Did you not hear me? I said to let me pass.
I have no business with you, Assassin.
And did you not hear me when I said to force your way through?
If you do not hurry, your Master's life will be lost.
Don't be so angry at Assassin, Caster.
He faces Saber.
I don't know who that samurai is,
but he must be a master swordsman to hold Saber at bay.
Shouldn't you be complimenting him instead?
Surely you jest.
I would hardly call him a hero if he failed to stop the likes of you.
That man lacks the skills to make a master swordsman reveal their name.
Saber's here?
We are always hounded by a despair so powerful
as to threaten to burn our hearts to ash,
and yet you manage
to smile at me
with infinite forgiveness
The wind erases our voices
Our words are carried away
I hold onto you for balance
on this treacherous path
I know that paradise awaits us,
and that future is our one and only hope
That blind feeling
might be the only emotion
that I have left
There is no true answer
I am always seeking
my very own
dawn
The Reward for the Fight to the Death
How can this be?
Weight, power, speed...
I have the advantage in all of them.
Why can I not break his defense?
Oh, well done.
I should have taken your head seven times, but it remains attached.
It appears Western swordplay is more than mere flailing, after all.
The same to you. For a man of such slight build, your technique is impressive.
If nothing else, you are skilled in trickery.
Of course. You have the edge in both strength and spirit.
That leaves me only my wiles to defeat you.
I have nearly adjusted to your invisible sword, as well.
Just from that brief exchange?
Does this Servant surpass me so greatly in swordsmanship?
Now, let us continue.
Show me what you are really capable of, Saber.
Hold on, Shirou.
From what you've said, it sounds like your Masters work together?
Work together?
Indeed.
Assassin guards the gate, and Caster lurks within.
Isn't it obvious these two are allied?
It isn't particularly unusual.
For example, you and Rin have joined forces.
Me? Work with that dog?
With Assassin, who is no more than my pawn?
Your pawn?
Yes.
That dog has no Master, you see.
What?
Caster,
you broke the rules!
What's wrong with a Magus such as myself summoning a Servant?
Caster summoned Assassin?
You're saying that a Servant summoned another Servant?
That gatekeeper there, not summoned by a proper Master,
isn't the true Assassin.
She broke the rules and summoned an Assassin-class Servant by herself.
Establishing this as her territory, she harvests souls from people in the city.
She herself doesn't fight, but monitors the battle with borrowed eyes throughout the city.
The three knight classes, which include Saber, aren't as affected by magic.
It's only natural for one as magically inclined as yourself to resort to such underhanded tactics.
But was it not your own volition to do so, Caster?
What makes you say that?
Masters and Magi...
If one summons a Magus more powerful than oneself,
they'd need to be on guard, even with Command Seals.
Given that, it's hard to believe a Master would let you summon a Servant to obey you.
In which case,
I'd imagine you've long since made a puppet of him, like this fool of a Master behind me.
Winning the Holy Grail War would be a simple matter.
My considerable effort is directed toward what comes after.
Oh, defeating us is simple, you say?
This from a witch, who does nothing but slink in the shadows?
Indeed, for you may not so much as scratch me in this place.
To those who call me a witch, I shall deal the appropriate punishment.
Not even a scratch, you claim?
One blow, then.
If that will not suffice, I will leave you to Saber.
Too bad, Archer.
Spatial Transportation? Innate Time Control?
You're able to mimic True Magic within this area?
You impress me, Caster.
And you disappoint me, Archer.
I tested you, thinking you might be useful, but you are worse than Assassin.
I'm sorry to hear it.
If I get another chance, I'll try harder not to let you down.
Damn, woman... You have a huge store of mana to draw on, don't you?
You think you can escape?
That imbecile!
Not good.
Dammit, put me down!
What were you thinking?!
I obviously wasn't.
It hurts my head to hear Your Uselessness speak!
Say what?!
You just dive in without thinking, and then call me useless?!
What are you, a child?
I can't stand a child and fool like you.
Which one are you, moron?
What'd you call me?!
Put me down, dammit! I can look after myself!
Can you, now?
You son of a...
How does that feel, Archer?
Even the three knight classes cannot move if space itself is immobilized.
This would appear to be checkmate.
I don't know which land's hero you were, but this is farewell.
What was that, Archer? If you wish to beg for your life, I can—
As if! I said, "Dodge this," Caster!
That's...
I am the bone of my sword.
Caladbolg!
It seems that matters do not progress as planned up there.
My Master is in peril, so I no longer have the luxury of concealing my true skill.
And still, you will not reveal your Noble Phantasm.
Your Master is unskilled, so you count on the strength of his luck?
Your trust in him is admirable.
I see that half-hearted measures cannot break it.
However, that simply will not do.
You yield the advantage of higher ground?
What are you playing at?
I may have no true name, but I have devoted my life to the sword.
It seems that mere effort is insufficient.
Shall I crack open that belief with brute force then?
Concealed Sword!
Swallow Reversal!
Too late!
Archer, why do you not finish me off?
I said I would test you with a single blow, didn't I?
You do not intend to kill me, then?
My objective was this boy.
My policy is to avoid unnecessary fighting.
Hey...
I see.
You two are quite alike, then.
That boy cannot abide a Servant like me, who feeds on the innocent.
And you dislike senseless slaughter.
See? You are completely the same.
How am I anything like this asshole?
Agreed.
I admit we may both be pacifists, but for entirely different reasons.
You call yourself a pacifist?!
I haven't forgotten.
You tried to destroy Saber along with Berserker!
That was before we entered into an alliance.
Surely you don't expect me to save everything in sight.
Thinking that way, even Berserker would be something to save, not defeat.
I like you two!
Your strengths and the ways you use them are unique.
Join forces with me.
I have a means to put an end to this war.
Never!
I won't work with people like you!
Damn it, Archer! Hey!
I'll pass.
Your team has limited fighting potential.
No matter how much power you gain, you are no match for Berserker.
What you offer isn't enough to ally myself with you.
I see. Negotiations have broken down then.
Correct. Besides, I've come here of my own volition.
My Master did not send me, so I have no reason to kill you.
Shall we call this a draw due to injury?
Hey, now...
I'm surprised.
Your Master has been hunting me, has she not?
But still, you would let me go?
Yes, it is no concern of mine how many you kill here.
My, what a terrible man you are.
Wait a minute, Caster!
Archer, why did you let Caster go?
Even if I'd struck her down, she'd have simply made her escape.
To defeat Caster, we must get to her Master.
But all the problems happening in town are her doing.
Until we stop her, victims will keep piling up.
On the contrary, I want to let her continue.
Caster will keep draining people of life force, and will use that power to defeat Berserker.
We'll deal with Caster afterward.
Tohsaka would never agree to such a plan!
You're right, which is why I'd like Caster to settle matters as soon as possible.
I don't know how many will die, but humans are mortal, after all.
However they die, and at whose hands, the result is the same.
You withstood my Concealed Sword.
It's not all that special as far tricks go.
It's simply something I mastered when I thought to slay a swallow.
A flying swallow won't be caught by my sword and the solitary arc of its strike.
Two or three arcs though, and circumstances differ.
But the fact remains that swallows are swift little creatures.
To accomplish the feat, one must strike repeatedly within a single breath.
That is beyond ordinary men's ability.
Unfortunately for you, I had nothing better to do.
Mastery through endless repetition.
The next thing I knew, I had accomplished it.
That is not it. "Strike repeatedly within a single breath"?
Those blows were simultaneous.
There existed three blades in that instance.
As difficult as it is to believe... That was...
A Dimensional Refraction Phenomenon.
A Servant whose swordsmanship alone resembles a Noble Phantasm...
Caster is soft-hearted.
She should have taken their lives while she had the chance.
If everyone in the city dies, fighting would be easier.
You...
I thought we had an alliance.
That's a load of crap!
I'm nothing like you.
Like I'd ever sacrifice those around me to achieve victory!
I feel the same way, Emiya Shirou.
But it is impossible to save everyone.
If Caster wins the Grail, the damage won't be limited to this city alone.
If we fail to win, the damage will be even greater.
Therefore, the only choice is to sacrifice this city's people.
If that has the result of keeping the overall losses low,
then we share the same goal.
Saving one person means being unable to save another.
You said you didn't want to involve innocent people, didn't you?
Then admit it.
If you try to avoid killing anyone, you won't save anyone in the end.
You plan to go after Caster?
To waste that life which I went through all that trouble to save—
Shut up!
I wouldn't want your help, even if you offered!
I see.
Your dislike of me makes this easier.
Archer?
Son of a...
Emiya Shirou, if you have no will to fight, die here.
Fighting for others, but not yourself, is nothing but hypocrisy.
It isn't victory that you want. It's peace.
Even though there isn't any such thing in this world.
What?
Farewell. Let your ideals drag you to your death.
Shirou!
So, she retreated?
Saber...
Why did you not strike me down just now, Assassin?
I was captivated, you see.
You were alluring when we fought, but your concern for your Master is exquisite.
Thus, you caught my eyes.
This is enough for tonight. You may go.
You're letting us go?
I am indeed. To find a worthy opponent is a rare thing.
It would be a waste to defeat you in anything less than your peak condition.
Or would you consider this a debt, Saber?
Of course, Sasaki Kojirou.
Forgive my rudeness.
You were truly an opponent worthy of my full attention.
Rest assured, I shall settle things with you.
Regardless of the outcome of the Holy Grail War. I swear it.
You'd stand in my way, samurai?
That would be my line.
I said they may leave, and you would interfere?
My duty is to guard this gate.
I permitted entry, but exiting is another matter.
Your head lacks elegance, but I shall satisfy myself by claiming it tonight.
You think you can fight me, lackey of Caster?
I could say the same.
I sent you to give that vixen a scare,
so imagine my disappointment to see you flee for your own well-being.
Shirou, while he's distracted...
Hurry!
We didn't understand anything
My left hand groped for things that vanished to my touch
A moral conflict
stays your hand
and tricks you
out of your future
I don't know how to protect anyone,
and my love might well be fake,
but I want to live my life
The past repeats before my eyes
Here I will trust the me that now stands with you
Until my dream crumbles and withers,
we will open a path together
with prayers on our lips
I see.
So Archer allowed Caster to escape?
Yeah, he did.
That guy is the worst.
If he's willing to exploit someone like Caster to win,
then he's no better than her.
Why are you smiling like that?
Well, it is rare to hear you speak ill of someone.
But are you not furious with Archer for attacking you?
I'm allied with Tohsaka. Not him.
If you look at it that way, he didn't betray me.
You are an amazing specimen, Shirou.
It is true that Caster is an enemy who must not run free,
but I believe Archer is not cruel.
Hang on a second. Were you listening to everything I said?
You saw it, didn't you, Shirou?
His technique was as pure as a clear stream.
His heart must be equally as pure.
He's not that great with a sword.
The guy attacked me from behind, but he didn't manage to kill me.
Yes, you have an aptitude for it, as well.
Given enough time and effort, you should be able to reach his level.
I've made up my mind.
Once I'm healed up, Saber, teach me how to use a sword!
Not just as exercise. How to really fight.
Very well.
If that is your wish, Shirou.
That settles it, then!
I can't screw up again like I did tonight,
and running away at every turn won't change anything.
And most of all, I can't let myself lose to that bastard who said he would sacrifice the lives of the few
to save those of the many.
Ow...
We're going to smash that Bounded Field.
The enemy is planning to settle things here.
I'll make you pay for what you've done, no matter what!
What's the problem?
This is how Servants ought to be!