Archer faces off against the thus far invincible Berserker. Who comes out on top?

Meanwhile Rin, Shirou and Saber run through the forest to escape.

Drawstrings and Wood

Archer materialized Draupadi and fitted an arrow into the string.

"Hey Berserker, do you know what happens when you use a drawstring too much?"

Berserker howled.

"That's right. It breaks."

Archer fired an arrow at Berserker's right shoulder. Berserker ignored it and lumbered forward. He was sure that he could kill the servant with one blow from his sword.

Archer fired arrows in rapid succession at Berserker. Two were aimed at the neck and three went for Bereserker's eye while another four hit his right shoulder. Just as Berserker reached Archer, Archer dashed around him. He ran up the steps in the middle of the hall. As Berserker turned around he felt about ten arrows hit him. two at the heart and five at the left shoulder while the last three were aimed at his right shoulder.

"You seem to be off your mark, Archer, and you won't hurt Berserker that way."

Archer fired another volley of arrows. This time Berserker ran. He moved with such speed and ferocity that Archer didn't have time to move from his spot as he fired an arrow at Berserker. Berserker let the arrow strike his right hand. He swung his sword horizontally at Archer. Archer jumped to avoid the blow and rode the sword at Berserker's follow through. All the while, he kept firing arrows at Berserker. Finally, as the sword came to a stop, one of Archer's arrows pierced Berserker's right shoulder.

"I told you that things that are stressed the most break easiest."

"Archer."

Archer moved to one of the second floor paths that surrounded the hallway, balconies, as it were. He looked at Ilyasviel.

"Do you really think that even if you did that again and again, you could kill Berserker? Although I must say that you're impressive. You hit the exact same spot a lot of times."

"Archers must have good eyesight, right? And besides, I must be the most accurate archer in history."

"You didn't get to go to heaven because of that attitude, right Arjuna?"

"Oh great. You know who I am then."

"Kill him Berserker."

Archer jumped aside as Berserker leaped from the floor onto the landing. The wound was still there but it didn't seem to bother Berserker. Archer fired several arrows again. This time, Berserker's abdomen was pierced. Berserker rushed at him and swung his sword. Archer jumped off the railings and intended to land on the ground but Berserker quickly jumped as well. Archer barely had time to block his body with his hands as Berserker swung his shield. Archer flew across the hall and ended up on the other side. He quickly stood up and gritted his teeth. He fired twenty-two arrows at Berserker and soon, Berserker's heart and neck were wounded.

"You should drop dead any second, you monster."

Berserker plucked an arrow out of his neck and looked at it for a moment.

"It's an arrow, Berserker, just kill him already!"

Ilyasviel was getting impatient. Berserker ran forward. Archer was befuddled.

"Just who are you?"

Rin and Shirou dashed through the trees. Saber kept his ears open in case anyone could hear them.

"Let's turn here."

"Why here?"

As they followed Rin, they came to a small ruin. Rin entered the small house and headed for the second floor. She was evidently panting. Shirou barely made it and was breathing so heavily one could hear him outside.

"We can rest here."

"What?"

"You're in no shape to be running anymore."

"I'm fine."

"Don't lie to me. You've been in bad shape since we left the castle. Let me check. Could you remove your shirt?"

"What? Why?"

Shirou blushed. Saber began to go downstairs.

"Lady Rin, I shall stand watch."

"Good idea."

"Lord Shirou, shall I?"

Shirou's eyes darted from Tohsaka to Saber. He sighed.

"Okay."

Saber left. Rin looked at Shirou with her arms crossed.

"What are you waiting for? Turn around and take off your shirt."

Shirou did as he was told. Soone he felt a shudder run through him as Rin placed her hand on his back.

"Hm? Are you cold, Shirou?"

"N-no! Just... what are you doing?"

"I'm checking your circuits and magical energy. I see. It seems that some of Ilya's energy is still in you. Let me fix that. Just relax."

Shirou took a deep breath and Rin cleared his body of Ilya's energy. Shirou felt hot and sensitive but Rin assured him that it was temporary.

"Now get some rest, we'll leave in four hours. Archer will meet us here later."

"That reminds me. What time is it?"

"It should be ten in the evening by now."

"I was asleep for that long?"

"I guess so. Now go to that bed and sleep."

"What about you?"

"I'll be fine on the couch."

"No. I'll sleep in the couch. You should take the bed, Rin."

"Shut up and sleep already!"

"Not until you take the bed."

"If I take the bed, you promise you'll sleep?"

"Yeah. Sure."

"Fine."

Rin lay down on the bed with her back to Shirou. Her red top and black skirt showed up clearly on the white sheets and moonlight. Shirou felt his temperature rising so he lay on the couch and closed his eyes.

"So you can fight even with holes in your heart, lungs, arms, feet, hea-"

Archer stared at Berserker's abdomen and shoulder. His eyes wandered over his entire body.

"What happened to your wounds?"

Berserker rushed forward with a howl. Archer jumped aside and took another jump back to keep some distance between him and Berserker. He fired an arrow. It stuck in Berserker's eye. Berserker howled and attacked Archer. Archer jumped high and landed on the railings on the second floor.

"Whatever. No matter what enchantment you have, it can't possibly stand against the might of Gandiva."

Gandiva appeared in his hands. He jumped back as Berserker tried to grab him. He fitted an arrow into the bow and waited for Berserker to climbe up. Berserker used his strength to propel him high into the air. Quickly, Archer aimed Gandiva at Berserker.

"Good-bye. Gandiva!"

He fired the arrow. Ilyasviel shut her eyes as the light expanded and turned everything white. The thundering sound of the arrow echoed over and over. Ilyasviel's scream could not be heard.

"Berserker!"

As the light faded, Ilyasviel ventured a glance at Berserker. Archer stood in silence as a figure only slightly taller than he could be seen.

"No way. What in the name of Brahma are you? Only the power of multiple gods can stop Gandiva's arrow."

Archer moved to the side slowly.

"Multiple gods... Only one Greek hero was ever blessed with such invincibility."

Berserker's arms were covered in blood and his abdomen had a large hole in it. He smelled of burnt flesh and yet he was still standing. his helmet had flown off in Gandiva's vacuum and his flaming red hair matched the sight of his body. He seemed dead on his feet yet his black irises shone with life and his grey pupils wxpanded to grow accustomed to the light.

"Red hair? Who knew that Achilles had red hair?"

"You're alive, Berserker!"

"That's right. The River Styx. The River was full of the power that came from every oath that every Greek god ever made. Achilles... I can't believe it. Ilyasviel!"

"What, Archer? Are you going to beg for your forgiveness?"

"Not really. I wanted to ask how Achilles came to have red hair."

"Whenever he became angry, that happened. Probably because of the power of the River."

"Okay. But if he's Achilles-"

Archer was swiped away by Achilles' arm. He flew off but was able to land safely on the first floor.

"This time, I won't miss. And you'll regret it."

Archer panted. He was taking a big gamble and yet he knew that he had to. He untied his cloth and gave it a few shakes. Berserker howled.

"Toro. Toro. Hmmm. I am saying it right, aren't I, Ilyasviel?"

Ilyasviel shouted her next command with great glee.

"ELIMINATE HIM!"

Berserker immediately jumped from the second floor.

"Perfect."

Archer jumped to meet Berserker in the air and threw the cloth up. As the cloth covered their faces, Archer activated his Noble Phantasm.

"SpṛadhYathārthatā!"

The cloth expanded and engulfed the two servants. Berserker found himself tied up by chains and hanging from a ceiling. Archer picked up a bow nearby. The bow was made of a very heavy wood and the drawstring was of metal.

"Nice wood. I like how wood is useful in archery. If you don't have the right wood for your bow, you just won't be the best you can be."

He fitted an arrow into the bow and looked down at the floor. He located the reflection of Berserker and aimed his bow up to the corresponding point.

"If the legends are right, your weakness is your..."

He fired. Berserker who was hanging by his hands, was defenseless. His heel was the only thing that could potentially be his downfall.

"... heel. Right, Berserker?"

The arrow struck Berserker's heel. Immediately, Berserker fell to the floor and the Phantasm was over. Berserker grabbed his shield. Archer fitted another arrow to Draupadi.

"I guess I'm dying anyway. Draupadi!"

As the fireballs surged towards Berserker, Archer smiled. Berserker protected himself with his shield and kept his sword-hand raised. The shield glowed with a bright light reminiscent of a strong magic. The Noble Phantasm stopped at the shield. A the same moment, arrows came flying out, and were aimed at Archer.

"Impossible."

Berserker brought his sword down.

Shirou awoke suddenly. His dream of the swords was interrupted yet again. He glanced at Rin. She was holding her right hand.

"Rin! What's wrong?"

"He really believed in his skill until the end."

Shirou watched as Rin stood up. Her hand no longer bore the command seals.

"Archer."

"We have to go, Shirou. Ilyasviel should be chasing after us and we don't know this place as well as she does."

They ran outside and headed for the edge of the forest.

"Let's go after them Berserker. Come on! I'll hurt you to an inch of your life if you don't get moving! We can finish them even without your Skin of the Styx anyway!"

Ilyasviel urged her servant on with threats and angry words. Berserker stood up and carried Ilyasviel. He ran with a speed that few could match.

After a few hours, evidence of the sun's rising appeared all over the forest. Shirou and Rin stopped. They breathed deeply.

"We can't get out in time. We'll have to face them."

Shirou stood in silence for a while.

"There are three that maybe you could do. You already know Reinforcement but there are two others that follow it. Alteration and Projection"

"You mean changing form and creating something out of nothing?"

"Good. So you know. Now try changing the shape of this spoon."

Shirou picked up a branch. He visualized the bow in the archery dojo. Soon he had a similar looking one in his hands.

"Alteration? What for?"

"Maybe Archer weakened him enough to kill him off with your gems. Saber and I can at least keep him busy."

"Hmm. Yes. Ilyasviel put a bounded field around this forest. If I'm not seen she might think I'm still running."

"Then you can plant a surprise attack on Berserker."

"What if I can't do it?"

"I know you can."

"No. I mean what if Murphy's Law applies again. Will you kill Ilyasviel?"

"I..."

"Nevermind."

Shirou, Saber and Rin took their places. It wasn't long before Ilyasviel showed up in Berserker's arms. Berserker let her down softly.

"Rin's not here? She hasn't left the forest yet. I guess I'll kill her later."

"Ilya stop this."

"Or what Oniichan?"

"I'll have to defeat you."

"Sorry but that's not going to happen. Berserker, kill them."

Saber drew his swords.

"Stand back, Lord Shirou."

Shirou readied his bow and the makeshift arrows he made. Saber was able to keep Berserker busy while he jumped around without attacking. He blockd every wild swing Berserker took at him. He moved aside as Berserker slashed at him and used his katana to push the attack away. He drew Berserker under the tree that Rin was. He suddenly jumped back and Rin came out of her hiding place. She threw five gems at him.

"Feunf Minuten! Er heisst tot!"

Black energy came from the gems and as Berserker raised his shield, they sped up. A light came from the shield again and the gems were stopped.

"It can't be."

Rin tried again and aimed the attack at Berserker's head. Before she could throw the gems, spears came from the shield and seemed to attack Rin. Saber pushed her out of the way. He was able to cut down the spears but Berserker grabbed him by the neck and raised him up.

"Saber!"

Shirou fired his arrows but Berserker used his shield to block them. RIn tried for another attack but Berserker swung his shield at her. The sound of the impact was sickening and Rin was flung into a nearby tree. She slid down the trunk, unconcious.

"Rin!"

Shirou was the only one who could save them. He could hear Saber gasping for air as Berserker held him in his right hand. Shirou thought hard and berated himself.

I'm such an idiot! If I listened to Rin this wouldn't have happened! Now what am I supposed to do?

"If you want to hit the target, get a better bow."

The image of the two swords flashed in his mind again. This time, they became clearer and clearer.

"Yawaraki Te and Juuchi Yosamu... No matter what Rin says about Projection, I have no other alternative!"

Shirou focused on the image and divided the process into eight steps.

Judging the concept of creation

Hypothesizing the basic structure

Duplicating the composition material

Imitating the skill of its making

Sympathizing with the experience of its growth

Reproducing the accumulated years

Excelling every manufacturing process

SImply put, the questions Shirou asked himself are:

"Why was it made?

What does it look like?

What is it made of?

How was it made?

What did it go through?

How long has it been since?

How do I refine its creation?"

He focused on the image. The legend came to mind and soon, he could feel his energy.

"Trace On! AAAARRRRGGHHH!"

The katana Juuchi Yosamu appeared on his right hand and on his left was the kidachi Yawarakai Te. He rushed at Berserker and proceeded to slice his right hand off. Saber fell to the ground.

"Lord Shirou. Those swords are..."

"Saber! Use them! Defeat Berserker!"

Saber stood up.

"Gladly, My Lord."

With the two swords, Saber attacked Berserker. Berserker tried to counter by using swords from his shield.

"How does he do that?"

Shirou wondered aloud.

"Berserker is Achilles. His Aspis is an entire world of its own. That shield has it's own world which Berserker can ask help from."

"Then..."

"Your Saber will never win."

Saber used the Yawarakai Te to block the swords.

"Yawarakai Te!"

Berserker was pushed back a few feet. Berserker's arms flailed to catch his balance.

"Juuichi Yosamu. Shodou!"

In a flash, Saber appeared behind Berserker.

"Little girl, read the name of the master and admit your defeat."

The kanji for "Musashi" appeared in a circle as if stamped onto Berserker's skin and armor.

"No way! Berserker could never lose! Get up Berserker! Kill Saber! Berserker!"

Berserker growled one last time as if to tell Ilyasviel not to worry.

Four servants left. What happens then?

Berserker's Profile for you.

Name: Achilles Pelesuseid

Class: Berserker
Master: Ilyasviel von Einzbern
Sex: Male
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Clothing: Bronze Armor and Greek Bronze Helmet
Body: 6'8", Muscular, Hellenic-Mediterranean skin, flaming red hair(Madness Status only)
Talents: Fighting
Likes: Women, brawls, swordfights, war, Patroclus
Dislikes: Lazy days, quiet

Noble Phantasm: EX
Strength: A+
Endurance: B+
Agility: B+
Mana: B+
Luck: C+

Noble Phantasms:

To Dérma tēs Stŭkós: Binding Oaths of the Olympian Hierarchs

Rank: EX

Description: A support Phantasm. Achilles was well known for being invincible. His unusual protection came from the River Styx where the power of the promises of all the gods of Olympus were. His mother, upon knowing that he would lead a life of battle, held him by his heels and dipped him in the river asking the gods to bless him. He was given a state of invincibilty but due to his heels being out of the water, striking them with malicious intent cancels this Noble Phantasm for twenty-four hours. Achilles' invincibility was not the common type. Achilles could be wounded and feel pain but this would not deter him from his work. His bones could also not be cut nor could his flesh be separated from his body. The state of this Noble Phantasm prevents all damage below A++ in offensive ability. Although subsequent attacks centered on a point may compound and eventually break through his skin.

Aspidas to Achilles: The Shield of Achilles

Rank: A+++

Desciption: An anti-unit Phantasm. A false generation of reality. An encapsulation of the world: a simulation of Earth and humanity, at least from the perspective of the Greeks. It is a large hoplon shield with a vivid depiction of cities, wars, farmers, oceans, and the other things of the world. The images will change before your eyes, the paintings morphing into new themes as the simulated world continues to move much like ancient Greece. As the shield is a glimpse into an entire false world, things that enter the shield become a part of that world and things that exit it become a part of ours. A powerful shield made by gods to forever immortalize the world as the Greeks knew it. An extremely powerful bounded field at the same sort of level as a reality marble compacted into an object's conceptuality. The concepts of life and reality are simulated inside of it, recreating a Greek world that never ends yet never exists. As it is equal to an entire world, it can sustain huge amounts of punishment. It is not invulnerable, however, and can be bypassed by simply going around it. To break it at full power, however, would require a noble phantasm with an offensive power Rank EX. It can absorb unclaimed objects into it. Unclaimed being something that isn't carrying the spiritual will of the owner in it, as a wielded weapon or an heirloom would. And just as things can be incorporated into the expansive internal world of the shield, things from it can be incorporated as phantasms into our world, such as arrows fired or a phalanx of lancers thrusting their pikes out. Unlike things going in, they aren't real so they don't have inherent ownership, so wielded weapons from within the shield can be thrust out into our world. Essentially this is artificial projection on the same sort of level that Shirou is capable of.