"Brahmastra!"
A bright explosion came once Rama's Noble Phantasm hit it's intended target. A large dust cloud formed in the impacted area inside the now altered halls of the White House. A building that was forged by stewards of liberty, has now become a castle to bring upon a new Celtic Kingdom.
Ritsuka observed a few feet from where the action was being conducted by the Heroic Spirits under his service, where they faced the two rulers of this new Dynasty. They had defeated Queen Medb and were now fighting the corrupted Child of Light, Cú Chulainn Alter. The Chaldean Servants began to feel drained, their breaths heavy as their mana reserves continued to lower as the battle went on. They had beaten Cú Alter twice now, and each time he recovered while bearing a new appearance and fought with even greater ferocity, the power of the holy grail allowing him to persist.
Mash stayed in front of her Master while the rest of the Servants slowly approached where Rama had done his strike, and the corrupted Berserker dashed from inside the smoke towards them with an intense battle cry.
Cú Alter first ran to strike at Saint George on the chest with his spear. The Rider Dragon Slayer quickly blocked the attack, but was unable to gain his balance in time, and so the force of the hit pushed him a few feet from where he stood. Georgios stumbled once he stopped, and so Cú Alter ran to punch the Rider in the face, sending him flying towards a wall.
Rama then ran to attack the Berserker with his sword, and William Tell and Florence Nightingale stood together, aiming at their enemy to aid their ally. Cú Alter turned to block Rama's strike and they locked for a moment, but Rama was weakened after using his Noble Phantasm so many times. Sensing his wavering strength, Cú Alter quickly grabbed Rama's arm, swung his body to the right, and threw him to crash on the other two assailants. Unable to react in time, William and Nightingale fell on the floor some feet away along with Rama.
Cú Alter felt a hard hit to his right shoulder and looked to see Francis Drake firing at him with her pistols. The Celtic Berserker quickly span his lance between his fingers in front of him to block her projectile attacks and ran towards the pirate Rider.
"Shit!" Drake began to panic as she saw Cú Alter was approaching her at great speed. She jumped to try and avoid the incoming counterattack, but just as she left the ground, Cú Alter caught up, grabbed one of her legs and slammed her body on the hard ground.
With the Rider dealt with, he turned to look towards Altria Alter, who was now riding on her horse towards him. As soon as she was close, Cú Alter crouched below Llamrie and plunged his spear through the horse's chest, the spear breaking the right side of Altria's helmet as it went through. The horse screamed in pain as a pool of blood began to form on the ground. Then with all his might, Cú Alter launched his still piercing spear at the opposite direction, throwing the Lancer and her horse towards a wall, breaking right through and into the outside.
Cú Chulainn Lancer wanted to stay as close to his Master as possible in order to ensure his protection, but seeing as now all his comrades were downed, he had no choice but to face his corrupt self.
He ran at full speed to stab the Alter in the face, but his attack was quickly parried. He then gave an assault of multiple strikes of his lance, each one was parried until they both ended in a bind. They were deadlock, but the grail gave the Alter all the strength he needed. Cú furrowed his brows as he stared intensely at the Berserker. "And to think something as twisted as you could ever come from me."
The Alter scoffed. "Oh please. You killed your own son, none of this was ever an impossibility." The Berserker then head butted the Lancer, causing Cú to stumble just for a moment, but it was enough. He quickly stabbed through Cú's chest, causing him to bleed from his mouth.
"No!" Ritsuka screamed out in distress, horrified to see his Servants being gutted so quickly.
The Alter grabbed Cú by the hair, plunging his spear deeper into his chest. "I killed Scáthach. I'm better than everything you are and more." He took out his spear from Cú's chest and kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying straight into a pile of rubble.
Cú Alter then finally turned his attention towards Ritsuka and Mash, the latter now blocking her Master with her large shield. "You're not getting anywhere near him!"
"You can't stop me." Cú Alter pointed his spear towards Mash and used his Frenzy of Spirits skill on her.
"Ngh!..." Mash felt her stamina begin to drain as her hands started to feel weak. The corrupted Berserker then jumped towards her and struck her shield with his spiked tail, sending her flying to the other side.
"Mash!" The Alter quickly turned towards Ritsuka as he called out his Shielder. Seeing Cú begin to swing his spear, Ritsuka reinforced his legs to jump out of the way of his attack, but the spear managed to slash at his right breast. He fell to ground and put his left hand on the now bleeding injury. He groaned in pain as he tried to determine how deeply the wound had been.
Ritsuka started to get up, but was quickly brought back down as Cú Alter stepped on his right arm where his Command Seals lay. Cú dragged his spear through the concrete floor and raised it above his head, towering over Ritsuka and ready plunge his spear through his chest. "This is where your journey ends, Master of Chaldea." But just before he could deliver the killing blow, a strong gust of wind and lighting hit the Berserker, sending him flying back and then hitting the ground.
Ritsuka slowly rose, still covering the wound in his chest, and then turned towards the direction of the wind to know what had happened. He smiled as he began to see who had saved him.
Cú Alter rose to his feet and sneered, furious that his final victory had just been stolen.
"BERSERKER!"
He raised his head upwards to see Altria Alter had jumped towards him and was now plunging her lance at him. He blocked her attack, but he struggled to keep his ground from her Mana Burst driven strike. Their spears both pushed against each other, and Altria's now visible eye had darkened with fury inside her.
Ritsuka walked carefully a few steps forward, grimacing from the pain and pointed a Gandr spell towards the Berserker.
"!..." Cú Alter's body froze and his frustration only grew tenfold. "What the hell is this?!"
Taking this opportunity, Altria formed a fist and a strong wind with lighting formed around it. "Hrrrrraaaah!!!" She punched the corrupt Berserker will all her might and sent him crashing all the way to the other side of the large hall.
Mash came back running to her Master's side, having recovered from Cú Alter's Frenzy of Spirits. She placed a hand on his shoulder, giving a worried look. "Senpai, you're hurt."
He looked towards Mash and managed to give her a small smile, glad to see wasn't too hurt. She was certainly in better condition than the rest of the Servants. He placed his right hand on hers. "I'm fine Mash..., but this isn't over yet. This battle has drained a lot from me and that Gandr has strained my magic circuits. My balance isn't great, so help me walk closer to the battle, okay?"
She was concerned for his safety and the fact that he was still willing to stay closer to the action didn't alleviate any of that. She gave him a nod though, respecting his wishes. "Understood, Master..." She put his right arm around the back of her neck and Mash put her left arm to his back. They both walked close enough to where they could both witness the rest of the battle.
Cú Alter stuck his spear to the ground to help him get back up, but was forced to his knees while covering his face as he felt a barrage of bullets hit him.
Nightingale and Francis Drake had recovered and started their next assault against the evil Child of Light, Drake showing quite a few bruises. William Tell then walked between them to join their attack, shooting his red arrows towards the Alter. "Pin him down! Don't let up even for a second!" A raining volley of bullets and magical arrows continued pouring towards Cú Alter, preventing him from moving.
Rama came to stand next to Nightingale. He saw Cú Alter begin to stand, so he summoned his weapon constructs and trapped him to keep the Mad King in place. Saint George and Cú Chulainn went to stand next to Drake. Georgios had his face bruised. He helped the bleeding Lancer to stand, Cú's Battle Continuation preventing him from giving in to a quick death.
Altria Alter went to stand on a broken pillar that had fallen from one of the walls. She dematerialized her now broken helmet and raised her lance upward. "Thrust and feast..." The cylinders on her lance began to loose.
Seeing the Lancer begin her Noble Phantasm, Ritsuka hoped this would be the perfect chance to finish their opponent for good. "Cú! William! With my command seals I order you: Finish this fight!" His last two Command Seals disappeared as he gave his command.
William Tell and Cú Chulainn began to feel a great surge of energy enter them, their bodies surging with mana thanks to the power of the Command Seal.
"Heh." William smiled and put away his cigarette. "With pleasure." The hunter focused the aim of his crossbow at the target in front of him, and a large red blazing arrow formed on it.
"As you wish Master." Georgios let go of the Lancer and backed away, letting him stand on his own feet. Feeling his new strength, Cú battled through the pain on his chest and pulled his weapon back to his right side. His spear began to flash crimson red as magical energy came into it. "I'll show you, you're nowhere near me!"
A powerful red and purple wind formed around Altria at the tip of her lance and she lowered it. Ready to unleash her deadly storm, she thrust her lance forward, screaming the name of her holy weapon. "Rhongomyniad!"
"Apfel SchieBen!"
"Gáe Bolg!"
The area around Cú Alter quickly was engulfed in a purple and red colored explosion of Noble Phantasms. The light of the blast cleared and revealed a scorched ground and a barely standing Cú Alter.
Cú Chulainn Lancer's spear returned to him and he prepared for the possibility of another come back from the corrupt Berserker, the rest of the Servants staring intently at their foe.
Nightingale put her pistol away and rushed to Ritsuka's side, Mash watching her as she stopped next to them. She looked at his now stern face and then eyed the wound on the Master's chest, his Chaldea Combat suit bearing some damage as well. "Mr. Ritsuka, you're injured. We must prevent the bleeding." Ritsuka gave a nod. The nurse opened her first aid kit and got to bandaging his wound.
The three of them then had their attention drawn to the appearance of Roman's holographic projection in front of them. "Y-You, did it—! Everyone we won!" The doctor came with a joyous voice. "The Clan Calatin" at the northern front has completely vanished! And Cú Chulainn is finished as well!"
"Come on Doc, I'm not done yet." Voiced Cú from the front.
"I mean the other you!"
Everyone began to notice that Cú Chulainn Alter's body begin to be envelope into golden mist.
"Confirmed Spirit Origin collapse!" Mash announced, feeling relief. "Heroic Spirit Cú Chulainn's materialization is fading!"
"This is the end Cú Chulainn!" Voiced Rama as he made a step forward.
The Berserker looked up to view the Chaldean team, bearing a look of disappointment. "...Tch. Geez, looks like I've lost my touch." His lips now formed a line. "...Well. This is the end of the Mad King Cú Chulainn's role."
"However—" his eyes narrowed as he starred at them. "before I'm done, I've got to summon the Demon God guarding the Holy Grail." His face then grew a sinister smile. "Good luck brats. O Holy Grail. The ultimate vessel to make wishes come true. Manifest. Remember. You have joined the 72 Demon Gods!" As he finished, the Alter was then submerged in a large bright light.
Panic began to fill the Chaldean Servants, Rama looking in disbelief. "There's still more?! Ugh, my Noble Phantasm's has just about run out. Cú Chulainn... is far too powerful."
The atmosphere quickly began to feel hopeless. Mash tightened her grip on her Master. "No way... We're already at the limit of our power! We can't keep fighting consecutive battles like this—"
"I shall sever all that is poisonous, and all that is harmful— Nightingale Pledge!"
"My wounds!" Rama voiced in shock. Everyone looked at themselves in surprise as their Spirit Origins felt almost completely rejuvenated.
Nightingale stared intently at Ritsuka. "—Master, now is the time to save lives. I shall treat your wounds. Everything will be as it was before. Over and over, as many times as it takes. To crush the outrages, to overcome despair. For that I offer everything I have."
"Nightingale!" Mash said with renewed hope. Things were not as grim they seemed to be.
Everyone turned to look as the light in front of them faded, replaced by the now towering figure of a Demon God Pillar. It's voice echoed as it's many eyes stared down at them. "One of the 72 Demon God Pillars. Rank number 38. The Demon of War, Halphas. War will never vanish from this world. Weapons will never disappear from this world. Mortals are fated to continue fighting, turning like screws in an endless cycle."
"—No! No! I deny it! I shall shout it tens of thousands of times!" Nightingale screamed out. "When the lives saved outnumber those lost, the spiral of conflict should eventually cease turning! No, I'll MAKE it cease. That is my task, as a Servant. So begone form this world, Demon God. I shall never give up, even if it means a thousand deaths!"
"I am one who bestows conflict. You who wish for peace in your hearts... You are unnecessary!" Energy began to build inside the creature of chaos and the Servants prepared themselves for their next fight.
Ritsuka looked at the Demon God and touched at his chest, his wound now seeming to have healed. He put a hand on Nightingale's shoulder, giving his thanks. She looked back at him with a smile, resolute to see this to the end.
The Chaldean then turned his attention to their enemy. He felt a smile form on his lips, and a confidence grow inside him as he took a few steps forward. They'd gone this far already after so much has been lost. They would win this fight just like the rest. "Alright everyone, this is the last battle. Lend me your strength one last time!" He had no more Command Seals to ensure they would follow his plea, but he knew he didn't need them to ensure that.
Everyone gave him their affirmations, and the fight that would bring an end to their time in this singularity, finally commenced.
...
What is residing inside the Holy Grail? She'd thought about this question a few times after her summoning, and she was thinking about it again now. The Chaldean team of Servants had managed to beat the Demon God Halphas, and now the omnipotent wish granter laid between her hands.
As she gazed at the mass of pure magical energy in the form of a cup, she thought of the time she asked her Master that very same question. What he thought laid within the Grail.
"I don't know that much outside of its supposed purpose, and to be honest... I don't really care to know. I don't have anything to really wish for."
It was an honest answer, and she appreciated that. But, she could not understand his lack of desire for it. The Grails in these Singularities were surely not as powerful as the Lesser Grail, that much she'd come to know after gaining some insight from Zhuge Liang and Leonardo Da Vinci. But who knows what miraculous gifts it could grant. It could give great power, grant some more tangible wishes... end dreams...
"Altria?"
Disrupted from her thoughts, she turned around as she heard the voice. Atria looked at her Master, his face giving a worried look while still bearing a smile. The same smile he still managed to give in hard days like the one they just had.
She lifted the cup towards him. "Here Master, your well deserved prize. This victory is yours." She said, her face stoic and calm.
Ritsuka happily took the Grail into his hands, noting the remnants of Llamrie's blood on her armor. "Thanks Altria, but without you, none of this would have been possible. We would have been goners without you, especially me."
The Lancer felt content with letting her pride show for a moment. "Then... I am glad to have been of help, Master. I should thank you as well, this was truly a tough battle. I hope this experience showed you how greatly my strength can aid you."
"Oh, it sure did. I'm happy we could help each other." Ritsuka then turned around to give the Grail to Mash.
The Shielder took it and put the object inside her shield. "Holy Grail recovery... Mission complete!" Mash frowned as she finished. "But... there were too many sacrifices..."
"What are you saying?" Mash turned to regard Rama as he spoke. "We're Servants, we were summoned to fight, and destined to fight for salvation. This battle was an epochal scale. Some might regret that they never finish the fight, but none of them run away from it." Rama gave her a smirk. "See them off with a smile."
Mash returned a joyous smile and gave him a nod. She then turned towards the other Servants with them. "Nightingale!"
"Yes?" The nurse responded.
"When I was about to fall to my knees, your voice helped me stand again... Thank you very much!"
"There is no need to thank me. That's how our agreement was originally— It seems the treatment is complete. We healed the injuries of an entire nation, not just an individual."
Ritsuka walked to face the Berserker. "Yeah, thanks to you."
The nurse looked at him with a smile. "While gratitude is unnecessary, I'll accept it respectfully. However, in exchange..." Nightingale extended her hand towards him. "Please, allow me to shake your hand, Mr. Ritsuka. My secret pleasure was to shake a patient's hand like this when they were discharged from hospital."
Ritsuka looked at her for a moment and he started to snicker as he clasped her hand. "Hehehehe. You have a rather cute side, Nightingale."
Nightingale's face flushed after hearing his words. "... Cute isn't quite the right expression. Joy of this sort is just good etiquette as a nurse... Good grief, to think you're well enough to make such a bad joke. It seems I've underestimated you, Master."
Nightingale's features relaxed as they both shook hands, but then everyone's attention was drawn to a holographic projection of Dr. Roman. "Sorry to interrupt a good scene. With the Holy Grail's recovery, the era correction will begin soon! Preparations for the Rayshift are complete. It's time to part ways. This time... there far too many Servants who had to die for us to get to this point."
Ritsuka and Nightingale had parted hands and the doctor's words brought the Master thinking back to all those they'ed lost along the way on this adventure. "While I know parting is sad and painful, you still emerged victorious. You can return with pride. That's the greatest respect you can pay them."
Mash was about to say something to Nightingale once Romani had finished, but Saint George spoke up before she could. "In that case, let us all take a picture together then. So these moments are never forgotten."
Cú Chulainn walked behind him and hugged the Saint with a hand around the neck, bearing a wide smirk. Georgios almost lost his balance as he did. "Sounds good to me."
"I want a copy of that photo." Voiced Drake.
"Me too!" Ritsuka said.
"Me three." William Tell lit his cigarette as he ended the streak.
"That's a wonderful idea, Saint George. Who would take the picture though?" Mash asked.
"I will. I want to be the one to picture this moment, the result of our journey in this land. I'll join you in the next one, and Archer can take the shot." Georgios responded with a fair smile. Mash gave a nod. The Rider then gestured for everyone to pose for the picture and the Servants did so.
Ritsuka walked to join them, but then stopped when he realized a certain Lancer wasn't going with them. He turned to look at Altria Alter and gave her a questioning look as she looked back at him. "Altria, aren't you coming?"
She returned him a quizzical look. "Must we really do this?" She said, not very excited by the prospect. It was a pointless thing to do in her eyes.
He gave her a pleading smile. "Come on, it's just a photo. And... it wouldn't be right to have one without you in it."
She eyed him for a few seconds and then sighed, relenting. "... Very well. If that is what you desire."
"Thanks! It'll be quick, come on."
They both went to position themselves with the rest of the Servants, Altria walking from behind. Ritsuka walked to stand between Mash and Nightingale. The Alter went to stand behind him, standing between Francis Drake and Cú Chulainn. The latter holding his spear behind his back and the former standing with her hands on her waist. Everyone then looked to Saint George as he readied his camera and held three fingers to count down. It was honestly a miracle it hadn't been damaged during the battle. "Alright everyone, smile for the camera."
She gave a fake smile. It would be a short moment and she wasn't losing anything by doing so. And as she did, she thought of her time in this venture. She thought of the challenges she went through with the rest of the Servants, the vast terrain of a land she never knew existed in her time, and of the moments she shared with the group, especially with her Master. It was a good experience... maybe even fun...
The flash of the camera came, and suddenly, that smile wasn't so fake.
Author's note: this is my first time writing a big action scene like this in a chapter so I hope you enjoyed reading it. Please do leave a comment giving your honest thoughts on what you thought about this chapter. I appreciate any little bit of time you can give. Till the next one.