FATE/LAOCH GAN FINSCEAL
"Hero Without Legend"
Chapter 10: West Persian Empire
Arash initiated the fight that he didn't want to start by raising his bow up high and firing what looked to be one large arrow into the sky. It shone against the blue void, but returned as dozens of smaller needles that rained upon them. It was nowhere near as grand as Atalanta's Phoebus Catastrophe, but it was enough to make the four heroes panic. Leonidas raised his shield to cover himself and Sanson, while Spartacus gladly used his body as a barrier so he could defend Connla. Arash kept firing more needles upon them in a relentless barrage, and it was only a matter of time before the group's defenses wore out.
"Ooooh! More! More! More!" Spartacus shouted happily as hundreds of small thorns turned him into a human pincushion.
"No! You can't last like this!" Connla urged.
Leonidas growled, "Krrrgh! We must retaliate somehow!"
"How!?" Sanson exclaimed. "We'll be pierced to death if we drop our guard!"
Connla stared up at the falling pins in shock, but it made her think about something…
"That's it!" she shouted and took out her slingshot. She placed a bunch of loose rocks into it and energized them with tiny Ansuz runes. They wouldn't be deadly on their own, but once she fired them upon the falling arrows, they exploded in small bursts and scattered Arash's shots everywhere.
"NOW!" Leonidas screamed. He and Sanson rushed at the surprised archer, and they attacked him side-by-side with a furious display of spear thrusts and sword slashes. Once he had sustained enough damage from them, they stepped aside and let Spartacus deliver the final blow.
"NGUOOOHH!" the gladiator yelled as loudly as he could.
Arash choked up moments before the gladiator pummeled his elbow right against the pit of his stomach, folding him like a jackknife before throwing him across the dirt in a violent tumble. He laid motionless for a short while, and the other four were unsure if they managed to break Xerxes' hold over the bowman.
Xerxes and Agrippina observed the battle in silence. Both of them appeared enraged and disappointed in Arash's complete failure, along with frustration that the four heroes did not kill him to ensure he wouldn't spill their secrets. Xerxes appeared especially agitated as he thrashed about in his bed, coughing up blood from Agrippina's poison.
"That bastard…! He… He betrayed me…!" the king lashed out. She tried to keep him down, but he shoved her away.
"Why are you so upset over one man?" she asked calmly, brushing off her dress of dust.
"The eclipse…"
"Huh?"
"It is the eclipse that forebodes doom! One by one, as people betray me or die, my dream of a new Persian empire crumbles bit by bit… Will my kingdom never hope to rise again? Is it divine providence that I will forever be denied my rightful sovereignty!? Ahh, Artabanus, you scum! You were the one who began my glorious kingdom's decline into obscurity! You are the eclipse that forebode my doom!"
Xerxes continued babbling nonsensically. Agrippina did nothing to sate the man's rabid bantering. In fact, she actually expected it. It was the first sign that her poisons were wearing away not only his body, but also his sanity. It was a special toxin that eroded the victim's mind and made them easier to control. It was akin to the Madness Enhancement that defined the Berserker class, although Xerxes had not lost his status as a Rider. Since Agrippina had no intention of giving Xerxes any sort of antidote, his conquest was essentially over before it even began.
"Perhaps you should get some rest," she cooed and laid him back down. "I will take care of everything."
She let him get some sleep, then left in a good mood.
This is getting quite exciting. With him finally becoming a puppet in the truest sense, I can start building the foundation for my own version of Rome that will surpass Nero's. What should I call it? West Rome? Modern Rome? Roma America? … Yes, I like that. It has a subtle yet antiquated charm to it.
"Ungh," Arash groaned in total agony. He felt like he was going to throw up his innards if he moved around too much. After taking in some deep breaths, he examined his hands to see if he still had control over them. He flexed his fingers by his own accord, which brought him tremendous relief. Sanson proceeded to heal him, while Connla kneeled next to him and worriedly asked, "Are you okay?"
"Yes… I think so…" the archer moaned.
"We almost took it a bit too far there," Leonidas said. "I apologize for any unnecessary wounds you may have sustained."
"No, it's all right. You did what you could to stop me. I could use some rest however."
"Then let us take this time to reconnoiter. Could you both tell us what has been happening in this area? We three have only just left that town of opulence and do not truly know where we are to head next. We do not even know who our enemy is or what their objectives are – we have only been following weak leads, at best."
Sanson murmured, "I was on my way to intercept the Servants who were summoned in Las Vegas. If you are the ones my boss spoke about, then there is no need for me to go further."
"Your boss?"
"Yes, he is Wyatt Earp, an Archer-class Servant who gathered all of the stray Servants summoned in this land and protected Carson City from the West Persian Empire's forces."
"West Persian Empire!?" the Spartan was astonished to hear the name of the kingdom he once opposed. "Who in their right mind would attempt to conquer this land in the name of the Persians!?"
"He is someone you know quite well," the executioner said with a cool, even tone. "None other than the fourth king of the Archaemenid dynasty of ancient Persia."
Leonidas' eyes shot wide open and he visibly grit his teeth beneath his helmet. "It can't be…!"
Arash nodded grimly. "Our enemy is Xerxes I, who seeks to turn this country into a Persia of the western continents. He's been summoned as a Rider, and has taken control of this state's foremost research facility – Area 51, a location that the government has kept tight security over for decades."
"That domineering cur! Does his lust for power not even know the bounds of death!?"
"It would seem not," Sanson said. "We rebels under Earp's command are resisting his forces in the northwestern front, but there was no way we could reach Las Vegas in time to prevent the massacring of those citizens. We had thought that other Servants would be summoned to protect them, but…"
"I'm sorry," Connla apologized. "When I showed up, everyone was already dead."
"No, it's not your fault. There is nothing we can do for that city anymore. All we can do is coordinate a two-front assault on Area 51 and retake the base from the enemy. That's why Earp sent me here; my Presence Concealment allowed me to sneak past the enemies and travel in the hopes of rendezvousing with you three. Gaining Arash's assistance was not part of the plan, but if he insists on leaving Xerxes, then we could use whatever knowledge he has about the enemy forces."
"Believe me, I will have nothing further to do with that man," Arash glowered. "I will gladly tell you as much as I can, although I was little more than a Servant under his general's command and thus wasn't privy to hearing everything."
"You should at least know who the commanders are."
"Somewhat. Of course, we already know about Xerxes being the ruler of their forces, but he has three subordinates who answer to him – an Archer, a Caster, and a Berserker. I honestly do not know much about the Archer, other than he is dubbed the Napoleon of the Criminal World, and that he serves as Xerxes' strategist."
"He already sounds like a sinister fellow," Leonidas murmured. "No doubt a single-minded fool like Xerxes would call upon the intellect of the underworld to compensate for his blatant lack of foresight."
"Yes. The idea of taking over Area 51 was Archer's, after all. He must have had connections with people in this country to allow for a swift takeover, defeating even the army by utilizing the captured aliens they had been genetically replicating. I would imagine that some degree of betrayal was involved as well."
"I may not know his identity, but one who proclaims to be the bane of society must meet his end in a proper fashion," Sanson suddenly declared, gripping his curved blade tightly. His crystal blue eyes seemed to get chillier as he thought about doing his duty as an executioner. "For this, I will personally see to it that he is subjected to the full punishment of the guillotine."
"I see. How about the Caster?" Leonidas asked.
Arash shook his head and answered, "I wasn't able to ascertain her identity either."
Sanson interjected, "Earp managed to find out who Caster is through our mole. She is none other than Agrippina the Younger, mother of Emperor Nero and younger sister of Caligula."
"Ohhh, a Roman oppressor!" Spartacus exclaimed with glee. "Nothing brings me pleasure as to see those autocratic elitists fall off the thrones they sit upon through the sacrifices of the many!"
"I figured you would be ecstatic to hear her identity. She was born about 100 years after you died in your uprising, but the Romans' penchant for backstabbing and treachery was as strong as ever. She was even responsible for poisoning Nero so she could seize control of the throne behind the scenes, but Nero turned around and had Agrippina executed."
"One tyrant versus another, hm? Well, they're all the same to me. You can bet that once I meet this failed oppressor, I will subject her to the full might of my rebellion!"
"Then we'll leave her to you."
Leonidas then asked Arash, "So, how about the Berserker? Don't tell me you have no idea who that Servant is."
The archer grinned. "No, I know his identity. But of all of them, I think he is the most dangerous for his unpredictability."
"That should go without saying, given what class he's been summoned under."
"No, that's not it. He may be under the effects of Madness Enhancement, but his mind is as clear as ours. He has not given in to true insanity, but I feel as though his objectives are not the same as Xerxes'."
"So who is he and what does he want?"
"I don't know what he's after, but he is definitely Ireland's Child of Light, Cuchulainn."
Behind the men, Connla's face went deathly pale when she heard that name. Her throat went dry and she had to swallow a few times to keep herself from coughing. Her sudden change in attitude went unnoticed as Leonidas wondered, "Cuchulainn? What in the world is a man of Celtic mythology doing getting mixed into this?"
"I have no idea," Arash shook his head. "Maybe he was drawn to the prospect of battle, since he is well-known for loving a good fight. Or perhaps there is a rival among us opposing Servants that he seeks to face."
By the gods, Connla fretted, clasping her hands over her chest. If Father finds out I'm here…
"There weren't any Celtic Servants with Earp though," Sanson murmured. "Well regardless of his reasons, it's clear that he's the one coordinating the direct attacks. Earp contacted me shortly before I got involved in that battle, and he said that some alien forces were on their way to intercept his group. Based on the numbers and strategies they are utilizing, he believes that Cuchulainn is among their ranks, and is expecting casualties at the end of this battle."
Connla quietly sighed in relief and thought, So he's nowhere near us at the moment. It'd be nice if this other group that Sanson is talking about would defeat him, but…
Deep in her heart, she knew she shouldn't get her hopes up. Cuchulainn wasn't given the colloquial nickname 'Irish Heracles' for nothing. Since he was a Berserker, she feared his strength and survivability would be even greater than as a Lancer.
So, he really is here, and he's with the enemy…
Her anxiety immediately changed into confusion.
But as a Berserker? Why not as a Lancer? That would be the most suitable class for him. Is there something wrong with his mind?
As Connla was lost in her thoughts, Leonidas wondered, "Do you think he will be able to cope with such aggression on his own?"
"I'm not sure," Sanson frowned. "I've been trying to reach Earp for the last while, but he hasn't been responding."
"Sounds like we should be doing less talking and more running to aid in this fight!" Spartacus exclaimed.
"No, we shouldn't. Earp told me that I should focus on bringing together any Servants I could and having us work together to attack Area 51 from the southeast while they concentrated on the northwest front. Us five may not be much, but that means we can maneuver around the enemies a lot faster than Earp's big group. At least, that's what he said."
"His calculations are most impressive," Leonidas said. "Such a splendid mission we have been given! While the general is away, let us hurry to the enemy base and lay waste to Xerxes and his cronies!"
Arash warned them, "Expect heavy resistance. Xerxes knows where we are, so he can send reinforcements to try and drive us back."
Sanson asked, "His supply of bred aliens shouldn't be limitless, right? He has to be running low on forces to dispose upon us."
"I honestly don't know, but from what I overheard Archer saying, the American government's research into the captured aliens had been going on for at least 40 or so years."
"Hmm…"
"Hey, come on already!" Spartacus was getting impatient with everyone standing around and talking. "We have a destination and an enemy to defeat there! Such trifles should be meaningless when all we need to do is destroy the oppressors!"
Without waiting for the others, he gleefully barged ahead. Leonidas let out a gruff grunt of consternation, but followed nonetheless. Arash was next in the line, followed by Sanson and Connla in the rear. As they hurried northward, the executioner couldn't help but notice the young girl's apprehensive expression. Now that he thought about it, he still didn't know who she was.
"Say," he murmured to her, "I know this is a little late, but-"
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you who I am," was the blunt response.
He was surprised that she figured out what he was going to say. He wondered, "Why not?"
She quickly told him about the three curses she bore and the conditions she had to uphold. This made him even more curious as he asked, "The geas are from Celtic folklore, right? That must mean you're from the same mythology as Cuchulainn."
"…"
"Do you know him, by any chance?"
"N-No…" She was too scared to tell him the truth.
"Then why do you appear so upset?"
"Because… Well, it's Cuchulainn we're talking about, right? The greatest Celtic hero ever? He's probably one of the most recognized figures in the world. If I tried to fight him, I wouldn't stand a chance."
Sanson understood her point, but at the same time, he had a gut feeling that she wasn't telling him everything. He wasn't sure if it was the geas' fault or she was just withholding information out of fear. Either way, he was suspicious of Connla's behavior, not so much because she was being dishonest, but of how frightened she looked. He didn't bombard her with any more questions for now, but felt he should keep an eye on her.
The chaos in Luning died down into silence. Numerous corpses littered the abandoned hamlet, practically turning it into a desert cemetery. The only one still standing was Cuchulainn, who pulled out a knife jabbed into his arm that he had just noticed now. He noticed some movement nearby from one of the enemy Servants, so he walked over and coldly stabbed Gae Bolg through their chest. After killing hundreds of people and monsters for so long, the grim deed just became a tiresome drudgery for him. With Earp's gathering of Servants completely decimated, there was no need for him to stay here anymore.
Just as Cuchulainn was about to go back to Area 51, his transmitter beeped, and he responded, "It's me."
"Sorry to have to say this after your splendid victory, but I've got some bad news," Agrippina said. She explained all about the Amargosa Valley battle to him, along with Sanson showing up unexpectedly and losing Arash's allegiance. She added, "They may not have the numbers that Earp did, but their power is certainly on our level."
"What's this? You're complimenting the enemy's strength? Never thought I'd live to see the day."
"Shut up. As I was saying, that brings their total numbers to five – Leonidas, Spartacus, Sanson, Arash, and the girl."
"Oh? You still haven't figured out who the child Lancer is?" he smirked, pleased at Agrippina's failure to figure out what he already knew.
"I still cannot discern who she is, even after analyzing all of the footage I have of her battles. It's getting to be quite frustrating."
"Has she not used her Noble Phantasm yet?"
"I don't know if a nameless waif like her even has one to begin with."
"Then what are you complaining about? A Heroic Spirit with no Noble Phantasm should be easy for us to dispose of, right?"
"She's still a nuisance, no matter what. Since you're already out on the field, go and intercept that second group before they can attack this place. I'll send you some aliens from here as backup."
This was an order that Cuchulainn had no problem obeying. He grinned, "Roger," and disconnected his transmitter. He stood tall over the former battleground, littered with bodies and discarded weapons, as he faced toward where Agrippina told him the other Servants were.
Connla doesn't have a Noble Phantasm, hm? No doubt, her Identity Concealment is barring her from having a Noble Phantasm when it fundamentally exposes a Servant's origins. That could be a problem.
He let out a disconcerting sigh.
She can't be the 'hero' of this story if she cannot function as a proper Heroic Spirit. I guess it's time for me to do my part as the 'villain' and draw it out of her.
He hunched down on all fours like a beast, then sprinted in a mad dash eastward. His craving for fighting Connla after so many years apart gave him an unnatural boost of energy.
Let's see how much you have grown throughout this adventure… So that I can push those limits further.