Chapter 6: Darkness Gathers
-152:45:56
Brilliant green clashed with sleek silver, the sound ringing through the night air, and for the umpteenth time in the last few days, Waver found himself wondering, What the hell was I thinking?!
He'd awoken from his (embarrassing yet blissful) fainting to find the three Servants hovering over him in a small park in Miyama Town. After inviting Berserker X into their ranks, Iskandar had proven just enough good sense to bring the group away from the docks and somewhere other Servants wouldn't interrupt the bleurgh, transaction of the renegade Servant's Command Seals. Waver had luckily read about a rudimentary way to transfer Seals, but the process was slow going. Inside a basic Bounded Field, the student was bent tentatively over the severed hand, Berserker X and Rider hovering over him impatiently.
"Any day now, runt," the spiked familiar grumbled. "I feel like I'm gathering moss."
"T-t-this takes t-t-t-time, t-don't make me lose focus, dammit!" The student stammered. His left hand grasped the severed one just above the Command Seals, Magic Circuits glowing along his arm. Waver felt the ritual working, but the pain in his limb made every second feel like hours were passing.
"Easy does it, my friend," Iskandar chuckled. "Waiting is all part of conquest." He received a scoff in response as another clang sounded near them. "To think I would find one more eager for battle than me. Will you step in?"
"Even if I had the strength, no. Fighting two-on-one's not my style. …Except maybe when I'm the one."
"Nice to know -ergh!- that you boys are enjoying yourselves!" As for Saber X? He was busy fending off Lancer X. Harbinger slammed against Edenian Sojourner Staff, forcing her back before she flipped to bring one end hurtling towards his head. The sword spun in his fingers to intercept the green-glowing metal, and they broke apart to clash anew. Right. I'm not just setting up a bond with a violent monster, but another Servant's here to try and kill me. Bloody marvellous.
The enemy Servant had been dispatched by the Tohsaka Master to intervene with the ritual and possibly ensure Berserker X would be gone for good. A Hassan immediately began trailing the large group, so Lancer X knew where to find them and prepared for a quick resolution. She had taken no pleasure in launching Promise Keeper at the young boy's head, but it was sadly the most efficient way to handle three Servants. And at the end of the day, this frightened little boy was a Master.
A Master in a command of a Saber with very good instincts, it turned out. The lanky foreigner had instantly ceased draining a wine bottle to deflect the whirling blades with his sword, she had the rotten luck to step on a twig that snapped, and the fight had broken out.
Her staff of enchanted metal parried, swept, and jabbed only to be met repeatedly by the heavy sword her fellow knight class wielded. Both combatants had managed to slip a few times past the defenses, but each time, an energy field (red for Saber X, green for Lancer X) had absorbed any impacts. An irritating stalemate. And it's the best I can hope for under the circumstances, Lancer X thought while darting away from a straight kick.
Saber X hopped over a leg sweep and gripped Harbingerwith both hands to slash diagonally. Lancer X leaned out of the way while the air rippled from the cut; a house behind her received a large cut on the front. With a twist of her Staff, she struck both of his wrists, forcing him to drop the weapon, then instantly made for a multi-thrust attack. Once you'd disarmed a swordsman, you had to keep him disarmed.
But Saber X didn't attempt to retrieve his sword. Instead, he twisted around the emerald pole, trapped it inside his right elbow, and punched Lancer X in the face. She grunted; it all happened before she could shield herself. Then she felt a pull on her weapon, forcing her to kick out, which Saber X parried with his own kick, and leaped away. The Huntsman hooked his fallen weapon with his right foot and kicked it upwards to grab its handle for more.
Waver knew he should've been focusing on the transfer, but he couldn't help but watch in amazement how those two fought. Even when deprived of their class weapons, neither Saber nor Lancer missed a beat in facing one another. He glanced over to an eagerly watching Rider. "A-aren't you going to help Saber X?"
The King laughed. "I'd rather not interfere in such a splendid skirmish if I can help it. Saber X is doing exemplary alone against her. Besides," he swept a hand across the trees surrounding them, "better to stand guard in case we have another visitor."
If you do, it likely won't be an ally of mine, Lancer X's mouth underneath her mask grimaced as she chopped for her opponent's throat. Just before she'd been sent after this group, Archer had returned in a not-at-all-perish-the-thought pouty mood, barely registering the dozen apologies Tokiomi had prepared in advance. Chances of him contributing to this battle were slim, and frankly, she doubted he'd show enough care to differentiate between ally and foe. Rider X was who knows where, and Lancer X trusted that titan even less than she did the King of Heroes. The Hassans couldn't intervene now for the sake of maintaining the bigger illusion. For better or worse, the Edenian Heroic Spirit was on her own.
And she was barely making any progress against Saber X. Her Sojourner Staff spun to deflect the gunfire of that odd sword, then a slash came too fast for her to fully shield herself. She rolled away while swinging her own weapon. The duelists glared at one another, the swordsman spitting out some blood and the staff-wielder clutching her bleeding abdomen.
I should've never engaged him in direct combat, Lancer X chided herself. He's too skilled for me to neutralize effortlessly, not with two more waiting in the wings. I just seem to keep having wretched fortune tonight… She drew in a breath and straightened. Very well. One last attempt.
She struck one end into the ground and followed the other end to evade a thrust for her stomach, balancing on the pole for a moment. Green energy emanated from the Noble Phantasm in a sudden flash, disorienting Saber X for an instant, then she launched herself off, snagging the Staff as she went, and somersaulted forward. Promise Keeperflashed again from her hand as it whirled in an erratic flight. Its target: the wide-eyed boy.
Rider tracked the projectile's trajectory and intercepted it with a wide swing of his spatha. The tri-blade spun off course, and he shifted his gaze towards the enemy. "I commend your brazenness, but such tricks will not work easily while I'm around-" then he blinked.
She was no longer next to his partner. Saber X's eyes darting to something, a flash behind him, Rider spun in place to see Lancer X's staff being thrust towards the boy's terrified eye-
Before stopping.
"Finally." Lancer X's attempts to push the attack through ceased as she felt mana crackle in the air. Next to her, Berserker X grinned, one hand drawing his nodachi, the other trapping the verdant Noble Phantasm in an iron grip. "I thought I'd have to wait all night."
Waver fell to his knees, panting like a dog in summer. While the Servant of the Spear coming dangerously close to popping open his skull was disconcerting, it wasn't the reason for his limbs' weakness.
Rather, it was due to the three new Command Seals resting on the inside of his left forearm. Jingle.
Truly wretched fortune was all Lancer X could think before Berserker X reeled her in for a rising slash. Green flashed around her body just before the worn steel connected with her, that and her swiftly back-tracking being the only things that saved her from being cleaved in half. Though it didn't cut her, the sheer mana packed inside the blow sent Lancer X flying into the air. She'd luckily kept her grip on Sojourner Staff, as she immediately needed it to block Saber X's follow-up. How did he manage to get so high so quickly?!
Regardless, the strength behind Harbinger blasted Lancer X right back down to terra firma. She landed in a semi-graceful crouch, the earth cracking beneath her. Saber X followed a second later and a few feet away from her with a smirk. "I do like it when the girls play hard-to-get, but messing with my Master? That breaks my heart."
"I for one am spoken for," Lancer X replied smoothly. "But you may have a fair chance with others…" She rose a bit, one hand releasing her class arms to grasp Promise Keeper that appeared in her hand. "Assuming you improved your appearance. And your smell."
"Ouch." Saber X patted his chest with a feigned look of hurt. "You go right for the weak spot, don't you?" Despite his humor, he didn't lower his guard by an inch. This chick's got more than just good moves with that stick. She'd make a decent Assassin, and she knows magic, too.
But for once, the odds were in his favor. Berserker X sauntered over to his right, sword scraping through the dirt. Qrow eyed him from the side. "Aren't you still recharging?"
A scoff. "Like that's ever stopped me before." Sure enough, the wounds from the dock battle were beginning to close, and the Servants could sense a slight tremble of power through the air. Definite signs that the foreign Heroic Spirit of Madness was bound to a Master once more.
Rider stooped by Waver, a bright smile on his face. Close to fading away, and yet he's willing to fight again mere moments after forging a contract. A fearsome man!
Lancer X slowly stepped away from them, hazel eyes drifting from one to the next. 'Master, an ambush is impossible under these circumstances.' she sent a begrudging message. 'I might be able to defeat one of these Servants, but all of them at once? I have no chance of winning this alone.' Her fingers clenched around her Sojourner Staff. 'Would Archer assist?'
'I'm afraid not,' was Tokiomi's terse reply. 'He has no more interest in battle tonight, and it will take a fair bit of goodwill before he is willing to follow my suggestions after I ordered him away. And my apologies, Lancer X, but I have no intention of expending another Seal this night.' They both sighed mentally before he continued. 'You've fought well, I could see that perfectly, Lancer X. But like it or not, that Berserker has a new Master. Fall back.'
'Very well.' Green smoke erupted from Lancer X, obscuring her whole form, and then she was gone.
Saber X's eyes swept across the area, his senses on full alert, but a moment later, he relaxed them (and the mana he'd expanded). Berserker X huffed in disappointment next to him. "I get to stick around, and my next opponent goes and scampers off before I can fight her. Typical."
"Eh, can't be helped, Spiky." Harbinger shifted into its compact form and was affixed to its wielder's back. "Not every Servant's a crazy psycho willing to pick a fight with every Servant around at once. No offense."
"None taken." The nodachi returned to its sheathe as well.
"And even if they are, a smart Master wouldn't just throw a Servant that good into the slaughter." His eyes sharpened as he thought about the circumstances of Assassin's death, then he shrugged. "But hey, you're part of our crew now, and with Kandy Bar calling the shots," he casually sauntered over to the Gordius Wheel, where Rider smiled at him, "you'll be in for one wild time. Speaking of which…"
Thwack!
"Ow!" Rider rubbed the back of his head and returned the glare Saber X was giving him.
"That was for that bone-dead stupid stunt you pulled at the yard! Dropping in the middle of four Servants trying to kill each other and telling them, 'Hey, sign up today for world conquest under my command, all you gotta do is give up your chances on the Holy Grail granting your wish, we've got snacks!' How the hell did you think that was gonna go?!"
"I don't recall offering snacks."
"So not the point!" Waver would've nodded in approval at the tongue-lashing, befitting a proper Master… if he weren't this close to keeling over.
Rider scratched where he'd been clipped one more time, then shrugged in good humor. "Come now, my friend, though my entrance was brazen, it did work out for us in the long run. For one," he spoke over his partner's protests, "my call drew ever more Servants for us to see and in some cases test. Saber. Assassin X. Rider X. Both Archers. Berserker. Caster X. Lancer and Lancer X courtesy of this brief bout. Now we have a far better understanding of what most of our adversaries are capable of.
"Moreover," he lifted his hand towards Berserker X standing by in boredom, "we've acquired a powerful new comrade to our campaign. Therefore, I consider our night exceedingly profitable." The King of Conquerors' smile grew. "And from here on, this War shall grow ever more exciting! Just imagine how many challenges await us!"
"Oh, I can," Berserker X with a bestial grin answered before Saber X. "It's why I agreed to your crazy idea." The Huntsman just sighed in defeat; Great, there's two of them now.
"I… don't want… to…" Waver wheezed out, drawing the trio's attention. He had practically collapsed onto the chariot, every part of his body struggling to move.
This wasn't due to physical fatigue, though. Rather, his Magic Circuits were practically working in overdrive to fuel now three Servants, one of which had been running on empty. And that one's stores were massive. It was a blessing for Waver Velvet that the mana cost for each Servant in this War was half that under regular circumstances, otherwise he'd be a pile of beef jerky by now.
Even so, replenishing Berserker X's supply was like trying to fill an Olympia swimming pool with a pitcher of water. Well, he thought wearily, this explains how he was able to last this long without a Servant. Heck, with Mad Enhancement as low as his, he might even have the sense to stay in spirit form, moderate his consumption a bit.
Thank heaven for small blessings.
Still, nigh-unconscious Master, exasperated Servant of the Sword. "Okay, let's just go," Saber X finally grumbled, nonchalantly booting the now-useless severed hand under the hoof of one bull from the Wheel. It was reduced to a blood splatter with a satisfying crunch. "We've done all we wanted."
"Indeed," Rider glanced around the group, focusing on his Noble Phantasm for a moment, then sighed. He casually stepped off the carriage and picked Waver off it as well. The Gordius Wheel faded away a second later. "In respect for your battle in keeping us all in this world, boy, I'll try not to burn through your mana any more than necessary."
Waver relaxed a bit at that; sure enough, he had much less of a strain now that the massive construct wasn't on the physical plane. His Servant suddenly being more considerate replenished his strength…
Then Rider slung him over his shoulder so that the young boy's rump was sticking up. And there goes my dignity again…
"Well, then, time to return to our quarters," Rider proclaimed while spinning around, not noticing how his Master's stomach did loop-the-loops with the motion. He thrust his free fist in the air. "Let us rest and celebrate the newest addition to our army!"
Berserker X eyed Saber X, who just gave a weary shrug in return. "I could use a drink…" The grey-shirted man withdrew his trusty flask and took more than just a quick nip. Regardless, the three Servants began to walk towards the Mackenzie residence. Ironically, it was the Saber that had the best sense of direction, not the Rider.
And he was still knocking back his flask.
"As could I," Rider agreed. Then his gaze turned to the newcomer with a thoughtful glint. "Come to think of it, you've yet to share your name with us, my friend." He drew a wine bottle from his cloak and pulled the cork out with his teeth before offering it to the slightly shorter Servant. "Tell us over a good drink."
Berserker X took the bottle with a laugh and drew a gulp from it. "Not half-bad," he commented. "And for the record, king, it's Kenpachi." His smile shifted slightly. "Kenpachi Zaraki."
"A fine, fearsome name! Fitting for you, my friend."
Waver must've been more out of than it than he thought. There's no way the Berserker's parameters suddenly jumped up a rank… right?
What… the hell… was I… thinking?
Tokiomi sighed in slight irritation as he opened his turquoise eyes to deactivate shared perception. Lancer X had teleported a short distance away from the group and dematerialized. She would be back at the mansion shortly. At least she can follow orders properly…
He knew he couldn't fault her for this failed execution; even with her Double Summon abilities, the chances of slipping past three Servants and taking that boy's head had been a long shot. Especially with them being clustered that close together.
Still, it had been too good an opportunity to pass up. Berserker X had been so close to fading away, and if the child had perished, two more adversaries, powerful ones no less, would have also been eliminated. Saber X, an unconventional yet obviously capable warrior, as he'd now witnessed through Lancer X's eyes…
And Iskandar, the King of Conquerors himself. The man who had once led a path of conquest for Macedonia that was twice the size of the Roman Empire centuries later. To think such a renowned Servant would take part as Rider in the Fourth Holy Grail War.
Tokiomi got up from his seat and walked across the bookshelves of his workshop. The enemy's stats Clairvoyance revealed to him had all been quite according to expectations, yet a number of things bothered him. For one, uncertain details about Saber X: E- for Luck? Independent Action and Shapeshift as Skills for a Saber? And what precisely was Aura? And then Rider. There was something about him, like that massive chariot wasn't his only weapon. Could it be he possessed another Noble Phantasm? One even greater?
The Tohsaka Master stopped in front of one shelf to pick up a certain book. Berserker X: his stats had been disturbingly high, considering Mad Enhancement was E-rank. The Mana Burst Skill accounted for the massive energy surges, Battle Continuation was a given for that savage, Divinitywas a bit surprising but of unremarkable rank. Yet one other Skill troubled him. He flicked through the pages of the Indian book-
There. His eyes narrowed at a particular segment over a hero of the Mahabharata. Uncrowned Martial Arts… not a very common Skill, as Heroic Spirits who possessed it had stories of a somewhat controversial nature. Simply put, those whose abilities were not acknowledged by others in life had certain parts of their stats appearing lower than they actually were. And the effect of this Skill varied for each carrier. The only way to be absolutely sure of Berserker X's true abilities was to know his True Name.
Except he's not from this world. Tokiomi closed the book a bit more forcefully than he'd have liked. This War was proving to be more of a handful than he'd hoped for. Blast that Rider X. First, he needlessly provokes Archer, then when he finally engages in combat, he leaves his opponent in a state of near death, only for another Master to bring him back from the brink. He replaced the book at its spot and turned around to the main table. His fingers drummed a rhythm against the wooden surface while he thought. If only Gilgamesh had gone with Lancer X. All three Servants could've been wiped out in one fell swoop!
The magus' fist clenched, knuckles rapping against the table, then relaxed again as he drew in a long breath and released it. Calm down, he told himself. Remember, a Tohsaka always retains control. Always elegant. Reciting the family code always helped to quell any frustrations.
Tokiomi stroked his goatee in thought; he was still very much ahead in the game. True, the Servants had proven themselves more unpredictable than he had anticipated. But in the case of Rider, Saber X, and Berserker X, that combined might would be a heavy burden for a Master even with the reduced cost of mana for this War. And their Master was a mere student that must've impulsively jumped headfirst into the Grail War. Mediocre Magic Circuits, basic magecraft, no noteworthy magus lineage; he could tell that much with a glance. Keeping all three at full strength would burn the boy out before long.
And even if that weren't the case, I still have the King of Heroes at my command. Despite his reckless usage of the Gate of Babylon, the only Servant that really stood a chance against Gilgamesh had been that Berserker. And he had then pounced upon Saber and Assassin X. So, he would let the black knight throw himself at the duo, where they would likely tear each other apart. And then Lancer X and Archer could pulverize the rest.
Rider X had his uses in drawing attention and weakening the enemy, but as soon as the metal brute was no longer needed, he would have Lancer X reduce him to scrap. Tokiomi couldn't help but let out a small chuckle; To think the Servant I hadn't planned for proves to be the most reliable of all. Fate has a strange sense of humor.
Either way, this War was still well within Tohsaka's control. And the Root ever within reach.
-150:36:58
Tires screeched across the western highway as a luxurious car sped down its length. The silver Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupe rounded the corners with utter grace and just a littlemore speed than absolutely necessary. Considering it was going over 100 km per hour, the handling was quite impressive, befitting that of a Servant's A-rank Riding Skill.
"See? See? This beauty goes pretty fast!"
Said Servant, dressed once again in her black suit, was actually sitting in the passenger's seat, though, one hand tightly gripping the handlebar, the other arm wrapped around two petrified doggies. "Y-yes," Saber said with a stiff smile towards the driver, "you are… more skilled… at driving… than I would have expected…" Her furry companions whimpered in agreement even as her stomach shifted from yet another close turn.
As per the plan, Saber and Irisviel made to head for the Einzbern residence in Fuyuki after the first battle. Kiritsugu had instructed two of Assassin X's hounds to accompany the female pair as an extra precaution: their noses could serve as additional detection systems, and they'd been trained for combat as well as for tracking. Both he and Assassin X left it up to the pack which two it would be, and Irisviel and Saber would've been happy with any outcome, so Pakkun and Guruko came out on top in an impromptu Rock-Paper-Scissors tournament.
Artoria still marveled over how dexterous their paws were.
The two triumphant hounds quickly came to regret their triumph, their eyes glued to Irisviel von Einzbern's blissful smile as she spun the steering wheel this way and that. It would haunt their dreams for weeks to come.
"I know, right?" Irisviel giggled in joy, reaching over to scratch Pakkun's shivering head. "Believe it or not-"
"Eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, please!"
"Oh, right, thanks, Guruko!" She giggled while following the terrified dog's instructions, much to the relief of her passengers. "Kiritsugu keeps stressing those parts to me, even after all we've practiced together." With good reason,Saber thought, tightening her embrace on the fluffy duo. So fluffy… "But of all the toys he's gotten for me, this one's my favorite!"
"Not sure I'd call this thing a toy…" Pakkun whimpered, burrowing into Saber's belly. The Servant agreed oh so much…
Their driver didn't notice. "Back at the castle, I could only drive around in circles, but here, I've got so much room!" Irisviel squealed in delight, gears grinding when she throttled the stick. "This is amazing!"
Her passengers begged to differ. Kiritsugu Emiya, Servant and dog thought alike with yet another jerk, for teaching this woman how to drive… you are more frightening than I thought.
Then Guruko noticed something. "Uh… Irisviel… Weren't you driving on the left side?"
"Ah, right." The resulting side correction made Pakkun slip out of Saber's protective embrace and slam face-first into the windshield with a yelp. "Now, now, no playing around, Pakkun," Irisviel faux-scolded with a giggle, "Kiritsugu always stressed no distracting the driver."
"Very prudent advice…" Saber quickly scooped up the red-nosed pug and snagged him and his colleague under her seatbelt for added safety. She took a moment to enjoy their thankyou snuggles against her stomach before trepidation returned. Trepidation of being driven about by a woman who was obviously more interested in having as much fun with the car as possible than in abiding by traffic laws that existed for A BLOODY REASON-
BONK!
This time, it was Saber's cranium that met glass from a sharp turn. Praying to the Holy Father that her "Master" wouldn't notice the hairline cracks in the window from the impact, she quickly asked, "So, how much longer until we reach the castle?"
"About another hour or so at this rate," Irisviel answered with a twirl of the wheel that sent everyone else's stomachs spinning. "It ought to be visible when we're close enough."
"The sooner, the better…" Pakkun whined. To think he'd been looking forward to more time with the white-haired woman. I enjoy cuddles as much as the next dog, sue me!
But huddling in a car that was speeding along a highway consisting solely of winding turns and the one he'd expected to cuddle him taking every opportunity to transform this vehicle of luxury into a vehicle of daredevil stunts (and a goddamn hearse if they ran out of luck)?
That wasn't so enjoyable.
"C-couldn't we have hired a professional?" Pakkun asked tentatively. "You know, more relaxing, practical, safer…"
"Oh, no, that would be bor-I mean, dangerous!" Irisviel quickly corrected herself (not quickly enough that the others didn't figure what she'd really meant). "The Masters could attack us at any moment, Pakkun. We can't drag bystanders into this."
"…I guess that's true…" Despite her conceding, Saber wasn't quite sure if she'd prefer an enemy attack to Irisviel's driving. Judging by the renewed shuffling in her lap, her fluffy allies agreed. She just had to stroke them to keep her-them calm. So… fluffy…
A second later, they'd regretted their preference.
A cold feeling prickled against Saber, making her stiffen. "Stop the car!" Not waiting for her friend to comply, she quickly grabbed hold of the wheel and put her foot against the brake, forcing the Mercedes-Benz to a screeching but graceful stop. Saber took no time to appreciate her RidingSkill; the source behind her unease stood on the road in front. "Pakkun, Guruko," she said in a stolid tone, "stay with Irisviel at all times." They both barked in confirmation.
"Saber-"
"Irisviel, get out of the car when I do, but keep close to us."
"…I understand." Irisviel regained her calm as well; she had grasped the situation. "That presence…" she eyed the flamboyant robes, the huge eyes, the wide smile. "Another Servant." And not a reassuring one, she added to herself.
The doors opened and the occupants collectively stepped out before walking in front of the headlights. They all looked towards the odd Servant before them with caution. We already encountered nine of the other Servants, Saber thought, taking in the purple and red clothes and the decidedly unnervingly pale skin, and Assassin was watching. Assassin X told me about him and Lancer X; this one appears male and not suited for physical combat, so he couldn't be Lancer X, and he doesn't quite seem like Assassin. That must mean he's the Caster of this world.
Technically, that was good; they had a better chance of discerning his identity. So why did she not like that odd stare he was giving her?
Caster moved. They tensed collectively but stopped as he bowed his head towards Saber. "I've waited for you," he mumbled deferentially into his bow, "O Majesty, O Holy Maiden."
"…What?" Saber asked.
Irisviel almost took her gaze away from the strange Servant before reminding herself that was likely a very bad idea. She restrained herself to asking, "Saber, do you know him?"
"No," Saber answered immediately, "I've never encountered him before." It was true; this man had never appeared in her kingdom when she'd lived, she was sure of it. And she'd never seen anyone like him in her travels. Besides, Holy Maiden? Artoria had spent her entire time as King under the guise as a boy. Even the stories knew not of her true gender.
Caster lifted his head to look in great pain. "Oh, how could you say that? Don't you remember my face?" Surely his dear Jeanne wouldn't have forgotten all the joy they had together, all those wonderful times she'd graced his eyes with her blessed fingers….
"Remember?" Saber stepped closer, but her image of him didn't change. "This is the first time we've ever met, I'm quite sure." She made an effort to sound cordial. "Perhaps there has been a mistake."
Caster gripped his hair, shaking at the words. Mistake? First time? Delight gave way to anguish, but he tried again. "You know me! Gilles de Rais! Your loyal servant!" He cupped his hands in front like he was awaiting a miracle. "I never stopped praying for your return, waiting for that fateful day when we would be reunited! I came here, to the ends of time itself, for this, Jeanne!"
Irisviel blinked in thought. "Jeanne…? Gilles de Rais?" Had she heard either of those names before…? Another Servant so quick to reveal their True Name, one of this world no less?
Beneath her, Guruko and Pakkun stayed ever at the ready, their snouts scrunched up. They could smell the crazy on this guy.
Saber coolly answered, "I do not have this name, nor have I ever met anyone named Jeanne."
"What…?" Gilles wheezed out, more hurt than when that Berserker brute had assaulted him and his Master. "Don't tell me…" he slumped, "you've forgotten who you were in life?"
Annoyance began to grow in Saber, but she kept a neutral voice. "As you've given me your name, so shall I as is creed of a knight. My name is Artoria. I am heir to Uther Pendragon and King of Britain. I now stand as Saber in the Holy Grail War." The hounds beneath her shifted uncomfortably at her so quickly revealing her identity, especially to this nutcase.
But it looked like he'd stopped paying attention to her words. "No, NO!" He shrieked in agony. "The tragedy, the pain! Her memories are lost, her mind is clouded…" he fell to his knees as his audience exchanged looks (Guruko lifted a paw and made circling motions next to his head). "Damn you…
"Damn you!" Caster's fist struck the asphalt, cracking it. Even as a weak Servant, he was still stronger than if he'd been an ordinary man. "How could God inflict such torture upon the radiant maiden of mine?!" He continued to pound the road in his fury.
"Okay, buddy," he paused in utter bewilderment and fury as the little dog by his maiden's feet stepped forward and spoke to him. "Cut it out with the crazy routine! She said she doesn't know you, she's not your girl, tough luck!" Pakkun bared his teeth at the Servant. "Now get lost!"
"What a strange creature…" Bluebeard mumbled. A talking dog? Dogs could not speak, that was insane. Not… unless…
"YOU!" A long finger jabbed towards Pakkun, the abruptness making him step back a bit. "What sort of devilry are you?! A spawn of evil sent by that wretched God, to corrupt my blessed maid?" His teeth gnashed together while he loomed over the creature. "I should have known… this beast is another piece of his unholy work!"
Guruko sprung next to his pack-brother, growling at the crazy man. "Watch who you call unholy, Bugeyes! Beat it already and go look in the mirror! We've got better things to do."
Irisviel and Saber marveled at how their companions had shifted. Gone were the scared doggies huddling against Artoria's chest, and in their place stood hunting hounds. Hunched over, fangs bared, not a trace of fear in their eyes.
Unfortunately, it just riled up Caster even more. "Another beast?! Of course… No single little devil could ever be enough to bewitch dear Jeanne's pure mind." His left hand reared back as though to strike them. "I shall wipe this world clean of you devils and bring her back into the light!" The hand lashed down towards them, but Guruko was faster. He bit hard into the wrist, drawing blood and a cry from Caster. Then Pakkun sprung up to try to bite his pale cheek. Caster stumbled away, thrashing, while both hounds retreated out of reach.
The mad Servant glared with fresh hatred towards the furry wretches. "A quick death is a kindness you foul miscreants do not deserve! I see that in order to combat such vile things I must use vileness in turn!" He went for his Spellbook-
Then a barely visible blade flashed in front of his face. An armored, glaring Saber stood between him and the awestruck dogs. "You will not harm a single hair on either of their heads," she warned in restrained anger.
Caster let his arms fall to his side. That commanding presence, that holy fire in her eyes… it was every bit that of the one he had followed. "You always strove to protect the little ones, oh Jeanne," he muttered with a sad smile before steeling himself. "But those beasts must be vanquished! Can you not see how they befoul your mind-"
"These hounds are not corrupting me," Saber cut through his nonsense, "they stand by my side as allies. An attack on them is an attack on me." Besides, she'd grown to like the pack.
The hounds growled in agreement. An ally of Kakashi was an ally of theirs. Plus, they liked Saber. And Irisviel, despite her driving skills.
While the madman sputtered in disgust at her words, Irisviel sighed in resignation behind her protectors. She'd finally remembered the Hundred-Year War, the story of Jeanne d'Arc, this world's most famous female saint… and of the noble that had stood by her the entire time.
Gilles de Rais. Once Marshall of France, later known and feared as Bluebeard. The Demon Marshall. Now he kneeled before them, pleading. "Enough of this! You are Jeanne, break free of these cretins' machinations!" He reached for her, only to pull his hand back.
Pakkun snapped his jaws. "Do we need to put it in song for you, Fishface?! Saber ain't-"
"Saber, boys, there's no point trying to reason with him." The trio spared a quick glance at the homunculus' saddened face. "He's too wrapped in his trauma that he clings to fantasy."
"Fantasy, dear lady?" Caster chuckled darkly. "There's no longer need for my precious Jeanne to call herself Saber, for the shackles of a Servant no longer bind her!" Bluebeard spread his arms in delight. "The Holy Grail War has ended!"
The dogs traded a look of fresh confusion before one said in exasperation. "Uhhh… last I checked, there are other Servants running around…"
"Indeed," Irisviel agreed with Guruko, keeping her red eyes locked on the deranged "Heroic" Spirit. "General de Rais, if the Grail War were over, why would Servants such as yourself be present? What of the Grail?" She had intentionally addressed him by his original rank as a test.Perhaps a reminder of who he was may loosen his madness, she considered.
No such luck. "Ah, but I have won this War, even if the rest have yet to realize!" Mental Pollution had entrapped his thoughts thoroughly. Nothing anyone said could change his mind. Not noticing how "his" Jeanne began to shiver, he continued. "All I could've wished for has come true: Jeanne d'Arc lives again! The Grail has granted my wis-"
The street in front of him was split violently apart. Saber held her veiled sword right in front of Caster's nose. "Insult the wishes of my fellow Heroic Spirits again," the King of Knights warned him coldly, "and I will run you through right now." She jerked her eyes upward. "On your feet. If you want your wish granted so badly, Caster, then fight! I shall be your first opponent!"
He gazed at her resolute, furious form in sadness. "None of my words can sway you, then." He turned to glare at the growling canines on either side of his prize. "Just how deep have those accursed hellspawns locked your heart away?"
Caster sighed but stood up nonetheless. Saber, Pakkun, Guruko, and Irisviel braced themselves, yet he simply spoke. "I shall prepare a more forceful approach then. It pains me, but this is for your own good, Jeanne."
Before assuming spirit form, Caster's final words with a bow were, "I promise you, Jeanne, I shall release your soul from the trappings of God." A smile that would've been reassuring, were it not saturated in lunacy. Then only purple dust was left.
Saber relaxed only minutely while Irisviel sighed as she leaned against the car's front, mumbling, "Unreasonable people are always so exhausting to deal with." She glanced down to her compatriots. "Is he really gone?"
Pakkun sniffed experimentally the air. "…Yup, he's scampered off." He scrunched up his snout. "And now I've got his stink clogging up my sinuses. What about you, Guru?"
"…Same…" the whiskered dog squinted even more than usual out towards the trees. It was faint, but…
The dog then melted under the stroking of sweet soft fingers. A delighted whine escaped him while Pakkun rolled onto his back, legs twitching. Irisviel giggled in delight at the pair's antics as she scratched the pug's belly. "Oh, how you two can look so ferocious one second and be so utterly cute the next…" They barked their thanks. This is what they'd hoped for.
Saber spared a moment to smile at her friend's playing around with them (she agreed fully with Irisviel's assessment), but she grew serious again upon considering Caster. He may have shared the class with the Servant that had saved Assassin X a few hours ago, but the difference was like night and day. Caster X had exuded the presence of a wise, benevolent wizard worthy of respect; this Caster stank of foul actions and deranged magic.
Her decision was clear. "Next time I see him, I'll cut him down before he has a chance to speak." She paused in thought while changing back into her suit. "Then again, I was probably lucky he chose to withdraw."
"You think so?" Irisviel asked as she stood up, cradling two half-attentive, half-blissful doggies. She knew Sabers tended to have superb Magic Resistance, so this level of caution intrigued her. A Caster ought to be at a natural disadvantage with that factor, right?
But Saber nodded bitterly. "There's something off about him." She looked down at the bloody bandages on her left forearm. "I don't need Assassin X's savvy to know I'd rather not take any chances with my left hand sealed."
That made sense to the homunculus, and she quickly comprehended what the next part of their strategy would have to be: defeating Lancer to erase Saber's cursed wound (There was an alternative, but Saber had argued against it for now). Irisviel knew Saber approved of the Celtic spearman as an adversary and was eager to face him again in a duel. But she knew her husband well. Kiritsugu always said that a problem should be solved as efficiently as possible. Assassin X seemed to be a good buffer between his Master and fellow Servant, but…
She stepped away from such thoughts, focusing instead on the cuddly balls of fur in her arms. "Either way, we won't get much done in the middle of the road. Let's head to the mansion now." She walked with a slight skip in her step (not noticing how the hounds and Saber froze up) to the driver's seat-
Before two smiling doggy faces popped up in front of her face. "H-hey, here's a thought, Irisviel," Guruko stammered quickly, licking her nose that made her giggle, "you oughta to be tired from all the driving and encountering that whackjob."
"Yeah, yeah!" Pakkun nodded eagerly, nuzzling his head into her white hair. "Why don't you let Saber drive us the rest of the way while you just sit back, relax," he patted her cheek with his blessed pink paw, his secret weapon, "and snuggle with us?" A quick pleading look…
…And Saber got the message, briskly stepping next to the woman enamored by the dogs with a somewhat tight smile. "That sounds like an excellent idea, you two. Rest assured, I can handle the rest of the way." For a brief moment, three souls had hope for a safer drive.
"Why, thank you, Saber, this all sounds delightful!"
The spark of hope became a warm campfire…
"But don't worry about me, I can get us there in no time!"
Before a splash of water drenched it.
Irisivel beamed back at the frozen Servant, cradling two now still dogs. "You've already done so much tonight, Saber, it'd be wrong for me to expect you to drive for us too. This much, I can handle." The last thing she wanted was to be a burden for the fine team Kiritsugu had assembled.
"It's… no trouble… at all…"
"Nonsense, Saber!" Irisviel happily waved her off. She then squeezed Guruko and Pakkun before giving them each one peck on the snout. Something they'd have enjoyed more if they weren't terrified beyond belief.
And her next sentence didn't help. "Besides, I'm so good at driving that I can do it while snuggling with the both of you!" With that, she made to hop into her beloved toy. Both canines shot Saber a look of utter horror before they were pulled into the car.
The smile of Artoria Pendragon, courageous King of Knights, had remained stiff in place. But she did not by any means drag herself back to the passenger side and slump into her seat, oh no. Such behavior was unfitting for one of her prestige, after all.
And her current thoughts most certainly weren't, Maybe I should've taken my chances with Caster.
Further away, two of the Hundred Faces perched amidst the trees, witnessing all that had transpired. "I think one of those curs almost sniffed us out," one with a purple mohawk and bare chest muttered. "They could be trouble."
"Oh, forget the dogs," another with more robes and wavy hair replied. "We just had an unexpected spot of luck while tailing Saber's Master. You keep tracking the vehicle." Wood creaked underneath that one's feet. "I'll report back to the Master." Then both Assassins leaped off.
-149:46:43
Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald gazed out the window of his penthouse at the Shinto district. The Hyatt hotel was in the center of Fuyuki's more modernized area, though said modernizing had only been in recent years. Redeveloping their city, he had heard how the politicians here had explained their ideas. Shinto, once practically a wasteland, was a symbol of progress in the making.
It disgusted Kayneth. There wasn't any sense of traditionalism anywhere he looked, and he was in the top floor of the tallest building in Shinto. No older houses, no symbols of Japanese history or culture. They had simply taken other countries' idea of modern living and crammed it into this small spot of land. If anything, Shinto was a symbol of people scrambling to get with the times while abandoning their old values. For an esteemed magus like himself, Kayneth considered such "progress" complete idiocy.
Bloodlines passed on and strengthened, solid foundations for future legacies, the past guiding the future; that was how the world was built.
"…We interrupt this program for special news." The television was on, showing an announcer with the headline, "UNEXPLAINED EXPLOSION" underneath. "An explosion of unknown origins occurred only a few hours ago by the warehouses of Fuyuki City's coast. Authorities have yet to give an explanation, but as we go live to the scene-" Kayneth scoffed as he walked over to the stand, picked up the remote control (an admittedly clever device) and turned off the machine. Credit where credit is due, the Church worked fast. No half hour after he deactivated his Bounded Field did the cover-up operations commence. Quality work.
A shame he couldn't say the same of the two Servants in the room. Lancer knelt respectfully before his Master with his head bowed, befitting a knight of old. Archer X stood tall, arms crossed before her. Her disrespect effectively cancelled out Lancer's respect.
Sitting down in his chair, Kayneth looked at the pair in disapproval. "Both of you will answer my question," he said: "What do you plan to do?"
"Win," Archer X said immediately, "by any means necessary." At least she had ceased to disguise her voice; that artificial garble had been giving Kayneth a migraine.
Lancer though showed more caution. "What do you mean, my lord?" he asked.
"Allow me to elaborate," Kayneth began in the tone he would use in a classroom, when teaching the ways of Thaumaturgy to young minds, "you, Lancer, were summoned alongside Archer X," he barely kept himself from sneering the other Servant's name out, "by me so you could use all of the power the two of you possess in order to win Heaven's Feel. Correct?"
Lancer answered, "Yes, my lord."
Archer X just grunted in reply. When both Master and Servant shot her looks, she grumbled, "Yes, your Lordship."
Kayneth's eye twitched at the snark, but he continued. "Then why is it that neither of you finished off a single Servant tonight?" He noticed the black Servant's fist clenching but was unyielding. "Both Sabers, Assassin X, and Berserker X. Four Servants directly engaged in combat, multiple chances to kill any one of them, Berserker X exhausted from an earlier battle and lacking a Master, yet none of them have fallen. And worst of all, I wasted two Command Seals for nothing."
Archer X snarled. "You didn't even have to use those Seals in the first-"
"Silence!" Lord El-Melloi barked like when he had to shut up unruly students. "After all I've heard of the Knight of Fianna and his artistry with twin spears and your claims of 'firepower in spades,' you have nothing but injuries to show for your performance tonight. Injuries, Archer X, that I had to spend a full twenty minutes treating in your case. Was playing around with your opponents so much fun you forgot your responsibility?"
That was the last straw for one Servant. "Fun?" Archer X pointed out the window. "You think I had fun tonight, jumping after some masked kook while Lancer got to dance around with Saber? You think it was a blast almost getting chopped in half by that little bitch's magic sword, Master?You think I wanted to get ground into mincemeat by a crazy Rider?" Though she was back at full health, her bones still ached from those damn bulls.
Kayneth's fist slammed down on the armrest, barely shutting her up. The prodigy magus' green eyes blazed with fury while his tone grew clipped. "Mind your tone, familiar. Do not make me regret restoring your body any more than I do already. Moreover, you dare to deceive me? The one that brought you into this world? The one you swore servitude to?"
Archer X wouldn't back down. "You were convinced I was a guy, and I didn't see any reason to correct you. Me being a woman doesn't make any difference combat-wise." She scoffed underneath her helmet. "Not my fault you boys are too macho to tell the difference."
He was beyond livid now, but she didn't give a damn. Tex was on a roll. "Oh right, wanna talk more about yourscrewups? I warn you that there are others rooting about in the docks, but you just stand around, watching and yelling at us! Then you almost give away your position to intimidate some dropout from your class, but the other Servants make a laughingstock out of you! Heck, the way I understand, that red fatass was the Servant you really wanted, but the twerp got to him before you did, which is just path-"
"That's enough, Archer X!" Lancer finally spoke, glaring up at his partner. The visor bore down on him, but he didn't waver. He kept his voice calm and dignified. "We underestimated our adversaries. Saber and Assassin X were formidable alone, more so as a team. Saber X, despite his demeanor, proved worthy of his class. Berserker X was a powerful beast. Mistakes were made, and we failed together, Archer X."
Even as her fists balled, the knight bowed again his head to his Master. "I do not make excuses for our failure, my lord. But I assure you on my honor as a knight that the heads of those four Servants shall be brought to you."
"You do not need to make assurances you've already made, Lancer!" The ninth patriarch of the Archibald family had been lauded as a brilliant prodigy in his youth. He had tasted exclusively success and admiration throughout his life. Thus, he was not accustomed to failure or derision. Experiencing both hampered his ability to reason. "And four? You already swore to bring me the Grail, so, it's logical that you and Archer X would crush the other twelve Servants in my name. But now you speak of only defeating four?! Just how foolish are you?!"
Beneath her helmet, Archer X's temper boiled as she made to say, no, shout something-
"Aren't you being foolish yourself here, Lord El-Melloi?" A new female voice cut in before she could. Good thing, too; the alternative would've been… educational.
Master and Servants alike turned as a certain woman, red-haired and elegantly dressed, sauntered into the room. "Sola-Ui," Kayneth addressed his fiancée, making an effort to suppress the anger in his voice. She could never be the recipient for it, after all.
Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri gave the man to whom her family had betrothed her a cool eye. "Lancer performed admirably." She briefly flashed the kneeling Servant a grateful look, then glanced up at a cough before adding, "And Archer X held her own, too. You're misjudging the situation."
"How so?"
"Sending a venerable knight with Command Seal to end some mad dog's life? Archer X alone would've sufficed in finishing that beast off, and Lancer could've kept the rest easily at bay."
"Lancer alone would not have been able to combat against so many Servants," Kayneth argued with much less power than before. "Saber and Assassin X in particular are a dangerous pair. I read their stats and saw what they could do. And what I saw was a mere fraction of their full abilities, I'm sure of it. Leaving them alive is a risk."
Sola-Ui sniffed in disappointment. "Saber was injured with Gáe Buidhe, remember? While both of your Servants are back to full strength, Assassin X has a partner with a wound that cannot be healed. And for that matter, Assassin X's tricks are derived from magic, meaning Gáe Daerg is a natural counter. Lancer could crush them with ease any time he wanted."
Archer X's eyebrow twitched even if no one saw it. Much as she was enjoying the stick-up prick squirm, she did not appreciate how the girl spoke of her, especially when she was more invested in praising Lancer. What, does she think I'm worth less than Pretty Boy?
"Besides," Sola-Ui continued, "if those two are as dangerous as you say, why didn't you simply confront their Master? The Einzbern woman was standing out in the open. While the Servants was engaging each other, you could've challenged her to combat and ended the situation there. But instead, you hid and watched. How sad."
"Archer X warned me there were gunmen present. Stepping out into the open would've been a risk." It was a weak excuse and Kayneth knew it.
And all it earned was a derisive laugh. "You once claimed to my father that no magic-less army could stand before your magecraft. Was that mere empty boasting?" She began to saunter around the living room, continuing to speak. "No… you're a prodigy of the truest sense of the word, yes? How else could you succeed in securing a distinct advantage over the other Masters? Tampering with the standard Master-Servant contract." Sola-Ui was behind him now. "A mark of brilliance."
Archer X tilted her head. Right, she had sensed that irregularity between her contract: while the smug jackass had the Command Seals, it was the red-haired chick that was supplying mana to her and Lancer. The role of Master divided among two magi. I'd almost give Archibald kudos for coming up with that loophole. Almost.
"…I know." Kayneth grumbled. Besides, it wasn't like he'd put that advantage to use yet.
Sola-Ui agreed. "Then why didn't you make the most out of our arrangement? With me keeping Lancer and the other at full strength, you would be able to engage in combat without trouble. You can certainly afford to be a bit more proactive yourself."
Kayneth attempted to salvage his dignity. "This is still the early days of the War. I can't be reckless-"
"Oh, sure, but we Servants can just run guns blazing into the slaughter, huh?" He glared at the armored Servant, defiance apparent in her posture.
"My thoughts exactly," Sola-Ui concurred. Truth be told, she didn't really care for Archer X, though. Her defense (and maybe something more) was for another. "Instead of demanding immediate results from Lancer, Kayneth, you should consider your own-"
"Miss Sola." Lancer interrupted her with firm words. "That is quite enough."
Everyone looked toward the kneeling knight in shock. His partner finally asked, "…Do you not get that she is defending you?" More than she is me, no less…
"Be that as it may, I cannot stand by as a knight and watch my lord be humiliated. Please stop. Both of you." Lancer straightened up, firm and unwavering.
And just like that, the derision of the female magus evaporated, leaving behind a shameful expression. "I-I didn't mean…" she meekly stepped next to her betrothed. "My apologies. I went too far."
Yet her eyes continued to linger on Lancer's face…
Archer by contrast threw her hands up in frustration. "Unbelievable. If 'your lord' told you to go screw yourself with your own spears, you'd actually go and do it while saying sorry if your blood got on him, wouldn't you?" She turned away from her "team." "You know what, I don't even give a shit. And I don't need anyone to tell me I have to win this War. I've got a stake in this fight, too, you know!"
"Ah, yes, your wish for the Grail." Kayneth sneered, some of his confidence having returned. "Just what could it be that would make you so willful?"
"None of your damn business. Master." She then began to storm off, then glared at the arm Lancer had raised to halt her. "Do you have any dignity?" She growled down at him.
Lancer didn't back down. "Of course, I do. It is precisely what drives my actions." Those allur-stupid brown eyes glared back at her. "Need I remind you, we both swore an oath of loyalty to Kayneth El-Melloi. And I shall do everything, Archer X, to ensure we both uphold it." He lowered his arm. "You and I are allies, Archer X. Partners. If Saber and Assassin X can work so well together, then perhaps so can we."
Archer X's visor continued to meet his eyes, then it shook from side to side. "Go team," she scoffed. "Whatever." She brushed past him, though not as roughly as she usually would. "If you want to keep kissing his pompous shoes and call it loyalty, then be my guest, pretty boy. Just don't expect me to do the same just because we're on the same side." She then blurred away amidst black particles.
Kayneth fumed a bit at her antics. Were it not for him already expending of the familiar's Command Seals tonight, he'd have ordered her to stay put so he could properly discipline her. Not for the first time, he wondered what strange twist of fate had cursed him with such a tedious secondary Heroic Spirit. Her attitude, her uncivilized firearms, her Independent Action; all of it rankled him to no end. Of all the blasted Servants… I'd have even been satisfied with that foreign Assassin.
Sola-Ui actually shared similar thoughts with her fiancé. The black Servant was nobody impressive to her, merely a woman pretending to be a macho man. A little too successfully, in her opinion. Nothing like Lancer… Again, her gaze drifted towards the knight, along with a coy smile (something Kayneth noticed).
Diarmuid however watched her go with a weary heart. Her abrasive personality and dishonorable tactics left something to be desired, but she was a very capable warrior in her own right, and he sensed that she was a passionate, driven person. The knight couldn't help but wonder how it would be if they truly fought together. As a team.
Like Saber and Assassin X. Lancer sighed; the King of Knights had truly impressed him during their duel with her swordplay, chivalry and willpower. The masked man of another world had been an entertaining man and one of the most skilled adversaries he had ever encountered. He still remembered marveling at how Assassin X had sliced off the mad knight's arm with his hand coated in lightning, or when he first saw that legendary sword that could only belong to one Heroic Spirit.
But what intrigued him the most was their interactions. Of completely different worlds, the Servants couldn't have been partners for more than a few days, yet they were nearly in complete synch with one another tonight. Trading light-hearted comments, sharing information and tactics in the middle of battle, always keeping one eye and a helping hand out for each other… Though they were his enemies, Lancer admired their camaraderie.
He quietly sighed again, this time with a wistful tone. And perhaps a little envy. Could I have something like that with Archer X? A bond of trust, of friendship, knowing that I have her back and she mine no matter the opponent?
Another little something to look forward to in this Holy Grail War.
Archer X stomped angrily in spirit form down the halls. She had to move, she had to do something to get her mind off of… everything! This whole night had been one frustration after the next. And that smug, self-righteous bastard of a Master, telling her and Lancer off for trying to do their damn jobs! And then there was that snooty bitch looking down her nose at everyone except for Lancer. Girl's a total lovesick puppy for that dumbass, it's enough to give you cavities just watching.