Chapter 31
"Noooooo!" Jason at last caught up, with Medea (Lily) by his side along with Atalanta. The leader of the Argonauts looking in distraught at the sight before him. Ignoring the ruined street and cars, instead he wept as he walked toward the body of his best friend. Or should he say, former best friend. As upon coming near he saw the mighty Hercules….dead.
"Ahu! Ah!" He then fell to his knees, tears falling down his face as his body fell to Hercules upper chest. Atalanta looked away in shame and sadness. Also upset by this casualty.
Sigurd, Roman, and the two Hassan were already gone. They had but a minute before Atlas forces would arrive.
"Why." Jason said as he grabbed Hercules giant hand, gripping. "Why!?" He then looked into the air and shouted, "It should have been Medea (Lily)!"
Ten Minutes Ago…
"This isn't good." At the moment, Roman is in deep trouble. Were it not for his professional stance and pride, he'd be pooping in his pants by now in utter fear. A powerful Atlas soldier, wielding two blades. A cat faunus better than the bow wearing kitty, who wielded a real bow with eyes that showed no hesitation in a possible lodging an arrow between his eyes. Then of course, the strongest and most wildest man he's ever seen.
"▄▄▂▂▃▃▅!"
Hercules.
'I better give this a hundred percent deal, or I'll die painfully.' That was a fact. "Alright then fools, time to die." Roman said to them-even if they couldn't hear-and began pushing buttons.
Outside the Paladin control station, Atalanta, Hercules, and Sigurd were now ready to fight. Sigurd taking instant charge, much to Atalanta's annoyance.
"Alright then, here is the plan." Sigurd started as he pulled out his blades. "Hercules is the only one strong enough to crush the Paladin, so Atalanta, I want you to shoot down any missiles coming tat him." Atalanta gave a curt nod. "I'll distract whoever is in there allowing Hercules to attack without hesitation." Sigurd then ran. "Let us go!"
"Oh no you don't!" Roman flipped a switch and from the Paladin the mounted gatling guns began shooting at Sigurd. The Heroic Spirit of course simply batted many of the bullets away with his new sword and dodged the ones he couldn't block. He then grabbed a disposable dagger, not wanting to risk Gram again, and threw one of them at instant speed.
Crack!
Instant damage as one of the mounted guns were damaged and useless. Of course it wasn't as if that was the only weapon on it. The master criminal activates the sensors on the machine with red lights coming out. Anybody that was hit by these would then be shot at by the miniature hidden weapons on this Paladin.
Then with a grin, he shifted the remaining limb of the mech back to it's main weapon. A giant gun filled with Dust. He then raised the limb at Atalanta and instantly began firing electrical attacks from it.
"As if such slow attacks," Atalanta mocks, running at speeds greater than what he's seen from Red. The electric bullets missing their mark utterly and only hitting the streets. "Can harm me." She then raised her bow and placed numerous arrows on it, each one with a Dust crystal at the head.
She then shot at him with Roman unable to strike back. The arrows then cause a variety of harm from electricity, to explosions, to even ice. The mech temporarily stopped from the energy surge.
"Hyah!" Sigurd then shouted as he jumped up and sliced off the main camera at the front of the machine. Roman's video feed cut off, and while he had the other cameras and sensors, losing that main feed was a bad thing.
"Why you." Roman gritted his teeth as he then shot a barrage of bullets everywhere at once. Atalanta and Sigurd were quick to escape the attack, though Hercules was too slow.
"▄▂▅!" Not that it mattered, as his tough skin didn't allow a single bullet to even penetrate that manly skin of his. Instead all they caused him was minor annoyance. Annoyance like a bee stinging him. So like a bee stinging him, all Hercules had to do was swat the bug away.
With a roar he then ran to Torchwick ready to crush that giant tin can. He grabbed his previously discarded axe and was ready to slash and hack at the machine like he did with the other limb. While Roman couldn't see this, the sensors on the Paladin told him something was incoming and instantly jumped back. A good move as Hercules had lifted and struck at where the Paladin had been a moment ago, causing a small crater to form.
Roman was ready to counter strike but Sigurd and Atalanta wouldn't have it.
"Atalanta! Now!" Obeying, both the green haired beauty and bishonen man then showed bow arrows and daggers respectively. Each one then quickly throwing it at the Paladin and at dangerous speeds. The weapons then hitting and damaging the sensors, each one spotted with their keen eyes cutting off more of the Paladin's effectiveness with but only a few sensors and cameras left.
"Damn!" Realizing he was in trouble, Roman could only do one thing. It would cause the mech more damage, but it was the only thing he could think of to get these guys off of him. He then pushed a shiny red button, opening the back of the Paladins storage where missiles came out like a rainy day.
Atalanta was quick to shoot each and every one though, all of them then exploding causing the Paladin more damage. However, little did she know that was exactly what Roman had been counting on. Because by doing this, while he lost the missiles it created a big smoke screen covering the Paladin. Sure they knew where he was, but that wasn't going to help them.
"Time for mayhem!" Instantly he had the Paladin spin around all while having every miniature gun activate and shoot like no tomorrow. Even sending in a few missiles and using the main gun to boot.
"Run!" Sigurd shouted as they tried their best to dodge the onslaught brought on them. While the attack was utter random and not aimed at them, with over half the attacks missing, it also made it difficult to avoid the attacks they missed.
"Ah!" Atalanta finding out the hard way as a missile had hit the roof of a nearby building causing debris to fall near her. A big piece hitting her in the head causing her harm and disorientation, messing with her aiming skills.
"▄▃▃▅!" Hercules also was hit, and while it did him no harm, he was still flung back and slammed into the nearest car. Only Sigurd came out relatively fine, yet his armor now looked damaged from all the bullets he missed and couldn't block or dodge.
Suddenly from the cloud covering the Paladin a fist came out and wacked Sigurd into a nearby billboard. The mech stomped out in a prideful manner, walking to Hercules where it then slammed its foot onto him, pinning him down.
"Time to see if you really are invincible." Roman grinned as he then raised the big gun, switching it from electric Dust to water Dust. Which he then shot at dousing the muscle head with it, not letting up.
Why the Paladin had water Dust to shoot like an overgrown water gun, Roman didn't know.
"Urh." Atalanta moaned as she got up and saw it. "What the-? Is this guy not even trying." What would water do to Hercules? Not like it could hurt him. Making her confused by what was even the point of doing such a thing.
"It's worse than that." Sigurd then came, hobbling out a little. "He's making a continuous amount of water and pouring it onto Hercules. So how will he breathe!"
Atalanta's eyes shot open, looking back and saw Hercules trashing, yet his movements slowing down. Crap! Whoever was driving that mech was smarter than she thought. Servants were beings made from ether, and while they had human functions like being capable of breathing, they didn't necessarily gain energy from it. Though they do not require oxygen to function, the lack of air from suffocation can halt their magical energy cycle. Meaning that while they could last longer than regular humans, eventually without air they would actually die!
A mundane method this person was using, yet it was a solution that was working against Hercules of all people!
Knowing this, Atalanta and Sigurd ran to the Paladin ready to free their friend.
"Oh no you don't!"
"I'm afraid we cannot allow this."
Then simultaneously, two attacks came and struck.
"Gah!" For Sigurd, a giant orange hand came and gripped his torso, before promptly throwing him away like garbage.
"Uh!" Atalanta on the other hand got dropped kicked by Serenity, launching her onto the ground.
"My, my," Roman said with the speakers on the Paladin now working. Still pouring water onto Hercules. "About time you guys showed up."
"Roman!" Atalanta then said, recognizing that voice.
"I see, him." Sigurd wasn't really surprised, but he did recognize the name. It was Vale's own criminal mastermind, and he did learn from others that this thief may be working with the Fang. Originally he didn't think much of him, but maybe he'll have to change his mind and no longer consider him an easy person to beat considering right now he's slowly drowning Hercules. Though he had other matters to attend to.
"Cursed Arm. Serenity." He coldly said.
"A pleasure."
"Nice to meet you.
The two Assassin Class Servants responded to Sigurd, neither looking particularly regretful with what they were doing. "Just what are you two doing?" Sigurd then asked raising his blade while slowly deciding to use his heart. "You realize this man is about to kill a fellow Servant."
"Ah yes, that." Cursed Arm said watching as Hercules struggled to lift the machine off him. But despite being far stronger, he couldn't get a proper grip from all the water which made it slippery and difficult to see. Slowly drowning from the downpour. "So?"
"...What?" Sigurd just said.
"We do not see a problem at all." Serenity said, with Sigurd slowly glaring at them.
"Explain."
"Why, isn't it simple." Cursed Arm said as his twisted elongated demon hand moved as he stretched the claws. "We are doing our job. Protecting our employer like any good Servant."
"And how does that relate to Hercules about to die?" Atalanta having gotten her bow and pointing it at Serenity. Being wary of her due to the girl being capable of killing her with but a single touch from her hand. Her poison is strong.
"That's easy to answer." Cursed Arm chuckled. "See, now that we're no longer in Chaldea, during our time here a thought came to us. Do we have to even bother getting along with other Servants now?"
Sigurd and Atalanta started glaring now.
"Don't be mistaken," Serenity then says. "It's not as if we want Hercules dead, he just happened to be in the way."
"If the Masters knew about this-" Sigurd was then cut off by Cursed Arm who just chuckled.
"But the Masters aren't here, are they?" He added that little fact. "Face it, were it not for the Masters, there is a good chance the dozens to over a hundred of Servants in Chaldea wouldn't even get along. Heck, were it not for them many would probably attack and kill one another. We all do have alignments that clash with another."
"In a way, it's amazing those two managaed to keep us all in line." Serenity then took out her daggers, Cursed Arm doing the same as all four combatants looked ready for a fight. "But with them gone...things are different."
"..." As the four talked, Roman just stayed silent having no idea what was going on. All he knew was that he's listening to something he probably shouldn't be listening to. Becoming highly confused in the process.
"I see." Atalanta nodded, getting the two Servants point. "You are right, in a sense this is like a Grail War. Just because we Servants may know each other, doesn't mean we'll just be all nice and buddy with one another. In fact, you're right. Were it not for the Masters, there are a few people in Chaldea I would have killed personally."
Gilles de Rais, the Caster. The one who murdered children. Who tried to make her kill children during that one Singularity. She had a personal hatred and resentment toward that man. Knowing of his twisted history. The only reason she hasn't put an arrow in his head was because the Masters wanted peace.
If he were here now, she would have shot him without a second thought.
"..." Sigurd said nothing, yet he understood what the two meant. Loyalties to one another meant nothing now with the two Masters that held them in line were gone. In a way, this is actually expected. Without a Master, it's only natural a Servant would do what they wished to do in life. Why, him joining the military even though he didn't have to, that may have been a part of him doing it because he wished to be out in the battlefield like the old days.
So yes, he understood and would respect the two's decision of doing as they pleased. Though following that logic, that means he didn't have to hold back.
Magic began filling his body, some seeping out alerting the two Assassins and Atalanta that he wasn't kidding around anymore. The two Hassan narrowed their eyes behind their mask, getting in battle position.
"Since you have made your intentions clear," Sigurd filled his sword with energy. While nowhere near the level of Gram, he could enhance it with his own power. "Then I suppose all bets are off." To start, he instantly then shot a wave of energy in the form of an arc.
"Gah!" At Roman, the attack then slicing off the weapon that poured down the water. Hercules now able to breath while spitting out the water inside his throat, getting fresh air in his lungs.
Then proceeded to glare at the man who dared to kill him.
"Uh...Truce?" Roman sadly said knowing how screwed he is. The response, a roar which was followed by a very loud clap from Hercules own two hands. The sound overloading the audio sensors with Roman holding his own ears in pain.
Atalanta quickly acted and shot numerous arrows at Serenity. The two girls instantly decide to battle it out. Meanwhile with Cursed Arm stretching his own limb to attack Sigurd.
Serenity moved avoiding the arrows while throwing her own version of the dirks she had. While not as good as the Greek Hero, she had good precision in throwing them with Atalanta having to move out of the way to dodge them.
Simultaneously Sigurd just took a step out of the wrecked hands way and ran towards Cursed Arm ready to deal with him. His blade ready as he then drove it into the ground and sliced the ground where, using fire Dust, sent an arc of fire at Cursed Arm. The Hassan jumping away in time though he got nicked by the fire just a bit. He showed no harm to it and just released his own hooked dirks at the Saber Class warrior. To bad they couldn't even scratch the armor he wore.
"Apologies Assassin." Sigurd said, using his superior speed to get closer to Cursed Arm. "But such tricks won't work on me."
"Then maybe this will." Cursed Arm then threw a few more dirks with only one hitting Sigurd. One was enough, as it then exploded scattering some purple Dust on him. The Saber didn't understand the intention, and just kept moving.
"Huh!" Only to feel his momentum stopp, his body being pulled back. His head turned around where he saw the three previous dirks also coated in the purple Dust. "Gravity Dust."
"Got it in one." The three dirks were anchoring him, and it didn't help his body was coated in the same Dust that was attracted to the three Dust laced dirks. Growling, Sigurd just slashed the three anchors freeing him, yet Cursed Arm took that time to stretch his demon arm and slam it onto Sigurd, sending him to the nearest building.
"Oh man oh man oh man oh maaaan!" Roman wasn't having it any easier than Cursed Arm sadly. He was missing one limb and half of another. Having an angry miniature mountain trying to crush him like garbage. Roman having the mech jump away from any blows, and kicking at the Berserker to keep him away.
He attempted to shoot him but the bullets wouldn't even harm the damn beast. All it did was anger Hercules more. And nobody wants an angry Hercules.
"▄▄▅▅▂▂▃▃!" Hercules rushed at Roman with his hands out. In another attempt to keep him away, Roman had the Paladin throw another kick.
Brr!
Only to have his own eyes widen as Hercules gripped a good hold onto the leg and gave the scariest sneer at Roman. The Berserker then proceeded to twist and rip the entire foot off. The Paladin stumbling as it was prepared to fall.
"Crap! Crap! Crap!" Roman tried to see if there was anything he could do. He then saw a few buttons that would fire missiles, Dust missiles. Realizing it was getting killed or at least risking the chance of survival, Roman didn't even hesitate in pushing the buttons. The Paladin ready to fire it's last missiles.
Hercules wouldn't have it though. While he wasn't a genius, he had seen the top part of the Paladin many times shoot those annoying boom sticks. So the Berserker knew for a fact that this tin man was going to shoot more. Not in his life.
Hercules went and shoved his hand in the concrete, and came out holding a piece of stone. He then threw it at the Paladin with such great force, it caused it to spin in another direction.
"!?" In Sigurds direction.
All the clusters of missiles then launched. Normally they wouldn't hit a person thanks to the sensors, unfortunately however all of said sensors were either damaged or considerably busted up. Sigurd got ready to dodge only for an orange hand to grab him.
"Going up?" Then with a grin, threw the Saber at the missiles.
"...Great." Sigurd simply said as the half dozen of missiles then slammed into his body and detonated. Everyone looked away at the big light show as Sigurd went high in the air...then falling onto the grown with a large crack onto the ground. His own mask looking partially melted with his armor showing numerous cracks. He was going to be out for a while.
"Ah!" Though not as much as Hercules was going to do to Roman. The Paladin having finally fallen down, with Roman unable to move as the behemoth got on top of the armor. "Eject! Eject! Eject!" Roman repeated as Hercules began pounding onto the Paladin's front punch however was all it took as the entire mech shock, vibrated, then began falling apart as if it were made of legos. Clunky, metal legos with sparks and wires, but legos all the same.
"Oh boy." Serenity tried to move only to be blocked by an arrow. Atalanta not letting her go easily.
"Best I save the boss." Cursed Arm muttered deciding to just stretch his limb to grab him then run the hell out of here. Knowing full well what will happen if he tried tangoing with the strongest Berserker here in Remnant.
"...No...Yo-ku-...don…" Only for his own demonic limb to be slashed right to the shoulder with Cursed Arm shocked, turning his head to see Sigurd having used the last of his strength to cut the limb off. Then he screamed.
"Ahhhhhh!" He screeched as he felt pain. Servants were many things, being very powerful and had high pain tolerance. Though that didn't mean they didn't feel it. Add to the fact that they were in a world where they were near human level, only meant it hurt more. The former Cursed Arm clutching his bleeding spot.
"Cursed Arm!" Serenity shouted to her 'senpai'.
"Where do you think you're looking?" She made a mistake. A mistake that would cost her. An arrow hit her, one with a Dust crystal composed of gravity, which then set off. She hit the nearest light post and was nearly knocked out. Though her body looked heavily bruised, with some minor swelling.
Atalanta then sighing, clutching her head. She may not have looked like it, but it was tough focusing with that killer headache. Guess being back to human level wasn't all that great. She couldn't remember getting this hurt except for other battles with other Servants.
Though compared to what Roman would get, it was nothing.
The thief himself backed away on his butt as he met the gaze of the angry beast. Those eyes glowing red with Roman unable to do anything. A piece of metal got him, and cut into his leg. Aura would heal it, but not fast enough to get away. Hercules slowly walking to him, looking very much like a colored Grimm, ready to devour him. Or in this case, squish him to a human lump of meat.
'What can I do? What can I do? What can I DO!?' So far, nothing. His two hired now incapacitated and injured. He doubt begging would work. All he had was his cane which he knew wouldn't even kill this guy. Dust bullets wouldn't work, missiles didn't work, damn, nothing harmed this guy except-!
'That dagger!' Roman then remembered. How back earlier in the docks, only that dagger that guy with the mask used actually worked on him. Causing him genuine pain. 'Oh man,' Roman thought knowing he was about to take a gamble. 'I pray this works.' Otherwise he's in a world of pain.
Quickly he took out the dagger known as Gram, and did his best to shove it into the end of his cane's opening. He then lifted it and pointed it at Hercules, who didn't even move. Most likely thinking that no weapon Roman had could harm him.
At that moment, Roman's finger hit the trigger.
"Uhuhahaha!" Jason had gotten to the scene when he felt something was wrong. He came to see Roman running with the two Hassan, and that Sigurd fellow limping away using his own magic to heal himself. He didn't care though, instead more focused on the dead body of his best friend.
Atalanta and Medea (Lily) said nothing. Unsure what to even say. It would seem though that they did feel some sadness. Watching a friend of theirs die.
Lifting his head, Jason looked at his best pal. "You...You were too good for this place." He said, his own tears running down his face. His hand gripping and taking out the Gram dagger from Hercules head. "I hope you can rest in peace." He lamented.
"..." The green haired archer looked away, and grabbed Medea (Lily)'s hand. Feeling it was best to leave Jason alone with his friend. She may not like him, but even she wouldn't mock or insult him for this. 'Yes. Let him grieve for Hercules. And bury his body.' Atlanta then got ready to walk...then stopped. 'Wait...Body?'
It has been...a few minutes since Hercules died. Yet...his body was still here? Turning back, Jason still grieving, her eyes then saw it. The impossible happening.
The open wound on Hercules closing.
Then a bright light came out of Hercules body.
"Wah!" Jason jumped back in fear, Medea (Lily) covering her eyes while Atalanta squinted. The light was white, and seemed to be one that radiated purity and awe. The three Argonauts watched in wonder as they then saw a form coming out of it. From it came...Hercules!
"Ahhhhh!" Jason's jaw dropped yet still smiling.
"Incredible!" Medea (Lily) said, with tears of joy coming from her eyes.
"...Hehe. Guess I should have seen that coming." Atalanta smirked while putting a hand on her hip. It would seem once more Hercules has defied what should have been instant death. As expected.
"To think though...he came back to life…" Jason said. "It must have been my tears that did the job!" He then declared, with Atalanta and Medea (Lily) then slapping themselves in the head.
Hercules just gave a small smile. "That would be interesting, but it was my Noble Phantasm that did the job." He then said.
"..."
"..."
"..."
All three Argonauts then went wide eyed, silence pertaining to the area. Their minds going blank at what they just heard. Then, all three opened their mouths to say one thing.
"EHHHHHH!"
Gram should be strong enough to kill Hercules, and I think I read somewhere that Servants not being able to breath can kill them. I hope that's a good enough explanation for you all. Not to mention the reason why Cursed Arm and Serenity didn't really care if a fellow Servant dies.
I mean, let's face it. The vast majority of them are so different, yet somehow they get along. I'd like to think it's because of the two Masters we all know and love, who make them work together. But without them...I'd like to think this is a possibility, as you just read.
Moving on, no little story for the Gilgamesh and Ishtar battle this week. But there is something else.
"What the hell happened here?" Ironwood had just arrived in Vale and set foot. Now only to see an entire area of this part of the city ruined. It wasn't too much of course, but worrying just how much free reign the villains and crooks had here.
He saw burnt buildings, flipped and destroyed cars, ashes, some blood, water with mud, and all other things all over. More importantly, the wrecked Paladin. To think, all of this happened in the night.
Once Sigurd wakes up, he'll need to ask him what went down here. Because clearly something big happened. Though it might be a while since when Sigurd came back, he didn't look entirely fine. Then again, he seemed to heal pretty fast somehow.
Shaking his head, Ironwood just decided to get moving.
Kr!
When he stopped and heard something. He turned and saw some rubble, where it moved ever slowly. Was it a civilian? Quickly he ran to it, and grabbed hold of the rubble. If it was a person, he had to help them. Using his aura and augmented strength, Ironwood moved the rubble away. "Are you okay?"
His response, a long elongated orange hand attacking him.
