Fate Archetype - Eternal Kingdoms Chapter 23 - Blood and Ashes, a fate/stay night fanfic

Hello to all of you,

This long overdue chapter has been a long time coming, but it is finally completed! I'll put online in the next few days the last chapter almost finished and the epilogue in two parts, just to finish what I started.

As agreed, here are the remaining pairs. As there is a lot going on in this chapter, I will update the list exceptionally in the next one too.

* Adelaide Fleury - Kid Gil/Gilgamesh (Archer/Caster)

* Waver Velvet / Lord El-Melloi II - Iskandar (Rider)

* Dorian Janson - Mysterious Heroine X (Assassin)

* Sakura Matou - Medusa (Rider) [Eliminated]

* Shirou Emiya - Chiron (Archer)

* Rin Tohsaka - Ishtar (Archer)

* Fiona of Elvaren - Gilles de Rais (Saber)

* Evelyn d'Elvaren - Joan of Arc (Lancer)

* Cedric d'Elvaren - Gilles de Rais (Caster) [Eliminated]

* Agnès Dufors - Medea (Caster) [Eliminated] * Lucas Renoir - Charlemagne (Caster) [Eliminated

* Lucas Renoir - Charlemagne (Saber) [Eliminated]

* Master Inconnu.e - Emiya (Assassin) [Eliminated]

* Reika Sakamoto - Tohno Shiki (Assassin)

* Akito Sakamoto - Ryougi Shiki (Assassin)

* Master Unknown - Unknown Servant (Saber ?)

* Master Unknown - Unknown servant (Saber ?)

* Master Unknown - Servant Unknown (Saber ?)

As usual, I'm listening to you by PM and I'll read with attention your feedbacks.

I wish you a good reading and I say to you with the next one with the turning of a line!

Lenia41

Chapter 23 - Blood and Ashes

Parc du Champs de Mars, 7th district, Paris, France. One hour later.

No rest for the brave! Everything had been going on with the speed and vigor of a torrent. At dawn, they had received a phone call from Elvaren's agent to tell them to go to a particular point in the French capital, where the presence of the Grail had been detected, as well as those of other approaching Servants. They had to get there as soon as possible, in order to avoid that the hostile Heroic Souls and their mysterious Masters would come to lead the fight in the streets of Paris. That would be a bloodbath they wanted to avoid, as much as they could anyway.

Adelaide considered this a small consolation: the Grail had obviously chosen a place for the ritual of its future appearance that was both vast, clear and could be partly isolated from the rest.

The rules had been agreed upon in advance, so they had gone to the place in groups. If Fleury didn't like to argue with Waver, the teacher was partly reassured that they had dug up and emptied the abscess in their relationship before going to this last battle royal from which it was not at all sure that they would escape. It would be one less regret to carry. She was just as reassured to have her former doctoral student on their team, to keep an eye on him and make sure as much as she could that he made it through somehow. No, her only regret was that she hadn't been able to honor her word to Fiona since they hadn't had time to perform the duel they had agreed to do with Saber and Archer. She hoped that she could make amends once the main threat, the mysterious and powerful knights, had been defeated.

They did not, however, have the opportunity to join the other groups at the agreed-upon rendezvous point where Sakura was to wait. The enemy had also made arrangements.

Three knights were waiting for them. A tall, slender knight stood facing them, long red hair blowing in the breeze, while his shoulders were draped in a long, thick white cloak with gold trim and a furry collar. Dark armor with light patches showed under the cloak, while he held a curious combination of a bow and harp. Beside him stood another slender knight, a sword at his waist, with a dark green surcoat contrasting with his light armor plates. He stood out, however, with his long white hair, his haughty face and the liveliness of his resolute green eyes as well as the strange prosthesis that replaced his right arm. A third Servant completed their group, completely covered by a full armor with thick metal plates lined with purple and whose face was hidden under a helmet with large and thick gray horns. In his right hand rested a heavy sword drawn in the clear, silent but very threatening for all that. Rather than confront the three together - if Dorian's theories were correct, it would be better to confront them separately than together - they decided to divide them up as much as possible. The first knight had set his blue-gray eyes on Dorian and Assassin, who naturally came to challenge him, while Waver and Rider took the fight to the third knight, who was the most powerful. While his two fellows rushed to fight the Clock Tower director and Rider as well as his post-doctoral fellow and Assassin on the other hand, the second knight had remained motionless, his sharp green eyes more poised on the archaeologist and Archer.

They certainly weren't going to deny him this duel, if it would keep him away from his compatriots and his mysterious leader. In the connected earpiece, tuned to a particular frequency, which had been loaned by the intelligence officer for the occasion, Adelaide got confirmation that more fighting was going on a little further away: the group composed of Rin, Shirou and their two Archers had been intercepted by two knights, both of Saber class. The two Servants, one with dark armor and the other with light armor and a heavy claymore, were definitely very powerful. She also heard of another two-on-two fight, as Agent D'Elvaren and Fiona were brought in to face two final knights alongside Gilles Saber and Lancer-class Joan of Arc. While one of them was clearly Lancer class given the long spear he carried in his hand, they had not yet been able to confidently determine the class to which their mysterious and strong second opponent, armed with a large shield, belonged. As for Reika and Akito, the twins had gone with their Assassins on the sidelines, scouting for the mysterious leader of these knights and for the whereabouts of the Masters. The two Franco-Japanese had volunteered for this mission, believing they had the best abilities to act discreetly. They would come back to them as soon as they had the information they were hoping for.

For the moment, Adelaide knew what she had to do, and she did not intend to wait for the knight who was facing them to come and attack them without doing anything. Opening her family's mystical codex with a smooth motion, the archaeologist grabbed some crystals in one hand and turned to her young friend.

- Are you ready, Godric?

- I was born ready! You're the one to ask. replied the little Archer.

Fleury knew what he meant by that. It would be a fight to the death, where the law of the strongest, the most skillful or the most cunning would take place. It would be a duel where only one team would have to come out standing, and probably alive if they believed the expeditious methods of their opponents. Like Warka, she would have to be ready to take lives if necessary, if they wanted to avoid a nameless disaster.

- Saber, Bedivere. I have no grievance against you, but my blade is at the service of my king.

- Adélaïde Fleury. Don't take it personally on my side either, Messire Bedivère. I have given my word, and I intend to keep it. Two last questions before we cross swords, if you allow me. Answered the archaeologist with calm aplomb.

The atmosphere was already tense and if it did not give off the same overwhelming power as that described by their allies who had had the misfortune to cross one of these mysterious knights, the green eyes of their opponent were as piercing as intelligent. Saber nodded without a word, very vigilant. Adelaide decided not to mince her words and spoke again in a voice that was both deep and confident.

- I don't see your Master on your side. Doesn't this fight seem to be working against you?

- I don't need the help of the one who called me. I only answer to the orders of my king.

An answer at the same time effective and elusive, the archaeologist had to recognize it well. One recognized there the skill of the knight who was said to be the most loyal and the closest to King Arthur. She did not expect him to tell her the whole truth anyway, but his words were no less interesting, especially his choice of words. He seemed to distinguish between two figures: the individual who had summoned him, the Master, and the person he actually serves, the famous "king". This meant that he had access to enough mana to act independently, without the support of a mage. While he was not arrogant enough to say without hesitation that he would win this fight, he was also confident of his chances of victory and determined to defeat them. Adélaïde regretted not having studied the Matter of Brittany as much as her former doctoral student, but she would make do with the elements she had at her disposal and with what she could learn. So the professor decided to adjust her approach a bit and tried another, more direct opening.

- I hear it. I know a little bit about the legends that surround you and your peers. I am astonished that people of your quality are willing to flout their honor as knights by turning a blind eye to the dubious practices of the mages you serve.

Again, the knight's features seemed impassive and his green eyes unfathomable, with a perfectly controlled expressiveness that gave no indication of what he was thinking. Adelaide felt, however, that the fingers of her free hand tightened further, closing into a fist.

- My loyalty cannot be questioned. My sword and arm are in the service of my king, but enough of this chatter. Let me show you the tyranny that is also law.

- Well, that's not all, but I'm bored, and you are in my way. It's high time you and your kind were properly disciplined.

Estimating that they had discussed enough without doubt and impatient to fight, the young Gil interposed between Saber and her, his civil clothes fading to leave place to his khaki trousers and the white jacket with which she had met him in Warka. His uncovered torso showed incarnate tattoos, the solid gold armor pieces reappearing on his hips while chains, real silver snakes of mesh and iron, swirled around him. His crimson eyes seemed even more fiery and piercing as he motioned Fleury to back away. They had agreed that she would be more effective in the rear to lend her magical support. This was all the more justified since they were facing a Saber-class servant, a class known not only for its respectable raw power but also for its great efficiency in close combat. Frowning, the Franco-British woman made a final recommendation to her delightful partner.

- I advise you to keep an eye on his right arm. He doesn't look quite right.

- I wasn't going to let my guard down anyway.

Adelaide nodded and concentrated her magic in her family's mystical codex. She didn't intend to underestimate her opponent either, even if it was a single heroic soul. The archaeologist waited no longer as her lips chanted incantations in the Hebrew language, her free hand sacrificing magic crystals. All around them, a dozen golems rose from the ground, several meters high, to defend the professor but also and especially to assist Archer. She bit her lip and wished she could have used more of her magic, but her hands were tied by both Archer and Caster. She had given them her word.

Under no circumstances would she be allowed to use the Beast sealed in the blood and magic of her lineage, or risk insulting and angering the Prince/King Sage she was assisting in this War.

After all the way she had come, it was not an end that the Franco-British woman wanted to pursue. She had a role to play, and it was her duty as a magician to take responsibility for it until the end.

Parc du Champs de Mars, 7th arrondissement, Paris, France. A little later.

Fiona had a little trouble understanding the knights who came to block their way. The teenager had the impression that something was really wrong. Whether it was the one with the spear or the one with the huge shield and long sword, she didn't think they were bad people. The knight in the purple and black armor was certainly cold and indifferent to them, but his ochre eyes did not betray any anger. As for the first one, even taller and more intimidating than his colleague, he radiated great presence and confidence, distinguished by his imposing white armor, edged with black at the waist and adorned with a heavy coat of snow lined with gold. His left shoulder had a curious, crushing shoulder pad that seemed as strong as a conventional shield. The young girl had been surprised by his glance, at first strict, which had softened one moment while settling on her. For little, Fiona could have thought that it was saddened, but very quickly his features had become distant.

- It is high time to cut off your front line. In the name of my king and Master, I, the knight Percival, challenge you and will defeat you!

These were the words of the knight with the spear, while his companion just nodded. Fiona had been surprised not to see them accompanied by the mages who must have called them, but curiously, her aunt Evelyn seemed less surprised than her. In a more shady mood, for sure, but not very surprised. It was only natural that Giles took the front line and agreed to engage the Lancer and the other Servant, while Jane acted as backup to protect her and Evelyn when she wasn't lending a hand to Saber.

Fiona did her best to help her great friend, drawing on her large reserves of mana and dancing flames across the battlefield to defend her allies and hinder the movements of her opponents. She had also strengthened Saber's strike force by using her second command spell. Curiously, the two knights did not seem to be bothered by her usual flames, so she was forced to draw on her most powerful enchantments. Despite his efforts, the black knight with the shield always stood in the way and protected his partner when he himself was not going on the attack. The teenager was impressed by their great coordination. Jeanne and Gilles were not to be outdone and held their ground, despite everything. Saber had once explained to her that the place of summoning and the place where the battles took place could influence the power of a Heroic Soul. Since the Grail War took place in France, where their legends were well rooted, this gave him and La Pucelle more spiritual power to use. And yet, despite this advantage and Lancer's and Saber's well-honed coordination, they could not break through their opponents' defenses and turn the situation to their advantage, to leave the very thin balance of power that seemed to have settled between his aunt, Jeanne, Gilles, herself and them.

Gilles reached a similar conclusion. He had managed until then, as well as possible, to hold in respect their two assailants with the help of Jeanne, who tried to occupy the attention of the second Servant. If the various fights they had led had hardened them, Fiona and him, the knight felt that this melee and those which would follow would be of another level. A man of letters as well as a lover of art, he could not fail to be familiar with the legends of Brittany, including those around the King of Knights and his Knights of the Round Table. And the prowess of his opponents had contributed to this. Saber was now forced to use the first arcane of his Noble Phantasm to strengthen the power of his blows and the velocity of his movements, in order to at least match and pressure his formidable opponent, who refused to give up ground.

- Young people are precious, aren't they? They embody the essence of possibility. To raise them, to teach them is my greatest joy, as their elder. Percival said.

- Indeed, they are precious. Their smiles truly brighten my day. I don't want to disappoint them, and even less when it comes to her. Saber replied.

- Children are a treasure. It is our duty to protect them. Insisted his formidable opponent, his features affable and indecipherable, the look sharper.

Their exchanges became more intense, with Saber trying to get closer to his opponent with the spear to regain the upper hand, knowing that he would be far more effective than he was at short range. He could make out a sword girded at the waist of the opposing Lancer, but the Marshal was confident in his abilities and those of his allies. He was fighting on French soil, Jeanne was by his side, and he now had one more solid reason to fight until his last breath. Fiona, the innocent light that had helped him to get out of the darkness of his being, was counting on him, he would not disappoint her. Also he took on him not to let himself be stirred up by the thoughtful words of his opponent.

- You see me surprised, Saber, so much your words seem sincere. Pleasantly surprised, though confused. You see, your reputation precedes you, Messire de Rais. Lancer continued.

- I know better than anyone who I have been, but I regret to inform you that you know nothing about the man I am. Saber replied, forcibly breaking their arm wrestling.

The man he really was... he guessed that only the Maid, Fiona and his closest comrades-in-arms knew who he was. Only they could have known or come close to the truth, even if it was a secret of Jeanne's that he would not betray and that he intended to take to his grave. Gilles rushed into the rare breach left by his opponent and rained down many blows on him. He observed the skill of the Lancer, who managed despite his disadvantage to avoid several assaults or to deflect his blade onto the strange shield that topped one of his shoulders. His fervor, however, allowed him to hit the Arthurian knight on his other shoulder, which he slashed deeply. The man was thus forced to move back a few steps to readjust his posture, after having inspected his wound.

- Nice gash, that was a good try. Unfortunately, I am as stubborn as I am tough. You see, ensuring my own protection is one of my specialties. I can't say the same for you, though. Lancer noted.

A sharp smile played on Saber's austere lips. The observation was no less true, even if it did not worry the Marshal of France. He had not come out of their exchange completely unscathed, but from what he could feel, there were no wounds that prevented him from fighting. None of them were fatal. It was a risk he was willing to take to be more effective. Saber could not hold back a burst of laughter from his lips, happy to face a solid opponent.

- Ha, ha, ha! Magnificent, you are a formidable opponent sir Percival! Don't get me wrong, I am delighted to have the opportunity to cross swords with opponents of your calibre. In times of peace, I would have been inclined to concede you victory. Alas, we do not have that luxury in war, and Fiona's life is a stake I cannot risk. So let me give you a taste of what I'm really good at.

He only had to wait a few moments before Fiona gave him her approval in spirit. They did not have as much power and magical reserves as their opponents, so the Marshal decided it was time to make a decisive move on their most dangerous assailant. Stabilizing his position on his legs, he reached for his sword, concentrating spiritual energy that ran through the iron blade. For now, it looked like the first arcana of his Noble Phantasm, the one he had already shown to the Thrower out of necessity, but he didn't intend to stop there.

- We fight for justice. It is time to move forward, knights rallied under the standard of the Maidens. Join me, follow my command and defeat the enemy! Holy War Order!

Rather than simply giving him more firepower, agility, and speed at the expense of his own defense, their immediate surroundings began to distort and alter very quickly. The lands of Orleans appeared before their eyes, leading them to a battlefield he knew intimately. Apart from the fortress-city and the war machines, it was mostly about forty elite knights who answered his call and appeared, as if they were flesh, bone and blood again. He hoped that once again, the miracle revealed by his Master would carry them. The Reality Marble, as he had later learned its name, would give his allies a playing field that would be more conducive to them than to their opponents in addition to the reinforcements that would be loyal to them. If he could not gain an advantage of magical power over his opponent, he would rely on the advantage of terrain and numbers, as well as in the diversity of weapons carried by his knights. His specialty, even before his skill as a swordsman and rider, lay primarily in military tactics.

The advance of their two opponents came to a halt when they were trapped by his Noble Phantasm. Until they could defeat him or slay Fiona, they could not easily escape. His efforts and those of his men allowed them to further bruise the Lancer, but it did not concede an ounce of ground. His strike force seemed almost monstrous, but using the second arcana of his Noble Phantasm, Gilles could not rely on the effects of the first arcana to further strengthen his own abilities. Although seriously injured, the Arthurian knight moved a few feet away and exclaimed:

- You put so much effort into defeating me that the knight Percival must answer you! Very well. Galahad, I will slay the enemies of my king with the other Holy Lance!

A steed appeared at the side of the Arthurian knight, while his spear began to glow. The second knight, whose attention was being held as best he could by Jeanne and Evelyn, seemed to agree. The glare of the blade became even more intense as Saber withdrew with his men close to Elvaren's two, with the idea of interposing himself or interfering with the opposing assault. He was about to draw on the resources of his Noble Phantasm to get his own steed when he heard the Pucelle dissuade him and move as quickly as she could in front of them.

- Let there be light! O other Holy Lance, come to me. The double seal is lifted. Let a radiant miracle guide us! Longinus, Shining Spear of Destiny!

- Here is the Lord's work! My standard, defend our comrades! Luminosité Éternelle!

The piercing, shattering glare of the mystical spear clashed violently with the spiritual and divine barrier invoked by the Maid, whose hands were firmly clasped on her unfurled standard. If the devastating power spared him, Lady Evelyn, Fiona and Jeanne, the Pucelle could only protect living beings, not the illusion. Gilles clenched his jaw as he saw his Noble Phantasm being reduced to nothing by the devastation of one of the most sacred relics of their faith. Nevertheless, the barrier forced Percival to move back several feet, as did his companion.

- Jeanne. He heard Evelyn's voice whispering near the Maid, the federal agent's eyes riveted on the Arthurian knight with the lance and especially on his destructive weapon.

- We have no choice now, if we are to succeed. It is coming, and we cannot leave the Holy Lance in their hands. God has guided us this far, I will do what I must. Jeanne answered with great gravity, while she was still catching her breath.

- We will do what we must. I'm not going anywhere. I'll give you all the mana you need. Fiona's aunt added, placing a hand on the Maid's arm in a friendly manner.

- Thank you, Evelyn. I am so pleased and honored to have met you and Fiona. I can't thank you both enough for what you have done for Gilles and me.

Before he could speak, as the barrier collapsed and they were back in the spaces of the Parisian park, La Pucelle turned to Saber with a sad but determined smile. Jeanne then placed her hands on his, shaking her head gently to indicate that it was inevitable, before declaring with gentle firmness.

- If our Lord has relieved your wounds a little, you will not be able to fight for long against such opponents in this state. Evelyn and I will not be able to accompany you. I want you to know that I was happy to be able to see you again like this. We will meet again one day, I am sure. In the meantime, watch over Fiona for us, okay? May God watch over you.

The knight would have liked to dissuade her from committing such a madness, to lose once again the one who had lit up the dark days of the land of France with her light. But he could see in her heavenly eyes that her choice was made. She would not go back on it, whether she liked it or not. And it was his duty to see to the safety of his young Master, of the young girl under his responsibility. Willy-nilly, he bowed and forced himself to release the hand of the Maid, to step back and then to turn to Fiona. The teenager was pale, exhausted and agitated, as if she knew what they were up to. Without a word, Saber knelt down to her level and gently grabbed her to carry her in his arms.

- Saber, let me go! Don't make me use the last command spell I have left. Aunt Evelyn is in danger, I can't leave her! And neither can Lady Jeanne, I...

- There is no other choice. Jeanne herself reminded me of that. You are my Master, you are my responsibility. Your protection is and must remain my top priority.

- Saber!

- I know, Fiona. Believe me, I know, but I have to. Don't make my job harder than it already is, please. Said Saber in a calm voice where immense sorrow could be heard.

Hearing her scream like that and not being able to comply with her requests was painful for him, but not as painful as hearing the voice of La Pucelle shouting out loud the line of a fateful poem. "O Lord, I commit this body to you"...his fingers tightened on Fiona's shoulder and knees as he carried and held the teenager tightly. To relive that hell... this was probably his repentance. As he turned his back on the fight, going against his chivalrous instincts and honor, leaving behind the woman he had always admired and a loved one of the child he held dear, Saber still tried to press his pace and his quick strides turned into an amble, then a run. He had to put distance between their opponents and his Master, as much as he could.

Alas, they had barely a couple more minutes of respite before they were surrounded by flames. Saber clutched Fiona to him, holding her firmly still as the teenager was understandably panicked. Anyone who didn't know Jeanne like he did would panic. They had nothing to fear from those flames. They were not the enemies of La Pucelle, but her allies. Jeanne could not resort to these flames without the will not to destroy, but to protect. She was offering her life, as well as that of Evelyn who had chosen to give up all her strength, to save them.

The smoke covered the surroundings for a long time, before dispersing little by little. With a heavy heart, Gilles already knew that he would not see any trace of the being he had admired so much and still admired.

Under his dark eyes, there was no testimony of the presence of Jeanne and Evelyn, as he had feared. The distress he was trying to suppress in his heart and mind went up a notch when he saw a figure approaching them with slow steps. Instinctively, Saber gently placed Fiona on the ground and nodded at her to move away as he turned to face the threat. Sir Percival seemed, by some miracle, to be still standing, though in as bad a shape as he was. There was nothing left of the Holy Lance, so the knight had revealed his bastard sword in his fist.

- Well done. If Galahad... if Galahad had not protected me in addition to the Holy Lance, I would have been destroyed too. It was a close call, but my duty is not yet done.

- Nor is my mission complete. Not one more step, or you will go to the sword. Saber replied with a hint of menace as he drew his bastard sword.

- Ah, my king's orders... are cruel, but unquestionable. I have no desire to raise my sword on a child, so you would be doing me a great favor if the little one surrenders.

His cold and resolute black eyes, Gilles confronted the gaze of the knight. His words seemed sincere, he was as tormented by the command he had received as he was determined to fulfill it. Despite his wounds, more numerous and some far more serious than most, the Marshal of France strengthened his own willpower and assumed a neutral-offensive dueling posture.

- Then you will have to go through me. I will not let you bruise my Master any more than you and your kind have already done. No doubt one day I will burn in hell, but in the meantime, I will continue to fight in the name of justice until the light burns me.

With these resolute words, Gilles faced him and remained firmly on his positions while his opponent rushed towards them. The balance of power was not to his advantage, he was well aware of it. Whatever the Master of this other Saber was, he must be even more powerful than Fiona if the Servant could act with such autonomy, tirelessly. Besides, in terms of the importance of the legend, he could not compare with a knight in the service of King Arthur either. However, he was determined not to let Joan and Evelyn's efforts be in vain in this way.

The two knights violently clashed their blades in an arm wrestling match that was soon broken by Gilles and turned into a series of intertwined passes. The blades spun so quickly that their movements were not visible to the naked eye. Saber no longer relied on his eyes alone. He was alert to his other senses, including the feeling of the sword as an extension of his own arm. It was a kind of sixth sense that accomplished swordsmen acquired with time and experience. His opponent may have been summoned as a Lancer, but he was still skilled with a sword. Had he been in full possession of his abilities, Gilles felt that he would have had a reasonable chance of defeating his opponent in a "classic" fencing duel.

Before Fiona's horrified eyes, exhausted and powerless, the other knight's blade pierced Gilles' side, in one of the few places less protected by his armor. The teenager remained petrified, only able to notice without understanding that the other Servant's features tightened. It was only then that she realized that their opponent had been deeply slashed just below his armor plates, the bastard sword coming out bloody on the other side in the attacker's back. Violent sobs began to shake Fiona's body, and she shook her head without understanding. Her blue eyes panicked as she saw the marks of the command spells fade, even though there was one she hadn't used. Trembling, she stood up and took a step toward them.

- I'm sorry, Jeanne, Fiona... I... I couldn't... keep my word. I couldn't... go any further but... neither could he. Saber said with difficulty.

The teenager, her eyes reddened by tears, shook her head. She refused to believe it! Saber was strong, Saber had always stood up. He had promised. Her great friend's voice grew louder and more urgent as a golden aura began to surround and blur the two Servants' features.

- Fiona, I'm sorry. Please... run away! Go, while there is still... time. Go!

Startled by Saber's firmness of tone, instinct was stronger than the girl's will and, overcome with fear, she jumped and gave in to his plea. Doing herself violence not to turn around and stop, she ran straight ahead, her vision clouded with tears. A softened smile escaped Saber's austere lips as he watched her disappear, her hand clutching her rosary. His features relaxed, as if calmed, but he didn't let go of Lancer. Whatever happened, he had no regrets, except that he could not share more time with her.

Parc du Champs de Mars, 7th arrondissement, Paris, France. At the same time.

The news was coming in through the connected earpiece Adelaide had, mostly more bad than good. As soon as she had heard Waver's voice coordinating their efforts, the archaeologist had understood the unspoken message: the British domestic intelligence agent, Evelyn d'Elvaren, was no longer able to help them. Was she related to the explosion of flames they had heard a little further on? It was more or less the same as the last position she knew of. She couldn't be sure, but her instincts told her it had to be. She and Jeanne must have been defeated. If they had fallen, that meant Fiona... the teacher's heart clenched at the thought. No, there was still hope until she heard confirmation from her partner. If Dorian was alive and had managed with X to eliminate two knights who had come as reinforcements-a Lancer and a Saber-they had lost to the Archer-class knight who had challenged them. Although shaken and slightly wounded, his doctoral student had managed to retreat to the sanctuary they had set up behind them. As for the group of Rin, Shirou, Ishtar and Chiron, the outcome was mixed: they had succeeded in eliminating the two powerful Sabers in front of them, but at the cost of Chiron, who had been defeated. Emiya had been forced to retreat to the shrine as had Dorian. In accordance with their plan, Rin had continued to advance with Ishtar to find the famous "leader" of these knights, in order to be able to formally identify him and engage in combat until they could join her. Waver, for his part, had also managed to defeat with some difficulty the tough Saber he had challenged, and was on his way with Iskandar to support Rin and Ishtar.

If their deductions were correct and in view of the power of the knights they had faced, they had no doubt that the mysterious leader of the latter would be difficult to put down.

"What about you, Adelaide? Is there anything new on your end?" Waver asked via the earpiece.

- Godric and I are still here. We managed to get away with the Saber we got in front of. He was tougher than we expected but we're still in fighting shape. Answered Adelaide by throwing a glance towards Archer, who bulged the chest, not little proud to have succeeded without the assistance of his alter-ego.

- You can tell him that we had a good time, I gave him a good beating! That's all he deserved, underestimating me. We made quite a mess though, we'll have to clean it up.

Well, a beating... it's not necessarily the words Adelaide would have preferred. Without wanting to offend the pronounced ego of her young friend, the King's herald had given them a lot of grist for the mill. He had not been easy to kill, and his strange supernatural arm had proved particularly powerful in terms of raw striking force, brimming with potent magic. Ironically, once they had managed to grab him between Godric's chains, it was the god-like nature of that upper limb that had allowed them to strengthen their grip even more. According to young Gil, the chains he called "Enkidu" were more formidable on deities and the like. They had not succeeded in extracting more information from him, the Saber had remained straight in his boots, resolutely focused on the loyalty he felt towards his king. He would say nothing that would harm him.

"That's the main thing. Did you get any other information, by any chance?" Waver continued after a weary yet resigned sigh over God's words that Fleury had reported to him.

- Nothing, except that he did mention a "king" whom he would serve as much as his Master. This Saber gave us his identity. It was the knight Bedivère, or Bedwyr for the purists.

"Bedwyr is one of the most loyal knights. If he mentioned a king, in addition to his Master, there is little doubt that this ruler is King Arthur." Dorian clarified in the communication.

So they would really be dealing with the famous King Arthur, who had played an important role in the last two Grail Wars that had preceded theirs, ravaging Fuyuki. There was no shortage of evidence of his power as a Saber-class Servant in the chronicles of the most recent Grail Wars, so the archaeologist suspected that whatever class this heroic soul was called to, he would make a deadly opponent.

"Everyone listen to me, I have no time to waste!" Rin's voice exclaimed imperiously, before continuing "I've engaged their master in battle. Her spiritual power is at least equal to that of Artoria Pendragon who appeared to Fuyuki... but she doesn't have the same appearance as under her Saber class. She fights on horseback, armed with a spear, and is much tougher."

"The Saber class is said to be the most powerful of the seven classes, but that can be explained by the abilities of the Master who summoned her, if Elvaren's theory was true..." Waver replied, launching into complex explanations that soon lost Fleury.

Adelaide listened as attentively as possible to the various exchanges on the influence of homunculi created on French soil by a renowned mage as she pressed her pace. Her main point was that the creations that had survived must have had exceptional magical circuits, as evidenced by the documents gathered by the intelligence officer. This could explain their successful invocation of such powerful heroic souls linked to the mythical Round Table.

The archaeologist felt that she was the furthest from their approximate positions, so Fleury estimated that she would be the last to reach the place where Rin was supposed to be. The professor grumbled between her clenched jaw as she heard more bad news, namely the elimination and death of her two French-Japanese students. Like Warka, this unfortunate announcement only increased her resolve and rage to take down their opponents, as golems born of her magic sprang up all around her like a vast escort of stone, earth and rock.

The time to end the bloody farce that was the Grail War was long overdue.

A few hours later.

Three to one, the odds were theoretically in their favor, right? Well, the odds had proven their limits and pitfalls. It was difficult to deduce the class of the formidable opponent who faced them, armed with a spear and mounted on a powerful steed. Some of her attacks suggested that she belonged to the Lancer class, while some of her dynamics also borrowed from the Rider class. Finally, her raw power clearly surpassed both of these classes. Pendragon was a dangerous and deadly enigma. Even their rather balanced distribution of Servant classes with one Rider and two Archer was not enough to break through the King of Knights' defenses, despite the Servants' diverse skills.

Although they were doing their best, Adelaide felt overwhelmed in terms of sheer strength and soon they were forced to rely on the greater power of Iskandar and especially Ishtar, while she and the young Gilgamesh provided support. She had hesitated several times in the last few minutes to suggest that Godric pass the baton to his other-him, but had changed her mind when she saw no window of opportunity. The young Archer also felt that the time was not right. Adelaide was going to protest when she saw their teammates in trouble, but he didn't back down. After a long sigh, she saw him stop, his chains hanging around him, before grumbling.

- Tch...well, that's enough. She's really only doing what she wants to do, she's got it coming. Sha Naqba Imuru!

Adelaide felt more of her mana being drawn out by her partner as his carmine eyes took on a steady incarnate glow, his pupils narrowing until they drowned in his irises. She had never heard him speak these words, which sounded like an ancient language. The young king's brows furrowed as he addressed his Master in thought.

"That's cheating and I don't like having to use it, but they cheated first."

"What do you mean?" Adelaide asked in the same way, while coordinating her golems.

"All you need to know is that I can see more clearly into her game. I can tell you that she's cheating, and how the cowards behind it are making her cheat. Pay attention and communicate exactly what I tell you to our allies." Godric impatiently and annoyingly retorted to her.

Adelaide decided that this was not the right time to ask him for further explanations, and preferred to trust him instead. As Archer passed on information to her through the psychic link that bound them as Master and Servant, Fleury communicated with Waver and Rin. At first doubtful, they became more cooperative and receptive when they saw that the young Gilgamesh's indications were rather accurate, and were more inclined to follow his suggestions.

"Can you predict her actions? I didn't know you had that ability," Adelaide commented succinctly via telepathy to her teammate, most of her attention taken up by coordinating her golems and acting as a relay between Archer and their allies.

"More like anticipating his actions. It's okay, you were supposed to ignore him in the first place. You'll take that with you to your grave. I had no intention of using it and neither did the Elder, it kills all the fun of the game, but they forced my hand and I refuse to be defeated by cowards and cheaters. I need to be focused though." Godric grumbled in a dry tone.

"I'll continue my role as a messenger in this case" Fleury replied without taking offense.

Indeed, if he could advise and direct the strategies of Rin and Waver, he could not fight actively in return and even less assault their formidable enemy on his side. Adelaide therefore had to delegate a good portion of her golems to him to strengthen her own protection, and in fact endeavor to create and pilot more of these entities of stone and wood. Their combined and coordinated efforts seemed to pay off for a while, forcing the strange Pendragon to be more defensive and lose a few inches of ground. Fleury couldn't help but be confused and perplexed by the Servant who was facing them, totally alone and yet totally overpowered, with almost infinite energy. How could she explain this phenomenon, which even Elvaren's agent had not anticipated?

"It is because you are human and mortal, like your fellow creatures. Your knowledge is limited. It's in your very nature. At least there are some who, like you, strive to reduce their ignorance." Commented the young Gil with a bit of arrogance before continuing in a more friendly tone "Which is why I'm willing to give you some tips."

Adelaide decided not to pay attention to the insolence of his first words, knowing that the fight was lost in advance on this aspect and being used to not taking his criticisms personally. Her pragmatic patience seemed to be rewarded as her partner took the trouble to explain.

"You assume that a summoned heroic soul can only belong to one class at a time. That's usually true in normal Grail Wars. This war is anything but normal. This particular Grail is unstable. It is not surprising that anomalies occur when fools favor them. This Artoria does not correspond at all to the Saber that you know. It is not that she belongs to the Rider class or the Lancer class, she 'is' both Rider and Lancer. She is an anomaly, she has a double class."

This corroborated with Rin and Waver's most recent assumptions as they confronted her. Adelaide relayed this information with Archer's tacit agreement to the other two Masters still standing through the earpiece connected to the built-in microphone, before venturing a hypothesis.

"The mages could have exploited this potential loophole and summoned all of the knights of the Round Table for sure, despite the very small odds. If the abnormal summoning of these knights is related to that of their leader, which is an anomaly, although provoked, could it not have caused other equally abnormal repercussions?"

While the Franco-British woman hoped that her hypothesis would not be judged as plausible by her teammate so much it seemed terrifying to her, at the prospect that mages could interfere and cheat with the rules of a ritual as bloody as it was centuries old, she felt her blood run cold in her veins as she perceived Archer's satisfaction, soon followed by an approval with a touch of humor.

"I thought you'd come to that conclusion if I gave you a little time. Don't stop there, don't leave me so hungry".

"It's only a hypothesis, but does it seem possible to you that this King of Knights is more linked than ever with his Round Table and that, defeated, he could inherit their power?

"You probably would have preferred that I told you no. Sorry to disappoint you, but yes. It wouldn't be a cakewalk, but with an unstable Grail and devious mages, it's possible."

She wasted no time in submitting her chilling hypothesis to her colleagues. At first wary and clearly suspicious of Rin, they managed to recognize that it was a plausible possibility in light of their own findings. It might explain how a lonely Heroic Soul could hold its own against three other Servants associated with their Masters. It would have required lengthy preparations, very specific and high quality materials, a carefully chosen location and custom-made Masters, and very precise incantations, but they could have affected the rules of the summoning ritual to achieve their ends. This, however, implied the existence of a particularly well-connected, influential and powerful organization of mages, a prospect that neither of them was happy about, but which they could no longer dismiss. As if sensing her growing concern, Godric addressed her with firmness and aplomb.

"I forbid you to give up. You promised to fight by my side, and it's too soon to give up. If plan A doesn't work, we'll just go to plan B."

"I never go back on my word. Adelaide replied with resolve.

Plan B, the one they had agreed upon between themselves and that they had not communicated to their allies, out of caution. The one that Godric didn't like, but that he himself had drawn up with his support, since it fulfilled the concrete and joint objectives they wanted to achieve. The more time passed, the more Adelaide feared that they would be forced to resort to it. Her concern grew even greater as she tried to protect Waver from the infernal spear of the King of Knights, chasing him out of his chariot, and Iskandar was pierced through the heart by the enemy. From a distance, she saw him exchange a few words that she did not hear with his companion, whose emotion she could clearly hear through his words relayed by the connected microphone-earpiece. Letting her compassion and affection show in her throaty voice, Adelaide addressed the concerned person.

- Waver, you did your best for him in these circumstances. If you want to please him...

"No need to remind me, I know it better than anyone." Answered dryly the mage before adding in a voice still tense "I can only blame myself. He reminded me of my promise. I had promised him to live."

Adelaide could hear his pain, barely noticeable in his deep, deceptively calm voice. She knew how painful and painful losing one of his oldest and best friends, the king he had come to know and resolve to serve, was to him, even more so a second time.

"You better not die, Adelaide." Somma Waver "I don't care if he's the King of Heroes or whatever, but you must come back to me first. You must live."

"Because you thought you and Adelaide had the right to die? If so, you are as naive as Shirou. As if I would let you die, here!" Replied Rin on the firm tone, a bit smug, of the one who would not suffer any dispute whatsoever.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Fleury could not help but smile with a hint of amusement and friendly weariness. Rin would probably never change. She heard Godric sigh as his eyes returned to their usual crimson hue and his chains began to dance and flutter around him again. He turned to her for a moment before leaping into the fray without further ado.

- We'll head that way, then. If we have to... back to the front, Adelaide!

They took the place left vacant after Iskandar and Waver were defeated, allowing the latter to retreat to the safety of their sanctuary a little further away. Clearly having the most strength and endurance of the two Servants, Ishtar maintained her primary engagement against the King of Knights, and remained their spearhead with Rin's support. Adelaide took on the role of defensive support and reinforcement, protecting their team with her earth enchantments and using her own golems to the fullest extent of her abilities. In keeping with her promise to both young Gil and the Wise King, she resisted the temptation to resort to the Beast sealed in the family seal and tried to make do with her own resources. Although this allowed Rin to focus solely on the offensive and the support of the deity, Adelaide felt the absence of Waver and the King of Conquerors on their line overwhelmingly. It had become impossible for her to make a greater contribution in assault from a distance while making sure to maintain as optimal a defense as possible, spread out among the four combatants.

At least she could see that the efforts of Waver, Rin, Ishtar and Iskandar had not been in vain. They had succeeded in wounding the King of Knights, even though he seemed to be endowed with unusual endurance and resistance. Godric did not fail either, using his greater speed and agility to attack their opponent, whose attention was largely taken up by Ishtar, whom she saw as a greater threat, and seeking to impede her mobility partially or temporarily with his magic-laden chains. He also did not hesitate to use, on a medium scale, the treasures he had access to from his youth in the Gates of Babylon, in lesser quantities than his alter-ego whom he nicknamed "Goldie". Alas, the fragile balance that had been restored was once again called into question as Artoria raised her spear to the heavens and concentrated a terrifying mass of magical force on its tip.

- She's doing it again! Take cover Adelaide and the kid, we'll take care of it! cried Rin.

- Believe me, I'll make her swallow her insolence! Clama Ishtar with aplomb and wrath.

The Franco-British didn't try to argue and left half of her golems to protect and shield Rin from the threat, she placed the other half between the danger and herself. With a bad feeling as the energy around the spear was even more blinding and saturated than ever, the archaeologist began to speak various incantations in the ancient Hebrew language and gathered her golems into a huge golem of wood and stone, whose contours became more malleable. She stood ready to have to convert the giant into pure energy to form an emergency shield, doubting she would have time to retreat far enough away and under solid enough cover despite her running. She heard Godric in her mind telling her that she was too slow and that she needed to hurry more as he sought to reach her. As the respective chants of the Heroic Souls to use their respective Noble Phantasms ended, an instinct drove her to lie on the ground with her back to the ground, her intuition drove her to fuse her golem and turn it into a thick shield reinforced by the gems previously loaded with magic. Godric was still too far away to help her.

A hissing sound and vibrations that brought back very bad memories kept her on the ground, as she struggled with the rage of life to maintain her shield in the face of the blast of pure magic sent by Artoria's spear, which clashed furiously with the devastating light of the divine arrow sent by Ishtar's bow. Faced with these two monstrous powers confronting each other, Adelaide was not sure she could maintain her defenses long enough to be spared. She barely had time to sacrifice one of her three command spells to give Godric enough mana to defend himself with his mythic weaponry. Her shield was slowly crumbling despite her efforts, as she heard Rin screaming not far from her. It fell to pieces as the chaos finally dispersed and an unreal silence settled in. Adelaide slowly stood up before realizing that she had not escaped unscathed. It had probably saved her life, but her legs had received several burning lacerations, as had her arms and shoulders. She could feel a thin stream of blood running down her left temple, suggesting a cut to her head. Rising to her feet with difficulty, Adelaide called out in concern.

- Rin? Godric?

Horrified, she saw Rin lying a few feet away, his face bloody and motionless. The King of Knights stared at her without a word, without the slightest emotion, his green eyes as cold as sharp emeralds, raw. There was no trace of Ishtar anymore, except for a vague golden silhouette that was gradually fading away. His blue-gray eyes eventually found Godric even farther away, who, gods be praised, was wounded but standing, as the shields he had conjured up like a carapace gradually dissipated. Lancer raised his spear as if to finish off his friend. Furious, Adelaide clenched her fingers on her mystical codex as she called out on the secure band they were using via their connected earpieces.

- Waver, I need you and Dorian if you're still okay. Rin is seriously injured, she's in no condition to fight, she needs to be evacuated urgently.

"All right, Dorian is on his way. We saw the explosion all the way to the shrine. But... what about you? Are you okay?" Waver replied with gravity and firmness.

- More or less, and so is Godric, but we can't let that monster get the Grail. He agrees with me. We'll finish what we started. Adelaide asserted with determination, sensing the young King's own resolve via the spiritual bond they shared.

"We can't let them take the Grail, sure, but do you have even a shadow of a plan!" Waver replied with a rare vehemence.

Adelaide remained silent for several minutes as she consolidated a spear of land and water magic reinforced with enchanted diamonds, which she hurled at their enemy. Unsurprisingly, she shattered it with her own spear before dodging Archer's chains, her impassive eyes turning from Rin to her and Godric. Uncharacteristically serious, Fleury simply replied very concisely to the one she loved.

- I'll let you take care of Rin. We'll go and put an end to this tasteless joke.

Without waiting, she cut off the sound in her ear. Artoria had turned to her, no doubt sensing that she was the weak link, and was about to charge her. She heard Archer indicate, resignedly.

"We're going to Plan B, Adelaide. I'll pass the baton.

"Understood. Thanks for your help, Godric.

The archaeologist faced the King of Knights as he galloped toward her on his proud steed, the tip of his spear turned toward her. She didn't worry when she felt the pendant warm against her skin, feeling the golden halo of the open door behind her. A wicked smile played on her lips.

Without a moment's hesitation, determined, the archaeologist took a step back and let the door swallow her up.