The Snowy Streets Beneath the World Tree
A.D. Fuyuki 2014
Section 10: A Fruitful Encounter
Location: Yggdrasil (Mesoamerican Jungle)
Date: April 30th, 2014
TIme: 2:00 PM
It hadn't been long since the group had left Fuyuki City. With Cao-Cao at the wheel, they had been able to maximize the Armored Vehicle's power and increase it tenfold. Not only was it driving faster than normal, but now it ran with magic power. A normal vehicle wouldn't even be able to reach the speeds they were making. Even so, driving over miles of frozen water was a dangerous endeavor, but one they had to make.
Eiji continued looking out the window at the icy terrain around them. The world tree was much closer now and towered high over them. It was a beautiful tree, the trunk of it was several miles wide, he didn't even want to imagine the size of its stump. Of course, Yggdrasil's roots reached far beneath the world, where it was currently being chewed on by Nidhogg. The group had tried to see the top of it but it was impossible. It just kept growing and growing, getting higher and higher until even the clouds hid the top of it.
It was beautiful if he cared to admit. Many people had written stories about Yggdrasil, but they could never encapsulate the sheer size of it. Nine boughs, each of them holding one section of the Norse Age of Gods. Asgard at the top, Midgard in the middle, and Helheim at the bottom, with the other worlds closely linked to it. Countless stories had been told, the exploits of various heroes, gods, and mythological creatures thought to have disappeared, now lay before him.
"It's so pretty, isn't it, Master?" Ereshkigal said, face pressed against the glass, staring up at the tree. "I never thought a lifeform could be so beautiful."
"It's thought Yggdrasil was what started life for the old Norse People. At first, only Muspelheim and Niflheim existed. But when the fires of Muspel melted the ice if Nifl, a creature was unthawed, the titan that essentially birthed the Norse Pantheon." Eiji explained.
"Here's another neat tidbit, the name Yggdrasil is a combination of two words. The first-word yggr, meaning "terror" and the word drasil meaning "horse". Yggr is also one of the many names that Odin went by. So when put together, Yggdrasil translates to "Odin's Horse". Another fun fact, it's also thought to mean gallows," Rin said, earning a confused look from Ereshkigal and Vitch, who had been paying attention to the conversation.
"Why would it mean gallows? Aren't those what were used to hang people back in the old days?" the fox asked curiously.
"Mhmm. There's a reason why. Odin wanted to be the strongest being possible, and he believed in the power of knowledge. So he wanted to become stronger and wise. He ended up finding the source of Primordial Runes. But he himself couldn't see them, only those worthy of their power would not only be able to see them, but also use them. In order to do that, he would have to sacrifice something important. So he sacrificed himself. From one of the boughs of Yggdrasil, he fashioned a rope out of the strongest material around. He placed it around his neck and jumped off, and as an added measure, he stabbed himself with Gungnir."
"For 9 days and 9 nights he hung there, suffering a never-ending death. The other gods grew concerned, but he told them not to do anything. All they could do was watch. During the night of the ninth day, after suffering in pain, hunger, and thirst, Odin opened his eye and saw the glowing runes flowing out of the wellspring. He had finally become worthy to see and use them. Having earned their power, he shared them with the rest of the Aesir and the Vanir. With them, he was able to create powerful spells, the basis of most Rune Magicks used to this day." Rin finished a smile on her face.
"Rune Magic is still practiced today, but sadly the runes used by mages don't replicate the power of the Age of Gods. But recently, four Primordial Runes were discovered and replicated with a powerful effect. Since Primordial Runes hold vast mystic power, they don't age nor degrade, so those that have access to even one rune are considered worthy foes."
"Ugh, can you stop talking? We didn't come here for a freaking history lesson." Jeanne said, leaning back against her seat, picking her ear with her pinkie. "Seriously, the two of you drone on and on about such useless topics."
"I don't find them useless. In fact, I found this very informative. If I can figure out how to draw actual Primordial Runes, I could become very powerful! Not to mention extremely rich!" Vitch said, a grin on her face. "Imagine how much money we could make by selling Primordial Runes? The first one, I would sell for 10 million dollars, no… 20 million! I'll add a second rune for 30 million and keep spiking up the price the more runes I add! I could make trillions just by selling the entire alphabet!"
"Hah… good luck with that one. Finding an actual Primordial Rune in this day and age is like finding Excalibur at the bottom of the Lady's Lake. It's impossible." Hinako said, glancing up from her book. She peered at them from the rearview mirror. "Honestly, you think you can make a profit from Primordial Runes?"
"Of course I can! I have someone who can teach me how to use them!" Vitch replied, turning to face Cerise who was busy polishing her sword. The glimmering weapon was shining brightly from within the car, the runes etched on the blade pulsing with magical energy. As if feeling the vixen's gaze on her, she turned to face her, brow partially quirked.
"What?"
"Well, I couldn't help but notice that sword of yours. It has some Primordial Runes etched into it, right? Meaning those are the real deal. Would you maybe be able to.."
"No." the cloaked woman deadpanned, her eyes falling back on her sword.
"Oh come on, you can part with a few. All I need to know is how to draw them, I'll even give you 5% of the profits."
"I am not going to teach you how to draw Primordial Runes. For one, drawing them is a precise art and needs focus and training in order to pull them off. Second, I was never taught how to use them. I was just given this sword with the runes already etched onto the blade. The spell it contains is one I am not going to disclose. So don't ask me again, unless you wanna get run through with it." she replied, earning a huff from the fox.
"Well damn, you didn't have to hit me with the attitude. You don't know what you are missing, you could be a multimillionaire, and all you have to do is sell a single rune."
"Oh for Pete's sake. Why the hell did I have to be sent here? Couldn't it have been Kiyohime? With every moment that passes I just wanna die." Jeanne said, rubbing her eyes in annoyance.
"Well, you don't have to deal with that for much longer, we're about to cross the boundary," Cao-Cao said, making everyone go silent. Eiji sat up a bit as he stared forward, seeing the area ahead of them.
It was completely discolored, a swirling wave of rainbow energy moving in front of Yggdrasil's trunk. It was the only area that looked different than the rest of the terrain. Cao-Cao sped up a bit, the ice forming a sort of natural ramp, their vehicle flying up. They passed through the barrier, disappearing into another world for a brief moment. All they could see was a swirling mass of stars and swirling darkness. This only lasted for a second, as they appeared on the other side.
They all let out a collective gasp as they continued driving down the beaten path, which now cut through a thick forest. The trees in the area were tall, lush, and green. They could see beautiful flowers blooming all around them, the thick canopy blocking the light above them. Cao-Cao cut through some thick shrubs, pulling to a stop within a clearing. The engine cut off moments later, causing them all to sigh in relief. It took a few moments as they all composed themselves, slowly exiting the vehicle.
"Oh, god it's so hot!" Ereshkigal said, fanning her face with her hand. Rin groaned, shaking her head as she unzipped her jacket, rapidly shedding the layers she had put on. She went as far as taking off her favorite sweater, tying it firmly around her waist.
"Christ, I'm gonna have a field day here, I can already tell."
A loud slap made them jump. Vitch cringed as she rubbed her neck, looking at the guts in the palm of her hand. "Anyone got any bug spray?"
"Even Orleans wasn't this hot. I think I like the cold better than this shithole." Jeanne added, tugging on her armor a bit. "The girls are gonna be pooling with sweat. Maybe I should follow Saber Alter's example and get Underboob armor, at least it wouldn't start collecting my sweat."
"Lovely, this is going to be fun," Hinako mumbled, tossing her coat inside the car, remaining in a form-fitting black one piece. "Well, shall we? We can't keep wasting time."
"Allow me to lead, the jungles around here are thick and filled with all sorts of creatures. We wouldn't want to get lost." the red-cloaked woman said, unsheathing her sword. She brought it down on some vines, cutting away some of the brush.
Eiji had to admit, it felt good not wearing so many layers. It had been a long time since he had been in just his Association uniform. He almost forgot what it looked like. He had wanted to take off his sweater, but he didn't want to waste any more time. Thankfully, his Mystic Code worked both ways, it would protect from extreme cold and extreme heat. So to him, it felt as if it was 32 degrees Fahrenheit, which he very much appreciated. Vitch's grumbles filled his ears as she kept batting away the bugs. Jeanne kept softly complaining about the heat while Ereshkigal looked indifferent. Her cheeks were flushed, so he could tell she was getting overheated.
"The first people to live around these areas were Olmecs, some three thousand to four thousand years ago. They colonized most of what is called Mexico today. Of course, they weren't the only ones, the Toltecs existed as well. They were magnificent artists, who's sculptures still exist today. In fact, their most prolific and well-known god happens to be-"
"Quetzalcoatl, God of the Sun, or rather Goddess, according to Chaldea's records," Eiji said, finishing Cerise's statement. She gave him a nod, tugging on her hood.
"Very good, I'm impressed with your knowledge."
"Pfft, anyone can read some files."
"Very true, Rin, very true. Let's see… ah yes, once the Toltecs and the Olmecs vanished, various other tribes sprung up and formed their own societies. Though they were the ones who learned to cultivate maize, avocados, tomatoes, vanilla, cinnabar, obsidian, and the most delicious one of them all, Cacao. Ruler happens to love that last one with all of her heart." Cerise explained, a smile on her face. "She goes crazy over it, thankfully we packed enough offerings to keep her satisfied."
"Yes, yes we did. Don't worry, Hinako, we brought enough for you to present something to her, so you shouldn't be worried." Eiji said, giving the woman a smile. She remained silent, eyes forward as Cerise continued chopping down the brush before them.
"Anything else of interest? Perhaps about Ruler?"
"Sadly, I can't elaborate much on Ruler, I would rather she explain who she is herself. But I do know a lot about the area, things that she taught me. Like the Aztec people, for one. They were one of the largest people found in Mesoamerica, being rivaled by the Mayans in terms of sheer size.
They were once a nomadic people, but Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of the Sun and War, prophesied his followers would one day find their promised land and build a nation there. When they found an eagle, atop a cactus, which grew from rock, with a rattlesnake in its beak, they would settle that land in his name. And true to that prophecy, they saw that eagle. Coincidentally, the symbol in the center of the Mexican Flag is that very eagle."
"That place is now the main plaza in Mexico City, you are very well taught, Cerise. I'm very glad to learn all of this information from you!" Ereshkigal happily said, earning a groan from Jeanne.
"God, all of you are eggheads. Can you teach us something that isn't the history of this blazing inferno you call a jungle? Like maybe a little bit about yourself?" the former saint asked. Cerise's smile turned into a frown as she looked at the former saint.
"I'd rather keep that to myself for now. I am not ready to speak about my own origins. It isn't that I don't trust any of you, it's just that… it's rather painful for me to go over." she replied.
"Gee, thanks for killing the mood, Jeanne," Vitch said, arms crossed as she ignored the bugs. Her ears kept wiggling atop her head, as she continued ignoring the buzzing.
"As informative as the history lesson is, we've got enemies," Cao-Cao said, causing the group to come to a stop. Cerise jumped back in time to avoid the claws of a Phantasmal Beast, a cross of a Jaguar, and some hideous creature they had never seen before. It featured a second, ghastly-looking head growing from the top of its shoulder. Both of them had beady eyes and slobber on their maws. From the treeline, two more appeared, pawing the ground before them.
"What the hell are these things?" Rin cried, having grabbed a handful of gems from her pouch, readying them to fight.
"Some sort of Phantasmal Beast? I dunno, this is the first time I'm seeing them!" Eiji said.
"They're Ruler's creations. Using her magic power, she was able to combine two common animals and created a sort of Chimera. She calls them "Pumars", I believe they are a crossbreed of Pumas and Jaguars?"
"Who gives a damn what they are called? They have us surrounded, and we must fight them back, or are we going to let what happened at Homurahara repeat itself?" Hinako said, readying her sword for a fight. Cao-Cao was already at her side, spear at the ready. Ereshkigal grit her teeth, walking in front of her Master, Meslamtaea in her grasp.
"Stand back, Master, Miss Rin. Phantasmal Beasts are dangerous, this should be a job for Heroic Spirits. Don't let the worse of that foolhardy woman get to you."
"If words brought me down I would have gotten killed in Akihabara," Eiji said, cracking his shoulders. "But alright, I'll let you handle it, Ereshkigal. Jeanne, Vitch, remain on standby in case you are needed."
"We will be needed, two more just appeared behind us," Vitch replied, having cocked her rifle. Jeanne had her flag at the ready, her eyes glimmering in the sunlight. "What are your orders?"
"Take them down, at all costs," he said, giving his servants a grin. Rin brushed her bangs out of her eyes, a similar smirk on her face.
"Well, if Eiji is going all out, I suppose I'll do so as well. Saber, focus on the one closest to us. Show me what you can truly do!" she said, earning confused looks from the others. The trees around them shook a bit, a blur shooting out of them. A cry echoed through the clearing, the sound of a sword being drawn cutting through the Beastly roars.
The beast was sliced completely in half, blood shooting out of the corpse. The figure landed before Rin, swinging the blood clean off her sword. Just as the beast fell, another appeared to replace it.
A tall figure landed before Rin, dressed in old-style Japanese clothing, with a bit of a modern twist. They wore a crimson half coat, their right arm covered by a long sleeve, bearing black and red armor. The lengthy coat fell elegantly, reaching past her waist, being secured at the front by a decorative black ribbon, tied into a bot at the front, holding a glimmering coin with a certain crest etched into it. Long, black hair cascaded down her back, tied into a high ponytail, a pair of black, canine-like ears growing from her head. She held a white scabbard in her left hand, a massive Masamune clasped tightly in her right.
Without a single word, the figure shot forward, her black, winged getas clattering loudly on the stony ground. She jumped into the air, spinning around with grace as she swung her katana downward, taking the head of the Chimera clean off, dodging a bit from the second one. She landed firmly on the ground, using her scabbard to deflect a bite before slashing upward, taking the second head off.
She wasted no time in finding another target, a grin on her face as she continued moving about, bringing the nearby Chimeras down. Ereshkigal shook her head, darting forward as fast as she could, thrusting her spear at the Chimera in front of her. She hefted it upward, summoning a second spear, sending it through its body. She pulled Meslamtaea free, spinning it around with ease, severing the heads off in a single blow. Similarly, Cao-Cao was engaged in his own battle, being surrounded by three of them.
"Master, a little assistance, please."
Hinako didn't so much as speak, as she darted forward, slashing her twin swords with precision, opening a gash in the nearest beast. She thrust both of them into its neck before pulling them apart, the Puma head screeched loudly as blood poured from its severed jugular. She pushed the beast back, joining her servant in the center. The old general spun his weapon around, thrusting it forward, adding some kicks and arm thrusts, easily pushing the beast's back.
"How many of these things are there?" Rin queried, glancing over her shoulder at Cerise, who had tied a beast up in her chains. She flung one of them over the bough of a tree, giving it a firm yank. The creature's necks snapped clean in half, the chains disappeared letting the body plop to the ground with the others.
"She made hundreds of them. They are fairly weak but when they attack information they can be trouble. Thankfully they aren't like other Chimeras, or else we would likely be dead."
"These things are hardly a challenge, I haven't even gone full-auto yet, what a waste of ammo." Vitch cried in annoyance, taking another beast down with ease. Jeanne stabbed her flag into a nearby beast, hefting it over her shoulder. Saber jumped upward, drawing her sword, slicing it clean in half with a single blow.
A few more seconds of fighting and the beasts were dead. Saber landed in a crouch, drops of blood raining around her from the beast she had cut in half. She slowly stood up, letting the crimson liquid run from the edge, forming a small pool on the ground.
"How boring, those beasts were so weak. Why did you even call me, Lady Rin? I feel insulted that you called me for small fries."
"Um, excuse me, hi," Eiji said, grabbing the woman's attention. She looked at him, eyes filled with curiosity. "Who are you and when were you summoned?"
"Me? I was summoned… an hour ago, I think? I dunno. I was summoned by Lady Rin, you don't need to worry. I've already been briefed on the situation. I am to assist Lady Rin in securing the Holy Grail located within Fuyuki City, I am also allowed to assist a man named Eiji Itsuka, whom I assume is you. I shall obey your orders as if Lady Rin issued them, Lord Eiji." she said, giving the man a polite bow.
"I'm impressed, did Chaldea send you her catalyst? They're giving everyone free handouts these days." Hinako said, shaking her head in disdain. "She is effective, I'll give her that. Perhaps she'll be a better asset than someone else I know."
"Okay look, I get it, I fucked up at the academy, but can you stop rubbing it in? I don't need a constant reminder of my fuck ups every 5 goddamn minutes. I would appreciate it if you kept your mouth shut from here on out," the man snapped earning a glare from the ravenette.
"As if I would do that. You can't control me, I can do whatever the hell I want, and I'll probably do it twice as good as you." she angrily told him, fists clenched tightly.
"Can we for one minute stop the fucking arguing! For the love of God, we are on a life or death mission right now. The city is overrun, the ones who attacked us are too strong and the only ones that could help us fight are weakened and hiding!" the avenger-class servant shouted, gripping her flag tightly. "Either you two cut the shit, or I'll kill the two of you where you stand. From where I see it, neither of you are fit to be in Chaldea. So stop messing around and deal with the problem!"
"Jeanne makes a good point, this is no time to be arguing. It would be best if our groups remained separated for now. We are going to the same place, but I would appreciate it if you gave us some space, Hinako." Rin said firmly.
"Fine by me, Cao-Cao, let's cover the rear. If any Chimera attack from the front, I'm certain our buddies here will be able to handle it."
"As you wish, Master." he faithfully replied. Cerise sighed, retaking the lead of the group, this time remaining silent. Her patience was beginning to grow thin as it was.
"I'm going on ahead, keep the paths clear. The trees above us will provide me with a natural vantage point." Vitch said, earning a nod from Eiji. She leaned forward, cupping her hand over his ear. "If you need me to snipe her, I gladly will."
"We can't do that, Tamamo. She's a member of Chaldea, I can't afford to let her die, as annoying as she is becoming. She's just rebelling,"
"If you say so," she said with a shrug, jumping up into the nearby tree.
They moved forward, keeping their distance from each other. Jeanne had joined Cerise at the front, tired of dealing with the crap going on around her. Ereshkigal stuck close to her Master, her eyes darting back to Hinako and Cao-Cao every so often. The two walked in silence, neither saying anything, but she could tell they were having a mental conversation. She didn't feel too comfortable around her. Even if she was a member of Chaldea, she was beginning to turn into an unknown variable, and she didn't exactly like that.
That of course, left Eiji and Rin walking close together, with Saber following closely, hand on her katana. Her eyes scanned their surroundings, darting in every direction as she took in every single inch of the jungle. It didn't seem as if the heat was bothering her too much. He gave her a light tap on the shoulder, a firm look on his face.
"When did you summon Saber?"
"Before we left my house. I asked Chaldea for a catalyst during the week you spent asleep. Anastasia managed to speak with your Commander and convinced her to send me something. It just so happened she sent me a coin belonging to the Minamoto clan."
"The Minamoto clan…?" he mumbled, eyes narrowing a bit. He focused on the samurai walking beside them. She returned his look, a curious one on her face. "Wait a minute...Ushiwakamaru?"
"That used to be my childhood nickname. I suppose you met my younger self at one point?"
"Of course, she was contracted to Chaldea's director before he was forced to end all of his contracts. I spoke to her briefly though, I never thought I would be meeting an older version of her."
"Tends to happen, the Throne of Heroes records the lives of heroes at their peak. It just so happens that some heroes are famous enough to leave more than one recorded history. I happen to be one such case. You may refer to me by that nickname if you wish, Lord Eiji, but I would appreciate it if you called me Yoshitsune. Of course, it would be more ideal if you called me Saber. I don't exactly trust that Hinako lady or her Rider. The fewer people know my identity, the better," she said softly.
"You've got a point, I think I'll continue calling you by your class name, Saber. But in private, do feel free to call me Eiji. I don't really like that "Lord" stuff, makes me feel like I'm enslaving my friends. I may be a Master, but I don't see Heroic Spirits as tools or disposable familiars. You all have lives, aspirations, and dreams, and I want to fulfill them just as you'll help me fulfill my own."
"Ohoho, well aren't you sweet? A man like you is hard to come by in this day and age, if only you had been around back when I was alive. I'm sure you and I would have hit it off." she replied with a wink.
"Let's keep moving, and try not to give my friend lecherous looks, Saber. I'd rather keep you alive," the girl threatened, earning a shrug from the woman.
"Yes, of course, Lady Rin. I shall continue walking beside you, if anything approaches us, I shall ensure my sword cuts them down."
"Step lively, everyone. We'll have to cross a river soon and the waters can be quite choppy, the last thing any of us needs is to be swallowed whole by it." Cerise said, causing the group to become attentive. They continued their walk through the forest, their eventual destination ever closer.
Location: Jungle, Base of the World Tree
Date: April 30th, 2014
Time: 3:00 PM
Having ventured deeper into the jungle, Eiji, Hinako, and Rin were greeted by a large Mayan Temple. It resembled a large pyramid and was decorated with beautiful flowers and bright green leaves. The pools beneath it were filled with a dark brown liquid, which turned out to be liquid chocolate and poured out of the temple in waterfalls. The jungle of Cacao trees and tropical plants seemed to break away, leaving the temple in its own little clearing. Soaring above it was the trunk belonging to Yggdrasil, the mighty tree hanging above them, shielding them from the otherwise burning sun.
"Well, I would like to welcome you to Tikal but this is a pale comparison to the great Mayan Capital. My boss is in the temple, if you would follow me." Cerise said, guiding the group toward the entrance.
"This is amazing! How is it that this realm can exist in Fuyuki without being affected by the snowfall? It's blazing hot in here!" Rin cried in surprise, looking around with great interest. She wiped the sheen of sweat from her brow, fanning her face with one of the large leaves she had managed to get. "I never thought I would see something like this."
"I think this is a Reality Marble, perhaps part of Ruler's Noble Phantasm, the ability to manifest the place of her worship. That's why there's a jungle here, and it's tropical and humid. By placing it here, Yggdrasil keeps it alive and healthy and she doesn't have to worry about supplying mana to it." Eiji said, noticing some foreign creatures flying high above them. "Truly a marvelous place,"
"A little piece of Mesoamerica, located within Modern Day Japan. Heh, if Dr. Roman or Da Vinci were around, they'd probably be begging us for plant samples," Hinako said, her face buried in her book. Cao-Cao walked closely beside her, keeping an eye out for any dangers. Ereshkigal did the same, as Eiji had ordered Vitch and Jeanne to remain in spirit form as they approached the temple.
"You may help yourself to anything you'd like. Fruits, vegetables, weird plants, Pepe… Ruler doesn't care. Just as long as you don't touch her chocolate. She's very particular about that." the berserker said matter of factly. Ereshkigal looked around for a moment, a look of curiosity on her face.
"What's a Pepe?"
A loud screech filled the area, causing the group to jump as a massive, ugly, ancient-looking avian raced through the clearing. It was a ghastly-looking creature, with brightly colored feathers, a pale scaly neck, and a bright orange beak. Its talons had sharp claws, stained red with the blood of a fresh kill. It let out another screech as it continued running into the forest. Cerise turned to fully face them, a small smile on her face.
"That's Pepe. His species is currently extinct, in modern times, but he exists here. If you are brave enough, he'll let you ride him."
"Yeah, fuck that noise," Eiji said, shuddering a bit at the sight of the animal. He was here to speak with Ruler, not to interact with the Fauna of her Reality marble.
Entering the temple, they had expected ancient architecture, smooth stone, and beautiful Mayan paintings, depicting battles, or epic clashes of the gods. But instead, they were greeted by modern-looking walls. They were painted a bright orange color, with various yellows, reds, and greens being mixed in, giving it an ancient touch, while keeping things modern. The air was slightly cooler than outside in the humid heat. Eiji noticed the main area was fully furnished, with leather couches, plants, various other types of furniture, and even a 5-star kitchen. The center island featured a chocolate fountain, the scent of the heavenly brown liquid filling their nostrils as they took in their surroundings.
"Oh goddamn it! Are you fucking shitting me? I was camping on that spot the whole match and you just come in and take the point? Screw you man!" a peppy-sounding voice called out. Eiji shifted his gaze toward the leather sofa, where a young lady was sitting.
She looked a little younger than him, likely being around Rin's age, and had black hair, with red and blue streaks running through it. She was wearing a variation of a middle school sailor suit, with a bright blue skirt and puffy white clouds printed on it. Long black socks came up to her calves, a pair of red and blue sandals loosely hanging off of her feet. Her eyes were affixed to the flat-screen television in front of her, a controller in her hand, and various snacks placed on the table, including bottles of beer. She blew a huge bubble with her gum before it popped, forcing her to suck the candy back into her mouth.
"Archer, we have guests," Cerise said, causing the girl to hold a single hand up.
"Yeah, in a minute, Berserker. I'm in the middle of a life-changing match here and I am not going to give up right this second," she said, fixing her headset. The soft clicking of buttons became audible as she grit her teeth, flicking the joysticks and tapping the trigger buttons. "Hangman, he's coming up behind us! Switch to Widow and take his ass out, I'm going for the point!"
"Is she… playing Overwatch?"
"Yeah… it seems video games are the only way to keep her from wandering around the temple. Ruler doesn't want her messing with anything. I'm sorry about her. I sent her a message ahead of time but she probably ignored it." Cerise said, showing the others her phone. "We're still getting used to this modern tech, despite her picking up a PlayStation and handling it as if it was a horse."
"It's… fine. We sort of had to come here unannounced. There was nothing we could have really done after what happened at the Academy," Eiji said, rubbing his neck in embarrassment. Footsteps filled the room, reminding them that they weren't alone within the temple.
"Ah, so our guests are finally with us! How wonderful!"
Eiji's eyes moved away from the television, locking with the gorgeous woman who had made her presence known. She was a dark-skinned beauty, with bright white markings on her skin. She was wearing bright-colored clothing, a triangle-shaped bikini top covered her chest, having red and yellow markings on it. She was wearing a leopard-themed waistcoat, hiding the dark red shorts she was wearing underneath. Golden heels adorned her feet. She had lovely features, bright golden eyes, with a small nose and full lips. Her thick black hair was done up in dreads and decorated with various pieces of gold, colored beads, and other decorations. She had a spear in her hand, adorned with small cacao beans and golden coins.
The man could feel the power radiating from this woman. Her gaze alone told him she was a very powerful deity, but a kindhearted one too. Her aura filled him with both calmness and joy, making him lose any and all apprehension he had previously. Cerise immediately dropped to a knee, bowing her head respectfully.
"Milady,"
"Little Red, I've told you countless times not to address me by that." the woman said, shaking her head. "You are supposed to hate gods, not be polite to them, dear."
"You have been kind to me. I cannot ignore that. You may be a god, but you are a kind and just one, and that I can respect." she said, clearing her throat. "These are the people I spoke to you about. The members of Chaldea, alongside their acquaintance, Rin Tohsaka."
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Ruler," Eiji said, holding his hand out. The woman looked at it for a moment, giving it a firm shake, her lips curving into a smile.
"Oh my, you are very polite and have a firm grip too. Do you like dark-skinned ladies, perchance?"
"Ahem!" Rin and Ereshkigal cried in unison, glaring daggers at the goddess. She remained poised, not at all bothered by the pair.
"It was an ice breaker, dears, no need to glare at me like that," she replied, placing a hand on her hip. "I would like to formally welcome you to my capital city. The city of gold and chocolate, Tikal! It isn't like the real city, but it's the best I could do. Was the trip here safe?"
"Depends on your definition of safe," Hinako said firmly, snapping her book closed. "We had to kill a horde of Krichat' on our way here and deal with various creatures. So no, it wasn't entirely safe,"
"I see, I apologize for that. We usually have a defense system to thin out the dangerous beasts that linger in the woods. But she's currently engaged in combat with a gentleman on the other side of the world." Ruler said, eyes falling on Archer, who let out a scream of anger.
"You son of a bitch! You need to stop using your aimbot and play the game right, you fuck!" she shouted, squeezing her controller again. A soft chatter echoed through the room, causing her eyes to move toward the window, where a medium-sized squirrel sat, pointing his little digit at her. "Ugh… Ekky! That stupid squirrel is back!"
"Excuse me for a moment," Ruler said, handing Cerise her spear as she crossed the room, causing the squirrel to jump away, scurrying toward one of Yggdrasil's branches, which was coming into the temple from the outside. "Come down here you little bastard!"
"No, I won't! You're going to kill me if I do! I have a message from Veðrfölnir. He wants you to stop eating all that chocolate before you turn into a fat whale. And he wants Archer to learn how to shoot because you can't play for shit!" he said, chittering loudly as he dashed out the window.
"Veðrfölnir! You fucking bastard, why don't you fly your ass down here and tell me that in person!" Archer shouted through her headset. Ruler moved over to where the young girl was sitting, grabbing a hold of the headset, pressing it to her ear, making sure the microphone was close to her lips.
"Hey, Veðrfölnir. It's Ruler here, goddess of merchants and cacao. Listen, buddy, if you don't log off this game immediately, I am going to fly to the top of Yggdrasil, snap Hraesvelg's neck, and shove my spear up your butt." she cried, clutching the headset tightly in her hand. "Ah yes, go cry to your buddies, you little weasel."
The group watched, stunned as she handed the headset back to Archer, giving her a loving pat on the head. "You let me know if he bothers you again, alright Sei-sei? I don't mind going after him for you."
"Thanks boo, I appreciate it, mwah!" the girl cried, blowing a kiss toward the goddess, who stood before the group, her previous regality returning as she retook her spear.
"Now then, you all came here to speak to me, and you must be quite tired. Come, I shall prepare some food for all of you, while you regale me with your tales of woe. Little Red has told me a lot, but I wish to hear it from you. Especially if you require my assistance to take down the vile bastard controlling the Holy Grail."
Eiji, Hinako, and Rin all shared a look, not exactly knowing how to reply. They just nodded, following the goddess out of the living room and into the lavish kitchen. After all, they couldn't turn down her offer. It would be disrespectful toward her.
xxx
"Ah, so the world of the future has become darkened due to our singularity here. And now everyone is uncertain of how humanity will proceed? Very interesting," Ruler said, her hands folded beneath her chin as she looked at her guests.
"That's right. Our director spent the last two years resolving these temporal anomalies and it was thought it wouldn't happen again. Minor Distortions happen from time to time but the world usually resolves them without any intervention. However, these were caused by someone. We have yet to figure out who that is, but all we know is their goal. A total genesis of the known universe." Eiji said firmly.
"Which is why we require your assistance, Ruler. We were previously stationed at Homurahara Academy, but it was attacked. The people there made their way to another location. If we had acted quickly and attacked the west side of the city, we likely could have prevented a tragedy." Hinako said, taking a sip from her hot chocolate.
"Ignore her, she keeps saying she wants to attack Shinto Town without planning. We know the one responsible for this is located there, but we're not sure where he is. All we know is all of Shinto Town has been converted into something out of the Age of Gods. As far as I can tell, everything from the Harbor down to the Railyards and even the Hilltop Church area has been converted." Rin added, shoveling some food into her mouth. "Oh man, this is delicious."
"Why thank you, Miss Tohsaka. I'm quite happy you enjoy my cooking. Being a Mayan deity, I am well versed in various dishes from my homeland, including modern ones. I figured I could treat you all to a mix of what my homeland has to offer." she said with a wink.
"I think I'm enamored with this chocolate. It's so delicious and smooth." Ereshkigal said, having finished the last of her chocolate. She wiped her lip with her sleeve, sighing contently. "Mesoamerican Goddesses are awesome!"
"Ruler's chocolate is among the greatest wonders of the world. Thanks to her Noble Phantasm, she is able to connect to her roots. Every offering of chocolate she was ever given while she was around is locally grown. Even modern varieties. But Mayan chocolate is among the finest in the world, which is why it's so expensive to cultivate." Cerise said happily.
"Be that as it may, we did not come here to speak about chocolate and food. We came here to speak with Ruler about our options. Cerise said you were having trouble choosing a side to support, we would rather you support our side, more specifically, mine." Hinako stated boldly, standing up from her seat. "Grant me your strength and a few spare Command Seals. I promise me and Rider can finish this by tonight."
"The only thing you'll finish is your lives if you keep acting like this." Rin snapped, glaring at her fellow ravenette. "Why are you so gung-ho about finishing this? We need to plan this out, better than what we did at the academy."
"As much as I hate to agree with her, Master, she makes a point. The best thing we can do right now is coordinate a plan of attack. We have a lot of information now, correct? We know which servants they have as well as the beasts they command. We also know they have military-grade weaponry and no fewer than 400 people. They lost a lot during the Siege on the Academy and are unlikely to send out more troops." Cao-Cao said, leaning back in his seat as he gathered his thoughts. "If we figure out where their base of operations is, we can plan a proper pincer attack. Perhaps cut off their supply lines, disable any communications they have and seize any and all weaponry they have available. Once we have them on the ropes, we can truly end this."
"I don't think we have time for that kind of planning," Eiji said, closing his eyes. "Something has been bugging me about this singularity since we came here. I was busy in Akihabara, so I didn't know what happened in Chaldea until after I had returned. There is someone who was at Chaldea who I never considered being here."
"That being?" Cerise questioned, having returned with some desserts. Ruler had been busy gathering their used dishes, having been listening to their group chatting away, silently making judgments on them as they spoke.
"Father Kotomine, mine and Rin's old master."
Her eyes widened a bit at the mention of the name, having sat up firmly in her seat. "Kotomine? You think he's behind this?"
"Yes. I met him in Chaldea before being sent to Akihabara. He was working with "Chris" during the attack on Chaldea Security Organization. We also believe he was gifted a Grail by the unknown "Benefactor" who wants Cosmic Genesis. I didn't consider him to be the cause of this singularity because I met him in the future. But if he was given a Grail, theoretically speaking, he could just bring himself to the past."
"Aren't you reaching? Believing Kotomine to be the one behind this?" Hinako asked, earning a sigh from the man. Eiji undid the strap of his CSC placing it on the table. He gave it a twist, turning the device on. Various holographic screens sparked to life, each containing various files connected to Chaldea's Database.
"Normally, I would say I am reaching. However, if you had bothered reading up on the files that were given to us before we left Chaldea, you would know something very important," he said, tapping a file. The name "Singularity F" was written on it in bold letters. He tapped another file which read "Fuyuki Fourth Holy Grail War." Seeking further, he found what he was looking for, a file containing the participants of the Grail War. "Tokiomi Tohsaka, Kariya Matou, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, Kiritsugu Emiya, Waver Velvet, Kirei Kotomine, Marisbury Animusphere, and two Unknown Mages. SHEBA confirmed these people as the participants of the 4th Grail War. All of them are confirmed deceased, save Waver Velvet and Marisbury Animusphere, the confirmed winner of the Holy Grail War. We know this because this servant, King Solomon was in fact Dr. Romani Archaman. Him winning is what led Chaldea to even exist."
He let that information settle in their minds for a moment. Hinako remained silent as she read the files before her. Rin however had a look of uncertainty on her face. She rubbed her temple with her forefinger, clenching her teeth tightly.
"Okay, so if Kotomine died in 2004 how this claims, then who the hell raised us in Magecraft? His shambling zombified corpse?"
"The Holy Grail War here in Fuyuki hadn't been won, however, something happened during World War II, during the 3rd Grail War. It seems as if the Grail itself was corrupted by something, Chaldea isn't sure what it is. But we believe the fire of Fuyuki sparked Singularity F and in turn, caused the destruction of Fuyuki City was created by the corrupted Grail. If Kotomine was in the area during the war, then maybe he managed to make a wish. He's dead, but not really."
"Hmm… that would make sense, stranger things have happened during Grail Wars," Hinako said, frowning. "Okay, so we confirm one person being involved, Father Kotomine. If he's here, then why isn't he attacking?"
"Kotomine wouldn't attack us directly. At least, not personally. He's an Executioner from the Holy Church, someone who has the ability to exorcise demons, vampires, and anything that is undead and sucks blood. He's the kind of person who sits back, watches the chessboard, and makes calculated moves. If he's behind the attack on the Academy, then that was only a 10th of the force he holds." she said, shaking her head. "It's entirely possible the Masters whose servants attacked us are under his command."
"She's right. Kotomine is a true bastard. Cold, calculating, brutally honest, but he's good at what he does. He taught us martial arts, supervised us when we practiced magic, and taught us everything we know. Sure, we refined our skills with notes Tokiomi Tohsaka left us, but he was always there with us. It wasn't until Rin's death that I finally left his side, his tutelage no longer required. I don't know what he did after that." Eiji added.
"Hmm… well, if it's a Church Executioner we are dealing with, we cannot allow him to do what he wishes. Especially if he holds so much sway over the people he's poisoned. Every magus within Fuyuki City has been killed, and those that haven't been hiding. Sadly, no transgressions have been committed from which my power is needed. A ruler is meant to oversee the grail war, ensure its rules are followed. No rule has been broken, so I have not intervened." Ruler said firmly.
"Now I'm sure that it's Kotomine. Him not breaking any rules, despite doing all of this? Having the other Masters use their Servants to kill the people? The Krichat and Giants? All machinations of the Grail's power. It makes complete and total sense. He's using the Grail's power and having others do his bidding for him. He himself isn't breaking any rules, and if he does, he can erase them with the Grail. It's entirely possible he's aware there's a Ruler Class servant here, keeping an eye on him."
"Wait, you mean to say he's been a step ahead of us this entire time?" Ereshkigal cried, eyes widening in surprise. "There's no way!"
"Ereshkigal is right, there's no possible way someone could predict the future with such accuracy that they could plan ahead. Even if he was in Chaldea in 2019 he couldn't have used the systems to glean that knowledge. It would be far too much for him to accurately make a plan!" Hinako said, shaking her head. "Out of the question, Kotomine cannot be the one responsible."
"Hmm… well, there is one way he could be doing this," Cerise said, tapping her chin in thought as she looked up at the ceiling. "Do you know what a Volva is?"
"No, I've never heard of one," Eiji said, head tilted in curiosity. Cerise sighed, tugging on her hood.
"I see… well, allow me to inform you. A Volva is what people of the modern world would call a Seeress. A woman with Mystic Eyes of Clairvoyance. There are only a few in Norse Mythology and their eyes are passed down from Master to Protege every generation. If Kotomine was able to find himself a Volva, then technically speaking, she would tell him everything that can happen word for word. The only limitation they have are unknown variables, like people from the future. But the people of this time? He can easily see any future he wants," the red-cloaked woman said with a sigh.
"Fantastic," Rin mumbled with a sour tone, stretching her arms above her head. "Good to know that every step of the way, we're going to be hindered by some magical pair of eyes."
"Only people of this time will, I and Eiji however will not. And I reiterate, we need to attack now. We are in consensus that Kotomine is a likely suspect right? If he's here, then he's at the Church. We have plenty of servants here, all of them strong in their own right. All we have to do is attack him, kill him, take back the Grail and finish our mission."
"And we are telling you we cannot jump the gun. We have to plan carefully, Hinako. This isn't us being passive, it's us being smart. It's like Rider said, we don't know how many people are over there, but we have to assume it's over a thousand, we have to assume they are all armed, and we have to assume their servants have home-field advantage. That Caster-Class, Jeanne told us about could even have Territory Creation, and if she made her workshop in the Church, all of us would be boned before we could even make a dent in their forces." Eiji said firmly. The woman let out a sigh, arms crossed as she looked away from him, nose held high.
"Fine, fine, I relent. No more haphazard attacks, but we also cannot sit on our laurels. As we are right now, we cannot hope to do much of anything. We also have other enemies to worry about, not just Father Kotomine, if he is truly involved,"
"Other enemies? Like who?" Rin questioned, causing her to zip her lip.
"Apologies, Miss Rin, but we are not at discretion to reveal that. Just know we are tracking down someone potentially dangerous."
"Fair enough."
Ruler suddenly clapped her hands, causing them to jolt a bit. The regal goddess stood at the front of the table, a bright smile on her face. "Well, if you are all finally done bickering, then allow me to assist you. I mentioned it before, but I'm not just the Patron Goddess of Cacao, but I am also the Goddess of Merchants. It is my duty to ensure the safe journeys of anyone who travels within Mesoamerica and conducts trade, especially chocolate trade."
"You never told us your name," Rin said, causing the woman to grin.
"Survive through my little training course and I'll grace you with it, if not I believe some white chocolate shall suffice as a reward," she said with a wink, grabbing hold of her spear. "Follow me, Archer dear, we'll be heading to the back, don't burn the place down."
"Kay-Kay," the young girl said, giving the group a wave. Hinako, Eiji, Rin, and their servants walked down the partially lit walls of Ruler's temple. Various pictures of Mesoamerican cities, villages, and even modern locations adorned the walls. The scent of chocolate permeated the area, coming from the Throne Room, where Cerise had explained Ruler's large hordes and offerings went.
Exiting the back of the temple, they were met with a large sandy field, extending for half an acre, ending in a large fence separating the lot from the forest. The sun was shining brightly, this time not being blocked by the humongous trunk belonging to Yggdrasil. Ruler stepped out before them, giving them a bright smile.
"This is hardly a training ground, but I can provide you with everything you need to power yourselves up. Merchants need to be strong in order to have safe journeys. They have to be ready to fight all manner of beasts and people trying to steal their wares. So, I will make sure you guys are ready for the fights ahead. Tell me, how many of you have used Command Seals and how many have you used?"
"I used one," Eiji said, showing the goddess the back of his hand. One segment of his butterfly-shaped seal was gone, having been smudged out. The other two were glowing brightly, still filled with magic power. "Chaldea figured out a way to replicate Command Seals, and are capable of giving us more seals. However, we can only restore them on site so I can't just go back and get more. These seals are special too, but we're not allowed to disclose why."
"I used one myself, back when we were fighting Berserker. I had to ensure Rider was strong enough to use his Noble Phantasm. Much like Eiji, my seals are also special, but I was never briefed on why."
"I see, I see… well, it shouldn't be too hard to restore them then. You'll need all the magic power you can get after all. Hold your hands out for me, place them below mine." the ruler-class servant said, holding her own out. Eiji and Hinako did as they were told, holding their hands out as she instructed. Her fingertips started glowing brightly, swirling red energy flowing out of her body. The white markings on her skin began glowing brightly, as she channeled her magic outward. "Now, by the power vested in me, by Fuyuki's Greater Grail, I restore the seals belonging to these two Masters. May they use them wisely."
The pair watched as the missing segment of their seal was fully restored, the full glow of their Crest being completely visible. Eiji opened and closed his hand a few times, tracing them with his fingertip.
"Thanks, Ruler. I appreciate it."
"Of course. I wish to support those who want stability, I cannot formally take a side, but that doesn't mean I can't assist the one I deem correct," she replied, turning away from the group. She held her hand up, snapping her fingers. "Now then, for the second part of my little gift."
Suddenly, the ground started shaking, causing them to jump back a bit. Several, glowing gold hands seemingly erupted from the ground, glimmering star-shaped gems in their grasp. They started glowing brightly, charging golden energy balls above themselves.
"Defeat these creatures and claim their energy as your own. Their innate power will help your servants strengthen themselves. Don't bother holding back, I have plenty more for you to defeat." Ruler said absentmindedly, "Oh, and tell your friends in the shadows to partake in this meal, they don't have to remain in spirit form around me. I'm not going to attack them."
"You knew we weren't alone?" Rin asked, earning a giggle from the goddess. She spread her arms out, just as a flock of avian creatures flew above them.
"I am the patron goddess of this land, this jungle is my noble phantasm incarnate. Do you not think I wouldn't be aware of those who traverse through the jungles? I know of everyone, young or old who steps into my domain." she said happily. "You are all forgiven for killing my chimeras. Do try to enjoy yourselves. Refine your strengths, increase your bonds as Masters and Servants. When you think you have enough power, then feel free to stop."
Eiji and Rin shared a look, both of them shrugging. "I suppose we can take your offer, Ruler. Thank you. Jeanne, Vitch, Ereshkigal, you heard our host. Take this chance to strengthen yourselves, and collect as much material as possible."
"Ugh, finally! I was getting tired of being in spirit form!" Jeanne snapped, as she flashed into existence, twirling her flag over her shoulder. "I must say, this is the most eventful thing that's happened to us all day."
"Loathed as I am to admit, it was getting a little boring up on the roof," Vitch added, as she appeared before her Master. "I don't plan on wasting ammo, so I suppose magic will have to do."
"I shall lead the charge then, I'll leave the back up to the two of you. Remember, let's not waste too much of Master's magical power. He just recovered after all," Ereshkigal said, summoning her spear to her hand. "Let's go!"
"Saber, feel free to join them. We'll work on coordination of attacks in a moment."
"Yes, Lady Rin." the woman said, as she darted into the fray. Cao-Cao stood beside Hinako, who watched everything unfold. She turned to him, giving him a single nod. He didn't so much as wait before darting into the field, taking on his own enemy.
Ruler stood by, a proud look on her face. She had been wanting to assist the correct side since she had been summoned to Fuyuki. She had full confidence this was the way to do it. She did, however, have her reservations, but that would be something for another day.
Location: Fuyuki Church
Date: April 30th, 2014
Time: 4:00 PM
"Father, we regret to inform you our progress at Ryuudou Temple has been for naught. We have been searching the area extensively for the last few days and have found nothing. Apologies, sir." one of the valkyries said, bowing her head in shame.
"It is alright, young one. There is no need to fret over this failure, just continue searching the area, and if you can find our fugitives as well."
"Of course, Father. We will continue doing as you request." the blonde girl said, hastily taking her leave. The moment the doors closed, the man stood up, a look of anger on his face.
"I cannot believe a week has passed and you still haven't figured out where our escapees have gone. You, idiots, are useless." he snapped angrily.
"It's all Fumiko's fault, she's the one who led that assault. Look how it ended, we lost 80 men, all of our artillery, and a busload of mages. But sure, blame all of us for her colossal failure." Ichiro said, shaking his head. "If you hadn't sent me and Rider across town to check on a temple that is completely empty, then maybe we would have stood a chance."
"Don't speak of things you are unaware of, Ichiro. You were not there, you did not see the sheer strength of that servant. Caster abstained from the fight, but even she acknowledged her frightening strength." Soichiro said, cracking open a single eye as he looked at the younger man. "Whoever that servant was, her flames were the cause of our true loss."
"Firing artillery at the building wasn't a wise choice either," Akira added, shaking her head as she leaned back against the wall. "Archer almost had the enemy Assassin, but the building was growing weak. He could have killed her if Fumiko hadn't told Saber to go all out."
"And how exactly were we supposed to stop that woman's Noble Phantasm? If it had landed, those 20 people that got away would have been turned into fried chicken!" the secretary shouted, glaring at the teenager. "But sure, you were a safe distance away, giving Archer his commands."
"So were you, you dumb shit!"
"That is enough!" Kotomine cried, slamming his fist against the desk. Fumiko and Akira jumped a bit, quickly ending their argument, as to be spared the man's fury. "I do not care who did what, but what I do care about is a counterattack. At any moment we could be attacked, and it's because you fools cannot do anything right!"
"What do you propose we do then, Father? I will follow your orders." Naozumi said, brushing a few strands of blond hair out of his eyes. Kotomine shifted his gaze toward the young man, giving him a nod.
"I want you and Lancer to start surveying Miyama Town. It's entirely possible Itsuka and Tohsaka are hiding there. We no longer have the numbers to send out squads of people to search manually. The survivors here are too scared to fight, meaning we will have to do everything we can to bring our enemies down."
"Yes sir. We will leave as soon as we are capable," he said, hastily leaving the room, making sure the door was closed behind himself. Kotomine's gaze fell onto Soichiro, who stood firm and tall before the man.
"Yes, Father?"
"You and Caster struck a deal with Shinji Matou, correct? He offered you, 100 souls, in exchange for the power to murder his grandfather, did he not?"
"Yes, he did. We went to the academy to collect those souls, but they ended up leaving on a school bus. We were unable to track them down. 50 people died within that academy during that day, so we're still missing half. Matou is nowhere to be found," the man said firmly.
"Then feel free to act on your own. You and Caster have free reign to do whatever you please, reclaim your lost souls, kill Matou, destroy the city if you wish. But ensure no one approaches this side of the city. You will be our last line of defense, understood?!" Kotomine said, causing Soichiro to nod. He took his leave moments later, leaving Fumiko, Akira, and Ichiro behind.
"What about us, Father? What will our mission be?"
"Fumiko, you are to switch places with Ichiro. You've been to Ryuudou Temple countless times in the past, so you know the area best. Assist the Valkyries in anything they require. Ichiro, you are going to be assigned to the Harbor. Something tells me someone is going to attempt to venture to Yggdrasil, and we need to be ready for that possibility." the priest said, giving the pair a grin. "This is punishment for your failure, Fumiko. As it was you who led that assault."
"Yeah yeah, I'll handle it, Father. Do not worry, I will try to find that Grail if it's truly located there,"
"I dunno why anyone would want to go to Yggdrasil, seeing as the bay is nothing but ice. But sure, I'll keep an eye on it. I'm sure Rider will be excited to know his grand conquest will consist of him staring at an ice sheet for a few days," he said, his tone sounding exasperated.
"Akira, you will have an important task as well, I want you to head back to Homurahara Academy and try to find the route that bus took. Those mages could be hiding anywhere and we need to rid ourselves of them before they lead an attack. We wouldn't want them to assault the people, would we?"
"No, we would not. Though I do have a score to settle with that Assassin that got away from us. Archer is still a bit sour about that," the girl replied, stuffing her hands in her pockets. "I'll get it done."
"Excellent. I hope you all understand the gravity of our situation. We can no longer afford to sit back and play the waiting game. We need to become aggressive, in both our hunt for the Greater Grail as well as finding those mages." he turned away from them, glancing out the window, a firm look on his face. "I will not accept another failure. The next time you do not succeed, I will not only rip your Sacred Marks off your hands, but I will personally make sure you no longer draw breath on this earth. Understood?"
"Yes, Father." the three replied, almost fearfully as they darted out of the room. The man let out a sigh, a small chuckle leaving his lips.
"The fools, they are nothing but pawns in the end. Whether they live or die doesn't matter to me, but I will have what's mine. No matter what."
Location: Ruler's Temple, Yggdrasil
Date: April 30th, 2014
Time: 5:35 PM
With a single swing of her katana, Saber easily deflected Kanshou and Bakuya, the twin swords disappearing in a thin veil of glittering mist. She continued racing forward, aiming a slash to her Master's chest, only for her sword to bounced back, the woman having deflected the hit at the last moment. She leaped forward, throwing several swift slashes at the heroic spirit, all of them being parried by her. Rin spun around, sending a barrage of swords at the woman, causing her to dodge the attack with a handspring. She landed in a crouch, pulling her sword back. With a shout, she hopped forward, swinging her sword with all her strength.
"I am the bone of my sword," the ravenette mumbled, a copy of Caliburn flashing into her grasp, just in time to deflect the hit. She raised the sword above her head, bringing it down on Saber in a downward slash, which she was able to parry, sparks raining between the two. Saber narrowed her eyes a bit, easily breaking off their clash. She darted forward, aiming a slash at Rin, only for her to parry it. Her lips curved into a smile.
"I got you now, Lady Rin!" she cried, striking the girl with the flat of her blade, driving her fist deep into her solar plexus. She let out a scream as the air exploded from her lungs, leaving her open. Saber pulled her sword back, swinging right at her neck.
"That's it!" Eiji shouted, just at the last second. Rin's eyes went wide when she saw just how close Saber's sword had been to touching her skin. It was barely a fraction of an inch away from her jugular vein. Saber jumped back, spinning her sword around, swiftly sheathing it at her hip. She gave her master a polite bow, her bangs covering her face.
"You did an excellent job, Lady Rin. With a little more practice, you'll be on par with the trainees my old Master was training," she said, a smug grin on her face.
"Oh boy, that makes me feel so much better," she deadpanned, allowing her daggers to disappear from her grasp.
"Not a lot of people can fight against a Heroic Spirit and survive the encounter. The fact that you can fight on par with Saber is impressive. You should take that as a compliment, Miss Rin." Ereshkigal said, her hands on her hips as the moonlight glinted from her glasses. "Heh heh heh! I wonder when Master Eiji will be able to swing a sword at me!"
"I can swing a sword at you any time, but I'm just a regular human. The purpose of Chaldea's Class Cards is to assist Masters in situations where they can't have their servants fight back. It's meant to give them a chance to fight. Essentially, it works by placing a Servant's spirit origin within the wearer's body, by using Flash Air as well as another spell which I wasn't told about. The wearer essentially becomes a Heroic Spirit, capable of using all the skills that spirit mastered over their lifetime."
"So without it, Eiji is essentially as squishy as your everyday sponge. Good to know," Vitch said, as she finished sharpening her daggers. She was sitting on top of a crate Cerise had brought from inside, filled with spare ammo. "Of course, I would never do anything to my dearest master that would put him in danger. He's been so kind to me, so I wouldn't dare do anything like that to him. Unless he wants me too~"
"Yeah no… I'm a huge pussy for pain," he said, pale-faced as the vixen sneered, a devilish look on her face. She licked her lips, holding her knife close to her cheek.
"Oh, I'll convert you. We can start slow, little love bites and pinches, and then we'll move onto the nipple clamps!"
"This conversation is not suitable for younger audiences! Sheesh, what the hell is wrong with you?!" Rin cried, a horrified look on her face. Vitch started laughing, letting her daggers disappear in a mist of pink magic.
"I'm only messing with you guys, honest! Or could it be that you are jealous about my forwardness with my dear Goshujin-sama?"
The sound of someone clearing their throat caused them all to jump in surprise. Cerise joined them, holding a platter of mugs in her grasp, all filled with steaming cups of hot chocolate. "Not that this conversation isn't interesting, but Ruler sent this for you. She made it with the energy from those Arms you defeated earlier."
"Sweet! Thank you so much! I love hot chocolate! Not as much as Orange Fanta, but it's definitely a close second!" the lancer spirit cried, taking a sip from her mug, not even bothered by how hot it was. "Yum! I definitely need this recipe for the future."
"We can't thank you enough, Cerise. We really appreciate everything you and Ruler are doing for us." Eiji said, giving the woman a polite bow. She handed a mug to Vitch, followed by Jeanne who had been standing near one of Yggdrasil's large branches. Saber was the last one who took hers, giving the dark liquid a tentative sniff before drinking from it.
"You're welcome, Eiji. You don't have to keep thanking us, we are glad to help," she said happily, hugging the platter as Rin and Eiji had gotten their own, regular mugs of chocolate. She took a deep breath, her eyes focusing on the moon. "For the longest time, it's been me, Ruler and Archer. It's nice having some company that isn't us three or Pepe."
"Why did it take you so long to search for someone? If you needed help, then shouldn't you have made contact with people?" Ereshkigal asked, earning a sigh from her.
"It's more complicated than that. Ruler is… well, she's a bit too trusting at times. At the bottom of her heart, she wants to ensure everyone has safe journeys. Due to this, she is far too quick to give her blessing to people. That's why I was summoned." she said, holding her left hand out. Eiji noticed how different it looked from the rest of her body. It looked almost bigger, older, and masculine in nature. "I had to make sure the people who I brought here were just in their actions. The sword I carry with me is enchanted, not only with a power to keep whoever is struck by it bound, but also to judge those it strikes. But it can only be done with my left hand."
"What, you got some magic fingers or something? I saw a tengu with those once, and it didn't end well for him." Saber said, swirling the last of her chocolate around in her mug.
"Something like that. This hand used to belong to a God, one of Justice, Bravery, and War. But he, like the other gods that I detest, helped imprison me."
She closed her eyes for a brief moment, hearing the sounds of fighting, the swords, the chains, the screaming, and growling. She shuddered a bit at the memory, feeling her skin crawl. "The chains I summon in battle were once used to bind me, the sword was placed in my mouth to stop me from biting, but only after I bit off the arm of the god that tried to chain me. The one who fooled me into thinking that he was a friend. And so, I was left behind to rot, for my entire life, waiting for the day that I could one day strike."
They remained silent, staring at the Heroic Spirit, whose eyes were glowing a fierce gold. She shook her head a bit, calming herself down. "But that's enough about me, you've probably heard plenty of sap stories in the past,"
"We have, but we don't mind listening to more. I'm glad you trust us enough to reveal more about yourself, Cerise." Eiji said, flashing her a smile. She flushed a bit, scratching her cheek with her finger.
"Ahuh, sure."
"So… wait a minute… you call yourself Little Red and Cerise, and dress like the storybook character, but you aren't really… you know… Little Red Riding Hood?" Rin asked, causing Cerise's brows to furrow a bit.
"When did I ever say I was? Can storybook characters come to life as Heroic Spirits or something?"
"Sure can, we know a little girl who's the embodiment of all fairytales," Jeanne said, arms crossed over her armor. She had set her mug down on the crate beside Vitch, who had been checking her rifle over. "So I'm sure it's possible for a storybook character to come to life."
"Regardless, I didn't just come here to check up on you, Ruler wishes to speak with you, Eiji. Since you are the leader of this group, she wants to make sure she isn't wasting her time."
"I see… I'll go see her right away," Eiji said, handing the red-cloaked woman his empty mug. "I assume she's in the Throne Room?"
"Mhmm. See you soon," she said happily. The man walked off, heading back into the temple.
It didn't take him long to reach the Throne Room. It was just as spacious as he imagined, the walls being lined with gold, along with various markings, painted in bright blues, greens, and reds. There was a large table at the back of the room, containing hundreds of thousands of offerings. Fruit-bearing baskets, flatbreads, golden coins, silver, jewels, and of course, large baskets of cacao beans. He could hear the gushing of a fountain but wasn't able to see it. It took him a moment to realize it was a waterfall of liquid chocolate, falling behind the large throne, where Ruler sat, casually observing him. She had a look of amusement on her face, her cheek resting in the palm of her hand.
"Do you like my throne room?"
"Yes, I wasn't expecting it to be like this… I had expected your throne to be at the top of the pyramid."
"Where the sacrifices were held? Where the still-beating heart of indigenous tribes was ripped out of the chest cavity and presented to the Sun God?" she asked, making him cringe. "Do not fret, I am not a goddess who needs blood and hearts as an offering. Thus, my temple doesn't run coarse with the scent of metal and pools of crimson."
He coughed into his fist, standing tall before the goddess. "Cerise told me you wanted to speak with me?"
"Indeed, she is correct. I've spent most of the afternoon assessing all of you, judging your character from afar. I wasn't expecting someone like you to go as far as you did during training. You joined your servants, talked and laughed with them, and treated them like human beings. To you, they aren't tools of war. That is enough to see the goodness in your heart." she said happily. Her lips curved into a frown, as she sat up straight. "Your friend, Hinako, however, worries me. I can sense something in her heart, but I do not know what it is."
"I noticed it too, she seems to be filled with rage. She hides it behind that calm and calculated look. I can tell she's using what happened at Homurahara as a means to vent. Even still, it does make for a challenging mission. We were tasked with working together, and right now, we couldn't be more apart." he sighed, closing his eyes tightly. "Sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake coming here."
"Wonder all you like, but it will not change the fact that you are already here. The fate of this city relies solely on you. You have friends who will support you, so you aren't alone. You needn't fret, I have full confidence that you will succeed in freeing this city from its icy predicament." Ruler said, giving him a warm smile.
"I'm glad that you have so much confidence in me, Ruler. But I seriously beg to differ. I had the same kind of help back in Akihabara and I failed there. I couldn't even get the grail, the singularity ended up collapsing on itself and I almost died. Not only that, but because I wasn't doing a good job, Chaldea was attacked, and my teammates are all stuck in metal tubes. I am not ready for this kind of mission,"
"No one ever is. I wasn't ready to be a god, but I managed, I wasn't ready to leave the world when our age ended, but I managed. You will face many hurdles on your journey, it will be tough, but I have faith that you will succeed. You will grow as a person and mature as you learn about the world around you. I wouldn't have given your group my blessing if I didn't believe that," the goddess replied, rising from her seat. She walked down the steps toward the ground floor, standing tall before the young man. "I, Ekchua, Patron goddess of merchants and cacao, fully believe in you. That is why I shall give you my blessing, may you have a wonderful journey, Eiji Itsuka, Master of Chaldea."
She placed a firm kiss on his cheek, her body glowing briefly as her lips made contact with his skin. His eyes widened in surprise, not having expected the goddess to be so forward. She pulled away from him, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "Now then, you and your comrades have had a long day. Cerise will take you to your sleeping quarters for the night."
"I um… okay."
"Stand tall and proud, Eiji! You stand at the cusp of war, you must be ready and brave what comes next! Your spirits will grow stronger thanks to the instruction you give them. Those Arms you took down today have mythical power, which will boost their strength. In the terms used by my dear Archer, they have essentially leveled up and grown stronger. I'm sure you'll put that new strength to good use!" she said, placing her hands on her hips, a bright grin on her face.
"I sure hope so. Thank you, Ruler… you don't know how much I appreciate this."
"Hehehe, you are very welcome~"
From a distance, Rin watched on, a look of sheer annoyance on her face. She had managed to sneak away from the others, having wanted to see what Ruler had to say to her friend. She clenched her fist tightly, feeling rather angry at Ruler for kissing her friend. She huffed loudly and turned away, just in time to avoid Eiji taking notice of her.
"That idiot. He turns into a blubbering mess when an older woman kisses him? What a fool!" she thought as she stomped away. "Why the hell do I even care about him? It's not as if he's my Eiji, he's just an Eiji from another time. No use in getting mad! Gah… if that's true then why does that piss me off so damn much?!"
She continued mumbling swears under her breath. The moment she went back outside, she was going to ask Saber for another training session. She had a lot of aggression to get out and fighting was the only way she could actually get it out.
A/N: Hi guys! Celestial here, bringing you a new update. This one is a beefy boy, filled with a lot of goodness, I would hope. I hope you all enjoyed it, we are finally setting up for the endgame stuff that will be going down soon. If my calculations are correct, this arc should be finished in 5 more chapters, but depending on how things go, I may extend it to 20. I can't believe the Fuyuki Arc is almost done, it feels like just yesterday when it started. I'm happy to have brought you all something new to read. The next arc is going to be just as long, perhaps a little longer thanks to the material I'll be covering. I might even split it in half depending on how things go, but that's a big what-if scenario at the moment. I likely will include a special event between Fuyuki and Singularity 2, but I haven't decided what it will be yet. It'll be a surprise! For both yourselves and me!
I don't have much else to say here, but I will say this, could you perhaps stop requesting crossovers in the reviews? I'd like to keep the reviews in for people to well, review. I don't take story quests, especially for what has been suggested. I am working on a Genshin Impact story but it likely won't see the light of day until after the Inazuma update, you know, maybe. My main focus is FGO right now and I will continue writing it until I either finish the first half or have a burnout, the former being the more likely of the two. Please, it's all I ask. Thank you!
Whelp, that is all I have to say for now. I shall now return to the cave to finish my playthrough of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky. I'm currently in Quicksand Cave, so wish me luck! See ya later, taters!
