Berserker X's smile only broadened at the killing intent directed his way. "Then it's settled!" Rider spread his arms wide. "I would've felt ill at ease pulling Kenpachi into my battle, anyway. Now, shall we share one last toast to commemorate the battles that shall take place here and now?" His eyes glimmered with a shameless lust for a certain liquid, and it proved to be infectious.
Archer's brow twitched, easily picking up the implications, then he shook his head, his smile losing some of its edge. "Infuriating me and then expecting me to provide you with the finest of drink… I shall savor the moment when you are all wiped from the face of my garden." Nevertheless, a golden portal summoned forth four goblets and a pitcher. He could use a drink to calm himself.
"As Mithrandir stated so wisely, you claim victory when it comes to selection of wine," his rival King countered as he began to distribute the bountiful liquid in each cup. Even Berserker X sheathed his sword (for the moment) to pick up one alongside the others. A good friend of theirs would've shamelessly drooled at its aroma and likely tried to hoard for himself. This toast is for you as well, Qrow Branwen,Iskandar vowed silently before continuing. "We simply concede the point now… Babylonian King of Heroes, Gilgamesh."
"Do not utter my name so carelessly, mongrel," said King huffed while swirling his goblet a little. It was high time the other natives of his garden would know who they were dealing with.
Waver had been watching with quiet incredulity how the four hostile Servants could still enjoy a quiet drink together, but then he froze at the name Rider had uttered. Gilgamesh…? The protagonist of history's oldest tale, the Saga of Gilgamesh? The very first hero ever recorded? The one who surely stood head and shoulders above all other Heroic Spirits? He was Berserker X's opponent?
Berserker X couldn't have looked happier. "So, you really are the oldest hero of this world? When Kandy told me who about his suspicions, I was wondering just what your age would mean for how strong you could be." He nodded at his partner in thanks for filling his cup. "That's the fun part about Heroic Spirits, right? The older you are, the stronger you are?"
Archer's smirk returned. "I told you during your last encounter, dog, I am the strongest hero of this world you could ever hope to meet." Despite the foreigner being nearly twenty centimeters taller than him, he still somehow managed to look down upon his nose. "You can try to scamper away if my authority terrifies you, but there is no escape for you. Not after all those taunts of yours I endured."
Ah, how his blood surged at the fearless look thrown back at him. "I'm not going anywhere. Especially now." Ah, Gilgamesh truly enjoyed arrogant opponents.
Rider X for his part noticed a slight twitching in Rider's arm whenever he bent to pour. "It seems you carry more damage from my compatriots' antics than you let on, King," he spoke in mocking concern. "Should I worry about you unable to face me at your peak?"
Rider finished filling his own cup and set the pitcher down without flinching. "True, I may have taken a few scratches, and your worry warms my heart, Megatron," he teased right back. "But you needn't worry. For your fellow Rider tonight is not in perfect form, nor is his partner." He traded a confident nod with Berserker X before finishing, "And therefore, we are beyond perfect form."
The confidence the fleshbag before him exuded, the determination in his eyes… yes, the injuries were hardly mentionable, Megatron knew, but he realized that even if he were on his last leg, Iskandar would've opposed him all the same. Just like an old friend of his…
For only a split second, the King of Conquerors disappeared before the Decepticon tyrant, and in his place stood a tall Cybertronian clad in red, silver and blue armor, blue optics glaring at him over a faceplate. "You will not prevail, Megatron," a familiar voice rang in his audio receptors, weary but undaunted, "not while Energon still flows through my veins."
Then Optimus was gone, and Iskandar was smirking at him again. Not the same… but this was certainly adequate. "Yes… Perfection is so limiting, isn't it?" Rider X agreed before raising his goblet. There was no mockery or trickery in his actions or his next words. "Perhaps there exists a possibility of victory for you after all."
Rider huffed but acknowledged his offer by lifting his own goblet in response. Archer and Berserker X did so as well, and the four clinked together in the middle. A signal of the calm before the storm, a final courtesy before the twin duel.
All four Servants took a long drink in near sync, savoring the wine's peerless taste. Once the cups lowered, Rider then turned to his fellow native. "I have one more matter between us, King of Babylonia. My final addition to this banquet."
"I permit it," Archer acquiesced. "Speak."
A familiar twinkle emerged in those crimson eyes. "In theory, if we were to equip my Ionioi Hetairoi with your Gate of Babylon and further employ Kenpachi and his ferocious strength as the vanguard," Berserker X tilted his head in curiosity, "we could surely form the most powerful army this world has ever witnessed."
"Oh?" Rider X's metallic eyebrow rose at this. "Have you suddenly grown insecure about your chances of victory, Iskandar? You seek to bolster your strength by begging Archer for his aid?" He tutted. "Such cowardice makes the title King weep."
"Nonsense!" Rider laughed off the insult. "This is for afterour battle, Megatron! I have no need to beg for a victory I can claim with my own men." He turned back to an amused Archer. "Once my business with my rival is finished, why not become our ally?"
"You seek to have me replace your fallen bird?"
"Hell no," Berserker X shot the idea down before snorting almost affectionately. "A thousand of you golden pricks couldn't replace that scruffy drunk."
Rider nodded sharply in agreement. "The place of anyone I call comrade is reserved for him alone. No one could ever take Qrow's place." He beamed. "But that does not mean I cannot make more allies. If we became allies, then we could surely achieve Rider X's dream and conquer the stars and other universes above. And you and Kenpachi could battle each other to your heart's content every day!"
"Oh, that does sound good…" But Berserker X's musings were cut short by the King of Heroes bursting in loud laughter.
It lasted a while until he was clam enough to speak again. "Ah, I needed that after your mutt's tedious prodding," he breathed mirthfully. "You never fail to amuse me, Rider. It's been so long since I have laughed this much at anything that wasn't a court harlequin." He leered for a split second at the other Rider, a tiny taunt answered by a vicious sneer.
Much as he seemed in good spirits, his lethal aura had not lessened in the slightest. "Yet I must refuse your offer. I have but one I call friend, and nowhere in this garden or any other shall I find another worthy. Besides, this world has no need for two Kings."
A simple but clear statement and an echo of what Rider himself had said to his first partner and Master some time ago. He closed his eyes in acknowledgement. "A King stands alone…" Saber, do not limit yourself like this one has, he quietly implored his fellow King.
His eyes opened to stare fearlessly into his opponents, present and future. A shame he couldn't make more allies, but he couldn't complain about the ones he had. "Then with my deepest respect for your resolve, I shall strive to defeat the one who challenges me for my crown and then challenge this state in turn."
The other Rider shook his head in amusement. "Ah, but such a fate shall only come true if you defeat me. And you crown continues to catch my eye." He held his wine goblet aloft and smiled. "I, too, had an old foe whom I battled with many, many times over the millennia. And yet we fought each time as though it would be our final encounter, with a vow of our own. One shall stand." He drank the last of his wine in one smooth movement. "One shall fall."
Rider nodded in recognition and finished his own wine. "Strong words, you and your enemy held yourselves to. So be it, Megatron."
And while the two conquerors let this final confirmation of their declaration of war hang in the air, the ancient King of Uruk sneered over his goblet at the alien savage who had already finished his drink before the rest. A wretched barbarian baring his teeth at any figure who may last more than a few seconds against him… A mere beast too foolish to recognize who stands before him. His smirk turned predatory. Well, beasts are born to be slaughtered.
Two pairs turned on their heels, stepped away from each other and tossed their empty goblets high behind them. They landed with melodious clangs on the bridge and returned to the Gate of Babylon, their task complete. The time for battle was upon them.
When Rider and Berserker X returned to the Gordius Wheel, the latter quipped, "I think that went pretty great."
His friend laughed while his Noble Phantasm dissipated as soon as Waver finally stepped off of it. He had a different weapon in mind for slaying Rider X. "A shame we failed to forge an alliance with Archer, though. Oh well, maybe afterwards, I can try again."
That earned him a gimlet eye from his Master. "What did you expect when you bring Berserker X along for diplomacy?" Waver muttered wearily, noting the open confidence that Rider would defeat Rider X. It was one he shared (though he would never admit it). "But how can you talk so amicably with those two anyway when you're all so set on killing each other? Archer is one thing, but are you trying to make friends with Megatron, too?"
Rider shook his head. "Of course not. But I can't really bring up the energy to be unfriendly to him even if he is to me." He peered over his shoulder at the duo standing far from each other. "He may well be the last person I ever see in this life."
"Fair enough." Berserker X shrugged at the logic. "Me, I just like riling Goldy up. And the way he is now, I'll be having the time of my life even if it's my last." He drew his sword free again, body and blade both quivering in anticipation. "Sure as hell good enough for me."
"Not for me…"
Both Servants paused and faced the one who had murmured those three little words. But the boy didn't even register their probing gazes, his eyes fixed on the Heroic Spirit of Madness' nodachi, his mind turning back to a conversation only a few hours ago…
-60:29:11
Waver rolled his shoulders slightly before turning his head to the open window. A couple of grey clouds were drifting about, and the sun was steadily head west. The weather forecast predicted it would set in an hour or so, and there was already a fresh chill in the air. The boy kept his jacket open, though; he was probably still used to London temperatures. Compared to the fog and rain of home, Fuyuki City had actually felt a bit balmy when he'd first arrived.
All things considered, he was feeling pretty good, too, despite having spent the last five hours slumbering out in the open with only a sleeping bag and a portable heater. His arms and legs should've been stiff like dry sticks, but Waver had packed everything up (and disposed of any garbage, his parents had taught him not to litter) and taken the bus home with little effort.
Berserker X and Rider's presence must've done something weird to me, the Master wondered incredulously, because I feel like jogging through Miyama right about now. Me! But despite this energy baffling his usual bookworm instincts, Waver ignored it. There was no time to waste on such ridiculous whimsies. Not now with the Grail War soon to continue. Aside from the two contracted to him, there were still nine more Servants out there, and judging by Caster's horror show in the previous night, who knew what they would happen next?
He walked quietly through the Mackenzie house, trying not to attract its owners' attention. Using hypnotic suggestions to avoid explaining where he was going was… exhausting, especially since he, Rider and Berserker X had dodging questions of where Saber X was. The Servants had claimed their partner had departed from the group and would be gone for a while, though it had been on amicable terms, Rider had assured a worried Martha.
However, the magus student wasn't feeling so confident in his magecraft or his abilities of deception right now. Well, he generally had little confidence in his magecraft, but dragging out his manipulating these two kind seniors didn't sit right with him.
He sighed to himself. The Holy Grail War wouldn't last forever, and he surely wouldn't have to hunker down in their house (risking their lives in the process) for much longer. He opened the door and stepped out into the front yard to find both of his Servants materialized and in their casual garb. Berserker X was lounging about on the porch, his chin resting on his left hand, and it looked like he had been napping. Rider sat next to him, looming over the Odyssey book he had pilfered the night he and Qrow had first been summoned. Waver hummed, wondering why it felt like forever ago when it had only been a little over a week.
The noise his vocal chords had made couldn't have been that loud, but the Servants heard him anyway. "Everything taken care of, boy?" Rider asked without turning from his pages.
Waver stepped closer to them and stuffed his hands into his pockets, slouching a little. "As much as I could without getting their attention," he replied. "I take it no one's launched a preemptive strike?" The moon wasn't up yet, but he knew by now not every contender in this War played by the rules. Still, if someone had shown up, Berserker X wouldn't be lying before him, answering with a bored grunt.
"No need to rush, I am hoping to enjoy a bit more reading before we head out." Rider shrugged seemingly calm, but Waver noticed he was gripping the sides of his book rather tightly. "The night has yet to begin, and we are sure to find some excitement."
"You can bet your ass on that," Berserker X laughed from his spot. He tilted his head slightly so his uncovered eye had his partner in view. "You feel it, too, don't you, Kandy? There's been a tingle in this city's air ever since that fight at the river."
The red-clad Heroic Spirit of the Mount smiled in agreement. "Three Servants dying in the span of one single night," paper crumpled slightly between his fingers, "and a monstrosity called forth that threatened the entire city. Such was the true beginning of this War." He inclined his head towards his Master. "Real battles of even greater proportions await us undoubtably tonight, so there is no reason to rush."
"Maybe," the foreign Berserker shifted into a sitting position, a smile playing on his lips, "but I'm feeling a rush already just by picturing what's ahead…" Mana sparkled as he called his sheathed nodachi to his hand. "And I feel like this one's getting excited, too." He noticed Waver's confusion and shrugged. "Call it a gut feeling."
"A gut feeling…" The Waver Velvet of even a month ago would've dismissed such a barbaric term, but his time with three wild souls had made an impact. Now that he had glimpsed firsthand the battles that had shaped these beings before him into what they were, he nodded before saying, "I think I feel that chill, too. Is the climax of this Grail War drawing closer?"
"The final battle may not occur tonight," Iskandar judged, "but there shall be further weeding out. When the sun rises tomorrow, only the truly strongest contenders may remain."
A low chuckle rumbled from Kenpachi Zaraki, no doubt savoring such an idea and the fights that would await him. When Waver turned back towards him, though, an odd question popped into his head. One that somehow came by his eyes focusing on the finger stroking that sword's bandaged handle. "Berserker X," he finally asked, "what is your wish?"
"Hm?" The Captain shifted in his seat to eye him curiously. "What's it to you, kid?"
For a moment, Waver feared he had struck some kind of nerve with the brutal Servant, but he relaxed a bit upon seeing the lack of aggression in his posture (a rare sight itself). "I-I was just thinking," he explained while scratching his cheek, "back during the banquet, when all of the Servants were talking about wishes, you said you were satisfied just fighting the others… But you never actually said what your own wish was." He quickly held up his palms. "Just curious!"
"Now that you mention it," Rider closed his book and leaned over, "I too have been wondering what someone like you could want other than battle, Kenpachi. After all, you may enjoy fighting more than anything else, but I doubt that desire would qualify as something that you would seek the power of the Holy Grail for." He took on a more serious demeanor. "I asked the same of Qrow and the boy during my first night in this campaign. You see, if you seek to conquer this world as I do, we will become enemies in the long run."
Berserker X scoffed. "You say that like it's a bad thing, Kandy Bar." But after enduring their curious stares for a few seconds, he finally sighed. "Okay, fine, it's not that big of a deal. And you can relax, big guy, I don't give a shit about world conquest. Sure, I might've picked a fight with you eventually because taking on your army could be fun, but uh…" Bells jingled as he tilted his head. "I just want to know my sword's name."
His audience blinked in surprise at the answer, Rider scratching his head. "Your sword's… name? Well, I am hardly one to judge another for his wish, but I am not sure I understand this being the source behind the Grail calling you. Can you not simply give your blade a name itself, Kenpachi?"
"That's not how it works…" The Servants looked at Waver who had inadvertently answered before Berserker X. He flinched and clamped both hands over his mouth, eyes darting about worriedly.
But the foreign Servant just rolled his eye. "Oh yeah, you've been learning about our lives while dreaming, yeah?" He waved his free hand. "Go ahead, a little bookworm like you's probably better at explaining it."
The boy slowly released his mouth, mentally sorting through what he'd seen of the Servant's memories and trying to decide the best (read: simplest for Rider) explanation. Finally, he cleared his throat and began. "From what I understand, the swords of Berserker X's world are called, "Zanpaku-tou" and are… well, alive. They don't start off that way, but Shinigami- uh, Berserker X's kind," he quickly added to Rider's dull look, "receive these special blades that are basically blank slates when they begin their training. And as time passes, their souls imprint upon them, and the weapons develop their own identities, forms and powers but retain sword forms when sealed. Less draining for the Shinigami. Each Zanpaku-tou carries a unique soul and name which its wielder has to learn in order to access its true power."
Iskandar hummed in curiosity. "Ah, so the warrior's weapon becomes a sort of comrade that stands by his side and grows stronger alongside him as they face their battles together. The warrior supplies the weapon with his energy, and the weapon in turn lends his power."
"Exactly." The more Waver elaborated, the more fascinated he himself became with this concept. He knew of a few branches of magecraft that involved imprinting one's mana into inanimate objects, even one's soul, but they in turn becoming their own being eventually? He'd never heard of anything like that. "But, what you described, Rider, only works if the Shinigami really… communicates with their Zanpaku-tou. Otherwise, it's basically an ordinary sword like…" He nodded pointedly, and Rider followed the indicated direction.
They both eyed the long, sheathed blade while its wielder sighed. "Yeah, my sword's butt-naked. It's never had a sealed form for as long as I can remember." That worn, chipped blade hissed as Berserker X drew it free and held it out into the day's final light. "What you see is my Zanpaku-tou, plain and simple. But I don't have a clue if it can do anything special, and I never heard it talking to me like the other Shinigami do with theirs."
Rider rubbed his beard, his expression saddening at the blunt tone. "You don't even know its name… Because you never bothered to try learning it in the first place, correct?"
He didn't sound accusatory, but Waver winced anyway at the words. Berserker X didn't seem stung by them, though. "Yup. Back when I lived, I thought all that stuff about talking to your sword and having it fight by your side was overrated. Eventually, I got it into my head that Zanpaku-touwere just tools for fighting, and anyone who said stuff like, 'My sword and I fight together,' was a weak little pansy who needed to rely on another's power to fight."
Those words weren't aimed at his Master, but they still cut into the boy deeper than the nodachi would've. Didn't they describe him perfectly? He'd stolen El-Melloi's relic to summon the King of Conquerors because he had known it was the best way to get a powerful Servant. Qrow Branwen was much closer to what his own abilities would've managed: having a couple of tricks up his sleeve, but no all-powerful champion. And throughout this Grail War, Waver Velvet had been utterly, pathetically reliant on his Servants. And when the time came, his own strength couldn't save one of them. The boy closed his eyes at the pain.
"But something changed." His eyes snapped open to stare at Rider who was actually smiling. "You speak of your belief as though they belong to the past, Kenpachi," he chuckled self-deprecatingly, "and you have not disdained me, even though in your eyes, I too ought to be a "weak little pansy'."
Waver felt his jaw grow so slack it might've fallen off, but the great Macedonian tyrant continued to laugh. "I'm under no illusions of my own limits, boy. Ionioi Hetairoi is my greatest weapon precisely because it allows me to lead all of my soldiers with me into battle. Even Via Expugnatiocannot be performed without my chariot." He thumped his chest. "I can certainly fight on my own, but as a Heroic Spirit and a King, I am at my strongest when I am supported by the comrades and loot I have claimed in my time. That's just the way I am."
The admission baffled him to no end. How could Rider, proud King of Conquerors, state so casually that he was practically helpless without his army or chariot? How could he be so unashamed of this fact? It was utterly ridiculous… and yet, completely in character for Iskandar. And Waver would be lying if he said those words didn't raise his spirits again. He still felt pathetic, but it didn't weigh on him so much anymore, even if he didn't know why.
Iskandar's smile softened a tiny bit as he watched the boy's tension leaving him again. He hadn't been blind to the turmoil within this young fool, and he sensed Kenpachi had picked up on it, too. Really, he's such a sensitive little fool. What am I going to do with him?
He let that rest for the moment, though. Right now, his partner was the main topic. "You're certainly unique among Servants, Kenpachi Zaraki, for aside from the need of a Master, you can claim you truly fight alone. As Heroic Spirits, we tend to achieve our greatest feats through our Noble Phantasms, but in your case, the only one you have at present actually shackles your own might. And even then, you stand at least on par with us regular Servants who wield our Noble Phantasms freely!" Truly, he'd made an impressive friend. "But as I've noted, you do not seem much interested in independence anymore."
"Yeah, I guess not," the Shinigami Servant admitted with a softer grin than usual. "The last fight I had in my old life, the one that did me in, it was against this punk who had barged into our home, tryin' to save some convict from gettin' executed." He laughed as images rose in Waver's mind of a teenager with orange hair and a gigantic sword, shrouded in energy. "Stubborn little shit probably went and pulled it off, too…
"Anyway, Ichigo stumbled around a bit at first, and for a moment, I was pretty sure I killed him. But then he somehow came back from the dead and gave me the best fight I'd had in a long-ass time." His grin widened with each word. "Right before the final clash, he said he was drawing on his sword, Zangetsu's power, that the two of them were fighting together against me alone." He shrugged. "I thought it was bullshit at the time, but I gave it just about everything I had, and he still beat me."
A dream from the night before appeared before Waver again, of a bloody, defeated body lying on the ground with a cute little girl right next to him. "I died afterwards," Berserker X's voice washed over him as he saw a broken sword lifted above the head, "but the last thing I did was try to ask my Zanpaku-tou its name." The hand lowered as though in defeat. "I got nothing."
Waver blinked and found himself back in the present. Berserker X's shoulders slumped with a big sigh. "Guess I kept this bastard waiting way too long," he muttered while holding his sword at an angle. "Hey, kid," the boy blinked at being addressed, "don't suppose you know its name because you're a Master and all that crap?"
Waver sighed apologetically. "Master's Perspective doesn't work like that." He could look at a Servant and see their parameters and Skills (provided they didn't have some special trick like both Berserkers in this War), but Noble Phantasms were a different story. No matter how carefully he looked at the weapon in Berserker X's hand, all he saw was a timeworn sword.
"Eh," the Servant of Madness shrugged, "figured it was a long shot. Besides," the other two could barely make out his next words, "it wouldn't feel right if somebody else just told me…"
Rider reached over to pat his comrade's shoulder in sympathy. "It seems you took your practice of handicapping yourself a bit too far, Kenpachi. You close yourself off from your full strength to enjoy your battles the more, but in turn, it has cost you the one who has always been by your side."
"…Do you know all the names of those guys that wait for you in Ionioi Hetairoi?"
The King nodded sharply. "It's not easy differentiating one single name among thirty-five thousand, but I always took the time to learn as much about my comrades as I could."
Berserker X snorted. "Why am I not surprised…?" He then turned back to his nodachi. "A name's important, helps make who you are and others see you. So many people walk past each other in a street, but they only notice those they know, even if it's just by face… or name. But those who don't have either… they've got it the roughest."
This time, Waver didn't need a flashback of the Servant's life to know what he meant. Back at Clock Tower, the halls were always bustling with students, professors and visiting magi. Some he'd heard their names or of their stories, but no one really knew him. They'd walk right past him so immersed in their own lives; he might as well have been a puff of smoke. Wasn't this part of why he'd decided to join the Holy Grail War in the first place? So that people would notice him, acknowledge him, respect him?
"Trust me on this, guys," the big man stared at his reflection in that battered steel before sighing, "Going through life without a name… It's lonely as hell."
Iskandar couldn't claim of ever knowing of a time when he'd been alone in his life. He had been surrounded by subjects since his birth, led others onward into all sorts of campaigns, and it had been absolutely wonderful. Hearing the fearsome man beside him speak so softly of loneliness… he grew all the more grateful for his good fortune.
Waver however knew very well what it felt like to be alone. He'd always been so average, so weak… Who would care if he was around?
Now a memory did come, the final one: a defeated Kenpachi Zaraki with his back on the ground, screaming his desire out to the world. "I WANT TO GET STRONGER!" How perplexed Waver had been back when he first heard that cry. How could someone already so powerful on his own seek even more strength? Why would he suppress his power and then desire to learn the identity of the one who could make him stronger if they fought together?
It made sense now. He didn't if it was due to his time spent surviving the Grail War or some influence by these Idiots, but it made sense. He could practically hear Rider's voice in his skull: Whether you are born strong or weak, going through life alone feels wrong. It is natural to strive to improve yourself, get stronger, and reach the level of others, perhaps even surpass them. And if you meet others who can support you in these goals, then you can go even further than before. Look at how Qrow went from being the shunned boy of a bandit tribe to a seasoned warrior and protector despite his troublesome Semblance. It's because he found people who knew of Misfortune but cherished and encouraged him all the same.
The student could've sworn that monologue had come from Rider himself, but his Servant was sitting in silence. Either way, they seemed to have caught up with Berserker X's train of thought. Still, there was one last detail on Waver's mind. "Are you planning to… wish for your Zanpaku-tou'sname itself?" But he already sensed what the answer would be.
The feared Captain of Squad 11 snorted at the ridiculousness of the question. "Nah, I don't want the Grail to go and tell me his name," he idly tapped the rims of the guard, "I'll probably do it like Qrow: wish for a second chance in life so I can learn it myself." He half-smirked. "Like I'd let a stupid cup do all the hard work for me, right?"
His partner roared in approving laughter. "We may have been called here by different Masters, Kenpachi, but I feel you, Qrow and I were fated to become comrades no matter what!" Rider rose to his feet, practically bouncing on his heels. "Right then! Night has come, and I feel we've sat around chattering enough. Let's head out and see what happens!"
Waver glanced up and saw the sky had indeed darkened. Beside him, Berserker X was already rolling his shoulders, then he replaced his sword and slid the sheath into his materialized sash. "Fine by me, I've talked enough," he rumbled eagerly. "And don't get me wrong, I like you guys a lot and wouldn't mind seeing all of our wishes granted, but don't get in my way when I fight." His fingers curled into fists and straightened. "I still want to fight the strongest out there, and I don't like to share."
"Another trait we share," Rider laughed in agreement while his clothes transformed into his cloak and armor. He drew his own sword and slashed the sky, and with a crack of thunder, the Gordius Wheel surged into being before them.
Waver didn't say a word as he climbed in after the battle-hungry Servants, still occupied with digesting everything that had been said. A little over an hour later, the Hyatt hotel would go up in smoke, and this trio would be busy chasing down Archer X who'd descended into violent insanity, and hours after that…
Here we are.
Waver glared at the ground, fists clenched by his side as he replayed the words spoken then and they mingled together with the other lessons he'd received through this Holy Grail War. "There's no way the two of you can die…" He muttered, a bloody Saber X lying on the ground before him, a hand weakly patting his head. Not again… He wouldn't accept that again.
"Now, boy…" Rider began, but Waver had turned to eye the enemies that were visibly impatient. They were both strong, especially Archer, and knowing the meatheads contracted to him, they wouldn't be doing the smart thing and ganging up on them. Saber X had preferred acting solo due to his Misfortune, but for Rider, he desired to face Megatron alone out of honor and the sake of the title, "King of Conquerors." And despite his wish, Berserker X hated others interfering with his battles. But in this situation, with Waver's meager Magic Circuits, he didn't feel comfortable just letting them into the fray.
Not that they would listen to me, they never do. Even after all this time, I'm still a pathetic Master… He glared at his Command Seals, the one thing that indicated his position.
At first, he didn't meet their eyes. "'Only the truly strongest contenders may remain…' you said that before we headed out, Rider…" The young fool who had recklessly joined the Fourth Holy Grail War stared down at the crimson markings on his right hand and left forearm, then he lifted his head, and Iskandar and Kenpachi Zaraki saw few traces of a boy remaining in those green eyes.
"My Servants…" Both hands glowed a bright red as they rose before him. "Waver Velvet hereby invokes his Command Seals for these orders."
Berserker X's brow arched; normally, he would've been suspicious and irritated about getting ordered around, especially before a big fight. But the kid had already surprised him the first time he'd used a Seal on him.
"Rider." The right hand was fixed on the King of Conquerors. "You are to achieve victory."
"Berserker X." The left pointed at the Eleventh Kenpachi. "You are to fight to your heart's content."
A great swell of mana surged through his flesh and flowed into the Servants. Two Command Seals faded away from the Master's limbs, two remaining for Rider and only one for Berserker X.
But the limbs did not fall. "I invoke my Command Seals again," Waver stated in the most resolute tone he had ever carried in his life. "Rider, Berserker X, fulfill the wishes your hearts hold." Another surge of Magical Energy, two more faded, and with it, the binding to one of his Servants. His left arm fell to his side.
But he kept the right one raised. This was his final and only noteworthy feat as a Master, and he met the gazes of these two Heroic Spirits, he would see it done. For once, he felt no hesitation, second-guessing over his decisions. "I invoke my final Command Seal." This was his decision. Not just as a Master or a magus… but as the man three rowdy fools had taught him to be.
"Rider, you are to lay claim to this world. Failure is unacceptable."
And with that, the final Command Seal was gone. Waver could sense the magic reverberating in the air around both Heroic Spirits before him. Even though he had only received two to Rider's three, Berserker X's natural voluminous reserves had absorbed it eagerly. A middling magus like him would probably never get another chance to wield such Thaumaturgy in his life.
But he had no regrets. His right arm fell as he proclaimed, "It's done. I'm your Master no longer." Pain shot through him at those words, but he kept his posture straight and stepped to the side. "Now, go. Defeat these two and whoever else stand in your way. Your connection to my Magic Circuits remain, so you don't need to worry about disappearing before you fulfill the commands. Just get to fighting like you always do."
But an arm swung out to block his path, the hand keeping the sword it held angled away from Waver, then he felt himself picked up by the collar and hoisted back. "H-hey!"
Berserker X scoffed as he leered down at his ex-Master. "Still bossing others around and making a lot of noise… You don't need to tell me to fight, kid." His lip curled. "And there's no reason for you to walk off like a kicked puppy after all that drama."
Waver made to snap at him when he was spun around so Rider could look him in the eye. "Seeing as you went through all of the trouble of making those tedious commands, you ought to be determined enough to witness us seeing them through."
"Idiot, Idiots, Idiots!" The mature demeanor Waver had carried was gone again as he fell to old habits with these… well, idiots. "Don't you understand?! I don't have Command Seals anymore! I'm done being your Master!" He flailed his arms and legs about, trying to escape Rider's grip. "Why would you want to take me along?! You of all people, Berserker X, you hate it when someone interferes with your battles!"
"So, don't interfere. I'm fine with you just watching."
His sputtering at the retort stilled by what the King said next. "Master or no Master, you remain our friend." Those words, followed by the broad smile that Heroic Spirit had sported so often…
They battered straight through Waver's last barriers of dignity, and tears and snot poured down his face. "I-I-You… D-do you r-r-really… m-mean that…?" He turned away, unable to face them in his pitiable state. "Y-you'd let me come with you…?"
Iskandar beamed while setting him down between them. "After all the battles we've faced with you by our side, you still have doubts? Qrow's pessimism doesn't suit you, boy. Especially since we'd suffer that barbed tongue of his if we abandoned you."
"It's not like you can steal our opponents, crybaby," Kenpachi added with a laugh, "so why not take you along?"
"What an Idiot."
"The biggest."
Waver then received a dual slap on the back that should've sent him tumbling right off the bridge, but he somehow kept his footing. Great timing for my body to finally get used to their crazy antics, he grumbled underneath his tears. Right after I quit being their Master…
Rider tilted his head slightly; for a moment, he could've sworn there was a strange sheen over the boy's back when he slapped him. Regardless, he continued his admonishment. "You've looked the same foes in the eye as we have, haven't you? Naturally, we are friends! Comrades! So, raise your head high and stand next to us as our equal."
Waver Velvet stared up at him in utter shock, turned to Berserker X who only offered a nod and his usual feral smile in response, and hastily grabbed the first cloth he could find to blow his nose.
Good thing said cloth was Rider's cloak. Berserker X wouldn't have appreciated him leaving snot all over his haori, but Rider only smiled. "Well then, let's get to work on following your first orders."
"Right." Berserker X cracked his neck while staring at his golden opponent. "That's our job as loyal Servants, right? So, open up those peepers, kid, and pay attention."
"Watch us as we fight to our hearts' content and achieve victory!" Their King declared.
Waver glanced between them one more time, then nodded with new determination. His spirit felt higher than ever, and he threw off his last doubts to smile with these two. A part of him wished that Qrow was seeing this and smiling as well when this brat of a former Master said, "I will, with my own two eyes!"
Rider X shook his head in slight revulsion at the display. Humans… so feeble. So melodramatic. He was taking a risk, though, and he knew it: The sheer mana emanating from Rider's body could be felt even across the distance between them. It was nearly as though he had suddenly gained his partner's Mana Burst Skill. Fighting the current King of Conquerors in his empowered state would not be easy.
But Megatron had added to his own power supply. And with that boy foolishly expending all of his Command Seals at once… He grinned malevolently. There is no escape for what I have planned for you, Iskandar.
Though pointing it out would have irked him, Archer shared his rival's lack of care in the two's power increase. Fuyuki Bridge's ground was slowly cracking underneath Berserker X's feet with each step they took; it wasn't that he was really exerting himself, either. The sheer pressure of the mana oozing from him was simply that dense. Yet it didn't impress the King of Heroes one bit. A few of my less valuable treasures will eradicate that asinine smirk of his.
Then Rider drew his spatha and pointed it to the sky. "King of Heroes," he began, electricity sparking along the blade, "out of respect for the power you both wield, I invite you and Berserker X to join me and Rider X in Ionioi Hetairoi. My realm stretches far and offers plenty of space for our battles to be waged separately. And you have my word none of my men shall interfere." He smiled. "They would only be throwing their lives away if they did."
It was well within reason to refuse such an offer, but Archer inclined his head in agreement. "So be it. Your world will certainly offer better scenery for me before its sands run red with your mutt's blood." He knew both Rider and Berserker X were not ones to stoop to cheap tactics of ambush or backstabbing. And the Reality Marble offered them no greater advantage against him than the real world.
Iskandar briefly glanced to Berserker X who nodded after a second's thought too. "Sure as hell better than wrecking the bridge, then having to fight in the river…" he muttered. With that, tempestuous winds laced with heat and sand surrounded the four Servants and one human.
"To me, my comrades!" The King's voice roared over the winds. "Tonight, we shall assert our worth as this world's mightiest army!"
While the night sky gave way to a vibrant blue, and Fuyuki Bridge shifted into a familiar vast desert plain, a presence rose underneath Waver and Rider. Seconds later, Waver yelped while wrapping his arms around Bucephalus' neck, an amused whinny emanating from the materialized steed. His owner patted the head with his own chuckle, multiple footsteps rumbling from behind them. For the third time now in the Fourth Holy Grail War of Fuyuki City, the ever-loyal army of Alexander the Great had answered their King's call.
Berserker X slung his sword across his shoulder, eyeing the thousands of men taking up the entire side of a horizon with a little grin. Sure, sharing battles with the masses wasn't his style, but he wouldn't deny that Kandy Bar made it look awesome as fuck.
But this wasn't his business. He turned back to where that gilded prick was standing, still all smug and relaxed, then snapped his head to the right. Those red eyes narrowed at him, but when Berserker X began to sprint across the desert, Archer rose from the sand, maintaining his crossed arms, and hurtled off to the distant hill indicated, his levitation treasure easily keeping pace with the other's brutishly powerful legs. A brief cheer from Rider's front line followed the latter; they all remembered the comrade their King had made and the battle they had fought together against that monstrosity. Noisy as always, Berserker X thought fondly.
Rider X, however, remained where he had been transported to, those crimson spheres of his roaming from one side of the masses to the other. If he was nervous, he hid it well behind a smirk that partly showed his sharp teeth.
The other Rider would savor the moment he wiped that smirk away. The three Commands Seals Waver had used on him were all under rather vague orders, but orders the King of Conquerors did not oppose in any way whatsoever. He could feel their effects surging through his limbs and out into the realm representing he and his army's greatest memories. Coupled with the reduced mana cost for Servants in this Grail War, Rider could likely maintain Ionioi Hetairoi for even longer than usual. Best of all, the way the boy's commands had been phrased meant the Seals' empowerment wasn't necessarily limited to this one battle, so even after he was done with Rider X, he might retain this strength for the future…
But that was for later. For now, he had a rival to discipline.
Iskandar leaned his head back to address his many, many friends. "The enemy that stands before us this day is Megatron, a foreign tyrant who fancies himself a conqueror superior to me. He wields subterfuge and deception as his weapons and derides the way of conquest we put our hearts in as ridiculous fantasies." He could hear the men bristling and tightening their grips around their weapons. All were now glaring at the metal titan standing only a short way from them. But they didn't charge. Not yet.
Waver Velvet marveled at how they all waited with utmost patience for their King's word.
"He is an opponent lacking in no way whatsoever," Iskandar declared, pointing his sword at his rival. "Come, my heroic companions, and let us beat our ideology, the right way of conquest, through his metallic skull and into his core!" He lifted his spatha, and an affirming shout of thousands washed over him as spears and swords rose as well.
As the Sword of the Kupriotes swung down like a guillotine, Rider released an almighty bellow of attack. Bucephalus whinnied and raced onwards, carrying his two passengers into a powerful charge. The mighty masses of Ionoi Hetairoifollowed in his steps, racing like a colossal tidal wave of bodies and sharp weapons. Such was the greatest army recorded in this world as they advanced fearlessly towards a singular target.
Seated in front of his Servant, Waver Velvet could feel the sheer rush of the many Heroic Spirits' calls for battle flowing through his body. His Magic Circuits tingled and sang as they reported similar sensations from his other Servant. In this moment, he truly comprehended how beings such as Rider, Berserker X and even Saber X could bask in such excitement in the face of life. Thus, he joined without hesitation or embarrassment in the familiar chant coming from Rider: "ULULULULULULUIIII!"
But the leader of the Decepticons didn't panic, tremble, or show even a whisper of trepidation in the presence of the thousands charging towards him. Instead, he raised his right hand with a cruel chuckle. "Ah, King of Conquerors…" Dark mana crackled and gathered between his curled fingers before crystalizing into a glowing violet shard.
"You could not have provided a more perfect stage for your downfall."
A fair number of miles away, two Servants marginally different from the other combatants were staring each other down. A little laugh escaped Berserker X as he glanced briefly towards where they came from. "Sounds like Kandy's having a good time over there. Maybe the kid will finally loosen up for good, too." He turned back and raised his sword from his shoulder towards his opponent. "So, what kind of entertainment do you have in mind?"
Archer only gave a dismissive scoff. "Your bravado is growing repetitive and tedious, mad dog." Five golden circles emerged around him, each showing a different weapon. "I have tolerated it far longer than I should have." All five weapons blasted straight at Berserker X.
He promptly swung his nodachi to bat aside a sword and axe, then deflected another sword and cut through a spear's length. The final weapon, an Indonesian kris, hurtled for his uncovered eye but was caught by his free hand. He weighed the curved blade before tossing it over his shoulder with a scoff. "I've already seen that little circus trick of yours. Do you really think chucking your garbage at me is enough to-" Gold flared again, but from above.
Sand was blasted up into the air as fifteen more weapons rained down upon the Servant of Madness. They flew so fast the heat generated from their impacts actually fused some of the particles into glass. Gilgamesh scoffed a second time while staring at the cloud. "Fool. As though you ever stood a chance against me." He turned towards where the other battle was commencing; there was something odd. "I might as well see which-" He froze in mid-step. A sound was coming from the cloud he didn't expect: laughter.
The sand and smoke finally dissipated to reveal Berserker X standing upright among broken glass and weapons. Half a dozen separate blades were lodged in between his shoulders, blood staining his white coat, but he only grinned while yellow energy flared around his body. "That all you got?"
The King of Heroes glared at him in confusion. The Noble Phantasms his Gate had launched at the foreigner may not have been of the highest quality, but they were certainly enough to inflict lethal injuries, let alone torn his body to shreds. Yet the dog's aura wasn't diminishing at all. In fact, it seemed to be… increasing. Archer's eyes focused on his face; yes, that abominable eyepatch was still affixed there. Then… is this the power he received from those two Command Seals? He grimaced. That magic is more trying than I thought.
"Oh, brother…" Berserker X nonchalantly yanked a serrated blade out of his left side and dropped it. Sure enough, his whole body was tingling with mana just waiting to be expelled. Maybe I should've stopped Waver from throwing those orders around. Like holding back usually wasn't hard enough. "This won't even qualify as an evening workout." Jingle.
That tall body blurred, and in a split second, it was right in front of Archer. The nodachi hovered only briefly in the air before soaring down. Twin portals blazed beside the King, their contents intercepting the blade, but the resulting shockwave made him stagger away.
Archer's armored boot stomped into the ground, halting his retreat. No… Archer wasn't retreating, not from this savage mutt. His eyes narrowed like daggers at that taunting grin, but before either could make another move, a dark chill swept over Archer. A presence coming not from Berserker X, he could tell on the frown that had emerged on the brute's face, but from further away. Moreover, it was slightly… familiar to Archer. Like he'd felt it before.
Both Heroic Spirits turned away from each other, their duel forgotten for only an instant, and looked to where the Riders' battlefield was.
They found it… changed.
-55:26:56
Neither the legions nor Bucephalus slowed their charge, but Iskandar's keen eyes narrowed at his enemy raising the malevolent shard before him… only to thrust it into his own chest.
That massive steel body stumbled back half a step, the upper part hunched over with both arms covering his head, then a violet energy began to spread across it. At first glance, it might have appeared slightly similar to the "Aura" power Rider's deceased partner called upon for combat, but this rippled and curled around the metal like flames. Rider X's chuckle returned as he slowly straightened, arms falling back to the side with his fingers clenching. The emblem on his chestplate pulsed with the same evil violet, a color his eyes now shared.
Megatron rolled his shoulders, fingers dancing about as they rose and fell. His smile widened as he took a single step forward, then he raised his arms again, purple bolts gathering inside his fists for a moment before he flung them down upon the sands. The energy instantly blackened the golden ground upon touching it and began to spread, more lightning erupting from where it touched. This energy preceded jagged crystals of the same violet that blazed in the Decepticon conqueror's eyes and chest, the tips bursting out of the blackened sand and in turn spurring the darkness on. Even the sky itself began to become shrouded in darkness, one inch at a time.
Eyes widening, Rider tugged on Bucephalus' reins, but the horse was already digging its hooves into an abrupt stop, nearly throwing its occupants off. Waver might've fallen if it hadn't been for Rider's arm, and the former Master was all the more grateful for it. One look at the ground slowly glowing with that darkness that chilled him right to his young soul, and he just knew If that touches me, I'm dead…
The army had done something they had really done in their time following their King: halt their advance. The vanguard forces stopped so suddenly at the borders they were nearly bowled over those behind them, but there was thankfully no infighting. All of the troops swiftly backtracked a couple of yards from the tainted grounds as it briefly slowed in its spreading. More crystals rose up sparking with dark bolts, but it seemed to have calmed. For the moment. Waver, though, knew Rider X couldn't be done yet and he peered up to Rider, hesitantly asking, "I-is he trying to destroy the Reality Marble?"
"No…" Rider breathed in a more subdued tone than the boy had ever heard from him before. His crimson glare focused on the now twisted, malformed land before him. "He's corrupting it."
Though he wouldn't claim he knew of everything that transpired inside the Reality Marble, it was the King of Conqueror's Noble Phantasm, connected to him and his followers by their collective dreams and prayers. He could therefore discern that these malicious-feeling crystals and energy weren't simply turning the sands black but burrowing deep inside the ground and the sky itself. If left unchecked, their corrosive touch may spread to everyaspect of Ionioi Hetairoi. And I have no desire to see what it does to my men, Rider resolved and made to spur Bucephalus on. But the ground began to rumble, causing him to pause.
"Let me tell you a little story, Iskandar." He and Waver turned to where Rider X stood, him not having moved a millimeter from his spot. The area around him was the most corrupted, the plain black as night with violet fissures stretching across its surface and crystals of all sizes surrounding their progenitor like some twisted castle. "Eons ago, at the very dawn of my universe, there existed two almighty beings. Primus, Sentinel of Life," he raised one hand, "and Unicron, the Chaos Bringer." He raised the other. "Equals yet polar opposites to each other. They engaged in eternal battle across the cosmos, neither truly able to vanquish the other, until Primus changed the nature of the game. His disciples, the Primes, defeated Unicron where he could not, and Primus created my homeworld, Cybertron. His body provided a nurturing place for our Sparks, his blood, Energon, fueled us and our home.
"But Unicron…" A monstrous laugh escaped him. "Such a being could not be entirely destroyed. And he, too, had a certain kind of blood flowing through his all-encompassing veins." Megatron laid a hand over the Decepticon symbol in his chest. "During the war I led, I grew to hear legends of this incredible substance. I sent my forces out to find it, I led battalions to capture the station that held a portion of it, I personally scoured the depths of space itself. A power unlike any other…" His other hand clenched into a fist. "A power to achieve dominance over all I survey."
Another tremor rippled through the black sands, then a dark arm burst out from them. It clawed at the polluted air for only a moment before planting itself and pushing the rest of the body up. It was a woman with dark skin that was displayed through the few clothes she wore. Her eyes glowed violet behind the cracked white skull mask she wore, the same violet that pulsed through parts of her limbs and torso. Two malformed daggers hung from her hands. A moan came from her mouth that made Waver shiver involuntarily. Rider glared at the woman; she was one of the Assassins he and his army had crushed two nights ago. He himself had beheaded her, and on closer look, her neck carried that glowing scar.
And she wasn't alone. More corpses tore their way to the surface, many of them fellow fallen Hassan's, but not all. Others emerged as well, dressed in Persian, Thebian, Tyrian, Balkan or even Macedonian. Some carried chipped swords, others broken spears or axes or daggers or edged shields, a few had no weapons at all and simply clawed at those standing before them like animals. A handful even lacked one or both arms… But they had all fallen to Rider's army at one time or another.
Before long, hundreds of these corpses had arisen and were standing among the crystals, growling at the soldiers of Ionioi Hetairoi. A larger shard burst up beneath Rider X and formed a sort of podium from where he smiled down upon the masses living and dead. "Behold… THE POWER OF DARK ENERGON!"
Rider gazed along the line of rotting warriors with a solemn frown. "I see…" He glared up at his rival. "You've opened my eyes to a feature of Ionioi Hetrairoi I had never considered, Megatron. This world represents the lands I and my army marched through in times of old, an endless desert towards the horizon where we can all fight to our heart's content." His burning gaze travelled to the ground. "But on these sands, we cut down many a foe on our quest. The lives we ended as we marched on in pursuit of Oceanus have left… imprints even here."
"I had my suspicions from the moment I first came here. It's truly quite amazing what sort of resources are buried within a Conceptual Weapon of conquest, though unearthing them can be a task." A low chuckle rumbled between Rider X's teeth. "Why so melancholy, Iskandar? You are a conqueror and a King, after all. It is only logical that a Reality Marble shaped by the ideals of war you and your army believed in would have a few bodies tucked away. The foundations of the empire you forged into this world's history were built upon the remains of those who opposed you and drenched with their blood. Such is the iron rule of conquest that exists in all universes, yours and mine." He propped his left foot forward and leaned his arm on the elbow. "Were you so swept up by your glorious quests that you forgot this rule?"
Two corpses suddenly charged out of the crystal forest, their bodies showing less decay and the blades of Cossaean design. They lunged at Rider, but he bisected them both with one swing of his spatha.
He watched their remains tumble back into the sands before spitting in disgust. "I knew from the beginning what my campaigns would entail. I have seen entire fields strewn with fallen enemies, the vultures flying about to pick at juicy morsels. Do not think me a naïve fool like Saber, Megatron. I need no lectures on the darker necessities of conquest." He pointed his sword at his enemy. "And I certainly never defiled the remains of the defeated for my own amusement."
"My, such outrage!" Rider X tilted his head as more corpses shuffled forward, his taunting voice echoing over their moans. "But aren't your accusations rather cruel?" He gestured to the "freshest" group. "The Assassins, at one time my partner. I am simply granting them and all others who perished at your hands a chance to fight again. A chance at revenge."
More violet crystals erupted to further the tainted domain and, four of the skull-clad corpses sprinted out but evaded Bucephalus to attack the army behind its King. The real Hassan-i-Sabbah's personalities were long since dead, but these echoes still retained the originals' deadly skills. Five men fell to the sudden onslaught before spears pierced these ghouls, and even then, they succeeded in killing two more before they were put down.
And still more engaged. "Dismember them! The smaller the pieces, the better!" Rider ordered his soldiers while swinging his sword through another thin crystal that nearly impaled Bucephalus in the neck. They answered with a mighty roar, and he returned to his enemy. "You're a cruel creature and a liar, Megatron. You have no interest whatsoever in their desires."
"You know me so well, Iskandar," the founder of the Decepticons teased before sweeping his arm out. On that cue, all of his reanimated corpses truly charged at their foes, and as they marched onwards, so did the darkness as well. The lands grew corrupted, more and more crystals sprang forth like misshapen trees, and darkness spread over the sky while these monsters groaned and howled their fury out to the world.
But despite this nightmarish scene approaching them, not so much as a single shiver passed through the King of Conquerors and his loyal men. They readied their own arms and met the ghouls' charge with their own spirited one, smashing through crystals that were brittle enough and evading the larger ones. Even Waver Velvet forced down his fear and joined in their cheers; though he was useless in this sort of battle, he would not run away or even avert his gaze from this battle. Such was his duty to his bond with Rider.
Meanwhile, Rider X simply watched this clash of living versus dead from high above his perch, his smile emphasizing the edges of his denta.
Archer witnessed these proceedings, his lip curled in disgust. "Every time I believe that upstart cannot become even more repugnant…" he murmured as that violet corruption continued to spread, "he proves me wrong." He had been looking forward to destroying this Reality Marble, a world made manifest by a singular dream of thousands: unite the world by way of conquest. And now that otherworldly interloper had gone and contaminated it with his own trick. Dark Energon… Is this how he envisioned recreating his world's "Golden Age?"
His musings were interrupted by Berserker X rushing him again. Archer instinctively summoned two portals to counter his slash, then unleashed another three that made the bigger Servant pull back. "So eager to plunge headlong into your death… Should you not be heading down there to support Rider?"
"He's a big boy and doesn't need me to fight his fights for him," Berserker X waved off his taunts. "And if the rustbucket does manage to kill him with his freaky shit, I'll just take him down to avenge Kandy after I'm done with you." The second part of that statement made Archer's eye twitch, but the Heroic Spirit of Madness continued unbothered. "And on that note…" he slashed again, and the raw power behind his swing cut the air itself towards his opponent. "Why the hell are you letting yourself get distracted by another fight?"
The flying slash hurtled at such speeds Archer couldn't deploy the Gate in time and connected. But as the sand cleared, the golden King stood unharmed, having crossed his forearms over his face for added protection. He then lowered them to scoff at the brutish attack. "This armor was forged by Urukian smiths, the greatest of this world's history. That battered excuse for a blade you wield could never hope to cut what withstood the Bull of Heaven's charge. And why should I bother investing any real attention to your slaughter?"
Berserker X simply smirked at the challenge and crouched slightly, but then an array of portals shimmered into existence to surround him in a circular formation. He barely had a chance to raise his sword before the weapons blasted down upon him. Gilgamesh watched this deadly rain with a triumphant sneer. For all of his massive power, the brute was no Saber with how he swung his toy. All savagery, no technique.
"I can let my attention wander however much I wish… fool." With those words, he turned once again away from the massacre and back towards the other battle; the Gate of Babylon's barrage would've surely atomized the beast. Hmm, I may as well have a little wine while I watch… He raised his right hand to summon a goblet-
"My world's a pretty big place, too…"
Archer froze. No… That couldn't be possible. His head slowly turned towards the massive cloud of dust his barrage had created. "I've run into plenty of stuck-up bastards who'd tell me my sword could never cut them," that rough voice rang from it, not sounding so much as winded. The cloud slowly began to clear, permitting a better view of what should've been a mass of flesh and bone nailed to the bloody sand by his treasures. "But you know something, Goldy?"
Archer barely managed to make out Berserker X's body standing tall amidst the sand cloud before it was suddenly hurtling towards him. Jingle. With a snarl, he fired a Persian hero's spear straight at that blasted grin drawing closer. The aim was slightly off, so the tip landed between it and that deranged eye…
And sliced open his cheek as the beast pressed on and then Archer saw a metal tip-
He dodged and jumped back to safe ground, his hand pressed over the right side of his face. A little mirror with topaz lining its golden rims appeared in his free hand, and he slowly removed the other to let himself have a good look at the bloody rent just beneath his eye.
"I've yet to meet the guy whose eye or throat couldn't get cut." That wretched brute was leering at his blood smearing that battered piece of metal he called a sword. Then he turned back to him. "You've got so many goodies stored up your ass, and not one of them's a helmet?" He snorted. "Who here's the real fool?" Multiple cuts and gouges ran across his torso and limbs, blood staining the black and white robes, and even the gash along his left cheek bled profusely. And Berserker X acted as though he had been enjoying a nice shower.
Archer barely registered his words, his attention fixated blazingly on his reflection. The cut was a straight line, going all along the side of his head. More than a few strands had been halved, and part of his upper ear was missing. If he hadn't dodged (dodged) the thrust, it would've been halved. No… the damage could've been even greater.
He'd nearly lost an eye to this thuggish cretin!
Needless to say, Gilgamesh, King of Heroes, oldest Heroic Spirit of this world and Wedge of Heaven, was not a happy person in this moment. "You dare…" He flung away the mirror away and spread his arms wide, rows upon rows of portals emerging from thin air. "Are you proud to still be standing after receiving my treasury's grace?" The Servant appeared to be bathing in golden light. "Are you proud that filthy steel of yours managed to slip past my armor?!" His teeth gnashed together. "Are you proud of spilling my blood?!"
"Kinda," Kenpachi answered while slinging his nodachi onto his shoulder. "But honestly, that you're not untouchable after all suits me just fine." He tapped a large gash on the left side of his chest and chuckled. "If something bleeds, it can be killed, right?" The first few Noble Phantasms began to fly in the same instant his feet pushed off the ground, and some missed him while his sword smashed others to bits. "I can get behind that!" Jingle.
Archer's face contorted from the rage burning inside his head, and he reached into one portal to withdraw a broadsword just before that savage came within striking distance again. Sparks flew from the swords' clash; the Servant of the Bow held the favorite blade of a European chieftain, but his arm strength paled in comparison to that of the Servant of Madness. And for all of Kenpachi Zaraki's disinterest in proper swordsmanship, he was by far the better combatant. Gilgamesh was sent staggering back, a light graze by his throat dripping blood.
The Babylonian monarch growled while calling forth a fresh batch of portals rocketing at his enemy. "If something bleeds, it can be killed,' eh?" He parroted as the Gate'sbarrage tore across the sands. "I should commend you for having just enough sense to realize this truth and aim for where my armor does not reach." He sidestepped another rush from Berserker X and swung his sword. "But it applies to you as well!"
Another truth: Though his ferocity had not lessened in the slightest, the Shinigami Servant now sported quite a few injuries, all of which leaked blood. Mana Burst had shielded him from the brunt of Archer's rain of weapons, but even with the Seals' power, he wouldn't heal from them so easily, especially if he kept charging recklessly into the fray.
Even so, Berserker X's attacks were only growing wilder. Jingle. Archer's sword was batted easily out of his grip, but he managed to block the slash that followed with his arm. The chipped blade ran screeching along the gauntlet's golden side before crashing into the ground, a pillar of sand erupting from the impact.
Archer inspected his gauntlet with a proud scoff. "As I told you, dog, this is among the finest armors ever constructed among this world. You couldn't hope to put a scratch in it with that scrap of a-" Metal flashed again, and he leaned his head away as the tip struck his left pauldron… and carved into it. "What?!" A golden war hammer materialized and slammed into Berserker X, separating the two.
But blood still leaked out of the fresh hole in Archer's armor. He stared at the damage in furious disbelief before a crunching sound drew his attention. "Sorry." He lifted his glare to where that blasted mutt had stomped his hammer into a crushed mess. "You were saying something about scratches?" He bit back a growl at the taunt.
Kenpachi made a few practice swings to the side, each one forming an even bigger crater in the sand. Took me long enough to get the hang of that tin can's toughness. He flashed a broad grin and cracked his neck. "Thanks for the workout, I think I've been goofing off a little too much with Kandy Bar, Qrow and the kid." He raised his sword to a ready position. "Let me say thanks…" He raced again towards his target. "With this!" Jingle.
New portals shimmered into existence around him and launched new weapons at Berserker X who only made minimal effort to dodge them. Most of them, he simply swatted away with his sword, or their trajectory was slightly knocked off course by the raw mana he was leaking. Some found their mark, but their cuts and piercing seemingly left mere superficial wounds.
Gilgamesh was practically radiating golden light as he opened the Gate of Babylon even further. But he wasn't simply "shooting" at random anymore, he had adjusted his tactics. Some treasures were released simultaneously, others at slightly different intervals, and the portals "aiming" them were positioned at different angles to lower the chance of that wretched blade swatting too many away in the same motions. He made sure to keep his distance from it, too. That barbarian was quicker on his feet than expected, and he took every opportunity to close the distance. It was wise of Archer not to test his armor's endurance any more than had already happened.
That said, the King of Heroes' wisdom was gradually becoming overwhelmed by his rage. The rich metal covering his body shielded it from the foulest of spells, even petrification from Humbaba, and for it to be damaged by a frayed piece of steel, scrap metal swung about carelessly by some foreign beast with more brute strength than reason; well, that alone rankled him, but there were other details about Berserker X that caught his ire.
Jingle. Those silly bells and their persistent little ringing inside his ears… That little black piece of reprehensible fabric taunting him from where it hung over the dog's right eye…
Eventually, the blood rushing inside Archer's head (and dripping out of the cuts in his cheek and throat) became too much to bear, and in his next barrage, he tracked Berserker X's movements and launched the fabled Chinese weapon, Hōtengeki, straight at his head.
Kenpachi had also been growing used to the speed those portals could things out, so he easily twisted his head out of the spear's path. It whistled harmlessly past his eye, the blade splitting a few hairs… And a certain black strap.
Something dark fluttered to the sand in Hōtengeki's wake. Jingle.
An instant later, yellow enveloped all of Gilgamesh's sight.
Rider was splitting a corpse down the middle when he noticed a familiar column of mana burn the distant sky. At the same time, a jolt ran through Waver's Magic Circuits. He gritted his teeth even as he heard his Servant mumble, "Finally getting serious, Kenpachi?" That made the boy nod to himself. Both he and his body painfully remembered the sensation of Berserker X removing his eyepatch and opening all floodgates on his power. It was why he'd spent the day binge-eating and sleeping out on leylines: to stock up on mana. And it was paying off, judging by how Waver's Circuits ached but kept going. He could endure this.
Rider X noticed the power surge as well. It seems you neglected to put enough effort into killing that brute, Gilgamesh, he gauged, focusing his senses. Yes, Archer was still alive… but not unscathed, from what he could tell. Best-case scenario is those two tearing each other to shreds, but if Berserker X survives, he may come to his partner's aid. If it's Archer, then he will seek both Rider's head and mine. Either way, it's high time for the next step of this campaign.
An odd thought considering the current state of his "army." Ferocious as the undead may have been, Rider's forces still outnumbered them by a wide margin. The twisted environment brought about by Dark Energon had forced them to move more carefully than the spirited charges they preferred, but under their King's leadership, the soldiers of Ionioi Hetairoi successfully routed their reanimated enemies and carved them into pieces too small to be restored. Not even a thousand of their own had fallen, and most of the troops, including the entire rear guard, hadn't even needed to engage.
Now they were marching to surround the crystal spire where Rider X stood. The antagonistic Servant didn't make any move to counterattack or leave his spot. His "territory" itself wasn't expanding anymore, allowing Bucephalus to trod along the dark space with little trouble. Rider breathed through his nose as he listened to the groans beneath his steed's hooves. "I had expected better from you as a fellow conqueror, Megatron," he called up, pointing his sword at the structure. "Surrender, and I may give you the dignified death you denied them."
Rider X leaned over the side enough for his expression to become visible. And disturbingly calm despite his current situation. "A courtesy I shall not extend to you, Iskandar," he replied in his rasp. "And I for one had hoped for a little more guile from the King of Conquerors."
"Steady," Iskandar ordered his spearmen and archers as they bristled from the slight. Better to save their projectiles for a coordinated effort and before he try any other tricks. Confident in their restraint, he returned to their foe. "Bold words from the being who threw the echoes he so cruelly perverted to their destruction. Now you stand alone, just as you claimed."
"Whereas you are supported by your treasured companions?" Megatron shot back, a dark smirk playing along his mouth. "Remind me, which qualities again did you deride me for implementing in my strategies? Ah, yes. Subterfuge…" His smirk widened. "And deception."
Rider frowned. Why was his rival so relaxed? Was he still hiding another Noble Phantasm? We shouldn't take unnecessary risks with him, he decided as he raised his free hand high, a signal for his troops to ready their weapons. Bowstrings were drawn back and arms bent to aim the lances, all within two seconds of the troops registering their King's action. Just as he made to give the order, however the screams reached him:
"M-my King-Arrrgh!" No, no, nIARRH!" "Wh-what is ha-HURK!" "Help us!"
Rider immediately ceased and turned his head in every way, concern marring his broad lines. He recognized those voices. They were his own men. Impossible! We destroyed all of his corpses! He whirled about among his confused men, they too, trying to pinpoint the cries.
Then the answer struck him in the same moment as Waver pointed a finger shakily. "T-the ground…" he whispered in horror. "Beneath them…" Rider saw it, too: an area of pitch-black sand much like the one Rider X had first conjured up, only with much smaller crystals spawned… and it was right under the main body of Rider's army.
Numerous men had collapsed onto these sands, writhing and screaming as violet energy seemed to spread across their bodies like a sickness. No, a sickness was the perfect way to describe this horror. Those who had a modicum of sense remaining desperately swiped their swords or spears at those yet to be infected, then they tried to hack off their own limbs or even impale themselves. Only those who had been at the forefront of the charge displayed no symptoms, and they quickly ushered over the others who'd evaded them as well.
But that was little comfort as they were forced to bear witness to these grisly scenes, hear their agonized cries slowly turn into familiar groans. Waver Velvet barely kept himself from regurgitating, all of this reminded him far too much of what he'd seen in Caster's hideout. Iskandar's heart clenched the most as his eyes trailed along the rows and rows of men, his men, suffering under this corruption. How could I have been so blind?!
Laughter rumbled down upon them as Rider X sauntered along the edge of his podium, eagerly watching these horrific proceedings. "How overwhelming the sounds of a battlefield can become, eh, Iskandar?" He shook his head in mock pity. "So easy to overhear cries for help."
He laughed again when his rival's red eyes glared up at him. "Did you actually believe that rousing the corpses of your enemies was the extent of my strategy? I admittedly had my doubts such a feat was even possible in your Reality Marble, but it provided me with a little more time to seize control of the soldiers I was actually after: Yours."
Waver's mind raced in a panic even as Rider's grip tightened on his sword and the reins. Of course… The boy's eyes darted from the crystal structure to the hidden patch of corruption. He put on a big show with the enemy corpses and these crystals to distract us. While the front lines were busy demolishing what was in front of them, he concentrated his power in the rear guard. He gulped as the thrashing slowly ceased and the infected rose moaning to their feet.
Iskandar had come to the same conclusions, his jaw clenching tightly at his own foolishness. He should have anticipated such treachery from Megatron, his rival had spent the entire duration of this War putting on an aggressive front while he gathered allies and resources from the shadows. One big diversion of darkness and corpses… and I still fell for it!
"Why so surprised, Rider?" His enemy's mocking tone only added oil to the fire. "Misdirection is a fundamental rule of warfare." Rider X placed his hand onto his place, and a ripple of dark energy spread through the crystals. "As is the exploitation of every resource you acquire." Master and Servant alike instantly realized what the smirking fiend meant.
The fallen of Ionioi Hetairoi, those who had died valiantly facing the undead, shuddered collectively and rose jerkily to their feet as well. Those soldiers still untouched by Dark Energon quickly clustered together, spears out to ward off men they once knew as brothers.
A hand with purple cracks along its length lunged for Waver, making him flinch away with a yelp. He held desperately onto Bucephalus neck lest he fall off, and Rider swiftly sliced away the tainted limb. He made to bring about the blade for a slash but froze upon seeing the ghoul's face. "Mithrenes…"
Bile involuntarily swelled up inside the boy's throat as he, too, recognized the soldier who had served as messenger in the battle against Caster. That face, once dignified and reserved, was now slack and utterly pale, even the violet glow of his eyes seeming rather lifeless. Yes, there was no life left in him. Just a twisted mockery of the loyal soldier he had been before.
A single tear trickled from Iskandar's right eye as he followed through on his motion.
But even as the helmeted head flew off his shoulders, the body still made to spear Bucephalus, and Mithrenes' King was forced to cut him to pieces, a swing releasing a ragged howl from the steel. All around him, his men were desperately trying to fend off attacks from those they had called brothers only a short while ago. Rider's heart wrenched at the mournful cries that washed over him, some in pain from injury, others when they cut down. He might've been imagining it, but even those infected by Dark Energon seemed to be suffering.
And this entire horrid situation was brought about by one abominable being. "I told you upon the end of your little banquet, Iskandar…" He raised his head to stare in utter hatred at the one responsible, and Rider X simply smiled back down at him. "When we meet on the battlefield again, I will teach you what it means to be a conqueror." He raised his right hand to show three fingers. "And I shall do it by taking your army," one finger curled down, "your kingdom," another finger, "and your title." The final finger became a single clenched fist.
The Cybertronian conqueror cast an arm out towards the sands yet untouched by Dark Energon. "Such a beautiful dream you have, King of Conquerors," he taunted the trembling Servant of the Mount with the title he sought to claim. "The very fields of golden sand you and your army marched across in life, preserved in this single moment of eternal sunshine and clear skies. A reminder of how far your path of conquest led, and in the same breath, a stimulus to push you and all who rally to you on to new adventures. Truly, one of the most magnificent dreams one could ever witness, perhaps even the most magnificent of all."
Those metallic fingers straightened, and the darkness spread over these lands, crystals and lightning defiling the once graceful desert. "But it seems you never grasped a simple truth in life, Iskandar:
"Any dream is but one step from becoming a nightmare."