There is a mana transfer scene towards the end of this chapter. The actual scene is bolded so you can skip if you want since it doesn't have anything relating to the story. HOWEVER, soon after it's over does have hinted info that the Servants have certain memories suppressed so don't skip that.
The Green Clansmen and the two Servants went out to the city and ended up grabbing a bite to eat outside, feeling lazy today. While everyone else had a medium drink and two choices of food before them, Saber had in front of her: a large soda, chips, a burger, a hot dog, and several cookies. If she wasn't a Servant, she would definitely need to worry about weight gain. After some time had passed, the knight left her food and drink on the table, went onto the ground on all fours, and ran in circles after...a cat.
Yukari just blinked at the knight. "Why in the world are you chasing a cat?"
Saber momentarily paused, squatting on all fours. She didn't look embarrassed in the slightest. "Somethin' wrong with this?"
Sukuna continued slurping his drink through a straw. "It just looks weird. You may not have realized, but you're attracting some stares."
"You do know that Kotosaka's here to stand in for Nagare, right?" Yukari gestured to the parrot sitting on his shoulder.
"For god's sake, Saber, do you want to show your Master such a shameful side of yourself?" Tenkei groaned.
"I don't see anything wrong here," Saber replied simply.
"As long as she doesn't cause any damage, there should be nothing wrong with her doing this," Nagare spoke through Kotosaka. The bird was perched on Yukari's shoulder.
"Besides, I think Rider's size is drawing more attention." Saber pointed at the redhead when she said that. He was still eating his burger, completely oblivious to what was going on.
He was just about to take another bite when he noticed the others staring at him. "What?"
"So he just ignored everything up until now..." Sukuna summed up.
Anna was walking through a grassy area with the Clansmen of the bar. Lancer was giving Kiba a bath and Mikoto was taking a nap back at Homra. They couldn't take her to the playground since that and some of the street around it were replaced with a crater, even though what were used were low-level explosives and the JUNGLE players were pelting only Lancer and Anna.
Assassin suddenly materialized in front of them, rubbing the back of his neck. "About fuckin' time! I've been waitin' for you guys to leave that damn bar!" He couldn't break into Homra because Lancer had used rune magecraft in order to surround the place in a bounded field to prevent any spiritual beings he didn't approve of from entering by having the would-be intruder hit an invisible wall; it was surprising for Assassin to discover that man's a mage. He could sense it should be weak to a Servant, so Assassin could break it by putting more mana into an attack. Unfortunately, it would cause too much of a racket and could cause Lancer himself to come out or attract other unwanted attention. He knew this because he tried to walk through it and it was like he hit a wall. But living beings, the Ghost Liner familiar Lancer made, and even Lancer himself could go through it, meaning the field's selective.
Misaki tsked, gripping his skateboard tucked under his arm tighter. "So we meet again, huh?"
Izumo glanced at the skateboarder. "Wait, you know him Yata?"
"Saw him at the arcade."
"The Servant of His Excellency..."
"Let's take 'im down!" Misaki shouted to the other fighting Clansmen.
"Yeah!" the Clansmen besides Izumo, Tatara, and Anna cheered. "No Blood! No Bone! No Ash!"
Izumo tsked. These hotheads were getting way ahead of themselves by taking on a Servant, someone stronger than Mikoto, without a solid plan. He fished his PDA out of his pocket. Time to call in backup.
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The ringtone of Mikoto's PDA went off. Lancer picked it up off the bar counter and answered it. "Hey, Izumo. It's Lancer. Mikoto's still takin' his nap. Need me to give him a message?...Uh huh...What?!...We'll be right there! Hold out until then!...Don't! If ya simply run from a Servant, you'll wind up dead in an instant!"
Lancer went over to the couch, where the King lay, and shook his Master by the shoulders, a little roughly since he knows how difficult it can be to wake the man up. "Mikoto, wake up! Izumo just told me he and the others are confrontin' a Servant!"
Mikoto blinked himself awake then went into a sitting position, slower than normal since he's still a little asleep. "What?! They're safe, right?"
"They should be if that Servant underestimates them and they play it safe. Damn, if only Kiba were there than I could see what was happening!" Though Lancer himself is a familiar, Kiba's his own familiar.
Mikoto doesn't typically give orders. It's why he let Lancer act as he pleases. But this situation is going to cause him to give his Servant an order. He held up his right hand, his Command Seal glowing. "Teleport to where Izumo Kusanagi is and prioritize keepin' all the Red Clansmen there safe! I'll meetcha there!"
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"So that not a lotta attention is drawn here and you guys are mere humans, I'll go easy," Assassin sneered, brandishing his weapon.
"I'll teach ya not to take Yatagarasu lightly!" Misaki shouted, red aura blazing from all over his body. He may not have his bat, but he can still put up a fight.
"If ya know what's good for ya, ya shouldn't try actin' so tough, Beanie Hat."
Misaki was launching a volley of flaming fists at the enemy, but he easily blocked them all with his katana, like he was blocked an assault from a fly. Misaki jumped back and the Servant stabbed his sword at the hazel-eyed boy. He used the bottom of his skateboard, empowered with his red aura, to deflect it. The bones in his arms ached from that, even though it was clear that was a half-hearted attack! That's when the Servant grabbed him by the hair, slamming the boy into the grass only enough to make him see stars.
Shouhei came running at the black-haired man, swinging a blazing crowbar, but the spirit simply grabbed Shouhei by the back of his shirt and tossed him at Kousuke, who tried to follow up with a flaming kick. This knocked down both young men. Rikio tried to pummel the Servant with blazing fists and feet, but was promptly punched into the ground, light enough to knock the air out of his lungs and possibly break some bones.
Izumo finally got off his PDA and flicked his cigarette at the Servant. It glowed briefly before exploding in a fiery blast in the spirit's face. The bartender was heard grumbling something about how "it was still long".
"Didja really think that would work? Are y'all just takin' me lightly? Or was that the best ya got? You false magi don't stand a chance against a Servant."
"What?!" All the remaining humans looked in a tree, where the sneering voice came from. A grinning Assassin was standing on one of the branches, completely devoid of any marks from the attack. Saburouta and Eric punched the trunk of the tree, trying to break it. Assassin jumped down before that happened, taking both humans to the ground in less than a second. The three remaining fighters attempted to gang up on the Servant, but he effortlessly took them down. All of them were moaning in pain.
Anna was looking through one of her red marbles at the Servant. "That's enough...Okada Izou."
Assassin narrowed his eyes at the Strain, gripping his katana even tighter. "I don't believe I gave ya permission to say my True Name." He began walking towards Anna, but Misaki tried to stand in his way, legs shaking as he attempted to keep from collapsing.
"You'll need to go through me first!"
"I don't have time to waste on you." The Servant roughly pushed Misaki to the side with one hand. "Lancer'll most likely be here soon, and I don't feel like havin' my ass handed to me again." He scooped Anna up under one arm after slapping Tatara, who was trying to guard the little girl, away. "You're comin' with me."
Anna was kicking her legs and flailing her arms, trying to get free. "Let me go!"
"Shut up, Girl!" Assassin growled. He placed one hand on the back of her neck and she looked to pass out. Assassin sighed then leaped out of sight.
"Anna..!" Tatara groaned, but was in too much pain to stand up.
There was a blast of white light, near where Assassin just was, and Lancer was suddenly in the spot the light originated. The first thing that registered in the demigod's mind i that all of the Red Clansmen were on the ground, injured. He dashed over to the nearest, Izumo, and crouched down by the man.
"Mikoto's coming here as fast as possible."
"Anna...She was taken..." Izumo groaned.
"Fuck!" Lancer exclaimed. "Do ya know where he went?!"
"It was the Gold Servant...So probably Mihashira Tower..."
Minutes later, Mikoto dashed to where everyone was. He must have sprint here as soon as he left the bar if his panting was anything to go off of. "Lancer. How are they?"
"I smelled that they're all still alive. They just need treatment. I've already administered a little healin' to each of them. The only one missin' is Anna. The Gold King's Servant took her. They're on the way to Mihashira Tower."
"Alright. Let's get 'em back to the bar."
Lancer, who looked calm the entire time, walked to a tree and punched it with all of his strength. There was an explosion of wood and the remains of the tree were sent flying somewhere out of the city. "God fucking dammit!" He had to seriously resist the urge to do that as soon as he saw what Assassin had done, but he could no longer hold it in. He looked so furious that Mikoto imagined that the wolf might start attacking anything that moves.
"Lancer...Try calmin' down," Izumo suggested. He's most likely imagining the same thing as Mikoto right now.
The demigod took a deep breath, calming himself down. "Sorry. Don't worry; I still have Riastrad locked up."
At the bar, all the Clansmen were awake, though they all bore bandages.
"Why would Anna be taken?!" Eric demanded, a rare moment of anger slipping through.
"Just gives me more of a reason to roast Kokujouji's ass..." Mikoto growled, arms crossed and magenta billowing around him.
Izumo looked at Lancer, an idea coming to mind. "Y'know how ya can sense the location of your Master? Can't ya extend that ability to detect anyone else? Like Anna?"
"Yes. I'm able to use runes to temporarily give myself the clairvoyance to find allies."
"Try to find her location in the Tower."
"I know." Lancer traced a couple runes in the air, the red trails of mana forming them soon fading. A few moments later, the Servant spoke up again. "Found her. She's in the uppermost part."
"How is she right now?" Mikoto asked the Servant.
"Sorry, I can't tell what her current status is."
Izumo looked at the King, knowing what the man's planning to do. "Just wait, Mikoto. They're most likely expectin' you there. So security's probably been increased quite a bit. I'll work on gettin' info on the Tower's defenses -"
"I'm goin' anyway," Mikoto broke in. "Who knows what they have planned for Anna? She might not have that long." He looked at his Servant. "And? What will you do?"
The knight grinned, punching into his other hand. "It's a reckless move, but I like it! Count me in!"
The bartender sighed. "You and Irish Heracles are like two peas in a pod sometimes...Just make sure to return safely."
On the way to the Tower, Lancer spoke up. "I could sense somethin' strange 'bout her outside of the fact she's a Strain."
Mikoto gave his Servant a quick glance, not breaking his sprint. "Strange?"
"I can't quite put my finger on it. She might've been captured 'cause of that."
"Under this tower is a massive ley line," Lancer said once they arrived at the massive building. Ley lines are underground rivers of mana, located all over the planet. And since it's mana, a spiritual being such as a Servant would be able to sense a nearby one. "And the Dresden Slate's here? Can't be a coincidence. It must be connected to the ley line in order to pool mana faster."
A dust of blue flew through the air as the black-haired manslayer appeared behind Mikoto in a lunge, about to slice the King up with his katana. Mikoto was abruptly shouldered away the instant before the assault landed. He glanced to see the cause. "Lancer!"
The Servant was using his demonic spear to block the blade from slicing into him - it had been materialized in a haze of red as soon as he sensed the other spirit - and had a fanged grin etched into his face. "Luckily these guys have Presence Concealment shut off right before launchin' an attack." He wasn't taking his eyes off Assassin. "I'll handle this! You hurry to Anna!"
"Ya sure you'll be fine on your own?" Mikoto asked.
"Don't worry 'bout me," the blue-haired demigod replied. "You've seen how I've fared against Servants before and this one's just a mere Assassin."
"You shouldn't underestimate me if you know what's good for you," the Japanese Servant growled, ready to teach this cocky bastard a painful lesson.
"Then bring it, swordsman! Let's see whatcha got!" Mikoto dashed into the Tower while both inhuman entities glared the other down.
'As expected, they came here. I'm takin' on the Servant while the Red King is comin' to ya.'
'Very well. With my Command Seal, utilize as much power as you can against Lancer!' Because he's been in control of the Dresden Slate for almost 70 years, Daikaku's Command Seal strokes are slightly more powerful than others. Assassin's not a complete idiot. He knows from seeing Lancer fight and the fact he's a Knight Class means this won't be an easy fight and he'll need help. This mindset is why the Command Seal's effective in boosting his parameters.
The two dashed to the top of the Tower, agreeing that up their would be a better place to take the fight, clanging of bone hitting metal from their weapons smashing into each other ringing out. They were making sure to go under the speed of sound in order to keep the resulting sonic boom from damaging the side of the building.
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The elevator probably wasn't the safest option, which left only one other choice to get to the top. Mikoto was running up the stairs as fast as possible, using his aura to boost his speed. But it still felt too slow. It actually made him envious of his Servant's own agility. "Fuckin' hell! There's too many goddamn stairs..!" he growled. But what he found strange as he continued going up is that he wasn't encountering much resistance. It was almost like the Gold King is inviting Mikoto to come see him.
After what seemed like forever, he finally came to the top floor. A group of Usagi tried to stop him, but a blast of his fire made them go away. He gave the doors to the Chamber of the Slate the same rough treatment. Inside was Daikaku, his back turned to the Red King, Anna being trapped in a golden cage in front of the old man.
As soon as Anna saw the redhead, she dashed over to the side of the cage nearest to him, gripping the bars. "Mikoto!"
Daikaku, now aware of the third person in the room, turned to face Mikoto. "So you've come, Third King, but I'm afraid it's for nothing. While Assassin is keeping your Servant occupied, I'll be able to kill you."
Flames blazed around the young man, his fists clenched like he's about to punch someone. "Not gonna happen. I'm gonna take Anna back with me whether or not you want it. Once I have her, I'll burn this place down."
"Before you die, there's something I think you'll be interested in hearing. I learned something recently that made me want to have the girl captured," Daikaku laughed. "You people had the Holy Grail from the very beginning without being aware of it!"
"What?!"
"You guys broke into the Center where she was being held and I know a computer got hacked by one of you. I'm a little shocked you didn't know what Anna Kushina really is."
"Same goes for you. After all, your Clan ran the place."
"I think the time for talking has ended." Gold aura enveloped the old King. "Neither you nor your Servant will leave here alive."
"We'll make sure ya can't keep that promise."
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Up over the two Servants fighting atop the Tower, two Swords materialized, one gold and the other red. The symbol of their Masters' statuses. The Servants knew this meant they were engaging each other in combat.
Assassin jumped back and Lancer moved to follow. But at that moment, golden chains appeared to sprout out of the ground, the cold, metal snakes ensnaring the Red Branch Knight, holding back that humanoid beast. A trap created by the Gold Clan and strengthened by Assassin with his new gold aura.
The chains continue to bind the cursed beast drenched in black and with veins of red on snow-white skin, whose very existence is a mistake. It was awaiting the time when it would be set free.
"You really think this can stop me?!" Red mana surged out of him and his spear like lightning. The golden links snapped as easily as dry twigs. "Useless." There are apparently these chains whose hold gets stronger the more Divinity their captive has, making it so even a god can't get out. An Anti-Divine weapon. Good thing they aren't like those. If they were, it would present a perfect opportunity to kill the demigod.
"I know they wouldn't last long against a Servant. But they bought me a couple seconds." Assassin held his katana with both hands, intending to swing it down, and came at the opposing Servant head-on. Judging by the sudden surge of mana he could see in Assassin, a Noble Phantasm was about to be used. However... He's comin' at me head-on with that Noble Phantasm huh? And I sense something strange about it. Who knows what its properties are so blockin' might not be best. Lancer doesn't have any Mind's Eye or Instinct skills, but his own years of battle experience told him that. After all, it was like Assassin expected an attempt to block. And if turns out that he made the wrong choice, then he should be able to find a way out of the situation.
Settlement Sword sliced through Lancer's right shoulder as he tried to avoid it slicing into his head, the sword cutting through the pauldron like it wasn't even there. Crimson liquid sprayed on Assassin's face. The slash from Assassin's sword cut deeply into the Japanese house behind the spearman, dividing it in two.
The swordsman narrowed his eyes at his opponent. Lancer managed to pull away from the sword in time to prevent the damage from being worse. But the Noble Phantasm almost severed the arm, exposing the sliced bones and muscles within, and rendered him unable to use the right arm at all until it's healed, the limb hanging limply at the spearman's side with several streams of blood running down it. But even with such a wound, Lancer didn't look to be in pain at all. This is because he possesses high pain tolerance from getting injured many more times than he can count, not because he can't feel the injury. He's able to withstand incredible pain without giving any noise of discomfort. To him, this is just a paper cut. It was bothersome to have his right arm be a limp hunk of meat but he couldn't just rip it off as it would take less mana and time to regenerate the damaged flesh than to regrow the entire arm.
The Knight couldn't help but bark a laugh. He thought he would receive more damage from that Noble Phantasm! "So that was your sword's power?"
"Maybe ya should stop dickin' around and use your spear's true power."
Lancer looked to legitimately be thinking it over. "...Nah. Even its limited power seems to be enough to take care of you." Then he gave a fanged grin, blood-red eyes glittering with amusement. "Hate to break it to ya, but ya ain't worth usin' my Noble Phantasm on."
Assassin glared daggers and got ready to attack again. "I'll make ya regret that..."
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How much damage has Mikoto delivered? How much has he received? He honestly didn't care. The only thing that mattered to him was rescuing Anna, the one he sees as his daughter.
The ferocious volley of strikes from the Gold King forced Mikoto to almost completely go on the defense, blocking and dodging, but it felt like the bones of his arms were slowly being shattered, even with his aura reinforcing them. The King could practically feel the aura from the gold Sword smash against his own. For an old man, Daikaku sure knows how to hit someone! But Mikoto's endurance to holding out against this assault had been upped, albeit a little, by sparring with his Servant. He tried to roast the Gold King with a wall of flames, but the gold aura easily put them out soon after they materialized, same with the fireballs he launched, as if reminding Mikoto that Daikaku's the strongest King.
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The two spirits were standing on the surface of the water as if it's the ground, small ripples appearing around their feet, continuing their fight. Ribbons of red and violet mana soared through the air and strings of blood kept making scarlet clouds in the water. The Gold Servant grit his teeth in frustration. This other Servant was managing to block the sword strikes easily with his spear in only one hand and Assassin was being backed with a parameter boost and a Command Seal stroke!
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Pieces of the ceiling kept breaking off and raining down, most likely from the clashing of the two Servants. Who was winning in that fight?
Two of Daikaku's blows broke through Mikoto's defense. One fist slammed into his right cheek, the other went for his midsection. The punch ripped through his abdomen and emerged out his back, the fist covered in blood. Mikoto opened his mouth, but no words came out. Only a sickening sound as the young man expelled a mouthful of that scarlet liquid from his mouth, it dribbling from his chin.
"Mikoto!" Anna wailed. Daikaku tore his fist free from the bloody hole. The Red King staggered, trying to maintain his balance, before collapsing backwards onto the floor with a groan, feeling the warmth of his blood spread out under him, fog starting to build in his head and black spots invading his vision.
"It's over for you now."
"Not yet!" Mikoto managed to stand back up. His legs were shaking violently, threatening to give in. He refused to give up for Anna's sake, not while he could still fight back.
"Stop trying to resist."
The redhead didn't say anything in response. Golden bolts from the old man were fired at the other King. A wall of magenta flames rose up from the ground in front of the young man, but a blast resulted from the blocked attacks that blew him back to Anna. He remained on the floor on his back, panting heavily, and continued to hack up blood. Too much of his strength left him at this point.
"An...na..." He rolled over onto his stomach and tried to grab onto one bar on the cage to melt it, but failed, the hand hitting the ground limply. His mind was clouding and he could feel death creeping up behind him. Tears were falling hard from the little girl's eyes as she gazed in horror as the one she looks up to as a father was bleeding to death less than a meter away. And she had never felt so helpless in her entire life.
"Mikoto...Please don't go..!"
"...Sorry..." His eyes slowly closed, possibly for the last time.
Daikaku took a step forward, intending to finish the job, when a violent rumbling made him stop and look up. Less than a second later, a red beam tore a hole in the ceiling leading down into the Chamber of the Slate, it taking out the entire pond laid on the roof over the room. The King put a dome of his gold aura up around him, but it still shattered in only a few seconds. Right before the shield broke, he had started to jump back so the attack singed the left side of his face. He fell to his knees, his left eye sealed shut. The two Servants came down through the new hole, completely oblivious to the Gold King behind Assassin.
Lancer quickly turned his head to look at his Master. He was able to sense the King was in danger, being struck with a cold sensation and brief pain in his spirit core. That's why he made that hole to the Chamber. His eyes went wide when he saw Mikoto laying motionless in a growing pool of red. The blood was coming from a hole in his abdomen. Lancer's sense of smell is strong, even for a Servant, since it was powerful when he was alive, so to him, the room reeked of the sweet substance. It wouldn't be worrisome for a Servant to be injured in this way. Though they can bleed, a Servant's lifeforce is their mana and not blood, though it's dangerous for them to lose most of it as there's mana in blood. As such, they can shrug off injuries normally classified as life-threatening as long as their heart or brain, both connected to a Servant's spirit core, weren't severely injured, and hitting those areas of a Servant can prove a very difficult task. This is the reason why they're hard to kill even for other Servants. But Mikoto's still a human. The fact Lancer could still sense their connection meant the King's alive. But for how much longer?
Assassin took this chance to slash at Lancer's neck while his head was turned. He turned his head as if looking back over his right shoulder. The grinding of teeth rang out and Assassin's eyes went wide. Lancer's teeth were now clamped down on the incoming blade and managed to stop it from slicing into flesh.
"Wha..?!" Assassin gasped, unable to believe what had just happened. Lancer's blood-red eyes were blazing with unbelievable fury with him actually snarling like a wolf before he bit down harder on the blade he had captured. In a second, the steel shattered, shards of the broken metal raining down. Was this Servant in fact some kind of wild animal?! Assassin's surprise kept him from avoiding the demonic spear, which was driven through his heart without missing a beat, the hand gripping the weapon also appearing out the Japanese Servant's back, and the curse immediately ate away the swordsman's spirit core.
"Lancer! Mikoto needs help!" Anna shouted.
"I know! I'm on it!" Lancer ripped out his hand, dematerialized his weapon, dashed over, squat down by Mikoto, and gently placed his left hand on the wound through his abdomen. A green glow was coming from the hand.
"What are you doing?" Anna asked, still gripping the bars of the cage.
"I'm usin' healin' runes on him. Don't worry, Anna. He's gonna be alright. I'm not 'bout to let him die. I'd be a sorry excuse for a Servant if I did."
Meanwhile, as Daikaku cradled his fading Servant, he could feel wetness roll down his right cheek. Tears? But why is he crying?
One of Daikaku's grandsons was an Usagi working closely with the Gold King himself. One day, during an argument involving a bunch of Strains turned bloody against the King, his grandson lost his life defending his grandfather against the attackers. Daikaku had always blamed himself for not sensing the incoming danger fast enough. And now another person close to the old man is dead, and again he feels it's all his fault.
Before anything else could happen, four Usagi appeared seemingly out of thin air around the Gold King. Two helped Daikaku up and out of the room while the other two were prepared to fend off any attacks coming their way. But there were none; Lancer was too focused on his own Master right now.
"I stopped the bleedin' and closed the wound somewhat. Would've had a lot more done in that amount of time if I were a Caster. He was badly injured, so it'll take him a bit to wake up. We need to go before anythin' else happens." Lancer used his spear and sliced through some of the golden bars as easily as slicing butter. He reached in and helped Anna out. Then the Servant gathered his Master into his arms - he materialized his black jacket in his left hand, tied it tightly around his right shoulder and upper arm so the two severed areas were pressed closed, and used runes in his right arm to transmit brain signal with mana, which'll enable him to use the right arm for almost an hour - pressing the man against his chest. He was supporting all the weight with his left arm. "Stay close to me on the way out." Anna nodded stiffly and looped her right arm around the armor over Lancer's left arm and tightly grasped Mikoto's leather jacket, the two taking off running.
He knows he could easy break through a wall to the outside and run down the Tower, but carrying Mikoto required both arms and there's no way in hell he's just going to abandon Anna. He can still go on offense. He'll also need to remember to renew the rune when it's about to fade. Normally, he'd be able to dash through a building as tall as this one and make it back to the bar in less than an hour, but he'll need to slow his running way down so he doesn't leave Anna behind. He hopes the jacket'll stay in place. The rune will only work if the wound's pressed mostly shut.
They were taking the long way down the Tower, going down floor by floor. The elevator wouldn't be a safe choice for Anna since the cable could be targeted. "I'm scared," Anna whimpered at one point. She pressed herself to Lancer's side and her grip on Mikoto's jacket grew even tighter with her arm trembling.
Lancer gave her a gentle smile, similar to the one he gave her when he had his shield protecting her. Despite his fighting habits and anger issues, this man is a kind person. "I'll keep you and Mikoto safe."
"But I'm also worried about you!" This surprised Lancer a little. He hadn't heard her yell before. "You may not have been made a Clansman but you're still a member of HOMRA!"
"...Thanks, Anna. I'll also be fine. You've seen how tough I am."
Magecraft from a group of Usagi was launched at the Red Servant and the Strain as soon as they appeared on a floor. As there's magical energy in blood, Lancer simply bit his lower lip with one of his sharp canines and spat out the blood, using it to make the rune for the resulting magecraft. A thrown piece of Magic Resistance, nullifying the spells as soon as they came into contact.
Lancer bore his fangs and snarled like a wolf about to pounce. He wanted to release his killing intent, but it might make Anna flee. "Fuck. Off! Or you're dead!"
The Usagi seemed to vanish. Good thing the orders given to them were to try killing this Servant, not fight to the death. And he was right with the threat he made. They would die in no time flat if they continued to stand against him.
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Daikaku was in the Tower's hospital, getting his injuries treated. As for his left eye, while it's still there it's useless. This loss made him recall a conversation he had with his Servant before the two enemies entered the Tower.
Assassin had some sake in his hand. "We should celebrate!"
"I'll party with you tonight to celebrate us getting the Holy Grail."
"I'll holdja to that!"
"That's all that can be done right now." The voice of the doctor attending to Daikaku broke the old man out of his thoughts. "Though we'll check up on you each day to make sure there are no complications."
"Right...I need to make a phone call."
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The three with HOMRA came through the bar's front door. What everyone noticed right away is that both young men were all bloody, the King was being held in Lancer's arms. He was awake at that point, though he looked slightly out of it like he only awoke recently. While some of Mikoto's wounds still oozed the crimson liquid with a hole in the part of his shirt over his abdomen and a lot of blood soaked into his clothes, Lancer's right shoulder was dripping with the red substance like a water pipe with a large leak, his black jacket tied over it like a makeshift bandage. But something told the Clansmen that it isn't there to help slow the bleeding
"Ya both got roughed up!" Izumo exclaimed, speaking for everyone else at that moment.
Lancer smirked. "Ya should see the other two guys. Unfortunately, one dispersed."
"So ya killed Assassin then." Izumo looked down at Anna. "That's three Servants in the Holy Grail. How're ya feelin'?"
"I'm a little nauseous is all," the Strain replied quietly. "I'm gradually feeling full each time."
Mikoto looked at Izumo in surprise. "Ya know 'bout her?"
"I recently had one of my informants investigate the Center and I got a report shortly after you two left regardin' the time Anna was held there. It seems Mizuchi stole notes from the Einzberns - a homunculi family of alchemists in Germany - on how to modify someone to be a vessel for the Holy Grail. That's how Kokujouji found out about what Anna is," Izumo said. Koushi Mizuchi is a Gold Clansman with great regenerative power and was the one who tortured Anna in an ultimately futile attempt to force her to become the next Blue King back when the seat was still vacant. This was because a future King's heart syncs with the "pulse" of the Dresden Slate when in life-or-death scenarios. The torture was put to a stop soon before Anna joined HOMRA. "I know Anna's the Holy Grail's vessel. She's the only Strain it worked on since she can take in things then release them. Her health is likely to deteriorate with each Servant soul she takes in."
Lancer walked across the floor and set his Master down on the couch. Then he turned his head to his right shoulder, his tongue flicking out and capturing some of the crimson liquid each time.
"Are you...lapping up your own blood?" Eric asked slowly.
"I'm just tryin' to recollect some of my mana that's leakin' out," Lancer replied simply, as if what he's doing didn't look weird in the slightest. "Want me to continue the healin', Mikoto?"
"I'm mostly healed. You're still bleedin', so heal your own injury first."
"Fine. But first," Lancer tossed Mikoto a small, flat, red gem. One of his runes was inscribed on it, "swallow this. Don't worry, it's made of mana so it'll dissolve in your stomach. Think of it as a medicine tablet. This is meant to temporarily increase your blood production. A lotta yours is gone. As for my healin' ya, Just like last time there might be some soreness." This happens due to how fast the damaged cells regenerate.
The King looked at it suspiciously. But the stone was only as big as a pill so it should be able to slide down his throat. He sighed. "Fine." He popped the stone into his mouth, swallowed, then looked at Izumo. "What were ya sayin' 'bout Anna takin' in Servant souls?"
"I don't know all the details, but the Holy Grail is powered by the souls of the defeated Servants, the chalice bein' filled with blood. It's why the contents are spiritual. Six dead Servants are needed to have a wish granted. So as the War goes on, Anna has a chance of falling sick with no cure except for the War to be won."
So the only way to relieve her is to win the War. But in the process her suffering would only increase. Mikoto was at a loss for the right call to make here. Winning would most likely be best, but he won't feel great about it. After all, the Silver King might decide to get involved and it's unlikely that the Green and Grey Kings are just going to leave him alone.
"He somehow found out I'm the Lesser Grail and wanted to use me to activate the Greater Grail, also known as the Grail of Heaven," Anna chimed in. "I now know that the Greater Grail is located in the deepest part of the cave under the temple on the school island. The entrance in the mountain in concealed by a bounded field, but Servants will be able to sense it."
"We'll go tomorrow to give ya time to rest," Lancer said to Mikoto. "Even with that gem, you'll still be dizzy for a few more hours, so ya should avoid movin' too much." Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a bird through the window fly away. "Shit! The Green Clan's bird was eavesdroppin'!"
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"I had wanted Anna Kushina dead in order to enrage the Red King enough for us to hopefully kill him without too much effort," Nagare said. The other Green Clansmen and both Servants were currently present. "I had also hoped to kill two birds with one stone by also killing the Servant with her. But with this information, it may have been a good thing that the mission failed."
"We should go right now," Sukuna said.
"No. Tomorrow," Saber growled, looking like she was ready to go out and fight.
"But -"
"Lancer's my prey, got it?" She shot the boy a glare. If looks could kill... "I'll be the one to kill him." Despite her affection for the Red Branch Knight, he'll appear before her as an enemy. And she'll kill her enemy as she always strives to. In fact, she feels that her attraction to Lancer is even more of a motivator to send him to hell.
"You sound like Yukari..."
Nagare sighed. "Very well. The rest of us will attempt to steal the Dresden Slate at that time. I'll find out what new security has been implemented at the Tower. There's also a good chance of a Servant being there. The Silver King will most likely be taking over management of the Slate, and he still has his Servant."
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"Since it's a Grail, we might have company," Lancer grumbled. He was still pissed that Kotosaka managed to sneak under his nose. "Namely at least one Servant. We need to be ready for that."
Adolf entered the Chamber of the Slate, accompanied by Neko. Daikaku stood in the center of the room, though two Usagi were by him. He gestured for them to leave. They left without any hesitation, like puppets without a will of their own. Instead of Adolf calling a meeting with the Gold King, he was summoned instead. The Silver King was already informed of the current situation, though he was skeptical at first if this isn't some sort of trap given Daikaku's threat the other day.
Caster abruptly came out of spirit form, standing at her Master's side and glaring at Daikaku like an enemy. Her mirror, Eightfold Blessing of Amaterasu, was levitating in front of her, a warning to back off or things will get ugly. "You'd better not be planning anything funny or you'll have to answer to me."
"Stand down, Caster. You too, Neko," Adolf added when the Strain began hissing like a cat at the old King. The German man looked at his friend. "You aren't going to the church?"
"No. I still have my Clansmen and the Dresden Slate to tend to...But I need my friend back. Security's an issue for dealing with Kings and Servants. I request your aid."
Adolf nodded. Caster and Neko, on the other hand, still looked suspicious. It could take some time for them to get to the point where they don't look like they're about to fight the Gold King. "Can you strengthen defenses here, Caster?"
It'd normally be difficult for her to use Territory Creation due to her personality. But Adolf has already accepted her for who she is. "Alright."
It was night with the other Clansmen having already returned to their respective homes. Tatara, Kiba, Izumo, and Anna were at Izumo's apartment. Anna was still frightened by the events of today so she's staying with those three to feel better. This left Mikoto and Lancer as the only ones in the bar.
"Come up here, Lancer," Mikoto called from his room. The Servant made his way up the stairs and into the place, the King sitting on the edge of his bed. The knight could easily smell that his Master just finished taking a shower.
"I can guess what this is about. Ya smell strongly of desire for me. I could smell it all the way down at the bar."
"Good. That means I don't have to spend time explainin' my intentions to ya."
Lancer smirked and casually walked over. "Thought ya didn't wanna get too serious with me."
"I'm not. This is somethin' necessary. Ya fought a Servant, lost a lotta blood, used offensive magecraft, used a ton of healing magecraft, and are providin' the upkeep for a Ghost Liner familiar."
"I already toldja I'm good for possibly fightin' a Servant tomorrow. You're a first-rate mage. I'm gettin' a good mana feed from ya."
"Don't lie. Anna said your mana's a little low right now. It's not at a critical point, but ya predict the Servant you'll fight tomorrow is Saber, and if ya have too much fun you'll more than likely only last less than a couple hours. I wish ya stopped hidin' this stuff.
"I just don't wanna push ya into these kinda situations."
"Then why do ya insist on burnin' through mana durin' heated battles?"
The warrior shrugged. "I don't intentionally do it. I got too carried away is all. That bastard kidnapped Anna after all and was pretty strong. 'Sides, I woulda said somethin' if I was almost at the point of runnin' on fumes."
"Just 'cause ya have an above average mana output doesn't mean ya should guzzle it."
"I may have a high mana output, but I also have a large mana pool 'cause I'm half god. A little guzzlin' every now and then is fine! Plus, ya have my back if I end up in a sticky situation, right?"
Mikoto looked away, probably to hide his blush. "...Yeah..."
Lancer chuckled. "You're really cute when you're embarrassed!"
"...Shut up..."
"Anyway, ya sure 'bout doin' a mana transfer?"
"It's a simple one-night stand just in case your prediction ends up bein' correct."
The Celt had a shit-eating grin. "That's only an excuse to have sex with me."
"You want outta this?"
"Personally, I'm fine with this since the one who made a move is you and not me. But what about Tatara?" Even though he loved his wife dearly, it didn't stop the warrior from fooling around with various men and women, pretty much sleeping with half the country. Emer was okay with it since she knew he didn't actually love those people, but he didn't know that she'll kill any rivals for his love just like he would, and actually did, in the same scenario. However, the same may not apply with Mikoto and Tatara. This is 2,000 years later, after all.
"He and I already talked it over. He's fine with it since I don't have a lotta blood to spare and this just so happens to be the other method to quickly restore mana, though he was a little pissed at me. So I promised to make it up to him tomorrow with a date, though it might take a good chunk out of my bank account." Lancer struggled and failed to imagine an angry Tatara and Mikoto apologizing to him over and over for this. He never would've pegged Tatara as the jealous type but the world's full of mysteries. For Mikoto, he does find Tatara's jealousy amusing even though it's often in regards to the King. Unfortunately, this is someone Tatara actually knows and sees on a daily basis, so it could become awkward if it happens too often and might result in Tatara becoming more clingy and bitchy. That's why Mikoto'll only do this with Lancer if he has to. "It's only to increase your chances for tomorrow."
"Your blood level's low...And you can't use a second Command Seal stroke because you'll never know if you'll need it later...That just leaves a mana transfer. *sigh* Since he's your Servant, I suppose it's your responsibility to take care of him when needed."
Lancer just hummed in reply. He had to admit he was interested in doing this with his Master.
The two young men embraced, initiating a heated make-out session. Lancer knows he can just suck his Master off for mana, but his animalistic instincts were beginning to take over. Just doing that seemed too boring. In truth, he had wanted to do this with Mikoto even days earlier. The only thing stopping him from going for it was that he could sense early on that Tatara was Mikoto's safety trigger, like how Emer was the spearman's own, and since they also loved each other he felt it was best to stay on the sidelines as much as possible.
Mikoto's hands squeezed his Servant's ass through the black pants before trying to remove the red shirt. The shirt and pants faded in a dust of blue mana, the King resting his hands on warm, muscled flesh.
Lancer leaned back. "Your turn. I'm more used to removin' clothes from my time. You'll need to help me out here."
"Didn't learn it from the Grail?"
"I only know the function of each clothing part. So while I have a general idea of how to do it, it's not definitive."
"That explains why ya had the fly of the pants I let ya borrow down."
"Whatever."
As soon as Mikoto shed his final article of clothing, Lancer was soon pressed up to the young man, kissing and licking at his jaw and neck while both hands roamed his chest, playing with the redhead's nipples to see what noises he could manage to draw out. They were muted groans. Mikoto reached one hand back to pull the Irish Servant in for a deep kiss. With Lancer this close, Mikoto could practically feel the power coming from the demigod, both internally and externally. He actually felt his own musculature isn't much in comparison to this battle-hardened warrior's. While he does have some well-defined muscles, it's not as much as with his Servant, who's practically covered in lean muscle.
A hand pressed against the right side on the King's face with those blood-red eyes seeming to bore into his own amber ones. "Don't bother comparing our bodies. We led different lives is all." Honestly, that part didn't matter to the spearman at all and the fact Mikoto is quite handsome was what Lancer's mind was on more. But he's no Ferdiad. That...actually might be for the best.
"Did you read my mind through our Path?"
The other man barked a laugh. "'Course not! I thought ya would've known by now that we can't do that! We may be linked on a mental level, but even that has its limits."
"Can't ya do it with runes?"
"Not very well with my B rank in Rune Magecraft. It's why I interrogated the guy from JUNGLE the way I did."
"Thought it was just to be an asshole to him."
"Maybe I enjoy bein' an asshole."
The scent befitting that of a wild beast that wafted from the blue-haired Celt was quite intoxicating. Mikoto couldn't get enough of it and unconsciously buried his face in the nape of the Servant's neck, sighing as he breathed in more of the scent. A chuckle rumbled in the spearman.
"Are ya startin' to get too attached? Am I gonna hear 'I love you' soon?"
Mikoto abruptly pulled his face away, turning it in an effort to hide the red blooming on his cheeks. "O-of course not!"
Another laugh. "When ya get embarrassed, it really makes ya look delicious."
A scoff and smirk came from the man with the red hair. "Ya plannin' on eatin' my soul?"
Fingers threaded themselves into his hair. "I may be a Servant, but I'd never do that to ya. I thought ya knew me better than that by now." He pulled the young man into yet another kiss. One of the human's hands reached the hairtie on the back of the physical spirit's head and removed it, allowing the long, azure strands to come free. Lancer really does have beautiful hair, but Mikoto won't admit it out loud.
After a bit more foreplay, Mikoto had to admit there was something satisfying about causing such a powerful being to be reduced to such a mess. Panting, blushing, sweating, and disheveled hair. Lancer's current expression wasn't one the human ever thought he'd get to see. Right now, he was starting to lose himself to this moment.
"Allow me to provide you service, Master." At those words, the spirit moved down, burying his face between Mikoto's legs. The warm, moist cavern of the Servant's mouth enveloped the King's cock up to the root. Mikoto couldn't hold back the moan that escaped his lips as the spearman went to work. It made him wonder how often he did this during his time.
It didn't take long for him to cum, Lancer swallowing it all then leaned back with a smirk. "I don't think I've ever toldja how sweet your mana tastes."
"Whatever." He saw Mikoto coat his fingers in lube, so he wasn't surprised to hear, "I think ya know what'll happen next so get back over here."
Lancer chuckled a little as he crawled back into Mikoto's lap while straddling the redhead's hips. "Alright."
Sticking two fingers in the spearman's ass rewarded the King with a deep groan, bordering on a growl. Mikoto chuckled at seeing his Servant show this side of himself. "You're such a good Servant." That just slipped out. But it's true the King has enjoyed being paired with the spearman.
"Only 'cause I like havin' ya as a Master."
"So you'd be rebellious if ya didn't like me?"
"No. My policy is to obey anyone who holds power over me. But I'd bitch quite a bit."
Mikoto pulled out his fingers, earning a desperate whine, and reclined slightly. "Ya gonna ride me or what?"
"Kinda presumptuous there." But even while saying that, the blue-haired warrior settled on his Master's cock, enveloping it in warmth and began moving his body. A low growl rumbled in the Celt's throat, mouth slightly open and revealing sharp canines, making the Servant appear about to bite deeply into the other man like some kind of wild animal. The redhead reached down between them and began jerking the Servant off, eliciting another moan. Mikoto, to see if Lancer is ticklish there like a dog, scratched the spearman behind one of his ears. This earned Mikoto a pleased whine. One of his legs even started trembling. Is this guy the personification of a dog or something?
"The fuck...?" was all the King muttered. Lancer seemed to abruptly realize what was happening and stilled his leg. Red bloomed on his cheeks and crimson eyes flicked elsewhere in shame.
"I know what you're thinkin', but DO NOT call me that!" Mikoto responded with a chuckle.
"I already know."
After a bit, Lancer moaned, "Mikoto...I'm close..." His movements were beginning to lose their rhythm.
"Gh..! Me too..!" Soft walls clenched around Mikoto with the nearing release, causing him to bite down on the Servant's shoulder, even knowing that he would fail to leave a mark. Though it did feel like skin, the Saint Graph refused to give in to the teeth. He then came into his Servant with a loud groan.
Lancer followed soon after. With his release, the beast really did sink his fangs into the side of the redhead's neck with an animalistic growl, easily drawing the amount of blood a wolf does when it bites into live prey. Mikoto released a hiss at the sudden pain. Ropes of warm, white cum painted the chests and stomachs of both young men.
Lancer, realizing what he just did, quickly pulled his head back, blood staining his teeth and around his mouth. The appearance really did make him look like a vampire right after a meal or some kind of predator that just caught its prey. A monster given to another monster like the redhead. "Sorry. Didn't mean to go that far." He placed a hand on the wound his fangs created, using a healing rune to close it completely. "I accidentally did the same to Emer and a few others I had sex with back durin' the Age of the Gods." Emer was the only one one who requested he stop the bleeding without getting rid of the mark.
"It's okay," Mikoto panted, more from the release instead of the pain that the bite had caused. He'd need to remember to wash the blood from the bedding. Lancer thankfully drank most that came out.
The two just lay side-by-side on the bed, Mikoto grabbing a cigarette from the pack on his nightstand, handing Lancer one as well. For a few moments, the two smoked in silence. Then Mikoto spoke up. "Emer was lucky to have you."
"And Tatara's lucky to have ya as well."
The human chuckled. "He'll probably get on my ass again tomorrow for this."
"Ya almost sound like you're lookin' forward to it."
Mikoto grinned, imagining that adorable expression on Tatara's face. But in a second, something else played in his mind.
He was panting hard, stumbling and falling into the blood pouring mostly out of the mangled remains of his right arm, it appearing as if a starving beast tore most of it off with the bone being shattered in the remainder. Some of his right flank looked like it had been torn away and two of his ribs were jutting out of his chest with several others smashed. He was in an incredible amount of pain, but he only displayed being mana-starved.
When he appeared in the world this time, he was only a little more powerful and durable than an average human. The human he found himself with, a mage, was very interested in his physiology and the fact his magical energy cycle isn't disrupted as easily as with other types of Ghost Liners. So he was easily overpowered and subjected to various "tests" which had been going on for a couple months. Perhaps more or less. He's lost track of the days in his haze of constant pain.
The latest tests were tinkering with a new Mystic Code - an item imbued with magical qualities - and, as the tests often are, a way to see how great his regeneration is. Lancer was beginning to suspect the mage was also interested in seeing how much non-fatal damage the blue-haired warrior can bear before he screams. But he stubbornly refuses to do that, no matter how much agony gets inflicted on him. With how frequent these are, a lot of his mana is quickly being lost and so his regeneration is getting slower and slower. In fact, his shattered femur still hasn't healed completely. He's so low on mana he more than likely won't make it to tomorrow. But he'd get a full refill of mana before he fades. Can't have one of the test subjects dying that easily. This was most likely what he deserved for all the sins he committed when he was alive. It's why he didn't fight back and not just because of the spiritual restraints put on him before each test that he winds up being blasted out of. But he couldn't be stopped from making snarky and sarcastic remarks, which clearly annoyed the mage, throughout the whole process.
There were footsteps coming up from behind him and he was roughly grabbed by his azure hair, it having long since come out of his ponytail. "Come on, dog. I never said we were done with the testing."
"Mikoto? Is somethin' wrong?" Lancer's voice brought the King back to reality. He was staring at his Master with concern.
"I'm fine!" Mikoto replied quickly. He didn't know how, but he knew right away that even though that was Lancer's past, it wasn't from when he was alive. Something told the King that wasn't the first or only time Lancer has been abused that badly. And he also has a feeling the demigod doesn't remember it at all.
Mikoto: Enough with showin' me your past.
Sukuna: What is this?!
Mordred: I'm glad to see you here.
Nagare: I wish only to have the Slate to better all of mankind. Isn't that what you wanted, Silver King?
Iskandar: Nagare said your power only works on the living. You...are aware that we Servants aren't classified as living beings, right?
Tenkei: I thought you were killed!
Yukari: It's just one unexpected thing after another.
Cú Chulainn: Gáe Bolg!
?: So it's my turn now, huh?
Next chapter: Greater Grail