Fate: How About a New Savior?

It had been twenty years since the last time he'd entered the site of the Greater Grail.

Seeing the vast hollow once more, Shiomi couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.

"It looks like a natural cave. Was this always part of Fuyuki City?" Mash asked.

Olga Marie explained, "It's a semi-natural, semi-artificial space—Magus have spent years carving it out as a workshop."

"More than that," Shiomi added, scanning the entrance and surrounding terrain, "three hundred years ago, the ancestors of the Tohsaka, Matou, and Einzbern families constructed the Greater Grail ritual here, under the witness of the Second Magician, Zelretch."

There were no signs of Servants or magical energy nearby. It didn't seem like anyone would be launching a surprise attack here.

The surrounding terrain was narrow and uneven—easy to be completely wiped out by an attack like the one Archer had demonstrated earlier.

Shiomi himself could probably escape, but even with Mash's shield, the other three wouldn't survive a potential landslide.

"Tohsaka? You mean the same Tohsaka from that giant crater you showed us earlier?" Ritsuka connected the dots.

"That's right. The Tohsaka family is one of the three founding families of the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki," Shiomi said. "But after three centuries, both the Einzbern and Matou lines have declined. The Matou especially—they haven't produced a single descendant with Magus potential."

Olga Marie nodded repeatedly. "So in reality, only the Tohsaka family still holds any real strength. I've met the current head, Rin Tohsaka, a few times. She's a very unorthodox Magus."

"By the way," Shiomi added with a grin, turning to the group, "Sakura is actually from the Tohsaka family too."

"Eh?" All three of them exclaimed at once.

"Back then, Sakura Tohsaka and Rin were born at the same time, both with exceptional magical aptitude. But Magecraft can only be passed down to one heir," Shiomi said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "So Sakura was adopted by me. Her magical framework is completely independent now, but by blood, she's still a Tohsaka descendant."

Mash, ever expressive, looked like something had just clicked. "No wonder I always felt Miss Sakura didn't really resemble you…"

"But in personality, she's kind of like the teacher," Olga Marie muttered while chewing on her fingernail. "I'm so jealous of her."

"Eh?" Ritsuka blinked. "Jealous of what?"

"Nothing!" Olga Marie grabbed Ritsuka's face and twisted it. "Speaking of which, I still haven't settled things with you, newbie! Falling asleep during my meeting—just wait till we get back!"

Ritsuka screamed and begged for mercy. "S-sorry, Director~~!"

Mash joined in to help smooth things over.

There was no tension at all among the group. They looked nothing like a team heading into battle. Even so, Shiomi nodded.

"Yeah, that's good. If you're too tense, you won't last long on the front lines." Once the three had calmed down, he turned to face the cave. "Let's go. We shouldn't keep our hosts waiting."

...

On the way, the four members of the investigation team weren't stopped by anyone.

Shiomi used the time to pass along the intel Caster had left behind.

As they descended into the heart of the vast hollow, two figures standing atop the central platform immediately came into view.

Saber stood with both hands resting on the black Holy Sword planted before her. Next to her stood the silver-haired Archer, arms crossed.

"So it really is you, Archer." Shiomi stepped forward, spear in hand. "To think the Nameless Guardian would fall this far... how pitiful."

"Are you talking to me?" Archer replied with an indifferent look. "Maybe you've seen me somewhere before, but I don't know you."

Heroic Spirits rarely retain memories from past Holy Grail Wars, and guardians are no exception. It's also possible that the memories were erased by the Counter Force when he was summoned to this Singularity.

"You don't know me? Even better." Shiomi cast aside his last hesitation and pointed his spear at Saber. "Next question—Artoria, King of Knights. Why are you here!"

From what he knew, at the moment of her death, she had signed a contract with the world and joined the Holy Grail War to find a way to save Britannia. In the end, she should have abandoned that wish for the sake of the world, accepted her death, and departed for Avalon.

"I don't quite understand your question." Saber's tone was cold.

Her once-radiant armor was now tainted black, her hair a pale gold, and her body shrouded in the corrupted mana of the Holy Grail.

This was no longer the noble King of Knights Shiomi once knew.

"I mean—" Shiomi frowned. "You already gave up that wish for the world. So why are you here now, maintaining this Singularity, Artoria Pendragon!"

Faced with his sharp questioning, the darkened King of Knights finally responded. After a brief pause, she drew the sword embedded in the ground and pointed it at Shiomi.

"This is to save the world, Tenkei Shiomi." Her voice was still cold, filled with undisguised killing intent, but she clearly spoke his name. "If your name truly means you've received heaven's revelation, then step over my corpse first."

Shiomi could hear the cold ridicule in her words. The battle was now unavoidable, and he knew it.

He had only hoped to draw out more information from Saber.

At that moment, Mash rushed up with her shield and stood beside him.

"Mr. Shiomi, let me support you—!"

She was the only one who could fight alongside Shiomi against two Servants.

"A shield, huh?" Artoria responded calmly. "What a surprise. Let me test your defense with my Holy Sword."

Shiomi stole a glance at Archer.

He was well-acquainted with Artoria's combat style—Mash wouldn't be defeated that easily.

The real threat was Archer. If he completed the chant for his Reality Marble and pulled them into that inner world, the battle would turn against them fast, especially since they'd have to protect Olga Marie and Ritsuka.

"Mash, you hold off Artoria—" Shiomi lowered his stance, eyes locked on Archer. "I'll handle him and then back you up."

"Understood!"

Though she didn't know the reason behind his plan, Mash had no doubts and accepted his command without hesitation.

Shiomi raised his hand, several Runes appeared and affixed themselves to Mash, boosting her in multiple ways.

"Marie, Ritsuka! Support Mash!"

With those words, he shot forward like an arrow. As Artoria leapt down from the platform, he passed her in a flash, parrying their exchanged strikes, and charged straight for Archer, who had just nocked an arrow.