"Completely incomprehensible." Atalanta glared at him. "What happened to our Master?"
"You mean your 'former' Master, right?"
Semiramis's flippant expression only stoked Atalanta's anger further. Her eyes sharpened like a beast's, as though she might bite the assassin's throat clean through in a single attack.
"Don't worry. They're still alive. I told you, didn't I? The Masters transferred their authority as Masters to me through an extremely peaceful process.
"They're somewhere between dreaming and waking, firmly believing they've won the Holy Grail War.
"So let's not wake them. Otherwise, it would be terribly pitiful for them to awaken from such a beautiful dream."
Archer and Rider could stand it no longer, and acted almost simultaneously.
Atalanta nocked an arrow and fired, while Achilles drew his spear and thrust it at Amakusa Shirou.
But Karna and Semiramis blocked both surprise attacks at the same time.
"Tsk...! You intend to protect this man?"
"Calm down, Archer... Listen to what he has to say first."
The civil war within the "Red" faction was about to erupt when Shirou Kotomine spoke.
"What you just did was practically suicide. After all, I am your current Master."
Rider raised an eyebrow. "I don't remember agreeing to change Masters. Even if I've never met my Master, betrayal isn't something I do."
"This is merely a difference in perspective. You haven't betrayed anyone."
Amakusa Shirou said, "If you truly have your Master's interests at heart, you should consider the bigger picture, just as Lancer has.
"Only by working together can we overcome the crisis before us."
"..."
Archer and Rider fell silent for a moment before finally putting away their weapons.
"Go on, then..."
Atalanta stared warily at Amakusa Shirou's face.
"What exactly is this 'salvation of all humanity' you keep talking about?"
Within Milenia Castle,