Black patted the dust off his clothes, Berserker disappearing behind him.
Then, he eyed Kirei, who was standing behind Lancer, staring back at him.
"… What are you?" Kirei Kotomine asked, holding dread in his voice. It was a feat in itself — making even someone like him feel fear. But that was the gist of it, and Kirei, of all, wouldn't deny it.
Black looked at Lancer, ignoring the Overseer.
Separating the Evil from them hadn't turned the Heroic Spirits truly Good, per se.
Unlike people, the Heroic Spirits were just images of their true selves, summoned to his timeline, and were fueled by the Root through the Ancient Ritual of Holy Grail War.
If, using some ridiculous means, like My House, My Rules, someone succeeded in separating the evil within them, the Root would supplement them again, making them whole.
However, something had obviously gone wrong in all this reasoning because —
— The Lancer standing in front of Black, Cú Chulainn, was much stronger than his former self.
The Ad Infinitum and Lucky Intuitions related to this inexplicable rise in strength of the Heroic Spirits' interactions with their Evil selves.
Black wasn't so sure, though.
Even if Lancer and Rider had gained a boost in strength because of all this, it didn't explain Saber becoming powerful as well.
The only way it would make sense is if the Evil within them represented impurities, Black contemplated. Still…
Suddenly, purple butterflies danced behind Black as Medea reappeared.
Black's eyes narrowed, becoming needles, realizing that she was still the same both in strength and in emotions.
He decided against switching the Adulterer Title, which he had equipped before beginning the Resonances. Once he completed the last Resonance, it would seal the bond between them, making Medea his loyal follower across spacetime.
Between Kai and Black, only one needed to equip the Master Curator Title to have the boost of +50 Luck, especially when both of them were on the same field.
"Master," Medea said, letting everyone hear her voice. "I am awaiting your command."
With a whistling gust of wind, Saber raised the invisible sword in her hands, taking a stance in front of Shirou, guarding him.
Lancer's brows furrowed, but his fingers tightened on the Gáe Bolg as well.
Opposite them, Rider, who had already equipped her Eye Mask, hiding the Mystic Eyes of Petrification, also shifted her feet.
As of now, Rider and Lancer were utterly behemoth to behold.
It was especially so for Rider, who had returned to the original Sakura Matou as her Servant. With untethered Mana fueling her, Medusa could wreak havoc against both Lancer and Saber, if it came to that.
However, neither Lancer nor Rider nor Saber was truly on guard against Medea.
It was the Berserker, whose shadow kept prickling their senses, like a sword hanging on the back of their necks.
None of them was sure that they could take that thing alone, forcing them to become allies temporarily.
To their relief, Black let out a chuckle. "Stand down, Caster," he ordered, looking at Kirei. "I know you want to kill me, but…"
Kirei, who still hadn't come out of his thoughts, suddenly smiled.
"Was it so easy to read?" he commented, putting his hands behind his back, ready to call Gilgamesh even if it meant consuming all the Command Seals. "But… yes. We both need to figure out a few things, it seems."
Kirei then looked at Shirou for the first time. "I will take him with me," he told Black.
Black nodded and then pointed at Rider and Sakura with his chin. "I will take them with me…"
"NO!" Shirou suddenly roared. "No one's taking Sakura…"
Saber put up her hand against him before Shirou could run at Black. That didn't stop him from eying him with betrayal, though.
"How could you?!" Shirou shouted over his lungs. "We trusted you. She trusted you…"
Black sighed. "Be glad that I am not killing you right here, Shirou," he said. "As for Sakura… Her condition is delicate. You have no idea what she's been through and what I have done for her just now."
Of course, these words were for Rider, who knew of the removal of the Crest Worms.
"You tried to kill her!" Shirou screamed. "You dare talk about…"
Before he could say anything, Black walked to Shirou. Saber hesitated, but sensing Black's intention, she let him through, taking her hand off her Master.
Then, as Shirou charged at him, Black slapped the boy.
Stunned, Shirou raised his hand to punch, but Black grabbed him by the collar and threw him toward Kirei.
"While you are at it," Black told Kirei, "teach him some manners as well."
Saber frowned at Black as he returned to Medea and went to Shirou. "Please, Master," she said, "it's best to let the girl go with him…"
Then, as Saber tried to talk Shirou out of his denial, Rider approached Black, sighing.
Meanwhile, with a wave of his hand, Black collected the one-winged worm-insect buzzing in the sky.
…
[
Congratulations Contestant Kai D. Stormborn
You have obtained Zouken Matou's Inheritance — 75%
]
…
Black didn't mind losing 25% of Zouken's Inheritance.
If he was being honest, then he didn't even want the Inheritance, especially now that he had Illya's Magical Circuits.
The main goal of this entire thing was to kill Zouken and remove Crest Worms from Sakura.
Still, it wasn't in his nature to let go of these opportunities to hoard more strength.
What did come as a surprise was the Contestant with the Video Camera, who had stolen the remaining 25% of the Inheritance.
Now, Berserker was on an active hunt, trying to chase down that Contestant… and his Evil Counterpart.
There was something about him… Black remembered, putting away Inheritance.
Just as a large, purple spell circle appeared under Black, Medea, and Rider, Kirei stepped forward, Lancer disappearing behind him.
"After dealing with The Shadow, the Ruler-Class Servant will come after this Sakura as well," the Overseer said. "We can work together to defeat him…"
As purple flames spurted from the ground, teleporting them, Black nodded in agreement, because —
— Enkidu, without a Master, was now the greatest wild card in this Holy Grail War.
******************
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