Disclaimer: The following is a fan-based parody. RWBY is owned by Rooster Teeth and Campione is owned by Diomedea and Jo Taketsuki. Please support the official release.
Chapter 9: Steel and Sun, Sword and Light
Ruby didn't know how long she was there on her knees, more than welcoming the heat of the sun on her bare skin. A strange smile was stuck on her face, expressing a multitude of emotions. She felt the power of the new Authority integrating into her very being like a shot of adrenaline, but Ruby could not bring herself to care of it. A part of her felt disgusted to have the Authority because she was not worth it, and it clashed with her pride as the new King of Heroes. Why should she have the power from someone like Ares?
'This is a new feeling.' Ruby thought. 'Is this what it's like to love a dying opponent? How troublesome... and saddening.'
She did not feel like she had fought a god to survive. That was the charisma Ares held with him. It was no Authority of a god that shook Ruby, but rather it was a trait that he developed himself through the ages. He lived through human history, inspiring them to follow on that endless journey to perfect the way of war. Not for the violence or the reasons, but the fight itself. Yet he cared not for what he found at the end, only for what he did along the way. Ruby wanted to cry for killing a god, no, a king like that.
Ruby's lonesome thought were interrupted feeling a hand on her right shoulder. Red-rimmed silver eyes looked behind her to the concerned lilac orbs of her half-sister Yang. A relieved smile was on her face seeing that Ruby was alive and well. Ereshkigal, Blake, and Weiss stood a bit back with their own expressions of worry for the Campione.
"Are you okay, Ruby?" Yang asked, her words causing Ruby to drown away the hysterics in her head to proper clarity.
"Not really." Ruby answered, getting back onto her feet. "But I can't be on my knees for all of eternity."
Looking down at herself, Ruby frowned at the state of her clothes with just a spot of red from embarrassment. Her golden armor from before had been obliterated by Ares' hammer. The armor of Divine Might had served as a replacement when it was useful, but without it she was left underwear consisting of a tube-style bra and woman's boxers. Unfortunately, those were showing some tear from the battle and it was not looking good on Ruby's part.
'While I am not ashamed of my body like this,' Ruby thought, a small part of her mind admiring how Perfect Body enhanced her womanly charms, 'it would be unsightly of me to appear like this in public.'
Thankfully, her red cloak was spared most of the damage from the battle with Ares. There were burns marks on the edges from the flames of newly forged Crescent Rose and some tear probably caused by Ruby crashing through the terrain. In a practical sense, she could wrap her red cloak around her body to hide her modesty, but that wasn't really a good solution. Then she remembered what she had in the first place and wanted to facepalm at her oversight.
"Gate of Babylon, right." Ruby grumbled under her breath.
Not even a second mentally searching through the Gate of Babylon and the Authority answered her 'wish' for clothes. It was only a minor application as it appeared around Ruby in particles of gold instead of the golden ripples in the air. The gold particles collected to form a white tunic incredibly soft to her skin tapering off just below her belly button. Around her waist materializes a golden belt with seven diamonds enchanted with mana storage, and her legs were given red pants made to slightly hug the limbs. Ruby smiled at the new clothing and threw her red cloak up to wrap around her shoulders and pulled her hood on.
"There, that's much better." Said Ruby in triumph. "How do I look?"
"Well, at least you won't be walking around like some sort of bimbo." Weiss said bluntly, but got a stink eye from Yang. "What? Who in there right mind walks around like that?"
"Someone who knows how good these puppies are." Yang countered vehemently, noting to her assets.
"What do you think, Yang?" Ruby asked.
Yang paused, giving Ruby's new outfit with an inquisitive look. "It looks good, but I think we may need to go shopping for you to truly look. And I'm no Coco for saying this but it's not you. I mean, where's the skirt?"
Ruby took a second to think about it and shook her head. While skirts were fine for her in the past, but now she felt indifferent of them in general. The thought of putting one on with how she is... it didn't really sit right with the Campione.
"I think I'm just gonna ditch skirts." Ruby announced, getting shocked looks from Weiss and Yang. "I don't know, but right now that just doesn't sit well with me. I rather have something that screams power. I want them to know when they see me I am not to be trifled before they have second thoughts of me as a little girl. In fact, I'll go with this."
Gold particles coalesced again as she summoned another clothing item from the Gate of Babylon. It clipped around the belt on her the small of her waist and extended out. When the glow died down, it revealed a sash tied around Ruby's hips with the 'tail' end billowing out from her left side. The cloth was colored a deeper red like blood in contrast to the bright rose of Ruby's hood. The new King of Heroes smiled at the sight, already liking it.
"Uhm, okay?" Yang said awkwardly. "If that's what you want."
"If we are done with the whole clothes thing," Blake finally spoke up, "we have more pressing matters to get to."
Ereshkigal disagreed. "I wouldn't worry about that."
Blake widened her eyes. "Don't tell me..."
Ruby grinned like a cat who ate the canary. Behind the King of Heroes opened a giant golden portal, and like time repeating itself summoned forth another Vimana. It was the exact same one that was destroyed by Ares, complete with the emerald wings, solid gold hull, and the throne above it. A walkway extended out from the side to the entrance of the ship with Ruby taking the first steps up.
"I hate your vault of bullshit." Blake hissed while her 'bow' twitched.
The Faunas felt like it was being mocked at if she were honest.
"Fu-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Laughed Ruby in joyous humor. "It is glorious, is it not? Ha-ha-ha-ha!"
Blake did not deign to make a response and instead followed Yang and Ruby up the boarding ramp. Ereshkigal was next to go, leaving Weiss still standing in place. A forlorn expression flashed on her face and her eyes drifted to the white skirt of her Beacon outfit. She eventually went forward but there was sad sway in her pace.
'I thought we were skirt buddies.' Weiss thought.
Just before entering the Vimana, Ruby paused to glance at the new golden Crescent Rose. It would be a hassle to have it in its melee form due to its size. As soon as Ruby thought that, she felt the weapon react like a soft pulse through her arm up to her head. The mechanics and parts suddenly shifted and detached before Ruby eyes, with every component stuck together by yellow electricity. In a millisecond, Crescent Rose had shifted to a more compact form for Ruby to sheath away. To the rest of Team RWBY, it may have looked like Crescent Rose gave a golden spark before suddenly transforming.
"Always the best, my Crescent Rose." Mused Ruby with a smile, running a finger over the now golden exterior.
Summoning another sheath on her back, Ruby placed Crescent Rose away and entered the Vimana where everyone else awaited her. Like before Yang was lying on the giant couch with a relaxed smile from the soft cushioning. Weiss and Blake were sitting on far right chairs, but now Ereshkigal sat next to the latter as the duo looked over a book. Ruby continued on her way to the front where emerald windows served as a giant cockpit for her to look out of. Guided by Gilgamesh's knowledge, Ruby raised her hand forth and a golden pedestal rose up with a smooth emerald orb to meet her palm. Once on contact, the King of Heroes immediately felt the connection establish with the vessel and they were already soaring through the air to their destination with perfect clarity.
"Eh, Ereshkigal?" Said Ruby with a pensive look. "Which way was east again?"
Almost perfect clarity. If the group had stayed longer, they would not have missed a contingency from the local magical association that had made their way on the scene. A herd of jeeps were racing across the now barren land caused by the battle, only to see the green trail of the Vimana streaking through the air.
"Dammit, we just missed the Campione." Cursed a woman of Chinese descent as she stepped out of the vehicle.
Wearing a suit and tie with a short skirt might normal people the impression she was a businesswoman. That was only half-true; she is Lian Chen, a high-ranking official that served as one of the branching members of the Holy Cult of the Five Mountains. Her sect of the mage association situated within the Chine country was attached to the economics to establish a flow of wealth for the whole organization. It was necessary to avert the public of the world to be aware of the mystical side of the world, and money allowed cove stories to be far easier.
Originally, she was tasked to cover up the battle between a Campione and a Heretic God. The destruction was on such a scale it forced small towns and cities for tens of miles to evacuate. They were going to use the story of a freak natural disaster due to global warming, but Lian wasn't sure if that was going to be that easy. When the battle ended, she changed her priorities to make contact with newest Campione no matter what. Even though the Holy Cult of the Five Mountains was founded and still managed by Luo Hao, Lian was still sure she would be rewarded if she managed to get another Campione on their side for the political advantage. Unfortunately, luck was not with the magus this day.
"Ma'am." Spoke one of Lian's subordinates, dressed in what can be considered SWAT gear.
"Do we know where the Campione is headed?" Lian inquired.
"According to our scouts, the Campione's craft is directly headed east." The officer reported. "The only destination in that direction is..."
"Japan." Gasped Lian, horrid realization dawning upon the mage. "Oh fuck me sideways. We have a potential crisis on our hands! Get me in contact with the History Committee right now!"
A dreaded fear was slowly becoming a reality. That Campione was on a direct course to the territory of two of her kind. Campione at their nature as the world's most supreme king were very territorial. The only result of such a meeting was an inevitable clash that could kill billions in the crossfire.
"Lua Hao will not be happy about this." Muttered Lian, trying to come up with some sort of contingency plan to avoid getting killed by the fallout of three fighting Campione.
(Shirou)
Shirou Emiya was now thinking to himself that he may have developed a True Eye of Mind (False) EX skill. Every cell of his body was telling him that the universe was sending another hurtle on his way. Whether it was another life-threatening situation like the Holy Grail or another complication such as somehow getting an arranged marriage for no apparent reason, Shirou dreaded it all the same. It showed in his motions from the slight shake of his hands as he worked in the kitchen as well as the shaky smile on his face. Rin, Illya, and Medusa gave the Campione quizzical looks. Sakura gave an exasperated yet pitiful expression to her lover, having experienced his world of insanity that was his E-Rank luck.
"We have to fortify the manor." Shirou suddenly announced, as if reaching an epiphany.
"Eh!?" Medusa and Illya exclaimed.
Rin simply gave a cry before somehow tumbling onto the floor in disbelief. She quickly picked herself up and made herself proper like nothing happened. Her blue eyes locked down on Shirou in a heated glare.
"Shirou, what are you babbling on about?" Rin asked.
"We have to secure the manor now." Shirou said nonchalantly, tracing a hammer as he approached the front door.
"Bwuh!?" Rin squawked in disbelief. "Shirou, are you sick? No, that's not possible because you have Avalon stuck inside you. I want to call you crazy, but you aren't exactly normal to begin with."
"I'll go set up more Bounded Fields." Sakura said in a sigh, following Shirou.
"EHHH!?" Exclaimed Medusa, Illya, and Rin, staring in muted shock at the duo as they worked on making fortifications.
It was a normal sight on Sakura's end using her magecraft to erect more Bounded Fields with added repel effects. Their minds shut off momentarily watching Shirou literally nailing the front door with traced swords Reinforced to the max. He even traced a Noble Phantasm or two just to lock the door. Shirou then proceeded to apply Reinforcement to every window in the manor, all with a completely blank look on his face, like this whole situation was the most normal to him.
"What is this madness?!" Illya exclaimed. "Sakura-san, why aren't you stopping Onii-chan!?"
"It would be useless to try and stop him." Sakura informed. "The best you can do is help Shirou-koi. In any case, his assumption that something bad will happen aren't entirely wrong."
It finally clicked in the heads of Illya, Medusa, and Rin of Shirou's unique disposition on life. No matter the circumstances, the universe somehow thrusted Shirou with something completely convoluted and outright crazy that by all logic it should not have happened. And yet it has with Shirou unknowingly participating in the Holy Grail War to somehow getting lost in a different dimension. Still the universe was not going to stop in bringing Shirou misfortune because of his terrible luck.
With that in mind, Rin and Illya snapped to action to join Sakura and Shirou. That left Medusa to her lonesome looking at the working magus in astonishment. She still offered a look of pity at Shirou. Behind that blank expression was a man paranoid out of his mind. He had all the right to do so with how the universe has treated his life.
'Bring it on, Root.' Shirou thought, his mind going haywire figuring what else to fortify. 'I'll be prepared this time.'
He will never understand just how wrong he was, or how he will always be the fun of the universe's machinations.
(RWBY)
"Ruby, when was the last time you've eaten?" Yang asked in concern.
"Uhm..." Ruby responded, but did not deign to speak a word.
It was a little over an hour in their flight across the continent of Asia and only a short time before they would reach the shore to the Pacific Ocean. Ruby had not left her station at the helm at the front of the station still standing straight and poised like a ruler. She had shown no signs of famishing fatigue, but Yang had a sense for this sort of thing as the older sister.
"Ruby..." Yang said, almost sternly.
"I don't think I've had a single crumb since we got here." Ruby admitted, her shoulders slouching.
All of WBY widened their eyes in shock. That was almost 24 hours since they arrived here! How was she still standing without suffering from hunger pains!?
"Okay, no!" Yang said, jumping to her feet and making her way to Ruby. "Sis, I think you need to realize for a little bit. Get a bite to eat too."
"But I feel fine." Ruby whined.
"Does it look like I care about that?" Yang berated. "You are getting a bite to eat right now, miss."
"I would like to clarify something." Ereshkigal spoke up, rising from her seat to approach her two new sisters. "As a Campione, big sis Ruby has a far higher vitality rivaling that of gods. She can go on without sustenance for weeks, maybe months before suffering any relating fatigue."
"See?" Ruby said, giving Ereshkigal a praising smile. "Our little sis knows what's best, and that is I am fine."
Ruby in her head chuckled in amusement while also promising to make Ereshkigal a gift when she can. Maybe some strawberries or baked cookies. Either way, Ruby knew in her wisdom as the successor of Gilgamesh that she can always rely on Ereshkigal to be on her side.
"However, it would do my conscious well if you relaxed, big sis." Ereshkigal said in a pleading manner. "You have just survived and won a battle against a very powerful god, and thus you need to recover your strength."
The praise in Ruby's silver eyes disappeared and replaced with a look of betrayal. Venom not unlike that of a slighted Gilgamesh glazed from the red outlining her scelera. It expressed both the hurt from Ruby and the rage felt from the persona left by the last King of Heroes.
'Traitor!' Ruby hissed in her head.
Ruby could have refused to relax in all honesty. She could have simply been stubborn to abandon her station until they made landfall again. It was not possible to do so when Ruby met Ereshkigal's stare. The goddess did not project a defiance from a stern glare. Rather the pools of blood red were wide with a shine to them, showcasing Ereshkigal's worry for Ruby's life. She could not refute the look as it was the same Zwei used when he wanted more treats. Even with the mental control of Perfect Body, the dreaded puppy eyes were undefeated.
'Not the puppy eyes!' Ruby cried in her head, and not even Perfect Body stopped herself from drooling.
She didn't need an assurance to dig in, first taking
"F-Fine." Ruby finally relented, grumbling under her breath. "I will relax. But who is going to fly the Vimana?"
"I will." Ereshkigal chirped, her expression changed to a full-blown smile. "Don't worry. I got this."
"...The moment I see us on a collision course, I am yanking you off and use Enkidu to force you in timeout." Ruby said.
Ereshkigal only giggled in response, showing her confidence in using the helm in Ruby's place. Once Ruby's palm left the spherical emerald, Ereshkigal immediately replaced it with her own right palm. Her godly magic flooded into the Vimana and soon had the vessel synchronize to her energy to be its new pilot for the time being. It was only a moment that the Vimana began to dip before it fixed itself and continued its way through the skies.
With the death goddess on the helm, Ruby joined with her team at the miniature, yet luxurious lounge. Her body slumped into the soft couch, sinking into it for a good two inches. She sat nearest to Weiss at the left, who was giving Ruby a complicated stare. On the other side was Yang and Blake, the latter who abandoned her reading to join the former in giving Ruby an expected stare.
"Ruby aren't you going to eat?" Yang said. "Don't want my little sister starving."
"Alright, alright." Ruby said, sighing in exasperation. "I'll see what I can eat."
She didn't bother having her mind search take a thorough search; only giving the command for food and drink. The table in front of her glowed in gold and in a flash it was filled with a feast fit for a king. There was a bowl of tomato pasted into a hot cream of a broth sided with warm bread. Roasted vegetables flanked at the right covered in a spicy sauce and delectable herbs. Ripe grapes settled in a wooden bowl farthest from her accompanied by a mug of warm milk. Nearest to her right arm was a golden goblet of purple-red liquid and a crystal glass of water. But the main dish was the dish of oxtails, seared cuts of steak, and skewered shrimp.
'I'm such a fool.' Ruby could only think, and could not help but drool at the sight and smell.
She didn't need an assurance to go forth, and her first quarry was one of the skewered sticks of shrimp peeled of their shell. She held down a moan from the flavor of grilled crustacean. When the chewed meat went down her throat, Ruby widened her eyes finally getting the sensation how hungry she was. The Campione barely managed to summon a golden fork and knife before picking out a cut from one of the stakes. The meat was juicy and tender at medium well while sauces used from Uruk saturated it with a flavor filling her with a pleasant warmth.
Ruby picked out an oxtail, expertly picking off all the meat due to accidental use Unrivaled in Arms, and scooped it all up in her maw. She savored the raw memory of the meat melting like hot butter in her mouth and tasting just as savory. Her right hand reached for the mug, downing down the warm milk tasting like heavenly vanilla on her tongue. Everything else became a blur to her while her body moved in autopilot to gorge in its need.
Only when the taste of perfectly ripened grapes registered on her tongue did Ruby come back to reality. Her motions momentarily paused and her silver eyes looked down to the empty platter of food. There wasn't even a remaining bit of either meat, sauce, or tomato broth. Sticks that once skewered delicious shrimp were neatly cast away beside the plate that once held the warm bread. With Perfect Body, she recollected every flavor of the feast. The only things remaining in her near mindless endeavor were the bowl of grapes that served as a desert and the golden goblet.
Ruby glanced to her side and found the receiving incredulous, yet understanding stares from her older half-sister and teammates. A light reddish hue dusted her cheeks indicating her embarrassment, but Ruby refused to squirm from it. She straightened her posture and coughed in her hand to return to a more composed state.
"I guess I was more famished than I thought." Ruby excused herself.
"Told ya so~." Yang sang.
Ruby decided to switch the conversation. "Eresh, how far are we to Japan?"
"Umu~, if I am right about this we are upon the western shore of Japan." Ereshkigal informed. "You've been out of it for a while there with the food."
In all honesty, Ereshkigal wanted the ship around to avoid Japan entirely. They needed to avoid that island because there were two Campione that called it home. She may not have heard news of what they are like individually, but the reputation of Campione alone gave merit to her fears. The only reason she hasn't turned away from the flight path was that the death goddess did not want to lie to her new sister.
"Well, now that we are almost there, I think it is important to warn you, Ruby." Ereshkigal said.
"Oh..." Ruby said with a raised eyebrow, a quirk of interest much like that of Gilgamesh.
Her left hand automatically moved to the goblet of red liquid that remained from the meal. When her fingers were inches away from grasping it, Yang had swiped it away from her little sister's reach.
"Nu uh." Yang said, wagging her finger to Ruby. "You ain't having this. I know alcohol when I see it."
"That isn't any alcoholic drink." Weiss noted, her blue eyes scanning the goblet's contents. "That's full blown wine, and I can already see it outclasses anything my mother has ever got her hands on."
Ruby widened her eyes in shock. "I didn't know. It just seemed automatic to me."
"Godslayer or not, there is no way I am letting my little sis get a sip of this stuff." Yang said, a cheshire grin on her face as she held the goblet to her lips. "Leave that to your big sister."
"Yang, I don't think you should-" Ruby tried to warn Yang.
It was too late when a mouthful of the wine went passed Yang's lips into her mouth and gulped down her throat. Her lilac eyes instantly widened at the immediate warm tingles through her body. They soon turned glossy and a drunk blush dusted Yang's cheats. Yang's alcohol tolerance proved nothing to a wine from Gate of Babylon that Gilgamesh partook in himself. In ten seconds, Yang's body listed into a fall but was fortunately caught by Ruby who settled her on the couch to sleep from the instant knockout.
Ruby sighed in exasperation. "Ereshkigal, what was that warning?"
"Uhm, how do I put this?" Ereshkigal mused as she squirmed in nervousness. "While what you have done Ruby is the impossible, it is not the only time that a mortal has killed a god. And as you have, they have ascended to a higher being. What I mean to say is that you are not the only Campione. In fact, you are the ninth to have arisen in the last three or four centuries."
The reactions from Weiss and Blake were understandable as the only mortals in this situation with the exception of Yang due to her drunken sleep. Their faces paled to a near white complexion. Weiss felt as if her fingers were frozen stiff from the shock. Blake's hands and body twitched as if on high alert to jump away like a frightened cat.
Weiss was the first to put her frustration into her words, her hands gripping onto her white hair. "Oh you have to be absolutely FUCKING SHITTING WITH THIS UTTER BULLSHIT OF A MOTHERFUCKER!"
"Weiss, calm down." Blake tried to coax the Schnee.
"DON'T TELL ME TO FUCKING CALM DOWN!" Weiss screamed. "NOT ONLY IS IT THAT WE ARE IN A WORLD OF DIVINE BEINGS TRYING TO GET AT OUR HEADS, BUT NOW - HA-HA-HA - NOW THERE IS ACTUAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKE RUBY, AND MAY OR MAY NOT BE ENTIRELY FUCKING INSANE! WE ARE IN ALL TERMS AND METAPHORS FUCKED TO ALL NINE LAYERS OF HELL!"
"I mean, it can't be that bad." Blake said, still holding to some bare optimism. "Ruby, what do you think of this?"
While Blake tried to comfort Weiss in her mental breakdown, Ruby put the question she was asked on hold and glanced back to Ereshkigal. "Eresh, can you elaborate more about my fellow brethren in general? What sort of philosophy has humanity conjured up about them?"
"I suppose so." Ereshkigal obeyed. "Humans look up to Campione as kings of kings. No one in heaven or earth is above them. They are absolute in rule. They are the highest of authority, the apex, and the champions of humanity. At least that is how mortal kind has continued to view them in their philosophy."
Ruby gave a satisfied nod and hummed in thought. Her Authority of Perfect Body granted not only strength but also wisdom of the greatest king via a heightened mental capacity. However, this is also factored in with Ruby's core aspect of innocence, most notably her want to make friends and meet new people. It was why she came to a rather shocking conclusion that might question the King of Heroes' sanity.
"Then it's settled." Ruby announced. "I shall go pay one of my fellow Campione a nice visit."
"And if they are not so nice?" Blake asked.
"If that happens," Ruby responded, a dangerous gleam in their eyes, "then I will put them in their place before the only true king of this world."
It was luck that Ereshkigal had the Vimana on autopilot because in that moment all manner of the divine being's functions ceased from shock. Her whole frame froze like a statue under the gaze of Medusa, her face stuck in a surprised smile. Crimson eyes looked aimless as to why the universe has decided to give Ereshkigal this crazy girl that adopted her. Only her mind had the capacity to work, and it put all of its function to simply scream for the goddess knew she could not dissuade Ruby's decision.
'Breathing is fun.' One thought wistfully spoke in her mind.
"If you don't mind," Ruby said, having approached Ereshkigal and replaced the goddess with herself at the Vimana's helm, "I would like to drive please. Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha. Oh I cannot wait."
The Vimana picked up in speed, fueled by Ruby's thought process to meet one of her fellow Campione in this country of Japan. Once Ereshkigal was out of her sudden trance, she would have the goddess act as a tracker to find one of the Campione. It would work well since gods had a natural way to sense Campione across the world. A wide grin spread across Ruby's features ecstatic to meet people like herself.
(Emiya Manor)
"We have to hurry, Kusanagi-sama." Erica ushered.
"I know, I know." Exclaimed Godou. "Of all the people here, he should know as well."
A group of people including Erica, Lilliana, and Godou the seventh Campione were running toward the Emiya manor. Along with them was a fourth person who was shortest in the group. She wore a traditional shrine maiden outfit, and had long brown hair reaching to her waist. Her face was a tanned color with brown eyes. This was Yuri Mariya, Godou's hime miko that was offered by the History Committee.
The reason for their rush was to inform their literal neighboring Campione, Shirou Emiya, of the latest news about the newest ninth Campione. From what Erica and Yuri have received was enough to make even Godou go into a fright fest. It was confirmed that the new Campione, a she to be precise, had just defeated another Heretic God and was on her way to Japan. Not in a week or so, but a frightening few hours by the speed of the aircraft she used.
Godou smiled in relief seeing the Emiya manor in sight. However when Erica, Lilliana, and Yuri tried to make a step towards the property, they felt something forcefully repel them back. It was not as if there was a physical force but rather their bodies were forcefully given the notion to stay back. Lilliana widened her eyes in recognition of this phenemenon, but Godou still kept going unaffected by the magics as a Campione.
"What's wrong?" Asked Godou in concern.
"It's a Bounded Field." Lilliana answered. "It's a time of magecraft activated upon a caster's property. King Emiya must have set up extra defenses in the meanwhile."
Godou started to run back to them. "Don't worry. I'll-"
"No, King Kusanagi!" Yuri exclaimed. "It's more important that you tell your fellow king of this grave news right now!"
Godou hesitated for five seconds, but eventually went back to rush towards the manor. With his immense stamina and speed with the Authority of Raptor, Kusanagi made it to the main doors. For reasons that escaped Kusanagi's logic, he could practically smell the heavy magics suffused into the walls of the manor, indicating just how much more tight security was.
'Just what spooked Emiya-san to go to such lengths?!' Godou thought, but pushed the question aside.
"Emiya-san, are you there?!" Godou shouted, knocking on the door. "Open up. There's something you need to hear."
From the other side, Godou could hear muffled voices, mostly being that of Shirou's girlfriends. There was shrill, high-pitched one that came from Shirou's snow fairy of a sister and that was when he heard footsteps approach the door. Godou raised a confused brow hearing both the click of locks and the sound of something metallic pried off the other side of the door. When it finally stopped, the door finally opened to reveal Shirou Emiya, brandishing some sort of black bow settled with an arrow made of twisted steel oddly looking it was a sword originally. Looking at his golden eyes, Godou could see there was maddening paranoia in them.
"So it really is you, Kusanagi-san." Shirou said almost relief. "I thought you were a god trying to pretend so."
"Why would you think that?" Godou could not help but shout. "Shirou, are you okay? Why is your home fortified as if your expecting every Heretic God to get to you?"
"It's just for... reasons." Shirou said, not daring to answer the question. "What is it that's important?"
"Emiya-san, I just got news from the History Committee, which came from a different organization in China. "The Campione just defeated another Heretic God and is on our way right here where we are!"
Shirou's eyes widened in shock. "Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. I knew it. I knew something bad was up."
Before Godou knew it, Shirou had pulled his fellow Campione into the manor and shut the door. While the boy was trying to get his bearings, he blinked his eyes to find Illya and Sakura looking down at him with pleasant smiles. Behind at the end of the hall was Medusa, clad in her outfit having fully put out her power as a Heroic Spirit, and Rin who was dancing gems between her fingers. Meanwhile, Shirou was reapplying swords to bare the door shut.
"Hello, Kusanagi-san." Illya greeted. "How is your harem doing?"
"Emiya-san, what is going on?" Godou said, taking notice how everyone was armed to the teeth. "Hold on, are you expecting a fight to happen if the Campione gets here?"
"Pretty much." Shirou confirmed, knocking a traced Caladbolg to his bow. "I am not taking any chances with a new Campione. We could use the help, Kusanagi-san."
"Alright." Godou said, standing up and getting ready to fight. "I at least can understand your reasoning then."
It was then they heard it. The roar of not turbo engines but of the sky screaming due to something flying at Mach speeds. Shirou, Rin, Sakura, Illya, and Medusa tensed feeling a great disturbance blasting all of their Bounded Fields in a near instant. With that, they could also feel that something was now floating just above the manor, and fortunately stayed there. Everyone tensed with Shirou pulling back the arrow, Illya using her Wishcraft, Sakura and Rin readying their respective magecraft, Godou preparing one of his Authorities, and Medusa preparing to launch forward with her Bellerophon ready to strike.
Out of they expected, from the door being torn off to the whole front of the manor exploding. None expected however for the doorbell itself to be rung. And when that happened, all of the occupants were still in shock.
"They're just... ringing the doorbell." Godou stated, his posture relaxing.
"It-It could be some sort of trap." Rin said, but she didn't believe her own words.
Shirou narrowed his golden eyes. He glanced back to everyone and put his finger to his lips as a gesture to keep silent. The Campione of Steel made his way to the front door, dispelling Archer's bow and Caladbolg. Instead, he replaced the weapons with a traced copy of Moralltach. This was probably a fool's errand, and on the other side of that door was the same arrogant king with his Noble Phantasm of infinite Noble Phantasms. Taking one last breath, Shirou opened the door to greet the unknown.
Instead of man praised as a king standing taller than himself, Shirou's eyes landed upon a girl just a couple centimeters shorter than himself with blonde hair tipped red. In the place of cruel, callous eyes of red were eyes brimming with a silver light in comparison to his molten gold. Where there should be a condescending smirk or infuriating scowl, there was happy smile upon a youthful face as old as Shirou was. And...
"Hello." Greeted Ruby Rose, the ninth Campione with a wave of her hand.
...Instead of 'mongrel' or 'Faker' was a genuine greeting from a girl who was nowhere near the arrogant monster that was Gilgamesh that Shirou met in the Holy Grail War. The rest of the occupants watched the scene with muted shock, especially from Shirou's group that expected Gilgamesh trying to kill them all. All they got was a blonde young woman Shirou's age with a maiden's smile. Shirou only had one thought in his mind.
'WHAT THE FUUUUUCK!?'
And that's a wrap. Ruby and Shirou have finally met in typical Ruby fashion. Shirou thought he was prepared for whatever the Root or whatever cosmic fate had in store for him. He will never expect what's coming with his horrid luck.
For those living in the US, I implore to please vote. This is an important presidential election coming up. Do not skip please. Each one counts.
Up next is Chapter 10.
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