It was starting to become dark now, and naturally the people of Fuyuki were slowly getting tired. Those who had day jobs and were ready for bed began heading home. Those that remained awake either went to parties, had jobs that required them to stay awake, or had their own reasons to stay up this fine night. As such, it was the perfect time for those in the hidden war to start making their move. Where a small alliance began making their way to Caster's workshop.
Shirou, Ozpin, Shinji, Musashi, Rin, and Archer. Three were Masters, two were Servants, and the last was a mentor. Members of the Holy Grail War making their way to stop Caster from causing anymore damage to the city. Using magecraft to ensure they weren't spotted and stopped for any reason.
The only one missing is Rider, who Shinji had reluctantly allowed to stay at the Matou mansion to protect Sakura. Not that it mattered as two Servants and many Masters were better odds still. Rin herself then explains what should happen once they meet Caster.
"Alright then, let's go over this one last time." Rin calmly says while keeping an eye out for any of Caster's familiars. "Saber, you'll face Assassin head on and distract him well while Shinji stays with you because he thinks you need back-up." Rin rolled her eyes at that.
"H-Hey!" Shinji shouted angrily. "Me staying with Saber will make it so that if she gets in trouble, I can go up to you guys and tell you what's happening!" That, and because no way did Shinji want to be in a battlefield where spells or curses may hit him directly and kill him. Best to stay with Saber where if things really go bad, he can just book it and give some excuse to save his reputation.
"Right." Rin's tone made it clear she didn't believe him one bit. This included everybody else, even Shirou who usually gave him the benefit of the doubt. Ozpin shook his head as even Cardin was braver than this young man. It wasn't a compliment.
"Moving on," Rin just decided to get this over with. "Archer will be the main man against Caster with me as support. Emiya, Ozpin, you see if the Masters of those two are around the temple grounds."
"We can try, but are we certain the Masters are even at the temple?" Shirou asked Rin. "It's not like we even know what the Masters look like, let aside have any evidence they're here."
"Good question Emiya." Rin nods to Shirou's well thought out question. "You're right that we don't have any evidence the Masters are here. And for all we know they could be elsewhere. Still, even if they aren't there we can at least take out they're Servants."
Not to mention while Masters weren't as powerful as Servants, they can still be troublesome as Masters provided the support for their Servants. If two Masters were to face, then a blood battle began to the death between the Masters. Where if a Master died then the Servant goes with them.
Aside from Rin and maybe Ozpin, the former didn't have much confidence that Shirou and especially Shinji would do good in a battle against Magus. As such, it was best if the Masters weren't in fact here so that they can take out the Servants much easier without their Masters support.
"I guess that's okay." Shirou said, while also secretly glad it meant that he wouldn't have to kill anybody. Once the Servant was gone, then the Master that once summoned them was disqualified just like so. Meaning they wouldn't have to face them anymore, which is good.
"It seems we're here." Ozpin then says as everybody was now at the steps that led to their enemy's lair. "Should we go around now, and face them from behind?"
"Unfortunately, no." Archer then says while getting ready for action with Saber lifting her blades. "Due to a special ward here, only natural spirits and the like can enter in and out easily. Servants like us have no choice but to go through the front gate."
"And it'd be bad for us to try sneaking our way around." Rin adds on, explaining why regular humans like them shouldn't try sneaking in. "Caster already has set up some traps. Safe to say she did the same for any humans that try entering through the back door."
"So forward it is then, huh." Shirou held his wooden blade. Ready to use Reinforcement magecraft and aura if needed. Shinji held a wooden blade too, though it was clear from his stance that he wasn't used to the blade and would likely fail in using it properly. A shame.
"Yeah, so everybody get ready." With those words the group began marching their way forward. Wary of any skeletal familiars to ambush them or high-level curses to come at them. Yet nothing seemed to happen at all. Ozpin grew wary, as this sort of thing reminded him of home. Of either a great trap up ahead…
'Or someone is very confident.' Ozpin thought as the lack of traps may mean Caster is just one who believed that nothing could stop her. Whether that meant she had the power to back it up or she's becoming cocky is another matter altogether. Either way, eventually everybody made their way to the near top, where a figure was waiting.
"Oh, I see at long last everybody has come." It was none other than Assassin, who smirked as he gazed down at them. Musashi stared excitedly as both swordsmen held their weapons while the rest got ready. He then waved his massively long blade down at them, and while those like Shinji shivered at such a large weapon, others thought something else.
'Neh.' Ozpin shrugged. 'I've seen weirder.'
"So then, I assume you're here to stop us?" Rin questions the man as she holds a few gems in between her fingers. "Sure you can take all of us on."
"It might be a bit difficult, but I believe I can." Assassin says with confidence, confidence Musashi liked. "However, I would rather face just one of you, and if the rest managed to, oh...slip past me, then too bad." Rin wondered if maybe Assassin's Master didn't work too well with Caster's Master. It is normal for an alliance between Magus to end badly if one thought otherwise after all.
Still, this is a benefit for them all. If Assassin wished to only face Saber and let the rest pass by, then that was no problem for them at all. As such, Rin nodded and began moving while Saber and Shinji stayed behind. Naturally, everybody, especially Archer, watched Assassin in case he would suddenly just attack them. He didn't, and soon everybody had gone by him.
Leaving just three.
"Now then." Assassin chuckled lightly as he faced Musashi. "I believe it is time for us to start our little dance."
"Oh yeah, definitely." Musashi grinned as she could barely contain her excitement. Her body felt the shivers at the thought of facing this man, even though she didn't know why. Shinji just gulped, as he certainly felt worried that he's about to see a battle between two clearly battle-hungry maniacs. These two may look calm, but the air they gave off damn wasn't!
Still, he's the Matou heir. The man who'll win this Holy Grail War! He's Shinji Matou, and nothing would stop him!
"W-w-who ar-are you?" Who then squealed out a pathetic question in an even more pathetic voice that made both Servants look at him in confusion as he broke the mood. Still, Assassin decided he may as well entertain the young boy.
"I am just a simple swordsman." He replied. "Who has faced many foes in Japan, took on the great and dealt with those who challenged me." Shinji suddenly remembered the name of that guy mentioned before involving Saber. "With skills that many men envied and fell upon." A name that made a lightbulb light up inside his head. "For I am-"
Shinji then shouted, as he now knew who this man was. "Yes, I figured it out!" He yelled as he then pointed at Assassin. "You're none other than Japan's legendary Miyamoto Musashi!"
Saber gasped.
Shinji grinned smugly.
"..." And suddenly Assassin looked rather pissed. A contrast to that calm air he usually gave and a smile no longer on his face. If anything he seemed upset as his eye twitched. He then heavily sighed as his blade went down.
Then he spoke heavily. "There it is." He growled with Saber herself noticing the rather intense displeasure coming off him. A part of her suddenly felt worried. "No, I am not Miyamoto Musashi. Or as he rightfully outta be called, master of the sharpened oar, 'hero' of the blinding sun," He sarcastically continued with Shinji flinching and Saber paling. But that wasn't all Assassin had left to say. "Or the progenitor of being a HACK!"
Then, in a display to show his anger the Servant spat on the ground.
Instantly Shinji, and Saber, knew who he was with Shinji saying, "You're Kojiro Sasaki."
Saber paled more.
As for Assassin, he calmed himself as best he could before looking back at them. "Yes, I am Sasaki Kojiro. Or at the least, a man who played the role of Kojiro."
"Huh?" Shinji tilted his head.
"To explain, I'm not a proper Servant and am really just a wraith that fills the role closest to the man who faced Miyamoto. However," His hand gripped the blade tightly. "Even if I'm not the real Kojiro, I did at least inherit his feelings and memories against that dishonorable, and vile man."
Each word stung Saber worse than any blade she felt.
"Yes." The now revealed Servant Kojiro hissed, having a tough time to contain his anger. "What should have been an honorable duel between me and Miyamoto Musashi turned for the worse when the man bludgeoned me with a stick after arriving several hours late to our duel…" His eyes gleamed with anger. "Because he wasn't enough of a man to face me."
"..." Up until now, Shinji held the belief that Servants were beings who cared not for the past, and ultimately were just tools for men like him to use and exploit to win this duel. Clearly he needed to rethink that as this guy showed the human emotion related most to being pissed off.
With Saber showing shame for some reason.
"But enough about that hack." Kojiro then smiled as he faced Saber, who was now having a hard time looking him in the eye. "Instead, let us have an honorable duel between I and you beautiful maiden."
"R-right." Saber says getting back into her stance. Doing her best to ignore what she heard, even as her heart felt like it was snapped in two while her self-esteem took a hit to her core. Still, such a thing is no excuse to not face this man. Her blades shone bright as she then narrowed her eyes. "Alright then, I suppose we should get started."
"Indeed." Kojiro smirked. Though he then realized he had one last thing to say. "Though I should give you warning, that your allies may encounter trouble."
"Trouble? What kind of trouble?" Saber asked while taking a few steps forward. Kojiro doing the same as they got closer while Shinji took a few steps back. "Is it because of Caster?"
"Well, she certainly is a threat I admit." Kojiro says while frowning a little. Not liking Caster too much considering how she restrained him and had his skills wasted on being a guardsman. "However, I meant the strange creatures that seem to come around here."
"You mean those black creatures from before." Saber said, recalling the boar and those werewolves. Though the way Assassin made her realize something. "Hold on! Caster isn't the one responsible for them?"
"No she isn't." Shinji, who had finally hid behind a tree gasped. Up until now everyone was under the assumption that those strange creatures spotted were because of Caster, albiletly out of her control. But if it wasn't her, then who summoned them.
Kojiro then shrugged. "Truthfully, Caster is also baffled where they are coming from and I have been forced to aid her in killing them. For some reason many of them seem to come from here somewhere."
Caster's attempts at finding their home have been fruitless and Kojiro disliked fighting them as they weren't particularly strong like the first two that showed up. Being weak even with the variety they came in. They were more annoying than hunting sparrows. At least those little birds can be entertaining.
"Either way, your friends may face them or not."
"I wouldn't worry about them." Musashi chuckled. "They're strong after all."
"I suppose so." Kojiro took one final step down. "But putting them aside," He then raised his weapon until it leveled at his head while he bent down a bit. "You ready?"
Musashi crossed her blades together, and they seemed to shine for a moment before her eyes opened up. Saying, "I'm good."
Shinji took out his phone and began video recording. He was gonna make a lot of money off of this. The two Servants simply looked at one another, their weapons anticipating a clash. Then, they vanished.
The sound of metal meeting metal was heard very loudly while the discarded leaves and dust were blasted away by the force of their blades meeting one another.
Shirou looked back, as he heard sounds of metal at a distance. It seemed Musashi was finally facing Assassin. While he wanted to help her, the way she had that confidence in facing him and the fact Rin kept remaining him they had a job to do put a stop to that. Still, Shirou could at least say one last thing. "Good luck."
Though he bet Musashi would just say she didn't need it. That thought made him chuckle a bit.
"Wishing Saber good thoughts?" Ozpin then asked Shirou, who noticed the teens mood.
"Yeah, I am." Shirou tells him with a nod. "I just hope she can handle that guy."
"I'm sure she can. She is quite strong." Ozpin mused. "In the meantime, we have another job to do."
"Uh-hu." Shirou finally stopped walking. All of them did. "We stop Caster." As everybody was now within Caster's workshop, her lair. The temple she stayed in making no sound, with Archer himself making a report to Rin.
"I sense no humans around at all. Caster must have brainwashed them and sent them away." He told her in their mental link.
"Makes sense." Rin says. "She might like draining people, but she can't do it to just anybody. It'd be suspicious of the folks here just died out." Magus had to be somewhat careful who they targeted. Otherwise it'd be annoying to have the regular folk busting down on them if they persisted. Still, guess Caster must be ready for them since she had the monks here leave for this battle.
Which also means Caster won't hold back. The only good thing was that Assassin is being held off and Shinji won't bumble in their way. Still though, by no means will it be easy as Rin suspected Caster already has enough power to fuel herself. Pretty soon, everybody was in the center of the courtyard, and looked around waiting for the woman to show herself. After a bit, Archer materialized himself and spoke out loud.
"Well Caster. Are you not going to show yourself? Or is hiding in the shadows all you can do?" The Servant snarked.
"Oh my. How scary." Everybody got on guard, as a voice entered all their ears. Looking around all over to see where Caster is at. No body could be seen, until Shirou then realized that maybe they should be looking not around or behind them, but up instead. He did so and those watching him also realized the same and looked up.
There, a swarm of glowing beautiful butterflies could be seen. Yet despite such beauty, everybody only felt caution as these 'butterflies' swarmed together and then formed a human silhouette. From there, one can see the formed Caster with her long cloak and robes with a face hidden beneath the hood smiling down at them.
Ozpin felt some familiar vibes from her that while nowhere near his mortal enemy, could sense it either way. As for the woman herself, she giggled as she looked down on them literally and figuraly.
"My, so many heroes and Masters here for little old me. Do I frighten you all so much?" She then mockingly asked as her cloak fluttered in the air.
"Please." Rin says as she takes a step closer. "We're just here to ensure you can't mess with the residents of this city any longer. Honestly, to resort to draining the mana of ordinary humans. How weak are you to do that?"
Despite the clear insult thrown at her, it seems that Caster didn't care and just giggled more.
"Oh sweet little girl." Caster says as suddenly a few orbs of light leaves her. Ozpin's head turns slightly as he hears the sound of feet moving on the ground. Archer materialized his blades, and Shirou held his wooden sword while Rin just got her gems ready to fire. Caster simply found them amusing. "You think that you can come here and suddenly win against me? How optimistic of you."
"Hah. Please." Rin scoffs as she smirks at Caster. "While you might have a few fancy spells up your sleeve, against all of us you won't be able to handle the odds." Archer has already informed her how he has weapons that can resist Caster's spells with Rin able to do some blocking. Shirou and Ozpin can also easily dodge her attacks considering how fast they reacted, and Rin could just attack her if she sees an opening while Archer deals with her.
Oh sure there were the familiars Caster had working with her, but they wouldn't be able to do much against them. They were just mass produced skeletons that couldn't do much against trained fighters. Nothing more nothing less.
Yet even then, Caster remained confident as she just laughed.
"My, my. Such overconfidence." Caster grins as those orbs soon turn into numerous magical circles that glowed brightly. "It seems I may have to put you in your place as a magus you call it." From the buildings, many Dragon Tooth warriors came out with their weapons, already surrounding the team. Ozpin and Shirou looked at each other and understanding came, as they knew what they had to do. Archer bent his knees a little, ready to jump while Rin stayed back to prepare.
It seems a fight was about to happen.
"You really think such familiars can beat us?" Rin asked with a smirk. Having trust that Ozpin and Shirou can handle them with ease.
"These ones, not really." Caster admits as she gets ready to attack. Sending a mental message to a certain someone to get ready. "However, I recently acquired some...pets to help out."
"You mean like those dumb creatures you summoned and lost control of?" Rin once again insults the Caster, though instead of anger the Servant looked merley confused.
"I don't know what you mean by summoned," She says as she then raises her hand. "But, while difficult, I managed to, hehehe, gain a form of influence from them." A loud roar can be heard, and while everyone was used to it, Ozpin himself froze.
'No...it can't be…'
"They might be a nuisance and forced me to rebuild this temple with my power, but I cannot deny their uses." Suddenly, from the ground, shadows started rising. Caster had begun using her power to bring them here, and from those shadows creatures of black with bone armor and red eyes came out. All of them growling while Ozpin's eyes widened further.
"Yes. Why don't you play with my new pets for a bit." Caster grins as a single Beowolf then roars at all of them before it and the Grimm charged at them.
It's time for a battle, and it seems Caster managed to take some form of control over the Grimm. That'll be a shocker for Ozpin.
Then we have Musashi who meets Kojiro...who is NOT pleased with how his battle with Miyamoto came about. I took some lines from the abridged as it was just to funny to pass up. I wonder how he'd feel if he knew who Saber is?
Welp, until next time.