A massive explosion rang out, one so loud that it could be heard by people throughout Fuyuki City and even in the neighboring city, causing Kirei Kotomine, who was inside the Fuyuki Church, to frown.
"What a self-indulgent fellow..."
With a helpless smile, Kirei Kotomine began to think about what reason to use to divert the public's attention. After all, it wouldn't be good if ordinary people noticed a mystical existence due to that massive explosion. Furthermore, the Vampire in Fuyuki City had knocked out everyone at the temple, which also needed to be covered up slightly. A moment later, Kirei Kotomine smiled knowingly.
Let's use a gas leak to fool them again this time... "Cough, cough, cough..."
Akatsuki patted the dust that had been kicked up in front of her by the massive explosion. She breathed a sigh of relief after she could no longer sense Gilgamesh's presence.
Although she had caused quite a stir this time, she knew very well that Gilgamesh was, at most, only injured. After all, according to the'smoke but no damage' law, he probably wouldn't die from such a large cloud of smoke.
"However, the consumption is a bit high..."
Touching her completely sunken stomach, an unbearable hunger from the bottom of her heart emanated from her belly. This hunger seemed to come from the depths of her soul, making her unable to muster even a hint of resistance.
However, rather than saying Akatsuki was hungry, it was more accurate to say that the mental defect known as 'Bloodlust Impulse' had been awakened. Although she was closer to the 'King of the Moon' Crimson Moon than Arcueid was, Akatsuki understood that her creator lacked the ability to create another Crimson Moon, and she was merely a 'perfect product' modeled after humans and Crimson Moon.
Compared to other True Ancestors who had to use eighty to ninety percent of their power to suppress the Bloodlust Impulse, Akatsuki only needed to use fifty to sixty percent of her own power to suppress it for a long period, provided she hadn't tasted blood.
Once a True Ancestor tastes blood, the Bloodlust Impulse is triggered. Akatsuki wasn't particularly bothered by this; she would have to drink blood sooner or later, so it was better to get used to it early rather than cramming at the last minute.
Finding Rider, who could barely maintain materialization after being caught in the aftershocks of her battle with Gilgamesh, Akatsuki stared at that snow-white neck and bit down without the slightest hesitation.
"Ugh..."
Rider, despite being a Blood-sucking species herself, was pinned to the ground by Akatsuki and unable to move. Forced to feel the sensation of her blood constantly draining away, she let out a groan of distress.
"Gulp, gulp..."
Akatsuki relished Rider's blood. At this moment, the True Ancestor's body received a long-awaited nourishment from the blood, and her body began to recover without a moment's pause.
The sun gradually sank, and night gradually fell.
The crazed, bloodthirsty Akatsuki retained a final shred of reason and stopped of her own accord just before Rider was about to lose her life, forcibly suppressing the bloodthirsty desire within her body.
Having gained a moment to breathe, Rider turned directly into a spirit form without saying a word, as if Akatsuki would swallow her whole if she stayed a second longer—which, of course, was not entirely impossible.
"I've finally recovered a bit..."
After stretching her body, Akatsuki looked at Archer, who had taken it upon himself to act as a guard nearby, and asked, "Aren't you going to protect your Master?"
"The fact that you are here means Caster's plan has already failed. After disrupting Caster's plan, you were still able to suppress the Servant from earlier and talk to me calmly; this indicates that Rin is not in danger right now. Moreover, through our contract, I can feel that Rin's life is not in jeopardy."
"Is that so?"
Akatsuki replied, and then intended to leave. Suddenly, her footsteps paused, and she looked back at Archer, saying, "Help me tell Rin and the others that I'm safe."
"Why don't you go yourself? I think Rin would much rather see you with her own eyes."
"I have things to do. Sakura isn't the only vessel for the Holy Grail."
With a wave of her hand, Akatsuki's figure disappeared from Archer's field of vision.
"Damn it, that Vampire even found a place like this!"
Caster punched the wall beside her. She had hidden the Einzbern Family's lesser grail behind several layers of barriers in an inconspicuous room in Ryūdō Temple. Originally, it should have been impossible for even Archer, with his Clairvoyance, to find it, yet it had been breached by Akatsuki in a violent manner.
Looking at the ruins of Ryūdō Temple, Caster's expression was exceptionally grim. Her wedding with Souichirou Kuzuki was supposed to be held here after a while, but now that it had been destroyed like this, it would likely be difficult to restore in a short time.
"The monks have only fainted; their lives are not in danger."
Souichirou Kuzuki's voice was flat, as if the place before him had nothing to do with him at all. He stood behind Caster, staring expressionlessly at the Ryūdō Temple before them.
"Lord Sōichirō... I am terribly sorry. Due to my negligence, the Einzbern Family's grail vessel was rescued... Please give me some time, I will find her again..."
"Are you injured?"
Souichirou Kuzuki looked at the somewhat anxious Caster and asked.
"No, that Vampire didn't have a chance to fight me, but she took the Einzbern..."
"That's good."
Even though it was the same flat voice as usual, it made Caster's heart skip a beat.
"Lord Sōichirō..."
"..."
Seeming to have noticed Saber's gaze, Caster coughed twice and then somewhat stiffly shifted the topic elsewhere.
"The Magecraft Workshop was destroyed by that Vampire, and one of the leylines within Fuyuki City was also destroyed. These will likely have an impact on the Holy Grail War. Lord Sōichirō, please give me some time, I will reconstruct the Territory."
"Alright."
Inside the Einzbern castle in Japan.
In the center of the castle ruins were two tombstones, engraved with the names of Liesl and Sella respectively. The two maids who had come to Fuyuki City with Illya had perished due to Gilgamesh's attack a few days ago.
Illya stood before the two tombstones without saying a word. She hadn't expected that Akatsuki would actually collect the remains of Liesl and Sella and set up tombstones for them.
Illya gazed quietly at the tombstones, her eyes shimmering with complex emotions. A gust of wind blew, lifting her silver hair and also blowing down a leaf, which drifted to the front of the graves.
"Liesl... Sella..." Illya gently stroked the names on the tombstones, the sorrow in her eyes transforming into an icy-cold glare in the next second.
At that moment, the sound of footsteps approached.
Illya looked up and saw a figure with blonde hair, red eyes, and exquisite features.
"Illya... Illyasviel von Einzbern." Akatsuki casually placed her hand on Illya's head and said softly, "What are your plans for the future?"
"I'm going to kill that golden Servant!"
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