1.4. To the Greater Grail


"...And, that was what happened so far."

Artoria finishes her brief rundown, awkward. She can't even bear to see the expression on the faces of the Chaldeans as her story sinks in.

Hesitantly, Fujimaru raises his hand.

"So, um, the shot at the beginning…?"

"I'm sorry!" The girl hastily bows at her waist. "I swear I told him to alert you about Hercules, but this idiot just went and... overdid it."

Next to her, the said idiot merely huffs until a white, small hand yanks his collar down, forcing him to follow the suit.

"It's okay… At least none of us were injured." Fujimaru waves his hands at the pair. Even if he did hold a grudge, he doesn't think he'd have the guts to hold it over Berserker.

Asides from Artoria, there's probably not a single human who doesn't feel intimidated by that Servant. His appearance aside, Berserker just single-handedly demolished the great hero of Greek… and Fujimaru is trying his best not to sink under the glare shooting at him under the shadow of the white bang.

"May I ask why didn't you come together?" Mash speaks up at that moment, bailing him out of the attention.

"Halfway through, we noticed a flaming giant suddenly appeared above the buildings," Artoria explains, straightening her back and releasing her Servant's collar. "Berserker recognized it was a Noble Phantasm. However, we weren't sure whether it belonged to a foe or an ally. He… suggested I stay back at a safe distance while he came here first to… scout out."

The girl pretends not to notice those quirked eyebrows at those strange pauses in her story.

By《stayed back》, Artoria left out a crucial fact that Berserker actually just dropped her on a random rooftop in the middle of nowhere, then went ahead alone. Thus, she had to climb down a twenty-story building on foot, not to mention it took her quite a while to be able to locate the direction he had run off…

"I guess he still owes me A LOT of explanations." The girl concludes with a tick mark pulsing on her forehead. Berserker turns away, feigning ignorance of her stink eyes.

"In short, the bastard just did it on purpose." Taking up the role of leading the group up to the mountain, Caster comments over his shoulder from the front.

"Caution is never excessive." Berserker shrugs. Closing his blackened eye, a contempt smirk lifts the corner of his lips. "Especially when it comes to some rabid dog."

"You—!"

"Berserker!" "Caster."

Artoria elbows her Servant, shaking her head in disapproval while Fujimaru and Mash try to soothe a bristling Caster. The two men give the other a dead glare before clicking their tongues. They turn their head in the opposite direction almost at the same time, sulking.

Olga massages her tempers, feeling a mirage forming. They got another less, yet still, amateur of a Master, along with a very problematic, dubious Servant—

"Waston, are you sure he won't backstab us?" She demands. Involuntary, Artoria cringes inwardly at the name. However outside, it's presented as a pointed glare, which she only realizes when the young woman flinches and the others stare at her speechlessly.

She coughs into her hand, trying to cover her embarrassment while composing her face back.

"Sorry... I erm, right. About Berserker—"

"Except for my Master, I have no obligation to provide my trustworthiness to any of you." Berserker cuts her off. Folding his arms, he glances at the director from the corners of his eyes. "If Artoria sees it fit, she can use a Command Seal on me. But of course, I'll refrain from doing anything to make her use it, lest it waste on something so… unnecessary."

Goosebumps cover Olga's body, and she shudders. Berserker's face has split into a smirk that is nothing but bloodthirsty.

"Ah, but, you weren't wrong. I'm always going for the easiest path. So don't be too surprised when I happen to cut you down if it means guaranteeing Artoria's safety."

Even though he has closed his blackened eye, the strange light flash on the silver one under the moonlight causes the young woman's throat to tighten. Swallowing, Olga shrinks further behind Mash and Fujimaru. Her cheeks are reddened with humiliation.

"Hey. Take easy on the poor girl, will ya?" Caster scoffs. In return, the other Servant snorts.

"Sorry, what are you barking again? I don't speak dog language."

Mash and Fujimaru nervously watch the hand gripping the wooden staff so tightly to the point it is as though Caster could snap it in half at any second. Realizing the tension building up, Artoria jabs Berserker's side with her finger.

"Could you please behave for five minutes?" She hisses in a whisper. "And quit bullying the director! You're making it harder for us."

The man gives her a look as though he was wronged. Grunting, Berserker turns away whilst the girl lets out a long sigh. While it's understandable for these Servants to never miss a chance to come for each other's necks since they used to be enemies, she can't fathom why Berserker seems particularly hostile to the director. She needs to have one word or two with him about this later.

Shaking her head, Artoria turns to Olga and sends her an apologetic look.

"Director, I know it's weird to say it, but I trust Berserker." The girl speaks, sneaking a brief glance at her aloof Servant. "He might be a bit… ill-tempered and eccentric. Still, I believe he isn't a bad person. He could have killed me before our contract was forged, but he didn't. So if he gets out of hand, I will take full responsibility as his Master."

The young woman frowns. Trusting a Servant who doesn't even recall his True Name is foolish, and utmost naive. But before she could retort, the words stuck in her throat.

Save for Berserker, and Caster who is observing the whole thing with blatant entertainment, the rest are looking at her expectantly. Both Masters' eyes are large and shimmering, while Artoria's emerald ones are somewhat a bit pleading. Olga bites her lower lip as the reminiscences of puppy and kitty keep flashing in her mind.

… This is so unfair.

"—Hmph, do whatever you want." is what the director grinds out through her teeth. Nonetheless, Artoria, Mash, and Fujimaru all beam up at her.

"Thank you, Director." Artoria chimes, a big smile brightening her face. She's relieved that the old method of dealing with her mentor worked. Though Olga just huffs and swivels her head away, she manages to catch the glimpse of her colored ears and hides her amused chuckle.

Without looking back, the girl quickly slaps a hand over Berserker's mouth, silencing him before he adds something nasty.

"Anyhow, that explained a lot about why the other Berserker just decided to hunt us down." Now the atmosphere has been more lukewarm, Caster decides to speak up. "But an unusual summoning, huh? It almost makes me laugh. Imagine how you managed to snatch the King's beloved lapdog…"

He treads at Artoria and looms in her face, much to the girl's discomfort. While a blush slowly creeps up to her cheeks at their proximity, Berserker growls from behind.

Paying them no mind, Caster narrows his ruby eyes. Then as if it was the most natural thing to do, he nuzzles his nose at the hollow of her neck.

And take a deep sniff.

Everything immediately comes to an abrupt halt.

"... He does go around and smell people." Olga's barely audible murmur rings above the dead silence of the night. Shock, somewhat mixed with a bit of sympathy for someone in the same place as her not long ago.

Artoria, for her part, is simply petrified.

Sixteen years of her life, this is the first time she has been this close to a man who isn't her family member, much less got treated like this. All functions of her brain cease down. Her body becomes rigid when Caster's breath fans on her skin.

Men can be wolves…

Somewhere in the back of Artoria's head echoes those distinct words.

Men can be wolves, so never ever let your guard down—

Just who told her?

"As expected, this scent…"

Before Caster can finish his line, Artoria's fist, enforced by magic, connects to his guts. Her self-defense mechanism has taken over. The Servant lets out a strangled cry and falls fall to his knees, clutching his stomach. Olga, Mash, and Fujimaru can only hold their breath.

That oughta hurt… then again, that man deserved it.

"I- uh, I'm sorry! My hand acted on its own— Are you okay…?" Artoria stammers, hastily withdrawing her punch. Heart still racing, she tries to check on him and misses the stun look Caster's giving her in her flushed state.

Her concern immediately melts into annoyance when he bounces back on his feet with a rather flirty smile.

"Well, that was quite a punch, young miss. But, hey, I rather like fierce women." He purrs, leaning in again. This time, Artoria scowl and inches back. Her fingers are twitching for another punch if she doesn't constantly remind herself of keeping her manners. She covers her chest instead, reddening when the Servant hums and looks at her up and down, taking his sweet time

"I admit, you're eye candy. Surely he has a preference." Ruby eyes leer at her playfully. "Say, since you got something good in there, are you interested in runes? I can help you work on it, as well as those tiny ti—"

Just as Artoria thinks perhaps, it wasn't so bad to beat him up after all, Caster suddenly jumps back. From behind her, the tip of a white blade scrapes his cheek, narrowly dividing his head. Having yet to follow what was happening, the girl flinches the moment an arm circulates around her shoulder, and yanks her back in a swift motion. Her back hits against a firm and soft surface.

"Heh, even delusions should have limits. But it seems like someone's gonna have to beat some senses into your thick skulls." Berserker chuckles above her. The murderous intent etches in his counterfeit of a smile.

"Don't make me gouge your eyes out, mutt. That'd be ugly."

The white blade is level by his side, threatening. In reply, Caster casually wipes the blood off his face with an unimpressed snicker.

"Hoh? Didn't someone just turn green with envy? Your personality is becoming worse by the moment, punk." Runes crackling up on his fingertip, the Servant grins in equal viciousness. "Let's see what color you'd be after getting toasted!"

And that's the last straw. the Masters and Mash hurry to step in between them, no matter how frightening it sounds lest all hell breaks loose. The last thing they need is for those two aggressive Servants to cut each other's throats right before they're going to face the last boss.

Olga slaps a hand on her face and drags it down.

They aren't clowns, but the entire circus.

"Fujimaru! How is the connection?" Impatiently, she dictates over the commotion.

"Still jammed!" The young man yells back. He's doing a poor job to prevent Caster from bouncing on the other Servant by hugging his midsection. Meanwhile, Artoria struggles to push Berserker back with her whole body. Mash has struck her shield down in the middle to separate them, but she's still unable to stop the riled Servants from yanking each other's collars. Ultimately they sandwich her along with the other girl.

Letting out a long, exasperated sigh, Ogla glances at the stairs way up to the mountain. Yells, curses, and bloody murder screams are traded behind her back.

This's gonna be a long hike…


Olga covers her nose as soon as they venture into a cave on the mountain, revolted by the stench of magical energy that greeted them. Although he isn't as sensitive to magic as her, Fujimaru can tell how off this place is. It's crawling his skin. The further they go, the thicker and denser the air becomes. Even Fou whimpers and snuggles into the hood of his coat to hide.

The Servants are noticeable to stay closer to them. Mash always makes sure her shield is ready when she walks by his side, while Berserker practically glues to Artoria. Caster remains silent in front of their group. His ruby eyes seem luminous in the dark like embers.

The cave leads them to a huge opening, a chamber hidden deep inside a mountain, and the director's eyes almost pop out of their sockets.

"This is the Greater Grail..." Olga squeaks. "It's an ultra-superior Magical Reactor! What's it doing on this island nation in the Far East—"

The question chokes in her throat. Because standing out against the purple hue illuminating the cave, a dark figure appears to have been waiting for them on the ground embankment. The sinister aura is so intense that the young woman can't even get a word out. Fujimaru really can't blame her since he is feeling the same.

That figure. They reek of death.

"Hey, Saber. We are here."

The clicking clack sound of the armor answers Caster's call. Slowly, Saber faces them. A dark knight. She can't be older than twenty, but the insane mana output in the air can make Berserker Hercules look so meek.

"That sword…" Mash gulps at the glimpse of the menacing dark sword beneath Saber's hands. She recognized it.

Or to be more exact, the Heroic Spirit dwelling inside her seems to recognize it.

"The second King-making sword from the stone. Excalibur the Sword of Promised Victory." Caster acknowledges. Both Olga and Fujimaru can't hide their astonishment at the name.

"So the Saber…!"

"Is that really King Arthur?" Mash mutters, unconsciously gripping the shield. Fujimaru spares a glance to the embankment, where the knight is regarding them, silent and deadly. He averts his eyes the instant a chill runs down his spine.

It's is no doubt. They are in the presence of the legendary King of Knights. The fact that he was actually a girl doesn't even matter.

"—I see. You've got an interesting Master with you."

The King chooses that moment to speak up. In the wake of her words, everything lapses into silence. Saber inclines her head to the side.

"Perhaps I should overlook your treachery and congratulate you, Archer, no?"

Although she addressed the other Servant, at the end of her sight is a pale-faced Artoria. The girl cringes and cowers back. she can sense a sharp gaze skewering her head. She has already known about Saber's True Name from Berserker. But no one, absolutely no one, prepared her for this.

She didn't know her own voice could be that biting and devoid of emotion.

"No hard feelings, Saber. I didn't expect it, either." As nonchalant as he can be, Berserker answers. Uncrossing his arms, he takes a step forward, as though to shield Artoria with his body. "I'm Berserker now. And you knew the rules. A Servant is bound to their Master."

Saber frowns, her lips curled down. She gives off the impression that she has something more to say, but in the end, she chooses not to.

"...Very well. Do your best to keep your Master safe this time." Coldly, she remarks. A dry chuckle leaves Berserker's mouth. Fujimaru can see his muscles taunting. He and the other sneak glances between him and the other Servant. There's certainly some strain hanging in there.

"What! You can talk? You were just maintaining your silence all this time we fought?" Caster suddenly cuts in, sounding genuinely upset whilst everyone can't help but give him a dirty look.

Is this the right time to wonder about that?

It isn't a surprise when the King launches herself straight at Caster, in a quick and effective way to say 'Shut up'. Even with her mask on, anyone can easily see she is narrowing her eyes, annoyed.

"This is damn favoritism, I'm telling you!" Caster hollers when Mash jumps in front of him and thrusts her shield up, halting the dark sword at the last minute. "Has your honor of a knight been dumped along with your rationality, Saber?"

The other Servant doesn't bother to return his snarky remark. Rather, she seems to be intrigued by the shield. Saber examines it while grinding her sword down, much to Mash's dismay.

"This Noble Phantasm… Hmph, I see." A hint of recognition etches in her voice. The dark King then regards her through her mask.

"Ready this shield of yours, strange girl. This sword will prove to me whether or not it can protect you!"

Abruptly, unbelievable bloodlust releases in the air. Twisting her hold on the sword, Saber swats the girl and the shield aside as though they are nothing. Heart leaping in his throat, Fujimaru's legs move before he can think.

"Mash—!"

The young man manages to catch her, but his strength is not enough to handle the force of the impact. Two of them roll across the ground before coming to a stop. Painful groans escape their lips until Mash jolts up the moment she realizes she is laying on top of him.

"Senpai! Are you all right? I'm sorry…!" The girl quakes. She tries to get up, avoiding disturbing Fujimaru as much as she can in their tangled position. It proves difficult as her arms are still trembling from the aftershocks.

"Berserker!" Snapping from her daze, Artoria shouts. The Servant answers by charging forward, twin blades twirling in his hands. Calmly, Saber engages him as though she has expected him. She parries all his strikes. Flipping back, Berserker adds swift arrows. The mismatched eyes narrow when the other Servant bashes them away.

As soon as he retreats to her, Artoria reinforces her legs. Two of them bolt off to the other side with Saber hot on their heels. It allows Caster and Olga to come to the fallen pair's aid.

"Focus! Don't be fooled by her appearance. She's a monster." The Servant barks, pulling Mash and Fujimaru up. "Saber's power is not of muscle, but a ridiculous amount of magical energy. Every single strike is massive. If you're not paying attention, the top half of your body will go flying—"

"Then why did you try to provoke her in the first place?!"

"—Basically, just think of her like a human rocket." The Servant finishes, promptly ignoring Olga's side remark.

"...Understood, I'll fight back with everything I've got." Probing her shield, Mash nods her head. Caster flashes a grin at her before his voice becomes more serious.

"Good. If you defeat her, the anomaly in this town will disappear. That includes both me and her. I don't know about that bastard, but after that, it's your job. Whatever will happen, do the best you can. Now, let's assist him and that young lady. Saber won't stop until either side is killed."

"Yes! Mash Kyrielight, enter combat!"

Sparing a last worried look at the young man who is treated by Olga, she follows the Servant to the other side of the field.

The sounds of clashing steel grating the ears. Since Saber has high [Magic resistance], Berserker takes the main course of attack. Caster provides covering fire from the rear while Mash blocks all fatal strikes. The gap in the strength between the two sides somewhat balanced out with this setup.

Noticing her disadvantage if the battle prolongs, Saber changes her approach. With a heavy swing, she knocks off Mash to come at the caster, whom she deems as the weak link in the chain.

"Emergency Evasion!"

Speech boosted up, Caster grins. He goes around the knight in a blink of an eye and Saber growls when the heat of the fire runes blast on her back. Doesn't let the opportunity be wasted, Berserker thrusts his blade to her head. Moving sideways, she smashed it by raising her sword, exposing an opening for him to kick her a few steps back.

"Is it just me or does the Caster attack seem more powerful than before?" Fujimaru inquires, watching Caster showing Artoria a thumbs up.

"That's because he got additional magical energy from Waston."

At his totally clueless look, Olga exhales in exasperation.

"Chaldea has a unique system allowing Masters to execute the power of the Command Seal to any Servant within the organization, even the ones without a direct contract." She explains. "It's a distributed gateway installed into your magic circuits after you are registered. You can perform the spells of Mystic Codes, or even transfer your magic energy via that method."

"In Watson's case, I doubt she knows about it. That girl just unconsciously transferred magical energy when she punched [make a contract with] Caster... But, I give that girl credit. She read the flow well enough to prove support at the right time. With proper training, Watson may catch up with team A soon."

If she could do it in such a short amount of time, then what Lev said about her wasn't a bluff, Olga purses her lips. Unknowingly, the young man beside her did the same. Blue eyes tag on Artoria moving along with the Servants naturally. Fujimaru attempts to quell that uncomfortable bang inside his chest.

Will he be able to become such a Master one day...?


Artoria, contrary to the popular belief, just has absolutely zero ideas about what she's doing.

She admits, everything she has acted so far is purely on her instinct. She lured Saber away because she couldn't let her attack the others. And now, she's running around, trying her best to heed the battle while staying in the Servant's blind spot because with just a slight hit from Saber, she'd be dead meat.

Her chest is constricting under pressure. Although she is familiar with the concept of fighting thanks to her grandfather's training and having participated in various fencing tournaments, it isn't enough.

None of them feels enough.

Emerald eyes squirted, Artoria barely follows Saber and Berserker's footwork. She knows she can't hope to match that power and speed. And due to her humble asset of magecraft, she had to depend on the limited spells imprinted inside the Mystic Code. The girl nips her lower lip. They are gaining the advantage, but at the same time, the thought she should have done more plagued her mind.

As a Master, she needs to do more—

"Artoria, deep breaths."

A grunt voice suddenly echoes at the back of her mind. Startled out of her skin, Artoria frantically glances around searching until her eyes set on Berserker's figure ahead of her.

"Take deep breaths. You're doing just fine, so concentrate before you trip on your own feet. I prefer my Master walk out of here with her head and her dignity intact."

Her face heats up in an instant. Artoria hides her embarrassment under a pout, catching a glimpse of a lopsided smirk he's shot her over his shoulder. She appreciates Berserker has enough mind to consider her, but still...!

"Sorry. My nervousness leaked out again." The girl sighed, letting it out in a shaky breath then inhaling, deeply. He's right, she needs to calm down first. What kind of Master she is to make her Servant worry about her when he already has his hands full?

"Hey, only a moron, or a madman wouldn't feel edgy on the battlefield." Standing nearby, Caster tussles up her hair. The corners of his lips tug up further under Artoria's withering glare.

"Just support us like you're doing. The odds are on our side." He taps lightly on his breastplate with his index finger. "The important that you got something one of a kind here. Be more confident about yourself."

Artoria blinks up at him until a small smile graces her lips. Although she isn't sure what he implied, she understands that he's trying to cheer her up.

"Thank you." She says, sincerely, before adding. "And could you hold back on riling up my Servant too much? I need him to stay focused."

"Can't promise." Caster sings and returns to the battle whilst the girl shakes her head with an exasperated groan. She can sense Berserker's annoyance lurking through their shared link.

Much to her's surprise, Artoria finds herself being amused by them in this kind of situation. The anxiety remains inside her, but it's somewhat been alleviated.

"Enough!"

Saber snaps, patience finally wears thin after being constantly suppressed. As though resonating with her wrath, the dark magical energy bursts from the head to the tip of the blackened Excalibur, turning it into a lightsaber of the darkness. The Servant then goes on a full rampage causing Mash struggles to stand her ground, or she would be blown away by each of those blasts.

"Archer, or Berserker…? Well, whatever! Do something, your ex-girlfriend's gone mad!" While attempting to slow her down with his fire runes, Caster blurts. He clicks his tongue since his attacks show less effectiveness against Saber's armor. She is charging at them like a wounded bull.

Bouncing back a few yards, Berserker pulls the string of his great bow back.

"First, we never dated." He grunts. The peculiar sword he notched is cracking with overcharge. "Second,"

"Do NOT order me."

The moment the string is released, the sword turns into a magic bullet and shoots straight at Saber's head, the least protected place. Skipping to a halt, the King wipes her dark sword up, engulfing the arrow in the wave of blight before it can reach her. During that moment, Berserker circled around her. Several swords appear above him when he pulls back the second arrow.

Saber turns her sword backward. Like a motor, the energy flow from the sword pushes her past the volley of blades. She flanks him, catching Berserker off guard. The king delivers a roundhouse kick to the side of his head, sending him flying past Fujimaru and Olga and into the wall behind them.

Dust and debris are blasted into the air. Berserker slumps down from the dent he created, motionless.

"Berserker!" Artoria screams. Panicked, she's about to run up to him until a streak of darkness strikes down in front of her, stopping her dead in her tracks.

"Do you know what is the most detestable of all?"

The chilly voice makes the hair at the back of her head raises up. Gulping, Artoria somehow mutters strength to move her stiff neck to meet Saber, who is looming over her like a harbinger of death.

"It's your incompetence that you failed to protect what you hold dear." The King sneers, raising the dark sword. "Give up. There is no longer a thing you can do."

"Waston!" Mash cries, attempting to rush to her when that dreadful dark energy falls down on Artoria. Fear seizing her body, the girl doesn't even notice she was rooting on a spot until her vision swiftly shifts.

"Tsk… "

That clicking tongue is soon drowned by the sound of the breaking ground. The strong current brushes over her back as she staggers forward. Artoria's shaking to the core at the feeling she just missed death by an inch. She turns her head around and the color is drained from her face.

"You girls just love zoning out in a battle, don't you?"

Caster jokes through his gritting teeth, blood dribbling out from the remaining of his left elbow. Despite beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, Caster still manages to grin at Artoria's pale complexion. He then glares at the other Servant from the corner of his eyes.

"And, you. Don't vent out your personal issues on someone else just because she looks like you."

A column of the flame bust up from Saber's feet after that snarky remark. She jumps away, only to take another heavy bash on the face from Mash. The King slides a few paces back. Under the impact, the black mask has been shattered and dropped off her face.

The moment the dust settles down, two golden irises glare at them, jarring and outraged. A collection of gasps immediately booms inside the cave.

"No way... That— Isn't that...?!" Fujimaru stutters, rubbing his eyes feverously while Mash's mouth drop in shock.

"... me." Artoria finishes in a low voice, chewing on her lips. She has anticipated it, but to confirm it with her own eyes, it's still uncanny.

They are like mirror images of each other, if not for the fact the Servant has a lighter shade of color in her hair. Her skin is much paler, a sick color like a corpse. There is no light in her eyes making them look cruel and inhuman. Another diffident in them which caused the others didn't realize it sooner is that Artoria's hair has been tied into a low ponytail instead of a bun after it was loosened.

"What's the meaning of this?!" Can't help herself, Olga shrieks. She gawks back and forth between Artoria and Saber. "She looks… exactly like Waston! What the heck—"

The words choke in her throat as soon as the King pierces her with a death glare. The young woman clamps her mouth up in an instant. Taking a step forward, she swings up her blade toward her. Forced out of her shock, Mash dashes before Olga and Fujimaru to block the wave of dark energy. She grimaces, focusing all of her muscle strength in order to stay on her feet.

Artoria jolts when those golden eyes fixate on her, chilly. She releases the breath she has unknowingly held the moment the King walks passes her and goes after the other girl. It's strange she thinks while blood racing inside her ears. However, a painful grunt snaps her out of her contemplation. Artoria hurries to Caster's side, a bit guilty for forgetting him for a moment, and activates the healing skill of her uniform.

Sneaking a nervous glance over her shoulder, she prays that Mash would be able to hang on for a little while...


"What's wrong? Is that Noble Phantasm just for show?"

At Saber taunts, Mash doesn't answer. It's not like she is showing her disdain for her enemy, she's just unable to answer. Her breaths are ragged in her chest. Another whimper escapes from her lips when she tries her best to endure hit after hit from the dark sword hammering on the shield.

Golden eyes narrowed, the King flings it and Mash across the field with a simple flick of her hand. The holy shield slides off her hands. It drops to the ground at the same time her body hits the ground. The wind is knocked out of her.

"Mash!" Fujimaru jumps to his feet, but this time Olga holds him back by the wrist. She frantically shakes her head, white as a sheet.

His throat gone dry, the young man moves his head back to the battlefield, where Saber's watching Mash struggle on her feet. Her eyebrows knit into a frown.

"How dull." The King squints, disappointment etched in her words. "This will be the end."

In an instant, the air seems to condense as dark winds of magical energy swirl around her. The light of the black sword becomes more and more intense. Mash can feel her blood turn cold under the pressure of the massive mana outpours.

The King's going to release her Noble Phantasm, with a resolution to obliterate them once and all.

She glances over her shoulder. The other Servants are still in critical states and Fujimaru, Olga is right behind her.

The desperate looks on their faces made her heart throb.

Gathering her remaining strength, Mash reaches for the shield. Ignoring how her muscles are screaming in protest, ignoring her natural instinct, she gets on her legs. Using the shield to support her weight. The girl firmly settled herself before the line of attack, lavender eyes hardened.

At the very least, this tattered body will buy them enough time to run away. That was the original purpose of her existence.

Artoria feels like someone just ducked her head into a bucket of ice. Even Caster grimaces

Nobody notices the corners of Saber's lips slightly turning up into a bitter, sad smile.

"Very well, I shall answer those eyes. And to the heart that means to protect its Master!" The king proclaims, drawing the sword of blight back.

"Hammer of the Viking…!"

Under her chants, the blade pulses with vigorous mana. Saber sweeps the blackened Excalibur up.

"EXCALIBUR MORGAN!"

Radiating darkness crawls on the ground, destroying anything in its wake. Brutally, it collides with Mash's shield. Heels dug into the ground, the girl use her whole body to push back. Her jaws are sore from how hard she's grinding them.

It feels like it's all but a futile effort. This beam of darkness. It's a threat to the world, eliminating all in its wake…

It will never allow them to exit.

Mash's knees bend at that moment, but for some reason, she still manages to hold on to the shield. Her power isn't enough to handle this heavy darkness, she laments. She wants to cry, to run away. It's just not going to work. Her body is becoming numb and her ears begin to buzz.

If only... if only she was a proper Heroic Spirit, then maybe things would have ended differently. Now, it'll all be over—

Lavender eye snaps open from the verge of unconsciousness the moment her hand is enveloped in familiar warmth. Mash raises her head she unknowingly hung.

"... Senpai…"

With one hand placed on her back, Fujimaru is holding the shield up together with her. He is shaking like a leaf. Sweat clings to his forehead, and he looks like he could pass out at any moment in fear. Yet despite everything, he is here with her.

Just like back then, there is a gentle smile on his lips.

"Why are you…?"

"I believe in you."

Surprise, and many other emotions pass over Mash's face. Somehow, those words somehow ring clear in her ears, resonating deep inside her.

She doesn't understand. How such simple words could fill her with so much strength?

—No, isn't the answer already there?

Because...

"... Master, give me your order!" In the spur of the moment, Mash gets on her feet. The hand placed on top of her squeezes down tightly. The red mark on the back of it flashes up.

"We'll block that attack. Let's go, Mash!" Fujimaru says as the magical energy flows into Mash, so warm and soothing.

She is this person's Servant.

That's why…!

"Yes…! Please watch me!" With all of her might, the girl shouts, stomping a step forward. "NOBLE PHANTASM DEPLOYED!"

As though heeding her call, the shield glows. Pure light spreads out, pushing through the wave of darkness.

"That Noble Phantasm…" Ogla utters as the second layer of light manifests. The white streaks begin to form into bricks and pillars.

"A fortress…?" Not far away, Artoria can only utter in awe. She's never aware there was such a noble light in the world. It's so clear and beautiful.

It's hope.

"Told ya. That young lady's Class is extra." Caster chuckles by her side, pride glinting in his ruby eyes. "She's not a Heroic Spirit [human] who fights, but a Heroic Spirit [human] who protects."

"[Shielder], Heroic Spirit of the Shield."

"Hyahhh!" Mash slams her shield down. The great wall of light hums brighter, resonating with her shout. It completely banishes the dark beam of Excalibur Morgan, rendering Saber speechless.

That girl was chosen, given a real, full name, but she bears none of her Heroic Spirit's desires. Just then, she yearned for that phantasm, even if it was a sham, or borrowed… and just then, the phantasm responded.

"... what a tearjerker." Olga murmurs, hiding her eyes under her bang the moment she senses them heated up. Bashing in this radiant light, she finds herself moved.

The desire of all mankind is to cut through the impossible and keep walking toward the future.

"So, Mash… that was your response?"

Amber eyes reflect the image of the pair of Master and Servant.

To trust and to be trusted. It's really a beautiful thing...

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Author's note:

Thank you for your patience. I know I'm behind the schedule (way behind, actually). My job was being a b**ch and I had to rewrite those later chapters several times. Those fighting scenes were hard to write and for some reason, the plot kept getting out of hand...

I'll try my best to complete this story in this week, so you can look forward to it! Thank you again.