"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Mental link"
"Noble Phantasms"
POV
Chapter 4: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Ashen One POV
Havel is barely a hundred metres from us, even amidst the burning ruins of this metropolis there's an eery silence in the air as he stares us down.
"Saber…" Olga begins although I can clearly make out the nervousness in her voice. I don't blame her, having the original Havel preparing to fight us is intimidating me too. "You know him right? What can you tell us about his strengths?"
"That club he is wielding is made from the bone of an Everlasting Dragon, it will never break no matter what we strike it with. His armour is carved from solid stone, however the warriors of Havel wore magic rings to prevent themselves from being hindered." I begin before looking at Cu "Caster will be useless in this fight, his runes are primarily fire based and Havels armour will have natural resistance to them. Even then, the Warriors of Havel could infer Miracles to prevent the casting of spells, albeit temporarily."
"Prevent the casting of Spells!?" Olga shouts out, eyes wide and now very panicked.
"From what I learnt, Havel hated spell casters with a passion. Thus he created a Miracle to briefly prevent their casting."
"Then what can Caster-san do?" Mash asks, her eyes are still locked onto the Berserker servant in front of us.
"How good are you with healing magic?" I gradually begin to step towards my enemy
"I know some good Runes for it." Caster replies.
"We'll need them, he's slow but don't let him hit you Mash. You'll need to be steadfast or he'll blow right through your defence."
"What is his Noble Phantasm?" Roman calls to me and I shrug "I have no idea."
Havel begins to march towards us, his marching is creating small echoes. He doesn't need stealth, he can just smash right through anything he encounters.
"Ready Mash?" I ask the girl and she nods to me "Good, you'll need to block his strikes to try and provide openings for me. Watch out for his shield though, the combat style of the Warrior's of Havel used them for bashing targets in a similar manner to you."
"Yes…" She's looking exceedingly nervous now, Havel is still approaching us.
"Let's go!" with that myself and Mash charge, with me slightly behind Mash. Havel charges as well.
Third Person POV
Mash and the Ashen one sprinted at Havel as he charged them down too, his club resting on his shoulder ready to be swung.
They got to within a few feet of eachother before Mash stopped braced herself against the oncoming attack, Havel swung Dragon Tooth. The second the bone met the shield The ground beneath Mash cratered and she was forced to her knees, Havel kept swinging driving Mash further and further into the ground. He eventually relented only to do a full spin with this club to knock Mash to the side and her shield out of her grip.
Before he could move to finish her off however, the Ashen one ran into the deliver a strike to his side, the Berserker however saw this coming and raised his shield to block the blow, the Saber servant cursed and then leapt back as Havel swung the club at him. The Ashen One was thankful for his speed as it kept him from immediately getting pulverised. Havel was swinging wildly at him, trying to land a solid blow however the Saber servant was faster than him by a considerable margin which allowed him to avoid all of the strikes.
'This can't go on!' The Ashen one thought to himself as he avoided another overhead blow 'I've got to wait for an opening!'
Havel swung again but this time his strike went wide, leaving his chest exposed to a thrust 'Now!' The Ashen One leapt into range and went to deliver a thrust in-between the plates of armour.
Havel, however, was no fool and even in his Berserker state he was still smart enough to remember the basic principles of fighting humanoid opponents. When the Ashen One went for the thrust Havel did something that the Saber servant didn't expect.
He parried.
The massive shield, moving at speeds the Ashen One hadn't expected, easily batted away the Saber Servant's sword before the club was swung again while the Servant was exposed. The Ashen One held and arm in front of him in a futile gesture to prevent some of the damage, all it did was break his arm entirely before the club met his ribs, dented his armour inwards, and sent him sailing across the street and into a nearby building.
"Saber!" Ritsuka called out in shock as he watched his other Servant get tossed around like a rag doll.
Havel turned his attention back to Mash, who during Saber's and Berserker's duel had gotten back to her shield, and began walking towards her until a fireball harmlessly dissipated off his armour. He turned his attention to see Caster with his arm outstretched.
"Don't think you can forget about me so soon bastard!" Caster sneered at him before twirling his staff in his hands "I'm more than just my Runes!"
Havel immediately turned again to bash his shield into Mash's, the two stood there for a few moments before Havel began pushing her back.
From the ruin of the building here Saber had been flung however, a black fireball emerged and struck Havel in the back.
"AhAhhAhaaaHa!" Havel screamed as the black fire began to slightly melt his armour, in his rage he swung his club and knocked Mash away before turning back to The Ashen One who had was slowly stumbling his way out of the building, his sword arm now sporting a pyromancers glove while his sword was held limply in his broken arm.
"Your...fire…resistance..."The Ashen one panted out between breathes as he tried to steady himself on his feet "...doesn't...extend to….the abyssal...pyromancies...does it?"
Havel screamed again before charging the Ashen One, once he got close the Ashen one ducked to the side to avoid another strike while letting off a black fire combustion in Havels face. The Berserker screamed and tossed his shield away and before grasping at the burns of his helmet.
The Ashen One used this as an opportunity to dart away and regroup with the other two servants.
"I...believe….I may have...angered him…" The Saber servant gritted though his teeth while staring at his broken arm.
"Lets get that arm patched up before he turns back to us again." Caster began inscribing runes on the Ashen One, it was no where near as fast as Estus but he would have his arm working properly soon enough. "What was that fire anyway? Looked like it hurt him."
"Abyssal fire. A dark Pyromancy, it will bypass his flame resistance but I need to get close to him in order to land a killing blow."
"Then me and the young lady will have to get you an opening, right girl?" Caster turned to Mash who was stood protectively in front of the pair.
"Yes! I'll distract him for you!" Mash replied.
Havel turned back to the group, the front of his helmet was singed and slightly melted in places as he gripped his large club with two hands.
"mAgEsss!" Havel hissed out as grouched down slightly and held a fist in front of his face, a small white ring surrounded him and the Ashen One felt his connection to his pyromancies terminated.
"He cancelled our magic!" Saber shouted out as he gripped his own sword with two hands "We'll have to wait until the miracle is dispelled!"
"How long will that be then?" Caster shouted back as he twirled his staff, preparing for melee combat.
"At least a minute!"
"Shit! Don't die then!"
"Mash! Block his blows I'll try and keep his attention between us!"
"Roger!" Mash called out and then charged Havel, the Berserker roared and charged her.
Mash held up her shield as Havel swung his club down with greater force than he had done previously, unbreakable club met the unbreakable shield with an epic clang as it released a small shockwave and staggered Mash back slightly. Before Havel could capitalise on this however he jumped back to avoid having his head removed by a swing sent by the Ashen Saber, the Berserker shifted his focus to the offending servant and swiped his dragon tooth club at him. The Ashen one rolled undneath the swipe and behind the Berserker, moving faster than the Berserker could react the Saber servant spun round on the ground and slashed his sword into the back of Berserkers right knee where there was a gap in the armour.
Berserker fell down on one leg and the Ashen One rolled away from the return strike which imploded the ground where he had been but moments ago. Before Havel could think to give chase Caster struck him in the back of the head with the end of his staff, while not enough to actually her the Berserker it did serve to focus his attention elsewhere. The second he turned his attention away from Saber and to Caster he was struck in the face with the end of Mash's shield.
Havel was forced back as the strike to the head stunned him, he was barely forcing himself back on his feet when he had to raise his club to block a continued strike from the Saber servant again, while he was distracted Caster struck again and delivered another blow to the back of his head which staggered him forwards slightly. Saber moved out of the way as Mash came in again for another shield bash which knocked the Berserker back further.
"Get back!" Saber shouted to the other two servants who quickly got the memo and jumped away from the berserker servant.
Saber gripped his blade with two hands and held it pointed at the slightly dazzed Berserker.
"This Blade is the Abyss itself" Saber intoned and the sword promptly erupted in a jet of black fire "The Dark Soul of Man clears all away!" he thrust the sword forwards and the fire was launched towards the Berserker.
"Elfreide!"
"Stone Flash!"
Two voices called out at the time as the fire made contact with Havel and a massive explosion kicked up a cloud of smoke which obscured both of the Servants.
"That was your Saber's Noble Phantasm?" Caster quizzed Mash with a raised eyebrow.
"I think so…" Mash replied in an unsure tone.
"Think he got him?"
Seconds after he said that, the Ashen One was launched out of the cloud of smoke and into the ground next to them creating a rather sizeable crater, the two other servants raised their eyes before turning their head back to the cloud of dust as it dissipated.
Havel was stood there, virtually unscathed, his armour seemed to be coated in rocks with slight burn marks to them but beyond that, nothing.
"That's his…!" Ritsuka shouted out as they realised what it was. Havel's defensive Noble Phantasm had completely negated the Ashen One's attack.
Havel growled before gripping the club tightly and began marching over to the trio of Servants, albeit much slower than he had been moving previously.
"Shit...now what?" Caster spoke with a slightly irritated tone.
"His helmet…" the Ashen one coughed out as he stood back up.
"Saber-san are you alright!?" Mash shouted in concern as his armour now had a rather obvious indentation of a fist directly in the centre of his torso.
The Saber servant shook his head slightly before repeating "His helmet isn't protected by his Noble Phantasm."
"What do you…" the other two turned to see that although most of Havel's body was covered in the rather clunky stones, the slits on his helmet were still exposed.
"If I can stab him through one of his eyeports and release my Noble Phantasm again…"
"You're a crazy son of a bitch aren't you!" Caster laughed before turning his attention back to the walking boulder "Alright, sure. Why the hell not?"
"What about Senpai though?" Mash spoke and the two turned round to see Ritsuka looking slightly paler than usual. The strain of his magic circuits never sustaining three servants before was beginning to wear down on him.
"I'll be fine..." Ritsuka called out to them "Just get close Saber!"
"You heard him, we'll probably get one shot at this before he catches on to what we're doing." The Ashen One replied "Ready Mash, he'll be slower than last time but he's still powerful."
"Ready, Saber-san!"
With that said the Servants charged eachother again.
Caster was first in, sliding underneath a horizontal swing which Mash ran in and blocked, she was once again gradually being pushed back until Berserker dashed backwards to avoid a thrust aimed for his head by the Saber servant.
The Ashen ones eyes widened under his helmet as he saw he had overshot "Velka's Ti-" his curse was cut short when Havel swung an armoured shin into the servants gut, knocking the wind out of his body and sending him flying across the street.
Expecting it this time Havel immediately turned around and gripped Casters staff with one hand before it could strike him in the head, Caster's eyed widened and a boot to his solar plexus had him launched backwards coughing up small amounts of blood. Mash swung her shield again and caught the Berserker in the side of his head, the servant however retaliated with a punch to her shield. While not as powerful as club it was still strong enough to stagger her back slightly and cause the ground to crack underneath her.
Havel let out a primal roar as he drew his fist back and gripped his weapon with both hands again before smashing it down onto the shield, Mash was staggered downwards and Havel reversed his grip on the club and swung it in an uppercut. The shield was blown away and Mash was left exposed.
"Eh?" was all she managed to get out before Berserker reared back a fist and sent it hurtling towards her head.
"Wickerman!" before the fist could reach her a large wooden hand came out of the ground and gripped Berserker, restricting his movement and carrying him up. The large wooden arm then smashed the Berserker back into the ground and kicked up a cloud of ash which hide him from view.
When the smoke cleared the Berserker servant was struggling to his knee's, he turned his head slightly just in time for a thrust by the Ashen One to pierce straight through his visor and out the back of his helmet.
The Saber servant the ignited his sword with an abyssal pyromancy and instantly a jet of black flame coated the sword and billowed out of every gap in Havel's armour. There wasn't even a scream as the flames died down and the sword was ripped from his helmet. There was a tense silence as everyone watched the Berserker stay on his knee's for a few more moments before his collapsed onto the ground and dissipated.
Ashen One POV
I breathe out a sigh and my shoulder slack as I watch Havel's body disappear in a cloud of light.
"Saber-san! Are you alright?" Mash calls out to me, I turn slightly to see her worried face, Caster is limping up behind her, a rather sizable bruise on his chest from Havel's kick. I shake my head slightly before replying "I've had worse…"
"Well...I would say lets get Saber but…" Caster grimaces as he looks at the state of everyone "I'd say that there are easier ways to kill ourselves…"
"Should we take a rest then Senpai?" Mash turns to Ritsuka, still looking a bit pale who smiles in relief and then replies.
"Yeah Mash...A rest would be nice…"
Caster clicks his tongue just to my left and a I turn to face him with a slightly tilted head "Something wrong Cu?"
"Something wrong?" He turns to me, his face remarkably blank "I wasn't summoned a Lancer, that's what's wrong."
"A...Lancer?" I turn to Mash and Ritsuka for some kid of clarification.
"It has been known to happen, Saber-san." She nods to me slightly, although she's still recovering from the fight if her panting is any indication "Some Servants can qualify for multiple classes."
"So...If I had practised sorcery instead of Pyromancy, I would be summoned as a Caster?" She nods to me "Well then…" I turn away and face Olga "Are you or Roman aware of any nearby shelter?"
She looks at me slightly startled for a moment before speaking "Roman? Do you have a map of the city?"
Roman appears again "According to our old data on the City Layout there should be an old hospital you can use for recovery, it's positioned just over a leyline."
"Well. We have our destination then. Let's go everyone!" Ritsuka attempts to rally us, he gets a less than motivated cheer followed by a few winces of pain.
Our rather sorry group dragged ourselves back south towards the direction of the old hospital, or rather what was left of it, we were fortunate that the building was one of the few that wasn't on fire.
We sat ourselves down in what Ritsuka called the 'waiting room' and sat ourselves in a small circle while we began to recover from the fight.
"Saber-san…" Mash began hesitantly and I turned to her, giving her a small nod to continue "You said Berserker was called Havel the Rock, what was his legend where you were?"
"I will admit I'm a bit curious about our walking boulder as well. " Caster joined in and then shrugged "Anyone who hits that hard has gotta have a hell of a tale, especially if he qualifies for a Berserker."
I sigh slightly "I know very little about Havel beyond his legend, such a thing would have been common knowledge during the earlier ages of fire but my only interactions were with those who took up his mantle."
I turn to them and begin speaking "Before the Ages of Fire, during the War against the everlasting dragons, Havel was a close friend and top General of Lord Gwyn, God of Sunlight."
"God of Sunlight?" Caster raises a brow and smirks slightly as if he just told himself an inside joke.
"Indeed, Havel was an archenemy of Seath The Scaleless but for betraying his own kind during the war he was granted amnesty by Lord Gwyn. Havel was greatly angered by this, eventually he was locked away. After that…" I shrug "Occasionally you will encounter those who donned his armour and took up the mantle of Dragon Slayer, however there are no true everlasting dragons left. Only wyverns…"
"So he got betrayed by his Lord and friend?" Caster spoke first, a slight scowl on his face.
"Thats…" Mash was looking slightly downcast and Ritsuka was frowning at something, Olga didn't seem particularly perturbed "Once we are back at Chaldea we'll need a list of famous legends from your world. Don't want to be taken by surprise by unknown servants in the future...Speaking of which…" she turned her attention to Caster and narrowed her eyes.
"Something I can do for you lass?" Caster stared at her, no real emotion visible on his face.
"Saber." She frowned slightly "You spoke like you encountered them. Do you know their true name?"
"Hmmm." He sighs "Of course I do, anyone who fought her and was on the receiving end of her Noble Phantasm would know her name. That sword she wields is famous even in your time, the Sister sword of the Sword in the Stone which selects the King…"
Eyes began to widen as he said this, I suspect this is a legend of this world I am unfamiliar with.
"Oi, oi...you don't mean…!" Roman shouts out, his face is considerably paler than before. Mash, Ritsuka and Olga are all sporting similar expressions.
"Indeed…" Caster's voice is now serious, no hint of his earlier humour "It's name is Excalibur, The Sword of the Promised Victory."
"Excalibur!" Mash shouts out, voice thick with shock and worry "Then Saber is-!"
"King...Arthur…" Ritsuka breathes out, his face shocked.
I decide to interject at this point "I admit, I am unfamiliar with this King Arthur you spoke of. Also you refered them as 'she' instead of 'he'…"
Doctor Roman seems to realise at this point I am completely unfamiliar with this and gives me a brief explanation "King Arthur was the King of Britain and is lauded as one of the strongest Heroic Spirits, their Noble Phantasm is registered as an Anti-Fortress one-" I raise my hand to ask him "-That means that if they trigger it they could wipe out a citadel in a single swing." I lower my hand.
"Velka's tits…" I breathe out and grip my helmet in one hand, I have no experience with enemies of such power and now I'm forced to fight one?
"Abyss damn you, Zelretch…" I whisper out.
"Well, at least now he understands…" Roman makes a light-hearted joke and chuckles nervously.
No one is laughing.
AN: Damn, the bullying of Havel. Ashen One got parried guess he better 'git gud' but yeah. Before anyone complains about Havel dying too easily, he was under a madness enhancement.
He was still trained to fight but most of it was muscle memory, if Ashen One, Mash and Caster were to fight him without madness clouding his judgement then they would most definitely die.
Also I would like suggestions for servants I should summon for the next singularity. Not Dark Souls ones though, I've already got a good idea for those ones.