Another bolded scene. Same thing as last time. This one's really short.

Created an image of Lancer Alter without his mask and with it broken on Wattpad and Archive Of Our Own.

Izumo looked from scrubbing a plate to see Mikoto walking to the front door of the bar He wore his leather jacket. "Where ya goin'?"

"Greater Grail," came Mikoto's grunted reply. He won't admit it, but he wanted to visit the place his Servant died one last time.

"...There's not much point now that ya've lost the game."

"I know." Mikoto then left the bar, not saying another word. The sky was dark and covered with clouds of grey. A few drops of water landed on Mikoto. Rain? Is this a coincidence, or some kind of omen?

The sprinkle had turned into a downpour by the time he reached the school island. In the forest, he came to the cave that held the Greater Grail in its depths. He was just about to enter when someone suddenly leaped out of the trees at Mikoto, throwing a punch aimed for the King's head to blow it off.

"Look out!"

Mikoto was shoved to the side in that instant and hit the ground. He looked to see who had pushed him, surprised to see Ruler. She wore a violet dress and some pieces of silver armor instead of her other clothes. She was using a flagpole with a rolled-up flag to block the punch. The attacker jumped back, and that's when Mikoto got a good look at the person. It looked like Lancer, but that couldn't be! He fell into the Grail, he's supposed to be dead! Yet, here he is. But he didn't look quite the same.

The first thing Mikoto noticed were the clothes and armor. They were dyed with various shades of black and veins of red, like trails of blood, covered a majority of the armor. The black stood out greatly against the deathly white of the young man's skin that also had some red veins going up his neck to the outside edge of each cheek. But what really got the King's attention was the thing over the Servant's eyes. His eyes were concealed by a pure black visor or mask, with an outline of spikes like a bunch of black claws or teeth. It also had those crimson veins. There was no way to see through it. Was the Servant blind? Any small plant life, such as grass and bushes, within about a dozen meters from him wilted. It was almost like life itself was trying to shy away from him and the thin black aura surrounding him, a glow around his form.

Mikoto considers himself as someone who isn't afraid of anyone and is really hard to scare. But right here, right now, he was genuinely afraid of his former Servant. It was the first time he truly felt the icy fingers of fear grip his heart. Even though Lancer's face held no emotion, the redhead could sense the suppressed killing interest. The demigod was now something constantly terrifying. Unlike his regular form, the beast would brutally murder someone completely unprovoked. This is someone who's allowed their desire for destruction take over.

"Lancer..." he whispered. "What happened to ya..?"

Ruler's eyes went wide. "It's Lancer! He's an Alter!"

Mikoto looked at Ruler as he got up. "What're ya doin' here?"

She didn't look back at Mikoto. "I had a revelation of a corrupted Lancer and rushed right over. As it is unknown how out of control a battle against an Alter will get, I had the Church begin to evacuate everyone from Ashinaka. They'll be told we got tipped about a terrorist attack so some buildings may be damaged. It should still be underway. You should also leave."

Lancer held out his right hand without a word and a massive bolt of red flashed from it, revealing the demonic spear, Gáe Bolg. It was still red, albeit a darker crimson, but a mist of black was emitted by it that swirled around the weapon like a miasma. A red and black aura burst from him, making the ground tremble. He was ready for a battle to the death.

The sharp tip of Ruler's flagpole was pointed at the other spirit. She held it like a spear. "I'll cover your retreat!"

Mikoto shook his head. "I won't flee. He used to be my Servant. So I'll be present when he dies."

Ruler quickly glanced at Mikoto before having to block a stab from Lancer. The chains on his body rattled with the force he had put into the strike. "Ugh! Did he used to be your friend?" Mikoto fell silent. All that happened was a cloak of red aura spilled from his body and his Sword of Damocles materialized. For God's sake, he never expected he would fight his own Servant. The rain was unable to extinguish his fire. "Whatever the case, he isn't the person you knew anymore! Your Servant's gone now!"

"Can't ya use a Seal on him to make him stop?"

"I already tried. Seals won't work on him now that he's in this state. He has some kind of curse protecting him." She braced herself for the next attack.

Sparks flew and shockwaves blew away trees each time the spear and the flagpole slammed into each other. Sweat was breaking out on Ruler's face. She was only able to hold off his ferocious onslaught because she had analyzed his fighting style very carefully, suspecting this might happen to him since the Grail Mud is similar to a Servant and because she was using a Seal to temporarily boost her parameters. There was a grin from the darkened spearman, but it seemed hollow now. Lancer's canines, while still not protruding, were longer.

"He's merely playing around to test us!" Ruler said through grit teeth while continuing to defend, her long braid moving like a whip as she struggled to keep up. Given how skilled Mikoto's seen Lancer when he gets serious, this could be considered him taking it easy in the fight.

Lancer eventually raked his right hand, no glove and with black animal-like claws on a white hand, at Ruler's head. She ducked so the attack would miss and the blades of air that were created slashed through the trunk of a tree. On his body, there were wide bands of metal with multiple broken chains around both arms and legs and his neck, a total of 29. There was one on each wrist and ankle, one on the middle of both biceps and thighs and one on each knee and elbow. There was also five chains tied just above each elbow. There was a giant shackle going around his chest. The three chains on his back were really thick, like you would use to tow a small vehicle. Ruler grabbed the chain at the right wrist, but it grew longer in a glow of red mana, wrapping around her arm as if it had a mind of its own. A large fireball from Mikoto was launched right at Lancer. He knew about Ruler's EX-rank Magic Resistance, meaning a King's magecraft would fail to affect her. But Lancer actually had to use his spear to block. This distracted him and heated the metal of the chain, allowing Ruler to tear the links off the clamp entirely in less than a second to free herself. Part of the metal shackle was torn away, but not enough to make it fall off the man's wrist.

Mikoto suddenly appeared over the dark Servant in the next instant, not going to let up his attack, and slammed his heel down in an axe kick for the top of the knight's head, the entire leg engulfed in a fierce blaze. Lancer used his spear to block and the foot collided with it. Lancer's feet dug into the ground, the earth splintering and breaking apart into large chunks. The defense held up and Lancer didn't look to have broken a sweat. Just how much is he able to handle anyway?! He threw the King off using the spear then punched him in the gut hard enough to send him crashing back through several trees. It was severely held back, given how badly he could send a human flying back if he threw the punch at full power. Only enough to get the King out of the way was most likely used.

The Alter Servant thrust his spear forward at Mikoto, a large beam of red energy outlined with black coming out. Ruler grabbed him and pulled him away in the instant before the blow made contact with the King. It stretched to the other side of the island in only a couple seconds, taking out all the trees in the way and probably creating a massive hole in the school far behind the redhead. The beam thinned and vanished a couple seconds after it caused its destruction. A massive cloud of dust and roaring violet flames that the rain was fighting to put out had been created on the entire path the attack fired along. The dust held red light from the mana he used as well as bolts of crimson lightning.

"Cursed fire! Even I wouldn't be able to block that!" Ruler exclaimed. This is because, like the skill Witchcraft, it can ignore Magic Resistance. Like a repeating nightmare, she went back to having to defend against a series of ferocious attacks delivered by the other Servant, keeping his attention away from Mikoto as much as possible. Even while defending against this relentless onslaught, she was still standing strong, her flagpole refusing to break. She managed to get behind Lancer and slashed at his neck, him ducking in time. The end of her flag barely brushed the bushy black-and-red fur draped over his broad shoulders down his back to the end of the blue-and-red hair in his hairtie with broken chains on the other Servant's back draped down it, those four strings of metal links connected to a collar so massive it covered over half of the Alter's neck. He snapped around and slashed upward, knocking up the flagpole but it not leaving Ruler's hands. Then he slashed down. the off-balance flagpole meant the other Servant wouldn't be able to defend in time. Red aura materialized around Ruler in a dome. The spear slammed into the shield. It took less than a second for it to shatter in a shower of vermillion sparks. That was apparently all the time Ruler needed to react. She jumped back in time and the spear collided with empty ground. The explosion was equivalent to a few packs of C4 going off.

"Sorry," Mikoto quickly said to the sane Servant, pulling his arm back. "I can't put up as strong of a defense as Munakata."

"Don't worry about it!" Ruler replied. "It actually saved me. He was moving so fast I could barely see his attacks."

Lancer tsked and jumped straight up and held his demonic weapon over his shoulder, the exact same stance he took when about to use the second version of his Noble Phantasm on Saber. He'll take out both pests at once. Black-and-red mana swathed the weapon as it was being charged.

"Very well." Ruler seemed to already be aware of what was about to be used. The fabric of her flag unfurled. A golden light was emitted from the item. "Here is the work of the Lord! My flag, protect my brethren!" She stood straight and held the flag upright in front of her with both hands. "Luminosité Eternelle! [God is Here With Me]"

"Gáe Bolg! [Gouging Piercing Spear of Carnage]" Lancer hurled the spear at Ruler with a roar, the first words he said in this form. It was a red thorn of destruction, thrown at Mach 2, the true use of the weapon. A crack appeared in his mask when he threw the spear, as if the power he put behind it was enough to damage whatever material the piece is made of. It slammed into a wall of golden light protecting Ruler and Mikoto. The waves of black-and-red mana attempting to tear through the shield looked like a fiery inferno.

Ruler grit her teeth, groaning as she refused to allow her Noble Phantasm to collapse. After all, it isn't only her life at stake. The attack dispersed and the female Servant dropped to one knee. Withstanding that took a lot out of her. "Gh!" There were several rips and char marks adorning her flag. She wouldn't be able to defend against a blow of that caliber again.

Lancer landed on the ground directly below where he had launched his Noble Phantasm, spear moving on its own back to his hand. He was gritting his teeth, seeming to be in pain. Using that attack tore him up internally, like with Clarent Blood Arthur. Crimson lightning coursed around his body and the pained expression went away, replaced with a blank one, his almost infinite supply of mana healing him in a second. The crack in the black mask grew, the piece breaking apart and clattering to the ground. Black mist wafted up from the broken pieces. The Servant's eyes were revealed. While they retained the serpentine pupils, the irises were now a pale yellow and looked completely devoid of life and without emotion, like staring into the eyes of a dead person. He looked even more like a savage wolf somehow. He got his spear ready to finish off the other Servant.

"Not gonna happen!"

Mikoto punched at Lancer, a stream of flames going for the blackened knight. The Celt easily sidestepped out of the way of the attack and then forward. He moved past the former Master and the head of the crimson spear was flicked up. Liquid hit the King's face. The liquid was warm. He suddenly felt lighter. For some reason, amber eyes went to his right arm.

Or at least, to where it used to be. It's gone. His right arm just over his elbow is gone and now blood was coming out and hitting the ground, mixing with the rainwater to create a substance that spread out widely. He just blinked, this fact not having fully sunk in yet.

"What..?"

He slowly looked down. The severed part of his right arm was resting on the ground, among quite a bit of blood. His own blood. That's when the pain set in. It became unbearable in an instant.

The King ripped his leather jacket off and tore off a large chunk of his shirt, balled it up, and stuck it in his mouth to bite down on while he did this. His remaining left hand was trembling a lot with a mixture of blood loss and thinking about what he's going to do next. He barely registered the melody of metal clashing from the fact Ruler was combatting the Celt. Mikoto was struggling to stay awake, black encroaching on his vision. The young man had already collapsed onto his knees. He was vaguely aware of how much blood was both soaked into his clothes and is on the ground around him. Magenta flames blazed to life in his left hand. While his skin was resistant to increased temperature, the inside of his body is only slightly resistant to increased temperature, enough so his own higher body temperature wouldn't cook his internal organs. It couldn't hold out against fire directly applied, which allowed injuries such as this to be shut with that element. The redhead took a deep breath, stomach churning, before pressing the hand to the wound.

He couldn't resist screaming in pain as the fire made contact with the exposed injury, the fabric falling out of his mouth and soaking up blood when it hit the ground. The stench of burning human meat overpowered that of the blood. It took everything he had not to pass out. He doesn't know when he hit the ground on his side. His left hand fell away, the fire going out. His breathing was rapid and his body spasmed. The rain was rapidly cooling the wound the blaze sealed. This process probably caused his Sword to vanish. It doesn't matter. He's not in any condition to continue fighting.

Ruler jumped back after the demonic spear clashed with her flagpole and the Servant landed by Mikoto. She lifted him onto her back with no effort. His chin was resting on her right shoulder. The redhead was panting hard. "Let's head back to Red Clan base for now."

She jumped back right as Lancer charged at her, swinging her flagpole and releasing several bursts of light to temporarily blind him. So that means he can see. Perhaps what he wore over his eyes served a symbolic purpose? Mikoto's mind was too muddled to think too hard.

"There's apparently trouble in the War now," Nagare said, calling a gathering of the others. "Lancer's not dead, although he appears to be an aggressive Stray Servant and taking a different appearance now. His armor is black-and-red, multiple chains are on him, there's some red in his hair, his skin's ghostly white, and his eyes are yellow. The Red King and Ruler confronted him, however even Ruler's Command Seals fail to work on him now. After he severed the Red King's arm, Ruler retreated with him."

"Seems I made things worse," Saber murmured. "Something must've happened to him when he fell in the Grail."

Rider rubbed at his beard. "Sounds like something in the Grail cursed him, and not in a way that's good for us."

"If he comes here, he won't stand a chance!" Sukuna said nervously, though trying to be optimistic. "So what if Ruler can't stop him!"

Tenkei gazed into his can of beer. "I dunno. Something tells me fighting him will be a whole new ball game."

The front door of Homra flew open with a bang, Ruler coming in. This grabbed the attention of all the Red Clansmen. But the female Servant was wearing armor. The first thing seen was the fact Ruler had the Red King on her back. There was so much blood on him and it looked like his right arm was missing! There has got to be a hell of a story here. In an instant, shouts of "Mikoto!" and "What the hell happened?!" erupted from the Clansmen.

"Lancer Alter cut off most of his right arm," Ruler replied. The fuck did she just say?! Instead of explaining, she set Mikoto down on the couch. "Mikoto cauterized it to prevent further bleeding."

"Lancer?! But he's dead!" Rikio shouted.

"He didn't die. It seems he's been corrupted by the Grail Mud and is now an Alter, an enemy to everyone."

"Don't blame Lancer for this. He isn't himself right now," Mikoto whispered. He was still fighting to not fall unconscious.

There were several growls. While the Clansmen wanted to teach Lancer a lesson for this, for harming a member of the Clan, they were simultaneously trying to figure out what in the world would make Lancer do this. They know Lancer's a killer, but he's not completely heartless. He wouldn't do this sort of thing without reason. Mikoto said the Servant isn't himself? Then it's the fault of the corruption and not Lancer himself. Maybe, by getting rid of it, Lancer will be back to his usual friendly, yet fierce, self.

Izumo came out with a bucket of water and a rag. While he was gently using the rag to remove the blood from the King's skin, he spoke up. "There's a woman I know here in Shizume, Touko Aozaki. She's good at making prosthetic limbs. I'll call her to make an appointment and ask her to make one that can withstand your fire. I'll take ya to see her hopefully tomorrow. Right now, ya need to rest. You've just been through some major trauma."

"...I'm fine," Mikoto said through a throat that felt like sandpaper. Then he grimaced as pain shot through his body from what remained of his severed limb. "Gh!"

Izumo sighed. "That just proved my point. Totsuka will help ya to bed." He wrapped the remainder of the arm in bandages. He looked at Ruler. "Why is Lancer an Alter?!"

"A part of Beast of Revelation from the Second War is in the Greater Grail. That's how Lancer got corrupted. He won't stray from the Greater Grail. All of you should remain safe."

"But what if he does and comes here to finish the job?" Saburouta asked.

"Then I'll defend all of you. Beast poses a clear threat to the War. As Ruler, I cannot abide its corruption." She looked at Izumo. "I don't mean to impose, but could I eat here? Unfortunately, the Grail didn't make a Saint Graph for me so I'm possessing a human. As such, I actually need to eat."

Izumo waved one hand dismissively. He didn't comment on the fact Ruler's possessing someone. With all the things he's seen Servants capable of, this doesn't surprise him. "Don't worry. Ya got our King back alive. That's payment enough."

Ruler smiled. "He really means a lot to the Red Clan." Then her stomach growled and she blushed. "May I eat right now? As a Servant, I burn a lot of calories."

Izumo chuckled. "I'll fix somethin' right up."

"Thanks. I'll defeat Lancer Alter tomorrow."

Mikoto spoke up. "Ya won't kill Lancer without me there."

Ruler looked at him with wide eyes. "Are you crazy?! You got lucky with only losing an arm! Next time, it could be your life!"

"Don't care. I'm still goin'."

Ruler could see the determination in his eyes. He isn't going to back down. "...Very well."

Tatara helped the King stand. "Let's get you into more comfortable clothes."

In Mikoto's room, Mikoto was sitting on his bed while Tatara looked through his closet for clothes to sleep in, already having removed the redhead's blood-covered shirt and pants. He had found a pair of black sweatpants when Mikoto spoke up. "He looks totally dead now," Mikoto murmured. Pale yellow eyes filled with absolutely no sign of life, no indication of what's going through his head, the eyes from a truly dead person. "I don't quite know how to describe it, but he seems more...violent than before, even though he displays less emotion than I do."

"You're talking about Lancer, aren't you? I know he's a dangerous killer, but I never would've guessed he'd every do something like this to someone he swore his loyalty to." He looked through Mikoto's baggy shirts. "Beast's corruption isn't something we can just ignore."

Mikoto breathed out a heavy sigh. "We can take out Lancer, but it won't erase the fact I lost my right arm. Once the other gangs find out 'bout this, HOMRA could be in trouble. If only I could transfer my kingship to someone else. Maybe Kusanagi?"

Tatara didn't reply right away, just took the gathered clothes to the bed. "It doesn't matter what circumstances befall you, as long as you're still you I'll love you." Mikoto didn't say anything. He just stared at Tatara. "King?"

Mikoto's left arm shot out, grabbing Tatara's right, and pulled the Clansman up against his bare body. "Why do ya keep sayin' those kinds of cheesy lines?"

"Because it's the truth."

"Shut up." Mikoto placed his lips over Tatara's own. The King's left hand moved to the back of the young man's head and pressed it closer, forcing the kiss to deepen, while the Clansman hugged the larger man.

"King..." Tatara breathed out when those lips moved to his jaw. "You're hurt, so I'll do everything."

"Hm?" Amber eyes followed Tatara as he crouched so his face was between Mikoto's thighs, pulling off the man's boxers. The King was only partially hard, but it only took a few strokes to bring him to full erection. He mouthed at it and licked at the prominent vein on the underside, enjoying the tremors he felt in the thighs he gripped.

"Fuck, Tatara..." Mikoto hissed through clenched teeth as the other male began sucking at his balls. Then he turned his attention back to the redhead's cock, giving the tip another lick before taking it into his mouth. Tatara was doing what made Mikoto weak. He was gazing up at the King while continuing to suck the man's cock. His fingers dug into the Clansman's soft, light brown hair, a groan slipping past his lips. It got louder when the young man hollowed out his cheeks, one hand fondling the King's balls. He knew the easiest way to can the man leaking, to see a side of the King that only he gets to see. Wait, did Lancer get to see it too? Jealousy began worming it's way into Tatara at that thought. He unconsciously began sucking harder, as if trying to one-up the spearman. The grip on the back of his head grew tighter and Tatara's face was practically shoved up against the Red King's hips. "Shit..!"

Tatra tried to keep the cum that came out from spilling past his lips. At least he's done it plenty of times before, but it still amazes him how much he's able to have shoot out. This'll be all. If they went any further, it might reopen Mikoto's wound.

Tatara stood up and wrapped his arms around Mikoto's body, just holding him close. "I know you're concerned about the whole Lancer thing, but don't worry. It'll all work out."

"I hope so..." Mikoto whispered back, burying his face against Tatara's shoulder, as if he's the only person keeping the King from freaking out. Both of them had a feeling another major thing will happen before this gets resolved.

Eric stared at the doorway to the stairs. "How's he gonna recover from this? I don't think a prosthetic arm will make him feel better."

"That prosthetic arm should bring him back to how he was before this happened," Izumo told him. "I've seen some of Aozaki's in action. They look and act just like human arms, making it impossible to tell that it isn't one." He looked at the female Servant sitting down in a booth. "What're your plans?"

"I'll stay at the bar."

"Fine. I'll get a pillow and blanket out for ya and you can sleep in a booth."

Ruler stood up and bowed. "Thank you very much for your hospitality."

"Mikoto will take all of tomorrow to get used to his new arm."

"Very well. He and I will fight the Alter in two days. May I use your phone real quick?"

Izumo gestured to the bar's phone. "Go right ahead."

Ruler went over to it and dialed someone. After a few second, she spoke up. "Tell the teachers and students that the terrorist attack is still going on and so they can't return just yet." She must be talking to other members of the Church.

Later, Mikoto came down the stairs, assisted by Tatara, The King wore loose clothing.

"Mikoto! You really should be in bed!" Izumo exclaimed. "And Totsuka! Why didn't you stop him?!"

"I got hungry," came Mikoto's simple reply.

Tatara rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "You know how grumpy he can get when he gets hungry."

Izumo pinched the bridge of his nose. "I could have brought something up..."

"Wanted it now." As if on cue, Mikoto's stomach rumbled. He went behind the bar, pulled out a baguette, and proceeded to eat it raw.

"You need to learn of to actually make something to eat..." was all Izumo said.

"As long as it fills me up, I don't see what's wrong here."

"So Ruler. What exactly is an Alter?" Tatara asked, hoped to switch the focus away from Mikoto.

"Appearance aside, in that form they become full of hatred. While a Servant is able to harbor much hatred due to the events that transpired in their first life, sometimes at humanity or even the entire world if it was particularly bad, much of it is normally suppressed deep within their subconscious. The corruption, condensed rage, allows this hate to come out and, while they aren't completely insane, this loss of some of their rationale causes their offensive power to go way up, similar to the Class Skill of Berserkers, Mad Enhancement."

If that was the manifestation of the resentment and hatred Lancer was attempting to keep locked away, then it might explain the broken chains on him, representing that part of him managing to get free. Perhaps...his Alter is actually a non-invincible version of Riastrad.

"The mana supply from the Greater Grail is overcoming Lancer's Cultural Sphere disadvantage. As such, he's ridiculously more powerful than before since he's now an altered A-rank Servant. He has one more Noble Phantasm but not all three additional Noble Phantasms, however he'll now display power as if he's in Ireland. Also, his Divinity skill increased from B to A, making him even closer to godhood than before. That's another reason he's much stronger now. We were lucky that he decided to go easy. Another thing, he apparently came close to having his Class be changed from Lancer to Avenger; the spirit of vengeance. Something might have caused him to hate humans or a group of them and wants revenge on them."

"Could the anger also be from after ascendin'?" Mikoto asked with his eyes seeming to bore a hole right through Ruler.

"No. Only events from when a Servant was alive can make an Alter. Why are you asking?"

"...No reason. Just curious."

Misaki sat by Saruhiko on a park bench. Saruhiko was the one who called the skateboarder, wanting to patch things up between them. Misaki agreed since the loss of the Blue King meant Saruhiko desperately needed a distraction. "Lancer fuckin' attacked his former Master!"

Saruhiko was just staring with wide eyes. "Why'd he do that..?"

"Ruler said somethin' 'bout the Grail Mud corruptin' him. Honestly, I was too angry to listen correctly!" Misaki crushed his empty can of soda in anger, his fire making it shrivel and char. "Mr. Mikoto said to forgive him for what he did but...argh! I want to punch that son of a bitch so much!"

"Didn't you guys get along with him?"

"We did. But hurting our King the way he did, there's nothing that can make me forgive him..!"

Tamamo: I...am the Nine-Tailed Fox.

Shiki: Touko, I found out you were hiding in Shizume instead of Mifune, so Mikiya and I came to see you.

Laeticia: I'm Laeticia, the vessel for Jeanne d'Arc.

Anna: While he forgives others, the one person Lancer refuses to forgive is himself.

Jeanne: Beasts are the manifestations of humanity's sins, great evils brought forth by mankind.

Mikoto: So we're just a buncha damn puppets!

Adolf: So Zolgen, Nagato, and Justeaze were the start of this nightmare...

Daikaku: ...I have the Dress of Heaven sealed in the Dresden Slate.

Tenkei: We're to temporarily stop any fighting until the Alter problem gets solved.

Next chapter: All the Greed in the World

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I had originally planned for Lancer (Prototype) Alter to be an Avenger, but the Red Clan would still refer to him as Lancer and it would get confusing so I just had his Class stay the same. His older form would be Avenger for if he goes off the deep end, different from his form in Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya. He'd still be a lycanthrope, though.

Here's some background information:

Unlike the "proper timeline", all of Ulster, even Láeg, hated Cú Chulainn for his "anger issues", which manifested a couple more times. He was ostracized by all, save his wife. Assassination attempts had been made over the years, but none worked. Any attempts to poison him failed to work last year. They had been the victim of vandalism and other hate-related incidents. They would usually happen if he was out hunting or fishing. If he was home, he would smell people approach and would scare them off. He tried many times to convince his wife to leave him so she could return to a normal life. She was only being included because she was still with that monster. But she refused to allow her husband to suffer alone.

This type of pain...I just want it to end..! I can't stand being inflicted with it!

Emer continued to believe in him, tried to keep him from allowing his hatred to consume him. It only helped a bit, but it was mainly Cú Chulainn's policy to never give up that made him stay himself, though he was finding it more and more difficult maintain that willpower as time went on. Then one day, fed up with having what they consider to be a ravenous beast living so close to them and that he kept managing to escape death, some villagers and skilled Red Branch Knights tried to kill Cú Chulainn while he slept, following a plan Medb secretly gave them. However, he was wide awake but refused to kill them. These were still the people he used to fight to protect and his former allies; he had been called too soft on more than one occasion. But this was Medb's plan. Hopefully they could manage to kill him before he kills them Then Emer died from a spear enchanted by Clan Calatin, who still bore grudges against Cú Chulainn, to be able to even kill someone as powerful as Culann's Hound. She succeeded in shielding him from the blow that would've been fatal.

"Remember...no matter what...I'll always love you..."

This unfortunately also meant the person who held the chains to his sanity was now dead. While he was sobbing the hardest he ever had over her lifeless body, the darkness festering in him took hold. After all, she was the world to him.

I should've died instead...

Everything went black and when he became aware again the house was all torn up with mutilated and bloody corpses surrounded him. Only Emer's body was untouched aside from the spear in her chest. Did Riastrad come out? He was also filled with relief; the years-long agony had lessened!

It doesn't hurt as much anymore! This actually feels great!

So he'd continue to feel better with every person from Ulster he kills. If Cú Chulainn was to be made out as a demon, then he'll become one. And this time he won't allow anyone talk him down.

His legend gives plenty of things I could make a dark and depressing twist in a what-if scenario where he goes off the edge, such as his mom hating him because he's the son of Lugh instead of being a child between her and the man she loved and so she makes several attempts to kill him (including the abortion attempt that was made in the main timeline); it escalates from there, failing to defend Ulster during the Táin Bó Cúailnge; would've taken a really dark turn, the argument over who's the strongest gets out of control and like the war outcome what-if it gets dark, something involving Dagda's Cauldron, and other things, but I settled for this one. And that's just for becoming an Avenger. The other Extra Class he can be as an Alter is Foreigner because of Riastrad (Fomorians will have been Outer Gods). Alter Ego could also be a possibility by making Riastrad be its own person that just happens to share a body with Cú Chulainn. I have an idea for an Alter of him as a god. It's an alternate timeline where Cú Chulainn kills Lugh - made to look like an accident occurred - and becomes the new High King of the Tuatha Dé Danaan. His defenses are similar, though greater, to Achilles' Andreias Amarantos in that form - no way to negate it, "friendly" strikes can't get through, and only those with EX Divinity or Divine Constructs can injure him. That and the fact his physical and magical strength get jacked way up from being both an Alter and a god, he'd be really OP. And even if you manage to beat him up, Black Barrel Replica will be needed to kill him if you don't have some other god-killing attack handy.