"So, you're not exactly a loyal Heroic Spirit either," Medea remarked. She found Archer's ruthlessness intriguing, though not unpleasant.
"A wise man knows when to adapt. Masters choose Servants, but Servants also choose their Masters," Archer replied.
Having long served as a cleaner for the Counter Force, Archer was accustomed to betrayal and being betrayed. Considering his moral compromises, his mere "ruthlessness" made him practically a saint.
"Then I'll be taking her with me. See you in the finals!" Archer declared.
"Wait, you were already here, weren't you!" Jason struggled against his restraints, but Medea kicked him to the ground and bound his limbs with magic. Still refusing to give up, he squirmed forward like a trapped insect, inching toward escape.
"Why didn't you step in sooner? Aren't we allies? Why were you just standing there watching?"
Archer averted his gaze. He had been present from the start, technically allied with Medea. If Rin Tohsaka hadn't recklessly provoked Medea's anger while at such a disadvantage, he would have watched the scene play out to its conclusion.
Though Archer verbally threatened to kill Rin Tohsaka, his true motive was to provoke Shirou Emiya into using a Command Spell. He knew himself too well; Shirou could never stand by and watch someone he knew be killed before his eyes. After all, Shirou had once aspired to be a Hero of Justice, and even after abandoning that path, he would never resort to wanton slaughter.
"Since we've reached an understanding, I'll take my leave," Medea said, dragging Jason away like a discarded dog.
Completely drained of color, Jason wished he could return to the Throne of Heroes immediately.
"How long do you plan to sit on the ground, Master?" Archer asked, even though no formal contract had been established yet.
"Don't call me that! I haven't decided to make you my servant yet!" Rin retorted.
Rin Tohsaka eyed Archer suspiciously. She knew he didn't get along with the current Shirou Emiya, but his behavior was bizarre. He had threatened to kill her earlier, yet now he was eagerly volunteering to become her servant.
"Are you really Shirou Emiya? Your personality is completely different!"
"People change. If you don't want me, that's fine. I can always find that blue-haired seaweed-head. He has a better chance of defeating Caster anyway."
Of course, Archer had no intention of choosing Shinji; he was merely teasing Rin.
Rin took the bait. She couldn't afford to withdraw from the Holy Grail War now. Given the situation in Fuyuki, the Mages' Association would undoubtedly hold the Tohsaka Family responsible.
"Forget about Shinji. I accept your request... You won't betray me like you betrayed Shirou, will you?"
"Impossible, Rin. Your aptitude as a Magus is truly remarkable. My stats are further enhanced under your command. You could even be considered the most outstanding Master in this Holy Grail War."
Archer spoke the truth. "That's why betrayal is absolutely impossible now," he continued. "I've finally found a way to fulfill my wish, and I won't let it slip through my fingers this time."
"I hope you keep your word."
Rin Tohsaka renewed her contract with Archer, and her last Command Spell resurfaced. Rin lowered her guard slightly; with this Command Spell, she could at least maintain some control over Archer.
"I will!" Archer's gaze burned with unwavering resolve. This was his closest chance yet to realize his long-cherished dream. He truly wouldn't betray her this time.
-
"So Gilgamesh lost too..." Cu Chulainn muttered, watching Jiang You's victory announcement. Suddenly, he clutched his chest, his face turning ashen as he nearly collapsed.
"Lancer!" Bazett rushed to support him. "What's wrong?"
"Probably aftereffects from the duel," Cu Chulainn waved dismissively. "The losers usually weaken for a while. You weren't exactly in better shape yourself, Master."
He refused to show weakness. The shock of defeat had momentarily stunned him, even his Heroic Spirit body had been affected. How much more vulnerable must his Master's mortal frame be? He wouldn't let her outdo him in resilience.
-
"It must be agonizing, even if you don't understand what's happening. Gilgamesh's soul seems to have been broken down into pure magical energy, unconsciously trying to return to the Outer World. It's roughly equivalent to collecting the souls of five Heroic Spirits. Your function as the Lesser Grail has already begun."
Shinji Matou stumbled back home, collapsed onto his bed, and writhed in agony, letting out heart-wrenching screams. It was a testament to his desperate attempts to maintain his image that he didn't burst into tears on the spot.
"If I hadn't used Engraving Worms to temporarily open your magic circuits, you'd already be sprouting flesh, using it to replace magical energy and sustain the Holy Grail's function. Hurry up and thank me!"
The incessant voice nagging Shinji's mind belonged to Zouken. Ever since learning of Sakura Matou's disappearance, he had noticed his connection to the worms within her body had vanished, immediately realizing what had transpired. He had anticipated this and secretly planted countermeasures within Shinji long ago.
If Jiang You hadn't offered the Soul Crystal as a prize, Zouken would likely have remained dormant until the end of the Holy Grail War.
Zouken understood the value of the Soul Crystal. It was the core component of the Holy Grail, and using it to achieve his long-cherished dream of immortality might even be simpler than using the Grail itself. He couldn't possibly let it slip through his fingers. So he modified Shinji Matou's body, implanting a fragment of the Holy Grail within him.
This modification differed from Gilgamesh's forcible implantation of a Grail fragment into Illya's heart in the original timeline. Zouken still needed Shinji as a vessel and couldn't afford to incapacitate him. Even if Shinji lost mobility, the worms within his body would assist his movements. Zouken also temporarily halted the progression of Shinji's Holy Grailification.
His plan proved sound. Gilgamesh's departure had nearly filled the Lesser Grail. By detonating the contingency he had hidden within Lancer, Zouken could gather the souls of all six Servants. The Holy Grail was practically in his grasp.
"I'm impressed you managed to endure this long," Zouken remarked. He knew Shinji's character well: arrogant in victory, cowardly in defeat, and incapable of enduring even the slightest hardship. Yet Shinji had somehow managed to endure the pain until he reached home before collapsing into tears—a sign of some growth, at least.
"It seems you truly enjoy these duels. Perfect. Once you claim the Soul Crystal, you'll become a true Magus. Win, and the Crystal is yours. The Grail, however, belongs to me."
"I'll become a true Magus!" Shinji Matou cried and laughed hysterically, his face a chaotic mess of conflicting emotions.
"Just you wait! Victory in this Duel will undoubtedly be mine!"
"Then this old man will eagerly await it," Zouken chuckled, though the thought was impossible. I'll take both those things for myself!