Chapter 19

The battle between Archer and Berserker reached a critical point. With the Gates of Babylon fully open, a rain of legendary weapons descended upon the frenzied knight. Berserker, with erratic yet precise movements, dodged, deflected, and caught the projectiles with a skill that defied all logic.

Every strike of his hand turned a sword into scrap, every twist of his body avoided a lethal blow by mere millimeters. Despite the frenzy of his class, there was a strange mastery in his madness.

Gilgamesh, for his part, grew increasingly furious. His red eyes burned with indignation as he saw his attacks proving useless against someone he considered trash.

"Pathetic scum! How dare you challenge the greatness of this King with such mockery?!" shouted Gilgamesh, unleashing even more weapons from his infinite treasury.

The legendary swords and spears were fired in rapid succession, lighting up the night with golden flashes. Berserker, however, did not retreat. With a swift maneuver, he caught one of the weapons and, in a defiant act, used it to repel the others, sending them flying back in random directions.

The Servants witnessing the battle remained on guard. Saber watched with a mix of surprise and recognition.

"That fighting style... There's no doubt. He is a knight," she murmured to herself, though her expression was somber.

Perseus, who was also observing, crossed his arms with an intrigued smile.

"I must admit, it's impressive. Not even I could do something like that," he commented, admiring Berserker's skill.

Hector, on the other hand, sighed with resignation.

"First Rider, then Archer, and now Berserker... What a Holy Grail War we've ended up in!" he said in a tone that, though casual, hid his growing concern.

In the distance, Kayneth and Kiritsugu, the two strategists of the battle, were also paying close attention. Kiritsugu analyzed every move Berserker made, while Kayneth began to reconsider his next steps.

It was at that moment that a different energy enveloped the battlefield. Tokiomi Tohsaka, Archer's master, decided that the situation had escalated too far. With a cold and calculated gesture, he raised his right hand, where his Command Seals glowed.

"Archer, restrain your anger and return to my side!" he ordered with authority as one of his seals faded.

The Command Spell took effect immediately. A glowing magical circle appeared around Gilgamesh, who felt his body beginning to be pulled by the summoning magic. Enraged, he tried to resist, but even for someone like him, defying a Command Spell was impossible.

"Tokiomi, you pathetic wretch! You dare command me as if I were a mere dog!" roared Gilgamesh as his form vanished in a golden flash.

At the docks, the battlefield fell into a brief silence following Archer's disappearance. Berserker, now without a target in front of him, dropped the spear he had taken and let out a low growl.

Meanwhile, at the Tohsaka residence, Gilgamesh reappeared with an expression of absolute fury. His gaze immediately settled on his master, who remained composed, sitting elegantly in his study.

"Tokiomi, you wretched insect! By what right do you dare drag a king away from his battlefield?!" exclaimed Gilgamesh, his voice reverberating through the room.

Tokiomi, unfazed, responded calmly.

"Archer, your arrogance was beginning to disrupt the balance of the war. I do not need you wasting energy unnecessarily against Berserker when there are more important targets," he said in his refined and authoritative tone.

Gilgamesh clenched his teeth. His fists tightened in anger, but he did not attack. Though he despised Tokiomi, he also knew that using another Command Spell could restrict him even further.

"Hmph... You dare give me orders, but do not forget your place, insect. You are nothing more than an unworthy master in my presence," said Gilgamesh, crossing his arms. "I am only here because I choose to be."

Tokiomi smiled faintly, satisfied that he had managed to calm his Servant for the moment.

"Of course, Archer. Whatever you say."

Tokiomi let out a slight sigh, relieved that Archer hadn't killed him for challenging him.

"I must thank Edmund for the advice. Had I known Archer wouldn't obey my orders... Well, it's better not to dwell on it. There's no turning back now," Tokiomi thought to himself.

At the docks, Gilgamesh's absence left the other Servants with a sense of uncertainty. Saber and Lancer relaxed their stances, while Rider glanced toward where Archer had been with an amused expression.

"Well, that was unexpected," he said with a light chuckle. "It seems his master has more control over him than I thought."

Edmund, from his suite, leaned back in his seat with a satisfied smile.

"A good move by Tokiomi," he murmured. "But this isn't over yet"

With Archer's disappearance, the battlefield was plunged into a tense silence. The suffocating presence of Gilgamesh had vanished, but the danger was far from over.

Berserker, freed from his confrontation with Archer, turned his attention to another target.

His black armor reflected the dim light of the docks as his erratic breathing filled the air. His primal instinct, distorted by the madness of his class, guided him toward Saber. He clenched his fists, his aggressive stance making his intentions clear. She was his new enemy.

Saber felt the weight of Berserker's gaze upon her and prepared herself. Her instincts screamed that this warrior was unlike any other. Not only was he a formidable foe, but his visceral hatred for her was palpable, almost tangible in the air.

Meanwhile, Lancer observed the scene with a raised eyebrow. He did not share Diarmuid's strict sense of honor, and if Berserker wanted to take down Saber, he saw no reason not to join in and quickly finish off the knight.

"Well, if it means saving me some effort, I guess there's no harm in it," he murmured in a casual tone, twirling his spear between his fingers.

However, what neither Lancer nor Berserker had considered was that Rider was still there. In complete silence, he had been intentionally ignored, as if he posed no immediate threat.

Suddenly, a sinister smile spread across his face. With his eyes closed and a chilling calm in his voice, he spoke aloud.

"It seems it's time to bring out Medusa's head and end this all at once."

The temperature at the docks seemed to drop abruptly. A shiver ran through everyone present. The Servants and Masters alike sensed the danger in those words. The mere mention of Medusa's head was enough to instill terror.

From his hiding spot, Kariya Matou, though weakened and in constant pain, knew he couldn't allow Berserker to remain there. With a desperate effort, he raised his trembling hand and activated a Command Spell.

"Berserker, return to my side immediately."

The seal on his hand glowed intensely, and in an instant, Berserker was enveloped in a vortex of magical energy before disappearing from the docks. Kariya fell to his knees, gasping but relieved. He couldn't afford to be the first Master to fall in this war.

At the same time, Kiritsugu and Kayneth made their own decisions. Both recognized the imminent danger and gave the same order to their Servants.

"Lancer, take down Rider now!" exclaimed Kayneth urgently.

"Saber, stop Rider before he can do anything," ordered Kiritsugu, his voice cold and composed.

The Servants reacted instantly. Saber charged forward with her sword at the ready, while Lancer, wasting no time, spun his spear and lunged toward Rider. However, Perseo didn't seem the least bit concerned. There was no trace of fear or desperation on his face. Instead, he simply smiled once more and let out a whistle.

The sound echoed through the air, and a second later, the sky split open.

A luminous crack tore through the night, and from it emerged a majestic creature. Its snow-white body glowed under the moonlight, its wings spreading with celestial grace. Pegasus, the magical beast, appeared in an instant, descending rapidly beside its master.

Rider extended a hand and calmly stroked Pegasus's mane, completely ignoring the chaos around him.

"You always arrive at the perfect moment," he murmured affectionately before swiftly mounting its back.

The Servants who had tried to attack him paused for a moment. Saber and Lancer, both poised to strike, watched in surprise as Rider looked at them one last time with his calm smile.

"It was fun, but this isn't my time to fall," he said in a relaxed tone.

Before anyone could react, Pegasus flapped its wings, and in a flash of light, it vanished into the night sky at the speed of light. In an instant, Rider had escaped.

The Servants and Masters stood in silence, gazing at the sky where the trail of Pegasus faded. Kiritsugu frowned, while Kayneth clenched his teeth in frustration.

From his suite, Edmund smiled with fascination.

"Interesting... So he finally made his move!" he murmured, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "This just keeps getting better."

The momentary silence left by the abrupt departure of Rider and Pegasus quickly dissipated as Kayneth furrowed his brow with contained fury. His plan to eliminate another rival had failed, and his patience was wearing thin.

Frustration boiled in his veins, and unable to control his temper, he unleashed his rage on the only opponent who could still be defeated that night.

"Lancer, finish off Saber once and for all!" he ordered, his voice resonating with anger and desperation. He wouldn't allow the night to end with another defeat.

Lancer, who had remained on guard after Rider's departure, nodded. Though his master's lack of composure irritated him, he couldn't ignore a direct order. With a twirl of his spear, he turned his attention to Saber, who showed no intention of backing down.

Kiritsugu, observing from his vantage point, noticed Lancer's sudden movement.

He knew Saber couldn't retreat alone without losing the advantage. Activating his communicator, he issued a command to Irisviel in his relentless tone.

"Tell Saber to continue the battle."

Irisviel quickly nodded and relayed the message.

"Saber, Kiritsugu wants you to continue. We can't afford to retreat now."

Saber adjusted her grip on the invisible Excalibur and acknowledged with a slight nod of her head.

"Understood."

Without wasting any time, the two knights clashed once more. Lancer attacked with speed and fluidity, his spear dancing with pinpoint precision. Saber blocked and countered with equal ferocity, but despite her impeccable technique, the pressure of the battle was tilting in Lancer's favor.

As the two fought, Kiritsugu coldly analyzed his other priority: Kayneth. He knew exactly where Kayneth was hiding; he just needed a slip-up, a moment when Kayneth would expose himself.

And that moment came.

Kayneth, intoxicated by the possibility of victory, peeked out for just an instant from his protective barrier to get a better view of the fight. It was enough.

Without hesitation, Kiritsugu pulled the trigger of his sniper rifle. The shot cut through the darkness with lethal speed and pierced Kayneth's shoulder with surgical precision.

The pain was immediate and excruciating. Kayneth let out a cry of agony as he fell backward, clutching the open wound. Blood stained his elegant attire, and his face twisted into an expression of pure torment.

Lancer, who was about to deliver the decisive blow to Saber, froze upon hearing his master's scream. His instincts made him turn toward Kayneth's direction, his expression shifting from determination to alarm.

"Master..."

With a swift movement, Lancer made the decision to retreat. His priority now was to protect Kayneth.

However, Saber had no intention of letting him go so easily. With a half-smile and her breathing heavy from the intensity of the battle, she raised her sword and taunted her opponent in a firm voice.

"Where are you rushing off to, Lancer?"

Lancer paused for a moment. Though his face was partially shadowed by the night, his eyebrow arched slightly at the provocation.

"Tch. I don't have time for games, Saber."

But even though his mind was set on retreating, he couldn't let her underestimate him.

With a swift movement, Lancer lunged at her with a speed Saber couldn't anticipate.

Hector's spear cut through the darkness in a flash, and in an instant, its sharp blade sliced through the air, striking its target.

The impact was brutal.

The spear's blade cleanly severed Saber's left arm. A sharp pain shot through her body, and before she could react, a second blow came: a devastating kick from Lancer struck her stomach, sending her crashing to the ground with force.

Saber gasped in pain, her severed arm dripping blood onto the concrete of the docks. Her expression, a mix of shock and humiliation, reflected the brutality of Lancer's entire attack.

Lancer glanced at her for a moment, his expression serious but with a hint of regret.

"My apologies, fair lady. I'm not usually so harsh with a maiden, but the situation demanded it."

With that, he turned on his heel and ran toward Kayneth, firmly grabbing him to make their retreat.

Behind him, Saber clung to the ground with her one remaining arm. The humiliation of being defeated in such a manner, of being left on the ground without being able to stop it, filled her with indescribable rage.

She lifted her face, her eyes burning with fury, and let out a piercing scream.

"Lancer!"

Her voice echoed across the docks like a cry of frustration and pent-up rage.

.....................

well, that's all... hahaha

The word count reaches a little over 2200, too much for my taste.