A/n: Readers! Welcome back! Psychojack88 is here with another chapter of Holy Nail War! Our hero Honda has found himself in quite the entanglement with the newly convinced Mordred. While he is busy on that front, Idores and Stria are caught in their own encounter with Deacon and his force consisting of homunculi. Lots of craziness has happened thus far, and now with the enigmatic Ursus being approached by the powerful blood mage Mara Malga, it seems the war is bound to be fought between the many factions. Enough talk, onwards with the story!
--Sparring Room--
"Hah…hah…oh.." A groan of satisfaction and moans of relief could be heard within the white abyss of the Deacon Estate sparring room. Two nude bodies lied on their backs, completely uncaring to the fact that they laid down in the buff. They looked upwards, looking to reclaim any bit of oxygen their lungs could gather after an excruciatingly vigorous exchange of pleasure.
Honda had his eyes closed, blissfully grinning at his fun with Mordred who seemed completely out of it, her left wrist covered her eyes in exhaustion and blocking the white abyss from her irises.
To the newly claimed servant, Mordred was still reeling from what just happened. She never had felt such passion in her life like that. It was so primal. It was exhausting and yet felt amazing, leaving even one such as her a sweaty mess. Strands of her shaggy blonde ponytail stuck to her forehead and the sides of her cheeks which still were highlighted by the sweat that emanated from her pores. Her face was flushed as well, a tint of red from both the physical exertion and admittingly, her own embarrassment.
"Wow! Mordred you were amazing! You were never this wild before." Honda said, an open mouthed grin on his face as he nudged his head in her direction to his left.
Mordred lifted her left wrist from her emerald eyes as she looked in Honda's direction, blushing at his praise of her 'performance'.
"Hey don't say it like that! You make me sound like I did this all the time!" Mordred said, blushing.
"Well…not all the time, but you were usually raring to go. Being that I am your master, having this all the time is really tempting, considering how into it you were!" Honda said while rolling to his side to look her in the eye, raising his eyebrow conspiratorially.
Mordred rolled to her side to stare back with an embarrassed blush on her face.
"Even if that were possible, I'd doubt it would be fair." Mordred said, knowing her own strength would outlast Honda's. She was a servant after all.
"I know! You wouldn't be able to catch up!" Honda laughed.
"I'm gonna hit you." She said nonchalantly.
"Hit me with a kiss first. C'mere" Honda kissed Mordred, her eyes fidgeting before closing a bit, relishing the taste of her 'master'.
She looked downward with a bashful expression.
"Don't sto-I mean we don't have time for that!" Mordred closed her eyes before collecting her clothes, noticing Honda admiring her body, sweaty and toned from her lifetime of combat training.
"Now that I have prana, I should be more than ready. Make sure you keep your distance, Atalanta is still with Deacon, and this place is full of homunculi guards. The maids are also trained in magical defense."
Mordred was fidgeting with her clothes, not used to being stared at in a lecherous way, despite it making her take her own peaks at Honda's 'Holy sword', still hardened for action.
"Hey! My eyes are up here Mordred! On the other hand…nah keep staring." Honda said with a big grin at Mordred's attention before his 'holy sword' extended into an 'almighty claymore'.
'What the-! He is insatiable!' Mordred thought to herself. Hey eyes were widened like dinner plates.
--Containment Room--
"Deacon, I am still loyal to the alliance. You know that I have as much a personal stake in this as you." Idores said with a strict voice.
"I would think so as well, however I took a look at Elias' assistant, Ursus. His robe was laced with residue from the shells of a shotgun, one that your assistant carried in a storage seal on her right forearm."
Idores narrowed her eyes. Listening to how the story made her appear guilty of treachery.
"There was also the fact that both Stria and the Saber class servant were spotted by Atalanta within Mara Malga's territory, as if trying to reach out to someone."
Idores looked towards Stria, knowing that she was doing such a risky move to save Honda, however to Deacon, it would seem Stria went there to meet Mara instead.
"My servant also spotted the moment when this Katashi Honda engaged Elias and Ursus in combat, decimating an entire park within Fuyuki City limits. Right now at this moment, there are human authorities excavating every nook and cranny, desperate to have their answers. Katashi Honda nearly caused exposure to not only himself but to the identity of magus kind from his rash actions. No amount of geomancy could undo the damage caused there." Deacon spoke with authority, making it clear how dire the situation was in terms of concealment from mankind.
Idores gulped, knowing that such damage will draw much attention from the normal world. Considering modern technology, security measures will be put into place, thereby making concealment that much more difficult for the war. This may just also bring about the interest of other magus organizations or even ones such as the Templars, once word gets out.
"If you would prove your loyalty to me Idores, then tell me, where is Honda!? Why is a third party involved in the Holy Grail War with his own servant!? What is his role in this? I demand to know!" Deacon exclaimed with his fury growing.
Idores' eyes narrowed. A silence permeated throughout the containment room. Stria looked between her mistress, Deacon, and the many homunculi security guards blocking the only exit leading to the hallways of the estate.
Idores' and Deacon's eyes were simply staring at each other for the span of five seconds.
Idores' sighed.
They reopened with her red eyes piercing, surrounded by black sclera.
" Ligare…" she said. (A/n: Means "bind" in Latin. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)
The individuals in the room are paralyzed in place. The guards bearing batons were static in place from their futile attempts of breaking free.
Deacon's body twitched harshly as he attempted to move, finding his body not bending to his will. The sporadic movement his muscles made as he attempted to break free caused pain to ripple throughout his person.
Idores' heels clicked and clacked against the floor, echoing across the room.
"It would seem that our alliance has come to an end. For what it's worth, I apologize Deacon, I would've preferred to not end our alliance so quickly. Honor like yours is rare in the world of magi. Unfortunately, I have no time for this." Idores said, facing Deacon eye to eye.
Stria, while obtaining some weaponry from one of the guards, stared as Idores looked at her. "Let's go Stria." Idores said, while heading towards the essence.
"Idores! I swear! You will pay for your treachery!" Deacon said with a bulging vein on his forehead from boiling rage.
Stria was hesitant. It would seem Idores has put their personal crossroads to the side, for now at least.
--Deacon Estate: Hallway--
Ursus walked in the hallway, past homunculi who were already armed and ready for combat. The male security guards wielded blades and batons laced with magic. They wore white suits laced in neon blue runes while bearing masks decorated in blue runes shaped like fangs. As for the maids, their normal maid gear was laced in blue runes as well, wearing half masks over their faces, obscuring their identities. The more mature ones had black veils over their faces, completely obscuring their face from the world whilst leading the younger ones.
Ursus continued walking past them as he headed towards his destination.
One would notice however, that a glimmer of red was concealed beneath his robed hand.
Alongside him was another maid. This one glided through the hallway, her back stiff as she walked. She didn't wear a mask or veil.
She did bear fire colored eyes as opposed to the blood red normally seen on homunculi.
--Elsewhere--
The door to the white sparring room was bashed open, two figures could be seen coming out of the once obscure exit.
The duo in question were practically clawing each other.
It was Honda and Mordred, who were tongue tied, completely distracted from walking.
"Hey! *smooch* We need to *smooch* focus!" Mordred said before shoving Honda against the wall to their right, pressing her lips against his.
Honda reversed and pressed her against the wall, lifting her a bit.
"Yeah! *smooch* And who exactly was it that jumped at me!" Honda said before kissing her again, the tomboy wrapping her arms around his neck while grinding against him.
Mordred blushed. "I can't help it! It's like I've been possessed! What did you do to me? Cuz I like it!" Mordred said before standing on her own again and pressing Honda against the left wall, kissing him with vigor.
The two kept rolling against the wall as they were 'walking' to save Stria and Saber.
Mordred finally collected herself, dusting herself off. Honda squeezed her right buttock, prompting her to shove her tongue down his mouth before she shooed him off and brushed her hair back in place.
Honda walked after her, she then pulled him into another tonsil war as he held her walking with her legs wrapped around his back. From far away it was clear they were still distracted.
--With Stria--
Stria and Idores walked towards the study, where both Assassin and Saber were being held. The problem however was the way this place is built, it was like a maze.
An awkward tension permeated through the air as the two homunculi walked side by side, neither acknowledging the other.
Stria peeked at Idores, who still had her eyes black with blood red pupils.
"What is it Stria?" Idores asked with authority.
Stria almost flinched from Idores' reaction.
"I…" Stria said awkwardly, not really sure what to really say.
"Just to make things clear, the only reason I have yet to break you is because I need you for the moment. The moment Deacon breaks out of that bind spell is the moment we will be swarmed by enemies from all fronts. I would've killed him myself but you already know I cannot use that spell and strike at the same time. Had I struck…Deacon would've broken free and killed us both."
"I could have finished him…" Stria answered.
Idores' eyes furrowed. "Deacon is an expert on reinforcement. His family is notorious for using it passively after many years of intense tutelage. None of my weapons, yours or those of his security here would be enough. The man's a walking titan."
Stria noticed that Idores' eyes were still active.
'Even from this distance, Idores is still holding the spell. Mistress, even with our paths diverging, you still impress me.'
Idores stopped in place. Her eyes widened.
Stria looked ahead in front of her. Her own eyes widened as she recollected the figure currently in front of her.
Make that two.
Ursus and the maid with fire eyes stood in front of them. The spot that their paths converged was an intersection leading to four hallways. One from where the two homunculi came from, one from where the two obscure figures arrived a third and fourth leading elsewhere in the Deacon estate, though currently where they led was unknown to the homunculi. The study was quite far regardless, thus making a safe retreat highly unlikely.
Idores narrowed her eyes with something akin to burning rage.
"Malga…"
The maid with fire eyes shifted, her body shifting to and fro in an ember-like transition, revealing the sorceress garbed in black, Mara Malga.
"Idores Velune, how lovely to meet you in person at long last." Mara said with faux politeness.
Idores stood silent.
"I didn't think I would find you in another magus' estate, especially considering last I heard, you left Fuyuki." Mara admitted.
"How did you sneak in? There were security seals placed around the estate." Idores asked.
"Oh yes. The seals were quite impressive, however, they are not designed to block against possessed bodies efficiently. It took quite a bit of tries on my part to get it just right. But you know the thing about magic is that trial and error are an inescapable part of the process. After all, you know all about errors don't you?" Mara explained before smirking at the albino.
Idores narrowed her eyes in offense.
"I am not here for you however. I have more important things in mind. One in particular you know all too well." Mara said as she sauntered over, taking two steps in the albinos' direction.
Stria glanced at Ursus, observing his body language.
She had her left hand placed on her left thigh.
Idores' hand fidgeted, ready to use her spellcraft.
"Katashi Honda." Mara said before lifting her hand to Idores in a 'give me' gesture.
"He has something that belongs to me." Mara said with her already bright orange eyes practically glowing in the darkened hallway.
--With Honda--
Honda was bridal carrying Mordred, who seemed embarrassed as he did so.
"I am not a child you know…" Mordred said while averting her eyes from meeting his.
"Still hasn't stopped you from breaking away. Considering the weight of that super prop sword you're slinging around, if you really wanted to break out, I don't think I could stop you." Honda said.
"What do you mean prop sword? This is a real sword!" Mordred admonished.
"You use a real sword for sparring practice?" Honda asked.
Mordred looked upwards in pride her arms folded in a closed body language.
"Of course I do! I was a knight you know. Wooden swords suck! There's not enough power with each swing." Mordred complained.
"Plus…I keep breaking them…" Mordred mumbled to herself.
"Lemme guess, you broke all the wooden swords during practice didn't you?" Honda asked point blank.
The blush and Mordred looking away said it all.
The duo found a door marked with a bluish insignia. It looked like a family crest of sort, written in a runic language that Honda did not recognize. Since he was practically lost, Honda kicked open the door, revealing a room full of ingredients.
They were stockpiled against cupboards and storage containers. They were properly labeled with a glowing aqua rune placed on a nearby experimental table. The rune pulsed slowly, highlighting the room before diminishing and relighting in a loop.
"Woah! An actual apothecary! Looks like some serious potion work! Nice!" Honda said before placing Mordred on the ground to practically sprint inside.
Mordred felt dejected at being cast aside. "Hey! What are you doing!?"
"I am taking a gander at the inventory here. Let's see now, lavender, wolfsbane, and…are these diamonds?" Honda observed the ingredients placed all around the room.
"Nah no way!" He tossed the diamonds aside, chalking them up as simply realistic replicas.
"Don't just walk in a room like an idiot! What if there were security seals?" Mordred said, glancing left and right before sighing and walking through, considering Honda walked though without a care and he came out just fine.
Honda looked at the wide collection of tonics kept here. A book was set on a table containing a vast list of the tonics and creations that one could make here.
"Let's see, they got poison fume bombs, silver bullets, exploding pumpkins, and…Deacon's sleeping pills?" Honda said questioningly as he read the book, gazing to and fro between the tonics within glass vials.
Mordred looked at the book.
"I wouldn't mess around with all that stuff if I were you. Between the homunculi, Atalanta and the magi all gathered here, the last thing we need is to mess with all this. I'm no potion brainiac either, so you're on your own with that." Mordred advised, her blade resting on the back of her neck.
"Hey I was a whiz at DIY chemistry since my time at Fuyuki High, I could figure this out easy!" Honda took a vial containing magnesium powder, black gunpowder and sugar. He then took a small rolled up ball of crimson red material labeled 'Dragonflame wool'. Another bundle he carried in his hand looked like an average normal string. The label however stated 'Phantom wire'.
"Hmmm?" Honda curiously let out as he looked at the unknown material before looking back at the guide book of recipes. On the table a recipe page was written. Considering the side of the page was torn, it was obviously a part of the book. It contained the list of ingredients, all written under 'Kendy's Burger'.
Honda noticed near the table was a suitcase.
"Hey! My stuff is here!" He clicked it open.
Mordred looked curiously.
"What's in it?" The servant asked.
Honda raised his beloved ornamental mask in front of him, both hands holding it by the sides of its facial area as he looked at it with pride. To him it was the symbol of his entire being despite being a costume piece.
"We're gonna be fighting at some point, so you better take this seriously if you want to save your friends!" Mordred advised.
"Your right…" Honda said as he put the mask on his face. If his mask and garb are here, then that means he would need it for what the roleplay has in store for him.
'Now I know why my stuff is here at least. I'm at a boss fight event! Which means I gotta get in character fully!' Honda thought to himself.
"What's so special about that dumb mask anyway?" Mordred asked, not sure as to its significance.
Honda turned to Mordred. His mask was already on his face. Mordred blinked twice at his more intimidating appearance. The mask, when put on, made Honda appear more than just a man. It was similar to a porcelain mask, however it was stylized to completely cover his face. Gold curved accents stretched from the eye holes to the bottom of his chin. His mask seemed to have no visible holes from which to breathe from the mouth or nose. The only means of deciphering any identity was through the eye holes, which in this lighting were completely encompassed in shadow save for the frost blue irises peaking through.
Mordred blushed as she began feeling wet down there. She wasn't sure what happened but the moment Honda's gaze with the mask on met her emerald orbs, she felt like she was flooding with something unknown to her.
"It's my garb for the upcoming battle, my dear servant." The Warlock spoke with booming eloquence.
--With Idores and Stria--
The two albinos were on guard. For Stria, it was out of the need to protect Honda. For Idores, she needed Honda for the grail, and thus couldn't let Mara get her hands on him.
"He has procured something extremely important to me." Mara said while taking a slow step forward.
"And what exactly would that be? Let me guess, the golem?" Idores said knowingly. What else would the magus be referring to.
"Oh, you know already. That makes things much easier. I want him to return my creation to me." Mara said with her eyes closed with a seemingly genuine smile on her face. The tone of voice however, was definitely laced with subtle hostility.
"And why should we help you?" Idores asked, not in the mood for negotiating with her enemy.
"Well, a creations natural place is by its master's side. Surely you would share my sentiment homunculus." Mara stated in a mocking manner. A slight smirk could be seen on her facial expression.
Idores narrowed her eyes at the 'homunculus' comment. Stria's eyebrows had furrowed as well, a clear indicator of her not liking the way Mara spoke.
"You bear the name of Velune, but let us be honest, you are the farthest from a Velune as possible. The Velune family, once a legendary magi family, reduced to an afterthought at the passing of their last descendant." Mara explained, a knowing glint in her eye. She began taking steps to her right, gravitating around the albinos like a predator circling its prey.
"Keep that tongue in cheek Mara. It would be a shame if you lost it!" Idores threatened, her blood red eyes glowing with magical fury carrying strands of her long white hair as she spoke.
"Your impatience alone is a testament that you are no Velune. The family that bred some of the greatest minds since the Einzberns, now all gone, none left to bear the torch of the long dead family." Mara mockingly drawled out, a sickening cruel smirk on her face, bow knowing Idores' pride in the name despite being a homunculus.
"Until you brought Katashi Honda." Mara smirked.
Idores clenched her fist, desperately trying to keep her composure. Stria looked to Ursus who was simply standing back and observing. The hooded figure seemed unmoving, for the time being.
"I will be honest. I was fooled at first to thinking he may have been some relative of your old master. It was the only reason I made no personal attempt on your household. Now however, thanks to Ursus here, I know that he is merely a novice mage at best. What bothers me is that this doesn't answer the question as to why you brought an outsider into the Holy Grail War."
She looked at Stria, then at Idores before her small smile grew into a smirk.
"You want your master back. Don't you?"
Idores' eyes shook as Mara spoke.
"Homunculi are a strange sort. You all crave a freedom befitting of all naturally conceived beings, however, you cannot escape the desperate need to be with your creator. Like a pet, you all answer to one and only one. My guess is that you willingly took on the name of Velune to fight in their place in the war, to wish for your master's resurrection using the Holy Grail." Mara deduced, Idores looked slightly downward in deep thought.
Stria's eyes widened as she looked at Idores. She herself didn't really know as to what Idores wanted in the Holy Grail War if she won.
"Your assistant sure seems surprised. I know I am. Out of all things to wish for from the Holy Grail, you simply wished to reunite with your beloved creator. So sad." Mara let out a laugh as Idores seemed to shrink in her body language.
"And you know as well as I do that to bring your creator back from the dead requires a vessel, one very similar if not related to his own before his unfortunate demise. Which is why you brought Honda? Am I right?" Mara's eyes seemed to glow further as she narrowed down Idores' motivations for her part in the war.
Stria wanted to console her master. It was a natural instinct as she was a homunculus herself who has served her mistress. She did not think that Idores would go so far for someone who for all purposes was beyond their reach. All magic rituals for resurrection are always subpar in their design, leading to catastrophic results that would render the original attempt pointless, and the user defiled or corroded in some way, both in the literal as well as mental and spiritual. With the Grail however, those limitations are not a worry, as the wish granting artifact was beyond the limits of magus capabilities.
"What if I were to tell you, that there was another way." Mara said in a whisper, causing Idores to look at her directly.
"That's not possible!" Idores disagreed.
"Normally, you would be correct. There is a loophole however. The golem that was taken from me was of my own design. Spectral golems are natural weavers of spiritual energies, perfect navigators and focuses when dealing with the incorporeal, that includes the dead so long as they are under someone who understands them. My family had plenty of time to study them since the Salem witch trials. We had plenty of…material to work with." The shady witch said, her voice laced in doublespeak.
Ursus looked at Mara. He seemed to take an interest in Mara's speech.
"You don't need the grail to fulfill your wish. I would gladly do the honors of reuniting you with your master. All I need is the golem, and it's a sure guarantee."
Stria interrupted. "No one truly understands a spectral golem. There are not many records as to their creation, least of all as to their nature. *Turns to Idores* My lady, she is trying to manipulate you!"
Idores seemed conflicted to the choice laid in front of her.
"Trust me when I say this, what other choice do you have. If you can't even handle Deacon with that elementary paralysis spell, then what makes you think you can handle the two masters your alliance was preparing for."
Idores looked at Mara at the mention of the remaining masters.
"They both formed an alliance of their own. He's on his way." Mara said with an ominous tone.
Idores' eyes widened.
"Honda's little squabble with Elias alerted him. He's on his way here as we speak. Both of them will be here come nightfall. When they get here, this little craft project you call a tower won't be enough to keep them out." Mara warned.
Idores looked shook. Her eyes had returned to normal in her apparent shock.
A wall could be heard being smashed through.
Deacon was on his way, along with his security.
Mara looked behind Idores.
"Time is running out. Make your choice." The dark witch said.
"STOP! Idores!" Deacon and his security swarmed the intersection.
Mara would have escaped, but a group of homunculi maids blocked her way out, preventing her from leaving. The security force was well coordinated enough to know the layout of the estate perfectly and coordinate flanking positions.
"Did you think you were going to get away with this, Idores. Working with Mara Malga. Have you gone insane!?" He said while looking at Ursus.
"W-what are you doing here, Ursus? I thought you were with Elias?" Deacon asked with confusion.
"I can attest to that Deacon!" A voice could be heard. It was Elias, currently healed enough to make his way to where everyone was gathered. He walked past a few homunculi security guards.
"I commanded Ursus to find the source of the disruption of the prana within the estate. Without prana, all the defense seals have gone out. I suppose Mara was the source of that disruption, her and Idores both it would seem." Elias lied, attempting to cover for him and Ursus by sacrificing Mara and Idores to preserve himself.
Mara raised an eyebrow, a smile still in place. "Interesting…" she said in Elias' direction. It was a double meaning. Elias gulped inaudibly, he couldn't risk being exposed.
Deacon, due to the fact that Idores and Stria were with Mara, the fabricated story seemed plausible enough.
"We have both of them finally in our hands." Deacon said with hidden fury.
"To be on the safe side, we should dispose of them at once." Elias said.
CHUCK CHLICK
An M16 with a grenade attachment was pointed straight at Elias before anyone could blink, courtesy of Stria. She had pulled it from a seal on her left thigh.
"If you wish to harm my mistress, then you'll be the first to go." Stria said with a chilling tone, knowing Elias' true character. The homunculi had their batons ready, the maids had prana induced daggers ready for combat.
"It's futile Idores, relinquish your command seal to me, tell me where is the one you follow, where is Katashi Honda?" Deacon asked one last time. His shirt was currently glowing with the runes of reinforcement.
Idores raised an eyebrow like the enraged magus lost his mind. "Follow?"
CLICK CLACK
An echo emanated throughout the hallway. Everyone gathered at the intersection were distracted by the intruding sound.
CLICK CLACK
Idores blinked as she heard each step, unsure as to what the sound was.
Deacon looked behind him, but other than his guards, no one else was there.
Elias looked at the other magi to make sure it wasn't them using some sort of spell to play with his hearing.
Ursus looked behind him, the sound was not coming from his back.
Mara looked side to side. Even to her the origin of the sound was unknown to her.
Stria however, could be seen with a brightened expression on her face.
"It's…like his first show." She whispered to herself.
Idores looked at Stria like she grew a second head. "Whose?"
The lights of the room snuffed out, leaving only one directly on top of the group.
It flicked on and off, a shadow could be seen literally standing on the rooftop when it turned on again. The figure stared down at the group assembled at the intersection.
Deacon's eyes widened at the figure. It was not like any man he has ever seen. One born in shadow, cloaked in it despite the light directly behind the imposing figure. He stood on the rooftop, gravity not being a factor to the man defying the laws of physics. The figure wore a black and red raiment. It was posh and suave, adorned in crimson accents running throughout the suit. A shoulder cape shrouded the figure, though it seemed big enough to potentially cover the figures' entire body. The shoulder cape flowed and yet didn't drop down due to gravity, like a slow moving black flame. This figure wore white gloves with black accents that seemed to skillfully connect to the black suit. His shoes were shiny, classical dress shoes, shining ebony and reflecting all light from toe to heel.
Beyond that what made the figure more imposing was that he wasn't alone. Because behind him, a large monstrosity stood with him, as if emanating from his back. The creature was adorned by ebony, with purple eyes glowing within its enigmatic shadowy frame.
"Hello ladies and gentlemen. Tonight will be a rather special occasion." The figure said.
Stria smiled at Honda, a rosy tint painted her cheeks.
Mara's eyes widened that Honda was with the spectral golem she had lost and that it was under his control considering its attachment to his back.
"I thought…he was a novice…" she whispered.
Elias took fidgeting steps backwards. His irises twitched sporadically.
"No…not again…" Elias stammered.
Deacon had perspiration running down his forehead as he saw two frost blue eyes glow through the mask staring through his being, like a judge from the afterlife.
"This…is Katashi Honda?"
Honda chuckled to himself and spoke again.
"Tonight…you take your first steps…"
Honda dropped downwards towards the group, courtesy of the golem who was keeping him attached to the roof the whole time. Mordred now in her armor could be seen breaking through the ground beneath the group.
Both from below and above, the eighth master has arrived with a preemptive strike.
His voice took a chilling turn. It echoed against the eardrums of all present as they lost their footing by the sheer strength of the metal encased servant.
"Into the abyss!"
CHAPTER END