To say Musashi has met powerful foes is an understatement.
During all her travels, there have been many she has met with superior aspects before her. Be it speed, strength, and while a bit rare someone with skills that equaled or surpassed her. Heck, one time she met a being that was as big as a tower that tried stomping on her. Still, with excitement and adrenaline she challenged those types of individuals with awe.
"Woah!" Now she was just trying to survive as she ducked avoiding a nasty decapitation Berserker as he then twisted and tried to smash the side of his weapon on the left side of her body. For a guy that was so big he sure moved fast with Musashi having no choice but to quicken her footwork to avoid those crude but powerful strikes. Even when she avoided them she felt a great rush of air move past her and forced to endure while it appeared Berserker didn't have to at all.
"Man you really are tough." Musashi said as she entered his personal boundary as she then decided to slash at him, her eyes briefly glowing just a bit as she made that decision. Berserker suddenly feeling slashes across his chest and looked down to see the woman actually managing it.
"Damn!" But those slashes were far from life-threatening and frankly did little to stop Berserker from throwing his knee forward and slamming it on Musashi's stomach. The Saber feeling the nasty blow heavily along with some of her breakfast going up as she was then sent and smashed against the nearest wall where Berserker was quick to follow.
Roaring as he followed Musashi who was quick to run off as she'd rather not die when Berserker smashed his fist where she had been moments ago. The ground he punched cracked like glass as he then proceeded to hunt Saber down like a lion chasing a hyena.
Saber just turned around and stuck her tongue at him.
That just made Berserker try and run faster while he tried cutting her down with his weapon. Needless to say, the hallways were more than just a mess when he kept on going for the death blow.
Musashi then side-stepping a full frontal attack and then sliced at his side. Giving her swords a bit of an energy burst to enhance their ability to cut and drew some nice blood that splattered on the formerly clean floor. Berserker then just lifted his leg and attempted to kick at her.
"You know," Musashi said as she avoided that kick in a nick of time. "For someone so big, you're quite flexible." Her answer came in the form of a hand grabbing her waist to her shock. Then without further ado, Berserker smashed her against the wall, then threw her and gripped her leg so hard the bones snapped to her agony as he then thrashed her like a rag doll all over. Slammed again and again until Berserker twirled around and then threw her so hard she went through multiple walls until eventually she went outside and landed on the cold snow harshly.
With a triumphant roar, Berserker soon went after his enemy intending to finish her off. Surely after the beatdown he gave her, she would be less than mobile. Not to mention battle strength greatly reduced as Berserker went to deal the finishing blow.
"Hah!" Only for a wonderful arc of light to both blind Berserker then slam into him and sending him flying backward while landing on his back. A large burn now seen from the head to the torso and while nothing fatal, it still hurt him and stopped his charge. Where a bloody and limping Saber grinned as she then grunted as she felt her leg send her pain from the damage Berserker did to her.
The son of Zeus indeed, and a warrior that certainly shouldn't be underestimated even when he is maddened by his Class container. Still, it was going to take more than just brawn to take her down. So while it hurt like hell, Musashi ran despite her broken leg's protest and agony filled body as she jumped up and filled her swords with energy. Berserker saw this and got ready to come at her as unlike her, he was physically alright even with the slight burns and cuts on him.
Musashi grinned as she then sent another arc onto Berserker. However, this one hit him dead in the face. Particularly in the area where the eyes were at.
Berserker howled as his vision he had went dark. The attack having blinded him completely and while still someone that shouldn't be underestimated, even the great Heracles was used to sight and could no longer see his enemy. A completely dirty trick with no honor in it at all.
'But if it helps me win, neh.' Musashi thought with a chuckle as she then kicked some rubble near Heracles who heard it and swung his blade thinking it was Musashi. Instead allowing the Saber to jump at him and while the hero heard her he was too late to counter-strike as she slashed across his knees making Berserker temporarily kneel as his wounds tried to heal.
Time to use this time to run before he recovered as Musashi escaped while Berserker roared in her direction. Despite speaking no words, it was clear Berserker was unamused by Musashi's tricks and once his knees properly healed along with his eyes, they'll be hell to pay back. For the sake of his Master, Berserker will do whatever it takes to destroy his enemy utterly until they are no more than red paste.
Musashi slightly flinched as she understood she was definitely facing a warrior of greatness. She focused some of her power to heal a bit or at least be in a condition where she can fight properly again while hearing a loud noise in the background.
"Hehe." Musashi said with a small smile. "I wonder how the others are doing?" She then asked while hearing Berserker coming. Rolling her eyes at the rudeness, Musashi then turned and blocked one of Heracles mighty swings with his weapon which proceeded to cause Musashi to skid backwards. Heracles just moved forward and kicked Musashi directly under her chin which sent her through the roof.
The shockwave of the attack caused the house to shake a bit with noise heard all over. Not to mention pieces of the ceiling started to fall off and hit the ground.
"Eep!" Or Shinji in this case as he got hit by a light piece of the ceiling that did little other than dirty his hair. "Gah!" To bad he thought otherwise, and Shinji instantly took out his book which held some magical powers and turned to run and fire away.
SLAM!
Instead, Shinji pathetically hit the nearest wall with a hard slam. His own aura actually glowing because he hit it roughly where Shinji, through shock alone, fell down unconscious while twitching. Believing fully some coward hit him from behind.
"..." Shirou just stared at his friend in disappointment and shaked his head. He hated to say it, but that was just sad. No, really. Sad. Shirou then got back to trying to free himself while nearby, Ozpin and the three girls he faced challenged him. All in all, he was actually doing okay.
Though in the perspective of Ozpin himself, it was far from easy.
'I must say,' Ozpin thought as he avoided the one called Leysritt's halberd which smashed near the ground he was just at. Noticing the oddity that when it hit the ground, the floor cracked more than it should have. Leysritt quickly moved faster than what a normal person should be capable of and swung it towards Ozpin's head where he tilted himself backward. There, he felt the wind pressure before he was forced to move backward when the one called Sella also attacked.
Though unlike the former, instead of Sella striking with a weapon or anything fancy, she sent a small bolt of electricity at Ozpin. Due to him moving backward to avoid Leysritt's attack, Ozpin couldn't dodge it and instead blocked it with his cane.
Yet the small electricity made its way through somehow despite the fact that wood isn't conductive and hit his fingers.
The Long Memory clattered on the ground as Ozpin felt himself unable to move his right hand or the fingers. A paralysis spell!
"Hehehe." Illya giggled as she sent many constructs of birds and swords at Ozpin. "What's the matter old man," Illya says as Ozpin dodges the swords but gets grazed by the bird making a mark on his clothes. "Regretting already?"
"Not even close." Ozpin said as he then saw Leysritt jump up and swing her weapon down at him. Ozpin decided to take a risk and held his left arm up and caught the halberd by the edge. Thanks to aura, Ozpin held immense strength and was able to stop the halberd from striking him down to Leysritt's own surprise with the other two girls also having widened eyes at this display of super human strength.
"Well this is a surprise." Though Ozpin was also stunned as while he stopped the weapon, he felt the full weight of it and realized this thing was much heavier than it should be. One where he doubted regular people without aura and some degree of training would be even able to lift this thing properly at all, let aside swing it.
'But I don't think this woman has aura.' Ozpin thought as he looked briefly at the woman, uncertain how she can even lift such a thing. Magecraft? Regardless, this was a fight and he had his enemy by surprise. Ozpin heard the construct bird heading toward him so utilizing his position and strength, Ozpin swung at the bird where his enemy took the hit making her cry out at the blow. Her hands letting go of the weapon which Ozpin used to then throw at Sella.
Gasping, Sella tried to escape but was too slow. Thankfully for her, Ozpin didn't aim it at her body but at the ground as it soon then slammed itself just a few inches from her feet making her fall over from the shock.
Ozpin sued this chance to face Illya and dashed at her rapidly. He was already just a few feet in front of her with no back-up to aid her. Ready to knock her out with his fist where Illya, in a last minute move, activated her Mystic Eyes of Binding.
It was a dumb move really, as active Magic Circuts would stop them pretty easily.
"Uh!" However, while Ozpin did hold a variant of magecraft energy within him, ultimately he held np real circuits in him and easily fell to the binding the second he made contact with Illya's eyes. Granted, he'll be able to escape them soon enough if he concentrates, but his pause and inability to move made him trip onto the floor. Illya used this chance to retreat while then pulling out more strands of hair and had them morph to swords which flew towards the undefended Ozpin.
"Ozpin!" Shirou shouted as the swords made contact and blew up with an explosion. Granted, Illa lessened the magical blast so she or her bodyguards didn't get caught in it, but an ordinary person would find their back torn up and their skin scorched. The fatality rate, over ninety percent.
Illya grinned thinking she won.
"Well, that certainly hurt." Only to have her jaw drop as an otherwise alright Ozpin stood up and patted his clothes to get rid of the dust on it. Looking alright with only a slight flicker of green coming across his body. Ozpin looked up at Illya and gave a slight smile. "I've had my fair share of explosions, and I've been hit by stronger."
Huntsmen did more than just face Grimm after all, but also rouge Huntsmen. Rouges who wielded Dust that they would then use on their would-be attackers. Ozpin can't count the number of times he's been hit by Dust which usually left an explosion or two. As such, a magical explosion of this level is no different than Ozpin when he's on the job.
Shirou himself also looked in awe as he saw this. Realizing perhaps he could also withstand such explosion he was certain would have killed him back before he even knew of the Holy Grail War. Such questions have to wait now though as Shirou then eyed two things.
One was a piece of sharp metal that must have gotten loose somewhere, where Shirou decided to inch his way toward it. The second was more worrying. "Ozpin!" Shirou shouted. "Look out!"
Ozpin turned and saw it was Leysritt with cold determination in her eyes as she swung her regained weapon down at Ozpin's side who could do little but strengthen his aura for what would be a rather painful blow. Aura might mitigate the damage, but certainly not the pain as it slammed into his side where a crack could be heard breaking a single rib.
The ancient wizard felt his body fly in the air and crash through two walls before hitting the ground. Aura flickering again, having about a little over half now at this time. Ozpin grabbed his injured side and winced. Aura would heal that, but he doubted it'll be easy during a fight where he can worsen the wound or get more injuries.
"Got you!" Didn't help that the fight was still ongoing as well. The maid had followed Ozpin and was following up to take him out with her weapon thrusted at him. Aimed for his head to crush it like a tin can. While there was a chance Ozpin's aura could take it, he'd rather not take the risk considering that the weapon was much stronger than it looked wielded by a physically impressive woman. So without hesitation, Ozpin slammed his hand on the ground and bursting before him and Leysritt's eyes is the green force field.
Leysritt was surprised by what she considered defensive magecraft, and as such her weapon left no mark as it slammed against the protective shield. Ozpin then made it vanish as he moved forward and punched the homunculus in the face, sending her flying. He then ran forward to exit the room when suddenly, just as he went back into the main room a flash caught his eyes.
"If you can handle a few small explosions," Illya grinned sadistically. "Then how about some bigger ones?" At least five construct swords flew at Ozpin all ready to blow up. Quickly Ozpin summoned his shield just in time as all five blew up on contact. The blasts were stronger, and as such sent him flying off in his orb before it slammed into the staircase. The shield vanished and Ozpin stepped out looking a bit tired.
'My magic might be more potent.' Ozpin thought as he let out a weary breath. 'But it seems I can't rely too much on it as I thought.' Ever since separating himself from his magic and bestowing them onto the four girls, Ozpin considered magic a secondary resort compared to fighting ability. Meaning his body sometimes faltered when he used magic as it wasn't used to it these days.
Such continued thoughts had to wait now though as suddenly Ozpin found himself being tied by the same material Shirou found himself tangled in. Illya smirked as she caught Ozpin off guard.
"Got you." She said as Leysritt came in again with Ozpin looking at her in worry. He can't use his magic again unless it was from the Long Memory-which isn't with him now and on the ground-and he was certain another hit from that weapon will deplete his aura further. Quickly Ozpin broke free from the wires around him and attempted to catch his assaulter when suddenly Sella used his moment of focus on her sister to shoot him with two rounds of minor curse magic.
Both hit his arms and they fell to his side useless. Ozpin tried to step backward to avoid the hit but it was too late either way. Leysritt twisted herself in mid-air and slammed her weapon's blunt end against Ozpin's chest. Thanks to aura, Ozpin's ribcage didn't just collapse and puncture his lungs and heart. Though he did feel his ribs crack, all the oxygen in him escaped, and he was sent back and crashed into a wall harshly. Aura flickering more from the painful attack.
Illya got ready to kill him, readying herself as a few construct swords floated beside her. One order and they'll head toward this fool and kill him while turning his corpse into the equivalent of fried chicken. The wolves will have a nice meal tonight on burnt meat.
"Mistress!" However, before Illya could give her command, Leysritt shouted at her in worry. Illya turned and then saw… "Oni-chan?"
It was Shirou, who had gotten himself freed at last and wasn't going to let his friends get hurt. Without hesitation, he had run towards Illya when the three girls were distracted and while he didn't want to hurt Illya, he did grab her in a bear hug from behind and lifted her up.
"Got you!" He declared as Illya squealed while kicking her legs forward and back and struggling to break free. Leysritt was about to move to attack but Shirou turned to face her and used Illya as a type of ward as the homunculus realized she couldn't attack with Illya in front of Shirou, with the same being said for Sella as well.
"L-let me go!" Illya said as she struggled. However she could do nothing as now only Shirou was stronger than her, her modified body; made to handle the power of Servants and magic, came at the determine of making her physically weaker than a person her age should even be.
"Sorry Illya, but I can't do that." Shirou said as he held onto her tight. "Not unless you call off the others." The ground shakes a little with a roar and a battle cry heard. "Especially Berserker."
"Mmmm!" Illya growled while puffing up her cheeks. She got more upset when she saw Ozpin removing himself from the wall and moving rather fine despite holding his chest. His aura shimmering around him as it began the healing process.
"You good Ozpin?" Shirou asked with the person in question nodding.
"A bit bruised up, but I'm doing okay." Cracked ribs and bruises were the usual for Ozpin. His aura already underway in healing his wounds though that unfortunatly meant he couldn't use the offense applications of it in turn. Still, thanks to Shirou Ozpin didn't have to worry about those battle maids striking at him in his current health.
"Great." Shirou then turned to Shinji who moaned. "Shinji is...good as well." Which leaves one person left.
SMASH!
"Gah!" Musashi, full of bruises, cuts, and was bleeding in different areas, smacked onto the ground which made a small crater. Groaning a bit as Berserker came in his monstrous glory. Any wounds he may have had were now gone and he looked like brand new while his opponent was utterly beaten. Shirou's eyes widened, as he saw how hurt Musashi was with Ozpin feeling the same.
"Hah! Not done yet." Musashi said in defiance despite her injuries. Berserker didn't care, and just got ready to kill the pest.
"Shit!" Shirou said not wanting Musashi to die. He then had an idea as he gripped Illya tighter and shouted, "Her! Over here bastard!"
Berserker turned when he heard Shirou's voice. There, the mad Servant saw his Master in Shirou's grip and growled menacingly. Seeing how his Master is caught and gave a deadly air that made Shirou and Ozpin feel fear as they knew neither stood a chance against Berserker. Aura might protect them against one, at best two hits. But of Berserker came at them seriously, then they'll die just like that considering that none of them had any moves to actually hurt Berserker.
'Well, maybe one.' Ozpin then saw his cane a distance away. If he released its power, he could probably kill Berserker, but the cane was meters away and actually just a bit away from Berserker himself. It'd be suicide to try and grab it.
Now, it was a stalemate here.
Shirou had Illya, and while he has no intentions to hurt her, Berserker thought otherwise. Sure he could kill Shirou and Ozpin, but the mad Servant couldn't risk his Master getting hurt. A complicated situation that made everybody unsure of what to do.
"Uh." Except one who finally got up after being useless and saw the situation. "B-Berserker!" Then screamed as he panicked and lifted his book. Without hesitation and through his fear Shinji launched a mass of shadow energy from his book at Berserker which hit into him.
Naturally, the attack did nothing as the Servant glared at Shinji who nearly went his pants at the sight.
"Gotcha!" But it served well enough for Musashi who saw the opening and decided to go all in for her next attack. Coating her swords with all the energy she had remaining in her, she jumped right at Berserker as his back was turned and before the Servant could do anything, Saber grinned as she swung her blades wide and then crossed them together at Berserker's own neck.
If she had done this normally, it wouldn't have worked. But by utilizing her sword ki as she calls it, the energy allowed her weapons to slice through Berserker's neck. A thud was heard followed by another as Berserker's head hit the ground then the body a second later. Shirou, Ozpin, Shinji, and the maids looking in shock at Berserker's defeat.
"Hehehe." Musashi grinned. "Still have the moves." Then she proceeded to fall forward as her body finally gave out.
"Saber!" Shirou said with worry as he dropped Illya and rushed toward his Servant with worry. Ozpin used this chance to also go for his cane but was in no rush as he saw how their enemies seemed to be demoralized by Berserker's defeat. Shinji seemed to be trying to calm down while Shiro knelt next to his Servant.
"Are you okay?" he asked with worry, noticing the wounds all over her and the bleeding. Wondering if he should find a first-aid kit or anything to bandage the wounds.
"I'm fine." Musashi reassured Shirou. "I'll admit, Berserker was tougher than I thought, but I stood my ground pretty well."
"Yeah," Shirou then gave a small smile of gratitude. "You were impressive."
"Ehehehe." Musashi giggled. "Yeah I was." She then winced when she moved a bit. "Uh. Though it'll take some time to heal." Ever since her adventurers, Musashi found she could always heal faster than normal. But it wasn't instantaneous and as such, she needed a bit of time to heal up. At the very least, she got rid of a massive threat.
"Alright then," Shirou then turned to Illya. "It looks like now we can talk without interruption." Particularly, in convincing Illya in not being antagonist. She might no longer have her Servant, but she's still a dangerous magus that knew probably loads of spells, so best to be careful. Leysritt and Sella looked ready to defend Illya, but Illya raised her hand and stopped them.
"Stop." She told them which made them back down. The girl then taking a step forward. "So Oni-chan, you think you've won?"
Before Shirou could answer, Shinji did instead. "Hell yeah we won." He then bragged as he then gave a cocky look. "We just crushed your Servant?"
'We?' Everybody then thought as they looked at Shinji, recalling his blunder. They then ignored him as Shirou then gave his thoughts.
"You've lost your Servant, and while you might have some tricks up your sleeves, you can't win against us." Musashi might be out, but Shirou was at his best as he spawned a reinforced wooden sword with his magecraft, Ozpin held his cane like a sword, and while far from the best, Shinji at least looked willing to fight now that Berserker is gone. "It's over." Hopefully with this they can all talk now without any more violence.
"Is it?" Illya says before her body suddenly glows bright. Ozpin is quick to get behind her, however Leysritt, who has the strength to match even a Servant, goes and blocks him where Illya's smile made Shirou shiver as she said the following, "Berserker." Musashi was the only one to see Berserker's hand twitch. "Get up."
Then, like a horror film, Berserker's body stood with Shirou and Ozpin gasping, Musashi gritting her teeth, and Shinji wishing he brought spare pants. From there, things got rather repulsive as muscle, bone, and skin tissue grew from in between Berserker's shoulders where from there, a new head grew in place while the Servant's skin glowed an ominous red.
"H-how-" Shirou said before Illya spoke up to answer.
"Twelve." She said. "As proof of Berserker's deeds, Berserker has gained a Noble Phantasm that allows him to revive twelve times." Everyone aside from those with Illya gasped as they heard this. "Annnnd," Illya continued with a sadistic look. "He becomes immune to whatever killed him that time."
Now this was even worse than anybody had thought. Twelve times. TWELVE times!
'Granted, I've seen worse.' Ozpin thought of her, as she can revive endlessly. But at least she didn't come out often and usually stuck to the shadows. Here, Berserker wasn't like that and could kill them all, where their best bet to fend him, Musashi, is unable to fight.
Projected wooden swords, a book with shadow powers, and aura wasn't going to cut it here. Musashi had been their best bet to stop Berserker and she only won because of a distraction. In her current condition, she wouldn't even be capable of defending from a single attack. Meaning they're more than likely about to die here, unless Ozpin decided to use his cane. Though it was likely during the charge Berserker would kill Ozpin before he could even unleash the attack. Unless…
"Berserker." Illya then speaks up with a hint of amusement at what she was about to do. "Kill everyone aside from Oni-chan." Berserker lifted his weapon. "Starting with her." Illya then pointed at Musashi who now showed fear as Berserker's eyes gazed at her.
"No!" Shirou shouted as he got in front of Musashi to defend her. He ran at Berserker and roared out as he tried to attack the Servant. Berserker slapped him away with Shirou landing on the ground with a pained moan as his sword vanished.
"Master!" Musashi tried to stand up but her body refused. It didn't matter how strong a human or Servant is, at the end everyone had some form of limit and Musashi reached hers. Even if she could move, she'd be too tired to properly attack or defend. All she could do was watch as Berserker stood in front of her and lifted his weapon, ready to slice her in two.
"Ey!" Shinji hid behind the wall again while Shirou just looked at the scene before him. At how his Servant was going to die while he just watched like a fool. A hero should at least save those in front of him, and he can't even do that. He wasn't trained, didn't have a full understanding of his powers, nor did he have the mentality that could console him properly of losing his allies.
Except for one.
Running quickly and without hesitation, Ozpin ran at Berserker with the end of his cane glowing. Illya saw this but thought nothing of it, seeing it as just some fool making a desperate play that will fail against the strongest Servant in the Holy Grail War. Even Berserker didn't think much and just swung his weapon at Ozpin without too much effort, as even then the attack would cripple Ozpin and if not, outright kill him.
That underestimation was exactly what Ozpin needed. Because with the remains of his aura, Ozpin jumped over the weapon and placed a hand on Berserker's massive fingers while grinning. A green glow came from Ozpin's hands as his cane also glowed with the gears turning, accessing the stored magic from within it.
Berserker, despite being mad, realized a hidden danger and got ready to strike against Ozpin. However, by the time Berserker had this thought it was too late as an unstable foreign energy filled his Saint Graph and began twisting it. Berserker roared as he was enveloped in green light which blinded everyone in the room. Then like so, the light vanished and Berserker was gone.
"?!" Illya's eyes widened, along with everybody else's. One of the strongest, if not the most strongest Servants had just...Vanished. "What did you do?" Illya then growled in anger as she glared at Ozpin who looked back at her with a smirk.
Shinji, Shirou, and Musashi were also just as curious as they couldn't believe Ozpin managed to somehow defeat Berserker. As Ozpin moved, Shirou then spotted something in Ozpin's hand. The teacher himself then spoke.
"I'll be honest, it was a great risk doing this." He then said as he gave a slight smirk. "Normally doing this would be risky considering my small reserves, so I used the reserves of something else." Ozpin then held his cane, the Long Memory which held more than enough magical power to use to do his little trick. Then Ozpin lifted the hand which held the very thing Shirou saw. "And turned your great champion, to this."
"Squee!" In Ozpin's hands, was none other than a small, oddly bulky, squirrel. Illya blinked, as at first she thought this guy was joking. Trying to make a fool of her. Then, she saw how the squirrel had protrusions of sorts coming from the elbows of the critter, and even worse, how she felt a connection to it.
Snap.
Ozpin then cracked the squirrel's neck without hesitation and dumped the dead critter. A second later, everyone saw the body glow and the neck snap back in place.
Stomp.
Ozpin, without mercy, stepped on the squirrel harshly and without mercy. When he lifted his foot all that was left is a bloody pulp with fur. It glowed again and revived back to normal like so.
Zap.
A bolt of fire magic from Ozpin and it burnt up into flames.
"Stop!" Illya shouted in rage as she saw the squirrel's burnt corpse go back to normal as Ozpin then scooped up the squirrel ignoring it's thrashing. Her thoughts full of anger yet utterly baffled at what she was seeing. 'How is this possible? How can this be!?'
There were shapeshifting spells, yes, but most were limited to a certain degree as someone trying to morph their body is actually very risky. After all, to shapeshift meant contorting and remaking one's body, bones, and even organs to shapeshift into something else and carried a chance of death. While there are some decent shape-shifters, most magus stick to visual illusions and hypnosis.
'But I never imagined a magus that can force someone esle to shapeshift.' Let aside a Servant as well. Her Servant didn't come with the Magic Resistance Skill, but it still didn't make sense how this person can turn such a Servant into a tiny rodent.
'I am so glad that worked.' Ozpin thought with great relief as truthfully, he wasn't sure if his ability to gift others with the shapeshifting power to something that wasn't technically human. But it seems his gambit paid off.
"Squea!"
"Ouch!" Ozpin then dropped the squirrel who ran back to Illya and jumped onto her. Climbing up all the way to her shoulder and then gave a nasty chitter sound. Though considering how downgraded the great Berserker was, it wasn't much of a threat. If anything, the tables have now turned as Illya took a step back. Uncertain what to do as Shirou and Ozpin stepped up while that cowardly fool also did the same.
"Illya." Shirou then spoke softly. "We...I don't want to hurt you. This doesn't have to end badly, and maybe we can stop this fighting."
"Wait, what?" Shinji said with a tilted head. "We should be killing her." Shirou gave a glare at Shinji who wisely shut up while Shirou then sighed.
"Look, I can tell you're not a completely bad person." Shirou said until he was then interrupted by Saber who seemed confused.
"Hold on a second." She got up. "Didn't she kidnap you and rip off your arm?"
"What!?" Shirou said as his eyes widened. "She didn't-wait-um-why would you even think that?"
"Because the news showed pictures of you bleeding and her behind you from some dude's camera." Shinji told him with Illya clicking her tongue. Damn, she forgot people were there. Someone must have taken a photo without her realizing it. Shirou himself then realizing the misunderstanding.
"Oh. Oh!" He then waved his hand back and forth. "Hold on, it wasn't Illya that did...this." Shirou then waved to where his former arm had been. "If anything, she saved me."
"She...saved you?" Ozpin asks with uncertainty with Musashi feeling the same.
"She did." Shirou confirms. "Look, I get it. She's technically an enemy. But when...when Lancer attacked-the guy who did this to me-instead of finishing me off she saved me with the best of her abilities."
She could have killed him, yet she saved him. Granted, Shirou was fully aware she could have done other things to him, but the fact is she saved him. As such, "She's not an evil person. Just...misunderstood."
Illya didn't show much in her expressions, but her heart beat a little faster. As she was being defended even though her adopted brother, the one her father chose over her, the one she planned to torture, had every right to attack her. Sure she saved him, but while she wasn't fully committed to them, she had thoughts of torturing him soon after. Or at the very least keep him trapped here. Yet here he was protecting her from the others.
Ozpin, Shinji, and Musashi all just looked at Shirou, and the look on his face. As he then walked over to Illya and knelt a little as he then said, "And," He then placed a hand on Illya's other shoulder. "I wouldn't mind getting to know you."
Musashi gushed a bit and oohed.
Ozpin smiled a bit at this strange but rather heartwarming scene.
Shinji scoffed but said nothing.
The maids also smiled, as they could tell their mistress was happy despite doing her best to compose herself. Hearing those words, her lips parted as they attempted to speak.
"O-Oni-cha-" Then, the moment was ruined when suddenly, in a manner that could be considered cruel, a bright light came that shone like gold slammed into the mades. The sound of metal meeting flesh was heard with a wet splat heard as blood made contact with the ground. Soon after, two bodies then fell as Leysritt and Sella, who were still smiling, hit the ground. Their deaths were so quick that their expressions showed even they hadn't realized they had died.
Shirou, Illya, Ozpin, Musashi, Heracles, and even Shinji all then felt it in an instant.
Death.
"So I suppose this is how we meet, trespasser." Chains then came and snagged themselves around everyone but Ozpin. Chains that while more useful against divinity, were still very powerful and as such nobody could even break free while Ozpin felt a cold sweat.
This pressure. This presence. It was similar yet different from his eternal foe. Greater than even hers as his head slowly moved to see just who had said that voice. His eyes then gazing on a man that practically oozed pride, confidence, arrogance, with an aura that backed it all despite the fact his clothing said otherwise. Truthfully he looked more like a regular teenager, yet those eyes…
'They say more than words.' Ozpin thought as he stepped back. His very instincts screaming at him that he could die here and now as he felt a strong power in this unordinary man. Gripping the Long Memory and even more tempted to unleash its power.
The King of Heroes grinned as he then demanded, not requested, to Ozpin, "Let's talk."
Musashi is good, but against Heracles, she can only keep him in check. Still, I'd like to think the girl did great against a Demi-God and she has the skill to defend herself. Heck, and even though she needed a distraction she actually killed Heracles.
Ozpin did good himself while Shirou and Shinji sadly didn't do much. But hey, at least when Shirou went down it was to defend while Shinji went down like a wimp. More training for him later. But it seems the big move was Ozpin 'gifting' Heracles the power to shapeshift to a small squirrel, since last I checked, Heracles doesn't have magic resistance.
Oh sure he can change back, but that would imply he knows how. And it might be needed as Gilgamesh has come to speak with the intruder in his garden. How that'll end, I'll let the guessing to you as Ozpin meets someone that surpasses Salem and everything he has fought.