
The sound of gunfire ripped through the air once more, jolting Kirei back to reality. Two bullets – one Origin Bullet and a standard round – flew towards him in a deadly ballet.
To minimize risk, Kiritsugu had combined his magic with firearms. His movements were even faster than Kirei had anticipated. By the time Kirei reacted, the bullets were already upon him.
'Too late.'
There was no time to raise his hand to block. These two projectiles could easily end his life or leave him incapacitated.
Clang!
Just as despair threatened to consume him, a severed blade materialized out of thin air, deflecting the bullets with a metallic shriek. The crisis was averted.
"Tch! Assassin?"
Kiritsugu cursed under his breath. Only a Servant could have moved with such speed and precision.
The fact that Saber hadn't intercepted the attack in time frustrated him. Just a moment's delay, and he could have forced Kirei to truly withdraw from the Holy Grail War.
What a wasted opportunity!