Fate Grand Order: Ars Nova: Genesis of the Cosmos

by The Celestial Sky Dragon

The World was left in a rather weak state after the Incineration of Humanity. Chaldea managed to save human history, but even they can't be prepared for everything. Seeking to bolster her forces, Olga Marie Animusphere sets out to create a Team of Masters, in order to lighten the load on Ritsuka Fujimaru. But unknown forces are working against Chaldea. [Extended Summary Instory]

32. Fuyuki 2014: Section 12

The Snowy Streets Beneath the World Tree:

Fuyuki A.D. 2014

Section 12:

Showdown at Acros Tower (Part II)

---

Location: Acros Tower (Eighteenth Floor)

Date: April 30th, 2014

Time: 1:00 PM

Vitch wasn't aware of what was going on below her, all she knew was that her Master was likely already engaged with the enemy. The panoramic view of the 18th floor observatory made for the perfect sniper's perch. She had gotten her toys set up and was ready for a fight, having even cleared the main areas of tables and other furnishings. The 18th floor served as a cafe as well, so that people could enjoy the views of Fuyuki while eating with friends. It appealed to her much more than the restaurant on the 19th and the sandwich shops on the 20th.

It had been rather quiet and boring for her, and the only source of entertainment she had was cycling through the binoculars on the fringes of the floor, staring out into the city. On the east side, everything was clear, nothing in sight. But when she moved to the west, she couldn't help but gasp in utter surprise. She pressed her face harder into the device, moving it around as she scanned her surroundings. She saw a wave of glimmering lights zooming at blazing speeds toward the tower. The machine suddenly went dark, causing her to scream, shoving her hand in her pocket for some coins.

"Come on, dammit, come on!" she snapped, sliding the 100 yen coins into the device. She waited for the shutters to open, once again seeing the golden lights, the Valkyries were already wielding their spears, shields at the ready. She pushed away from the binoculars, dashing toward her sniper rifle, kneeling down before a crate she had set up.

She took a deep breath, the low clicking of her scope making her ears twitch as she peered through the massive scope she had attached to it. She lined the crosshairs with one of the incoming valkyries, the cross being situated right in the center of her forehead. She shook the nerves from her body, slowly pulling the trigger. The recoil burst from the muzzle, rattling the windows as the bullet pierced through the Plexiglas before her. She saw her target's head explode, falling out of the sky in a crimson mist. She lined her next target, taking her out as well. She lined up her third shot but was unable to take it, as the wave of valkyries slammed through the glass, landing within the observatory.

Vitch abandoned her weapon, reaching behind her back for the R12's she had brought with her. She raised both of them, opening fire on the unsuspecting Valkyries. One screamed in pain as the bullets cut through her body, killing her almost instantly. Vitch shifted her aim, but the group huddled up, using their shields to block the 9mm rounds. Her guns clicked empty, forcing her to jump over the counter.

"Avenge our sisters! Do not let her come out alive! Tell the others to start attacking the other floors, do not let them leave, and if you find their leader, you bring him to me!"

"Yes ma'am!" they shouted in unison. Vitch couldn't help but giggle, pushing her glasses up her nose as she reached for her P30L. She pulled the slide back, making sure she had a round in the chamber.

She wasted no time in shooting the girls, who ducked for cover the moment they could. The assassin started moving forward, her eyes shifting in all directions, trying to discern just how many were left. Her ear twitched as she heard something behind her, causing her to cock her head, just in time to avoid the head of a spear going straight through the back of her head. She grabbed hold of her attacker's arm, snapping it downward with all her strength, the breaking of bone was enough to let her know her quarry was incapacitated. The Valkyrie screamed in pain, her limb uselessly hanging downward.

"Walk!" she cried, as she wrapped her arm around the girl's neck, forcing her to walk forward. She shifted her aim, firing at a valkyrie who had her leg exposed. She howled in pain, leaving herself open for attack. Her head snapped back, a crimson mist spraying through the air as her body fell to the ground.

"Sisters, attack! Do not worry about me, don't let her kill any more of us!" the orange-haired valkyrie shouted. Vitch drove her fist into her back, making her cry in pain before blowing her brains out. She paused for a moment to remove her shield, ducking behind a support column as the others moved forward.

"Formation A! Prepare to throw your spears!" the commander cried, the remaining valkyries crying in response. They lined up, holding their spears tightly in their grasp, the golden energy began building up as they charged their attacks.

The pink-haired assassin reached behind her back, freeing one of the grenades she had brought along with her. She pulled the pin with her teeth, tossing it at the group. It burst in mid-air, sending a thick white cloud in all directions. She left her cover, taking aim at one of the girl's, shooting her twice, her body dropped like a sack of potatoes. One brave valkyrie shot forward, thrusting her spear at Vitch, who narrowly avoided the attack. She angled her gun, using it to block the downward thrust.

"Die you vile beast!" she howled in anger, pulling her spear back. She thrust it forward with all her strength, Vitch raised her shield at the right time. The golden weapon bouncing off. She let out a giggle as she jumped forward, bashing the valkyrie across the face with the heavy shield, breaking her nose upon impact. She spun on her heel, sending the girl flying back from a second strike before putting her down as if she were a wounded animal.

She raised her gun to shoot a nearby attacker, only for it to jam. She hissed in anger, ducking behind a nearby post. "Shit," she hissed, quickly clearing the chamber. She dropped her magazine, realizing it was empty, rapidly loading a fresh one.

"Move in, girls, move in. Try to box her in!"

"Yeah, go ahead and send them my way. I'll kill you all before the day is over!" Vitch cried, readying another grenade. She licked her lips, feeling the blood pumping through her system. "I can't wait to tell my Master about this. He's going to be so proud of me~"

xxx

Meanwhile, on the 8th floor, Rin was going over the plan, reading the bulletins Sei had sent directly to her CSC. Eiji was locked in battle on the second floor, fighting a man now identified as Naozumi. She had also been told about Vitch engaging with some Valkyries who had shown up near the top floor. Scathach looked around for a moment, her spear being clutched tightly in her hand. Yoshitsune was on edge, her eyes scanning every single inch of the room.

"It won't be long before their reinforcements get here. We need to be ready," she said, closing her CSC. She grabbed her faithful A.K. sliding a 70 round magazine into it. Once it was loaded, she slung it over her shoulder, looking up at her servant. "You ready, Yoshi?"

"I'm always ready, my sword is always sharp and prepared to meet my Master's enemies," she grinned, her hand wrapped around its hilt. "I am worried about tall dark and broody over there though,"

"You needn't worry about me, I've seen my fair share of battles. I just wasn't expecting Lord Odin's daughters. What could have happened that made them turn to the side of evil?" Scathach asked, earning a frown from Rin.

"Your guess is as good as mine. I'm afraid I don't know the inner workings of what's going on, all I know is that my hometown is suffering. The Valkyries have abandoned the job Odin gave them, the souls of the dead still linger in the city streets below. Not just that, but there are far more worrying things going on."

"INCOMING!"

Rin felt herself being thrown to the ground, the sound of glass shattering filling the room. She covered her head with her arms, feeling the one who tackled her swiftly moving away. She looked up, vision blurred slightly. Yoshitsune drew her katana, slicing a valkyrie's head clean off its shoulders. She spun around in the same fluid movement, slicing another diagonally, the body plopped to the ground in a pool of blood. She darted forward, meeting in the middle with another, who had swung her spear in time to parry her attack.

"On your feet, Master. We can't have you dying on us." Scathach said, picking Rin up by the hood of her jacket. She thrust her A.K. into her hands, and wasted no time, throwing Gae Bolg across the room, killing two valkyries instantly.

She didn't even get to attack, as her rifle was sliced in half by an enemy spear. The Valkyrie, a tall, violet-haired woman, continued thrusting her golden spear at her. Thankfully, Rin was able to dodge every attack, glad she had kept up her training. She reached for the gems behind her back, throwing them into the air.

"Take that!" she cried, blades of wind striking the woman, sending her flying back. Rin activated her magic circuits, thrusting her fists into the valkyrie's chest. She followed it with a leg strike, thrusting her first into her chin. She spun around, ending the chain with a powerful sidekick, sending her flying through the broken window.

The ravenette let out the breath she had been holding out, turning around briefly, seeing Yoshitsune being pinned back by three valkyries. She darted forward, holding her class card out. "Class Card: Install!"

The familiar crimson white glow enveloped her body, allowing her to once again don "Archer". Calling Bakuya to her hand, she thrust the dagger into the valkyrie's back, giving it a firm twist. She pulled it free, spinning the girl around, slicing her throat open in a single fluid motion.

"These valkyries are really weak, what happened to them being fierce warriors?" Yoshitsune asked as she slammed her foot into a valkyrie's chest, sending her flying back. "I thought they were supposed to be the Allfather's mighty defenders?"

"They normally are, but these girls are weaker than the ones I'm used to seeing," Scathach added, masterfully driving the girls back with her spears. "Do not take them lightly, though weaker than usual, they are still divine spirits, capable of doing great harm to you if you are not careful."

It didn't take them long to clear the room. Just like Scathach had said, the valkyries that had been sent to Acros Tower were far weaker than normal. Rin had suspected them of being all mighty beings, but having the ability to take them down easily made her relax a bit. She wiped the sweat from her brow, fanning herself a bit as she let Kanshou and Bakuya disappear in a thin white mist.

"Is that all of them?" she questioned, earning a nod from Scathach. Yoshitsune shook the blood from her katana, groaning as she wiped it down with a cleaning cloth.

"What a bore-fest, I was expecting a challenge."

Scathach suddenly straightened up, her head snapping to the right. The silence was cut by a single gunshot, the glowing bullet sailing straight toward Rin, who hardly had any time to react. The lancer-class servant swung Gae Bolg with all her strength, deflecting the bullet with ease. She stood before her master, twin spears at the ready.

"Show yourself, coward!"

"Warrior Queen of Celtic Myth, she who was cursed with watching over the underworld, never leaving, never living, never dying. I wasn't expecting you to be here," a firm voice chuckled, slowly appearing in the room. A dark-skinned man appeared before them, the golden markings on his skin glimmering in the light. He looked up at the woman, resting one of his pistols against his shoulder. "Forgive me, I wished to test your reflexes."

"You have a sick way of doing that, you bastard," Yoshitsune snapped angrily, keeping her katana angled. "What kind of pussy hides in the shadows and just shoots at their prey? If you're a real man, you'll fight face to face with your opponent."

"I apologize, but that was an order that I had to give him. Couldn't have you sensing his arrival before I got here." another voice said, causing Rin to turn around. Standing at the back of the room was a young woman, dressed in a punk rocker outfit.

She had long, blue hair with streaks of white and red, the edges painted a bright neon-pink. She was wearing a black shirt, with a white, fishnet vest that had various pins attached to it. Her wrists were decorated with spiked bracelets, as were her neck and belt. She was wearing a pair of long tight jeans with faded marks on them. She finished her look with long, heeled leather boots, polished to a brilliant shine. She gave them all a polite bow, the smug grin on her face never leaving.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Rin Tohsaka. Once we figured out you were helping Chaldea out, our Father had a field day. We were informed about you. Orphaned at the age of 7, you lost your father, Tokiomi during the 4th Holy Grail War. Your mother was left in a vegetative state, your little sister was given to Zouken Matou, and your best friend was murdered before your eyes. A truly sad existence," she said. Rin tightened her fists but said nothing.

"Did you come here to fight or did you come to talk shit? Because if it's the latter, I'll kindly remove your tongue from your body," Yoshitsune said, having quickly taken her Master's side.

"Oh, don't be that way. I haven't even told you my name, have I? My name is Akira Shunjimo. I used to go to Homurahara Academy. Year 3, Class 3-B, Seat 32."

"W-wait… I remember you… you were the Student Body Vice President when I was in school." Rin said, eyes widening in surprise. "Why? Why are you doing this?"

"Why? Personal satisfaction, of course. Father promised me a wish, should I help him attain the Holy Grail located in Fuyuki. How could I refuse? Especially if I could have whatever I wanted. It just so happens that the thing that I want most is your head on a pike."

"That seems counterintuitive," Yoshitsune said, earning a glare from her Master.

"Why is it you wish for my Master's death?" Scathach queried, not bothering to take her eyes away from Archer.

"Oh, it's quite simple. The fire of Fuyuki ended up killing so many people when it happened, it turns out my parents were among the victims. I was taken to an orphanage, one that you should be familiar with. There I met a boy, one who became a close friend of mine. But one day, he met a little girl out by a rusty swing set and fell in love with her. Leaving me behind, like rotting trash."

"What are you even talking about?"

"You know exactly what I am talking about, you bitch! You took my only friend away. I was bullied after he left, made fun of, and put through hell. No one adopted me, and I had to take my lumps every day of my life. All while you lived the soft and easy life with my best friend!" she shouted, flicking her wrists downward, several Black Keys flashing into her hands. "I'm going to make sure you suffer every ounce of pain that I had to put up with for the last 13 years of my life!"

"Saber, Lancer!" Rin cried, urging the two servants forward. Yoshitsune shortened the distance in two steps, striking Akira's black keys with all her strength, sending her back a few feet. She pushed back, swiping her short blades to and fro, keeping pace with Yoshitsune's speedy swings.

At the same time, Scathach engaged Archer in combat, thrusting and swinging her spears, clashing with his bladed guns. They sparked with every thrust and slash he took, not relenting in his assault. He deflected one of her spears, aiming directly at her chest. "Trace, on," he mumbled, pulling the trigger. Scathach swung Gae Bolg a fraction of a second later, deflecting the bullet, much to his surprise.

She spun around, driving both spears into his side, sending him flying back. She jumped into the air, crimson bolts flashing around her, several copies of Gae Bolg floated around her, and with a single snap, each was sent flying. Archer moved to and fro as each spear stabbed itself into the carpeted floor. She landed on the floor, springing forward with a spear, aimed at Archer's heart, only for the man to easily deflect it, striking her in the face with his pistol.

"This spear… I recognize it well, modeled after the Allfather's, bearing a curse that will strike an enemy's heart. A mortal wound that will not close."

"Indeed, this spear has ended the lives of many. You'll just be another one to add to its tally," the woman said smugly.

"If that's what you think," he said in a boastful tone. He looked past her, toward Akira who had finally pushed Yoshitsune back, having gotten some distance between the two. "Now, Master!"

Akira reached behind her back, pulling a brown-colored sack free. She pulled the twin cords attached to the top, throwing them on the ground in front of Rin. She let out a gasp, realizing what it was, quickly moving away. "Saber, Lancer!"

A terrifying explosion rocked the building moments after, as the satchel charge exploded, causing the floor to break apart and cave downward. Yoshitsune managed to avoid it, but Akira and Scathach weren't able to. They fell down into the seventh floor, what remained of the floor falling on top of them. The samurai looked around for a moment, not spotting her Master anywhere.

"Lady Rin? Lady Rin?!" she shouted, her heart beating hard in her chest. She peered down into the hole, jumping in without hesitation. She didn't notice her Master had made it to a nearby column but had been too stunned to speak.

She opened and closed her eyes, the ringing in her ears causing her great pain. She looked around, her eyes blurred for a moment as she forced herself to stand up. Her vision cleared, just in time to see the barrel of a gun aimed right at her. She let out a scream, jumping away just in time to avoid Archer's onslaught, the bullets striking the ground as she ran away, heading toward the stairwell.

"Saber, Lancer! I'm alright, I'm heading to the 9th floor, Archer is behind me!"

"Understood, Master. Saber is fighting with Akira, the woman is relentless, she is using unknown arts to fight back. Those magical swords of hers seem to cut through magecraft with relative ease." Scathach replied. "I wish to join you, but it seems more Valkyries are heading toward the tower, I do not know how many have been called, but it looks to me as if everyone in the city is coming here."

"Handle them, then. But don't do anything stupid, Eiji would be sad if his friend died before he could see her again. I'll be fine. I have my class card, I can easily handle this man." Rin said confidently, as she raced through the 9th-floor landing, ducking into the 9th floor.

"If you are sure, I will try to be as swift as possible, stay safe, Master. Do not hesitate to call me via Command Seal if you need me." the lancer said, ending the call. Rin shook her head as she ran further into the offices.

"Only as a last resort," she mumbled to herself. Her ear perked up as the room door opened, Archer footsteps echoed through the empty room as she pressed herself against the cement column. She bowed her head slightly, as she summoned Kanshou and Bakuya to her hands. She took a deep breath, exhaling softly through her lips. "Trace, on."

---

"What the hell is going on up there?" Jeanne muttered as she glanced up. Something was happening up on the 7th floor, that much was obvious. The loud rumble and shaking told her as much. She looked around the aquarium, as she moved swiftly through the darkened halls, the still frozen tanks haunting her as she walked. "God, why do I always get stuck with the shitty jobs?"

Jeanne was very vocal when she was told she would be waiting in the aquarium. Acros Tower's 5th and 6th floor had been turned into a beautiful display of wildlife. The hallways would normally glow with the splendor of the oceans, various marine life would have been seen moving about from their tanks. The tunnel she was currently in was one that was completely underwater and would have shown sharks and various other deep-sea fish. Though the tank lights worked, they were opaque due to the ice.

She arrived at the center stage, a part of the aquarium where seals and penguins would have been brought. She imagined this was the spot where the shows would be held, but was now empty, devoid of life as the tank was sealed shut. The building shook a bit, causing her to look up once more. It felt almost as if whoever was up there was using explosives. Thankfully, the 7th floor had been reinforced in case a collapse happened, so that debris wouldn't fall into the tanks. She placed her hand over her ear, tapping the earpiece wedged in her ear.

"Master, what the hell is going on? There are explosions rocking the building above me. I tried contacting Vitch and she isn't answering my calls."

"I'm a little busy at the moment, Jeanne. I'm moving up to the fifth floor, I need you to meet me and Ereshkigal there when we do. Naozumi and Sir Kay are hot on our tails and all the traps we've set haven't even phased them." her master replied. She cried with glee as she called her flag forth, letting it unfurl.

"Finally! I get to do something that isn't patrolling these frozen tanks!" she happily cried, heading toward the escalators that lead down to the fifth floor. She was greeted by large, horseshoe-shaped tanks that spanned most of the floor, once again filled with frozen sea life.

She raced through the underwater tunnels and through various other exhibits, trying to get to the front entrance of the aquarium. She arrived moments later, doing down another set of stairs to the main entrance. Just as she did, the windows exploded, sending her flying to her back. She sat up enough, seeing a glimmering spear sticking out of the floor, a few meters away from her. Peering beyond it, she saw the large panoramic window was shattered, letting in the snow and ice that had started falling.

"So, you're the scum that's been killing my sisters?" a firm voice said, causing the former saint to slowly rise to her feet. A blonde woman touched down in front of her, her lengthy blonde hair falling down to her mid-back, the wing-like appendages on her head fluttering in the wind. Her shimmering white outfit billowed softly in the breeze. "I wasn't expecting to be sent into the fray, but it seems I'll have to handle things myself from now on."

"I don't know what you are talking about, lady, but I haven't seen any valkyries here. In fact, I was just having myself a stroll, checking out the sturgeon. Sadly all of them are frozen in fear of my awesomeness, huhuhu."

"Tch." the woman spat, pulling her spear free from the ground. She spun it around for a moment, adopting a fighting stance. "I will never forgive you for the deaths of my sisters."

Jeanne spun her flag around, resting it against her shoulder as she drew her obsidian sword. "Bring it on bitch, I don't have the time to fuck around. If I have to kill you, then so be it."

The Valkyrie darted forward, sending a wide slash at the woman who parried it with her sword. She spun around, using the tip of her flag to drive the woman away. She deflected her jabs with her shield, using her spear to disarm her. Jeanne quickly reacted, leaping forward, her rapier swirling with bright orange flames. She swung it with all her strength, sending a stream of fire at the valkyrie, who hid behind her shield to avoid the attack. Jeanne flipped back, using a handspring to create some distance, while also grabbing a hold of her banner. She spun it around proudly, resting it against her shoulder, sword ready to fight.

"Flames of darkness, sins of time, eternal," she mumbled, the fire around her sword virtually exploded as she swung it, causing the valkyrie to leap into the air, using her wings to float off the ground. The Valkyrie flew down, aiming a powerful downward swing at Jeanne, who quickly crossed her flag and sword, catching the spear with ease. "Ha, that all you got?!"

She was quick to disengage, using her flag to stun the woman. She swung her banner hard, sending her sprawling back. She slammed into one of the frozen tanks, the air exploding from her lungs. Jeanne pulled her flag back, thrusting it at the center of her chest. The blonde valkyrie slid down just in time to avoid the strike, which went straight through the glass. Jeanne pulled it free, a stream of icy water erupting from the hole.

"I will admit, for carting around something so long and flimsy, you are rather good with it."

"Hah? Flimsy? This happens to be the banner I fight for, the one I've sworn to protect. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?" Jeanne said as she swung her sword at the valkyrie, throwing all of her strength into each swing. The woman paired them with ease, using her shield to deflect the heavier blows. "I thought you all were aligned with the good side, yet here you are fighting against a piece of shit who wants nothing more than destruction."

"What we are doing is good! The all father has promised us peace and prosperity, not just for his daughters but for the souls of the people lost in this city."

"Is that the bullshit he's spoon-feeding you? Or did some lowly peon tell you that?" the fallen saint asked, stunning her with her flag. She twirled it around, bashing the woman in the chest with the polearm, sending her back a few feet.

"Graaah!" the valkyrie howled, swinging her spear with all her strength, sending crescent-shaped blasts of light at Jeanne, whose eyes widened in surprise. She ducked down, avoiding as many as she could, being forced to run back toward the stairs. "Sisters, those who are just arriving, I am located in the aquarium, I require assistance."

Jeanne let out a growl as three more valkyries flew in through the broken window, all of them standing in formation behind their leader. Their spears weren't glowing as brightly as the blonde's, and she noticed their shields weren't gold but bore the same insignia. Resigning herself not to back down, the fallen saint spun her flag around, stabbing its pommel into the ground, the low breeze causing the banner to billow out behind her.

"The smug little shit. Calling for backup, what a goddamn cheap shot. I can't even activate my Noble Phantasm here. It would cause the rest of the tower to explode, not exactly a viable option." she thought, her eyes looking around for a moment. She focused on the hole she had made in one of the tanks, watching the water slowly pouring out of it. "Though… maybe if I use that at the right time… yeah, that'll work."

She started moving forward, the valkyries all bracing for impact. Jeanne summoned a plume of flame, sending it straight ahead, causing the girls to block it with their shields. Their leader stood her ground, digging her heels into the floor as she readied her spear.

"On my mark, ladies!"

"Heh." Jeanne scoffed, a smirk on her face. She jumped to the side at the last minute, throwing the warriors off for a loop. She thrust her spear into the large tank, expanding the crack already on the glass. With one final swing, the whole thing shattered, causing a wave of water to rush out into the foyer.

Twirling her flag, she willed her flames to pool around the tip. With a swing of her flag, she sent the flames downward at the water, creating a wall of steam between her and the valkyries. She jumped back, sheathing St. Catherine at her hip as she bolted up the stairs, her armor clanking loudly as she went. "Master, we have a situation. There's a Valkyrie commander here, she summoned three more minions to the 5th floor. I had to run away."

"It's fine, Jeanne. I could care less if you had to run, just don't die on me, I couldn't stand it if you got hurt." the man replied, making her flush. She was glad he wasn't around to actually see her face.

"What about you? Are you and Lancer alright?"

"Don't worry about us, we managed to shake Naozumi and Sir Kay long enough for Ereshkigal to set up a trap. She's in the midst of creating several soul cages. She's planning to summon the soul of a beast from the depths of the Underworld in hopes that we can take him out. Sadly, you'll be by yourself for a while longer." Eiji said, making the former saint sigh.

"You know, Master, you really know how to bust my tits," she replied, causing the man to laugh.

"I'll try not to do that in the future. I gotta go, I think those two are onto us!" he said, ending the communication. Jeanne reached the center of the sixth floor, slowing her pace down to a slight jog. She turned around, spinning her flag above her head, stabbing it straight into the ground, the banner moving with an unseen ethereal force.

Her hand was wrapped tightly around it, as she awaited her foes. She could hear them running, their armor's soft clinking echoing through the enclosed hallways of the frozen aquarium. She saw the captain first, the woman's crimson eyes glowing with fury. She slowed down to a walk, slowly approaching the pulpit Jeanne had created for herself. There were no words exchanged, just the furious glares of two angry women fighting for the cause they believed in.

Jeanne drew her sword, fast as lightning, parrying the blonde's spear. Sparks danced around them, the two pushing each other with all their strength. The fallen saint was the first to break away from it, clutching her sword tightly as she jabbed the blade forward, recalling the moves Marshall Gilles de Rais had taught her when she had started fighting for France. Not once had she drawn St. Catherine during those fights, choosing only to fight with her flag, but now it was different. The fire that burned in her splintered soul demanded retribution, and she would use this very sword to bathe in the blood of her enemies.

"Hah!" she cried, sending a stream of fire at the Valkyrie, who easily blocked it with her shield. Jeanne spun around, driving her leg into her unguarded side, sending her flying toward the frozen tank on the other side of the room. She spun around in time, parrying the incoming attack from one of the other lackeys.

The two clashed several times, swiping their weapons with strength and precision. With an upward swipe, Jeanne had the upper hand, driving her fist into her face. She drove her leg into her chest, the young valkyrie howling in pain. The fallen saint jumped forward, driving her sword straight through her heart, lifting her up for a second before kicking her body back.

"Sister!" the second valkyrie cried, shooting forward with the aid of her wings. Her crimson red hair flew in all directions as she aimed her spear at Jeanne, who easily deflected the attack. Jeanne pulled her fist back, punching the girl in the center of the face, caving her nose in a single hit.

In a single fluid motion, Jeanne swiped her sword across the girl's neck, slicing her throat open. She grabbed it, trying in vain to keep her blood inside her body. She fell to the ground moments later, leaving only the captain. Jeanne spat on the ground, walking over to her flag, pulling it free from the ground, flipping around with ease.

"Sending kids to fight adult battles? That reminds me of the times I prowled the luscious fields of France during the 1400s."

"You sicken me, how can you just act as nothing has happened? Despite you killing two innocents?!"

"No one is innocent during a war, sweetheart. I learned that the hard way. Once I had given my services and brought victory to my country, I was captured, beaten, stoned, and burned. Why should I give a shit about the lives of those I kill?" the woman asked, shrugging her shoulders a bit. "You shouldn't be sending kids to battle. Simple as that."

The captain grit her teeth as she readied her spear, retaking her stance. "You mentioned France and the 1400s, that banner of yours, though corrupt, is very familiar. Are you perhaps the Saint of Orleans?"

"Maybe? Who are you? The one who's training child soldiers?" Jeanne questioned, her lips splitting into a grin. "I'm sure your precious Allfather appreciates all of the souls you are sending to Valhalla. Then again, aren't you supposed to be ferrying them there?"

"Tch… my name is Thrud, remember it well, former saint. It will be the last name you remember during this pathetic existence of yours." she spat, racing forward, spear aimed at Jeanne's neck. The former saint's eyes went wide with excitement, as she prepared to swing her sword.

---

Rin swallowed hard as she pressed herself against the column. Her throat was dry and her lungs were burning from the running she had been doing. She could feel her heart racing a mile a minute as she did everything humanly possible to stay alive. Masters weren't meant to take the front lines, especially against Heroic Spirits, but that was the nature of this war. Everything was so chaotic that she just had to go with the flow, if nothing else, it provided for a good burst of adrenaline when she was bored.

Archer had been joined by a pair of valkyries, apparently, they had been given orders to canvas every floor and weed out the people inside. Judging by the explosions up above, it was safe to assume Vitch was dealing with her own contingent of belligerent spear-wielding girls. She was glad she wasn't the one currently dealing with them.

She clutched Hrunting tightly in her grasp. Out of all the swords in her vast arsenal, she preferred this one. She didn't know why, but it felt perfect to her. She could swing it easily and shoot it from her bow if necessary. Paired with Kanshou and Bakuya, it made for an excellent defensive and offensive weapon. It was glowing red, having gained that effect after stabbing one of the valkyries on the 10th floor. Now she was being hunted, but she knew if she kept hiding, she could not only jeopardize the mission but also cost Eiji the chance to take down a pair of Masters.

"You can't hide from me forever, girl. I will get you to come out. You were brave enough to fight me on your own, and that is commendable. But that was your first mistake." Archer said as he continued walking through the 12th floor. Like the previous ones, they had all been offices for major companies, the entire room had once been filled with cubicles, all having been converted into shelters for the people of Fuyuki. "You know, you remind me of someone. Call me crazy, but I feel like we've met before."

"Oh yeah? Whereat? Because I think I would remember meeting a gun-toting freak. You don't look like the working type either so we've never met at a store." Rin replied, ducking toward the next post, just as the one she had been hiding behind was fired upon.

"Make it easier for yourself kid, my Master has given me strict orders. I am to bring your head to her as a prize of battle." the man said with a tired sigh. "It'll be a little less painful if you just let me do it."

"You want me to let you decapitate me? Isn't that cute? Hah… I didn't think Kinkos had decapitation in their list of acceptable skills." the ravenette said. Archer grit his teeth, unloading his entire magazine into the post she had been hiding behind.

She ducked out of the way just in time, using her chance to escape. She cut across the open room, running straight toward the unguarded valkyrie, who was still hurt from their previous clash. Archer refocused his attention, his glowing black and red bullets whizzing by her as she kept running forward. She pulled her sword back, thrusting it through her chest with ease. The girl shouted in pain as the sword ran straight through her. Rin grabbed the hilt with both her hands, pulling hard with all her strength practically slicing the girl in two, her sword absorbed the blood that had fallen onto it, attaining a fierce red glow.

"So, you're doing this the hard way, I take it?" Archer asked, as Rin fully turned to face him. She reached behind her back, drawing the gun Eiji had given her on the day of his death. She took the safety off, holding it tightly in her grasp. The man sighed, shaking his head in disdain.

Gritting her teeth, the young girl dashed to the side, opening fire on Archer, who easily dodged her bullets. He darted forward in an attempt to bring her down, only for her to push him back with Hrunting. He reacted quickly, throwing a kick at her side, sending her sprawling back. She rolled across the ground for a few feet, crying in pain. She shook her head a bit, jumping forward to avoid Archer's gunfire. She grabbed Eiji's gun from the ground, loading a new magazine into it, swinging her sword in time to deflect an incoming bullet.

Rin ran at the man, firing two rounds at him, which he easily avoided. She swiped Hrunting with all her strength, Archer ducking back in time to avoid the blade. Rin took aim at Archer, only for him to strike her hand away, causing her bullet to miss. She swung her sword at his head, but the hit was deflected. Archer grabbed a hold of her arm, throwing her over his head. She managed to land on her feet, swiping and shooting at the man who expertly dodged every attack. She threw a wild kick at his side, taking him by surprise, giving her enough of an opening. She pulled Hrunting back, swinging it at his neck with all her strength.

Archer reacted fast, putting his gun in the way of the sword, allowing it to take the hit. The weapon flew out of his hand, landing in broken pieces on the ground, but this didn't stop the spirit. He grabbed hold of Rin's arm, bashing his forehead against hers. He delivered a swift strike to her torso, sending her flying back with a frontal kick. She wheezed in pain, her weapons having flown out of her hands. She clutched her chest hard, struggling to breathe.

"Stupid fucking kids. Why is it that your demographic is the one who gets called upon by the Holy Grail? It's always wasted on you." the man said, walking toward Rin. She forced herself to sit up, reaching for Eiji's gun. She aimed it at the man, pulling the trigger only for it to click empty, she realized too late the slide was locked back. Archer stood in front of her, aiming his gun at her forehead. "Sayonara."

"HAH!"

In a fraction of a second, Archer's gun was sliced clean in half. It took Rin a moment to realize what had just happened. Yoshitsune stood before her, katana at the ready. She wasted no time in pushing Archer back, forcing him back into a corner. He summoned his pistols, crossing them in time to catch her blade. She pushed his guns back, driving her elbow into his jaw. She spun her katana around, grabbing the hilt tightly in her hands. She drove it into his throat, the pommel digging into his Adam's apple, taking him by complete surprise. Just as quickly as she had struck, Yoshitsune moved, spinning around on her heel, aiming a strike to his chest. Despite being stunned, Archer was still able to move back, just in time for the tip of her blaze to grace his exposed pectorals. The samurai flipped back a few times, landing in a crouch in front of her Master, her glimmering blade ready to strike.

"I told you to call me if you needed me, Master. What the hell is wrong with you? Thinking you can take a heroic spirit on. You aren't ready for that level of fighting!" she scolded, glaring at the girl, who was slowly rising to her feet. "Honestly, I can't understand you and your fucking death wish."

"Hah… thanks for the save, Saber. I could have handled it though."

"Yeah, and I can leap across 8 boats with enough speed to slice a man in half."

"Uh… but you can."

"That isn't the point, the point is you could have died to death! And you know what? Dying to death isn't fun! It sucks, and Eiji would likely kill me because you died when you were killed!" Yoshitsune cried, leaving Rin more confused than she already was.

"You wanna know something, Saber? I'm glad you saved your Master, it'll make it easier for me to take both of you down at the same time." Archer said, taking aim at the pair. "Now, let's see how the two of you dance."

Rin and Yoshitsune shared a look, both of them nodding. The moment Archer started firing, Rin spun around, hiding behind the Saber-class who used her katana to slice every single bullet in half. The moment Archer's weapons clicked empty, she darted forward, calling Kanshou and Bakuya to her hands. She threw them forward, followed by several copies of weak swords, forcing the spirit back.

Feeling confident, Rin resummoned Hrunting to her hand and swung it in wide arcs at the man, hoping to deliver a decisive blow. Archer however was smarter, and waited for the moment to strike, using his pistol to block the hit. He grabbed hold of Rin's arm, driving his fist into her chest. He spun her around, throwing her at the nearby window with all of his strength. The glass shattered under the weight, sending the girl flying out of the building.

"Master!" Yoshitsune shouted, running toward the hole, only for Archer to block her with a hail of bullets.

The raven-haired girl would have screamed if she hadn't hatched a plan. She used her powers to craft a grapple gun, firing the hook at the mount of the broken window. The rope tightened causing her to swing forward, she reacted quickly, shooting the glass out. She rolled across the ground, ignoring the shards that dug into her skin.

"Saber, get ready!" she called out, the message reaching her servant a couple of floors above. She broke away from Archer, running across the room, sensing what her Master was about to do. Archer just watched, readying his weapons. Rin shot out the glass, jumping out of the building, spinning around at the same time. She shot her grapple upward, just as Yoshitsune jumped out of the building.

The heroic spirit pulled upward with all of her strength, allowing Rin to easily run up the side of the building, reaching the edge of the 12th floor, just as Yoshitsune finished pulling her up. Rin summoned her bow to her hand, raising it up at Archer, just as Yoshitsune pulled the string back. A glimmering copy of Caladbolg II appeared in the weapon, the string snapped loudly as the arrow sailed forward meeting its mark in Archer's shoulder. The man howled in pain as he was sent flying to the ground.

"Nice hustle! I wasn't expecting this to work so brilliantly."

"I do try," Rin said, sweeping her hair away from her face. She stood up straight, clutching her bow tightly as she stared Archer down. "Had I been alone, you likely would have killed me. But sadly that isn't the case. I'm sorry it had to be this way, Archer."

"Tch… dumb ass, never apologize to your enemy, especially to one that isn't down for the count," he said, pulling himself to his feet. He pulled the arrow free from his shoulder, tossing it aside, chuckling as he straightened himself up. "Now, Master."

Rin and Yoshitsune stood shocked as Akira flashed into existence, jumping out from behind some crates that had been near the back of the room. They hadn't even sensed she was in the room. She dropped to a knee, aiming at the pair with a rocket launcher, firing the rocket at the pair. Yoshitsune pushed Rin down to the ground, leaping forward with all her strength, slicing the rocket apart with her katana, causing it to explode.

Stunned by the explosion, the samurai didn't see Akira until it was too late. She swiped her black keys at her, eliciting a cry from her. She pushed her back, punching her in the face. She pulled the rocket launcher free from her back, swinging it at the Saber-class servant as if it were a baseball bat, sending her flying back.

"Do it, Archer! I command you to unleash your full power!" Akira shouted, the back of her hand glowing brilliantly as she ushered her command. Archer bowed his head, a swirl of crimson black energy flowing from around his feet.

"I am the bone of my sword,"

Rin's eyes fell on Archer, a look of surprise on her face as she heard the same words she was used to muttering. She tried to jump to her feet, but couldn't. Her energy had taken a dive, leaving her all but stunned. She watched as he crossed his arms, his pistols glowing brilliantly as the energy flowed into their barrels.

"Steel is my body, and fire is my blood…

I have created over a thousand bullets…

Now known to life and known to death…

I have closed my heart to pain, to endlessly forge weapons…

And reach my ultimate goal in absolution…

Let these hands constantly fight to reach the future…

Even if they aren't mine…"

Archer closed his hand tightly, turning his second pistol into a glowing bullet which he loaded into his black gun, taking aim at Rin. He pulled the hammer back, the tip of the gun swirling with the gathered energy.

"So as I pray…

Unlimited Lost Works!"

He pulled the trigger back, hammer struck primer, an eruption of darkness shooting out of the barrel, the spinning red bullet flying toward its target. Rin struggled to move as she watched the shot flying right at her head. It all went in slow motion for her, as she tried and failed to move.

Suddenly, a pained cry cut through the silence, as Yoshitsune forced Akira to stand. She pushed her in front of her Master, the woman trying and failing to remain balanced. Archer's bullet struck the woman smack in the center of the chest, blood shooting outward from the wound. She stood still for a moment as hundreds of swords exploded from her body, turning her into a pincushion from the inside out.

Yoshitsune grabbed a hold of Rin, pulling her to her feet, dashing toward the stairwell, heading away from the battlefield. Archer simply lowered his gun, a frown appearing on his face as he walked toward his Master. Somehow, the young woman had actually survived, despite the fact several swords had pieced her body moments ago. They had all faded in a shower of darkened particles, leaving only the wounds they inflicted behind. He stood before the woman, who just looked up at him, a glassy look in her eyes.

"A...rcher."

"I'm sorry, Master. I should have shot at Saber instead."

"It's… okay. I'll use… a Sacred Mark… to heal. Don't… let them escape." she said, just as the back of her hand started glowing. She could feel the wounds slowly stitching themselves together, as the magic power of her seal started forcing her body to heal. "It'll take me at least an hour for me to be fully mobile. Don't let me down, Archer."

"Of course, Master. I will not let them live." the man said, running in the same direction Rin and Saber had gone. Archer grit her teeth in anger, staring up at the ceiling above her.

"You think you've won, eh Tohsaka? Believe me, this is just the beginning."

---

"Water Slicer!" Eiji shouted, flinging another series of water blades at Naozumi, who blocked them with his Black Keys, he flung the blades forward, only for them to be blocked by Ereshkigal. Kay was quick to attack her, sending her flying back. The goddess summoned several cage spears, throwing them forward, the gilded javelins sailing through the air, all being deflected by the Knight of the Round.

"You've done a commendable job so far, Itsuka. You lasted a lot longer than I give you credit for, and you managed to do some damage with those silly blood seals." the blond man said, as he reached into his pocket. "But this is where it ends. You are running out of magic power, I can tell. Sustaining yourself, and three servants must be taking a toll on you."

"It doesn't matter what kind of toll it takes," Eiji said, rubbing his rapidly numbing hands, trying to get the feeling back. "As long as I take you down, I don't mind physical pain."

Naozumi cocked his head, a sarcastic chuckle leaving his lips. "Damn mages, all of you are idiots. Risking your lives for a stupid magic cup?"

"Wouldn't that make you just as stupid? You are fighting against an idiot who wants a stupid magic cup, all because the man who sent you also wants that stupid cup." the brown-haired magus said, smirking. "That would make you a peon of stupidity, wouldn't it?"

Naozumi raced forward, calling forth another set of Keys, swiping them at Eiji, who expertly dodged every single attack. He jumped back, sidestepping as the blond man attempted to stab him in the shoulder. Eiji fired a volley of Gandr shots at the man, striking him a few times in the chest. He reached behind his back for a sapphire, dropping it into the palm of his hand, a swirling Gandr orb sparking to life in his palm.

"Gandr Shot: Aqua!" he chanted, thrusting his palm forward, throwing the shimmering orb of darkened water at the man. Kay flashed in front of him, making Eiji stumble as he swung his lance, cutting the attack clean in half, exploding into a watery mist of darkness. He pulled his lance back, aiming for his stomach, when a darkened monster appeared out of the ground, its maws snapping onto Kay's lance, retching it from his grasp.

"HAAAAH!"

Kay let out a cry of pain as Ereshkigal thrust Meslamtaea straight through his armor, lifting him up a few inches. She held him in place for a few seconds as she summoned a second spear, aiming to take his head off. He caught it with his hand, pulling it from her grasp, slamming his iron gauntlet into her face with such force that she was sent stumbling back. He pulled the weapon from his body, tossing it to the ground. Despite the wound inflicted on him, he continued moving toward the Underworld Goddess.

"Lancer!" Eiji cried, forcing himself to stand up. He raced toward his servant, only for Naozumi to clothesline him, his body hitting the floor with so much force the air exploded from his lungs. Naozumi slammed his boot into the man's chest, grinding his heel into his sternum.

"Pitiful, I had expected someone trained by my Father to actually put up a fight. Guess he was right, you really are a failure of a student," he said, flicking his wrist downward, a Black Key appearing in his grasp. "I hope you've made peace with yourself."

"Fuck you." the young man spat angrily. Naozumi sighed as he pulled his Key up, shaking his head in disappointment. The man was suddenly tackled to the ground, allowing Eiji to fully breathe. He coughed loudly, looking around for a moment, vision partially blurred. He saw his spirit doing battle with the blond man, keeping him at bay with her cage spear.

"Don't you dare hurt my Master!" she shouted, summoning a demonic wolf from the pits of the Underworld, swallowing the man whole. His pained screams filled the room for a brief moment as the creature spat him out, sending him rolling across the floor.

"Lancer, we need to meet up with Avenger, now!" Eiji said, urging his friend on. She gave him a nod, grabbing his hand as she led him through what remained of the fourth floor, sprinting toward the escalators.

"KAY! DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!" Naozumi shouted, his voice echoing through the building. The Knight used his lance to stand, finding the strength to run, he hefted the weapon onto his shoulder, following after the pair.

They made it to the fifth floor, seeing the destruction left behind by Jeanne. They noticed the bodies of the valkyries she had defeated, along with the broken window, the floor filled with snow and ice from the broken fish tank. They paused for only a moment, before moving through the Aquarium. They heard heavy footfalls behind them, and knew they were being followed.

"Lancer, we can't keep doing this. We've been fighting him for far longer, we need to end this quickly. Do you think it's charged up enough power?"

"More than enough, Master. If Cerise has been diligently setting up the things we gave her, then things should work out just fine."

"Then we'll give Vitch the signal. We gotta get ready to pull out." Eiji said.

"Now, Girls!"

Eiji and Ereshkigal slid to a stop. The violet-haired goddess threw her Master to the ground, just in time to avoid the hail of glowing spears that were thrown at him. Her frame shook with rage as she resummoned her spear, swinging it to and fro to defend her Master. She wasted no time in resuming her attack, taking down one of the valkyries with ease. The others began swarming, unable to fight without their spears, all they could do was bash the goddess with their shields, yet she didn't relent. She continued fighting on, hacking and slashing any one who got close to her.

"Lancer!" he shouted, only for one of the valkyries, a pink-haired girl, to stop him, aiming her spear at his neck. He held his hands up, not really being able to do anything else.

"You are responsible for the murder of many of our sisters, that we can never forgive. My name is Hildr, remember it well, mortal, because it'll be the name of the valkyrie who will take you to Helheim."

"Avenger!" he cried out, activating his command seal. The ceiling above him rumbled and shook, everything becoming still for a moment. Jeanne suddenly burst through, large pieces of concrete and rebar falling down with her as she stabbed her flag downward. She swiped her sword at Hildr, sending her stumbling back.

"God, you idiots are more annoying than flies on a pile of cowshit! Where the fuck do you all come from?!" she shouted, as she sent a wave of flames at the valkyries, forcing them to block the attack with their shields. Ereshkigal jumped back just in time to avoid being hit. She panted a bit as she used her spear as a crutch.

"Thanks for the save, Avenger."

"Try not to get our Master killed, would you? Here I thought that slim body of yours would actually help you. What, are your boobs weighing you down too much?" she teased, causing the goddess to blush.

"Hildr!" a familiar voice called out, causing the pink-haired valkyrie to look up. Thrud jumped down from the hole, landing before her sister, who checked her over for injury. "When did you arrive?"

"Not long ago, we saw this man fighting against Brother Naozumi and Sir Kay and thought we would lay an ambush. Ortlinde is fighting Assassin on the 18th floor. That woman is relentless, she's killed 14 of us already." the pinkette said, raising her spear. "We must end this quickly."

"Indeed, and now that we are here we can finally end this farce," Naozumi said, arriving alongside Kay, who had his weapon at the ready. "You thought you'd be so clever, lure us here so you could take us all out. But you didn't account for our force. Even now, we have valkyries flying around the tower. You can't escape now."

"Who said anything about escaping? All of the pieces are here, exactly where they should be." Eiji said, almost smugly as he faced his enemy. "You might think you have the upper hand, but that's not the case. All you did was line the pieces up."

"Line the pieces up? You are sorely mistaken. Ladies, Kay, it's time to end this. Kill them all, but leave Eiji for last. I have some words for him." the blond man said, brushing his hand through his hair.

"And who the hell said you'll lay a finger on him?" Jeanne said, grabbing ahold of her flag. She twirled it around, the banner serving as a means to keep the others at bay. "This is what I live for, I'll take all of you down!"

Her flag suddenly began glowing, swirling darkness enveloping the entire banner. It pulsed with an unholy glow, something completely opposite of what it was supposed to do. Jeanne continued twirling it around, sending the energy in all directions, the festering swirls of darkness growing in size.

"This is the light of the lord, twisted and ruined by the swirling darkness that flows within my heart. The banner sworn to protect, now gathers its strength, so that it may destroy those that stand before it. This is the flag that will destroy those who attack my brethren."

She swept her banner around, unleashing the built-up energy, which drowned out the light of the room, enveloping Naozumi, Kay, and the Valkyries in a thick, chalky dark cloud that seemingly poured into their bodies. "Ténèbres Éternelle!"

Having unleashed the full might of her noble phantasm, Jeanne's darkened light made sure to weaken every one of their opponents. She brought her flag down, a smug look on her face as the dark plumes swirled around them. She didn't see Kay moving until it was too late. She tried to move back but was unable to dodge the attack, the tip of his lance piercing her chest.

"Guh… fuck!"

"Avenger!" Eiji shouted, reaching his hand out to her, only for her to send a glare in his direction.

"Don't you fucking dare, asshole, Take Lancer and go, this is nothing. I can handle these chucklefucks." she cried angrily. "Well don't just stand there, dumb ass, run!"

Eiji did as he was told, dragging Ereshkigal along with him. Naozumi was going to follow, but Jeanne stopped him with her flag. Despite the fact she had a lance running through her body, she wasn't going to relent. She grabbed ahold of the weapon, pulling it out, laughing as the weapon tore the wound up. "You think a sissy stab is enough to end me? You've got another thing coming."

"Ladies, bring her down!" Thrud commanded, urging the valkyries forward. Jeanne let out a scream as she once again jumped into the fray, swinging her sword and flag around, stabbing and slashing any one who dared come across her.

Naozumi took this time to slip away, not bothering to even tell Kay, who decided to fight alongside the valkyries. The fallen saint laughed as the flames danced around her, spreading in all directions, enveloping the entire floor. The smoke was enough to activate the sprinklers, who started raining down on the flames, and despite this, they continued burning, the water only serving as fuel to create a thick cloud of steam.

Despite this, the Avenger continued fighting, ignoring the other slashes and stabs she got on her body. Her target was Kay, and if possible, the Valkyrie captains as well. She fought the spears off, jumping right at the Knight of the Round, knocking him to the ground. She pinned him down with her body, ignoring the spears being stabbed into her back.

"Hey watch it! You're gonna kill me!" Kay cried, trying to retch Jeanne off, but she wasn't letting go. She only continued smiling.

"What's wrong sweetcheeks? Don't like hot girls hugging the shit out of you?"

"I don't like clingy girls like you, sorry," he replied. Jeanne pursed her lips, a genuine frown on her face.

"That's a shame. Guess that means you won't appreciate this little gift I brought for us," she said, reaching into her armor. She pulled out a 2kg stick of dynamite, shoving it right in Kay's mouth. Her fingertips started glowing orange. "I hope you like your tasty snack~"

"Mphm! Mphm!" the man cried, as he tried to pull the explosive out of his mouth. She kept his arms pinned down, summoning more flames to keep the valkyries at bay. She let out a giggle, which evolved into a laugh as she let the flames begin consuming the pair. She lit the short fuse, watching it slowly burn with content.

"This is the most fun I've had since becoming a Chaldean servant. Thank you so much, Eiji-kun, it's not every day I get to have an explosive finale. See ya at home~" she said, just as the dynamite exploded.

The building rocked from the explosion, taking Eiji and Ereshkigal by surprise. The pair stopped in the middle of the stairwell, glancing back down. The man immediately felt his connection to Jeanne disappear, it was clear she had sacrificed herself so that they could continue the mission. He grit his teeth in anger as he continued climbing up the stairs. He only hoped the explosion had been enough to take out their enemies.

"She's an idiot! Why would she do something like that?" Ereshkigal cried as the pair entered the 6th floor.

"She's an Avenger. All she sees is red, maybe she saw this as the only way to help us. We're in too deep, we can't afford to lose here." he said, wandering deeper into the sixth floor, seeing the destruction that had happened, along with a giant hole near the center of the room. "What the hell happened here?"

"Valkyries attacked, they had to be disposed of rather quickly."

Ereshkigal summoned Meslamtaea, standing beside her Master, ready to fight if necessary. Eiji, despite the danger, shook his head, placing his hand on the weapon, pushing it downward. Scathach stepped out into the open, clutching Gae Bolg tightly in her hands. The breeze picked up a bit, swaying her hair slightly as she stood before the pair.

"It's good to see you again, Master. I knew we would meet again somewhere."

"If you say so. You do know my memories were wiped, right? The only student I ever had was a sly dog who ended up sleeping with my sister." the violet-haired woman said with a sigh. "Despite that, you trust me wholeheartedly. I dunno if you are smart or an idiot."

"Hey, don't insult him like that! It's rude to question someone's intelligence!"

"Gee, that makes me feel so much better," Eiji sarcastically deadpanned, shaking his head. He looked around for a moment, not seeing his friend anywhere. "What happened to Rin?"

"She's fighting Archer, it seems another Master showed up to this little party you threw. I've been fighting valkyries ever since. I think I've thinned down their numbers, but more keep showing up."

"Is Saber with her?"

"Of course. The two make an excellent pair, they haven't needed me, as far as I can tell anyway," she said. Her demeanor suddenly changed, causing her to adopt a battle stance. Eiji briefly wondered why she had done that, but remembered one of the things she had taught him when they were still at Chaldea.

"Be alert, never let your guard down, or you'll end up with a sword through your guts."

He turned around, only to see Naozumi aiming his Black Keys at him, a wicked grin on his face. A crimson blur whipped past him, narrowly missing him as it knocked the man to the ground. His screams of pain cut through the silence, the red spear embedded deep into his shoulder.

"Aaaahhh… fuck!"

"If you truly were my student, you'd remember to be alert, or you'll-"

"End up with a sword through your guts. I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking," the brunette said with a frown. He grabbed hold of Gae Bolg, pulling it free from Naozumi's shoulder. He spun it around expertly, holding it at the ready. "Thought you could sneakily kill me? It'll take a lot more than that to take me out, buddy."

"You bastard! I should have had Kay use his Noble Phantasm against you!"

"Coulda, woulda, shoulda." the man said with a smirk. He held the red spear over his heart, a deep-seeded curiosity flashing onto his face. "Why? Why side with Kotomine knowing he's a delusional man with an even more delusional desire?"

"Why? Because he promised us the world, he promised us everything we couldn't get in life. I bet you don't even remember Akira, do you? Do you know what she wants more than Rin Tohsaka's head on a pike? For you to acknowledge her existence. She used to be your friend when you were young, but you threw her aside like yesterday's trash!"

"What the hell are you talking about? I never met any Akira, surely I would have remembered her." Eiji said. Naozumi broke into laughter, as he forced himself away from the young man.

"You are dead, kid. If you think she's going to let your friend survive, you've got another thing coming!" he said with a grin. "Sadly, I'm not going to let you live to see her die! Lancer!"

Eiji jumped back as the ground beneath him began caving in. Sir Kay's lance burst through the ground, causing it to crumble downward, as the man jumped up, lance at the ready. Naozumi's command seals began glowing, all three segments sparked with magical energy as he held his hand out. "By order of my sacred mark, I give you the strength and power to defeat our enemies! Take all of my seals, you useless knight! Show them the strength of the Round Table!"

"Eiji!" Ereshkigal shouted as the young man stood still, a small smile on his face. He twirled the crimson spear in his grasp, jumping back. He held the weapon out to Scathach, who gratefully took it into her grasp.

"All yours, Master. Teach him a lesson for us."

The woman didn't waste a second, summoning a second copy of Gae Bolg into her grasp, she zoomed forward with great speed, striking the knight with both spears before he could even call out his Noble Phantasm. She kicked him into the back wall, jumping into the air. She threw the first spear, pinning him to the wall with ease. She pulled her arm back, the spear glowing with a swirling crimson haze.

"Thrust and penetrate, stun and kill! Accept this gift of mine, Gae Bolg Alternative!" she howled, throwing the spear with all her strength. Kay didn't even falter as the weapon shot through his chest, exploding on contact. Scathach held her hand out, catching her prized spear in her hand, allowing the second to disappear in a mist of red.

"No… NO!" Naozumi howled, as he glared at his servant, who was disappearing in a shower of shimmering gold. "Unleash your noble phantasm, you bastard!"

"Sorry Master, but she pierced my spirit origin, not much I can do but leave the rest of this to you," he said, almost smugly as he finally faded away. Naozumi grit his teeth in anger, digging his nails into his face as he glared at Eiji. "You… you're going to regret this. Attention all Valkyries, I need you at Acros Tower now! I don't give a shit what you are doing, bring this tower to the ground. Destroy it, kill everyone inside it!"

"Lancer, will you shut him up?" Eiji asked, earning a nod from Ereshkigal. She raced forward, driving her fist into his chest.

He tried in vain to block the attack, but he was spent from using his command seals and from fighting. The goddess easily overpowered him, knocking him to the ground. Summoning her spear, she spun it above her head, stabbing it into the ground. Several golden bars stabbed through the ground, forming a cage around the man. She nodded, satisfied with the cage she had created for the time being.

"It's done, Master. I think it's time we initiate the next phase of our operation," she said firmly.

"Agreed, let's go," he said, racing toward the other end of the room, heading toward the broken window. "Cerise, are you in position?"

"Affirmative. I assume you're ready for phase three?" the hooded woman queried through his comm-link.

"Mhmm. We're about to evacuate, is our transport ready?"

"It is, just jump and they'll catch you." she replied. The man reached the edge of the building as she did so, taking a leap of faith into the streets below. He only fell for a few feet, as a beautiful quetzal caught him before he fell. Ereshkigal and Scathach landed on their own, being flown away from the tower.

"Tamamo, come in, we're ready for phase three, are you ready?"

"Yep yep! All I need are a few minutes to set things up. I gotta clear some pests from the observatory first." the vixen replied, grunting a bit. "I can't wait to tell you how many valkyries I've killed, Master."

"G-great! Awesome, I'll give you the signal once Rin has left," he said, clearing his throat. "Rin, we're moving to phase three. We need you to leave..."

He didn't get a reply back. He tried again, but all he got was silence. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he radioed back to home base. "Archer, can you tell me where Rin is? She isn't responding."

"Mhnm, I've been keeping a track of all your movements since the big battle started. Let's see here… ah! She's on the 15th floor, seems to me like she's fighting against a heroic spirit. You need to go, there are valkyries as well!" Sei replied, sounding worried.

"Hyah!" the brunette cried, grabbing onto the reins of his quetzal, urging it to fly upward. It only took a few seconds to reach the fifteenth floor. He pulled out his gun, firing a single round into the glass. He led his quetzal forward, slamming straight through the glass, landing in a heap on the ground. Thankfully, the bird wasn't hurt by this action.

"Rin!" he called out, only for the girl in question to flash before him, swinging her daggers in wide arcs, deflecting all of the incoming bullets.

"Eiji, what the hell are you doing here?"

"We're getting ready for Phase three. We lost Avenger, but we managed to take out Kay and several valkyries. What the hell is going on here?"

"Ah, Eiji Itsuka. Good of you to join us, I'm sure my Master will be happy to see you again." the dark-skinned man said, as he readied his guns. He was about to fire, only for Yoshitsune to appear before him, swinging her katana in a downward slash, slicing his guns apart. Rin darted forward, throwing several copies of Caladbolg forward, swiping at the man with her daggers.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out the last few gems he had left, two earth gems, one fire gem, and two wind gems. He nodded to himself as he ran across the edge of the room, stay away from the main fight. He cracked his fire gem in the palm of his hand, flames dancing around his fingertip as he formed a Gandr Shot at its time, channeling the flames through it. He cradled his arm with his hand, taking aim at Archer.

"Keep it steady, keep it steady," he mumbled, as he waited for his opening. Rin swiped her daggers diagonally, striking the man with an upward slash, leaving him stunned. Eiji took his shot, planting his feet on the ground. "Gandrfeur!"

The swirling ball of flame sailed forward, expanding outward as it absorbed more oxygen. Rin backflipped out of the way, letting the attack strike Archer dead in the chest. Yoshitsune followed up with several sword swipes, somehow being avoided or deflected by the man. He grabbed ahold of her sword, not bothered by the fact it almost sliced his hand in half. He snapped the blade with ease, stunning the samurai who left herself open, taking a punch right across the face, sending her flying through the window.

"SABER!" Rin shouted, to no avail. Archer chuckled as he spun the broken blade around, turning to face Rin.

"Fool, I would have thought the mighty Minamoto-No-Yoshitsune would be stronger than that. Even her sword is of poor quality."

"You know something, Archer, you talk too much. Erdgandr!" Eiji cried, throwing the swirling sand orb at the man, striking him in the face. Rin took her shot, running at the man with Kanshou and Bakuya at the ready. She kicked him in the chest, slicing and swiping to and fro, spinning around, she drove her foot into his chest, sending him through a wall into the next room.

She brought her daggers down, only for Archer to block them with his guns. He took aim at Rin, who was pulled back in time by Eiji, the bullet narrowly missing her forehead. He pushed her away, driving a Wirbelgandr into his chest, the swirling black wind cut into his chest, sending him sprawling across the ground.

"Class Card: Uninstall!" Rin called out, groaning a bit as the boost in magic left her, returning to the card in her hand. She held it out to Eiji, giving him a nod. "You have more energy and I have all my gems, trust me."

"If you say so," he mumbled, running forward. "Class Card: Install!"

The familiar crimson outfit flashed onto his body as he summoned Aestus Estus to his grasp. Swinging the sword of Nero Claudius downward, he aimed to cut the man in half, but Archer was quicker, avoiding the attack entirely. He fired on Eiji, who swung and angled his sword to deflect every bullet.

Rin stepped forward, throwing several gems into the air, various elements rained down on Archer, who ducked and weaved trying to avoid the attacks. Eiji ran at him, swinging his sword with all of his strength, successfully striking him in the shoulder. The dark-skinned man didn't seem phased. He crossed his pistols, channeling magic into them, firing a powered-up shot at Eiji. Rin stood before him, throwing a wind gem into the air, forming a bright green barrier before them, groaning in pain as she struggled to keep the barrier up.

"Eiji!"

He summoned his bow, nocking Aestus Estus into it. He pulled it back, firing it at Archer, who took the hit in the shoulder. Rin raced forward, throwing more of her gems at the man, keeping him stunned and in place. Eiji held his hand out, closing his eyes. "Class Card: Uninstall! Rin, take it!"

He threw the mystic code at his friend, who caught it with ease, activating it just as fast. She jumped high into the air, drawing her bow back, a copy of Caliburn forming between her fingers.

"I am the bone of my sword: This is the strength of the sword of selection. Allow me your strength, as I use it to cleave the wicked! Go! CALIBURN!"

The glimmering arrow shot downward, piercing straight through his chest, exploding on contact. The entire floor rocked from the shockwave. Eiji held his arms out, catching Rin just in time to avoid the ground caving in. He held her tightly as he hurried back, watching as not just the 15th floor caved, but parts of the 16th as well. The shock of the explosion rocked the tower, blowing out several windows, causing glass and ice to rain down on the barren streets below.

"That was awesome, I dare say you are a better Archer than I am," Eiji said, giving his friend a grin. Rin said nothing, her lip twitching a bit. She wrapped her arm around his neck, pulling him into a kiss, his eyes bulging from surprise. She pulled away just as fast as she had started, jumping out of his arms.

"Well let's go, we can't have Vitch bring this fucker down if we're still inside it," she said, racing toward the edge of the window. Eiji shook his head, ignoring the warmth on his cheeks as he ran after the ravenette.

Archer however remained, laying in a pile of rubble on the 14th floor, a hole having pierced his side. He was slowly disappearing, his spirit core was broken, but he was forcing his mana into the ground, in a vain attempt to remain far longer than he knew he could. He closed his eyes for a moment, making a mental link to his master.

"I have failed you, Master Akira. My spirit core has been pierced, I can't really do much anymore." he thought, earning a sigh from the girl.

"It'll be alright, Archer. You fought well, sadly I had to use my last remaining seal to speed up the process. I'll finish what you started."

"No, get out of here. Those two are planning something and I don't know what. I want you to live, Master. Even though we have failed here, I'm sure Father will forgive you."

"Hah… you really think that? You heard what he said before we left. We bring another failure to him and he'll kill us both. No… I'll just follow my own path and bring those two assholes down myself." she said, pausing for a moment. "I wanna thank you, Archer. Even though we didn't succeed in our personal mission, we still had a hell of a time."

"You'll be just fine, Master. I have high hopes that you'll see your dreams through to the end. For now, I think I'll just lay here, and wait for my end."

"Rest now, Archer. You did well." Akira said, finally ending the connection.

The man looked up at the destroyed ceiling, briefly wondering what Eiji and Rin were planning. He felt a sudden surge of power coming from the other side of town, but he couldn't quite place it. It was small, something that was unnoticeable by those without a strong perception. He couldn't help but smirk.

"It seems things are going to heat up soon, shame that I won't be around to see the fireworks." he thought, as he closed his eyes. He finally allowed himself to disappear, his mission finished, at least for the time being.

---

Vitch finally disposed of the final valkyrie, admiring the pile of bodies she had built up over the course of the fight. She didn't know why she had been targeted so much, but she relished in it. She had gotten more action in an hour than she had in the past few months. She was battered, tired, sweaty, out of ammo but most of all, she was proud.

She walked back toward her perch, grabbing a hold of the sniper rifle she had brought with her, a beautiful Dragonov which had become her best friend. She ejected the spent magazine, replacing it with a new one, which only contained one round.

"Vitch, everyone important has evacuated. I'm ready to call you back with a Command Seal once you are done." Eiji said, earning a giggle from the woman.

"I've been waiting for so long to do this," she said, holding her sniper rifle at the ready. A swirling magic circle appeared beneath her feet, as she activated her Noble Phantasm. All around her, the scenery shifted to a darkened area, being illuminated by a bright full moon and stars.

"God who resides in Izumo,

Aesthetically pleasing,

Breath of the Soul

I beg thee to curse and corrupt this shot…"

She began levitating, as a wave of ofuri swirled around her, the glowing talismans shimmered with the glow of the sun, their energy pouring out, swirling around the barrel of the gun, making it glow a brilliant orange, as if the power of the sun itself was flowing into it. She pulled the bolt back, loading the glowing round into the chamber.

"Amaterasu, sacred goddess of the sun, bestow upon me your power…

Allow this curse to burn everything it touches, and incinerate what remains…

Taste the fury of a thousand suns!

Eightfold Cursed Shot of Amaterasu!"

She slammed the trigger back, the swirling hellfire flew straight through the ground, whatever windows had survived the battle exploded as the bullet continued to grow, lighting everything in its path ablaze. It made it down to the bottom floor of the building, embedding itself next to the generator that Eiji had set up. With a snap of her fingers, the bullet swelled, taking the shape of the sun before finally exploding.

At the same time, the explosives that Cerise had set through the building started to detonate. One after the other, they all started to explode. Akira had managed to make it down several floors, only to stop when she felt the heat generated from the sudden shot. She was thrown back into the wall from the explosion, stunned by the explosion. Her ears were ringing as she forced herself to stand up, running down the stairs. At the same time, Naozumi had finally managed to break out of Ereshkigal's cage, stumbling out of it, having seen the flaming shot setting everything on fire.

He didn't make it very far, the loud beeping of a timer made him stop in his tracks. His eyes connected with the C4 that had been planted in the main column of the tower, the timer having hit 00:00. He let out a soft chuckle as the bomb exploded, sending his body flying back.

From a distance, Eiji, Rin, and their servants watched as Acros Tower turned into a blazing inferno, finally exploding as the nuclear generator detonated. They grabbed onto their quetzals, shielding their eyes from the bright orange cloud that had erupted in the center of Fuyuki. The once-mighty Acros Tower now fell to the ground, in a heap of smoldering iron, steel, and concrete. For several minutes, the once quiet city was filled with the rumble of metal and shattering glass, as Eiji and the others left, their mission finally accomplished.

"Do you think we used a little too much C4 in that?" Rin asked as they flew back to the World Tree. Eiji shrugged, shaking his head.

"If anything, we didn't use enough C4. We need to lay low, for now, Kotomine is bound to lead an attack now. All of the pieces are starting to fall together. If we can take out his last remaining Masters, he'll be vulnerable." Eiji said.

"It's best not to bite off more than you can chew, Master. Let us claim this victory, however small, for now. You spent too much magic power and we lost Jeanne as well. We need to restructure our plans for the future." Ereshkigal warned, causing the man to sigh in agreement.

A sudden wave of static caused him to sit up, as he placed a hand over his communicator. "Archer, what's the matter?"

"Eiji-kun, we're getting a distress signal. It's originating from the West Side of the City."

"A distress signal? Is it a radio call? Can you patch it in?" Rin questioned, earning a hum from the girl. Moments later, their comms were filled with a familiar voice.

"If there is anyone out there who can assist us, please! We need help, my name is Sakura Matou, we are located in a castle deep within Fuyuki's Forest. Frost Giants and Krichat have started attacking our keeps. We don't know how much longer we can hold on. If anyone can help, please, help us!"

Gritting his teeth, Eiji grabbed the reins of his quetzal, changing directions. "Change of plans, we're making a detour to the Einzbern Castle. We need to help them."

"He's right, they narrowly survived the last attack, they're defenseless. Maybe if we help them out again, they'll consider lending their strength to fight Kotomine." Rin said. Cerise nodded.

"Right, let's go then! We can make it there in half an hour if the wind is on in our favor. I'll lead the charge, Eiji, Rin, you two have spent enough magic as it is. The servants and I will handle it, understood?"

"Yes, we understand, let's just focus on getting there first!" Eiji replied firmly. With the remains of Acros Tower behind them, the group set off toward their next mission. They couldn't stop, not when the iron was hot.

---

A/N: Hey hey hey, I hope you've had a good week. My week has been stressful but I managed to edit and get this chapter out. I hope you all like it, this is definitely one of the climaxes of the Fuyuki Story Arc and one of my personal favorite ones to write. I've been planning this particular segment since early in the beginning. So I hope you all like it! I will also say that this will be the last chapter of this month, I am taking a bit of a break to not only work on the remainder of this arc but also start laying the foundations for the next story arc. I don't want to burn myself out writing too much Fate, especially knowing this is just a microcosm of what's in store for this fic. Already over 400,000 words and it's not even 1/16th of the way done, I'm in for the long haul lol.

I am actually working on another separate project, just a short story that I found in my docs which was meant to be posted two years ago but never was, for whatever reason (Blame Danganronpa for that) and I figured I could work on it. It's Pokemon related, and with the advent of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, I felt it was a good time to bring it back. (No, it isn't Aloha Alola, I'm not ready to go back to that, nor will I ever at this rate), it's a short one, but depending on how things go, I might work on other short stories.

Well until next time, I don't have much more to say, though I will be explaining Noble Phantasms and the like in the next Interlude chapter, which will be the final interlude for the Fuyuki story arc, I might include more "Servant" based interludes/rank ups between story arcs but I'm still deciding. They will mostly deal with new summoning. Like Ritsuka, Eiji will contract various servants, but his personal servant will be Ereshkigal, much like Mash is Ritsuka's personal servant. Let's hope things go well haha. See you all later!

Also stop hating on Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, they look awesome. And this is coming from someone who didn't even want Sinnoh Remakes lol.