A/N: Hey peeps, sorry if its a bit late, but here's the next chapter, and a start to the Feast of Kings arc from Marcus Galen Sands' own God Slaying Blade Works. I just want to say one thing though. I try my best to get the chapters updated at least once every week either on or as close to Wednesday as possible each week unless otherwise stated. So quite giving me grief over updates. Now that that's out of the way, quick Reviewer Review:
1.) The pairings and such have been updated, and a quick shout out to those who mentioned the missing pairings. I completely forgot about Caren and Bazett, so thank you for that reminder. Also, no, that listing is not complete as of yet. There will be other pairings in the future added on as they are made in the story, but for the most part, the current pairings will not change. To those of you who feel that Lacelot should go with Shirou, I have a plot reason for that one, and it is a canon one as well.
2.) The whole thing about the number of children born seemingly not anotomically realistic, those numbers are not the finalized ones, nor are they for an individual birth, but multiple births from the pairings. The ludicrous number will simply be over time, not all at once, so you can stop with the flaming about sex ed; I never said those numbers were in one go, so stop commenting about it being too much.
3.) The reson shirou was blaming Murphy's law was because he could sense something wasn't right and knew he had to settle the fight fast, before his E-rank luck struck, but was too late before it came to bite him on the ass. And to all of you complaining about how his luck stat isn't right, I will explain it in the future in a few arcs, when I explain the nature of his Sixth Sorcery. So wait until then for the full story.
Now, unto the disclaimer:
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own 'Campione!', 'FATE', or any other franchise referenced in this fic, nor do I claim ownership of any other fics referenced, as they are the respective properties of their respective authors, creators, and publishers. This is fic created with a heavy basis onan AU of Marcus Galen Sands' fic 'God Slaying Blade Works', but with a heavy emphasis on 'WHAT IF", with the main basis being the 'Harem Ending' of Realta Nua, ideas taken from other fanfics with credit given as used to the best of my capabilities, a meshing of canon lore from both series in a manner that makes since, and my own original ideas thrown in to the mix wherever applicable. This is a FREE, UNPAID FANFIC of a FANFIC, meaning I wrote this as with no monetary gain whatsoever as a FAN-MADE FICTION of a FAN-MADE FICTION. If you paid to read this then you got ripped off. And if you do not like it, you do not have to read it. Nobody is making you.
And now onto the story:
Story Start
God Slaying Blade Works: The King of Wrought Iron
Twenty-first Blade: Road to the Feast of Kings Part I
Within Unlimited Blade Works
Shirou P.O.V.
Ugh, the hell...By the Blue's Tit's, I feel like I was just run through a fucking thresher. My body was very much sore as hell, most likely by my rather reckless actions while I was severely wounded, yet still kept fighting in spite of the injuries...looks like I'll be paying for that one in the morning…
Taking a quick look around, I find myself suddenly feeling floored by what I saw around me. I was back within my reality marble, most likely my body went into a state of rest with my mind retreating within the depths of itself in order to better heal, hence why I was here within my mental landscape. In fact, the statues that was blurred out before had actually become visible in more detail now...But that's not what shocked me, oh no, it's not my inner world that was so surprising; it was the fact that all the fucking weapons were all reacting to my present condition in a manner that could only be described as worry and anxiety, with the healing ones doing their damnedest to heal me, as the vampiric ones fumed in resigned anger that they could not be of any help...okay, I'll bite: What. The. Fuck?!
"Why hello again Blade of Humanity. It would seem you have actually managed to attain one of the key aspects of my power sooner than even I expected: awakening the soul of a weapon from dormancy, and bringing forth it's latent potential to the fullest...though I feel that I have to say, not even I managed to do that with EVERY weapon in this world all at once as you just did, nor did I ever really try to do something like that...I might have pulled some things that caused others to question my sanity, but not even once have I tried something as reckless as waking up all these weapons in one go like you had...you are very lucky it did not shatter your mind outright from the mental strain alone..."
I didn't even jump as [Xiphos]' remnant appeared nearby, as I kind of figured he would. Frankly I was a bit more gobsmacked by his words than his presence within my inner world nowadays...I did something that not even he tried to do before...oh by the Root...please tell me this won't cause me problems later on, or at least nothing that I won't be able to manage on my own…
"Don't fret, it isn't anything too serious. It's merely all these swords have had their sentience of steel awakened and stirred from their slumber all at once. Think of it like this: all swordsare sentient enough to choose its wielder, for they know the purpose for which they were forged;as such, the one best suited to wielding it will inevitably leave an impression of his or herself onto the blade. After all, a sword simply chooses the one best suited to wield it as its master. These blades simply acknowledged you as worthy of becoming their new master to replace their original ones. And a sword is nothing if not loyal and proud to the one worthy to wield it best."
Whew, well that at least calmed me down somewhat...although one thing that bothers me about this is how he knew what I was thinking before I said it my—wait-a-minute…
"...you can hear my thoughts because you reside within my soul, can't you..."
"Guilty as charged."
...okay really...he is seriously being surprising talkative though right now. Maybe he won't give me any more information about what he is referring to unless I happen to attain more of his power than I had before under my control. In that regards, the only times he ever manifested was after I had attained sorcery. What's more, he seems to know things about my past that even I cannot recall, but is keeping them to himself until he feels I attained enough of his power and believes me to be ready for that information. In a sense, it's just like me when training Godou-san and the others: he doesn't give me more than he feels I can handle or am ready for. Or in other words, a strict teacher, but one of action rather than lectures...wait-a-minute…
"If you've been residing within my soul all this time...then does that mean..."
[Xiphos] remnant looks a bit saddened by what he knows I am asking, and he simply smiles sadly as he nods in acknowledgment of my question...well shit…
"Yes, Blade of Humanity, it is exactly as you suspect. By residing within your soul, I have inadvertently altered your appearance to match my own. My influence gives you great power, but at the same time, I will inevitably fuse with your being, but I have no intention of trying to take your body by force as [Sun Wukong] had unintentionally tried to do with that human girl. When the day comes, I will give my being to yours without a fight. It may not have been intentional on my part to fuse with my own descendant like I had, but in the end, it was the only means available to save your life long enough to get the help from Kiritsugu...It would seem we are out of time. For now, I won't say more, but when you get more power, I will explain further."
Before I could ask him more about what the hell he was talking about, I felt a sudden tugging sensation from outside on my mind, pulling me back to the waking world...somebody was trying to restore the stamina I had lost fighting the Heretic God and wake me back up long enough to get back to the others for a proper rest…
"Before you go, one piece of advice: the one whom you saved is most likely someone you must protect at all costs, but at the same time, someone you need to keep a close eye on, for just who she is, as well as the role she will play later..."
...and was once again dragged from within the depths of my own soul before I could get a straight answer from the entity residing within my inner world…
Xiphos P.O.V.
After the sword left, I turned back to the world around me fully intent to calm the weapons down. I was known as the Sword of Origin for a reason, after all, and got them to calm down with but a few words and some time. Turning back to look at the world around me, I cannot help but to smile sadly as what I knew would most likely come to pass eventually. After all, my old friend is most certainly going to be in for the fight of his life when I know for a fact he will end up meeting the Bade of Humanity in battle, and what the sword will find out when that day comes...
And I also know what will become of me once that battle ends. I am merely a remnant of a long-dead God, the fragment of a primordial daemon's soul, nothing more than its shade. The only reason I even lasted this long was because the sword to inherit my power was not ready yet nor was he strong enough to claim the brunt of my power before, but due to the situation and various circumstances, the sword is now capable of inheriting it with some training and practice. But I know of what will eventually come to pass. Even if I may only be a shadow of my former self, I can still predict exactly what will happen simply by the information I gleaned of potential futures with the information on hand, something the Blade of Humanity has started being able to do for a while now. After all...I will simply fade into his soul after he fully inherits my power, and my existence will fully vanish from the world, becoming but a mere phantom to aid him when he is in need of repairs and reforging from the verge of being broken once again.
But until then, I will fulfill my role to the best of my abilities as I can perform. Such is my purpose as the sword from which all other swords are forged: to forge the Blade of Humanity into a worthy successor. I just hope he won't be too upset, when he finds out what I knew was coming all along. Truly a kind soul, the Blade of Humanity is…
Nikkou National Park Outskirts
Shirou P.O.V.
As I started to wake up, I could feel a lingering sensation on my lips, warm and soft...before making out a head of blonde hair fleeing before I could fully process what just happened...oh, damn...looks like the [Hero's Charm] struck and claimed its first 'official' victim. The girl apparently gave me a kiss, but that was how she healed me...oh...damn...no wonder she ran off so fast...she must have been embarrassed as all hell…
The words of [Xiphos] remnant came back to my mind. He was apparently saddened for some reason about the nature of how he saved me, yet, he was obviously not telling me everything...but still, it seems as though he doesn't want to tell me for personal reasons. Not that I could not understand, there are things I don't like talking about, so I can understand it to some extent.
Looking down at my clothes as I sat back up, I could not help but grimace at the sight. My shirt and pants had holes, scorch marks, blood, dirt, and grime from the battle covering it. My once white-and-blue shirt was stained red where it used to be white and the blue sleeves had been scorched and burnt until it charred black from the heat, and was barely holding together from the enchantments keeping it intact enough to protect my modesty...though there was a big ass hole in the abdomen of it front and back from the impalement I had suffered. Oddly enough, my shoes were still usable, but the body armor I was wearing was a complete loss, the bulletproof vest was completely trashed and ruined from the battle it endured admirably until the end. The only part of my attire not ruined at all was the [Shroud of Martin] wrapped around my left arm, but that wasn't a surprise to me, as it was enchanted to grant immunity to any environmental conditions and never be uncomfortable to the wearer.
Groaning as I got off the ground, I could tell instantly just how sore I was going to be for the next few days. I was probably not going to be able to do much strenuous activity until I fully healed, but for the most part, it should not be more than two or three days before I am fully recovered again. This guy was certainly strong by a god's standards; I wasn't really this tired when I fought the previous gods I encountered, but that was because they weren't using their authorities to the best of their abilities. [Mordred] on the other hand had and did use them both efficiently and effectively. I also could sense a new authority resting within my being, like it clicked and locked into place as I was knocked out. I could see what it was later, though. Right now, it was time to check up on the others. Stumbling for the first few feet, as soon as I got my bearings, I managed to limp a bit back to where the others fought their respective opponents. Using some minor [reinforcement] and short bursts of [Magic Blue], I got there in just five minutes...
Third-person P.O.V.
The King of the Los Angeles, King of Ruin, and Empress of the Martial Realm were just finishing up their respective battles after the Eighth Devil King had been dragged off by Heretic God [Mordred], the Knight of Treachery. They were a bit shocked earlier with how the God dragged the Eighth Campione off like he did, but didn't have time to worry about it. But during their fight halfway through, there was an explosion of magical energy so great it caught them off guard and actually paused a moment in mid-battle, as even their godly opponents were shocked by the sheer feel of the Emiya's mystical presence. It felt like a maelstrom of steel had suddenly erupted from their battle before weakening again...just what it was, they did not know…
"So, you guys felt that too?" Godou asked his fellow Campione, and they just nodded a bit dumbly at his question, not that he could blame them. He wasn't a very good mage at all, not having any training or knowledge of magic prior to becoming a God-slayer, and yet even he could feel it. That alone said just how strong his fellow King's magical reserves were…
"It would seem that King Emiya is a truly frightening individual, to possess that much raw power as a mage..." John Pluto Smith said in response to the local King's query. 'He' actually felt something stir within 'himself', even while in 'his' Campione persona...just what is it about Emiya Shirou that made 'Annie' take such a damn liking to him…
"There he—BY THE FIST OF MY FATHER!" Luo Hao started, only to suddenly shout out in alarm that last part, as the others looked in the direction she had pointed before she shouted...and all jaws dropped at the sight that greeted them. The sight of the Emiya's attire in such a ruined state shocked even Luo Hao.
"You know, you don't need to yell so loud...I may be sore as hell, but I am not deaf...or I wasn't until you shouted just now..." The Emiya's rather tired tone told them just how intense a fight it must have been, but the sheer destruction of his attire isn't what truly caught them off guard...were those swords stitching the hole in his abdomen shut?! They suddenly recalled something from when he first appeared and became known to the world…
'...His Body is made out of Swords...'
"Emiya-san! Are you alright?!" Godou-san ran up to him and shouted looking his fellow Japanese King over in concern. However, the flippant response and deadpan stare he got was enough to make him halt in his tracks and gape like a koi fish…
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just got impaled to a fucking tree and had to rip myself free in order to kill [Mordred]. No I'm not okay, I happen to be sore as hell, but I'll live. Just gonna be a bit sore for the next few days while I heal..."
That caused them all to stop dead in their tracks at the completely straight face he had as he said that. Even Luo Hao, who was the eldest of their adopted siblings here, was surprised by his nonchalance at his being impaled. She knew from personal experience in her younger years how much injuries like that could be painful, yet he was treating it like a minor annoyance...If that wasn't more than an annoyance to him, then what amount of pain would it take for him to suffer to actually cause him problems...She could not help the internal shudder at the thought…
Looking to the distance, Shirou noticed that the others who were with them had started to come towards them. He noticed a particular head of white hair running to him like a ballistic missile and braced himself for what he knew was coming…"SHIROU!"
*GOOuuph*
"Shirou! I was so worried, first I couldn't sense you, then I could again, then I couldn't, then I felt your life-force again…please don't do that again!" The teen snow fairy was on the verge of tears as she said this, and the Emiya could feel it break his glass heart that he was the one who caused her to feel this sadness. He was the closest thing to family she had left that actually cared for her, and here he was, worrying her about his safety. Honestly, not a very good job on his part...
"Sorry about that Illya, I'm sorry about worrying you like that..." Shirou embraces her in a hug, gently rubbing her back to calm her down, while he had a sad smile, as he knew he was at fault for her worries. However, Luo Hao and John Pluto Smith looked a bit miffed by her rather abrupt and rude entrance.
"King Emiya, who is this rude girl to interrupt a discussion between Kings?" She looked like her head was about to steam from the insult she felt...time to head this off…
"This is Illyasviel von Einzbern. One of my fiances, and someone who is among the few I have left to call my family in this entire world."
...that caused the two foreign Devil Kings to pause at that with different thoughts running through their heads. For Luo Hao, she suddenly understood why she was so tear-stricken when she ran up to her fellow Rakshasa Raja: her fellow King was possibly the only family she had left in this world. As for John Pluto Smith, 'he' suddenly had mixed feelings. On the one hand, this girl was among those her fellow King called family, but on the other, he called her 'one' of his fiances, as in plural. 'John Pluto Smith' was rather proud of the guy for scoring multiple women, but 'Annie' was feeling rather irked that the guy had multiple women and began assuming he was a playboy building up a harem…
"I see, then this Luo Hao will excuse her transgression this one time...her concern for her family has clouded her judgment, and any would be somewhat rude when it comes to their family and loved ones possibly being lost." The Empress of the martial Real said with a tone of sadness in her voice, as though the thought of family brought back some very painful memories for her.
"I see, well I suppose it is time for me to make my exit." John Pluto Smith said with some slight irritation in 'his' tone as 'he' began to make 'his' leave, but before 'he' could…
"Now hold on, you're just going to leave? You aren't going to help with the clean up?" Godou asked him with some slight disappointment in his voice. He had apparently hit things off with the American King far more than he and the others thought. He felt the American God-slayer was one of the better and more reasonable ones he'd met so far, despite his unintentional disrespect towards himself and his fellow Japanese King. He liked the guy so far.
"I am afraid so. When the curtain closes, it is time for John Pluto Smith to make his exit. For it is only right that the actors leave the stage once the curtain is closed upon their performance."
That got the Emiya's attention. The wording he gave certainly started to put the image of 'John Pluto Smith' into much more clarity for him, giving him a few more pieces of the puzzle that was his fellow God-slayer. He got a clearer idea of why 'he' kept his identity a secret and why 'he' kept that a secret, but he still chose to respect 'his' secrecy. But rather than let 'him' leave, Shirou decided to do something he knew of happening only once before...back during the [Fourth Holy Grail War]…
"Now hold on John Pluto Smith, who said the curtain has closed just yet?" Shirou asked his fellow King before 'he' could leave, catching 'him' in mid-step. "There is something else to be done first before the curtain can truly be closed on this incident."
The King of Los Angeles was somewhat floored by this statement. 'He' had all intents and purposes to leave now and avoid as much contact as possible with the Eighth Campione until 'he' could sort out just what the hell was wrong with 'Annie'. "And what, pray tell, would that be, King Emiya?"
"I would normally say this is over, but I think this calls for a celebration." this caused the others to look at him with odd looks, but the Eighth Campione simply smiled wryly at his compatriots. "What? Think about it. To my knowledge there has never before been four Heretic Gods to descend upon the same location at the same time, much less four Kings to battle side by side to combat these deities at once before now. I say this is cause for a celebration."
"King Emiya, while I appreciate the invitation, I have but one question. Why do you think this will work having four Devil Kings appear at once and not have them fight it out with each other?" Luo Hao asked, and it was a good question. Godou was gobsmacked by the proposition, John Pluto Smith was floored, and the others were just as shocked by the offer he was making as they had just caught the tailwind of the conversation. All eyes were on him, and he had no intention of changing his mind.
Some of the memories he got from Archer EMIYA told him about this event: The Feast of Kings. It was hosted by the King of Conquerors during the [Fourth Holy Grail War], as the Rider of that war decided to have all the Kings present get together in a contest of Kingship. Essentially what it boiled down to was a contest to see who deserved the grail more than the others. I simply smiled wryly at the shock and awe such a statement caused, after all, they had no reason to stay, yet I was giving them one…
"Because this celebration will be a competition of Kingship, one of words, rather than fists. I only know of one other instance of such an event being held, but if it was good enough for someone as arrogant and egotistical as the [King of Heroes] was, and on the level of [Gilgamesh]'s narcissism, then I don't see why it would not be good enough to work for us. The only conditions for attendance is that you must do so under the promise not to fight among your fellow guests and attendees. What attire you wear is up to you, but formal wear is both optional and encouraged. So what say you all? In about a weeks time, I plan to hold this event, and I invite you three and any you wish to bring with you to attend, so long as you can follow these terms."
The three Devil Kings were slightly taken aback by such terms. Godou for one was unsure whether or not he should even attend, as he was unsure if he was even worthy to call himself a King. While he may have slain a God and became a Devil King, he still felt he was unworthy to call himself one.
Luo Hao was of course uncertain whether or not to accept such a request. On the one hand, she would have her reputation ruined if she did not accept on top of not having a chance to spend some time alone with that massive giant of a masculine muscles she could not help the instinctive urge to drag off and bed right then and there. But on the other, she could not be sure it would be such a good idea to remain so long in another King's territory and leave hers alone for too long.
For John Pluto Smith, 'he' was even more of mixed feelings. The strange tingling 'he' felt within 'himself' was most certainly bizarre in the absolute most disturbing of ways. 'Annie' was feeling the most bizarre urge to grab King Emiya and flat out ride him until he got her pregnant, and 'John Pluto Smith' was feeling slightly disturbed by this. It was like 'Annie's' instinct to procreate with King Emiya was going into overdrive, and 'he' was unsure how to respond to that.
Noticing their reluctance, however, Shirou gave a sickly sweet smile as he gave them a reason to accept the invitation, if only to get them to understand their understanding of their reputations being damaged. "How about this then? Luo Hao, John Pluto Smith, if the two of you attend, then I will consider one favor from each of you owed to myself and Godou-san cleared to make up for your disrespect towards us both. Though the two of you will still owe us both a few favors to break even on that front. John Pluto Smith will still owe us both two or three favors, while Luo Hao will owe us four or five, as penance for helping cause this disaster."
"SAY WHAT?!" Practically every one of those gathered shouted at his explaination at the same time, but the Emiya simply smirked in amusement by the reactions of his fellow Devil Kings. He may hate politics, but that doesn't mean he can't play that game good enough to cover his own ass from a political backstabbing...he suffered more than enough of those in his collective memories to learn how to avoid that kind of bad end for the most part...
"What, you didn't think I was just going to forget about your blatant disrespect towards both Godou-san and myself just like that did you? Oh no, you both owe us a few favors to make up for it, Luo Hao more so than you, John Pluto Smith. Do this, and I will consider it one less favor from you both that you owe us to repent for your transgressions. The reason you owe us more Luo Hao is because you deliberately made the situation far worse than it needed to be with your antics, whereas John Pluto Smith simply disregarded our jurisdiction. 'He' merely came here legally, but without announcing 'himself' to either Godou-san or myself, which is why 'he' will get off slightly easier, as 'his' transgression is the lesser of yours and wasn't intentional on 'his' part."
John Pluto Smith got the hint at what 'his' fellow King was implying, and 'he' felt a cold pit form in 'his' stomach at that. Luo Hao was actually gobsmacked by his explanation of forcing her to owe the two Kings of Wakkoku favors as penance for her slights against them both. Godou was floored by what his fellow Japanese God-slayer was doing, as he thought Emiya-san hated politics. The looks he got from both the King of Los Angeles and the Empress of the Martial Realm were those of shocked surprise, but as they thought about it, the looks were quickly changed to curious intrigue…
"Very well, this Luo Hao will attend this offered meeting between her fellow Kings. I will see you all in one week, King Emiya, King Kusanagi, King Smith." The Empress of the Martial Realm responded, with a look of interest at the idea, and with a slight blush as she looked at the heavily muscled giant whom she had a feeling would also be in attendance. King Emiya simply smirked knowingly at her, causing her to fight a slight blush at being caught looking at such a marvelous specimen of manly muscle.
"I agree, and I shall also see you in a weeks time, and look forward to such an event, King Emiya." John Pluto Smith agreed as well, though the feelings were of mixed nature. One the one hand, 'he' could not turn down such an invite if it were to possibly damage 'his' reputation. But on the other, 'Annie' was really getting antsy for some reason to be invited to the Eighth King's home for a party...it was confusing and astounding even 'him' for the reason 'she' was getting so worked up...and it was a bit disturbing to 'him' as well just how much 'Annie' was doing so to the Eighth Campione…
Godou, for his part, was speechless at the Emiya's politically savvy maneuver. For a guy who claimed so often to hate politics, he sure seemed to be very good at it. He was, however, unsure whether or not he should attend, but knowing Erica as well as he did, he was more than likely going to have to attend whether he wanted to or not...why him…
"Now that that's settled, let's get the Committee to get us a ride...I am tired in a way I have not been since the time I fought you back when I was still an ordinary human, Berserker..." I said to the former Servant of Madness, causing both Luo Hao and John Pluto Smith to jump at his response. The muscled giant gave a throaty chuckle at that which sounded more like boulders scrapping together as he recalled the memory with great amusement.
"Aye, I remember that...that was one of the few times I ever met anybody crazy enough to take me head on in a battle of pure physical strength, despite being a mortal human, and a mage to boot...as I recall, you were so worn out from that fight, you were literally sprawled out on the ground in sheer exhaustion and had to be carried back to your house by Saber." The Son of Zeus shook his head as he laughed a bit in bemusement of that particular tidbit, but still had a great deal of respect in his tone as he said it. After all, its not every day he met somebody capable of going toe-to-toe with him in a battle of pure brute physical strength, even with experts in [reinforcement] like the young Emiya head. While he gently carried the injured Kurogane as carefully as he could to avoid aggravating his injuries, they made their way back to the Committee's base camp.
They got the Committee to treat the elder Kurogane, and was working on trying to contain the damage from [Sun Wukong]'s manifestation upon the mortal plane. Both the Empress of the Martial Realm and the King of Los Angeles decided to make their respective exits for the time being, with Luo Hao taking Yinghua with her. As Shirou and his entourage were getting into their cars to leave, however, they were stopped by a certain young girl, who wished to speak with them.
"King Emiya...I wish to say thank you for saving me. I was told what had happened to me, and what would have happened to me if you hadn't done what you had. So thank you King Emiya..." the younger of the Mariya siblings said as she bowed deeply with every fiber of her being showing great respect and gratitude, however, Shirou was having none of it, as he felt he did not deserve it.
"Think nothing of it, but if you wish to thank somebody, then thank Godou-san. After all, all I did was separate you from [Sun Wukong], not save you. He was the one who actually saved you, all I did was give him the chance to do that...besides, you may want to be spiritually examined, as there was some contamination from the Monkey King's possession of your body to your soul. And there is no telling what long-term side-effects that will have, or how that may affect you in the future. If you want, then you may accompany Shizuka-chan to lessons with us and our training sessions with Godou-san and his girls. We might not be able to undo what has been done to you, but we can help you learn to harness it and not let it control you in the worst case scenario."
Hikari was surprised by this. The Eighth King was not only refusing her thanks, but telling her he was simply not the one she should thank...she began to see he was not one to take credit for things he hasn't done, yet was also one to not take credit for things he has done, downplaying his feats to modest and humble levels. As she began to look at him, she realized he was dead serious about King Kusanagi being the one who freed her, his eyes said it all: he would not take credit for simply lending his fellow King a hand in saving her by giving him the chance to do so.
"Even so, thank you for giving King Kusanagi the chance to do so, King Emiya. If you'll excuse me, I'll go see my sister..." and turned to leave after bowing respectfully, leaving the Emiya rather perplexed. He wasn't going to take credit for something he didn't do, nor was he the type to seek glory or recognition for his deeds; he simply couldn't care less if he did receive fame or not. He couldn't help but notice the slight blush on her face as the car pulled away while the younger Mariya spoke with the King of Ruin, and a small, warm smile began to spread across his face, content with the ending of this incident so far. While it wasn't a perfect ending, it was a very good one so far, by his standards…
...after all, while a lot of people got hurt, nobody died, and those who turned into monkeys had changed back. The committee had to modify their memories a bit, but otherwise, no harm was done to them, and the casualties were limited to injuries, and no deaths. That was a win in his book…
Scene Change
The room was being shredded apart in the fury of the two Gorgon Sister's rage at losing their champion. [Stheno] and [Euryale] were both enraged at the thought of [Mordred] being defeated by an upstart Devil King, more so since the Queen of the Divine Ancestors was involved in his defeat. If she hadn't interfered, then the God-slayer they targeted would not have managed to turn the battle around like he had.
"...I should have expected this would have been your reaction. You should know, I didn't exactly trust him from the beginning, nor did I expect him to succeed in capturing our prey...this is why I told you two to listen to me and follow my instructions exactly whenever it comes to planning things out..."
The voice of their ally made both Gorgon Sisters pause in their wrath for a short burst, as [Persephone] walked right out of the room. The second she was out of the room, the two began to shred the room once more in their ire. The Knight of Treachery was their trump card against their sister, [Medusa]. Now he was gone, and they were no closer to their vengeance against her. Unbeknownst to either of them, the black seed within both their hearts had cracked, as a small sprout bloomed within their hearts, the seed of betrayal taking root within them...and it was only going to grow bigger with each passing day along with their fury…
Scene Change
Futsunushi P.O.V.
Ah, so powerful...I could not help the urge to just walk up to my fellow sword and polish his 'blade' right then and there. My very loins screamed at me to satisfy my instinctive urge to bear his children...but I knew I had to wait, despite how excruciating it was for me to do so...oh, the sheer power he gave off…
I was just watching from a distance as I saw the battle, and witnessed two of my fellow eastern deities slip something into my beloved, but what I saw surprised me. After all, it's not everyday the famous [Muramasa] and [Masamune] themselves grant a blessing upon another, much less a god-slayer...then again, if this King is his successor, it would make sense...oh, my loins are practically screaming at me to give the young man a first-hand experience with why I am called the Master of Worship, along with the other aspect of my divinity...my body is craving him in a deeply instinctual level, with my loins aching to 'sheathe' his 'sword'within my depths…
...what not even Futsunishi was aware of, she was completely ovulating like an animal in heat during its mating season in response to Emiya Shirou's magical energy, and she would not be able to resist for much longer...nor would the two be prepared for the number of demigods soon to be born from their very intense night of passion together when the two finally did meet…
Scene Change
Sardinia-Unknown P.O.V.
In the remnants of Emiya Shirou's battle with [Perseus], there was a man who seemed to stand within the restricted area that was cordoned off from his battle. Though the rest of the town was cleared for repairs, this section was still cordoned off as a hazard to the public, yet standing there was a single individual who gave off an aura beyond human level. He was dressed in what could be called a wanderer's attire, had it been during the Ancient Greek or Roman Empire's days instead of modern times. However, this traveler was more than a mortal human, but a god who has remained among the mortal plain of existence undefeated for a very long time, one of both steel and travel, of adventure and journeys, for he was the God of Odysseys, himself.
The Traveler was very much intrigued by the remnants of power he had found here, after all. He had seen all this world had to offer him, been to all four corners of it, in all of its planes of existence, and yet, he was finally excited for the first time in a long time. This lingering remnant of power he found seemed to be from an entirely new world all together that he has never once before encountered in all of his travels and journeys, and it gave him a great thrill at the thought of being able to explore it. He was a deity of travels and voyages, and yet this was the first time in centuries he had found a new place to explore, his very blood singing in anticipation of the potential adventures to come.
Absorbing the traces of said power, he began to follow it's traces to the source, dead set on obtaining the power in question to traverse to this newly discovered and unexplored unknown. The Traveler could not contain his excitement at the prospect, nor the eager grin which split his face at the thought of more worlds to explore and claim to have seen firsthand before anyone else…
Scene Change
Third-person P.O.V.
There was a man scribbling away in madness within a room that was filled to the brim with writing on the walls, floor, and various parchments scattered about in an absolute mess that would have made a hoarder have a heart attack at the sheer mess surrounding this unhinged man. The man in question was once a brilliant mage in the mystic community, a magical genius once of great renown, but was driven to madness and insanity. However, genius and madness could also be called two sides of the same coin. The man could be called insane by some, but to others, he could have been a peerless genius.
This man was once an equal to Sir Paolo Blandelli of the Copper-Black Cross and Lady Lucretia Zola, the Witch of Sardinia in renown, but thanks to circumstances, he has fallen from grace. His once handsomely groomed appearance and immaculate suit was dirty and disheveled to the point of being unsanitary with his hands constantly scratching at his unwashed stubble repeatedly, yet his fervor in his concentration was unbroken and unmatched in its intensity which equaled the apparent madness he suffered from. The walls around him in the room he was currently occupying were covered in scribbles, with stacks of paper scattered along half the ground, with him currently scribbling on the wall with his own blood, because he no longer has any usable writing utensil to use, or cannot be bothered to stop long enough to grab one, if he bothered to stop long enough to notice he had some nearby that were still completely unused.
In his incoherent mumbling, things like 'how to achieve it' and 'how to defeat a King who defeats the Gods' could be barely made out. The man then simply stops in his maddened obsession, his face twisted into an insane grin as he suddenly had an epiphany as he finished his rambling and writing, before he begins to laugh in a rather disturbing amount of deranged glee as he finished his calculations. "Yes, that is the answer, the answer, How to defeat a King, when the King defeats a God. King a thief, steals the God's power, so, must create a superior predator. Gods superior to mortals. King superior to God. Question how to beat the King so simple. King superior to Gods simply because no predator to them exists. So I make one, Predator to a King, one who can beat the King. Get my revenge upon the usurpers who trample upon me. Make them pay. Make a Thief superior to a King. HehehehahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHEHEHAHAHAHHEHEHAHAHHEHEHAHHAHA!"
In his deranged laughter, this madman who was once considered a genius on par with the likes of the Witch of Sardinia and the former Diavollo Rosso was completely unaware of one thing: A Campione was one who successfully defied fate in order to achieve the impossible act of slaying a God. What he was attempting to do, while slightly different, was actually possible to make himself a Devil King, should he have applied said attempts upon a deity. Sadly, under different circumstances, he could have very well become a Ninth Campione. Under different circumstances, his potential could have allowed him to become acknowledged as the next of the current generation of God-slaying Devil Kings, in another possibility of existence under slightly different circumstances...truly, his was a perfect example of a tragic waste of potential…
...little did said maddened mage know, his actions were going to cause his downfall in the near future, as he dabbled in a long-lost forbidden spell that the Eighth King had first-hand experience with, but would become enraged at such audacity when unleashed before him, and later saddened by such a waste of potential...after all, as the Blade of Humanity, he must cut down all enemies to humanity...even if said enemy is a former human who turned himself into a monster...
A/N: And that's the chapter peeps. To those of you wondering about the noble phantasms used in the last chapter, I will now list those references used: For the Grail Sword and Red-hilted Sword of Balin, those swords were used in the Fate/High-school DxD crossover, 'Draconian Fate Works'. The Weapons of the Round i named were from the Fate Wiki page for each one, and the Nameless Dragon-slayer and chain-swords will now be given a stat sheet. Their stats are as follows:
Nameless Dragon-slayer
Type: Anti-Unit/Anti-Dragon Rank: C-(Against Draconic foes, upgrades to a B+) Range: 1-45 Target: 1-10
This nameless sword was a cursed sword once used by an unsung Dragon slayer who died protecting a small nation from a pack of dragons. He was merely a wandering mercenary who fancied a bar-maid in the village the Dragons were heading towards, and died slaying them due to the curse of the weapon he was wielding being amplified by one inflicted upon him by the beasts in question. While he may not have died of his wounds outright, he was forced into retirement, and married said barmaid before succumbing to his cursed wounds years later. While normally this weapon would not be a very powerful one, when used against draconic foes, it gets a massive boost, and bolsters its wielders physical parameters at the cost of enhanced fatigue and physical strain. If one is not careful, they could suffer the same fate to befall the nameless dragon-slayer's curse.
[Ouroboros]: Jaws of the Infinity Serpent
Type: Anti-Platoon/Anti-Unit Rank: B- Range: 1-69 Target: 1-299
The chain-blade created alongside its twin when the Gorgon Medusa became pregnant with Emiya Shirou's children, this bladed weapon can be used as both a short-sword, bladed whip, and a chain-blade, all in one. It bears the traits of both dragons and steel, in reflection of its owners origin as the child of a Dragon and a Sword. When used as a mid-ranged weapon, it can take on a surprisingly large number of foes, more so when used as a conceptual weapon. In it's physical weapon form, it is at best an Anti-unit weapon with a strong attack against foes with a vulnerability to shredding attacks, however in its conceptual form, it gains the elemental attributes of both light and water, and can take out larger groups of enemies with an extended range limited only by the amount of magical energy poured into it without breaking it. It's power is comparable to a Noble Phantasm, and given enough time, could become one on its own, as it bears the trait of being inheritable through a bloodline, just like all the original weapons of the Emiya Clan. It has the restriction of who it will allow to wield it just like its twin, in the form of not allowing those without a noble heart or the best of intentions be able to wield it.
[Bahamut]: Lord of the Abyss
Type: Anti-Platoon/Anti-Unit Rank: B Range: 1-71 Target: 1-302
This multi-faceted and extendable whip has interconnected segments that have a shredding capabilities reminiscent of a Shark's skin on the deceptively flat surfaces. This weapon is both a conceptual and physical armament, just like its twin, and has a passive vampiric effect upon those it lashes, a reflection of the Gorgon Medusa's vampiric nature. When used as a physical weapon, this sword's vampiric nature is powerful enough to actually heal any wounds, should it successfully draw blood. However, as a conceptual armament, this effect is weakened in exchange for allowing elemental effects to be imbued to the attacks. While this flaw prevent it from healing wounds in its physical state, this is made up for by invigorating the wielder's energy, giving them the continued strength to keep the fight up, for as long as it can land a clean hit upon the target. It has the restriction of who will be able to wield it just like its twin, in the form of not allowing those with ill intent or a corrupt heart being able to touch it.
And that is the stat sheet for the original weapons used so far. For any questions, please feel free to pm me for a personal question, or leave a review in the review section. I will answer to the best of my abilities, and only to the reasonable posts done in english. Until Next chapter, PEACE OUT!