The Man in Grey

...If I may, Senpai.

Kadoc Zemlupus is a member of Team A.

He possesses an exemplary aptitude for Rayshifting, and I believe

Don't bother. I don't care if he remembers me or not.

Besides, Wodime already told you who we are. I'm one of the seven Crypters, and we helped bring about the end of the world.

That should be enough for you.

Wait! Please...!

Then...does that mean that you, and Kirschtaria, and everyone else on Team A are really...!?

You sure talk a lot more now, don't you? Back then, you just parroted whatever anyone told you.

...But that doesn't matter. Stay out of this, Kyrielight.

You were nothing more than a tool to usa device we planned to bring along to help us summon Servants after we'd Rayshifted.

We never cared about your opinions. You were just supposed to keep your mouth shut and help us out however we needed.

So don't bother worrying about infringing on our rights, or what we're like as people. We never bothered to do that for you, after all.

...That's... That's not...

...No, that doesn't matter anymore. Now, you're an enemy of Chaldea, aren't you, Kadoc?

That's right. I'm glad you're not a complete idiot. That saves a lot of time.

We've already made our declaration of war.

Our goal is to grow our Lostbelts and bring about an end to Proper Human History.

I guess we've already pretty much taken care of that last bit.

Lostbelt... Is that what this Singularity is called?

No. A Singularity's just a single point in time. This is a belt. The point when everything changed in this world happened long ago and now it has its own history.

...It sucks there's no more rock music anymore, but the Demonic Beast howls can get pretty close.

？！

I don't have to tell you shit. ...But I guess we can talk a bit before I kill you.

Tell me, Fujimaru. Why didn't you die instead of us?

Huh...?

You heard me. There would've been way fewer losses that way.

Hmm, I guess it is a lot to ask.

？！

We all know what you achieved. Gotta admit, it freakin' sucked to have that be one of the first things we heard about after we woke up.

And now that we know, I can say this with total certainty:

If it had been me, or even better, anyone else on Team A, especially Wodime...

...I bet there'd have been way fewer dead. And we wouldn't have taken a whole damn year, either.

？！

...Exactly. You just HAPPENED to be there, so you just happened to get chosen.

And thanks to that, a ton of people died in the Incineration of Humanity. Congratulations! You racked up the highest casualty count imaginable!

That's enough, Kadoc. Remember, I'm Fujimaru's Servant now.

I'm not about to let you insult my Master, no matter what the circumstance.

You can't fool me, Kyrielight. Don't tell me the thought never crossed your mind! Everyone on Team A was chosen for a reason.

Wodime, Ophelia, Pepe, Daybit...

Any one of them would've done a better job than Fujimaru there, and you know it.

...You may be right. But there's no point in thinking about that now.

The fact is, none of you were there. We all did the best we could under the circumstances.

We didn't have time to even consider hypotheticals during the year it took us for the Restoration of Humanity.

But I can tell you there is one thing I'M certain of after what you've said, Kadoc.

Oh? And what's that?

I would never have lived to see how things turned out if anyone from Team A had been the one to handle it.

If it wasn't for Master Fujimaru, I wouldn't even be here right now!

...Well, I guess you've got me there.

Any one of us would've probably abandoned you without a second thought at some point.

So if you're in charge of Russia, Kadoc, I take it the others are all in charge of these other Lostbelts?

That's right. Not that knowing that's gonna do you much good.

We're Crypters. We're wiping Earth's slate clean and giving it the gift of true humanity.

That's our goal.

We're not destroying the world. All we're destroying is Proper Human History.

Then again, we're all going to pit our Lostbelts against each other too, so I guess those'll be going away as well.

？！

By the way...who're those Servants you've got with you?

I do not feel any particular obligation to divulge my identity to a spoiled child of an enemy such as you.

Same here! Not that I expect I'm foolin' anyone.

...Tch.

Well, whatever. It never hurts to be cautious, but I'll be getting rid of you all anyway.

Oprichniki, kill them.

Master, the Oprichniki are about to attack! Please prepare for battle!

？！

My, my. Looks like I'll have to make another one.

A Kabbalist...

Are you Solomon ibn Gabirol, aka Avicebron, the golem master?

I suppose using so many golems does make it obvious, even with the mask.

You are indeed correct.

I don't even need to bother asking about you.

Well, I can't tell if you're Billy the Kid or Buffalo Bill, but that really doesn't much matter.

The hell it doesn't! I'm Billy! Ain't gonna tolerate bein' confused for no prairie lover!

Anyway, this works out nicely.

You've got your Servants, and I've got mine.

Let's find out which of them is stronger.

Caster!

Oh no...!

...Was it worth coming out all this way then, Master?

I hate letting wild cards run around, so yeah, I feel a lot better now.

That's the woman who destroyed Chaldea...!

Then she WAS a Servant who hails from this version of Russia! I knew it...!

Avicebron seems like he would be rather useful.

So what, you want me to change out your contract? I mean, I COULD do that, but...

Hmm...

All right. It might not be the easiest fight for you, but I'm sure you can pull this off.

Oh yes. That much is certain.

Bow down before the glory of the Tsar, fiends of Proper Human History. My name is Anastasia.

I am the daughter of this land's undying dynasty, now and forevermore.

I knew it! You're Grand Duchess Anastasia of the Romanov Dynasty! But, how is that possible!?

You're a tragic figure, not a valiant one! Nothing you did should have let you become a Heroic Spirit...!

Yes, you're right. I have no barbaric tales of heroism to my name, nor any stories of royalty gone mad.

But I do have Viy.

I am a Servant of this Lostbelt, and as such, I shall eliminate you all.

...Come, Viy, let's kill them together.

Hear my command and obey:

You are to become sculptures of snow and ice, writhing in agony in this world of permafrost for all eternity.

Khh...!

Viy, Viy, Viy! Let your gaze unfurl even more!

Let your wicked eye expose the truth behind all things!

Mystic Eyes...!

So that Demonic Beast is what's been turning my golems to dust in an instant...!?

How rude. Viy is no Demonic Beast. He's my most trusted Elemental.

He has been an ally to the Romanov Dynasty for generations.

That doesn't make him any less of a monster. ...I suppose I was a bit late coming up with an anti-Mystic Eye strategy...

...!

Anastasia, look out! Salieri's woken up!

...!

Cursed dogs of the Tsar!

Viy!

Behold my Noble Phantasm!

Our Lord in heaven, have pity on me! Dio Santissimo Misericordia de Mi!

Viy Viy Viy!

...!

Th-this is...!

It would seem Salieri's Noble Phantasm activates without regard for friend or foe.

...Unfortunately for him, it has also resulted in his defeat.

Can't believe that was the first thing he pulled after getting his memories back. What a whack job. Still, looks like that was all he had.

？！

Khh...!

Oh my, you certainly startled me.

I must be the only member of the Romanov Dynasty who's ever been attacked from above by the court musician.

...Not that it matters now.

You... How dare you brainwash me...twist me into doing your dirty work...!?

You're nuts. I didn't twist you into anything. All I did was put you to work in an effective way.

Anyway, I can't have you running around on your own anymore, no matter how weak you might be.

Anastasia, crush his legs.

Got you.

Golems, activate. Mine hand is a spear of azure ice... Chesed Sefirot!

Did he just turn snow into golems...!?

...!

Anastasia!

...Since when do Masters go around shielding their Servants?

It's no big deal. I just did it 'cause I thought I could.

And I was right. Neither of us is hurt, are we?

...Kadoc...

Very well then, I believe that is our cue to escape.

Hrghh...!

I trust we will be taking him with us?

？！

I see. So this is what it means for one's Master to rub off on you... I will have to bear this in mind for future reference.

Follow them.

Understood.

Would it be any consolation if I said we at least avoided the worst possible outcome?

I suppose. It would've been best if we could've crushed them here, but we didn't have the priest or enough Oprichniki to make it happen.

If we can take them all together, so much the better.

...Besides, thanks to you, I got an idea.

What is it?

If it works, it might be just what we need to bring down the big mountain all at once.

...I see. I thought a plan would take a little longer to come to fruition.

It all depends on how well we negotiate. If I can offer him something he wants, he's bound to give in.

That's the sort of Servant he is.

... ...

All right then, let's start spreading the Tsar's glory to this part of the frontier.

Oprichniki, this place was harboring traitorous rebels.

I take it you know what to do?

Yes. Everything shall burn. Everyone shall die.

That's right. You're all to crush this town with your own hands.

...That must have been what they were like back when they were alive too. Just like the ones who killed me.

Keep that to yourself, Anastasia, or you'll end up disrespecting the Tsar.

Master, don't you preach to me about disrespect.

...Right. Sorry about that. Anyway, they should be done at the palace at this point.

That's true. We should hurry back, then.

The Tsar must be looking for me by now, even if he still hasn't fully awakened.