"Ah… ah…!"
Uemon stared blankly at the blazing inferno before him.
His gaze seemed to pierce through the flames, landing on some distant, unknown place. His breathing grew heavy, and an intense grief filled his eyes.
"Again… it's happening again…!"
Beside him—
Jeanne bit her lip unconsciously as she looked at the overwhelming sea of flames.
The number of magi within the castle was dropping at a shocking rate. Whether it was those fleeing in panic or those hiding in their workshops, none could escape the slaughter brought upon them by that Master-Servant pair.
Indeed, most magi were beings who disregarded human ethics. But in this era, magi were still desperately needed. Ordinary people couldn't survive without magi. This wasn't how things should be resolved—so violently, so cruelly.
That was what Jeanne had intended to say.
But the image of Roy's broken state during their first encounter resurfaced in her mind. More than that, she recalled his utterly dead spirit—someone who could cast aside life so easily. The words caught in her throat and would not come out.
Roy's heart must be filled with hatred for magi. To him, it likely wouldn't be enough unless all magi were dead.
And just how much had her own departure influenced this? How much of Roy's brutality was born from the pain of her death? She had no answer.
But just the thought of it brought waves of guilt crashing over her—endless, piercing, stabbing at her heart like an awl.
"Lancer! Break the barrier and kill him! His Servant's not with him—now's our best chance!"
Uemon screamed hoarsely at her, nearly choking with rage.
Jeanne sadly shook her head.
Uemon widened his eyes in disbelief.
Before, at least she had disobeyed him in secret. She still followed orders on the surface. But now—after being reprimanded—she not only refused to change, she blatantly rejected his command?
"Master. I warned you from the beginning not to side with the Mage's Association. I told you this path would only lead to ruin. You refused to listen and chose this fate. Now that things have come to this, I have nothing more to say. But if you want me to attack Roy—Saber's Master—then use a Command Seal!"
Her face cold, Jeanne declared her rejection even more clearly.
"Lancer, you bastard…!"
Uemon ground his teeth, fury blazing in his eyes.
A mere familiar… daring to defy him again and again!
"Fine! Just as you wish! I'll use a Command Seal!"
Embarrassed and enraged, Uemon raised his hand.
Jeanne sighed in disappointment, her expression a bitter smile.
Time, like a sword, had carved apart the past. The Uemon of long ago had long since been lost to time. The man standing here now was fully corrupted by a magus' way of thinking.
So be it. Uemon only had two Command Seals left. At most, she would endure one or two more uses, and then she could leave this world.
Having returned once more, her only wish was to see that homunculus from back then—see what kind of person he had become. That was all.
If possible, she had also hoped to rescue her Master from his torment. But that wish conflicted with Roy's. She had no right to interfere with Roy's path. Not when she had once abandoned him. In the end, she could only choose to help neither side.
Uemon raised his hand.
Jeanne glanced over and suddenly froze.
Uemon's right hand was wrapped in bandages, hiding the Command Seals. But now, shining brightly on the back of his hand—three full Command Seals gleamed.
Three?
Impossible!
Hadn't he already used one? He should only have two left!
"By the power of my Command Seal—Lancer, kill Saber's Master with all your might!"
Uemon recited the incantation coldly.
Whatever his personal rage at Lancer's disobedience, the immediate priority was revenge—eliminating the traitor and ending this crisis as quickly as possible. Discipline could wait.
Jeanne bit her lip tightly. But the magical force of the Command Seal immediately seized control of her body, forcing her toward the barrier.
With a single spear strike, she shattered the castle's barrier from within. It collapsed into fragments of magical energy and scattered.
"Roy! Get out of the way!"
Outside the castle—
Roy stood in the open ground, watching as Jeanne approached with visible reluctance.
He immediately pulled out a rune talisman from his coat and threw it forward. It unfolded into multiple layers of barriers before him. Though individually weak, their sheer number could buy him several seconds.
"Saber—come!"
He raised his hand, revealing eight Command Seals stretching from the back of his hand to his arm.
Even Jeanne was stunned when she saw them.
When did you get so many Command Seals?
One Seal dissolved, turning into raw magical energy that disturbed the space, causing the surrounding mana to ripple. In the next instant, a figure teleported directly in front of him.
Okita Souji appeared without hesitation and immediately slashed at Jeanne.
Jeanne raised her spear to block, quietly letting out a sigh of relief.
As long as Roy wasn't harmed.
She threw herself into battle against Okita, hoping to wear down the effect of the Command Seal through the clash.
"Master."
"What is it?"
"Blackened Saber has appeared."
Seeing that Jeanne and Okita were evenly matched for now, Roy shifted his gaze toward the road leading up the hill.
The Association's branch had been built on a small hill. That path was the only way up.
And there—
A figure in pitch-black armour, small and delicate in frame yet exuding a crushing presence, stepped onto the hill.
In her hand, she held a corrupted holy sword wreathed in shadow. Her golden eyes stared coldly at the battle before her.
She was the Blackened Saber.
The once-summoned King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon—now corrupted during the last Holy Grail War.
"You said we'd settle things next time… and here it is. King Arthur, you truly are a person of your word!"
Roy's gaze locked onto her.
Unlike last time's sudden encounter, this time his eyes gleamed with determination.
"But this time will be different—this time, I'm going to bring you down right here and now!"
The Blackened King took one step at a time up the stairs, entering the open space before the castle.
She heard Roy's declaration, and one eyebrow raised. Her lips curled into an amused yet dismissive smirk.
"Interesting. Just a day ago, you were barely surviving at my feet. And now—with your Servant held off by Lancer—you think you can capture me here? Where is this confidence coming from?"
"True, if you were the same as before, I'd be doing everything I could to avoid facing you head-on. But now… that's not so certain, is it?"
Roy's smile curled into something vicious as he stared her down.
"Specifically—King Arthur, can you still use your Lesser Grail?"
The blackened King of Knights heard this—and her smile slowly faded.
"…So, you've discovered my weakness…"
***
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