'Why is there a Soul Reaper here?'
'Was he sucked into a spacetime rift by that terrifying spatial fluctuation and dropped into this world, just like me?'
'Or did that shady merchant find a way to connect the two worlds and send someone to look for me?'
'Or perhaps the Soul Society exists in this world too? That should be impossible.'
Countless questions instantly flooded Asuka's mind.
Beyond that, he also noticed the anomaly on this Berserker's face.
It was a hideous bone mask deeply embedded into his skin, radiating a malicious, sneering presence.
He was very familiar with this sensation of power.
"A Hollow?" he muttered, unable to comprehend it but profoundly shocked.
'Can the power of a Hollow attach itself to a Soul Reaper?'
Asuka recalled the Mutated Hollows twisted by malice on the Fuyuki City Bridge.
'Is this Berserker also a twisted existence?'
"Hey, you, the Soul Reaper over there!"
Ignoring the gazes of the surrounding Servants, Asuka spoke directly to him, initiating a one-on-one conversation.
"What is your name? Why are you here? And why have you become like this?"
However, the only response he received was a beastly growl from deep within the Berserker's throat.
"PIL... Pe... *..."
That kind of sound did not seem like something a rational person could produce at all.
"Stripped of your reason... or have you already become a walking corpse?" Asuka furrowed his brows, the unease in his heart growing stronger.
'If other Soul Reapers are also being dragged into this so-called Holy Grail War, even turning into mindless monsters to be commanded by others...'
'The anomalies of this world are probably far more exaggerated than I understood.'
"Mongrel, how dare you ignore my presence!"
A furious roar interrupted Asuka's thoughts.
How could Gilgamesh, who was currently entangled in battle with the Berserker, tolerate someone completely ignoring him to chat with his opponent!
As the oldest king, he was accustomed to being the center of attention, accustomed to everyone trembling and groveling at his feet.
And now, this black-clad mongrel who had suddenly appeared didn't even come to pay his respects first, but instead went to talk to that mad dog?
Truly a crime worthy of ten thousand deaths!
Hum!!
The golden ripples behind Gilgamesh expanded once more, and dozens of radiant Noble Phantasms emerged like a peacock spreading its tail feathers.
This time, their sharp points were also aimed at Asuka on the ground!
"Die, mongrel!"
Swish, swish, swish—!
Golden streams of light tore through the night sky, crashing down with lethal momentum.
...
Asuka's eyes sharpened, and he chose not to take the attack head-on.
On one hand, he was unsure of the destructive power of the opponent's weapons, and recklessly blocking them might put him at a disadvantage. But more importantly...
He could sense the condition of Sumire Kamado behind him.
Under Asuka's cover, she was currently retreating from the dock area. At the same time, the magical energy within her body was draining at an alarming rate.
The very moment Asuka underwent [Materialization] and sliced open the shipping container, he felt Sumire's magical energy nearing rock bottom.
It was a sense of weakness from being forcibly drained, clearly transmitted to Asuka through their contractual connection.
'...I forgot this girl's magical energy reserves are only at E-rank.' Asuka sighed helplessly in his heart.
'If I engage in high-intensity combat under these circumstances, Sumire will likely pass out from magical energy depletion before I can even defeat the enemy. It might even endanger her life.'
'I can't waste her magical energy...'
Facing the rain of Noble Phantasms falling from the sky, Asuka's figure began to blur.
Boom, boom, boom, boom—!!
Dozens of Noble Phantasms viciously bombarded the spot where Asuka had just been standing. The concrete ground was instantly blasted into powder, and the massive shockwave kicked up a sky full of dust and smoke.
"Hmph, reduced to ashes, are you?" Gilgamesh sneered.
But the next second, his smile froze on his face.
As the dust settled, that black-clad figure appeared completely unscathed at the edge of the explosion's radius.
Shunpo.
It was a footwork technique unique to Soul Reapers, utilizing Reiryoku to unleash extreme bursts of speed in an instant.
'Right now, I just need to use the absolute minimum amount of magical energy and the speed boosts from my Breathing Style to dodge. I must avoid combat as much as possible.'
Asuka lightly patted the dust off his Shihakusho, his expression calm, as if that apocalyptic attack had been nothing more than a gentle breeze brushing against his face.
"This guy..."
The Spearman's pupils shrank slightly. "There are no traces of magical energy flow... Is it a purely physical movement technique? With that kind of speed, his Agility must be at least A-rank!"
Artoria's internal vigilance also rose to its peak. "He isn't relying on magical energy enhancement, but inherently possesses this kind of speed... This Servant is very dangerous."
Because the magical energy Asuka used was so faint, they couldn't even detect it.
But Asuka didn't care about their evaluations; right now, he only wanted to figure out the origins of that Berserker.
"Are you only capable of scurrying around like a rat?"
Gilgamesh's fury burned even hotter, and the number of golden ripples behind him instantly doubled. "Then I shall see just how long you can keep dodging!"
Even more Noble Phantasms poked their heads out. This time, they weren't just aimed at Asuka and the nearby Berserker; they enveloped the entire dock area.
Including Artoria and the Spearman not far away, as well as the lightning-fast Iskandar—all were caught within the attack range.
"This is way too reckless!" Iskandar laughed heartily as he steered his chariot into the sky. "You glittering fellow, are you planning to bury us all here?"
"Shut up! Since you are all eyesores here, then disappear together!"
Gilgamesh had completely lost his temper.
To him, this had already become a battle to defend his dignity.
Right at this critical juncture.
Tohsaka Manor, underground magic workshop.
Tokiomi Tohsaka watched the nearly out-of-control scene in his crystal ball, his elegant brows locked tightly together.
"The King... is being too impulsive," he muttered to himself in a low voice.
The current situation had completely exceeded his expectations.
That suddenly appearing Avenger, although seemingly possessing a weak magical energy reaction, had just displayed a bizarre movement technique that made Tokiomi feel a trace of unease.
'Is he a Heroic Spirit who fights purely relying on his physical body? Or does he have an ability similar to an Assassin?'
'There is far too little intelligence regarding this class.'
'Moreover, if Gilgamesh is allowed to go on a massacre here, not only will it expose our trump cards prematurely, but it will also likely cause the other Masters to unite against the Tohsaka Family.'
'This does not align with a surefire strategy for victory.'
Tokiomi Tohsaka looked at the Command Spells on the back of his hand. A flash of reluctance passed through his eyes, but it quickly turned into absolute resolve.
He raised his right hand, and the red Command Spells emitted a dazzling light.
"By the name of the Command Spell, I order you—"
Although Tokiomi's voice was calm, it pierced through space via the Magic Circuits, echoing directly within Gilgamesh's mind.
"King of Heroes, please quell your anger and retreat."
Back on the dock battlefield.
Gilgamesh, who was just preparing to slaughter that reckless black-clad mongrel, suddenly stiffened.
A powerful suppressive force surged from the depths of his soul, forcefully interrupting his actions.
And it forcibly compelled his Saint Graph to transition into a [Spiritual Body]!