Chaper 23
Shirou fluttered his eyes open as he woke up. He was about to get up and help with breakfast like his normal daily routine but felt something warm clinging on to him.
"Huh?" Shirou turns around and finds Saber still asleep and immediately panicked as she was clinging on to him in her blissful sleep.
'Wait did we?' Shirou shook his head. 'No, No we didn't'
Flashback
"Shirou?" Saber called out to her master who was staring out the window.
"Oh! Saber sorry I was just thinking." Shirou turns around finding Saber sitting on the bed in a blue nightgown that most likely came from Tohsaka.
"If you don't mind me asking, Master, What were you thinking about?." Saber could tell he was in deep thought and was curious.
"I was thinking about how my view on how to be a hero has changed."
"Changed?"
Shirou nods. "From the day I was saved by kiritsugu, I always thought that to be the hero of justice I needed to take on all the world's evils on my own. It was my dream, my life goal."
"But that changed when Ben came around" Shirou looked back at Saber.
Saber remembered the conversation that Shirou had with Ben about asking for help.
"From him, I learned my limits from being a single man, one man can't save the world without help. I also wish not to lose myself to become a hero."
"Lose yourself? What do you mean?" Saber asked interested, almost twitching to hear his answer.
"I don't want to become Archer," Shirou said and Sabers was left speechless. Trying to mentally connect the dots on how her Master and Archer were the same people.
"Yeah, I couldn't believe it either," Shirou answered to Sabers confused face
"To sum it all up, he followed his dream to the point of becoming a machine. Throwing out his emotions due to the loss of everyone close to him. I don't even want to think about who he lost."
"What happened to him?" Saber asked the important question, wondering how he died.
"..." Shirou was silent, he didn't want to open that window in his memory. It caused his mind to feel like it was cracking away. "Sorry, Shirou." Saber looked down releasing she wasn't going to get an answer. Shirou then sat beside her and Saber looked up to find him smiling.
"Shirou?"
"The future isn't set in stone, know I can change my fate. I won't force myself to take the fight alone and keep the people I love in my life." Shirou smiled with determination. She looked at her master who was beaming with happiness and hope. Saber had to steel herself to not lose herself in his eyes.
"I am glad to hear that Shirou." Saber manages snap out of her gaze and moved to the other side of the. Showing that it was time to sleep and Shirou felt his face turn red remembering the night in the forest.
"I-Is there a problem Shirou?" Saber asked with a little blush.
Flashback end.
"Shirou?" Saber said awake sitting beside him.
"Oh, Good morning Saber." Shirou shook his head focusing on the now.
"Good morning," Saber responded. Shirou then nodded and got into is casual attire that was conveniently packed by the maids. Shirou then paused remembering that there was still a girl in the room. He then turned around to find Saber staring at him, clearly looking at his fit bare chest.
"Oh-h Ummm sorry Shirou, I will let you change." Saber then got up and left the room.
Ben grumbled as he woke up from a good night's sleep without any form of nightmares. He rubbed his eyes to get the tiredness out and then looked around to room to find Caster brushing her beautiful pink hair. She was smiling and humming as she brushed around her ears. Ben got up and walked over to her as she was working on her bangs and he saw an opportunity. Caster continued to hum away until.
"M-mikoon!" Caster yelped as Ben surprised her with a hug from behind. Caster then looked in the mirror and smiled.
"Good Morning Ben, Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah, Thanks to you." Ben smile back feeling more happier than ever.
"I should be the one thanking you." Caster turns around smiling back and kisses her master who accepted.
One short smooch later and Caster got up to leave ben to change and use the bathroom. Ben looks back into the mirror and his expression changes to a serious look.
'No more playing around, we need to end this war'
Ben walks down the stairs in his usual attire as pleasant smells filled the air.
'I really should ask Caster to teach my mom some tricks.' Ben grimaced at the times when his mother tried to get him to her 'health foods' Which were poorly made tofu dishes. He then enters the living room where Saber and Rin were relaxing. "Mornin'!" Ben greets
"Ah, good morning Ben" Saber greets with a smile.
"Good morning Ben," Rin said still rubbing her eyes.
"I take it that Shirou and Sakura are dealing with breakfast." Ben then sits down on the couch
"How was your time with Caster," Rin said with a cat face.
"It's was nice and peaceful," Ben said with a confident smile.
"I enjoyed it," Caster said coming around the corner and sitting down right beside her master letting her tail sit in his lap.
Rin looked at the to and chuckled. "What is jesting you Rin?" Saber asked confused.
"Oh, it's nothing" Rin the looked away.
'Looks like my plan worked! Hahahaha.'
"Breakfast is ready!" Ilya called from the kitchen.
Everyone was munching on the freshly made pancakes that Shirou and Sakura cooked. Rin was the first to finish her fill as she wanted to get down to business.
"While everyone is here I wish to discuss our plans for the rest of this war," Rin said getting everyone's attention.
"With Caster and Saber working together the remaining servants are either going to team up or try to separate you two."
"So the remaining against us is...The other Caster and Assassin?" Shirou said
"And Lancer," Saber added.
"Can we confirm that he is still in play?" Ben raises the important question as the only time he has seen him was before he got Caster.
"I haven't faced him," Illya said.
"Shinji never mentioned anything about Lancer," Sakura added.
"Even with the lack of appearances, we need to stay vigilant. His Noble Phantasm coming from the sides would be fatal." Caster adding her recommendations.
"Caster, Has there been any intruders at Emiya's place?" Rin asked.
Caster shook her hand. "No, the boundary enhancement I added hasn't been triggered." Shirou turned towards Caster.
"You enhanced my house boundary?". Caster nodded,
"Yes, sorry for not telling you but I added it to protect us from any tricks the enemy may use" she apologized to the landlord.
"Heh, Thanks then"
"Back to the topic at hand," Rin calls back to the group.
Meanwhile…
"So the war is nearing its end?" Lancer asks his master in the darkness.
"Yes, All that remains are you, assassin, Saber and the two Casters.
"I wouldn't count out the kid, he survived my spear." Lancer saw the Fox Caster's Master as a threat.
"Yes, Ben Tennyson is a real threat in this." his master nods.
"Then why are we just sticking around. At this rate, I am going to be outnumbered if they win against the duo at the temple. I could've faced him in the forest but you told me to stand down." Lancer sounding irritated.
"Is the Hound of Cuchulainn afraid of two against one fight?"
Lancer shook his head
"Nah, I love a good fight, it's the fact you have been using me as an assassin instead of a warrior." the spearmen raises his weapon over his shoulder itching for a fight.
"I want to see what else he has up his sleeve." The master sits back in his chair.
"I will not deny you a fight with him but I would bar you from killing him"
"Eh?"
"The man is connected to others and no doubt that is out of country allies will find out instantly if he dies." The master explains the problem with Ben Tennyson being allied to the Plumbers, the intergalactic police force that the Church has had run-ins with before.
"You will have to pierce his heart another way."
"Are you sure about a full-frontal assault?" Shirou asks as he cooks lunch back in his kitchen.
"The more we wait it increases the odds of the enemy preparing something to counter us."
"I am going to have to agree with Rin on this one" Ben spoke up.
"She has absorbing mana from the citizens causing those comas. I had enough of her getting away, She has to answer for her crimes." Rin said as memories of the school filled Shirou's mind.
Shirou thinks about all of what the purple-clad Caster has down and made up his mind. He was done with his friends and family taking a beating from them. "I'm in, but I wish to spare kuzuki if we can." Shirou still holding to his ideal of not killing the masters.
"With Ben around, I think that won't be a problem-"
"Aww, you're having a war room without me!" Illya pops in the living room.
"Your not a master anymore, you should go play like the normal girls your age.
"Humpf, Then I guess I will take the info I got on the Caster in question with me." Ilya pouts.
"What you have info on her?" Saber focused on Ilya. "Why yes, She is the greek witch Medea!"
"So that explains why her magic is on par with mine." Caster said
"Huh?" Ben raises an eyebrow.
"We both come from an age where the gods still had influence. Resulting in powerful magics being possible." Caster explained
"Now that just leaves Assassin-"
"Medea is his master" Ilya interrupted again.
"Wait, a servant can be a master?" Saber asked confused.
"How is that possible?"
"Well for one, Medea killed her previous master then she forged a new contract with the man she with now. Most likely because she didn't want a master who was a meddler." Ilya words caused fury in Caster's eyes. "How could she, we are the servants," Caster muttered.
"To be honest Casko, She seems to be the exact opposite of you. You want to be a faithful servant while she prefers to pick and choose." Illya giving her opinion
"Well, that means if we take out Caster, Assassin goes with her." Saber confirms.
"Alright then, The five of us will go tonight while Sakura and Ilya hold the fort," Rin states the plan and everyone agrees.
"Aright, I will train my projections until then. I can't let Saber have all the fun" Shirou looked to his servant and she nodded with a determined smile.
"I will make sure that Saber is ready for the fight." Caster said.
"I will appreciate that Caster." Saber agreeing.
"Alright, I will prepare some gems," Rin said while finishing her tea.
"What about you Ben."
"Can I at least eat some lunch first." Ben deadpanned as he was hungry. Causing everyone to laugh forgetting that Shirou was cooking them lunch and here they were getting ready for a fight.
Night.
"Alright, everyone ready?" Rin asks and the group nods.
"Good luck everyone," Sakura said with a smile but still had some worry in her face.
"Don't worry Sakura. you know me when lives are on the line, It's hero time!" Ben said with no fear in his voice.
"Oh before I forget. Here." Ben then hands Sakura a circular badge with a green hourglass symbol similar to the one on the ultimatrix.
"It's a plumbers badge. A standard-issue device for the Intergalactic peace force." Ben then activates it.
"I have it set up for a two-way communication line with my watch. All you have to to do is hit this button and you instantly be in comms with me."
"Use it if you need help." Ben gives the badge to sakura who accepts it.
"Thank you, Ben, I will." And with that the group of two Servants, magi and one protector of earth head out to the temple with the hope of victory...
"Looks likes it's going do or die. They won't fall for rule breaker anymore but I am not without a plan…" Medea watches from the crystal ball.
"A hero's weakness is the people the protects." Medea then turns to a nearby table. The table had a young girl with brown hair and matching eyes who was bounded by magical chains.
"To think that a small magus like you would appear in fuyuki and not be chosen." Medea places her hand on the girls face.
"..." the girl was silent as Medea has chained the girl's mind to do her bidding.
The group begin to climb up the stairs to the temple that house the enemy. "Is it just me or is it too quiet," Ben asked. It wasn't like a Caster class servant to not react to two servants approaching their base.
"Agreed, I don't even see Assasin up there." Saber looks up at the entrance expect the samurai to be there but nothing took his place.
"This has trap written all over it," Shirou comments and scans the area with bakuya in one hand. Caster begins to focus her sense and expands her sight to their surrounding area. The temple was empty except for a few monks, but this was a ley line location, Medea wouldn't have moved. Caster turns to gaze to the forest... something was out there.
"Help me!" A crying image of a girl bombarded casters vision.
Caster gasped as she was snapped out of her trance. "What wrong, did you find her?" Rin asks. Caster calms herself and nods to rin, But her face showed major concern.
"She has a hostage. It's the girl we rescued nights ago from Rider." Ben clenched his fists in anger as he thought she was safe was harm.
"Where is she," Ben asked with holding back the fury in his eyes.
"This way." Caster began to run into the forest with the others following right behind
"This ends now." Saber said with anger in her eyes.
The group then the run-up to a rock face causing the caster to look around.
"I know I felt it from here." Caster said as she scanned left to right. Ben walked up to the wall and grazes his hand over the rockface, stopping at a certain spot.
"Caster, Come here," Ben called and She places her hand were Ben's were and her eyes lit up and she whispers a spell. With a small flash of light, a what was a rock face was now a hidden cave entrance.
"Good eye, Ben" Rin complimented and everyone ran in.
After five minutes of running, they finally reach the end of the tunnel and was stunned at the sight in front of them. "Umm was an ancient Greek city always under Fuyuki?" Ben asked confused at the scenery.
"This must've been where the mana she Absorb from the citizens went to. An entire city" Rin said and Shirou squinted his eyes looking across the buildings.
"Territory Creation," Caster spoke up about the skill where a servant can create a home base to his or her design with the rank limiting the scope of it.
"Okay, enough standing around" Ben took a couple steps forward and look back to his allies.
"We need to stop this madness but that girl is our top priority, If we work together and keep our wits about ourselves we will win this.". Caster had to steel herself as she was swooned by Ben act of leadership but shook her head and summoned her mirror. Shirou projects his twin blades and gave them a few swings then look to Saber
"Let's do this." Saber nodded and look back to Ben.
"We are ready, Ben take the lead." She said in full faith in Ben. Ben smiled and turned around, looking down the steps he could see an army of skeletons waiting for them. He powered up the ultimatrix and slammed down on the dial transforming into the classic, round and heavily armoured Cannonbolt. "Alright, it's HERO TIME!" The Arburian Pelarota then curled up into a ball and rolled down the step increasing his speed.
"Let's go!" Rin and the others then charged into battle.
"Rah!" Saber slashed through five enemies with one slash with fury, two more tried to charge behind her but were swiftly dealt with another swing of her blade. She looked around to see the Shirou holding his ground, using his projected blades and using fighting stance similar to Archer. Shirou crossed the blades to block an attack and pushed back causing the skeleton to stagger. He then took the opening and cut it in half across the torso, Shirou huffed but was still determined.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Sparks then jumped out of the darker blade and Shirou threw it. It spins in the are taking a few enemies down and then explodes sending shatter bone everywhere. Shirou clenched his fist as that attack burned his hand, he then narrowly dodged another attacked as the pain distracted him.
"Hiya!" Caster Zapped them with lighting and ran to Shirou and took his hand.
"You should be more careful, you are still a novice." Caster the healed the burn quickly.
"Thanks!" Shirou then projected another blade and moved forward.
A small smile cracked on Saber's face then the ball form of Cannonbolt rolls by crushing the enemies force like they were mere twigs. He then stops by rin who was Gandr shooting the enemies like a fully automatic laser rifle and uncurls.
"How are you holding up?"
"This is nothing to me as you can see." Rin looks towards the colosseum like structures.
"That is most likely where Medea is."
Cannonbolt swats a skeleton away with his arms but stumbles a bit due to his stubby legs. Rin smiled a bit laughing at him.
"Hey! Cannonbolt isn't a runner but a roller!" he then Curled back up, revved and barreled down crushing more enemies clearing a path for the others. They eventually reach stairs that led into the colosseum. Ben powered down as stairs weren't Pelarota friendly and Shirou dispelled his swords to give is circuits a break. Everyone was running up but then hit the breaks as they saw a familiar violet wearing samurai.
"Don't worry, I would never even think of striking without warning. I am a man of honour after all." Everyone goes into a fighting stance but Assassin raised a hand.
"My Master has requested to have Caster and her master to be allowed through." Assassin moved to the side.
Again?" Ben raised an eyebrow and looked back to his allies
"It's too much like a trap but someone's life is one the line."
"Ben, you think you can talk Medea into letting the girl go?" Shirou asked Ben began to think about the options. The four of them could take on the assassin and move on to caster.
"If I could make a request?" Assassin asked and everyone looked at him. "I don't have much time," he said and everyone was confused.
"Due to the position my master has put it, she hand to pull all her resources. That included the mana she supplied me."
"So she cut off your supply to make all this?" Rin understood the situation, Verdona must've interfered and forced her to conserve mana. Assassin nods:
"As a swordsman request: I wish to face Saber alone"
Saber took his request to heart as she knew how Medea treated servants first hand.
Caster you ready for a fight against her?" Ben asked and she nodded with no fear.
"As long her master stays out of the fight then I can take her on."
"You sure about this Ben?" Rin looked at Ben as it had trap written all over it.
"I don't like it either but someone's life is at stake. Don't worry, Safety's off" Ben gestures to his watch. He looks to Caster and nods.
"We will go," Ben and Caster then walked up and past assassin.
"Well then, before we begin, I would recommend the boy and lady to cover Saber's flank as my master doesn't respect a warriors duel." Shirou and Rin turn around to find a small group of undead climbing the stairs. "Saber we got your back." then the two went back down to face the skeletons.
Ben and Caster walked down the steps into the stage area of the coliseum. It had was seems to be a mini Stonehenge with a rectangular altar in the centre. Right on the altar was the girl Caster saved nights ago, unconscious but breathing.
Ben and Caster walked towards the centre, scanning the area for Medea and Mr Kuzuki. Ben then Stopped in his tracks, he knew if he stepped closer a trap would go off.
"Alright, come out. No point in hiding." Ben called out.
The servant then appeared on one of the pillars. "Yes, it is pointless as I intend on destroying you." Medea then floated down raised her hand with the intent on attacking and Caster got into a stance ready to fight.
Ben focused on the hostage, no doubt she had to step up traps and would be ready for one of his speedsters.
"Wait!" Ben got in between the two servants. "Master, what are you doing?" Caster said confused but still locked on Medea.
"Before you two fight, I want that girl out of harm's way." Ben knew Medea may use her as a human shield.
"Hmph, Now why would I do that?" Ben looked back to his servant.
"You hand over the girl and I will stay out of your fight." Ben offered an even playing field as he didn't see kuzuki anywhere. Ben stared at her with the promise of fury as he waited for her answer.
"Fair enough, Shame, She was such a doll in my hands." and with a snap of her fingers, Hakuno opened her eyes looked around, the restraint released and got off the altar.
"You may leave, The one in green is here to rescue you." Hakuno looks beyond her captor and saw two people one wearing green and the other one had a tail of a fox. She then walks over to them, stumbling a bit but the boy caught her before she fell over.
"Relax, your safe now," Ben said taking a look over her. No physical damage from what he could tell but there were the obvious signs of magical draining. What disturbed him was that she was wearing an odd skintight out that was clearly in the not safe for work range. Ben walks up to Caster and looks her in the face,
"I believe in you Caster." Ben the hugged her tightly really not wanting to let go.
"Thank you, Ben." they let go and Ben returns to where Hakuno was standing.
"Now, Shall we?" Caster Stares down Medea. "Very well." and in a split second, Medea released a massive blast of magic at Caster who easily blocked it. "Got any more?" Caster said cockily. Medea begins whisper rapidly causing many bright orbs to appear around her the orbs form a circle around her and locked on to caster. A laser fired at Caster who brought up her mirror to block it. She held her place for a moment but rolled away to get to cover behind one of the pillars.
"Hah, you think hiding will save you? I thought that being a fragment of a goddess would be a chall-" Medea was then met with two fireballs, hot like the sun. She blocked it with a shield and looked around again she then teleported to where she thought Caster was but to be met with a spiked ball of ice colder than the arctic to the back of the head. Medea was then getting annoyed with Casters tactics of hit and run, rising to the top of another pillar, she scanned the area.
"Come out coward, or do you think you're better than me?"
She only answered with a volley of Ice and fire from multiple directions Medea winced as she hand to use a lot of power to block it.
"You, You think you can change just because you have fallen in love with a human." Medea clenches her fist, focusing mana into it.
"You Killed a whole battalion of human soldiers. Scorched them, turned them into ice shards!" Medea began to laugh.
"It pathetic, Humanity will never forgive you...NOW DIE!" She then throws a purple flame into the Stonehenge causing violet napalm to fill the area in it.
"Caster!" Ben said worried for his love.
"I will forever live with my sins." A voice said coming from the flames. "I can't change my history. I will be forever written as a monster of the past." The caster then jumped from the flames, tosses out the charm that creates a pink platform and lands on it...
"But you know what separates us Medea?" Caster glares at her.
"What?"
"I never had wished vengeance against humans. I wanted to find the one I can love and love me back for who I am!" Caster then dashed at Medea using her mirror as a shield absorbing all of her attacks. Medea rises into the air and expands her cloak, underside glowing with magic sigils in the shape of a butterfly.
"Rain of light!" twelve more eyes like orbs appear and bombarded Caster who deployed the eightfold blessing to create a barrier.
"Your nothing Against me! I am one of the most powerful magus in history!" Caster felt the pressure on her barrier, fell to one knee and began to wonder if she can win this
"Caster! Don't give up! You can do it!" Ben yells to support her the only way he could while Hakuno only watched while rubbing the back of her neck wonder why it hurt so much.
She then raised her head smiled, this time she had Ben full trust. She wasn't going to let this villain beat her. She began to walk against the blast as she needed to get close.
"How?" Medea upped the volley but it seemed to fruitless as Caster's noble phantasm was holding. Caster got up close to the point the beams only travel a few meters.
Caster then shutdown her barrier and threw to orbs of the sun that exploded in her face mimicking a flashbang. Medea lost focus and caster took the advantage and jumped at her forcing a melee brawl was she hand the upper hand.
The two fellas Caster Punched Medea in the rapidly in the throat with a curse to nullify the enemy's spell casting. She then kicked jumped off before they in the ground, Caster landed gracefully while her opponent hit the ground full force. Medea stood up stunned from the fall and Caster didn't let up and bombarded with fire, ice and lighting. Medea put up a barrier to block it but was blasted into the wall. She tried to stand but failed to kneel to the ground. Caster walked towards the downed servant and stood over her,
"This is for everything you have done to me, Ben, Saber and everyone else!" She said as she held a fireball in her hand expecting Medea to be in fear but only saw a smile.
"What's so funny?" Caster asked.
"Oh, just your masters' trust in who he protects." She croaked.
Ben felt the hair on the back of his neck stand and turn around just in time to narrowly dodged a lethal attack but still was slashed.
"Gah!" Ben yelled as his chest was slashed by the girl who he was trying to save. "Master!-" Caster yelled but was shot with a beam to the head and knocked her into a pillar.
"Caster!" Ben yelled dodging another slash trying to ignore the pain.
"I-I can't! It's not me!" Hukuno whimpered as her movements were not her own. Ben decides that Medea broke the deal and it was now hero time.
"B-Behind!" Hakuno yelled and ben did a side roll away from an adult-sized fist to his head.
"Oh great, I was wondering if you still wanted to make me your punching bag!" Ben cursed as it was kuzuki in a fighting stance. Ben began to run he need to pick an alien that was right for the job. Ben then tripped and groaned in pain as he landed on his wound. He then looked up and saw kuzuki running at him
"Ok no time to slowly pick, surprise me!" Ben transformed just as kuzuki was about to deal a lethal blow. His first went right thru his chest and saw this as mission accomplished.
"Hey, My eyes are up here." A nasal voice said and kuzuki look up to find a black face with green eyes and red hairs surrounding it.
"SWAMPFIRE!" Ben yelled punching the man in the man away.
"That tickled." Swampfire snickered and cracked his knuckles. The school teacher stood up and took a stance seeing that the hole in his foe's chest has closed.
"Looks like class is in session." Swampfire was about to attack but was stabbed by Hukuno again but this time with no effect. Hukuno looked at the alien with fear."I-'m sorry" she said shivering.
Swapfire then picked her up with one hand smiling: "Nah it's cool"
he then throws a few seeds on the ground and a mass of vines grew and held the girl in place so that she wouldn't harm anyone. "You don't mind if I keep like that for a bit do you?" Hakuno shook her head no as she was relieved to be not trying to kill her rescuer.
"Now" Swampfire lights a fireball in his hand.
"I will give one more chance to surrender before I roast that suit of yours."
Kuzuki just stared at him, then charged at him with his fighting style. He lands a fury of punches on Swampfire who was blocking with his arms. Kuzuki manages to blow off his left arm and punched Swampfire back expecting him to topple over.
"Is that all you got?" Swampfire stood up to Kuzuki's disappointment. Kuzukis glared as he saw Swampfire regenerate his body.
'The brain-'
"Thinking about taking my head? Sorry, pal won't work, I was ripped to shreds once and pulled myself together." Swampfire the got into a hand lock with kuzuki. "Your fighting style is meant to kill humans and familiar species but let me tell ya, there a whole galaxy out there full of aliens that you have no chance of killing." He then called upon the roots deep underground and made a fist burst out of floor sending Kuzuki flying.
"Let's turn up the heat!" to fireballs were thrown at him mid-air, exploding on him. Kuzuki lands with a thud looked up at his foe. Ben has completely Nuffield all of his attacks and countered him. He can't fight an opponent who can't feel pain all he had now was defence.
"What is that boy?!" Medea was distracted by her masters being countered by that plant creature.
"Hah, A hero of today." a mirror then slaps Medea a few feet away Caster slowly got up her mythic code slightly charred.
"He has been like that since he was ten years old."
Caster then fully stood up for round two.
"Master! I need you!" Medea croaked and Kuzuki dashed to her with high speed.
"HEY! Get back here!" Swampfire ran at him, not ready to let him get away. Caster dodge the first strike kuzuki tried and kept dodging but got a kick to the wall.
"Guhh! Not again!" Caster yelped but then felt a vine wrap around her waist and then was tugged out of way. The was thrown into the air where Swampfire caught her.
"Looks like I caught a big one!" Swampfire shook Caster a bit in jest.
"BEN, CASTER!" A voice called from the stands and it was Saber and the others.
"Oh look the cavalry's here!" Swampfire then put caster down on her feet. "How are you guys holding up?" Shirou asked.
"Well I just mopped the floor with Kuzuki, Caster smacked her silly. Oh! Rin, Hukuno over there can't control her body can you do something about that?" Rin nods and runs to the girl in vines."
"I was wondering why you had her tied up" Shirou commented.
"Now, Shall we end this?" Saber inching to end Medea for everything she had done.
"You think you have won?" Medea asked.
"This who place is an extension of myself!" The area then began to light up in red circuits.
"Master stand back!" Saber said to prepare to use her sword to full power. But it didn't respond to her command leaving Saber confused.
"Saber it must be Rule Breaker!"
"Correct, You may have broken the pact but I still left a seal that would trigger if Saber tried to use her sword against me." Medea laughs at their despair and raises her arms, causing a portion of the building to break off and rise.
"I will now crush you all like the bugs you are!"
"Not if I can help it!" Ben slaps the Ultimatrix on his chest.
"Chromatsone!" He yells as he blasts the hovering stone, shattering it into pieces. Not letting up Medea sends what's left after Ben in a swarm of stone and mana. Chromastone flies away dodging every attack but then turns around and blasts a beam of energy. The stones fall and he absorbs the mana that remains. Medea, Frustrated at the changing flies up herself and proceeds to rapidly cast every attack spell she knows.
Rin and Caster look on in awe in the battle between a powerful witch and a crystalsapian. Chromastone was practically throwing everything Medea had right back at her as it was the alien's speciality of manipulating energy.
"You think he can win?" Shirou asks as he keeps an eye on kuzuki. Who was also watching the battle and not attacking them?
"Chromastone is a magus's worst nightmare. If an incantation has any form of mana he can just absorb the energy." Caster remembered the time Ben and Gwen fought. Her master had the upper hand and it wasn't until his cousin surprised him with a spell that prevented him from attacking.
"So why isn't he curb stomping her their plenty of energy to go around?" Rin asked as the area around them was made up of mana.
"Because he knows it from the pain of innocents." Caster answered. Her master would never stoop the lows of villain's and use the energy of innocent lives to win a fight.
"Gah!" Chromastone was then blasted back as Medea's rapid casting was overwhelming him creating an opening that caused the gravity around him to increase and force him crashing down.
"Master!" Caster comes running but Kuzuki steps in her way and jabs her right in the stomach. Saber comes running in but was swiftly countered by a crushing elbow to the throat. Leaving only the two masters standing wondering what to do next.
"Hah! You think...You are better than me!" Medea taunts as she catches her breath while Chromastone tries to pull himself up.
"You call yourself a hero when you keep a monster like her around!? You are either a fool or the worlds biggest hypocrite!" Medea laughs at his struggles while Caster and Saber try to get passed her master.
"it's no use..." Caster said coughing up blood.
"Within her territory, the spells put on him are infused with the mana around us." She said as Saber fends off the Assasin of a teacher. Medea looks on a laugh more and more.
"Your master...was right about one thing..." Ben said stopping the magus class servant in its tracks. Ben was buying time as he was currently draining the spell on him slowly and waiting for the right moment
"Huh?" Everyone said wondering what was he talking
" was right about saying we are similar..." Ben manages to get one knee up.
"No matter how hard I tried to hide it...There was always this space in my heart. No doubt had something similar when he found you." Chromastone straightens out his back slowly resisting the gravity well upon him.
Medea froze with the memories of her first time meeting her the teacher in the woods. She was running out of mana and would soon disappear but...then he came along and saved her. He had no interest in the grail other than if it would help her stay in this world.
"To be honest... I never had a wish, to begin with, either. I was more focused on keeping that power out of the wrong hands...Then...I began to feel for her." He let out a chuckle.
"To think I would fall in love with a magical fox girl."
"Shut-up! If you are such a hero then why do you keep her around and then call me a monster like a hypocrite?" She yells increasing the intensity. It fell like the earth itself was pushing him down but Ben was still pushing up.
"One word, Redemption." Chromastone then turns the ultimatrix on his chest and slaps the tail. Four spikes appear and a bright flash blinds the group.
Chromastone's body changed as crystal replaced a stone on his upper torso and arms while his overall physique becomes closer to Diamond head's. Also, the spikes on his back become larger and curved like a pair of wings!
Finally, his body glows with unknown energy that shimmered in his crystalline form
"ULTIMATE CROMASTONE!" He yells as he breaks the spell and rises into the air as everyone is stunned at his form.
"Suprise!" then looks down at Medea.
"Maybe if I acted like a complete jerk to her and then she joined your side things MIGHT'VE went the way you said. By rejecting Caster for who she was." Ben said with determination.
"...But I chose not to, Because if someone puts in the effort to change. To become a better person make up for there sins...Then I'll help them no matter what." He puts his hand to his heart.
"Tamamo-no-Mae spent her whole life running away Because nobody was there for her when she needed someone the most. Not anymore as I'll stand by her side no matter what!" His word echoed and his body glowed while his servant's eye's where filling with tears of joy.
Hearing him say her name...it warmed her lonely heart.
"To protect the innocent and heal those that are hurting...That is the PATH OF A HERO!" energy crackled in his palms as he was prepared for battle once more. Medea was silent at his determination but was still defiant.
It was too late for her...She refused to believe his words.
She wanted revenge and nothing was going to keep her away from her goals. She raises her cloak and the butterfly pattern glows with a passion as the mana used to make the fortress around them is absorbed. Medea then unleashes hellfire of magic spells upon the crystalsapian with her rapid casting.
merely raises his one hand and breaks each shot aport as instantly nullifying them. Chromastone is a Magica caster worst nightmare as he can absorb the spells just because they are mana based. Hyper evolving allows him to manipulate the mana before it even hits him.
"Ben! Watch out!" Shirou says as Kuzuki disengages them and goes after Ben. In a blitz, he closes the distance and prepares and a deathblow to the head Knowing that this form cannot regenerate.
"Not this time!" Ben said as he teleported behind him and slugs him in the back. Not enough to do actual damage but just to get him out of the way. The teacher was sent skidding away behind a pillar.
"Master! How dare you! I will crush you all!" She glows with mana as she will send the cave crashing down if she has to. Bolts of light come raining down on Ben as his green eye glowed.
He could see the entire property of each shot down to the single energy unit. he can see the small, almost non-existent gaps.
"Is this is what being an Anodite is like?" Time resumes as he blocks shatter each spell. Another volley of shots, Zips side to side dodging and guarding. So as long he was in Ultimate she had no chance of harming him. But the clock was ticking before he would lose the advantage.
'Wait...Servants are made of mana.' Using his newfound vision he looks to the caster servant. That's when he saw it...A weakness to exploit and a way to end it without it being bloody. He teleports once more...
"Huh, where did he go? GAh!" Medea felt a sharp pain in her back. Her foe was behind her and was doing something to her body.
"What are you doing to me!?"
"Ending this, Here and now." He found what he was looking for and Medea felt it.
"My spirit...Origin! What are..." She then felt it...The source that tided her to this world...Shatters. Tears being to fall from her eyes as she falls but catches her.
"I'm sorry Medea. I didn't want this...but you left me with no choice."
"My...master..." She felt her body fade away.
"I'll make sure he lives so you can see him another time. I promise." Ben was honest. He could Tell that Medea had pain that needed healing but let her quest for the grail make her forget what was more important. Her body began to fade away rapidly and for a brief moment, her hood falls revealing a young woman with elf ears and blue hair. She closes her eye's and smiles.
"Where were people like you in our time?" She then disappears and ben lowers his arms. There was a small sad look on his face but in the end, it had to be done.
Caster walks up to her master and places a hand on his crystalline arm. He looks to his servant and smiles a bit.
"I..uhh Kinda cheated and texted my cousin about Japanese fox spirits. I wanted to tell you after the war but It sounded cool at the time so..." Ben rambled but Tamamo let out a soft smile.
"It's ok Ben." She said softly as the Ulitimatrix runs out of juice and reverts Ben. Now all that remains was getting Hakuno home safely. Ben turns around for a brief moment to talk to the others but felt a bone-crushing kick to the back and is sent skidding across the floor.
"Ack! Mastah!" Tamamo chokes as Kuzuki was holding her up in the air by the neck.
Ben coughed up some blood as he pulled himself up. He then felt a gust of wind and saw Saber dashing at the man.
"Wait! Saber! Don't!" Ben tried warning but it was too late.
"Release her you fiend!" Saber charged into free her friend hoping the threat of a servant will make him surrender but turned to face her. Saber continued her charge and leapt in the air to cut his arm off. Kuzuki then used Caster as a shield forcing Saber to lower her blade. He countered by grabbing Saber by the neck with blurring speed.
Saber!" Shirou yelled as he projects his blades once more.
"Come any closer and I will kill them both," he said coldly, stopping Shirou in his tracks.
"Ben Tennyson, You killed my servant, I intend to even the scales. Choose, Caster or Saber." Kuzuki gave our hero an ultimatum. "
Kuzuki, Stop it's over." Ben tried reasoning.
"Who said a master had to forfeit once they lost their servant? I intend on winning the war for my servant. Now chose or kill me if you can." Ben refused the thought of having one of his friends die in front of him.
"Don't make me do this, you can still walk away!" Ben looked down on his watch it and it was still red.
'What am I going to do? I can't let one of them die but I can't kill him! Not after I promised her.".
Kuzuki Tightened his grip causing both servants to cry out in pain.
"Tsk, Tsk...Dirty mongrel."
AN: And that was that for the Medea arc. Yes, I used the scene from the old DEEN anime but that was the second fate anime I watched. (Zero was my first!) I and my friend didn't know about the VN at that time. While planning this fight I figured that attacking an enemy base was so up Ben's ally since he dealt with the Hybreed and the forever knights.
Now I hope Ultimate Chromastone was powerful enough for you all. I figured I would make him the closest thing to a full-on Anodite as possible. So MASSIVE boost to his energy manipulation and giving him a teleport skill. And finally giving him a form an "Energy vision" to detect sources in the environment around Ben along with the other goodies that hyper-evolving gives. Ben only had a small window before Medea could react so he used his newfound teleport and went for the destruction of her spirit origin. Yeah, I am taking a stretch here but I hope it isn't too jarring. (I wasn't going to nuke her with Way Big. Medea suffered enough)
And before anyone asks: No, He cannot kill Gilgamesh or Saber with the same technique. He's an anti-magic user nuke only.