Chapter 21: Wisdom of Rage

Berserker sat, looking up at the stars as they slowly faded away under the burgeoning rays of the dawning sun.

He was on top of a warehouse in a poorer part of town. It was farther away from the apartment than he would've liked… but he could get back quickly. Chiaki could use a Command Seal and teleport him there if need be.

When he turned his head one way, he saw Saggittarrius, eternally pointing it's bow at Scorpio.

When he turned his head the other way, he saw the constellation Hercules poking over the horizon. The largest constellation, naturally.

"Show off…" he grumbled, looking back to the sky directly above him.

He knew he shouldn't have left. He needed to go back to Chiaki. She had every right to be angry, and he should've kept his cool.

There is nothing wrong with being impassioned. But learn the difference between passion and madness, he heard Chiron speak to him.

"Yeah, yeah, just leave me alone already."

Chiron had always challenged the things Theseus said. Sometimes he could explain himself. Sometimes he couldn't. Never had he done either without getting angry.

Berserker held his hand up, looking at the Ariadne Thread. The only reason he could understand what was happening in this war was because of this thread. The only reason he cared about Chiaki at all was because he was sane enough to do so.

It was a funny thought. It was the String that allowed him to cherish Chiaki, and it was with Chiaki that he'd be able to return to Ariadne. So is it that Chiaki will give him Ariadne… or was it Ariadne who gave him Chiaki?

He retracted his hand, laying it on his chest.

The stars had entirely disappeared by now, being replaced with the early morning sky. There was no reason to stay here. There was never a reason to be here in the first place.

Berserker went to stand up, and was shocked to see Lancer standing over him, fully armored and brandishing his spear.

Immediately, he was on his feet, having rolled backwards to stand up quickly.

"Those runes of yours are getting annoying…" Berserker growled.

Now that he had a better look at him, Berserker realized that Lancer had a strap of black cloth wrapped around one of his eyes. There was something different about him. His aura was different, but Berserker wasn't sure what exactly it was.

"I've come to end this," Lancer stated.

Berserker scoffed. "Right. And what 'wisdom' led you to the idea that fighting amongst ourselves right after that new Servant has appeared was a good idea?"

"I looked into the future. I saw how all events will proceed from here. I know where True Saber and his Master are. I know how to defeat them. And in order for the Grail to manifest..." Lancer explained. He twirled his spear and got into a fighting pose. "All but one Servant must be eliminated. You are no longer needed."

Berserker kept his face steady as stone. He crossed his arms. "No longer needed, huh? Yeah, I've been thinking about that myself. Defeating gods and monsters to protect humanity is the only way a 'hero' like me can save anyone. But gods and monsters don't exactly walk the Earth anymore. So what's the point of a hero who can't save anyone?" Berserker posited, looking down.

He looked back up at Lancer. "I don't think beings like us can live in this world. Not for long. But…"

Berserker unfolded his arms and got into a fighting pose. "If you think for a single instant that I'll simply die and let my Master's wish go ungranted, you're sorely mistaken."

Lancer said nothing, and betrayed no emotion on his face. Berserker smirked. He was finally getting it. "So… you're Elder God Odin. You've got the same look in your eye that Athena did on that day. You can't even comprehend what I'm saying, can you?"

Lancer was as still as a statue. Berserker nodded. "I thought so. You can't understand why I'm still fighting. After all, you can defeat True Saber and save the world, right? You can't understand what it is to be a mortal. You lack pride, you lack affection, you lack weakness… that failure to understand is what you god's call 'wisdom'. I suppose there is one thing I can still do in this world, then," Berserker spoke, getting lower in his fighting stance and rooting himself into the ground.

"I'll do what I should've done back then and defeat the God of Wisdom, once and for all."

Lancer's eyes narrowed.

They both charged forward at once.

Lancer's first strike was parried by Berserker. He deflected it off to the side, letting it stab into his forearm. Berserker immediately responded by throwing out several quick jabs with his other hand, which Lancer slipped past the best he could.

Lancer warded him off with a kick, but Berserker easily stepped back, letting it hit air. It appeared that Berserker had gotten better at reading Lancer's movements. That might be an issue.

Lancer switched up his stance to a more defensive style. He'd let Berserker come to him, then.

Much to his surprise, Berserker was also waiting. He had changed his stance from the pankration one to a modern day outboxer style.

It looked like they both had been preparing for this. Normally, Lancer's speed would allow him to just dodge past Berserker's range and use hit-and-run tactics. But Berserker had been getting good at predicting where Lancer would be coming from in their previous encounters, which meant that he could probably actually keep Lancer away with those jabs.

Lancer stood his ground, keeping a close watch of Berserker. Berserker would still have to come forward if he wanted to land any hits… and that's when Lancer would catch him. All he had to do was bait his attacks out.

Lancer stepped forward and immediately backwards again, readying to slice his spear out at Berserker's outstretched hand. But Berserker's hand didn't come. He wasn't biting. It was like Lancer was fighting a completely different Servant than the one he had faced back on the coast.

Lancer swore inside his head. He was running out of time. He needed to hurry this along. There was no way he could avoid taking hits here, regrettably.

Swallowing his regret, Lancer moved forward, intent on striking at Berserker's heart.

Berserker's fist was suddenly rushing directly at Lancer's face. Lancer couldn't dodge in time, and he found himself being pushed back. Lancer was stunned for a moment. It was like Berserker's arm had gotten longer somehow.

No… he was just dashing in at the same time Lancer was, slipping past the tip of Lancer's spear to strike, and then returning to his original place, all in an instant. Berserker's footwork told the whole story.

Lancer straightened himself out and got back into his defensive pose. He needed to watch Berserker's movements more carefully. Lancer pushed forward, keeping an eye on Berserker's fist as he let it loose. Lancer managed to block the strike, immediately pushing forward afterward, trying to get his attack in.

Berserker stepped back, and Lancer's world suddenly shook violently, confusing him greatly. When Lancer had regained his composure, Berserker was drawing his fists back.

Berserker had hit him with a combination while backing away from his attack? Lancer was truly impressed. It was clear to him now that he couldn't fight with Berserker on even ground. Victory was still achievable, he just had to think outside the box.

Lancer reached out his hand and drew a symbol in the air. It exploded into an inferno and surged forward, threatening to consume Berserker. Lancer knew that Berserker was expecting Lancer to come from the side that Berserker left open in order to capitalize on the distraction that this rune was giving him, so Lancer instead went around the other way, running through his own fire in order to get to Berserker's blind spot.

Lancer flung his hand out and quickly drew a rune on Berserker's abdomen, right underneath his arm. Lancer suddenly felt a massive blow rock his head down, the very shockwave of which radiated down and shattered the concrete beneath them, causing both to fall into the building.

It was only now that Lancer recognized this place. It was the same building that they first met on.

Lancer rolled in the air as the two went plummeting down. They ripped through a small storage area that was directly underneath the roof, and fell into a much larger room, one with shelves and boxes stacked nearly to the ceiling. Lancer landed on one of these shelves, while Berserker went falling into the aisle between the shelves.

The red sun was the only light source in the room… and it did little to reveal the entire contents of the warehouse they were in now.

Lancer would capitalize on that. His Presence Concealment was still active. He'd take Berserker by complete surprise. He had successfully got one rune on him… he just needed two more.

Lancer dashed into the darkness.

Berserker stood up. He wasn't sure just what Lancer had done to change himself, with his missing eye and overall demeanor altering, but Berserker doubted that it was actually beneficial for Lancer's chances to beat him.

Berserker was doing better against Lancer this time around… but that may have been because Berserker had picked up some boxing tricks. It was entirely possible that Berserker had only gotten a temporary lead in close combat.

There was also the fact that Lancer hadn't activated his full-body tattoo yet. Maybe he always planned on drawing Berserker into the warehouse, where he couldn't see as easily. Lancer's faux-Presence Concealment would make it nigh impossible to see him coming.

Berserker got into his stance again. He would remain in the middle of the light shining in from the hole in the roof. It wasn't much, but it would give him a small chance at seeing Lancer coming.

His eyes were never stationary, always moving from spot to spot. He rotated on his back foot, making sure to never be facing one way for too long. He did his best to make sure there was no easiest way for Lancer to come at him.

That didn't mean that Lancer wouldn't find a way to come at him, especially since he had his Rune Magic. Berserker didn't know if Lancer could create illusions with those Runes, but if he could, Berserker would have no way of knowing what was real and what wasn't.

Berserker spotted Lancer dashing out of the shadows out of the corner of his eye. Berserker responded by pivoting his hips toward him and throwing out a jab directly at Lancer's head. Lancer was able to parry it with the haft of his spear, and quickly transitioned it into an attack directed at Berserker's head. Berserker stepped back and swatted the end of the spear away, letting it bend and cut into his palm.

Berserker stepped forward to counter, but Lancer jumped back into the shadows, preventing him from executing his attack.

Berserker stepped back into the center of the light, and retook his fighting stance, waiting for Lancer's next move.

He wondered momentarily if it might be better for him to enter the shadows and try to let his eyes adjust to the darkness... but that might take a bit longer than he was willing to sacrifice to Lancer. Lancer could get enough lethal hits in during the wait time that Berserker would likely lose more than he would gain.

Besides, the shelves would limit his mobility…

The shelves. Berserker had forgotten about them. The light from the roof was narrow, and hadn't revealed them in their entirety. He wasn't in a wide open space, where Lancer could attack him from any direction. He was in an aisle, which meant that Lancer would only attack from one of two directions.

Berserker changed his routine, focusing on the two ways Lancer could come from, instead of all four directions. It meant that Lancer was less likely to get the drop on him. Berserker soon found how wrong he was.

Lancer came careening out of the sky not a moment later, slashing his spear at Berserker. The weapon cut deeply into his shoulders and face, hitting him a total of three times before Berserker was able to reach up and throw a punch straight into Lancer's gut.

Pain wracked Lancer's face, and he went sailing back into the dark. Berserker placed a hand on his shoulders. The wounds weren't terribly deep, thankfully, but throwing punches in the air would be more difficult now.

Berserker swore in his head. He should've known Lancer would attack from above. Just because the shelves were there didn't mean that Lancer wouldn't attack from that direction. He'd simply attack from above, and not straight on.

It was only a few good hits, Berserker thought to himself, he hasn't made up the difference just yet.

Lancer came spinning out of the shadows from behind Berserker, but Berserker slid under Lancer's attack and threw his leg out, tripping Lancer. Berserker immediately shot off to follow up, but Lancer flipped to his feet before he even touched the ground and warded Berserker off with a kick to the face.

Berserker retreated, but regained his composure in time to see Lancer dashing around to his right. It looked like he was trying to get at Berserker's back. Berserker wouldn't let him.

He rotated his position and threw out a few jabs to keep Lancer away from him. Lancer responded by drawing a rune on the blade of his spear and then slashing it at Berserker. From the tip of the spear, blue energy in the form of a line shot directly at Berserker. Berserker barely slipped around it just in time for Lancer to follow up with a few strikes at Berserker's chest. Berserker quickly used his arms to cover himself and push forward to Lancer.

Lancer tried to bash him with the haft of the spear, but Berserker threw the spear's edge off to the side and then let loose two massive body shots that sent Lancer careening back into the darkness once more…

But this time, Lancer hit the wall of the building, crashing through it. Sunlight broke into the room, this time flooding the majority of it. Berserker smirked. There was no hiding for him anymore.

Berserker looked down at the slashes on his chest that Lancer managed to give him. They weren't terribly deep… Berserker must've been able to stop Lancer's attack before it got too serious. But it almost seemed like Lancer was only interested in cutting his skin, and no deeper… what was he up to?

Berserker's eyes widened. It wasn't possible… He wouldn't have. And yet it seemed like he did.

Berserker shook his head and pursued Lancer outside.

Lancer hadn't expected Berserker to be as good at countering him as he was… but Lancer was still successful in putting his Runes on Berserker. He only had one left to do. Then he could get serious.

Lancer got to his feet. He had been knocked into a public playground. With the sun as high as it was, there was a fair chance that people would be getting up soon. He doubted that anyone lived close enough to be awakened by the commotion that he and Berserker were kicking up, but early risers may be coming to open their businesses in the area. He'd have to finish this fast if he wanted to avoid killing any witnesses.

Berserker slowly walked out of the warehouse and over into the playground. He didn't take up a stance. Lancer took advantage of that and jumped, diving at him from above. Because of Berserker's wounded shoulders, intercepting would be-

Lancer's thoughts were interrupted when Berserker jumped as well, meeting him in the air. Lancer was amazed at first, but quickly refocused. He had an objective to complete. Lancer rotated in the air, sailing around Berserker's punch. Lancer threw out his spear to cut Berserker on his cheek, completing the rune he had started on it.

Berserker didn't seem to notice, and he threw out a kick that slammed into Lancer's spear, tearing it out of his hands and causing it to lodge itself into a nearby hill. Lancer and Berserker both returned to the ground.

Lancer got to his feet and held out his hand, calling the spear to him. It wormed its way out of the hill and flew back towards him.

Suddenly, Berserker dashed in the way, snatching the spear out of the air. Lancer's eyes widened as Berserker twirled it in his hands for a moment or two. Berserker then slammed it into the ground, cracking the Earth beneath him. He rooted his foot next to it and got his fists up into a fighting pose.

It was truly marvelous. Berserker had such raw talent at his disposal that if he had ever actually taken the time to listen and learn from someone smarter than him, he would be an absurdly skilled warrior in any martial art he could've chosen. The speed at which he learned was something special, even by a Heroic Spirit's standards.

Lancer smiled. It didn't matter. He had finished his final Rune on Berserker, which meant that he had completed his objective. He could fight for real now. Lancer summoned two Runes into the palms of his two hands.

He had no access to his full-body tattoos, his spear was trapped, and he was losing power from his Spiritual Core at a rapid pace. There was absolutely no way he could achieve victory anymore.

His smile grew wider. It was a perfect scenario for a warrior like him. He felt his blood surge within him. He let his aura slip out, just a little.

You thought you were facing the wise and all-knowing Odin… and indeed, until now, I played the part. But now let me show you, Berserker, the power and indomitable will of the warrior known as Woden!

Lancer dashed forward, his focus unbreakable, his will enduring, and power fluctuating. His heart skipped a beat as finally, he was able to unleash-

The punch came from underneath. It was a left uppercut. Lancer saw it coming. But his body wouldn't move. His legs weren't fast enough. He had lost too much power. He couldn't stop his forward momentum. He couldn't slide around it. He just had to watch as it smashed into his lower chin, throwing his face skyward, and compelling his feet to leave the ground from the force of the punch.

The two Runes in his hands fizzled out. He was out of Mana. It was over.

Dammit… I really thought I'd have more time, Lancer thought morosely.

His face slumped down in time to see Berserker's right hand coming around to deliver a final right straight punch to Lancer.

Let's meet again in another place, Berserker. I'll beat you… next time.

Lancer was thrown off his feet backwards, and he slid on the ground for a few feet before coming to rest at the foot of the hill where his spear had been buried. He didn't feel any pain whatsoever.

He realized that he wasn't dead. He was slightly confused. He… grabbed me and threw me instead of punching me? Lancer thought.

"You fool…" Berserker grumbled, walking towards him.

Lancer lifted his head to look at Berserker, the look on his face unmistakable. "Ah… so you noticed," Lancer smirked.

"What in Hades were you trying to do, attacking me with a broken Spiritual Core?" Berserker criticized, standing over him.

Lancer shakily raised his hand and pointed. His Runes that he had carved on Berserker's body activated. Berserker was surprised as they glowed with power for a brief moment before fading out.

"You'll forgive me for carving them with my spear so brutally. That's the only way they'll stay active after I'm gone."

Berserker looked back at him. "What did you…?"

"I sealed your Divinity. That golden chain of his… the Chains of Heaven, he called them… you wouldn't have a chance if they could still affect you. By sealing your Divine blood, you'll have a fighting chance," Lancer explained.

Berserker clenched his fist. "You… you could have simply told me you were trying to help me."

Lancer laughed. "As if you'd accept my help. You're stubbornness would've never allowed it."

"You don't know that, you bastard."

Lancer reached up his hand and pointed at his missing eye. "Actually, I do. It's a shame that my eye couldn't have stuck around for longer… but pulling skills from my future self is something that is supposedly impossible in the first place…"

Berserker just had a stern look on his face. If Lancer didn't know any better, he'd think that was a look of pity. Lancer struggled to get to his feet.

Much to his surprise, Berserker reached out and helped him up. "Odd for a Berserker like you to show such good manners," Lancer smiled, moving slowly past him and grabbing onto his spear, which was still embedded in the ground.

Lancer pulled. The spear stayed still. He sighed. He didn't even have enough power left to pull the spear out of the ground.

Berserker walked over and pulled it out for him, handing it to him.

"Thank you," Lancer replied. He moved and walked up the hill he had been resting on. He raised his spear, aiming it over the horizon.

"Yes… about there," he calculated. He had to be exact with the direction he threw this.

Master… if you would be so kind… he told Sakura telepathically. He felt a surge of Mana from her Command Seals.

He immediately redirected that power, letting it flood into the spear. He didn't stop there. He let the spear continue to charge. He let it break. He turned the spear into a Broken Phantasm.

"Gungnir," he spoke softly. He pitched the spear into the sky, letting it sail over the buildings and the mountains in the distance, disappearing past the horizon.

"What was that?" Berserker asked.

Lancer shrugged. "Call it my last act. With luck, someone will see it as it sails to its location… My desire is that it might bring hope to anyone who does."

He looked back and saw Berserker just standing there, looking at him.

"We heroes have a responsibility to bring hope, even if only in a symbolic matter," Lancer explained.

Berserker raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know the Elder God Odin believed in wishing upon a star."

"Woden."

"...What?"

"My name. It's Woden."

"What's the difference, aren't you the same person?"

Lancer gave a slight shrug. "In a way. But no man stands as tall as their legend. Not even a god could cover that distance." Lancer looked back up towards the sky.

Berserker didn't respond at first. "I remember why I disliked you when we first met."

Lancer smirked, looking back down at Berserker. "Oh?"

There was another pause. "You remind me… of someone I took for granted."

Berserker suddenly got on one knee and bowed his head, stunning Lancer into silence.

"Thank you for the lesson."

Berserker got back to his feet and turned around, walking away.

Lancer could only stare for a moment. Dust that shone like gold entered his vision, snapping him out of his stupor. He looked down and saw his arms and legs fading away.

It was time.

He just smiled and closed his eyes. He lifted his face and let the warm breeze of the morning take him away.

As the airplane left the runway, Sakura felt her whole body press back into her seat. She folded her hands neatly on her lap.

"Feels good to leave this place behind," the man sitting next to her said. She glanced over at him. He wore plain clothes and a baseball cap.

"This has been the worst vacation ever, man. Bad weather aside, all that crazy flooding and all those explosions and flashing lights? No way am I sticking around here."

Sakura took a breath and looked straight ahead.

There's no way for us to achieve victory anymore… I'm sorry, Master, Lancer had said back when he had completed his ritual.

You shouldn't be apologizing. You did the best you could, given the circumstances, she had replied, I only wish I had been more… aware… of my own hand in the ruination of my life.

There is still a life out there for you, Master. The ties of family are harder to sever than you think.

Sakura tilted her head and looked out the window as the plane passed above the clouds.

"What about you? Were you vacationing, too?" the man asked.

Sakura just shook her head, keeping her eyes on the sky. "No… I was just trying to run away."

"Hell of a town to come to for that."

A sparkle caught Sakura's eye. A streak of light suddenly flashed across the horizon, in the distance. It was only for a moment.

Sakura wondered if Rin could see the same shooting star… she hoped she could.

"Well, glad to put that all behind me, anyway," the man continued.

"Yes… me too."

As Berserker stepped out of his spirit form, Chiaki, who had been sitting on the steps that lead up to her room, looked up at him. Her eyes were red.

"You were fighting," she sniffed.

Berserker nodded. "Yeah."

Chiaki looked at the wall, and then, realizing that there was nothing on the wall to look at, looked down at her feet. "I'm sorry that I said you were running away. I know it's not true… I just…"

"I know. I'm sorry I ran off. I know you didn't mean it, but I got angry anyway," Berserker replied.

There wasn't enough space for Berserker to sit next to Chiaki on the stairwell, so he instead just sat on the floor at the foot of the stairs, leaning up against the wall with his forearms resting on his knees.

"You were kind of right. I was running away from you."

Chiaki looked up at him. "No you weren't. You love Ariadne, it's not hard to understand why you would want to go find her."

Berserker shrugged. "I'm not sure I did love Ariadne. Not really. I liked her, and I thought she was beautiful… but thinking someone is beautiful and actually loving them are two very different things. When my battle with the Minotaur filled me with uncertainty, the thought of her should've made me resolute. But it didn't. And that terrified me."

"Ariadne… scared you?"

Berserker looked over at Chiaki.

"She looked at me the same way you do, Chiaki. With eyes full of admiration. They remind me of what everyone sees me as. They remind me that I'm supposed to be the mightiest hero of Greece. And I just don't… know if…" Berserker's voice trailed off and he looked away.

Chiaki didn't say anything for a while. "...you don't think you can?"

Berserker turned his head and looked at Chiaki. "If I'm the strongest hero, then I could save anyone. But… I don't know if I can save you."

Chiaki's face softened, and she stood up, joining him at the bottom of the stairs, sitting on the other side of him. "Maybe you can't save me. Maybe I am broken beyond repair. I don't know. All I know is that when you're with me… I don't feel broken. You're not sure if you can be the hero that the legends say you are… but that's fine. I don't need you to save me, Berserker. I just… need you to be here with me."

Chiaki leaned against Berserker's arm. He could hear her voice waver as she continued. "And I know… that we have to say goodbye eventually… but I don't want you to go yet. Because you're my hero."

Berserker moved his arm and wrapped it around Chiaki, pulling her close. Chiaki nestled her head against his side.

"...and Heracles can go suck it."

Berserker let out a laugh. Even though he could feel her tears running off her face, he could also feel her smile.

And that was the best feeling in the world.