Major love and thanks to EVA-Saiyajin-kun for the beta and added extra parts. He is and will continue to be a major help to improve this fic. Everyone say THANK YOU EVA-CHAN!
Now that is over with, man oh man, this chapter took a lot of effort. So I hope you all will enjoy this. The first chapter got me over 20 reviews at once! I am so happy! Please review your thought and have nice day!
Ch2 Monster of the Mist vs Monster of the Greeks.
Shirou stared in awe as Tohsaka Rin, the school idol, dabbed a drop of her blood on a piece of broken glass from his house's windows and used her magecraft to fix the damage .
"Well that's the last of it…But I am sure you would have fixed it on your own, right Emiya-kun?"
"Uh…Actually I can only use projection and reinforcement…I am an amateur with magecraft." Shirou answered in all his flawed honesty.
"Huh? Are you serious? So you can't use any modern magecraft or any of the 5 elements?" asked Rin in disbelief.
"I am afraid not." Shirou chuckled while rubbing the back of his head.
"And somehow a complete amateur managed to summon a Saber Class Servant and joined the Grail War…So you are one of those abnormalities in the war…A Master that does not qualify, but is selected by the grail to fill the open spots." Rin pondered as she rubbed her chin.
She turned her eyes to the blue skinned man sitting by the table with a cup of tea and a plate full of dangos. He was chewing on the vegetable and the sea food fixed flavored ones as he downed it with a cup of tea.
This Servant seems nothing like any Saber she has imagined. He is a powerful swordsman alright, and completely overwhelmed Archer who had displayed a great deal of melee skill against Lancer…It clearly shows why in terms of melee combat, Sabers are considered the finest of the finest.
However what confuses her is that this Saber seems nothing like any Saber she read about or any heroes for the matter. She studied for the war for years…She dug through her father's notes and books to fill her head with knowledge and facts to prepare herself as the Tohsaka Toushu(Head), but never has she read of a half shark, half man swordsman wearing a black cloak with red clouds…he even gave away his name, but she recalls no Hoshigaki Kisame in anything she read.
She considered that perhaps he was using a false name, but erased that thought. A Saber has nothing to fear; for they are honorable beings…Despite the fact the man had no trouble threatening to cut her legs off. He said he was a shinobi…Japan's historical assassins and spies…They are known for their secret service, so was it possible to have a ninja who was half aquatic? She was not sure and doubted it would clear soon.
"Well, regardless of your lack of skill and knowledge, you need to meet the supervisor of this war."
"A supervisor? There is a supervisor…for a war?"
"Yes! The supervisor is my old mentor and a priest in a Shinto church…I might as well as bring you there myself." Rin said as she walked toward the door. Shirou hesitantly followed her and Kisame stood up to trail behind them. But suddenly Rin turned to them.
"Hey! Why isn't Saber in his spirit form?"
Kisame chuckled lightly.
"Ahhh…It seems my contract with Shirou-san is rather…flawed and incomplete…While he has the Command Seal, it is not stable enough for me to enter spirit form." Kisame replied in an amused tone. "Or perhaps because I am not even a part of this world's history…Well it doesn't matter for now." Thought Kisame.
"Huh? But wouldn't you waste a lot of prana being in physical state? I can see your stats, as a master and it is very impressive, but even with that…"
"I assure you Ojou-chan, I am rather full right now and Samehada had a good enough meal from our fight for me to last for very long time." Said Kisame, grin in place.
"Ah…I see…"
"Kisame-san, what does it mean?" asked Shirou, not in his element.
"Well…Heroic Spirits are as they are named, spirits. We are the souls of the dead given physical shape by the magus to fight for them. Normally summoning us is impossible for modern magus, but with this Holy Grail ritual, it is made possible. However, maintaining a Servant is still a difficult task even for a trained, competent Master and for you whose power is weak and unrefined, it is impossible for you to even properly give me energy to maintain form."
At those words Shirou felt crestfallen at the fact that his lack of skill was hindering Kisame. In a war of 7 pairs of powerful people and spirits, to be handicapped must be disastrous.
"Well, under normal circumstances any other Servant would fight with a considerable disadvantage, but not me."
"Huh?" said Rin and Shirou simultaneously.
"Do you know how else Servants can obtain prana?" asked Kisame.
Shirou shook his head while Rin nodded.
"A Servant can get extra power by feeding on human souls."
"Huh?"
Rin turned to Shirou with a frown at his lack of knowledge.
"As explained before, a Servant is a mass of energy given form. It is a spirit…As in something akin to a ghost. They can feed on souls of living beings to power themselves."
"And this war allows that?" exclaimed Shirou in disbelief and disgust.
"It is frowned upon, but it is allowed. This is a war between magi Emiya-kun, what did you expect? This is a ceremony that pools billions of man hours, effort, money, and knowledge. This is by all means an all-out war between 14 individuals."
Shirou nearly blared out what he thought about it, but managed to control himself. Thankfully Kisame continued on.
"Correct Ojou-chan, in a war that is completely allowed. In a way if you complain it shows your foolishness and lack of resolve. If you die than all that crap about fairness means nothing after all…But I don't even need to rely on soul feeding to acquire prana." Kisame explained with his shark tooth grin in place.
"What do you mean? You mean to say you have some other method that other Servants can't use?" Rin asked. She knew of another way, but that way is…awkward.
Kisame nodded as he patted the hilt on his back, the sentient sword purring at his touch.
"Because of a certain part of my legend, I have an enormous amount of chakra…Which was converted to prana here. Because of my rank of A+ in Mana I have a large stockpile to indulge from. Also, my Noble Phantasm, Samehada, can drain energy from anything. Be it people, animal, spells, boundary fields, or even natural energy lanes…Anything with significant energy I can take it for myself."
Everyone's eyes widened in understanding and surprise. Even if Shirou can't fuel him, he can get energy elsewhere. Just by fighting he can acquire energy from opponents. Even if he is completely inactive, he can still absorb small amounts of mana from the atmosphere around him, due to Fuyuki City being rich in mana with the Holy Grail War taking place.
This is the reason why Hoshigaki Kisame's abilities didn't deteriorate by being summoned by an amateur magus like Emiya Shirou. His natural ability and circumstance allows him to be in his top shape regardless of weak master. (Be noted this is not like when Gilgamesh was transferred to Kirie or Saber to Rin or Sakura. Kisame is feeding himself so it is much different from those two.)
"So…About this church…is it like a temple?"
"No, but it is close." Shirou answered as he put his shoes on.
"Pity…I used to spend a lot of time in a temple to meditate…Whenever Itachi-san needs to relax."
"Itachi?"
"He was my partner…A real swell guy…killed his entire clansmen in one night…He was a real scary guy with skills to boot. In a way, I wouldn't even dare fight him." Answered Kisame in all honesty and respect for his old silent partner of Akatsuki.
Rin and Shirou shivered at the thought of someone who even scares a Saber class Servant. Archer on the orther hand narrows his eyes as another unfamiliar name was mentioned. Just who is this Hoshigaki Kisame?
Kisame stepped outside to take a deep evening breath as the cool air wrap around his skin.
"Itachi-san…In the end I was not such a bad guy…And now…" He thought to himself. "In death I found another amusing thing to occupy myself with…I might get a chance to see what I am before my moment of death…Once again."
Rin, Shirou, and Kisame were walking down the street to head for Kotomine Church to register Shirou and Saber for the 5th Holy Grail War. Before leaving the house Rin suggested covering Kisame to not arouse attention. Shirou offer a yellow rain coat, but…The shark's death glare sent the message loud and clear.
"You sure that straw hat will do?" asked Rin as she led their group.
"I assure you Ojou-chan. This straw hat will do."
Kisame was in his Akatsuki cloak wearing his large straw hat with straps on it…It made him feel nostalgic for the old days when he and Itachi traveled everywhere to hunt for Akatsuki and hunting the Jinchuuriki….Ah, good times.
They managed to reach the church and Kisame suddenly felt the boundary field around the church and smirked.
"Yare, yare, what a troublesome bunch…These seals have some interesting properties…Is it masking whatever that dark aura is coming from? What do you think Samehada?"
"(I don't know, but I can still eat it with no indigestion."
"If that is the case then please, enjoy."
Samehada shivered in excitement as it drained the church's natural energy lane and its boundary field of its energy. He didn't eat all of it…just enough to remain in tip top condition…Okay so he ate enough to pack extra power.
Normally, any other Servants would feel sick here, but with Samehada draining the energy and converting it to prana, Kisame was just fine. Also he was no noble hero, so whatever this dark aura was…It meant nothing to him.
The three plus the hidden Archer entered through the church door.
"HEY! FAKE PRIEST! I GOT SOMEONE FOR YOU!" yelled out Rin and her voice echoed in the dark church.
Tap…tap…tap…tap…tap…tap…tap…tap…tap…tap…tap…tap… tap… tap… tap… tap… tap…
"Honestly, Rin. How many times must I remind you. You must be silent in a church…This is the house of god and it is a place of worship and silent prayer." A voice intoned from the corner. The voice revealed himself as a middle age man with long and neatly kept brown hair and dull eyes appeared. He dressed in a holy robe of priest and had an aura of…someone dangerous.
Shirou felt the back of his hair stand at the man's entrance…For some reason he had an urge to fight this man…This kind of sudden hatred…It was unnerving.
Kisame smirked at the man's entrance. This holy man…He has the aura of a shinobi, someone who drives in lies and shadow. As a missing nin of Kiri, or specifically as a Kiri-nin, Kisame seen many nut jobs and in Akatsuki it was not like they lacked any, so he didn't mind the strange priest.
Kisame was no noble knight. So long as the priest who felt a little off didn't bother him, then he had no reason to cut off his legs and kill him…for now, anyway.
"Well? Why have you came in this ungodly hour Rin…You even brought guests? That is new." The priest said with no change in his expression but a light mocking tone. He walked…No, glided toward them in a smooth motion.
"I have a bunch that needs to know the rules for this Grail war." Rin said as she pointed to them.
"Oh…And you young man?"
Shirou walked up to the strange priest. "Emiya Shirou." Answered the young boy, and he watched as the expression of the man of the robe narrowed slightly and faded.
"Emiya…Shirou." The man repeated. "How interesting." He looked up to see the man in the black cloak and red clouds. He was now wearing a straw hat, but Kirei has seen this man before, through Lancer's eyes, but for formalities sake…
"And this must be…"
"Konbanwa….Ore wa kono Sehai Sensou no Godaime Saber…Hoshigaki Kisame-desu…Yoroshiku-desu.(Good Evening…I am the fifth Saber of this Holy Grail War…Hoshigaki Kisame…Pleased to make your acquaintance.)" Kisame greeted in his polite manner.
The priest nodding in greeting and saw the shark tooth like smile underneath the veil…Even after the Servant revealed his name to Lancer he couldn't find out anything on this Hoshigaki Kisame. To think a Servant give away his identity…And here he thought the war he himse had been at 10 years ago was the abnormal one.
"It seems there is always an odd one out in the war, huh." Thought the wicked man of the robe.
"Konbanwa…Welcome to my humble church, the lord welcomes all lost sheep in his home and it is my duty to guide them. I am Kotomine Kirei, the supervisor of this war…Yoroshiku."
Shirou can feel that this meeting will be a tiring one.
(Scene Skip!)
"Rejoice, boy. Your wish will finally come true…." Said the priest as the group left the church after the meeting was over. Kisame smirked as the man of the robe revealed the depth in his master that he didn't see before.
"A hero huh…What an interesting dream you have, my Master…" thought Kisame as he watched his Master frustrate himself over what the man had said. Kisame didn't think it was a bad thing. Sometimes having someone rub you the wrong way can help you mature after all.
While Kisame didn't care much for his Master's mood, said Master on the other hand was in conflict within the depths of his mind.
"I don't like that priest."
Emiya Shirou is a kind soul…It takes a lot to get on his bad side and earn his dislike and hate…
Shirou did not like the priest.
Not one bit!
Even from the few minutes Shirou had spent in his presence, it had become obvious to him that father Kotomine Kirei seemed to take some kind of deep, sick personal joy in irritating everyone around him. However Shirou felt his very being tense and repulse at that man's presence. Not even Rin felt such dislike towards her old mentor and after all the dresses he had gotten her to tease her that is saying something.
Perhaps it was the aura of smugness that seemed to permeate him, the air of 'I know all sorts of things you don't know, but I will hint a few to watch you squirm.'
Or perhaps it was the dark, mysterious presence that set off the alarm in his head.
Or maybe…because he knows too much and his words hit too close to home.
"You can even heal those invisible burns... "
"To save someone, there must be someone in trouble first…"
"Only by having misfortune, can you strive."
"Rejoice, boy. Your wish will finally come true."
Oh, the last one got on his nerve a lot!
Kotomine Kirei...This will not be the last time he will meet the priest.
Rin Tohsaka and Shirou Emiya walked in silence, Saber/ Kisame was walking a short distance from the duo. Archer was nowhere to be seen, but Samehada growled, sensing a faint presence above them, making Kisame smirk.
"A spirit form huh? Rather useless since Samehada can sense prana like no other." thought Kisame, before perking up, glancing up towards the hill from where the group had just departed. "Hm, looks like the night's entertainment hasn't ended just yet."
The two students were silent as ever. Neither one of them, if they were being honest, wanted to think too hard about what happened next. The next part will be complicated.
Tohsaka Rin's actions in taking him to the church have been her means of repaying her debt. She had no other reason to associate with him. She was expressing open eagerness for hunting the other masters down. By all means they are enemies on opposite sides and after this weak truce is over, then they are full time enemies.
"We'll part here." Rin said as she gestured to the crossroads, one path leading back the way they'd come to reach the church, the other leading further into Shinto.
"I've repaid my debt, and it would be troublesome if we stay together any longer. We should part here and become enemies from tomorrow on." Rin said with her arms across her chest.
Her words, while polite, were rather blunt.
'There is no need for pleasantries or words, because you are still my enemy.'
For Shirou, who is an example of a swell and a nice guy, something like this is way out of his comfort zone, however…He did decided to fight, so there is no turning back. Also from what the priest explained Servants has their own reason to be here.
Shirou glanced at Kisame.
"Kisame-san is here for a reason as well…It won't be fair for him to be summoned by me, no matter the reason, and forced to give up for me…"
It doesn't mean he cannot show his gratitude to Tohsaka though.
"Well Tohsaka... even if you say that, I don't want to consider you an enemy. To put it frankly, I think you're a good person, even if you try to say you're not. Frankly, I hate having to be your enemy, because…I like people like you.
"Huh?"
It was kind of odd to watch. First Rin's eyes widened. Then her face turned red. Her heart beat faster as the boy who attracted her attention many years ago…over jumping over high setting bar!
"OH MY GOD! Did he just say that? Ano~Baka! HE has no clue what he's saying does he?"
"Hee hee hee hee hee…How interesting…What an honest and sugary master…Nothing like Itachi-san, but nothing bad. This little show is an amusing precursor to the main event." Kisame thought.
"I feel like I'm going to be sick…Was I ever that naïve?…Oh yeah…I was…" thought Archer as he looked at his younger self and his Master going through what was practically a romance script.
Rin managed to regain her voice as she hysterically pointed her finger at Shirou.
"B-Ba, ba, baka! What are you saying?...Wh-Whatever! Just make sure you use those Command Seals sparingly! If you use them all up, then run to the church for protection!"
While the two teens went through their teen romance crisis that has not even officially started yet, Kisame stepped up.
"Maa, maa…While watching you love birds is highly entertaining, I believe we have a rather dangerous guest waiting for us."
"""""WHO ARE YOU CALLING LOVE BIRDS!""""
"Wait? A guest?..."
Before Rin could recover completely and receive her answer, a soft, adorable and surprisingly ominous giggle filled the air.
"Nani?"
"What is going on?"
"She's here!" though the knight in red.
"So…Another pair decided to reveal themselves…Took their sweet time." said Kisame as he walked in front of Shirou. He pulled out his Samehada and removed the bandages on the top…revealing its dark purple shark skin. He looked up from the street he was on towards the top of the high hill and saw their opponents.
"Are you two finished?" a young voice called out sweetly from the top of the hill.
There, at the top, two figures were slowly illuminated by the moon as the wind blew away the veil of clouds. The mist surrounding them fade as it revealed their forms. One was a little girl, clad in an expensive looking long purple coat and fur hat. She gazed at them through crimson eyes with long, pale silver hair glistening against the moon light. She did not look to be Japanese. Her features were European in origin. Though he had only seen her once before, Shirou easily remembered her from a few days prior, where she had given him a suddenly not-so-cryptic warning.
"You really should summon your Servant soon…Onii-chan…"
Oh, he should have known.
Behind her, an inhumanly massive figure loomed grimly, a powerful creature parodying a man's shape. Heavily muscled, with skin the color of brownish lead, with two dull, black metallic plates protruding out over his forearms from grey-black bracers, which the titan wore along with an armored kilt and grey-black anklets. The behemoth's hair was black as night, and shaggy, falling behind his face, which was set in a permanent, rage-filled glare. One eye yellow gold, the other a gleam of crimson. The giant was standing still and yet one can still feel the powerful killing intent rolling off of the man like the steam of a hot spring…Only this steam can kill those with weak hearts easily. It's as if a knife is being pressed against one's heart, instilling the understanding that death will come instantly if one moves.
"Berserker…" the twin-haired girl mumbled, fear tingeing her voice.
"Berserker? That is one of the servants right?" breathed Shirou with a hint of…Okay a lot of terror in his tone.
Rin nodded her head. "Berserker… the mad hero who forsakes his mind for physical power…They are known for their strength and the difficulties involved in controlling them…But this one…HE doesn't seem like a typical weak hero who exchanged his mind for power does he?"
"Hmm…Ojou-chan is correct…This one seems like he was someone strong and yet still was summoned as Berserker…This fight will be interesting." Kisame grinned as he stepped forward.
"Good evening, Onii-chan. We meet again," the snow fairy Master of Berserker giggled innocently with a soft smile like the moon overhead. The contrast between her demeanor and the circumstance sent chills down the two Masters' spines.
While the killing intent behind the monster's mere presence effectively crushed Shirou's resolve to even move, Rin had the presence of mind to analyze the situation. She used her special 'eye' that was given to Masters to read the Servant's status and the results weren't exactly promising. "Crap… he's way out of our league." She muttered under her breath.
"Perhaps so." Replied Kisame as he stepped forward.
Rin checked the Saber's status against their enemy…Even now not everything about Kisame was understandable, but Kisame has basic stats that rival Berserker's…If Kisame uses all his skills fighting Berserker head on and with Archer who is still rather banged up as back-up…This situation is not out of their control yet.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Rin. I am Ilya. Illyasviel von Einzbern yoroshiku." Said the white fairy as she curtsied politely.
"Now, I'll kill you all." The way she spoke those words was disgustingly pure, almost like she didn't understand them. "Go ahead, Berserker," she sang happily.
"GGGUUAAAAHHH!" roared the titan of iron skin as he charged forward with his stone club in hand. The bronze giant was big as he was fast. In lightning like quickness he covered the distance between them in no time.
"GUUUAAAHHHHH!"
He swung his large slab of a weapon at the Masters.
CCCLLLAAANKKK!
And it was blocked by the shark skin sword, in a thunderous crash of weapons. The force of the collision between them ripped apart the ground around the two Servants, and sent Rin and Shirou flying. Rin was caught by Archer before she could hit anything, while Shirou was lucky enough to slam through some bushes before hitting the ground, leaving him with some bruises and a slightly skinned back, but otherwise unharmed.
"My my…the Berserker class doesn't seem to have enough manners to introduce oneself…Well, at least I'll give my introduction." Said Kisame as he used all the strength he could muster in his right arm. He was using twice the power he used against Archer and Lancer, but it was no use…So using one hand against Berserker is wishful thinking…
This Berserker has A+ in term of Strength while Kisame's Strength is ranked B+, the conditions for the latter being that Kisame must simply have used Samehada against an opponent. To use one hand is highly dangerous so Kisame swings his word with both hands.
"GGGGGGGGGGAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Roared Berserker as he came down at the smaller giant. Kisame swung his shark skin sword to counter the overly powerful but simple strikes. As dozens, than hundreds, of strikes flew through the air, the area around the two warriors was introduced to a whirlwind. Cars are totaled and sent flying to smash through walls and into the ground. Lamp posts are ripped in two. Walls begin to explode. Trees are uprooted or ripped apart. And the ground begins to resemble the target of an artillery bombardment.
At first Kisame was excited, but he noticed how despite Berserker's clear overwhelming power, to the point that even Kisame could not match him in strength, his skills had deteriorated to the point of a joke. He saw academy kids with better swords skill.
"His attacks still follows the principles of sword strikes…" thought Kisame as he blocked an overhead strike with his sword and spun around to lessen the impact. He then smashed his sword against Berserker's open side, ripping apart an already mangled car behind him, and leaving a small group of rips and tears in his skin. However, Berserker stumbled only slightly before resuming his vigorous attacks, too quickly for Kisame to take advantage of, his minor injury already healing.
"…However his strikes are always a swipe in a horizontal, diagonal, or vertical direction…Never a stab…My, my, he is no beast, but an animal…I can't even call this one a beast…After it will be an insult to that Konoha no Aoi Moju(Konoha's Bizarre Beast)."
Ah that guy…He was an interesting one.
"Compared to that man's insane power and skill…Berserker…you are…"
Kisame ducked a slash from the right which destroyed a fence behind him and part of a house porch, along with the house's front windows, and jumped back further, but Berserker gave a tight chase.
"…Lacking."
Kisame quickly made a hand seal and smiled. Following that, he jumped into the air, far slower than before, and his leg was grabbed by Berserker's huge hand and he was swung around like a rag doll as Berserker smashed him into the floor and again and again.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Squashed and bashed!
The sound of bones shattering and flesh being torn apart could be heard as Kisame was reduced to a pile of bloody meat. "Hee hee hee hee hee…Your Servant wasn't so bad…despite the fact he was a fish Onii-chan. He actually managed to keep up with Berserker. Illya said as she danced about. "But he was no match for Berserker…Because he's the strongest hero in all Greek history."
Rin gulped audibly while Archer who reappeared when the fight began leapt up on top of a house away from the Masters, black bow in hand. From his position, silver stars hurtled through the night like a machine gun, striking all over Berserker's body. Such a barrage could have destroyed houses, yet Berserker didn't even flinch. The power of the barrage was less than nothing to him. It was as if the arrows didn't even exist.
As her Servant's attack failed to do anything, Rin managed to get hold of her voice as she responded to Illya's declaration. "Strongest of the Greek…Th-that means…Berserker is…" the magus in red managed to say, her words painfully forced.
"Yes. My Servant is the demigod known as Hercules. Your Servants aren't even close to his league," Illya confirmed cheerfully.
Shirou gulped down as well…Hercules…What person never heard of that hero…What hero can match him? And more importantly, what happened to his Servant!
"KISAME-SAN! ARE YOU OKAY?" yelled out Shirou in concern, but the smoke and debris of the two Servants' rampage covered Kisame's form from sight.
"Hee hee…I am sure that fish man is a paste under Berserker's feet. And now it is your turn."
Before she could order Berserker to attack, everyone noticed something wrong…Where is Kisame's body? The white and grey smoke and dust settled down, but there was no sign of Kisame's dead body. The only thing left where Kisame had been was…a puddle of…water?
"What happened Berserker? Did you crush the fishy's body into dust?"
Berserker obviously didn't answer as he looked around. While his mind is clouded with rage, his instincts are still well intact.
"Yare, yare, what an interesting fellow. While you didn't notice the Mizu Bunshin with an extra storng does of prana and the substitution jutsu, you still realized I am alive…What a mix." A voice sounded above them. Everyone looked up at the top of a miraculously intact telephone pole and on the top of it was Saber…Alive and well.
"While this fight is interesting…" He jumped off the pole, flying dozens of meters through the air, and landing in the middle of a graveyard that the group had gotten close to during the fight. "Fighting in an open field is better."
Berserker, not caring how the blue thing survived, only caring for killing it, charged mindlessly into the graveyard. His massive stone sword and his killing intent cloaking him the Servant of Madness jumped into the air and landed in the middle of the graveyard. Berserker roared as his voice nearly woke the dead as he charged at the smirking Servant of the Sword.
Kisame smirked as he went through a set of hand seals.
"While this jutsu requires a delicate touch, but with enough power, I can use it my way. Suiton: Mizuame Nabara (Water Release: Starch Syrup Capturing Field)!" declared Kisame as he spat out high-viscosity, chakra infused water, aimed at a surface of wide scope.
This is a stream of sticky liquid that can be used to form an adhesive trap that can inhibit a person's mobility. One can effectively reduce their enemy's area of activity with this technique, and it has ability to take complete control of the battlefield. A factor Kisame will use in this fight to the fullest.
"Please…Come into my trap like an angry bull." Kisame thought, as he thought over the other aspect of this jutsu.
The normal scope of this technique is normally just a few meters, but with Kisame's prana level he can make this jutsu into a wide battle field range weapon.
The syrup like water trap was wide and strong. Its stickiness can trap any normal Servants, but Berserker was no ordinary Servant.
With his power and speed, he can run just as fast in the water syrup, but slightly…just slightly his speed decreased along with his stability on the ground. While small, for Kisame, it will be a critical bonus. Also, this jutsu contains one of his little additions, chakra absorbing water. So long as Berserker fights on it, Kisame can drain him of his prana even without using Samehada up close.
Clank! Clank! Voosh! Duck! Clank!
The two exchanged countless blows with beyond inhuman speed and skill. The sound of their unusual weapons clashing could be heard wide and far as their power increased to outpace one another. And the whirlwind formed again, turning the graveyard into a maelstrom of destruction. Berserker's deafening roar rang in everyone's ears, but Kisame's grin never faded as the fight dragged on.
"This is unbelievable…Saber is actually keeping up against Berserker head to head." Rin muttered in disbelief.
She and others watched as Saber/Kisame exchanged several wild blows with Berserker. They watched Berserker roar as he smashed aside several grave stone to hit Kisame, but the Mist nin was keeping up blow for blow. It was clear that Berserker had a lead in the strength department, but Kisame was cleverly blocking and just as quickly redirecting the attack to the side in order to protect himself. While it looked like a contest of strength, Kisame was actually nullifying Berserker's insane power enough to push back with his own impressive strength. Again and again, gravestones were shattered and sent flying from the force of the titans' strikes. Kisame had landed dozens of earth shattering blows, but the wounds were mostly minor, and many had already healed.
"Hmmm…I've drained a large quantity of prana from this beast, but he's not tiring…That little master of his is more powerful than she looks…it is like she is a walking prana battery….Is she a Jinchuuriki?" thought Kisame as he flipped back.
"It is clear sword attacks can only do so much…must use ninjutsu now."
Kisame made a single hand seal. "Suiton: Kirigakure no Jutsu.(Water release: Hidden Mist jutsu)" said Kisame was a thick layer of mist cover the grave yard. The mist thickens as it covered his form from all. However Berserker's instinct is not dulled by his Mad Enhancement, so he charged forward with his ferocious roar.
"Now for the finishing touch." Kisame thought as he wordlessly made a mizu bunshin to take over the fight while he moved back.
Kisame observed using Samehada's sensory ability and observed Berserker killing his weak water clone and senselessly search for him.
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR BERSERKER! FINISH HIM OFF!" came the cry from the other side of the mist, her shout giving away her location even without Samehada's sensor ability.
"Ho ho…If I was that gaki, Zabuza I would have killed the little missy, but…I like doing things the hard way." Kisame muttered as he started to go through some hand seals. The next one will be a big one.
Tiger → Ox → Monkey → Rabbit → Ram → Boar → Ox → Horse → Monkey → Tiger →
"Normally even I would use this jutsu with a body of water nearby, but I have enough energy to burn with no problem."
Dog → Tiger → Snake → Tiger → Ox → Monkey → Rabbit …
Kisame finished the chain of hand motions with a 'bird' seal.
"Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu(Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique)!" declared Kisame from the mist as the very mist itself gathered together to reveal his location. Berserker saw the mist fade and saw Kisame with no weapon in hand.
"GGGUUUUAAAAHHHHH!" roared Berserker as he charged at Kisame with his right eye glowing red.
"Too late!"
Kisame also released more water from his mouth to increase the volume of natural water and his own to make his jutsu bigger. He gathered a great ring of water in front of him and the surging waves spun around at high speed as it built power. This attack, would contain all the force of the great oceans of the world. Then in an instant the large surge of water blasted towards Berserker like a falling waterfall, smashing into him and sweeping him away. Not even the mighty Berserker can stand against a natural disaster like wide range, A rank jutsu. The force of the water smashed Berserker's body against the debris and the ground. He was swept away, taking countless gravestones along for the ride and smashed into a hill, plowing a short distance through it before coming to a halt.
The aftermath of the jutsu was the end of a natural disaster alright as the entire graveyard was a mess, looking like the aftermath of tsunami. Berserker was waist deep under the remaining water as he slowly got up.
Berserker shook off the massive damage from the A rank attack that would kill some weaker Servants, but Berserker is not some weak Servant. He had a few broken bones, was a bit dizzy, and ached all over (though he didn't really feel it in his mindless rage). All of which were healing or being shook off. However, the impact of the attack made the opening Kisame was aiming for.
"AN OPENING!" Kisame yelled as he swung his great sword, Samehada, at the kneeling Berserker from behind. Berserker's God Hand and his natural endurance made him a tough opponent to hurt, let alone kill. However with one well-placed attack which packed just enough power after actually weakening Berserker with a powerful attack that he can't hold his ground against might do the trick.
Great Waterfall Technique was the first step to weaken him and as for the well placed strike.
"ORAAA!" yelled Kisame as he smashed his Samehada right into the side of Berserker's head, applying enough force to rip a navy frigate in two.
Berserker might be strong, but there are certain parts of the human body that cannot be as hard or tough as other parts. You can strengthen your neck, but there is a limited amount of force it can take before snapping…A large heavy sword swung by someone's whose strength level is only a few steps behind Berserker will do just fine.
Berserker's head bent down at a very odd angle, while Berserker himself was imbedded into the hill from the force of the strike, with deep gashes on the side of his face. Rin and Shirou gasped at Kisame's final blow, while Archer looked on, impressed despite himself. And Illya…never stopped smiling. If anything, her smile only got larger.
"B-Berserker is…Taken down?" muttered Rin.
"As expected… Saber class Servants are all monsters." Archer muttered as he narrowed his eyes at the shark man. "But this is not over."
"Kisame-san!" Yelled out Shirou, glad the mad man was killed, but he stopped and watched in horror as Berserker slowly pulled himself out of the earth with a broken neck that slowly…snapped back into place? Not only that, all the damage he had taken was healing.
Only for it to be snapped AGAIN, as Kisame swung Samehada into his head with even more force than before, as a result of spinning it dozens of times over his head as Berserker revived to gain centrifugal force. "Interesting. High speed regeneration? Or Forced Revival? Pondered Kisame as Berserker went flying, neck bent even more than before, and smashed through a tree before plowing into the earth of the graveyard, another life taken from him. Kisame charged after him, his image too fast to be seen by all but Archer.
"In that case, let's see how much it can take!" Kisame bellowed as he leapt into the air, the force of his leap shattering the earth he stood on. Flying several stories into the air, he made a single hand seal before spitting out a large amount of water, all of which flowed around Samehada upon creation. Spinning, spinning, spinning so fast at speeds the fastest drill ever created could never dream of achieving, a great conelike drill of water formed around Kisame, with its killing end focused on Samehada. Wind became roaring all around the area, brought on by the tornado like force of the water drill's speed. Coming down like a meteor at Berserker, who was slowly standing up, his neck healed again, Kisame roared.
Suiton: Sōdai Kaisaku(Water Release: Great Excavation)!
The titanic water drill slammed into Berserker's upper back, instantly smashing him into the ground while cratering the land around him. A typhoon of air pressure and wind ripped up the already pulverized graveyard even more, sending the remains of gravestones flying about, and uprooting several trees. The drill continued to plow into the giant, ripping apart Berserker's great lead skin, before exploding into a great wave of water in all directions.
"Brace yourselves!" Archer yelled, appearing in front of Rin and Shirou who had been moving about to follow the fight as close as they could get. Heeding his warning, having seen Kisame's awe inspiring technique, the two teens did as ordered, before a wave about half as high as their heads plowed through the area sweeping them off their feet, but also cushioning their fall. Archer had remained unmoving as the wave swept through, and slightly lessened its impact. As the waves stopped, and things calmed down, the Masters and one Servant slowly approached the area where the water had originated.
Upon arrival, even Archer's eyes widened.
Kisame was standing over the fallen giant. Said's giant's back had been torn apart, a great gaping wound, most of his spine was destroyed, several organs were damaged, and part of his heart was missing. But even with all that, it was all regenerating, albeit at a slower pace than before.
"Heh. Taking one of my stronger A rank jutsus directly, and undefended, yet you can still revive? How interesting." Kisame grinned, before feeling a spike of prana through Samehada. Pinpointing the source, he espied Illyasviel in the forest, safely away from the battle, but close enough to observe. She was no longer smiling, but she still didn't look upset.
That's quite a large amount of prana, what's she up to?" Kisame wondered before noticing something out of the corner of his eye. Turning back to Berserker, his eyes widened slightly. His terrible wound…was almost healed.
"I don't think so!" With both hands he swung Samehada at Berserker's head again, aiming to kill him with the strike that had succeeded before. Yet this time, his sword made contact with Berserker's skull…and didn't even budge it. The ground in the direction that Kisame swung gained a new mark as a great scar formed from the pressure of the strike, but Berserker, was unmoved.
"Nani?" Kisame exclaimed, before Berserker suddenly leapt up, his great stone sword swing around from his front as he spun around. Taken completely by surprise, Kisame was too slow to react as the slab smashed into his chest.
"Gguuhh!" groaned out Kisame. He was sent flying and smashed into the remaining rubble of some grave stones, before plowing a trench through the ground before coming to a halt.
"Ughh…what the hell was that!" Thought Kisame, a great gash on his chest and stomach. His internal organs are damaged and his ribs shattered. It reminded him of the time when he fought the Hachibi no Jinchuuriki and the Konoha no Aoikaju…However.
"…Samehada…"
"Gigigigigigigigigigigigigi(Got it)"
Kisame slowly felt Samehada's prana filling into his wound, he can feel his prana healing the heavy wound and the damaged organs are quickly being healed. However, as a shinobi it is better to drag the fight out to heal more, and find out why his strike failed to even budge Berserker. And what better way to buy time than to make the enemy talk.
"Kore wa…Do you mind explaining young missy?" he called out to the white haired girl, who had moved a little bit closer to the battlefield, as a steady flow of blood spilled out of his great wound and mouth. Illya smiled and spun around with a laugh.
"Well, since you asked so nicely fishy Saber-san. While you're pretty good to be able to kill Berserker three times, it is meaningless. Because you see, Berserker's Noble phantasm, God Hand grants him 12 lives."
"! 12 lives?" exclaimed Rin, who had seen Berserker's skill and status in detail with her eye of a Master…It takes a lot to even wound Berserker, so to kill him 9 more times…It is madness!
"Oh? That is impressive…So I need to kill you 9 more times then? This is getting rather problematic…But why did my last strike fail to injure him?"
"Heehee, you struck Berserker so many times with that blade, his Noble Phantasm developed immunity to it. You won't be killing him even one more time. There is no one in the world that can beat Berserker. Berserker! Finish him off." Cheered the young girl as Berserker roared in response.
"Kisame-san!" yelled Shirou as he ran to the man who saved him and bound himself to him as a partner.
"Emiya-kun!" exclaimed Rin as she tried to chase after the suicidal fool, but Archer stopped her.
"Don't be a fool, Rin!"
"I can't just let that baka go get himself killed!"
"He is an enemy master! Have you forgotten that?" scolded Archer and watched her frown as she thought over the situation, however before she can come to a conclusion. A voice interrupted them.
"Rather cold of you Archer-san…How about you help me out for a bit."
Archer quickly turned around with his Kanshou and Bakuya: Gan Jiang and Mo Ye in hand. He looked at the owner of the voice behind him and his eye widened in surprise.
"You? But how?"
"Hee hee hee…I would like for you to help me out now…Archer-san."
"KISAME-SAN!"
As Shirou ran to Kisame to help him, somehow, Berserker noticed the boy's sudden approach and his instinctive reflexive attack shot forward as he redirected his club to split the boy into two…However….At that moment he turned his menacing eyes away from Kisame.
"Foolish!" declared Kisame as blood spat out of his mouth. He raised both hands in a single seal.
"Suiton: Suigadan (Water Release: Water Fang Bullet)!" roared Kisame as the massive amount of water below them twirled and spun around to form fangs. The spinning water fangs shot forward and stabbed and thrust at Berserker from all direction. Berserker roared as several drills of water slammed into him and some even smashed at his face and blinded his vision, filling his ears with the roar of waves. Kisame had pushed just enough prana into the technique in the short time he had to raise its power and rank to A, barely.
"OOHHHH!" roared Kisame as he not used the Suigadan as a piercer, but as a tower. The drills of water were unable to pierce Berserker's iron skin, but were able to push the giant into the air.
"Suiton: Suikōtoppa(Water Release: Water Shark Breakthrough)" declared Kisame as he thrust his fist forward. He released a modified long range version of Suiton: Suikōdan no Jutsu (Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique) and let the large water shark bite into Berserker's body. The water made shark swam high into the sky.
While the water shark might not have enough power to kill Berserker again, it did bring Berserker high into the sky and into the open air.
"Is this high enough?" asked Kisame while lying on the ground with his chest wound already healed
"Archer-san." Said another Kisame standing behind Archer who was sporting a black bow and a drill like arrow on the bow. The white haired Servant pulled the arrow back and stared at the helpless giant in mid-air.
"I am the bone of my sword…My spine drilled into this arrow…" muttered Archer.
Caladbolg II: The Fake Spiral Sword is a modified version of the original Caladbolg using Reinforcement. Archer encountered the original at some point during his lifetime, and added it to the numerous Noble Phantasms stored in his collection. He modified it to suit the needs of his fighting style. A sword used as an arrow.
This Broken Phantasm packs rank A worthy power. More than enough to knock a life out of Berserker.
"A small ripple compared to the great sea that is Berserker…However this small ripple shall become the foundation…The necessary step to become a great wave to finish you off." Said Archer as the drill like arrow sparked and glow with untamed power. The very air around him twisted and turned as it aimed at suspended Berserker.
Before firing Archer angled his head at the grinning shark man behind him…This Saber is no Arturia…He is powerful and tricky…He has shown skill with a sword of abnormal power and water magecraft of very high levels.
"He needs to be killed as well…along with the boy." He decided to add extra power into the arrow, hoping the greater blast can engulf Kisame as well as Berserker.
"That means I need to hit Berserker when he descends just enough to add the boy and his Saber in the range of Caladbolg's attack and keep Rin out!" thought Archer as Berserker fell just enough.
He released the arrow and watched as highly unstable and volatile Broken Phantasm slammed into Berserker and engulfed him in a furious explosion and immense fireball.
"GGGGUUUUUUUUUUUUAHHHHHHHH!-"
The howl of Berserker was overpowered by the sheer roar of the explosion, and the wall of fire and wide spread explosion reached for the ground where Kisame and Shirou were. Time seemed to slow down. Shirou saw the wall of furious fire approaching him. He weakly saw the death approaching him and closed his eyes.
"…Father…" thought Shirou.
However, Kisame didn't feel like dying right then.
"Suiton: Bakusui Shōha (Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave)!" roared Kisame as he blasted out a large volume of water. Instead of his usual small ocean amount he released a volume of water equal to a large lake. The massive amount of water covered the two of them underneath and blocked off the massive amount of fire and prana from the Broken Phantasm. The water released a large amount of steam as it was evaporated by the sheer heat of the Broken Phantasm.
However, the power of an A rank Broken Phantasm is no laughing matter. The weaker version of Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave would only boil them alive, so…
Instead of using the large volume of water as a shield, the pair of Master and Servant allowed the raging waves to carry them away.
"OOOHHHHH!" roared out the monster of the Hidden Mist as the force of his waves sent him and his master away from the blast range. The force of the impact sent them far. Kisame resurfaced as he pulled his Master above water. "Well…That was a fun little experience was it not Master?"
But Kisame suddenly noticed the smell of blood on his Master. He quickly turned around to check on him and found a shard of metal stuck in his stomach. Shirou groaned at the hot piece of metal that was once part of Caladbolg II that had managed to pierce through the mass of water stabbed deep into his body.
"Ugghhh…." The pain of the prana made shard of metal burning into his stomach. His very being shook as the wound caused him a great deal of trauma and blood loss.
"Oi! Master!" Kisame pulled the boy up and stood on top of the water. The small lake that was as deep as hill. Kisame ran across the water and got to dry land in no time. Kisame laid his Master down on his back and checked the wound.
"What happened?" exclaimed Rin as she ran to them.
"A stray shard!" replied Kisame, but he kept his eye around for Archer just in case.
"I know I felt that Saki (Killing intent)…While I can respect opportunists… I'll keep my eye on you…Archer-san." Thought Kisame as he observed the wound on his Master.
"This seems simple enough…" he turned to his sword.
"Samehada, can you heal him?"
"Gigigigigigigigigigigigigigi(I can do something about it)" Samehada, the Great Sword has ability to absorb an insane amount of prana, however it also has power to restore its wielder's reserves and able to heal their wounds.
Kisame grinned as he grabbed onto the shard.
"Wait! What are you doing?"
"Removing the shard." Answered the Shark man as if it was perfectly normal removing the shard of metal in a wound that was preventing massive blood loss.
"What about after that? Do you know how to heal injuries?"
Kisame didn't answer as he tugged out the metal shard with a swift pull and held the wound down. Samehada stretched its handle to touch Shirou. Kisame felt his sword transfering a bit of his chakra to mend his master's wound. Kisame watched as the wound in his Master's stomach begin to fade bit by bit.
"What? Your sword can heal people?"
"Indeed ojou-chan." replied Kiame as he watched the wound swirl and seal shut. The wound was still raw, but the blood stopped flowing. The angry red flesh beneath the skin twitched as it repaired itself slowly. Interestingly enough, as the wound was healed, Samehada and Kisame noticed an interesting concentration of energy in Shirou. By the pure prana in his abdomen…It is not demonic in nature…what could it be?
Kisame smirked as he lifted his master up like a sack of potatoes and turned to the younger girl. "Ojou-chan would you mind helping me? As you can see I am no healer…Who knows what might happen to my Master. Also…That guy is alive."
Rin's eyebrows rose in confusion as Archer appeared behind her with a scowl. "I killed him…But it seems my attack only killed him one time."
From the conflagration of smoke, fire, steam and water was Berserker's form revealed, fully healed once again. The giant of madness turned to the group of Masters and Servants, however he didn't attack. Berserker lifted someone, which was revealed to be Ilya, and allowed her to sit on his shoulder.
"Your Archer isn't so bad either…Rin. Both your Archer and Oni-chan's Saber managed to kill Berserker four times now…That deserves praise. However, Rin…Next time, I will kill you." Said Ilya as an afterthought. "Let's go home Berserker." Berserker growled slightly, but merely kept his eyes on grinning Kisame. He slowly turned around and walked towards the field of fire.
Ilya turned to face the group. "I'll see you next time…Bye bye…Oni-chan."
The group watched the deadly loli and her giant vanish, and Rin let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Well…This war just started and I am all excited…Don't you feel the same, Shirou-san?" Kisame asked the injured boy.
"Uuggghhh…" the boy groaned out.
"I agree, it is spectacular." Smirked Kisame as they he headed back to Emiya house…With Rin and Archer tagging along.
END
And that's the chapter two of my latest fic. How was it? Funny? Cool? Or was it bad…it wasmn't bad was it(Add Ilya puppy eye here…Or the yandere loli glare)
Well regardless, please review! Don't be shy and please once again I like to thank EVA-Saiyajin for his help.
Bye bye…(Ichimaru wave)