"Humans cannot defeat Heroic Spirits."
That phrase had been passed down for who knows how long.
Heroic Spirits were the incarnations of humanity's dreams and ideals, summoned into this world through the power of the Holy Grail.
Not only did they possess miraculous, unthinkable powers—they also wielded mighty Noble Phantasms.
Noble Phantasms with the strength to destroy entire cities or even nations—abilities beyond the realm of reason or logic.
Take Rider's Reality Marble, for instance—a Noble Phantasm so overpowering, even among Servants it made others pale in comparison.
Yoru didn't know how much of a chance he had at victory.
All he knew was—there was no room for retreat.
If he couldn't even protect his own wife…
How could he ever face Illya again?
How could he return to Orario and face Hestia or Riveria?
He wasn't a king.
He didn't have the same bonds and loyalty between ruler and vassal that Rider had.
But he did possess something even more precious than those ties—
Love.
"No matter who or what you are…
Just give me strength.
The strength to defeat anything that stands in my way."
As he walked toward the entrance of the Einzbern Castle, Yoru placed one hand over his beating heart and whispered softly.
This… wasn't how it was supposed to be.
This heart wasn't supposed to be beating.
Something had changed—he had changed.
He wasn't supposed to be like this.
He had once been so cold, so emotionless—a soulless machine of slaughter.
Step by step, he moved forward.
A chill began to spread outward from his body, slowly frosting the hallway floors and walls with a thin layer of frost.
Emotion and power—two sides of a scale.
To gain one, you had only to let go of the other.
Perhaps once, Yoru had vowed never to use this forbidden power.
But now… now he understood just how vital power was.
Without power, how could he protect what mattered?
Without power, how could he ever reach the Holy Grail?
Nothing else mattered anymore.
Let him become a demon, unseen by the women he vowed to protect.
All he wanted… was power.
"I need power."
"As you wish…"
A voice—smirking, sinister—echoed from deep within his soul.
His pitch-black eyes slowly began to shift, the dark color being swallowed by a piercing ice blue, until his gaze became a frigid glacial hue.
—
In the central courtyard of the Einzbern Castle, the visitor had been waiting patiently.
As always, Rider stood proudly atop his chariot drawn by divine bulls, with his Master seated beside him.
He laughed boisterously upon seeing only Yoru emerge from the castle.
"Huh? So it's just you?
Where's your Servant—the little vampire lady?
I didn't come here to drink tonight, y'know. I came to break some things."
"There's no need for her.
Your opponent is me."
With his head lowered, Yoru's voice was calm and devoid of emotion.
Rider frowned slightly.
Waver shrank back instinctively.
A cold aura began to drift silently on the wind.
The carefree grin disappeared from Rider's face, replaced by solemn seriousness.
He could feel it.
The man before him had changed—he now emanated an oppressive sense of danger… even to a Servant like himself.
"…Interesting.
Seems like tonight won't be boring after all."
"W-We're really doing this?"
Waver looked shocked.
To him, fighting a Master felt totally wrong.
Yes, the Holy Grail War was a fight to the death—but taking a human life felt far beyond what he could bear.
"Yeah, we are.
Don't underestimate him.
That guy's as dangerous as any Servant still standing."
With a chuckle, Rider hopped off his chariot and stepped away, letting Waver retreat to a safer distance.
There was nothing his Master could do now—this was no longer a fight he could interfere in.
Waver let out a quiet sigh, his expression filled with helpless resolve.
Even fighting alongside his Servant, he could only stand back and watch.
Still, he stood tall and shouted with conviction:
"Rider!
By my Command Seal, you are not to be defeated tonight!
You will bring me victory!"
Waver didn't know why he said it—why he used a Command Seal on a battle like this.
Wasn't the outcome obvious?
A human couldn't possibly defeat a Heroic Spirit.
That was supposed to be an unshakable truth.
And yet… he felt an unshakable unease.
A gnawing fear welled up inside him.
He looked down at the Command Seals on his hand.
One was already blurred, but the remaining two still glowed a bright crimson.
He even felt an impulse—an irrational urge to use all three at once.
But he resisted.
He took one step back, and silently observed the two figures facing off.
"Haha!
That's the spirit, boy!
That's how a Master should be.
These Command Seals really are something—I can feel power surging through me!"
Rider grinned as he praised his Master, but when he turned to face Yoru again, the joviality vanished.
His eyes sharpened.
No longer joking, no longer relaxed—only wariness and grim determination remained.
"The flowers have all frozen to death…"
Rider shook his head, staring at the frost-covered flowerbeds near Yoru.
"You seek power, Rider?"
The question came out of nowhere—Yoru didn't even raise his head.
"Of course.
Who doesn't crave power?
Only with absolute strength can I realize my dream of conquest and ride across the world unchallenged!"
Rider raised his sword proudly as he declared his ambition.
"I see…
Then what are you willing to give… in exchange for that power?"
Yoru slowly lifted his head.
His lifeless, ice-blue eyes locked onto Rider's.
Even a battle-hardened Heroic Spirit like Rider involuntarily flinched.
Because it was clear—the man before him could no longer be called human.
---
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