CA [208] Chaos and Covert

While the Red Faction reeled from Archer's sudden demise, the Black Faction wasn't faring much better. They, too, suffered a shocking loss.

They'd gained a Red Faction Berserker, Spartacus, as a frontline meat shield, but their cornerstone, one of the top three classes, Saber, fell due to internal strife.

More precisely, Siegfried committed suicide, carving out his own heart to give it to a homunculus desperate to live.

Such a plot twist would be unthinkable in any Holy Grail War, yet in this one, it happened, utterly absurd!

When Altair watched the anime, he'd ranted about whether Siegfried was too strong or Sieg was. His conclusion: Sieg was the overpowered one, somehow compelling Siegfried to sacrifice his heart.

Siegfried had countless ways to die, yet he chose to gift his heart to Sieg. Clearly, Sieg had some unnatural sway over him.

Unaware of the Red Faction's loss of Atalanta, the Black Faction was devastated by Siegfried's death. Based on their intel, the Red Faction boasted Karna, who'd clashed with Siegfried; Achilles, who'd faced Vlad; King Arthur, who'd pummeled Frankenstein and Astolfo; and a red-armored swordsman of unknown class. The swordsman didn't seem like an Assassin, who uses a greatsword?, or a Caster. What Caster charges in swinging a blade?

To the Black Faction, the Red Faction's roster outclassed theirs. Siegfried was their main damage dealer and tank against these powerhouses, yet now he was gone.

"For a homunculus! We lost our priceless Saber for a homunculus!" One Black Faction member fumed.

"Worse, we couldn't even reclaim him. A homunculus with Saber's heart would've been the perfect core for my Noble Phantasm." Another groaned.

"And now we can't, because Ruler's shielding him! What's wrong with her, protecting our property with such a flimsy excuse?"

Back at the Millennia Fortress, the Black Faction convened in outrage. Their Saber had vanished before their eyes, and the homunculus, essentially their creation, was snatched away when Jeanne d'Arc, the Ruler, declared: "He wants to live, so I must protect him. Saber wanted him to live, so I must protect him even more."

With that bizarre logic, Jeanne safeguarded Sieg, warning the Black Faction that any move against him would prompt her to use Command Spells.

As Ruler, Jeanne wielded 28 Command Spells, two per Servant, granted by the Grail to enforce her authority. Against her, Servants were at a severe disadvantage.

Having lost Siegfried, the Black Faction avoided further conflict and reluctantly let Sieg go.

Thus, the homunculus Sieg survived.

On the second day of the Holy Grail War, both factions suffered losses, leaving neither side unscathed. Altair, however, thrived. After eliminating Atalanta and pinning the blame on Jack the Ripper, who'd just arrived in Tulifas, he shamelessly began targeting Jack.

As an Assassin, Jack had killed her original Master upon summoning, then teamed up with Reika Rikudou. They were en route to Tulifas, killing civilians along the way. Reika, a prostitute with no magical talent, couldn't supply Jack with mana, forcing the Assassin to murder for sustenance.

A deranged prostitute and a psychotic Servant made a perfect pair, rampaging through Romania while unknowingly taking the fall for Altair's deed.

Their civilian killings drew the ire of the Holy Church, which oversaw the Holy Grail War. The Church ensured no magi or Servants harmed civilians. Neither faction had violated this rule, except for the Black Faction's rogue Assassin, whose murders enraged both sides.

On the third day, the Holy Church ordered both factions to hunt down the Black Faction's Assassin.

Altair was delighted. Jack's elimination would bury his assassination of Atalanta for good, no evidence, no questions.

He volunteered for the mission. Achilles wanted to join, seeking vengeance for Atalanta, but Amakusa Shirou stopped him. Amakusa was preparing for a large-scale frontal assault and needed Achilles' strength. A mere Assassin could be left to Saber.

Surely King Arthur, with a Round Table Knight at his side, could handle Jack the Ripper with ease.

Both factions awaited Altair's clash with Jack, as it would signal the start of their all-out battle.

The Red Faction, having lost Atalanta, needed Saber to eliminate Assassin to regain the advantage for a crushing offensive. The Black Faction, without Siegfried, couldn't afford to lose Assassin. They needed her to stall Saber long enough to thin the Red Faction's ranks, or they'd be overwhelmed in a direct confrontation.

Everyone anticipated Altair versus Assassin.

As expected, Altair arrived at the small Romanian tourist town where Jack was spotted. Kairi acted as bait to lure her out, and Jack took it hook, line, and sinker.

On a pitch-black night, thick fog enveloped the town, limiting Altair and Kairi's visibility to five meters.

"She's here." Altair said.

"Right in front of us." Kairi confirmed.

Altair infused curse power into his eyes, golden dragon pupils piercing the fog to spot a white-haired little girl in a revealing outfit, clutching a dagger.

"Huh? You can see me? You're pretty good, Nii-chan." Jack said, stepping into view instead of hiding. Her rosy cheeks looked elastic, her cute face tilted as she grinned at Altair, dagger in hand.

"You feel weird, Nii-chan. Not like a Servant."

"This is the Black Faction's Assassin? Jack the Ripper?" Kairi asked, stunned by the childlike figure. Altair had warned him she was a young girl, but this was practically a toddler. A killer at that age?

"That's her. She's not what you think, long story. Let's deal with her first." Altair said.

"I'll find her Master." Kairi replied, drawing his double-barreled shotgun, ready for a tense showdown with Reika.

Altair faced Jack, arms crossed. "Mordred, take her out!"

"Yes, Father!" Mordred materialized, brandishing her greatsword with a wicked grin as she charged.

***

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