Chapter 23: Revelation

The little time Chiaki had to rest was mostly spent with her staring up at the ceiling. She couldn't sleep. Nor did she really want to. She knew it was smart for her to, but her mind was alive and buzzing.

It was reasoning, worrying, struggling, and everything in between. Her brain raced a mile a minute and there didn't seem to be any way of slowing it.

She and Berserker had come back when the sun began to sink, meaning they had about two hours of relaxation before they would head out. She wondered what Berserker was doing. She wondered if she should go find him and talk with him. They had talked so much during the day, but she felt the need to talk further.

They had gone over the plan several times already. They had come up with it the very morning after they learned that Uhlan had returned. It was a longshot, and somewhat complicated… but it was logistically the only way they could feasibly win the upcoming battle.

It was all the details involved that worried her. All those uncertainties. If one thing went wrong...

Chiaki's anxious hearing alerted her that there was a knock at the door. She sat up in her bed, almost glad that there was an interruption to her "rest". She slipped out from underneath the covers and quickly moved downstairs, heading towards the door.

Berserker beat her to it, but she could see who was standing in their doorway. A young, sickly girl, with pale skin and dark rings around her eyes. It had been some time since Chiaki had last seen her, so it took a moment for Chiaki to recognize Trussa Loyuffon.

"Chiaki Naka…" the girls' words were interrupted by a coughing fit. Berserker immediately stepped out and helped her inside, taking a brief glance around the outside of the apartment, presumably to check if she was alone.

Chiaki wasted no time in getting her some water and helping to guide her to a seat in the living room.

"I'm terribly sorry… I only mean to relay a… a message and be on my… way…" Trussa wheezed out before accepting the glass of water from Chiaki.

The poor girl looked to be in rough shape. Perhaps she had been attacked? It would explain why her butler was strangely absent from her side.

"Saber is… gone. He was… foolishly thrown out. I used a Command Seal to undo… a previous command telling him to leave. I have no more Command Seals to retrieve him, and as you can see… I am in no good condition to go myself."

"And what of Dormir? Is he not able to, either?" Berserker asked.

"Not willing, more accur-" she was once again interrupted by a wheezing cough.

Chiaki stepped forward, preparing a healing spell and laying it on her. She tried to focus on her lungs… but it didn't seem to help. Perhaps the cough came from somewhere else.

"I have found myself… short on help, and perhaps… on time. Saber is confused… and lost… and very easily manipulated," Trussa tilted her head, shakily leaning into a bow towards Berserker and Chiaki. "Please, I beseech you… as head of the Loyuffon Family… save him. I shall reward-"

She was interrupted by Berserker stifled a groan. "Raise your head. I'm not fond of being bowed to," Berserker spoke. "And furthermore, you can keep any talk of a reward to yourself. We need no such thing."

Chiaki couldn't agree more. "Do you have any idea of where Saber's gone?" Chiaki asked.

Trussa looked up at them, the surprise in her eyes suppressed beneath a tired face. "Mt. Ganz…"

Berserker and Chiaki exchanged looks. They had figured out that Uhlan's base of operations was likely in a cave on the side of Mt. Ganz, based on what Assassin had said. If what Trussa said was true, then Saber was in the hands of Uhlan, as well as True Saber and possibly Assassin.

It was likely that he was already dead.

"We'll look for him. We're going to Mt. Ganz anyway," Chiaki assured, placing a hand on Trussa's shoulder. "You're free to stay here, if you need to."

Trussa smiled weakly. "I don't int… intend to stay long. But a short rest would… do me some good, I believe."

"You can sleep in my room," Chiaki offered. She took Trussa under her arm and helped her to her feet.

"I'll take her," Berserker offered.

"I've got it."

Berserker only nodded, and folded his arms.

What do you want to do? he asked her telepathically.

What I said we'd do. We'll look for him on our way. I doubt he's engaged anyone in combat. He's probably just hiding somewhere. We'll have time after we beat Uhlan.

And you're sure you can beat Uhlan?

I can handle myself. I haven't been training with you every night for nothing.

We've only trained in hand-to-hand combat. It'll give you an edge, but it might not be enough. You told me this guy was a prodigy, right?

Something like that. His actual skill is only moderately above-average. But the amount of Mana he possesses is extraordinarily high, far above anything any modern magus could possibly hope to match. He can afford to rely less on Mana from Ley Lines, which is something no one had ever thought necessary before. Because of that, it takes less effort for him to produce amazing results.

Which means that if he gets serious at any point during this fight, you're done for.

When Chiaki went to reply, she realized she had been standing in front of her closed door for some time. She opened it, and helped Trussa to the bed.

I have Johnny's gun, she continued.

Do you know how to use it?

Safety off, aim and shoot. How hard can it be?

I mean the Detonation. Have you ever done it before, in practice?

...I know enough. Remia told me that I should barely touch the container of Magical Energy, otherwise it might backfire. He said it was 'like pushing a marble'.

So push it like a marble or blow yourself up. Against an opponent who outclasses you in every way. You have no chance of victory.

I learn from the best.

She heard Berserker laugh downstairs. It made her smile. ...Alright then. Let's get started. Let's hope that plan of yours actually works.

Saber looked out over the town. The sun had descended behind the horizon, but it's glow remained, keeping a small percentage of the sky alight against the oncoming blackness of night.

He had his hands folded simply, his elbows resting on his knees. It wasn't long before he saw them approach.

"Saber?" Berserker asked, walking up to him. Chiaki Nakazawa followed closely behind.

Saber just pointed his thumb over his shoulder in towards the cave entrance. "He's been waiting."

They were silent for a few moments. He could see the temporary shock on their faces.

"Don't tell me… that you're serving Uhlan?" Berserker asked.

Saber shook his head. "I don't know who I serve anymore… certainly not who I thought I did."

"...What happened with Trussa?" Chiaki asked.

Saber shook his head again. "She trusted me, that's what happened."

Berserker stepped forward, kneeling down in front of him. He was so much taller than Saber, that they only now looked each other in the eye. "You failed her."

Saber said nothing, and did not avert his gaze.

Berserker sighed and closed his eyes. He reached out to place a hand on Saber's shoulder, but Saber shook him off. "You should get going before he decides to come out after you," Saber said.

"Trussa's been looking for you," Chiaki interjected, leaning around Berserker.

She shouldn't be, Saber reasoned in his head.

Berserker was silent as he stood and moved around him. He must've motioned for Chiaki to follow him, because Chiaki did just that a few moments later.

"I'll be back, Saber," Berserker promised.

Saber kept his gaze on the town. No you won't, he thought.

Even if, against all odds, he somehow defeated True Saber… there was no way that Berserker was coming back for Saber. There was no coming back from what he was about to do.

Assassin revealed himself, patting Saber on the shoulder. "Good boy. Now get in the cave. It's time we begin."

Saber sluggishly pulled himself to a standing position. He turned and marched in behind Assassin, who had his Master and the corpse of Hitler slung over his two shoulders.

Assassin threw his Master down off to the side first. She let out a grunt of pain as she slapped into the rocky ground.

Assassin moved Hitler next. He placed him perfectly in the center of the cave. Assassin's knife gave off a glint of light as he raised it above his head. A moment later he plunged it into Hitler's body and cut it open, as if he were performing an autopsy.

Saber could feel the energy buzzing around inside of the incarnated Servant. He could feel it condensing, convulsing, forming into something new. Assassin finished the necessary incantations that Uhlan had told him.

Golden light filled the cave, originating from Hitler's body.

Assassin stepped back. He looked past Saber, towards his Master. "Well now… it looks like we're just about finished," Assassin spoke, moving towards her.

"I've decided to spare you..." Assassin said, raising his knife once more, "...from the hellscape I'm about to create."

His Master didn't even look perturbed. It was obvious to Saber that she had given up a long time ago. She closed her eyes and turned her head away.

Saber felt that feeling he had gotten before. When he saw Chiaki in trouble. When he saw Trussa was sick. When he first saw Assassin's Master all tied up in this cave.

But he knew he couldn't act on that feeling. He would only end up hurting her, or someone else. So he just crouched on the opposite side of the cave and looked away.

A sudden and terrifying sound came ripping through the cave, echoing around a thousand times more powerful inside Saber's head. Had it not been for Saber's special protections as a Servant, he wouldn't have been surprised if his eardrums burst from it. He wasn't sure what it was at first.

He soon found out.

"Stand away from her," a voice followed the echoing sound.

Saber looked up towards the cave entrance. The last glows of the sun illuminated a familiar silhouette.

Archer stepped farther into the cave's darkness, gun drawn on Assassin.

Saber looked over at Assassin, who was now on guard, with his knife being held backwards in some kind of fighting stance.

He briefly wondered if Assassin had dodged the first bullet, or if the leather garment he wore with the hood had blocked it. It had been able to block all of Saber's strikes… though he was unsure if that was because his strikes were just weak or because the animal hide that Assassin wore was magical in nature somehow.

"Glad you've decided to join us, Crazy Horse," Assassin spoke, straightening himself slightly, but still ready to dodge at any moment.

"You know my name," Archer stated.

"Of course. Johnny betrayed it to the girl. Really, you should thank me for killing him before he betrayed you further."

Archer's gun went off again, but Assassin was already dodging out of the path of the projectile.

"As I thought. I've done my research on you, Crazy Horse, and there's only so much I could learn when it came to how you've failed. But in this war? You've done nothing but fail, haven't you?"

Saber could see Archer tense up. His normally calm eyes were wide with rage. His hands, and by association the gun, shook alongside it.

He closed his eyes and took a breath. Archer became a blur, and was standing over Assassin's Master not a moment later, still holding his gun out to Assassin. In a single smooth motion, he took the cloak from his shoulders and laid it over Assassin's Master.

"But you're not the only one whose done research, Assassin."

"Oh? You've found out my identity as Robin Hood? Good for you."

"Remia told me that was your identity, but... I wanted to find your weaknesses. So I went to the Library. And indeed, I found one."

Assassin did not say anything for a moment. "Really." His voice was guttural, and dry.

Archer narrowed his eyes at Assassin. "The Heroic Spirit of Assassination in this war is not Robin Hood. But I doubt there is anyone who hates him as you do."

Assassin clenched his fist. "You…"

"You were a mercenary who wore horse hide and was hired to kill Robin Hood by the Sheriff of Nottingham. You were slain, and Robin Hood cut off your head and removed the face from it, passing off that head as 'Robin Hood' in order to collect the reward. Your name was Guy of Gisbourne."

Assassin growled, but Saber was unsure if it was in anger or in disappointment that he'd been found out.

He reached up and threw his hood off. Saber nearly screamed.

His head was precariously perched on top of a bloody stump that was presumably his neck. His face had been cut off, and a wet, glistening skull, red with blood, looked out at Archer underneath a mop of dirty and bloody hair.

"It still hurts. The sheer pain of it all. And I have to live through it endlessly. I wasn't just murdered by that bastard, I was made into a Heroic Spirit, because he passed me off as 'Robin Hood', a name that was taken by many different people. So when anyone wants to summon Robin Hood, they get me. And I have to do as they say, ordered around until I die again, over and over, suffering for an eternity because of someone else's legend."

Assassin lowered his head, but kept his eyes on Archer.

"That's why I'll forge a new legend. A legend that will make the name 'Robin Hood' an accursed name. I'll make it unthinkable for anyone to summon that man, I'll make it a crime to even say his name. Only then will I finally be able to die."

Archer only stared calmly at Assassin during all of this. He lowered his weapon and let it fade into spirit form. "Remia was killed. This woman, here, has suffered for days on end. Now, you intend to corrupt Saber as well. I will not let you continue.

A chuckle escaped past his bloody visage. "You don't have a Master anymore. You think you'll last long enough to beat me?"

"I'll last as long as I need to kill you," Archer replied, summoning his bayonets to his hands.

Assassin titled his head. "Tough luck." He pulled at the air, and vanished.

Archer shook his head. "No. You aren't running away this time."

Mana surged from Archer, and Saber saw the entire world around him bend and distort, like ripples that come from pebbles falling into a puddle.

The world around them became a blurry representation of what it once was. Saber was bewildered by it all. But he was bewildered even more by the sudden reappearance of Assassin, who now wore a strange green cloak around himself now. He looked at it, seemingly in confusion.

"...What?"

"This is the Spirit World. My Spirit World. It has existed within me since I first saw it in a dream. It is a world that I learned of my destiny in. It is my greatest Noble Phantasm, the Red-Tailed Hawk Prophecy."

Archer looked angry again. But this time, he didn't shake with rage. He was calm.

"I swore that the time I had left in this world would be dedicated to burying and honoring the dead. And I would never be able to say that I honored the man known as Johnny Remia if I were to leave this world without removing you from it first."

Assassin let the green cloak fall to the ground. He just grunted, dragging his hood back over his face and casting it back into shadow.

They both became blurs at once, and sparks flew as their blades clashed.

It wasn't long after Chiaki and Berserker entered the cave that they found the door to Uhlan's base left wide open, seemingly inviting them in.

Much to their surprise, a maid greeted them. She seemed a bit shy, and bowed to them. In the darkness, Chiaki couldn't exactly tell how old she was, but her voice sounded rather young. There was a slight distortion to it, but Chiaki had little time to ponder on it before she was being led, alongside Berserker, into the corridors of Uhlan's base.

Do you want to do it now? Berserker asked.

Not yet.

We may not get a chance later.

I know, but I don't want to do it in front of the maid, just to be safe.

...Did you see her face?

No. Did you?

Berserker didn't respond. He continued walking forward grimly.

Chiaki only realized shortly thereafter the oddity of the question.

...Why did you ask me that? she asked.

Berserker still didn't respond.

"Berserker?" she asked aloud.

He glowered. "Brace yourself."

They exited the dark metal hallway that they had been walking down and into a surprisingly lush hallway, that was brightly lit by what appeared to be lights designed to look like lanterns. The walls were pristinely white, and the carpet below them was a deep crimson. The hallway itself was ornately designed, with fanciful symbols sculpted in the spaces between paintings.

Now that the lights illuminated the woman in front of them, it didn't take long for Chiaki to notice that the woman, with the exception of her outfit, appeared to be entirely metal. It still had its back to them, so Chiaki couldn't see the face, but the… golem, or whatever it was, looked to be a liquid metal formed in the shape of a woman…

The halls split off at several points, and Chiaki momentarily wondered where each one led, but the maid just continued to lead them in a straight line, heading directly for a large set of double doors at the end.

Chiaki had to admit, the whole thing was unnervingly calm. She was marching directly towards the finale like she was about to attend a business meeting. Her heart was pounding faster and faster as they got closer to those doors.

"You alright?" Berserker asked.

Chiaki shrugged. "A bit late to ask. We're in the lion's den."

"I meant if you were handling the strain well."

"I've told you before, the Mana goes through me, not from me."

"For now. Who knows how long those Magic Crests will hold out."

"Just don't start attacking until absolutely necessary, and we'll be fine."

Berserker nodded. "That may be… but no matter what, Chiaki, remember that I'm never far away."

Chiaki took a deep breath. She was ready. "I know."

The maid swung the doors wide open, revealing a large room similar in design to the hallway they had just left, only now the carpet was black, and the walls were a deep forest green.

Chiaki had expected Uhlan to be waiting inside, but he wasn't. The desk where she presumed he would've sat at, cluttered with papers and magical-looking items, was empty.

"Master Uhlan will be with you shortly," the maid spoke reservedly. She turned, and Chiaki gasped, taking a step back. Its face was as metal as its hair.

And it looked exactly like Chiaki.

The maid, paying Chiaki no mind, moved around her. Chiaki only stared as it passed. She felt Berserker's hand on her shoulder, steadying her. "I wasn't sure how to tell you."

She was still in shock. She felt nauseous. She felt angry.

"What are the odds that he only made that thing look like me recently?" Chiaki asked, almost absent-mindedly.

"Not high."

Chiaki clenched her teeth. "Thought not."

Turning back to the room around them, Chiaki swallowed the rising anger in her. On the right wall was a large bookcase, with nondescript books of this and that strewn about. It looked to be the typical bookcase for a Magus.

But the left wall told a different story. It was taken up entirely by monitors. Each one displayed a different area of the city. Some were zoomed in and were panning from side to side. Others were zoomed out entirely, remaining static on a wide area. It was obvious to Chiaki that they were all electrical in nature, and not magecraft. There would have been some kind of trace or feeling of Magical Energy otherwise.

"That Mage's Association wouldn't approve of that, probably," Berserker noted, folding his arms.

"He has all the power in the world. I doubt he cares."

"That begs the question as to why he's here alone. Disregarding that golem and True Saber."

"I don't think I care," Chiaki dismissed, shaking her head. She turned to face the back wall, but something on the floor caught her eye.

There was a window and a short iron pillar. The pillar was topped with that all-too familiar line and loop. It was an Ab Reh Sah. The window, however, was what caught her attention. It showed just a view of the dirt and rock beneath the Mt. Ganz... But she knew, instinctively, as a Magus, that it was more than that.

It was a window looking directly into the Ley Line. She felt the Mana coursing in it. It came forward, hit the Ab Reh Sah, and then flowed back, hundreds of times per second. It was like a sped up time-lapse of the ocean's waves coming in and out.

She felt that she might go mad if she looked at it much longer, so she tore her eyes away from it and up to the back wall, her original target of attention.

She had vaguely seen that it was a portrait of Uhlan and his family. But it didn't look quite right. There was something off about it.

"By Zeus…" Berserker murmured.

Chiaki looked at him, and saw him staring at the same portrait. "What is it?"

There was a serious look on Berserker's face. Amazed, confused, worried. It was all there. "I didn't think it was possible..."

Chiaki looked back at it, restudying it. "What?"

In the foreground was Kayneth Archibald, dressed in his usual garb. He looked out with an emotionless smile, and almost dead eyes.

Next to him was a woman with red hair, the same color as Uhlan's. She remembered her somewhat indistinctly as Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Re Archibald, Kayneth's wife. She couldn't remember exactly, but she passed away when Uhlan was young. She was young and pretty, and seemed to be in good health, despite her similarly expressionless face. Chiaki wondered why she wasn't smiling.

And then in the background was Uhlan, standing off-center and behind Kayneth with a single hand resting on Kayneth's chair. Of the three, he was the only one smiling.

But Uhlan was an adult in this painting. Sola-Ui would've been dead.

And then it hit her. That wasn't Uhlan. That wasn't Uhlan at all.

He looked exactly like Uhlan. But his wavy hair, though similar in its form, was jet black instead of red. A single strand of that hair dropped between his eyes, which were gold instead of grey. He was more muscular, and wore a forest green garment, similar to the color of the room they were in.

It was uncanny how much he and Uhlan look alike. They had the same gaze. The same smile.

They even had the exact same mole directly under their right eye.

By his side hung two swords. One red, the other gold. It was Kayneth's Saber-class Servant from the previous war. Her father had said his name but once before, and she had long since forgotten it.

"Diarmuid Ua Duibhne," Uhlan spoke, startling Chiaki. She and Berserker turned, with Berserker stepping in between her and Uhlan before anything else happened.

He stood in the doorway, with True Saber to his right, and the metal golem-maid to his left.

Now that he was once again in front of them, Chiaki could confirm that Uhlan and the Servant in the portrait looked extremely alike.

Presently, Uhlan was gazing past them and to the painting behind them. "I kept it as a reminder of where I really came from. Kayneth wasn't my father. Not by blood, and certainly not by bond. The only inheritance I accept is this…" Uhlan spoke, raising his red cane up.

"Made from the same spearhead they used to summon him. During the previous war, his presence activated it's powers as a Noble Phantasm. I've inherited a singular Spiritual Core from Diarmuid, enough to have the spearhead recognize me as its Master."

Uhlan, for the first time since entering the room, looked at them. "You can't imagine my anger when I found all this out. But I'm thankful for it. That anger broke me from my fear. I confronted Kayneth and finally saw him as the filth that he was. I killed him. That night was a victory of mine that had no equal..."

His eyes dropped to the ground, and he returned the cane to his side. "...followed by an action so horrid that my shame of that night also has no equal. A shame that no victory could ever reconcile."

Chiaki had had enough. But her mouth wouldn't move. It trembled at the thought of Uhlan being overcome with sadness.

She looked away. "Berserker…" she whispered.

Berserker nodded. "We've heard enough," he announced.

Uhlan looked up, slightly perturbed.

"You can talk all you like about how sorry you are, but I've known better liars than you, and I happen to be an expert at lying to oneself. Order your Servant to attack so we can finish this," Berserker commanded, getting into a fighting pose.

Uhlan just stared at him for a moment, expressionless. He eventually raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Sending yourself to death so quickly? Well, at least you've come to your senses about what's best for Chiaki."

Berserker suddenly reached over to his forearm and ripped the Ariadne Thread off his arm.

Berserker's face clouded over with madness. Mana exploded out from him, and both he and True Saber tore down the hallway of the base, completely destroying the passage and making their own passages as they went. The whole base started to shake from their battle.

True Saber was taken unawares at first. Berserker was much faster right now than he had ever seen him move before. Berserker's first strike cracked True Saber's armor and blasted apart the walls behind him, causing the mountain shake around them. As a result from the blow, True Saber went catapulting back into the chasm that now existed there.

Curious, True Saber noted.

He flipped in the air and saw Berserker coming for the follow up strike. True Saber was fast enough to raise his blade and intercept Berserker's incoming sloppy strike, locking his wrist between the blade and the pommel of True Saber's sword. He twisted on his foot, and spun around several times before launching Berserker full speed at the wall behind him.

True Saber flipped his blade and prepared a follow-up attack to Berserker's inevitable counter, but no such counter came.

Instead, Berserker just twirled, end over end, until he blasted out of the mountain and into the forest.

True Saber tilted his head. The Mad Enhancement has reduced his mind incapable of any technique or strategy.

True Saber might've been disappointed. Berserker had shown incredible fighting prowess from what he had seen, but he traded out his intelligence and skill for raw power, which was ultimately nullified by their skill gap. He had thrown away his one chance at victory.

Wings of light sprouted from True Saber's back, and he followed Berserker outside, to the forest. He could see Berserker clear as day as he righted himself. Berserker started to lunge for True Saber, but he was ready for him.

True Saber wasn't taking any chances. He was going to take Berserker apart, bit by bit, until his strength meant nothing.

The wide punch that Berserker threw arced through the air at True Saber's head. True Saber sliced his blade upwards, severing Berserker's arm easily and cleanly.

Blood spurted from the wound, and Berserker recoiled which allowed True Saber to move forward and take Berserker's eyes from him with another slash of his sword.

Berserker wildly swung his good arm at True Saber, but he slipped around it and thrust his sword into Berserker's leg, pinning it to the ground. True Saber then threw out a kick, crashing it into Berserker's other leg at the knee. It snapped sideways, breaking his leg.

Berserker brought his arm around again, trying to backhand True Saber. True Saber ducked under it and punched Berserker in his throat, crushing his windpipe and esophagus. True Saber jumped and spun, throwing a heavy kick into Berserker that rocketed him back once more, his leg ripping through True Saber's sword as he flung backwards. The force of his movement caused the Earth to bend underneath them, and trees were unearthed and projected into the air.

True Saber picked up his sword with his offhand and then tossed it to his dominant hand as he slowly walked towards Berserker again.

Berserker was a bloody mess, barely holding himself together. Neither of his legs functioned, yet he worked to stand anyway. His loss of sight made it impossible for him to know exactly where True Saber was. Even if he somehow learned, his one arm was only capable of so much. He was no longer a threat.

Berserker tumbled to his knees again, and began to crawl towards True Saber, the look of insanity on his face promising True Saber a battle to the death.

True Saber rose into the air. If Berserker could no longer dodge, then he'd defeat him here, and keep his suffering to a minimum.

"Unlocking the first seal. Ascending to the Second Heaven. Achieving Raqia," True Saber announced. He felt power surge from his blade. He raised it above his head.

Berserker roared at him. But his eyes were not focusing on him.

True Saber titled his head. Berserker was looking at something behind him. Only Mt. Ganz was behind him…

But his Master was there as well. True Saber looked Berserker in his eyes. Madness clouded them, but… there was something else. A yearning, maybe.

Maybe Berserker was saying goodbye. He truly did care for that girl.

"No harm will come to her. I promise you that," True Saber spoke.

He brought his sword down. "Amen."

The light shot down at Berserker and consumed him, engulfing him in the purest light. His flesh was incinerated, and his Spiritual Core broke and disappeared. The resulting explosion formed a charred black crater.

The forest was silent afterwards.

True Saber stood alone in that silence. Perhaps this was the way the Universe chose to send off such a brave warrior…

No… there was something… something that interrupted the silence. True Saber listened for it.

And he soon realized that he was not alone.

True Saber turned. A fist smashed into his face, cracking the armor there and throwing him into the smoking crater he had just created. True Saber righted himself and landed, sliding to a stop.

Who else was out here with him?

His belt and sword illuminated the darkness in time for him to see a large man with red eyes and golden hair jump out at him, his face contorted in madness.

It was Berserker, with all his limbs and eyes intact. For the first time in the war, True Saber froze.

That is not-

His thoughts were interrupted by Berserker punching him in the side of the head once more, breaking his mask further, and catapulting him to the side.

True Saber rolled and slid along the ground before scrambling to his feet. Berserker was on him immediately, throwing another titanic strike. True Saber lifted his arm and wrapped it around the incoming blow. Quickly, True Saber stepped in and twisted, flipping Berserker over his shoulder and slamming him into the ground, damaging the earth and forest around them further.

True Saber locked Berserker's arm in place and pointed his sword at Berserker's throat. "How are you alive?" he asked.

Berserker responded by howling and easily throwing True Saber away from him with his single arm, overpowering True Saber's hold with strength alone.

True Saber flipped in the air and landed. He refocused. He had just defeated Berserker… whether this one was an illusion, or the previous one was, it didn't matter.

He beat him once. He'd do it again. He'd do it as many times as necessary.