Chapter 2: Enemies By Fate

Week: 1

Day: 2

Days Remaining: 5

Morning

I wake up at dawn, physically rested but still weary. Can you blame me? Soon I will fight for my life, forced to kill another human beings in order to be able to see the next day. I'm like a civilian caught in the middle of a war. At least a soldier does it of his own free will.

But then, it's not as if I am here by accident. The 'me' fom before the memory loss entered the Moon Cell willingly, and now because of an error the present 'me' has no memories. If we accept the old belief that the memories equate to one's self as true, I'm practically a stranger. I need to retrieve my old 'me' ASAP to be able to survive. However, who knows if I would like the type of person I was before the amnesia. What if I was a despicable individual who sought the Holy Grail for selfish reasons?

"..." Still supine on the bed I ponder this line of thought for a full minute before scoffing. What the hell, anything is better that this emptiness inside me. How am I, a being with no knowledge, supposed to differentiate between Good and Evil? I'm an empty 'vessel' that can be filled with infinite possibilities.

...Odd, wasn't that theme of a famous series of videogames? A protagonist trapped in a dark and bitter reality, at the beginning nothing more that a blank sheet who is then defined by the player's choice in-game. The alignments were...

No. Stop. Forget everything. If I continue I will end up convinced that I'm a fictional character. No Fourth Wall Breaking for me, thank you very much. I like my sanity.

Yawning I rise up and head for the bathroom. Washing my face helps clearing away the cobwebs from my mind. Looking at myself in the mirror I find my clothes full of crinkles. Uh, I definitely need to find a pajama, my uniform cannot take this much abuse for much longer. You would think in an artificial reality such things would be unnecessary. Stupid .PH.

But the most ridiculous thing is that I'm hungry and I have to pay for it. So, first thing first: sweets. Lots of sweets. Forget about the line, I'm a fucking avatar! At least I can trust my base desires.

"So early. Are you so eager to taste the blood of our enemies you can't sleep?"

The voice of Archer greets me when I step outside the restroom. I look up, but he hasn't moved a muscle, let alone opened his eyes.

"No, I...never mind." I shake my head. It's futile to talk with him about my reticence, with all probability he will brush aside my concerns, judging them worthless. "I was planning to be up early anyway. Until they tell us about our opponents I want to study at the library about hacking and code castings, to be better pepared and see if something jogs my memory."

"A sound tactic. In theory one can access the entirely of the Moon Cell data from it, barring the files with authorized access. Thousands, nay billions of years of information. Be sure to study thoroughly, I want you ready to smite our enemies in one swift sweeping." At always, not matter what he says, it all sounds like an order. But I'm not angry, after all he has every right to be the dominating one in this partnership.

...Ugh, I can't believe how wrong that sounds. "Hai!" I respond, trying to fight back a blush. "What will you do in the meantime?"

"That's only for the King to know." He simply stated. Meaning: I want to sleep more. Strange, we only met yesterday and I can already read the hidden meanings in his phrases, more or less. I'd wonder about it, but considering the possible dangers of misunderstandings it's better to just accept it and go along.

I nod. "I will be back for lunch. You know where to find me." I put on my shoes and go out of the room. Destination: Library!

...Which is also on the same floor, just fourteen steps from my room. What did I get excited for? No say the truth Hana, you forgot this simple fact.

"Silly Hana is silly to the very end, ne?" I mutter feeling depressed. Then I resolve myself and enter.

The interior was very much like how I remember it: files of bookshelves at one side, tables at the other and a counter with the librarian, the whole space was big as a classroom. What was different was the new coloration of the wall (blue hexagons) and some sort of keyboard fixated under the shelves. I watch one student types a code and the books change. He then takes a book and leaves, the empty space filling himself with another book. Neat. I approach the librarian, a girl with short raven hair dressed in black. Issei said all the students dressed in a black uniform are NPCs from the Student Council and they help the Masters, so it makes sense.

"Hello and welcome to the library!" He says smiling. "How I can help you?"

"Hello. This library contains not only information about the Holy Grail War but also all types of subjects, right?" I ask, seeking confirmation.

"Yup! Unless the file are off-limits or your clearance as a Master is not high enough, the full might of the Moon Cell is yours to explore to your heart's content!" She replies, pumping her fist into the air. Oh God, a Taiga follower?

"Okay. If so I am searching books about hacking and Codecasting, particularly manuals to learn them from beginner to expert, Virtual Realities, Magi, Magic Circuits and the story about the origins of the Holy Grail War." This should covers all I need at the moment.

"Huh, it's a lot of stuff. Give me a moment..." She types something on the terminal and the print nearby spits out a sheet that she hands over to me. "Here, the list of the most exhaustive publications available. Just go to the respective section and enter the relative code into the keyboard of the shelf which contains the initial letter of the title. The limit of books you can borrow outside is two by the way."

I nod. "And to return them?"

"Just give them to me and I will handle everything!" She says, pumping her thumb up, sticking her tongue out and up to the right of the lips and winking. For all that is holy, who taught this girl manners?

"Thanks...I think." I say the last part too soft for her to hear and get way with haste. So much to do and so little time.

Midday

"Urgh...my eyes hurt..." I say as I massage them, trying to soothe the pain. After four hours of diligent study I can say I am now better than hopeless.

Hurray.

Anyway, I learned a lot of things. Not all of them good. Learning the basics of hacking was fairly simple, as if I already knew what I was reading. Probably my suppressed memories acting up again.

Magic Circuits were pathways inscribed on the Soul Magi used to process their Od, internal life force, and Mana, external natural energy, to produce Prana, the primary form of magical energy used to perform Mysteries. But after an abnormal series of natural disasters thirty years ago which halved Earth's total human population (I shudder reading the passage) Mana disappeared from the world and with it Thaumaturgy became extinct, the possibility of using only Od turning out to be insufficient.

Until a prominent scientist named Twice H. Pieceman pioneered the science of digital hacking. Odd enough, every time I read his name I feel a mild headache, like I am forgetting something very, very important. Anyway, with his studies the descendants of the old Magi found out Magic Circuits could also be used to channel the streams of data from computers. And guess what? They were efficient. Preposterously efficient. Like Rin said, instantaneous data processing. Now, this means I also have Magic Circuits, right? And they're active since Archer is receiving Prana (note: the digital variety, not the old one). And this bring one question: how can I use them in a different manner?

The answer is: I can't, not until I procure myself a Formal Wear. Normal Hackers use a set of programs to act as a Terminal, but I can't find mine. Hell, with my amnesia I don't even know if I brought one in the first place. And even if I get a Formal Wear I will have to reprogram it to suit my needs.

Lastly, the records of the original Holy Grail War: originally created as a joint project by three famous Magi families, its purpose was to open a path to Akasha, the Origin of All Things and basically the Mind of God, feeding it the souls of the Servants after summoning them. The wish-granting was (no matter how absurd the notion was) a side-effect of the sheer magical capacity of the Grail. There were five iterations of it. The first ended in bloodshed because the Servant rebelled against the Master. In the second they employed the system of the Command Seals, but at the Servants were too few to fully power the Grail. In the third the fighting degenerated and the Masters killed each other before the Grail was formed.

One very important thing to note: apparently the Magi of old were either stupid or psychopaths. Possibly both.

There was also another change: one of the founding families tried to summon an eight Servant to raise the odds, but he ended eliminated first. However his spirit was absorbed by the Grail and since he was a truly evil hero (the term was Anti-Hero, the villains of legend who were also famous) it corrupted the Grail, changing it into a monkey's paw which could only cause destruction. In the fourth, one master discovered the damage and tried to destroy the Grail, but it caused a massive fire that killed hundreds and destroyed an entire district.

Finally came the Fifth Grail War, decades early due to the previous collected energies not being spent. This time the damage became much too evident and after the conclusion the Grail was dismantled for good.

The records don't fill me with confidence, is it possible that the very notion of the Holy Grail is cursed? Regardless of the truth I reach a simple yet essential conclusion: the best course of action for both the War and my sanity is concentrating in making Archer stronger. As a Hero he is much more experienced than myself and as a Servant he is the one who will fight for me. But he also expects me to be competent, so I need to develop our relationship.

"Good, I see my suggestion wasn't wasted." An arrogant voice sounds before me, the emphasis on the word 'suggestion' making very clear how much the original meaning was stretched.

"Hello Archer, I just fini...!" I rise my head to meet him.

And froze. While the individual before me is without a doubt Archer, he is also far different. Instead of the golden armor he now wears modern clothes, albeit stylish ones, consisting of a white shirt, a black jacket with white linings, black pants, and leather shoes. His hair is also combed down.

I may have not said it before, but Archer is very handsome. All the few Heroic Spirits I saw yesterday have an otherworldly appearance, very fitting for a legend incarnated, but also something mostly unknown in modern society. Even now that Archer resembles more the spoiled son of a rich family than a king of old he maintains the same aura of sheer confidence and power. You may also call it charisma of the highest order.

To me he seems like a model. And I need every ounce of my self-control to keep the flush off my face.

"I see my radiance stole your breath. While is an inevitable occurrence I was under the impression you could handle it yesterday." He says, amused.

"Ah, no..." I shake my head. Focus Hana! "Just surprised by your new appearance. Where did you find those clothes?" I ask, truly curious.

"A little something I found this morning checking out my links with the .PH. It seems the Servants are given a repertory of clothes from both their time and the modern one. So I chose this attire: while far from the magnificence of my armor, it will serve well for my new purpose."

"Purpose?" What purpose?

"The world changed. Before, I deemed it worthless and ignored it, but now against my expectations I decided to let myself be summoned. It's the proof there is some worth left in humans." He declares with a regal tone. "It's my intention to dwell more into the current society and see it's worth for myself through the Masters participating. They should be honored, as they will grant a great service to their King before dying, instead of simply wasting away."

He nods to himself, satisfied. On the other hand my eyebrow is twitching like crazy. A Hero? A King? More like a kid!

"I...understand." Let it slip Hana, let it slip. It's not good for your sanity. "For myself I now have the theory and some abilities still untested. I just need a Formal Wear to begin my customization. The one currently sold at the Commissary is no good, so I need to find one in the Arena."

"Hm, an irritating inconvenience, but bearable. Has the fake priest finally select the mongrel who will be the first to taste defeat at my hands? My patience is at its limits." He asks, suddenly frowning.

As he says it I hear an electronic noise. It seems to be coming from the portable terminal I stashed in my pocket. When I remove it, I see some words displayed on the screen.

: : Your next opponent has been decided. Please check the announcement on the bulletin board on the second floor.

Speak of the devil and you will see his tail? It happened a lot to me recently. "He did it just now. It seems he heard you and didn't want to risk your anger." I state in jest.

"As it should be." He replies with a straight face. Wow, his way of thinking is really light-years apart from common sense. "Let's go check it."

I return the tomes to the librarian and reluctantly head to the bulletin board with Archer, once again invisible,. No escaping from reality, I am now going to learn the name of the person I will, after seven days from today, be forced to kill. I feel a knot in my stomach but I try to steel myself. On that now dreaded white piece of paper posted there, under a long list of other matches, two new names have been written. The first name is my own. The other name is–

Master: Shinji Matou

Battlefield: First Chimeric Lunar Sea

I blink. I rub my eyes. I read the board again. I blink.

Then I facepalm so hard I am sure it will leave the sign. God above in His Heaven, Shinji Matou? THAT Shinji Matou?! The biggest womanizing jerk in all the school?! A part of me, who is still distressed about the notion of killing, is pained. Another, much darker part is relieved it's no one important or innocent.

God, I'm an horrible person.

"Is something wrong Hana?" My Servant asks, more intrigued by the odd reaction than worried.

"It's nothing. It's just that...I know this person. And I have to implore you to not kill him the moment you hear him talk. Since I know for a fact it's what most people feel when listening to him."

"So...you're my first opponent? I'm surprised you even managed to qualify." Says a condescending voice from behind us.

"Like I said..." I turn around and come face to face with Shinji. Same foppish appearance, same turf of bluish seaweed-like hair, and same insufferable smirk plastered on his face.

"But I guess here, all things are possible. Hey, you might even be the most powerful magus here." He laughs at the last part. "We're at different levels even though we're friends. But still, I should congratulate you."

"We're not friends Matou." I snap back with a tone cold as ice. "I barely stomach being near you and your annoying habits. Did the stupidity begin to affect your memories?"

His face distorts into an ugly expression before returning to a smug one. "Hey, didn't you just barely squeak through the prelims?" And how does he know that? "I guess you're a charity case. Well, being mediocre has its advantages. You get all of these handicaps and whatnot." He flips his hair and continues. "Keep in mind that this tournament is all about true strength, so don't get too overconfident."

What the HELL he is talking about? Handicaps? I'm the one who is behind the other Masters, asshole! And just for the record, Archer is the overconfident one.

"And the guys who're running this are geniuses. Just look how intense the first round is. Come on, I mean forcing people to give up friendships in order to win? That's pretty insane. Oh what a cruel mistress fate can be, right? Even I, the strongest Master here, is pained by this..."

As if I will even believe it. What I believe is that you have a black swamp where your heart should be. So it's payback time.

"Speaking of pain, how's your ankle, Matou? Last I heard the doctors despaired to save it." I cross my arms and smirk when I see him wincing and his body go rigid.

"Damn sensory fidelity..." He mutters before putting on a plastic smile and patting me on the shoulder.

"Well, let's keep things clean, okay? It should be a good fight. After all, you're a Master, too. When we see each other again, it will be as enemies. Don't let our former friendship hold you back."

"As I said..." I slap his hand away. Hard. "We are not friends. And you know where you can put that questionable charity."

Sneering again he rubs his hand and walks away. It's only a moment before the mask of cold antagonism crumbles.

...I have to fight Shinji and his Servant. No matter how many times I repeat it to myself, the meaning of the words fail to register in my brain. Even if he is a perverted jerk, do I have to kill a fellow human being, when I don't have any clue as to why? This whole situation has become a nightmare fast. If Shinji's making light of the situation, why do I feel like I'm trapped in Hell?

"I now understand the meaning of your words, Hana." Archer appears, his crimson eyes glaring in the direction Shinji left with enough contempt to burn a hole through the wall. "Hard to imagine a mere mongrel capable of such impertinence. This will require a long and careful reflection to choose the most fitting punishment for that mongrel. I need to make sure it's slow and painful enough for the gravity of the crime."

Wanna bet a large chunk of the Masters are planning to do the same?

Evening

After spending the rest of the day asking around about Matou (apparently he is some sort of game prodigy) I am relaxing in the classroom when an electronic chiming sounds from my terminal.

: : The primary cipher key has been generated.

Primary cipher key...? What is that supposed to be? A code necessary to advance in the Arena? Maybe there are more walls like the one that stopped us yesterday.

As much as I dislike it, I think it's a good idea to ask the fake priest, Kotomine, about the message. He did say that all participants have the right to ask about any of the basic rules of the tournament. I find him downstairs, near the school exit like yesterday.

"Ah, the young Master." He waves at me, condescending smile and all. "Earlier the computer registered that your Primary Trigger has been generated, did it not? And you decided to ask about it?" I nod. "Trigger, or cipher key, is a key to the Coliseum–and a way to cull weak Masters." Don't treat us like cattle, damn it! "Two Triggers must be retrieved by the end of each week, if you mean to participate in the tournament. All Masters are required to obtain them during the course of the preparation period. Fail to obtain the Triggers in the allotted time, and it will be...game over...as it were. Don't look so worried. It's a simple task to prove you're ready for the Elimination Battle." Or simply to amuse me more, is what you want to say isn't?

"Why two?"

"The Arena itself will be divided into two floors. And one Trigger, or cipher key, is generated per floor. So obviously, that results in two per match-up. It's the job of the Master to go and retrieve these cipher keys. For convenience, everyone refers to them as Primary Trigger and Secondary Trigger. You will be notified through your portable computer terminal when a Trigger generates."

"Okay, I understand. Thanks." Saying the last word feels like extracting a tooth with a pair of pincers, but I will not lower myself to his level and forget proper manners.

He nods. "Combat between Masters is prohibited in the Arena and on campus at all times. If for some reason a fight occurs, the system will shut it down within thirty seconds. As a penalty, the status of any Master caught fighting on campus will be downgraded. That is, the power of the Servant will be reduced." Having said his piece, he left.

...I haven't miss the hints, you know? You said there's a penalty for fighting on campus, but not for doing the same in the Arena. And by saying 'caught' it mean as long you're secretive you can get away with it. I better let not my guard down at any time, or I will regret it.

God, how stressing!

"Unpleasant as ever." Archer comments. "Even so, I can't help but think in another time and place he would have been an amusing man to have around. But seeing his talent used again his King is irritating."

Kotomine and Archer together? Now THAT is a scary combination, because I feel that if the priest were a Master and my opponent I would be dead before even realizing it.

Walking toward the Arena I hear a guy mutter. "So, it looks like no Trigger, no Elimination Battle. It's like they want you to prove that when they say 'jump', you say 'how high?'" Oh yeah, he is spot on. I'm more and more convinced this whole situation is managed by sadistic raving lunatics. Or an artificial intelligence without feelings.

I don't know which is scarier. And... Oh no...

"Well, well, look it's miss High-and-Mighty. Going to get the Trigger? Well, it sucks to be you. I'm going in right now, too." Shinji Matou laughs. "A total cretin like you won't be able to find it, but good luck anyway! Hahaha!"

Okay, that means war. "Shut up, Seaweed." He bristles at the nickname. "At least I have more chances than someone who has nothing better to do that belittling others. Still, you are free to try: your failure will make an amusing show." I finish with a smug smile.

"Shu-Shut up! I'm the best and you know it. Just watch!" With that, Shinji runs and disappears at the end of the hallway.

"Running with the tail between the legs. Fitting for a mongrel." Archer materializes, once again clad in armor. "He's heading to the Arena. Perfect opportunity to deliver a little sample of punishment."

And getting a good look at Shinji's Servant, I mentally add. Reaching the Arena door I click the 'First Chimeric Sea' option and enter.

Arena

As we finish materializing Archer looks around and steps toward a specific direction.

"I sense the dirty vermin. He and another presence, his Servant without a doubt, are immobile. Must be waiting for us. Ah! How amusing! Instead of running they decided to face justice."

More like he wants to fight us. "So let's not make him wait. We have thirty seconds before the .PH. interferes. I think the best course of action is to exercise caution while trying to force the enemy Servant to show his abilities, but if there's the chance to deliver a fatal blow. What do you think?" I ask politely. Like I said, it's better not to boss him around.

"Hmpf!" He scoffs. "Normally it would be preposterous to consider such a mongrel a threat, but I suppose it's only fitting for the King to perform his duties seriously. Very well, the Servant may still be worthy of entertaining me."

With that we make haste toward the depths of the arena, all hostile programs being dealt with more weapons for the Gate of Babylon, until we finally find Matou.

Beside him is a woman with long pinks hair and blue eyes, dressed in a pirate outfit including two flintlocks holstered to her belt. The most noticeable features are the red trenchcoat, which shows a great view of her impressive chest, and the large scar on her face. Strangely the latter does nothing to mar her beauty. All in all I would say she wouldn't be out of place in a cosplay convention.

"Hana, you're late. While you were crawling along like the slug you are I obtained the Trigger!" Already? And stop with the infantile insults. "Hahaha, what's with that look? Your skills are pathetic compared to mine, so don't be so harsh on yourself! And speaking of you losing, let me introduce my Servant."

He gestures to the woman, who was staring at us...no wait a minute not at us, but only at Archer! And what is that glint in her eyes?! Devil woman! Back off!

...What the hell is wrong with me today?

Completely clueless about the silent exchange Shinji continues bragging. "I'm going to win; it's not like it matters to me. If you can't even get your chiper keys, you might as well accept your game over right here and now! Seriously, feel free to turn her into a bullet-ridden corpse whenever you feel like it!"

The command make the woman chuckling in amusement. "Okay, but are you sure you're done gloating? I found myself enjoying your meaningless chatter." She then turns to me. "As you can see, when it comes to talking to others, my Master is a total social retard, right? Seeing him actually having a conversation with you, I thought we could settle this peacefully."

I suddenly develop the urge to walk up to her and pat each other's back. "So you can already tell?" I hide the smirk with my hand.

"Oh yes, he's an open book, so much it makes screwing around with him so easy, especially in front of females. Did he tried to hit on you too?"

"Yes. After he didn't take the hint for the fifth time I made my point clear with a different type of approach. My foot and his ankle. Instant result I must say." I pat my legs. I'm quite confident in the strength of these babies.

"Good job, sister!" She grins and pumps her thumb up. "I would have loved to have you among my crew!"

"Where in the hell do you get off analyzing me?!" Matou screams, choking on his own spit. "She is my enemy so stop fraternizing with her! Will you hurry up and maim her already?!"

Her only response his to laugh even more. "Look at the tough guy! I have to admit I admire the fact that you're evil enough to give a friend a beat down. The darkness of your grubby little soul is impressive, Shinji. Oh yes, I expect a generous reward later!"

I continue to repeat, we're not friends.

"What about you, Goldie?" The woman turns to Archer. Goldie? "You have been awfully silent till now. Something on your mind?"

For a few moment Archer seems like he's debating whether or not answering the question is worth the effort, then simply snorts.

"Nothing. I was just marveling how well you mongrels are paired. Truly fitting for each other: a worm and a...thief." He spits the last word with a strange mix of amusement and distaste.

The smirk doesn't leave the woman's face, but her eyes suddenly harden. "Oh yeah? You also seem the type of person I like to rob the most." She draws her guns and point them at us. "The rich one!"

"I dare you to try!" With a feral smirk and eyes full of bloodlust Archer, for the first time in all our battles, charges ahead. Golden light shines for a moment in his hands and when it fades, two new weapons have made their appearance, a pair of golden long swords.

They're different. I can sense it. I don't know how, but I can sense it.

The enemy Servant opens fire, but to her consternation the enchanted bullets bounce off the golden armor without leaving a single scratch, the ones fired at the exposed head blocked by the blades. With a snort she dodges Archer's blows and tries to gain distance, but my Servant will have none of it.

I am in awe: up until now I have only fought programs with great strength but limited intelligence, while Archer thanks to the Gate of Babylon just needed to choose the target.

This, this is on a whole different level. In my eyes they're nothing but blurs moving through the Arena at unimaginable speed. The details I catch are few and fragmented, but I can say Archer and the woman have roughly the same speed. Shinji's Servant is more agile, but Archer's armor can taken an ungodly amount of damage.

"HA! For a guy with so much steel on his shoulders you're pretty fast! Too bad it's not enough!" She taunts, evading another attack and shooting in retaliation at his head, but again a sword parries the bullets with well practiced swings while the other counterattacks.

"What a long tongue you have, wench. If you so desire that my blades drink your blood, as a King I will grant your wish!"

With that said he swings the right sword again in an overhead strike. Without hesitation she dodges to the side.

"Trapped."

In the middle of the strike the hilts turn ninety degrees, transforming the pair of swords into tonfa knives and the vertical blow into an horizontal one. Eyes widening she tries to dodge, but to no avail. The blade cuts a large gash into her side. First blood goes to Archer.

"Damn," The enemy servant lets out a 'tch' as she jumps back and looks at her bleeding hip. "Looks like the Master is an amateur but the Servant is a crafty little cheater."

"I'm the King, wench. My actions are the rules of the battlefield!" Archer pompously declares, swiping the blood off his weapons and assuming a new stance with the tonfas.

I'm impressed. I was under the impression Archer was only good at shooting high-powered (pseudo)arrows, but it looks like he's also good at close-ranged combat. But why isn't he shooting projectiles? Could it be it's an elaborate rouse to mask his real class?

...Nah, it was probably just the spur of the moment.

"What the HELL ARE YOU DOING! Getting hurt from a weak attack like that!" Shinji yells. "Stop fooling around and get them!"

"Calm your barrels sailor. This is just the beginning!" She claims, before raising her right gun up into the air.

The next moment I feel a powerful pressure permeating the whole area. Even Archer narrows his eyes. Just what is–

Magic. She is concentrating her prana to prepare a powerful attack. The digital space is being distorted. Most likely a Noble Phantasm or a limited manifestation of it.

Noble Phantasm. It is a word that I have often heard. The books described it as 'crystallized mysteries', weapons or abilities owned by Heroic Spirits. They are the embodiment of the ultimate mysteries of a hero that symbolizes his existence through historical facts and anecdotes. They can be general weapons, such as swords, lances, and bows, or support items, such as rings and crowns. They can also be abstract concepts, like abilities, curses, and changes to the environment and its physical properties.

In a nutshell the trump-card of a Servant. For example the Heroic Spirit King Arthur Pendragon will have the sword Excalibur as a Noble Phantasm. Because every Noble Phantasm is unique to each Heroic Spirit, barring certain exceptions such as the horse Red Hare being said to be in possession of both Lu Bu and Guan Yu, knowing the Noble Phantasm often is to know the one using it. So what Shinji's Servant is doing can give me a hint about her real identity. There is just a problem...

You don't use a Noble Phantasm if you're not sure it will kill the enemy!

My fears come true. Materializing in midair three gigantic cannons take aim at us. Us! I will die too!

"Look out!" I yell while with my mind I visualize an one Ether Shard in my hand, ready to be crushed.

With a scowl Archer dismisses the twin blades and spread his arms open. A golden haze surrounds him and from within the light two new weapons emerge, a massive hammer and a cube-shaped thing emblazoned with golden disks.

*BOOM*

They fire at the same time: two of the magically enchanted cannon balls crash with the magic infused weapons, triggering a massive explosion while the remaining shell hit Archer death one. With all haste I crush the Ether causing greenish threads of curative energy to fly into the smoking curtain.

"Ahahaha! How'd you like that! That was my Servant true power! A weakling servant and master like you can't survive an explosion as big as that!" Matou laughs sure of his victory, pieces of metal falling from the sky all around us.

"I agree." A strong, steady voice resound from the smoke. Shinji's eyes bulge out of their sockets when Archer steps out of the cloud, armor covered in soot and hair slightly singed, but otherwise fine. "How unfortunate the only weaklings here are you!"

"No way! Impossible! How can he be alive after that attack? Even if only one cannon hit there is no way someone can survive it! What did you do?" Shinji points at us trembling.

"It's the armor." The woman replies. "A real piece of work. Reminds me of the one a Grand Master of the Knights liked to wear. Guy packed the thing with so many enchantments that nothing short of high-class, and I mean really high-class, magecraft could damage it."

Before either of us could make the next move we are being pushed back by an unseen force, a wall of distorted air between us.

"Crap...It looks like the .PH. has its eye on us." Shinji curses. "What a disaster...Oh well, there's no need to take her out right now anyway. You know, I like seeing you grovel in the dirt like trash. Beg hard enough and I might make you my underling. Who knows...I might even share some of the prize money with you. Hahahahaha!"

Prize money? There are our lives on the lines you asshole!

"Let's go." Matou urges his Servant.

"Aye aye captain."

"Stop where you are, woman." Before either of them can make a single step the chilling voice of Archer stops them both. They turn and find the Golden Hero staring at them with hate-filled eyes.

"Woman. Where do you think you're going with the King's possession?" He snarls. Me and Matou look at the female Servant who simply hums and acts like a kid caught with the hand inside a vase of jam.

"Oh, this little thing?" She flips a hand and reveals one of the golden disks of the second weapon Archer fired. "I just found it rolling to the ground and it looked so alone, so I thought I could bring it home with me." Another flip and the disk vanishes again. "Considering you just threw it without care you don't need it, ne?" She finish with a wink.

Archer's head drops and the bangs covers his eyes, shoulder trembling with barely restrained fury. "So...you dare steal from the King's treasure?"

"Yup!"

"MOOOONNNGGGREEEELLLL!" He roars like a crazed lion and changes toward them, wielding...

Is that a baseball bat full of nails? Entirely made of gold?

What the hell?!

Shinji shrieks like a woman and threw something on, causing both him and the Servant to vanish. Probably one of those return crystals I heard about.

Without a target to vent his anger Archer began to bashes the wall and the ground, actually damaging them!

"Mongrel! Mongrelling mongrel! How dare you put your filthy hands on the property of the King, defiling it! It's the greatest of the greatest of sins! Death is not enough! Pain is not enough! I will personally make sure you suffer ten thousand eternities of pain and misery before I crush your miserable soul between my fingerssss!" He continues shouting, at least now without hitting everything about him. And 'mongrelling' is not a word. Then he abruptly turn toward me.

I swear, nothing even remotely resembling an 'Eep!' escaped my lips.

"I need to kill something right now. There are still many programs. Let's go." He hisses, eyes shining with madness and a hunger for blood. I nod so fast my head looks like it's about to come off.

When we finish there is nothing alive in the Arena aside from us. While repressing the memories of how fertile Archer's imagination is in regard to murder (don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it!) I recap our results.

We battled Shinji's Servant and managed a draw. She used guns and cannons in battle so it is possible she is also of the Archer Class, but I'm not 100% sure. After that we managed to rise another Level while hunting and found a lot of things.

My first Formal Wear, Phoenix Scarf, a stylish silk scarf adorned with multicolored feathers. I like it so much I decide to always wear it, even outside.

Taiga's Kendo Sword. How it ended up inside a Folder I have still no idea. It's also creepy at hell, like there is a malevolent aura emanating from the sword. Archer called it cursed. God knows why Taiga possesses something like it. And what she wants to do with it.

And finally the Trigger, a small yellow key card-looking thing simply named Trigger Code Alpha. One down, another to go.

Night

Private Room

Archer finally calms down, but makes me promise (read: orders me) to uncover the identity of Matou's Servant so he can kill her, her ancestors, descendants, family, friends and wipe her place-of-birth from the face of Earth.

'Tone down a little, wouldn't you' is what I want to say, but I am not suicidal. So instead, while Archer sleeps, I begin the altering of the Phoenix Scarf. The original skill it granted is a healing one, and I will leave that unchanged, but if I do this right it will be able to do a lot more.

Considering Shinji and his cowardice I better prepare myself to the worst.

And we have another chapter. On with the reviews!

Pensive Rumination Observer: Cookies for you. Indeed it was Astolfo, the first confirmed Servant-guy-who-looks-like-a-girl. Read "The Three T's of Victory" by Aluim if you want to know how terrifying he can be! Enkidu? Maybe. At the end.

Thanatos: As you can discovers reading this chapter the limits is actually two at a time. And no more high than E Rank. The two dual blades, Enki from Prototype, are an exception because in his past life Gilgamesh sealed their true power making them simple but sturdy weapons. Why? Too world-destroying. For Vimana and Ea I have plans.

For the attributes? I know, I know. But they do the same thing in the game and I haven't considered it important at the time. Oh, well, to remedy it I will make it a foreshadowing for future events. You just have to wait. For Golden Rule I will say only two words:

Insane. Luck.

Just wait and you will understand...hehehe...