Gilgamesh believed that Kirei Kotomine as he was now was pitiable.
Kirei Kotomine himself also believed that he was pitiable.
But.
It was not because he, a savage beast lurking within human society, had been collared by his own Servant.
It was because he was about to lose the person who had put that collar on him.
If he had met the right person, then—so what if that person put a collar on him?
Kirei Kotomine did not mind that in the slightest. On the contrary, he relished it.
Whether one was pitiable or happy had never been something for others to define.
"Saber—how are things on your end?!"
As he fled, Emiya Kiritsugu called out to Anno.
Anno was still trading blows with Sakumura.
"Not over yet!"
That was all he could spare to answer Emiya Kiritsugu amidst the battle.
Tch—
He wanted to escape Kirei Kotomine's pursuit—
—What?!
Emiya Kiritsugu felt an immense pressure, so overwhelming it nearly stopped his breathing.
He turned his head slightly and saw—
"I won't let you escape."
Along with Kirei Kotomine's calm voice, a left fist powerful enough to shatter a heart came crashing toward Emiya Kiritsugu.
—There was simply—no room to dodge!!!
Whoosh—
The fist drove the wind before it, its target—Emiya Kiritsugu's heart!
But at that very moment—
Buzz—
A white light suddenly erupted from Emiya Kiritsugu's chest.
Pshk—
That slender white beam shot out from Emiya Kiritsugu's chest, piercing straight through Kirei Kotomine's left hand.
"Mm—!?"
Kirei Kotomine had clearly not expected Emiya Kiritsugu to have such a trick up his sleeve. The pain of his left hand being pierced forced him back two steps, and Emiya Kiritsugu seized the chance to quickly widen the distance between them.
"Saber, by Command Spell, strengthen your power, kill Assassin, then retreat