I, Kenneth, am going to get to the root of the problem today.

Page 34

Accompanied by Kirei Kotomine's maniacal laughter, the two ecstatic monsters unrestrainedly spread laughter that could be described as mental pollution, until Gilgamesh's abdominal muscles twitched. Only then did he turn his satisfied gaze to Kirei Kotomine, who was laughing so hard he was gagging.

"Kiri, you learn very quickly! Your answer has exceeded my expectations. As a reward, I will grant your wish, hahaha..."

With Kenneth's interference, Tokiomi Tohsaka hastened his death, while Kirei Komine, under Gilgamesh's constant guidance, prematurely attained enlightenment. Laughter echoed endlessly as the two reached a consensus, their sole purpose being to obtain the ultimate pleasure.

At the base, Kenneth sorted through the intelligence Morgan had sent, his brows furrowing tightly. After Lancelot and the Hundred Faces had left the stage, the Counter Force had weakened Archer. Not long ago, the Spirit Disc that monitored Servants showed that a new Assassin had appeared. The development of the Fourth Holy Grail War was far beyond Kenneth's expectations. Faced with this absurd reality, Kenneth felt a terrible headache coming on.

Kenneth: I'm tired. Let's destroy this. I don't want to play anymore!

After calming himself down, Kenneth scrapped all the plans he hadn't yet implemented. He was certain that the Assassin who had suddenly appeared was summoned by the old bug. The Holy Grail War was almost halfway over, and with two gone, there were still seven left. Kenneth really wanted to curse N.

"Given the old bug's nature, it should be the Cursed Bowl, the Delusion of Heart Sound, crushing the enemy's heart with the Demon's Arm. Is this the dog's downfall? Truly, a hundred ways for Wang Jiang to die."

Thinking through the information in his mind, Kenneth pondered the current situation. Clearly, the forces balancing the world could no longer sit idly by in order to kill him, this insect.

"Tsk tsk tsk, all I did was mess up Kiritsugu, knock over the insects, and not die on time, so what? Is it a reason to ambush a young man in his twenties like me! You old thing who's lived for thousands of years have no martial ethics!!"

While complaining about the petty nature of the Restraint Force, Kenneth also pondered the biggest problem in this Holy Grail War. Heaven knows how far those two pleasure monsters have gone. With Gilgamesh's chaotic mind, Kenneth truly believed that this guy would jump out and cause trouble without restraint after losing Tokiomi Tohsaka's restraint.

The most crucial point is that this fat tiger's rank is frighteningly high. The premature Holy Grail doesn't have the ability to enter or leave the source, and Kenneth will absolutely not allow the pleasure monster to get ahead of others.

"As expected, we still need to throw out the bait. Let's leave the old bug aside for now; we must divert Gilgamesh's attention!"

"The finest food is to be enjoyed last; only true warriors may be granted an audience with me; I await your challenge from the highest throne; whether you are worthy to lift the Holy Grail will be decided by me..."

By carefully examining every word and combining what he had seen with information from his previous life, Kenneth racked his brains to decipher Gilgamesh's extraordinary mind. In the end, Kenneth arrived at a conclusion: it was feasible.

After glancing at where Kiritsugu Emiya was, Kenneth made up his mind. Picking up the formal attire on the table, Kenneth suggested that they go after the magician who was lurking in Fuyuki City.

Kenneth has decided to reveal his identity. Before this, whether the Lesser Grail was in his possession was just speculation. Now, Kenneth's goal is to make this speculation a reality by openly spreading the news of the Lesser Grail and completely stirring up the stagnant waters of the Holy Grail War.

Gilgamesh may not care about the Holy Grail, but as proud as he is, he will definitely want to keep the Holy Grail, which is the prize, in his own hands. In addition, given Gilgamesh's high regard for Karna, Karna will certainly not refuse to fight Karna before the final battle. At that time, Kenneth can arrange for Morgan to put on a show with Saber. The completely vulnerable Magic Workshop will definitely attract the attention of Kiritsugu Emiya and the old insect.

Even if they feel something is wrong, so what? With their obsession with the Holy Grail, driven by ample benefits, these two will absolutely not give up the opportunity to control the Lesser Grail. At that time, whoever can snatch the Lesser Grail in front of Gilgamesh will have succeeded in Kenneth's plan.

Even if this makes Kenneth a target of public criticism, it's all worth it. As long as he can get through this crisis, the Holy Grail War, which has spiraled out of control, will return to Kenneth's control.

As for Waver and the King of Conquerors, to be honest, it's not that Kenneth looks down on these two, but if this pair of brilliant strategists could snatch the Lesser Grail right under the noses of Kiritsugu Emiya and the old man, Kenneth would have been killed on the spot on the floor tiles of Ryudou Temple.

Chapter Eighty-Six: The Witch's Resentment

In a cabin in the suburbs, Kiritsugu Emiya pondered the information Archer had gathered. When he learned that the news that the Lesser Grail was in Kenneth's hands had already spread, Kiritsugu Emiya abruptly stubbed out his cigarette.

It was too much of a coincidence. Shortly after he learned about the Lesser Grail, news about it began to circulate. This prompted Kiritsugu Emiya to investigate the matter further. After a long while, Kiritsugu Emiya looked at Archer with a serious expression.

"What do you think, Archer?"

With his hands clasped in front of his chest, Red A, who had been lost in thought for a long time, raised his head.

"I don't have any opinion. Whether it's a conspiracy or an open scheme, the news has already spread. We're not the only ones eyeing the Lesser Grail. Even if we don't go, the King of Heroes will make his move. There are quite a few people who want to take advantage of the chaos."

Although he didn't answer Red A's analysis, Kiritsugu Emiya had already affirmed the other party's words in his heart. Whether it was a conspiracy or an open scheme, as long as that King of Heroes made a move, Kiritsugu Emiya couldn't avoid this mess. As for whether that King of Heroes would fall for the trap, given his arrogant and domineering nature, Kiritsugu Emiya knew even a fool would know that the King of Heroes would act recklessly. Once Gilgamesh made his move, Kiritsugu Emiya couldn't stand idly by. The Holy Grail absolutely could not fall into the hands of anyone else.

“Archer, let’s go. That King of Heroes doesn’t seem like a patient person.”

After tidying up his equipment, Kiritsugu Emiya strode towards Mount Enzo. Gazing at the man who valued the Holy Grail above all else, Archer sighed slightly and quickly followed after him.

The shadows were elongated in the setting sun. Kenneth watched the approaching red dot on the screen, his heart pounding in his chest. Success or failure hinged on this moment. Although he desperately wanted to take this opportunity to kill all the Servants except Gilgamesh, Kenneth knew it was impossible. His two Servants on the surface had already reached the limit of what these people could tolerate. If Morgan, his backup plan, were exposed, it would completely shatter the fragile balance.

Even if Gilgamesh doesn't care about Kenneth's growing power, Kiritsugu Emiya and the old insect would definitely not mind changing their focus. At that time, their primary goal would definitely change from seizing the Lesser Grail to eliminating him.

A 3v3 free-for-all will begin. Even if Kenneth is confident of winning, he will definitely pay a heavy price, and such a loss is absolutely unacceptable to Kenneth. That person has already sent his proxy, and Kenneth does not believe that the two will let him enter the Holy Grail so easily.

"Seriously, it's so hard for me to deal with other people while maintaining the maximum number of survivors."

Karna appeared before Kenneth, and Kenneth looked up to meet Karna's calm eyes.

“Master, your future is full of hardships. The crises you will face are far beyond my understanding. Facing the oldest man and those unknown enemies, I must do my best. So, please accept this, Master. Even if I am gone, it can protect you in my place.”

A pair of earrings appeared before Kenneth. As if taking Kenneth's preferences into account, the understated gold and low-key design perfectly suited Kenneth's aesthetic. Seeing that Kenneth was still somewhat surprised, Karna pushed the earrings in front of Kenneth.

"Master, protection is a promise made. The continuation of every life is meaningful. Even a seed that cannot sprout has its own nobility. So, my Master, even if the future is already predetermined, I will protect you until the very end. I hope you will live on with my blessing."

"I see. I like it very much. Thank you, Karna."

Without refusing, Kenneth accepted the earring Karna offered, clutching this treasure in his hand. Seeing that Kenneth had accepted his gift, Karna nodded solemnly to him and stood beside him.

Even though he was prepared, Kenneth's heart sank. Karna had revealed a lot of information: an unknown enemy, a predetermined path ahead. Clearly, Karna had seen something without Kenneth's knowledge.

Karna never revealed the source of the information, but the phrase "the continuation of every life is meaningful" and the entrusted earring already indicated his choice.

Even before the Holy Grail War, Kenneth had considered this situation. When he broke free from his predetermined fate, the world's antivirus mechanism would be activated. Heroic Spirits and fairies are part of this security mechanism. Summoning Karna is one example, as is summoning Morgan. Karna's purity is beyond question, while Morgan's is due to her extreme personality. As long as that witch's hatred can be properly guided, Morgan will become Kenneth's best partner.

"Protecting you was a promise we made, and meeting you was truly my good fortune!"

Feeling a pang of emotion, Kenneth turned his gaze to the formal attire on the table. Just as Kenneth was about to pick up the attire, Morgan, who was far away at Ryudoji Temple, called ahead of him.

Kenneth took a deep breath and pressed the call button. He didn't speak, and Morgan on the other end of the dress didn't say a word either. Time passed silently.

"This is truly beyond my expectations, Master."

After a long while, Morgan, unable to hold back any longer, spoke first. Kenneth breathed a sigh of relief when he realized that Morgan was testing him. The situation wasn't too bad yet; at least Morgan hadn't chosen to pretend nothing had happened. Having figured this out, Kenneth didn't expose Morgan's thoughts and continued along with Morgan's words.

"What's so unexpected about that? Some of it was just a matter of being forced by circumstances. I'm just a pitiful person who accidentally glimpsed the future. Survival is the instinct of every intelligent life. Even ants try to survive, let alone a mortal filled with desires."

"Oh, really? Well, your desires are quite strong. So, what exactly are your desires?"

Morgan's charming laughter rang out, and in that alluring laughter, Kenneth seemed to see Morgan's face hidden by a veil. At the same time, Karna, who could read Kenneth's true thoughts, was bewildered by the exchange between the two riddle-makers.

"Why does what Master thinks and what he says sound completely different? I guess I haven't learned enough."

Just as Karna began to ponder the way riddle tellers communicated, Kenneth, who understood Morgan's meaning, also spoke up.

"My desire has always been to survive, and that's the purpose of my cooperation with you. We're just getting what we need. I need to obtain the Holy Grail, and you need Artoria. We're both pitiful people whose lives have been arranged by the world, aren't we?"

Morgan, on the other side of the formal attire, fell silent. Kenneth was right. They were all pitiful people manipulated by the world, pawns placed at a fixed time, clowns pushed onto the stage for that ridiculous history. Even though everything was already predetermined, they still made an ignorant girl dedicate her life to it, and then ruthlessly trampled on everything she had done! They would bind her to a cold seat until death.

"Unforgivable!! Absolutely unforgivable!!!"

A voice filled with resentment rang out, and Kenneth knew he had gambled correctly once again. He had used rhetoric to resonate with Morgan, transferring his hatred onto her. The nature of a witch is always extreme; once she touches something that the other person cherishes, she will unleash her jealousy without reservation.

A witch's rage may not end until death, and the girl named Artoria has always been a taboo for Morgan. In the past and in the present, the extreme witch only has Artoria standing in front of everyone with the holy sword in her eyes.

"Hehe, hehehe—!!"

"Master, let us poor people who are used as pawns stick together and keep warm."

At this moment, Kenneth finally established trust with the witch of Britain. Their interests were aligned, and their goals were aligned. Kenneth could finally entrust his back to Morgan with peace of mind.

"Then, happy working together."

"By the way, Master, I tested Lily, and she didn't receive any messages. There's nothing unusual on Rider's side either."

On the eve of severing ties with Tongxu, Morgan shared the information he had obtained through his schemes with Kenneth. Without doubting Morgan's abilities, Kenneth put the formal attire back into his coat with a sense of relief.

"No other Servants to guide? Seriously, do you still need to do *that* when you're doing *that*? I'll wait and see if you can eliminate this ant that jumped off the chessboard!"

Chapter 87 Life goes on, so does the desire to court death.

The Holy Grail War was already halfway through, and the undercurrents in Fuyuki were filled with tension due to the successive departures of two Servants. Under the orange sunset, the shadows of people on the street were stretched long. Kenneth quietly watched the gradually desolate figures on the street, checked his equipment, and silently waited for the night to fall.

Just an hour ago, Kiritsugu Emiya had already unknowingly infiltrated the outskirts of Kenneth's workshop. According to Morgan's message, Gilgamesh had also left the Tohsaka residence and moved into the church in Fuyuki City. Given his impatient nature, Kenneth's workshop would definitely be sent to heaven tonight.

"It has already happened, Tokiomi Tohsaka. So you really couldn't escape this calamity? It's alright, I will take care of your wife and daughters, so don't worry about it."

Kenneth, who was busy surviving, quietly waited for Gilgamesh's arrival after jokingly calling himself the King of the Pot. As night fell, some figures dressed in pajamas began to stroll onto the street. Realizing that someone was about to make a move, Kenneth turned around and draped his coat over his shoulders.

"Let's go, Lancer, the guests have arrived, and as the hosts, we can't be impolite."

Golden spiritual energy appeared behind Kenneth, and Karna, clad in golden armor, summoned his divine spear and followed Kenneth out of the room. Standing in the empty courtyard, the flickering lights of the surrounding houses shone brightly, and the streets lit by streetlights were deserted. Sensing the increasingly heavy and desolate atmosphere in the air, Kenneth looked up at the streetlights opposite the gate.

"I never expected that someone as arrogant as you would abide by the rules of the Holy Grail War. Or is it that you actually care about the lives of ants like us? Gilgamesh!"

What was originally a very serious statement became an insult to Gilgamesh due to his bizarre thought process. Coupled with Kenneth's smirk, Gilgamesh, feeling humiliated, instantly lost his temper.

"Who gave you permission to look me in the eye! Who gave you permission to call me by my name! You lowly monstrous cultivator!!"

"Clang!!"

The spear shot towards Kenneth with lightning speed. After tearing through the workshop's barrier, the sharp spearhead was firmly grasped in Karna's hand. Looking at the crimson magic spear trembling in front of him, Kenneth's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"Is this your magnanimity? How laughable! Is your glory just about slaughter and sneak attacks? What a ridiculous glory! Yes, you're just a village chief with uncivilized customs. You cling to your laughable pride and act like a clown, displaying your worthless arrogance, you nouveau riche!!"

"Interesting, very interesting. How dare you utter such treasonous words in front of me! Though you're a mixed cultivator, your courage is commendable! Hahaha—"

A piercing laugh echoed, and Kenneth broke out in a cold sweat. As the old saying goes, to destroy an enemy, you must first drive them mad. A flash died in the waves. Only by getting this guy carried away can the battle ahead be easier.

Facing Karna, Gilgamesh would definitely enter a serious state at lightning speed. Given Gilgamesh's personality, the limited understanding of the poor would probably not be able to break through his defenses. Only Kenneth, an ant in Gilgamesh's eyes, could disrupt the other's mindset. Although it would draw a lot of hatred, Kenneth felt it was worth it.

"Hahaha, you're just as amusing as your Lancer. In that case, I'll grant you a painless death. Kneel and thank me for my mercy, you mongrel!!"

Four Noble Phantasms emerged from behind Gilgamesh. Like a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur), Gilgamesh, with one hand covering his face, locked his snake-like vertical pupil onto Kenneth through the gaps between his fingers.

"As expected, they didn't take me seriously at all. Was this level of taunting completely useless?"

Realizing that his words had no effect on Gilgamesh's inflated mentality, Kenneth decided to go all the way and die. He unleashed his Noble Phantasm, an attack powerful enough to blow the courtyard behind him to the sky, but it was melted by Karna's divine fire. Ignoring that his attack was blocked by Karna, Gilgamesh now looked at the curtain of fire below with a playful attitude.

"Playing is playing, joking is joking, Gilgamesh, where does your pride come from? Is it from the kingdom you rule, or from your divinely ordained status as the Arbiter? You keep calling people 'mongrel,' and as a king of men, you're not even human. What right do you have to judge humanity?"

Kenneth's distinctive shrill voice rang out, and his arms, which were folded in front of him, began to tremble. Even before Kenneth could utter another word, Gilgamesh's expression had already darkened because of Kenneth's reckless actions.

"You mere cultivator, your courage far exceeds my expectations. As the price for your reckless speech, take..."

"Clang!!"

"The oldest king of mankind? Merely a dog of the gods!!"

The streetlight fell, and the long whip formed from mercury exploded the instant it touched Gilgamesh. The streetlight tilted, and under the crushing weight of mystery, the El-Melloi family's Supreme Mystic Code was completely destroyed. Kenneth, having already achieved his goal, immediately retreated behind Karna, without even having time to feel sorry for himself.

On the rooftop opposite Kenneth, Gilgamesh, his head bowed, made it impossible to see his expression. Out of contempt for modern magic, Gilgamesh, unconcerned about Kenneth's sneak attack, once again suffered a loss due to his arrogance. Under the orange-yellow light, the mercury sliding down Gilgamesh's golden armor was particularly eye-catching.

Under this extremely insulting sneak attack, being struck by someone he considered an ant, even the shattered aftershocks were unbearable for Gilgamesh. His armor, a symbol of royal majesty, was covered in dust, and Gilgamesh's rage bar exploded under Kenneth's repeated provocations.

"I take back what I said before. Your stupidity far exceeds my imagination. Die!"

With an expression so cold it could drip water, Gilgamesh's golden light illuminated the night sky. Freed from Tokiomi Tohsaka's constraints, Gilgamesh unleashed his EX-rank Servant aura without reservation. The air seemed to freeze, and Kenneth's body instinctively stiffened when he met Gilgamesh's crimson vertical pupils.

"Heh, no wonder he's the guy Mushroom personally appointed to turn the Holy Grail War upside down overnight. This pressure is like that of a monster."

Realizing his taunts had worked, Kenneth, feeling he wasn't a Grand Master and had no right to accept the king's fortune, patted Karna on the shoulder. As Kenneth walked toward Artoria, he didn't forget to give Gilgamesh the middle finger.

The sound of air being torn apart rang out, followed by scorching air waves and the explosion of Noble Phantasms. Under Gilgamesh's rage, and adhering to the principle that a true man never turns back, Kenneth stood firmly to the side of the serious-looking Artoria.

With war imminent, Kiritsugu Emiya put down his binoculars and looked heavily at the two Servants clashing under the golden and red light. At this moment, Kiritsugu Emiya was confused. Even if he obtained the Lesser Grail, could he really defeat such an opponent?

"What am I hesitating for! Without the Lesser Grail, I'll lose all my opportunities! The Holy Grail, I must have it!!"

Suppressing the heart palpitations brought on by the two Servants, Kiritsugu Emiya, who had been dragged into the abyss by his dreams, picked up his ideals again.

"Archer, get ready, it'll be our turn soon."

Leaning against the eaves, without answering Kiritsugu Emiya's question, Archer focused all his attention on the two clashing in mid-air.

Chapter 88 Clash of Gold and Crimson

Karna's cheeks were flushed red by the firelight as he deflected the incoming Noble Phantasms with his spear. Facing the enraged Gilgamesh, Karna relentlessly advanced towards the stationary Gilgamesh with his superior martial arts skills.

"Oh, you actually blocked them all? Lancer, you have piqued my interest. I guarantee that as long as you offer up your armor and your divine spear, I will spare your life."

Faced with Gilgamesh's arrogant words, Karna, who was taught by Kenneth to keep his distance from lunatics, completely ignored Gilgamesh's intentions. With a single sweep of his divine spear, the blazing divine flames instantly covered the sky above. All of Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasms crumbled, the asphalt on the street began to melt, and the rapidly spreading heatwave suddenly ignited the houses beneath Gilgamesh's feet.

'锵——'

A chilling light sliced ​​through the wall of fire, and the ignited spear slid towards Gilgamesh's head. The wind pressure dropped, and the houses licked by the flames collapsed under the shockwave generated by Karna's spear. Amidst the charred rubble, behind the prototype Noble Phantasm, Ajax Shield, which forms the seven-ringed radiance of the sky, Gilgamesh barely managed to withstand Karna's strike.

The scorched ground collapsed with a rumble, and the divine fire, condensed into a single point, irresistibly melted through the Shield of Ajax. The shield, blessed by mythology, turned crimson under the scorching power of the flames. Realizing that the shield in his hand was about to be pierced, golden ripples immediately appeared behind Gilgamesh.

With a whooshing sound, Karna dodged Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasm at close range. Divine fire ignited from Karna's cloak, engulfing the two who were scorched together. Behind the crimson curtain of fire, Karna's divine spear continued to slash. Under Karna's unstoppable impact, the Noble Phantasm that Gilgamesh had drawn from the treasury was instantly blown away by Karna.

"Tch! You lowly cultivator!! If it weren't for being bound by this body, I would definitely show you my true power!!"

Raising an eyebrow, Karna, noticing Gilgamesh's stubbornness, calmly deflected Gilgamesh's halberd and thrust his spear towards Gilgamesh's heart. With no way to dodge, Gilgamesh hastily pulled a shield from his treasury and held it in front of him.

‘Crack. ’

In less than a breath, the B-rank Noble Phantasm was reduced to fragments by the cold light of the Undying Blade. At the same moment, the sound of chains rattling echoed in the surrounding space. Karna, who already knew of the existence of the Chains of Heaven after being instructed by Kenneth, lifted the divine spear that had pierced the golden armor and then disappeared from the spot with his A-rank agility.

Crimson blood dripped from the tip of the spear. Before the blood could transform into spiritual particles, the blazing divine flames burned it away. With a serious expression, Karna gripped the spear more tightly as he looked at the gradually dissipating chains.

The Chains of Heaven, the strongest weapon against divinity, Gilgamesh's most trusted Noble Phantasm. Even though Karna's Golden Armor can reduce the damage and interference he receives to one-tenth, in battles between top-tier Servants, victory or defeat is often decided by a single breath.

In the blink of an eye, Karna can decapitate Gilgamesh, and in the same blink of an eye, Gilgamesh can severely injure Karna. Assuming neither side uses their ultimate Noble Phantasm, a single flaw is enough to affect the outcome of the battle.

'Tick-tock...tick-tock...'

Amidst the crackling of burning wood, the sound of dripping blood seemed particularly faint, yet it was precisely this extremely faint sound of dripping blood that brought the murderous atmosphere of the battlefield to its peak.