Fourth Morning (2)
It was morbidly amusing, Illya thought, just how quickly events could go from peaceful and productive to panicked and apocalyptic.
No sooner had Sakura's Servant pointed out the approaching army than a golden light had illuminated the horizon, a glow that had nothing to do with the rising sun and everything with the congealing mass of prana the gathered group could sense forming in the distance.
"Everyone behind Berserker, now!"
Shirou's shout instantly kicked everyone into motion, Illya finding herself sandwiched behind Sella and Leysritt as Caren and Sakura gathered behind her brother, Berserker leaping down from the castle roof and impacting the ground directly in front of them.
The Homunculus felt her eyes widen as a ray of golden light illuminated the sky, solid and wavering with barely contained power, gradually beginning to descend on the castle in a colossal arc.
"Rho Aias!"
Petals of gold, red and pink flared to life in front of Berserker, a Noble Phantasm manifested by her brother as Illya instantly recognized what he was attempting to do. Ripping out a bundle of her hair she cast the strands around the mystic shield, channeling as much prana as she could into the threads and reinforcing the Phantasm with blazing lines of silver.
Enough to stop the Excalibur? Probably not, but what else were they supposed to do?
"Here it comes, get ready!"
Shirou's shout coincided with the courtyard of her castle turning into an oversaturated painting, a deafening roar of crushing power falling overhead like the famed Sword of Damocles-
-and for a time the albino found herself lost in the fury of the assault, of wind and heat tearing at her body as her two handmaidens held on tightly, hands clasped over her ears as eyes shut themselves tight against the intolerably bright display.
She had other senses to detect what was happening however, wincing as her reinforcing strands of thread were burned away in scant seconds, the solid construct of prana and mysticism that was Shirou's Noble Phantasm waning rapidly in the face of the assault...and then breaking.
A terrified scream escaped from Illya before she could bite back on it, what had already been a violent experience ratcheting upwards in intensity as her brother's Noble Phantasm broke, exposing them to the full wrath of Excalibur were it not for Berserker's steadfast presence-
-and then all at once the assault ceased, Illya slowly opening her eyes as she dared to look around and take stock of the situation, jaw dropping at the devastation that been wrought. The courtyard and its painstakingly cared for gardens were naught but ashes and smoke, the tough walls of stone and bracing wood melted or burning where they sagged, everything but the furthest edges of the fortress utterly destroyed.
"Milady, are you all right?"
Snapping back to reality the Homunculus quickly turned her attention to her companions, asking, "I'm fine, what about you two?"
Sella winced minutely, patting down the smoldering edges of her hat and robes as she replied, "A little singed Milady, nothing serious."
Leysritt merely nodded calmly, taking a more direct course of merely ripping off the burnt parts of her attire.
Which made sense, given her nature as a combat model.
Pushing past the other Homunculi Illya breathed a sigh of relief as she saw everyone else was intact, if not a little beat up. Shirou was holding aloft a plain metal shield that he cast aside into motes of blue light, obviously in a bit of pain-probably from the Noble Phantasm being broken-but still mobile. Sakura and Caren had gathered behind him and were probably in the best shape aside from herself.
Berserker...had much of his top half burned away but was already regrowing, the albino wincing as she took stock of her Servant's condition.
Three lives gone, just like that.
"Are we all ok?"
A round of nods greeted her as Illya took a steadying breath, calm rationality taking hold as she started barking out orders.
"Sella, Leysritt, Sakura! Watch out for that army, if they try to advance you all take care of them."
For a moment no one moved, staring at her with surprised expressions-
-before nodding and hurrying away, the albino turning to look at Shirou and Caren.
"Onii-chan, do you need to get the rest of your equipment?"
He shook his head in the negative.
"It got destroyed in the attack. It's fine, I can make do with what I have on hand."
Nodding in understanding Illya frowned, staring at Berserker as his body finally reformed in full, snarling at the direction of where the attack had come from.
"Onii-chan, Caren...if Lancer has the ability to enact the part of his legend where he can force an individual into single combat...he would use it on Berserker, wouldn't he?"
The white-haired girl nodded, casting aside her more formal robes in favor of that fetish outfit she called a uniform beneath.
"Herakles is indeed our most powerful asset, it would only make sense to remove him from the field so that the other Servants may run us down at their leisure."
Closing her eyes and fighting down the anxiety she felt at realizing what she was about to propose Illya swallowed, turning to Shirou and stating, "Onii-chan...you would stand the best chance at defeating Lancer if you had to fight against him. If you manage to interrupt him when he's using that ability-"
"Actually, I feel that I would be a better choice for such a task."
While Shirou seemed completely unsurprised by Caren's interruption Illya felt her eyes almost bulge out of skull.
"You?! But you're just a normal Human!"
"Oh? Is that not what Shirou-kun is?"
"You know what I mean, dammit!"
Replacing her teasing expression with one of seriousness the other young woman responded, "Have faith in both the Lord and myself, Illya-chan. I have a means of restraining Lancer for quite some time. And we are still uncertain if Lancer does possess such a power. I am no direct combatant, it is merely the best choice for me to stay close to Berserker and act as insurance against such a possibility. I would be of little use elsewhere."
Caught supremely off guard by the Japanese term of endearment the Homunculus felt herself momentarily floored before regaining her wits, mumbling, "Fine, go. And don't die because you thought this stupid plan was a good one, alright?"
"You're concern is touching, Midget-chan."
Rolling her eyes as Bersekrer carefully set Caren on his back, the girl wrapping her arms around his neck the Homunculus ordered, "Berserker, make sure she stays safe...and in the meantime? Go for a walk."
A titanic roar left the Greek Demigod's mouth, rushing forward in a burst of speed as Illya turned to face Shirou.
"What's your plan, Onii-chan?"
"I'll go where you will, Illya. If the Ancestor shows up...I'll be the best choice to face him."
Nodding in acceptance the Homunculus straightened her spine, proudly striding towards the forefront of the approaching army.
"I'll leave it to you, Onii-chan...now let's go win this battle."
Saber couldn't help but be impressed at the tenacity of her 'foes', surviving her Excalibur strike so easily.
...Perhaps easily was too strong a word but considering a nigh immortal regenerating monster hadn't matched up against her sword's most powerful ability in the last war it was a respectable performance all the same.
A whistle from Lancer drew her eye, the man perched in a nearby tree that had survived Excalibur's wrath and staring out over the devastation she had unleashed.
"That move of yours would have shortened my months of single defense to maybe a day, Saber."
Withholding her rebuttal the Servant instead turned her attention to Edelfelt, her Master standing off to the side with a blank expression despite the rosy skin and light sheen of sweat dotting her skin. Frustrated that she could only watch as the young woman offered up a dangerous amount of energy to fuel the overcharged Excalibur Arturia scowled, once more scanning the army Rider had conjured, courtesy of his Chulnei Oprichnik Noble Phantasm.
...Still no sign of the Vampire.
"Don't bother, Saber. That Bastard seems to have a pretty crafty head on his shoulders and wouldn't reveal himself to us, just on the off chance we might have a way of breaking free of his control long enough to strike."
Huffing out a resigned breath Saber muttered, "So it would seem..."
The pair continued their vigil as the ashes and embers from Saber's assault settled, wondering just what the delay in events was caused by-
-and then, with a titanic roar, the surrounding beasts wearing a variety of armors and wielding weapons of random make charged forward en masse, the three Masters silently following in their wake as Saber and Lancer grimly observed the rush, unable to disobey the orders that had been clearly laid out for them beforehand.
"Dammit, if this war had just lasted another day or two..."
"Easy, Saber. No sense in getting upset and hotheaded over something we can't change. Instead let's keep an eye out for stuff we can alter or sneak around."
Taking a calming and measured breath Arturia forced herself to keep a level head, focusing on the present rather than the past, no matter how recent. True, another few hours and the Command Seals effect would have lessened enough that she could exert some level of control over of her actions...but that simply wasn't meant to be, it appeared.
"So are we just gonna have to wait around for things to happen or-"
The air was rent with screams and frenzied shouts of some furious beast, Lancer instantly perking up and swiveling his head towards the front of the destroyed castle, a wave of dismembered body parts and dissipating corpses visible even from a distance, Berserker taking to the field with a noticeable impact.
"Well, there's my cue~! Been nice knowing you, Arturia. Maybe see you on the other side, who can say?"
Closing her eyes Saber slowly nodded, softly responding, "Indeed...who can say? The pleasure was mine, Cú Chulainn. Until we meet again."
There was the sound of breaking branches and then the Hound of Ireland was sprinting towards Herakles at full speed, Arturia more sedately following along in his wake.
Lancer's orders were clear...isolate and delay Berserker for as long as possible while Saber cut down any resistance that remained, then finish Berserker off if necessary.
Resigning herself to not being able to actively interfere with events Saber watched as Lancer closed in on the rampaging Servant, Runes flaring to life along the length of his bodysuit with channeled energy, the man shouting, "Hey, remember me?!"
Berserker turned to face Lancer, skeins of energy reaching out to connect the pair of Servants-
-and no shortage of eyes widened as a pale-haired girl vaulted over Herakles' shoulder, facing Lancer's Noble Phantasm head on...and the pair were abruptly turned hazy and distorted, as if viewed through smudged glass.
Saber blinked at the action, completely caught off guard.
They...had predicted it?
Her surprise increased as a flash of red was visible from within the alternate space, binding Lancer head to toe as he slowly toppled over, thrashing on the ground to little effect as the woman calmly stood nearby.
…
For the first time in what felt like forever Arturia smirked. It seemed the Vampire's plot had been foiled, at least in part!
Lifting Excalibur to a ready position as Bersekrer's gaze fell upon her the swordswoman felt her lips curve into a smile, idly commenting, "It seems one small miracle has already occurred...perchance a second will turn this into a victory?"
Then the Greek Demigod was upon her and Britain's king met his charge with a confidant grin, daring to hope that maybe this war would turn around yet.
Caren's always wanted a pet dog.
