Fate/Zero: A Different Path

Chapter 12

Five years have passed

The leaves crunched underneath me as I made my way out of my abode for the first time in several months, my frame weary and cranked after spending months inside with no activity

I inhaled, feeling the warm sunlight shining down on me and the cool breeze that caress my skin. The day is peaceful, unlike the dark storm brewing in my head

It is now 1994. By my estimation, only six months more until the Fuyuki Holy Grail War began

Six months until a battle royale slaughter is happening there. In that time, the events that could happen will ultimately influence the rest of the war

I have expected to feel anxious, if not fear at the prospect of facing what I've been planning for all these past years. I have expected, perhaps, to feel the slightest amount of apprehenion for what is to come

But I didn't

My gaze hardened, steeling my resolve

All my effort has been spent on this war.

Even if I were to regret it, there's no turning back now

<><><><><>

Two months ago, something unexpected happen

It all started with a burning sensation running through my palm

Before long, the feeling had seared it's way into the skin, etching the unique symbol across it

I remembered gazing at the burning red seals imprinted on my hand with shock. Or to be more exact, what the ritual refer to as "Command Seals"

Marks that qualify you as a participant of the Holy Grail War, consequently letting you summon a Servant and win the right to claim it's prize

They carried the shape of an intricate cross with four sharp spikes on each end. It was the same one Kiritsugu have in Canon- except for one major difference being present lying in it's wielder

He is not affiliated with the Einzbern this time

I narrowed my eyes

- Thus, I should not be able to become a master. The Grail itself most likely had abandoned one slot for me to fit in

...

As I thought, this family's going to be troublesome to deal with in the war

<><><><><><><>

Two months have passed

At this time everybody would have gotten their Command Seals

"I guess there's no use delaying it anymore"

The first step to my plan has begun

Chilly wind swept across the rooftop where I'm hiding in. I laid flat against the ground with a sniper rifle in my hand, adjudting my aim toward a building in the distance

The distance is approximately 6,000 foot from my position to the target. Wind drift is not particularly strong. High elevation and clear line of sight would ensure the stability of the shot

My steady breath become subdued as I used [Time Alter: Stagnate] to stabilize my biorhythm

The phone beside me rung. WIthout looking away from my scope, I picked it up and answered the expected call

"Hello, is this Ryuunosuke Uryuu?"

'Yeah. Who's speaking?'

The young teen's voice echoed from the other line, matching the one from the Fate/Zero anime