Akatsuki licked the blood seeping from her palm; after all, it was her own blood, and she couldn't let it go to waste.
Glancing back at the silent Fuyuki Church, Akatsuki was a bit puzzled as to why Shirou Emiya and Tohsaka Rin had been inside for so long without coming out.
Saber's been waiting so long her head is about to sprout grass!
Just kidding.
Since she had already spent a lot of time with Tohsaka Rin at the Emiya Residence, Ayako Misuzu would be in danger if she waited any longer. Although Rider wouldn't actually kill her, Akatsuki really wanted to deal with Shinji Matou!
However, tonight's exertion had been far too great. Using power beyond what was needed to suppress her Bloodlust Impulse to insta-kill Berserker had placed a heavy burden on Akatsuki; she wasn't certain if she could keep Rider down.
Compared to technical fighters with superb martial arts, Akatsuki still preferred fighting a mindless Berserker.
So, she should really find a Young lady to get close to right now, and then take some liberties while drinking her blood... ahem, it would be impolite to say more.
So, where was there a Young lady? Oh, isn't there one right here whose physical development stopped at fifteen? Who could that be?
While weighing her options, Akatsuki suddenly saw Saber wearing a yellow raincoat and immediately had an idea.
"Saber."
"Hm?"
Perhaps because she felt no hostility, Saber was unguarded, tilting her head as she looked at Akatsuki with some confusion.
A few minutes later, Saber leaned somewhat weakly against the wall of the Fuyuki Church, her cheeks slightly flushed as she gave Akatsuki a somewhat resentful look.
"Back to full health!"
Having received her supply, Akatsuki dropped a "I'm heading back first" and ran off toward the Fuyuki City downtown area.
Avoiding patrolling police cars, Akatsuki's figure darted through the alleys of Fuyuki City. Since she didn't know the exact location, she had to conduct a grid search.
She was very fast and soon found Ayako Misuzu's location.
In the pitch-black night, Ayako Misuzu seemed to be guided into a dim alley. Even though there was a dead end ahead, she continued walking further in.
Then, she was suddenly lifted by something invisible, and sharp teeth bit into her neck.
"A step too late, but I suppose this is fate, right, Rider?"
As Akatsuki's voice fell, Rider deactivated her spiritualization and appeared behind Ayako Misuzu.
Her knee-length purple hair was full of charm, making Akatsuki unable to help but feel that the long hair seemed to possess a life of its own, just like in the legends.
She wore a blindfold over her eyes, black clothes and pants, and black over-the-knee boots.
An enchanting aura combined with an exquisite, tall, and curvaceous figure.
At this moment, such a beauty was tilting her head and looking at Akatsuki, seemingly a bit puzzled.
Rider didn't answer Akatsuki's words; instead, she carefully set Ayako Misuzu aside and then brandished her weapon.
"Are you a Master too?"
Shinji Matou's voice came from the darkness, his attitude arrogant and casual as he held a book filled with magical energy.
"The Book of Falsehood?"
Hearing Akatsuki's voice, Shinji Matou froze. He hadn't expected the other party's attention to be focused not on him, but on the book in his hand.
"Looking at it this way, Matou Sakura should still be Rider's Master..."
"Hey."
A somber-faced Shinji Matou interrupted Akatsuki's monologue, glaring at her as if he wanted to swallow her alive.
"I am Rider's Master, don't you get that wrong!"
Looking at his gloomy expression, Akatsuki waved her hand, uttering dismissive words like "Yeah, yeah, yeah," while her gaze never returned to Shinji Matou, instead remaining fixed on Rider, who was about the same height as her.
"Rider, stop following Matou Sakura. Become mine."
Rider still didn't speak, but Shinji Matou couldn't take it anymore, and his face immediately collapsed.
"Rider, kill her for me!"
The Book of Falsehood emitted powerful magical energy, and Rider moved through the alley like an arrow leaving a bowstring, her cold chains seeming to lock down the entire alleyway.
Yet even with Rider close at hand, Akatsuki didn't move at all, instead quietly watching Rider like an artist admiring a dance—though she wasn't admiring the dance itself, but the dancer.
A cold glint flashed as a nail-like dagger lunged at Akatsuki, but she still didn't move.
However, in the next moment, the situation shifted instantly!
With just a simple sidestep, Akatsuki dodged Rider's dagger. As the power of the True Ancestor erupted, a sonic boom echoed through the night sky.
Rider fell directly into Akatsuki's arms.
It all happened too fast. From the perspective of an ordinary person (Shinji Matou), Rider had simply rushed to Akatsuki's side, a loud noise was heard, and then she had fallen into Akatsuki's embrace.
"As expected, having Shinji Matou as your Master prevents you from displaying your true strength."
With blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, Rider struggled to leave Akatsuki's embrace, but Akatsuki had no intention of letting her go. Pinning Rider's hands with one of her own, Akatsuki restrained her by her side.
"Rider, my offer is always on the table, unless you don't want to save Matou Sakura."
"What do you mean?"
Rider looked at Akatsuki behind her in confusion.
"Matou Zouken is already dead. How long do you think the Magic Crest Worms inside Matou Sakura can survive?"
"If you become my Servant, I can help you save her. Of course, you can also choose to continue following Matou Sakura's orders and watch as she is consumed by the Magic Crest Worms." Akatsuki looked at Rider with a smile curling on her lips. "You should know that Matou Sakura's current mental state makes her incapable of making the right decisions. Without Matou Zouken to give orders, the only thing she can do is wait for death."
"Or you could try to save Matou Sakura alone by defeating the other six Servants to win the Holy Grail, but that would be useless too. The Holy Grail of Fuyuki City is nothing but a piece of 'junk'."
Rider was silent for a moment. "How can I believe you?"
"You have no choice but to believe me." Akatsuki released Rider. "Following me is surely better than following someone like Shinji Matou, isn't it?"
"Rider! What are you doing! Fight back!"
Shinji Matou's voice sounded anxious.
"Shinji Matou, do you... want to die?"
Nothing was reflected in those blood-red pupils; there was only a void, or rather, death.
"To Matou Sakura, you are at most a worm that happens to look like a human. Why do you think Matou Sakura doesn't resist you?"
"Sakura, Sakura, Sakura... Damn it, what do you know!"
Just as Shinji Matou was about to roar, a gaze filled with death and despair locked onto him, and the Book of Falsehood in his hand spontaneously combusted at that moment.
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