Chapter 15: Dark and Light
-84:19:17
In reality, only a little over ten minutes had passed since the start of the battle at the Mion River, but it had since changed in form and tension such that one mightn't have recognized it. The limbs of the Gigantic Horror swept through the air, its flesh bubbling and raging all along its body. Its progenitor, Gilles de Rais, had directed all of his deranged fury and empowerment from the Command Seal into this mass of appendages and atrocities. Zouken Matou had deliberately chosen a simple command: "Crush all of your enemies with all of your power."
Revitalized by these words, the Horror had recovered from much of its burnings and other injuries, and a brief lapse in the defenders' assault had left nothing in its way to press its advance to the shore. Berserker X had returned to the fray shortly after convening with his partners, but even with his natural counterability to the beast's nature, he could only hack away at so much flesh at a time. Moreover, Rider and Saber X had broken off their own efforts and were heading back for the opposite coast.
Their point of destination was where a different battle of lesser size but equal ferocity was taking place. Saber and Lancer continued to clash with Avenger X in a flurry of slashes, thrusts and lunges of such speed and power lesser beings couldn't have hoped to keep track of, let alone replicate. The most recent arrival somersaulted over a low swing from Saber, forcing her to dodge the crimson plasma blade that hurtled dangerously close past her. He touched the ground and slashed with one blade to stop Lancer's advance while twisting his grip on Crimson Dawnso the other could divert a thrust from Gáe Daerg. The clash of Noble Phantasms lasted for only a second before the King of Knights' Mana Burst-enhanced strike sent Avenger X skidding backwards. The Sith growled something unintelligible before engaging the knights again, his body illuminated red like blood.
Meanwhile at where the Gigantic Horror would soon land, Lancer X and Caster X battled alongside their Masters nearly three dozen smaller versions of what was approaching them. Edenian Sojourner Staff and Glamdringwere flashes of green and blue tearing through despicable flesh that had no time to heal as succeeding enchantments sundered the wounds further. An invisible barrier of mana surrounded Tokiomi Tohsaka that burned any tentacle that made contact with it, then flames erupted from the jewel atop the magus' cane that turned up the heat even more. Even Kariya Matou contributed to this fight with a buzzing swarm of Blade Wing Worms that found a feast of mana in the regenerating Horrors. However, that group was too preoccupied with stopping these smaller creatures to aid in finishing the big one.
Even high among the clouds above, conflict raged. The Vimana gracefully twirled away from the energy blasts Rider X launched in his Alt-Mode Starship. The silver aircraft then dived to evade a collision from Berserker's F-15. "Rrrrrrr!" emanated from the blackened jet as it went low as well and prepped its M61 Vulcan. Rider X was forced to engage in zig-zag maneuvers from the pitch-black 20mm. bullets piercing the night sky. Ducking amidst the darker clouds did little; it seemed the black knight's madness did little to hinder an uncanny accuracy. From a higher altitude, Archer summoned more golden weapons to rain down upon both, but they were blasted to pieces by rapid fire, violet or black.
Kiritsugu Emiya kept track of all these developments as well as he could while standing on the brow of his ship, phone to his ear. "The situation grows more complicated with each passing second."
"Archer X seems to have nearly regained an optimal sniping position," Maiya practically confirmed his assessment over the line. "She's going to continue taking shots at the allied Servants any second now."
That complication, at least, Kiritsugu had an idea for. "Assassin X tells me he's almost back in shape thanks to Iri. He's been able to handle her before, that should keep her off the rest." He headed for the steering wheel while continuing to talk. "Tokiomi Tohsaka and Kariya Matou are preoccupied, and Waver Velvet has stayed by Rider's side since the beginning of this debacle, but what about Sola-Ui Sophia-Ri Nuada-Re?"
"Still keeping her distance, most likely because Lancer instructed her. But she's just close enough that her healing magecraft can reach him." A sliver of caution traveled into the woman's next words. "No sign of Kirei Kotomine, yet. I'm about to summon one of the pack and see if he can pick him out, he has to be close by."
"Keep your guard up," Kiritsugu warned her. "You know best just how dangerous he is." His thoughts briefly shifted to the discussion he and Assassin X had this morning. "Act as we've discussed if you get a bead on him."
"Right." Maiya agreed before shifting the conversation to the more immediate threat. After all, Kiritsugu being the last Master standing meant nothing if Caster's pet turned Fuyuki City into a wasteland. "So, how do we destroy this monster for good?"
"By hitting it with one single blow so powerful that every last trace of it is eradicated." Kiritsugu weighed the options. "Berserker X might be able to unleash such an attack if he used all his might, but I'm not sure he has the inclination for that."
"What about the special jutsu Assassin X used?"
"I've already discussed it with him, and he said that even with Iri restoring his mana, he'd collapse if he were to use Kamui on his own one more time tonight. I could strengthen him with a Command Seal, but Kamui is only an Anti-Unit Noble Phantasm, anyway. It's not powerful enough to eradicate the creature entirely, hence his targeting Caster within earlier."
Kiritsugu sighed to himself; this left him with only one surefire alternative. "What we need is an Anti-Fortress class, which Saber possesses. But she can't use it right now due to Lancer's curse." He weighed the options: Lancer was currently locked in battle with Avenger X, but if he were to be eliminated, Saber would still remain to handle the newcomer. And she could certainly defeat him, judging by how she fended off his energy weapon's attacks and shrugged off that strange telekinesis.
…But if Saber were too focused on Avenger X, she could miss a crucial second to destroy Caster with her Noble Phantasm. Besides, she was too damnably honorable to cut down Lancer from behind. Especially when they had a mutual enemy. A Command Seal could make her comply, but if she were to struggle against it, it could provide Avenger X with an opening.
Then again, that golden spear of Lancer's was really all that needed to go for Saber's injury to be healed…
The Mage Killer's eyes then picked up on a certain chariot heading for the shore.
A crouching Assassin X rolled his shoulders before springing to his feet. "Many thanks, Irisviel," he sighed in relief as he felt fresh Magical Energy flow through him, "I'm almost back to full strength again."
The wife of his Master however maintained the white glow around him even while rising as well, concern etched across her face. "Almost, Assassin X, but not quite," she countered. "Please sit down again, I need more time to treat you." Never before had Irisviel seen this Servant so fatigued as when Saber had carried him to her. That dimension-warping jutsu of his had taxed his body and energy so thoroughly after only two uses, and that wasn't accounting for his hefty contributions in the earlier onslaught on Caster's Horror.
But the shinobi shook his head. "That's probably time we can't spare." While he'd been recuperating, the battlefield had grown even more chaotic, and the others needed every bit of help they could get.
Granted, his ability to provide aid was limited: the limitations of Kamui aside, he could only do so much to stop the gargantuan creature that was most definitely enjoying the benefits of a Command Seal right now. Racing across the river to help Caster X and Lancer X would cost too much time, and Kiritsugu would argue against him aiding powerful adversaries. Avenger X didn't scare the Copy Ninja, but his odd suffocative ability seemed to be similar to magic, so Saber and Lancer, knight-class Servants with high Magic Resistance, were better suited to deal with him. And Assassin X couldn't fly himself, so that ruled out joining the aerial battle.
But he could stop Archer X from taking any more cheap shots at his comrade. It wouldn't be long before the black-armored Servant would regain a vantage point, meaning Assassin X had to move now.
He paused in his decisions to see Irisviel's limbs trembling where she stood. And he knew it wasn't just out of worry. "Besides, you're drained from having to replenish my energy, aren't you?" Her red eyes widened in shock. "Artoria told me about your current condition," he confided to her softly, making her glance away with a guilty look. Assassin X then added a jovial note to his next words. "Well, seeing as I let my Master's wife drain herself just to heal clumsy old me, I must go and earn my keep."
A weak giggle escaped the pale woman's mouth, but the guilt inside her remained. She'd come with Saber to this battlefield in order to help the Heroic Spirits that served her husband… her friends… and she couldn't even care for them properly because of her own weakness.
"Don't look so dour, Irisviel." She snapped up to see both of Kakashi Hatake's eyes closed in that odd smile he would give. "I'm not going to die quite so easily, especially not after your help. And Saber's ten times as strong as I could ever be." He patted her shoulder. "We all still have a little bit left to give." The next second, he was gone.
The homunculus stood there shivering just a while longer, processing what she'd just heard, then Irisviel von Einzbern drew in a breath to steady herself. Now wasn't the time for self-pity. Weak or not, there was still a chance she could help tonight.
Assassin X raced up the side of the first building in his way, then he was bounding across rooftops. His Sharinganlocked onto his target: Archer X had moved roughly three hundred meters from her original position and activated her cloaking to boot, but he could see her priming her sniper rifle clearly.
Kunai twirled along his fingertips as he closed the distance step by step. There was only a handful of rooftops left between them now. Presence Concealment shrouded him, almost guaranteeing the Servant of Assassination would surprise his target.
That's when the next roof he set foot on erupted in fire and smoke.
Boom!
That sound reached Saber's ears even with the distance between them, and she took just a moment to glance towards fresh smoke rising from the rooftops. Avenger X naturally noticed this brief slip in her concentration, and if he'd had a slower opponent, his lightsaber would've cleaved off her hands. However, the Servant of the Sword parried the blow instinctively and quickly followed with a riposte that nearly sliced off his nose.
'…Well, that was a little loud. You may have to speak up in the future, my ear drums are ringing like crazy.' Her partner's telepathic joke reassured Saber. He was fine. That fact helped her retain her focus. Good thing, too, because Lancer was already looking frustrated enough for the both of them, and Saber sensed it wasn't merely due to their enemy's skill.
Objectively, there was little reason for the spearman's agitation. Neither he nor Saber had sustained more than some light burns and bruises where Avenger X had kicked them. He in turn sported more damage, including a nasty gash close to his black-skinned throat that refused to be healed, courtesy of Gáe Buidhe. Cuts in his trousers revealed his legs to be not flesh and blood but metal, explaining how hard his kicks were. A strange mixture of discipline and fury allowed Avenger X to power through, but that alone wouldn't guarantee his victory. And whatever strange magic he tried to invoke by gesturing didn't seem to work. And no more sniping was coming from Archer X; Kakashi was likely keeping her busy. The odds were slowly shifting in their favor.
Avenger X forced them back with a sweeping slash of his weapon before slamming his left palm against the ground and channeling The Force through his fingers. Cracks spread through the earth as it promptly collapsed, unsettling the off-balance stances of both Servants further.
The Zabrak Heroic Spirit smirked cruelly; he had learned during the battle that their Magic Resistance seemed to interpret The Force as a form of Thaumaturgy and defended them appropriately. He'd tried pushing, pulling and strangling them as he had countless beings across the galaxy, all to no avail. However, indirect use appeared to be a different story. The fallen Sith leaped high into the air and stabbed downwards towards Lancer's torso. He was the more unbalanced physically and mentally of the two, and his spears had proven a nuisance. The female would follow shortly.
However, Avenger X had been so invested in his killing blow he failed to notice a crow swooping in from behind.
Only at the last second did he register the curved steel heading for his back. He twisted in midair to deflect the scythe with his lightsaber, but the disruption of his concentration, along with a black sole colliding hard with his cheek, sent him tumbling along the side of the hole he'd made.
Saber and Lancer leaped out of said hole just as Saber X landed in human form next to them. He thumbed behind him and spoke before either could. "Rider's got something in mind. I'll keep Hornhead busy while he fills you in." With that said, he charged for the crouching (and quite peeved) Avenger X, readying Harbinger for another swing.
"Hold on, Saber X," his female counterpart called after him, "what are-" then a familiar crack of thunder cut her off. She stared up in surprise at her fellow monarch. "Rider, what are you and Saber X doing here? You're supposed to be keeping Caster away from the shore! Our allies are already stretched thin enough."
"I know, Saber," the King of Conquerors replied while steering his chariot down for a landing. "But we cannot accomplish much in this current state. I've already spoken with my comrades, and they agree that at this rate, the best we can hope for is a stalemate."
The King of Knights barely noticed Irisviel running up to behind her, so much of her attention was to this argument. "But if we do nothing, that monster will destroy the city-"
"Which is why we need to change the nature of this battle." Saber paused at how serious those red eyes gazed now. It reminded her of the prior night, when he'd challenged her beliefs so passionately.
"Listen, all of you," Rider commanded, and Saber and Lancer did so. "Regardless of how we proceed afterwards with the rest, Caster and his monstrosity remains the greatest threat present. But at the same time, Megatron and the other rogues will continue to disrupt our efforts. So, I'm going to pull that thing into Ionioi Hetairoi for now. But seeing as even my finest troops are likely not going to be enough, I will also be taking Kenpachi along."
Comprehension flickered in the knights' expressions, prompting a nod from Iskandar as he continued. "With Mithrandir engaged in his own confrontation, Kenpachi is the only one among us who can inflict lasting damage against the creature. And within my Reality Marble, he won't be bothered by sneak attacks or about having solid ground beneath his feet as he would out here." He gave a smile not dissimilar from that of the fight-loving Servant. "He's still battling it now same as before, but he looks forward to these changes. Right now, locking the two up together is our best course of action."
Lancer turned towards the water as another set of tentacles flew through the air accompanied by maniacal laughter. The foreign Servant of Madness was certainly the best suited for this kind of mission. "Sounds good," he admitted, "but can Berserker X finish this fight in time?"
"We're not sure," Rider admitted, drawing a gulp from his Master. "I'll be able to contain those two for a few minutes at best while they rampage. And even Kenpachi confessed his uncertainty he can destroy something so massive in an instant. While we're gone, the rest of you Heroic Spirits should deal with the remaining enemies and devise a backup plan should we fail to kill it before we return. Qrow has decided he'd be of better help staying here and providing you aid." The sounds of his friend's duel rippled over to them. He then stepped off his chariot and picked up its other passenger. "You will do the same, boy."
"H-hey!" Waver yelped as he was hoisted by the back of his shirt up to face level. He hadn't said anything during his Servants' strategizing, a fact that shamed him slightly, but he couldn't deny Rider and Berserker X's current plan was the best they had right now.
So, he focused despite his wounded pride on the King's words. "Once I've activated the Bounded Field, Kenpachi and I will have no way of knowing what's happening outside. You have Qrow here to help you, boy, but if things grow dire, concentrate and call on me. I will then send you a courier."
Waver calmed himself and nodded with fresh confidence to these instructions. Maybe there was still a way he could contribute after all. Rider returned the nod before smiling over to the two Servants standing by his mount. "Saber, Lancer," he raised his voice a bit, "Qrow, we leave this battlefield to you."
"…Very well."/"…Fine." Qrow simply flashed a thumbs up without looking before shifting his weapon to sword form in order to block a slash. Saber in turn relayed Rider's plan to Assassin X and their Master, they in turn coming to the same conclusion she had. The King of Conquerors was taking a gamble here, hoping that he could keep the two monsters inside his Reality Marble long enough for Berserker X to kill Caster and his abomination. But it was currently the only plausible option available.
Therefore, Rider received no objections as he directed the Gordius Wheel into an airborne charge towards the Gigantic Horror and the sole Servant battling it.
But as Waver Velvet watched the King ride on, he pulled up his left sleeve and stared thoughtfully at the Command Seals situated on the forearm.
Neither Saber nor Lancer wasted any time in heading for the enemy closest to them. Saber X was currently locking blades with Avenger X when he fell back and spun his energy weapon around to ward off initial strikes from his returning opponents. The strength behind their blows made him skid back while his three opponents drew together. "Mind if we rejoin this effort, Saber X?" Lancer quipped while drawing back his right spear.
The Huntsman settled for aiming his shotgun. "Come one, come all."
Rider X's wings cut through the sky as he made to trail Berserker, but the weaponized F-15 simply angled itself upwards and accelerated before its enemy could aim. It spun slightly as its growling wielder directed it towards the west. Then four new missiles were ejected from its underbelly, and like their predecessors, they promptly homed in on the silver alien ship.
Megatron swerved and increased his own speed as the projectiles followed him; no matter how much he whirled or dived, they did not let up in their pursuit. An attribute the Decepticon conqueror chose to exploit. His trail had brought him ever closer to where Archer was flying, and with one more burst of speed, they were a second from collision. But with reflexes honed from millennia of aerial combat, Rider X effortlessly banked upwards in the exact moment when it got risky, leaving the missiles speeding straight for his enemy. "A gift for you, King," he taunted while flying on.
The ancient Babylonian Heroic Spirit only scoffed in disdain as golden portals illuminated the Vimana. "Your gift-giving leaves much to be desired, upstart." The missiles collided with four shields that absorbed their detonations, leaving Archer and his ride untouched. The Vimana's wings shifted slightly, and it took up pursuit after the other two.
"Your struggles are utterly pointless," Gilgamesh drawled in a disinterested tone. While this airborne game had piqued his interest at first, he'd grown bored with its repetitive nature. This couldn't be his ultimate clash with the upstart, it was far too dull. And that raging mutt with his new toy was mainly focused on attacking Megatron while barely acknowledging the King's presence, rankling his pride admittedly.
Moreover, invested though they had all been in their sky battle, none had failed to notice the sudden flash of white from below. Gilgamesh wasn't sure just what it had been, but he detected a certain sensation in it. And he had an idea where it had originated from.
The upstart was now diving back down again, and Berserker was following him like the mad dog he was. Archer did the same but at a slower pace. Better to hang back, let them kill each other, provide a little help with that needed, thus finishing this little game and leaving nothing to stop him from speaking with the apparition.
Meanwhile, the first tentacles of the Gigantic Horror had finally reached the shore. Bystanders first looked about confused at the increase in putrid mist, then backed away when the ground separating them from the river crumbled away. Screams followed quickly as the large appendages rose up for them. But they were quickly split apart while a massive gouge appeared before the terrified onlookers.
Resting his sword on his shoulder, Berserker X sneered down at them from atop a bulge of flesh. "Quit gawking and stay out of our way," he muttered before starting at a crack of thunder. "Ah, showtime…"
The Gordius Wheel sailed past him just enough for Rider to exchange a broad smile with him. Then the Servant of the Mount furrowed his brow in concentration while navigating past the many tentacles reaching up for him.
Avenger X was the first of Caster's "allies" to sense the surge in mana around Rider, but he was too far away and too busy just staying alive to intervene. Archer X noticed it a second later and immediately peered through her rifle's scope to get a bead on the glowing loudmouth. But as he managed to line up an optimal headshot, two kunai hurtled out of nowhere and impacted against the rifle barrel, knocking her shot wide. "Assassin X, you asshole!" She snarled at the clearing smoke from her motion-sensitive bomb that went off earlier.
Rider X shot out of the sky and immediately grew alert at the hot winds swirling around Caster's spawn. His dogfight opponents hadn't recognized what was about to happen yet, Archer being the farthest away and Berserker's thoughts too great in disarray. It took no great deductive skills to recognize what Rider was planning, especially when Berserker X could be made out among the winds as well. That creature was a weapon of mass destruction, a crucial element to this battle. Megatron had no intention of letting it be whisked away so easily.
So, he gunned his thrusters even more and plotted a course for Rider's chariot. "Diving headfirst into that pile of filth, mongrels? How accommodating of you!" Rider X barely noticed Archer's juvenile taunt, fixed on decelerating to turn and aim his blasters at his rival. Not how he'd envisioned their confrontation, but-
"Grrr!" Suddenly, Rider X was spiraling about far off course, and he could barely make out a large black shape nearby. Unlike him, Berserker had chosen to maintain his speed. His jet's wing thereby clipped the smaller aircraft while passing by, and while the glancing blow couldn't cause actual damage, it was still enough to disrupt Rider X's flight.
The Cybertronian cursed as he regained control of his tumbling, but then a collection of multi-colored armaments rained down around him, forcing him to concentrate on evasive flying. "Ignoring me, upstart?" Archer shouted down. "I grow tired of your audacities!" He tapped a finger against the Vimana's throne, the vessel streaking down towards Rider X.
But instead of trying fly away, the metallic familiar shifted back into his robot form and spun towards him. "And I grow tired of this dance, Archer!" Megatron roared as he deployed his arm blade. Eyes widening, the King tried to evade, but the whirling sharp steel cut off part of the Vimana's right wing, disrupting its graceful flight. Then with lightning speed, Rider X returned to his aerial form and peppered Archer's ride with a flurry of energy bolts. It blew apart amidst a mess of sparks and fumes.
The silver Starship roared through the clouds where its enemy had once been, the Servant snorting derisively. He doubted Archer would perish so easily, but he'd still enjoy this minor victory over the lazy, pompous King. "The skies hold no place for tourists."
His amusement faded quickly, however, upon realizing this endeavor had cost precious time. Ergo, no Servant interfered with Iskandar's calling upon Ionioi Hetairoi once again. One second, the Gigantic Horror was in the Mion River a step away from reaching solid ground, the next, it, Rider and Berserker X were gone in a great flash of mana.
Berserker had opened all of his plane's flaps while trying to pull the nose up, and the Horror disappeared just before he would've crashed into it, allowing him to skim the river's surface smoothly. Fierce winds swept along the shore as he passed, making even the quartet of battling Servants there brace themselves.
By chance, an already tense Saber looked up to see the passing fighter jet… and the fiery visor tilted towards her. Her heart skipped a beat as a familiar snarl emanated through the air.
"Arrr… uuurrrrr…" Metal warped and creaked under the crushing grip of Berserker's gauntlets. The King was down there, she'd seen him, she'd recognized him! He was sure of it! He had to face her now…
…But he hesitated. The old man had asked him, not ordered but asked him, to focus on the greater threats in front of them. Archer X the scoundrel, the insane Caster, that metal fiend of a Rider… and Berserker had given the old man his word. The word of a disgraced knight was worth nearly nothing… but it still had some worth. Especially when given to a friend.
His misshapen teeth grounded against each other underneath his helmet. "Uuurrr…" Conflict boiled inside of the knight's armor even as he made his mount regain some altitude; his wrath at the King or his promise to the old man? What mattered more to him? What should he do?
Then a flurry of energy bolts from in front of him settled the current matter. Archer was out of the game, leaving a now quite agitated Rider X free to circle around and head back for the demented, frenzied lunatic in armor who had interfered with his dealings one too many times now. "I'll send you back to your precious wizard in PIECES!" He roared in tune with his Starship's engines and blasters. Megatron was irked, and he needed to lay some hate.
Sir Lancelot for his part felt a sliver of relief even while he howled back in fury, the F-15's guns revving up. This made his immediate decision so much easier.
The other Berserker drew in a big breath of air warmer and drier than one he'd taken only seconds ago and released it from his grinning mouth. The hot sands beneath his sandals, the periodic gusts of wind, the plains stretching wide in every direction, leaving no place to hide… "Gotta admit," he chuckled, "I was kinda hoping to see this place again."
"Aye," Rider beamed in pride next to him. "This view will never grow old to me either…" This Noble Phantasm wasn't just his most powerful weapon or a symbolization of how a King should live in the eyes of the King of Conquerors… It also represented the happiest time of his life. The time he had led his treasured followers in pursuit of his dream.
Of course, the colossal slimy creature before them was putting a bit of a damper on the experience. But neither Servant let himself be bothered by it. They were here to get rid of it, after all.
A multitude of footfalls sounded behind them. Neither bothered looking behind to confirm every last one of Iskandar's troops had arrived. Some adjusted their grips on their spears and shields, others ground their heels, but not a single one cowered in the presence of the Gigantic Horror. It didn't matter that none had ever seen such a perverted image, such a colossal aberration of nature before. Their King had called them to arms, and they would always answer that call, as sure as the sea was wet or the sun rose.
Still, it was Kenpachi Zaraki who took the first steps forward. This time, Rider and the soldiers of Ionioi Hetairoi were the backup. Some among the King of Conquerors' army were slightly irked about this. A foreigner to their world, taking the initiative which should rightfully be their King's?
Berserker X gave no sign that he'd noticed those small traces of animosity behind him. His attention was solely on the thing created by the Servant who'd been called into this world alongside him. His eye glinted with bloodlust as he began to raise his nodachi-
Before a strange feeling coursing through his body made him stop. It was a wave of fresh energy, but also… confining in some way. Like he was going to get special power, but only if he followed certain rules. Kenpachi didn't like that kind of feeling, and after a second of contemplating, he realized what it was: a Command Seal. That twerp of a Master was using one of his Seals on him.
Irritation rippled through the Servant. Was the boy trying to make him fight? He sure as hell didn't need anybody telling him to do that, it was what he lived for. Or was he being told to fight a certain way? Fuck that, he fought the way hewanted to fight, nobody could take that from him! Just when he was starting to like that little shithead, he'd gone and-
Then words echoed inside his head, no, his spirit core. "By the power of my Command Seal, Berserker X," the kid's command paused there for a moment, long enough for Berserker X to wonder what he'd been ordered. Then it continued. "…use as much power as you deem fit."
Berserker X stood there for a moment, just blinking at what he'd been ordered. Rider eyed him in confusion and some concern even as he swung onto Bucephalus' saddle. The Horror's limbs were moving again, a sign that it had caught up with the sudden change of scenery. Meaning the time for battle was now. "Are you feeling well, Kenpachi?" Iskandar asked him while ushering his steed to his friend's side.
Then that smile curled along the swordsman's lips. "…Oh, yeah." He glanced up towards his current partner. "The twerp's turning out to be my kind of Master." Kenpachi Zaraki wasn't much of a thinker, a trait he himself acknowledged, but the meaning behind how Waver had phrased his command hadn't escaped him. He had invoked a Command Seal that still granted his Servant the freedom to decide how much power he should use.
Well, looks like it was time for Berserker X to prove himself. In the most fun way possible. "Tell your boys not to get in my way, Kandy Bar." Those soldiers within hearing range grew affronted at the misnaming of their King, but Iskandar himself paid it no mind. The nickname was a token of his friendship with Qrow Branwen and Kenpachi Zaraki, after all.
Besides, he was more interested in watching his comrade's left fingers wrap around his eyepatch. "I tend to not pay attention while I'm on a rampage."
Gilles de Rais was ad interim befuddled; more than usual. Just when he had been reveling in a rush of newfound energy in the wake of that deceitful creature's assault, he and his beloved creation felt an odd shift in the world around them. One second, his creation was raging through blissfully cool night air, the next, its fleshy senses reported they were surrounded by excessive heat and brightness. Caster deemed this yet another trick of that thrice-damned priest or one of his followers and was spurring on his darling to rampage until this madness ended…
When a new sensation rippled through the layers to him. New, and yet frighteningly familiar to the Demon Marshall. He'd already experienced this before, on the night he had been summoned. A raging torrent of bloodlust… only far, far greater in magnitude now.
The assembled warriors of Ionioi Hetairoi now watched with increased wariness at what stood before them. Berserker X's body blazed with mana the second his Noble Phantasm was separated from his flesh. A golden pillar of energy surged from him towards the blue sky like a volcano releasing lava. This wasn't simply a brief flare like when he had demonstrated his Eyepatch Seal's effect during the banquet. This was the true power of the Heroic Spirit Kenpachi Zaraki… and a little more. A Command Seal which both Master and Servant agreed to delivered even greater boons than if one party carried reluctance. Thus, he was all the more invigorated than if he'd been ordered to take off the eyepatch.
Every man present felt a shiver down his spine at the feeling washing through the air from this newcomer the King had welcomed. But the feeling stirred inside of them was not fear, not really. Rather… furor. For they all recognized the elation for battle within the power flooding from this strangely dressed man. And they were all too familiar with it.
The same was true for Iskandar, King of Conquerors. Whereas even most Servants would've experienced some trepidation at the outburst of sheer bloodlust-soaked mana from Berserker X, the yellow howling skull framed around his body, the eager grin stretched across his face… The King only laughed in delight. What an incredible man he had encountered in this Holy Grail War! What a fearsome friend he had made!
Spurred on by the excitement rushing through his own bloodstream and Bucephalus stomping his hooves with vigorous snorts, he raised the Sword of the Kupriotes high and addressed his dear followers. "Gathered friends, stand tall and lend me your ears! The man who stands next to me is Kenpachi Zaraki, a fresh comrade of mine, a warrior whose passion for battle is without equal! Now he stands on our side against this foul beast I have brought here for execution!" Rider pointed the sword's tip towards the Gigantic Horror, his stance unwavering. "Our new friend tells me that you should all heed yourselves, lest he kill you by accident!" A good-humored laugh echoed from his belly. "We cannot let a challenge like this go unanswered, can we?" The King allowed a collective "NO" to sweep over him and his "guests" before finishing his speech. "I thought not! Let us show him just how resilient the greatest army this world shall ever know truly is!"
The masses unleashed a fearless cheer at these words, the Charisma of their King stoking their fires into a great blaze. Whatever prejudices existed towards this newcomer were incinerated. The King had acknowledged him as a comrade, so they would do the same.
Berserker X for his part just chuckled to himself at all the cheers. "You guys are all so noisy…" But if he was honest with himself, it felt nostalgic. Like back when he'd led Squad Eleven. Most of the time, all that fawning from his subordinates annoyed him. But when a big fight was about to happen, and he could taste the excitement from the other men… Like right now…
Damn if it wasn't a good feeling. And he'd be lying if he claimed Kandy's words just now weren't firing him up too.
"Okay, Caster…" The 11th Kenpachi slowly cracked his neck from side, excitement and mana rippling throughout every fiber of his body. Then he bounded forward in a massive geyser of sand, behind him, Rider spurring his steed and his army onwards.
"READY OR NOT, HERE WE ARE!"
Waver heaved out an exhausted breath as part of the Command Seal he carried faded away. He could tell its invocation had been successful even despite Berserker X now being inside a Reality Marble. And judging by how his Magic Circuits were already beginning to feel sore, Berserker X had grasped the intent behind his Command. Sure, it raised the chances of Caster being done for, but oh dear Lord, Waver knew he is in for a sore night.
Still, that was all part of a Master's duties. And the boy hadn't lowered his left arm yet. Instead, he was eyeing the other set of Command Seals there, the one with gears and a wing. He spared a glance at the demon-like Servant currently fending off three Servants at once, the one the homunculus next to him had dubbed "Avenger X," before making his next decision.
"By the power of my Command Seal, Saber X," the Seals on Waver Velvet's left hand flared red, "Defeat Avenger X."
Qrow Branwen grunted as one of those plasma blades crackled against his Aura, then a wave of fresh strength surged through him. He smiled upon registering the Command and slashed swiftly around the red bastard's defense with his scythe, dealing a nasty cut to his left shoulder. "With pleasure, pipsqueak."
Avenger X could only scowl at the increased vigor behind the red-eyed Servant's attacks.
Tokiomi glared in disgust at the tentacle striking his barrier. The appendage certainly had mass on its side, but there was no greater magical finesse behind its movements. Merely a large lump of demonic energy solidified. This was not the sort of magical duel a man like him could appreciate, so he was not in any mood to waste time watching it try to shatter his defenses.
The Tohsaka Master twirled his cane in a practiced manner, its gem glowing red-hot. "Intensive Einäscherung." Flames wafted from his Mystic Code before enveloping the Horror that had dared to attack him. It thrashed about in obvious pain, but its natural vulnerability to fire would mean it'd be ashes in a minute or so.
Tokiomi had no interest of waiting that long, so he pointed his cane's crown at his target and twisted it clockwise. His Magic Circuits crackled as the fire tripled in size, roasting the disgusting creature to a few specks scattered by the evening breeze. Next to him, Lancer X paused in battering another Horror to give him a look. "Feeling better?" she asked.
Her Master wore a cold frown, nearly a scowl if not for his self-control, while searching the dwindling enemies for his next target. "No."
His Servant nodded curtly before lashing her verdant-charged Staff hard enough to utterly rupture the Horror before her. The one behind it was shredded to atoms by Promise Keeper. "Neither do I."
Further away among the shadows of another rooftop, Kotomine Kirei retracted his Black Keys again. Between Lancer X's presence and his own thaumaturgical prowess, sir Tokiomi was certainly not in any real danger, not from those unholy beasts. And even the enemy Master was directing… less murderous intent towards him, no doubt thanks to Caster X.
He'd arrived at the scene just in time to witness Rider X and Archer X announcing their presence in this battle, but the priest had chosen this particular spot only a while ago to monitor the confrontation between his teacher and Kariya Matou. As Tokiomi's student, it was his duty to provide him aid should he need it. And he certainly wasn't going to put his own interests ahead of his responsibilities.
That was something Gilgamesh or Megatron would do.
Kirei had therefore watched with Reinforced eyes how one Master had approached the other, each still having their otherworldly Servant by their side. The latter two notengaging in battle perplexed him a little, but Caster X's spell prevented him from overhearing the subsequent argument between them. And though the Executor's pursuit for joy in his life had resulted in a quite diverse set of skills, lip reading was not among them. The best he could do to follow along was watch their body language.
At first, it had appeared as though whatever discussion Tokiomi was having with Matou would devolve into a fight. Kirei wasn't sure if he could break through the Bounded Field of a Servant, let alone one of Caster X's caliber, but he'd readied himself nonetheless. Lancer X would've surely been a match for the wizard, allowing him to kill Kariya. Assuming Tokiomi needed Kirei for that.
But then an intervention of the wizard had cooled things down again, and the talks had continued. Kirei found himself wondering just what Tokiomi had said that would make Heroic Spirits like Jade or Gandalf the Gray appear so horrified. And Kariya had nearly fallen to pieces. Seeing the broken man like that had stirred something in Kirei that unsettled him.
That something only grew when Kariya somehow turned the tables with a few gestures and the color evaporated from Tokiomi. The utterly aghast expression on the proud magus' face, those turquoise eyes flickering with a certain flavor of pain…
Kirei had nearly resorted to punching his own face to stop that terrible smile he had felt coming. It had carried a far too familiar taste, especially with the words of those two damned Servants rattling about inside his head…
"All souls instinctively yearn for that which brings them enjoyment…"
"…entertained yourself even while wasting your time."
"…a contradiction between pain and despair and pleasure?"
"…when you called, I answered."
The ideas they had planted inside his head, the possibility that they could actually be true, that he honestly derived pleasure through watching the suffering of others… it made Kirei's soul shudder.
Caster X releasing that odd illumination had been an unexpected godsend. The priest swore he had detected a… holy essence from what could've only been a Noble Phantasm. A hallowed flame that burned away the filth inside himself, punishing his soul for listening to such sinful voices. But the shame remained and grew when he looked down at his left hand.
He could think a little more clearly now, focus on things other than the lingering vulnerability in Tokiomi's posture or the obvious pain Kariya displayed while calling upon more of those insects to assault Caster's abominations.
Kirei's gaze shifted towards the river; the largest of Caster's monsters was still gone along with Rider and Berserker X, and the purple mist that had oozed from it was beginning to clear away. This allowed him to see over on the opposite shore the heated battle between the three knight classes and the newest addition to this Grail War. How was that even possible? What kind of Servant was this being with his demonic appearance? Had Megatron somehow summoned him? …A question Kirei was going to have his Servant give an answer to, one way or another. Then again, it seemed like that one would perish soon.
Explosions and gunshots rang out on the rooftops above them, signs of a different kind of battle between Archer X and Assassin X. The noise at least distracted Kirei from fixating on the mounting agitation in Lancer's body language.
Rider X, and Berserker had taken their dogfight to a slightly lower altitude, and the skies were dotted with flashes of violet and blackened red. The Master of the silver flier was admittedly less ashamed of enjoying the obvious frustration in his movements. Or the King of Heroes' earlier crash and burn. Archer was likely fine, but that defeat ought to have stung.
All in all, every one of the Servants was busy, and aside from being on standby just in case Tokiomi did require assistance, Kirei saw little to do with the current situation. Then again, the disappearance of the Horror and the clearing of the fog still left plenty of witnesses on both shores. Old habits began to kick in despite his father's words, and the priest contemplated heading down to begin with the covering up of this massive fiasco.
He contemplated this choice, his gaze turning towards the door to the building's staircase when it caught a glimpse of a dark shape running along a rooftop across the street. He sharpened his vision again and felt his heart skip a beat; there he was!
Kiritsugu Emiya, black coat fluttering from the odd breeze, sneaking across the roof with a sniper rifle in his hands. He hadn't seemed to notice Kirei yet, his attention was clearly on the rooftop where Tokiomi and Kariya currently were battling. An attempt to eliminate the other Masters while their attention was fully diverted? As to be expected from the Mage Killer.
Kirei Kotomine was already at the edge of the roof. A quick glance between it and the one across the street told him the distance was roughly five meters, maybe six. Child's play.
The Executor took a few long steps backwards, then broke into a short sprint. His legs were already Reinforced by the time his shoes were no longer touching the roof. A second or two of rushing through the air, then he reached and rolled in a practiced motion across the next roof. All of this had proceeded with nary a whisper of sound.
Kirei rose to his full height and reassessed his position. Only a roof away from the man that had garnered his interest the most in this War, perhaps the most in his entire life. All of his thoughts about duty, his frustration with himself, his fears over what his soul truly yearned for… all that was mentally shoved away in some corner for later. He leaped up to the higher roof and pulled himself silently up, scanning the area. No sign of Assassin X, the sound of another explosion told him that Servant was still dealing with Archer X. Saber too was locked in combat, leaving no one to stop him from confronting Emiya.
The mercenary was crouching at the ledge with his back turned to Kirei, peering through his rifle's scope. Kirei began to walk towards him with instinctively quiet footsteps, surprisingly himself. Moreover, his right fingers were already curled around four Black Keys, though the blades had not yet been deployed. What am I doing? He pondered but didn't let himself stop or make any noise. Do I want to speak with Emiya or fight him? Either way, the distance between the two men was nearly gone, just a few steps-
Blam!
Kirei had barely registered Emiya's left arm whirling towards him and the handgun it was holding, but he still sidestepped the bullet aimed for his chest. The Black Keys' blades flashed in the moonlight as he slashed with them, but smoke burst from his opponent's body, blinding him. Then his blades had clanged against a thin metal pipe, and Emiya was gone.
No, not gone, as another shot rang out behind the priest. Kirei ducked and pivoted while hurling his Keys, noting how Emiya in turn sprang away from them, holding a gun in each hand. He wasn't sure how the Mage Killer had pulled off that teleportation trick, but the strange Poof! that had preceded it reminded him of the duplicates those women had created. A curious lot, with magecraft he'd never quite encountered before.
Regardless, Kirei's knees had already bent and his upper body sank into a martial stance. He closed the distance between them instantly and batted away the rifle. More Black Keys filled his hands, shredding the handgun. He could feel his mouth shifting into another smile, the adrenaline pulsing through him. Maybe he did want to fight Kiritsugu Emiya, after all.
Another Poof! right in his face, and where Emiya had been, there stood that dark-haired woman from the Hyatt and the forest. Disappointment swept through Kirei; an illusion of some kind. Kiritsugu Emiya had never been here on this rooftop, it had merely been a distraction.
But in his frustration, he almost failed to notice another presence until he heard a growl no human throat could've made. The next thing he knew, something slammed into his back and sharp teeth clamped down dangerously close to Kirei's throat. He barely bit back the cry of pain bubbling up in his throat and caught a glimpse of tan fur and narrowed dark-accentuated eyes. The hound growled again as his left paw wrapped around the man's throat in what he realized with some bemusement was the beginning of a chokehold.
Gritting his teeth, Kirei snagged hold of the small dog and pried him loose. Bending his upper body forward sent the (clothed?) mutt tumbling forward, then he kicked high with Reinforcement, catching it in the midsection. The dog disappeared with a pained yelp and a puff of smoke.
Kirei had no time to process this strange opponent he'd defeated as he was tackled from the side. Fury cold as steel adorned the woman's face as her left hand clamped down hard on his bite wound, provoking a grunt from the bigger man. Her right had moved from her jacket and was holding the handgun again. He made to stop her when he heard a rustle of paper, and tiny fires flickered around-
Kariya paused between his calling up more Crest Worms for battle when he heard a loud Boom! Then a fresh wave of pain sprouted from his bleeding cheek, and he focused on staggering away from another of those repulsive things reaching for him.
Maiya Hisau allowed herself a vindictive smirk upon receiving her Shadow Clone's memories. Nobody hurt her-Ka-Assassin X's boys (a marginally red-faced Maiya corrected herself) and got away with it.
She adjusted her grip on her Steyr, then continued drifting through Miyama Town's shadows. That operation just now ought to have worked. Kirei Kotomine had been trapped point-blank in the detonation of her clone's C-4 vest and paper bombs. If it hadn't killed him, then it certainly would've put the priest out of commission for a while.
Still, she still frowned in concern before a barely perceptible rustle made her glance up. A pair of slanted eyes stared compassionately back at her. "Don't worry about Biscuit, Maiya," Urushi assured her from his perch on a lamppost. "We hounds are tougher than we look."
Her frown became a small smile as she nodded at her light-furred companion. "Somehow, I don't doubt that at all, Urushi." The woman had already created a Shadow Clone of herself to keep an eye on the Shinto part while she handled Miyama. Following her discussion with Kiritsugu, she had summoned Urushi while her double had chosen Biscuit to track down Kirei, the latter finding the dangerous man not far from Tokiomi Tohsaka. Maiya's Clone had then used the Transformation Jutsu Assassin X had taught her to assume Kiritsugu's form; a tactic the three of them had come up with earlier today as a trap for the man most dangerous to Kiritsugu's mission.
The original Maiya now made herself relax while watching Urushi continue to sniff about. These hounds had been trained by Assassin X, she reminded herself. They were capable of more than just hunting down targets (and being super-snuggly… as Ma'am would attest to). Never thought I'd encounter actual canine ninjas in my life, she mused with some humor before sobering when the hound before her stopped. "You find her yet?"
A rumble came from those sharp teeth. "She's close." Both picked up the pace. Kirei Kotomine had been (hopefully) neutralized, but other targets remained to be dealt with.
-84:15:53
Saber suppressed an undignified grunt as a three-slash combo of blinding speed and ferocity pushed her back. Blocking the attack was little trouble, but the strength Avenger X put behind it sent tremors down her arms. She retaliated with a diagonal swing of her own blade, but he deflected it with less effort than if she'd swung normally. Even with Mana Burst, the King of Knights' cutting strength just wasn't at a hundred percent. Not for the first time, she thought to herself If only I could use my left hand…
And like all those other times, the thought passed quickly. There was no point crying over spilt milk, and she certainly wouldn't voice any complaints in her current situation. Lancer, the one who had skillfully deprived her of her left thumb, was now driving their mutual enemy back with a succession of stabs that even a warrior of his caliber couldn't fully deflect. Especially with the red spear nullifying his Noble Phantasm's edge every time its tip struck the light. Those dual plasma blades became a single whirling circle that barely protected its wielder from a slash of Saber X's scythe, then the Huntsman pulled its trigger, the shotgun blast amplifying the power to send Avenger X hurtling across the field.
He staggered back to his cybernetic feet with a growl of frustration. Indeed, even with Saber using only her right arm, the allied trio were in much better shape than their opponent. Dozens of cuts and bruises lined his body, that last swing from Saber X having made a particular large wound across his chest. Blood trickled from his black lips while he panted. Even two of his horns had been severed, the result of him misjudging Invisible Air. The Servants detected mana swelling around the Heroic Spirit of Vengeance, then most of his injuries quickly disappeared. But not those he'd suffered from Diarmuid's Gáe Buidhe.
Yet despite the injuries that simply refused to be healed, despite the three very skilled opponents before him, despite the shadow of death looming ever closer, Darth Maul did not retreat by a millimeter. There was only one being in all of the multiverse he feared, and he was not present.
Avenger X called upon The Force and leaped forward, Crimson Dawn blazing with the same intensity as his soul. He twisted past the red spear of the green knight and struck at the female's left side, putting her on the defensive. The one with the multiform blade attempted to go for his back, but the Son of Dathomir snapped out his left hand on instinct and pushed him away, dirt flying as the sword was stabbed into the ground to slow its wielder's flight.
His Master, that wretched being that had called him to this world, replenished his mana. The pain fueled his anger, and an Avenger's anger was his strength. It had been ages since Maul had been backed into a corner like this, and it made his blood boil all the more. And he retained his greatest advantage even on this world: the dark side spoke to him. It whispered in his ears, bolstered his limbs, fanned his flames. Oh, how wonderful the circumstances of this Holy Grail War were!
These fools had no idea of the "prize" that awaited them…
Qrow grunted as that plasma blade crackled against his shoulder. His Aura took the hit, but his instincts told him that he couldn't take any chances in this fight even with the bonus of a Command Seal. His sword curled into a scythe blade, but Hornhead evaded his decapitation with only a nick by his chin. A clump of rock slammed against Saber X's back, distracting him and allowing the bastard to continue pressuring his female counterpart.
Yes, Avenger X's savage appearance and brutality in combat belied a keen mind for weakness. The girl before him, she was an exemplary swordswoman, driven, swift and deceivingly strong despite her size, and the enchantment which hid her weapon from sight proved irritating even with The Force's aid. Prowess beyond most Jedi Masters. However, she couldn't move her left thumb, which diminished her sword's vigor. And he sensed an imbalance within her, an imbalance that had appeared when that black knight flew over them.
As for the male Saber, Maul was admittedly a bit envious of his weapon. Such lethal potential… and the man positively knew how to use it. Then there was that ability to transform into a black bird, making him harder to hit, or times when Avenger X's footing would slip, or he'd misjudge his swing, or other… misfortunes. Fortunately, he'd been forewarned of this power, and the other three suffered its effects as well. Not to mention, Avenger X had noticed one particular disadvantage he had compared to his allies.
Finally, there was the Lancer. His dual spears and their respective powers were an absolute nuisance. The red one's tip actually dissipated his lightsaber's blades every time they came into contact with it, though the effect luckily wasn't permanent. But even the shallowest scratches of the golden one refused to be healed, no matter how much mana Zouken Matou sent Maul. He'd avoided taking a lethal blow, but Lancer was a clever and skilled foe. They all were. At this rate, Avenger X's spirit core would be pierced sooner rather than later.
However, the green-clad knight, his deadliest opponent, was also his most vulnerable.
Further away, Irisviel von Einzbern tried to follow this intense battle the best she could. The Servants were practically blurs of movement, she needed to enhance her eyesight just to perceive their bodies. Tracking their motions was another matter. And she was otherwise trying to support the young boy on all fours beside her.
Waver Velvet could barely muster the strength to pay attention. His Magic Circuits were practically on fire. He'd doubled over about a minute ago. Every breath he took was a struggle. The Command Seals had invigorated Saber X and Berserker X, but them going all out meant more mana was needed too. Only now was he fully experiencing the cost of supporting three separate Servants (even if said cost was half that of if he'd been in a regular Grail War). But the boy still forced his head up, a feat aided by the homunculus' healing magecraft, and paid as much attention as he could. Such was his duty as a Master.
Both briefly looked up towards the city, and thankfully, there was no one looking back. The crowds had been dispersed, most likely on the other side of the river as well. Thanks to the combined work of the church and the Magus Association, there were at least no more witnesses to tonight's proceedings. Now all that was left was actually finishing off these rogue Servants. Easier said than done, both thought as they watched Lancer stumble.
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne didn't like the way those yellow eyes kept focusing on him. They just seemed to taunt him even when no words came from the mouth beneath them. But he forced himself to concentrate on deflecting that energy sword with Gáe Daerg. The longer spear and its magic-nullifying tip was an optimal counter to those blades of mana, while Gáe Buidhe's shorter length made it easier to slip through Avenger X's guard. The red and black Servant now sported seven different injuries that would not heal so long as Gáe Buidhe remained in this world. None of them fatal, but even the broadest tree would fall if you chopped at it a thousand times.
And words could not express how grateful Lancer was for the Sabers' aid in this battle. Even though they were his enemies, the King of Knights and the hunter of Branwen's name fought alongside him with excellent teamwork. He admittedly preferred one-on-one duels, but this barbaric cretin with his hateful ways deserved no such courtesy. A beast like this was to be slaughtered lest it hurt anyone else. Caster's monster was also gone, likely being eviscerated by Berserker X in Rider's Noble Phantasm at this very moment. Rider X was facing off in an aerial death match with the golden, nameless King and the mad knight that grew more heated by the moment.
In other words, as soon as Avenger X was defeated, Lancer would be free to-
Another explosion rang out, knocking his thoughts loose. He stepped out of the red blades' range to spare a quick glance upwards. An even bigger plume of smoke was wafting from the rooftops, the latest among many. The air then rippled into a series of slashes against whining points that blasted through the gray clouds. "Stop movingalready!" She yelled over the shot.
The knight's hands clutched his Noble Phantasms so tightly the spears creaked a bit. A sound that did not go unnoticed by Avenger X despite locking blades with the Sabers. "My, my…" he hissed before kicking the male one back and pulling out the ground from under the female with a gesture. "Archer X seems to have her hands full." He cackled at how the green one stiffened. "Can one Servant truly hope to stand alone against her fury?"
"Of course," Saber refuted his implication immediately while flipping to stable ground. "Assassin X is one of the cleverest and most adept men I have ever met. He can defeat her as surely as we can defeat you." There was no bravado or false talk in the young woman's words, only an unwavering confidence. She didn't doubt her comrade's abilities for a second.
Unfortunately, those words may not quite have been the right thing to say in this situation.
"Calm down." She looked over confused to Saber X, only to realize his words hadn't been directed at her.
Lancer's teeth were audibly grinding against each other. "Keep it together, Pretty Boy," Qrow reiterated while eyeing cautiously the increasing tautness of the knight's limbs.
Avenger X chuckled in a manner that made all focus on him. It was too similar to one Rider X would give. "Yes, there is no need for so tense a stance, Lancer. It is most certainly as she said." Saber rushed froward with her sword in front, but his plasma met her winds. "Assassin X can surely kill Archer X if he's lasted this long against her." Her follow-up slashes were each met with perfect timing, Avenger X seemingly unaffected by his injuries.
But she didn't let up. Maybe it was her Instinct Skill, maybe it was the way Lancer stood there trembling, but somehow, Saber just knew she had to stop Avenger X from speaking.
Too bad he was too skilled a swordsman to fall so easily by her handicapped attacks. "Ah, but Archer X perishing by Assassin X's hand is not how it is meant to be, is it?" Avenger X somersaulted over her with another laugh, crimson dancing in his wake. "She is meant to die by another's, no?"
Lancer was in front of the Servant of Vengeance even before he touched the ground. "It would be wise of you to stop talking," he bit out while slashing with both spears.
But Avenger X merely deactivated his weapon's blades for a moment, flattened against the ground until the tips whistled past, then sprang back to full height, the blades reignited. "Yes, I've heard… whispers. Archer X… she was your partner, wasn't she, Lancer?" The Celtic hero barely deflected the four-slash combo with his spears' shafts, his vision blurring. "But then she killed your Master… dishonored herself… and dishonored you as well."
The savage was forced to break off his next move; otherwise, Saber X's lunge would've taken his head off. "Didn't you get the memo about shutting up?!" Then Saber came at him from the right while Saber X moved to his left side, and the swordsmen began increasing the pressure on Avenger X. Even Irisviel and Waver could see the minute desperation in their actions.
Desperation they shared upon seeing Lancer remaining at that spot. "Lancer, don't listen to him-" Saber shouted before twisting her head away from the plasma thrust at her.
"Can you claim to be a true knight without your honor?" Any action Diarmuid Ua Duibhne would've made ceased instantly. Rage had gripped hold of him.
Both he and the Sabers had made a crucial error while confronting this Heroic Spirit: they had focused so much on his combative abilities they had forgotten what class he belonged to. An Avenger was a spirit born of hatred and resentment. Their very existence revolved around delivering vengeance. And such feelings as hatred, resentment and vengeance all had one attribute in common… they could spread quickly.