Kirei calmly drew in a breath, then released it. Simultaneously, all the muscles in his limbs flexed, the collected force sending cracks across the bark by his hands and feet. He Reinforced his limbs, then repeated the process. Steam wafted from his appendages as the entire tree split in three large pieces, splinters flying through the air. Irisviel, her clone and Maiya could only watch the priest spread his body wide in shock. His restraints collectively snapped like cotton threads. The homunculi winced in pain from the backlash of their spells' destruction.
Rubbing his wrists with some remnant of satisfaction, Kirei's cold demeanor returned. That flash of excitement, though, had been interesting. He'd be sure to review these feelings later. But first things first.
"Why, you-!" Maiya's Glock barked twice, but he ducked underneath the bullets and sped for her. One of the Irisviel's forced herself up to throw herself between them. Maiya cried out in concern, "Ma'am, no-" before Kotomine's punch struck her.
For the second time that night, a woman Kirei struck poofed into smoke. And then a knife carrying three more of those odd burning papers flashed through the cloud to explode.
Maiya needed only an instant to realize it had been the clone just now and quickly sent her knife with a little surprise before bolting over to the real Irisviel, helping her to her feet. "Forgive me, Miss Maiya," the white-haired woman whispered in shame. "I underestimated him-" but she waved the apology off. Her first priority was getting Kiritsugu's wife to safety now.
She made to run but winced; she'd bound her right leg's injury, but the wound still hampered her. It was taking everything just to block out the pain. "Go," Maiya hissed to Irisviel. "I'll hold him off."
"Will you now?" Both turned to see Kirei Kotomine walk through the smoke towards them. Clothes singed, slight burns on his face, traces of blood here and there. Yet the man showed them the same emotionless face as before. He didn't hurry at all. They wouldn't get far.
Then silver and black erupted from the forest.
The priest rolled away with a frown, watching how Saber X tried to impale Archer X with his sword, only for her to have caught the gigantic blade between her hands. Right in between him and the women. Luck is not on my side tonight.
Neither Maiya nor Irisviel chose to question this turn of events; the pair's duel had been the closest to their location. They simply seized the opportunity and moved as quickly away as Maiya's leg allowed.
Her back on the ground, Archer X growled as she slowly forced back the heavy Noble Phantasm. Her opponent in turn grunted, putting his full weight against Harbinger, but she was a little bit stronger. One more push, then she let go of the blade and rolled aside as it sunk into the dirt. A kick to Saber X's gut sent him tumbling away without his weapon, and Archer X rose to her feet. Only then did she finally notice the two had found company. One was some banged-up preacher with empty eyes; probably nobody important.
But scurrying away from them, helping a black-wearing woman along, was that white-haired chick Saber and Assassin X had been defending at the docks. Finally, the Servant mused as a sniper rifle manifested in her grip, I catch a break. She took aim at the back of her long-haired head-
Only for Saber X to tackle her from behind just as she pulled the trigger.
Irisviel cried out as the bullet tore straight through her right shoulder, the impact knocking forward. Her hands barely caught the roots in front of her before her head could've met them. "Ma'am!" Maiya knelt beside her, trying to stem the profusely bleeding wound.
Kirei took in the scene before him with a displeased glint in his eyes. He'd hoped the many Servants fighting would've granted him an opportunity to meet Kiritsugu Emiya, but now they were just getting in his way. This forest is becoming too crowded. He sighed to himself. And I'm not in the best shape to confront that man. Another time, then.
The priest surprised himself with his lack of worry over Lord El-Melloi potentially killing Emiya. For some reason, he just knew that the scholar would fail to kill him. He just knew that they would meet. Just not tonight. He slipped off undetectable into the trees' shadows.
Agent Texas snarled in rising anger; that shot should've blown her head to pieces, those assholes were busy with the fisheyed fruitloop, the opportunity had been perfect to get rid of them both. And she still lost her chance!
All because of this alcoholic fucktard on top of her, wrestling for the rifle. "You should really focus on your fights better, Blackberry." Saber X pushed his knee against her stomach for leverage. "I'm starting to think you've got ADHD or something."
"Oh, I've got a lot of issues, buddy." She willed the rifle away, unbalancing him enough for her to slug him in the face. "High time I got rid of one of them!" Archer X reached up and grabbed the leaner Servant, slamming him hard enough against the ground that he formed a crater. She then began raining down punches even as that weird red energy flickered around him to absorb the brunt of her attacks. However it worked, it couldn't be unbreakable. And the guy had been stupid enough to leave his sword behind. His ass was hers.
But Qrow Branwen hadn't lasted so long as a Huntsman with his "gift" by being dependent on his weapon. He brought up his arms to parry the blows, his Aura taking the worst of it, and concentrated again. Soon enough, when the armored woman lifted her right foot to stomp on his gut, the earth gave way under her left. She fell to the side with a "Shit!" allowing him to spring up and throw a straight punch right against her visor. The blow sent her tumbling.
Even as she rolled backwards into a crouch, he'd reclaimed Harbinger and was leaping towards her. Archer X twisted away from the first slash and blocked the second with a combat knife, but the heavier blade still cut into her shoulder a bit. The crack on her visor grew as she glared at the man.
The Servant of the Sword smirked back. "There I go again, shattering expectations."
An assault rifle appeared. "Think you're funny, do you?" Gunshots rang out through the forest once again, a sort of symphony to express the Servant of the Bow's fury at her shitty luck.
To be fair, some of it was Saber X's fault.
Back inside the Einzbern castle, Kayneth and his golem tried to keep up with his elusive prey even as more explosives were set off. One in particular made the being of stone and mud stumble down a flight of stairs, cracks beginning to form from the many impacts. His patience fraying, the professor noticed movement to his right and called "Scalp!" Twin whips of mercury lashed out through the room towards his opponent but hit only wall. Something clicked behind Kayneth and he swiftly recalled Hydrargyrum around him just before a gunshot rang out. This little dance was beginning to bore him. None of this rat's toys had come even close to breaching his Supreme Mystic Code's defense.
To his shock (and a hint of dread), something blasted right through the mercury wall and clipped his left shoulder. Just a graze, but it burned. Oh, how it burned… his pride.
The Mage Killer's Shadow Clone slipped away before the injured scholar could retaliate. He reloaded his copy of the Contender while running, grumbling about the near miss.He's not going to misjudge its power twice.
As it turned out, the Shadow Clone Jutsu had some set limits: tools of the original could only be copied to a certain extent. Simple weapons like knives or shuriken were no trouble, but technology such as a modern firearm or a cellphone proved too complicated. Fortunately, the Thompson Contender, a single-action handgun, was just primitive enough to be replicated.
Including its ammunition. The clone slipped a fresh round into the muzzle even as he heard Kayneth snarling curses and a fresh cacophony of destruction by mercury and golem behind him. The magus was growing more agitated, more eager to end this game. Especially after miscalculating the last strike and receiving an injury. He'll be pouring more of his mana into his defense to make sure I won't surprise him again.
A Shadow Clone thought exactly like the original. …Just a little more. Then he'll be all mine.
-130:32:40
A Horror screeched as sword and spear cut it apart. It collapsed to the ground, the latest among its fallen brethren. By now, the earth was torn, battered and soaked in wretched blood and flesh. Saber, Assassin X, Lancer and Caster X stood back-to-back, weapons at the ready, as more Horrors circled them from a safe distance. Nearly two thousand of these creatures had fallen at the hands of one or more of the Servants. But still so many remained.
"Barely making a dent in their numbers…" Lancer mumbled to himself, "it's amazing."
Assassin X tilted his head askew, eyeing the mass of tentacles and teeth. "You don't suppose the rest'll see reason and get out of the way, do you?"
The Celtic knight chuckled at the joke. "They would've done that by now if they could."
Caster X swung his sword to remove the blood, the Elvish blade regaining its full shine. "Be that as it may, I think we can agree that your little competition has no winner."
Saber took a moment to sigh in agreement when the males mock-protested. "Caster X has a point. Our immediate concern is ending this threat. Whosoever succeeds at killing the most is irrelevant." The three nodded their heads in respect to the King of Knight's maturity…
Unaware of her thoughts. I still won. She continued, lest her partner somehow discern this like the crafty dog he was. "Anyway, the source of these monsters is that grimoire, Lancer." The Servant of the Spear was the only one who didn't know about Caster's power source yet. "As long as he has his Noble Phantasm, our situation will hardly change."
Lancer's eyes scanned the mass of Horrors around them. "I see, that's how it is, then?"
Caster X watched the beasts warily as well, though his true target was yet to be seen. "The only alternative would be to destroy them faster than the Noble Phantasm can spawn them, and that strategy has yielded little results until now." They were all powerful Spirits, moreso as a team, but in this situation, endless battle would exhaust even them eventually.
Assassin X had the same thoughts. And he shared the wise one's irritation. "But even if we manage to punch through, we'll still end up swarmed if the book isn't destroyed. Caster's crazy, but he's got enough sense to keep on the move."
"Can't your red eye seek him out?"
The Copy Ninja shook his head at Diarmuid's question. "My eye lets me see Magical Energy itself, but the problem is there's too much Magical Energy around us." Even the Horrors' remains radiated mana, and the ones battle-ready even more. No matter where the Sharingan was cast, it was like Assassin X was surrounded by a dense inferno.
Saber adjusted her (one-handed) grip on her sword while failing as well to locate their enemy. A risky plan was beginning to form in her mind, then she noticed a shift in her partner's posture. Caster X noticed it too. "Are you well, Assassin X?"
"Oh, yes, I am." The shinobi rolled his shoulders as a fresh sense of strength washed through him. "My clones just dissipated themselves."
A hopeful look crossed Saber. "Then the children are…"
"Safe inside the city." It wasn't just the Shadow Clones' unused energy that he had received, but their memories.
Ten children huddled together in front of a police department. The twin men had gently set them down, gave them assurances that they'd be okay, and seemingly left after one rang the bell and lights flickered on. An officer had yet to appear, though, and they were still very shaken from their abduction. Tears and snot flowed down their cheeks.
And one soul had borne witness to part of this scene. A single boy, having still been up late at night to read some fantasy manga, had first heard some commotion outside his window. Upon opening it and seeing two of his friends among the sobbing ones, he quickly bolted down the hall to his parents' bedroom. "Mom! Dad!" He called while knocking on the door. "There are some kids outside the station! Two of them are Mako and Ren, they need help!"
By the time Risei Kotomine learned of the children's situation, they were being treated in the police station with warm blankets, tea and a good number of adults as company.
Only once they were absolutely sure the little ones were safe did the watching Shadow Clones release themselves.
The four breathed a collective sigh of relief, then Assassin X popped open a pouch on his flak jacket. "Alright, it's time we ended this." He withdrew a scroll while pricking the tip of his finger and smeared a line of blood over the unrolled paper. "And I think I have an idea to catch him."
While the others eyed his actions with curiosity, Saber simply nodded. Even if she didn't know what exactly he was planning, she had nothing but trust in her comrade's talents. "Then if you can keep him in one location, we have a chance. Lancer, Caster X," both listened to her, "would you be willing to try a gamble?"
The wizard inclined his head. "It would not be the first time, and given the circumstances, I have no objections."
"Personally, I find such tactics deplorable," Lancer admitted, "but fighting these beasts brings neither victory nor glory." He smiled. "I accept your offer."
"Then I will clear a path." The King of Britain hefted her magnificent hidden sword. "But we only have one chance. Can you run with the wind, Lancer?"
The knight's eyes twinkled in a way that would've made most women swoon. "So, that's it." He chuckled. "Easy enough."
Caster X gave his staff a thoughtful look; he'd understood the plan as well. "Then with your permission, Saber, I shall give you my help with this. These creatures are quite swift healers. Can you run with fire as well, Lancer?" He smirked playfully as the wooden tip flared up.
Twin spears danced in the moonlight. "Oh, I do love a challenge."
She looked to her partner, who simply nodded with an eye-smile as he rolled the scroll back up with a flourish. No words, out loud or telepathic, were needed to convey his message: I'm ready when you are. Saber allowed herself a second to smile at this turn of events. The three Heroic Spirits were not ones she'd ever known in life, yet they'd proven themselves in word and deed this night. Lancer, a knight of chivalry and valor, eager as she was to finish their duel of honor; Caster X, a wise sorcerer who'd been willing to face such evil alone for the sake of children, yet perfectly willing to fight in a group as well; and Assassin X, a man that had proven himself a skilled warrior, a reliable help for any situation… and a good friend.
Though all from different lands, the four Servants readied themselves with utmost confidence in one another. And Saber's Instinct told her that this next move was guaranteed to succeed.
Caster paced along the mass of Horrors with rapt glee. He couldn't take the chance of remaining stationary with so many cretins about, but the ones flocking around Jeanne were as good as doomed. No matter how many of his forces were cut down, Prelati's Spellbook's power was nigh infinite. "Are you saying your prayers in there?" He called out his taunt. "Tremble in terror, writhe in despair! No matter how exceptional an individual may be, they can only stand against insurmountable odds so many times!" A dark cackle echoed from his throat. The Horrors before him began to lurch forward towards their enemies.
The knights glared about them from Caster's insults, but the other Servant of Spells sheathed his sword to gesture for them to remain calm. He himself was not bothered by the taunts. For he had witnessed many wondrous moments in his life. An individual may indeed falter eventually against insurmountable odds, Caster. But none of us stand here alone.
He simply said, "Remember, sir Lancer, the calmest point of a storm is its heart." The green knight nodded after a moment of thought. Both of Caster X's hands clutched his staff tightly as he began to chant. The rest couldn't recognize the language, as it was an ancient one from another world, but they sensed what he was up to. Heat began to gather around the staff's crown. Assassin X began his own preparations, keeping hold of the scroll while he made handsigns.
"How humiliating!" The Demon Marshall continued to jeer, unaware of his enemies' plans. To be crushed and deprived of your final breaths by these wretched, soulless creatures! Could there be any greater shame for a hero?" The Horrors were moving in a greater frenzy now. The strike would come any second. "Who shall fall first, I wonder? The elderly monk, making his final petitions and receiving no answer? The mouthless heathen, dragged down in agony to whatever pit spawned him? Or the haughty knight, learning the price for his interference?"
Saber lifted her sword to face level and angled it so the tip was pointing forward like a spear. Said weapons were braced at the ready with Lancer as he dug into his heels.
Caster drew a hand over his savagely grinning face. "Either way, you, dear Jeanne, shall be the last," he vowed softly. A giggle bubbled up. "That beautiful face… it shall warp in agony!" And the Horrors finally rushed forward.
"Ninja Art Summoning!" Assassin X didn't waste time in crouching down and slamming the scroll into the dirt. "Earth Style: Fanged Pursuit Jutsu!" Text rippled from the scroll and into the ground.
A second later, Caster felt a tremor beneath him. He glanced down puzzled only for something to burst out and bite down on his right ankle with sharp teeth. He didn't even have time to shriek from the pain before his left ankle was next. Then six more forms erupted snarling from the earth, and as they made contact with him, a cry of pain finally erupted from Gilles de Rais.
Inside the Horror mass, Saber's ears tracked the scream and other noises to one specific spot. She shifted slightly to the right and as Assassin X turned with her to unleash a spread of lightning to ward off the rest, she uttered the name of her own technique. "Strike Air!"
Invisible Air transformed from a sheathe of wind into a billowing cyclone that was thrust forward. Caster X simultaneously held his staff to the brilliant sword, and the winds became a roaring torrent of flame that didn't merely blast but incinerated all Horrors in its path. The funnel expanded into a large tunnel, just big enough for someone to step through while the fire kept any demons outside from interfering. Lancer sprinted through it without word or hesitation. Calmest point of a storm, eh? He smirked. A wise man. And a fearsome wizard.
Indeed, though fire raged about him, none of it came even close to singeing the Heroic Spirit. Even without his Magic Resistance, he needn't have worried, so great was their control over this combination. And the burning path led to an unusual sight; Caster barely standing due to eight hounds of different breeds piling on top of him. Each had sunk their fangs into his body and judging by the pain mixed with surprise in his giant eyes, they kept a good grip on him.
Lancer wasted no time marveling at Assassin X's methods. He cleared the distance with one lunge, pulling back his crimson spear. "Prepare yourself!" Those few Horrors that attempted to stop him were swiftly dealt offhand wounds by the golden spear that would remain until they died. Which wouldn't be long now.
"Run it through!" A red tip hurtled towards its target. "Gáe Daerg!" The moment the enchanted spear cut into the book in Caster's grasp, just out of reach of a little pug, its mana was severed. Red mist leaked from its tear like a gaping wound, and all of the remaining Horrors burst apart in a shower of blood. Caster X quickly summoned a white barrier around himself and his allies to shield from the horrid "rain"; not a drop touched them.
Saber peered through the comforting light to recognize just what bound their quarry. "So that was your plan," she said to her partner in impressed praise. Caster X had earned their trust by now. "You decided that if seeing or hearing Caster didn't work…"
"I'd have to find him by smell." Assassin X confirmed, proud of his pack's quick work. "Granted, only Pakkun and Guruko had his scent, but I tend to plan ahead." He tapped the side of his cheek where Caster had scratched him earlier. "The only reason he could touch me was because I let him."
Caster X nodded, impressed with the plan. "And by taking a piece of your skin, he unwittingly marked himself with your scent, one your hounds would know intimately." New respect developed for the masked one beside him and his pets. No less because even as they snarled while tightening their hold on Caster, they still seemed friendlier than wargs. And Assassin X had proven himself as valiant as any member of the Fellowship the Gray Wizard had been part of till his sacrifice. As have these knights, he thought in pride.
Caster struggled furiously to escape and bolster his forces again, but the damned hounds kept their jaws as tight as possible on his flesh. Moreover, his Spellbook remained pierced by that crimson weapon of the green knight, somehow nullifying its abilities. He was trapped. "Damn you… Damn you al-IAIIIIEEEE" The bulldog chomping down harder on his back drew a fresh screech from him.
Lancer had no sympathy for him, keeping Gáe Daerg's tip embedded in the tome. He had no interest in battling another horde tonight. "How do you like the situation now?" He taunted the captive Servant. "If Saber had retained both of her hands, you'd have never stood a chance."
"Hear, hear." Assassin X mumbled while Caster X nodded in agreement.
The King of Knight nodded her thanks to their confidence in her before striding towards Caster, right hand clenching her sword tightly. She held Caster X in the highest regard for protecting the children so valiantly until the others' arrivals, but her anger flared at the one who'd put them in danger. "Prepare for your death, fiend." Saber readied her sword carefully; she didn't want to hurt the hounds while finishing him. The Servant's fate seemed sealed.
Fate tends to not play sides, however.
Something black flew out of the clearing before skidding to its left of where Caster was trapped. Everyone glanced in surprise (and for Saber, a hint of horror) at Berserker as he planted his feet with a feral growl.
Rider X rocketed in his aircraft form towards him before shifting back just before they'd meet. His right fist slammed into Berserker's crossed arms, the momentum unsettling the knight's guard. The larger Servant landed and spun with a kick that knocked away his opponent, then he noticed his audience. "Well, well," he finally said with a cruel smirk, "this battle appears to be a little one-sided." He lifted his fusion cannon.
Saber stepped in front of Lancer to deflect the first plasma blast with her sword, but the sheer power behind it against her one-handed grip rattled her. She was forced to dodge the next one, as was her fellow knight. The latter's action unfortunately shifted his spear's position just a little bit. But enough for Caster to slide his Noble Phantasm free of the anti-magic tip and regain its power. The Hounds yiped as tentacles erupted around him, forced to let go.
Caster X had resummoned his barrier to block more blasts at him and Assassin X, but the Horror corpses surrounding them suddenly swelled, then burst like bloody bubbles. A red mist gathered over the battlefield, the blood clogging the dogs' senses and the mana inside it confusing even the Sharingan. Allowing Gilles de Rais to quickly slip away.
What's worse, the sudden move had disrupted Caster X's concentration for just a bit. Seeing an opportunity and being the least hindered by the mist, Rider X focused his barrage on the wizard's diminished shield while striding towards him. Caster X gritted his teeth from the exertion, trying to keep his defenses up. Assassin X performed a new set of handsigns before planting his palms on the ground. "Earth Style: Mud Wall!" A thick wall of earth, four dog faces in its surface, rose up in front of the two, granting the elder one a reprieve.
Rider X merely sneered while blasting the wall to pebbles. "How desperate." Perhaps he'd get a chance tonight to end those two potential troublemakers after all.
Something large and heavy smashing into him from the side put a damper on those thoughts.
Saber and Lancer leaped out of the bloody fog, weapons at the ready. Caster had regrettably escaped them, but to their surprise, Rider X had been knocked to the ground. Berserker hefted an entire tree he'd uprooted and blackened with his Noble Phantasm before attempting to slam it onto his enemy with a howl. Rider X moved out of the way, but the trunk, unwieldly though it should've been, changed course swiftly enough to smack him further across the field. No other Servant present could've hoped to wield such a large weapon with anything close to grace. Eternal Arms Mastery continued to serve the black knight well.
Though her thoughts remained conflicted over one of these interlopers, Saber had no doubts about what to do with the other. She sprinted for Rider X as he pushed himself to his feet. Her first slash was blocked by his deployed arm blade, but she continued to strike undeterred. Rider X parried her swings while mixing in his own attacks, but the smaller Servant weaved around punches and kicks. His bulk granted him longer reach and strength, but her stature made her the more mobile one. A frustrating stalemate for both participants.
Then a third, Lancer, contributed as well with a flurry of lightning-fast jabs with both spears. Megatron's gladiatorial experience helped him weather the storm with his blade, but the two began to work together. Slowly, he was being pushed back. Saber's sword scraped by his neck, Lancer's red spear cut past his abdomen. And Berserker was getting close as well.
-130:32:31
Lord El-Melloi's golem continued to stomp through the Einzbern mansion, though not quite as swiftly on account of its left leg having sustained heavy damage. Compliments of an explosive hidden among the stairs. More cracks and chinks along its surface told stories of meeting other traps.
Yet it suffered no pain or frustration even as another wire snapped by its path and caused a statue next to it to blow up. A sizeable hole had formed in the center, revealing a glow, but the golem merely continued its search for the one its master had ordered it to crush.
As a simple magical being of earth and rock, it only possessed some simulacrum of senses. And those were limited to sight and hearing. Still, both were sharp enough that it detected footsteps from the upcoming corner. The golem's basic programming told it their origin could be its target, so it lifted a massive boulder fist that scraped against the hall' ceiling.
Then it halted its actions as it registered its creator stepping into clear view. The man in blue clothing showed no sign of alarm as he kept his arms to the sides with a frown. The golem's own arm fell to its side as well as it awaited a new command.
Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald was not happy. He'd been chasing this uncultured rat across the entire mansion, set off at least a dozen of his silly little diversions and had thought he'd come close to cornering him three times by now. The only injuries the prodigal magus had suffered was the earlier graze by his shoulder, and the burn was easily remedied. His clothing showed more damage, another little irritation.
This was most certainly not what he'd expected of the Holy Grail War. He'd joined this event to match thaumaturgical skill with the likes of Tokiomi Tohsaka, Zouken Matou or other pioneers of the magic arts. Open duels between gentlemen, with martial acclaim and honor as the prize. But this… this little game of hide-and-seek was frankly embarrassing. His opponent was some commoner with a few abnormal magic tricks and too much gunpowder.
If he weren't so disappointed with this farce of a battle, Kayneth might've been intrigued about the magecraft this man employed. Time manipulation inside one's own body, self-duplication, possible teleportation… not quite like anything he'd ever seen or heard before, which was a rarity for a scholar like him.
But he'd long since lost interest in this game. Once this rat had been dealt with, the Grail War would be free of such tarnishing, and Kayneth could look forward to properchallenges again.
Another vase exploded to launch those ridiculous balls at him, but a field of mercury blades rose up to keep them far away from him. The lights flickered off; power flow must've been damaged in the area. Kayneth's Magic Circuits strained a bit from his pouring more mana into his defense, but he was done taking chances. No toy of that rat was going to touch him again. His automated probes detected movement up ahead, both the heavy steps of his golem and lighter ones.
Lord El-Melloi sneered at the opportunity. The golem would cut off his retreat, and he would personally take one step closer to ending this game. He rounded a corner and saw the construct…
And himself.
"What?!" Kayneth started, drawing his double's attention. The other Kayneth briefly turned from facing the golem to give him an unimpressed stare, then his hands went for his pockets. The golem made no movement whatsoever.
The Lord El-Melloi would've never received his title if he'd been slow-witted. It's some sort of illusory trick, and that blasted golem is too simple-minded to tell the difference between him and me! "How dare you impersonate me!" He snarled as Volumen Hydrargyrum's mass shifted into a trio of whips.
But they were too far away to stop his imposter as he quickly pulled out two black objects with rings from his pockets and shoved them into the glowing hole in the golem's torso. Two little rings clattered to the floor.
Even as the whips finally reached the man, their blows revealing him to be Kiritsugu Emiya('s clone) before he turned to smoke, the grenades detonated inside the golem. He'd placed them as close to its core as possible, the amethyst that served as its origin, and the twin explosions shattered it. Which in turn blew the heavy creature to pieces.
The mercury retracted into its defense form as rock and mud flew across the hall. Anger swelled inside Kayneth at the destruction of a valuable artifact. He'd paid a pretty copper for that crystal, and for it to be destroyed not by some powerful spell but by mundane trickery, was infuriating.
That's when he heard footsteps behind him.
Kiritsugu's Calico sang as it fired its ammunition at the professor's back. "Fervor, mei sanguis." Kayneth ground out, channeling his mana into the mercury swords that defended him from the bullets. He turned around with a prideful glare. "What you owe me for my golem, I'll take out of your hide."
The Mage Killer's face was a blank slate, showing no sign of concern or satisfaction. His Shadow Clone had succeeded in its main task, neutralizing the construct. He didn't want to take any chances of that thing still lumbering about after its creator was taken care of.
"Prepare to curse the ones who hired you, to curse the Einzberns for defiling the Holy Grail War with your inclusion!"
Speaking of which… Even as his left hand fired the Calico's entire supply at the mercury field, Kiritsugu's right hand rose with the Thompson Contender at the ready. That gun barked once, its .30-06 Springfield bullet flying at two-and-a-half times the speed of the Parabellum rounds and with seven times more destructive power.
Kayneth barked a laugh at the familiar sound. Even he knew how to differentiate guns by their shots. "Repeating your tricks, little rat?" The blades encircled the special bullet and closed it off like a Venus flytrap. Trapped in mercury, the projectile would never touch him.
The Mage Killer smirked. Got him.
A warning sensation flashed through Archer X just as she pulled the trigger of her shotgun; the resulting blast went wide, and she barely ducked under the slash of Saber X's scythe. She'd felt similar feelings when she'd lived, a version of the "sixth sense" normal people would have. But not quite like this.
Somehow, though, the Servant knew exactly what it meant.
Saber X heard her mumble, "Oh for fuck's sake…" before her gun was replaced by a collection of grenades. Their pins fell down quickly. He flipped quickly out of the following explosions' radius and readied his scythe, but Archer X was gone. Really gone, he noted, not just doing that disappearing act he saw a while ago.
He scratched his dark hair in slight confusion. "What was that all about?"
At the same time, Lancer halted in his tracks with a gasp. This hesitance was exploited by Rider X who batted him away, transformed into his Alt-Mode and gunned his thrusters. The enemy Servants were forced to evade his energy bolts as he soared off into the night sky.
"An infuriating opponent…" Saber glared at the increasingly distant flyer before tensing up at a familiar growl. "Arrr…" Berserker stalked towards her, actually spinning the massive tree in his hands like Lancer would his spears. That skill… she thought with a tinge of fear, the picture of his armor… No, it can't be him. It just can't.
Assassin X leaped to her side and Lancer shook his head to crouch for a possible lunge, but the former noticed his partner's hand slightly trembling even as it gripped her sword. Did our last encounter with him shake her that much? Kakashi worried for her but couldn't let this distract him. His hounds, still about, braced themselves for a fight at his signal.
Berserker's armored foot stomped hard enough into the ground to send mud and blood flying. He swung back his weapon…
Then Caster X stepped in front of him. The knight ceased instantly. "Berserker," he addressed his partner as though they were having a regular discussion, "have you been facing Rider X this entire time?"
"Mmm…" the maddened Servant rumbled, dropping the tree. He inclined his helmet towards the wizard. "N…m…y… t…gtt…"
Caster X peered at him carefully, seemingly gazing into the Heroic Spirit's tormented soul. "…I see. You acted to keep him from attacking me, did you?" He gave a kind smile before reaching up to place his hand on a blackened shoulder. "For that, I thank you, my friend." Then his tone grew strict. "But whatever your grievance with Saber, this is neither the place nor the time for you to face her." The duo's Master was surely experiencing great pain from their endeavors tonight. Continuing to fight others would cause even more damage.
Berserker knew this, and because of this wise man standing in front of him, he had enough presence of mind to feel some shame towards his part in his Master's struggles. Caster X sighed. "Let us leave now, sir. We may have failed to stop Caster or Rider X," both tensed at the thought of that dangerous familiar, "but tonight is not the end of the Grail War."
The knight's body rattled in place, but his helmet nodded once in acknowledgement. "Nn… sr." He made no further move to attack, instead choosing to dematerialize into smoke.
Though they had seen it before, the others observed this scene in utter shock. How easily the elderly man could scold the Servant of Madness as though he were an angry dog and yet convince him so kindly to stand down… it was awe-inspiring. Saber finally spoke up, her earlier conflict pushed down. For now. "You are a benign person, Caster X." The wizard glanced to her. "For defending the children with such valor and for being so patient with that Servant." Her breath hitched slightly, something her partner picked up on.
As did Caster X. But he chose not to dwell on this; even though he suspected Saber and Berserker might know one another, he preferred to leave this forest in peace. "Berserker is a… troubled man. But I sense good in him, and he has yet to shatter my hopes." He removed his pointy hat and bowed before the rest in respect. "As for my actions, I was merely the first to arrive tonight. You have all proven yourselves heroes at least as great as I am. And even if we may engage in battle later, it has been a true honor to fight by your sides tonight."
"The honor is shared, wise one." Lancer spoke up as he joined the other two in returning the bow, though with some urgency. He sensed trouble, though not directed at him.
The others noticed his tense posture. "Is something wrong, Lancer?" Assassin X asked politely.
"My lord is in trouble," Diarmuid answered honestly. The masked man had earned his trust and respect as well. "I think he chose to send me and Archer X here and engage in battle at the castle."
Saber and Assassin X traded a look; pretty much as Kiritsugu had expected. Saber retained her distaste about her Master's traps, hence her subsequent urging. "It's likely the result of," Assassin X sent her a telepathic note, "our associate." She corrected herself with an internal wince. Lying to the knight felt wrong, but she'd agreed to their strategy with her word and deed. Besides, it wouldn't have been the worst lie she'd told. "Go ahead, Lancer." He and her partner looked in shock to her. "You might still be able to save your lord."
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne's surprise faded as he smiled to his rival. "I thank you, King of Knights."
"It's nothing. We swore to have a knights' duel, and we ought to see that honor through."
"I wish you both the best with that." Caster X had taken spirit form with a parting smile to them. Saber had returned it, albeit with some internal snark. Merlin could've learned a thing or two from him about being a respectable wizard…
Lancer then noticed another preparing to move. "Would you try to stop me, Assassin X?"
"Not from retrieving your Master, my friend." The Copy Ninja assured him and his partner. He had a feeling Saber's choice wasn't going to win her any favors with Kiritsugu, but he respected her wish for a proper duel. And to keep someone from aiding their comrade despite his personal philosophy would've been a little hypocritical. "I only want to accompany you, in case a certain partner of yours decides to get a little trigger-happy with our associate."
Lancer released a bitter sigh. "…Fair enough." He did not look forward to the upcoming argument with Archer X. The two males nodded to Saber and subsequently vanished into spirit form.
Saber remained where she was, her mind awash with thoughts about what Kiritsugu might've done, disgust towards Caster and admiration for those Servants that had stood with her tonight…
And conflict over Berserker. Please, please don't let it be him…
Then she felt a little nudge by her ankle. Glancing down revealed Pakkun by her foot. "Kakashi told me to hang back and lead you to Irisviel and Maiya." The increase in wrinkles showed his concern. "I hope it's just this place, but I can smell blood, Saber."
Artoria's eyes widened at that; she didn't believe for a second the dog's nose might be mistaken. "Lead the way, Pakkun." The pug nodded and bolted to the north, the King of Knights right behind him.
Blood poured from Kayneth's mouth and nose as he hunched over, clutching his sides. Agony coursed through every millimeter of his body. His once impeccable Supreme Mystic Code collapsed into a puddle of useless mercury around him. The magus clawed undignified at his throat, his face, while stumbling about, trying to find some way to cease the pain, but it was no use. He felt like someone had set all of his body's nerves on fire.
Kiritsugu flicked his Contender to the side to dispel its smoke, not a speck of emotion on his face. Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald had become the thirty-eighth magus to fall at the hands of his Mystic Code: Origin Rounds. Sixty-six .30-06 Springfield bullets containing his powdered bones, manifesting his dual origin, Severing and Binding, in anything they struck. Archibald's mercury weapon had been so saturated with his mana that when it had enveloped the bullet, the magic within had first ripped through every last one of the man's Magic Circuits, then messily reattached them beyond use.
An old creed in combat was "Turn any weakness into a strength, and turn your opponent's strength into a weakness." The Mage Killer believed strongly in the latter half. The more powerful the target, the more devastating the effects of his Rounds.
Case in point, the once great Lord El-Melloi vomited up one last surge of blood, then fell clumsily into the remains of Volumen Hydrargyrum. The only grace he received was the loss of consciousness with the impact. His Magic Circuits' damage had crippled his body so thoroughly that even if he survived, he'd never be able to move a toe under his own power, let alone wield magecraft again. Only thing left was the final blow. Kiritsugu walked without haste, pity or joy towards the fallen man while he lay twitching. He shifted his Calico's mode to semi-automatic. Another obstacle removed.
Or so he thought. A surge of mana rose around the body, and Kiritsugu shot twice on instinct. Archer X shimmered into view to catch the bullets with one hand. The other pointed a SMG at him. "Well, well," the cracked visor was fixed on him, "you've really done a number on this prick, haven't you?" She dropped the useless rounds into the mercury beneath her. "He wasn't kidding about you, Mage Killer."
Dull black eyes narrowed at the Servant. The one who had thwarted his bombing of the Hyatt. For her to show up now of all times, and from the sound of it, she knew him by reputation. But how? She wasn't a native of this world, and El-Melloi hadn't seemed aware of who Kiritsugu was. He'd have bragged or derided him about it otherwise. "Who's 'he'?" he asked warily, calculating the odds of him evading her initial attack and managing to finish Kayneth off. Neither goal looked good. I could use a hand.
And Archer X knew better than to give him any chances. They had too much in common for that. "Wouldn't you like to know." Six shots burst from her gun's muzzle towards the hidden Master.
Cl-C-Cl-Cl-Cl-Clang!
They clattered harmlessly to the ground. Kiritsugu cocked an eyebrow at his savior. "Cutting it a little close."
"You're welcome," Assassin X snarked back, smoke wafting from the twin kunai in his hands. Both of his eyes watched Archer X like a hawk even as she growled in frustration.
"You are really starting to be a major pain in my-"
"Language, Archer X." Lancer appeared beside his Master in a kneeling position. His eyes that would've captivated most women were set in a hard glare with no one sure who it was directed towards.
Archer X turned slightly to him, some of her rage shifting into elation. "Good, you're here," She kept her tone gruff, just to let him know he wasn't off the hook yet. "We'll take him together."
"No."
Her fist clenched. "Excuse me?"
Lancer wasn't intimidated by the anger in her voice. "I came here to rescue our lord, Archer X, and Saber granted me passage for this specific task. I won't violate her trust in me by attacking her partner or her ally." He spoke through her protests. "And do keep in mind that you are not the only one in this partnership that is frustrated. We are leaving. Now."
She trembled in anger before releasing a huff. "…Fine. But you get to carry him." She couldn't find it in her to refuse his order. Dammit, I'm getting too soft with this dipshit…
Kiritsugu's ears latched onto certain details the knight had said. Saber had let him go, then; the news made him click his tongue in distaste. Of course, her damnable chivalry must've compelled her to trust him with this. At least she hadn't blabbed out his true connection to them. Still, Emiya had to try one last thing. 'Assassin X,' he asked over their link, 'can you dispatch them?'
'One, maybe. Two would be a bit much, even with the boost.' For One's Comrades might've given him a rank-up, but he was just as exhausted as the two of them. And Lancer's spear had already proven a deadly counter against his jutsu. Even if he were willing to go against Saber's wishes, Assassin X doubted he alone could win against the pair.
Kiritsugu considered ordering him with Command Seal, but it was ultimately too risky. He'd also grown to trust Assassin X's judgement despite himself. If he said victory was unlikely here, then his Master had to grudgingly accept it.
Lancer hefted the unconscious Kayneth's limp body up, it spasming lightly in his grip. Assassin X's mask hid a wince as his Sharingan surveyed the once proud magus' body. His internal systems looked like a tornado and an earthquake had been fighting each other in there, with a thunderstorm mixed in for extra fun. The damage was very severe; even if he survived, the man would likely be a cripple for the rest of his life. Kiritsugu wasn't exaggerating the effects of those Origin Rounds…
The Celtic warrior carefully slung his Master onto his back while the otherworldly soldier kept her gun trained on the duo. He then said, "Ally of Saber and Assassin X. The reason I do not punish you for what you've done to our lord is for your Servants' sake." He had lost any patience for dishonorable plays with his partner's actions. "You keep your life because of the grace of the King of Knights. Remember that." And so, he bounded out a broken window.
Archer X just sighed loudly before following him. Useless deadweight of a Master… At least she didn't shoot again.
Kiritsugu finally lowered his gun with a sigh. With the battle over, adrenaline had finally given way to exhaustion. He'd pushed himself with using Innate Time Control so often tonight, him and his clone. Pocketing the Contender, he pulled out a cigarette and lit it while Assassin X quickly checked the perimeter. Those knights and their naivete was so taxing.
The Servant returned after a moment, covering up his left eye again. "Area's secure, all of the other Servants have long since cleared out."
"Any Assassins?"
"Three, but they bolted when I approached them. We ought to be relatively safe for the time being."
"Relatively…" Kiritsugu repeated, appreciative that at least one of his Servants wasn't blindly trusting. "Where's Saber?"
"She's gone with Pakkun to check up on Irisviel and Maiya." Kakashi noticed a slight relaxation in his Master's posture at the news. So he still trusts her just enough to protect his wife, he mused before asking in honest curiosity, "So, how was your test run?"
The Mage Killer knew what his question referred to. Hefting his Calico, he removed his cigarette to answer. "A few kinks to work out, but otherwise satisfactory." More than satisfactory, he admitted to himself.
"You're willing to continue using them, then?"
"Definitely." Even the "simple" jutsu had proven to be a valuable asset and a good part of how he'd managed to retain the upper hand against Archibald tonight. They began to walk back to the less damaged parts of the castle.
Kiritsugu took another drag from his cigarette while glancing to the shinobi maintaining watch. How ironic; the Servant he hadn't been trying to summon was the one he could truly count on in this War.
Then his mood soured again when he caught Assassin X sneaking a peek inside that thrice-damned book. "Oh, come on!" The Servant pleaded. "Just a little treat after a hard-thought battle?"
Click. "Put. It. Away."
"…Are you aiming an Origin Round at me?! We don't even know how a Servant could be affected by those things!"
"Put the book away, or I'm finding out, Assassin X."
Maiya set Irisviel beside a tree as gently as possible, her hands stained in the homunculus' blood. Too much for comfort. "Try to keep pressure, Ma'am," she whispered while beginning to check her pockets. "I'm afraid we need to work fast if there's any chance of saving you."
"Miss Maiya, it's-"
"Please don't speak, I need to concentrate." She turned with a single roll of bandages, a holdover from last night's cut. Maiya began to unroll it as quickly as she could; much as it pained her to be in this woman's presence, to see how Kiritsugu's expression would always lighten up by just a tiny bit when he saw her and lament how she never provoked such a reaction…
Irisviel von Einzbern was precious to Kiritsugu Emiya. That made her worth protecting to Maiya Hisau. Her feelings were otherwise irrelevant.
A bark drew both women's attention. The little orange pug (Pakkun, Maiya corrected herself) bounded into sight, calling "Over here!" behind him as his eyes caught hold of them. He scampered over quickly to where Irisviel was propped up, Saber soon following.
"Irisviel!" The Servant called out as she hurried over. Her eyes quickly were quickly drawn to the blood on her jacket. She placed a hand on her friend's shoulder, hoping it would suffice…
The little dog whined in worry, his paws resting on the white-haired woman's leg. She giggled at him while stroking his head. "I'm fine, Pakkun. Really." She smiled at all of them. "You can all stop worrying now."
"Ma'am-"
"Miss Maiya, I'm quite alright." She interrupted her gently while taking her hands away from where she'd been shot. "See?" The woman saw to her surprise that the wound had disappeared. The clothing remained drenched in blood, but the skin underneath looked as though absolutely had happened. Irisviel lifted and bent her arm to prove her point.
While Pakkun huffed in relief (and melted under her cuddly fingers), Maiya still had questions. But it was Saber who indirectly answered. "You see, Irisviel?" She asked playfully. "This is why I've been declining your offer to return it to me."
The homunculus giggled as her furry friend tickled her nose. "Alright, Saber, I'll admit that holding onto Avalon was a good precaution in hindsight." The mention of that fabled object was the final piece in the puzzle for Maiya to comprehend.
Avalon: "The Everdistant Utopia." The sheathe to King Arthur's sword that could protect the wearer from any wound, even fatal ones. Had it not been stolen from her earlier, the king would've survived the great clash with Mordred on that bloody battlefield.
So, she's been carrying it…
In an unexpected shift from his original plan, Kiritsugu had been upfront with Saber about entrusting his wife with Avalon. An idea the Servant had no objections to, another rarity. Though in that case, she easily understood the logic. Seeing as she was to be by Irisviel's side the entire time, the sheathe could serve as a sort of Conceptual Weapon for her. Its regenerative powers wouldn't work without Saber's mana, after all.
After Saber had been injured by Lancer's Gáe Buidhe, her friend had repeatedly offered to return her Noble Phantasm to her. The magic within Avalon could certainly nullify the curse on her injury. But Saber had refused politely every single time, citing that the situation had yet to grow so dire that she truly needed her left hand. "I already have a fine surrogate," She once said with a little smile. "Assassin X."
Irisviel showed no signs of injury whatsoever now as she rose to her full height. "What about Kiritsugu?" She asked, both her and Maiya staring intently at Saber. "Is he alright?"
"He is," the knight assured them. "Assassin X sped off to his location while I followed Pakkun to yours. And he just reported to me that the castle is secure again. They're waiting for us to return."
"Thank goodness…" Irisviel sighed in relief. Maiya relaxed as well. If Assassin X is with Kiritsugu, no one will touch him, she thought before blinking. When had she developed such confidence in the odd foreigner?
"Now then, let's tend to your leg, Miss Maiya." Irisviel's words shook her out of her thoughts. Pakkun was plopped softly into her lap, and as her hands instinctively moved to pet the furball, the woman crouched by the injured limb, her hands glowing. The healing magecraft to her calf and the soft fur by her fingertips steadied Maiya's nerves.
Saber frowned at their state. "Who did all this to you?" she asked while keeping watch.
"Archer X was the one who shot Ma'am," Maiya's mentioning of that treacherous brute of a soldier drew a scowl from the King of Knights, "but the rest came from a fight with Kirei Kotomine."
That name made her stiffen. "He sought you out?"
Irisviel shook her head with a concerned frown. "He was heading for Kiritsugu, and I thought that we could stop him. But I didn't realize just how deadly that man was." Even with Assassin X's lessons, the two of them had at best managed a shaky stalemate against the mysterious priest. The Servants' intrusion into their battle had been a stroke of luck.
All this steadied her resolve even more. As she glanced down at her false Command Seals (slightly faded, I'll have to ask Assassin X to refresh them), Irisviel swore to herself that she couldn't allow that man anywhere near her husband.
And one glance at her patient's face told her that she had been having the same thoughts. Yes, Irisviel smiled at her tenderly, I'm not alone in protecting Kiritsugu, am I? And neither are you, Miss Maiya. Both also glanced down at the cute pug sitting alert in Maiya's lap, wearing his master's headband proudly. Their eyes travelled up to Saber, standing watch steadfast like a man twice her size.
We will keep Kiritsugu safe. We will help him win. All of us. We won't let him fight alone.
Kariya Matou groaned by his spot at the border of the city, where man-made structures gave way to the western forest. This had been the furthest he could go before his legs gave out. His insectoid familiars had been sent to follow his Servants' movements, but the frequent flashes of pain from those damned Worms and Berserker's rampaging limited his perception.
But at least he knew they were all right… Heh. Didn't think I'd grow to care so much over a pair of familiars.
Speak of the devil; Caster X and Berserker appeared from spirit form before him. The former immediately knelt down by his Master to begin treating him. Kariya relaxed as the Crest Worms' rummaging ceased almost instinctively; the little bastards really were scared of him. "Is Caster dead?"
"Unfortunately, no. Despite our best efforts, he was aided in his escape by another." Both frowned as an image of certain terrifying metallic Servant crossed both of their minds. But the wizard continued. "We will continue to be watchful of both of them." Then a healing spell swept over Kariya, alleviating his aching body. Caster X paused in his mumblings to give the crippled man an amused glance. "You needn't have pushed yourself after sending Berserker off to assist me, Master. I feel guilt at exacerbating your struggles."
Kariya waved off his worries with a laugh. "I'm not thatfragile, Gandalf." Speaking the Heroic Spirit's True Name was a sign of his sincerity. "But I didn't really send Berserker after you." They looked to the still black knight, his lack of tremors a rarity. "He was all set on following you when night came. I just granted him permission."
The wizard eyed the knight with a smile. "Is that so?" He chuckled to himself before beginning to help up the Matou Master. "Well, our adventures here have concluded for tonight. Let us get you back into the city."
"Sounds good-"
Then both were surprised when Berserker, without any urging from them, stepped over to grab hold of Kariya from the other side. He gave no grunts or growls steadying the smaller man's body against his own, even taking astounding care to not let his armor injure his passenger. Once Kariya had been fully pulled off the other Servant, the supposed madman simply jerked his head towards the road. "Hm."
Caster X gave an understanding smile. The knight seems to be rising past the madness. The progress had been slow, but the results seemed promising. Though there was still heavy concern about his friend's raging whenever Saber appeared…
He pushed that thought to the side and nodded. "I thank you again for your aid, good sir." He gestured to himself with a weary chuckle. "This body is not quite as deceiving in its appearance as others may think."
"Nn… sr."
"I'll just be glad when I'm done with this whole thing." Kariya muttered with a little laugh as he was carried along the darkness. Then his thoughts shifted to what his situation would most likely be when the War really was over, one way or another. He shivered involuntarily from the painful death that awaited him but tried to steel himself by remembering what he was fighting for. Please… hang on a little longer, Sakura.
Then his single functioning eye drifted to the old man walking beside him, the one who had chided him for letting revenge cloud his judgement. He hadn't let go of his anger towards Tokiomi Tohsaka, not by a long shot. But Caster X had been right to remind him why he'd abandoned the way of the magus. And why he'd taken it up again.
"You know, going by how much you disdain the magical side of this world," Caster X's words shook him from his musing, "I imagine you would've found a good home in the Shire on Middle-Earth."
"The Shire?" Kariya asked in honest curiosity. Anything to distract him from the Worms' antics or the rage that bubbled up when he thought of that man.
Gandalf nodded with a nostalgic smile. "It's a peaceful little place that Hobbits have called their own for generations. Beautiful, too."
Kariya's mind drifted back to his dreams of the Servant's life. "Hobbits? Those little dwarves with big furry feet?" Come to think of it, they did pop up pretty often in those dreams…
"…Errr?" Even Berserker sounded curious.
Caster X laughed both at their interest and in fondness. Truly, many of his happiest memories had been in good company with those little rascals. "That is indeed one way to describe them, Kariya, though Dwarves are an entirely different race, and neither would appreciate being mistaken for the other. Ah, but Hobbits are a friendly folk that enjoy good food, peaceful days, and tending to their crops and gardens. Finding one on a battlefield or going on an adventure," his smile widened at a certain Baggins, "is an extreme rarity. Songs would sooner be sung over their endeavors in brewing ales and cultivating pipeweeds…"
And as the trio walked along the streets, Caster X's magic allowing them to avoid curious eyes while he spoke and Berserker helping him steadily along, Kariya felt an old urge to pick up a pen and start writing. I wonder how I would spin an article about Hobbiton…
Kirei stepped tentatively off of his Servant's vehicular form and onto the roof of the church. The ride through the skies had been uneventful, allowing him to treat his wounds. By the time Rider X had reached where he should be, his body had been completely restored. Now all he had to do was change clothes, and no one would be the wiser.
"Tell me, Master," the Servant had asked him when collecting him, "how was your fight?"
"It was… engaging." Kirei remembered how taken aback he had been by his own choice of words, but it was the truth. Tending to his injuries had also given him some time to reflect more on it; the unknown magecraft both women had wielded, how either could duplicate herself, or those odd alchemical eagles of the Einzbern woman. How uncertain he had felt about surviving, something he hadn't experienced in a long time.
But never before had such uncertainty felt so invigorating to the hollow man.
"You are beginning to learn more about the general pleasures of life, Kirei," Rider X had explained to him. "One of them is the excitement at not knowing what might come next. It is often feared, but uncertainty brings a certain spice to living, I have found. And the harder you have to fight for something, the more accomplished you feel once you've won. Because you've earned it."
Fight for something… Kirei Kotomine had never truly fought for anything in his life. His studies, his missions as an Executor, his time as a husband and later a father, it had all come so easily to him. Mainly because he always had a sense for what would be coming next. But this fight had stepped completely outside of his expectations. Maybe that was why it had felt so different.
Or maybe, he pondered while opening the roof door as Rider X flew off, it had been because he had been so eager to finally meet Kiritsugu Emiya only to be stopped. But on that note, the women interfering with his goals rankled something inside him.
The homunculus had been far too brazen in attacking him. No intelligent Master would throw themselves at danger without any reason like that. And her appearance was so frail. So delicate. Based on his research, Kirei theorized she was most likely meant to be the recipient for the Holy Grail. That meant she certainly shouldn't be anywhere near a battlefield.
And the Seals on her hands… They had looked pretty worn, even nearly rubbed off on some spots. Kirei hadn't gotten a closer look, but he doubted that she would've spent her greatest weapons so quickly in the War. Which meant they were fakes. And in that case… Kiritsugu Emiya really was the true Master of Saber and Assassin X. The woman had no reason to fight him.
So why had she? Why had she shown such resolve in standing against him? Why had the woman persisted in fighting him even though he'd proven that she wasn't quite in his league, even with her weird tricks? Why had they defended that man so strongly?
Did he order them to defend him? Or had they acted of their own accord? Kirei frowned in puzzlement as he walked quietly through the church to his study. Was it out of excitement, like Rider X might? No… It was truly for his sake. But… that can't be. Kiritsugu Emiya is an empty man. Alone, understood by no one. Like me.
Isn't he?
Just before he opened the door to his study, he imagined a scene of him and that man standing before each other, having finally met face-to-face. Words had yet to be spoken, but both seemed to be bracing themselves for battle.
Then Kirei saw himself flickering away and Rider X standing in his place while the image of Kiritsugu Emiya was replaced by another of that robotic race. Tall, with red, silver and blue armor, radiating a presence that seemed to command respect and yet scorn from him.
The beings traded glares before breaking into a charge at one another, weapons deployed. Just before they clashed, the unknown being faded back into Kiritsugu Emiya and Rider X into Kirei.
What did it mean? Was he fated to fight that man? Why did his blood surge at the prospect?
Questions for which Kirei Kotomine would find no answers tonight.
Gilgamesh sauntered through the halls of the Tohsaka residence with a glass of wine in his hand and an amused smirk on his face. He'd been stepped out earlier for some entertainment; much as it tickled him to see some fresh tension between Tokiomi and Lancer X, the latter's agitated pacing quickly grew tedious to watch.
The performance in the forest to the west, on the other hand, now that had been quite a show. The duel between Casters at first, with tiny lives in the balance, then the intrusion of more Servants to put that deranged mongrel out of his misery, the black dogs' interference,, even the skirmishes on the side, between the peacock and the gutter rat, Kirei against the rat's tools…
A certain blonde shining among the rest. She could prove to be interesting, and not just because of her sword.
Archer had witnessed it all from high above, atop the only vessel worthy of carrying him. The distance had been so great none could've known he'd been present. And that was as it should have been. The king standing above all.
Truth be told, he had considered loosing a few of his treasures to eviscerate the little ones and the doubles of that masked cur. Basking in their despair as their efforts had all been for nothing would've been a treat. But then his vastly inferior counterpart had made a ruckus, and watching her get tossed around by the drunken dog with his amusing weapon had caught his attention.
Archer made a mental note to check through his Gate to see if he had anything like that sword-scythe hybrid…
But back to the battle, he remembered laughing at how those mongrels had pooled their efforts together into catching Caster, and then they still failed to kill him. All thanks to an otherworldly dog.
Watching Rider X tussle with the mad dog had certainly been a delicious treat. That brute of metal and malice believing himself cleverer than he is… He thinks himself capable of rising above his station. He thinks himself capable of surpassing me!
The King of Heroes gave a haughty scoff, swirling his wine. He had noticed the Servant's traveling about the city, how each move he made had been to map the area, probe his enemies, learn more about the Grail War. Archer might've considered it impressive if it hadn't been so pitiful. Yet he had still humored him. If he wished to test his might against the king of this world, so be it. Playing around with Kirei had been amusing for both, after all.
And he knew that once the board had been cleared of the excess pieces, that intruder into his garden would attempt to challenge him for it. Rider X's ambition was so palpable, it baffled Archer that Tokiomi thought he could control him. Another miscalculation of that fool.
Go ahead, upstart. Gilgamesh sipped from his glass. Gather your pieces. Make your plans. Try to match me if you can. No matter what you do, I will show you the power of the king.
Further away, Rider X soared through the skies of Fuyuki City. Though he didn't know for sure what was on his Master's mind, he could guess from the human's expression while riding him and his departure. He's like a child in his own way. Pure, uncomprehending. Waiting for someone to show him guidance.
He flew into the Shinto district before returning to robot form on a tall tower. One of the benefits to the Skill The Path to Glory was an emulation of the Independent Action Archers enjoyed. It allowed him to enjoy a great deal of freedom so far. And with his rank, he could last an entire week even if he'd truly severed his contract with Kirei. Not that Tohsaka knew of this. Rider X wouldn't want him to worry.
The Servant of the Mount cast his gaze across the wide city, noticing how a few of those frail insects scurried about even this late at night. A weak little species, just as the ones I remember. He sneered in delight. Once I've won this War, they will be the very first to fall before me.
Then he felt his mouth shift into a frown. Despite his efforts, Assassin X and Caster X had escaped his attacks. And Rider X had a feeling that he wouldn't get many more chances. The two Servants were powerful, clever, and most troubling, they seemed to have endeared themselves to their partners. Saber and Berserker would never stand idly by if he chose to strike again. And much as he enjoyed clashing with them, the time was still too early.
But it was coming. Megatron could taste it. And his fated battle with the King of Conquerors… his sharp teeth shifted into a bestial grin. That would be the most delightful treat of all. It took all of his willpower not to charge for the house that little mouse of a Master had huddled away and challenge Rider.
But no, Rider X told himself. Not yet. His rival had powerful allies by his side. So, he would have to acquire allies of his own.
And that was the main goal to which he'd succeeded in tonight. Caster had fled with his life only thanks to Rider X. Even a lunatic can prove a tremendous asset in war. And the seeds of doubt he'd laid in Archer X's mind, culminated with her experiences tonight that he didn't even have a part in, meant that another potential asset would reveal itself soon.
And his dear Master, so fixated on Kiritsugu Emiya… That was a particular project of his. He would keep his word and help Kirei open his eyes to his true nature, and he would ensure that the man would repay him for his services.
The Einzbern woman was another prize. Rider X had noticed while overflying the woods that she'd been injured, but she'd likely survive. He'd be sure to have the Hassans keep an eye on her. She was bound to play the ultimate part in this Holy Grail, judging by what his informant had told him.
The memory of that particular meeting and the fruit it bore drew a dark chuckle from the galactic conqueror. Such a vile individual… it's rather endearing. Another pawn in his game.
And with Gilgamesh, the legendary first hero of this world, as his final opponent…
This, Megatron knew, was going to be fun.
Yup, Kiri, Iri and Maiya have learned some jutsu. Another idea of mine to spice up this crossover. Rest assured, though, I've given this a great deal of thought. It's delicate work concerning the chakra-od situation. And don't expect any high-level techniques from those three, either, there isn't much time for Kakashi to train them after all. A War's going on. So, it's just the basics they can do now, wall-running, clones, substitution, that kind of stuff. No nature transformation, complicated genjutsu or massive ninjutsu. Basically, parlor tricks that can still be quite deadly if used right. And Kiritsugu's the kind of guy who'd come up with a few sneaky applications.
And if any nitpickers are unhappy with this idea, well, I hereby invoke "Screw the rules, I'm the one writing this thing". Kakashi is teaching them jutsu, it's an integral part of my story, deal with it. I'm not backing down on this.
Oh, and just to clarify, Gilgamesh and Megatron aren't really in an alliance. Rather, it's like they're opponents in a game. The Grail War is the board, the other participants, Master and Servant alike, are the pieces, and those two are the players. Megs has challenged Gil, and Gil is happy to play. Toying with Kirei was a little fun for both of them, but there is more to come. Hope you guys get my drift here.
Archer X-
Class: Archer (technically Gunner)
Master: Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald
True Name: Agent Texas
Titles: Director's Ace, Tex, A Bit of a Badass
Sex: Female
Source: Red vs. Blue
Region: Project Freelancer
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Strength: A
Endurance: B
Agility: B
Mana: D
Luck: E
NP: B
Class Skills-
Magic Resistance: Grants protection against magical effects.
-: Archer X has not even a token measure of this Skill due to coming from a universe where no magic exists, only advanced science.
Independent Action: The ability to remain independent even when rejecting the mana supply from the Master.
B: Archer X has always been fiercely independent, preferring to rely on her own skills rather than depend on someone else to help her. She can last two days in the world without a Master, provided she does not overexert herself.
Riding: The capacity to ride vehicles and animals.
B: Archer X can ride most mounts or vehicles up to and including a military tank, regardless if it is land-, sea-, or air-based. However, she is incapable of handling Phantasmal Beasts.
Presence Concealment: The capacity to hide one's presence as a Servant.
C: Archer X has state-of-the-art cloaking technology, allowing her to follow and attacks other Servants while invisible. It only shields her from sight and sense by mana, though; even with specific training to make as minimal sound as possible, she can still be detected by sharp enough other senses.
Personal Skills-
Berserk: Is a composite Skill of Valor and Mad Enhancement. Grants the user the ability to negate mental interference such as pressure, confusion and fascination. It also has the bonus effect of increasing melee damage.
C: Even with the versatility of Weapons of War, Archer X prefers to get up close and personal with her opponents. She displays considerable physical might, brutal hand-to-hand combat abilities, and a savage streak at times. A fearsome individual at all ranges.
Engineer: A Skill for creating, repairing and using advanced modern technology.
B: Archer X has experience with fields such as bomb construction and digital programming. She cannot construct highly advanced machines out of thin air, but she can work complicated machinery with ease.
Subversive Activities: Is the talent to reduce the enemy forces in the preliminary stages before going into battle. An expert of traps. However, the higher the ranking of this Skill, the more one's spiritual status as a hero declines.
B: Archer X may tend to dominate others in hand-to-hand combat, but she has a fine grasp of pre-battle preparations and a pragmatic mindset. Should she have sufficient time, she will hide traps and weapon among the battlefield, allowing her to disable roughly 30% of an enemy's force before proper confrontation.
Noble Phantasms-
Weapons of War: "Only the Best for Freelancer's Best":E~C+ (Anti-Unit): Archer X can channel her mana to create the firearms she wielded often in life. Far superior to Projection magic, these weapons' ranks vary based on their design: for example, handguns and grenades qualify as E-rank Noble Phantasms, sniper rifles, semiautomatics and stronger explosives D-rank, rocket launchers and miniguns C-rank. Though the ammunition magazines are not bottomless, she can manifest more to quickly reload. Displaying excellent proficiency with her entire arsenal, Archer X can neutralize enemy Servants from a distance, though she also has E-rank combat knives to augment her ferocity in close combat. Weapons of War can also be separate from her for a brief period of time, allowing her to hide them and surprise enemies at a later point. The maximum limit they can be separate from their source is five minutes. However, her relatively low mana supply limits how many weapons may exist.
?: A (Anti-Army)