What delighted Tōsaka Tokiomi even more was that—though he had no idea why—the so-called King of Antiquity, who normally treated Tokiomi's requests with utter indifference, had actually agreed to lend his strength this time… without the use of a Command Seal.
Having discovered a shortcut to obtaining the Holy Grail—and with Archer unexpectedly willing to cooperate—Tokiomi's mood soared.
Archer's personality was undeniably arrogant and tyrannical, but as the Primordial King, his power was beyond question.
Tokiomi had absolute confidence in him. While even Archer might struggle if forced to fight multiple Servants at once, facing Berserker alone? That posed no problem whatsoever.
The reason Tokiomi had remained hidden for so long was simple—he had been waiting for the right opportunity.
Berserker belonged to the Blue Faction. Acting rashly against him might have provoked intervention from the other Blue Servants, who wouldn't hesitate to protect their side from losing the faction war.
But after waiting patiently, Tokiomi had finally seized a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
The Blue Faction's Assassin, Saber, and Archer were all currently away, hunting down the Red Faction's Caster. They wouldn't be back anytime soon—his familiars had confirmed it.
Which meant that only four Blue Servants were currently capable of engaging in battle.
And among them, the Blue Lancer's Master just happened to be Tokiomi's disciple—ten years into the future.
In other words, the Blue Faction effectively had only three Servants left.
If there was ever a perfect moment to strike… it was now.
"Archer," Tokiomi said calmly, eyes locked on the battlefield,"ignore Berserker. Let him continue fighting Saber. Our real target is Berserker's Master."
At first glance, the child's youthful face made hesitation flicker across Tokiomi's features.
But it vanished almost instantly, replaced by cold resolve.
Tokiomi often styled himself as a gentleman—but for the sake of reaching the Root of all Magecraft, he had already abandoned his wife and children.
Killing a single child hardly weighed on him now.
Besides, anyone who chose to become a Master in the Holy Grail War had already accepted the consequences.
As for Archer, a faint sneer appeared on his face—not because Tokiomi intended to kill the girl, but because he despised being ordered.
Still, based on additional intelligence he'd obtained from Kotomine Kirei, Archer endured it.
After all, accelerating the Grail's descent meant he could finally obtain a physical body.
"Tokiomi," Archer said coldly,"the moment the Holy Grail descends… will also be the moment you die."
Tokiomi, still basking in his triumph, failed to realize that the unusually obedient Archer had already struck deals with Kirei—two versions of him, from two different timelines.
His end was approaching faster than he imagined.
As Archer's Noble Phantasms rained down, Iriya Einzaburu stood on the brink of death.
Berserker, even while risking a fatal blow from Saber, charged back toward her like a madman.
But Archer had anticipated this.
Behind him, golden ripples spread across the air like liquid light.
From them burst countless silver chains, shooting forward and binding the legendary hero in place.
Even the hypercritical Archer had nothing but respect for Berserker's strength and deeds.
He rarely addressed others as anything but "mongrels."
But for Berserker, he granted acknowledgment.
The chains were thin compared to Berserker's massive frame—but the moment they wrapped around him, the once-unstoppable titan could only roar in rage, utterly immobilized.
"In both strength and lineage, you stand at the pinnacle of Heroic Spirits," Archer said."But that divine nature you pride yourself on… is precisely your fatal flaw.
"As long as your godhood exists, you will never escape the Chains of Heaven — Enkidu."
The Chains of Heaven were Archer's most trusted Noble Phantasm, born from his bond with his closest companion.
They possessed the trait Divine Restraint—the more divine the target, the stronger the chains became.
Berserker's body already carried half a god's blood.
After completing the Twelve Labors and becoming the famed Great Hero, the divine essence within him was overwhelming.
Thus, bound by Enkidu, he could only roar helplessly.
"No… Berserker is invincible… he can't lose…!"
Seeing her protector suspended in the air and repeatedly pierced by Noble Phantasms, Iriya panicked.
She ran toward him, intending to help with her own frail strength.
Berserker's Noble Phantasm was his very body—Twelve Trials, born from the twelve impossible feats he had accomplished.
Its power was brutally simple.
To defeat him, one had to kill him thirteen times.
Twelve Trials granted him twelve full revivals—true resurrection.
Kill him once, and he returned at full strength.
Kill him again the same way, and it wouldn't work.
Each death granted immunity to the method that killed him.
In theory, this made Berserker nearly invincible.
But unfortunately for him… his opponent was his natural nemesis.
The Chains of Heaven suppressed Berserker's strength.
And Archer's treasury—overflowing with countless Noble Phantasms—rendered Twelve Trials meaningless.
While others treasured a single Noble Phantasm as a final trump card, Archer possessed hundreds.
Killing Berserker twelve times was trivial.
Twenty wouldn't be an issue either.
Seeing Iriya rush toward Berserker, Archer laughed scornfully.
He had planned to spar with the hero first, then deal with the Lesser Grail.
But since she had delivered herself… he saw no reason not to claim a double kill.
"Saber," shouted Emiya Kiritsugu, his heart seizing,"I command you—save Berserker's Master!"
Realizing what was happening, Kiritsugu immediately spent a Command Seal, ordering Saber—Mordred—to protect Iriya.
He knew his Servant well.
Most of the time, Mordred was just an impulsive problem child.
But anything involving King Arthur sent her into a frenzy.
She would ignore orders entirely.
Moments ago, after breaking free from Berserker, she had been ready to abandon Kiritsugu and storm deeper into Ryūdō Temple in search of her "father."
CLANG—!
A sharp metallic ring echoed.
Mordred's radiant sword, Clarent, knocked aside the C-rank Noble Phantasm aimed at Iriya.
Moments later, Mordred appeared before the girl—encased in silver-red armor, her presence masked by another Noble Phantasm: The Helm That Conceals Treachery.
"Master," Mordred snapped,"I admit I acted rashly earlier—but what is this supposed to mean?
"You used a Command Seal… to make me protect someone who just tried to kill us?"
Only then did she realize what she'd done.
Fury flared as she glared at Kiritsugu.
That girl had ordered Berserker to kill them earlier.
Was her Master insane?
"Do you really think I'd waste a Command Seal on childish spite?" Kiritsugu shot back.
"I ordered you to protect her because she is my daughter.
"And a father protecting his child—no matter what—that's only natural."
Mordred froze.
Then, for the first time, she looked at Kiritsugu with confusion—something fragile flickering beneath her armor.
"Even if… she wants to kill you," Mordred asked quietly,"you would still protect her?"
Kiritsugu didn't hesitate.
"Even if Iriya hates me," he said, voice steady,"I will protect her.
"Even if it costs my life.
"Because that… is what it means to be a father."