Fate/Infinity Shuffle
Chapter 256 – Evil Hand:
"Ahhh… This sword is so beautiful…!" Haru was drunk in the thrill. The idea of bringing destruction by the swinging of the brilliant black sword was enthralling. Kiara couldn't help but giggle at the sight.
"It's so cute to see a puppy with a new toy. Don't you think?" She asked to the three present behind her: Joana, who stared in the far distance, banner and sword in hand; Hakuno, who didn't look away from the floor, sitting on some rubble, weapons in hands; and Sakura, the traitor who simply stared into the inside of a seemingly empty golden goblet.
None responded. Which made the Alter Ego curl her lips. Perfect.
"So," A voice made her turn. Seven devotees that were ready to offer their lives for Kiara. The leader and spokesperson, Phoenix. If Hakuno were to glance at them, before, he would probably comment on how ironic it is that he would be now cooperating with those he was once kidnapped by. "do we get new toys as well? Or is that fox of yours the only one to get one?"
"I treat you all equally." Kiara snickered before approaching the group, handing them all a new Card each. All previously altered and ready to be used by them. "I wouldn't think of not giving you something new to play with."
"Hm?" Phoenix raised an eyebrow. "I guess I'm no longer a Saber then. Shame." But that wasn't much of a bother.
Phoenix, Beatrice, Hugo, Marceline, Anna, Henry and Patricia all Installed the Cards stolen from the Fuyuki Defenders, becoming corrupted versions of the Heroes inside them. While not permanent, it would be the case as with Haru.
CLASS: Saber
IDENTITY: Artoria Pendragon (Alter)
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Evil
STATS:
- Strength: A
- Endurance: A
- Agility: D
- Mana: A++
- Luck: C
- Noble Phantasm: A++
CLASS SKILLS:
- Magic Resistance: B
- Riding: —
PERSONAL SKILL:
- Charisma: E
- Instinct: B
- Mana Burst: A
NOBLE PHANTASM:
- Excalibur Morgan 'Sword of Promised Victory': Anti-Fortress A++
The seven followers all spoke the same word.
"Install."
CLASS: Archer
IDENTITY: ? (Blackened)
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Evil
STATS:
- Strength: C
- Endurance: B+
- Agility: C
- Mana: A
- Luck: E-
- Noble Phantasm: ? / E~A++
CLASS SKILLS:
- Magic Resistance: E
- Independent Action: A
PERSONAL SKILL:
- Clairvoyance: C+
- Eye of the Mind (True): B
- Magecraft: C-
- Projection Magic: B
NOBLE PHANTASM:
- Unlimited Blade Works 'Infinite Creation of Swords': ? / E~A++
/
CLASS: Lancer
IDENTITY: Cú Chulainn (Alter)
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Evil
STATS:
- Strength: A
- Endurance: B
- Agility: A-
- Mana: B
- Luck: E-
- Noble Phantasm: B
CLASS SKILLS:
- Magic Resistance: D
PERSONAL SKILL:
- Battle Continuation: A+
- Disengage: C-
- Divinity: C
- Rune Magic: -
- Protection from Arrows: B+
- Beast Slayer: B++
NOBLE PHANTASM:
- Gáe Bolg 'Barbed Spear that Pierces with Death': Anti-Unit B
- Hound of Chullan 'A Beast Worthy to be Valled Culann's Hound: Anti-Unit (Self) B
/
CLASS: Rider
IDENTITY: Medusa (Alter)
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Evil
STATS:
- Strength: A
- Endurance: C
- Agility: D
- Mana: B+
- Luck: E-
- Noble Phantasm: A+
CLASS SKILLS:
- Riding: A+
- Magic Resistance: C
PERSONAL SKILL:
- Divinity: -SEALED-
- Mystic Eyes: A++
- Monstrous Strength: B+
- Independent Action: B
NOBLE PHANTASM:
- Bellerophon 'Bridle of Chivalry': Anti-Army A+
- Blood Fort Andromeda 'Outer-Seal, Blood Temple': Anti-Army B
- Breaker Gorgon 'Self Seal, Dark Temple': Anti-Unit C-
- Gift of the Gorgon '(Cursed) Present of the (Monstrous) Goddess': Anti-Unit (Self) C+
/
CLASS: Caster
IDENTITY: Medea (Alter)
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Evil
STATS:
- Strength: E+
- Endurance: C
- Agility: E+
- Mana: A+++
- Luck: D-
- Noble Phantasm: C
CLASS SKILLS:
- Item Construction: A-
- Territory Creation: A-
PERSONAL SKILL:
- High-Speed Divine Words: A+
- Razor Winds at the Coast of Colchis: A
- Teachings of Circe: C
NOBLE PHANTASM:
- Rule Breaker 'All Spells Must Be Broken': Anti-Thaumaturgy C
- Argon Coin 'The Golden Fleece': Anti-Unit/Army EX
/
CLASS: Assassin
IDENTITY: Sasaki Kojirou (Alter)
ALIGNMENT: Neutral Evil
STATS:
- Strength: C+
- Endurance: C
- Agility: A
- Mana: E+
- Luck: B
- Noble Phantasm: -
CLASS SKILLS:
- Presence Concealment: C
PERSONAL SKILL:
- Eye of the Mind (False): A+
- Knowledge of Respect and Harmony: B++
- Vitrification: B+
- Tsubame Gaeshi: -
NOBLE PHANTASM: NONE
/
CLASS: Assassin
IDENTITY: Hassan of the Cursed Arm (Alter)
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Evil
STATS:
- Strength: A
- Endurance: B
- Agility: A-
- Mana: C
- Luck: E-
- Noble Phantasm: C
CLASS SKILLS:
- Presence Concealment: A++
PERSONAL SKILL:
- Projectile (Daggers): A
- Throwing / Retrieval: A
- Self-Modification: C++
- Protection from Wind: D
NOBLE PHANTASM:
- Zabaniya 'Delusional Heartbeat': Anti-Unit C
/
CLASS: Berserker
IDENTITY: Heracles (Blackened)
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Mad (Evil)
STATS:
- Strength: A++
- Endurance: A++
- Agility: C
- Mana: A
- Luck: D
- Noble Phantasm: A
CLASS SKILLS:
- Mad Enhancement: A
PERSONAL SKILL:
- Battle Continuation: A+++
- Bravery: A++
- Divinity: B
- Eye of the Mind (False): B
NOBLE PHANTASM:
- God Hand 'Twelve Labours': Anti-Unit C
- Nine Lives 'Shooting the Hundred Heads': Unknown C~A+
/
Kiara smiled at her soldiers, all suited up. "No time to lose." As she smiled, multiple werewolf shadows spawned all around the area. Followed by the rising of an odd pillar of flesh…
"Jinako," Mizuki spoke up in everyone's place. "what did she mean by what she said?"
"How much more direct do you want it to be? She's going to revert how the 'midnight restart' works so that our world will get completely destroyed one the day turns."
Leo stepped in. "I believe she meant 'how'."
"What do you mean, 'how'?!" She was clearly stressed. "Heck if I know! I didn't even know a Heroic spirit would ever be able to do something like that!"
Julius thoguth for a second. "Could she be bluffing?"
"No, she's telling the truth." Everybody turned back to Jinako.
"But you just said-"
"I know what I just said, but that woman isn't kidding around! She's not playing pretend, she's not lying, and she isn't talking like it's a delusion. She… she simply spoke as if it was as real as any other fact."
An aura of discomfort and slight dread began settling in.
"So… at midnight…"
"Our lives can be destroyed in an instant."
"…No." A voice spoke up. And it was… Mizuki's? "We can't let them!"
"But you saw what they did to Jinako, didn't you?"
"It doesn't matter!" Mizuki snapped at Sayuri. The latter was rather shocked. "We have to do something! We can't just let them kill everyone in here!"
"Mizuki, I agree with you, but that woman took Hakuno and Joana, Altered them, has her lackeys using the Cards of the EX Rankers, can spawn werewolves, and if you didn't get that sensation that she could kill you in a second, then you can be more oblivious than I ever imagined."
"So what if she's strong?!" Mizuki's words kept pouring out. Something was pulling them out. While they weren't fabricated by an external force in any way, she'd probably keep them inside. "And the others too. We have to help Hakuno too! And Joana, and Sakura!"
Jinako was couldn't help but blink twice. It's not that this sort of motivation or approach didn't fit Mizuki, it was just so weird to see her express it in such a way. Was it the stress?
"And you!"
"Eh? Me?" Jinako pointed at herself, wondering why Mizuki suddenly changed the topic.
"You want to rescue your boyfriend, don't you?"
"O-Of course I do! But how do you expect-"
"I don't know, but you have to! Otherwise, who is going to slap him in the face and tell him to stop screwing up in important moments?"
The Ranker's eyes widened for a solid three seconds. And she then smirked. "I see." She adjusted her glasses, making a gleam of white light to reflect on them conceal her eyes. "I am yet to slap him. What a terrible girlfriend I must be."
Mary's body shook. "S-Serious mode was engaged!"
Jinako let out a sigh. "Alright. You got me. I'm not sure why I was demotivated to begin with."
"Probably because of the status of things." Dan spoke up. His deep voice, with age and wisdom, prompted everyone to listen to him carefully. "When presented with such a dangerous situation, it is natural to wonder what the point is. But morale can't falter. We can't win if we don't try to begin with."
Rani nodded, agreeing with the Archer of her Team.
Shoutarou glanced over to the laptop screen. "It looks like those bastards are moving out."
"Alright. We need to go after them!" Jinako pointed out, confidence restored at 100%.
"Onee-chan!"
"Hm?"
"I want to come too!" Mary and the teddy bear nodded in unison.
"Absolutely not!"
"Onee-chan, I know you're scared for me… but I can also fight too! And…" Her face turned bright red. "I-I want to slap onii-chan too!"
"Mary…" It was a bit silly of her part, even if understandable. Of course Mary could fight. She may be just a child. And she really shouldn't fight at all to begin with. But.. she was family. And she wasn't going to deny her the right to fight for those she held dear. "…Just this once."
"Really?!"
"But if you get hurt, there's no dessert for tonight!"
"Ehhhh?!" Teddy was just as shocked.
"Hm. I'm actually kinda pumped up now!" Mongami chuckled, striking a fist into an open palm. "Let's kick some ass, guys?"
"I'm going to round up more people to help!" Mizuki pointed out. "I'll join you in no time."
Sayuri flashed a thumbs up. "We're counting on yah."
Mizuki nodded and was about to dash away, but… "Oh, right, I almost forgot." She ran back to her team and approached Lizzie.
"Eh? Mizuki?"
"For good luck." And the Leader moved in, kissing Lizzie's lips. Rather deeply so. A variety of reactions occurred. The unsuspecting Lizzie turned bright red like a tomato. Sayuri and Rumi looked away, not wanting to stare. Isemi and Mongami chuckled, but with two different tones. Leo let out a 'My!' in surprise. He was unaware the two were dating. Jinako covered Mary's eyes.
"Oi! There are kids here!"
"But Onee-chan, I've seen you an onii-chan kiss like tha-" and then her mouth was covered.
Mizuki separated from Lizzie and dashed away, leaving an aspiring idol with spiralling eyes.
Karen tilted her head. "Doesn't this always happen?"
"I think so, yeah."
Jinako let out a sigh and rounded up the people's attentions. "Alright guys." She quickly pulled out her phone to send a quick text to Mizuki: a file with the locations with various Players. Mainly EX and A Rankers. "Let's go save the world."
As Mizuki ran through the streets, she knew the first person she wanted to call to ask for help.
"Hello? Ibuki! Look, I know you and your team are probably unwilling to, but- … eh?"
Ibuki's response: you're a bit too late for that speech.
A knock on the door. Mash opened the front door of her house, finding Ibuki, who was saving her phone. "Yo, Shielder. Let's go."
"E-Eh?! But that person-"
"Did I stutter?!" Ibuki barked, making the Shielder hide slightly behind the door. "World's in danger. It's not the time to let depression settle in. Now come on. We've got people to gather."
"B-But aren't you afraid of that woman?"
"Please. If you really think she scares me, you might need to replace those glasses of yours."
The Leader of the Melty Blood was a step ahead of Mizuki in the plan.
I know this will sound inappropriate, but my 300 Saint Quartz just died in FGO. A moment of silence…
In case you are interested, Discord Server Link: discord .gg /e7Qznvb (remove the spaces)
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Until next time!
