Vast lightning tore through the sky, like a raging river rampaging through the night.
Looking closely, it was countless bolts of lightning surging, as if a god of thunder was releasing its fury.
"Oh no, our position is exposed."
Maiya's face filled with terror as she shouted, "Run, Kiritsugu!"
She didn't need to warn him. Kiritsugu didn't even have time to pack up his sniper rifle before fleeing into the distance.
His magic, Time Alter -
Was an art passed down through the Emiya Family, a type of bounded field dealing with time manipulation.
And for practical combat, Kiritsugu had scaled it down to within his body, allowing him to briefly interfere with his own time.
In an instant,
His blood flow accelerated, his hemoglobin burned, and his speed began to increase step by step.
In a short time,
He had surpassed human limits, leaving behind afterimages as he ran.
But no matter how fast he was, he couldn't outrun lightning.
In just a moment, the overwhelming lightning poured down like a mountain torrent or tsunami. Before he could even scream, he and everything around him was completely reduced to rubble.
"He... is dead?"
Feeling the connection severed, a flicker of complexity appeared in Artoria's eyes.
Though she greatly disliked Kiritsugu,
Now that he was dead, would she have to disappear too?
"Hey, Artoria. If you don't want to disappear, how about becoming my Servant?"
Artoria looked at Ayato in surprise and asked instinctively, "What are you talking about? You're also a Servant..."
She didn't finish her sentence because she saw the mark flash on Ayato's left hand.
Artoria's eyes widened. "You're not a Servant? You're a Master?"
"That's right."
Ayato said calmly. "I never claimed to be a Servant. You all just assumed."
"Th-This..."
Artoria's ahoge stood on end. She was somewhat dumbfounded.
'Could a Devil become a Master?'
'Wasn't this too absurd?'
But feeling herself about to disappear, in her desperation, Artoria finally spoke. "Then, I leave everything to you."
"As you wish."
Ayato raised his left hand and chanted the spell.
Hum!
The Command Spell flashed briefly, and Artoria completely became Ayato's Servant.
"How do you feel?"
Ayato smiled. "My magical energy is great, isn't it?"
Artoria looked at Ayato with complicated eyes, but finally nodded. "It's great. I've never felt such abundant magical energy."
"Actually, I have other great qualities too."
"Master, please don't say things that could be misunderstood."
"Fine, fine. I was just joking."
Artoria sighed. "I couldn't tell it was a joke."
To continue participating in the Holy Grail War, becoming this man's Servant... she didn't know if it was right or wrong.
Ayato didn't respond. "Alright, it's getting late. Let's go back and rest. We can talk about everything tomorrow."
Hearing this, Artoria nodded.
Seeing this, Ayato turned, took Medusa's hand, and walked outside.
Medusa struggled slightly and muttered, "Acting like that with another woman in front of me, and still holding my hand."
Ayato turned his head and said seriously, "Don't worry, you're my first Servant. You have a special meaning."
"That's not the point."
Medusa felt that since meeting Ayato, she had become more talkative.
'But... I am special?'
Thinking this, the corner of Medusa's mouth curled up slightly.
'Wait!'
'No!'
'How did I get diverted?'
Medusa shook her head repeatedly, staring at Ayato.
'This man was really bad and a jerk.'
Ayato smiled helplessly. "How about this: when we get back, let's become even closer."
Hearing this, Medusa looked skeptical. "You're not thinking of something bad, are you?"
'We had only known each other for two days.'
'Wasn't this too fast?'
"Don't worry. I just want you to completely belong to me, to be together forever. Don't overthink it."
"Together... forever?"
Medusa's cheeks rapidly heated up, the pupils behind her blindfold constantly contracting.
'Could she, right now, really be with Master forever?'
She admitted!
She had feelings for Ayato. Otherwise, she wouldn't have agreed to date.
But she was, after all, a Servant, only able to exist in this world for a very short time.
If this could really change everything...
Then... that would be really wonderful.
"What exactly is going on?"
Following behind the two, the corner of Artoria's mouth twitched.
She had a feeling she had walked into a big trouble.