Ok this was longer then I thought and that means both in terms of length and in terms of how long it took to write. I think I only really pushed this far once before though I can't remember for the live of me when. Anyway, you all have been lead up to this point with Shirou so hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: Don't own Fate. Probably would make it more of a mess if I did.
Silence gripped the area as Shirou's words hung in the air. Luvia didn't respond as she tried to replay what he had said. Shirou being a Dead Apostle sounded ludicrous. For one he seemed to grow up, though that was probably not impossible as Dead Apostles were a bit of an umbrella term, but even still he didn't show any other traits. Like an abnormal strength, which he apparently always had, or greater than human stamina, which he also had. He also had Mystic Eyes of Enchantment, and speaking of his eyes they were also the typical red. Finally, it clicked that he had displayed a few traits of a Dead Apostle already.
"H-how long?" Luvia had to know just how long he had been one because there was no reason that Rin couldn't have known about it unless he had always been one to her. Which given how she had voiced her annoyance at her trying to get with Shirou by stating how long they knew one another, had to be the case.
"Most of my life," It was vague but he could burn that bridge and let both Luvia and Rin into the full truth later. Still, outside of a brief period for six months when he lived as a pseudo-human he pretty much had always been a Dead Apostle. "Look, we can talk about this later right now Rin is in trouble."
Luvia had so many questions she wanted asked and even for a moment was hesitant to think about working with a Dead Apostle. However, she put this aside as despite having not known this about Shirou she had least had an idea he was not as problematic as the usual Dead Apostle would be. There wasn't after all several missing people report or dead bodies being routinely found. Which either meant that Shirou was feeding on blood packs, willing donations from Illya, or animals.
As much as her rational part of her mind raced to understand this, her emotions where in terminal. She had, after all, been wanting a Dead Apostle to be her boyfriend! Unknowingly or not didn't really matter as just the mere fact was both embarrassing and a bit scandalous if anyone learned about it. Taking control of her emotions for the matter at hand she decided to focus on the problem with her missing cousin for right now. "Very, well but after this is over I want you to answer any questions I have!"
It went unsaid that Shirou was already going to do that anyway and Luvia had a lot of them. Now that one issue was temporarily dealt with they could focus back on the matter at hand. "Angelica, do you know any place that Erikson could be hiding?"
"Yes, there are a few places and I already checked one of them," Angelica opened up a portal in the air and pulled out a map of the city for the four of them to see. On it was marked a few of the more likely abandoned places. One had been marked out. That one was the sewer system which was her first choice. "There is an abandoned warehouse near the docks, and the Edelfelt mansion located near the forest is the other."
That just left the four of them to make a decision. Did they go as a group or in pairs? "I'll go with Luvia to the Edelfelt mansion," Someone was going to have to go with her to the mansion and right now it was best that either Angelica or him went with one of the other two. "Illya, you and Angelica head to the warehouse."
Rin struggle as she laid on what looked like a makeshift altar. Her legs and arms were tied but the bindings were not what annoyed her. It was that she had basically nothing to help her get out of here. Being captured by a Dead Apostle was never a good thing. Who knew just what he had planned for her. Immediately she attempted to use Reinforcement in an attempt to break the bounds but the biddings didn't break. 'Damn it, how could this get any worse!'
As if fate had been tempted, it decided to answer her. "Well, look who is finally awake," Rin turned her head towards the familiar voice and saw Shinji walking into the room. His face barely contained his enjoyment at watching her struggle. "Who's laughing now?"
Nothing came out of her mouth as she stared at him for a second. Finally, it registered why he had shown up out of the blue and not long after the Dead Apostle had started to fight her. He was in league with the Dead Apostle! "Are you insane?!" Kirei had told her all the things that happened to mages who were foolish enough to make deals with Dead Apostles. "Do you even know how dangerous it is to work with a Dead Apostle!?"
Shinji started to chuckle to himself at her words. The Tohsaka's were supposedly allies of his family, which included his grandfather, a Dead Apostle. Ironic that she was trying to call him crazy when her family had given Sakura to a Dead Apostle. "Oh, you have no idea how rich that is," He leaned in at the Tohsaka heir with a smug grin on his face. "You don't know at all do you?"
Rin glared at him, not in the mood at all for these games. "What are you talking about?"
"The Matous have a history with Dead Apostles," Erikson walked in answering for Shinji. He walked over to Rin with the vial in hand. "Although, in a sense the same could be said about the Tohsaka family."
Only Shinji and him got the joke about her family's miscalculation. To Rin all she heard was a bunch of nonsense. Instead her mind was focused on the vial in his hand and the dread as to what it could be. "What is that?"
Her worried voice brought a slight sadistic smile to the man's face. After all, as a Magus she knew of a lot that could be done with just a simple vial. "Tell me you do know the origin of all Dead Apostles?"
That seemed rather unconnected to whatever was going on but Rin did know. Anyone with the story of the Wizard Marshal, and the Fourth Seat of the Dead Apostles Ancestors would eventually learn of the Third Seat, the King of All Vampires. "Brunestud of the Crimson Moon, you're his 'gift' to the world."
"Admittedly some of us are thanks to him as are those who use magecraft to become us," Some of the oldest amongst their ranks did indeed come into being thanks to his intervention at some point. As for all the uses of magecraft that turned them was indeed unknowingly invoking the Third Dead Apostle Ancestors either knowingly or unknowingly. "However, others come from his first batch of creations, the children he had with the will of the planet."
Rin also knew who and what he was talking about. The True Ancestors, literal extensions of the planets will, beings whose existence was to hunt humanity like all vampires. It wasn't something to concern herself with as there were currently only two True Ancestors remaining with any ability to interact with the outside world. One of whom was also part Dead Apostle and was a Dead Apostle Ancestor anyway. "What does that have to do with any of this?"
Walking around Erikson made sure the circle around it was perfect. Any deviant would destroy what he was hoping to accomplish and he couldn't have that. Especially with the fact that the Edelfelt in the Fuyuki was aware of him. "The Dead Apostles that served under the True Ancestors were given great power, some even were granted something close to an Authority much like a Divine Spirit," He held the vial in front of her face. "This vial contains a mixture with the blood of a True Ancestor and my hope is to use you as a sacrifice to get at least the great power."
Admittedly, the latter of the two would be ideal. So, few even had one nowadays that it was almost forgotten that it was a sign of their kind. The last one to receive such a gift was the one the Church had deemed the Twenty-eight, something none of them had agreed to, of their kind. A gift of being able to Reincarnate when killed. Unfortunately, it seemed that he was indeed truly killed not long ago. Regardless if it was just raw power then it would be more than enough to defeat his rival. If this failed though Erikson knew that his life was forfeited as his had gone through a great deal to keep even a small bit of True Ancestor blood viable for something like this. Assuming, of course, the Ainsworth jump started wasn't the one to kill him.
Both humans stared at the vial each with their own thoughts. For Rin she knew that some amongst the ranks of the Dead Apostle Ancestors were from the Age of Gods and still could do many of the things that most mages could only dream off. Still, being injected with the blood of a True Ancestor was a guarantee to becoming a Dead Apostle. As for Shinji, he was a bit conflicted about this. "Wait, you're going to kill her?"
"Technically, I don't know if she'll survive or not but it's safe to assume such," There was no lie as Erikson only understood this ritual on a basic level. Perhaps, one of the older members of the Clocktower or the oldest mage families, hell even some within the highest ranks of Holy Church, would be able to tell Shinji a definite answer. "I don't see why it matters if she perishes, her Magic Crest will be yours."
"So, why is it that you and Erikson are both deemed candidates to the same position?" From what Illya was able to recall there was a few seats that were empty. If two Dead Apostles existed with the potential to be a Dead Apostle Ancestor then why have them fight over one position?
"Because a vacant Dead Apostle Ancestor seat can't just be filled by anyone," Angelica knew the commonly known portrayal of her kind was ruthless and highly individualistic. Which indeed many were and even within the two factions it was said that members still did what they wished. Logically it would seem like with positions open ambition would lead to the spots being filled soon. "The position usually goes to the Dead Apostle Successor, picked by their Ancestor in case of death."
An event such as that was not taken lightly. Doing so meant admitting that the Dead Apostle was strong enough to stand on even footing with the Twenty-seven and was also admitting that said Dead Apostle might have the potential to kill their Ancestor. Which was in itself a way at least three had taken their spot. "That's if a Dead Apostle is killed by someone that doesn't fit the criteria to take the position right?"
Angelica shook her head at this. That was how mages usually saw it and it did have some basis in fact. "Not if a Dead Apostle Successor is already set," If the Ancestor didn't have one then yes a Dead Apostle or something that fit the criteria of a Dead Apostle killing them would take the position. "In such a case both they must kill the Successor, with the same being true for the Successor to take the position from the upstart."
So far all that was being said made sense to Illya. The Dead Apostle Ancestors had to have enough of an organized structure to be able to last as long as they did and be powerful enough to give the Church and the Mage's Association pause at the possibility of open war. Although, there was likely more than just tradition or the like when it came to these rules. "Well, about when they die without no one being able to take the position?"
"A candidate is put forth or can come forward if they believe they have the ability too," Angelica was of the former case being put forth due to her abilities and the fact that she had become one thanks to the process that turned the current Twenty-second seat. Erikson was of the latter case having lived and grown strong enough to throw his own effort to have his application taken seriously. "The final choice, though belongs to the Rise Prophecy on who is deemed worthy of the position."
"Rose Prophecy?"
"It's usually something that some Dead Apostle Ancestors are given that tells them when they are going to die so they can name a Successor," Outside of possibly some in the Church and maybe those who study Dead Apostles in the Association this stuff wasn't all that relevant. Especially, given that rarely did it matter to both organizations. "The Rose Prophecy has a secondary function telling if a Dead Apostle is worthy of taking the vacant seat or not."
Their little conversation ceased as they both came to the abandoned warehouse building. Over the building the setting sun seemed to cast a great shadow from the semi-ruined building. Both of them stopped for a second as they noticed the presence of a bounded field which had likely been set up by Erikson. This had to indeed be his makeshift lair. 'Did something just move?'
Angelica's eyes narrowed as she knew what they had to be. The Dead were in there most likely taken from ship or by a few missing people who had yet to be reported. All they were likely good for was to slow her down. If anything Illya could deal with them depending on the numbers. Opening up a portal Angelica pulled out a long spear with a golden almost sword-like pointed end cover with a red looking metal for a handle. She turned over to Illya who saw her pulling out the weapon. "Be on guard as I think the whole place is crawling with The Dead."
Illya pulled off two strains of her hair and formed a pair of wire-like bird familiars. The Storch Ritters flew besides their creator and mistress at the ready as Illya reached in and pulled out a bottle containing a purplish mixture within. A mini explosive that only needed a bit of prana put into it to explode. Illya had at least three vials of this stuff on her and hopefully she wouldn't have to use all three of them. "I'm ready."
As they passed by the field a few of the Dead came walking out along with what looked like rabid dogs. The animals raced forward aimed for the none Dead Apostle of the two. Illya's birds immediately moved forward with blasts of raw prana coming from them from their beaks. The strikes hit the animals and blast the dead dogs back. Angelica meanwhile slashed into the ghouls that came for her. Space opened up as one of them that came racing towards her ran through it and came out falling in the air above and on to another of the Dead causing them both to fall in a heed. She stabbed the spear through the two down Dead before either could get up. Reaching into another portal in the air she pulled out a halberd and with a wide swing curved the rest of the dead apart.
Turning her head over she saw that Illya's birds had made short work of the simple animal familiars. Angelica had to note that the wire birds that she had seemed rather above what most easily made familiars tend to be. If she wasn't mistaken they seemed more like mini mages themselves with the output. "You're not some run of the mill Einzbern homunculus are you?"
"Is it that obvious?" Rin just assumed that Illya was the standard for all Einzbern Homunculi. A standard Justeaze model, however, didn't have her level of magic circuits let alone the amount of prana she had. "Yes, I am not what you would call a standard model."
Angelica didn't press more on the issue as there was still Erikson to deal with. Removing the spear from the bodies she returned both it and the halberd into her Reality Marble. The both of them then afterwards moved into search of the building. A light hum greeted them along with a largely empty ruined warehouse. Largely as the ground had several magic circles with each having something in the middle of each.
Besides the mix of magic circles each with an object, either jewelry, charms, pots, basically a bunch of lore level Mystic Codes, gathered around and no signs of anyone else around here. It took Angelica not long to realize that this had to be a trap of some sort. The circle pulsed as the objects all around flooded the circles with their stored prana. Each circle quickly connected to each other as Angelica realized what this was. "Illya, stay close to me now!"
The homunculus did so right as the circles pulsed out each one exploding in a burst of prana. Angelica immediately opened a portal in the air around them with Flash Air causing the pulse of prana to miss them as it entered into the openings in space. This, however, wasn't the point of the explosion. All around the supports were blasted apart and the warehouse started to crumple. Illya seeing this, pulled out a few strands of her hair and tossed them up above the both of them.
The building finally gave out as the old warehouse collapsed. For a few moments there seemed to be no trace of either Illya or Angelica within the collapsed rubble. Then space opened back up as the both of them landed with a thud just a bit on to of the rubble along with a few hair care products and clothes. Angelica groaned as the spacial portal closed up afterwards. "I almost didn't think I could pull that off."
"What…" Illya blinked a bit as she looked around at the objects around them. Illya picked up a few of the products confused as to why they were with them. "Did we just pass through?"
The blonde Dead Apostle picked herself up as she looked at the items sprawled around them. All things considered she had been worried given the amount of weapons she had stored within that space. "My incomplete Reality Marble," Angelica picked up the clothes and tossed them back into an opened spacial rift. "I use it to store my things."
Illya did say anything more as she stood up herself and looked on at the somewhat still active bounded field. Having just escaped the trap that was left for them, it looked like the place where Erikson must be was the Edelfelt mansion. Right where Luvia and Shirou were headed. 'Hopefully, we can get there in time to help.'
The sun had set over the horizon when both Luvia and Shirou came to the second Edelfelt mansion. So far there was no signs that anyone had been here for a long time despite the grounds surprisingly not being that overrun by plant life. Which could have meant that there was indeed someone here. "There doesn't seem to be a bounded field anywhere around here do you think we got the wrong-"
Luvia was stopped as the door to the front of the mansion opened up. Immediately Shirou pulled both him and her out of the line of sight as someone walked out of the doorway. someone that Shirou recognized in the darkness. "Shinji?"
"The Matou boy?" Luvia hadn't put much thought into the Matous as from what was remembered the Matou family had been in decline. The supposed Matou heir didn't have any real potential in magecraft. Why he was here didn't make any sense. "What is he even doing here?"
Shirou's mind raced with a few possibilities. Nor of which were pleasant. The more plausible possibility was that this was indeed where Erikson had decided to hide out and Shinji had been hypnotized. Another was that he had been turned but that soon was crossed out as a possibility once the slight breeze pushed his scent to Shirou. 'He doesn't have the scent of a Dead Apostle about him.'
For the blue haired boy something in his mind kept nagging at him. He shouldn't feel anything about what is going on. The Tohsaka's had given up one daughter to take his place, his grandfather had basically screwed him over, and now he had a chance to have it all changed. "Seriously, why do I feel like I made a mistake?!" He shook his head as he pushed away this little feeling as down as possible. "Just focus when Erikson is done with her, maybe it will go away!"
Unfortunately for him, his assumption that he was alone when he was talking to himself was proven wrong. The redhead Dead Apostle couldn't believe his own ears as to what he had heard. Shirou knew that Shinji could be a bit of a jerk but couldn't believe he would do this. "Shinji!"
Shinji turned to the familiar voice as he was soon greeted with Shirou staring at him with his red eyes and his hands barely contained in a fists. Fists that only lasted for a moment before Shirou's hands opened revealing his long sharp nails. 'Wait are those claws?' Claws, red eyes, and a host of ridiculous physical advantages. "Y-you're a D-dead Apostle…"
"Yeah, I am," It looked like whatever secret he might have once had was effectively gone. None of that mattered to him right now. "Shinji, did you help Erikson take Rin?"
Behind him Luvia walked up a glare on her face. Shinji took a step back as he realized that he was being stared down by two individuals who right now looked ready to kill him if he said something wrong. Panic set in as even he knew his newly awakened circuits meant literally nothing to them both. "Yes, but I didn't think he would be using her as a sacrifice!"
Luvia was stunned to hear this as well as a bit confused. "A sacrifice for what?"
"He's trying to use something about True Ancestor blood to get power!"
Shirou's eyes narrowed as he knew what a True Ancestor was. He had a vague idea on what this could be and Shirou at least knew that the level of power he would have would likely be enough to warrant him as a Dead Apostle Ancestor. Something that would require Shirou to have a full Reality Marble to be able to stand a chance one on one. "Has he started whatever it is he is planning to use her for?"
"I don't know I haven't seen her after he told me what he was planning!"
Either this meant that whatever he was doing hadn't happened yet, or they were too late with it having already begun. Shirou turned to the mansion as he knew that whatever it was had to be going on in there. The only thing he knew was if he was using Rin and True Ancestor blood then Rin was being turned into a Dead Apostle if whatever he was doing required her to be subjected to it. 'Shinji what the hell have you done?'
Writings on the process of being turned into a Dead Apostle were few and far between. The process was close to irreversible unless one was able to get it treated in the early stages. Even those who had been lucky rarely wrote about the process that was felt. Whatever the case Rin had a feeling that none of them felt the pain she was feeling from the process. At the core of the fluid in the vial of which half had been injected into her was the source of her slow transformation.
Her bounded limbs prevented her from thrashing about too much and breaking out as her body convulsed from the sudden agony of what was being done to her. Around the glow of the circle around the altar hummed as a few of the Dead watched. Rin could feel her Magic Circuits pulsing as whatever was happening to her was forcing them to react. "I admit it looks like you might just survive what is going to happen."
Rin turned her head over to Erikson with him looking into her eyes. She wanted to struggle him for putting her through this. Her expression while pained from the slow transformation being done to her, and having her life force slowly eaten away, was one that told the Dead Apostle before her that she wanted him dead. "When I get… out of here…"
The sound of something load caught Erikson's attention as he looked up to the floor above. He looked up with annoyance as he focused his sight through a dog familiar. As he did he was greeted with the animal getting hit by a red gem that immediately exploded into a burst of flames. "It seems we have intruders."
This couldn't be Angelica as he at least knew that she had triggered the trap he had set up. It was meant only to trigger if another Dead Apostle had entered except for him. Oh, he had no delusions that she could survive a building collapsing on herself. Such a thing wasn't a threat to a Dead Apostle Superior of there caliber. No, this had to be someone else and he had a good idea who. "The Edelfelt heiress must have come for her cousin how thoughtful for a mage."
On the floor above the last of the Dead were cut down as Shirou sliced through them with the sword he had projected into being. Luvia watched on as the projected sword went on to actually act like the weapon it was meant to be instead of just a hollow object that would have likely shattered after the first use. Seeing it made her realize that he had known his element all along. "There didn't seem to be anymore Dead or familiars around here," Shirou turned to Luvia as he had an idea of where to look for Rin. "Does this place have a basement?"
"Indeed it does," Both of them turned as an unknown person who they both had an idea had to be Erikson walked into the room. He took a look at the both of them noticing Luvia and then his eyes stopped as he looked at Shirou. "Another Dead Apostle?"
Erikson was genuinely surprised to see another Dead Apostle here. There should have been only three Dead Apostles in the city last time he checked. Himself, Angelica who had followed him, and Zouken Matou who lived in the city. Now there was a Fourth extra who showed up with the Edelfelt to attack him and this all seemed suspicious. "I see I take it that Angelica called in a favor or are you here under someone else's orders?"
"I'm here because you kidnapped my friend," Shirou glared and pointed the tip of the sword at him. "Where is she?!"
If finding out there was another Dead Apostle in Fuyuki was surprising this seemed downright impossible. The Tohsaka family dealings with Zouken Matou was due to ignorance on what he was but this was a Dead Apostle stating to be the friend of the current head of the family. Such a thing was so ludicrous that it was almost insane to hear. Yet, it was because of how ludicrous it was that it had to be anything but a lie. "Well, unfortunately for you the ritual had already begun even if you manage to save her she'll turn into a Dead Apostle herself!"
"You bast-" Luvia was stopped from attacking him as Shirou held his arm out to stop her. She was taken aback at this. "Shirou?"
He didn't even react to her using his name correctly. Shirou had known she could say it correctly for a while now after all. "Luvia you get Rin depending how far along she is we could be able to save her from fully turning," He held the sword at the ready as he stared at Erikson. "Right now I am the only one who can fight Erikson."
A raised eyebrow and curiosity was Erikson's response to hearing this. He had no idea who this Dead Apostle before him was and yet he implied he could fight on even terms with himself. Whomever this was had to be a Dead Apostle Superior to think he had a chance. "Really you think you can take me?"
Lightning arced around Erikson as he raised his hand and let loose a blast of it aimed at Shirou. The redhead reached in an instant and dodged the bolt aimed at him before closing it and swinging the sword with him upwards. Erikson was quick to jump back, preventing the swing from cutting into his body but not into his arm. His hand fell off but it was of no consequence. Immediately afterward the fallen limp disappeared and reappeared where it had been as if the attack had done nothing. "A simple sword against one such as I?"
He was almost insulted by such a thing. Surely this had been a jest. With a swipe of his claws he aimed for Shirou's face and cut into the boy's cheek. Shirou responded by swinging the sword again, this time aimed for his head. Erikson jumped out of the way and once he did Shirou let go and moved to project something else into his hands. The rapier that Angelica had pulled out on him. Dropping the sword to the ground and letting it go in motes of light he projected a copy in the other. With a push forward and a X-like swing Shirou cut into Erikson's chest. The cut burned and while the damage was being reset it took a bit longer and more effort then the sword. A chuckle came over him as lightning started to arc in his hands.
Meanwhile Luvia had passed by them both and headed for the basement of the mansion. There she found Rin tied up on a makeshift altar with a magic circle glowing all around her. Racing up to her cousin she saw that Rin's eyes seemed almost glazed over. On the edges was the faintest tint of red. Her circuits had been burning up as her body was heating up as they started to show signs of nearing overuse. "Rin," Luvia didn't know how far along the transformation was or even what was going on but she had to get her out of here. "I'll get you out of here."
As she removed the blindings and tried to get her off the altar Rin started to convulse. Her magic circuits burned as something began to pulse through them. The magic circle below her glowed in intensity as well as whatever. A scream was let out as Luvia tried to keep her from moving. "What's going on?"
Up above she heard the sound as part of the building collapsing as the western wall, the place where she had left Shirou and Erikson, must have fell down onto the foundation. Luvia wondered just what was going on when Rin fell completely limp. Her eyes grazed over her breathing faint and her magic circuits having seemingly atrophied repeatedly. Worry came over hear as Rin looked to be literally at deaths door. "Rin?!"
Above on the first floor the west side of the mansion had indeed collapsed while Erikson took a moment to admire what had happened. His whole right arm was covered in Crystal's as was the ground around him coming straight from his feet. To say he was mesmerized by what had happened was an understatement. This new power that he felt was unlike anything he had ever dreamed off. It was a long shot but it seemed that the girl had been able to take in the power offered by the True Ancestor blood and create for him the very thing that he thought would be a longshot. He knew that with this he could kill Angelica. He was now strong enough to be a Dead Apostle Ancestor and not just a candidate to become one with time.
"Well, it looks like I win."
Erikson looked at the rubble before him that had fallen on Shirou. As far as he knew that last attack with this backing him up was more than enough to kill or at least incapacitate him. If he had survived then there was no threat as far as Erikson was concerned. After all, the only way any Dead Apostle had a chance against him now was if they were able to compete in the realms of the Dead Apostle Ancestors. What were the chances that the redhead could do that?
He was here once again. Standing at the base of the small hill within his Reality Marble. In front of him was again his faded self and the distorted appearance that rested on top with the two swords. The faded image of himself looked on as Shirou stared back at him. "You're not going to survive against him."
The words of the fading remnant were true. As he was now he stood no chance against Erikson. That thing he had gained wasn't something that he could overcome, at least not without his Reality Marble. Yet, something was preventing him from using it. "If I don't stop him Rin, Luvia, Illya and maybe the whole city will die!"
Maybe it was hyperbolic as realistically maybe a good chunk of the population is killed or turned into the Dead. Still, it didn't sit right with him to let that happen. To have so many die when he could stop it. "Why do you care about them?" His other self looked at him dead in the eyes at this. "You know what you feel when you inflict death on others, why does this change anything?"
A flash of when he ended the lives of both of the Einzbern Homunculi years ago replayed in his mind. The joy and pleasure he still felt at recalling it was still there if faded from time. No, that wasn't him feeling that and Shirou knew it. "That was because of the imprint from my mother!"
"Then why do you care for others then?" There was a hint of rage coming from the faded image of himself. "Is it because of your promise to your father?"
To be a Hero of Justice, that was what he agreed to be. Taking on Kiritsugu's dream as his own. Shirou wanted to say that this was indeed what he was getting at even if this wasn't his own. Before he could the memory of when he helped Sakura against the guys bullying her. From the hilltop his mother's voice rang out. "Shirou..."
Realization came over him as he realized that the sadism wasn't the only thing she had imprinted on his mind. All around him the light seemed to slowly fade from the sky and the moon darkened. Until there was only himself and remnant of who he once was. "You see why you're stuck?"
Turning away from the faded wraith of himself and back go the top of the hill. On it was now nothing but a single sword. Walking back up, bits of memories flashed around him. An image in his mind slowly started to return to him. "Yeah, I have an impulse that I know makes no sense," He stopped in front of the sword. "Something that wasn't my own, but because of how I came to be is."
Shirou hated that and yet was grateful for it. On some level he wasn't ever going to fully be his own individual. That was ok in the end. Even as children grew up they still took in the traits of their parents or became like them. Behind him the ghost of what had been who he was continued to fade away as Shirou removed the sword in front of him. "The dream had ended."
Turning around Shirou caught as the remnant of himself was truly gone. Memories set into place as the image of her finally returned in his mind. Light returned to the world, no longer was it a blasted wasteland filled with only swords. A thin layer of fresh grass covered the ground all around with the weapons sticking out from within blood flowing cracks that crisscrossed the world. The clouds lazily swirled overhead in the blue colored sky. Looking about the moon still hung overhead but this time the crimson red had faded into a bright white of a shining full moon. This was his Reality Marble, his world, fully developed and formed as it was supposed to be. A vast plain where the moon watched over a garden of swords.
Erikson turned to walk away as he had a to-do list of things now that he had the power he wanted. First, was to see if Rin had survived or not, along with dealing with the Edelfelt. Once that was done he was going to kill Angelica and take his position among the Twenty-seven. As for the Matou boy, well a deal was a deal, he will be getting the Tohsaka Crest and perhaps Erikson might get an apprentice. Everything was looking up for him. He stopped as he heard the sound of rubble moving.
Turning around he watched as Shirou picked him up tossing the rubble that had been on him off and stood there with his hand down as the bruises and burn marks from that last attack and the collapsing roof disappeared. "Well, looks like you have some fight left…"
Erikson stopped as he could feel something off about the Dead Apostle in front of him. It wasn't something he could pick up with any of the five senses normally, at least not without being able to pick up the feeling of mystery which he did have some ability too, and the feeling he got from him was what had changed. It was like what he had been feeling from before was muffled by something, and as such was only partly there. Now it felt free and alive. The strength of it was what was baffling to him.
Shirou's mind replayed the lessons that he had on mental triggers. First was the more recent one with Kiritsugu when he had started teaching him about magecraft and the second was back even further when his mother had taught him. For the last few years he hadn't thought about why he seemingly didn't need to use one and just assumed he had basically learned to use his without visualization. He was right to a point. Shirou had been subconsciously using his trigger each time he had activated his circuits, but now he could remember what it actually was.
An arrow sent flying right into the target.
It was simple but it was a mental trigger that spoke to Shirou on some level. He was like a sword that needed to be pointed at something. A weapon that was only good to kill and to protect through the act of doing so. "Trace…" Shirou moved his head up as his eyes stared back at Erikson. His circuits started to flare up. "On!"
All twenty-seven of his circuits flared to live like they hadn't before in a long time. Each one was fully awakened and seemed to pulse with more than just prana from both the od with him and the mana around him. The mystery that was within him was fully awakened and his Reality Marble was complete. He was no longer just a Dead Apostle Successor in name only anymore. Still, Shirou knew that his opponent before him was someone who he had also jumped into the level he was at and was arguably as much a threat to him as he had been before.
"So, you're still alive?" Erikson wanted to know what was with this sudden change in the feeling he had bit as far as he knew the redhead didn't have his own ritual and nor was he anyone of notice. This could have just been a mistake of his senses thanks to his new existence. "Well, if you want to go for round two then."
Lightning arced though the body of Erikson as he gave a smirk. Just as he had hoped with the best case scenario the process had given him the power without the annoying curse. Which me add not he could use it plus the magecraft that he had with him without any fear. Shirou looked on at the lightning magecraft in front him with a renewed resolve. As the bolts were let loose he spoke the first part of his aria.
"I am the Bone of my Sword."
Several swords materialized in front of him from his red fluid projections, no from the blood of his Reality Marble. Like lightning rods they channel the arcs into them and explode. As the metal was destroyed he thought back to when he removed Avalon from himself. Had he not done so it was debatable if he would ever get this far as he did. The power he needed wouldn't be at his to call without help.
"Steel is my Body, and Fire is my Heart."
Overhead daggers formed and were overloaded with prana. They shot out like missiles aimed at a target. Erikson let the weapons tear into him as the conceptual weight of the mass produced weapons was as expected nothing. It only existed to slow him down at the very best. Racing forward he seemed ready to claw into Shirou's stomach but the boy wasn't having it.
"From these Claws I wield a Thousand Weapons."
Shirou dodged out of the way as a burst of lightning arced from within Erikson's hands as he dodged out of the way. The Pseudo-Dead Apostle Ancestor attack failed but did get some distance between the both of them. A brief stare existed neither made a mood. Then Shirou took the initiative.
"Seeking the Past, Reaching for the Future."
With his claws out the Einzbern Halberd from years ago formed in his hands he swung at his foe. The long weapon was immediately dodged out of the way as he stared at the young boy. Immediately, he instead held out his arms as crystals formed out and into a large axe. The two weapons clashed with the Halberd clearly managing to cut into the Crystal's and even through it. In a quick reaction he tried to form another only for it to also get shattered by the halberd.
"With all Parts of Me, My Path will be Forged."
Unsummoning the long halberd Shirou traced a pair of Katanas into being and moved in to strike, swinging the weapons to cut at him from the waist. Eirkson weaved out of the way and found himself doing so again and again as Shirou pressed the attack. After the fifth swing Erikson found an opening in his form and took it. He brought his crystal covered fist forward and delivered a lightning filled gut punch to Shirou blasting him back and skidding on the ground.
"You're rather annoying," The lightning became constrained in his claws as he stared at Shirou as he got back to his feet. This was genuinely getting to become a pain to deal with and he still had Angelica to deal with tonight. "How about you die!"
Time seemed to slow down as he bought both his claws down as several arcs of lightning carved forward. Seeing this Shirou closed his eyes and reached his hand out as an image passed through his mind.
"Awakened at Last."
Flames surrounded him as Shirou found himself mentally racing through the fire. His body felt the effects of the curses that were once inflicted on him. This time through the flames he saw something. In front of him was images of everyone he had come to care for. His friends, his family, and those who he had meant of importance. He reached forward as he could feel the curses trying to push on to him. Another burning sensation pulsed from him, this one offering to destroy the curses for him but Shirou fought against it as well. Finally, with one last push he raced through the flames themselves as both the feeling that tried to consume him were burned away by his own will.
Shirou's eyes opened as the world within himself reflected itself within them. There was no reaction on his face as he stared forward at his opponent. The claw shaped lightning slash nearing him as he let out the last words of his aria.
"Unlimited Blade Works!"
The ground erupted as the world around them was being seemingly torn apart by something pushing out from within Shirou. Immediately consuming the slashes of lightning that inched close to him. Erikson's vision was consumed by a bright flesh. When the lights faded the dimly lit home of the Edelfelt forest mansion was replaced by an open field under a brought covered sky with a full white moon hanging overhead. There was no one but them both. Yet, despite this it wasn't an empty would.
Swords. There were swords everywhere. No, not just swords everywhere. Axes, Spears, and other such things were piled all around. Each one standing in the ground a thin lines of crimson red blood flowing between them and the faint grass. Erikson looked forward as standing on top of a hill under the white full moon was the boy. The unknown Dead Apostle who reached down and pulled out the two swords that were embedded into the hill. A nobody, who had a Reality Marble. The highest form of magecraft that was possible to achieve yet also the most difficult.
Even for Dead Apostles such a thing was difficult and a sign of the power of the Dead Apostle who could perform it. Each one a member of the Dead Apostle Ancestors or a Chosen Successor. It was such a thing that was what made Angelica Ainsworth a candidate for the position he was working towards. Yet, here's was nowhere near complete and here he was standing within a completed Reality Marble. An inner world shaped and formed by the individual that made it.
"Who are you?"
Those words left the blonde's mouth more so in awe than anything. After all, there was something that needed to be answered. There was no way that some random unknown Dead Apostle could exist like this. Hidden away with a Reality Marble. Something just didn't add up and Erikson knew that. Especially one with a Reality Marble like this.
Shirou reached down and pulled the twin blades from the top of the hill. These two swords that represented yin and yang, who had been created with sacrifice before being locked up for thousands of years. Eventually they ended up within the treasury of his mother. Copies of the originals that had been given to him to have. In a way one could say he was the true master of the two swords. The married blades, Kanshou and Bakuya.
"I am the Chosen Successor, and the son, of the Twenty-second Dead Apostle Ancestor, Yuuka Sakatsuki," He readied both of the blades in front of he stared down at the Dead Apostle before him. The one who had managed to get one of his friends to help him with kidnapping another. Who had done all of this to get the power needed to kill his rival and take a seat amongst the Dead Apostle Ancestors.
"My name is Shirou."
Before you ask, yes her name choice was a deliberately done to tie in another connection to Fates many worlds. Plus, I figured it would fit more as a hypothetical original last name for Shirou then all the others I had come up with. Now, as for having Shirou wield Kanshou and Bakuya without meeting Archer? Well, one they are synonymous with Shirou/EMIYA and two it's another comparison to why Shirou chose to join the archery club. Why does Shirou/EMIYA like using the swords as much as he does? Because taking away their craftsmanship on some level he would know that these swords are his. Also, I don't think anything was stated on what happened to them so I just decided to go with this route. Is this realistic? Probst not at all and I admit that. However, you can say that this will mess with Archer when the time comes. That is my only real excuse.
Anyway, I'll cya all next time.
