The Battle of Illusions

"I'm home."

Shirou announced to the empty mansion as he undid his shoes, Saber walking past him further inside. The both of them mostly mentally exhausted from the night's excursion. The allied Masters had decided to part ways on their way home, agreeing to go over their situation at the school the next day. He walked inside, now himself trailing behind his Servant, making his way to his dojo to put back the bokken he had taken out, with Saber herself heading to the room Shirou had provided for her. He walked through his backyard, entering the empty dojo, and had only just now realized the other thing he was holding.

Aside from the wrapped bokken, in his hand was the deceptive looking wooden staff that had a crescent shaped stone tied on one end of it. Seemingly an ordinary stick for the uninitiated, but even holding it he could feel the magnanimous nature of the staff as if ready to burst forth. He could feel his vitality improving, and his mind flowing with even more clarity. Not to mention what he caught from the peripheral of his vision earlier, remembering what Caster had been doing when he wielded the staff during his duel with Saber.

Shirou moved to the corner of his dojo, the farthest point from one edge to another inside the building. He tried waving the staff, but it did nothing. He looked at it, trying to inspect the staff for anymore peculiarities. He stabbed the air with the staff; he planted it to the ground; he spun it in his hand. Nothing.

He heard footsteps amidst his flailing, catching Saber at the corner of his eye as she joined him at the dojo.

"What are you doing there, Shirou?" the Servant asked amusedly.

"I'm trying to do what Caster did." He said with rising frustration. He gave Saber a once over glance. "Is it tied to him?"

She shook her head. "Most artifacts are beyond our time. In fact, that staff in particular has changed hands many a time, be it willingly or forced."

"Then how do you use it? I didn't hear Caster say any incantations." He asked her.

"All you need to know is the name of the artifact. As long as you do, its capabilities are for you to manifest." She further explained.

Shirou looked to her, his eyes locking with hers. "Then, do you know what this is?"

She smiled. "It's called the Force Staff."

His face grimaced. "Are you pulling my leg?"

"No! It really is called that!" she said genuinely, despite the small tug at the corner of her lip.

He gave her a scrutinizing gaze, before shifting his attention back to the wooden staff. He planted the bottom on the floor, leaning it slightly forward, thinking of the name in his head. Thinking of the staff's will. Thinking of the Force Staff.

BANG!

Shirou was on his back on the floor, clutching his face and almost curling into a fetal position with the staff by his side, the staff that had propelled him towards the other side of the dojo. Straight onto the wall, face planting way harder than he had anticipated. Amidst the pain, he can hear his Servant cackling, vibrations felt on the wooden floor and her laughter echoing in the dojo. His own groans invaded his Servant's hysteria. This went on for a full minute before Shirou got on his fours and Saber's laughter had subsided, the both of them standing up on opposite ends.

The Master rubbed his face with his free hand. "Okay. Next time, we do this outside."

"I concur." Saber said with a pleasant smile.

Shirou couldn't bring himself to be displeased with his Servant, seeing her mood already going higher and higher after the previous altercation. With Saber in a better state of mind, the both of them made their way out of the dojo, ready to retire for the night.


"Yo, Emiya."

Shirou glanced behind him as he was about to leave his classroom, seeing the wavy haired Shinji wave at him, walking towards him. Shirou turned his body to properly face his supposed friend.

"Hey Shinji. What's up?" he asked his classmate.

The known womanizer glanced around, shifting awkwardly right in front of Shirou. This was a knew side to him that Shirou never had seen before. "Word… on the street, is… that you're…involved, now."

Despite the choice of words, Shirou knew what Shinji was talking about. He gave the wavy haired boy a glare of disapproval. "I got dragged into it. What's it to you?"

Shinji seemed to not notice Shirou's displeasure, focusing his gaze elsewhere. "Look, watch your back around that guy. He's trouble."

Again, Shirou knew what Shinji was talking about. In fact, this was one of the topics they had crossed the night before, as Sakura's limited words was enough to convey the story of their apparent summoning. Shirou nodded. "Noted."

Shirou turned and left before Shinji could further respond, making his way towards the roof to meet up with his ally in the Holy Grail War. He brought his bento on one hand and the staff, securely wrapped enough to obscure it, on the other. He walked up the stairs, scaling the floors before reaching the top floor. He opened the door, walking out to the roof to see Rin sitting at her usual spot, a plastic bag of the lunch she bought. And to his surprise, Sakura was there as well, sitting across the twin tailed Master with her own bento. He walked over, joining the two female Masters for their lunch.

"I thought Sakura didn't want to be a part of this, Tohsaka." Shirou said as he sat himself down between them.

Rin had an indignant expression on her face when the male Master addressed her. "I think it's best if she knows what happened, so she can be safe herself."

Shirou nodded in understanding. "That makes sense. You never know what Rider's up to."

"He's not that bad." Sakura said with a pout.

"Well, if you say he isn't, then I'm sure he's fine." Shirou responded, though the awkward smile on his face showed he was not convinced.

"Is Saber gonna join us?" Archer asked as she materialized in a green mist.

"She will, shortly." Shirou replied, looking up at the standing Servant. "The problem with having an act is that you have to keep it up."

As if on cue, the door to the roof opened, and with it Saber walked out, closing the door behind her as she made her way towards the group. She stopped herself beside Archer, standing side by side with the one eyed ginger. Archer seemed to not mind, leaning herself on Saber with an elbow on the other's shoulder.

"So, is Rider gonna make himself visible?" Saber asked, as both Servants knew that the Servant of the Mount was around.

"If he's in the mood." Sakura answered for the Servant.

"Of course." Both allied Servants said, earning an ethereal chuckle from the astralized Servant.

Rin took a bite out of her sandwich, filling her stomach just a little bit before she started the meeting. "Well, I think we should talk about Caster." Everyone's expressions turned grim, as the seriousness of the situation presented itself. Rin looked over to the Servants (the ones materialized at least). "What can you tell us about him? Saber called him "Oracle" last night."

Saber's face scowled the moment Rin mentioned Caster's name, turning her face away when the Master flinched at the sudden expression that flashed on her face. "He gave me the sword. That's all I'll say."

Rin was conflicted; annoyed that she was getting a none answer from the Servant, but understanding that this was a personal matter for Saber. She instead turned to Archer, hoping her own Servant could fill in the blanks.

Archer sighed in defeat, scratching the back of her orange head as she kept her one eye on her Master. "Oracle is a title, as you might have guessed. Just like ours." The ginger Servant started. "The story goes, is that he, along with many others before, were bred and raised to become Oracles to kings. An unending line. A line that ended because of him."

Archer shifted her gaze from each Master, one by one before returning to Rin. "But Caster was different. He was special, and those that around him knew immediately. For every single word uttered from his mouth was in fact a reality. People started to think that he was dangerous, but their King, a practical mind, paid no heed to their prudence."

"All the King saw, was absolute. Certainty. Victory. Glory. He paraded the Oracle to his people, for with the Oracle, came the unparalleled future of their kingdom, and he rejoiced. So, on the penultimate day of his rule, he asked the Oracle for guidance. For he and the army he led was about to invade a small city. A naïve city. Yet, the only words that came out of the Oracle, was "It could go either way.""

All three Masters were unmoving, their lunches left to the outside air as their attentions were held, listening intently as Archer regaled the story of Caster. "Despite the fluid answer, the king took it as a sign of victory, for his army was unstoppable. So, the invasion proceeded as planned. Yet, what happened next was something beyond mortal comprehension."

"The city they invaded became impossible to visualize." Saber chimed in, taking the rein from Archer as she continued the story. The scowl still glued to her face. "In the midst of battle, of the carnage, it all bifurcated. Split. Shattered. For at each poignant moment in the battle, reality broke down and split to pieces. Soldiers who were felled also stood strong, unwilling to end the fight. So do their minds, shattering as they found themselves both alive and dead, existent and non-existent. Victory, and defeat. Destruction, and salvation. The beginning, and the end. All experienced, as one. All experienced, simultaneously. Both armies, falling victim. Their battlefield became a universe of shattered mirrors."

"This paradoxical existence caused everyone to fall to insanity, their minds incapable of comprehending the madness. The king; the last king losing his mind and so did his fated enemy. And it wasn't just the soldiers, but the people as well, falling prey to the Oracle's words." Saber glanced back to Archer, silently imploring the other Servant to continue.

She did as asked, stepping forward slightly. "You see, Masters. It was at this moment, that people realized, that unlike other oracles before him, Caster did not have the gift of clairvoyance. No, what he had was far more dangerous. He did not see to the future, for he created it."

The Servants' words hung heavy in the air, as the three Masters were dumbstruck at what had been told to them. The red shimmer of the third Servant was what halted their thoughts for a brief moment, as he finally made himself apparent to them. Surprised looks were on all the other's faces when they noticed him. He stood a good distance from the other two Servants, his arms crossed over his chest. "What is interesting, is that long before these events could reach their climax, the Oracle was already casted out." Rider started, his deep rumbling voice devoid of the amusement the (other) Masters were used to. "Bound and gagged, and sent away in light speed out of his dimension, and into theirs." He pointed to the two Servants who flinched upon being reminded of the Oracle's existence.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Both Sakura and Shirou jumped in surprise at Rin's sudden outburst, clutching and pulling her brown hair tightly. "What is going on with this damn Grail War?!"

"Uh, Senpai-" Sakura tried to calm the twin tailed Master down, but flinched when Rin continued to vent.

"First, we have Servants not from our world summoned. Then, we found out one of the Servants is a figurative god!" she gestured to the armored form of Rider, who chuckled in amusement at the Master's outburst. "THEN, we find out that Caster is capable of manipulating reality, Fate itself?!"

"Tohsaka!" Shirou rushed to his friend's side, his hands finding her shoulders and shaking her aggressively. "Get a hold of yourself!"

The Tohsaka heiress continued crying for half a minute before her yells subsided, her aqua eyes straining stressful tears that she wiped with her wrist. "Thank you, Emiya-kun." She said gratifyingly.

"Rin, I understand the choice we made yesterday, making sure bystanders, the people uninvolved, were unharmed. Hell, I would've done the same thing, and more." Archer started, crossing her own arms. "But you, all of you, need to know. The longer Caster is around, the stronger he becomes."

"And at that point, all he has to do is say "I win" basically, right?" Shirou said, finishing the thought everyone had, with all three Servants nodding their heads.

"Caster knows that in his current state, he is weak." Saber added, shifting her weight around as she stepped aside. "It's why he's recreating the artifacts, and why he apparently summoned Assassin."

"Assassin! That's right!" Rin brought her palm to her face, cringing in remembrance. "Do you guys know who he is?"

Both allied Servants looked at each other, a silent conversation being exchanged, ending in Archer gesturing with her head to the Masters. Saber took the helm. "He is the Bounty Hunter."

"A bounty hunter?" Shirou asked, with Saber raising a pointed finger in response.

"The Bounty Hunter. The one who has slain giants. Felled dragons. Brought down kings and tyrants. All in the name of gold and justice." Saber further explained.

Only Sakura noticed the way Shirou grimaced, and only she knew why he grimaced. She turned to the Servant, this time asking her own question. "What makes him special?"

Saber shrugged. "For the most part, his skills. As a Servant, he is extremely weak, as we could attest to last night with both Rin and Shirou holding him off. But give him his full complement of tools, and he will show how deadly he can be."

"Really, what makes him truly deadly is his inhuman capabilities in tracking his targets." Archer added. "Without a doubt, that would be his Noble Phantasm."

"Is he trustworthy?" Rin asked.

"If he weren't summoned as Caster's Servant, then we would've had an unlikely ally. But for now, trust that he will always hold back." Saber said to the Masters.

"If he's a bounty hunter, then what's stopping him from going all out against us?" Shirou asked, trying to hide his distrust.

"He may be a man of loose morals, but those morals of his are resolute." Saber said with assurance. "He may walk where the gold lies, but there are still things that not even untold riches can make him do."

While Shirou did not relax, Rin let out a sigh of relief. "That's good to hear at least." She said, mentally exhausted. "Now, the artifacts that he had, what are they, exactly?"

"The wand he used against me is known as Dagon." Saber said to them, the earlier anger seemingly already disappeared from her body. "A wand capable of unleashing untold energies. A wand that grows stronger, more powerful the longer it's used."

"The hammer he pulled out is called the Meteor Hammer." Archer said, snapping her neck from side to side. "Created from minerals from space, it's capable of raining down celestial showers."

"So I assume that thing wrapped in cloth is the last artifact?" Rin gestured with her gaze at the staff Shirou had brought.

"Yeah it is." He said, picking it up from the ground, holding it out to Rin. "Wanna try it?"

"Really?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, Saber taught me how to yesterday." Shirou said as he unwrapped the concealed artifact for her.

Rin cautiously took the unrevealed staff from the male Master, her hand wrapping around the indistinctive stick with a crescent stone tied on one end. Her eyes went down the length, carefully inspecting the artifact. It didn't look like anything special, but she could feel the power it carried. Her heart was beating faster, her mind racing ever more slightly. Her eyes widened as she realized how the staff was more than meets the eye. How within it held power more than she can perceive.

"You just need to know the name, and you can do whatever it can do." Shirou explained.

"And what's the name of this artifact?" she asked, waving the staff around her.

"Force Staff."

She looked to him, her eyes meeting his bearing a nonplussed expression. "What?"

"It's a very straightforward artifact." Archer replied for him as she walked over to her Master. "As he said, all you need to do is know of its name, and its miracles are for you to action."

"Is that so?" Rin asked back. "You don't need to say the name or anything?"

Archer shrugged. "You can if you want to, but you don't need to."

Rin huffed in determination. "Alright then." She pointed the staff forward.

"Force Staff."

KRISNK

"Ow, ow, ow, ow." Rin dropped the staff, rubbing her face after she had been propelled to the chain link fence that worked as a protective perimeter for the roof.

Rin immediately snapped her gaze to the other people on the roof, glaring at them. Saber was facing away from her, showing her back to Rin but the shuffling shoulders were enough of an indication of the fact that the Servant was giggling. Her Master was faring better, his arm over his chest and a fist over his mouth, as he stifled any sound that would escape. Next to him, Sakura covered her mouth with both her hands, surprised and concerned at what happened to Rin. Her Servant on the other hand was loudly chuckling in amusement, slowly dissipating as he shifted back into Spirit Form.

Archer was biting her lip, the corner of her mouth tugging ever so slightly as she approached her Master. "Are you alright, Rin?"

"Just peachy." She replied through gritted as she bent over to pick the staff back up. She then shoved it into Archer's hands. "What's the point of this junk anyway?"

"Maneuverability." Archer answered straightforwardly, taking the staff from her Master. "Those who wielded the staff often make use of its capabilities in such manners."

Archer pointed the staff upwards, and was then propelled into the air. Wind surrounded her, slowing her descent as she came back down to the roof. "It can also effect objects." She pointed the staff to the group of Masters, and Rin's bag of lunch was pulled into the air, flying towards them. She caught it with her free hand, handing it to her Master.

Rin took the plastic bag from her Servant, her eyes still pointed at Archer. "But best of all, it can affect other people."

Rin was propelled up into the air, the twin tailed Master blinking her eyes as she realized what was done to her. She yelled out a short scream before remembering she was not as defenseless as she thought she was. She reinforced her body as she came back down, but landed in the arms of Archer. The Servant gave her Master a soft, almost apologetic smile. One that Rin was almost charmed by, quickly shifting her gaze away from Archer as she felt her cheeks warm up.

Archer let Rin get back on her feet, the Master readjusting herself after being flung about like a water balloon. "That's all well and good, what's the point of it? It seems quite useless to you."

"That's right, since we have our own methods. But it's great for you Masters." Archer said, throwing the staff back to Shirou. She straightened herself and turned to Saber, nodding to the other Servant. "Next time we come across Caster, we can at the very least separate the artifacts from him, at the very least you can keep up with the weaker Servants for them."

RING

All three students turned their heads towards the door as the bell that signaled the end of the break rang loudly across the school campus. It also signaled the end of their emergency meeting. Archer gave a quick glance to her Master before dematerializing herself, leaving Saber as the lone Servant visible on the roof. Rin gathered her trash while Shirou and Sakura tidied their bentos, the three of them making their way back. They all stopped, seeing Saber still standing in the middle of the roof.

"Go on. I still want to linger." She said, both an in and out of character excuse as she waltz around the roof.

The three Masters entered inside, walking down the stairs before going their own ways.


"Senpai, can I stay over?"

Shirou had a bewildered look on his face, shaking his head at the sudden request from Sakura as they by chance met at the school gate.

"I don't really mind, but why?" he asked, quietly worried with the current predicament they were all in. if the Holy Grail War was not taking place, and they were not taking part, he wouldn't have questioned it.

Sakura shifted under his questioning gaze, her hands gripping her school bag even tighter. She stepped closer to him, now inches away from one another. Shirou himself wanted to step back, aware of how the situation looked for him. She then looked up to face him. "Rider said he's going to be busy." She said in a whisper.

Shirou furrowed his brows, wondering what the dangerous Servant had in mind to leave Sakura alone. Based on Sakura's reassurances, he felt that she was at least safe with him around. And now he would make himself scarce. "What is he doing?"

She moved her gaze away from him, but she still answered. "He wants to deal with Caster."

"What? Why? Alone?" his questions poured out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

"You two still here?" both Masters turned to see Saber approaching them, hand on her hip as she eyed them mischievously.

"He said he doesn't need any outside interference." Sakura ignored the Servant, answering Shirou's earlier questions.

"But alone? I feel like he won't hold himself back with the priests around." He said, still not completely hooked on the idea.

"He said it's going to be dangerous, and that I should stay with you." The younger Master responded, still not meeting his eyes.

"What's Rider doing?" Saber asked as she reached their side, her expression bearing a serious complexion.

"He's going after Caster." Shirou replied for Sakura. "He shouldn't be going alone. At least have someone to hold him back."

Saber's teal eyes scrutinized the two Masters, shifting from one to the other slowly, yet methodically. She eventually sighed, shaking her head. "Let him be, Shirou." She said in a neutral tone, walking past the two Masters.

"Wait, we're not going after him?" Shirou asked incredulously, walking up to his Servant. Sakura followed behind him.

"Yes." Saber replied, nonplussed. "As much as I hate Caster, I would not like to be around Rider when things get serious." She answered genuinely. "We're fortunate that he's on our side, by proxy of Sakura. And it seems he did not take kindly to Caster's appearance. So we pray for him to finish what we have not."

Shirou followed behind Saber, a disbelieving look plastered on his face at Saber's blunt response. Sakura, beside him, held a guilty look on her face, as only she knew the full extent of Rider's motivations.

And though they were in the right place, she could not deny the worry in her heart.


The heavy clanking of metal boots on concrete pavement echoed through the empty streets, lit only by the street lamps that sometimes flickered as it was on its last dredges of life. Rider walked down the quiet streets materialized, both as a signal and as an invitation as he made his way towards Ryuudou Temple. He had a clear goal in mind, whether it was completed that night or not. And so despite taking on this vessel as a weaker form, he will not shirk away from his duty. And right now, that duty was to deal with the impending disaster if left unchecked. And he will act before the forces of this universe can even understand the gravity of the danger that loomed over the horizon.

The sound of his footsteps stopped as Rider halted his trek, his eldritch eyes slowly shifting to an unseen form that stood on the power lines above. Someone had answered. "Reveal yourself, Lancer."

The unseen force above revealed themselves in a golden shimmer, crouching on the line with the golden pike rested on their shoulder. Their face still obscured by the straw hat they wore. "You're obvious in your movements, Rider." They said to him.

Rider kept his gaze on the Servant, judging their form with his eyes in silent scrutiny. He then shifted his stare off to the side, as if focusing on something far from where he stood. "So the Priest has made his move, has he?"

The Lancer responded only in silence, causing Rider to chuckle amusedly. His misshapen cudgel then appeared in his hand. "Very well. I will oblige."

Rider swung his cudgel behind him, shattering one of Lancer's illusions that had snuck up to deal a flanking hit. He raised his empty arm; a shield materializing to block another attack from Rider's other side. He bashed the illusion with his shield, sending them onto another illusion chasing behind. Half a dozen illusions conjured around him, rushing to overwhelm the Servant. But he was unfazed. He conjured a ball of eldritch energy at the tip of his cudgel, and swung it down onto the ground.

"Chaos Bolt!"

The ground Rider stood on exploded into chaotic chunks of concrete and debris, shattering Lancer's illusions before they could even touch him. He marched forth from the crater he created, keeping a steady gait while the golden illusions rushed towards him. He swung his cudgel in a horizontal arc in front of him, keeping his shield behind him to block and deflect any who tried to sneak up on him. Despite the army of many that came to him from all directions, Rider held his gaze on the one Lancer that had yet to move. The original Servant that anchored these illusions. Lancer realized that despite the limitless army they were creating, Rider knew exactly which one was the real Lancer. They turned around, ready to retreat from the impending Servant, but they were suddenly pulled.

For a second, both Lancer and Rider were inside some sort of pocket dimension, unknown to all, before they reappeared somewhere else a few feet from where Rider stood, the sound of neighing horses filled the night skies as Rider's cudgel came crashing down onto Lancer's golden pike. The blue skinned Servant being crushed under Rider's might, straining with all their strength to hold Rider back. When they felt their defense breaking, they disappeared.

Rider stood up, his eyes onto the empty space of where Lancer and their illusions will appear, cudgel held back to swing. When three Lancers had indeed appeared, he charged; barreling through one of the illusions like they were nothing. This time, Lancer deflected the blow with their pike, causing Rider's momentum to destroy the wall of a nearby residence. Rider kept his assault, pushing Lancer back with all his strength. Lancer kept up with their unrivaled agility, deflecting blow after blow; swing after swing, assisted by their limitless illusions.

As their fight continued down the street, leaving destruction in their wake, they came upon a more wide open space; an empty park. Lancer kicked themselves off of Rider, retreating towards the park with Rider chasing after them; their illusions trying, and failing, to hold Rider back. Feeling enough space was created, Lancer stopped to face Rider once more, plunging their pike into the dirt ground. All the surrounding illusions did the same, as each and every one of their pike started glowing.

"Spirit Lance!"

Bolts of light erupted from the plunged pikes; flying towards Rider's approaching form. He raised his shield, bracing himself for the magical attack. They came from all sides, but his skin; his armor, was barely scathed. As the light dimmed, allowing the darkness to return, Rider's gaze landed on the form of Lancer. The form that was now holding their pike up, pointed upwards. The tip of the lance was spinning, glowing still with the golden light of power. Beneath their straw hat, their golden eyes shined with resolute, staring in defiance against Rider. Rider stopped his approach, readying himself for the inevitable.

The Shattered Soul of the Golden Light

Lancer and their illusions swung their lances in a downward motion, splitting the fabric of reality as gusts of magical energy erupted from them.

"Vorn's Demise!"

As the gusts receded, Rider found that he was no longer standing in the park, facing an army of Lancer's illusions that encircled him. Instead, he stood in the middle of a hall of mirrors. Jagged reflections; broken glass. Each one, instead of reflecting him, depicted Lancer. Each held their lance pointed at him. Rider looked around, observing the landscape of mirrors.

"So this is how that tale is depicted." Rider said knowingly, genuinely intrigued at the Reality Marble he was pulled in.

"It is indeed so." Lancer replied, each and every single one of their illusion speaking with them, their words echoing inside their world. Then each reflection removed the straw hat they wore, revealing the feline face of Lancer, pure white hair and beard complementing their golden eyes. "Within our soul, we are unmatched. Each of us strikes with the power of a single hero."

"Such arrogance, Lancer. Do you wish to learn your place?" Rider said, unperturbed by the mirror army.

"We outnumber you, Rider." Lancer boasted, spreading their arms. "We outnumber them all!"

"Then show me what you've got!"

Lancer's illusions collided with Rider's form, this time bearing with them strength and power that they could not wield before. Their movements were faster, the pinnacle of the fastest Servant-class. Their strikes brought more weight, capable of staggering the armored Servant they surrounded. Their motes of light they conjured from the tip of their spears burned even brighter; further reflected in the land of mirrors. This time they could match Rider, as their numbers finally overwhelmed the Servant of the Mount. For each illusion shattered under Rider's cudgel, two more struck Rider with their lances. For each blow held by back his shield, two more pierced through Rider's defenses.

Rider resorted to his chaotic balls of energy, throwing them at the mirrors themselves to shatter the source of the illusions that began to overcome his very being. But slowly, they picked apart his defenses; chipped through his armor. Slowly, they got to him. The limitless army of the Servant of the Lance was overpowering him. Lancer's illusions increased the pressure they were holding, increased the intensity of their attacks.

An illusion struck Rider behind his knee, pinning Rider down as the lance pierced through him. Another illusion aimed for his thigh, cementing him where he was. Two illusions shattered his jagged shield, holding his arm in place as two more disarmed him of his cudgel. Half a dozen circled around him, their lances piercing through his torso. The remaining Lancers stood at bay, leaving a single path that one of them walked. The one Lancer, the true Lancer. Their steps echoing in the mirrored world, approaching the held Rider.

"Any last words, Rider?" Lancer spoke, the pike aimed at Rider's head.

Despite the situation, Rider was unfazed. Letting out a chuckle that did not at all seemed strained under the supposed stress Lancer's illusions were putting him through. "Congratulations."

Lancer scowled at the unperturbed Servant, striking true as the lance emerged on the other side of Rider's skull.

And yet Rider's chuckling did not stop. In fact, his chuckling grew louder, and louder, and louder. Until he disappeared in a mote of red particles.

As the Reality Marble dispersed, Lancer was already on the move. That was not Rider they had vanquished, but Rider's illusion. Lancer sent out another one of their illusion towards Ryuudou Temple, while they themselves rushed back to the Church. A gut feeling in their stomach, an instinct, was enough to pull them back to the Church. Such a crucial piece of information that they had forgotten, too caught up in their desire to emerge victorious that they let hubris get the better of them.


Rider had taken a detour the moment someone had taken an interest in his intentions. His confrontation with Caster would be postponed, for now he was making his way towards the place where the Master that ordered his intervention. Already crossing the bridge, this time he was running. Running as fast as he could, leaving behind craters with each step he took. Craters that looked like a battle had taken place with how destroyed they were.

Sensing Lancer's approach, he sent another one of his own illusion towards the Servant that chased him, so his own steps went unimpeded. He could feel his own illusions going up against Lancer's army, but it did not last as long. Lancer was determined this time, even more so.

He rose up the brick road that led towards the Church, the destruction of a previous altercation still left its mark as he passed it. The bell tower of the Church was in sight, and just as he was about to reach the gate, he had to raise his shield as a mote of light struck him.

He glanced behind him, seeing Lancer finally catching up to him. He huffed in amusement. "Truly you are the fastest class, Lancer."

Lancer pointed their lance at Rider, showing a menacing glare on their face. "We did not expect you to act like an Assassin, Rider." Lancer accused.

"I do what must be done." Rider said as another illusion of his own appeared right next to him. "It's best that you stand aside, for I wish to speak with your Master."

Lancer's own illusions appeared around them; a dozen compared to Rider's one. "We cannot allow that." They said to him.

"Try and stop me, Lancer." Rider said, goading the opposing Servant.

"We will!" all the Lancers retorted, filling the silent night with their cries as they all charged Rider and his own illusion.

The very definition of Quantity vs. Quality as the blue skinned Servant came into contact with the black knight in red, with the very Church as their witness. Dozens of golden lances parried with the pair of black cudgels. This time, still strengthened from accessing their Reality Marble, Lancer was not as weak as they were; each and every single one of them capable of withstanding a few hits from Rider's cudgel before dissipating into motes of golden light. Rider himself was still a beast of a Servant, still unperturbed by the rapid increasing numbers of the illusions.

Rider then swung his cudgel onto the ground, destroying the surrounding pavement and gate as all illusions were pushed back. He then charged at Lancer's actual form, once again pressuring him with all his might. He has no fear of the Lancer-class' unbound agility, for his strength alone will obliterate them. Lancer still tried to keep up, slashing at Rider's shield and armor, but the assault was undeterred. Despite the accumulating wounds, Rider kept pressing on, slamming and slamming Lancer with each beaten hit. His cudgel and jagged shield striking Lancer every time the Servant of the Lance was incapable of dodging.

When Lancer was at their weakest, Rider's shield dematerialized, his hand finding the Servant's neck. The black metal gauntlet constricting around the blue skinned Servant, dropping their lance to restrain the fingers that tightened around their neck. Rider brought the Servant closer to him; his eldritch eyes peering through the golden orbs that stared back defiantly at him. Rider chuckled in bated amusement.

"Any last words, Lancer?" the question was echoed back, an irony that was not lost in Lancer's mind.

However, before Lancer could even utter a response, they disappeared in a powerful flash of light. So have their illusions, leaving Rider with his own as they stood in the wrecked path that led to the Church. The Church itself was now the object of his deepest concern, slowly shifting his gaze at the old building. He kept on chuckling, knowing that the Priest had exacted the command to free Lancer from his grasp. This would be an interesting talk, Rider thought to himself as he began walking towards the house of worship, with his illusions disappearing beside him.

The moment he stepped inside the Church premises, a flash of golden light appeared, as it streaked towards him. His free hand immediately catching the projectile that was fired at him; a golden halberd of luxurious make. This did not stop his approach, but now his eyes were on the one that had fired at him, the one he finally got the attention of. One that was scowling at him, showing him a look of anger and disgust.

"So the Golden King tarries no longer." Rider said, steadily making his way closer. "What's wrong? Did I disturb your slumber?"

"I do not need to slumber to be disturbed by your presence, foul being." Gilgamesh retorted, his hands in his pockets as golden portals appeared above him.

Rider halted his steps, but still did not seem fazed. "Do not let your bias against your pitiful deities sour your judgments, O Wise King of Uruk." Rider said, managing to sound both sincere and sarcastic.

"You wish to sully my ears with your poisonous words?" two streaks of light erupted from his golden portals, yet once again they were caught by Rider's own hands. "Do not even think of wasting my time!"

The golden portals grew brighter, firing upon Rider's form, only for them to be stopped by two illusions that materialized between them, catching them as expertly as Rider did himself. He did not respond instantly to Gilgamesh's accusations, letting the silence linger in the night. Eventually, he shook his head, seemingly in disappointed.

"Truly a shame, that you were summoned in your prime." Rider said, turning around while leaving his illusions to deal with the golden projectiles thrown at him. "For that carries along with it, unparalleled arrogance."

Almost instantly, portals formed around Rider, chains erupting from them to hold him in place; wrapping around his limbs and torso; his neck and abdomen. "You dare insult the King of Heroes?!"

Rider glanced back, the eldritch fire meeting the bright red. "Unleash the concept that which you suppress. From it, then you will truly understand the true weight of your future actions."

Gilgamesh continued scowling at the black knight, ignoring the illusions as he fired another projectile. A large spear that pierced through Rider, leaving a gaping hole in his torso. Yet, despite that, Rider started chuckling. Louder, and louder, soon joined by his illusions, further echoing in the night. He gave one final glance at the Golden King, before shattering in a mote of red light. Gilgamesh furrowed his brows in frustration, glancing at the two illusions that were cackling in the night.

"You impatience, and arrogance, O Wise King…" both illusions spoke to him as golden portals appeared around them. "…will lead, to your downfall."

Explosions and debris erupted from the spot from which they stood, leaving no trace of either illusions that had goaded him. Gilgamesh kept the unbecoming frown he had, eyeing the shattered battlefield that is the Church courtyard, before he turned around and stepped back inside the Church; its magnanimous doors closing behind him.


"Did you get him?"

Rider looked up at the Japanese gate that led to the Emiya household, seeing Saber casually sit atop it with a false sense of apathy. Beneath it, she was as attentive as ever, her true air never letting herself go, for when even when she is amidst paradise, she will always be ready to strike.

"Saber…" the female Servant quirked her brow when she was directly addressed. "There will come a time, where I must shift my form."

"What do you mean by that?" she asked confusedly.

Rider ignored her question, continuing on as if he never stopped. "When that time comes, then for a brief moment, I trust my Master in your hands."

She shook her head exasperatedly. "You Fundamentals always speak in riddling nonsense." She sighed in defeat. "Fine, I can look after her for a while. Now answer my question."

"I got sidetracked." Rider finally replied as he stepped through the gate, Saber landing behind him as they walked inside the mansion.

"With what?" Saber asked. "People talk of vengeance, but I wouldn't have minded you dealing with him."

"With people who will stand with Caster in the future." Rider replied, glancing behind to catch the Servant with his eyes.

Saber's face grimaced as an unpleasant expression formed on her face. "Seems like this war will soon be a fight between sides."

"Seems like it indeed." Rider said, turning himself to face her.

"And where do you stand, Rider?" Saber asked, staring up at the Servant with judging eyes.

The black knight in red stared back, this time not showcasing any signs of amusement. He peered through her very soul, before letting a long air through his nose. "I stand with my Master, Saber."


AUTHOR'S NOTE

phew, that took quiet a while. sorry people, the weather's really killing shit here. so, another big fight, and another Servant further expanded.

let's talk about them!

for Lancer, i've always felt that although his illusions would be perfect as his NP, i felt like it wasn't enough. you know, should be more epic. so, i thought that a Reality Marble based off of his lore would do the trick. similar to Iskandar's, how their legacy became what it is. and like him along with Shirou/Archer, they can call forth aspects of their Reality Marble. Iskandar, with his individual soldiers, Shirou/Archer with his projections. in here, Lancer, it's how he calls forth his stronger illusions.

and we see more than a cameo from Gilgamesh!

i'll be honest, i'm not to fond of him as a person in F/SN, prefer F/Z Gilgamesh. but, i'll let you guys know, so far i have yet to properly find a good narrative for him, aside from being a powerful entity that out heroes will face soon.

and that's it! hope this chapter was a blast! R&R if ya'll can with it!

see you all next time!