Author's Note: Woot, woot, I'm on a roll with this story! Of course, this is probably burning embers that are going to run out of fume at some point, but until then I'm updating like crazy, I'm just so inspired at the moment!
Yolea Irk's: As stated before, all Fate/Extra Servants will be in this story. This includes Saber, Archer, and Caster. I have yet to decide on whether to include Fate/Extra CCC Content. There will not be Extella Servants (way too many to count.)
Student: You're quickly becoming my fav reviewer. The answer to whether Hakuno can access the Real World via Digi Gates will be answered in this chapter. As for Dark Rings, they do not hold enough power or complexity to influence Hakuno or her Servants, I don't know about Dark Spirals yet. The Control Spire does not affect Hakuno's Servants, but it does give Hakuno some feedback if she makes direct contact, this is shown in chapter 2. As for the possibility to hack the Dark Rings, it could be possible, though whether or not it'll turn into a realegis, I don't know.
Ultima-owner: In a way, yes. They are the 'Red faction'. Seeing how Hakuno's Servants all have the color red somewhere, and that the special formal wear is Scarlet, it's a given that should be her faction color.
Enjoy the chapter everyone! Live or die by the sword! The power lies in your hand! Dancing flames, decaying earth, withered ocean!
Digital/Extra
Chapter 4: Explanations in The Second Land of Towers.
There were times that could be considered odd, however, this was quite a surprise in itself. The so-called enemy program that Hakuno Kishinami believed to be, had spoke a complete, intelligent sentence that implied sentience on the scale of at least a NPC of the Moon Cell. If that were the case, this would be the moment to gain crucial information on the what, where, how, and why. But, caution took priority, and Hakuno felt vulnerable this close to the giant beetle-like creature. While she felt confident that Saber could cut it down, with Saber's current parameters it might be quite the challenge to defeat it without being moderately injured.
While Hakuno could restore Saber's vitality at the cost of her personal prana reserves, prana being the term for magical energy, there was no nearby safe location to rest and recover.
In simple terms, Hakuno needed Saber to be in top shape as long as it takes for them to find a suitable headquarters. Taking the fight against this large digital monster would only wear both of them down further than they already had been.
Best to play diplomatically.
Which, unfortunately, Hakuno was terrible at any sort of conversation outside her Servant.
"I'm Hakuno Kishinami," She started with her name, introductions were always important
"Kuwagamon… What, something knocked on your head? You look like a baby digimon with that expression," There was a gruff voice to the creature's tone, bold and very arrogant. In that matter, it fits his exterior appearance.
"Digimon?" Hakuno questioned, the terminology was foreign to her.
"You don't know what a Digimon is? You're looking at one, blank face, it stands for Digital Monster, and this world is full of 'em," The… Digimon replied.
So, Digimon, or Digital Monster, is the natural populace of this pseudo-arena world. In that case, all the creatures were not enemy programs but rather Digimon, so far, they didn't seem too different from one another outside of an intellect boost. At least Kuwagamon wasn't trying to snap her like a twig in those massive scissors that stuck to his head.
Saber stood at the ready, keeping her guard up and protectively stand in front of Hakuno. She hadn't spoken since the Digimon had uttered the first sentence of speech. The Heroic Spirit remained silent, but Hakuno knew Saber had a tendency to speak her mind after the conversation between herself and another was over.
That, and if they were conversing with an enemy Servant, Saber had quite the comment to her opponents, most of them mocking in nature while boasting of her own magnificence.
Not that Hakuno minded, Saber was beautiful in her glory after all.
"What is this place?" Hakuno asked.
"A forest, what else does it look like to you?"
He was quite rude despite being freed from his control. It was simple to deduct that fact after he mentioned being controlled by the… Dark rings… Which Hakuno theorized were most likely powered by those large black spires that Saber had destroyed.
The magus shook her head, "No, this world."
"The Digital World, it's a bit far from your Real World isn't it? Bah, knowing you humans, you guys go back and forth between the two like tree sap," Kuwagamon seemed bored of the conversation, he probably wasn't on to converse to begin with. In fact, he seemed itching to leave.
"What are those dark rings?" Hakuno questioned once again.
"Look, I'm grateful for all the release from control, but I rather get moving. I'll answer this one question with a long-winded explanation, then I'm out of here, got it?" Kuwagamon seemed on the edge of his self-control.
Knowing this, she would probably not get any more information than what he said next. So, she nodded in agreement to the Digimon's terms.
"The Dark Rings control digimon, snap right onto them and suddenly they are under mind control to the Digimon Emperor. He's a bad bug, worse than even I and other virus-type Digimon. Those Control Spires, also called Dark Towers, power the rings. So, break them down and then the rings have no more juice to run on. Now I'm out of here," He finished as his wings started to beat wildly, causing Hakuno to cover her eyes with her arms to avoid getting dirt in her eyes.
In an instant, the large digimon flew into the sky and soared off into the distance.
"I've seen better conversations from an enemy spy than I have from that creature," Saber commented. "But we have achieved some crucial information, good work, Praetor."
In that one explanation, Kuwagamon had revealed quite a number of unknown terms before he had left. Hakuno could recall a few important ones: The Digimon Emperor, the Control Spires, the Dark Rings, and of course the Digimon themselves.
Many of which Hakuno needed more information about. But what is clear, is that this Digimon Emperor is responsible for the attacks against her and Saber, by means of using Dark Rings on Digimon and powering these devices by the use of the Control Spires. By this method, the Digimon Emperor can command Digimon by his every order, similar to a Magus to a Familiar.
"Indeed, a reasonable deduction, as expected from you," Saber complimented her.
Of course, in comparison to a contract between a Master and Servant, the method used was extremely poor, simple, and downright laughable when putting the two ways side by side to the Master/Servant relationship.
She could hear Rin ranting about more reliable methods in her head. While, Rani would be looking at the stars without care.
Hakuno was pretty sure that Caster had many, many methods of cont
rolling somebody. But knowing that optimistic fox girl, the Servant be too busy nudging against her for attention to even consider the notion.
And there it was again… Another thought that was her own, yet wasn't.
'Did the Moon Cell grant me the memories and experience of the other possibilities? It is plausible… Not that it would matter considering I only have Saber by my side.'
"Shall we continue our exploration, Master?" Saber questioned.
Hakuno nodded, "We need to find a place to rest."
Hakuno Kishinami did not want to sleep out here in the woods, not that she didn't dislike the place, but she would feel far more secure in a closed, easily defendable location than out in the middle of the woods.
She pulled out her Portable Terminal, checking the time briefly. It would be a few short hours until sundown, that is if the Digital World even ran by the same timeframe as the School Academy back in The Holy Grail War.
The Digital World… At least she had a name for this odd place. Kuwagamon also mentioned something about the Real World, if Hakuno were to guess right, it must be the physical word of Earth. He also said that there were other humans that went to and fro the Digital World back to the Real World, which means there is a possibility, however slight, that Hakuno herself could experience the physical realm.
After all, she was human too… In a sense.
And if her Servant could come along as well? That would just be… Just fantastic!
"Umu, you have decided upon a end goal for yourself at last, Praetor. Then, as your Servant, I shall fight tooth and nail to accomplish it. Wherever you shall tread, I shall be at your side," Saber stated as she brought her blade around in a show of allegiance. "Your eyes have lit up with a dozen stars, if such a wish can make them so, then I am curious if by achieving it they will light with thousands of them."
"Let's go, Saber," Hakuno said with a smile, feeling confident in her own abilities and that of her Servant's.
A small television lit up with a white glow, before the light expanded outward and from there formed a group of individuals into the Digital World. They glanced around at their location, but it wasn't the region they were expecting to enter. In fact, it seems they were in the wrong place altogether!
Instead of a large, forest they were expecting, they were instead in a mountain region. Which, while not to far from the place in question, still was quite a trek through the place to get to the region.
Takura looked back to the screen, "Izzy, we're in the wrong place."
"I noticed, it seems that the Digi Gates in those regions aren't working. We haven't had this issue before, but I'll have to investigate this. The place you are in at this moment is controlled by Ken, I'm sure you can see the Control Spire from there."
Daisuke pointed, "I see the Control Spire, we can take it down easily."
A blue dinosaurian digimon jumped in the air in excitement, his name, Veemon, who was Daisuke's Digimon Partner. "I'm ready to kick some butt!"
All the Digidestined had Digimon Partners, Digimon Monsters who are bonded to their Chosen Child through the physical representation of the Digivice. Daisuke had Veemon, Cody had armadillomon, a mammal-like digimon, Hikari had Gatamon, a bipedal cat digimon, Takeru had Patamon, who was really a puff-ball mammal with wings on his head, while Yolei had Hawkmon… Who was a bipedal hawk with a ninja headband.
Digimon sure is crazy looking at times.
Hikari agreed, "Yeah, we should destroy it first before we go to the forest region."
"All the digimon would be happy for it," Cody spoke.
"Alright then, let's go already!" Yolei shouted.
In the dark reaches of the Digimon Emperor's domain, Ken Ichijouji slammed his fist harshly against the chair in raging anger. His frustration making his servant, wormmon, step back a bit in concern.
"Are you okay, Ken?" Wormmon questioned.
"Stop calling me that! You may only call me Master!" The Digimon Emperor yelled at him, "Another region had been taken by that crimson mystery. Another one of my Control Spires, destroyed! If this keeps up, I'll have to fight a three war front."
"Maybe you could go check what did it, I can get the Airdramon ready."
"... Good idea wormmon, perhaps you aren't as useless after all," Ken smirked. "Get them ready, I will prepare an additional surprise…"
A small screen with multiple names plastered on different button commands came in view. "I believe this digimon is the closest to that region. Under my guidance, he will squash whoever is causing this!"
"But it didn't work with Andromon?" Wormmon said.
"I've learned my lesson! Besides… I'm working on a solution to the Dark Ring problem… I'll need a test subject first, but that can be pushed aside until after we deal with this transgression against me."
"I'll get them ready, then, sir…" Wormmon trailed off as he scurried away out of the room to prepare.
"No one will defeat me, I will control of the Digital World! All that live in it will become my slaves! Hahahahaha!"