Short-Lived Petal/red lotus flower

According to my tracker, yes.

They must have come here after they were sent flying.

Why'd they have to go off on their own? Ugh, this is suuuch a pain.

Wait. Is that them?

Ah! You're okay! What a relief!

I could say the same to you. But how did you end up here?

I'm sorry. I wanted to stay put after we got sent flying, but Berserker insisted

I was hungry, and I smelled something good here, so of course that's where I'm going to go! (Munch, munch)

？！

Yeah. The only difference between the shops here used to be whether they served rectangular or round materials...

...and the various quantities they offered.

But now that "cooking" is trendy, I guess they must be evolving to keep up with the times.

I've never seen so many different kinds of processed materials before!

Ooh, what is that, Berserker!? It looks really good! Let me try a bite!

Hm? You want some?

Oh really, now? (Chomp)

Hey!

Now, now, stop hitting me with your little fists. No good ever came from being greedy, you know.

Look who's talking!

Just go buy your own. I won't stop you.

？！

Oh, yeah, you do.

Isn't it a waste to give them Raniment for foomaterial that contains less than you just gave them?

If the Raniment is all you care about, yes. But this material also helps AIs like us maintain our structure.

Though, I very much doubt Berserker gets any benefit from paying Raniment for these meals.

So what!? I just wanted to eat it, that's all!

What kind of place even is this, anyway?

Finally. I was about to tell you, but then you ran off and started eating everything in sight!

This is the far end of Keep. You can tell from all the Type Ks running shops here, right?

Huh? Then, this is Lancer's area!?

Why didn't you say so sooner!?

I do not see him anywhere at the moment, though.

If there is no need for us to be here, I suggest we leave the area before we wind up provoking him.

Yeah. We still need to plan our next course of action.

Fine, but can I say something first?

The types of AIs around here feel weirdly off to me. Is that normal?

Like, I get why the Type Ks are around. But why are there so many Type Ts too?

Hm? Now that you mention it, that IS strange.

It's not like Type Ts wear down their structures more than any other type... I wonder why that is.

Good question.

？！

Not anymore.

Ghh... Gaah!

Rider...

So you not only survived Lainur's cannon, you even stole his Servant?

I would be interested to know how that came to pass, though I doubt I will get the chance to ask.

Indeed not. I didn't come here for a pleasant chat over a meal.

Hehaha, I may have lost my infinite Caster monster, but it seems my power is a good fit for Rider as well.

Go on, Rider, move. With my worms supporting you, you should have more power than you know what to do with.

Especially after I tampered with your Spirit Origin to enhance the efficiency of your Raniment consumption.

Kh...!

Run...! I can't... No... He won't...!

Cease your pointless chatter. Now, cry out, my worms!

Oh, we are sure as hell not running now.

You might be a stubborn old man, but you can't possibly be stronger than when you had that monster to command!

I'm taking you down once and for all! ...And I'm going to do it quickly, since I'd rather not stay here any longer than I have to!

True. That does sound like it would be easier than running away.

Besides, I'm not sure why exactly, but I feel a powerful urge to squish every last one of those gross worms!

(Huff...)

？！

It would seem Rider's abilities are being boosted tremendously.

I might go so far as to say his base stats are being ratcheted up to borderline illegal levels.

Strength, endurance, reaction speed...all are far beyond those of a standard Servant.

It looks like his new Master really is using his creepy worms to tamper with his insides.

I could achieve similar effects with my Etherlite were I to use it on someone's cranial nerves...

...but it would place tremendous strain on them, so neither the effects nor the target would last long.

Something similar must be happening here. At the very least, Rider must be in a great deal of pain.

Hehaha. Why worry about pain with parameters like these?

That he can move is all that matters. Since my worms are controlling him, his pain will never hamper his movement.

Wow. That's sane, rational love if I've ever seen it. You are the literal worst.

Still, you are quite persistent, aren't you?

I'm sure I could have overpowered one Servant, but two at once isOho.

I suppose it does make sense that he would show up as this drags out.

What's all this commotion about? What do you people think you're doing in our backyard?

Bhīma...!

(So, it wasn't them.)

(Well, it's not like I wanted to see her in particular again...or had something I wanted to do if she was here.)

I was right in the middle of cooking up a new dish, so I'd like to get this wrapped up as soon as possible.

Huh, but I guess the idiot prince over there isn't the one to be blamed for this mess.

Wh-who're you calling an idiot!? And I'll have you know I've never been to blame for a mess in all my life!

Oh wow. You...actually believe that, don't you? I probably shouldn't be surprised...

Eh, never mind that right now.

Hey, Gramps. Why the freaky bloodlust? You spoiling for a fight?

Hehe, hehehe. I thought this might happen. This is your area, after all.

Lancer, while your actions may not have been directed at my current self, I do still remember what you did to me.

Forget a proper battle. You didn't even give me your name before you ambushed me...like the cowardly worm you are!

I haven't forgotten that humiliation. You deserve a special punishment for what you did to me.

So I'm going to kill you, along with all the rest of these vermin.

Ha. And how're you gonna do that?

Like this.

Rider.

...No... Don't...

Ghh...!

Whoa, your Servant there looks like he ate something nasty. How's he gonna fight like that?

Oh, don't worry. There's more than one way to win a battle.

Hehehe... I decided to take a page from his previous Master's book and made a little weapon of my own.

Rider. Remove your mask.

Ghh... Stop...!

(His Noble Phantasm!? But what can he do with it under these circumOh no. Is he)

Everything was already in place. All I had to do was add my own personal touch.

Didn't you fools find it odd that there were so many Transfer AIs around here?

Kama, keep Fujimaru safe! I am going to use my Etherlite to make him get down on the ground!

Huh? I don't know what you're talking about, but...fine!

Don't try to resist, Rider. Remove your mask.

No... Stop...!

(This is wrong. This... This is evil.)

(But I...I thought I didn't mind being evil...)

(I thought I'd rather become a foolish, wicked blade than be betrayed and shunned by my own lord...)

(I never wanted to be truly evil!)

(So please...please...)

Please, Master. Don't do this.

I'm begging you. If you do this...it would be a true atrocity...

What are you talking about? How is this any different from what your last Master did?

All I did was apply the principles my past self understood to the same mechanism.

The AIs under my control are no more than tools. Disposable tools.

I'm just making efficient use of them.

Now, remove your mask.

Remove it, use your Noble Phantasm to activate their Raniment...

...and ignite the special worms I embedded in them!

Ghh...

Don't...do this...

Ah...

？！

Don't do thiiiiiis!!!

？！

Master!?

...Okay, you still have all your limbs, you're not bleeding, and it looks like you can still see. Wow, that came out of nowhere.

？！

I cannot believe it. How could you do this!?

What happened?

I believe he took the same mechanism that uses Rider's Noble Phantasm to amplify the Type Ts' Raniment...

...and used it to set off a spell he embedded in their bodies all at once.

Which means...he transformed their Raniment directly into destructive energy...

...by essentially turning them into living bombs.

Good, good. That was just asno, an even stronger blast than I'd anticipated.

And they're extremely mobile, given the type of AI they are. I can send them anywhere I want destroyed.

I think I'll call them "Transfer Bombs."

Nnn... Uhh...?

Damage...severe... Shutting...dow

Destruction. Workload increased. Resolution...impossible...

And to top it all off, my worms can then collect their remaining nutrients. What a feast.

？！

Oh? You don't care for my methods, Master of Assassin? Then what are you going to do about it?

Wait. At least for now.

First, we need to check in on the other Masters and Servants!

Ghh... Ow. ...You okay, Master?

Nn... Uh...?

(Guess she took a hit. Looks like she's got a concussion...or the AI equivalent, anyway.)

(Looks like neither of us'll be ready for a fight just yet.)

(As for him...)

Dammit. That old man smells exactly like the brat, but he's completely surrendered to his monstrous side.

Whatever semblance of a conscience he had is long gone now.

Are you okay, Master? You ought to be, since I kept you safe.

Y-yeah, I'm okay.

But, um, it's a little constricting, being carried while you're in that armor. It, um, kind of hurts, too.

Deal with it. We were the closest to the blast. This armor was the thing that kept us alive.

So. What now?

What do you mean?

We're probably still his primary targets, and I'm not sure I can keep you safe without this armor.

I don't want any more of those AIs sneaking in and blowing you up while I'm off thrashing Worm Grandpa over there.

So either you deal with my armor and we make a run for it with me carrying you...

...or we stick around here to see what happens. That's what I recommend.

O-okay. Then, let's

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up, Bhīma!

...What do you want?

Really don't want to talk to you if I can help it, but dammit, I have to say something here!

What happened to you!? Why aren't you fighting back!? When did you become such a coward!?

Oh, so you just went there, huh?

Then again, you always did like to get everyone else worked up so you wouldn't have to do any fighting yourself.

Like you did to Karna.

Shut up! We're talking about you here, not me!

You were always so proud of your stupid strength. The second you saw an enemy, you'd jump in and crush them with your bare hands.

More than anything, you were a battle-crazed buffoon who only cared about rubbing your victories in everyone's faces!

So why aren't you fighting now!? The old you'd never have been more willing to run away with a woman than stand his ground and fight!

You... Who are you!? Are you really the Bhīma I knew!?

Lancer...

... ...

I never considered myself a "battle-crazed buffoon," but I can see how I came across that way to you guys.

That was never all there was to me, though. Not then. Not now.

Right now, I've got my hands full taking care of this weak-ass Master and her weak-ass heart.

I just wanna serve her as best I possibly can.

Y-you what...?

Heh. You probably don't know this, but...

...back when me and my brothers were going undercover in King Virata's palace...

...I took on the role of Vallabha, a cook in the royal kitchens. Weirdly enough, I didn't hate it.

In fact, I really liked making people happy with my cooking.

Even made me think that a life spent in service to someone else might not be a bad one.

And, well, that's the version of myself I am now: the one who remembers that feeling.

So right now, everything else comes after that.

You... You...

Are you really Bhīma?

What happened to the Bhīma I knew? The man who went so far just to defeat me? What happened to your warrior sel

Wait... Ghh!

？！

So it does. Then we will need to steel ourselves for this fight.

Eh, no worries. I was already planning on handling this myself, anyway.

Just make sure you've got a fitting reward waiting for me, 'kay?

An Assassin, challenging me to a straight fight? It seems you still haven't learned your lesson. Rider!

Gah...khh...

Hmm, not very eloquent, are you? Oh, wait. Did you bite your tongue?

Heha, hehehahaha! I see! You were really so humiliated, were you!?

All I did was use you like a tool, just as you wanted.

Fine then. Torment yourself all you like. Once you strip away the facade, heroes are just like anyone else!

You can bite your own tongue off or even tear out your own innards if you want. My worms can still control your body just the same.

Really, as long as you maintain your core functionality, I don't care what you do to yourself!

...You really are the absolute worst.

Well, Rider, it's your lucky day. I feel so bad for you, I'm going to give you all the love you can stand.

I'm going to love your suffering. Your pride. Your pain. Your adorable, faux-evil self being used against your will.

You don't have to give this any more effort at all.

I'm going to provide you with a nice, peaceful eternity of depravity.

Now, let yourself be swallowed up by my all-consuming love, and sleep for the rest of time...

Phew... Okay, I finally caught my breath.

Ber...serker...

Oh, hey, you're awake. In that case...

Now's our chance to escape, while Assassin's fighting tha

Berserker. Go help them.

Hey. What're you doing?

I...I can't let him get away with this.

They were all just...doing their best.

They were just normal girls. One day...they might have been family.

And he just...threw them away. Like they were nothing...

So...please, Berserker.

Please, don't let him get away. If we don't take him down here and now...he'll do this again.

... ...

I'm sorry. My head's still pounding.

Ahh. I can't bear to see family dying.

But, maybe that's not as bad...as not having them in the first place...

Master?

...She fainted again. That's what she gets for giving me Raniment as soon as she wakes up.

She didn't quite seem like herself before she fainted again, either... Well, no matter. The question is, what do I do now?

Ahh, so many things I want. I want them all.

So...fine then. I guess I'll just have to do this.

Hyaaah!

Come on now, what're you doing out here!?

I swear, you're helpless without me. Guess I've got no choice but to join the fight then!

I mean, just look at your arrows! They've been hitting everything BUT the enemy!

Oh? Is that what you think is happening?

Anyway, glad you're here.

Everything was juuust about ready, but would you mind keeping Rider busy so I can concentrate for a minute?

Great, so helpful of you, thanks.

Huh? I didn't come here just so you could dump all your work onWhoa!

How are you doing, Master?

？！

Perfect. I knew we were on the same wavelength. Teehee.

All right, just let me concentrate a little... Get some resources from you, and... Voilà.

(So, Berserker is back in the fight, but Rider is fine and Assassin doesn't seem to have anything that could finish him off.)

(Once I call in a few new Transfer Bombs, I can blow the both of them sky-high at the same ti)

Hey, you. Yeah, the old geezer sitting there planning out his schedule for later like he's already won here.

You probably should've kept in mind that you're part of this battle, too.

Huh? What is this?

A Bounded Field!? When did youWait. Flowers?

You did see me firing those flower arrows, right? You thought I was just missing all that time? Fat chance.

I aimed them very carefully, and let them grow a bit at a time, to make sure they'd surround you in just the right spot.

Hah! My worms will devour those little flowers in

Why do you think I'm doing this? I'm making sure not one of those nasty worms escapes.

See, you might not be able to see it, but I've got a really, really irritating fire burning inside me all the damn time.

So by putting just a little of that fire into my vajra and then doing this...

What!?

I don't know why, but for some reason...

...I've been really, really wanting to burn every last one of your worms to cinders myself.

I'm so glad I got a chance to make it happen♡

Aaagh! Gaaaaaah! My worms! Dammit! Why won't these damn flames go out!?

Oh, please. You think you can just put those flames out? If only it were so easy, my life would be much better.

Aah... Aaagh!

Curse you... Curse yooou!

Ghh... Aaaaaargh!

Hmm. Maybe seeing them is what gave me the eye to use flowers.

Oh well. It's not like I'm gonna run out of flowers anytime soon.

But it still pissed me off to see how he went and ruined my lovely tips.

So it's only fair you repay me for them, don't you think...Grandfather?

Hyaaah!

I will certainly not be repeating my mistake. I scanned every millimeter of this place and I can confirm that the elderly Master is finally and completely gone.

Wahahaha! And I just won a big victory over Rider, too! Now to finish the job.

Don't bother. He's already halfway gone.

(Exhale...) Assassin. Berserker.

...Thank you.

Oh, really? I expected you to complain about the loss.

I was not a warrior in this, but merely a tool. As such, I have no right either to pride in my victories or anger at my losses.

But, even so... Even twisted into a false evil, as I just was...

No, it is how I was twisted that would have made going over into true evil unbearable.

So thank you for stopping me. And for ending this.

... ...

Whatever. I didn't do that looking for your gratitude or anything.

But I do have to ask: How the hell did you end up working for a complete piece of garbage?

？！

Oh, right. I need to tell you something.

My first Master was...erased. Someone, I don't know who, killed him.

I have no excuse for my failure to protect him, but I can still tell you this: he was killed by a projectile fired from a great distance.

Only an attack from a Servant could have been so accurate and powerful.

So I think...

...there may be an Archer somewhere in this world...

!?

Please...be careful. We may have been deceived...right from the start...

What could this mean?

An Archer? Of course there's no Archer here.

The base knowledge I was given when I was summoned tells me that's a real class...

...but I've never seen anyone like that around here.

... ...

Good day, everyone. I am contacting you all now in my capacity as the overseer of the System Grail War.

As of this moment, Rider's Spirit Core has completely vanished. The winner is

I killed his Master.

But I dealt the killing blow to Rider!

...It's a tough call, but I'm going to go with Berserker, since I believe Servant battles take precedence.

All right!

Huh!? Are you freaking kidding me!?

As a result, prime AI authority over the Master of Rider's partitions, Transfer and Build...

...will be given to the Master of Berserker, the prime AI of Repair.

As part of this property transfer, these areas will be united to create a new combined Repair/Transfer/Build partition.

Preparations for this world transformation are currently underway as I speak. In fact, they're already complete, since this will be the second such transformation.

So let's keep things moving swiftly. Good luck to all remaining participants.

Huh!? Are you freaking kidding me!?

Duryodhana, look after Āyus!

I-I know that!

Not again...!