Section 3: False Grail, Failure to Reach the Heaven

Oh, well. I guess that's it for that Holy Grail.

It was fake to begin with, so maybe it was easy to infect. Should have stored it immediately.

Should have put it under our control immediately. We should both think about what we did.

And you two still won't admit you should have given it up. That's so typical of you two!

Umm... Fujimaru? We'd like to help, too.

I mean, no matter how you think about it, our fight was the cause of all of this.

We need to take responsibility.

Got it. I'll be helping out then!

Understood. Then the two of us will back you up.

？！

Looks like it's been completely infected. Destroying it immediately will prevent any more issues, I imagine.

I've already confirmed several Shadow Servants. It's possible it will become a Singularity if we leave it like this.

I agree.

It won't nearly be on the same level as the Greater Grail at Fuyuki, but it would be terrible if it was even a fraction of that.

You know about the Greater Grail at Fuyuki?

Yes. The one in a faraway, unrelated world, right? ...Well, that aside...

We'll have one of us guard Fujimaru. The other two will intercept the enemy. How does that sound?

We'll take out the Shadow Servants first. After that we can destroy the Holy Grail.

Okay, leave it to me! In that case, Kid Gil and I will head to attack.

Master, you work with Ruler, over there.

Okay, thank you It's been a while since I fought alongside someone.

Unfortunately, I'm from a rather hard-to-control class, but Please put me to good use.

I've wiped out most of them, but

Help!

...Astolfo?

I am really afraid of ghosts! I am sorry, but please help meeeeeeee!

...Oh, brother...

Ghosts? Then our only option is to exorcise them.

All I can offer is a pseudo baptism rite. But it's better than letting them continue to exist in that anguished state.

Well then, let's get going, shall we, Master?

With this, we've finished clearing out all the Shadow Servants as well

Now the problem is how to destroy this Holy Grail. Gil, do you have anything for that?

Hmm... For something like that, a sword from my treasury might do it.

Though the real problem is figuring out what this fake Grail is trying to give birth to.

W-What? It's trying to...give birth?

Whoa, whoa, whoa... Huge amounts of magical energy are pouring out of that Grail! Something's coming out of it!

Huh? You're wondering what that something is?

I don't think it's a Demon God Pillar, but... I think it's probably something fairly equal in power to it?

...This is a disaster!!

Now then, we'll keep back this massive ghost

I'll summon swords as needed from my Gate of Babylon and destroy it.

So cover me out there. Also, please keep out of my line of fire, okay?

Especially you, Rider.

I-I've got it, all right?! Don't worry! I absolutely won't enter your line of fire!

Because I have no doubt that you'd destroy me along with the target! That's what my gut's telling me!

You're absolutely correct!

I'd expect nothing less from a future tyrant-king! But whatever. Okay...let's go, Hipp!

Well then, I'll also be heading out to keep that creature at bay.

...Master, stay between us. You can pick one of us to follow and back up.

I'll be off, then. Set!

Master, give me your orders! I will destroy that false Holy Grail!

W-We beat it somehow... The massive ghost is breaking apart!

Okay, that's my cue! Now Shatter!

Well, that's that. It's over. That didn't measure up to Heaven's Feel at all.

Being shattered is perhaps the most fitting end for it.

Hah, I didn't really want to own it, but just letting it break feels like a waste... Actually, no, it doesn't.

After all, it was like wings made of wax. Inferior even to the black wings of a real crow.

Well, I guess that concludes this little pseudo Holy Grail War. And here I thought I'd finally get my chance to punch Amakusa Shirou!

Well, you were close, anyway. But how lucky it was for us to run into a real Master in a place like this.

If, someday, we are able to form a real contract between us, I hope I will be able to serve you well.

I will gladly work with you to grant my own dream as well.

Though, in my opinion, it's a pretty worthless dream!

But, whatever.

Well, if it is in our fates to meet again, good tidings to you from Astolfo of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne!

If you'll kindly summon me, I'll give you a good, thumping shoulder rub! See you!

Well... I'd like to be summoned back again too, but I suppose this isn't really my prime form, huh?

But I think, maybe, I could be more helpful than my adult form would be?

Yes. I'd really like it if, next time, you could judge which of us is the better Servant, Master!

Well, I hope it is in our fates to meet again! Goodbye, Master.

Even among us Servants, there are those with dreams and ambitions of their own. Some will betray their Masters to achieve those dreams.

But the path walked by that "king" was no dream. The incineration of an era and the destruction of the world are hardly "dreams."

Thus, something inside him must be irreparably broken. ...No, perhaps there's nothing inside.

There seem to be no exploitable weaknesses in his overwhelming power Even so, perhaps I can be of service to you.

Master Fujimaru. My True Name is Amakusa Shirou Tokisada.

As a mediator and as a Servant, I will gladly fight by your side!