Chapter 8
Alex awoke in a state of mild agony. His limbs felt like they had been replaced with leaden ones, and his wounds throbbed as he stretched. Grimacing in pain, he slowly extricated himself from the covers and blearily took stock of his situation. Dried bloodstains dotted his sheets, though it wasn't so much that a good wash couldn't take care of. His clothing was a different story. The jeans that he wore the night before were torn to ribbons, and his shirt fared barely any better. His heart ached with sorrow as he examined the leather jacket; a gift from his grandfather two years ago, Alex had counted it among his most precious possessions. According to his grandfather, the jacket had belonged to a friend of his that flew in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. While the jacket returned home, the man did not.
He turned the jacket over in his hands, doing his best to ascertain the damage. After his few moments of frantic motion, he breathed a sigh of relief as he concluded that the damage could be repaired. Perhaps the new patches would add some more character to the storied piece of leather, or so he imagined at least. But for now, there were more pressing matters to attend to, first among them was cleaning himself and dressing his wounds. "I should check on Mina before I do that," the words rumbled from his chest as he muttered aloud. Without another thought he turned on his heel, albeit gingerly, and exited his bedroom.
As soon as he did so the first thing he noticed was the open door that led to where Mina was sleeping. Or, where she was sleeping. Peering inside the room he could tell that she was no longer there. The blanket that he gave her was neatly folded atop the mattress with his pillow resting atop that. He stepped in and moved to collect his stuff; as he did so, removing the blanket revealed a sizeable bloodstain. It was obvious to him that it stemmed from the wound she suffered to her abdomen. Images from the previous night suddenly flooded his mind, blinding him from reality.
The quiet streets…the empty site…the ambush…fighting for their lives…her falling…Berserker…Rider appearing…his use of the Command Seal…that unsettling tone in Rider's voice…
He snapped back to reality as a bead of sweat trickled down the back of his shirt. His breathing was slightly heavier than usual; part of his mind recognized this as a sign of trauma, but not enough for the rest of his brain to propose actions to combat it. Instead, he angrily grabbed the mattress and flipped it over so the bloodstain was now hidden from view. Collecting his things, he removed himself from the room without a second thought.
After dropping the blanket in his laundry pile and rounding up the necessary supplies for a shower, he returned to his room's common area. Upon entering he spotted a by now familiar sight. Rider had once again made himself at home, lounging on the couch like he owned the place. Though something was different this time.
"Morning Rider, what's with the new outfit?" The King of Kings was sporting a completely new look. He was wearing all black, from his shirt to his shoes. Though even from a few feet away Alex could tell they were made of the highest quality materials. He wore his shirt completely open, exposing nearly the entirety of his torso. Gold bracelets adorned both wrists and a golden necklace made of interlocking pieces hung from his neck. A belt with a silver buckle rounded out the outfit. With that outfit, Alex would bet serious money that Rider could easily become Korea's Most Eligible Bachelor. Or the world's if he really wanted to get serious.
The pharaoh smiled warmly at him, "Ah, you've finally awakened. I trust you are well this morning?" Alex nodded. He did feel better, at least physically. "I am, though I really need to shower and check the wounds from last night. Did you see Mina?"
Ozymandias gently rubbed his chin as one might do when recalling past events, "As a matter of fact, I did. She awoke a short time after Ra climbed into the heavens and cast his light unto the world. Before you ask, she is doing fine. We conversed for a short amount of time before she departed for her domicile." Alex tilted his head in confusion, "She talked with you? Why? What did the two of you discuss?"
The seated man teasingly wagged a finger and grinned even wider, "Now, now Master, it was a private conversation. Why don't you go ask her yourself? Perhaps you will get more from her." Clearly that was all he would get from Rider. He made a mental note to do just that before turning towards the bathroom. But before he could fully leave the room, Rider once again spoke to him. "I trust you will be prepared to discuss the events of the previous night once you are finished bathing? We have much to discuss." Alex grimaced, there was just no stopping this guy. "Yeah I know, when I come out." Without offering a backwards glance, he closed the door behind him and set his mind on a nice, hot shower.
Twenty minutes later, Alex emerged from his bathroom which had been turned into a makeshift sauna. The long shower served a dual purpose by relaxing the tension in his muscles as well as offering a good opportunity to examine himself. While most of the cuts from his encounter with Berserker would heal fine, he was fairly certain that his arrow wound would scar. He counted himself fortunate that a single scar was the worst thing that he suffered. He could have turned out a lot worse, all things considered. As he set about dressing himself and tidying the bathroom, he was well aware of Rider's even gaze following his every movement. Yet Ozymandias himself said nothing. It wasn't until Alex turned his attention to breakfast, well technically lunch by that point, did Rider break the silence.
"Now then, if you would be so inclined?" Rider's voice was even, with just a hint of purpose. Alex grumbled under his breath as he moved around his kitchen, "Can't a man get himself a BLT before discussing zombie armies and giants wielding axes the size of my body? Now that I say that out loud…yeah we should talk about that." Collapsing into a chair with sandwich in hand, he sat across from Rider, who had yet to shift from his sitting position. As he began eating, Rider slowly held up the TV remote and switched the apparatus on. The first image that greeted Alex was that of a disaster zone.
Emergency and construction vehicles swarmed over a large crater that took up the better part of a road. It was obvious where the scene was taking place, and the top down view from a helicopter that revealed a construction zone nearby confirmed it. Alex continued to watch as a news reporter discussed how a gas leak caused a series of explosions near a construction site in downtown Hoehyeon-dong. Despite the magnitude of the leak, there were no casualties. The reporter assured the viewers that authorities are investigating the cause.
"A gas leak, most curious, don't you think so Master? Considering the location of the crater is misplaced when considering the neighborhood's gas lines, such a phenomenon is quite extraordinary. And for there to be no injuries, truly a miracle that only the god's could have allowed." Alex winced at his words, for being an ancient king, Ozymandias had definitely mastered the art of sarcasm.
He opened his mouth to reply, but Ozymandias cut him off with a wave of his hand. "I will hear no explanations until you understand the severity of your actions. Do you have any idea as to how detrimental your foolish actions truly were? You are permitted to speak so you might answer my question." His words rained down on Alex like hammer blows, cutting him as deep as any blade could. There was little Alex could do besides bow his head in shame and answer truthfully. "No, I do not."
Ozymandias nodded, "I accept your words to be honest ones. You have little reason to lie to me now, though that would be the last foolish mistake you would ever make." Ozymandias sighed softly and continued to speak a little gentler, though he kept the iron in his words. "Heed the words of the King of Kings, victor of a hundred battles and favored of the gods. Your king is merciful in his judgment, and I do not think that you acted in malicious intent. Despite your blunders, you fought valiantly. You are forgiven."
"I'm…forgiven?" Alex's mind swirled with all sorts of questions and emotions, "Why am I being reprimanded one moment and then praised the next? I seriously can't get a good read on this guy." While he attempted to sort out all of his thoughts, Rider started to get serious.
"The events of the previous night could technically be seen as a victory, as it was Berserker that yielded the field. Yet in reality it was a near loss for us. Can you think of why?" Alex furrowed his brow as he recalled the previous night, "Again with the questions, he's obviously testing me. But why?" His mind raced to try and come up with a good answer, "Well, there was a moment before you arrived. Berserker was close, real close. And he saw my Command Seals. It was like he was looking for them. After that he…" Alex swallowed as he vividly recalled the giant axe that was aimed for his skull, "he moved to kill me."
"Very good, this was perhaps your greatest blunder." Rider had assumed the tone of a knowledgeable professor who was gently reprimanding a student. "Not only did you reveal your identity to the enemy, you also offered a window into your own fighting style. Despite being a Berserker, I could tell that Servant was not your typical mad dog." Alex decided to probe this thought further, anything to help him figure out Ozymandias' thought process.
"What do you mean by that? How could you tell despite meeting for such a short time?" Ozymandias smiled, "Because I am king. It is my duty to know my enemies. But I can tell by the look on your face that you do not understand properly, then again you could not, as you are not a king. Therefore, I shall allow you a glimpse into the wisdom of a pharaoh."
Still smiling, he straightened his necklace before continuing, "If we are speaking in terms of raw physical strength, Berserker has me beat by a mile. This was apparent by just looking at him, though what was strange was his aura. Each Servant has their own inherit traits, which stem from their lives. Sometimes, these traits can be understood by other Servants. I can tell you with certainty that in his life, Berserker was a great king."
"What? He was a king in life?" Alex could not keep the surprise out of his voice, "How could a Berserker be a king? What with the madness and all…"
Ozymandias sighed, "You should not underestimate your opponent in such a manner. The class of Servant does not always properly reflect the individual during their lifetime. For example, since I am most famous for my abilities with cavalry, I was summoned as the Rider class. However," he raised a finger for emphasis, "I can also be summoned as an Archer."
Alex was floored by this information, "I-I had no idea that was even possible. So, does that mean that Berserker is completely different from what he was in life? Does he even remember who he is?"
The pharaoh nodded approvingly, "Now you are thinking properly, while I cannot answer those questions, it is important to think critically about your opponent. Even the smallest details can provide openings for you to exploit. The fact that both Berserker and I are royalty allowed for us to reach an agreement last night. Call it an agreement between gentlemen, if you will. Though," Rider's eyes glowed with wicked intent, "as a king, he has challenged my sovereignty with his presence. I cannot tolerate a contender to the throne. Which is one reason why we must eliminate him."
An unsettling feeling nestled in Alex's heart, something was off about that last phrase. "What do you mean by 'one reason'? Is there another reason why we need to go after Berserker?" At those words, Ozymandias fixed a strange stare on Alex. It was absolutely unnerving, the pressure emanating from those golden eyes was immense. He could not bear to meet his gaze. The next words from Ozymandias came as a hushed murmur, "You really don't understand…Thoth grant this child wisdom…"
He sat up from his relaxed position and maintained his pressured gaze on Alex, "The second reason is for that girl's sake."
"For…Mina's sake? Why? What's going on Rider? I need a straight answer!" Some steel finally worked its way back into Alex's voice, he was getting tired of Ozymandias dancing around the issue.
Surprisingly, Rider seemed to comply. "It is an ironclad law of the Grail War that no outside individuals should bear witness to the war, be they human or mages. This law was a part of the contract that was created between us when you summoned me. You used your Command Seal and prevented my mercy from occurring. I'm sure you thought you were acting in her best interest, but in reality, you have condemned her."
Alex was stunned, at a complete loss for words. It took several minutes before he could find his voice again, though it came as a broken stutter. "Wh-what a-are you talking about? S-she's fine. She barely saw anything anyways! Why'd you go after her when she collapsed before you showed up?!"
Ozymandias showed no reaction to Alex's raised voice and responded in his usual, calm manner, which only served to irritate Alex even further. "Because she wasn't fully unconscious, that is why. If I was sure that she had truly seen nothing, then I would have no reason to harm her. But she did. I can guarantee that Berserker noticed this as well. Which means that-"
Alex's eyes went wide with fear as he finished Rider's thought, "Berserker will hunt her. That's it, isn't it? I stopped you from killing her, and now Berserker will attempt to finish the job."
He required no confirmation from Rider, the silence that now hung between them was all he needed. "Death at the hands of Berserker…he's right. I did condemn her." Before he could emerge from his stupor, Rider twisted the knife.
"I attempted to carry out the law, as is my duty and right as king. And you prevented that. Now the act will fall to another, one who is far more brutal than I. By all rights, this incident alone is reason enough for me to break our contract."
A hard knot formed in Alex's chest and it was suddenly very hard to breathe. His reply was a subdued one, as Rider's words took all the fight out of him. "Will you? Break our contract I mean."
"No."
Alex was surprised by the immediate response, and while the dread remained in his heart, a faint glimmer of hope sparked to life within him. "Really? You'll stay? But, you just made it sound like you were ready to pack up and go." Ozymandias raised an eyebrow, "Are you questioning the divine grace of a pharaoh?" To which Alex vehemently shook his head.
A chuckle escaped from Rider, "Hehe I thought not. I shall remain with you, on a singular condition." By this point, Alex was ready to accept just about any terms that was thrown his way and waited with bated breath for Ozymandias to deliver. And deliver he did, with the usual confident grin.
"You must prove yourself worthy by defeating Berserker's Master. Alone. You may conduct your battle in any way you see fit, though your actions will affect my final judgement of you."
It wasn't like Alex had any room to negotiate, from the tone of Rider's voice this was a very serious stipulation. Nevertheless, he mulled it over in his mind. Sparring with Mina and other students was one thing, but duels between mages were almost always fought to the death. Not only that, but he had no idea who could possibly be Berserker's Master. There was also the problem that Ozymandias had already raised; he had given away his own identity. Before he answered, there was one last thing he needed to know.
"So there's no other way to keep her out of this then? Is there another way to keep her safe?"
Ozymandias blinked.
"No."
This was most certainly the final answer. In order to keep Mina safe, Alex would need to kill another mage. As much as the idea repulsed him, he steeled his resolve. Despite all of the negatives staring him down, he couldn't help the smile that began to form across his face.
"That's all? If it's a trial by combat you desire, than I would be happy to oblige." For the first time that day, Alex met the golden eyes of Ozymandias with a steely gaze of his own. "I'll prove my worth. Then we can move forward with this War."
Ozymandias' eyes narrowed with interest, "We shall certainly see. So, what is your plan?"
"Don't have one."
"Of course not." Ozymandias sounded genuinely amused, "Therefore, one must be created. Berserker was not the only one to obtain information last night, and we shall utilize everything at our disposal in order to hunt him down. To that end, tell me, what is most dangerous about Berserker?"
"Again with the questions," Alex furrowed his brow and thought about his brief encounter with Berserker. Aside from the obvious strength residing in the massive Servant, one thing did stand out. "Well, he wasn't alone. There were a ton of undead with him, all of them armed and armored. But they weren't the usual undead that I've learned about, fighting them was like fighting a living person."
Ozymandias nodded his head with approval, "Very astute. By fighting them in close-quarters, you were able to gather such nuanced information. Think about the soldiers for a moment, did anything else stand out?"
He closed his eyes and tried to remember as much as he could, but the small details would not come. "I'm not sure, everything happened so quickly…wait. Yes actually, two things. The undead used tactics, both small and large units worked in tandem to attack us. That…and they wouldn't stay down." His eyes snapped open, "Even after blasting them into smoldering ash, they would reform, though really slowly. Those undead regenerate."
A few moments of silence passed as Ozymandias filtered the information. He tilted his head back before murmuring, "So that's it then. This is starting to get interesting."
Alex watched in silence, not wanting to interrupt Rider's thoughts. It wasn't long before Ozymandias met his gaze with a lopsided grin, "I have a very good idea as to what kind of king Berserker was in life. I will bet you my favorite horse that those soldiers served Berserker in life. And now, they joyously serve him in death. To inspire that kind of loyalty in one's army…most impressive. Perhaps you will be a worthy rival!"
"His moods really do change on a whim, I just can't keep up with this guy." Alex smiled ruefully and relaxed slightly. He was about to ask something but Ozymandias kept talking, as he was wont to do.
"I am mostly certain that the ability for him to manifest those soldiers is directly linked to his Noble Phantasm. As far as I am aware, summoning minions far exceeds the capabilities of a Berserker, so the two must be linked. This also links with the experience that you had, as they could work independently and without direct control. Should this be the case, then it is not impossible for each individual soldier to be an entity unto itself. In other words, they would all be Heroic Spirits. They would be rather minor ones at that, and it is also quite possible that we only faced a tiny portion of his full capacity."
"How many do you think appeared last night? There were between thirty and forty in the yard before you arrived. Late." Alex added the last phrase with the barest hint of irritation.
Ozymandias seemed to pay it no mind, "I personally destroyed approximately two hundred and fifty of his soldiers. Honestly it was such a paltry amount. I would not be surprised if he could summon whole legions of soldiers."
Alex shivered at the thought of thousands of powerful skeletal warriors that refused to die swarming through Seoul. "So what do we do? Our next task is obvious, find Berserker. But I honestly don't know where to begin." Ozymandias sat forward and smiled reassuringly, "Do not fret, I shall provide direction. We can use Berserker's abilities against him. Look here."
From behind him, Ozymandias revealed a roll of paper which, when unfurled, revealed an exceedingly detailed map of the city and its surrounding area. Alex raised an eyebrow, "Where did you get this? It looks like the city atlas…"
"That is precisely what it is," came the confident reply, "I retrieved it from this school's library. I must say, the amount of knowledge stored there is most impressive. I intend to spend more time there, perusing its vaults for useful information."
"Hold on a moment, you left the building and took stuff from our library? What about the whole business about keeping your presence a secret?" There was no chance for Alex to suppress the exasperation in his voice, not that he would have if he was given the chance.
"That might be true for lesser Servants, but for one such as myself, there is no need." Ozymandias flashed another dazzlingly white smile in Alex's direction, "I am king of these lands, as was decreed upon my arrival. Thus, all things are under my dominion; be they goods, people or information. All I needed to do was enter the establishment. From that moment onwards, all of the people that worked there began to service my needs. They performed most admirably, and I was pleased by their abilities."
"Please let that phrase have only one meaning." Pushing any bad feelings he had to the back of his mind, Alex turned his attention to the map. "Let's just move on then, as you can see, Seoul is massive. Berserker could be anywhere, how do you propose we start searching?"
Ozymandias sighed softly, "You must continue to think tactically if you are going to make any progress. Firstly, remind yourself of his strengths. Then you must overlay points on the field where your enemy will be strongest. Nine times out of ten, your enemy will gravitate towards those points, thus allowing you to predict further movements."
"Of course he's well-versed in tactics, some of his battles are still studied in military academies today! I should probably listen to him." Alex pulled the map closer to him and began to closely inspect it. Despite spending the better part of three years near the capital, there was still much of the city that he was unfamiliar with. As he did so, he could feel a pair of keen, golden eyes watching his every motion. In an effort to ease the tension within himself, he spoke aloud the thoughts that came to mind.
"Hmm…let's see here. Berserker is big, like physically huge, so he'd stand out if he was spotted. If I was his Master…I would have him stay out of sight from the public at large. So that cuts out most of the urban center then. There are plenty of industrial areas…but those are very constrictive, and so are the suburbs. If Berserker's greatest asset is his summoned army, then he'd need space! He can't use overwhelming numbers to crush an opponent because his army would get split up into small pockets. A well-trained mage could handle that, and a Servant would find taking out those pockets to be a walk in the park. Wait….park. That's it!"
He dug his phone out of his pocket and frantically opened a local news app. Ozymandias looked on with interest, "Yes, here it is!" Alex held up his phone which displayed a news article dated four days prior. "Namsan Park was recently closed for landscaping and renovation purposes. A bunch of students hated that, because it was a great place to relax and de-stress. Look at its position in the city." He pointed confidently at a large splotch of green which was nestled deep in the heart of Seoul. "That park is massive, and it sports all kinds of terrain, including open grassland, forests and even a really impressive mountain."
As he looked up into the eyes of Ozymandias, his breath suddenly caught in his throat. After unceremoniously clearing his throat, he continued, "If I wanted to utilize a large force to its best ability, that is where I would go. Not only could I spread the battlefield as wide as I wanted, but I could also access the technological heart of East Asia. If I so desired…I could cripple it with a single move. It's also really close to where we encountered him last night. All the pieces fit, Berserker is holed up in Namsan Park."
"Are you sure?" Ozymandias replied steadily, "A mistake during the planning phase often leads to disaster. If he is not where you think, then we will be in a regrettable position."
Alex swallowed hard, "He has to be. If he isn't there then he isn't in the city. He's there, I guarantee it." A chuckle escaped from Rider's lips, "Do not be so hasty, once battle begins, nothing can be guaranteed. However, your logic does follow. I believe that your guess is a correct one. Well done."
Rider's praise lightened the tension in Alex's heart, it felt good to receive affirmation from one of history's greatest military commanders. "Ah, there is one thing that I did not mention."
Alex's attention immediately snapped back to Rider, "What is it? Did I miss something?" Ozymandias shook his head, "With the information you were given, no, you did fine in determining Berserker's probable location. I will now throw you a curve, I believe that is the modern saying."
Ozymandias reached inside his jacket and pulled out what appeared to be a piece of wood. Placing it on the table he then indicated it to Alex, "What do you suppose this is? I recovered this from the same place where you encountered Berserker."
Gingerly taking the wood in his hands, Alex examined it carefully. He couldn't identify the kind of wood it was, but it appeared to be very fine. It glimmered softly in the sunlight with a gentle golden glow. "Perhaps it was painted," Alex murmured. The piece itself was very smooth, though it had been obviously broken at one end. He estimated that the piece he held was approximately eight inches long, and possibly up to twice as long. It was rather thin, but there was a surprising amount of mass to the piece. There was even a pattern that appeared to have been carved into it, a few turns gave off the image of gently rolling waves that spiraled into themselves. But what clinched the identity of the wooden rod was the undamaged end.
"The remnants of a feather, or in this case it would be proper for it to be called a fletching. There are three grooves that each bear residues of some kind of feather. This is an arrow."
"Correct again." Ozymandias gave a slight nod, indicating his approval. "Now tell me, does this arrow belong to one of Berserker's soldiers?
"No." His response was quick, as he had received an up-close look at one of those arrows. "This arrow is too….pretty. I'm sure it's functional, but Berserker's skeletons had nothing like this. So what does that mean?"
Ozymandias held out his hand, gesturing for the arrow shaft. Alex gently returned it, after which Ozymandias held it up in the sunlight and gave it a hard look. "It means," he answered slowly, "that another Servant is in the area."
"It's probably Archer, right?"
"Don't assume such things, as a Servant's weapons are not always the same as their class denotes."
Alex was confused, "What do you mean by that? What kind of Archer doesn't use a bow?"
Rider shrugged, "Perhaps one that considers himself above such trivial matters. If you have not noticed, I do not usually fight from horseback."
Alex nodded, "Well that might be true, but at least you have a chariot pulled by horses. But I suppose the specific class doesn't matter too much. If this came from the construction zone, then that means Berserker fought another Servant. That would explain the destroyed materials that I found. So that means that there are at least three Servants out of seven participating in the War. Still a lot we don't know, but that can't stop us too much. We have to keep moving."
A confident feeling overcame Alex, it felt good to finally have some kind of a plan. There was still quite a bit that he did not know, but there was no point stewing over what he could not control. He knew that they would have to act quickly, for the longer they waited, the more danger Mina was in. More likely than not, he would have one shot at Berserker's Master. There was no way he would let that opportunity slip.
He was about to stand when Ozymandias suddenly broke his silence, "Do you know why I refused to answer your pleas last night?"
"So you did hear me!" Alex finally allowed his irritation to fully show, "We almost got slaughtered out there! Why then? Were you too busy getting fitted for that jacket?"
"Well there was that, but it was something else." Alex was surprised at the sudden seriousness in Rider's words, "You begged."
He was taken aback, "Well…of course I did. I seriously didn't see a way out of the situation. I figured you were my best bet." The serious tone remained in Ozymandias' reply, "Yet you found a route despite my absence. While others would find it proper to throw themselves at my feet, you should not. A king does not beg."
The confused look on Alex's face refused to dissipate, "What are you talking about Rider? I'm no king, and I'm certainly nothing like you." "This is correct, however," Ozymandias revealed Alex's khopesh from behind himself and placed it on the table between them, "this blade chose to assist you. My blade does not respond to just anyone, so it must have sensed some potential within you. Therefore, I shall allow you to make use of my wisdom and become something greater."
The khopesh glinted in the early afternoon sunlight that streamed in through the window that Ozymandias had silhouetted himself against. It seemed especially captivating in that moment. "Something greater…what do you mean by that?"
"Is it not obvious?" Ozymandias swept his hand in a wide gesture, "You shall become like a king. Consider this your first lesson: A king should not request or beg. He must always command."
The words resonated deeply within Alex's mind, "A king…like a sit on a throne kind of king? Or…a king like him?" Alex recalled everything he could about Rider, "Everything he does just screams authority. The way he walks, talks, even sits! Could I really be like him?"
He felt as though he had to respond, as Rider had said his bit. Though it seemed to him that Rider would be paying very close attention to his words, so he chose them carefully. "Very well, if that is your decision then there is only one option for me. Great King of Egypt, bless me with your wisdom. Show me the path, and together we will win this War. I swear this by all of my ancestors."
The sunlight that haloed behind Ozymandias brightened to the point where the entirety of the room was bathed in a golden light. The pharaoh nodded once and said, "Then let us begin."
