Chapter 5: Assembly of Heroes
-153:58:55
Everyone continued to stare at the strange duo that had just landed between the battling Servants, from human to Servant to indirect witness. Even Tokiomi and Lancer X were utterly gobsmacked by Kirei's description of what just happened. Rider merely continued to grin in pride at their silence, while Saber X just buried his face into his left hand.
Then one finally found the courage to speak up in defiance of the Servant's antics.
…Yeah, right. "W-What the bloody hell are you thinking, Idiot?!" Waver tugged at the red cloak next to him, silently crying from the craziness.
Puick! Alas, he fell to the dreaded finger of the once ruler of Macedonia.
At least the high-pitched voice had helped one Servant find his. "Uh, pleasure meeting you both, King of Conquerors, Saber X," now the gawping shifted towards Assassin X, who had raised a hand in greeting and forced a conversational tone into his words, "but… would you please park your…" he eyed the massive construct of wood and bronze and the powerful bovines, "vehicle a bit more to the side?" He made a slight shooing motion. "We're kind of in the middle of something."
'…Why are you speaking so casually with him?' An incredulous Saber stared at her partner. 'He just barged into our battle!'
'I don't know, the whole thing threw me for a loop! But he's clearly insane, so, maybe if we ask nicely, he'll back off and take his partner along. The alternative is-'
"Let's rephrase that." Archer X aimed her minigun up at the Heroic Spirit slightly smaller than her. "Get lost before I beat you all to death with your own skulls."
'…That.' Saber received the flat ending with a sigh. This War had been nothing like what she'd expected.
Meanwhile, Lancer glanced at his partner. "…I'm not sure that is physically possible."
"That's what the last guy said."
Rider seemed unaffected even as Saber X moved around the Wheel. "Ah, you're a woman underneath all that armor?" He chuckled. "Such ferocity!" He then placed a hand on his partner's shoulder despite him stepping between the chariot and the rotating barrels. "Relax, my friend, the time for battle is not yet."
The king straightened ignoring the incredulous look from the Huntsman. "As for your request, Assassin X, I fully understand that the four of you trade blows for the sake of the Holy Grail. And I have nothing but respect for what all warriors here displayed so far. Nevertheless," he turned his head to look into the eyes of each Servant (or at least, where he thought the eyes were) in turn, "I would like to ask something before you continue."
A-rank Charisma worked its magic, drawing in the other Servants with each word. Even Archer X halted her actions to listen. Whatever he said next ought to be momentous.
Rider bowed his head a bit, his volume lowering as well. "How about…" he thrust out both arms as though to pull them all in and lifted his smiling maw up while shouting, "…willingly forfeiting the Grail to me?!"
Something shattered inside his audience's minds, but he continued unabashed. "I'd welcome you into my army as dear friends," he slammed his fists together as a symbol, "and together, we can all bask in the adventure of conquering the world!"
Another lengthy pause at the sheer ridiculousness Rider displayed. It took them time simply to process what this man from another time so casually-
THUNK.
All four Servants blinked. Again. THUNK.
But this time Rider joined in. THUNK.
"Um…" THUNK. "Do you… need some help?" Assassin X finally asked tentatively. THUNK.
"Ooh don't mind me…" Saber X banged his head against the railing of the Gordius Wheel one more time with a THUNK! then he gave the Servant duo a look of utter weariness. "I'm just coming to terms here. It took me a while, but now I think I understand the situation completely."
"The situation?" His female counterpart asked in a tone indicating she dreaded the answer.
Saber X barked out a bitter laugh and spread his arms wide. "Seven Servants from this world to pick from, and I get saddled with one." THUNK. He went back to banging with each word. "That's." THUNK. "A." THUNK. "Total." THUNK. "Dipstick." THUNK.
"I feel your pain…" Archer X muttered underneath her helmet, earning her a stink-eye from Lancer.
"Hey, stop that," Rider loomed over his head-thunking partner. "You're chipping the paint-"
A hand reached up with lightning speed to snag his cloak's collar and yank the king's confused face down to that of Saber X, eyes narrowed and forehead bruised. "You're-the-source-of-my-pain-asshole." He enunciated through his grinding teeth. Rider blinked, not understanding just what the problem was.
Archer X called out, "Okay, enough with the comedy routine." She started up her weapon again. "I'm not letting you get the Grail, dumbass, and I really want to kill you now."
"Crassness aside," Lancer shook his head before giving a humorless smile, "I too shall decline your offer. I have sworn my loyalty and strength to my newly anointed lord," his eyes sharpened like his spears, "and I shan't let you or your partner claim the Grail, Rider!"
"Same here, I'm quite satisfied with my current arrangement." Assassin X scratched the back of his hair with an uncertain chuckle before checking briefly on their "Master." Irisviel appeared completely unsure of how to react (hard to blame her, Kiritsugu could've never imagined such a scenario) but was fortunately unharmed. Sadly, that could change any second now. Maybe we should fall back while confusion's still high, that way-
"Did you really interrupt our battle simply to tell us this nonsensical plan?" Saber spoke in solid disapproval, making Assassin X wince inwardly. "This is an inexcusable insult to a knight!"
Rider shook himself free of Saber X's grip and rubbed his knuckles against his temple in thought. He wasn't bothered despite the palpable animosity surrounding him, no real king would falter so easily. "I'm open to negotiations."
"SHUT UP, STUPID!" Only the X Servants added that last word. And a sheepish Assassin X wasn't one of them.
Rider looked confused at the snarl his partner sent his way. Qrow finally huffed and took a long drink from his flask.
Saber eyed the object with disapproval but continued. "Besides, I too am a King, that of Britain. No matter what king you are," she tightly gripped the sword shrouded in wind and proof of her title, "I cannot lower my head as a vassal."
Rider let out an oh in mild interest. "King of Britain, you say?" He smiled. "What a surprise! Who would've thought that the renowned King of Knights would be a little girl!"
THUNK. "Will you stop that, Qrow?"
"Don't just blurt out my name..." The Servant of the Sword moaned against the railing.
And the other Servant of the Sword frowned even more at Rider's words. "Would you care to taste this little girl's blade, King of Conquerors?" She raised her sword with both hands to her front; despite her left thumb's disability, her stance spoke of unwavering resolve.
Assassin X slumped a bit. Great, now she's really riled up. Guess we're not going anywhere.
"Hey, Saber," green eyes darted towards a certain black helmet, "can I join in?"
"…Very well, but the final blow is mine."
"Fair enough." Lancer and Assassin X exchanged incredulous shrugs at the sudden cordiality.
And then Saber X ran sighing a hand over his face before stepping between the King of Knights and the Gordius Wheel. "Look, I get that he's a major pain in the neck, Sweet Pea, but-Whoa!" He barely pulled his head away from a slash.
Saber's face was an odd mix between deceptively stoic and contorted from sheer rage. "What did you just call me…?" She readied her blade for another swing.
Saber X blinked before smirking. Talking my way out's a waste of time, might as well go for broke. "…Sorry. It should be King Sweet Pea, right?"
Saber's patience had been thoroughly taxed by the loss of her left hand's functions, partially Archer X's attitude, and Rider's antics in general, and that little taunt alongside a bark of laughter from Rider smashed through her last bit of self-restraint. She leaped forward in ice-cold fury, sword raised for a vertical cut.
Two blows later, she was skidding backwards to her original position before Assassin X stopped her movement with a steadying hand against her back.
"Easy does it now." The foreign Servant's right hand held his massive sword to the side before effortlessly spinning it like a toy to switch hands and assume a mock-fencing stance.
Qrow Branwen smirked, Harbinger at the ready. "You're not the only Saber in town."
Assassin X retracted his arm while watching their new opponent with apprehension. He asked his partner mentally, 'Are you hurt?'
'Only my pride,' Saber replied, chiding herself for her rash actions. She too noted her counterpart's shift in demeanor, as had Lancer and Archer X. Gone was the tired, resigned, alcoholic straight man to Rider's routine, and in his place stood a veteran warrior. His posture appeared careless at first glance, but there wasn't a single opening. Those red eyes calmly flickered to any Servant in turn, while the left hand didn't tremble so much as once despite the heavy weapon in its grip. The fact that he could draw it to meet Saber's swing and instantly counterattack spoke volumes of his abilities.
Rider let out a disappointed huff before scratching his head. "So negotiations have failed, I guess. A pity." Then he smiled again. "Oh well, the battle shall still be a-"
BONK! "Ow!"
Saber X side-eyed Rider as he rubbed the spot on his head where Harbinger's flat had smacked him. "Me and you are gonna have a little talk if we make it out, Candy Bar."
Waver finally pulled himself back to consciousness from the flick. At this rate, I'm going to need a new forehead…
And as he looked around to see the Servant pair under his command bickering, three enemy Servants ready to tear into them, and a fourth who was giving him a sympathetic look, the young student wondered if he had been better off unconscious.
Alas, he was not, so he voiced his complaints to the one responsible for this situation.
"RIIIIIIDERRRRR!"
It said something about how unpredictable the last few moments had been when it took someone like the Mage Killer a little while to process said moments. "That bonehead seriously managed to nearly conquer the whole known world?" He scoffed quietly to Maiya, who didn't answer. Nevertheless, he recovered enough to shift his Walther from the perplexed Kayneth (tantalizing though the shot was) towards the battlefield.
The boy's cry seemed to have been the starting pistol for the next round. Archer X had opened fire on the chariot, only for Saber X to intervene by deflecting every single round fired with such precise motions that should've been impossible for a sword that size. Then Assassin X attempted to blindside her, but Lancer intervened, drawing in Saber as well. This had spiraled into a five-way battle that had yet to show any clear victor.
As for Rider? He was just standing on his chariot, letting the hysterical youth that appeared to be his and Saber X's Master rage against him. Though it mostly looked like a temper tantrum. Goodness, that boy's voice is so high-pitched.
The rifle's muzzle slowly adjusted towards the small, green-haired head…
Then a dark shape flitted between them, followed by a blue one. Kiritsugu sighed; too much action for a clear shot, and odds of exposing himself were too high. He pulled the gun away.
A miniscule part inside him felt relief at not ending a life that young. It unnerved him; he'd had to sacrifice those even younger than the student before. Have I gotten soft? He shook his head and decided to regain some clarity in the situation. And for that, he needed intel. 'Assassin X, what's the status down there?'
'I'm not sure which word would be more fitting, fluid or chaotic,' was the slightly tense answer. 'Saber X knows what he's doing, that's for sure. Lancer and Archer X are also close to full strength courtesy of their master, but Irisviel is keeping me and Saber up and running. For the most part, anyway. Lancer is apparently Diarmuid of the Love Spot, and one of his spears inflicts wounds that can't be healed. Her left tendon took a hit, she can't move her thumb.'
Kiritsugu let out a tch at the news but kept his cool. 'An ability like that is usually tied to its origin. Break the spear that injured Saber, and her wound should be treatable.'
'Good to know, but it won't be easy. Lancer's teamwork with Archer X isn't quite at our level, which is part of the reason we've lasted this long, but they're each a formidable adversary alone, and they're looking out for each other.'
'What about retreat? Can you break fee and get yourselves and Iri out of there?'
'Possibly, but I'm not sure we'd get very far. Lancer's quick on his feet, Saber X isn't far behind in that department, Archer X's specialty is long-range, and fast as I like to think I am, I'd rather avoid trying to race Rider's chariot. Plus, I think you mentioned at least one other Servant above us. They're still there, aren't they?'
'They are,' Kiritsugu confirmed, glaring through his night-vision scope at the shape among the clouds. 'They've stopped circling ever since Rider came for his little show, but I've a feeling they're armed and ready.' He doubted any more Servants would just jump into the fight, though. They'd have to be out of their minds. 'Any chance of a temporary alliance?'
'Lancer seems like a decent fellow. Good-humored, honorable to a fault, and Saber approves of him. Archer X, though, does not like me, and I sense she's not the forgiving type. Or sharing.' A deep sigh echoed through the human's mind. 'As for Saber X or Rider, they pretty much took turns waving a red cape in front of Saber's face. Her pride's not going to let her forgive them easily, heck, I'd have a hard time convincing her to retreat if I tried.'
Kiritsugu grunted. Of course, she'd wouldn't take an insult to her pride like that, not the way she'd been trained. He briefly glanced down towards the irate boy arguing with Rider and felt a small bit of sympathy. Both of their Servants could be unreasonable at the worst of times. Then again, the Mage Killer still had one that proved reliable. 'I need time to think of a way out of this, Assassin X. Do your best to keep yourselves and Iri alive for now.'
'That was my plan.' Assassin X flipped over a slash from Saber X then used the flat of his blade as a springboard to lunge for Lancer's left. The spearman noticed him and twirled his yellow spear around to jab it towards the oncoming shinobi, only for him to twist around the cursed Noble Phantasm and grab hold of it. He wanted to wrench it free so he and Saber could snap it in half. But the red spear flew in before he could get a good grip. Assassin X dropped to the ground with a gash by his shoulder before slapping a hand against the gravel. "Earth Style: Mud Wave Jutsu!"
The concrete rippled and shook like waves passing through a river, rattling most of the combatants. The ninja used this to put distance between himself and Lancer, avoiding Archer X's cursing and wild gunfire. Yet the Gordius Wheelremained unaffected through its weight and godly power. Saber was only slightly shaken, having experienced this technique before in one of their spars, so she recovered swifter than Saber X whom she was locking blades with. She pushed back his weapon with a decisive effort, but he rolled with the force and unstable ground to spin and slash at her legs. Saber hopped away, blood trickling from her left calf.
Then Saber X instantly leaped forward to perform a double somersault before bringing his sword down in a dual-handed slash. Saber barely managed to block the attack, but the impact sent a powerful tremor through the air while the concrete under her buckling legs collapsed into a small crater. Irritated by his playful smirk, Saber shifted her sword's position so the bigger blade ran screeching down the side, then tried to cut his face while he was still up. But Saber X swung his legs forward to kick against her chestplate and mostly evade the invisible weapon; red sparks briefly flickered by his nose where the veiled steel made contact. He flipped away to land on both feet two meters apart from her.
Saber lifted her sword's handle to level with her face, concealing a grimace. The slashed tendon was more of an inconvenience than she'd care to admit. She couldn't bring her full strength into her swings even with Mana Burst. Not to mention she couldn't use that without both hands…
Saber X flipped back Harbinger to block a stab from Gáe Dearg before shifting around Lancer for a kick to his back. The Celtic knight stumbled forward but was covered by Archer X's firepower. Saber X's sword whirled in front as a shield against the high-speed rounds fired as he moved back towards his partner's Noble Phantasm. Saber and Assassin X in turn fell back to where Irisviel awaited them with her healing magic, while Lancer and Archer X drifted towards the eastern containers. A moment passed before they as well were healed.
A lightly scuffed-up Saber X waited for his turn, then he tilted his head back and cleared his throat. "Uh, kid?"
"Stupid, thoughtless, inconsiderate, goddamn-"
"AHEM." Waver paused in his rant to glance towards an unimpressed Servant of the Sword. "Mind patching me up, boss?"
"O-oh, right," Waver rose both hands and concentrated, Magic Circuits flaring up along the limbs after a few seconds. Far slower than if done with Irisviel's magecraft, the odd cuts and bruises Saber X had on him disappeared. The homunculus winced; it was basic, underdeveloped. Despite not being a fighter, she could tell the boy wasn't ready for this War.
Assassin X and Saber traded similar thoughts. 'He's an unconventional swordsman, isn't he?' the former commented.
'Indeed. But his strength is undeniable. To wield such a large sword with only one hand at times, let alone perform such swift and acrobatic attacks, he must have been a seasoned warrior in his lands. And that strange power…' Assassin X nodded; that was another peculiarity.
Those few times anyone had managed to land a blow on Saber X, crimson energy would flicker for an instant before absorbing the impact. 'I can see it clearly with the Sharingan,' the ninja told the swordswoman. 'His entire body's surrounded in some sort of mana field. I think it's also augmenting his physical stats while shielding him from harm. It was even slightly healing his injuries. Doesn't look impenetrable, but it'll take some effort to disperse. Especially after his… Master's contribution.'
Lancer was impressed as well with the dark-haired fighter's prowess and ability. Three times he'd managed to strike the outlander with Gáe Buidhe, and each time, no damage was inflicted. Only Gáe Dearg had no trouble getting through the red energy, and Saber X's reflexes always kept him from sustaining more than a light nick. That greatsword in turn had once come close to impaling him. Saber X almost moved like a dancer with that thing.
Despite his appearance and demeanor, none of the four could deny that this one was a credible opponent in his own right. Especially since they all had a hunch that he was still hiding something.
Saber adjusted her frankly one-handed grip on her own sword. I should be capable of defeating him, even without my left hand, but it's not going to be an easy win.
The warrior cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders after his treatment was finished. "That'll do." And to be honest, he hadn't really needed the patch job. His Aura would've taken care of any wounds he'd sustained before long. But it was a good excuse to get the pipsqueak's attention on something other than telling Rider off. Kid needs to focus if he wants to stay alive.
Waver huffed a bit, bracing his hands against the rail. Pain rippled along his arms from the mana he'd utilized, even though it was such a simple spell. Like he wasn't already exhausted enough with-
"My, my," that familiar voice made Waver tremble, "Worn out after such mediocrity? How pitiful."
Irisviel and the Servants perked up at the words of the enemy Master. "Here I wondered what lunacy could've possessed you to scamper off with my relic." As did Rider and Saber X, neither comfortable with the menace behind his words. Their Master was shaking like an epileptic, desperately trying to discern where he was.
Archer X showed no reaction to her Master's speaking, where Lancer had assumed a deliberately neutral face. "To think you'd have the nerve of actually joining the Holy Grail War…" the student clung to his Servant's cape like a lifeline at the teacher's uttering his name, "little Waver Velvet."
He couldn't do anything. That voice, the same arrogance and pride that he'd heard so many times before in a lecture hall, berating him, demeaning his abilities, dismissing him as nothing more than a commoner…
Now mixed with a cold malice that pierced through Waver's hatred for him and made him feel like a helpless infant. He had thought he could defeat El-Melloi in this Grail War, that he could prove to the bastard and himself that his skills were worth recognition, but now?! When they stood opposing one another on a battlefield, Servants at arms, here he was, helpless.
Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald casually strolled a bit closer towards the edge of the roof he used as a survey. To think this simpering little mouse had caused him such irritation and deprived him of the weapon he had sought. There Iskandar stood in his chariot, brimming with might and confidence, and he was bound to another! And the Saber that was his partner looked like a drunk ruffian, but his swordsmanship was noteworthy, and anything was better than that gun-toting disrespectful cretin of an Archer he'd summoned.
Alas, they were not his, but at least the culprit was shivering before him.
(Saber and Assassin X traded a look before the latter sent a telling glance towards a north building, the exchange noticed by one other.)
"Well, I suppose I can treat you to some special lessons, dear boy." Even now, he kept his presence hidden from all, his voice untraceable. "The true meaning of one magus killing another…" A vicious smirk crawled along his lips. "The pain and suffering laced in such an action… Consider yourself honored." The wretch looked ready to faint; that was something Kayneth would happily prevent. Can't have a student sleeping through my lecture, can we?
Waver curled up into a crying ball, sensing his imminent fate. Kayneth stepped closer-
Klang! BOOM.
Only to flinch away from a dagger that pierced part of the roof's edge, followed by another part being blasted to bits.
Composure rattled, he looked down again and found himself in a staring match with Assassin X; the Servant knew exactly where he was. Something about that unusual red eye boring into his blue unnerved the magus, but it wasn't just the color or those odd dots. It was the anger swirling between them.
Lancer had moved towards the ninja but found Saber blocking his path. Archer X merely traded her minigun for an SMG but took no other actions. "That was just a warning, Lancer," Assassin X spoke in a calm tone that sent a slight chill through anyone that heard it. "I simply wished to express my disapproval of your Master's methods, one teacher to another."
He was angry, but it wasn't the conceited type oozing from Kayneth's mouth before. This was cold, restrained, and all the more threatening for it. Saber glanced back towards her partner, as did Irisviel with a little worry. Neither had heard yet this tone from the man. Maiya had similar thoughts, noting how the rage felt similar in nature to that of Kiritsugu's.
"Took the words out of my mouth," Saber X muttered, smoke wafting from the barrels on his sword. His words drew everyone's as well, considering what else had happened: the massive blade had folded forward, leaving only the barrels pointing upright, and Saber X had then aimed them up towards where Assassin X had tossed his kunai. That sword has a shotgun built into it? Maiya thought with mild incredulity. She'd have never even considered a weapon existing like that.
Despite his anger, Assassin X was impressed with the fellow outlander. He must've noticed the signs I sent Saber and determined that was where Archibald was hiding. Sharp eyes.
Harbinger's blade ratcheted back in place with the sound of gears turning before brought to rest on its wielder's shoulder. Saber X spat on the ground. "Boy, do I feel sorry for the kid now. And these guys hitched to you, teach." He nodded towards Lancer and Archer X, the former clenching his jaw but remaining where he was. "You're an embarrassment."
Waver hesitantly peered up at his X Servant, the man giving him a little thumbs up, and felt some of the pressure that weighed down on hm release at the gesture. A quick glance towards Assassin X earned him a look of sympathy, something he couldn't help but appreciate. Then large hand patted down on his back with unexpected gentleness, prompting him to lift up his head.
Rider gave him a soft smile, then shouted, "My partner and Assassin X speak the truth, mage! If I have it right, you originally planned to be my Master rather than this boy." He smirked. "Ridiculous! I could only accept a man as my Master who shows the courage to ride with me into battle!"
"Damn straight," Saber X nodded in agreement, not looking away from the angrily shaking man in blue above them. "If I was stuck with some coward that hid away slinging insults and leaving me to do all the dirty work, I'd have shot myself." He gave a half-smirk to Waver listening in awe. "I'll take an impulsive wimp over that any day."
The student gaped in open amazement while the King of Conquerors laughed to mock the increasingly infuriated professor. How dare these, these familiars insult him? To hell with their legends, he would take great pleasure in having Lancer shred them to pieces!
Saber looked towards said Servant in sympathy as he stood still, clearly trying not to step in for his Master's dignity. He is a noble man, someone that coward does not deserve as a vassal. Assassin X shared her feelings; regardless of his distaste for Archibald, he honestly respected the green knight of dual spears.
Archer X meanwhile found herself enjoying the little show. She was still going to kill Rider and Saber X, but she supposed she could make it only half-painful in gratitude.
"What a gutless fool!" Rider ended his laughing fit to glance around. "And that goes for all the others slinking about in the shadows!"
The King of Knights asked her fellow monarch, "What are you talking about now, Rider?"
She received a thumbs up as an answer. "Saber, Lancer, your duel was exquisite, and the intrusion of your partners did nothing to diminish its greatness, quite the contrary!" Rider praised. "The clash of your weapons ringing through the air attracted more Heroic Spirits than just Saber X and myself." All three, homunculus and Servants, tensed at the possibility of Kiritsugu and Maiya being revealed.
But they needn't have worried. Rider was interested in Servants, not humans. Before Waver or Saber X could stop him, Rider called out with raised arms, "Ye Heroic Spirits brought forth by the Holy Grail, assemble! Cast off your cowardly ways lest you suffer the derision of Iskandar, King of Conquerors!"
Kiritsugu just rolled his eyes at this act of stupidity. Maiya didn't even bother. Assassin simply continued to observe. There were others, though, that grew apprehensive.
Down in the Tohsaka mansion's workshop, Lancer X traded a concerned look with her Master upon hearing the news from Kirei. She of course had the good sense not to blindly charge into such a fight, which Tokiomi was highly grateful for in that moment.
Her partner, on the other hand… "Not good," he mumbled.
"Not good at all," Kirei agreed from the other line. They both knew one particular Servant whose pride would never stand for such ridicule.
And unfortunately, another among their ranks shared that sort of arrogance. The duo heard a resigned sigh from the phonograph before the priest reported what had just happened.
-153:54:36
New laughter echoed into the yard following Rider's taunt, but it was far darker than that of the king. "King of Conquerors, you say?" With a whine through the air, a sleek silver aircraft suddenly swooped down from the south, making all Servants brace themselves, before it banked back upwards to fly to the western containers. From there, the machine transformed into a massive metal figure that landed on the highest container, the metal buckling underneath his feet.
Rider X crouched, resting his left arm onto his knee, and peered down upon the assembled warriors with amusement. "Such a lofty title, even for a Heroic Spirit." Irisviel, Waver and even Kayneth shivered a bit at the quiet menace in his rasp. Maiya shifted her rifle's lock from the shrouded Servant perching above towards the silver behemoth.
There was something about him that just screamed dangerto all of her senses.
Kiritsugu shared this apprehension. This entire time, that Servant had been observing from the sky, but now, he came roaring down at Rider's taunts? The eloquence of his speech and posture ruled out a Berserker, but that made it even harder to discern his intentions.
Rider stared resolutely at the newcomer, two sets of red eyes clashing against each other. "And yet it is one I have earned. What of you, metal one? Who are you to hide and then make such an entrance?"
"Look who's talking…" Archer X muttered.
Rider X merely sneered, light glinting off his sharp teeth. "Why, I am one that shares your class, Rider, and a fellow conqueror as well." He leaned forward into a bow that couldn't have been anything other than mocking. "Is it not fitting that I show deference to my alleged king?" He cast a glance towards a frowning Saber. "As well as our adorable King of Knights."
Oh, she was going to reduce him to scrap metal for that.
Iskandar frowned at the tone; he knew when he was being mocked, and other times, he could laugh it off. Not this time. He'd been issued a blatant challenge.
"Real thoughtful of you, Buckethead." Saber X sauntered closer, similarly recognizing the malice in the newcomer. "You're a little late to the party to be mouthing off-" He barely managed to intercept the oncoming energy blast with Harbinger, and the force still rattled him a bit. He steadied himself before glaring.
The mouth of Rider X's cannon dimmed its glow but remained pointed towards the Servant of the Sword. "I do not appreciate being interrupted," its owner warned with a little less humor than in his previous words. Saber X eyed the scorch mark on his blade warily. 'That didn't feel like a spell or curse just now,' he sent to Rider. 'That cannon shoots mana, but it's not magic.'
Assassin X had made the same conclusion and explained it in more or less the same words to his Saber, while Lancer and Archer X had a similar discussion. Regardless of their origins or demeanors, each of the Servants were veteran heroes that knew what such a fact meant. 'Magic Resistance can't defend against that weapon.'
Megatron smiled malevolently as they processed just what he could do, and his fusion cannon, though mighty, wasn't even a Noble Phantasm. And to think not only a King of Knights, but one claiming the title, "King of Conquerors" would appear in this War as his adversaries? Not to mention him? This was truly going to be a delight.
'Rider X,' his Master's disapproving voice appeared in his head, 'why did you choose to intervene?'
'Boredom, I suppose,' Rider X replied smoothly. 'I am a wild card, remember? Our leader wishes for me to be an unpredictable force in the warzone, so that is how I act. Besides, it threatens his little plans less if I get involved rather than Archer, no? At least this way, Tohsaka can try to talk down that gold-encrusted fool from taking Rider's bait.'
'How thoughtful of you.' The priest was clearly not convinced at all by Rider X's reasoning, but it didn't seem like he'd be ordering him to retreat either. Excellent. 'Just make sure not to expose our plans.'
'But of course. And you make sure to enjoy yourself.'
'…Excuse me?'
'Oh, come now, Master. Being dutiful is one thing, but you might as well draw a little pleasure from watching events unfold.'
'Pleasure…? What is there to enjoy from this battle?' Skepticism, Rider X noted, and distaste, but… Yes… There is something underneath the mask of emptiness, isn't there?
The Decepticon tyrant's grin only broadened, further increasing the tension of those beneath him. Then his gaze as well as theirs flickered to the opposite side as a new presence drew closer. 'For example, Master,' he answered while heavy thudding sounded through the docks, 'that so many surprises are occurring tonight.'
Irisviel watched about her, unsure of where the greatest danger was. Initially, she had believed it to be Lancer and Archer X due to their weapons, then Rider and Saber X had swooped in with their antics, next followed the other Rider who still unnerved her like no other being she had encountered before… and now, mana seemed to just surge through the air, forming a sort of pressure on her. Simultaneously, a sound was emanating from the eastern side, like a large hammer striking against a gong. Repeatedly.
Then a section to the right of Archer X and Lancer exploded in a cloud of smoke and torn metal, making everyone brace for battle. Maiya had to fight to keep her balance from the tremors along the surface, but she was luckily far enough away that it didn't affect her otherwise. The pressure gathered around the battlefield, weighing down on every being present like heat on a long summer day.
Jingle.
Lazy footsteps sounded through the haze, a tall, spiked shape drawing nearer. A flare of yellow energy blew away the smoke, revealing its cause. "Hah, finally," Berserker X muttered as he stepped into view, hands in his pockets, bells jingling with each step, smile stretched across his face. "Took me long enough to find the fight."
"…Great, another weirdo answers the big guy's cock call," Archer X muttered, her posture not relaxing one bit. Even as a Servant, even through her armor, she could feel the heavy mana in the air. And she could tell like all the others that this new Servant was the cause. Energy seemed to radiate from the man excessively. Assassin X felt like he was staring at a giant bonfire whenever his Sharingan had him in sight. He's strong.
Rider was a little happy, though, to be distracted from his earlier distaste towards Rider X. He didn't like resenting others. "Well, now, stranger," the eyes of the man with spikey hair darted towards him, "how good of you to respond to my call as well!"
'Which Servant is he?' Saber asked Assassin X. 'He carries a sword, but there is already a Saber X present. Caster X, perhaps? The mana output would match.'
Her partner mulled it over. 'Maybe, but it feels random. Not like some grand spell, but simply being released from him as a natural power. Berserker X?'
'Most likely.' Artoria agreed after a moment of thought.
"Huh?" Berserker X shrugged. "I don't know about any call except for my getting summoned." His smile shifted into a frown for a moment. "Lousy sick fucks…" Then he continued before anyone could comment. "I kept getting lost trying to find this damn place, but it looks like that has a silver lining, too.
Berserker X's right hand lifted to shoulder height, fingers curled in delight. "Seven-on-one sounds like my kind of scene." The accompanying grin would've made demons flee.
But no demons were present. Only Heroic Spirits.
Lancer responded first to that claim. "Seven against one?" He spun his spears in his hands before readying them. "Though you show clear power, and your late entry could be an excuse for such ignorance, it is utter insanity to believe a single Servant could hope to match seven others simultaneously."
Berserker X snorted as he walked towards the rest. "Insanity? You expect anything else from a damn Berserker?" That was the final confirmation they all needed; this was indeed Berserker X, the Servant that had rebelled against his Master and struck out on his own. But for him to show up with still so much power despite his class' infamous consumption level was slightly worrisome.
As he drew ever closer to the assembled, a number of things happened to the non-Servants present:
Irisviel von Einzbern was run through the chest.
Waver Velvet's skull was crushed like a grape as a foot stomped down on it.
Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald had his throat ripped out.
Maiya Hisau was beheaded.
Kiritsugu Emiya was sliced in half, from shoulder to crotch.
Even Kirei Kotomine, only observing via shared perception, felt a blade go into his throat.
…And one second later, they were all perfectly fine again. Aside from the profuse sweating, anyway.
Irisviel's knees gave in from the sensation; she would've fallen were it not for Saber and Assassin X catching her by the shoulders. "I-I'm fine," she quickly said to their worried faces, wishing she could sound more reassuring. Though she understood her ultimate fate and had prepared herself for it, this sort of brutality… was not something she could've anticipated.
Her husband was further away from the hypocenter of this pressure, and he'd experienced such things before. But never of such magnitude. This… the Mage Killer breathed in and out, gloved hand patting the spot where he had been "cut," this isn't just an overflow of mana.
Kirei came to the same realization, bracing himself by the phonograph, astounded by what he felt. This is… bloodlust.
Nearly all grew to understand: Berserker X was a being of violence. Drawing his sword and stepping onto the battlefield was like breathing to him, and he enjoyed every second of it. Coupled with an abnormal amount of Magical Energy for even a Servant, the intent to fight and kill oozed so strongly from the samurai-esque warrior that anyone of weak constitution unwittingly hallucinated their dying violently, even if they were not of interest to him.
The Servants were naturally stronger in body and will than an ordinary person, and they had all undergone harrowing trials that had hardened them. They could therefore recognize such concentrated killing intent for what it was and resist it easier than the rest. Easier, though, does not mean easy. Archer X's fingers drummed against her gun. A bead of sweat rolled down Assassin X's cheek as they helped Irisviel to a sitting position. Saber stood ramrod straight, clutching her sword like she was facing a giant Dragon. Only Assassin's loyalty (and fear of Rider X) prevented him from making a break for it as fast as he could.
Waver was barely conscious and would've fallen out of the chariot had Rider not grabbed ahold of him. It took all of his will just to talk. "What's… going… on…?" His professor's intent to kill had not nearly been so crushing.
"You are being overwhelmed by Berserker X's will," his Servant explained with a disturbingly excited look. It had been ages since he had experienced such fighting spirit, and even then, it usually came from an entire army, not a single being. "Hey, hey, boy," he lightly slapped the youth's cheeks to keep him awake (others winced in sympathy at the treatment), "what rank is his Mad Enhancement? Such a beast intrigues me."
"Whu… huh…" Waver's eyes focused on the monster not far away, widening when they read his stats and processed them. "E-E…" he whispered, double-checking the reading and looking at the rest as well. The result terrified him.
"Huh?" Saber X leaned closer to hear. "What's that?"
"E-rank…" The reply made both Servants look at each other and then at the bored-looking Berserker, foot tapping on the pavement. "His Mad Enhancement is practically non-existent… he shouldn't receive any rank up… and yet…" Waver whimpered in total fright, voicing the worries of the other Masters watching. "So strong…"
The Mad Enhancement Skill was at its most basic description a trade-off: power for sanity. The lower the rank, the more reasonable a Servant could be, but the increase in parameters was less noteworthy. The higher the rank, the stronger the Servant, but the less control their Master held over them. Berserkers were generally weaklings that needed the boost to really be a match for the others. So, under that logic, the implications of Berserker X's threat level…
Not good. Not good at all.
Rider X on the other hand shivered in utter delight. He hadn't felt this sort of elation for battle since his time in the arenas of Kaon. Wherever this foreign Servant had come from, he recognized a fellow fighter forged and relishing in carnage.
Maiya, however, felt no such positivity from this pressure. The Steyr slipped from her sweating fingers and clattered against the metal as her mind traveled against her will to memories of darker, more savage… "men." "Maiya, are you still there?" Kiritsugu queried over the radio. "Maiya?" She took a number of calming breaths and ran her fingers through her hair, but it still took a while before she somewhat regained her composure. "Maiya, what's wrong?"
Dammit… she cursed to herself. I should be stronger than this. The woman's eyes drifted down to where Irisviel was seated, Saber standing guard… and found Assassin X looking right up at her. He somehow managed to keep it subtle, likely making sure not to let any enemies notice, but his right eye, the non-Noble Phantasm one, was trained on her, concern flickering in its gray color. Maiya blinked in honest shock, then nodded to him, signaling she was alright. A hint of relief showed in that eye before it took its usual cool look, and Maiya picked up her rifle, retook aim at Assassin despite the pressure, and replied, "I'm here, Kiritsugu. Ready when needed."
She shelved any gratitude or surprise towards the unexpected kindness from Assassin X aside. "Good. Maintain position, let me know if anything else causes you or them trouble." For now, the fight took priority.
Kakashi relaxed slightly, knowing that his teammate had recovered. Irisviel had him and Saber close by for support, and Kiritsugu had assured him that the distance helped mitigate Berserker X's presence, so that left Maiya as someone who may've needed help. He briefly considered making a Shadow Clone to check up on her, but he had a hunch he'd need to conserve his energy. Too many enemies surrounded them. Retreating's impossible.
Berserker X was getting tired of waiting. He'd removed his Eyepatch Seal just before reaching the yards because it was the only way he could fight somewhat normally; the lack of a Master was a bit of a nuisance.
Then again it did help him do a little weeding out. He didn't give a damn over anyone that keeled over just by being exposed to his (diminished) power, but those that could stand and fight unimpeded… they ought to give him a good fight. He retracted his Mana Burst a bit, allowing the Masters to breathe regularly again. "Enough waiting, let's fight already."
Saber stepped away from Irisviel and raised her weapon again. Regardless of who challenged her, the King of Knights would never step down. "Very well," she spoke in cool dignity. "I've grown tired of the endless posturing."
Berserker X gave her the one-over. Short little twerp. Can't move her left thumb but has a great solid stance. Sword's fucking hard to make out. And those eyes… she's strong. Good.
His hand grabbed the bandaged sheathe by his side and drew the long nodachi free. The tension sharpened as the chipped blade revealed itself. "And I'm sick of talking. Time's running out for me, so if you all won't come at me, I'll just make the most out of it." Berserker X pointed his weapon out in front of him, smiling. "Who here's the strongest?"
"I am." Golden specks sparkled in the air above him.
Far away, Tokiomi slapped his right palm to his head, sighing in defeat. "So close…"
The particles gathered atop a lamppost a few meters away from a curious Berserker X, then they condensed into an armored form familiar to some of the onlookers. "T-that's…" Waver whispered in his cowering state, Rider shooting a glance to Saber X who nodded back.
Bracing a hand against the roof wall to steady himself from the earlier sensation, Kayneth unwittingly finished his pupil's words. "…the Servant that killed Assassin!"
Bells jingled as the spiked Servant glanced up intrigued. "Eight-on-one? All the better."
Indeed, Gilgamesh, King of Heroes, Servant Archer, stood on top of the lamppost, arms crossed before him, eyes closed. "In one night alone, two blustering fools call themselves Kings, and a mad beast claims to be capable of defeating all Servants, all within my presence." They opened to show utter disdain for the Heroic Spirits assembled before him. His posture indicated he was unaffected by the bloodlust-soaked mana Berserker X radiated.
Saber scowled at another insult to her title, but Rider merely blinked in confusion. "You are mistaken. I am indeed Iskandar, the one-and-only King of Conquerors." He scratched his cheek. His earlier shout seemed to have been even more effective than he had anticipated. It would've been something if one other Servant had arrived, but three? I'm better than I thought.
"Nonsense," Archer rebuked him immediately. "Of this heaven and earth, there exists only one real hero King: me. The rest of you are nothing more than a gaggle of mongrels." His eyes drifted over each of the X Servants. "Regardless of whether you came from this world or have intruded into my garden."
Whereas the King of Conquerors shrugged off the insult, the King of Knights required a light squeeze on her left shoulder to calm down. She glanced back to see her partner shake his head. Despite her anger, she still respected and trusted his judgement, so she kept by Irisviel. This one unnerved Assassin X as well; his arrogance was great like that of the Riders, but it was much simpler, like his greatness was a simple fact, a rule of life.
Saber X barely managed to tolerate his partner's ego, so two more of those popping up made him wish for his flask. But he restrained himself; he could try getting drunk later. "In that case, mind sharing your name with the class, Your One True Greatness?" he drawled in obvious snark, drawing a glare from Archer. I wonder…
Assassin X glanced at the Servant of the Sword; had his mana just flared up?
"Indeed," Rider beckoned towards the higher Servant. "No true King would be ashamed of giving his name." Waver silently begged his Servants to shut the hell up!
"You question me, mongrels?" Archer snarled, stomping his left heel against the light beneath him so hard it ceased to function. "The King himse-"
Then the foot slipped.
All assembled were treated to an unusual -and unquestionably humorous- sight: the wide-eyed King of Heroes standing with one buckled leg on the streetlight, flailing his arms and other leg about in an undignified manner to regain his balance.
Saber would've laughed were it not for her own dignity. Berserker X just sighed in disappointment. All bark, no bite, I guess…
Saber X and both Riders even had the gall to smirk at the scene. At times like this, the Huntsman snickered to himself, I love my Semblance.
Finally, Gilgamesh's errant leg managed to find purchase again, and he righted himself. His eyes blazed, promising retribution to anyone that would comment upon what just transpired.
Naturally, one accepted the challenge. "Ah, so you would happen to be the King of Jesters, would you?" Rider X sneered.
Archer X spoke up a second later. "If being a mongrel means not making a total idiot of ourselves in whatever culture you're from, Goldy, I'm cool with that." She aimed her gun at the slightly trembling Servant. "Now, we're trying to fight here, so take your shivering gilded ass and-"
She barely managed to sidestep before a golden javelin obliterated the SMG and clipped her shoulder, the glancing impact making her spin with a swear.
At the same time, Rider X shot to pieces a rather large axe, the remnant burying itself deep into the metal beside him. A piece of shrapnel clipped his helmet, though. Perhaps I pushed too hard just now. Oh, well.
A new gleam of interest appeared in Berserker X's eyes from the sudden attack. Maybe he'd been too quick to judge.
Rider as well placed a finger to his chin in thought at the spots where twin portals of gold had appeared for an instant, one above each shoulder of Archer. "I see…" he murmured before looking to Saber X. "That's how he killed Assassin, isn't it?" His partner nodded wordlessly.
As she crouched on the ground, Archer X batted away a helping hand from her partner. "I'm fine," she hissed, but Lancer didn't buy it. Not from the way she clutched her bleeding shoulder, the armor padding there reduced to atoms. The wound was healed by their lord's magecraft, but the tension remained. Especially seeing as the javelin that had sheared through her defense like nothing was gone again, leaving only a crater in its wake.
Archer ceased his vibrations of anger and glared upon the assembled. "I grace you with my presence, yet you not only fail to recognize me, but even have the gall to insult me." Two new portals shimmered into existence, one revealing part of a sword, the other the beginning of a spear. "Such collective ignorance must be rewarded with death!"
Peering through his scope, Kiritsugu recognized the form of attack from Maiya's video. "That has to be his Noble Phantasm." But how did it work?
Saber stood protectively in front of her supposed Master. She peered from combatant to combatant, trying to discern where Archer would strike first or if he had even decided yet. And there was something else. 'Those weapons are different from the ones he fired before,' she spoke to her partner and her Master via mental link. 'Is it like the other Archer's?'
'Maybe, but Archer hasn't so much as touched them, let alone wielded them like Archer X would.' Assassin X trained his special eye at the portals, trying to discern just what this Servant could do. '…I can't really see into the portals,' he finally reported. 'They appear to be just big enough to let the weapons through and seal once no longer needed. But,' the Sharingan scanned the weapons, 'those are most definitely high-rank Noble Phantasms. So were the ones before.' The lack of information was frustrating.
All Servants readied themselves as Archer smirked cruelly upon them, weapons primed like an arrow strung back for firing. Only Berserker X returned the smirk.
On the docks' outskirts, Kariya grinned in wicked eagerness. One of his Servants had just popped up, standing all proud above the rest. He'd observed the death of Assassin like the other real Masters, one of blurred emerald, the other of radiant gold. Of course, he would summon two fancy Heroic Spirits covered in luxury for the War. It was just like him.
But now, Kariya had a chance to crush one of his weapons. The stronger one, too, from the looks of it. The prospect invigorated him, a refreshing feeling after the vision of being disemboweled that other Berserker's presence had given him (bless Caster X for snapping him out of it). And after that…
Unheeding of the caution in Caster X's gaze, Kariya uttered one single order. "Kill him."
Darkness swirled around a spot right next Berserker X. Everyone, even Archer, paused at yet another arrival, Rider X muttering, "The surprises never cease…"
The shadows gathered, condensed and formed into the general form of a crouching knight. It rose to growl at all present like a rabid dog. He wasn't some hero from another land, deeds painting him in an illustrious light like all of the others. This one was a raging beast of fury.
Though no one had met him before, they all understood immediately who he had to be. "Berserker?" Saber was less surprised than she should be. One of that class had already barged into this battle, so she supposed the other appearing as well wasn't impossible.
"How many more are gonna pop up tonight?" Archer X grumbled while mentally cycling through her Weapons of War. She had a feeling she'd need something with real firepower.
Despite not letting the newcomer out of his sight, Lancer had time for one verbal jab. "Hey, Conqueror King, don't you want to invite him, too?"
"This guy would invite a whole zoo, plus the keepers, to come along for one of his crazy stunts." Saber X chimed in to lighten the mood.
Rider grumbled in good humor at the teasing before focusing. "Invite him? He doesn't seem like a negotiating fellow. Too bad." He glanced down. "Boy, just strong is our new friend?" The Servant of the Sword allied with him stepped closer to hear the answer as well.
It wasn't a pleasing one. "…I can't tell." Waver whispered in fright shaking his head. "I have no idea at all."
"What're you talking about?" Saber X leaned over him alongside Rider (though he kept his weapon levelled at Berserker). "I get that he's a scary bastard, seems to be the norm for Berserkers, but take a chill pill and relax. You're a Master, you ought to see it clearly-"
"No, I can't." The student cut him off. "I-I can definitely tell there's a Servant standing there, but his stats don't appear to me!"
Rider frowned in suspicion at the Heroic Spirit of Fury. Though armored like Saber, the Archers and Rider X, his equipment bore no discernable marks or ornaments. Black fog swirled around his entire body, obscuring every last detail save for the visor flaring crimson. It was just barely possible to see a man standing there at all. All I can make out are his Skills, Kayneth thought in irritation, all while Archer X mentally demanded details from him.
Others had come to the same realization as well, Masters failing to discern Berserker's parameters, Servants having difficulty fully grasping his appearance. "Looks like yet another difficult enemy has shown up," Irisviel commented. This Servant's appearance was concealed from all.
"That is some impressive armor." All… save for one.
She and Saber looked to Assassin X. "Can you see him?" She asked quietly.
"I can," he whispered back. The twitching, rattling being of darkness was reflected in the Sharingan as its master watched. Berserker's Noble Phantasm was powerful in its deception, but against a Noble Phantasm formed from legends of seeing through any technique or illusion, it was meaningless.
But… "I have no idea who he is," Assassin X shook his head in regret. "Even without that fog, the armor is of simple design, lacking any noticeable ornaments or engravings. And he's from this world, so I can't cross-reference the data to the Heroic Spirits I know."
He repeated the same via his mental link to Kiritsugu, who was a little peeved at the news. If only there was some trick for him to share perception with his Servants, so he could see what they saw. Still, they could probably figure something out later. If there was a later.
"What is he even doing here?" Maiya asked after he brought her up to speed.
"No Master with any sense would have sent their Servant into this chaos," Kiritsugu agreed with her. That statement raised more doubts in him, though. The other Berserker had gone rogue according to the rumors, but what about Rider X or Archer? Were they acting against their Masters' will? Who even was Rider X's Master? Could it be…?
He sighed in an effort to clear his head, then focused. No time to speculate. "Maiya, stay on Assassin. I'll try to find Rider X and Berserker's Masters." He said as much to his Servants as well.
Saber too was disappointed, but it wasn't her friend's fault. The Throne of Heroes was restricted that way for him as a foreign Heroic Spirit. Besides, "There are eight enemies present," she commented. "We have to be very careful now." Especially with this blasted injury, she added to herself bitterly. The last thing she wanted was to be a burden for anyone.
As for Berserker X, he eyed his counterpart with curiosity. Even while standing the closest to him, he was as much in the dark as the rest.
Not that he cared. "Oi," Berserker X called out, "you a strong one? I hope you don't just wrap yourself up in smoke because you're a total wimp. That'd be a bad joke."
But the black knight gave no answer, hell, he hardly noticed another of his class stood next to him. Ever since he had first appeared, his fiery gaze had been turned upward. Towards one single target.
Archer returned the glare with disgust. "Who gave you leave to gaze upon me, mad dog?" To think his punishing these insolent wretches had been interrupted by the arrival of such a disgusting spirit. The Gate of Babylon shifted aim downwards.
Then Berserker X spoke up again. "Oh, you want to fight Goldy first, huh?" The Soul Reaper laughed in understanding. "Fine, I can respect that. And while you're dealing with that armored-up bastard," he thumbed behind himself to the second-highest Servant, "I think I'll take a crack at the rust bucket up there. We'll fight afterwards, yeah?"
After a second or so, a light rumble emanated from the helmet, a strange sort of confirmation.
High above them, Rider X scoffed. "Rust bucket?" He leveled his fusion cannon down at the pair of maddened fury. The insult did annoy him, but in truth, he was more intrigued by the Berserkers. Members of that class are generally weaklings empowered by insanity, if what Kirei said is true. But these two… Let's see what they're made of.
Archer didn't even care. Being gawped at by one deranged mutt was annoying enough, but being outright dismissed by another? "At least provide me a little entertainment with the spatter of your remains," the sword and spear vibrated, "mongrels." Then they were loosed.
And a second sooner, Rider X fired two powerful blasts from his cannon in quick succession. Four projectiles hurtled with blinding speed through the air, a legendary sword and one plasma ball at Berserker, a spear of renown and one plasma ball at Berserker X. The resulting impacts unleashed a massive funnel of dust, veiling the result.
The other Servants braced themselves against the shockwave, collectively stunned at the result. The dual attack had been swift and brutal; most Servants would've sustained at least some injury from the result.
Neither Berserker was "most Servants."
Something launched itself out of the impact point straight towards Rider X. He leaped out of the way just in time before Berserker X's sword slammed into the spot he'd been standing. The industrial metal proved insufficient as the weapon, fueled by its wielder's monstrous strength, sliced clean through everything until it reached the asphalt, causing another geyser of dust to erupt.
Saber stepped between Irisviel and the destruction, rapidly obliterating any debris hurtling their way. Child's play even with just one arm. Yet she saw no reason to relax whatsoever. Both Berserkers' power demanded to be taken seriously.
By now, Saber had grown to understand some measure of the reason behind Berserker X's power. The massive Magical Energy emanating from him while idle, the destruction caused by his slashes… Even without her Master's Clairvoyance or Assassin X's Mystic Eye, she knew Mana Burst when she saw it. It was far more brutish and imprecise than she would wield it, though. And the level of its output, not to mention just how draining fighting with that Skill is, a Masterless Servant shouldn't be able to keep it up that long. Just how much mana does that Berserker have at his disposal?
Rider X shared that sentiment as he landed in a crouch on the ground and turned to meet his chuckling attacker. An unharmed Berserker X turned as well to face him, his bloodthirsty smile further enhanced by the mana-made image of a roaring skull briefly flickering around him. "Now we're talking."
Megatron returned the smile. "Alright then." An arm blade extended itself beneath his cannon as he readied himself, excited to discover how this would go. The two lunged at one another, their blades meeting in a clash that released another shockwave.
While he'd grown to understand the threat level those two posed, Assassin X couldn't help but continue to stare at the cloud, Sharingan wide open at the untouched knight, sword in hand. "Incredible…"
Lancer was of similar mind. "Is that one really a Berserker?" He asked incredulously.
Rider hummed impressed. "He's pretty refined for someone that's lost his ability to reason."
"No kidding, how the hell could he move like that in that armor?" Saber X muttered, taking a quick nip from his flask before noticing Waver's mien of incomprehension. "Couldn't keep up, huh?" His Master hesitantly shook his head. "Spiky did what you'd expect from a guy of that class. He swung his sword with enough force to obliterate the spear and the plasma blast in one move. Good reflexes, too."
"Blacky on the other hand showed a little more flair." Rider chuckled, taking over the explanation. "He first twisted out of Goldy's sword's trajectory, caught it, and then used it to parry the plasma blast fired by Buckethead." Waver gawped like a fish.
"I could've done that…" Archer X grumbled to herself.
Her golden counterpart was even less happy with the repugnant thing gazing up at him. "You dare you lay your filthy hand all over my treasure…" The king's teeth ground in fury while he turned to fully face the black knight. "You must be weary of life, dog!" The sky turned gold behind him.
Waver cowered by a stern-faced Rider. "Th-that's impossible!"
"Holy shit…" Saber X muttered with a hint of trepidation.
Even Berserker X and Rider X paused in their skirmish to eye what the Servant of The Bow had called forth.
No one could blame any of them. Instead of a mere two portals, sixteen blazed brightly around Archer. Each one revealed a weapon of some kind, sword, spear, axe, unrecognizable, but all of them were of pristine and supreme quality. And all of them were unmistakably Noble Phantasms.
How the hell is he doing that?! Archer X thought furiously as her eyes darted beneath her helmet at all the different armaments lined up and ready to fire. Is his Noble Phantasm like mine? But I can't summon that many weapons at once without burning up my reserves, and he's not even breaking a damn sweat! And are they on the same level as that stick he shot at me?
Lancer eyed his shaking partner with a little worry. He wasn't stupid enough to confuse her actions for fear, but she was clearly agitated. An emotion that had been steadily growing ever since tonight's battle had begun. She's bound to do something reckless at this rate, and with opponents like Archer or Berserker X in front of us, I'm not sure she'd survive that.
A part of Gilgamesh reveled in the tangible trepidation these mongrels radiated at witnessing what was still but a fraction of his full might. Then his mood soured again as he heard laughter from below.
Berserker X chuckled like a lunatic at the many weapons. "This is great! I'm gonna have a lot of fun after I'm done with the big guy here!" He threw back his head in even more laughter.
His left hand shot out to stop a kick from Rider X's massive leg. "Dismissing me so quickly is a mistake," the Servant of the Mount sneered as he aimed his cannon, "the last you may ever make!"
Violet plasma erupting from the weapon was swatted aside by the nodachi. "Oh, I haven't forgotten about you!" Berserker X promised, actually lifting up the giant body by the foot to hurl it high up onto the western containers. A big crouch, then he followed in one bound.
Rider let out an impressed "oh." "To be able to toss such a heavy mass of metal around like that or shatter a Noble Phantasm with one swing of that chipped sword…" he laughed. "Spiky certainly has the brute strength to back up his aggression."
Archer sneered at the mongrels biting at one another before him. "I'll be sure to teach that dog proper deference," then he looked down upon his original target, "after we see just how long this impudent thief can last!" The weapons were launched, one after the other.
Yet Berserker didn't waver so much as an inch from the oncoming assault. The other Servants aside from Rider X and Berserker X watched in utter amazement.
Catching the first spear sent Berserker skidding back a ways, but he rallied quickly to deflect two more with a twirl of his new weapon. He then knocked aside the fourth and fifth projectiles, only slightly shifting his stance, before evading the sixth, a European longsword, and allowing its impact to create a smokescreen. From there he leaped out, tossing as he landed the first weapon he'd acquired to intercept the next blade headed his way. While those spun through the air, Berserker caught an Oriental axe with his now free hand and instantly used it to knock away the following weapon. The container behind him exploded as it was struck by the deflected blade. Berserker stabbed his spear in the ground, snagged a new weapon, and continued.
Assassin X kept his Sharingan trained on the maddened warrior, unashamedly amazed by what he had just born witness to. Never before had he witnessed such a level of grace and skill before, much less with weapons of different build. And to think it all came from a Heroic Spirit weighed down by old-fashioned armor, exceedingly little time to react, and supposed madness. It wasn't that the "arrows" of Archer were that slowly or carelessly launched, Berserker was simply that good. There was no flaw or unnecessary movement. 'Saber… who could this man possibly be?'
'I…' she found it hard to tear her eyes away from the display. '…I'm not sure.' Unlike her partner, she had no way to see through the shroud of the armor, but the poise and flair, regardless of whatever armament he wielded, is so impressive compared to the other's brutish unrefined fighting with Rider X.
Why did it seem a little familiar, though…?
Saber X whistled in honest respect. "Crazy or not, Blacky's got style."
Rider chuckled in agreement. "Looks like he's the worst possible matchup for Goldy, too. He just fires those things randomly at his targets when all it does is supply Blacky with more." He then suddenly drew his spatha and swung while Harbinger flashed as well.
Waver, who had been trying to keep up with all the action, jumped from two rings of metal next to him. Iskandar clicked his tongue in disapproval as smoke wafted from a tiny circle on his blade. "Rather cowardly to strike at a king's ally while he is enraptured."
Archer X just scoffed angrily as she lowered the sniper rifle. "Was worth a shot."
Saber X moved to slash at her when twin familiar spears blocked his sword swing. The two knight classes sized each up in their blade lock. "Keep your girlfriend on a leash, pretty boy," the Huntsman snarled before tilting his head as another bullet scraped against his Aura.
"Shut it, you damn drunk!" Archer X shouted just before she had to duck under an errant halberd. "And you watch where you're swatting those things, Schtick-Stealer!"
If Berserker heard her odd name for him, he gave no indication. But at least the rest settled for watching the battle. Interfering would've been suicide.
High above the rest, Maiya watched with some trepidation how two other titans slammed their swords against one another. There was little grace in the duel between Rider X and Berserker X; a more fitting description would be a street brawl with weapons.
Berserker X batted a slash away before counterattacking, but Rider X stepped away from the longer blade and punched with his left to gain some breathing room. He then took aim and fired his fusion cannon three times; yellow mana erupted from Berserker X as he swung diagonally his nodachi. Two of the blasts were crushed by the steel while the third simply dissipated against the greater power.
But the blasts had merely been a feint. Rider X had been a champion among gladiators long before he became a warlord, and not all of his battles had been won through sheer might. He shifted into Alt-Mode Starship and rocketed straight for his opponent before transforming again, unsheathing his blade. Berserker X stumbled back a bit from the heavy cut across his chest to his right shoulder.
The Servant of the Mount was dissatisfied, though; his adversary should've been cleaved in half through that move, yet the blood spilled was not half the damage intended. And Berserker X had other smaller cuts and bruises across his body, but nothing life-threatening. He understood now. It's that dense mana he keeps releasing.Not only does it augment his attacks, but it also provides him a sort of shield, protecting him from the worst.
And even if it had been life-threatening, the slash wasn't enough to make Berserker X waver. On the contrary: he was more excited than ever before. Planting his sandal so hard against the metal it buckled, he jumped laughing right back into the fray. Rider X growled from the slash across his torso and swung down his sword again.
Berserker X snagged the arm and flipped it, along with the rest of Rider X, over his shoulder. His body crashed right through the already punished containers, blowing them to smithereens. Fragments of varying sizes flew across the area, forcing most of the rest to dodge or destroy the oncoming debris. Archer nonchalantly summoned a new portal to destroy a large shard headed his way with the demonic sword, Dáinsleif.