A/N: Master's course really clutters up my life. But I'm happy for it since it helps put my mind in exercise.
Italics for emphasis or thoughts
CAPITALS for when someone is inserting a word in English or for emphasis
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I only made up the quotation. If anyone has a claimed property in that quotation, I deeply apologize. Credits go to Hiroshi Shiibashi for Nurarihyon no Mago and Gen Urobuchi and Type – Moon for Fate/Zero
Chapter: The Infamous Magus Killer
Every human has a right to live.
But no human can ever testify that he or she has the right on when to die.
Caster and Kejoro are now speeding up their way through the Einzbern Forest towards the mansion. Although they know that the entire forest is surrounded by a Bounded Field, they have to get in there by any means necessary. It is safe to say that they passed through a watery wall, since Caster had somehow figured out how to go in the forest unnoticed by any Master.
Nevertheless, the cameras that are in place on the entire Einzbern forest are nothing to be sneezed at. The Magus Killer is very particular of who goes in and who goes out. He knows the targets from their face alone. It is sufficient to say that this man does not need familiars like others do.
The afternoon before:
"And this is how you will strengthen a weapon." Akifusa now wiped his sweat off as he is about to complete the blade. The hot blade is now in its final form when it is dipped in the water. He let it cool down for a few minutes before he let it out once again to be tempered. It is not really a sharp blade, but nevertheless, Caster has a way to sharpen it. This made the onmyouji even more amateur than ever on their casting skills when it comes to spells. But it is to be expected of the Caster Class to be so.
"Ah, I see." She now fired her spells at the blade, which thankfully, the blade withstood its intense fire, howling winds and devastating frostbites. Akifusa stood wide – eyed at the goddess who is working by his side. But he returned his focus on the matter at hand, since Caster wanted this blade to be available at the soonest time possible.
Just then, Caster received a message from one of her rabbit familiars that the Einzbern Forest is now under attack by the other Caster. She also has found out that he has prepared the children as a diversion in order to attract attention to Saber. Unfortunately one of her familiars has been swallowed whole by the abomination.
"Goshujin – sama, I think we must go. Now." Caster sternly announced while Kejoro is just about to put some weapons in her person casually. She is no slouch in gathering information either, as she arrived at the conclusion that it will be a diversion for them to benefit from the mission alone, remembering what Caster has told them earlier about the Kotomine Church letting a Master with a Servant live.
"For what?" Kejoro quipped as she polishes her Dirks. She doesn't want an extra Command Seal. For her, three Seals are enough. She does not want to add one more leash on Caster. "I don't think we'll gain anything from chasing Caster."
"What if I told you that he is in the Einzbern Forest as of this very hour?"
Kejoro tilted her head. It seems that her Servant Caster has now gotten her attention, seeing as Saber will be in danger. Even though Saber's opponent is a Caster, who know what he will conjure from that thing that he holds all this time. Capable of summoning abominations unworthy of sight of man, this spellbook's power blasphemes the very name of God.
The Noble Phantasm's name? The Spellbook of Prelati.
As the evening light approaches, Yura and Akifusa headed on to Mount Enzou, the place where the temple and one of the major leylines of the Grail System is located. As they approached the location, they see a surging aura residing in that place.
They are now in the Ryuudou temple when they saw an elderly man standing guard at its gates. It seems that the elderly man expects their arrival in Fuyuki's soil. The elderly man that they see wears what common Catholic priests will wear.
Yura now stepped forward with the authority of the 28th Heir. "Are you the overseer of this war?" She tightened her fists as she prepares her shikigami. Akifusa stood in close guard to her, preparing his blade.
Risei now prepares his body for the impact that he will receive. He also prepared his fists for the battle of his life. It seems that the onmyouji has seen fit to pry in the affairs of the Holy Grail War without the overseer's permission.
"So what if I am?" Risei replied with full resolution in his voice. "I believe that you are told to stay away from this as this is the Magi's business alone."
"That is no reason for us to not investigate one of the places which happens to be formerly inhabited by spirits." Yura defiantly replied to the priest, taking both the priest and her relative by surprise. Akifusa has never realized that the 28th heir can be so impatient. "I am the 28th Heir of the Keikain and it is my job to protect this land."
"Ho, so you are supposedly the 28th Heir of the Keikain Onmyouji." Risei mockly remarked, to which Yura is already at the point of boiling over. "I never expected the heir to be too young, let alone a little girl. I'm sure that your parents are turning over in their graves right now."
"You are the one that will turn in your grave when I will be finished with you!" At that point, she now released her first shikigami, and let it wrap around Yura's hand. The koi shikigami became a capable cannon at her simple command. "YURA MAX!"
As she fired the cannon, Risei defended himself by raising his arms on his body and receiving the impact. Thanks to his training in Ba Ji Quan, his body is now strengthened to the point where he can become a hard rock only if he concentrated on it. What happened next is beyond both of the onmyoujis' comprehension.
They can only describe him as being a super human. He closed the distance in a manner of seconds in a single leap and right in front of the onmyouji, made short work of them by giving them a single blow in the solar plexus each with the use of only his fists, sending the two flying away at the impact.
Now provoked at the priest's strength, she decided to use her ace that she has not been using in years as an actual application. She pulled out one shikigami and tore it in two. Then she placed the pieces on both her arms.
"Yura…that technique…is too dangerous for you." Akifusa warned Yura sternly. "You might lose…your shikigami in the process."
"You'll never know unless you try it, am I wrong?" Yura replied as she prepares her spells. He can't argue with her logic. As much as he hates it, she's right. Akifusa can only watch her in a defeated form. He can't match the priest's insane speed. Even though Yura will succeed on this one, there may be a possibility that the technique may backfire.
"Hanpan shikigami." Yura chanted as the strength of the Shikigami wrapped around her has now manifested, creating a force stronger than the priest's. Her eyes now held a hazed deathly glare as she is fast approaching the priest with all of her strength. Her fist is now prepared for the technique that she will unleash right now.
"Yura…MAX!"
Saber is now really angry at the deed that the deranged Caster has made. This situation has only infuriated her to no end. She swore upon her pride that she will take out all her fury and end it with a mighty swing of her sword on Caster for his deeds. The only thing that is keeping her from doing that is the abomination that has seen fit to wrap itself around her person after it exploded in a million pieces. The pieces that scattered now turned into multiple identical creatures thanks to the regenerative and reproductive abilities.
Meanwhile, Caster is too happy to see her virgin suffer like this. Her righteous anger only inflamed his desire to see her more in all her glory. "Jeanne, I already told you that I will be prepared for this." The abomination wrapped itself around her even more tighter, forcing her to choke. Saber is now clearly disgusted by the Caster's dishonorable actions. This is a Grail War for goodness' sake, not a killing spree. "So why don't you admit that you are really my virgin Jeanne d' Arc?"
Saber's expression of nobility is now marred with her anger rising from the depths of her soul. She will soundly kill this Caster who kills children without a fight and dishonors the Grail War. "The Grail can wait for now."
Caster happily averted his gaze on Saber, expecting a humble renunciation by his virgin. "So does that mean that you will acknowledge yourself as Jeanne?"
"No..." Saber ominously replied as Invisible Air responded to her degree of anger with its alarming rate of energy about to explode. "But my sword will not rest until you will be eliminated from my presence!"
With that notion, the abomination now exploded at the release of Invisible Air's energy. Caster became more enamored with the lady that is in front of him, further solidifying the proof that the maiden is indeed his Jeanne d' Arc. He did not care if his creatures are destroyed. He only wanted to witness Jeanne d' Arc's royal glory.
"Ah, such beauty! You must show all of your nobility and justice so that even the gods will be put to shame at your righteousness!" Caster now adored his maiden with his words. "My eyes will serve as witness to your serene form. My love for you is really fit to sink in the poisonous tar pits as black as night!"
The madness in his laughs further intensified the King of Knight's fury resting in her blade as she now encounters and swiftly finishing the creations one by one.
"28th Heir of the Keikain Onmyouji, you are already violating the rules of the Holy Grail War." Risei brushed off the explosion produced by her fists as if that never happened. It is true that his suit is still smoking hot from that attack, and that it singed his clothes, but his body did not move an inch from where he is standing on. In fact, it is the young onmyouji who actually winced in pain from the attack that she caused, as if the attack has retorted back at her. Yura saw the distorted spirits now mixed up in that surging pot of aura that the Magi call "leyline points". It's no wonder that the local spirits of Japanese mythology will leave this place. This proves that this city is already uninhabitable by spirits and onmyouji alike the moment that the leylines are established and controlled by Magi.
"What's that to you, overseer?" Yura spat back, her shikigami Hagun hovering over her with a look of concern. As of now, they are no match for this man, who seems to be unfazed by the 28th Heir's dangerous technique. This time, magic has no effect on someone who has honed his physical powers to a point where they can shrug off attacks like throwing sticks on a stone.
"It seems that you need more discipline, my little one." He ominously replied as he is about to deliver his finishing blow. Yura prepared herself for the worse but is then lost in thought when she saw someone in front of her that deflected the deadly blow.
"Ryuuji – nii…" Yura can only gasp as he has blocked the blow with his right hand, his arms having the same torn shikigami as Yura's. What she can't accomplish on her own, that man has done it without breaking a sweat. The force of the blow has now dissipated.
"That's my technique, brat. You shouldn't use it immediately." Ryuuji spat out. "This is not an offensive technique that you can use on a whim. It will really kill you before the Fourth Grail War will be over. Now take Akifusa and get out of here or he will be killed too."
"But…" Yura is about to protest when Ryuuji now shouted at her sister.
"You may be the 28th Heir, but I am still your older brother." Ryuuji spoke with finality. "Now go."
Yura now took Akifusa and helped him to walk. It seems that his injuries will not heal for the time being. Meanwhile the two men now smirked. One is using the martial arts of Ba Ji Quan, the other is only using an application of Magecraft in a confrontational battle.
"It seems that my martial arts have been weakening." Risei dismissively observed as he retrieved his fist. Ryuuji smirked at the prospect of having an opponent like this.
"Is that what you call weakening, jii – san?" He quipped in a mocking manner. "Well, I'm honestly afraid that if I fought you at your prime at the time you took charge in the Third Grail War, it will be much worse."
"Finally, some kid who acknowledges my authority." Risei spat back. "I never thought that this day will come when I will face a child."
"Who are you talking to? I'm not a fool to fight someone like you." Ryuuji placed his words in a way that will provoke the overseer. "Besides, authority does not always mean that you have the power."
"Your insolence is going to pay you dearly, my friend." Risei replied as he now prepared to attack. Meanwhile Ryuuji already lit up two smoke bombs behind his back. As the priest began his attack, he also posed for a counter – attack, only for Risei to find out that his approaching fist released the first smoke bomb aimed at his face. It has succeeded and has now temporarily blinded Risei.
Still, this does not keep the priest from chasing his prey. Collecting the remaining air in his lungs through sheer physical will, he forced the air out to clear the smoke instantaneously. He then inhaled the gap that contains the fresh air quickly, then looked around for the trickster that made him a fool in the first place. Another smoke bomb descended from the sky, which he kicked it out of his way, creating an explosion on his feet.
The smoke has occupied his field of vision once again, but he blew it away by creating a centripetal wind through a single strong stomp of his right foot. He squinted his eyes for signs of the onmyouji, but it seems that the three of them has escaped.
"There's no use hunting them down now." He quipped disappointingly as he looked around for witnesses, before he leisurely walked down Mount Enzou.
"Kiritsugu, it will only be a matter of time before Saber will get tired." Irisviel announced it to Kiritsugu while he is preparing his weapons. She watched helplessly as Saber is now finishing off the abominations one by one. But Kiritsugu seems to pay his wife no mind while he reloaded his guns.
"Maiya, have Irisviel escape." Kiritsugu dismissively ordered as he prepared his Calico sub – machine gun. He has set the gun to automatic, seeing as his opponent will be a tough nut to crack. He has every right to prepare himself like this, as he will face the lecturer of the Clock Tower that is given the famous title of El – Melloi. Of course, Magi on a level like Kayneth are accustomed to guns, so naturally they developed their Magecraft accordingly to counter the nine millimetre round bullets with their own version of a shield for the modern age.
"Understood." Maiya replied as she now held the hand of her madam. Irisviel glanced once again at the back of her love before she finally escapes with Maiya.
I…am scared. That man…he's coming after me.
Kiritsugu, I know that you can conquer your fear. Irisviel mused silently as she passed through the corridors of the back of the forest. But remember, you are not in this alone. Maiya, Saber and I will protect you from that man.
The esteemed professor of the Clock Tower has now entered in a grand fashion, announcing his presence in front of the mansion. "I am Kayneth El – Melloi Archibald, and I wish for the Einzbern Master to appear in front of me. We shall have a duel."
As he walked casually, the camera now follows his every move. He now set off traps that created an explosion of metal balls that bounced around. As he expected, Kayneth's Mystic Code created a shield around himself.
Kayneth dispelled his shield, and his face is now marred with impatience. He despised the cowardly tactics of the Einzberns. Although he knew of them as the best alchemists, this is not an excuse to use such tactics in the Grail War. "This is no longer a duel, but this is now extermination."
He closed his laptop casually and went for the door. He is about to open it when he saw the silver liquid now travelling through the locks. It has now found its prey as it sensed the presence of a person. It has now returned back to the Master. Fortunately, Kiritsugu's quick decision making skills have led him to conclude that it is a Mystic Code that specializes in defense and search. Its only weakness is that it can't sense something that is identified as "less human."
Automatic Searching… Kiritsugu promptly backed off at the prospect of a slicing Mystic Code that will appear in front of him. But it almost cost him his death when the Mystic Code has found a sick joke to slice under the floors where he is standing on. Kayneth now appeared in front of him as he announced his presence.
"I have found you, worthless rat." Kayneth gloated as he is about to chant a spell. Kiritsugu now prepared his body for what will happen next.
"Scalp!" Kayneth chanted as his Mystic Code is about to go through Kiritsugu's body like soft Swiss cheese. Fortunately, he has a trick up his sleeve if ever this situation will happen. He now reinforced his eyesight, and began to concentrate.
Time Manipulation. A high – level Magecraft akin to a Reality Marble that is practiced by the Emiya clan for years, and has produced its successful results through experiments on plants, making it look like time has stood still upon them. But he considers that knowledge, experiments, and even his Crest useless without an actual application upon a human body. Fortunately, he has discovered the use of a high level of Magecraft in his body through trial and error. Although he placed maximum restrictions of that variation of Reality Marble in his body, it proved itself to place a high level of strain in the body, even to the point of tearing his blood vessels. But as long as it has its use, he did not mind its complications.
Time Alter: Double Accel. He chanted as he ran. Time seems to slow down as he ran away from the slicing movements of Kayneth's Mystic Code. He has now successfully avoided Kayneth's attack. But there is no time to rejoice, for Kayneth still has his Mystic Code's searching ability that he must avoid.
Meanwhile Kayneth is genuinely impressed by the Einzbern support's techniques, but he despised its way of using that kind of Magecraft in a mediocre manner. "So you know a little Magecraft after all? But only a mediocre Magus will use that kind of technique after all of the lessons that he has learned! Ire Sanctio!" He has now descended and his Hydragyrum has spread out to search for the sneaky person.
Kiritsugu must outrun the tracker or he will be sliced off. Fortunately, he outran it and he has now found a suitable place to "hide" from his attacker. He chanted the line to deactivate the spell. "Release Alter."
He has now used two spells. Simple as those spells may be, but its effects are enormous and dangerous for even his body to actually cope up with the changes. Now that he chanted the releasing spell, the body is now forced to correct the abnormalities, therefore his breathing is now ragged, and his heartbeat is now pumping abnormally to the point where his blood pressure exceeds that of a stroke patient that has three hundred millimetre Mercury as its systolic. There is no time for rest, so he forced his body to be in an inanimate state with this spell:
"Time Alter: Triple Stagnate." That spell now forced the body to be laid to rest to the point where his breathing and his heartbeat can be likened to a man that has recently died from a cardiac arrest. His vision now enhanced its brightness that the effect can actually blind him if he did not close his eyes real quick. Fortunately, his theory is right, as the Volumen Hydragyrum did not recognize him as a "human" while his spell of stagnation is still activated. Volumen Hydragyrum now returned to its Master. He waited for a few good seconds before he chanted the releasing spell again, making his breathing and heartbeat trying to bring down its processes to normal. He is now granted a few seconds of rest before facing the one who calls himself a worthy adversary of the Einzbern Master.
As Kayneth is looking for his prey, he heard the assassin's voice, as though he invites him for lunch. "Kayneth." He now faced him, but it will be his funeral when he saw that he is now armed with a sub – machine gun.
He pulled the trigger of the Calico, which aimed to hit its target, but it is for naught as the defensive ability of Volumen Hydragyrum is now fighting off against the force of the automatic machine gun. The man in the black trench coat now threw his machine gun aside, and aimed his antique – looking weapon at his opponent. But that pistol is not ordinary, for it can fire sniper – rifle grade bullets designed to catch his opponent off guard, especially if the one that he wants to catch off – guard is one of the esteemed Magus professors of the Clock Tower.
He now smirked as he is about to fire the bullet that can guarantee a sure kill.
Terms:
Stagnate – a spell that can slow down body processes.
Accel – a spell that can speed up body processes, therefore making the surroundings look slow. Maximum degree that a human can actually bear with proper training is Double. Any more than that and it can deteriorate body processes.
Release Alter (Not made up by the way. Check the wiki. I think the actual information about Kiritsugu's spells is either in the Fate supplementary materials or in Fate/Zero light novels itself.) -a spell to release the chant. With Gaia gaining interference once again, it is now forcing the body to correct its processes.
Ire Sanctio – Search and Kill.
Scalp – an offensive chant that lets Volumen Hydragyrum act as a razor sharp blade.
EDIT (FEBRUARY 8, 2014): Forgot Saber's and Caster's interactions. Also made minor changes in scriptings.
A/N: I would like to cut it off here for now, since I cannot find the inspiration to write for another chapter of this fanfiction as of now. I also deeply apologize if this chapter is not to your liking, and I will make any changes to this chapter or to the former chapters if I have the time. But I have good news to all, as I will release two chapters for this series in the days to come. Hopefully the chapters that I will write will come in twos in those days to come, as I already finished its ending and epilogue scripts and it's only in the re – polishing stages. Added by the fact that I have a second fanfic did not help me much in my situation.
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