The Holy Grail War. The death match that Shirou was now in, along with six supposed others including the girl Rin. Ozpin had to say, this was certainly one of his more interesting adventures. After all, even he can't say he's met dead people come back to life.
'Or, whatever they truly are.' Ozpin thought, as while Rin said these Servants were famed people from the past, were they the same people? I mean, even he, a man who died and came back to life, changed. Ozpin supposed he'll find out sooner or later, and yet even then he still found it hard to believe that some strange magical device could just bring people back to life like so.
I mean, the Gods he could understand, but a device? Then again, this is another world.
"Oh man." One that young Emiya was now facing, as he seemed to be rather in deep thought of hearing what Rin told them. Ozpin couldn't blame the young teen. After all, he just learned he was part of a death match for a wish. Even worse, Shirou had no real training as a magus (this world's magic users), and no actual allies to help him out. The girl Rin, after telling them what she knew and giving them advice on who to visit for more information, some priest, she said they were now enemies and left.
Boy was this a rough start.
"Man." Shirou leaned his head back on the sofa he sat in. "I knew I was in for something rough, but nothing this crazy."
"Indeed." Ozpin nods. "Who'd have guessed that your hometown would become a battleground with legendary heroes serving as the fighters." Made Ozpin wonder how the heroes felt being used as pawns for another's wish. That had to stink.
"I guess." Shirou replaces, before his hands turn to fists. "But still...killing. That, that isn't right."
"And yet, there is nothing much we can do about it." Shirou looked at Ozpin, a bit surprised he even said such a thing. But the truth needed to be said. "I understand that you are upset, and it is quite harsh to know one's home and it's people will die. But we must acknowledge this and ask ourselves, what can we do?"
Shirou, while clearly not liking what Ozpin said, couldn't find himself to rebut the old man's words. I mean, what can they do? Shirou could say hundreds of things why this was wrong, but that wouldn't change anything that was about to happen. Whoever these Masters were, will fight while Shirou was lamenting. Kill while he complained. Target the innocent while he just sat here and did nothing.
'Would Kiritsugu just sit here while others suffer?' No. Of course not. He'd actually do something about it, instead of complaining. While his father may not have been able to do much because of whatever disease that affected him before he died, Shirou knew his dad would have at least tried to help people. "I need to do something."
Those were the words Shirou said, with Ozpin hearing them. A shadow of a smile on him, yet he still had to ask this.
"Are you certain?" Ozpin then asked. "You are fully aware that the chances of you dying is possible. And it is not as if you have an obligation to do so."
"I will." Shirou stands up, and looks at him. "I can't sit back here, knowing people will die, because of the actions of others. If I'm going to help people, then I should start now rather than later."
Those eyes. They had something in them, but Ozpin can at least see there is determination in them and a will behind those words. This man, even though nobody was asking him, even when he had no advantage and all the disadvantages, he would do so. In spite of all the odds.
"Very well then," Ozpin said as he also stood up. "Then I suppose you can count me in as well."
"What?" Shirou looked surprised. "Hold up! I said I would do it, but there's no need for you to be helping me. This is my problem."
"And yet I also have a target on my back." Ozpin tells him. "That man from last night, Lancer, wanted us both dead. He's bound to hunt us down later, meaning even if I left now, I'd just started another time."
That's right. Shirou remembered now. How Lancer did state he wanted no witnesses. Only leaving because he must have sensed Tohsaka's Servant, Archer. Ozpin was in just as much danger as he was.
"Okay…" Shirou slowly says. "I guess it would be nice to have a partner."
"More than just a partner." Ozpin said. "If I recall, you also need a teacher if you wish to handle that aura of yours."
That's right. His aura. Ozpin gave it to him, and even said how it can make one super human. But…
"I...I couldn't even use it right." Shirou said to Ozpin, as the battle with Berserker came to mind. No, not a battle. It would have been a slaughter had Berserker taken it seriously. Sure Shirou's aura did help, for two seconds."I got beaten so quickly, even with aura. It broke after just a single punch."
"Mm, I suppose that does show how strong this Berserker is. But fret not Shirou, it isn't your fault."
"How can that be?" Shirou responds back as he puts a hand on his chest. "I lost in an instant!"
"But it wasn't as if you actually trained your aura, did you?" The question made Shirou freeze. Because Shirou was reminded of the fact that he had, before he met Berserker and the girl, asking Ozpin to train him. Something Ozpin notices. "That's right Shirou, you had your aura activated less than twenty-four hours. As if such a thing will make you super-human in just that one bit."
Ozpin then began glowing a bit, his own aura shimmering a soft green emerald light across his body. "It takes time, nurturing, and the constant will to train oneself to truly be strong. Activating your aura was but the first step in unlocking your full potential."
In a way, that did make sense. I mean, Shirou had trained for years to master the only magecraft he knew. As if he'd suddenly master his aura when it was just barley given to him. It was like when he entered the archery club and began shooting arrows. He wasn't an expert at it the first time, and slowly developed his skill until he could hit the red target practically all the time, unless he held back of course. However, something else came to Shirou's mind.
"But, my aura," He then held his hands. "It's gone." While he was in pain back then, Shirou, when that monster hit him, felt his aura shatter and the energy with it vanish away. Now, he felt nothing.
"It'll come back soon enough." Ozpin then said to him, making Shirou look up.
"Huh?"
"I admit, I only gave you the basics of aura and what it can be utilized for. As such, I believe now is the time to mention that while it varies, aura can regenerate." Ozpin then grabbed Shirou's hand, and closed his eyes. "Yes, it's there. It'll take but an hour before you feel it again."
"I...I didn't know it would come back so easily." Guess just like with magecraft, there was much Shirou had to learn about aura. "How come I never heard of this aura before."
"Ah, yes. That." Ozpin quickly came up with a good lie. "I'm from elsewhere to be honest. As such, aura isn't well known here in Fuyuki."
"Got it." Shirou bought it. "Guess the world is a big place."
"That it is." Especially one he's never been in before. "But do not worry, I will teach you how to Master your aura bit by bit. But for now, I believe instead we must seek more information on this war. Your friend gave us a good lot of what she knew, but perhaps this priest may give us an extra hand."
"Yeah. That'd probably be a good idea. Especially since I got nothing better to do. Let me just call the school to tell them I'm feeling ill. Can't just not leave no excuse behind."
"Excellent. Then let us be on our way once you are done."
"Right."
After doing what needed to be done, both Ozpin and Shirou left the house and began heading toward the local church. Along the way, they passed a few people and during it, aura could indeed feel his aura was returning. The strange energy he felt when Ozpin unlocked it, was back in his body. Heck, he already felt the unease of Berserker's attack going away. Must have been the healing benefit that aura did.
While Shirou did that, Ozpin looked around. Eyes going to buildings, people, and of course the moon. Seeing similarities to his world, Remnant, yet many differences as well. Rather fascinating to see a world that seemed to lack Grimm, Dust, and of course, her. Though that didn't mean there was no danger to be found. I mean, those Servants were definitely aimed to kill them.
'And I wonder if I'll even be capable of facing them?' That man Lancer, while certainly strong and skilled, was holding back. Not to mention how this Berserker managed to break Shirou's aura in one hit. Sure it was just barely unlocked as he told Shirou, but aura can take quite the decent amount of damage.
For example, a group of grown men can attack, say, Yang Xiao Long, and could spend hours punching her where the only result they'd get was broken fists. Normal people stood little chance against those with aura.
Yet this world clearly had those that were far from ordinary. It made Ozpin wonder, just what kind of chance he had against these Servants if what Rin told him was true. What with Servants being the most powerful force on the world known as earth.
Truly, there were so many problems here.
'Especially since my magic is acting off here.' While Shirou had left, Ozpin decided to practice with his magic a little. Going outside just to test it out.
He blew up the shed with a simple fire ball. Thank goodness Shirou never noticed that, for now anyway.
Regardless, this showed something was very wrong with Ozpin's powers. It was like his magic was...super-charged for some unknown reason. While the headmaster held back on further extermination, his hands touched the Long Memory in its collapsed formed, with a cold chill going down his spine.
After the shed incident, Ozpin had been thinking of using the power within the Long Memory. He stopped when he felt more power than he should have felt. A lot more. It'd be best to restrain himself in using it any further for the time being. It'd be very bad if he accidentally got reckless and unleashed the stored energy in his cane.
He already has enough to demolish an entire city. No need to see what this new empowered energy stored can do now.
Ozpin anyway.
"Oh my." It has been a while since Caster has set up shop, and working her way to win this Holy Grail War. Turning the temple her Master lived in into her workshop, and has set many defenses already with other advantages should she be forced to fight. With her only cause of concern being her beloved Souichirou, and already she did her best to protect him. But this, this...this was something else.
'The ripple I felt, I thought it was something so I scryed to check it out when I had the time.' Caster observed through a crystal ball. Yes it was stereotypical, but it worked, and through it, she saw her eyes on a specimen she has never seen before. "Just who are you, interesting magus."
Ignoring the red head boy, Caster instead gazed on the old man with white hair, and the potent energy he had in him. The magic inside him, it was top-grade. No. It was above even that! A bit small though, and for some reason it felt split off, but the Od inside this man was the most superior magical energy she's ever seen since she began draining the people of this city.
While Souichirou was a great Master (due to her preferences), logically speaking, this man seemed to be better in terms of Servant upkeep. With the amount of energy inside him, she'd be capable of using her full power instantly. Just who was he?
"Hm?" Caster then tapped her chin a bit. "Maybe a little test is in order."
Whoever this magus was, Caster decided to see what he was capable of. He wasn't a Master, yet he couldn't be called an ordinary person. If anything, perhaps she can use him as a living battery for victory, though must first see if he is easy to capture. With that idea in mind, Medea began chanting and using her own magic to see what she can do.
"You know, I just realized something." Shirou then spoke up, with Ozpin listening. "Rin said I was a Master, and a Master has a Servant. But...how do you summon a Servant?"
"Those are good questions. Questions we must ask this priest, seeing as neither of us actually know."
"Wait, you don't know?"
"No. My knowledge on this Holy Grail War and Servants are...limited." Very much so. "Still. This priest should help us, and we can summon your Servant thus improving our chances of both survival and victory."
"Yeah." Shirou then thinks a little. "I wonder what kind of Servant I'd get?"
"Only time will tell." Ozpin then blinks. "Huh. Is it just me, or are there less...people around here?"
"?" Shirou looked around a bit. He noticed that there was indeed a lack of people. "Well, most people would be at work. And there weren't that many to begin with."
At a distance, a soft sound could be heard.
"That is true." Ozpin could agree to that. There weren't that many people to begin with. "Still...what about the cars."
From an alley, something with claws gripped the walls.
"Eh?' Shirou then checked and realized there were no cars. This was like… "Oh no."
A sword was raised, and aimed itself at the back of Ozpin's head. Brought down to draw blood.
Crack!
Only to break the instant it made contact with Ozpin's aura. The mystery figure then looking at it's broken sword.
"Well then, Shirou," Ozpin turns around, his cane extending itself back to normal. Facing a curious being that was some kind of skeleton, yet with an unnatural jawline and clearly not human, but humanoid. "You said you wish to learn aura."
Shirou then saw many more of these skeleton creatures coming out, some from the alley, others forming from mist. But his eyes then soon settled on Ozpin. Who showed no fear, as he saw the man smile against the countless enemies. That were surrounding them. At least over two dozen.
"Where I come from, aura is used not by magus, but by people called Huntsmen and Huntresses." Ozpin explains to Shirou, as Ozpin turns away and faces the enemy. "This is how we fight."
Then, he was gone.
One of the skeletons was instantly pulverized, it's chest now having a hole, with Ozpin then grabbing its own sword and throwing it and a speed that surpassed a bullet which stabbed itself onto another skeletons 'head', shattering it.
The skeletons moved. They wasted no movement, and accurately struck at Ozpin. Ignoring Shirou and going for the obvious threat. Ozpin dodged their blows as if he was dancing. His cane then made contact with each blade, showing no sign of strain, and then went toward one skeleton and rapidly thrust his cane until the skeleton fell onto the ground. Ozpin turned and blocked a head strike, and then swung his cane so hard, it ripped the neck bones off the one that attempted to attack him.
He then vanished again in a green blur, moving at speeds no normal human should be moving at. Green afterimages actually being seen behind him, where he then stopped and spun while rapidly extending his leg and making all the skeletons trip over by hitting their legs with his own limb. He then attacked the downed beings and crushed their bodies with a single powerful thrust with his cane.
It was pretty clear these things stood no match against him. Not that it stopped the skeletons from trying, as one jumped and tried to cut him down, only for Ozpin to grab the blade, suffering no damage from doing so. Then brought the skeleton down and then gave a wack from the cane breaking it's body apart.
He then turned and avoided a stab to the back, and grabbed a skeleton by the shoulder, and brought it down to face his knee, breaking it into pieces.
In just two minutes, only the skeleton remains of the creatures remained.
"...wow." Leaving Shirou, the only witness, to stay in marvel of what had just happened. It reminded him of the quick curb-stomp he had with Berserker. Only this time, it was Ozpin doing the curb-stomping to these things, and as a force of good. Seeing him standing over them, victorious, made Shirou think, 'If I could do what he could….then maybe…'
He could also be a Huntsman, er, hero.
"Come on Shirou," Ozpin then moves toward the young teen, narrowing his eyes as he sees the pieces of these things dissipate. "We best be going, unless we wish to be attacked again."
"Hopefully that priest can tell us what's going on." Shirou agrees. "Oh, and, uh, just out of curiosity. Why do you keep calling me Shirou?"
"Is...that not your name?"
"It is, but, here in Japan, people call each other by their last names. Guess you're not used to Japanese customs?"
So he was in a country called Japan. "Apologies. I didn't know Shi-Emiya."
"Not a problem. Still, I wonder who sent those things?" The question of the hour. With Shirou wondering if this was that little girl's doing.
"No point in lamenting it now. If anything, it's best to continue to get the answers we seek." The two then went onward towards their destination, the church. All while so far away, a woman's laughter came about.
Yes. The old man would be perfect for her.
Sorry, but I realized that the fight with Rider can't happen that quick. Ozpin and Shirou need answers, and going to a school won't provide the guidance they need. But hey, Shirou was able to see a badass moment with Ozpin. Granted, it caught the attention of Caster, who now seeks Ozpin who by Fate terms, would indeed have powerful Od.
And yeah, Ozpin will have to be more careful with his staff. As we saw in Volume 8, now more empowered thanks to its age. Ozpin is literally holding a magical nuke. Though it might be useful for...
In the vastness of emptiness, beyond even the world, many stars can be seen, along with the galaxies. In another section of the cosmos, lightyears away from earth, two supreme beings were busy, continuing their experiments.
Then, they sensed a ripple.
One that involved their old experiment from eons ago, as they sensed something that should not be there.
"Brother."
"Yes. I sensed it."
It seemed that something had happened to their designated chosen one. Well, they were already finished with this world anyway. The seeds were already in place, so they had some time. The distance was a bit long, but it was doable considering their power.
So going at speeds beyond any mortal means, the two made their way to earth.