I, Kurumi Tokisaki, Am a Wanderer

The night in Fuyuki's New City hadn't seen this much commotion in a long time.

Ever since that deranged serial killer had begun his rampage through Fuyuki, curfews had left the streets empty and quiet.

Although the news announced two days ago that the murderer, Uryuu Ryuunosuke, had been taken down by the police, the chaos from the incident at Mion River just yesterday had discouraged anyone from venturing out unless absolutely necessary.

Only a few people wandered the streets tonight.

But today was different.

Outside the cordoned-off area lined with yellow tape, citizens gathered and buzzed, wondering what had been happening in Fuyuki lately.

First, a gas explosion. Then, industrial toxins. And now, a meteor had come crashing down.

The red flash of warning lights illuminated the scene. A young officer, her cap pulled low, yawned lazily, but even from a distance, her profile was far more striking than any pop star.

But when Waver caught sight of these officers, his pupils shrank in terror. Grabbing Rider, he immediately steered them in the opposite direction.

It's Avenger!

They were all Avenger's doing.

Unlike the clueless citizens speculating about the events, Waver, even from across the city, could sense the terrifying and overwhelming pressure when that divine sword descended from the sky.

The Einzberns had launched an attack on Kayneth.

Waver clenched his fists. That arrogant man... if he was dead, so be it!

There was no way he was going to break through Avenger's defenses to save him.

Besides, with an attack of that magnitude, how could anyone have survived?

"Calm down, kid," Rider said gently, patting Waver's back with a hand so large it nearly covered his frail shoulders. "We'll take a detour."

Waver managed to calm himself.

"That damn lemonhead... don't die... whatever you do, don't die!"

"This way, kid," Rider said, leading him.

In a long, narrow alley, the faint, flashing lights of a parked police car flickered on and off.

A sagging strip of yellow caution tape hung loosely on the ground, as if it had been abandoned or forgotten.

Waver and Rider stopped in their tracks.

Leaning against the police car was a frail figure, hunched under a hoodie. In his hand, he held an empty blue vial.

A magus!

His right hand struggled to rise as he pulled back his hood, revealing a head of lifeless, brittle white hair and a half-dead, rigid face.

A twisted smile, as if resigned to fate, stretched across his stiff features.

"Sorry, but this road is closed," he rasped.

"Kariya Matou!" Waver instantly recognized the man in front of him from the intel provided by Kayneth.

How... how could it be? Why was the Matou family working with the Einzberns?

The vial slipped from Kariya's hand and shattered against the ground.

A black whirlwind of magical energy erupted from the earth, and a slender, violet-haired knight stepped forward, positioning himself between Waver and Rider.

Berserker!

Meanwhile, Lancer, carrying Sola in his arms, dashed out from the debris, his legs trembling slightly.

The situation had become critical. The moment he found Sola, he had to break through the barrier and escape with her.

But escaping from the 32nd floor of the hotel had been perilous.

Even though he had done everything in his power to minimize the impact on Sola, cushioning her multiple times, she still lost consciousness when they landed.

"Master!" Lancer called out desperately, following the link between them to locate Kayneth.

The night was desolate, the landscape now a mountain of rubble.

A massive silver sphere, about three meters in diameter, had crashed into the ground, leaving a large crater. It gleamed like a mirror, reflecting the moonlight.

The sphere trembled, then reverted to its amorphous state, and Kayneth emerged from within.

"Sola!" Despite his body still shaking, Kayneth immediately rushed to Lancer's side, cradling Sola in his arms. Her breathing was stable, though she had suffered internal injuries.

His hands glowed with a soft green healing light as he worked to stabilize her condition.

They had to get her to a hospital—quickly.

But then…

Tap.

Tap.

The sound of thick-heeled boots echoed clearly through the rubble, full of pressure. From the distance, a black-and-red Gothic-dressed girl approached.

"Avenger..." Kayneth's voice was dry, parched.

The Einzbern magus wasn't planning on giving them any time to rest.

"Lancer!" Kayneth roared, issuing his order. "Stop her! Even if you have to die—stop her!"

"As you command," Lancer said, dropping to one knee and bowing his head deeply to Kayneth.

If he could die fighting for his Master's sake, perhaps that wouldn't be such a bad fate.

Forgive me for failing to bring you the Holy Grail.

"I swear I will hold off the enemy pursuing you with my life."

Kayneth stared at Lancer, then at Sola in his arms, before fleeing with her into the night.

—Lancer was not strong. Compared to the original plan to summon Iskandar, Lancer wasn't nearly as powerful. Or rather, as a Lancer-class Servant, Diarmuid couldn't fully unleash his true strength.

This was a fact Kayneth had to face.

But there was no time left. He no longer cared about the outcome of the Holy Grail War.

The moment Sola had collapsed unconscious before him, Kayneth understood—her survival was all that mattered.

But would they really make it out alive?

Their enemy was the Mage Killer, after all.

Lancer now stood between Kurumi Tokisaki and his fleeing Master. He was certain this was the real Kurumi—the original body.

He had to stop her.

His eyes burned with determination as he gripped his twin spears tightly.

He stood like a guardian at the end of a narrow bridge, ready to fight for the last of his honor.

With a sudden burst of speed, Lancer lunged forward, his body a streak of red lightning. His crimson spear aimed straight for Kurumi, as if to tear through the thin veil of dust in the air.

Lancer's speed was incredible. In a heartbeat, he had already closed the distance between them.

But speed alone was nothing before time.

—Zafkiel.

A golden, ornate clock face appeared behind Kurumi.

"Aleph—First Bullet."

The girl vanished from sight.

But Lancer, with his True Eye ability, had anticipated Kurumi's move. His left hand swept out, swinging the Gáe Buidhe: Yellow Rose of Mortality in a wide arc behind him.

Kurumi, who had reappeared behind Lancer, was just as agile. She bent her body back, her left hand pressing against the ground to support herself.

All her weight rested on that single hand as she spun her legs in a high kick.

—Upward Spin Kick.

The moment her ankle struck Lancer's torso, Kurumi twisted at an impossible angle, launching herself upward, her body soaring as she followed through with her momentum.

Her knee hammered into Lancer's stomach, sending him hurtling through the air.

Lancer's magical energy exploded as he barely managed to twist away and escape her assault.

Kurumi didn't pursue him further, casually flexing her wrist.

"Ara ara~~~ how should I put this? Actually, I'm quite skilled in hand-to-hand combat."

-57:47:14.

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