The Church's Evil / The Balance of the Battle

"Clang~"

In the instant their figures crossed, Gil found himself at a disadvantage. Although he disliked his opponent, Gil had to admit that his opponent was in his adult form and was indeed stronger than him in terms of basic abilities such as strength, speed, Mana.

"In terms of physical prowess and combat experience, I am far superior to you. What other tricks do you have up your sleeve now?"

"That's hard to say. Can your Master defeat Master?"

Gil understands that in his current state, he still cannot defeat that hateful version of himself head-on, but in this Holy Grail War, there are other ways to win besides Servant.

Almost the instant Gilgamesh attacked, Fujimaru Kyoya lunged at Kirei Kotomine. He knew his own fists were hard enough, and Kirei Kotomine should have been seriously injured.

"Nephew, it's not good to underestimate others like that."

Kirei Kotomine dodged the Holy Sword's edge while simultaneously counterattacking with his Black Keys. His agile movements showed no signs of injury—no, it should be said that he was even faster and stronger.

"Command Seal?"

Fujimaru Kyoya recalled another use of Command Seal. During the Sixth Singularity, his sister had used Command Seal to strengthen her body. However, such a luxury should only be affordable for special Command Seal like those from Chaldea that could replenish one a day. It was surprising that Kirei Kotomine could do it.

Kirei Kotomine couldn't do it, but the Church can.

"This is the fifth Holy Grail War, and in previous Holy Grail War, there were cases where Command Seal were not used up. You should know what happened to those Command Seal."

Kirei Kotomine rolled up his sleeves, revealing dense tattoos resembling those of a triad boss— the Command Seal passed down through generations of Supervisor of the Fuyuki Church.

How many Command Seal are there left?

Only Kirei Kotomine knows this.

Mana began to fill his body, and even without using any Magecraft or Church Miracle, he was incredibly powerful through sheer physical strength.

He was Executor of the Church, a clergyman who was less a priest and more Divine Role, a killer who hunted down heretics.

Whether it was due to the influence of Mana or not, the originally slender Black Keys began to expand, transforming from its original rapier shape into a broad-bladed two-handed sword.

The Black Keys are still not as sharp as the Holy Sword Black Keys, but they can be reused repeatedly. Furthermore Kirei Kotomine has a mysterious protective layer on his body, making it difficult for the sword to harm him.

"It's just Holy Shroud, no need to look so surprised."

Kirei Kotomine pulled open his collar, revealing some red fabric—the so-called "Holy Shroud," the legendary cloth used to wrap the remains of saints.

Of course, given his status, he wouldn't have access to the genuine article; these are merely highly similar replicas. If one were to trace their origins, they could even go back to the Renaissance era.

That was the era when the Executor organization was first established.

The original Executor, the Church's most terrifying enemy, wore divinely bestowed items.

However, no one in the Church dares to mention this history anymore. Whether the person in question was a heretic or a saint is no longer important. What matters is that the existence of the Executor gave the Church greater power.

"Clang~"

The defense of the Holy Shroud and the attack of the Black Keys achieved perfect coordination. Kirei Kotomine could not repeat the mistake he made when he met Emiya Kiritsugu. This time, his defense was at its best.

Although the Holy Sword is sharp, the Holy Shroud can use its properties to deflect most of the power, thus protecting Kirei Kotomine himself.

Such force deflection has its limits. As the momentum of the Flowing Water Sword accumulates, this defense will eventually be broken. However, Kirei Kotomine can afford to delay it.

Having already died and been resurrected by the Black Mud, ordinary fatal wounds would not kill him completely. Once Gilgamesh finished the battle, that would be the time for Fujimaru Kyoya to die.

Is this his victory...?

His killing intent and fighting spirit vanished once more, but this wasn't the first time Kirei Kotomine had encountered such a situation. His sense of crisis was instantly heightened; this feeling was...

"Damn it, Limitless Zen!"

Kirei Kotomine was blasted away again; this time, the Holy Shroud still didn't work at its full potential.

"As expected, your Holy Shroud is rather troublesome to defend against attacks that can unleash powerful force in an instant."

Fujimaru Kyoya clenched his fists. Although he knew Swordsmanship, that didn't stop him from hitting people with his fists.

Chapter 155 The Evil of the Church 22/102

Fujimaru Kyoya understands that he is very strong, but that does not mean he has the power to fight against a top-tier Servant like Gilgamesh.

Kirei Kotomine's Holy Shroud like a ball; his sword strikes against it were like hitting a ball with a stick—completely ineffective. But Wuji Limitless Zen was different.

The power that erupts in an instant is not like the gentle flow of water that gives the Holy Shroud time to react; it is a power that blasts it down in an instant.

This is also why Kirei Kotomine didn't guard against Fujimaru Kyoya attack in the first place.

"Boom!"

The walls crumbled layer by layer, and the decorations of the Fuyuki Church were clearly inferior to those of Ryuudou Temple. The floor broke after only a few hits, and it didn't seem as durable as Ryuudou Temple... able to withstand a beam of light.

Destroying Makoto's house should have been a gratifying thing, but Fujimaru Kyoya was not happy at all. A stench entered his nostrils. He had smelled this smell when he was simulating it. It was the smell of dead people.

As if sensing someone's arrival, the basement automatically lit up with firelight, allowing Fujimaru Kyoya to see the situation clearly.

Those things cannot be called human beings; "mummified corpses" would be a more accurate description.

"You actually have such refined tastes?"

Although Fujimaru Kyoya understood that the person in front of him was a person who enjoyed himself, the things in front of him were really too lowbrow.

The key issue is that these mummies are rather small.

"Of course not, but in order for Gilgamesh to continue to exist after the Holy Grail War, a certain price must be paid."

Kirei Kotomine slowly rose to his feet. To support a Servant for over ten years was perhaps a bit too much for an individual Magecraft.

"Servant, though they are a degraded form of Heroic Spirit, are still famous heroes in history. Summoning them is not something humans can do. The so-called Master is just a transit point."

During the Holy Grail War, the majority of the Mana summoned for Servant and used to power Servant is provided by the Holy Grail. The Master merely acts as an intermediary in supplying magical energy. If the Holy Grail War ends, how will the Mana for Servant be provided?

"You offer living people to Gilgamesh?"

"Of course, the essence of Mana is life force. My relationship with him isn't good enough to warrant using my own life to prolong his existence."

After the Fuyuki Great Fire, countless families were destroyed and many children were orphaned, including Fujimaru Kyoya's friend, Emiya Shirou.

"Of the children who died in the Fuyuki Great Fire, a few were adopted, and the rest were taken in by the Church. But have you seen any of those people at the Church during this time?"

"I thought they had been adopted away one after another."

Fujimaru Kyoya voiced his conjecture, since the Church only Kirei Kotomine, and it was impossible for them to raise too many children. Besides, it had been more than ten years, so it was normal for them to be adopted. However, it now seemed that Fujimaru Kyoya was completely wrong.

"That's what I said to the outside world, but that's the truth. I fed Gilgamesh with their lives and souls; only by doing so could he continue to live for ten years."

"I see. Then I have another reason to kill you."

If initially it was just a difference of stance, and later it was to avenge Tohsaka Rin, then now Fujimaru Kyoya genuinely wants to kill the person in front of him.

The Fuyuki Great Fire ten years ago was caused by these Magecraft, and now they're treating the victims like mummies.

These creatures are essentially pests, and killing pests is something humans should do.

"Bang!"

Another section of the wall broke, Gil fell next to Fujimaru Kyoya. Although it was clear that this guy was fighting very hard, it was obviously a bit difficult to face a stronger version of himself.

"How much longer can it last?"

"I don't know, maybe three minutes?"

Gil gripped his sword, but judging from his uneasy expression, it seemed unlikely he could gain those three minutes.

"I'll try to take him out in three minutes, and... give me a gun."

"Thump~"

A long spear landed at Fujimaru Kyoya's feet. Killing someone with the Flowing Water Sword requires building up momentum, and killing Kirei Kotomine with his fists would be a bit slow due to his special physique. So, it would be better to use both a sword and a spear at the same time.

It's still Imitation Fist, but this time the object of imitation isn't Lloyd but Zhao Tian.

Kirei Kotomine changed. Facing the incoming spear, he sensed a completely different artistic conception compared to his previous sword and fist attacks.

It was a spear technique as unpredictable as clouds; the moment the spear was thrust out Kirei Kotomine felt as if he were being controlled by a giant hand.

Almost all possibilities were rejected, leaving only the "path" that Fujimaru Kyoya had given him.

This is the most basic military strategy: surround three sides and leave one open, blocking all other routes so that the enemy can escape to the place you want.

When Fujimaru Kyoya still Zhao Tian, he incorporated his military leadership mindset into his spear techniques. In addition, he always led small groups of soldiers into battle, making his army as flexible and unpredictable as his spear skills.

Every dodge Kirei Kotomine makes now is within Fujimaru Kyoya's calculations. Don't be fooled by his effortless dodging; his inner anxiety is considerable.

Because Fujimaru Kyoya getting closer, inching closer, until he was so close that there was no way to dodge.

Got you?

The moment Fujimaru Kyoya raised his sword, he cornered Kirei Kotomine. Only in that moment could he laugh and deliver a fatal blow to this bastard.

"Clang~"

The Holy Sword in his left hand slashed down, cutting through rows of Black Keys used to block, and landed on Kirei Kotomine. At that moment Holy Shroud took effect, diverting the enormous force. This was the moment Fujimaru Kyoya had been waiting for.

His right hand thrust out a long spear in a spiral motion, the force of which pierced a Holy Shroud and also created a hole in Kirei Kotomine's body.

"Truly resilient, managing to dodge a fatal blow at the crucial moment, but that's all."

Fujimaru Kyoya drew his spear, and the blood that followed was not red, but black like ink.

The ability to adjust one's body at the last moment to minimize damage is a combat technique that Fujimaru Kyoya would praise. However, if this technique is not used for good, it is nothing more than a scourge.

Severely injured Kirei Kotomine was unable to dodge, but at that moment a voice came from above.

"Are all these people having a party?"

The voice was like that of a young girl untouched by the world, but the ensuing deafening roar concealed a chilling Killing Intent.

Chapter 156 The Balance of Power

"Thump~"

Something landed, causing a huge tremor and dust, Kirei Kotomine took advantage of this opportunity to dodge a fatal shot, disregarding his injuries to create distance between himself and Fujimaru Kyoya.

"Tsk~ Is it earlier than the time I saw before?"

Because of the intrusion of the troublemakers, not only Kirei Kotomine, but also Gil, who was already badly injured. His original fighting style relied on the different characteristics of the Noble Phantasm within the Gate of Babylon to counter the enemy.

But now, not only can he not use the Gate of Babylon, he also has to face an adult version of himself that surpasses him in every attribute and in the number of his collections. It's no wonder he can't win such a battle.

"Illyasviel von Einzbern is the Master of the Berserkers in this Holy Grail War."

A silver-haired little girl jumped down from a tall "Meat Mountain," her polite demeanor contrasting sharply with the ferocious-looking Servant behind her.

Has the last of the Three Founding Families made its appearance?

Fujimaru Kyoya thought to himself that this was troublesome. If his original plan was to use Gil's power to evade pursuit after killing Kirei Kotomine and wait for Gilgamesh to run out of Mana before leaving the scene, then now that plan had completely fallen apart.

Clearly, that "Meat Mountain" was no weakling.

"Illya originally planned to report to the Church according to the rules, but it seems she's encountered something interesting."

The young girl wore an innocent smile, but Fujimaru Kyoya and Kirei Kotomine dared not be careless, because she came from the Mage Family. If they thought others were fools, they wouldn't even know how they died.

"How interesting. During the Holy Grail War, the Church should be a safe zone where fighting is prohibited, and the fighting should take place at night when no one is around. Did Illya remember wrong? Or have the rules changed?"

The little girl smiled innocently, but her hands began to weave threads to construct Familiar. This was Einzbern Family Magecraft, and also a symbol that the little girl was not so innocent.

"The Fuyuki Church has betrayed its original stance. Not only did it attack Lancer's Master, but it also retained Servant left over from the last Holy Grail War. Such a person can no longer serve as a referee."

Fujimaru Kyoya planned to form alliances to eliminate Gilgamesh, a huge threat, and once he died, the Gate of Gate of Babylon should be able to return to Gil's hands, which would be a win-win situation.

"I am Fujimaru Kyoya, the representative of the Tohsaka Family among the Three Founding Families founding families. As fellow Three Founding Families, shouldn't we first eliminate those who break the rules? Besides, this person was a participant in the last Holy Grail War; perhaps he is the reason why the Einzbern Family failed to win the Holy Grail in the end."

Three people survived the Fourth Holy Grail War: Emiya Kiritsugu, Waver, and Kirei Kotomine. One died of illness, another was far away in London, Kirei Kotomine was the only one who knew the truth of what happened back then, but everything he said was only one side of the story.

No one can prove it true, and no one can prove it false.

But...

"Heh~ Emiya Kiritsugu's daughter? To be honest, the final battle of the Holy Grail War ten years ago was between me and your father."

Where did Kiritsugu go?

The name "Emiya Kiritsugu" seemed to act as a switch; upon hearing it, the girl named Illya immediately displayed a coldness incongruous with her age.

She was determined to find the person who broke their promise and betrayed her.

"He died. After all, his injuries were quite severe in the end. However, he adopted a child in the final stage of his life and should have had a happy old age."

"Hapiness?"