The Throne of Heroes, a place outside of space and time, disconnected yet connected to the world itself. A place where those chosen for different reasons have resided there, cut off from reincarnation. Used as a defense to the world on the occurrence a great danger happens upon the planet or it's people. A form of a great defense one can even say.
However, the term 'hero' is loose and viable to change. What can be considered a hero to someone, is a monster for another. A villain, a terrorist, and anti-hero. The terms varied greatly, and all things considered, in modern times even Magus considered the Throne of Heroes as nothing more than a location that held figures of great importance. Of individuals who have left their mark on the collective mind of man or history itself.
With everyone on it coming from their world and from Proper Human History.
Normally anyway.
In another timeline, different from this one, a certain organization held a unique way to scan Spirit Origins of beings not of earth. To scan them and add them onto the Throne of Heroes, despite the fact these figures aren't even properly known to the world, or even from it. And yet this organization defied those odds and added them in anyway. With some of these individuals added not even dead but still alive, with these 'uploaded Servants' as duplicates of sorts.
As such, this proved it is possible to add or have Heroic Spirits not of this world in the Throne of Heroes. The circumstances just had to allow this to occur in the first place, which naturally, was very rare.
But an intrusion from an unknown individual, from another world, has allowed these circumstances to be met. Not just this man though, as his legend is continuously ongoing with countless others, and as such those with the requirements were added with him. From those who can be called heroes, to those who could be considered infamous villains. Including the man's greatest enemy of them all.
One who was less than pleased being here as her smooth yet rather strong grip crushed the person before her. Before a sudden hit of confusion came to her, as her eyes refocused on the individual before her. Or the corpse anyway and what was left of the head.
"Hm. I thought for a moment you were him." Her voice carried a form of grace in it, yet a lack of care through it all. Despite believing she got the wrong person; she showed no form of regret of what she had just done. No different from a person killing a fly when they mistook it for a mosquito.
The woman then felt confusion again as she looked around.
"Where…am I?" She felt the Grimm, yes, but everything around her felt so different. Unnatural. Her eyes recognized the streets meaning she must be in a city, and yet she had no recollection of even going to a city. However, the greatest surprise didn't come in the form of the sensing panic and the smoke she saw across the city, but instead the very moon itself.
It was whole.
"Impossible." Were the words that left her mouth. For how could this be? She herself has witnessed the moon's great destruction and knew that nothing could repair it. Humanity was great but fixing the moon itself was simply impossible. And yet here it was, the moon as whole as the day before they left and wrought genocide.
"My, my. So, a pawn and false Queen has arrived in my garden." Then she heard some words, turning to see someone wearing casual clothing and the like. Yet the man's aura and red eyes spoke that he was far from ordinary. With a great pressure coming out of him.
"You…who are you?" The woman asked, as it was becoming rather difficult to figure out just what was going on. Having been ready to enact certain plans, only to be brought here with no clue how or even why.
"My, normally I would slain those who can't even recognize my very portrayal." The man then said with a wicked smile. "But I suppose just this once, the king can forgive a blighted being such as yourself. Who comes not from my garden, but of the filthy space above my realm."
Now things were getting even more confusing. However, the woman did recognize one thing coming from the man. He was insulting her.
"Die." Then with a wave of her hand, fire burst forth to consume the enemy. To wreak havoc on the flesh and melt away everything donned on this man and leave nothing but ash. The man simply smirked, amused by all this.
Even when to the surprise of the woman herself, the flames consumed not just the man, but the entire one-hundred-meter area they were in, while the slowly reformed Zouken grinned.
FWISH!
BOOM!
"What the-!" Rin, Shirou, Musashi, and even Archer looked at the right in great surprise when they all heard it. An explosion force so great, that a mass amount of fire could be seen before dissipating away.
"The hell was that?" Shirou could only say and ask aloud, shocked by what he just saw. "Did-did a Grimm do that?"
"Maybe, but really doubtful." Musashi said with narrowed eyes. "While Ozpin did mention some Grimm having unique powers, that seems way too much to even consider it being a Grimm."
"She's right. It must be a Servant." Archer agreed with her while giving a soft glare in the direction where the fiery explosion occurred. 'And the only person who could produce such power…' Could it be that man making a move at long last?
This wouldn't be a problem if the explosion occurred somewhere else. However, that didn't happen and what made everyone worry was because of one simple fact. That explosion, while not exactly at it, still occurred near the temple itself. Meaning that explosion and whatever caused it, must be nearby.
Even worse was that roars could be heard, and down below some Grimm could be seen heading towards the location where the explosion was happening. This made the plan more difficult, seeing as the group wanted less Grimm nearby, not more. Plus, it's very possible whatever produced such a great number of flames, is still there.
"Has to be a Servant." Rin then said. "No way a magus could make that much unless they had a lot of preparation. And while the Grimm are tough, I doubt they can make this much." The only thing that made Rin worry was just which Servant made this. Not Caster, as she's gone. Rider was out and so was Lancer, and even if Assassin was alive, it'd be impossible for him.
"Perhaps we should stop, and I can scout ahead." Archer then suggested. Even if it was just a guess, the Servant had a bad feeling about this. Though Rin felt rather reluctant.
"I don't know. Maybe this is a good thing." She then gave out her thoughts on the matter. "Even if we don't know how, if this is a Servant they have to be on our side." No matter how amoral a magus may be, they do value certain things. They're life for the matter. No way a Master will want to die in this mess, and it's likely they're just killing as many Grimm as they can so they can survive.
Archer frowned. He didn't like that idea at all. Because if it really was that man, then chances were they'll die. Didn't matter how much skill they had, just that they'd perish if that Servant got serious and considered them an eye sore to be rid of. And yet he couldn't tell his Master this, especially seeing as he had no real proof at all. If anything, all he could hope for was that it really wasn't him.
"Very well Master." Archer relented. "But I still suggest we be careful."
"Yeah." Musashi nodded. "Because anything that can produce that kind of firepower, needs to be watched out for."
"Alright, fine. We'll act with precaution." The Servants began slowing down, and also doing their best to conceal themselves. Not that it was easy, seeing as there were just so many Grimm down there. Once they landed though, Archer went into spirit form while Musashi just jumped up onto the rooftops to keep an eye out, stating her ability to control her emotions was perfect.
Shirou kind of wanted to argue against that but didn't. 'Even if she can be really expressive, she is a warrior.'
Best to trust her on this part.
In any case, this just left Shirou and Rin, now on the streets. Thankfully, Rin knew a way to make a soundproof barrier and a way to hide their sight with an illusion. Granted, if what Ozpin said is true these things hunt by sensing negative emotion, meaning they would still sense the duo. But because the Grimm couldn't see or hear them, they should be safe from an attack.
The two then began making their way towards the Temple while staying cautious all around. Especially seeing as the amount of Grimm here is greater than everywhere else. As Shirou gulped, he felt nervous which naturally caused some Grimm to look at their direction. Their soulless red eyes staring at what they saw as an empty spot, yet felt something, nonetheless.
To calm himself to ensure they didn't get caught, Shirou decided maybe a little small talk will help out.
"Hey, Rin."
"What is it?"
"I was just wondering…what'll happen after all this?" Rin looked at him, needing more specific details than just that.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, all of this?" Shirou then waved a hand at the destruction around of. Of all the deaths happening, the Grimm spread across Fuyuki, and the collateral damage everywhere. "Just how…what's going to happen next. When all this is done." Shirou refused to say if.
Rin looked away a bit, not looking happy. If anything, she seemed worried and…scared. After a bit, she began to answer Shirou's question. "I…I want to say things will get better." She slowly said, sadness in her eyes. "But Shirou…Tell me, what do you know about the Mage Association?"
"Not too much really." Shirou answered her. "My father spoke about them for a bit, that they kept the status quo by keeping things hidden. Wiping memories and," Shirou felt distaste for what he would say next but said it anyway. "Killing people." He then looked down. "B-But that was mainly small villages and towns. Fuyuki will be different, right? This place isn't a tourist site, but it's huge!"
Rin sighed. She figured this was what Shirou would say, and now, she had to give him the truth. The awful truth. "The Association will…probably destroy Fuyuki."
That got Shirou to stop moving. "What?"
Gulping, Rin stopped moving as well. Turning to face Shirou and decided to just give it to him straight. "Look Emiya. The truth is…the Association doesn't want anybody knowing about magecraft. It doesn't matter if people find out about it even by accident, to the Association, they are simply people needed to be culled. To enforce the status quo."
"Bu-What-M-Memory erasures." Shirou then shouted out. Feeling desperate. "Can't the Clock Tower just mind wipe people? I mean, they can't just kill everybody. Right?"
Rin looked sick. "You are right. Most of the time, memory erasures are used." Not like every confrontation needed death, and the Association idiotic enough to believe killing is always the answer. For a moment, Shirou looked hopeful. "However, in this situation, it's impossible." All hope then went away with Rin's next words. The girl looked even more remorseful for what she had to say next. "Look Emiya, it's one thing if maybe a small group of people found out. Just a few."
If one listens closely, you can still hear the many screams all around. The sound of firing from the police officers. The helicopters flying around with the sound of snapping cameras taking pictures.
"But this. This!" Rin raised both hands and spread it out all over. As if to signify all of Fuyuki, and the great disaster it was in. "There are way too many people. No mage is powerful enough to mind wipe everyone. Even if there was, cameras have recorded all of this on the news. People who are far enough fleeing the city to say what they know. Damage done to the city that can't be excused with 'gas leaks' of all things."
Rin then looked down at her feet, arms behind her legs. "As such…the Association, once they deal with the Grimm if we can't…they'll proceed with eliminating as many people as they can, manipulate the media, and the world will just see Fuyuki as a great tragedy. One that fell to disease, an earthquake, or whatever excuse the Association is already whipping up. And that's…just how it'll be."
Shirou said nothing, though then again, he didn't have to. The sheer horror seen in his eyes, along with his open mouth said it all. With the cold realization that even if Shirou did everything in his power to stop the Grimm, it wouldn't stop the Association from wiping out those that remained.
Oh sure, some people will escape. Fuyuki had countless people living in it. It was impossible for the Mages to deal with everybody, especially those who had a massive head start. But then, it'd be a hollow victory.
So, what if they escaped the city? They'd have no home, no food, and little resources. Not to mention nobody will believe them on the disaster that fell before them. They'll just be seen as loons, as the survivors will then be forced to live on the streets unless some charity helps them out. And that's without considering the Association doesn't decide to just hunt these survivors down until nobody is left.
It was like Rin said to him. When all this was over, the world will only know a great tragedy occurred to Fuyuki, and nothing more. Taiga. Issei. Ayako. If they even survived, would they even be able to accomplish anything as they were run out of their homes? Can Shirou even survive outside the city, as who would hire some homeless person with one arm?
So many questions filled Shirou's minds. With great fear on the future could be like, and the aftermath of everything that will occur afterwards. Rin herself was not looking any better, as she showed guilt over what would happen. With both not in any form of a good mood.
"Grua." Something many Grimm sensed, surrounding the two and while incapable of hearing and seeing the duo, now knew someone is there. The Grimm may be considered mindless, but they were far from stupid.
A very massive Deathstalker, which the two apparently didn't hear coming up towards them, was now staring at the 'empty spot' before it. It then turned toward an Ursa and made a motion towards it with the Ursa sniffing. It growled and all the Grimm raised their stingers, claws, teeth, and whatever terrifying natural weapon they had as they realized they had hidden prey before them.
"Well shit." Rin muttered as she then raised her finger and created a Gandr. Shirou stood back as Rin then pointed her finger at the Grimm and then simply fired.
SPLAT!
The Deathstalker shrieked as half its face was blown off including its eyes. It roared as it then sent its massive stinger in the direction where the shot was fired. Shirou, not wanting Rin to get hurt, infused his body with aura alongside with reinforcement, and in an impressive display of strength, managed to actually stop the stinger from hitting them both. Rin blushing slightly at Shirou's actions.
"Rah!"
"Gruu!"
"Shra!"
Such admiration though will have to wait as the Grimm then heads right at them. Rin reinforced her body and slammed her fist onto a Creep, caving its head in while Shirou kicked at a Beowolf and made its leg bend the wrong way. With the exception of the Deathstalker, the rest of the Grimm can be easily handled and the two, back-to-back, simply got ready to do some killing.
"Emiya." Rin said as she looked at all the foes before them. "You think you're good to go?"
Shirou closed his eyes. He won't deny that the amount of Grimm surrounding them was quite high. However, as he closed his eyes he saw Taiga, his friends, Ozpin, and his father Kiritsugu. Heck, he even saw Musashi alongside Archer with his swords.
Yeah, his swords.
'As much as I dislike that bastard,' Shirou thought as he then recalled the interactions with Archer. All of them quite bad as they kept arguing. 'But his skill, the way he moved.' Even so, there's no denying that Archer was strong. The battle with Caster coming to mind and how he used his blades.
Yes…those blades.
"?" To Rin's surprise, she saw Shirou then project one of Archer's own weapons. The black blade he used in a battle. Yet it wasn't nearly as shocking when she saw a glow surrounding the stub where Shirou's arm was. As a literal aura-shaped arm burst from it, and another projection came forth. This time, mimicking Archer's white blade.
Even Shirou looked surprised by this, yet the growls and the danger in their heads told them to question this later. With a snap of her fingers the small bounded barrier that hid the two collapsed, exposing the Grimm to them both.
"Hah!" Though it just as easily showed the two Masters as they then struck at the Grimm with no fear at all. It didn't matter how many Grimm there were before them. They'll kill them all and move on, and nothing will stop them. Nothing!
Archer scouted ahead as he wished. He went on ahead, knowing his Master, even with that idiot, would be alright. Now focusing on the job ahead and knowing that he needed to observe what was happening. As the potential of what lied ahead could change everything that can happen next.
'Even my own desires.' Archer thought with a grimace. He had come back here thinking he could change his miserable past, to wipe the stain that was Shirou Emiya and ensure that boy didn't take the hellish path of being a hero. That trying to be one was nothing more than a waste and should never be done.
Yet this situation changed that. While Archer still wished to kill that fool, he also knew now that doing so in this situation would be beyond idiotic. Creatures known as Grimm were rampaging all over, the Association would be involved, and that man Ozpin who gifted Shirou with an unknown power. Sakura herself turned dark through some other method. Berserker turned into a squirrel and Zouken healthy again. Shirou summoning someone that wasn't Altria. Not to mention the surprise of learning that Shinji of all people was actually helping out!
It was clear that this must not be his timeline.
At this point, trying to kill the broken boy is a waste of time. Time that can be spent helping out in this situation, as useless as it was considering things were rather dire here. Still, it wasn't as if Archer didn't have anything better to do.
'Not to mention, it isn't as if doing a little…help…is bad.' Archer then thought as he figured before he vanished away as he's destined, he could always kill some Grimm and aid a few people. After all, he did have time.
Breathing in and then out, Archer soon made his way towards the location where the fire happened. Pondering and a bit hopefully, that it could have been Lancer. His spear can certainly make a grand explosion after all.
Eventually, Archer made his way towards the source of the explosion to verify if it was a friend or foe. Ready to kill either regardless of their allegiance to ensure another Servant is knocked out.
Had he a weapon in his hand, he would have surely dropped it once he saw what was in his sights. With only the slightest of a single word escaping his mouth. "Impossible."
Standing on the destroyed city block of melted asphalt, ashes, and rubble are two different sides, two different Servants. One he knew and the other he's never seen before.
The first had striking blonde hair, red eyes, and magnificent golden armor that shone brighter than the sun. With a rather impressive figure and a face many women would swoon over. A great will emanating from him.
The second was the mystery person, and already Archer knew she was trouble. Pale skin that was as white as a porcelain doll with hair that had many offshoots from the tied bun. Her outfit being a dark robe that exposed her chest a bit with a red trim and bone armor, while having rather inhumane eyes that seemed to match the Grimm.
Seeing the mystery woman was surprising if Archer admits to it.
Seeing her standing over Gilgamesh with broken armor, a face with dirt and ashes on it, and messed up hair while standing in a slouch was what truly shocked Archer to his core. Not to mention the secondary shock which was just surprising as Gilgamesh's clear defeat. Mainly the massive amount of mana the woman was emitting, that felt way to much for a Servant to even have.
"I must say," The woman then spoke. "You were certainly unique and far greater in power than he ever was." Her eyes then looked down at Gilgamesh in contempt. "But in the end, through means even I don't know how, I surpass you."
"Gra!" Gilgamesh then uttered rage on his face while refusing to let his knees touch the ground. Such hate that the Grimm around the group looked eager to attack, yet for some reason holding back and not attacking despite every other time they did. "I…will not…fall…"
Gilgamesh declared.
"That's what they all say." The woman then lifted her finger and from the ground countless gangly Grimm hands burst forth and latched onto Gilgamesh, actually holding him down. Then, from the woman's palm as she lifted it and leveled it towards Gilgamesh's face, a black tar-like substance shot out and latched onto Gilgamesh's face. Then, in a slow and clearly painful way-if Gilgamesh's slight grunt indicated anything-the strongest Servant with a history of over five thousand years soon vanished away like dust.
For a moment Archer thought he was seeing things.
"You there, the one who's invisible." It's no dream, as the female Servant then looked at Archer directly with the other Grimm also starring as they stepped closer. "Tell me what is going on here. Otherwise," The woman then lifted her hand and pointed it at a nearby building. A beam of red energy came out and blew the building apart and other buildings behind it away into rubble. "You're dead."
Yep, I'm pretty sure people are gonna give me flak about 'wanking RWBY', 'nerfing Fate', being a 'fool who can't scale power-levels' and all that kind of thing. Cause the second a fate character loses to a RWBY character, people get mad no matter the justified excuse one makes. Ignoring them, for those of you who will either still enjoy it or just give VALID criticism instead of whining, all I'll say is I hope you enjoy the battle between Gilgamesh and Salem next time.
Also, it seems Shirou found his Semblance or something close to it. Sure, getting a hand made of aura seems lame, but on the other hand, isn't that also very useful when Archer won't give him an arm? In any case, until next time.