Chapter 13: Giant's Fall Part I

We took a cat nap at the hotel after leaving the school. I wanted to be well rested for the upcoming battle and Lancer didn't mind. I put on a hooded black leather jacket over my ensemble, thinking it would be cold. I also changed into the steel toed boots, figuring this would be a good night to break them in. The last thing I did was eat five granola bars and Lancer laughed at me. I told him I went for convenience instead of substance. It was an argument Waver and I always had.

I hadn't called Waver yet but thought it would be a good time. It was 6 o'clock here which meant it was mid-morning in London. We were about the head out the door and I grabbed my phone which began to ring almost instantly.

"Hey, just about to call yah." I said and sat down on the bed.

"Sorry, I know your probably about to go out." He got it right, but I still had a few minutes to chat.

"Rough lecture?" I asked. Waver hated his mornings, mostly because students wouldn't go to class. Even when I told him that wasn't his problem, it still bothered him that they would pay to attend and not show up. Considering he gave all he had to learn mage craft it was rather insulting.

"It's been a day already, but I wanted to make sure you were okay." Waver said, he was sincere.

"We're fine. Lancer took out Rider yesterday and we formed a temporary alliance to take down Berserker." I replied. Lancer sat on the other bed, assuming this talk would be longer than anticipated.

"Who is Berserker?" He asked.

"Oh, everyone's favorite Greek demigod." I heard a sound on the other end, almost like he spat out his coffee.

"Hercules?!" He screamed. "Are you mad?" I had to calm him down.

I sighed. "Hey I said we have help. Saber and Archer's Masters agreed to assist us."

"Are they at least experienced?" I had to be honest. That was a flaw of mine.

"The girl, Rin, is the mage I told you about. Saber's master has circuits too, but he's still a novice." I said.

Waver sighed. "Hazel."

"I'm not crazy to take him with just my servant, considering we have to kill him multiple times." I replied.

"No, you're just going up against a demigod with teenagers." He said in a frustrated tone.

"His power levels are very strong, so taking Berserker now with some help is better than fighting him last." I had a plan but Waver needed to see it so he wouldn't worry.

"You probably want to see how the others hold up to him too, right?" I hadn't thought of that but it was a good point so I played along.

"Exactly." I said. "Rin can pack a punch. Shirou may have no clue, but he has Saber which makes him necessary." I paused. "Waver, you know I can handle myself. And Lancer is more than capable of fighting." He sighed, still concerned but he was hours away, there was nothing he could do.

"Make sure you prepare." He said.

"I'll stock up on mana from the powerlines." I said. "I'm actually looking forward to this. It's nice being on the battlefield again." It was true. I was enjoying the adrenaline, mostly because I knew I could fight.

Waver sighed. "I know but I…"

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing, just be safe okay?" Waver said.

"I never am. But I'll stay alive for yah, that's a promise." I had to reassure him.

He chuckled, I'm sure he wore a nervous smile. "Good, I will call tomorrow."

"Don't worry about it, I'll get ahold of you." I hung up, turned off the phone, and flipped it shut.

"Everything sound?" Lancer asked.

"Yes. He gets worried when I don't call." I stood up and zipped my jacket closed. I tucked the locket inside my grey shirt. I didn't want it to get caught on anything during the fight.

"So, onto battle?" Lancer wanted to get going and so did I.

"We have nothing else to do." I said and we left the hotel.

After I drained two transformers, my mana was fully charged. We were the first ones in the forest and I began to set up sensors around the area so I could track when Illya left her home. We waited at a halfway point between her mansion and the city. There was an open area so if we did get surprised we had somewhere to fight. After laying down the sensors, I sat on the ground and propped my back against a tree, putting up my hood. Lancer stood and we enjoyed the silence for a while.

Lancer pointed out that I never made a plan with Rin and Shirou, and he was right. I was certain I was correct about Berserker's phantasm, so we would just divide out the number of times to kill him. I liked strategy, but I was better at seeing one in the moment rather than making a plan and having it fall through.

"How long have you been here?" It was Rin with Archer standing behind her.

"A while." I said and got up. I examined her outfit which surprised me. She had a red turtle neck with long black stockings and a short black skirt. Much too short for my taste.

"Are you going to flash Berserker to death?" I asked and she went red pulling her skirt down. I thought being an experienced mage she would wear something more comfortable.

"No." She said. "What's with that outfit, robbing a bank later?" I laughed, it was fun to see her get worked up.

"My you get rattled easily. It was a joke." I said as I put my hood down. "Is Shirou going to be late again?"

"I'm here, Hazel." It was Shirou with Saber at his side. Now that I had a closer look I could admire her armor. It was unfortunate that she kept Excalibur concealed. It was probably as magnificent as the scabbard. I thought this was a chance to apologize.

"Saber. Sorry for hiding in the shadows like a coward the other night. I wanted to see how Lancer did on his own." I said and she nodded.

"At least you stand by his side now." She said, her tone still authoritative. "Is there a strategy in place?" She asked and the others looked at me.

I sighed. "Illya will be out any minute I'm sure. He's a big target so we have to hit him where it counts. But I thought we could…"

"Get down!" Archer yelled and I saw Berserker come from behind. I put up a shield to block the blow of his club. He cracked the surface of my shield but then stepped back. Illya was resting on his shoulder, now in a in a white skirt, purple shirt and boots. But I was surprised that I didn't trace her presence.

"Seriously, I set up sensors all around the area. You broke through those?" I said, repairing my shield.

"I know this forest like my home. I knew what to avoid." So she simply maneuvered around the sensors. It didn't matter now, it was show time. There was a pause as Berserker set her down. She curtsied like before, almost like she was introducing us to a party.

"What a gathering. I wasn't expecting guests. But, I'm glad you all chose to die tonight." She laughed. "Go Berserker." She wasn't patient this time, she wanted to end this.

"I'll get him. Keep up your shield." Archer said and charged forward with his two blades.

"Lancer follow him." I said and he went. I saw Saber jump from the corner of my eye.

"Saber wait." Shirou shouted but I used my other hand to push him back. The servants could fight Berserker for now.

Out of the three Saber went head first into the battle. Lancer and Archer waded back. It appeared they were taking turns. Hitting Berserker in multiple spots so he couldn't heal. It was smart but would only be a matter of time before they wore out.

"They have to hit him all at the same time." Rin said.

I shook my head. "That won't work." If they wasted all of their resources on one attack then we had no chance of winning this.

"He only needs to be killed once." Rin replied and ran out of the shield.

"No Rin get back here." I said.

"Don't tell what to do. I can handle myself." She replied. If she was going to be headstrong, then I had to let her see what happens when you don't listen.

"Fine, guess she wants to play leader." I muttered.

"Yeah." Shirou agreed. She threw some gems at Berserker's face and they exploded. He began to scratch his throat and his eyes went dark. The jewels must have contained some kind of gas. He fell in front of her, with his left arm reaching out. I let down my shield and stepped forward. This wasn't going to be good.

"Lancer wait." I said and he looked at me. Berserker revived himself, but before she could escaped, he grabbed Rin in his left hand and stood up.

"Nice trick. But you still have eight more to go." Illya said, emerging from the trees.

"Eight?" Rin asked, this is why I wanted her to wait.

"That's his noble phantasm, right Illya?" I announced. "Twelve labors gave him twelve lives. It doesn't matter how hard we hit him. Just the number of times." Illya only smiled. Rin however was upset.

"You couldn't tell me that?!" She said as she tried to break free. I stepped forward to be next to the other servants.

"Now she listens." I said. It was my turn to join the fun. "Archer, get your Master. Lancer draw Berserker back, this next hit is mine." I commanded and Lancer nodded. Archer looked reluctant, but he didn't have a choice.

I went up into the trees so I could attack from above. Archer got Rin out of Berserker's grip by stabbing his wrist to release her. Lancer began to run him back and I followed. I stayed hidden until I could see an opening for a shot.

"Anytime Hazel." Lancer said in my head. It was time to act.

"Got you." I jumped and Berserker saw me. Lancer got out of the way and I turned myself into a human saw blade. Once I hit his skin, I made my yellow blades bigger mid blow to slice him in half. I landed and saw that he had a giant slash all the way from his shoulder to his hip. He was killed once more.

"Nice shot." Lancer said. The others had joined us. We only had a few seconds before he regenerated again.

"We still have to kill him seven more times." I said, taking charge of the situation. "I say we split. Lancer and I will have one more attack. Rin and Archer can do two. Then we switch it up." I turned to Saber's Master. "Shirou. Focus on conserving your mana, I have a feeling Saber's phantasm will be enough for the final blow, but she'll need every bit of mana to help." I was quick about it, but there was no time. I put faith into the fact that Excalibur could kill him twice over. If not, we would make another plan.

"Fine, go." Rin said. She wasn't happy that I took charge, but I had been in situations like this before.

"Sometimes it helps being an old lady." I looked at her and she huffed. Berserker roared, it was time to attack.

"Lancer ready your phantasm. I'll cut his chest so you can get to his heart." I said. The others stood back and Berserker came for me. I put up a shield and he broke through it. I then made two beams into clubs like his. I could only hold it for a short time but with his speed I had to cover as much area as possible to avoid being hit. I saw the ground change color. Lancer was in the air, his weapon glowing bright to make the forest glow blood red.

"Ready when you are." Lancer said. I got behind Berserker and made small knives to climb his back. He tried to shake me off but I held on. Once I reached the top of Berserker's right shoulder I shouted.

"Now!" I made a spade with my right hand and began to cut the skin like before.

"Gae Bolg!" Lancer shouted, I was still breaking through his skin. But I trusted Lancer wouldn't hit me since he already focused on his target. I passed his heart and a second later the Gae Bolg struck. I was flung back from the force of the impact. I landed on my feet near the others as we watched the demonic spear turn his heart black. He stood frozen in death. I was impressed by the power Lancer possessed. The lance returned to his hand and he smiled as did I.

I turned to Rin. "Your turn." She looked confident to show us up.

"Archer don't hold back." She said.

"Yes Master." Archer replied and they went forward. Rin stayed behind to provide rear support. I thought that Illya would be close by and I looked for her, trying to sense her presence. Lancer stayed by my side and Saber and Shirou stood watching too. I knew the King of Knights wanted to fight, but she was our trump card.

"Illya is keeping her distance so Berserker can fight freely." I noticed something in that moment. The wound from the Gae Bolg had spread. Though he was still alive, his speed had decreased from before so he was easier to hit. "He's slower. With that wound to his heart he doesn't want to strain himself."

We continued to watch and I was impressed by Rin's tack. She managed to freeze his arms with some jewels and Archer struck his chest killing him once more. He revived again and broke through the ice. Archer pulled out his bow and fired a few arrows which Berserker deflected with his club. He went back to his duel blades and slid underneath Berserker, cutting his thighs. He then dug the blades into his back and again he fell. Archer flipped into the air and put both blades into his chest, leaving four more times to kill him.

"That's two." Lancer said. I figured Rin needed time to see what was left in her arsenal. We had our time to rest.

I turned to Lancer. "Now we trade, you and Rin come up with a plan." I began to run towards Berserker, charging my blades.

"What are you doing?" Rin asked.

"Buying you time to strategize. Lancer will help you." I kept going as she stood still. Berserker rose from the dead once more. He swung his club and I went to defend myself, but Archer jumped in front of me and blocked the blow with his blades.

"I don't need your help." He asserted. But in that moment Berserker swung again and I put up a small shield. I didn't have time to argue.

"Do you have an arrow that can do major damage?" I asked and he grinned, I assumed that was a yes. "I'll station him."

I held my shield and Archer set up his position. Now that Berserker was slower I didn't need to use as much mana to make bigger weapons. I created yellow beams and formed them into hooks, launching them into both of Berserker's shoulders. I made strings to hold them but had to increase my mana flow. He was still strong, and I stood behind him, keeping him as still as possible.

Archer's arrow was hidden from my view, but I saw a blue glow from the other side. It erupted and I saw that he fired a barrage of arrows. Most of them hit Berserker, but one hit my face. My left check began to bleed and the arrow exploded behind me along with the others in Berserker's chest. I made a shield and the fires circled around me. They faded to ash, but that stray arrow seemed intentional, like Archer wanted to take down two targets at once. I walked towards him.

"I'm not your enemy Archer." I said.

He chuckled. "Then don't be in the way." He was snide about it. He didn't like being helped. We had one more attack before Saber used her phantasm. It looked like Lancer and Rin had devised a plan and they went to attack, Berserker knew he was running out of time, and he was angry. All of the wounds we inflicted on him had become scars. His body glowed red. He had three lives left, so he had to fight to survive. We were doing well sustaining our mana, but I was close to needing to use my actual source instead of what was supplied by the electricity. Other than that, the plan was running smoother than expected.

"Shirou no!" Saber shouted. Shirou had made some fake blades and was running toward Berserker.

"I'm done sitting around." He said and charged, not seeing Berserker's club was going to hit him. Shirou was too focused on his enemy's face that he forgot about the giant weapon.

"Damn boy." Lancer said and pushed Shirou back, jumping in front of Berserker's club.

"Lancer!" I shouted, but it was too late.