It's Said Interrupting a Finisher is a Skill

"Aaaahhhhh—I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die!"

In the dark, gloomy forest, a war chariot crackling with electricity charged about, crushing countless grotesque demons beneath its wheels, its momentum awe-inspiring.

"I say, you're my Master, King of Conquerors', so show some backbone, won't you?"

A burly man in a red cloak on the chariot manipulated the reins while wielding a sword to parry and slash. However, more than attacking, he was focused on protecting the frail figure behind him.

"But Rider—"

On the same battlefield, a swordsman clad in knightly armor with a delicate appearance also brandished her invisible sword, bravely fighting the demons. Although fatigue had set in from the continuous battles, her movements remained firm and fluid.

"Look at Saber, she's just a young girl and she's holding up fine, yet you're acting so pathetic. How can you become a proper man if you're like this!"

The two peerless warriors mentioned above were undeniably powerful, yet they were currently forced into such a dire predicament. This was because the demons they fought, while physically weak and easily felled, were endless in number. Even more annoyingly, they possessed regenerative abilities, making it impossible to resolve the situation quickly.

Of course, Rider's condition was much better than Saber's, who had been confronting Caster all along. Riding on the Gordius Wheel, his stamina consumption was less than Saber's, who relied on her own two feet. When facing any crisis, he could leap into the air and evade it safely.

However, Rider knew his own struggles. With his high mobility, he could have easily taken to the skies in his chariot and departed with ease, so why was he being surrounded by a pack of lowly demons? It was because when he made his grand entrance earlier, he had boasted about killing Caster. To his dismay, his bravado backfired. Caster was clearly alive and well, leaving him no choice but to stay. Otherwise, his dignity as a king and his reputation as a Heroic Spirit would be completely lost. Therefore, he had to quickly eliminate that detestable heretic to salvage some of his honor (and pride).

"Hey, you swordsman over there!"

Given that Caster was a common enemy, Rider and Saber, despite having no basis of trust between them, weren't foolish enough to fight each other. However, that was the extent of their interaction. The two Heroic Spirits had been fighting independently until now, without interfering with each other, let alone cooperating.

If they wanted to end this quickly, their current approach was obviously not going to work. Thus, Rider finally lowered his guard and called out.

"What is it?"

Saber responded coldly. However, this was the best attitude she could muster at the moment. After witnessing Caster's actions towards the children and his frenzied demeanor, even the most well-mannered person would struggle to maintain their composure.

"Get on my Gordius Wheel. We'll search for Caster's hiding place from the air. Then, I'll clear the surrounding obstacles with the Gordius Wheel as the vanguard, and you'll unleash a decisive blow to finish him off."

Without explaining the benefits and risks or appealing to emotions, Rider directly stated his plan in a declarative tone, as if no refusal would be accepted.

Upon hearing his words, Saber did not become angry at his impolite attitude. She even turned her head towards him, meeting his gaze for a brief moment. Her sword remained unaffected, continuing to slay the approaching demons with fluid grace.

It was unclear what kind of exchange occurred between the two Heroic Spirits in some dimension during that instant. However, the moment their gazes parted, Saber pushed off the ground with great force and leaped high into the air. At that moment, Rider's chariot ascended with thunderous speed, catching Saber just as she reached her apex and began to descend under gravity.

Kiritsugu Emiya had once been compared to a precision killing machine. This was because every plan and action he took was as efficient and accurate as a machine, devoid of any impurities.

Having calculated and rehearsed every possible scenario in his mind countless times, he had naturally considered what tactics to employ if an opponent infiltrated his castle. He would leverage his home-field advantage to engage in guerrilla warfare with the opponent, focusing on harassment. When the opponent showed an opening, he would deliver a killing blow with the Origin Bullet. While the intermediate process varied depending on the opponent, this overall strategy remained effective. Basically, all the other Masters participating in this war, except for the student who was always on Rider's chariot, could be dealt with in this manner.

But what if an unexpected special situation arose? What if the opponent's defenses were impenetrable, their attacks fierce, and their mental vigilance unwavering, leaving no room for exploitation? What should be done in such a situation?

Although the probability of this was extremely low, Kiritsugu had prepared a contingency plan for this possibility.

And now, pushed to the brink, he activated this contingency plan to seize the hope of turning the tide.

"Boom!"

The walls, floor, and even the ceiling of the corridor where he and Kayneth were located simultaneously erupted in a violent explosion. The shockwave vibrated through the air, debris flew through the sky, and the deafening roar tore at their eardrums. The experience within felt like standing at the epicenter of a massive earthquake, the mighty power of nature's creation manifesting in this small space. Although the degree and scale were far smaller than the original, it was enough to destroy everything within.

Before activating the bombs he had hidden in his home, Kiritsugu had already activated Time Alter to its maximum. When the explosion began, he had already adjusted himself to the most appropriate angle to protect his body. Then, as the outer wall collapsed—or rather, as the outer wall began to collapse but the debris had not yet fallen—he tucked his head into his arms and rammed backward, using the cushioning effect of the accumulated snow outside to land safely. Well, if "safely" could be considered the state when accompanied by a series of debuffs such as bleeding from all seven orifices, concussion, temporary deafness, and extreme strain on the heart due to mana depletion.

However, no matter what, his life was saved.

As for his opponent, from the outside, one-fourth of the castle (centered on the corridor just now) had been reduced to ruins. Even Moon Cell could not withstand the pressure of tens of tons of stone, not to mention the damage from the explosion and flying debris earlier.

This... probably counts as a win... I didn't expect it to come to this after just one battle... Irisviel...

Kiritsugu concentrated all his energy to maintain consciousness amidst the intense pain and fatigue. He crawled laboriously through the snow, using all four limbs. Even though the formidable enemy was dealt with, the forest was still fraught with danger, and he had to move to a safe place to rest—

Through his vision, blurred by blood, the Magus Killer saw a handsome man in light armor wielding twin guns. This person was not a stranger; he had seen him before. A Servant, the Archer class. Does that mean that Magus isn't dead yet?

He had no strength left, and even in peak condition, how could a human possibly contend with a Servant? However, this was not a dead end—

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"By the name of Command Seals, Saber, come to me!"

The divine bull, treading on thunder, skimmed the low altitude with the chariot behind it. Among the passengers, besides Weber, who was so terrified by Saber's aura that he could only hide in Rider's embrace, the other two carefully scanned the ground with their extraordinary eyesight.

However, Saber was also glancing at the Heroic Spirit beside her—she automatically ignored the trembling Master—Alexander the Great, the Conqueror. Although they were not from the same era, Saber had some knowledge of him thanks to the knowledge bestowed by the Holy Grail, so she had some psychological preparation for his unrestrained style of conduct. Even so, she was still startled by Rider's audacious proposal earlier.

The two were not allies; strictly speaking, they were enemies. They were merely on the same front temporarily, cooperating in battle while also guarding against potential backstabbing. Yet, Rider directly proposed cooperation to her, even stating his plan without elaborating on the benefits and risks.

The King of Conquerors truly lives up to his name. His demeanor alone is beyond my reach. He doesn't know me, yet he can cooperate with me, even sharing his Noble Phantasm and allowing me to get so close to his Master. Where does this trust come from?

Looking around, she saw only evergreen coniferous forests or demons aimlessly circling like flies after losing their target. Caster's figure was nowhere to be seen, so Saber shifted her gaze back to her fellow passenger.

Or perhaps... he doesn't trust me at all. The cooperation offer was just a test to see if my disposition was worthy of being treated as a "hero." If I had been hesitant then, he would have simply flown away... And as a hero of such a renowned legend, he must have his own unique trump cards, which is why he felt confident letting me on his chariot. He appears carefree but is actually quite meticulous? This is a formidable opponent.

"Found him!"

Saber, who was analyzing Rider in secret, was brought back to attention by a deep voice. Following the direction of the red-haired man's gaze, she saw a strange man in peculiar robes with bulging eyes, hiding in a place concealed by tree shade and piled debris, holding a grimoire and muttering incantations.

Saber silently raised her sword. Since their side had discovered the enemy, and given Caster's sensitivity to magic, it was natural that the enemy had also discovered them. Therefore, they had to strike with lightning speed for a decisive blow, otherwise, it would be difficult to find him again if he escaped.

The lightning flashed intensely, and the chariot's speed suddenly increased. Rider gripped the reins, aiming directly at Caster. However, the latter showed no sign of the urgency of impending death. Instead, he shouted:

"You filthy ant, who allowed you to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Saint? Accept the judgment for profaning the sacred!"

Countless tentacles emerged from the surrounding shadows. Rider raised his sword and slashed in all directions. The lightning struck the abominable limbs, emitting a scorched smell. Saber gazed at the enemy with eyes as clear as lake water, searching for the optimal moment to strike.

Finally, a thick tentacle broke through the defense line and wrapped around the chariot's pole. Even though it was severed in the next instant, the chariot's balance and trajectory were affected.

Not yet…

More tentacles wrapped around the chariot's shafts and axle. Rider had to knock Weber down at his feet to free up more space to attack the invaders, while Saber still hadn't moved.

Almost there…

A tentacle bound Rider's hand, which was controlling the reins. The burly man roared, released the reins, and pulled back with all his might, snapping it clean off. However, in the blink of an eye, multiple tentacles stretched out again. The situation was dire, yet Saber was still waiting.

It's coming soon…

The divine oxen, without reins, still moved steadily along the correct track. Although Rider was struggling to fend for himself, he would rather take the attacks himself than allow Saber's path to be obstructed.

It's time!

Saber suddenly leaped up. The fierce wind whistling past her blade transformed into sharp slashes of light, scattering all the nearby tentacles. The Holy Sword, temporarily revealed from its concealment by the barrier, displayed its magnificent radiance, its sharp edge pointing directly at Caster. Thanks to the conditions Rider had secured for himself, Saber was certain this strike was flawless.

"That sword is—"

Rider witnessed the true nature of the Noble Phantasm Saber held. His doubts about Saber's abilities immediately vanished, for the sword's symbol was invincibility, and its wielder would surely not fail to meet expectations of victory—

"Die—"

"By the Command Seals, come to me, Saber!"

The Knight King's finishing blow was interrupted by a voice from another space. Just as the Holy Sword was about to cleave Caster's head, the Heroic Spirit wielding the sword vanished into mid-air, maintaining her attacking pose.

Seeing this, Rider hurriedly drove the chariot forward, intending to land the final blow himself. Unfortunately, he was a moment too late. Caster's figure was swallowed by a demon that erupted from the ground, and then burrowed back into the earth, disappearing without a trace.

--- Author's Notes ---

Jizi didn't appear at all this chapter…

Regarding when the C route will be updated: Well, I want both routes to conclude around the same time, so I need to rush this one a bit (consider it "rushing"). Please don't hit me.

Also, I slightly exaggerated Caster's strength; just consider Saber and Rider to have been caught off guard. The next time they fight, the two won't be so passive.

As for the issue of the explosion sounds—with the senses of a Heroic Spirit, they would definitely have heard Kiritsugu's massive explosion. But even if they heard it, what could Saber and Rider do? Their primary target was still Caster, right? Besides, one of them has a Master with them, and the other is at odds with their Master and doesn't get summoned unless necessary, so there's no reason for the explosion to affect them.