Fate/Order of Shadows
-Chapter III: Promises-
-(Lords of Shadow OST: Lycans of Agartha)-
A right punch that breaks through the target's guard, followed by a strong hook with the same arm.
While her usual style of fighting revolved around using holy energy to attack her foes in a similar fashion as most Casters, Martha was no amateur in physical combat.
Before the stunned target can recover, a devastating axe kick to the head forces its whole body to the ground, the impact crushing the skull.
A lost method of hand to hand combat passed down from Jacob to Moses, and finally to her.
She keeps her guard up with both arms in the front, while throwing a flurry of quick punches alternating between them so as to maintain both offense and defense.
According to legend, a master of this style would be able to beat to death even an Angel of Destruction, one of those leading a legion of 12.000.
Stepping back with a jump, she evades the next target falling upon her…
But regardless of the accuracy of the legend, the effectiveness of this style in the hands of Martha could not be denied.
And then launches herself back to her attacker with a powerful strike, breaking its jaw before launching a kick at its exposed neck, breaking it.
Finished with her current foe, the Saint looks back at her staff not too far from her position, having discarded it previously as this style was much better at dealing with multiple threats on her own.
A few meters behind her staff, more Werewolves and Wargs appeared, blocking her path back to the encampment.
As it was going, there was only one way by which Martha could reach her companions in time to help them with whatever was attacking them.
'Please, Gabriel…use the Command Spells!'
(Lords of Shadows OST: The Black Knight /The Black Guardian)
Facing the Black Knight in a normal battle, would have been difficult without resorting to an offensive Noble Phantasm like Tarasque.
Facing the Black Knight driven by grief and rage was a much more difficult endeavor. The thirst for revenge did not decrease the instincts the black giant possessed, or changed the fact that his thick armor could not be penetrated by the ones his anger was focused on.
Trying to overcome the strength of their foe or bypass his protection by constantly hitting him was a waste of energy, so they needed to use their heads.
Even so, the fight for survival was a mixed situation for both Master and Servant.
The first would have let his current foe take his revenge on him, were it not for his duty to fulfill his mission and his desire to bring back his beloved.
The second still felt the weight of failure, and the familiar regret of fighting a former ally that she had experienced during the Babylonian Singularity. Only this time, there was no corruption to blame on the hostility of their enemy, just the grief and anger that could be found on a father against his daughter's killers.
"Please stop Mr. Knight! I know you hurt, but you must listen!" –tried the Shielder Servant as she parried a sword strike to her left –"we did not kill her, someone else must-" –but she had to stop as she was pushed meters back by a punch from the hand wearing the clawed gauntlet, the kinetic force behind almost breaking her guard.
The Black Knight is stopped from pressing the offensive further, however, by a linked series of direct attacks coming from Gabriel. While ineffective for damaging the armor, the attacks were reinforced by Shadow Magic with and managed to startle the giant behind his armor and force him to change targets.
An upward swipe with the black giant's gauntlet, and a trio of energy slashes was released at them. But instead of hiding behind their shield, they chose to evade.
The Black Knight had strength and endurance on his side, but just like the Titans he lacked in speed.
The swipe of his blade was wide, and the energy slashes released by the hand with the special gauntlet spread wide as well.
But without the speed to properly press the offensive, it was a slow moving juggernaut by the standards Servants were used to.
Nevertheless, they were fighting on a small battlefield, and still lacked the means to actually harm the Black Knight. Adding to the fact that the Shielder was still reluctant to go on the offensive, they still could not take the upper hand.
Eventually, they made a mistake.
The Black Knight's left hand shinned in preparation for a powerful strike, and Mashu assumed he was going for a frontal approach.
Instead, the strike was aimed at the floor.
While Gabriel had jumped to avoid the impact, the heavy Shield put in preparation to hold a strike blocked the Servant's vision and her ability to react.
The strike was powerful enough to spread cracks on the floor, and the shockwave made the girl lose her equilibrium and actually fall on it.
But the Black Knight was far from finished and even as Gabriel threw a slash with the chain whip of his combat cross, the giant had stabbed his sword on the floor and in the process released a black tar-like substance that quickly moved to the downed Servant.
Before she could react, Mashu found herself unable to move. Her body had been trapped by the unknown liquid, which moved as if alive.
Seeing his target unable to escape, the Black Knight lifted its clawed arm in preparation for a fatal attack. However…
-(Lord of Shadow OST: Goblins of the Bog)-
"Haaah!"
With a cry, Gabriel launches his whip at the black giant, but instead of a strike he had taken advantage of the hook it possessed to grab at his armor.
His move is successful, and he began to pull.
The idea came in the spur of the moment, as he realized that aiming for the clawed hand would only slow down the Black Knight. But if he tries prying the armor off, he would force the Golem to focus not just in getting rid of an annoyance but of a possible threat.
The Black Knight reacts as soon as he feels the pull, and grabs the chain with his claw in order to drag Gabriel to him. As the Knight of the Brotherhood increases his effort in return, the situation becomes a game of who can pull the other first, if the whip doesn't break under the strain.
Gabriel believes that he could manage to outdo his opponent if he puts enough effort, but he needs to make sure his move is not just successful on its own, but an opening for a change of the flow of the battle.
So, remembering the chewing he got a week ago, he speaks with authority.
"COME FORTH, RIDER!"
A sigil of the Command Spells hidden in his gloved right hand vanished, and a new show of light preceded the entrance of the missing member of the trio.
"Hold on for a little longer, Master!" – asks the new arrival as she prepares her Noble Phantasm. Gabriel keeps pulling on his end, even as the Black Knight redoubles his own efforts.
But soon enough…
"The son of Leviathan, now protecting people. ───Become a meteor! Tarasque!"
As the other times before, the Holy Woman summons her mount, a legendary member of the upper levels of the Phantasmal Kind. Tarasque is able to breath flames an provide an extremely though defense with its hide, but the Noble Phantasm just used involved using the Saint's own strength to launch the massive beast as a projectile at her chosen targets.
In this case the exposed Black Knight, who had released the hold on the hooked whip to try countering the strike. The Golem had been late, however, and not only does he get a portion of its armor ripped off by the Belmont, but he cannot counter the more dangerous attack effectively.
After connecting with its intended target, the projectile creates an explosion that blinds the other three standing on the stone floor with light and smoke.
…
Five seconds pass, and then…
"So, care to tell me why our ally was trying to pulverize you both?" –asks the Rider Servant, all politeness in her words abandoned.
"Ms. Claudia is dead. We both fell asleep and when we awoke she had been stabbed with a knife, similar to those Master carries" -replies the youngest of them.
The Holy Woman widens her eyes before she looks at her Master, a grimace on her visage and a question at the tip of her tongue. For the moment, however, she settles for a more diplomatic approach.
"I see… I apologize for not being with you on time, I was ambushed by a seemingly endless horde of Lycans of different sort and was kept occupied until you called me. In the meantime, I need you to tell me in detail what exactly happened back-"
A metallic roar followed by a giant silhouette covered in smoke and shadows interrupts before she is done talking.
Master and Servants break their group to avoid the impact, readying themselves for renewed combat. As the smokes clears from the figure, they are able to see the current state of the still alive enemy.
Portions of his chest armor are gone, and his revealed pink-purple skin is covered by scorch marks and in different places. Nevertheless, the Black Knight is still standing with sword in one hand and the clawed gauntlet in the other.
His crimson eyes still behind his helmet shine menacingly, and his figure standing with no signs of fear or weariness.
"Oh come on! What is with the Golems here and them all surviving a direct hit from my Noble Phantasm?!"
Her reply comes in the way of a powerful slash from a great sword wreathed in flames, carrying enough power in it to cut the ground and go further their current platform before crashing on the cliff behind them.
"…Mashu, there is no time for hesitation. If he did not listen before, he will not now."
Gabriel says nothing, merely calling upon his Shadow Magic for the last round of the battle.
Having been freed from her liquid bindings, the Servant of the Shield nods in acceptance.
And then…
A second roar announces the next attack.
"He's coming!"
-(Heaven's Feel II OST: He Comes Back Again and Again)-
There are no more pulled punches from either side.
The Black Knight unleashes his fury by throwing wild punches that crack the floor and can easily push back or even break through their defenses.
Wide arcs of burning steel attempt to cut off limbs and bisect bodies.
New waves of the black living liquid rush in intervals, trying to trap the smaller fighters and make it easier to get them.
Of course he cannot handle so many targets at the same time, but the Black Knight does not seem to care. Like a Berserker, he just seeks to destroy completely the ones in front of him and take revenge for the death of his charge.
His frenzy continues, even as he's losing the offensive in favor of the other three warriors.
A series of small explosions cover the giant's exposed body, damaging him but unable to deter his charge against the Red and Silver Warrior.
Which was exactly what said man expected.
Just before the Black Knight could reach him with his blade, a new force strikes him from the left.
Having rushed at their attacker, Mashu puts everything on her own charge and strikes with her shield, completely breaking his momentum and stunning him briefly.
Stronger explosions of energy appear over the Black Knight, this time focused on his legs.
The resulting combination makes the Berserker fall on a knee, just as his intended target jumps over his body.
Gabriel lands on the giant's back and grips with both arms the helm protecting the head, pulling with all of the might his human body has left.
The Black Knight struggles for a few seconds, seeking to rid himself of the human warrior…
But Gabriel finally succeeds and rips off the protection, falling onto his back after his hold is lost.
Not soon after, the giant roars in pain louder than ever before.
His eyes and mouth vomit a blinding white light, which soon erupts from all of his body…
There is a final explosion shadow and lights…
…and the Black Knight is no more.
A clang reveals the only article left of his former self.
The enormous clawed gauntlet that he wore on his left arm, the artifact that Pan had been so adamant Gabriel acquired just before the terrible revelation.
From their own positions, Master and Servants remained felt weary but on guard in case their foe returned from the death like a certain Greek Berserker back in Chaldea.
"!"
"wha-!"
"Guh!"
Even then they are taken by surprise when the gauntlet launches itself with ridiculous speed, covered in a dark misty aura, and right at the Brotherhood' Knight.
As his companions rush to him. Gabriel is lifted by the arm covered in the black mist, four meters above the ground at the very least.
"Master!" –shout both of them.
He grunts in pain at the burning pressure he felt, as something settles itself in place over his right arm and hand, before his captured limb releases a red magical circle around them.
The phenomenon over, his body slowly falls to the ground and he is left on his knees and grabbing his released arm with his other.
The two women are already at his side, checking him and looking at the same arm he is holding.
Mashu gasps at what she sees, while Martha narrows her own eyes in contemplation.
As for Gabriel himself, he is looking at his left arm. Now covered on a smaller version of the clawed gauntlet worn by the Black Knight, settled perfectly on him as the burning red-colored lines covering it faded into silver.
-(Grand Order OST, Cosmos in the Lostbelt: Residual Ice)-
Anno domini, 1047.
Road outside of the forest, the morning after the battle with the Black Knight...
They made graves for their former companions, even the Golem who had tried murdering them but hours ago.
They were but piles of stones with handmade crosses, one of them covering the hole where they buried the body of Claudia.
Nameless tombs for two people who lived their last years unknown, and would forever remain unknown to anyone but the three of them.
As both he and Martha prayed for the safe passing of their former comrades into the afterlife, young Mashu cried her eyes dry all the while asking for forgiveness. He could understand the guilt perhaps too well.
After all, it had been his hands who had killed those two souls.
The moment he had finally let sleep take him, he had taken another's life in return.
That was why, once the prayers were finished, he turned to the two at his side and spoke two simple words:
"I'm leaving"
His part said, he waited for no reply. The road ahead was dangerous, his enemy but hours ahead.
There was no time to waste, he…
"Master wait for-"
"Don't follow me"- Gabriel didn't let the young pink-haired finish, not looking at her as he continued walking –"I will use my other Command Spells for you two if I must"
"That will be a problem, Brother Gabriel, since we are bound by a magical contract to your wellbeing"- added the older woman. Normally, she called him either by the title that represented their pact or by his first name, only calling him Brother Gabriel when she wanted to express her annoyance or discontent at him.
He simply raised his right hand to show them how serious he was with his threat.
"…Do you really believe you must do this alone? The one ahead is most likely stronger than the golem we just defeated, and even if you are victorious, the next challenge may be too much by yourself" –continued the woman without showing anger at the gesture.
He clenched his hand into a fist.
"Are you going to leave us here against our will... are you leaving Mashu here alone and in grief, ignoring your duties as her Master?"
His walking got slower but he still said nothing in reply.
"After speaking about your conviction to help others, are you just going to ignore the girl who fought at your side because of your guilt?"
That did it.
"What kind of help can she get from a murderer!?" -he screamed from his position, lowering his right hand but still maintaining the fist –"I… I cannot even protect others from myself!"
He was getting ready to return to walking on his own, when a gentle hand grasped the one wearing the gauntlet.
-(Apocrypha OST: Ruler/ Prayer, Extended)-
"But you protected us…"
The soft spoken voice belonging to the one holding his hand finally convinced him to turn his sight.
Blue-icy eyes filled with guilt and sorrow stared into similar purple eyes, still reddened by the tears spilt for someone else's sake.
"When you first found us, unconscious and vulnerable, you could have harmed us at any moment… if you really killed Ms. Claudia in cold blood, why didn't you do the same with us before we first met?"- the girl added firmly, still looking at him.
"…but I still killed her, Mashu. It was my knife, and my hands now stained with the blood of a girl who just wanted to help. I cannot continue this road while fearing what I could do to any of you when my guar is down"- he told her, trying to convince her of the dangers of remaining in his company.
But she persisted, closing her other hand over the first before speaking again.
"Here I was crying my heart out, while you are hurting the most, Master. But even after this, I believe in you, that you will not hurt us. If you want to sleep, we will both mount guard at your side… if you can no longer fall asleep, then Ms. Martha will be always awake to take care of us.
Please, Master Gabriel, allow us to continue on this quest. Do not cast us aside!"
Gabriel said nothing to her for a few seconds, though it felt like a full minute for both women.
Finally, though…
"Very well. I will repay such trust and accept your help once again for the rest of this journey. But only if you both promise me something"- he turned to look at them both this time, his grieving face turning resolute while they looked expectant.
"If the time comes when I really turn into a monster… do not hesitate, and kill me."
And like that, Gabriel Belmont turned back to the path leading to the lair of the Lord of Lycans.
Martha and Mashu remained in silence, even as they followed at his side.
A/N: And so the first breaking point has been reached by Gabriel. The first of the many events that will put his resolution to the test, as he and his beautiful companions move forward into their quest to defeat the Lords of Shadows.
Next time… The Dark Lord of Lycans.