A few minutes earlier...
Tenkei Shiomi scratched his head as he looked around the ruined hall of Einzbern Castle, which was just as wrecked as it had been two days ago.
If anything, it couldn't be helped. Restoring this place in such a short time would've required a massive amount of Mana—or money.
And during the Holy Grail War, who had the luxury for that?
He and Morgan ascended the broken steps, tattered red carpet still clinging to the stone beneath.
"The Magecraft's been lifted, but we have no idea what happened to the others during that time," Morgan said.
She hadn't checked the outcome—she simply had no interest in it.
"In other words, they might all be mentally wrecked," Shiomi murmured, carefully sensing the atmosphere within the castle. "What would happen if someone came out before the Garden of Lost Will was fully dispelled?"
Morgan looked momentarily caught off guard. "That's... hard to say."
She had seen people endure the Garden to the end without losing themselves.
But someone who emerged from that place without any sign of guilt or pain—someone who not only resisted but acted completely irrationally afterward... what kind of vision would they even see?
"...Maybe they'd see what the others saw." She smiled faintly, tinged with uncertainty.
Without a single precedent, even Morgan couldn't say for sure.
"Why don't you check it yourself?" Shiomi asked.
"Is this really the time for that?" Morgan frowned.
"Well—"
Shiomi was just about to agree when a sudden shift in the atmosphere around the corner made him freeze. He immediately stopped talking and dashed forward.
Kirei Kotomine.
And slung over his shoulder was a silver-haired woman.
Irisviel von Einzbern.
"What do you think you're doing, Kotomine?" Shiomi raised his sword. "You planning to continue the Holy Grail War like this?"
Kirei gave a twisted smile. "You're the last person I want to hear that from, Shiomi—especially after launching a surprise attack in the middle of the night."
"Tch..."
"But I do owe you and your Servant some thanks. I don't know what kind of Magecraft that was, but thanks to it, I've gained a lot." Kirei's smile twisted into something nauseating. "And now, I know exactly what I must do."
Shiomi narrowed his eyes. "And by 'must do,' you mean kidnapping someone else's wife?"
"You really didn't know?" Kirei's tone grew more shameless. "This woman is the Lesser Grail prepared by the Einzberns for this Holy Grail War. I'm just making sure I've secured the small prize first... before I go after the big one."
"You've changed, Kirei Kotomine," Shiomi muttered, his voice heavy with disgust.
If what Kirei said was true, then it was likely the Garden of Lost Will had been the catalyst for his transformation.
The priest who once upheld morality had quietly become a man who reveled in evil.
"You haven't changed a bit—still clinging to people who have nothing to do with you," Kirei said flatly. "Entrusting that child to you... seems that was the right call after all."
Shiomi narrowed his eyes. "I'm not in the mood to talk about Caren. Let go of Einzbern. Now. Or else—"
"Unfortunately, I can't grant that request like I did before." Kirei glanced down the corridor Shiomi was blocking.
At the far end was a window.
Four stories up—plenty high enough.
Realizing Kirei's intent, Shiomi lunged first, aiming to take down the transformed priest before he could act.
In an instant, the gap between them vanished to just a step—only for a golden flash to erupt out of nowhere. Shiomi halted and leapt back, raising his sword just in time to parry.
Noble Phantasms of all shapes exploded from the ether, crashing into the walls and sending debris flying in a cloud of dust.
A gust of wind whipped past, clearing the smoke.
It was Morgan's Magecraft.
But Shiomi's attention was on someone else—on the figure who stepped into view, grinning as he pulled a dark hat from his head.
Gilgamesh.
The attack that blocked Shiomi's strike had come from his vault.
And Shiomi hadn't sensed even a hint of his presence until the golden Servant appeared.
For someone as ostentatious as Gilgamesh to suppress his presence—it was enough to put anyone on edge.
"To think you'd trouble your king for backup... you've grown bold, Kirei."
Though his words were edged with annoyance, Gilgamesh didn't radiate killing intent. If anything, he looked entertained.
"There was no need to bother the King of Heroes... but that one reacted faster than expected." Kirei smirked, casting a glance at Shiomi. "Last-minute adjustments are bound to have flaws."
Click—
The sound of a rifle's bolt.
Kiritsugu Emiya emerged from a nearby room, weapon raised and trained on Kirei's back.
"Put Iri down," he said coldly. But his bloodshot eyes betrayed how worn he was—clearly, the Garden of Lost Will had drained him.
His assistant, Maiya Hisau, hadn't even regained consciousness yet.
"Hmph. Just a mongrel." A shimmer beside Gilgamesh gave way to swirling portals, multiple Noble Phantasms aiming squarely at Kiritsugu and Shiomi.
Kirei raised a hand. "Wait, King of Heroes. If we fight here, the Lesser Grail might be destroyed."
Gilgamesh replied lazily, "Then what do you propose? Just remember, as long as the core is intact, the vessel doesn't need to be original."
"You're right. It's not exactly convenient to carry a woman like this around." Kirei released his grip, letting Irisviel slide from his shoulder—then seized her by the throat without hesitation.
Kiritsugu's finger tensed on the trigger—but even he wasn't sure he could bypass Gilgamesh to land a clean shot.
Unbothered, Kirei pressed his hand against Irisviel's chest, a sick smile spreading across his face.
And then, with a swift thrust—
He drove his hand straight through her.
The trigger snapped.
Bullets flew—but each was stopped cold by the invisible barrier around Gilgamesh.
Bang—
The explosion outside sent a shockwave through the hall. Fully armed, Artoria burst through the door, but what she saw made her breath catch.
Kirei's hand had pierced Irisviel's chest like it was paper.
And from within, he pulled something out—
A deep crimson orb.
The Lesser Grail's core.
Irisviel's heart.
Without so much as a second thought, Kirei flung her toward Artoria like she was trash.
"Irisviel!"
Artoria cried out, forced to catch her midair. And in that moment, the formation she and Kiritsugu held was broken.
Gilgamesh snapped his fingers.