Ti passed quickly, and the third day of the Holy Grail War arrived.
On the first night, Artoria's clash with Diarmuid drew the attention of all Heroic Spirits except Caster. Due to Damien's intervention, Ryūnosuke was whisked away by Souei's Shadow Guard the mont he summoned his servant, rendering the original plot irrelevant.
From the second night, the Heroic Spirits began their own maneuvers.
The fiercest conflict was between Kayneth and Kiritsugu, their enmity like fire and water, with Saber and Lancer clashing multiple tis.
Perhaps because Saber's disadvantage was too great, Kiritsugu had no choice but to return her scabbard, Avalon.
"Saber, restored by so ans, successfully repelled Lancer."
"Kayneth was struck by an Origin Bullet, sustaining severe injuries."
Though he survived, the Origin Bullet's destruction of his Magic Circuits left Kayneth paralyzed.
"That dual-wielding spearman is utterly incompetent." The Ice Empress remarked. "He got so caught up fighting Saber that he forgot to protect his Master."
"And worse, he chard his lord's fiancée."
Kayneth was arguably the most pitiful Master in this Holy Grail War.
Crippled and betrayed by his fiancée, swayed by his Servant.
Though Diarmuid had no such intentions, his curse inevitably attracted married won.
One could only say Kayneth was reckless, summoning Diarmuid without fear of betrayal.
"Anything else?" Damien asked, seated in the main hall of Ryudou Temple, listening to Souei's report. "No other Heroic Spirits detected our movents?"
"The Rider team is investigating us."
"Oh?" Damien was surprised. For Souei to say this ant Waver and Iskandar had picked up so clues.
Iskandar's brash nature didn't suggest such subtlety.
"So, it's Waver?" Damien mused.
Waver's talent was undeniable.
Through so thod, he'd noticed the simultaneous presence of multiple Heroic Spirits.
Not just Damien's Shadow Guard, but also Assassin, who should have been eliminated.
"My apologies, my lord." Souei said, bowing. "I should have been more cautious."
"No matter." Damien replied, shaking his head. "Finding Ryudou Temple was only a matter of ti."
Over three days, Damien had amassed considerable magical energy.
24 hours x 3 days x 150 units... at least 10,800 magical energy.
After summoning the Snow Empress, Ogerpon, the Ice Empress, Shion, Shuna, and Souei, Damien had successfully summoned all his Kijin.
By tonight, even Hoshiga and the Eighteen Wolf Guards would manifest in this world.
As for the remaining wolves and goblins, their inclusion was rely for participation, not to influence the war's outco.
"Keep waiting." Damien instructed. "As long as no one attacks us directly, we don't need to get involved in their fights."
Damien remained composed, showing no intent to reveal his strength.
That day, he took Shuna and the others to explore Fuyuki City, exuding no trace of warti tension.
As for exposure?
With the Shadow Guard monitoring everything, there was no need to worry.
That night, Souei brought new intelligence.
"Tokiomi Tohsaka is dead?"
Yes, the notorious Tokiomi, the source of so much trouble, had died prematurely that evening.
"So soon?" Damien was genuinely surprised.
If he recalled correctly, Kirei Kotomine's betrayal of Tokiomi should have happened after Assassin's exit.
"How did he die?"
"Backstabbed by his disciple, Kirei Kotomine."
"Sa old story." Damien thought. "Did Gilgash grow so fed up with Tokiomi that he acted early?"
Kirei's premature move ant he now controlled both Assassin and Gilgash.
"Can he sustain two Heroic Spirits?" The Snow Empress asked, frowning. "Or does he plan to abandon Assassin?"
"No need for that." Damien replied. "Gilgash has Independent Action. Unless he's fighting, he consus minimal magical energy."
"Tokiomi was Sakura's father, wasn't he?" Ogerpon, listening to the conversation, pointed out. "Should we tell her?"
"…"
The hall fell silent.
"Shuna, bring Sakura here." Damien said.
"Lord Damien?"
"It's fine. I trust Sakura."
Damien had no intention of hiding this from her.
For others, he might craft a white lie.
But not for Sakura.
She wasn't as fragile as she seed.
Surviving the Crest Worms' corruption into adulthood, her resilience was unquestionable.
"Damien-nii?"
Soon, Sakura appeared, running to Damien and throwing herself into his arms in front of everyone.
"Sakura."
Damien gently stroked her hair, hesitating briefly before breaking the tragic news.
"My father…"
Hearing of Tokiomi's death, Sakura couldn't process it at first.
"How could this happen?"
Her voice trembled, unable to believe that her stern, imposing father was gone.
Though she harbored resentnt for the father who gave her away, this Sakura wasn't the one consud by the Crest Worms.
She still held affection for the Tohsaka family.
"What about my sister and mother? Are they okay?!"
After shock and grief ca worry for Rin and Aoi.
Sakura had learned much about the Holy Grail War's dangers from Damien and Shuna.
Her father chose to participate, so he had to accept the risk of death.
Sakura hated her father's killer but wouldn't unreasonably demand Damien avenge him.
She never forgot who saved her from her tornt.
"Don't worry, Sakura. They'll be fine." Damien reassured her, promising that her mother and sister would be safe from the war's harm.
"I trust you, Damien-nii." Sakura said, tears still on her cheeks.
Damien continued, "As for Kirei Kotomine, who killed your father, I'll ensure he exits this Holy Grail War."
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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