In Fuyuki City, the raging fire had already dyed the sky crimson. Panicked crowds, families in tow, were everywhere trying to flee the city, along with gridlocked convoys of vehicles.
Within the city, Kirei Kotomine and Kiritsugu Emiya were currently standing on the roofs of separate residential buildings, staring at each other from across the distance.
Kirei Kotomine stared intently at Kiritsugu Emiya, one hand tightly clutching his own heart, as he asked the man before him in a trembling voice.
"Kiritsugu Emiya, what is your purpose for participating in this Holy Grail War?"
Kiritsugu Emiya aimed the submachine gun in his hand at Kirei Kotomine. Hearing Kirei Kotomine's question, he spoke without hesitation.
"To save the world!"
Kirei Kotomine's pupils constricted. When he first saw Kiritsugu Emiya's profile at Tohsaka Tokiomi's place, he noticed that Kiritsugu performed various assassinations without regard for his own life, where the rewards were completely disproportionate to the risks. He concluded then that Kiritsugu was someone who could make him understand the meaning of life. At this moment, Kirei Kotomine, who was in a state of chaos without a defined sense of good or evil, burst into loud laughter upon hearing Kiritsugu Emiya's wish.
"Hahahaha, to save the world? I understand, Kiritsugu Emiya."
After speaking, Kirei Kotomine completely ignored the submachine gun Kiritsugu Emiya was pointing at his back. He turned around, muttering to himself, and walked away into the distance.
"To save, to save... Yes, as a Servant of the Lord, shouldn't I go and save others..."
Kiritsugu Emiya silently lowered his arm and watched Kirei Kotomine's disappearing figure. Then, he once again resolutely leaped across the burning houses, heading toward Mount Ryudo.
Aboard the hanging gardens of babylon, Rin had no idea that the void in the heart of Kirei Kotomine—who had been giving her a headache for a long time—had been filled just like that by a single sentence from this man, Kiritsugu Emiya.
Meanwhile, Rin was standing at the edge of the hanging gardens of babylon, looking down at Mount Ryudo below.
Just a moment ago, the hanging gardens of babylon had arrived above Mount Ryudo. Rin looked down at the surging waves of black mud with a headache before turning her head to look at Gilgamesh and Caster beside her.
"Caster, Gilgamesh, do you have any ideas?"
"Hah, girl, shouldn't this be something for you to solve? Don't forget, assisting this King in retrieving the Holy Grail was the promise you made."
"Ugh, don't start bickering with me at a time like this. I'm really out of options here."
Rin looked at the expanding black hole below and said to Gold Flashy with a headache, 'This situation is completely beyond the original story. As if I could handle this! Oh no, did I really screw up?'
Caster stepped forward with a smile at this moment.
"Master, by using the hanging gardens of babylon as the sealing center, I can set up a spell capable of sealing the Holy Grail's magical energy and Angra Mainyu. However, during this period, my ritual must not be interrupted."
"Really? That's great! Caster, go ahead and do it. Hey, Gilgamesh, what's with that look? You're not reluctant to part with this palace, are you?"
In the face of Rin's words, Gilgamesh remained serious and stared at Rin, saying:
"Fool. You don't actually think that piece of trash was destroyed by me just now, do you? That trash simply realized it couldn't do anything to me and is now hiding. During the sealing ritual, that trash will surely counterattack immediately."
"Ah, no way, it didn't die even after taking an Sword of Rupture to the face?"
"Girl, magic is currently an existence far beyond your understanding. Although that trash isn't a true Magus, he's about halfway there. Magic is not that simple."
Gilgamesh couldn't help but comfort the suddenly dejected Rin.
"However, girl, even in my era, you would be considered a decent talent. Don't be discouraged. Now, fulfill your duty, assist this King, and make a decision."
Hearing Gilgamesh's comfort, Rin glanced up at him. 'This Gold Flashy guy can actually comfort people? Who would've thought... Oh, no, this guy can hear my thoughts.'
Sure enough, Gilgamesh's eye twitched, revealing the irritation in his heart.
Rin decisively acted cute towards Gilgamesh, staring at him with watery eyes and a pitiful expression.
"Um, I didn't mean it. It's your fault for eavesdropping on my thoughts..."
Looking at the girl before him who was joking around, Gilgamesh waved his hand dismissively, indicating he'd let it slide this time.
"Enough, girl. Hurry up and present a plan to this King."
"Ah, understood. So, Gilgamesh, do you have any more of those gems you gave me before? Something similar is fine, fire-attribute would be best."
Gilgamesh didn't answer but instead summoned Golden Ripples, bringing forth a golden tray. On the tray was a large pile of pure magical gems and rubies containing a vast amount of fire elements.
Rin looked at the pile of gems, swallowed hard, snatched them from Gilgamesh's hand, and then spoke.
"Then, Caster, help me process these gems into my spell Formula first, and then focus all your efforts on setting up the seal. Gilgamesh, please stop the spread of the black mud while we prepare the gems. Once I finish the Formula, we'll use this Hanging Gardens as a base to start a full-scale counterattack and seal her in one go!"
Caster smiled and nodded at Rin, and Gilgamesh also nodded to signify his agreement with Tohsaka Rin's plan. Then, they each began to act.
Gilgamesh, driving a newly summoned Sun Chariot, arrived at Fuyuki City and began operating the chariot to continuously release solar flames, blocking the advance of the black mud.
At the same time, the hanging gardens of babylon also continuously fired Magical Cannons, coordinating with Gilgamesh to cut off the black mud.
Rin and Caster had already returned to the main hall. Rin laboriously placed the tray full of gems in the hall, then extended her finger, condensed her magical energy, and began writing Runic Script on the floor of the hall.
Soon, Rin had covered the floor of the hall with dense Runic Script. She then stood up and spoke to Caster.
"Caster, this is the Formula for my 'Innocentius'. Because I'm still young, the mana consumption of this Formula is too much of a burden for me. I previously planned to combine this Formula with Gem Magic, compressing it into gems. This way, I can not only cast multiple instances of this Formula simultaneously, but also shift most of the mana burden onto the gems' own energy."
"Master, that's a brilliant idea."
"But Caster, I'm stuck on the step of compressing the Formula into the gems."
Saying this, Rin picked up a gem and began to demonstrate. Sure enough, as the runes were continuously compressed into the gem, cracks began to appear until it shattered into pieces on the ground.
Caster, a Magus from the Age of Gods, saw the problem at a glance after watching the whole process and spoke up.
"Master, I see the issue. I'll take over this step from here. It requires Triple Casting. While compressing the runes and converting the gem, one also needs to use Reinforcement Magic to stabilize the gem's structure."
"Ah, Triple Casting?"
"Yes, it's just a casting technique. Master, since you can use your talent to cast while multitasking, I believe you'll master this technique soon as well. But for now, leave it to me."
"Alright, then I'll leave it to you, Caster. Once this batch of gems is finished, we'll have an army of flames."
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