Chapter 7: Truce

"Pagan's Path…" Caster spoke the name of her Noble Phantasm and energy was emitted from it that felt evil in the deepest sense of the word. "Dark Paganism."

It was at this moment that something strange fell over all six other Servant's currently fighting. In reaction to this strange sensation, the Servant's froze whatever action they were doing and gripped their heads in pain, even dropping their weapons and falling to their knees.

The Master's were all left unaffected, but the wonder of what could have possibly come over them was not ignored.

"Lancer, what's going on?" Shun Saito asked his Servant who was screaming due to the pain.

"Hey, what's happening?" Shirou asked Mordred, who was in an identical condition.

Neither Berserker's nor Rider's Master were present to attend to them, but the chances they were not aware of the event at all were quite low.

Shirou ran over to Mordred and shook him. "Hey, what's gotten into you?" He asked. Mordred was to in too much pain to answer, but when his eyes opened Shirou saw nothing by an emanating pool of darkness, like he was staring into nothing.

Shun saw the same effect on Lancer, but had some idea what it might mean. "Something on this level without warning; Caster must be doing this." He said.

Shirou looked at Shun and saw that had been an actual reply to his question. "I may not know exactly what this spell is doing, but the chances of this dissipating before they die from the mental strain are slim. I would also guess that the remaining Servant's are experiencing the same phenomenon."

"No way, you mean their all helpless." Shirou asked, looking down at the struggling Servant's. Even if Mordred were the only one not affected by this strange effect, Shirou doubted he would be able to stand by watching the other Servant's writhe and scream in pain. "We have to do something."

"How it pains me to admit it you are right. Teaming up with the enemy is not something I normally do, but I would rather team up with several enemies than lose all chance of winning to one individual." Shun replied. "But you must understand this means we must kill Caster without the aid of our Servant's, even with all of us fighting together, it may not be enough to save them in time."

"No," A weakened voice interrupted. Mordred had somehow found the strength to speak and was using his sword to lift himself from the ground. "I can fight!"

Shun was stunned. Even assuming it was possible at all to resist this magic, having done so so quickly was almost unthinkable. "You… how is it you stand?"

"I am a Homunculus." Mordred replied. "It may be that the difference in my molecular structure differs enough from that of other Servant's that I am capable of some resistance."

"A Homunculus? I see," Shun said at this. "But still, you are in no condition to fight. In your state you would be a hindrance more than an asset."

"No, with my Noble Phantasm, we may have the fastest shot at defeating Caster, but we would need a clear shot." Mordred said. "This sword is laced with magic, even being able to strike at the Noble Phantasm of Caster would be enough to break the spell."

"Really," Shun asked, and then thought about it for a moment. "Very well, but you must make sure you succeed in the first strike, or there will be no second chance."

"I know, let's go." Mordred replied.

"Wait, what about the other Servants?" Shirou asked.

"They won't be able to stand until the spell is broken, much less fight. We must leave them for now." Shun answered.

Shirou wanted to argue, but knew there would be no point, and every second they wasted was less of a chance they could be saved at all. "Fine," he said.

"As long as the spell remains in effect, I can track the flow of Prana back to Caster. Allow me to lead." Mordred said and began running ahead despite the great pain he must have been enduring.

Although Shun and Shirou had banned together easily enough, Assassin's Master Kasumi was not being nearly as cooperative with Tohsaka. "Hmph, something of this level will not easily kill my Servant. Caster can wait, but when will such a golden opportunity to kill of an opposing Servant come along if I defeat Caster now?" She unhesitating said without any sort of regret.

"How can you say that?" Tohsaka retorted. "Your Servant is lying there at your feet writhing in pain without feeling anything?"

"Why should one care about a Servant? Their only use is living; so long as you have the strength to finish things on your own, they don't even need to step foot on the battlefield. The state of my Servant does not matter so long as he can live through it."

Kasumi's brother Yamato did not feel the same way as her. He couldn't stand the thought that Berserker was in the same kind of pain. But voicing his opinion could potentially lead Kasumi realizing his status as a Master, so he had no choice but to grind his teeth and try to finish Archer off as fast as possible so they could go after Caster.

"Yamato, would you like the honors of finishing Archer off?" Kasumi asked.

To appear as normal as possible to Kasumi, Yamato chose his response carefully. "You say that but you just don't want to be bothered yourself to exert the energy. Fine; Movendi ad Framea (Rock to Spear)." Yamato spoke and stomped on the ground.

Following his stomp, a slab of rock shot up from the ground in front of him and he caught it in his hand. The slab of rock was in the shape of a spear, and he pointed it as Archer, but then Tohsaka stood between them.

"Do you really think I'd just let you kill my Servant?" She asked and held up some of her magic jewels.

Yamato frowned at this. "Then I'll just skewer you first." He said, and charged at Tohsaka.

Tohsaka was ready to throw her jewels at Yamato, but suddenly someone came between them. A golden shield blocked Yamato's attack, Archer had somehow managed to get to his feet despite being supposedly incapacitated by Caster's spell.

"What, but how?" Yamato wondered and looked over to Assassin, who was still writhing in pain, same as before.

"I don't understand it either, but…" Archer began. "Apparently I'm not someone who will be affected by such a simple curse." At this Archer push Yamato back and was instantly holding a long sword and swung it at Yamato, but he managed to get back before it struck.

Archer looked at Yamato, but unlike Assassin whose eyes were shrouded in darkness, Archer's eyes were completely void of such a sight. For whatever reason, Caster's spell was no longer in any effect for him.

Yamato readied himself to fight again, but as he did Archer was suddenly holding a bow and arrow that was pointed strait at Assassin. "I'm not so heartless as you two to kill a Servant who can't defend himself, but if you don't let us leave to defeat Caster you will have forced my hand." He said, and then changed his gaze to meet Kasumi's. "'A Servant's only use is living,' that's what you said right?" Archer said, making Kasumi chose either lose or withdraw.

Kasumi clicked her tongue. "Fine, I get it; just leave before I change my mind." She said irritated.

Still holding his bow and arrow toward Assassin, Archer and Tohsaka made their way past the group, and then ran off to find Caster. "Kasumi, if you aren't going to fight them, perhaps the best option would be to fight Caster." Yamato said, trying not to sound too desperate.

Kasumi however turned the other way and walked away. "Forget it, I've lost interest. Whether Assassin lives or dies will simply determine if I continue at all…"

Yamato couldn't believe what he was hearing. He always knew Kasumi was a cold woman, but he couldn't believe she would go so far as to completely abandon Assassin on such a small whim. He stood there and clenched his fist.

As he did that, he didn't intend to show anymore mercy to her. (Berserker, if you can move at all…) He thought as his hidden Command Seals began to glow where they couldn't be seen. (…Rise to your feet, and use all your strength to kill Kasumi.) With that thought, a Command Seal was gone.

There was no turning back now. He could no longer second guess himself if he ended up feeling pity for his sister in the end or if she pleaded for life. The order was issued, and even though he was still shaking in pain alongside Lancer and Rider, Berserker received the command loud and clear, and with it came an astounding amount of strength.

Berserker somehow managed to rise to his feet because of the command and locked onto his target he must kill: Kasumi Inoue.

After about 10 minutes, Archer and Tohsaka caught up with Shirou, Mordred and Shun. Shirou quickly explain what had happened on their end, and Tohsaka told them how Archer did not seem to be affected at all for whatever reason. Deciding not to worry about how, they were glad to have a Servant in fighting condition to fight against Caster.

"How much farther until we reach Caster?" Archer asked.

In response, Mordred stopped moving all together. "No farther, they have come to us." He said, and just then two women appeared in front of them.

"Hello there, I see you got our invite." The young woman that appeared to be the Master said in a joyous voice. "Oh, but what's this, how is it two Servants are still standing; and one doesn't even seem to be affected at all? This can't be right." She said, sounding condescending and somewhat sarcastic at the same time, and turned to Caster for an explanation.

"It would appear their existences are special cases." Caster wheezed out. "One is resistant and the other is for some strange reason unaffected completely; I cannot explain it."

Due to the darkness clouding his eyes, Mordred was not able to see very clearly, but so long as he could pin-point and attack the spot her Noble Phantasm, the necklace that was swinging from side to side in her hand was, he needed nothing else.

"Let's go," Shun said and Archer jumped to get behind Caster while Tohsaka and Shirou ran to either side while Shun stayed in front.

Caster's Master looked to each one individually as if summing up their dangers. "Just so you know, my name is Nimue Linna." She said, as if it were supposed to mean something special. "Now that you know, Caster will finish you all off now." She said.

"Not likely," Archer called from behind and ran toward them from behind, a golden spear appearing in his hands and stabbing forward.

"Diogelu (Protect)." Nimue was the one who spoke, and with the single word, when Archer stabbed for Caster's back, his attack was rejected by an invisible force and he was knocked back.

"What the-" Archer said as he got to his feet.

Nimue laughed at Archer's failure. "For a Servant who remains unaffected even after the use of Caster's Noble Phantasm, that was quite a poor display of strength."

Just then, one of Tohsaka's magic jewels exploded, but even that had not been able to pierce the invisible defense established by Nimue. And Nimue laughed once more.

"Caster, if you will." Nimue said, and Caster raised her finger and flicked the necklace.

"Pagan's Path…" She said. "Witchcraft." When Caster uttered this, a circle of flames surrounded her and Nimue. The circle of fire grew and then shot out in all directions to strike down everyone around them.

Archer ran as fast as he could to get in front of Tohsaka and a shield appeared in front of him to block the flames. Shirou used his Trace magic to create a wall in front of him that blocked the flames. As for Shun, Mordred suddenly ran out in front of him and stuck his sword out into the flames.

Much to their surprise, the sword actually ended up sucking in the flames and neutralizing the spell altogether. "This sword was once enchanted by a great warlock, but regular enchantments are not meant to last forever, no matter how much Prana is used. So in order for the enchantment to be permanent, this sword was used with the power to absorb any magical spells and hold those effects within it." He explained. Shun and Nimue still did not know Mordred's identity, so he attempted to explain the rules behind his sword without giving them the details. "However this is only the second spell it has ever absorbed, it is possible that the original enchantment is destroyed with the holding of another, but it is alright either way."

Caster and Nimue were taken by surprise of this ability. However using it now revealed the plan they had already made. If that Servant were to strike Pagan's Path with his blade, it's magic power would be absorbed and the Dark Paganism cast upon the other Servants would be freed from their suffering.

"So now, with this sword tempered with your flames, I have a new means of attack." Mordred said and held the magical sword up.

Mordred swung the sword down, and suddenly a fiery of flames was launched at Caster and her Master. As it struck against Nimue's defensive magic, it was held at bay, but it was starting to break past.

"Pagan's PathThelema." Caster said, and the flames began to be drawn in to her Noble Phantasm.

However, Archer saw an opportunity in this and ran to get behind Mordred. A bow and arrow replaced his shield and he took aim for the crack in Nimue's shield. His arrow struck the barrier and shattered it, leaving the two unprotected.

Because of this, Nimue had to jump away from Caster to dodge the arrow as it went past. But then Shirou Traced a sword and swung it down on her. "Wyro (Deflect)," She said and held up a hand. Shirou's blade hit a barrier and was forced back by it.

But while Nimue was distracted by Shirou, Mordred made his move. He ran forward while Caster was still absorbing the flames, making it unable for her to dodge.

Just as Mordred swung his sword down, Caster finished absorbing the flames and made a strange sliding motion backwards. But it was too late, Mordred's blade was not able to cleave Caster herself apart, but it cut strait through the small black necklace.

At that instant, Mordred and the other Servant's were freed from Caster's spell. Mordred gasped with relief from the pain and fell to one knee, allowing himself to show the pain he had been fighting back until now.

"Caster!" Nimue shouted. With the destruction of Pagan's Path, Caster's main source of power was gone. If they did not flee, they would surely be defeated. Nimue ran to Caster and looked back at everyone else. "Don't think you've won. Caster has other ways of fighting!" Nimue told them.

"Like it matters," Archer said. "Without their Noble Phantasm, a Servant is all but defeated."

Nimue grinned. "Then I'll have her show you." She said and held up the hand with Command Seals on it. As they began to glow, Nimue pronounced her order. "Caster, don't hold back, show them your full power!" And with that, a Command Seal was gone.

Caster looked around at Nimue. "As you wish, Master." She muttered, and then did something that shocked everyone, even Nimue.

Caster did not use a spell or somehow create an all powerful weapon. Instead, she simply took her hand, and thrust her fingers strait through the chest of her own Master. Nimue looked back with the very last of her life. "What… are you…" She squeezed out.

Caster pulled her hand from Nimue's chest and held her Master's still beating heart in her hand. "I'm merely doing as you commanded, Master." Caster answered Nimue's question as her dead body fell to the ground and her blood spread. "I'm showing them my full power." Caster said.

Caster continued and stuck Nimue's heart into her mouth, and began to devour it whole. Everyone else was completely speechless and could do nothing but watch and the Servant even continued to begin and devour the rest of Nimue's body as well.

"An evil witch who eats young human beings…" Mordred began.

"Indeed, such a Servant could be only one person." Shun agreed. "The evil witch of Slavic Folklore: Baba Yaga!" He said.

Caster, now revealed to be Baba Yaga, finished eating Nimue's body. It was at this time her body began to pulse with an aura that was evil beyond belief. "Pagan's PathSlavic!" She said, and suddenly the whole street was engulfed in darkness.

None of them were able to see a thing, inside this bubble of darkness and evil, Caster would be supreme. "What's going on?" Shirou asked, trying to find someone through the darkness.

"Master Emiya, where are you?" Mordred called back.

"Archer, are you alright?" Tohsaka called out.

"Everyone, calm down; there is no more need to worry." Shun told them with confidence in his voice.

"What do you mean?" Archer asked.

"I mean that my Servant is about to finish Caster off once and for all. You didn't realize it, but throughout the battle with Caster I was supporting you with my augmentation magic." Shun told them. "Your accuracy, speed, endurance, and strength were better than normal. I did the same to Lancer, so with his increased speed, he is arriving as we speak.

"Scratch that Master, I've already arrived." Lancer's voice rang out.

"But it won't matter; he still can't find Caster with this darkness."

"He doesn't have to. His Noble Phantasm can find his target no matter where they are." Shun said, and then spoke directly to Lancer. "Go, Lancer, use your Noble Phantasm that will never miss its mark!"

"Understood! Go now, my spear and strike down Caster! Gae Assail: Ibar!" Lancer called out this and let his lance fly.

The other's understood when they heard the name and incantation. Gae Assail was a magical spear that belonged to a well-known Irish deity that was worshipped as the sun god. His name was Lugh, and his Gae Assail was one that would never miss with the word Ibar, and would return upon the word Athibar.

With such a weapon, unless the spear was destroyed, there was no chance it would not strike the target. A few seconds later, the darkness dissipated, and Caster's body lay on the ground dead with Lancer's spear run through her heart, and with it the danger she presented was gone as well.

"Athibar," Lancer called and his spear returned to his hand.

"Our truce ends tomorrow night." Shun told Shirou and Tohsaka. "I look forward to great battles with both of you. Let's go, Lancer." Shun said and walked away with his Servant.

On the other end of the war, Berserker stood above the body of a female woman with his blade covered in her blood. The woman was his Master's sister, Kasumi Inoue. Yamato stood behind him and looked at the scene, but felt no remorse for his actions. After killing his own sister, Yamato Inoue had proceeded to take her Command Seals, so he now had five.

"You have killed my Master; I will not be far behind." Assassin said, beginning to stand now that the effects of caster's spell are gone.

Yamato looked to Assassin. The whole reason he had killed Kasumi was because of how she mistreated her Servant. He on the other hand, refused to do the same. "It does not have to be. You said so yourself once that it would have been better if I were your Master. Then form a pact with me and help me gain victory." He told Assassin, who was half surprised at the idea.

But, after a moment of thought Assassin answered. "Yes, that's sound like a very good plan to me." And with that, Yamato now had two Servants.

In a house on the other end of Fuyuki, the extra Servant known as Striker shook his head as if to get rid of weariness. Just then, Shinobu Oshiro walked in with two bowls of soup. "Are you alright now Striker?" he asked.

"Yes, Caster's spell is strong to have affected me to such an extent, but now that it is gone there is no worry." Striker replied.

"I guess that just leaves one problem…"

"Yes, Caster's identity was that of Baba Yaga. But in Slavic Folklore, Baba Yaga had no such Noble Phantasm as that necklace. Meaning that regardless of where it came from, Caster's true Noble Phantasm would be the Water of Life and the Water of Death. She is still alive, but all the others believe her to be dead." Striker explained.

"I don't really like the idea of doing anything so early on, but Caster's Pagan's Path is simply not something we can overlook. We'll have to go finish her off for good ourselves." Shinobu said.

"Then let us do this quickly, before the sun rises." Striker said, and the two left the house to go to where Caster was hiding and kill her…