Hello to the three people who read this story, NexusLight here again! Now first things first, me and CanadianRider do apologize for the massive delay in the chapter. This is due to the semesters at our colleges coming to an end and the result is a massive amount of test and quizzes along with finals swamping us. Second of all is... well... crap, their isn't anything else.
Anyways, last chapter, James returned and was confronted by a new type of enemy: The Space Beast. He wasn't able to do anything to it due to him not fully recovering from his last battle. Luckily, help came in the form of another giant similar to him. After meeting the two new additions to the group (Artoria Lily and Gilgamesh), the other giant shrinks down to human size and states his name is Ultraman Zero and that he was looking for James, who he called Ultraman Nexus. After explaining the Ultra race a bit, he informs him that he can't stay due to his race fighting against an evil Ultra named Belial, but before he leaves, he does inform James that the Ultras from his world will come by now and then to teach him and gives James a new weapon to help him: The Evolution Brace.
Yes, other Ultras will appear from time to time in the story. So with that, let's get started!
Disclaimer: I only own the OC. Fate/Grand Order is owned by Type-Moon and Ultraman Nexus and the kaiju and aliens all belong to Tsuburaya Productions.
Outside of Lyon
No one's Pov
James, Mash, and Gabrielle examined the Evolution Brace that was on James' left wrist. James was curious of what it could do, but then he felt on set of eyes on him. Tuning around to meet a pair of blue eyes.
"Whoa!" He shouted in surprise as he moved back. Mash and Gabrielle looked at him in surprise before they looked at the one who startled him.
"Oh sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." Marie giggled as she began to walk around and examine him. James looked at her in confusion along with Mash and Gabrielle. Amadeus just sighed as he put a hand to his forehead.
"Uh... What are you doing?" James asked. "Hm..." She hummed to herself as she examined him up and down while walking around him. She stopped in front of him before nodding. "You defiantly appear normal, but I guess that fits to your charm. I can see why Jeanne likes you." Jeanne suddenly blushes and starts shouting, "I-It's not like that, Marie!"
James just looks confused before Amadeus walks up and speaks to James. "I'm sorry for her actions. She has odd tendencies when ever she meets someone." "Um, okay." James replies in confusion before remembering he didn't know these two. "Quick question: Who are you two?"
Marie was the first to speak, "I'm a Rider Class Servant, my True Name is Marie Antoinette." "Marie Antoinette? As in the last queen of France?" She nodded before James held out his right hand before speaking, "Pleasure to meet you, Mary. I hope you don't mind me calling you Mary. I don't want to mix your name up with another Marie I know." She smiled before reaching out and shook his hand before nodding. "No, please call me whatever you want."
They broke the handshake before James turned to Amadues. "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Caster. Pleased to meet you." Amadues held his hand out, knowing James was going to do it as well. James did and shook it. "Nice to meet one of the greatest musicians in history."
As they finished, his communication device beeped. Bringing it up, he flipped the black part up to see who it was and was greeted by Marie's face. Before he could speak, Marie shouted at him, "James! Where the hell did you disappear to!?" James' ears rang for a bit before he responded, "Nice to see you to Marie."
Before she could continue, Roman appeared on the display before speaking, "I hate to interrupt, but you all might to get moving." Before James could ask why, he noticed something from the corner of his eyes. Turning to it, his eyes widened as everyone else turned their heads towards what he was looking at.
The sky was full of wyvern and they were heading straight towards them.
After a bit of staring, James proceeded to speak his thoughts, "Well fuck."
"Fou!"
"Yes, Fou. Yes."
Insert: Ultraman Nexus Vol. 1 Track 1 – Main Title
From a void surrounded by a ring of light, an explosion of light burst forwards and something covered in blue crystals appears before another one appears below the first, only now covered in red crystals.
Then streaks of light flash over them, chipping off the crystal coverings until they revealed the title.
Fate/Grand Order
Nexus
Insert: Aoi Kajutsu by doa TV version
Ultraman, in his silver form, is performing multiple backflips before doing a front flip before he's seen flipping sideways over some buildings. He lands on the ground in his blue form. Now show at a distance, he brings his left arm up to his chest and clenched it Returning close to him, Ultraman now had his left arm pointing forwards with a bow of light formed on the modified brace and he grabs where the string should've been.
Zubu nure ni natta mama de
Akuseru wo fumikonde
Ano koro no jounetsu wo momikesu
The shot then switches to a view of him in front from a distance as the bow shot out a projectile shaped like it. The recoil sent Ultraman flying backward and he lands on the ground before he turns his head to the right as everything changes from Ultraman and a town to James laying in a grassy field. He smiles a bit before he stretches his arms before getting to his feet.
Takanaru kodou abareru
Gamushara datta ano koro no
Boku ni boku ga hora mou oitsukareru
He then starts running before changing back to him running threw the streets of the town, now in his red form.
Ushiro nanka mizu ni hashiritsuzuketekita kedo
Shiranu aida ni amai yuuwaku ni nagasareteitan da
It then starts showing some of the characters of the story appearing from the left and right: Gabrielle, Mash, Da Vinci, Roman, and Marie.
Power wo shibori dase hadaka nomamano yokubou de
Boku wa chippoke na aoi kajitsu desho
The scene switches to Artoria slashing her sword against another Saber with long, blond hair and a hat. It then shows Mash blocking the strikes from Vlad lll before suddenly charging forwards and slammed into him. It goes to Jeanne fighting against her altered self.
Yuuki wo nejiridase ima no genjitsu ni
Manzoku shitara todokanai kono omoi
Switching to a blue background, figures started to appear before disappearing: A being covered in darkness on the right, feathers blew across the scene as it showed Ultraman's blue form on the left, his red form appearing on the right, and finally his standard silver form looking up before zooming into his right eye and for a second, something covered in darkness appeared. It then switches to Ultraman backflipping in his red form before showing his blue form doing the same, but in a different direction. A shower of feathers flies across the screen as the scene changes to the Chaldea Servants standing in front of CHALDEAS.
Kyou karaha kyou karano
Ashita karaha ashita karano
Ma atarashii story kizameba ii desho
Can you please give
Some more power to me
Don't stop coz you've been
Chasing around
Kaze wo nukisatte todokaseru kono omoi
Changing scene, Ultraman was standing and looking around at the town before it changed to both his blue form and red form standing back to back with each other. Feathers then flew across a black background as a close up of James' face stares towards the screen. More feathers blow across the screen and clears to reveal Jeanne sitting with her back against the wall with her knees to her chest. A shadow then covers her making her look up to see Ultraman standing there looking down at her.
Chapter 6 - Sacrifice
James' Pov
The wind rushed past my head as me and the others ran, or float in Medea's and Gilgamesh's case.
"I'm not detecting the ultra-size lifeform anymore. But the enemies are still on our tails, hurry!" Roman yelled over the communicator on my right arm. "What do you think we're doing right now!" I shouted at him as I turned to see the wyverns still following us.
Then I heard Mash speak to Gabrielle, "Senpai, I want a horse!" Obviously referring to Mary, who was riding a crystal-like horse, she turned to them and spoke, "Sorry, this is a one-seater!" Amadeus then spoke up, "I'm used to traveling, but this is a first for me! This is just us retreating, right?"
"Master, don't fall behind!" I heard Mash shout at Gabrielle before I turned to look to see her lagging behind Mash slightly, looking a little tired. "Sorry, but my leg..." I looked down and noticed one of her legs had a noticeable cut on it. I slowed myself down and soon was besides her before speaking, "In that case!" I grabbed her and lifted her into my arms before speeding up again. "W-W-What are you doing!?" She yelled at me, her face red for some reason. "Can't have you running and making your leg wound worst!" I replied.
"Can't you find a way to summon that thing that brought you to Chaldea!" Turning my head towards her, I replied, "Already did, but I won't. If man has been using their legs as a means of transport since ancient times, then that's good enough for me!" I heard her whine as I turned back to look in front of me.
Suddenly, Jeanne spoke up, "Wait, please. I see something up ahead." She squinted her eyes before resuming, "That's the... French army!" I looked and saw them fighting a bunch of wyverns. "Their having trouble with the wyverns!" I spoke before Jeanne spoke, "We need to go help them!"
Gabrielle agreed and we all made our way towards the French army.
Time Skip
I blasted the head of a zombie off with my pistol before ducking under the claws of wyvern before it was cut in half by Artoria. Pulling the pump on the Blast Shot back, I aimed at an on coming wyvern and fired once it was close enough. The light sphere made contact and turned it into blue particles.
Artoria walked over and helped me up before asking, "You alright?" "Yeah, still not used to this kind of stuff yet. We should probably regroup with the others." I spoke to her. She nodded and we made our way back just as Mash pushed back a wyvern with her shield and Lily slashed it's neck open with her sword. Mash turned to Gabrielle, who was having her leg wound healed by Mary and Medea, before she spoke, "We've disposed of the first wave of wyverns. Next up..."
We all turned to look forwards and saw another wave of wyverns approaching, but along with them were two figures approaching us. The tallest one was an European knight in black armor and the part where the eyes could see out of on the helmet was glowing red. In his right hand was a large, black sword.
Along with him was white-haired man with sky-blue eyes. He wore a long coat covered in unique designs and was slightly open. The collar of it was tall and reach half way up his face. He had armor on both shoulders that resembled two house heads next to each other and in his right hand was a large blade that widened at the upper tip.
Artoria gasped next to me and I turned to see her looking at the black knight with wide eyes. "What's wrong?" I asked her. "Lancelot..." My eyes widened a little as I turned to look at the approaching man and knight before looking back at Artoria. "Wait, that's Lancelot, your most trusted knight?" She nodded, not taking her eyes of Lancelot. Knowing about what happened from the legends, I decided to not push myself any deeper till later.
"A-Urrrrr!" Lancelot spoke or something as the white-haired man said nothing as they both stop a few feet away from us. I noticed Amadeus narrowing his eyes at the white-haired man. "...Damn you!" He spat out while Mary spoke with a smile, "-My, what a coincidence. I've never forgotten your face, you lazy artisan."
The white-haired man looked at her before speaking in a monotone voice, "That's good to hear. I've never forgotten yours either. Your face, and your pale white neck. At the same time, I feel like this is destiny. That you and I share a special connection." He then smiled before continuing, "Don't we? The fate of a executioner killing the same person twice, I feel like only we share that kind of connection."
'Executioner? Is it possible that this guy is...' I thought to myself before Amadeus spoke, "...Not only in life, but even now you're eager to execute Maria? Charles-Henri Sanson. Could it be that you are genuinely mad?"
'Charles-Henri Sanson. First executioner to use the guillotine and famous for executing Louis XVl, but I thought his son executed Mary or did this man execute both her and the King in this world?' James thought to himself Sanson frowned at Amadeus before speaking to him, "...As a human, it pains me discuss our relationship with a low-life like you. Amadues, you claimed all lives, all humans, are filthy. Not I. Humans are sacred, precious things. That's why we executioners respect life. We are incompatible, you and I. Trash who couldn't even love humans, trash who couldn't understand her, has no right to be next to her."
"...Arrrrrrrrrrr!" With a shout, Lancelot lunged at Mash and swung his sword, which was probably Arondight, at Mash as she blocked it with her shield, but she was sent sliding back towards Gabrielle. "What an attack! Master, please stand back!" She shouted at Gabrielle as Lancelot ran at her and swung Arondight at Mash again. She brought up her shield and the blade slammed against the shield, but the force pushed Mash to her knees as she struggled against him. "This Berserker... He's much more frightening than any Servant we've faced so far!"
"Look at the sky! Look how many wyverns are in flight!" Marie shouted as I looked up and saw the amount of wyverns in the air. "Ugh! I'm going to help the French army! You all take care of those two Servants!" She shouted as she ran towards the battlefield. I turned to Artoria before speaking to her, "Artoria, go to Gabrielle and tell her to let you and a few of the others to go with Jeanne to assist the French army. They're going to need all the help they can get." She looked reluctant, but eventually nodded before rushing over to Gabrielle as Mash and Cú were busy with Lancelot.
I turned back to see Sanson walking towards Mary and Amadeus while speaking, "My sword of execution is pure. It's not for the likes of you who do not submit to death, but... Thinking of it, this entire nation is an execution site. I shall remove your head with one strike!" He then sprinted towards them, but before could make it half way, I pulled out my pistol and fired all the rounds at him. Sanson stopped before jumping back a bit as the shots made contact with the ground. He, Amadeus, and Mary turned towards me as I walked in front of Mary and Amadeus before speaking, "I apologize, Charles-Henri Sanson, but your going to have deal with me first."
He looked at me for a moment before he spoke, "If I recall, the Dragon Witch was speaking about a being that looked human, but was able to actually harm her by himself as something else. I guessing that she was referring to you?"
"Yep, that's me. It's nice to see I left an impression on her." I replied. He adjusted the grip on his swords handle before speaking, "I'm not interested in executing you, just Marie Antoinette." "And as her friend, that's why I can't allow it." Looking at the Evolution Brace, I thought it was time to see what it could do.
I kept my eyes on Sanson as I spoke to the two behind, "Amadeus, Mary. You two mind stepping back." The sound of foot steps was what answered me. I then brought my left forearm up. Sanson raised an eyebrow before I brought my right hand slightly below the Evolution Brace before it began glowing and then I felt something form in my hand before I grasped it. Bring it above me, I spun it a few times before bringing it down. The light covering it cleared to reveal a trident that resembled the form I got it in only with the lower bit extended out with a sharp tip at the end.
Grasping it's lower area, I pointed the trident end at Sanson. "Let's go." I spoke before I rushed at him with him responding the same. Raising our weapons, we swung them at each other once we were close enough.
Insert: Ultraman Nexus Vol. 1 Track 15 - Night Raiders - Battle
'CLANG!'
Our weapons clashed before we Sanson started swinging his sword at me. Blocking a few of his swings, I let go of the lower half of the lance just as he came in with a vertical slash. Placing my palm on the side of the lance that was free from the blade, I redirected it to my left, making him stumble in that direction. I swung the trident at him, but he managed to dodge it by jumping back, but the blades still managed to grazed his right check.
Landing on the ground, he paused before bringing his right thumb across the small cut on his check and then looked at me. "Hoo... Not bad for someone who isn't a Servant." He said before he rushed back at me. He swung diagonally at me, but I raised the trident end of the lance and caught it. I used the trident to move the sword so it was pointing down before look at Sanson. "So, let me ask, do you really believe you have the right to execute Mary again, even after you've done it before?" I asked him.
He looked at me for a few seconds before replying, "Yes. Only someone of my skill and treatment has the right to." I frowned at him before he suddenly kicked my left side. I staggered a bit before ducking under a swing and then tried to stab him with to pointed end of the lance only for him to suddenly turn and knock it upwards. Thinking fast, I turned the lance so that the trident end was pointing at him before grabbing the lower half with my left hand and thrust forwards. Sanson quickly blocked with his sword and we remained in deadlock.
"I won't deny it, I respect your role as an executioner, but I don't think you are one now, are you, Charles-Heri Sanson?" I asked him. He frowned before we broke the deadlock and jumped back away from each other. "What?" He questioned me. "The excitement in your eyes when you said you would execute Mary again. If you are an executioner, Charles-Heri Sanson none the less, then you should know that anything involving the two of you ended the moment you executed her. To take a life with joy like yours, that doesn't mean you respect lives anymore, you just want to kill for enjoyment. That makes you less of an executioner and more of a murderer." I explained.
He was silent, his head facing own and his hair casting a shadow over his eyes. A few seconds later, he finally looked up and saw anger in his eyes. "...Me, a murderer? You dare call me, an executioner, a mere murderer?!" He charged at me with a side slash. Bringing my lance up, I blocked it. He glared at me while I kept a strained expression due to the force of his swing.
"If you say I don't value human lives now, then why do you!? How can you prove me a murderer if I don't know anything about your own value!?" I stared at him before speaking, "In this world, you never know when death will come. That's why they need to live their lives to the fullest. That's why they need to spend it full of satisfaction and joy. Dying with nothing but regret and pain is the worst way anyone can go!" With shout, I pushed Sanson away and jumped back. I watched as he charged at me with his sword raised high.
End Ost
No one's Pov
A soldier fell to the ground before looking up to see the wyvern baring down on him, mouth open to tear threw his flesh. As he braced himself, Jeanne ran in front of him and slashed the wyvern's head clean off. Turning to the downed soldier, she yelled, "...Run!" "Wh-What?" He spoke in confusion. Wasn't this the Dragon Witch? If it was, why'd she save him?
Jeanne turned to see more approaching before turning back to him and yelled again, "Never mind, just make a run for it now! Do you want to die?" Suddenly, the commander of the soldiers noticed Jeanne and yelled to his troops, "D-Don't run! That's the Dragon Witch over there! Take her down! Avenge your hometown!" All the soldiers then pointed their guns at Jeanne before unleashing a barrage of bullets at her. She jumped up to avoid them, but one of them managed to hit her left leg. "Ugh!" Letting out a grunt, she landed on the ground, ignoring the slight pain in her left leg.
Breathing heavily for a few seconds, she suddenly felt her instincts warning her of danger. Jeanne jumped out of the way just as an orb of energy collided with the ground and explodes.
'BOOOM!'
Turning around, she saw the Berserk Assassin with her scepter pointing at where Jeanne once was before speaking to the wyverns behind her, "Wyverns. Start off by eating the soldiers!" The dragon sub-species flew off towards the soldiers. Jeanne ran full force to intercept them and keep them from reaching the French soldiers. "Aaaaarrrghhhhhhhh!" With a shout, she slashed the neck of the leading wyvern and started stabbing and slashing at any others she could hit.
After taking down a few of them, she collapsed onto her right knee as she panted hard from all the energy she used. The soldiers noticed her kneeling before two of them started speaking to each other, "H-Hey, isn't that the Dragon Witch?" "Why is she fighting the dragons?" "Don't ask me, but this is perfect. Let them both go down. They burned my homeland to the ground. I hope both of them die!" Soon, all the other soldiers started to speak negatively of Jeanne as she looked down in sadness.
"The people you're protecting are saying all kinds of things about you, my Saint. Even though the only reason they can safely watch this is because you and those other Servants are dealing with the wyverns." She heard the Berserk Assassin speak and footsteps indicated she was slowly walking towards her.
Artoria, who was further away from them, noticed this. "Jeanne d'Arc!" She attempted to run to Jeanne's aid, but more wyverns got in her way. Jeanne glared at the ground before speaking, "...Please leave me be." The Assassin smirked as she stopped in front of Jeanne and kneeled before lifting her head up so their eyes could meet. "Heh, how stubborn. If you're worried about your lack of manpower, then by all means, why don't you ask the French army? Oh, forgive me. You're the "Dragon Witch" now, aren't you?"
She stopped smirking and let Jeanne go before continuing, "A saint cruelly burned to death and then resurrected for revenge. A beautiful, ephemeral, and ultimately ridiculous tale. And look, you're still struggling-" Suddenly, a chain wrapped around Jeanne's waist. "Because this time, they see you as the enemy!" Being lifted into the air, Jeanne was slammed into the ground by the chain.
'BAM!'
"Can you tell me, Jeanne d'Arc? How do you feel right now? Do you wish to die? Or do you wish to kill? Do you long to drive that flag into those soldiers' hearts like a stake?" Jeanne painfully stood back up, using her banner pole for support, before speaking, "...Normally, I'd fall into distress. I'd fall into despair." Smiling, she continued, "But, unfortunately-I'm an optimist in life. Their hatred of me gives them the strength to rise. And that's a good thing."
The white-haired Assassin looked at her with bewilderment before questing Jeanne, "...Are you sane?" Jeanne's smile disappeared before she spoke, "Good question. People questioned my sanity when I decided to bring salvation to France."
Assassin didn't speak for a few seconds before doing so, "Yes. Whether light or dark, it just means both of us are insane!" Pointing her scepter, she ordered, "Wyvern!" A wyvern flew from above her and towards Jeanne. Raising it's left claw, it slashed at Jeanne. "Ugh!" To weak to block, she was sent to the ground with claw marks on her left arm. Energy built up in Assassin's scepter before she pointed it at Jeanne and unleashed an energy orb at her. Jeanne braced herself for the impact of the attack.
'CLANG!'
Jeanne heard a noise in front of her instead of pain. She opened her eyes to look to see what happened. Standing in front of her was James, who had a triangular shield in front of him.
"James!" She said in surprise and relief. He turned his head towards her before looking forwards and ran at the enemy Assassin. She thought the shield would be destroyed after a few more hits, but after firing several dark orbs at him, she was surprised as he kept moving forwards, shield intact. Using her surprise, he rams the shield into her, sending her further back.
Running back to Jeanne, he helped her up. "You okay?" He asked as Artoria, Sasaki, and the other Servants that helped defend the French army rushed over. Nodding, Jeanne spoke, "Yes. Thank you." James nodded before looking back to see the enemy Assassin standing up. Turning back to her, he spoke, "Jeanne, take everyone and go help the others with Sanson and Lancelot. I'll take care of things here."
Jeanne wanted to protest, but seeing his abilities back then, she nodded before rushing towards Gabrielle and the others. The others followed with Emiya placing a hand on his shoulder before speaking, "Good luck." James grinned before nodding. Emiya grinned back before taking off. Regaining a serious expression, James turned to the approaching Assassin.
The Assassin-class Servant, upon getting a better look at the face of the familiar young man who was able to transform into the silver being she saw earlier and who also wounded her Master, grinned before speaking, "So, we finally get to properly meet, Ultraman. Never would I thought someone with your capabilities would bother to fight alongside peasants."
"So what? I prefer honest, hardworking people then those that destroy meaninglessly. Anyways, who are you?" He asked his foe.
"I'm an Assassin-class Servant. My True Name is Carmilla." She puts her left hand to her chin as she grins even more. "I'll be honest, I've never seen or heard of a being like you. It makes me curious of what your blood looks like."
He frowned upon the name. "Carmilla, the famed Blood Mistress. Well, I can say I know a lot about you. A woman who had a desire to remain beautiful. I don't have anything against desire as all humans desire, but the length you took yours ended up turning you into a murderer who bathed in the blood of innocent women. A true monster."
"A monster? I'm no monster. For a young man like you to call me that." She frowned, but soon smirk full of cruelty. "But I have no regrets for what happened to my life. I chased after eternal beauty and it all ended with death, but I won't regret the pain I brought nor the lives I took away." She pointed her scepter as it fills with dark energy. "It appears I must teach you a lesson. I'm going to enjoy making you fell pain."
She launched several dark spheres at James. "We'll see about that." He brought up his shield and took the impact before he pulled out the Blast Shot and shot several light orbs at her, making the Servant dodged to avoid them. He then pulls out the Evoltruster before he pulls its sheath off. Light explodes immediately from its uncovered end as he transforms.
Light bathed the battle field, causing Carmilla to turn away before it dimmed down to reveal Ultraman Nexus standing in James' place. Unknown to him, some of the French soldiers looked at him with both wonder and fear, having not seen anything like this, but unsure whether he is an ally or with the 'Dragon Witch'. He then quickly got into his battle stance.
Insert: Ultraman Nexus Vol. 1 Track 44 Nexus - Heroic
"CHU!"
Carmilla fired several dark orbs at Nexus, which he blocks by summoning a blue, energy barrier. Once she ceased her attack, he canceled the barrier and crossed his bracers, causing them to flash, before rushing forwards quickly. Once he gets close enough, he punches her a few times in the stomach before he delivers a right sidekick to her face, sending her a few feet away to the ground.
Angered, Carmilla glared at him before summoning three wyverns to attack Nexus. He ran forwards to confront them and as soon as he and the first one got close to each other, he dodged its open mouth before stopping it by grabbing its neck before slamming its body into the ground. Grabbing the head, he channeled energy into his left fist and punched it, hearing the skull break and then the wyvern went limp. Hearing wings approaching him from behind, he let the dead wyvern go and rolled out of the way of an oncoming wyvern's claws.
Looking to see the wyvern turning back towards him, Nexus brings his right hand to the Evolution Brace and changes it into its lance form. The wyvern held its claws out, but Nexus thrashed the pointed end into the wyvern's heart. Screeching in pain, it soon went limp from the fatal attack before Nexus pulled the lance out and let the corpse fall to the ground. Looking for the third one, he soon found it, but instead of him, it was going for the soldiers.
The soldiers ran back as the wyvern quickly approached. One fell to the ground and tried to crawl until the ground shook and a shadow casted over him. Looking up, he saw the wyvern looking down at him before roaring at him.
"GGGGGAAARRRRRRHHH!"
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
As he screamed, the wyvern reeled its head back and opened its mouth, ready to devourer the soldier, before lunging at him. The soldier looked away and closed his eyes, waiting for the end to come.
But it never did.
"HAH!"
Confused by the lack of pain, he heard the wyvern struggling against something. Opening his eyes, he look up to see something that surprised him and the other French soldiers: The silver being was standing over him, holding the wyverns mouth back.
Nexus held the jaws of the wyvern back before kicking it to push it back. Summoning the Evolution Brace in its lance form again, he swung the bladed trident across its neck before slashing its head off. He watched it fall to the ground, soon followed by the head.
"It... saved me?" The soldier spoke in confusion. He flinched a bit as the silver being turns to look down at the soldier before nodding at him and then looked at the line of soldiers which he followed. Immediately understanding, the soldier got up and ran to his comrades as they looked at the being who defended a human life. Nexus nods in satisfaction, glad the soldier was out of harms way. However, as he does that, he is struck by dark orbs which sent him flying to the ground.
End Ost
"AAAHHH!"
"You've let your guard down..., going out of your way to save a single soldier is a pathetic thing to do in battle when you should only be concerned about your own life." Carmilla spoke, the one responsible for the attack.
As Nexus stands up, a bit dazed due to the unexpected attack, one of Carmilla's chains suddenly wraps around his waist. He looks down in confusion.
"HAH?"
The Assassin Servant then lifts him into the air before being slammed into the ground.
"AAAHHH!"
'SLAM!'
He tries to get up only to get lifted up and slammed into the ground again and again.
'SLAM! SLAM! SLAM!'
After a few times, he was lifted into the air. Pain clouded his mind and made it hard to figure out what was going on around him.
"Is that all you got? How disappointing..." She sighed as she decided to finish him. The iron maiden floating behind her suddenly vanished and reappeared a foot away behind Nexus.
"Blood, blood, blood...!
Immortal beauty,
an eternal feast,
unsightly age shall find me at the ends of time..."
Grinning, she was about to finish speaking until explosions erupted around her. Nexus, now fully aware of his surroundings, grabbed the chain before pulling hard.
Insert: Ultraman Nexus Vol. 2 Track 48 - Nexus - Full Throttle
"Oooohhhh... CHU!"
'Shatter!'
The chain broke and Nexus turned to the iron maiden before bring his right hand over his left brace and threw it forward, firing a small arc of light at it. The iron maiden was sent flying into a hill. Looking to see how he was saved, he saw cannon and gun fire from the French soldiers.
"Keep firing! Do not fear the enemy! Assist the silver being that protected us!" The leader, a man with black hair and silver armor, ordered as the soldiers kept firing at Carmilla and the wyverns, the Servant unfazed, but wyverns were either knocked to the ground or even killed by the cannon fire.
"Such insolence..." Carmilla growled as she charged her energy into her scepter to exterminate the soldiers when suddenly a glowing blue light rope wrapped around her waist before she was lifted up into the air and then slammed back down into the ground.
As she gets up, she noticed the rope was coming from Nexus himself.
"Ever heard the phrase 'An eye for an eye?' If not, here's what it means." He said before using the rope to slam her into the ground again and again. Dazed from being repeatedly slammed into the ground, Carmilla is suddenly pulled towards Nexus with his right fist pulled back, glowing with energy.
"CHU!" He then punched her in the face, sending her flying into a large boulder, destroying it.
She tries to get up as blood leaks from the her mouth. Nexus then shots an arc of light from his left hand towards the Assassin.
'SLICE!'
"AHH!"
She grabbed her right shoulder as a the arc created a deep cut in her shoulder. Had she not been lucky, the arc would've taken her arm off.
End Ost
The Berserk Assassin manages to stand up, holding her wounded shoulder as she looked at Nexus. She underestimated the unknown being known as Ultraman. From what she saw earlier, this is just one of his main forms. If the fight goes on, it will spell death for her. Turning to the hill Sason and Lancelot were at, she ordered, "Retreat!" Lancelot! Sanson!"
Looking back at Nexus, she pointed her scepter at him. "I may have underestimated you this time, but next time, it won't be the same." She then proceeded to sprint away to were Lancelot and Sanson were at.
"Wait!"
He was about to chase her before he noticed there were still some wyverns left. Deciding to help the French army a bit more, he jumped into the air and flew towards them.
With the others
'CLANG!'
"Aaauurrrr!"
"Geh!"
Mash was still trying to hold back against Lancelot's swings as she slowly moved back.
Lancelot raised Arondight again, but before he could swing, he was assaulted with a barrage of swords, spears, and axes. He was pushed back a bit and Mash looked to see Gilgamesh firing a few more at Lancelot before speaking, "Be grateful mongrel, I wouldn't bother using my treasures against a rabid dog." Lancelot stared a Gilgamesh and was about to attack until he saw Artoria rush into view.
With that, he snapped.
"ARRRRTTTHHHUUURRRR!" He then charged at Artoria with Arondight ready to kill.
By instinct, she immediately stops and prepares herself. Lancelot slashes vertically and Artoria blocks it. Soon they begin slashing and blocking each others strikes. However, as she continued to cross swords with him, memories of the times the two sparing made her hesitate, which gave Lancelot an opening to knock Excalibur out of the way and slash Arondight across Artoria's chest, causing sparks to fly off and send her flying back a few feet.
"Ahhhh!"
"ARRRRTTTHHHUUURRRR!"
The Berserker attempted to attack her downed form, but Mash rushed at him and slams her shield into him, knocking him away some distance from them. The Servant got back up and tries to attack her, but she blocks every attack with her shield, but due to the force behind each strike, she slowly gets pushed back.
'CLANG!'
'CLANG!'
'CLANG!'
"Geh!"
She keeps getting pushed back until Lancelot lifted his right foot up and kicked the shield hard, sending Mash a foot away onto the ground. Just as he turned his attention back to Artoria, she surprises him and slashes him across his midsection, knocking Lancelot back away from her and Mash.
"Mash. You alright?"
"Yes, Artoria-san."
Artoria helps Mash to her feet when Mash's eye's widen. "Artoria-san!" Turning, she saw Lancelot in the air with Arondight raised above his head, coming down at her. Mash moves in front of Artoria and holds her shield up to protect them both.
"HAH!"
'SLAM!'
"Aauurrr!?"
Just as Lancelot was about to reach them, Nexus suddenly flew in, placed his left leg out and kicked Lancelot back hard and into the ground. Nexus backflips before landing in front of Mash and Artoria.
"James!"
"Waller-san!"
Nexus didn't reply and brought his right hand to the Evolution Brace and changed it into its lance form before charging at Lancelot, who responded the same. Nexus and the Servant soon met and begun crossing weapons. Nexus tries to block off the strikes from Lancelot and strike him, however due to his inexperience in using a lance and the skill Lancelot had, he was unable to land a single blow on the Berserker while he had his lance struck out of his hands before being slashed multiple times with sparks flying off him. Lancelot gave a powerful slash upwards and struck Nexus hard.
"AHHHH!"
Sparks came off his body as he was sent flying backwards before he lands on the ground. Shakenly standing up, he sees the Berserker charging at him with Arondight raised high.
He immediately rolls out of the way just as Arondight is implanted in the spot he was at. Seeing the opening, he crosses his hands across his chest horizontally before quickly bringing them outwards and a large arc of light shots out at Lancelot, sending the Servant back a few feet near a boulder.
Lancelot stands back up before looking at the boulder. He grabs it and lifts over his head before he throws it at Nexus. He prepares himself, but suddenly Mash jumps in front of him and holds her shield in front of her. Nexus puts his hands on her shoulders just as the boulder makes contact with the shield.
'BAM!'
The boulder shatters against the shield, the pieces laying behind them.
"Thanks Mash." Nexus thanked as Mash turned and nodded him before they saw the Berserker charging at the two, but a blast of wind strikes him sending him staggering back, courtesy of Artoria's Excalibur.
"CHU!"
Seeing the opportunity, Nexus runs towards Lancelot before jumping and delivering a side kick to his helmet with his right foot, knocking him to the ground.
Lancelot tries to get up, but he is immediately grabbed by Nexus before he is given a suplex, smashing him into the ground. Nexus jumps back to his feet before turning and grabbing Lancelot's legs. Using all his strength, Nexus lifts the Servant up and begins spinning him around. He lets go and quickly jumps high into the air before coming down at Lancelot with his left leg out.
"DAH!"
'SLAM!'
Nexus slams Lancelot into the ground, forming a crater around them. Nexus jumped forwards and landed on one knee before turning his head towards the crater as Artoria and Mash run to his side. To his shock, the Berserker still gets up quickly, albeit a bit weakened. He turns to them and charges again only for Artoria to rush at him and block his attacks.
"He still can get up after all that..." Nexus grimaced upon seeing the endurance of the Servant.
'Ding-ding, ding-ding.'
He and Mash look down to see his chest piece flashing and dinging. They needed to finish the fight quickly before he tires out. Nexus soon remembered something about one ability. The field that he summoned when he fought that three-headed dragon kaiju. He remembered that he managed to prevent any harm coming to the group with it and in it, he felt much stronger then before.
"Waller-san?" Mash asked the Ultraman who hadn't moved yet. Nexus turned to her. "Mash, prepare yourself." He stands ups up before he crosses his left arm over his chest, making it flash.
"HAH."
He threw it back down on which a ripple of light appeared, transforming him into his red form. He walks over to his lance before pulling it out and reverted it back to it's brace form.
"Eh? Why?"
"Because what's about to happen is surprising."
Nexus then brought his right arm to the left arm to form a '+' as the bracers flashed.
"OHHHHHH." Nexus hummed as he brought back his right arm, with a blue light covering his fist before quickly bringing it in.
"CHU!" Once both arms are parallel to each other, he immediately throws his right arm up towards the sky and a beam of light shot up from it. As it reaches a certain point, it suddenly explodes and expands outwards before sloping down.
The area around Nexus, Artoria, Mash, and Lancelot is covered by a giant dome of light, with the ground, along with the trees and rocks, soon began to be covered with light and disappear. The Servants, Chaldea and enemy, and humans witnessing the event looked at it with wonder. Mash, Artoria, and Lancelot looked around them with confusion.
"What's... going on?" Artoria managed to ask until a flash of light blinded Artoria and Mash for a few seconds.
Outside the dome, everyone watched as the top of the dome flashed before it disappeared and revealed Nexus, Mash, Artoria, and Lancelot had vanished.
"Again." Gabrielle spoke in confusion as Gilgamesh stared at the spot with a little curiosity.
"A Reality Marble? No, the area would be heavily distorted if it was. It was like they were phased out. How could he be capable of doing that?"
Meta Field
When Artoria and Mash regained their visions, they noticed they are no longer at the battlefield. They were in a rocky landscape with some spots giving off light. In the sky, an aurora of multiple colored lights covered it with no sign of the mysterious ring of light.
"Where... are we?" Artoria asked in bewilderment while she and Mash stared at the landscape and the sky. The best way they could describe it was it was beautiful, but at the same time, it was a place where many battles took place. While they knew this ability after witnessing the dome earlier back when James fought that three-headed dragon, they never expected it to be like this. At first, they thought it was a Reality Marble, but oddly, they felt like the world wasn't trying to get rid of it. It was like this place existed in reality.
The surprise made both of them unaware that Excalibur shines more brightly than before.
For Lancelot, despite his madness, he is captivated by the beauty of the changed landscape and the sky summoned by the strange, silver being, but he also could tell it was a battleground. As he was distracted by all of this, he notices Nexus charging at him with the Evolution Brace in it's lance form in hand, leading him to charge at him as well.
"SHU!" Nexus thrusts the lance forwards with Lancelot blocking it with Arondight.
'CLANG!'
Both weapons clashed against one another. It soon became a battle of strength against the warrior of light and the Knight of the Lake until Nexus's strength starts to overpower Lancelot and managed to knock Arondight out of the way and began to slash the Servant multiple times with the trident end, sparks bleeding off Lancelot's armor before Lancelot grabs the lance and uses his Noble Phantasm on it, only for the lance to remain unaffected and instead shock him, making him let go. Nexus stabs the trident end into the ground before lifting himself up and deliver a left kick to the Servant's helmet, sending him back.
"ARRRRRR..." The Berserker growled as he attempted rush in to attack Nexus once again, however his weapon is blocked by Excalibur before Mash hits him with the long part of her shield.
He goes in to attack them both for Mash to block Arondight before pushing it away and Nexus bringing his lance's trident end down, slashing him despite him bringing Arondight up to block it. He then realized he was somehow losing his strength and that his king and the others were stronger then before. Mash runs at him and begins to bash him repeatedly with her shield, dazing him, giving Artoria the chance to rush in and deliver multiple slashes the Berserker, sending him away a bit when she shoots another burst of wind at Lancelot, which she noted was more powerful then before, sending him farther than before.
Nexus then charges with his lance and begins striking Lancelot a few times, each sending sparks flying off the Servant before he slashes at the hand holding Arondight, causing the Berserker to release the sword and send it flying away. Using the opening, Nexus then reverts his weapon back into it's brace form before he pulls back his right fist, charging it with energy.
"HAH!" He then punches Lancelot's helmet and manages to crack part of it. The punch creates a shockwave as Lancelot is sent flying for 30 yards away before crashing to the ground, destroying some of the rocks in the landscape.
Nexus then sees Lancelot struggling to get up, weakened due to the overwhelming attacks and the effect of the field. Seeing this is their chance to end it, he turns to Artoria.
"Artoria, we need to finish this now!"
"Right!" She nodded. While she was hesitant to use to use her Noble Phantasm due to the potential collateral damage before, now, however, due to the creation of this strange field by her ally, she didn't have to worry about it. She raises Excalibur in front of her to prepare her Noble Phantasm.
"CHU! HAH!"
Nexus then placed his right arm down at an angle and then plants his left arm over it, causing the bracers to flash.
Energy burst from Artoria's body, blowing away some small rocks and dirt before light starts to gather around Excalibur. 'Lancelot, I'm sorry...' She thought sadly, before giving off more energy to charge her Noble Phantasm. Unbeknownst to all, particles of light rose from the landscape and light began to concentrate in the sky before heading towards Artoria and were absorbed into Excaliber as well, empowering it even more and causing blue electricity to form.
"Sheathed in the breath of stars.
A torrent of shining life.
Hail! The Sword of Promised Victory!"
She then brings Excalibur back.
"EX-"
"OOOHHHH..."
Nexus then uncrossed his arms and moves them apart until both arms are vertically parallel to each other, blue electric energy forming between them before raising both arms up, angling away from each other.
"CALIBUR!"
"DAH!"
Artoria swung her sword back down, shooting forth a torrent of golden light mixed with blue electricity while Nexus brings back both arms to form a 'L', firing a blue energy ray that both of the attacks aimed at Lancelot.
Both attacks hit the Servant directly, making him yell in agony.
"AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRR!"
'BBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!"
The attacks creates a massive pillar of golden light with blue electricity along the outside.
"Amazing..." Mash said in awe over the result of the combined attack. Artoria looked surprised. She's felt something different about her Noble Phantasm. It felt much stronger then before. She also noticed the blue electricity mixed in with her attack and it looked almost similar to the electricity that her comrade had before firing his own attack.
The light soon fades and when the dust finally settles, they see the Berserker still standing, although his armor is completely damaged and his helmet destroyed, revealing a man with a long black hair looking at Artoria as his body turns pale-blue.
"M-My...k-king...I...pl-please..." He managed to say before falling into the ground. His body turns completely pale-blue before he flashes and soon disperses away into blue particles.
"Lancelot..." Artoria spoke in sadness, witnessing the end of her most trusted knight. She hated to see him this way, but see remembered James' words. She would continue on for him because that's what he would've wanted her to do. She then remembered that she noticed that Lancelot was... weaker then a before. She also felt much more powerful when she did before Nexus brought them here. Artoria began to look at the landscape.
"Did this place have something to do with it?"
Deciding to ask later, she turned to Nexus. "Can you get us out of her? We must regroup with the others."
He turns to her before nodding. He then crosses his bracers in front of him before uncrossing them and held them vertically parallel to each other. Light engulfs him as the world around them starts vanishes around them, leading them to cover their eyes once again as he changes back to his human self.
France
James' Pov
The light final died down and I saw the green landscape and smelled the scent of blood in the air. I collapsed to my knees as breathed deeply.
"James!"
Looking up, I saw Gabrielle and a few other running over to me. Grunting, I stood up and stumbled a bit before I walked a bit towards them. After walking half a foot, I stumbled and was about to fall until someone caught me. Looking over, I saw Emiya supporting me.
"Thanks man."
"No problem, James."
He helped me walk over to Gabrielle who immediately started to heal some cuts along my body along with Jeanne. Soon, I was healed completely and was able to stand on my own.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm good now Gabrielle. Anyways, we should get going."
Gabrielle nodded, but before we could get moving, a voice stopped Jeanne.
"Jeanne! Please wait!"
Turning around, we saw a dark-haired man wearing silver armor that had a cross on the chest and a ring on the right shoulder running towards us. Two soldiers were accompanying him. He stopped in front of Jeanne. The soldiers stopped a foot away from them and had there guns pointed at her. He looked at her for a moment before speaking.
"You are indeed Jeanne d'Arc! Not the Dragon Witch, but a bona fide saint!"
He smiled at her, but she looked sadden for some reason. Mary walked up behind her before whispering, "...Shouldn't you answer?"
"If I answer, I'll endanger Gilles's position. For now, we can't depend on them."
She looked at the two soldiers who glared at her.
"At the very least, we must endure the scorn of those who once fought by our side."
"But... Do they really hate you?"
"-Let's go."
She took off as soon followed by use all, but before I lost sight of General Gilles, I remembered something. Knowing that I would get scolded for this, I turned around walked back towards them. I noticed he was talking to the two soldiers about something.
"Was it truly Jeanne d'Arc who attacked Charles Vll? Or some evil imposter?"
"Excuse me, General Gilles."
They turned towards me as I kept walking towards them. Gilles walked forwards before speaking, "Yes, do you need something."
"No. I just need ask you something."
"And what might that be?"
Reaching into one of my pockets on my belt, I pulled out the locket the soldier that was eaten dropped and presented to Gilles. His eyes widened a bit along with the two soldiers.
"Do you know the soldier that owned this locket?"
I hand it to him and he takes it. He remains silent as he looks at it before speaking in shook, "This belonged to one of the best soldiers in our army and a good friend of mine, Allard. How did this come into your possession?"
Taking a deep breath, I answered, "He was killed by a dragon near Lyon. I tried to save him, but..." I couldn't speak as memories of what happened returned and I clutched my fist.
"I'm deeply sorry for your loss, General."
"No. I'm grateful for you to bring this to me, but his fiancée... how can I explain this to her?"
I lowered my head in sadness.
"I don't know General, but I ask... no, I beg you to please get that locket to your friend's fiancée. She needs to know he was thinking of her in his final moments."
He remained silent before replying, "Yes. I'll do everything I can to get it back to her and tell her what happened. Thank you, young man. Thank you."
I nodded before setting off in the direction before I heard him speak to me.
"Wait. Tell me, are you accompanying Jeanne d'Arc? If you are, is she really the Dragon Witch or the saint that fought for France?"
I remained silent before replying, "...General Gilles, I can't tell who's the real one. I'm only choosing the one I believe is doing the right thing. You can choose on who's the real one. The one who's destroying France or the one who's fighting to save it. It's your choice to make sir."
With that, I took off.
Abandoned Fort
No one's Pov
Eventually, James caught up to the group who proceeded to question where he was. After explaining what he did, Jeanne lightly scolded him for acting without telling them, but she was glad he managed to get the locket of the soldier to the right hands. The group decided to take refuge at the fort for a bit to recover after the previous fight, with some of them, like Emiya, Cú, Artoria, or Lily, keeping watch in case they are attacked by the enemy. As for James, he is brought up to speed by Gabrielle.
She explained that the wounded Servant they had is Siegfried, the famous dragon slayer from Germanic legends, who they needed to help slay Fafnir, who was summoned by Jeanne Alter, and his wounds can only be treated with the powers of another Saint, as the wounds are in the form of curses.
Marie then popped up and demanded that James explained where he was and what happened.
Currently, James is finishing explaining to Marie, Roman, and Da Vinci about where he was for the past day, and his meeting with the giant named Zero, who came from a race who shared the same title as the one they gave him, Ultraman.
"So, let me get this straight." Marie stated after hearing his explanation. "After your fight with that dragon kaiju yesterday, you managed to summon the thing that saved us and brought us back to Chaldea and after entering it, it began to heal the wounds you gained for that fight?"
He nodded.
"And just as you were about fully healed, you were able to witnessed the group being confronted by Fafnir, so you transformed again and rushed to the others aid quickly. Just before you're about to fight it, another kaiju showed up, which caused Alter's group retreated after seeing Fafnir scared of it?"
He nodded again. "Yes."
"And due to you not fully recovered from your injuries, you're unable to fight at full power until another giant like you who calls himself Ultraman Zero showed up to assist you to defeat it, and he managed to heal your injuries before you two fought it. And this Ultraman is from another universe as well, where a whole race called the Ultras exist?"
"I was surprised that there're others like that. Nor that they're a race that protects the peace of the universe."
"I never imagined that there was a whole race as well..." Roman muttered in shock, after learning that the nickname 'Ultraman' that they gave for James's other form was a name that is well known in the universe this Zero fella is from. "And even more amazing is that their technology is way more advanced than Earth... Not even Chaldea's technology can compete with it."
"Their technology is incredible." Da Vinci spoke with enthusiasm, seeing the Evolution Brace that Zero gave to James earlier. "To have a weapon that can be converted into a shield and brace, and they can travel between universes. The Ultras are an interesting and amazing race."
"Yes, but this brings in more questions about James' power." Marie stated. "Or more specifically, the Ultra that bonded with him."
"Oh wait, not only he can change into two types of forms, he can summon a dome of light around him, to which he disappears after the dome fades away." Gabrielle remembered seeing the ability yesterday and a little while ago. She then noticed Mash and Artoria walking back from their patrol. Calling them over, she asked them, "Mash, Artoria, what was in that dome?"
Mash was the first to speak, "While we're in that dome, we thought we are in a Reality Marble, but the odd thing was the World wasn't attempting to erase it, it's like it became part of reality itself." Artoria then explained her experience in the strange field. "Not only that, when we fought Lancelot within it, I noticed our attacks somehow became stronger and his strength became weaker than before we entered it."
"This field weakens enemy Servants and enhances the ones on our side!?" Marie exclaimed in shock. "Just what kind of Ultra is James bonded with..."
"This field you speak of, it has my complete interest." Da Vinci said with a carefree tone. "Gabrielle, I'm gonna send a device to you soon. If James uses that ability again, would you mind being in the dome when the field is created and record everything? I want to see it for myself."
James sweat drops. "So your asking her to get in harms way for the sake of your interest?" Of course, Da Vinci just smiles and doesn't speak. After a bit more talking and arguing, they decided to focus on finding another Saint to help heal Siegfried.
"You have an odd group here." Said Saber spoke to James as he nodded. "Yeah, but I like it that way. By the way, I haven't introduced myself. Names James Waller." James held out his hand and Siegfried reached out and shook it. "Siegfried. Class Saber. I'm in debt to you for saving us back in Lyon."
"Na, no need to be in debt to me. I was just helping out my friends."
Gilgamesh suddenly spoke up, "'Friends?' Don't think ahead of yourself mongrel. Only one person was worthy for me to call my friend. You are nowhere near him. So watch what you say."
James was confused for a few seconds. "Huh? What do- Oh, right. I apologize." He remembered the story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu friendship and Enkidu's death.
"Good. At least you know your boundaries, mongrel." Gilgamesh walked away to resume his wine drinking.
Emiya then questioned James. "I'm surprised that you aren't angered or annoyed by him. Why don't you stand your ground against him?"
"Well for one thing, I don't think I could really fight him seeing he has a shit ton of weapons at his disposal. Also, I can't help but respect him. He's an asshole, but he was a key factor in ending the Age of Gods. If he helped play a part in the separation of mankind from the gods, then he's okay in my book."
Soon, they found themselves gathered in front of Gabrielle. She explained the plan:
They would split up into two groups and move along the towns and try and find a Saint. Once they do, they'll meet up in the nearest town and have Siegfried's curses lifted. James was worried about it but decided to go with it. They would decided on drawing lots as Mary suggested. After drawing them, they had groups.
With Gabrielle: James, Amadeus, Mash, Siegfried, Cú, Heracles, and Gilgamesh.
With Jeanne: Mary, Artoria, Lily, Medusa, Medea, Sasaki, and Emiya.
Mary walked up to Amadeus before speaking, "Amadeus. Please look after Gabrielle and the others." He sighs before replying, "To be honest, I'm nervous about leaving your side. Not that there's a time when I'm not nervous about you. ...But lots are derived from fate. If I defy fate, I might invite misfortune."
Amadeus then smiles. "Well, you can use your Noble Phantasm to escape, and Jeanne is a defense specialist. I'm rather worried about our side."
He then gains an unsure look as he looks over at his group. Gilgamesh is just standing with an uninterested look, Heracles was still like a statue, James was looking at looking at an ant hill, Cú was on the ground snoozing, Siegfried was sitting on a rock, and Mash was looking downcast by Amadeus' words. Gabrielle patted her back before speaking, "Mash's skill is as good as hers." Mash then cheered up and looked at Gabrielle with bright eyes.
"Actually, what I meant was it's because we have Siegfried who's wounded." He looked at Siegfried who was looking at his wounds and occasionally grunting in pain.
Sighing, Amadeus spoke, "Oh, well. I was taken advantage of." Mary looked at him with a worried look. "Amadeus, make sure you get along with them. You tend to be misunderstood by friends."
"I don't want to hear it from you. Anyway, Marie..."
"Yeah?"
"Well, never mind. Just be careful along the way. Don't try to find a pastry shop even if you get hungry."
"Oh! My heart beat thinking that you might propose to me again!"
James then walked up to them. "Hey guys. Whats going o- What did she just say?" James looked confused by what Mary said. Amadeus had a blank look. "-Wait. Why would you bring that up now?"
Mash looked surprised as well. "Propose? What? Marie? And Amadeus?" Then Roman popped up. "Oh, you and James didn't know Mash? It's a pretty popular story. When Mr. Amadeus, standing right there, was 6-years-old, he proposed to Marie who was 7-years-old."
Mary then started explaining what happened and how Amadeus proposed. Said musician sighed and said this whole thing was a nightmare. After a bit more talking, Amadeus explained that France was in love with Mary and how love can turn to hate.
Mash gained a depressed but confused look. "...Hated because she was loved... They were in love, yet killed the one they loved..." James stood in his spot before speaking, "That isn't as much of a surprise as it is a bombshell."
Mary gained an uprising expression before speaking, "I see. People are complicated. Until I died, well, even after I died, I couldn't reach love. But I think I'm fine with it now. I'm Marie Antoinette, a woman loved by France! See you, Amadeus! I'm leaving now! When I come back, let me listen to your piano again!"
After Mash hands Jeanne a communication device, we split up.
Amadeus approached Gabrielle before speaking, "...What I just spoke about was out of line. Let's get going." Gabrielle looked at him before asking something, "Do you still love Marie?"
Amadeus shook his head. "Certainly not. I have no more passion for her. She was just a special divergence in my fate. If I'd led a decent life, the divergence would've been that proposal. Like what you'd call the cornerstone of human history. What choices would this man, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, have made to end up this way? No matter what happens. No matter what lovers I meet, what friends I gain, what bliss I grasp. I would offer my life to music, and become a scum that abandons all human virtue. But there's just one thing. If there were someone who could change my fate, I think it would've been her."
Mash just looked confused by what he said. "...Amadeus. Don't that mean that you love Marie?"
"Oh, sure. I do love her. It's just that I'm not in love with her any more. Is there a problem with that."
"...I don't know. Before you said that we humans are filthy. Based on what you said, that means you think Marie is also filthy without exception..."
"So what? I love anything filthy. Music is beautiful. We humans are filthy. You weren't aware of such differences? It's just a matter of category, isn't it?"
Mash only looked more confused by what he said. "Well... what? You said that humans only love beautiful things..." All Amadeus did was smile before continuing, "It's not that we can only love something beautiful. What I meant was humans can love beautiful things, too.
"Well... To me, that difference is too abstract..."
James walked up besides her before speaking, "Mash, if you don't understand it the way Amadeus is saying it, then here's how I would put it. Humans are imperfect beings. Because we're imperfect, we admired the ones who were perfect: Deities. However, a lot of them looked down on humanity, believing they couldn't possible live without them, and kept humanity from being able to chose its own future. Humans eventually broke away and began living with out them. That's a reason why humanity is beautiful. We, without any deities, were able to learn and grow to accomplish great feats through history. Imperfection is beautiful because it allows us to push the limits of ourselves and create the future we see."
Mash and Gabrielle looked at him with surprised looks and Amadeus nodded at him. "That's an interesting way of putting it. Humans are filthy because they are imperfect. Music is beautiful because it is perfect." Nodding I pointed in the direction we were heading before shouting, "Onwards!"
Jeanne's Group
Jeanne's Pov
"Jeanne, Jeanne. You have a scary look on your face?" Marie's worried voice snapped me out of my thoughts before turning to see her walking besides me with a worried look. "What? ...D-Do I look scary?" She then smiled at me.
"Hehehe, not so much scary as... Stern?" I blush before looking away. "Well... I guess so. I was doing some thinking."
"You mean about the Dragon Witch?"
"...Yes. Exactly. From the day I was born I've received God's revelations, and I just ran off without even looking back." Medea then spoke, "Sort of like a certain young man who ran off without us into an burning town." We all laughed at that joke about James' stunt being compared to me before I continued, "I became a Heroic Spirit after I died, and then was summoned as a Ruler. ...I accept this fact as part of the natural order of things."
Frowning, I spoke my troubles. "I don't understand-anything the Dragon Witch says, not a single word. I wonder... Who that "me" is.
Marie was silent for a few seconds before she smiled. "-Ah, you really are beautiful. Very, very, very-beautiful."
Blushing, I stuttered, "D-Don't tease me."
"Well, it's the truth. If I were you- I would probably accept the things the 'Dragon Witch' says.
I looked at her in surprise. "...Marie?"
Marie then explains that while she didn't hate the people who executed her, she had a tiny bit of hatred for the ones who killed her children. That shocked me. Marie, a woman who I thought knew only love, hated something?
"They killed my son Charles, to hurt me... You should truly feel pity for him. So, if my version of the Dragon Witch appears, I would probably think 'oh, that's the other me.' And accept the things she says." Shen then smiles at me again. "But that's not the case for you, is it Jeanne? It's something really great and beautiful. It's not because you don't want to get dirty, ore don't want to believe you are. Nor does that mean you lack something. You like-people, don't you? People who try to move forward by groveling around. The unreasonable ones, the accusers."
Realizing what she was saying, I smiled before replying, "...Yes. I do love them. Oh I see, there was no way I could hold a grudge against them -because I loved them.
"Yes. That's why France was saved by you. It's okay, tell the Dragon Witch when you see her."
Confused, I asked her, "Tell her? Well, tell her what?"
"Say what you want to say out loud. Say, 'You're not me.' Or, 'I don't know you.'"
"Marie... Well, you're right. Absolutely right. I certainly-Oh, huh? ...Know you, maybe?"
"You're starting to look serious again... I'm sorry, it wasn't of any help?"
Seeing the worried look on her face, I quickly smile at her. "Y-Yes. ...It was very helpful. When I confront her next time, I'm sure I can tell her what I want to say."
Marie gained her smile again. "Yes, you should be fine." "Unless James tries to kill her again." Medusa suddenly says. What she said suddenly put something else on my mind. James' actions and emotions that I've seen. First, he stopped dead in his tracks and looked dead in his eyes when we first met, then he recklessly ran into La Charite without us, he showed no mercy against my Alter self, and of course...
Flashback
'SQUELCH!'
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"
I brought my hands to my mouth I watched this monster bit the soldier in half, his organs dangling from below him as he screamed in pure agony.
I watched the soldier's life fade as he pulled out something before he spoke something I couldn't hear, before the monster pulled him to the middle mouth, causing him to drop what he had, before it devoured the rest of him.
I watched Gabrielle drop to her knees before she vomited onto the ground. Mash rushed to her side in her own shock as Lily screamed at what she just witnessed. Everyone else was horrified, but Gilgamesh only narrowed his eyes even more. I along with everyone, except for Lily, Mash, and Gabrielle, we're disgusted by not the sight of what happened, but the reason: It didn't eat that soldier for food, but to taunt the silver giant that was James and savor the poor soldier's agony.
The monster looked satisfied with what it did before it let out a roar that made me shiver.
"SSSSSKKKKKRRRROOOOOOOAAAAKKKKKK!"
Soon, footsteps caught my attention along with everyone else. We turned to see Ultraman standing back up as he clenched his hands tight and took deep breaths before he gave out a loud shout of anger I've never seen her show before.
"AAAAAHHH-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
He then ran at it and begun to try and beat it with violent rage only to no effect. I've never seen him act like this, not even the 'Dragon Witch' made him this furious.
"James... What happened to you to make you like that?" I thought sadly. I felt like it was time to contact Mash.
With the Others
James' Pov
"Jeanne and the others will be arriving soon it seems. Let's do our best, too. We'll soon arrive in Thiers." Mash spoke as she finished speaking with Jeanne via communication device.
Amadeus smiled before speaking, "Thiers... If I recall, it's famous for its knives. So far it looks like it hasn't been destroyed." I looked at him with a deadpanned look. "Really, all you can say about this place we're heading to? It's famous for knives?" He looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Hm? What's got you so negative?" I didn't say anything, but looked at my ankle.
Apparently, Cú, Mash, and Gabrielle felt that if something were to happen in any of the towns up ahead, they would need a way to keep me from running off. So they went for the best idea they could possibly come up with: Chaining my ankle to Heracles'. They said it was for the best but most of the time I'm just dragged across the ground by the giant man.
Mash sweat dropped before speaking to Marie on the communication device. "Director, any signs of Servants?"
"Romani?"
"I'm checking... All right, there are two Servants in Thiers. Let's make contact right away-"
Suddenly, fire erupted from Thiers and everyone gained serious looks.
"...Flames just went up in Thiers, didn't it?"
Amadeus gained an annoyed look before speaking, "This noise... I hate! An unprecedented noise, the premonition of an unprecedented demon! Oh, Muses! Please show mercy! My body can't stop trembling from fear."
Gabrielle then spoke, "Let's hurry up."
"O-Okay! Everyone, follow me!"
Mash ran forwards and soon everyone followed, or floated in Gilgamesh's case, or in my case, dragged across the ground by a giant mass of muscle.
"Ow! Rock! Ah! Tree stump! Gah!-"
Small Time skip
"Umm... What the hell is going on?" That's all I could say as I stood next to Gabrielle to look at the reason we ran here.
Two girls were glaring at each other in the center of Thiers. One had pink hair with two purple bows along with what appeared to be horns on the sides of her head that pointed up, blue eyes, and pointed ears. Her outfit was black and white with detached sleeves on her forearms, long pink nails, and a dragon tail behind her. She had a long, black spear with a microphone on the none bladed end.
The other was Japanese with long, seafoam green with some golden hair accessories, two, white horns on the sides of her head, and golden eyes. She wore a white and aqua kimono with a black obi. She held a gold fan with a red string attached to it.
"You! You, you, you! You cheeky squirrel from the East!"
The Japanese girl closed her eyes and laughed. "Hehehe! Who's the actual cheeky one? Do you really think a failure like you can beat-" Flames suddenly formed around her. "A true Dragon like myself, Elisabeth?"
"Ughhhhh! I'm so upset! I'll deal with Carmilla later, you die first! You creepy stalker!" Wait, she knows Carmilla?
"I'm not a stalker. I'm 'a devoted bodyguard who acts like a spy." The seafoam-haired girl then blushes with a smile. "I, Kiyohime, am a woman who lives for love." Kiyohime? I never heard about her before.
"Your love violates human rights!
"I don't want to hear it from a pervert with a fetish for blood torture. I imagine that you doing it... as doing THAT. Weren't you?" Suddenly, I notice Mash and Gabrielle blushing hard for some reason. What does she mean?
"What's 'doing it?' What's 'doing that?' Don't talk nonsense!"
Kiyohime gains a surprised look. "...What? Elisabeth, I didn't know that you were-"
Annoyed, the other girl, Elisabeth, stomps her right foot into the ground. "Ahhhhhh! Shut up, shut up! I'm going to-kill you!" Then Kiyohime glares at Elisabeth. "You can't kill me because I'll kill you!"
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Amadeus then walked up, clearly wanting to put an end to their bickering. "Enough! Stop right there! I can't let you go further. What you're doing is sacrilege against all of voice and sound!"
I turned to Gabrielle. "They aren't saints, are they?" Shaking her head, she was about to speak before confusion came over her. "James, how are you standing here? Weren't you chained to Heracles?"
"Yeah. But you, Mash, Cú forgot about one thing." I then raised my left arm up to show the Evolution Brace. I hear Cú hit his head with his palm and Gabrielle scratches her head in embarrassment.
Mash coughs to get both our attentions. "Anyways, we have to stop them!"
Walking forwards, spoke to Mash, "I'll try and calm them down." She looked a little reluctant, but let me walk towards the two. "Excuse me!" They stop looking at each other and turn their attentions to me as I walked closer.
"Huh? What?"
"I'm busy right now. Come back the day before yesterday." Elisabeth turns to glare at Kiyohime.
"Hmph. You'll no longer be busy soon. Until the next Holy Grail War that is!"
"...Hmph. Frilled-necked lizard."
"Japanese Rat Snake!"
"Mexican Bearded Lizard."
"Sharp-Nosed Viper!"
"Okay, please stop with the name calling!" I walked in between them to keep both from trying to attacking each other. "Look, calm down you two. Their are people living in this town and it's best not to end up destroying it. So, lets just-" Suddenly, my entire body was set on fire. "FIRE! FIRE! I'M ON FIRE!" Something slams into my stomach and sent me flying into a building. It put out the flames, but I ended up with pain in my back.
'CLANG!'
Looking up slowly, I saw the others fighting a bunch of wyverns that appeared out of nowhere. 'Guess I'll have to deal with those two myself.' Standing up painfully, I looked at the two girls glaring at each other.
"Black Mamba!"
"Japanese Grass Lizard!"
"Grr, grr, grr, grr, grr!"
"...Hmmmmmm."
I pull out my pistol and fired into the air, making the two bickering Servants look at me. "Both of you, knock it off!"
"Huh?" Elisabeth asked him.
"Did you just say something?" Kiyohime asked.
"I said to knock it-." Suddenly, Elisabeth's spear was pointed at my face, forcing me to step back.
"Back off, Puppy!" Elisabeth yelled at me.
"Recklessness and bravery aren't the same. Are you stupid?" Kiyohime asked as flames formed around her. Guess drastic times call for drastic measures.
"Maybe I am. I'm not the smartest person in the world, but it's better than reptiles." Suddenly, the air became cold. Both of them glared at me much deeper then before.
"...Now I'm pissed."
"You said it. You'll regret your words from the bottom of Hell. Elisabeth, let's get started!"
The two Servants stared at each other before nodding in agreement as they went to attack me. I immediately jumped back as Elisabeth's spear pierced the spot I was at before quickly summoning the Evolution Brace in it's lance form.
'At least they stopped fighting each other.' I thought.
Insert: Ultraman Nexus Vol. 1 Track 15 - Night Raiders - Battle
I then rushed at Elisabeth before I clashed my weapon against her's. She was clearly more skilled then me, but thankfully, my reactions allowed me to dodge most of the lethal strikes. Soon, I saw a fireball coming at me, so I quickly broke off from Elisabeth and stabbed the trident end into the ground and pole vaulted over it towards Kiyohime, changing the Evolution Brace into a shield and pulled out the Blast Shot.
I raised the shield in front of me to block another fireball before pointing the Blast Shot and began firing some light orbs at her. She managed to dodge most of them, but then one managed to hit Kiyohime directly, leaving her dazed for a moment, giving me the chance to charge at her and slam the shield into her, which sends her flying towards a building.
Suddenly, my instincts go off and I turn just in time to block Elisabeth's spear from piercing my chest. She was thrown of by the sudden block of her attack, giving me the opportunity to change the shield into the lance again and knock her spear out of her hands before using the flat sit of the trident and hit her head, knocking her out of the fight.
With one down, I turn back to Kiyohime finally back up before she breaths a stream of fire at me. Taking out the Evoltruster, I hold it in front of me before an energy shield forms in front of, blocking the attack.
After a few minutes, she stopped to catch her breath and I quickly changed the Evolution Brace into its shield form and threw it at her.
'BAM!'
She's sent back into a brick wall, creating a small crater behind her. As she fell forwards, I ran to her and caught her. She looked at me in surprise before she gained a depressed look. "Y-You got me... Ooooh.
End Ost
Hearing a groan from behind me, I turned to see Elisabeth standing up shakenly. "N-Not bad, you know... I'll let you call it a day now..."
"James!" I turned to see Gabrielle and Mash running towards me. Looking at me helping Kiyohime to her feet, Mash understood what happened and begun questioning them. "Now that things have settled, I'd like to hear from you. Would you mind?"
Elisabeth just looked at her an annoyed look. "...What?" Kiyohime, now able to stand up properly, too looked annoyed. "I'm a loser snake, in other words, you're kicking a defeated snake when it's down?"
Sighing, Mash brought her hand to her forehead. "Loser snake? Um, have you ever seen any other Servants besides yourselves?"
Elisabeth looked at Kiyohime before smirking. "Well, I've seen crazy Servants. Like this one." Kiyohime looked a little annoyed before she retorted, "Would you mind not lumping me in with them? I'm a Berserker with my reasoning intact."
"What's your problem?"
"What is it?"
Suddenly, Amadeus piped in. "...Oh, now I remember. When I was alive, I saw them often. Catfights! They were beyond loud. Just you wait, in time they'll latch onto your head and make noises like, "gyaggggegggo!"
Elisabeth then spoke, "I will not! But that's called shamisen right? Shamisen?" Kiyohime looked even more annoyed then before. "I've said this many times, but would you not lump me with them?"
"Anyways! You haven't seen any Servants other than the 'Dragon Witch' or Carmilla's group, right?" Not getting an answer, Mash groaned before speaking to Gabrielle, "Master... It looks like we've just wasted our time." Gabrielle looked irritated as she spoke, "What a shame."
Suddenly, Elisabeth ran in front of Gabrielle. "What's that about shame! You met ME, and it's a shame!?"
"Um... We were hoping if either of you two know of any saints you may of encountered." I spoke, not wanting another situation to arise.
Kiyohime looked at me before she realized something. "A saint? I only know of one saint, if you mean someone whose teachings took root deep within this nation."
"Yes, do you know of one?" I asked as she nodded.
"Yes. I met him before coming across Elisabeth. I almost fought him, but he realized I was a 'genuine' Berserker and he sheathed his sword. His True Name is Georgios. I believe he is quite a famous saint around here."
Marie then popped up on hologram. "Georgios. That saint referred to as St. George. ...Yes, he would be perfect. Do you happen to know where he went?"
"That's the real shame. He went the opposite direction as me, to the west." Kiyohime spoke with a disappointed look.
Before Mash could speak, my communication device went off. Lifting the black half open, Jeanne's face appeared. "James! You and the others need to head to our location west of where you are now!"
With Jeanne's Group
No one's Pov
Stabbing the last wyvern in the head, Artoria pulled Excalibur out and rushed back to Jeanne along with her younger self and Emiya. Jeanne was panting when she suddenly felt a familiar sensation. A man with long, brown hair and brown eyes wearing bronze color armor that had the head of a dragon with it's mouth open on the right shoulder and a cape with a red strip behind him looked at the dead wyverns.
"A wyvern attack? There's been a lot of violence lately."
"No, that wasn't it. This sensation..." Suddenly, her eyes widen in horror. "It's the 'Dragon Witch!'"
The man looked at her in surprise. "What did you say?"
"Let's retreat, Georgios! We don't stand a chance against her right now!" Jeanne spoke. If the "Dragon Witch" had Fafnir with her, then they couldn't fight her. Only two people could do that. Siegfried, who couldn't do that until she and Georgios lifted his curses. The other was James, thanks to his ability to transform into Ultraman.
Georgios looked away before speaking, "...But we can't do that yet." Jeanne followed his gaze along with the others. "Oh..." Civilians weren't completely evacuated from the town yet.
"The civilians aren't evacuated. The mayor has entrusted me with their protection. I must fulfill that wish- Or else, I won't be able to stay a saint." He spoke the responsibility he was given.
"But..."
"...I know. If I stay, I will die. But even so-I can't abandon them." Suddenly, Mary walked up next to Jeanne with a smile. "Lord Georgios, you are a man who is think in head and body."
Georgios looked confused by what she said. "What was that?"
"But, the part of you that is terribly cute has touched my heart. And so- Please allow me to take over that duty." Mary proclaimed. Everyone looked at her in surprise.
"What?" Jeanne looked baffled by what her friend said.
"Am the Queen of France. Even thought that is in the 'future' from here, for me neither 'past' nor 'present' make much difference. Protecting the citizens is an important duty for me too, and you are now given a duty that can change everything. St. Georgios, go with Jeanne d'Arc and please lift the curse from the 'Dragon Slayer.' In the name of Marie Antoinette, I will make sure to protect this city." Mary explained.
"P-Pleas wait up! Wait, hey wait! Marie! Marie, let us stay and fight with you! You can't do it alone, but am sure all of us can-" Jeanne tried to argue with her, only for Mary to put a finger on Jeanne's lips.
"Non. That makes me very happy, but you cannot, Jeanne. I am sure I was summoned for precisely this moment. Not to harbor hatred or defeat enemies, but to protect the people. So that at this time, I will protect those dear to me. To save my dear country, I will do what is right." Mary then gains a sadden look. "Oh, but please apologize to Amadeus for me. I never got to hear him play after all. He was 6, and I was 7. Since then, we've passed each other, but never met."
"Marie!"
"Lord Georgios, do you agree to this arrangement?"
Georgios looked conflicted, but eventually nodded. "...If you are fine with it, I will humbly yield this role to you."
Jeanne looked at Mary sadly. "...Marie..."
"Now go, Jeanne. As short as our time was, it was the greatest honor to fight under you flag. It was also a great pleasure to meet Gabrielle and James." Mary looked at Jeanne with a smile.
After a few seconds, Jeanne smiled at Mary with tears in her eyes. "Yes... I will be waiting."
"Don't worry, I'll catch up soon." With that, Jeanne ordered everyone to retreat. Mary watched them leave before she spoke, "Sanson, you're here."
Walking out of an alleyway, Sanson turned to look at her. "Of course I am. Execution needs qualifications. For both the executioner, and the executed. No other person has the right to execute you. You should have realized that Marie."
"...Let's see... Hold on a second, Sanson. I know that you are a wonderful executioner. I mean, you're cruel, merciless, and inhuman, but you never once mocked criminals. You guarded the guillotine with great respect, so I do indeed trust you. But doesn't that mean you alone hold the right to kill me? Isn't that a bit absurd?" Mary questioned him.
"It's not absurd. I was born into a family of executioners, and I was only taught how to execute. No compromise. It's not only about dedication, I am particular about the method-the technique. It's natural for a good executioner to not inflict pain on the criminal. I see beyond that. I see the-ecstasy. The moment if feels good that 'it will kill you.' That is the type of beheading I dedicate myself to. The best slice of my life was my 'kiss' for you." He replied with a smile.
Mary remained silent, seeing a bit of insanity in his eyes.
"So, this is destiny. I couldn't help but want to see you so I could ask..." Looking at her with a smile, he asked, "Please, tell me, Marie How was my beheading? Were you able to climax at the very end?"
She remained silent before smiling. "...I can see that you seriously showed respect for me Sanson, from the bottom of your heart. But,..." She stopped smiling before gaining a conflicted look. "I'm sorry. That's just impossible. It's something that I cannot possibly say..."
Gaining a determined expression, she finished, "I already know enough men with perverse hobbies. Terribly sorry, but I can't accept a second kiss from you."
"Yes, I know. But I'm sure you will be delighted, I've gotten even better than back then. That's why I was summoned as a Servant. I shall give you the final ecstasy once again!" With that he shot off at her, blade raised as Mary summoned several crystal spikes.
Mary then launched the crystal spikes at Sanson, only for him to blocking all of them before shooting forwards. She jumped back to avoid a horizontal slash and quickly created some crystal roses before throwing them at Sanson, which resulted in several explosions around him.
'BOOM!'
'BOOM!'
'BOOM!'
'BOOM!'
She landed on the ground and created more crystal spikes, as Sanson burst out of the dirt in the air at her. Mary launches them at him, making him evade and block a few of them until he was close to her. She tried to move back, but Sanson was able to grab her and hold her. He grinned at her before speaking, "Now, we can reenact your execution, Marie."
"La Mort Espoir!"
His mana flared as his activated his Noble Phantasm. The area goes dark before a guillotine and several hands rose from the ground. The hands grabbed Mary before pulling her over to the guillotine and placed on it. She struggled to break free as Sanson walked to side of the guillotine and grabbed the rope.
He grinned before he pulled, releasing the blade and letting it fall towards Mary's neck. However, just before it can reach her...
'CLOP! CLOP!'
A crystal horse charges and slams into the large blade, destroying the guillotine.
'SMASH!'
"What!?" Sanson was surprised. Before he could react, Mary threw a crystal rose at him, blowing up as it made contact.
'BOOM!'
The crystal horse ran to Mary and quickly stopped in front of her. She jumped on its back before ordering it to move. Neighing, it sprinted forwards before turning to charge at Sanson, who was standing up still dazed from the explosion. The horse head butted him and knocked him threw some wooden boxes.
Sanson landed in the center of the town. He looked up, exhausted from the amount of energy he used to use his Noble Phantasm. Mary and the horse stopped some distance from him, Mary with a apologetic look. "As I've said Sanson, I cannot accept another 'kiss' from you." Her mana then flared.
"In full bloom, I'll keep dancing!
The horse then started to shine as it filled with mana. It then stood on it's hind legs before charging at Sanson
Here I go, Guillotine Breaker!"
Sanson was unable to avoid being trampled by the horse, with each hoof, enhanced by the mana, causing a lot of pain. The horse then stops before running back to repeat the process. This was done 4 times before Mary ended it. She jumped up and let the horse disappear before walking to the battered up Assassin.
Sanson groaned before looking up at Mary, with her looking down at him with sympathetic ones. "That's, impossible!" He spoke with a pained voice. "How could I be defeated? I've killed so many since that day, and became so much stronger... So why?"
"How sad, Charles-Henri Sanson. I should've told you when we reunited, but James beat me to it." Mary spoke with pity in her voice. A bit of anger rose in Sanson when he heard the name of the one who called him a murderer. "But since you've seem to of forgot it, allow me to remind you. Our relationship ended that day. Because your blade was truly-rusty. You've killed so many people that it's lost its way. You've increased you proficiency as a killer."
Sanson's eyes widened as she kneeled down closer to him. "Executioners and killers are not the same, Sanson. The more skilled you become at killing other-The rustier your blade as an executioner, savior of criminals, becomes. By the time you followed the Dragon Witch, you were no longer the Sanson I knew."
With each word, Sanson's eyes grew with more and more denial. "No... Lies! It cannot be! I kept my faith that you would! That's why kept honing my skills! To see you, and behead yo with more skill-Give you a much better ecstatic moment!" Tears formed on the edges of his eyes as he finished, "I thought that by doing so, you would surely forgive me!"
Shaking her head, Mary spoke to him, "...Geez. You really are a pitiful, adorable person. I don't hold a grudge against you." She then smiled at him. "From the beginning, you never had the need to be forgiven by me."
"Ah... aah, ah-" Sanson wasn't able to form word. His mind was now completely broken, only insanity was left. His body suddenly turned transparent and Mary stared in sadness at him.
"GGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHH!"
Suddenly, a loud roar echoed the town as a shadow covered it. The earth trembled as something large landed on it. Mary looked up to see the Wicked Dragon, Fafnir, looking down at her as Jeanne Alter jumped down, landing in front of Mary. She looked at her before turning to look at the now transparent Sanson. She scoffed before speaking, "...That makes three. It's ironic how the ones who show potential are the first to fall."
Mary smiled at Alter before she spoke, "Yes. Perhaps the two vampires you loathe may be the last ones standing. Good day, 'Dragon Witch.' It seems you got here a little too late."
Looking around, Alter gained an annoyed look. "'Myself' has already escaped. -How pitiful. I also don't see that 'Ultraman' here too."
Shaking her head, Mary spoke, "No, that's not true. She left here embracing hope. As for James, he's somewhere fighting to bring hope."
"Just by gaining one Servant! How ridiculous." Alter scoffed. "Speaking of ridiculous, it's amazing that you are still here. Are you intoxicated with the idea of saving these citizens?" Pointing her finger at Mary, she yelled at her, "You, the person killed by her citizens. A woman put to the guillotine, beheaded in ridicule!"
Mary shook her head in disappointment. "So disappointing. Witches don't understand such simple logic? It's true that I was executed. There was ridicule, and there was disdain. However, that gives me no reason to murder them in return. I became a queen because the people asked me to. A queen cannot be without her people. Thus, it was inevitable. If they don't want you, then you exit even if you don't want to. That's the destiny of those serving their country. I believe my execution led to my people's next smile."
"No matter when, viva la France! Stars glimmer, and that will do. That's all we need." Mary spoke with her arms out. Bring them back, she continued. "Now I am certain. Say, 'Dragon Witch.' 'Who are you exactly?'"
Jeanne Alter, full of anger, shouted at her, "...Shut up!" Throwing her arm forwards, she signaled Fafnir to attack.
"GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHH!" Rearing its head back, Fafnir formed flames in its mouth before releasing a stream of fire.
"-Deploying Noble Phantasm."
"Crystal Palace!"
A large dome made of crystals formed over her and the flames made contact, but slowly started to crack the dome. She knew it was useless against the flames, but she smiled none the less.
"...Goodbye Jeanne, it was lovely meeting you. And James... I pray that you, along with the others, become the light of hope France- No, the world needs. If I can help the Saint who saved France and a young man who seeks to save it now... No, if I can help two friends. Then I will gladly shed the last of my radiance and fall. Like a star, like a flower. Like a fleeting dream. That's what a Servant is, and how Marie Antoinette lives-!"
'SHATTER!'
Finally, the dome could no longer hold.
Insert: Ultraman Nexus PS2 - Title
Next Time
"Marie's is..."
"What the?"
"It's about James' past."
"I still regret not dying that day."
"Let's do this!"
"Your just a worthless human in the end."
"The real battle begins here!"
Fate/Grand Order: Nexus
Chapter 7 - Scars
And, that's a wrap! I apologize again for the massive delay, but I was struggling to work on this and CanadianRider was having a few problems himself. Luckily, I came up with a great idea: I brought in a third co-writer. The writer in question is Redbull98, so be sure to thank him for helping make this story.
Anyways, this and the next chapter were going to be one large chapter, but I decided to split them due to it being too long since the last chapter was released.
With that, NexusLight out.
