Author's Note: Here is the fourth Chapter.

FGO Material III was released recently and carried more information on Jekyll's skills and abilities. Apparently, his Self-Modification skill as a Berserker is a higher rank than as assassin. I've taken the liberty to change his previous status sheet.


Of Relics and Men-Chapter 4

On a hill that overlooked Miyama town, Archer looked out from his position on the edge of a highway. It was a good position, and with Archer's Clairvoyance skill, he could perfectly watch the duel below that was taking place between Saber and Lancer. Unlike the skirmish he had with Saber the night before, this was truly the first major battle of the Fourth Holy Grail War.

In this position, he also had a chance to analyze Lancer. The reports from Kayneth's familiars hadn't amounted to much other than his Master judging Lancer to be an average enemy that Archer could take out quickly.

As Saber and Lancer fought, Archer could immediately see that wasn't true. As someone who had been a great teacher of heroes and warriors in the Age of the Gods, Archer had an excellent grasp on how to rate the abilities of Heroic Spirits. As Lancer fought, the sage could immediately tell he was an extremely skilled and powerful warrior. Whatever assumptions his Master might have made about the spearman's strength was wrong. The speed, skill, and strength of this warrior were something that Archer rated as being one of the greatest threats of the Holy Grail War.

This Lancer wasn't the least bit inferior at all to either of his most celebrated pupils, Hercules, and Achilles. It wasn't like Archer was dismissing the abilities of Saber or Berserker, but Lancer was a hero in a league of his own.

More to the point, he also recognized that Lancer's armor was a Noble Phantasm of some sort. It had the same kind of otherworldly aura that his divine spear carried, the weight of myth and legend that a Noble Phantasm carried as a symbol of heroism. Whatever that armor, it was just as much a symbol of Lancer's legend as the golden knight's spear.

With that in mind, he would try to figure out who this Lancer was. Even if he hadn't lived in the same era as Lancer, the Throne of Heroes granted Servants knowledge of legends throughout history and myth. So even if he hadn't been born in that same period, Heroic Spirit Chiron could recognize the exploits of Cu Chulainn or Siegfried.

More than his concern regarding Lancer, the appearance of Berserker worried Archer. That was for a different reason. He could tell that Berserker wasn't powerful enough to defeat Lancer or Saber by himself. His concern wasn't Berserker's strength.

Rather it was his nature. Archer instinctively recognized Berserker as not being a Heroic Spirit. The mad beast carried the negative surge of an Anti-Hero. There wasn't any way the strange black howling creature in the distance could be a proper Heroic Spirit.

That was problematic because as far as Archer knew, the Holy Grail was only supposed to summon noble heroes. He had even questioned his summoning as a former Divine Spirit but, he dismissed that due to having degraded to the rank of Heroic Spirit. However, somebody like Berserker shouldn't have been summoned unless there was some fact about the mad warrior that Archer was missing.

This posed a series of troubling questions about the Holy Grail.

Aside from questions about the Holy Grail, Archer was also puzzled as to who Berserker was. His first guess might have been a being with some tie to the werewolf legend, judging from his appearance. King Lycaon might be a candidate, but from firsthand knowledge of Lycaon, Archer knew that not be true. It could be possible that Berserker was someone else connected to the werewolf legend.

Regarding the fight below, that was taking place in the Tohsaka garden, it was hard to say without knowledge of their Noble Phantasms who might win. As it currently was, Archer didn't think that even Saber and Berserker combined could overwhelm Lancer. The golden spearman was a rare and exceptional warrior who wouldn't back down even when facing those kinds of odds. The intervention of Berserker would only change Saber's unfavorable situation to a stalemate.


The silver knight and the black beast came at Lancer from two directions. Though it hadn't been their intention, the two Servants launched a simultaneous attack from opposite directions. Saber's sword and Berserker's claws darted forward to strike at Lancer. It certainly was a fearsome prospect, a double attack from two fierce Heroic Spirits at the same time. Had Lancer been an average Servant it certainly would have been an unfavorable certain-kill situation for him. However, the golden knight was hardly anything but average in that respect.

The massive spear in his hands blurred into a web of golden steel as Lancer put himself into a defensive stance. At once, the ferocious battle was renewed with a new participant. Whereas previously Saber was being driven back, now the tide had changed with the introduction of Berserker.

Lancer's spear weaved and deflected attack after attack with effortless skill and agility. The invisible sword scraped against the metal of the divine spear alongside the barbed claws of Berserker. Try as they might they couldn't disarm Lancer's splendid defense. However, the golden warrior had been unable to deflect all the blows.

Saber achieved a sword stroke to the shoulder. Berserker's claws tore at his throat and stomach at different angles. Yet these attacks only inflicted scratches or dark bruises on Lancer. These were more injuries that the golden spearman quickly healed with magical energy from his Master.

It wasn't like Saber or Berserker were making half-hearted or weak attacks. All of their blows were fierce ones with the intent to kill, as benefiting the ferocity of Heroic Spirits. However, none of their attacks on Lancer inflicted anything more than slight wounds.

The answer to that mystery is Lancer's shining golden armor Noble Phantasm. In other words, Kavacha and Kundala: O Sun Become Armor. It is the suit of armor and earrings that his father Surya had granted him after his mother Kunti begged him for some boon for her child. It was a great Noble Phantasm that reduced all damage and conceptual attacks to one-tenth of their strength. With this armor on, Lancer had been considered immortal in life until it was stolen through trickery. It was truly the sort of Noble Phantasm that was practically a cheat ability.

The same occurred again and again. Attacks to the spearman's limbs or vital organs were reduced to scratches that were quickly healed by Lancer. Meanwhile, all of Lancer's attacks were delivered at full force at Saber and Berserker.

Despite the rapid-fire torrent of spear strikes from Lancer, Berserker advanced fearlessly into the brunt of Lancer's attacks. The spear tore grievous wounds in Berserker's body, smashed his bones and ripped out his eyeballs.

However, to Lancer's astonishment, the damage was quickly repaired right before his eyes. Berserker himself also possessed an exceptional durability. It wasn't a divine suit of armor that Lancer owned, but rather a great vitality that had been granted by Berserker's superhuman drug. It was even possible to recover from being hit by a powerful Noble Phantasm.

This ability was the "Restructuring" ability that Berserker possessed. The owner obtains rapid regeneration. His internal organs regenerated or moved around to avoid spear strikes. It truly was a durability and vitality on part with a Phantasmal Beast like a werewolf or the Hydra species.

This durability was what Saber now exploited. Even if he had Berserker's cooperation, the mad warrior wasn't an ideal ally. There was no real sense of support or coordination due to Berserker's insanity. The mad beast advanced without strategy or tactics, just trying to annihilate Lancer. If Saber got too close, Berserker might lash out at the silver knight as well in his madness.

So Saber utilized Berserker as a meatshield to absorb Lancer's spear strikes while he maneuvered around to get more of an advantageous blow on Lancer. It was hard, due to Lancer's skill, but Saber was trying to inflict as much damage as he could to kill Lancer.

Even if the golden armor reduced his attacks to a minor effect, it might still be possible to inflict damage in an area where Lancer had his vital areas, such as the head or the heart where a Servant's spiritual core is kept. If he struck hard enough, he might inflict severe damage on Lancer.

Then he found his opportunity. Berserker lunged forward as Lancer pierced the mad beast on his divine spear, the spearhead of the heavy weapon impaling the howling Servant through the stomach. The weapon now skewered Berserker, but also, more importantly, he temporarily trapped Lancer's weapon.

Saber kicked off the ground, running up the swollen muscles of Berserker's back. His magic circuits flared as he put his Prana Burst into full throttle, the result of the draconic heritage granted to him by Merlin. With this in conjunction with a temporary release of Invisible Air, he hoped to have enough cutting power to kill Lancer.

''Hrrrrraaah!'' the silver knight's yell of triumph came from above.

The invisible sword in his hands began to blaze with prana as Invisible Air stirred into wakefulness, like a raging storm. With his sword in a two-handed grip, the silver knight attacked. Saber's sword was squarely aimed at Lancer's head, where the sword would split his skull in two.

As Saber closed in from above, Lancer's gauntleted arm reached out and grabbed the sword barehanded.

At once Saber's descent was halted, the blade striking deep into Lancer's palm. An attack that would have taken off a limb in normal circumstances had been reduced to one-tenth of its power. Blood trickled down Lancer's gauntlet as the golden warrior held the invisible sword.

Then Lancer began to shine like the sun. A torrent of fire billowed out from every part of his body in an escalating inferno that engulfed both Saber and Berserker. A perfect circle of flames scorched the ground around them, leaving not a hair out of place.

When the fire cleared, Saber and Berserker had been blasted away, the latter having his body scorched and burned by Lancer's flames. The fiery attack was delivered by Lancer's version of Prana Burst, different from Saber's technique; it expelled flames. It was a product of his divine blood from Surya, who commanded the radiance of the sun in Hindu lore. Had it gone on for longer, he could have inflicted much more damage on his enemies, but such an ability is costly regarding prana, and Lancer can't even maintain it for ten seconds.

However, with his opponents down it was only prudent to advance and kill them. Lancer raised his spear-

''-Oh? Are you back up already?'' the golden spearmen raised a single white eyebrow.

Berserker growled and got up, regenerating quickly, the grapefruit-sized wound in his stomach closing. Truly his recovery ability was exceptional, being able to receive an attack like that and then come back for more.

''Even behind that mask of insanity, you have an indomitable fighting spirit. I can only guess how much it will take to kill you,'' Lancer nodded respectfully. Even under Mad Enhancement, Lancer could read Berserker's personality and understand the man inside the howling beast. He perceived the vigorous and resolute feelings of justice and courage that resided in the weak man who had transformed into this beast.

Berserker charged again, his claws and limbs lengthening as a response to Lancer's greater reach. This change was another one of the abilities of Berserker's Noble Phantasm, granting him the Self-Modification abilities and Shapeshifting abilities to better aid him in close quarters combat.

He didn't stand a chance of defeating Lancer, but he would be able to buy enough time for Saber to recover. While he didn't have the miracle abilities of Berserker's superhuman drug, Saber was still a high-ranking Servant and could heal wounds with prana just like Lancer did for the scratches and wounds on his body.

However….

There wasn't a significant amount of damage on Saber, if only because he used his own Prana Burst to offset the flames that Lancer had produced. His skin was dirty and scorched, and there was soot on his armor, but he was still in fighting shape.

''Is that it Lancer?'' Saber gave a challenging grin, bringing up his invisible sword once more, the winds whipping around as he prepared to release it.

The situation had seemed worse than he thought. With that golden armor and Prana Burst ability so similar to his own, Lancer's defenses and abilities were formidable indeed. If this kept on going, he would have to release Invisible Air and use his actual Noble Phantasm. Needlessly to say he was reluctant to do that given the sheer scale of destruction that would result from using Excalibur in this suburban area. Lancer and his Master would probably be dead, but what about the innocent civilians nearby? It was something that a knight like him was reluctant to do.

He stepped forward to stand next to Berserker, his injuries healing from his prana intake. Undoubtedly his Master Kiritsugu must have been in some discomfort now, given a large amount of magical energy he just took from him, but Saber couldn't afford to worry about that now.

Once again the silver knight attacked the golden spearman alongside the mad beast. The invisible sword cleaved through the air as the black claws scraped against the divine spear that Lancer wielded. At once the shining warrior leaped to meet their combined charge.

With his right hand, he grasped his spear one-handed and used it to deflect Saber's attacks. With his other gauntlet, he lashed out to block Berserker's darting claws. It was a peerless display of martial prowess and skill that was worthy of the great hero Karna.

With that exchange Lancer landed behind Saber and Berserker, twisting around quickly, grasping his divine spear in both arms again before setting it aflame once more. This time he intended to press forward and hit his opponents with a certain-kill attack to either the head or the heart to put them down for good.

As he pressed forward, his charge was arrested by a dozen arrows striking him in the chest, flinging him backward several feet. As the bowman had prepared the arrows beforehand, the arrows had struck with the accuracy and force of a missile launcher.

While the arrows didn't inflict any significant damage on Lancer due to Kavacha and Kundala, their sudden momentum still pushed him back several feet away from Saber and Berserker, giving them the split second they needed to compose themselves and turn around.

''Archer,'' the golden spearman muttered, knowing that these arrows could have only come from one Servant. There was evidently another Servant waiting in the wings for him after this.

Then before anything else could be done, there was the sound of thunder and a flash of lightning as a grand chariot arrived at the battlefield.


It was thunderbolt and lightning that heralded Rider's arrival.

A large ornate chariot descended from the skies; it's steeds running on lightning bolts in the air. It was a divine-blessed cart, pulled by two handsome bulls that were clearly creatures of the gods. Unquestionably, it was a Noble Phantasm.

Its charioteer was a massively muscled man clad in crimson and burgundy. The Servant was a tall mountain of a man with craggy, commanding features and red hair like the dyed mane of a lion. His cloak billowed behind him, further framing his dramatic entrance. A broad grin spread out on his face while a slight, trembling boy clutched at his side.

Servant Rider had been watching the battle unfold between Lancer and his assailants, Saber and Berserker. It truly was a splendid fight, worthy of Heroic Spirits, and Rider wanted to go out and praise all of them for their exceptional martial skill. However, he had an offer to make before the battle would have reached its conclusion.

After all, he couldn't let any more Servants die before he came and extended his generous offer to them? After all, that was part of the reason why the King of Conquerors had taken the field tonight, to extend his offer of alliance to other Servants.

So with that, he had descended into the battlefield below on his steed.

''Sheathe your weapons! A King has arrived!'' the figure, Rider proclaimed with an air of authority.

At once all activity in the garden was ceased, that was except for Berserker.

The mad warrior did not have the comprehension to understand Rider's commands, nor did he care. Under the curse of Mad Enhancement, he promptly attacked the intruder as his chariot set down on the ground. Claws and fangs extended, he rushed at Rider.

With one whip of his reins, the crimson Servant riding the divine chariot directed the bulls to trample forward suddenly. In one sudden movement, the Gordius Wheel rushed forward and smashed Berserker underfoot, the hooves and lightning trampling the black beast with pulverizing force.

The form of Berserker went spinning away into the pulverized dust, but almost instantly, the body of the mad warrior repaired itself. Rider whistled in acknowledgment at the impressive recovery ability of Berserker. Even when being hit by Rider's Noble Phantasm, Berserker's ''restructuring'' ability was able to repair the damage and restore Berserker to fighting condition.

Once again the black beast rose again and rushed at Rider, only to be met with the same response by Rider's chariot, lightning-wreathed hooves smashed into the maddened beast who attacked without reason or tactics, sending Berserker down again.

''This guy is troublesome,'' Rider sighed as a hint of irritation colored his tone.

With this, Rider understood the truth of the situation. Berserker did not have either the sanity or clarity to understand his offer or reasoning. So in other words, he was just the same as the rest of his class, a mad beast who rampaged around in battle. He had to remove Berserker or else his negotiations would be halted prematurely.

''Berserker's Master! I take offense at this crass response! Withdraw your Servant, or I will ally with Lancer and crush Berserker with our combined might!'' Rider proclaimed into the night.

A few seconds later, Berserker roared and then turned into spirit form to retreat. Undoubtedly his Master was watching the battle through the eyes of nearby familiars and used a Command Spell to make Berserker retreat.

''That's better…'' Rider grinned and turned around to address both Saber and Lancer.

''Heroic Spirits! I come here to extend an offer to you. I am Iskander! The King of Conquerors! I have been summoned under the class of Rider for this Holy Grail War!'' Rider loudly proclaimed.

''R-rider you idiot!'' his Master sputtered in shock, having recovered from his fear.

Lancer watched impassively as Rider's Master began to berate him loudly. It was a bold and foolish move, to announce one's identity freely in the Holy Grail War. To do so would reveal all sorts of information and weaknesses to potential opponents.

If Lancer himself revealed his real name, it would undoubtedly reveal the truth behind Uncrowned Arms Mastership. Also, to anyone who knew his famous legend, one could easily see the curses that Lancer had been burdened with in life.

''Saber! Lancer! You both had a magnificent battle! I was hoping to extend this offer to Berserker, but alas that did not work out very well .'' The crimson giant sighed before continuing.

"I ask you to lay down your arms and join my great army! Together we can acquire the Grail together!'' Rider proclaimed.

It wasn't a lie or mockery. Anyone could tell Rider was extending the offer with full conviction and sincerity. Still, it seemed like another insane or ridiculous proposition. After all wasn't the Holy Grail War a deathmatch with only one winner?

Lancer could see and understand the truth of Rider's convictions. He meant every word he said. He was a hero who preferred to have his opponents join in a bond of friendship and brotherhood. The golden knight understood this was a man with a truly incredible vision that was suitable for a hero. He also understood that the King of Conquerors held an incompatible existence with the Saint of Generosity.

''What a peculiar offer Rider. The Grail won't materialize without the other six Servants slain. Otherwise, cooperation would have been possible among Masters in the past. What you propose is inherently an impossible dream'' Lancer spoke harshly and coldly. Without giving Rider a chance to reply, Lancer continued.

''To that offer, I must refuse. I have sworn loyalty to only a single man in this Holy Grail War,'' Lancer continued bluntly.

''I don't have the same reasoning as Lancer, but I have my wishes, and I won't join you either Rider,'' Saber spoke confidently, invisible sword raised.

In a moment the brief truce established by Rider seemed to have ended. Tension hung in the air as three Servants regarded each other warily. The field appeared to be equally divided between the silver knight, the golden knight, and the crimson charioteer on the divine battle chariot.

In truth, Saber was concerned. He had been only able to match Lancer with Berserker's help. It didn't seem like Rider would ally with Lancer now, but how would a three-way fight turn out between these three powerful Servants? Nobody could reliably say to that regard.

''Ah, that's disappointing. I see negotiations have broken down,'' Rider sighed, a flicker of disappointment crossing his features.

Saber withdraw. Kiritsugu's curt voice sounded in the knight's head.

''What?'' Saber responded.

The situation is not optimal. Withdraw. Kiritsugu said calmly.

Kiritsugu had observed the scene and judged the situation to be unfavorable for him. Saber had not been able to penetrate the Tohsaka mansion's perimeter nor lure out Tokiomi. If the battle continued like this, it might result in Saber getting caught between Lancer and Rider. With Berserker having left, Saber had lost an ally.

Yes, to Kiritsugu this was something that needed to be done.

''I still have my fight to finish with Lancer,'' Saber responded quietly.

Retreat. I will use Command Spell if I have to. The Magus Killer threatened coldly, with no hint of emotion in his voice.

Saber gritted his teeth, looking out at the two Heroic Spirits before him.

''I would like us to continue this fight, but it seems my Master disagrees." The silver knight told Lancer before lowering his sword.

''I see, so that's how it is,'' the golden demigod raised his lance and prepared to pursue.

''Leave him, for now, Lancer,'' Tokiomi's voice echoed from the mansion. Undoubtedly he was using magecraft to project his voice. With that, Lancer halted his movements.

None of the other Masters could have known it at the moment, but Tokiomi was already suffering from mana deprivation. So for the moment, the red-suited Magus thought it best to let Saber go so he could recuperate.

''At the very least Lancer, I can assure you this is not over,'' Saber told the golden spearman before turning around and moving off into the night.

''You handle that blade well Saber. Next time I will slay you,'' the golden knight said to himself, a small smile appearing on his pale features.

''What about you then Rider? Do you wish to fight?'' Lancer turned his cold gaze back to the crimson-clad king.

''Eh, not tonight. I would like to investigate the other Servants first.'' Rider mused. After all, he had to seek out Caster. Also, though he would not admit it, Rider was hoping Saber and Lancer would change their minds eventually.

''Well then, another night Lancer!'' Rider loudly proclaimed. He snapped his reins again, and the chariot rose into the air once more. Before he left, he turned around and shouted into the night.

''Archer! Though you chose not to appear, I hope to extend that same offer to you as well!'' Rider's voice boomed into the night shortly before his battle chariot flew off into the evening in a trail of thunder and lightning.

After a few moments, Lancer too turned into golden light and moved back to his Master's side.

The first major clash of the Holy Grail War had ended.


Above the hill overlooking the Tohsaka House, Archer stood on a tree, perfectly balancing on a protruding branch. His hawk-like eyes quickly pierced the darkness, letting his Master overview the recent battle with the shared perception magecraft they were using.

''King Iskandar eh?'' Archer mused.

He could have guessed who Rider was as soon as he recognized the chariot that Zeus had given to King Gordius. His confirmations were proven correct a few minutes later as Rider announced who he was to the world.

Looking at it logically, it was a foolish move. Announcing one's actual name was the same as declaring one's strengths and weaknesses. It would mean putting oneself at a disadvantage to anything that might have killed you in life. Chiron himself would be susceptible to poisons and other such weapons due to the circumstances of his legend.

And yet there was another part of him that admired the fearless confidence that Rider displayed. It was the sort of thing a real hero might put forth, a kind of trait that almost reminded him of his old student Achilles.

Archer was intrigued by Rider. It wasn't just that Rider was also a Heroic Spirit from the same lands as Archer was, but he was also a Heroic Spirit connected to Archer himself. Alexander the Great's admiration and hero worship of Achilles was a well-known fact. He had modeled his life journey after Archer's old student, preferring a short life full of glory and battle rather than a long and obscure life of peace.

At that moment a deep interest was taken in Rider by Archer. The sage wanted to see how Rider would measure up to his old student.

His Master, however, was more vitriolic.

Waver Velvet? That impudent peasant stole my catalyst and entered the war! The nerve! The gall! Kayneth ranted over their mental link, his voice thick with outrage and indignation. Archer blanched a bit at the more colorful insults his Master began to spew.

At the very least, Kayneth was angered and offended by the revelation of Waver Velvet in this war. Previously Kayneth had believed that Iskandar's relic had merely been stolen and hidden away. Likewise, he had not connected the disappearance of Waver Velvet with that fact either. Not only had it been revealed that Waver had not only stolen Alexander the Great's catalyst but had entered the Holy Grail War himself.

It seemed likely that his Master would order Archer to fight Rider in the future, a prospect that Archer was looking forward to with mixed emotions. However, the King of Conquerors, as formidable as he may be, was not the greatest threat in this war.

That was very clearly Servant Lancer, who was concealing his real power through some personal ability or Noble Phantasm. The golden spearman clearly had reserves of power that he had yet to use so far in this battle. Archer had to bend every part of his formidable wisdom to find a way around that divine golden armor Noble Phantasm.

With a sigh, he turned around and disappeared into the night.


In an abandoned warehouse in the Shinto district, a black shape materialized in the darkness of the warehouse. Its walls and floors covered in the filth and dust of neglect. It wasn't a place that any ordinary citizen would have chosen to visit, but it made a good hiding place for Berserker and his Master.

With another howl, the form of Berserker began to change again, losing muscle mass and size. He grew smaller and weaker as the time limit for Dangerous Game finally ran out, and the Jekyll personality reasserted itself once again. After a few minutes, the panting form of Jekyll lay prone on the ground.

After taking a few moments to collect himself, Berserker got up again and straightened himself up. All the wounds sustained so far in his other personality were gone, having been dealt away with his ''Restructuring'' ability. There was no evidence of the mad beast as before. To any onlooker, he would have seemed like an average human. Such as the ability of the ''Powerless Shell'' Personal Skill he had.

Berserker sighed and put a hand to his chin, thinking back to the fight be had been in previously. Even when his other half had taken hold of his body, Berserker's ''good'' personality had been present as a helpless spectator imprisoned at the back of his mind.

From his thoughts, all of the heroes he had witnessed so far were very formidable. There was the gallant silver knight Saber, who surpassed him in overall ability. There was also the great king Iskander who had been summoned as a Rider-class Servant. Then finally the Servant Lancer.

Lancer had been the most formidable, with that golden armor Noble Phantasm that had reduced all of Berserker's strongest attacks to superficial scratches and scrapes. The golden spearman was the sort of great hero told in myth and legend.

All that Berserker would say was that these kinds of heroes were of a different kind from what he was. They were much older and powerful. These were heroes from the Age of the Gods. They were heroes from a time where magic and monsters were commonplace.

It wasn't that his Noble Phantasm gave him a weak ability, but in Berserker's case, it would have been more potent if he had been a warrior or a knight in life rather than a doctor from the late 19th century. Otherwise, his Noble Phantasm merely brought him up to a certain level from being weak to start.

Although now with his rational mind free of Mad Enhancement, Berserker could now put forth and make new plans. Even with the power of Dangerous Game: Secret Game of Crime, trying to use brute force against Lancer clearly would not work. It seemed that some alternate strategy would have to be figured out to deal with Lancer and the other Servants.

With that, Berserker ran off to find his Master and check up on him.


Author's Note: Here ends the opening two-part battle. I am hoping I handled the fight scenes and characterization well.