Rather than resolve that little cliffhanger from the previous chapter, we're going to step back a few moments to see how things are going with other characters. We're not leaving anyone out just because they lost. Disclaimer: I don't own Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, the Fate series, Lupin III, Ni No Kuni, or My Hero Academia.
Chapter 30: Feeling Hollow
Waver looked up at the ceiling. He had been staying with the Mackenzie's, an elderly couple he had hypnotized into thinking he was their nephew. It was an even better cover than staying in an apartment, since even with an apartment one could look up the tenant registry. Waver let out a sigh of frustration. "Why so glum?," Rider asked, "We're doing well so far. Especially with Archer dead, now the game can go to anyone." "Except we didn't really do anything," Waver pointed out, "I got into this war hoping to prove I could keep up with the higher generation mages. And yet it was the Einzberns who killed Caster with Saber's help, the Tohsaka's who killed Lancer with Archer's help, and the Matous who killed Archer with Berserker's help."
"That speaks more to the strength of their Servants than anything else," Rider assured him, "Don't forget that it was the Grail choice to bring me to you. You may have initiated the ritual, but a mage's strength does not result in a strong Servant. The Grail choses who to send, and more often than not it will select a Servant that mage needs, rather than what the mage wants. Come now, let's walk around Fuyuki for a while." "For a conqueror you always take things slow," Waver noted. "What's the point of conquering if you enjoy the spoils?," Rider pointed out, "Every time my men and I claimed a new land, we always took the time to explore the region so we understood it. We especially enjoyed the times we got to sample the local cuisine."
He frowned. "Though things would often get spoiled when one of my men died from food allergies. Rather undignified way to meet your end." Waver almost chuckled at that. Rider may have had a point. For all his strength, he was just as much a philosopher as he was a conqueror. 'He probably tried to take it slow so he could enjoy it more. Though in the end he still found himself without any more lands to continue his conquest. At least until he learned the world was much larger than he thought it was.' "Do you think any of the other defeated Master's regret their loses?," Waver asked. "Anyone would regret the chance to lose their heart's desire," Rider replied.
Meanwhile, Tokiomi was watching the news. Television was the only modern technology he really cared about, since he still had business in the city and needed to be kept up to date. The report of Lupin's supposed death caught his eye. 'There's no way a Servant would be killed by an explosion so easily. Especially since Assassin has such a high luck stat, and his Noble Phantasm would have kept him from dying so long as no other attempts were made that day. Clearly an old enemy has found him and, misunderstanding the situation, tried to take his life. This is serious…'
He had already sent Aoi and Rin out of the city to keep them safe until the war was over, but as it stood there was no guarantee that Fuyuki would be safe even after the war. "I may have lost Archer," he said, "But I am still a proud member of the Tohsaka family. If these interlopers think they can have their way with this city… They'll find out how outmatched they truly are…" Of course, he knew deep down that most of this was because losing Archer, and thus his chance at the Grail, had left him feeling empty. It was basically the straw that broke the camel's back. He needed something to restore his faith in himself. This may just be the answer.
Later, Rider and Waver were at a sushi stand. "I must say," Rider said, "These little treats of fish and rice are quite delectable. They'd be the perfect traveling meal for my army when I start my conquering again. I'll need to procure a refrigerator or some sort of cooler in order to keep the fish fresh, however…" He then looked to the side. "Say, isn't that Jonathan Joestar?" Waver looked and saw Jonathan driving with a young teenage girl in the back, and what looked like an injured Daisuke Jigen in the passenger side.
"What happened there?," Waver wondered, "It looks like Jonathan got in a fight and those other two were caught in the crossfire." "Something's been happening lately," Rider noted, "I've been getting a feeling of dread in the nearby atmosphere. It's been lingering ever since Lupin disappeared." Waver then saw a familiar serpentine dragon flying through the air, where now one could see it. "Rider, I think that's Avenger's Noble Phantasm!" Rider looked where Waver was pointing. "That's Loftwind, alright! Evan must have sensed the same mood I did! As expected of a fellow king! We only have time to follow one, boy! Which will it be!?"
Waver thought about it. Though really, he didn't need to think much. "We might have a better chance of finding out what's going on if we follow Avenger." Rider nodded with a smile. "Well put, boy. Let's hurry!" He summoned the Gordian Wheel so that they could keep up with Loftwind's speed. As they traveled, a sudden thought occurred to Waver. 'What is it I'm really trying to accomplish here? I got into this not even knowing what I would wish for. I mean, at the end of the day winning the war would get me what I want without needing the Grail. So what else could I possibly wish for…?'
Tokiomi had also spotted Loftwind flying overhead. "He must have spotted whoever was interfering and decided to do something about it." He was in a small car with Risei. "We can go check it out if you wish." "You're going as well?," Tokiomi asked. "It's my duty to regulate the Holy Grail War," Risei reminded him, "And if our mediator in the police force is pulling a double-cross and allowing something like this to interfere with one of our contestants, I am obligated to act. I just hope you don't mind a few hitchhikers." He pointed to where All Might and Kariya were thumbing for a taxi. The sight of it actually made Tokiomi laugh.
We'll be concluding this little arc soon enough, probably next chapter. Sorry if this one was short. Though I'm told that many of my chapters are longer than people expect. Read and review.
