Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover

The Walther WA2000 sniper rifle.

Originally designed for Olympic shooting competitions, it boasts accuracy on par with the semi-automatic PSG-1 sniper rifle. With only 176 units produced and now out of production, each rifle costs around 90,000 USD.

For a monster like the Magus Killer, this unusual weapon suits him perfectly.

A 7.62mm round is shot at Waver's forehead. If nothing unusual happens, the young magician will have his skull pierced without resistance.

In that moment, even Waver realizes his fate.

Is it over…?

Scenes from his past flash before his eyes like a revolving lantern, and in the end, he can't help but feel a wry smile.

His past was really boring, dull, and childish to the point of being laughable.

He had only joined the Holy Grail War out of spite, much like a person running away from home and stumbling into a war zone in the Middle East—undoubtedly a suicidal action.

Perhaps only at the point of death do people truly understand, but it was too late for him now.

The bullet cuts through the air, and the kiss of death is just a step away.

But then, a silver light cuts through the air, blocking in front of Waver.

Bang!

Sparks fly as the Sword of the Kupriotes deflects the bullet. The recoil sends the sword back into Waver's head, much like a king's "gentle" flick of the finger, snapping Waver back to reality from the illusion of death.

"What are you standing around for, kid? Get ready to defend!"

Iskandar shouted while maintaining his posture of throwing a short sword.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch!"

Waver clutched his forehead, the red mark appearing where the sword had struck. Just as he activated a defence spell, he suddenly heard the suppressed sound of a submachine gun firing.

Another assassin?

Although the Steyr AUG's bullets don't have the penetrating power of the Walther WA2000, the overwhelming barrage is enough to shred a person's flesh.

"Why is it only aimed at me?!"

Waver exclaimed in despair, but instead of giving up, he gritted his teeth and cast a new defensive spell.

Even though the modern bullets easily tore through his magical barriers, Waver was able to buy himself some time.

A heavy sound like a weight falling to the ground echoed, and next, Waver felt the wind whoosh past. Rider, who had fallen faster than him, wrapped his arms around Waver's waist, pulling him into his broad chest. Rider then drew his short sword and swept it across the incoming bullets with a stern expression.

At that moment, as Waver was sheltered by Iskandar, he felt a sense of peace he had never experienced before. But soon, he realized the problem. Without using his Noble Phantasm, Iskandar was just a stronger-than-average ancient soldier. How could he possibly avoid modern gunfire unscathed?

"Rid—"

Just as Waver was about to call out, his pupils contracted as blood splattered from Rider's wounds.

Indeed, while the Sword of the Kupriotes blocked many of the bullets, Iskandar, after all, was a king known for leading armies, not a master of personal combat. He couldn't stop all thirty bullets.

For the remaining threat, the red-haired king chose a simple solution.

His muscular arm was thick enough, like a small shield, to block the weaker bullets.

Thus, blood splattered, and Iskandar's arm was riddled with gruesome holes, with smoke still rising from the wounds.

This was no ordinary bullet.

After a moment of shock, Waver quickly performed a healing spell to mend Rider's wounds.

"R... Rider! Are you okay?"

In the end, still a student, Waver's voice trembled.

"You idiot! You big fool!"

"Don't panic! For a servant like me, this injury is nothing compared to the plagues I've faced in battle!"

Iskandar waved his hand dismissively. The wound on his arm healed at a visible rate, with dark miasma flowing out before vanishing.

"It's a bullet enhanced with necromantic magic."

Despite his panic, Waver, being an elite of the Clock Tower, quickly recognized the source of the damage.

"These bullets can break your magical resistance. It seems they're at least enhanced with two levels of curses… Can you locate the assassin, Rider?"

"No, I'm not good at enemy detection."

Iskandar lowered his head, looking at Waver, who, despite tears still in his eyes, suddenly seemed more mature. He smiled and, with a touch of teasing, asked.

"So, what do we do next, Master?"

Waver, still deep in thought, did not realize the change in Rider's title. After a brief pause, he sighed helplessly.

"Although I'm reluctant, we'll have to retreat, Rider."

Perhaps tempered by the threat of death, Waver spoke plainly.

"My presence holds you back, and you, as a cavalryman, cannot fight freely on the battlefield because of me."

In the end, the small Master seemed a little downcast.

"I'm sorry, Rider. You must be so disappointed to have me as your Master."

A hearty laugh interrupted his self-pity. Suddenly, Waver was lifted by Iskandar, and with the sound of thunder in the distance, the divine chariot came crashing through the air, carrying them away.

"For now, the Conqueror King shall withdraw. Enjoy the rest of the night, my fellow spirits!"

Even as he departed early, Iskandar's grandeur remained, and the swordplay and clash of blades in the warehouse street paused for a moment, almost like a farewell.

Then, the battle resumed.

***

"Target elimination failed. According to the original plan, moving to target point two."

In a Bluetooth headset, a woman named "Maiya Hisau," the other half of the assassin mage Kiritsugu Emiya, emotionlessly dismantled the AUG and quietly left.

But inevitably, as she recalled the image of the red-haired man and his lion-like eyes full of fury, she concluded in her heart.

"Heroic Spirits… Humans cannot defeat them."

Only she and Kiritsugu knew the true meaning behind the bullets they had fired earlier.

The origin is traced back to the winter city one year ago when Maiya was out gathering information. When she returned, the young man named "Sakatsuki," who had single-handedly defeated the Einzbern family, was nowhere to be found.

But the impact he left behind remained—through interactions with the young man, Kiritsugu had realized how ineffective ordinary bullets were against true power.

Thus, without Irisviel's knowledge, Kiritsugu and Maiya had made several trips out and eventually found a mercenary and necromancer freak—Lioness Keijiri.

After paying nearly half of their wealth, Kiritsugu obtained a new magical artefact—bullets enhanced with necromantic curses, apart from the "Origin Bullet."

From the wound on the red-haired king's arm, it was clear these bullets could indeed pose a problem for Servants.

That was enough—after all, it wasn't the Master's job to defeat the Servants.

At that moment, Maiya suddenly stiffened, realizing something.

"…Kiritsugu?"

Even now, the Bluetooth headset remains silent.

"Kiritsugu Emiya?"

No response!

***

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