Beta'd by Crossovernaru
My lips moved, but no words came out.
I quickly shut my mouth when a sudden feeling og dryness spiked through my throat thanks to the phenomena around me.
I blinked as my eyes tried to adjust to my surroundings through the raging and burning air surrounding me.
I squinted my eyes, catching the sight of a lifeless, grey and mechanical world—a wasteland of swords and massive gears spinning in the sky.
I tried to move, but my limbs refused to obey my commands.
"Humph, so another idiot made it here."
A voice like a steel blade cut through the winds and reached my ears.
I looked in the direction from where the voice came from, and saw a single figure, contrasting with the lifeless world around him hundreds of yards away from me.
A tall man stood straight with his back towards me, black armor on his torso, a red coat fluttering calmly despite the raging winds and tanned skin with white hair to contrast it. The man's tanned face turned slightly towards me, though his face was still obscure.
"Hmm, this is rare. An Emiya Shirou making a contract this early? What a sad sight this is."
The man turned away from me, clearly indicating dismissal—yet, he extended a single hand by his sides in invitation.
"Let's get it over with... I'm actually curious to see what would get an idiot like you to sign yourself to this hell."
Silence.
An awkward and tense silence was felt through the powerful and heated winds.
A few seconds passed like this.
It wasn't until after few seconds had passed that the man turned fully towards me—his expression sharp as steel… and just as dangerous.
Grey eyes glared into my own with overwhelming power.
"You're not another fool who ended up here by making the contract…? Then how…?"
The man's question only served to make me even more confused.
I did not understand a single word coming out of the man's mouth and simply staring into his eyes made me feel sick and dizzy. It was then that an intense headache reverberated through my skull as blurred images began to force themselves into my brain.
At that moment my consciousness began to slip—the image of the wasteland, the swords and the man slowly fading into obscurity.
As if it was just one bad dream.
"Don't think I'm going to let you go that easily."
The man's voice whispered as it began to grow closer.
"I don't know how you got here, but Emiya Shirou does not possess the power to reach this plain of existence—"
I opened my eyes and looked forward, through the fading world, as the red figure ran at me with his hands ready to grasp something.
"Someone else must have sent you to this place. How and why I don't know, but you have to die. Just in case you are being used to upset the balance of the Human Order."
Those words—being used—it brought a bad taste to my mouth and made something in the back of my head snap.
The red figure was just a few feet away from me as he raised his arms and opened his mouth.
His empty hands were filled with two weapons that were etched into my mind—
And his words burned deep into me.
.
.
.
.
"Trace On! Mordred!"
Those words resonated deep within Shirou as the black iron mask was fully ripped from his face. Fire enveloped him, blinding him from the horrifying sight of the hell he and Ann had been trapped in. He closed his eyes as he felt the power surging through him.
Warmth hugged his body, a sudden heaviness settling on his back—yet his very being screamed at him to stand straight despite it. He brought a hand forward and clenched it, feeling his formerly weak and submissive-self being burned away.
"Take your first step forward."
He didn't know if the voice that had said this was of his past bound self, or if it was he himself thinking of what he had to do—but he found no reason to ignore it.
After all…
This was what he wanted...
...wasn't it?
To take that first step towards protecting what he loved.
Illya.
He had failed to protect her once, and because of his weakness, she suffered.
But now—he would fight to prevent someone from causing tears to be shed from his sister's eyes.
'Yet, she isn't here, I can't protect her now…the most I can do with this new resolve of mine is…'
Shirou opened his eyes, still surrounded by white, and took that first step forward.
He raised his right foot up, brought it forward, placed it down and let his body be pulled forward and out of the light. The sight that greeted him was once more the horror-field abyss, along with the shocked expressions of Gilles and the tear stricken Ann with eyes filled with despair.
'…yes, that was it, that look in her eyes.' His determined gaze was focused on the blonde, as ever so slightly the despair in her eyes started giving way to something else... something hopeful.
'I never want to see something like that in the eyes of someone I care about. Not after Illya… Takamaki-san, even if we aren't friends or anything like that, I can't bring myself to let you have that gaze. If not for my sake, then I'll do it for you, for everything you've suffered… and for you as well, Shiho…'
The flames around him disappeared as he took his second step, then another, and then another—until he finally came to stop. His eyes went from Ann's towards Gilles and his gaze sharpened into steel. The Servant frowned as he looked at Shirou with an analytical gaze. The redhead just let his gaze fall down towards his new form.
His clothes had changed from the school uniform, into something else. He now had a black tight and sleeveless armored piece on his torso with white accents that outlined his muscles and a metal plate on his collar. Black pants with straps around his thighs and shins. Armored black iron shoes that protected his feet and mid shins from the blood-soaked floor. His arms shared a similar form of protection in the form of twin abyssal colored gauntlets which kept his forearms away from harm along with black gloves.
All around his attire was monochrome with the single exception of the red open tattered skirt around his waist, tied by silver metal plates. The red cloth flowed ominously as he turned his head towards Gilles, his golden-brown eyes glaring coldly at the monster.
The sounds of chains crackling alerted Shirou of the surge of power that come out of him. He looked back and saw it—his power of change, and his will of rebellion.
It was a knight, a hulking figure covered from head to toe in charred white armor. Sporting all type of chinks and dents, the knight stood proudly with its massive red great sword held by sharp and charred gauntlets. On the knight's chest was massive spear stabbing it through its armor and puncturing all the way through its back. Its helm was ruined, as the damaged and ripped iron face plate forming the imaged of a face—jagged soulless holes for eyes and ripped chunks where the mouth would be, forming a sharp frown.
The image of his power was battered, injured and on the brink of death with the spear piercing its body—it should've been disconcerting.
But—
"OOoo, is that it?" Gilles asked unimpressed as he manifested the human skin book into his elongated fingers and pointed at the redhead who ignored him. "A knight in sullied, and broken armor? And with a spear lodged into its chest? AAAHH how marvelous! Even when you've gained the power to fight, your spirit is already so broken! Do you see my saint? How weak his soul is? How it doesn't compare to yours?!"
Ann just looked at the distracted young man, a worried looked appearing on her face as she saw the madman raise his book towards the redhead with an innocent smile. "Shirou watch out!"
"Let's hear your screams, dear boy!"
The floor erupted into a shower of blood and gore as three of the aquatic monsters Gilles was so fond of using sprung forth—eagerly and wantonly wanting to eat the awakened young man.
But—
As Shirou stared at his less than impressive and stellar Persona, he understood a truth that none, but he himself could see.
"Right…" He muttered as he saw the monstrosities upon him. "Let's show them our resolve, Mordred."
In the blink of an eye, the charred and impaled knight swung its blade. A whirlwind of mayhem and power was unleashed as the armored knight released fire from every nook and cranny of its burnt armor. The air burned as a cyclone of fire was formed when the large Persona spun fiercely and cut down the monsters with its now burning blade.
The monsters dropped onto the bloodstained floor with loud squelching noises, their bodies still eerily twitching and moving despite being rendered to pieces.
"W-What!?" Gilles took a step back in surprise as the now burning Persona rounded on him, raising its blade ominously towards him and pointing it at its face. Shirou looked at him with a cold gaze and took a step forward.
"It doesn't matter how everyone looks at me. Whether they see a sniveling kid, a violent thug or just someone who is nothing but a joke…it doesn't matter. As long as I keep this resolve deep within me… I won't falter in making sure no else has to cry or be in despair for the mistreatment of others, no matter who or what opposes me."
Shirou's eyes traveled back to Mordred as the flames of his resolve receded back into the armor. He nodded to himself as he took in the sight—flesh was weak, if anyone had suffered the amount of ridicule and injuries that the knight had suffered, they would've died. However, it was that fire of rebellion and of fury that kept the armor alive, and kept that will going. So long as that fire kept burning, then no number of injuries could possibly bring it down.
"You…" Gilles frowned, his face set in stone as his fish-like eyes glared at him. "Don't think that something like that could ever beat the profane and damned creatures of God! You're not worthy to even be in the presence of my saint!"
The torn apart monsters twitched violently and began to regenerate at an accelerated rate. The three creatures suddenly multiplied into seven as they regrew from the pieces that were cut away.
Loud screeches filled the darken hell, making Ann flinch and look on with worry as the monstrosities jumped forward to attack the redhead.
Shirou just kept his gaze on Gilles. "Humph, you say that—!"
The monsters crashed where Shirou had stood, but he was already on the move. Swiftly evading the ones that stood before him, charging straight towards Gilles with Mordred readying its blade.
"Giiih!" Gilles flinched back and held his book forward. A mass of tentacles sprouted from the floor around him in a protective cocoon and three other limbs spearing forward to kill the redhead.
Shirou saw the attack easily, and with a simple hop with his right foot, changed direction in mid-charge. His body shot like a bullet past a surprised Gilles, who looked at him from within the mass of slimy and spamming limbs, as he headed straight for Ann.
Shirou extended his right hand and continued with his line. "—but I'm tired of feeling unworthy!"
At his cry, Mordred violently ripped the spear out of its chest once more and a sea of fire came out of the wound, engulfing Shirou. The mass of flames then moved towards Shirou's right hand, quickly condensing until a shape was formed—
A blade.
A short scimitar, white in color, like the haze of a cloud.
…Bakuya…
The redhead's mind whispered it to him—just glancing at it made him feel a rush of power, something almost similar to the light Shiho had produced upon her own awakening.
He grasped the blade, and with movements exceeding what someone his age or background should know or even be capable of, slashed the tentacles holding Ann hostage alongside with the monster's entire left side in a fluid, yet chaotic whirlwind of movement.
"—!"
The monster's screech was long and loud, but Shirou paid it no mind as he grabbed Ann around her waist with his free left arm and jumped over the screaming creature with his sword still in hand.
He looked towards the disoriented blonde, his Persona disappearing and his iron mask returning. "Hold on."
Ann blinked and let out a surprised squeal when Shirou jumped up towards the opposing wall. She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked at him with renewed adrenaline coursing through her.
"What are you doing!?"
Shirou landed on the wall and bounced back, even higher once more to repeat the process. "I'm going to bounce back and forth until we reach the exit!"
"What!?" Ann held herself tighter to the redhead and looked at him with a bewildered expression. Her eyes now focusing on the iron mask obscuring his face—including his eyes. "How are you going to do that when you can't see!?"
"What are you talking about?" Shirou asked just as three tentacles burst from the wall he was just about to land on. Ann noticed it and closed her eyes.
"Shirou watch ou—!"
The girl didn't even finish her warning as Shirou easily maneuvered himself through the appendages attempts to grab him. He landed on the wall with a flourished twist and bounced out ready to continue with his journey upwards. Ann opened her eyes, looked back to the tentacles that had failed to capture them and turned towards her savior. She stared at Shirou who looked right back at her through his iron helm.
"I can see perfectly, Takamaki-san."
Ann could only stare at him with awe. Her hold tightened around him as he continued bouncing back and forth between the walls. When a bright light from above began to illuminate she caught sight of their exit—the hole that lead to the abyss was within sight and calling for them.
"We're almost out Shirou!"
"I know." Shirou answered as he propelled himself further upwards. Ann smiled as they grew closer towards their escape and—!
"No!" Ann cried out as eleven sets of tentacles peaked through the exit of the abyss, eagerly moving forward to grab them. "Shirou, there's—!"
"Just hold on!" The redhead cut her off as he reached with his right hand, extending two fingers to grasp his mask, while still holding the blade, and ripped it off. Mordred appeared behind him, with its jagged eyes lighting up with fire at the sight of its opposition.
The monstrous limbs darted for them with the intent to crush them either against the walls of the abyss or against each other. However, their attempts were halted when the large Persona moved forward, sword in both hands and its large body twisting with seemingly impossible flexibility to parry the appendages with a mighty blow.
As Metal met flesh, the tentacles charge was completely and utterly thrown into disarray. The limbs crashed and flayed desperately, destroying everything around them in the process.
Ann watched in amazement, while Shirou gritted his teeth—searching for an opportunity.
One of the tentacles crashed into the wall so violently that it ripped it to pieces.
Another tentacle collided with its fellow appendage, making it flinch harshly.
Two others got entangled and desperately tried to separate themselves. Bloody gashes began to appear as they starting ripping into each other
Another was still recoiling from the blow from earlier, but remained stationary compared to the other flaying limbs.
In that moment, Shirou saw his chance and took it. His feet crashed against the wall, and pushing against it, he propelled himself upward like a bullet. Twisting his body to avoid the other flailing tentacles, Shirou landed on the immobile limb and jumped up.
Grasping his sword, the redhead frowned and bared his teeth. "Graaa—!"
Fingers clenched around the handle of his blade, his hold over Ann secured—he slashed with all his might.
Blood and gore exploded around him, as all eleven tentacles were cut with a single successful slash. Shirou and Ann still flew upwards, avoiding any further staining by the monstrosities as they finally made it to their desired destination.
A bright light blinded them, as their bodies sailed out of the abyss and upwards towards the castle walls. Ann looked at the castle and grinned.
"We made it!"
Shirou, his black iron mask back in place, prepared to make another swing with his blade. "Not yet."
The redhead adjusted his hold over Ann so that he could hold her in a bridal carry and ran towards one of the many windows on the castle. Ann noticed his intentions and once more tightened her hold over Shirou as the young man slashed at the window..
Pieces of the shattered window flew, cluttering and breaking apart further when they hit the polished floors of the large room—and onto the surprised silver knight, who had just enough time to turn around before its faceplate was smashed against the black iron boots of Shirou's new metaverse outfit.
Using the momentum of his jump, he sailed forward, landing on his knees right in the middle of the large room. He turned just in time to see the knight he had stomped on fall on its back. With Ann still in his arms, he looked around for a safe and secure place for the girl to hide in.
The room they were in was large, the walls filled with portraits of Kamoshida—all of them depicting him in heroic poses and in a kingly matter. Shirou clicked his tongue at this, but ignored it in favor of finding a secure location for Ann—a second later he saw a staircase which led to the second floor. Beside it was a small dark corner with desks adorned by volleyballs. The redhead froze as he looked at the spot and turned towards Ann.
"Go and hide beside those stairs!" Shirou let Ann drop from his arms and gestured towards the spot. The blonde looked at it, nodded and turned towards him to say something—but he cut her off. "Just go, I'll clear a way out for us."
Ann frowned, her face morphing into a guilty expression. "I…okay... okay… just be careful!"
Shirou nodded and turned away from her. As he listened closely for her fading footsteps, he took a deep breath. He placed a hand on his mask as he focused on the now recovering sentry.
"You bastard! How dare you damage lord Kamoshida's castle!" The knight roared as it got to its feet, looking at him with a fierce red aura surrounding it. Its metal armor began to bubble up with a red substance as it shook. "I'll make you pay!"
Shirou grew tense, ready for battle as the knight exploded into a black and red substance. From the substance came forth four figures. Two small-winged females dressed in skin-tight blue suits, along with two armored knights holding onto spears and riding on horses.
Not a second was wasted as one of the horseman lunged forward at break neck speeds.
Shirou's eyes widened behind his mask—his gaze focusing on the tip of the horseman's spear. His body moved to the side, dodging the spear that almost pierced his chest by a hairs breadth, and crashed into the floor—destroying it with ease.
A path of destruction burst forward, as the polished tiles flew up into the air alongside the dust and debris.
The redhead could only watch the mayhem in terrifying awe.
'If that had hit me… I would've died…!'
That was the only coherent thought he was able to form at the moment. Before his feet even touched the ground, the second horse was already charging towards him. The knight's horse let out a roar unbecoming of its species as it lunged for him with his spear at the ready. It's companion soon followed having recovered from the powerful attack it had performed.
Shirou gritted his teeth, grabbed the sword with both hands, and clenched his hold over it tightly, focusing on the enemy as they closed the distance between them in less than a second and—
"Die intruder!" The knight roared as it speared his weapon towards his body.
Shirou's armored feet touched the floor, his knees bending and his hands by his sides as he watched the spear go in for the kill.
NOW!
Reacting quickly to his instincts, he swung his blade—!
"Grah!" The knight cried out as he almost lost its hold over the weapon. Shirou's Bakuya impacted with the wooden pole area of the spear, just behind the weapons bladed tip. His actions were rewarded with a successful parry that left the knight staggering and Shirou stumbling back, creating more space between him and his enemies.
But…
"D-Damn—!" Shirou cursed at the stinging sensation in his hands, his eyes focusing on the white blade sailing through the air after he lost his hold over it.
"Shirou—!" Ann's startled and concerned cry nearly made him grit his teeth as the consequence of loosing his one means of fighting filled him with dread. He wasn't the only one who would pay if he failed—he couldn't let Ann get back in the hands of these monsters.
"Idiot!" One of the small pixie like females jeered as the redhead tried to regain his footing, still reeling from the parry he had performed.
"Go and kill him already you guys!" The other female fairy encouraged. The first horseman that had attacked him moved in. When he was upon him, he lunged the spear forward with double the intensity.
"Your luck ends here brat! Die!"
"Shirou! NO—!"
Shirou's eyes widened, his left hand moving in to remove his mask and call for his Persona—but it wouldn't be enough. His hand wouldn't reach in time to remove the mask and call forth for the power he had just gained.
Everything slowed to a crawl as a realization came to him.
He would die here.
He would die here, and he wouldn't have changed anything.
Was this really his end though?
Why? Why was it that he couldn't change anything?
Why was it that he couldn't fight for what he wanted?
…because your hands are empty…
Because his hands were empty?
…
Of course…yes, his hands held nothing…so he could do nothing.
But…as long as he could feel the weight and power of that weapon…
…say it…
"Trace on!"
CLANG!
"What the—!?" The horseman cried in surprise as it looked at his spear spinning in the air. Its eyes looked down at the young man before him, his right hand once more holding onto his white blade.
"Mordred!" The hulking and burnt Persona came forth, lighting up its flaming sword, and crashing it into the horseman's metal plated sides and driving it down to the floor with enormous power.
"Gragh!" The horseman cried out, it's horse roaring alongside its rider as the force of the attack sent them crashing to the floor. Shirou moved in to finish the enemy off—
"Shirou! Watch out for the other one!" Ann shouted from her hiding spot as she warned the redhead of the incoming danger. Fortunately, Mordred move in to intercept and defend the redhead, but the horseman swiftly evaded the attack and swung its spear towards Shirou. The young man barely had enough time to bring up his blade to defend himself before it was blown out of his hands.
"Gurgh—!" The teen grunted his golden eyes moved to see his sword smashed to pieces, and flying through the air.
"Die!" The horseman cried as it made the horse jump up, ready to trample him.
But—
"Trace—!"
The white sword Bakuya appeared in his right hand, with quick succession he slashed vertically, going from the horse's chest up to its maw. The animal let out a startled cry before it fell to the floor from the harsh recoil. The horseman was startled by the this, but not enough to stop its effort of killing the redhead. It continued to erratically lunge its spear towards Shirou.
"—on!"
A second blade appeared.
This one black in color, covered in a hexagonal pattern, appeared in a burst of fire and electricity on his awaiting left hand—and the moment it appeared, Shirou grasped it and swung. The incoming spear was cut in half, and the redhead side stepped the broken weapon and focusing on the now shocked horseman.
"W-What—!?"
Its question was left unanswered as Mordred crushed the downed knight with its blade. Happy that one of his enemies had been felled, Shirou looked down at the black blade in his hand with curiosity.
…Kanshou…
"What the heck is up with this guy!?" One of the pixies cried out as she raised her hands towards the fallen horseman let green power flow around the knight, healing it to its feet.
"Can he keep making swords or something?" The other pixie muttered nervously as she watched the black iron helm return to the redhead's face. The horseman growled as it began to charge forward once more.
"It doesn't matter! He will die here and now! For Lord Kamoshida!"
Shirou spread both his legs wide, bent his knees and pulled his arms back— and hurled both swords towards the incoming horseman. The enemy was so startled by this that it attempted to swing at both swords with its spear.
Bakuya was successfully parried, but Kanshou hit its mark. "—!" A loud roar of pain was unleashed from the knight as the black sword was embedded squarely in its chest. The horseman flinched from the pain, its free hand moving to rip the sword from its body—he looked to where the redhead was, but found nothing but empty space.
A shadow loomed over it, forcing it to look up.
The last thing it saw before it was slashed into four pieces, was of Shirou with the same two weapons had had thrown being formed and grasped by his awaiting hands.
"Giiih!" One of the pixies cried, seeing her companion be slice to pieces and disappear into coiling shadows. She turned around and moved to flee. Unfortunately, she didn't get far before Bakuya was impaled right through her back. She let out a pained cry as she exploded into the red and black substance before disappearing completely.
The final pixie fell to the floor shivering and looking at Shirou. Just as the young man was ready to throw Kanshou and end her existence, she broke down.
"Wait! Wait! Wait! Don't kill me!" Her cries made the redhead stop, but his grip over his weapon hadn't lessened. The pixie took this as a good sign as she continued. "Please don't kill me! It's totally unfair! You've already won!"
"This isn't about wining or loosing." Shirou responded dryly. The pixie pursed her lips, her shivering stopping as she gave the redhead a mean look.
"Geez, what crawled up your ass and died!?"
The redhead let out a sigh and shook his head. "I don't have time to be talking with you. I need to find a way to get us out of here."
He raised his weapon, ready to strike her down and the pixie recognizing the danger shook her head.
"Wait! Don't kill me! If you let me live, I'll tell you how to get out of here or whatever!"
This made Shirou stop and tilt his head in wonder. "Why would you tell me that? In fact, why should I believe you at all?"
"Uh?" The pixie looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Because then you would kill me? Are you like an idiot or something?"
"Oh…" Shirou lowered his weapons, resisted the urge to scratch his cheek at the confusion he felt and just stood. He looked back at Ann, and the blonde, who had been watching the entire exchange just shrugged her shoulders and gave him an uncertain nod. "I guess…but if you try anything…"
"I know, I know, you'll kill me! I'm not that slow in the uptake like you!" The pixie mock as she made a gesture to follow her. "Now follow m—!"
The wall and all the windows from where Shirou and Ann had crashed through exploded.
Both froze, looking up at the mass of tentacles bursting in and crashing on top of the surprised pixie, utterly destroying her. The redhead took a step back as a large, bubbly mass moved forward, writhing eerily as it began to peel off to reveal the madman and master of the aquatic monstrosities, Gilles de Rais. Behind him more and more of those creatures began to climb through the destroyed wall of the castle.
Gilles glared down at Shirou, pointing a sharp and long nail at him, the madman roar. "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! Give her back! Give my saint back to me!"
"No." Shirou simply responded as he ripped his mask off his face, and letting Mordred appear behind him.
The bug-eyed man shook with fury at the response and frowned. "She isn't yours! Give her back!"
"And she isn't yours either!" Shirou bent his knees slightly, glaring at the monster in human flesh, before giving him a cold smile. "But if you want to keep persisting, how about you try and catch her yourself?"
Shirou mockingly beckoned Gilles to come at him with both blades in hands baiting him and keeping his gaze away for Ann. It worked as the fallen knight shook with barely restrained fury.
"RRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
The inhuman servant's snarling was all the monstrous and bizarre creatures needed as they charged forward, teeth bared with mouths wide opened.
"Okay…" Shirou readied himself. "Trace on! Mordred!"
.
.
.
.
—Interlude—
Thick as Thieves
"Hmm…" Mona hummed as he carefully peaked around a corner to see if there were any more sentries nearby. When he saw nothing, he turned towards Joker, Skull and the newest member of the group, Tiger. "Finally. A hallway where it isn't being littered with all of those guards around."
Skull scratched the back of his head with an annoyed look behind his skull mask. "Urgh, we barely made any progress at all man…it's like these guys totally know that we're here."
Shiho, adjusted her tiger mask and looked at the feline creature. "Is this how it normally goes?"
Mona turned towards him and shook his head. "No, Palaces may become aware of intruders because of how we are basically overstepping on grounds controlled by the Rulers, but our Personas protect us from becoming completely discovered. In order words, the enemy shouldn't know that we're here."
"Then how come we're facing so much opposition?" Joker asked, one hand looking for something in his pockets, he produced an energy drink and waggled it softly. "We're having a tough time sneaking around the guards here, and if we keep fighting, we'll have to start drinking this to get our stamina up. I was hoping to save these for after we hit the halfway mark, not earlier."
Mona crossed his small arms and looked off to the side. "I know, I know. We're not making any progress at all…but I think this has to do with what happened yesterday."
"Ann…" Tiger whispered as she clenched her hands tightly and glared forward, remembering the girl's close call at the hands of Kamoshida.
"Goddamn son of a bitch…" Skull's low growl made everyone look at him as he gritted his teeth. "We'll make him pay!"
Joker nodded and turned towards Mona who watched Tiger and Skull with sympathetic eyes. "Is Kamoshida feeling aggressive? Is that somehow affecting his Palace?"
The feline creature turned towards the appointed leader and shook his head. "No, Kamoshida isn't feeling aggressive…if there's so many guards on look out then that means that he is actually feeling paranoid. He's maybe starting to realize just how bad things could get for him if word gets out that he tried to… sully Lady Ann."
"So now he is growing a conscious!?" Tiger growled, her eyes squarely focused on the floor. "Not when he almost…when he almost…"
She jumped somewhat in surprised and turned towards Joker as he placed a hand on her shoulder. He gave her a smirk. "It doesn't matter how guilty he feels now. We're going to give that bastard proper punishment, steal his distorted desires and make sure he never tries something like this again."
Tiger looked at him for a second, her leader's words reaching deep within her and calming her down. She nodded and gave him a look of determination.
"Hell yeah!" Skull crowded in with a sharp grin. "Let's take this asshole dow—!"
"There are signs of battle occurring on the east side of the castle!"
Mona flinched and turned back towards the corner as the loud footsteps of incoming guards filled the hallway. He turned towards his group. "Hide!"
Moments later ten knights came running past them.
"What in the blazes—!?"
"Lord Kamoshida will be furious! What the hell is happening!?"
"It's the Court Wizard! He is in battle with the intruders!"
"Let's go! Someone go and warn Lord Kamoshida as quickly as possible!"
"For the King!"
All the knights ran through the halls, disappearing though another corner and being none the wiser to the thieves hidden away—right on top of them, holding for dear life on one of the chandeliers.
"Are they gone…?" Tiger asked, Joker looked down.
"Yeah… come on."
With that they let go and fell to the floor, all landing on their knees. Mona looked around in caution. Skull kicked the floor slightly as he scratched the back of his head.
"What the heck was that?"
Tiger turned towards him and frowned. "Court Wizard…? Isn't it that man with the big eyes?"
The feline thief turned towards her and nodded. "Yeah…but to say that he's fighting someone…could it be, that another intruder is in here aside from us?"
Tiger rounded on the cat as Skull recoiled back. "What!? What the hell do you mean other intruders!? Aren't we the only ones?"
"Not so loud you idiot!" Mona chastised the blonde, but he did not seem to care as he shook his head violently and glared down at the creature.
"No way, man! This shit's serious!"
"What if it was Ann?" Tiger asked as her mind began to wander. Everyone looked back at her. "She has the most motivation out everyone to take down Kamoshida… What if she somehow got the app?"
"But she doesn't have the app to get here! We checked! And she would've totally told us if she had it with her during the meeting!" Skull exclaimed ignoring Mona who looked ready to lay on him for his loud voice.
But Joker's words silenced the group.
"But you got the app too after being here Skull. So wouldn't Takamaki get it too?"
"I…" Skull groaned and shook his head. "Shit! Tiger did you get the app too?"
"Huh?" The girl looked at him in surprise, before she reached for one of the pockets in her white coat and pulled out her phone. "I…I guess? I haven't checked my phone at all since yesterday—oh! Yeah, I got the app too! It's the one with the eye with the star in it right?"
The blonde went to peer over her shoulder, he nodded brazenly. "Yeah, yeah, that's the one…but, don't you get that after getting a Persona?"
Joker twirled his dark locks and shook his head, though his dark eyes were distant as he remembered the words that had been uttered to him in his dreams by his wardens in that Velvet Room. "I had it way before even coming to the school… so no."
"Didn't Shirou also have the app way before coming into the Metaverse?"
Mona's question made everyone freeze and turned towards their feline partner.
"Oh shit…"
"We need to go! If Shirou-kun found himself back here again…!" Tiger turned towards a now stern face Joker. "Joker we have to look for him…just in case, please. Even if you can't, let me make sure tha—!"
"No."
Joker simple answer shocked everyone. The only girl in the group narrowed her eyes and took a step forward.
"Listen, if you want to keep going then go! But I'll be making sure that Shirou is okay! Whether you want it or not."
Joker nodded. "I know…but I meant no, as in you won't be going alone. We're all going."
"Oh…" Tiger took a step back and blushed in embarrassment.
"Heh!" Skull punched Tiger's shoulder lightly and gave her a teasing grin. "You were totally ready to take Joker's head off, right?"
"Hrm…"
The dark haired leader smirked at her and turned towards Mona. "You think you can find out where all those guards are going?"
"Nyhehe!" The feline creature grinned mischievously and pumped his chest. "Who you think you're talking to rookie?"
Joker smirked at his response and turned towards the rest of his companions.
"Okay, people, it's time to get this show on the road!"
"Ha! Let's go leader!"
"After you Joker."
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Well hello there! Newest chapter showing off Shirou's new capabilities. This chapter was originally much longer, but I decided to split it into two parts so that it can have a better flow to the story.
Anyways I want to answers some complaints to the stories that I have read in the reviews. They are very good points and fine critiques, but I do find them like some of you are jumping the gun, like what happened when I revealed that Kiritsugu was behind Shirou's situation. Still, I will address them without of course spoiling the story.
Number 1 is concerning Shirou. Some of you pointed out that he is out of character, and I will freely admit that yes, he is. Kaleid Shirou, or Illya's brother, isn't acting like his canon self, that's an impossibility due to the situation he has been put through. I took inspiration from the Heaven's Feel Shirou in handling this Shirou, as he keeps being push more and more towards a corner.
This critiques especially goes towards how his awakening was handle and how Shirou hasn't broken from his 'chains' yet, as he is still a slave towards Illya. What I will say to this is just this-character development. Persona 5's awakenings are incredibly dramatic and incredibly focus at the current problem, but for anyone who has played the game and know about the Confidants routes, all characters who have gone through an awakening still have issues that they must work through and grow from.
The greatest example I can think of for this is Yusuke. His Awakening is all about his fury towards Madarame, a man who thinks the arts have nothing but commercial value and pretentiousness. And yet Yusuke falls into the opposite side of Madarame's own issues and he must work up towards it and understand himself and his own passion.
Shirou will go through character development, don't worry about it. Otherwise I would actually stop writing this story as it would get boring.
Number 2 is about Shirou's Persona. Again, Mordred is the best Persona for him in this story as of now. All of you asking for Angra or Enkidu or any other Mythological Persona, Persona 5's starting Persona's are all fictional rebellious figures. I'm just playing by this rules for now. Shirou will get his Mythological trickster in the future, not now.
Number 3 is the family situation. Like I've said in the past and mentioned to those who have PM me, that is something that will get resolved and confronted in the future. Shirou's issues with his family can be found in the story and can be found more strongly in the chapter with Kiritsugu's confrontation. Whether Irisiviel is out of character or not, remains to be seen until she gets formally introduce into the story. For now we only have Shirou's perspective.
For now I believe this are all the issues I have read more repeatedly about the story. Other issue that I have read is about Shirou's Arcana which will get developed later and Gilles attitude towards Ann which Gille himself explain last chapter when he was talking about the Palaces and how corruptive they are.
Now onto other news concerning my other works, the stories Zero's Golden Sails and Fading Stardust are going to get rewritten. Sails I feel has no direction and I admittedly started it without any direction. I really just wanted to write about Drake.
Stardust itself will get rewritten not for a lack of direction, but more because I grew bore of writing Shirou again and I wanted to spice things up. Since that's a crossover that is more action base compare to Heart's Oath or Golden Sails, I wanted to do something in accordance to this. So I will be written that story with a different cast, hehe.
Anyway's that's what I wanted to let you know for now, if you're interested in those stories then wait patiently for their release!
I hope you enjoy this chapter! Leave your thoughts or even PM me if you have any question.
Until next time.