Chapitre 36: Chapter 36: Tohsaka Tokiomi: The Advantage is Mine!
"Rider, what did you do back there?"
Waver, still shaken, replayed the earlier scene in his head. The transformation he'd witnessed was chilling.
'At your command, my king!'
Kirei's father, Kotomine Risei, had gone from a guarded stance to complete submission in mere moments. There was no doubt—it was some form of "mental control" magic. Waver had never seen anything like it before.
"Commanding one's subordinates is part of an emperor's skill set," Rider replied casually, glancing back at Waver, who was still stunned. "It seems your understanding of the Rider class is a bit shallow."
Waver blinked in confusion. "Rider class?"
"Yes, the Rider class is about mastery of mounts. Being able to command or ride creatures qualifies one to be a Rider," Lelouch explained. "For me, both my Knightmare Frames and my Geass fall under 'commanding.' People are just another kind of 'mount' if you think about it."
This revelation caused Waver to shiver. Suddenly, a lot of things began to make sense. The lavish mansion Rider had somehow secured? It wasn't luck. It was control. Rider had manipulated things in ways Waver had never imagined.
"Wait… does that mean… you could control me too?"
Waver stopped in his tracks, a resigned sigh escaping his lips. The power of that domination—he'd seen how overwhelming it was. Risei, who had been cautious moments earlier, was now completely under Lelouch's sway. His devotion had become disturbingly zealous, almost fanatical. 'Only you… are the true god of this world!'
The thought chilled him to the bone.
"Huh? What are you talking about? Get on already, we've got places to be."
Lelouch, standing atop the Knightmare's hand, waved impatiently.
Waver froze. "Huh?"
"Let me put it bluntly, Waver," Rider said, turning back with a smirk. "Do you honestly think you're worth controlling?"
Waver's eyes widened. His face flushed as the words hit him.
'What does that mean?!'
'Is he saying I'm not even worth using magic on?!'
'I'm still a Master with Command Seals, for crying out loud!!'
Anger bubbled up inside him. His fists clenched, but after a moment, Waver's spirit deflated.
'He's not wrong…'
'What have I done, really? I don't even have a clear wish for the Grail…'
'Aside from being a Master, what do I have that's worth anything to him?'
His hands dropped to his sides as he thought back on his journey with Rider. It wasn't that Lelouch was wrong—Waver realized that being controlled wouldn't have changed anything for him.
"If you really want me to control you, then at least show me that you're worth the effort. Right now… no fame, no power… you're just another nameless mage. Frankly, you don't make the cut," Lelouch teased, his smile widening.
Waver's face turned red with frustration, the fire reigniting in him. Rider always knew exactly what to say to push his buttons.
"Ugh! You… just you wait!" Waver snapped, stomping up onto the Knightmare with renewed determination.
---
"Ha!"
"Hyaaah!"
Clang!
Crash!
Saber's body slammed into a nearby wall, her gaze fixed on the multiple figures advancing toward her. Lancer's spear had the unique ability to split into numerous copies, and each clone was nearly as strong as the original. Surrounded by over a dozen Lancers, even Saber, wielding the legendary Excalibur, was hard-pressed to keep up.
Unlike Assassin, who had mastered techniques to deal with multiple opponents, Saber didn't have such skills. The only way to wipe them all out at once would be to unleash her Noble Phantasm, *Excalibur*. But she couldn't risk revealing her hand so early.
"Looks like I finally found someone I can handle!" Kyoko twirled her spear playfully, clearly enjoying herself.
Until now, every opponent she'd faced had been a headache: Caster with his tricks, Assassin with his lethal skill, and the untouchable Archer and Berserker. It was a relief to face an opponent she could fight on equal terms.
"Funny how things work out, huh? Saber can handle Assassin, Assassin can beat me, and I get to chase after Saber!" she laughed, spinning her spear again.
Suddenly, a brilliant light flashed in the distance, drawing everyone's attention.
"Is that… Archer and Berserker?" Kyoko squinted.
Weren't they supposed to be hunting Lancer? How had things devolved into a chaotic free-for-all so quickly?
---
"What's going on?!"
Far away in his study, Tohsaka Tokiomi slammed his fist on the table in a rare display of frustration. "Why is everything falling apart?!"
It was supposed to be a flawless plan. All the Masters were meant to team up and eliminate Lancer. But now… Rider was missing, Caster and Lancer had teamed up, and Archer was somehow fighting Berserker! None of it made sense.
"This isn't what was supposed to happen…" Tokiomi murmured to himself. But after a deep breath, he regained his composure.
"As a Tohsaka, I must remain dignified at all times. No matter the situation."
He glanced at his remaining two Command Seals. He had an idea. If worst came to worst, he could command Gilgamesh to wipe out all the other Servants in one fell swoop using his most powerful Noble Phantasm.
Sure, it would likely strain his already tenuous relationship with the King of Heroes, but if it meant victory, it would be worth it. Afterward, he could always rely on Kotomine Risei to replenish his Command Seals.
"Heh," Tokiomi chuckled, the confidence returning to his face.
"Let the situation change all it wants. I still hold the advantage."
---
"You've fallen right into my trap! Now, my card can finally activate!"
"Take this!"
"Attack Seal!" Jounouchi grinned as his Trap Card took effect.
Kenshin, mid-swing, felt his arm freeze in place. He couldn't move an inch forward, and in that moment of hesitation, his opponent struck.
Slash!
Though Kenshin managed to evade the brunt of the attack, the flame-wreathed sword still sliced into his shoulder. The burning wound hissed, the flesh beneath charred and exposed. His arm, now scorched, refused to move properly.
"Magic, huh?" Kenshin muttered, his eyes narrowing at the magician behind the flaming warrior.
Though he didn't fully understand the nature of the magic, it seemed to be a form of sealing—specifically aimed at stopping his attacks. The proof was in his immobilized arm.
Had it not been for the magic, he could've easily slain the fiery swordsman. This caster, Jounouchi, wasn't as helpless as he'd first thought.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone