Singularity F: Chapter 1
Her torso was wide open, his mind whispered to him, unguarded. It would be child's play to sharpen his hands and strike at her- No. Killua banished those thoughts from his mind. He wasn't that kind of person. Not anymore.
"Excuse me, senpai?" He turned to the girl. Inwardly, Killua laughed at himself. He had noticed her openings before her strange, light purple hair. Still, he wasn't one to judge, having white hair himself. "Have you seen a white animal running in this direction? He makes these 'Fou' sounds…"
"Sorry." He replied coolly. "I can't say I have."
"I see…" She muttered, pushing up her glasses on her face. "Well, thank you anyways, senpai." She hurried along her way.
Frankly speaking, Killua was surprised at his own coldness. As he quickly made his way to the chief's briefing, he scoffed at himself. His parents were right, no matter how many times he refused their words. He was a perfect killer; nothing more, nothing less. Even now, his footsteps made no noise and his senses stretched out, noting people's presences.
He would deny it with every fiber of his existence, but deep down, Killua knew and understood.
He was an assassin.
~o~
"How did you…" Killua ignored the woman behind him, letting her words and agape mouth fly over his head. Instead, he knelt by a familiar, bloodied face framed in purple hair. Upon Killua's arrival, her head turned in his direction and opened its shining lavender eyes.
"Senpai?" Killua gritted his teeth. Her voice was naive, yet pure and innocent - a painful reminder of a close friend he once had. "You should run… senpai." As if he was just going to run away! Killua had made up his mind a long time ago. He would show them… He wasn't just a killer. He was more. He could save people, not just kill them.
Killua stepped over to the pile of rubble trapping her legs and took in a deep breath. It had been ages since he had used his… ability but like many other "talents", it was simply one he could not forget.
A familiar, white aura enveloped his body. Just this once, he promised. It brought up memories he wished not to confront, but right now, he needed that strength to save the girl in front of him.
It was possible for him to rip off the blocks of concrete without having to infuse Nen into his arms, but not training for years certainly had a sizable impact on his physical ability. It was better to reinforce his body with Nen to maximize the chances of him succeeding.
As easily as scooping water, Killua threw the chunks to his side, slowly but surely freeing Mash from her prison. "How are you…" Her body was still wracked in pain but for a moment, it vanished. Her eyes glimmered with hope and awe. "That was amazing-" Mash's praise was suddenly cut off with violent coughs, each one bringing up flecks of blood.
"Most likely from internal bleeding." Killua had nearly sat back down, but she wasn't fully safe from death - not yet. He grimaced. None of his Nen abilities were geared towards healing and he was inexperienced in mage arts. If only there was someone… The Director! Surely she had some sort of magecraft that could heal Mash!
He opened his mouth to ask for her assistance, but the Director had already made her move. Before he even had to ask, she was by his side. "We need to get medical treatment right away." She muttered. "I'm only able to heal light injuries, not the ones as severe as this."
His legs flickered with the barest hints of electricity and his hair rose for a split second. Only, a robotic, distinctly feminine voice echoed throughout the room. "Unable to access values of vitals of coffin Masters. Unable to reach minimum persons required for rayshift."
"Rayshift?" Killua widened his eyes. From the bits and pieces from the Director's lecture he had caught, a Rayshift sent a person back into time after they entered a coffin.
"Seeking eligible masters… eligible masters discovered… Reestablishing with Number 48 as a Master." Wait… Wasn't he number 48? But… But he wasn't in the coffin! How was this possible?
"Unsummon program start. Beginning Heroic Spirit conversion. Rayshift beginning in 3, 2, 1." Killua balled his fists. Even without the "how's" and "why's," the former assassin knew he was being rayshifted. Particles of blue light danced back and forth all around his body.
"Entire process clear. Beginning First Order demonstration."
Fate Grand Order. Here where the paths of humanity diverged, the endless sea of possibilities parting its way for the birth of a new one.
~o~
Killua's eyes were wide open. Instantly, he sprang to his feet, eyes flashing all around his surroundings. He was in unfamiliar territory, without information of the terrain, locals, -Calm down. He chastised himself for panicking. An amateur mistake.
His mind flashed to the girl he was saving. Most likely, she would die out of blood loss, seeing that Chaldea was effectively crippled by the explosion. Killua scoffed at himself. Another failure. Another death on his hands. But he wasn't the type to cry over it, especially not in the situation he was in.
The world was burning, he realized. The sky was dark, blotched with dark red clouds. All around him were collapsed buildings and blazing infernos. Clearly, the machine back in Chaldea had malfunctioned, so was this a part of-
Something was coming. He turned his head, only for his instincts to kick in and prevent his beheading. His eyes narrowed at the swelled ranks of what he could only describe as… skeletons. Skeletons holding weapons. Killua sighed. It was an odd sight, but nothing that would faze him.
Another swing reminded how rusty his skills were. Certainly a close call, but already, he had gained valuable intel from the near death experience. By the first swing, he knew that these skeletal constructs were merely inanimate objects puppeteered by an external source of energy. Each strike was precise but linear - easy to predict for someone like him. It was likely that they lacked free will, and were more akin to what mages called familiars.
Killua balled his fists, smashing them into the brittle bones. The impact stung, but it was nothing compared to what he had endured before. He continued his methodical attacks while leaping over the swords and catching the arrows. It wasn't long before piles of dust and bones laid at his feet.
"Senpai!" It was that girl from before. He looked up and a slight blush rose in his cheeks. What she wore now was a severe contrast to her previous clothes. The black, purple-lined armour exposed much of her midriff and backside. What was more eye-catching, however, was her shield. He was no sensor, but even he could pick up the latent energy just brimming under the surface. "That was amazing! The way you took out the enemies… Have you fused with a Servant as well?"
Killua looked at her with slight confusion. He was aware what a Servant was but what did- He understood. Right before he was ray-shifted, he heard something about a Heroic Spirit conversion, which was what the girl was referring to. She also said "as well," he noted. It was clear that she had undergone the mentioned process but that in itself brought up a slew of questions. Still, it wasn't the time for his mind to wonder. "No." He answered bluntly. "Where are we?"
"I believe we are in-"
"Ah it finally connected! Hello? This is the Chaldea Control Room, can you hear me?" A blue light shined in front of him, twisting quickly and taking shape in the form of a man's head.
"This is A-Team member, Mash Kyrielite. Right now, I have completed shifting into Singularity Point 'F.'" She answered with a clearly rehearsed line. "With me is one other person: Killua. No problems to report." So that was her name… He stood to the side awkwardly, looking back at the man. Nevertheless, Killua made sure to stand on guard. Mash was certainly strong, but with a single glance, he could tell she was inexperienced in combat. Her shield hung limply to the side and her gaze was fixated on the hologram, paying no attention to her surroundings.
"Killua, huh… The 48th candidate. Wait, what are you wearing, Mash! This wasn't the way- Wait… Your physical ability, magic circuits…"
"Yes." She confirmed. "I escaped death by fusing with a Servant, in exchange for a promise to eliminate the cause of this Singularity." Mash looked down at her feet. "However, the Heroic Spirit is unknown, as is his Noble Phantasm."
"Is that so?" The man in the hologram mused. "Still, you have the strength of a Servant, so either way, I'd call it a win for us." He turned to Killua. "We haven't met before, have we?" Killua shook his head. "Well, my name is Dr. Roman. I wish we could've met under better circumstances, but we'll have to take what we get." He took a deep breath. "Killua, I understand things may be confusing, but Mash is your Servant and you, her Master. Those red marks called Command Spells on the back of your hand indicate it as such. Remember: Servants require mana from a human, and you are filling that role right now."
"Doctor, the connection is unstable."As if on cue, the hologram blinked in and out.
Roman cursed under his breath. "Damn… Shiba's power output is unstable on just backup power. You two will have to make your way to a leyline two kilometers from your location. It'll give us a stable connection. I'll do what I can to restore power but-" The doctor vanished without a trace.
"Let's get going, Mash. It won't do us anything to stay around here."
"Y-yes, senpai!"
~o~
"The way you fought was amazing, senpai!" Mash gushed, clutching onto her shield as she walked. "If you don't mind me asking, where did you learn how to fight like that?"
Killua looked side to side, keeping an eye out for any more skeletons. Individually, they posed no real threat to them, but if they swarmed him and Mash all at once, there was a chance they could die. Besides, there could be stronger versions of the enemy that they just haven't encountered yet. "Through training." He answered evasively. "A lot of it." He added.
"I see…" Before she could pry any further, they both heard a girly shriek coming from another area. Mash grimaced, getting in a fighting stance. "Let's hurry, Master!"
Killua nearly choked on air. It was one thing to be called a Master by a flying hologram head, but it was another thing to hear it come out from Mash. "Right." It was a prime opportunity to gain more information, both on the layout of the city and the enemy's strength levels. But it was another opportunity to prove his parents wrong. To prove that he could save, not just kill.
~o~
On one hand, the skeletal warriors proved to be surprisingly easy to take down. While they had some semblance of common sense by having the archers stand behind the swordsman, their moves were painfully easy to predict. It helped having another somewhat capable person fight by his side.
On the other hand, he now had a woman uncomfortably close to his face, berating him for his "unmasterlike" behavior. His hand rose to punch her straight in the mouth, but the rational side of his brain merely tuned out her nagging, forcing it back down to his sides.
What was it about him and his inability to get along with women? Bisky, Palm, and now Olga…
"Am I understood?" Oh, she finished? About time… "Crystal clear." Killua replied, inwardly rolling his eyes.
Her face was slightly red from the yelling, but she managed to retain her composure. "Good." She huffed. "Now to set a base camp, we'll need to find a leyline terminal. From there we should be able to contact Chaldea. Then, we can figure out what's-"
Mash coughed. "Chief, just letting you know - you're standing on a Ley point."
"Eh? R-right! I knew that. I knew that all along!" Her expression dared anyone to say otherwise. Of course, Killua abided, snickering only when she turned her back on him. "Mash, put your shield on the ground." She ordered. "I'll need a Noble Phantasm as a catalyst to establish a summoning circle."
"I guess so. Is that okay, Senpai?" She turned to Killua.
He understood. Even for someone as inexperienced as her, the shield was a weapon - a tool needed for his protection, now that he was her… Master. By placing it down, she would be leaving both of them vulnerable. "Fine by me." He answered. If needed, he would be able to fend off hostiles, giving Mash enough time to rearm herself.
Mash nodded in response, placing her shield by Olga's feet. As soon as the two began working on the summoning circle, a familiar figure materialized by their side.
"CQ, CQ. Hello-! Great, it connected again!" Killua looked up. It was the doctor that had first contacted him. He glanced to the side and slightly winced. Mash looked relieved but Olga was anything but, if that expression was an indication of anything.
"Haa!?" Olga stood up abruptly, an incredulous expression all over her face. "Who put you in charge, Romani! Where's Lev? Go get him!"
Roman gulped. "Ch-chief, you're alive!? Even inside that explosion, and with no injuries?! How…"
"That's not the point right now." She interrupted. "Explain."
"… I believe I'm the only one capable here. After all, only twenty Chaldea staff members are still alive, including me. Professor Lev…" His face had a tinge of sadness but quickly hardened itself. " He was in the control room directing the rayshifts. It's wishful thinking that anyone survived being in an explosion like that."
"Wait, only twenty left alive? Then what of the Masters? What happened to the coffins?!" She cried out.
"All 47 are in critical condition." He continued his report. "Our medical tools aren't enough. Even if we had people to help them, they're all-"
"Don't joke with me, put them into cryo freeze immediately! Worry about resuscitation later. Your priority is to make sure they don't die!"
Roman slapped his forehead. "Ah! That's right. Coffins had that ability! I'll prepare immediately." He vanished from sight, though the hologram remained in place.
While the doctor went to carry out Olga's orders, Mash spoke up. "I'm surprised. Cryogenically freezing someone who has not given their consent is a criminal act. And yet you immediately decided on it. It's not just being responsible, it's the Chief prioritizing lives, isn't it?" Her eyes reflected a slight shine of respect.
"Isn't that obvious!" She snapped, but the usual heat was missing from her voice. "You can explain it to them all you want afterwards, as long as they don't die!"
He didn't realize that he had missed out on Roman's return and report. He hadn't zoned out that badly since… well, forever. Killua barely noticed the disappearance of the hologram, leaving them all by themselves.
"Finally." Olga groaned, standing up from the ground, finished with the summoning circle. "Killua, do you remember the chant?" The mentioned teen wracked his mind for a chant she could possibly be referring to, only to return empty-handed. Killua shook his head. He knew that magic existed and with it, mages. However, he was not at all experienced in their ways.
"God, you're hopeless!" She threw her hands up. "Just…" Olga reached into her pockets, digging out a piece of paper and engraving words on its surface. Seconds later, she handed it to him. "Hold out your hand and repeat the words."
Killua took it and gave it a long look. He was still fairly new to the concept of magic, so it was expected that he would doubt the process. But if this organization was capable of sending him back in time and granting Mash power that rivaled- no, surpassed his own, he could give this a shot. He took a deep breath.
"Let silver and steel be the essence." Killua read out, and as nothing happened, his face tinged with a slight blush. But as he looked to the side, the white-haired teen gulped in worry. The Director had that look on her face that threatened pain if he delayed any further. He continued.
"Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation. Let rise a wind that shall fall. Let the four cardinal gates close." The back of his hand itched and the Command Spells engraved on it pulsed with power. Killua hadn't noticed it before, but his hair had begun to flutter in the air. A slow breeze swept the surroundings, sending a slight chill through his body.
"Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate. Let it be declared now; your flesh shall serve under me, and my fate shall be with your sword." The remnants of what seemed to be a piller began forming. Light began to shine in the middle of the summoning circle, its intensity picking up alongside with the wind.
"Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail." A harsh gale nearly blew the slip of paper out of his hands but he managed to hold on. He could barely make out the words, but he continued.
"Answer, if you would submit to this will and this truth! An oath shall be sworn here!" The director had never explicitly told him to do so, but for some unknown reason, Killua was inclined to shout the chant over the raging blows of the wind; to make himself heard to an unknown, yet powerful ally.
"I shall attain all virtues of all of Heaven! I shall have dominion over all evils of all of Hell! From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power, come forth from the ring of restrain, protector of the holy balance!" One final ring of power, wind, and light finally pushed Killua to the ground. He quickly scrambled to his feet, ready to greet - or even defend himself - the figure that would presumably appear in the middle.
"Senpai!" A slight twinge of regret panged in the dead remnants of his heart. Mash chose to continue to show such concern over the wellbeing of him - a stranger that brushed her off brusquely in their first encounter. Nevertheless, Killua didn't answer, eagerly awaiting the outcome of his summoning instead.
When the wind finally settled down, Killua removed his arm covering his eyes. He nearly gasped out loud but contained his surprise. The figure before him was practically overflowing with energy. Even if he had continued his training he dropped years ago, there was no chance in hell he could match this kind of power.
The swirling winds died down, revealing the Heroic Spirit standing before him. Her purple hair cascaded down her back and while a blindfold covered her eyes, something told Killua that she wasn't visually crippled by any means.
"Servant Rider. Feel free to command me as you wish, Master."
Unbeknownst to him, those very words would change Killua forever, propelling him into a relationship that would alter his fate.
A/N: I'm going for a more fast-paced style of writing for this fic.
I don't think anyone has done a HxH FGO crossover. It might seem a bit odd, but I've always liked Godspeed and Killua. HxH in general is a pretty damn good anime. Again, this idea of Killua being the last Master has been stuck in my head, so of course, I just had to write it out.
I have already planned a completely new Singularity. I still haven't figured out which Servants to include, but I've got the basic plot down. I don't completely remember which singularities were good and which were bad, so I'm free to any suggestions for which singularity to replace.
Next update: Hero
Peace out.