"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Master/Servant Link"
Noble Phantasm
Chapter 20: Reunions
For Maiya, the next few moments had occurred within a blur of motion. The insect familiars had retreated to within the Matou household and since then the building had remained quiet. Her thoughts that the pair had avoided detection of Zouken had been at the forefront of her mind.
Such thoughts immediately disappeared as Archer, quite literally, exploded out of the front of the house. Throwing Rin into a bush and bringing up a sword in front of his face.
Moments before a shadowed black knight slammed his fist into the weapon. Any thoughts that this was an advanced Golem were blown away…
Along with Archer.
The punch had shattered the sword in an instant and connected with the Servants face, snapping his head to the side and sending his body sailing across the garden and smashing into the street.
"Kiritsugu." She immediately called him "Archer and Tohsaka have been engaged by Matou Zouken."
"Himself?" Kiritsugu sounded surprised, the next words however caused his heart to still.
"Negative. Archer has been engaged by what appears to be a Servant."
"...What?"
Archer's eyes snapped open in an instant as he recovered from the punch, the right side of his face was bruised and bloodied from the punch, his weapon to block the blow had been destroyed on impact, although it did mitigate some of the power behind the blow. Which probably saved his life.
He leapt to his feet, grey eyes widened in shock as he jumped to the side, seconds before the shadowed blur of armour and mist slammed into the ground where he had been, shattering the concrete entirely and sending cracks down the road. The servant wasn't idle however, spinning around and virtually vanished before reappearing in front of Archer as he landed.
"Grk!" Archer let out a grunt as he shifted his entire body to the side to avoid the fist rocketing towards his face, holding his his hand and projecting Kanshou, he slashed up at Berserker. The mad servant merely leaned his body back so the tip of the sword grazed his torso with a quiet grinding noise. Archer projected Bakuya and held it in front of his chest in a makeshift guard.
Berserkers heel slammed into the black blade, knocking the wind out of Archer and sending his body sailing through the air. His back impacted a street lamp, the metal bending to accommodate his figure before the glass lightbulb fell from its socket and shattered on the ground.
"Grrrrr." Berserker released an animalistic growl as it approached Archer, pivoting its foot slightly. Archer recognised the stance it was taking and jumped off to the side, the bulk of the servants body rushed forwards and smashed through the wall.
Archer rolled across the ground before he placed his hands down and pushed upwards, black flipping through the air, he projected his bow and fired off several arrows in quick succession.
Berserker gripped the street lamp and ripped it from the ground, red lines spreading across the metal service before he started spinning the makeshift weapon with disturbing grace. The arrows impacted the weapon, exploding in bright blue flames and shrouding the Berserker in smoke.
Archers boots landed atop nearby wall, panting he stared at the cloud, frown on his face as it began to disperse.
Leaving behind the still standing Berserker, street lamp still in his grip and looking surprising undamaged for having been put through the amount of punishment it had encountered.
"...That's troubling." Archer muttered to himself, then projected several more arrows. Jumping into the sky and firing them off in rapid succession, his expression became strained as Berserker stepped forwards and in a blur of motion intercepted each and every arrow.
Archer's eyes were drawn to the street lamp being used as a club, it disturbed him how it was still in one piece. That went beyond reinforcement magecraft.
His eyes briefly darted around, he couldn't fight Berserker here. The suburb was far too constricted to allow for him to use any weapon that might combat the servant. Landing on the other side of the street, he immediately kicked off the ground and broke into a sprint, his eyes focused on the forest leading into the cemetery, with luck it was abandoned.
He quickly looked over his shoulder, and confirmed that Berserker was giving chase.
While Archer was focused on jumping from rooftop to rooftop in a graceful manner, Berserker charged down the street like a rabid animal. Leaving imprints in the concrete with each step.
Rin held out her hand in front of her, expression strained as she continued to fire off Gandr shots at the approaching insects.
Reaching into her pocket, she withdrew a red gem before throwing it towards the large collection centipede like bugs, the gem exploding in a ball of fire and incinerating the swarm. She quickly cast a glance towards the entrance of the house.
The shattered door lying strewn across the garden with Sakura standing just beyond where the front door had been. Staring down at Rin with a hollow look in her eyes.
"Sakura!" Rin called out to her, pleading tone in her voice "Stop this! We're here to take you home."
Sakura merely tilted her head ever so slightly, before a shadow extended across the ground. Racing across to just behind Rin, the girl darted her head to the side and leapt away as a fresh swarm of insects emerged from the black line.
"Tch." Rin clicked her tongue, firing off several more Gandr shots at them, "Hiding familiars in Imaginary space…" she looked back at Sakura, sweat tricking down her brow "Doing this and fuelling a Berserker…"
"You can go home!" Rin called to her "You don't need to be here anymore!"
"Why?" Sakura asked "So you can get rid of me again?" her voice was depressed, lacking any emotion to it. Yet the force of her words was enough to get Rin to stop for the briefest of moments.
The reality of the situation was that even if she got Sakura out of this place. Her father would probably find another Magi family to give her to. Sakura would be traded from one family to another like a prized bull.
"Argh!" She released a growl as a beetle sunk its pincers into her ankle, Rin growled, flicking it off her foot. She scanned her surroundings, the garden was too constricted, and she needed to alert Kiritsugu to the situation if he wasn't already aware.
And loathe as she was to admit it, she wouldn't say no to assistance from the fake priest. He would be able to deal with situations like these. She hoped anyway.
Spinning around, Rin sprinted to the far end of the garden, crouching low and funnelling reinforcement magic into her legs, she shot herself upwards with crack of wind and over the wall, spinning around and firing off several more Gandr in rapid succession at the familiars.
She went over the wall before landing awkwardly on the road, rolling for a few feet before coming to a stop. The buzzing of insects grew louder as they came flying towards her.
It was only when a stream of gunfire cut down most of their number that she realised that Kiritsugu and his assistant were probably already here. She breathed a momentary sigh of relief, before steeling her expression and sending a fleeting glance down the road.
She'd only barely caught of glimpse of Archer being punched in the face and into the open with Berserker trailing after him. Although given that the servant hadn't come back to finish her off yet, she assumed that meant that Archer was still alive. The damage to the road also indicating he was leading the servant away from them.
That was one less concern.
"...Eh?" She only barely registered the hand on her shoulder before she was suddenly pulled to her feet, she sent a glance as to who had grabbed her to see the stern expression of Emiya Kiritsugu. The man in a dark coat with a gun pointing at the direction of the familiars.
"Run." Kiritsugu ordered her "Zouken has the home field advantage and we don't have a clear shot at the girl."
"My sis-"
"Target." Kiritsugu cut her off roughly pushing her into a sprint and occasionally sending a glance behind them to the swarm of insects "Call your Church contact. We need aid."
"Tch." Rin clicked her tongue and fished for her phone. Then winced when she realised she didn't have it.
"Hurry up."
"...opped it." She muttered out, cheeks burning with shame.
"What?"
"I dropped it." She repeated, slightly louder as they ran down the street. Kiritsugu send her an incredulous look before he sighed.
"Do you remember the number?"
"Yes."
"Good." He chucked reached into his pocket and thrust a phone into her hands "Call them. Tell them the situation." he went to his ear "Maiya? What is happening in the Matou house."
"The girl has retreated back to the house. I do not have a visual on her." She frowned "Shall I move to a better position?"
"Yes." Kiritsugu replied "In the event that Archer is defeated by Berserker, killing her becomes a priority."
"Wha-" Rin went to shout, however a glare from Kiritsugu silenced her.
"Understood." Maiya replied, the line went dead.
"This is a rescue mission."
"It was." Kiritsugu turned to her "Then she summoned a Servant. Now she is a priority target and if we do not kill her, she will kill us."
Rin growled but didn't argue further, knowing that she couldn't. She hurriedly dialled the number into the burner phone. Hoping that Archer would kill Berserker, then all they needed to do would be to get Sakura.
Kotomine stared at the phone with a raised eyebrow "Hmm. That must be Rin." he mused, flicking it open the frowning when he didn't recognise them number.
"Expecting calls from highschool girls?" Caren recoiled in mock horror "How scandalo-"
Kotomine exhaled sharply through his nose in annoyance before answering the phone "Who is this?"
"Fake priest!"
"Ah, Rin. So I assume you-"
"Get over here now! Zouken has succeeded in summoning a Servant!" Caren watched as Kotomine's who formed stiffened and his eyes widened.
"...What?"
Archer threw his body to the side, barely avoiding the slash of the street lamp. The unfortunate tree that had been behind him bearing the brunt of the assault and exploding in a shower of splinters.
The top half toppling over towards the Berserker servant, the shadowed knight stopped the tree's fall with one hand, armoured fingers penetrating deep into the bark as he lifted it up above his head.
Steel grey eyes widened in alarm as Berserker slammed his foot into the ground, pivoting his hole body and then throwing the tree at him like a rocket, Archer kicked off the ground as the subsonic plant barrelled through the forest, destroying several more trees and crafting a small clearing in the woods.
Archer grit his teeth. This Berserker was skilled enough that he was able to block the arrows as Archer was firing them. It wasn't a protection from Arrows skill however, the servant was just that skilled and that fast.
He needed something that couldn't be blocked. Holding out his right hand, he projected a weapon that would never be blocked over avoided, it would at least get him an edge over the Berserker servant.
The black knight released another cry before charging towards Archer, the bowman nocking the arrow and pulling back, alteration changing the design to be elongated and twisted to the extent it shared very little physical similarities with its original.
"Hrunting!" Archer called out the true name, the sword being fired forth in a blur of red light. Clearing the distance between himself and Berserker in an instant.
The point of the arrow stopping just shy of the Berserkers face.
Archer froze. Expression deceptively blank, in the split second before the arrow had hit, Berserker had thrown down the lamp and gripping the arrow just before it had impacted his face.
But that shouldn't have been an issue, that arrow still should have exploded.
Except it hadn't. Archer stared at the arrow, watching as the same black lines spread over the weapon held in the Berserkers grasp. He felt his connection with the sword cut, as if it was no longer his to use.
That was problematic.
Berserker lowered his arm with the sword arrow still held in his grasp, other hand going towards the elongated handle and gripping it tightly before assuming a swordsman stance. Despite the odd design and obviously poor balance of the sword, Archer had no doubt about the Berserkers skill wielding it.
He'd had trouble enough keeping up with the Servant armed with a street lamp.
And he'd effectively gifted him a Noble Phantasm.
And a high ranked one at that. A servant who could use weapons and make them his as if he were there original owner. This was certainly a troublesome opponent, and he was fast enough and determined enough to chase down Archer so he wouldn't be able to utilise his sniping ski-
His eyes widened in alarm. His link to his master indicated that she was in danger.
But Berserker was here? Did she go after Zouken? How could she even be in-
"ARGH!" Berserker rocketed towards Archer in a blur of speed, the servant raising Hrunting over his head before slamming it into the tree Archer was perched upon, the trunk of the tree being virtually vaporised in the attack as the level of force applied split the wood in half and sent debris in all directions. Archer leapt into the air...only to see Berserker do the exact same thing, only he managed to jump higher than Archer.
Archer looked up to see Hrunting rocketing towards his face, projecting the twin swords, he held them in front of himself in a makeshift guard to block the blow, which hit him like a freight train. The impact pressing the flat end of the swords into his body and sending him plummeting back down to earth at supersonic speeds.
Archer crashed through the foliage, blood rising out of his mouth as he eventually came to a stop. He coughed out more of the metallic tasting substance as he raised his head to see Berserker slam into the ground in front of him, kicking up a shower of dirt which concealed his form.
Archer wasn't an idiot, he picked himself off the ground and prepared to combat the Berserker.
Engaging in a sword fight with him wasn't the best of ideas, but Archer was backed into a corner. Berserker would catch him before he could get to a safe distance and any of the projectiles he could use to mitigate the Berserkers stealing skill would probably kill him in the blast as well.
Berserker rocketed out of the cloud, dirt parting as the black blur closed in on him. Archer succeeded in parrying the first strike, albeit barely. His relief was short lived as Berserker attacked again in a flurry of motion.
If it had been the wild swings of a mad man or a brute, Archer would have been able to cope with it. Archer would give credit where credit was due, even in his rabid state this Berserker fought with skill, far more than he had.
Close range was suicide, the longer the battle went on the more apparent it was. Archer needed something to try and bridge the gap between them.
Thus he started leaving intentional holes in his defence, he couldn't match Berserkers speed or strength. But if he could control where the servant was going to attack him, he would at least be able to survive.
He wasn't sure what more he could do at this point.
He parried away another strike aimed at his left side, the technique was working, Archer was gradually able to fall into some form of pattern. Although he knew it couldn't last, either Berserker would change tactics or Archer would get too slow and make a mistake. It was a suicidal technique, but against Berserker it was the only one he had available to him.
Berserker suddenly stopped his assault, causing Archer to freeze. The mad servant backed off ever so slightly. Metal producing an eery creak as it looked Archer up and down. Or rather, looked his stance up and down.
Archer felt his heart quicken. Perhaps he had underestimated Berserkers intelligence.
Berserker moved.
Archer was barely able to raise his swords to block the strike that would have taken his head off his shoulders, Kanshou cracked under the strength of the blow, the ground beneath Archer cratered as his legs buckled.
Then Berserker punched him in the chest.
Archer had attempted to project a sword just in front of his body to act as a shield and that was probably the only thing that saved his life. It also meant that when Berserker shattered the sword with his punch, his fist was covered in shrapnel. All of which was carried forth and buried themselves in Archers cut along with the fist.
Archer's body rocked through the forest, shattering several trees before he rolled to a stop. Barely having the strength to rise.
Berserker stomped his way over to Archer, Sword raised above his head, ready to finish him.
Then froze.
Head slowly turning around. As if it was hearing his masters call.
Berserker kicked off and sprinted out of the forest. Archer didn't know what was going on that had made Berserker charge off like that, but for the time being. He was thankful that it had happened.
Then his eyes widened in alarm.
His master was in serious danger.
Illya was in serious trouble. That much she could already guess. This Servant...He was strong. He was also crazy, she couldn't even react fully to him. And he hadn't even moved from his space ship.
Her red eyes darted to Miyu, the girls face was strained, neither of them could avoid the Servants projectiles at all. At least not fully, nor could she take a direct hit from them. The still stinging cut on her cheek was proof enough of that.
"You're going to have to react faster Mongrels." The condescending voice of the Servant called down to them "If you continue at your current pace, you'll be cut to pieces."
"Ruby! Shield!" Illya called out the mystic code shouted and affirmative before a pink barrier formed in from of her. The red eyes of the Servant stared down at her, no change in his expression, but the corner of his lip did twitch upwards in amusement. As if her defence against him was an inside joke that only he understood.
Then he snapped his fingers again.
And she understood. Several more golden portals opened up behind the servant and fired out the swords, the first one impacted the pink barrier and shattered it, the other two soon followed.
Illya let out a sharp gasp of air as the sword cut into her side, only narrowly avoiding her body but still went straight through her Mystic codes defences. She got lucky with the second one, swinging Ruby, she fire off a mana projectile at it. The blast knocking the sword off course and sending it flying through the air before it disappeared into gold motes of light.
"So, you can provide some entertainment after all." The chilling voice called out again, sneer on his face as he stared her down. "But we shall see if it is luck or mediocre skill which allows you to cling to life hybrid."
Illya felt tears forming in her eyes, her left hand instinctively clutching the cut on her side as she held Ruby out in front of her in a protective fashion.
"Illya-chan! We have to get away! This servant is too ridiculous! He's firing Noble Phantasms!"
"E-eh!?" Illya gasped in shock "B-but what about Miyu!" she turned her attention to her friend, the girl had been doing only a slightly better job at dealing with the projectiles, although Illya suspected that the only thing keeping her alive was the fact that the Servant wanted her for something.
He'd fired fewer weapons at Miyu. Something the girl understood as she sprinted over to Illya and slid to a stop in front of her, Mana shining beneath her feet "Stay behind me Illya." Miyu stated, a determined voice.
"Hoh?" The golden servant raised an eyebrow, then smiled "I see. You use your value as a shield to protect the hybrid behind you. How amusing." his quiet laugh filled the silence. He abruptly stopped, then stared down at the pair "However…" his red eyes shone with mirth "What makes you assume that I need you in one piece?"
That was the only warning they received.
Then the sky split open, dozens more golden portals emerged behind him, weapons of all designs poked through and aimed towards the pair. The amused smile never leaving the Servants face as he stared at the pair "Now then. Mongrels." he raised his hand, fingers held in a snapping pose "Show me your truth worth."
A snap.
Illya instinctively through up her shield again, Miyu performing a similar feat. The transparent barrier forming around the pair as the first projectiles slammed into it. The first few bounced off without doing any damaged, then the next few began to form cracks in the barrier. Illya and Miyu grit their teeth as the strain to uphold the barrier continued.
"Ruby! Channel everything you can into the shield!" Illya cried out.
"Yes!" Was Ruby's desperate reply, Miyu and Sapphire doing something similar. The cracks were briefly repaired before they began forming again.
Illya was more confused however, the first attack had shattered her barrier like it was nothing. And the speed these swords were travelling at was visibly slower than before, they also held a smaller presence. They weren't as powerful as the previous ones. Illya racked her brain for an explanation.
Then it came to one.
He was going easy on purpose. He was toying with the pair.
Illya slumped her shoulders, eyes glazing over. All the work she had put into being a magical girl, all the trials with the class cards.
She was trying her hardest to survive this encounter, to survive and beat this guy and then save Sakura.
And the whole time, the servant was treating this as if it were a game. He was after entertainment. She realised. That was what he found amusing, her struggles, her desperate desire to survive were all just one big joke to him.
Rage flooded her system.
"Ta-…" She grit her teeth, mana being forced into Ruby at an incredible rate. Miyu widened her eyes as she saw the barrier get weaker, turning to Illya she quickly understood why. She was going to throw everything she had at the servant.
"Illya! Don-" Miyu cried out too late, the shield shattered like glass, the swords accelerated towards them at the same time Illya swung Ruby like a club, the ball of luminescent magical energy trailing behind her.
"Take this!" Illya cried out as she threw the ball forwards, the swords being blasted aside by the projectile as it raced towards the golden ship.
What did the Servant do in response to this attack?
With an almost lazy wave of his hand, a portal opened up in front of him. From it emerged an ornate shield which took on the full force of Illya's attack.
Shining like a star, the light eclipsed Illya's vision as she covered her eyes to look away. Miyu doing the same, then the explosion came. The shockwave blasting the pair back and sending Illya careening through the sky.
Miyu had a tougher time getting control before she pointed Sapphire out in front of her "Sapphire make a platform!"
"Yes." The Kaleidostick replied, Miyu crashed into the transparent sheet of magical energy with a grunt, rubbing her head as she snapped her attention to the direction of the Servant. The cloud of dust released by the explosion still obscuring the target from vision.
Illya flipped through the air several times before coming to a stop, releasing a gasp of air as she felt her sore body catch up to her.
"Illya-chan! Are you alright!?" Ruby's panicked cry brought her back to the situation.
"I-I'm...Ruby…" Illya panted out "I'm...Why am I…"
"You used up an extraordinary amount of magical energy!" Ruby replied "You used more than your body could take, I'm trying to get you back up to-"
"T-the servant…" Illya looked up, the cloud already beginning to disappear "Is he…" her eyes went wide as the smoke from the explosion drifted away in the wind, to reveal the shield that the Servant had pulled out still intact.
Save for a single dent in it.
The shield disappeared in a flurry of golden motes of light. The expression on the servants face could best be described as one of absolute fury. Illya felt the killing intent directed at her intensify to such a level she felt her limbs seize up.
"You…" He hissed out the word. Slowly rising from his throne. "To raise your hand against a King is crime enough." he went on in a deceptively calm tone, not that it fooled her. The sheer rage burning in his red eyes told her that much "To damage his treasures even more so."
More portals opened up behind him "If you wish for an execution at a Kings hand. Then I shall oblige."
He raised his hand. Illya was going to die. She knew she was. There was nothing she could do. She was going to-
"Ho?" The Servant paused. He was no longer looking at Illya. Instead his gaze was directed at something to the ground beneath her "It seems as though another criminal has emerged." he clicked his tongue "This isn't the one I wish to punish...but perhaps his death shall provide me with some modicum of entertainment." he sighed out, firing a single spear at ground level.
Illya was curious as to what he fired at.
Then a horrified shriek cut through the streets and Illya felt her blood turn to ice.
"SHIROU!"
(Earlier)
"Lets go." Irisviel led the group outside, the rag tag band of homunculus, a single human child and a manifested class card wandered onto the streets. Irisviel paused "Now then...If I remember correctly…" she pointed in a direction "The Matou house was this way!"
"-et my hands on her-...eh?" Another voice had the group look at the mansion opposite their house, a rather flustered Luvia Edelfet emerged from beyond the gates, then paused when she stared at the small audience "Eh?" her eyes fell on Shirou and she immediately choked, straightening out her posture "Sherou! What a surprise!"
Said boy blinked at her "Luvia? What are you doing out here?"
"Miyu." Luvia sighed "She's gone off on her own without telling me." she crossed her arms, looking the group over "What about you?"
"Illya went off to Zouken." Shirou replied with a frown "If Miyu is missing as well…"
"She probably went to either help Illya or stop her." Chloe interjected with a shrug "If I had money, mine would be on the latter."
"That girl." Luvia growled, then pinched the bridge of her nose "I told her not to get involved, this is a Tohsaka matter."
"We're going to go get her." Shirou stepped forwards, gesturing a thumb at the group "Wanna come? If Miyu is with her, then I'm sure we'll find her."
"...Shirou." Irisviel stepped forwards, strained expression on her face as she placed a hand on his shoulder "...This is a terrible time to bring a girl on a date."
"…"
"…"
"...Wha-"
"WHAT!?" Luvia recoiled, furiously blushing "A-a-a date!? This isn't a date this is just a joining of allies in a mutual goal!" she denied, then looked away, chewing on her thumb.
"Like Luvia said." Shirou stared at Irisviel as if she said something stupid "This is just to get Illya back, besides." he huffed shaking his head and making his way up the street "Who would date me?"
The group stared at his back, then Irisviel turned to Luvia with an expression of sympathy "...You're going to have to work hard."
"...I know." Luvia slumped her shoulders.
The group continued their walk up the street, then heard a distant boom. Shirou frowned, as did everyone else.
"What was that?" He asked to no one, then several more booms echoed out throughout the street, Shirou picked up his pace sprinting in the direction of the Matou house.
Almost barrelling into a woman walking around the corner. Shirou slid to a stop just in front of her.
She tensed her body, then realised he was just a random person.
"Sorry." Shirou instinctively apologised "I wasn't looking where I was going."
"Its fine." The woman replied in a curt tone. "I was not injured." another boom went off, causing both of them to look in the direction of the sound. "Perhaps it would be best for you to head home."
"Can't." Shirou replied "Got to find my sister."
"I see." She nodded, then moved past him "I wish you lu-"
"Sherou! Slow dow-" Luvia called out behind him, then slid a stop, her eyes wide as she saw the person standing directly next to him. The others quickly rounding the corner and noticing the Mexican stand-off.
The Woman tensed, eyes narrowed as she observed the group, eyes trailing over them before eventually falling on Chloe. Then narrowing in recognition, she looked back at Luvia "I am here for the Class Cards." she stated, slipping a pair of gloves on "Relinquish them to me."
Luvia frowned "I think not. The mission has already been passed over to the Edelfet family."
"Irrelevant." Bazette countered "The McRemitz family was charged with their collection." she titled her body, assuming a stance "I shall assume you are going to deny me."
"I am." Luvia replied, assuming a stance of her own.
"Unfortunate." Her eyes went over to Chloe "If you relinquish the Card to me, you shall be uninjured."
"Can't." Chloe replied with a smirk, projecting the black and white blades "I'm attached to it right now."
"I see." Her gloves glowed, pulling back her body and preparing to shoot forwards.
Then the sky lit up, followed by a deafening explosion, the group forgot their previous stand off, eyes all shooting towards the sky and where they caught a glimpse of a cloud of smoke in the air, the clear forms of Illya and Miyu.
"Illya!" Shirou cried out in relief when he saw her.
"What's going on!?" Luvia shouted "What are they doing!?"
"Chloe!?" That remark came from Irisviel, Shirou turned to see the girl was paling rapidly.
"T-that…" She back up, staring at the cloud of smoke in the sky as it dissipated. "That...thats a…"
"What...is that?" Luvia spoke up, sounding perplexed and slightly afraid, Shirou's eyes went back to the sky where he now saw.
A spaceship?
Was that a spaceship he saw? It certainly looked like one, golden with glowing birdlike wings jutting from the side and…
He made eye contact. There was a person standing on it, golden armour and blonde haired. They made eye contact at an impossible distance. A glowing disk opened up next to the man.
Shirou's senses flared danger.
"...Eh?" Something thudded into his chest. He staggered back, it hit him with enough force that he should have been knocked down. But he wasn't. He frowned, he could feel his legs go slack, yet he hadn't hit the ground yet.
That was weird. There was a tingling sensation in his chest where he had been hit, his eyes trailed away from the man and down.
"Oh...that makes sense…" Was the thing he dumbly muttered. Because to him, in that moment, it did make sense. He should have fallen over, but it made sense why he hadn't.
The spear that had penetrated his body was also implanted in the street, keeping him from falling over.
There was a silence. The entire group stared in shock at the spectacle of Shirou being impaled and only being kept from hitting the ground by the spear in his body.
Shirou felt a substance rise up his throat, he let out a gurgling cough as blood flew from between his teeth and trickled down his chin.
"S...S…" Irisviel walked forwards, eyes wide until she was nearly right next to him "SHIROU!" was her almost desperate wail as she fretted over the boy, afraid to even touch him as she had no idea what she could even do "Y-you-you're going to be alright!" she held his head in her hands "You're going to be alright! Do-don't try to move! Don't close your eyes either!" she turned his head and stared into his amber orbs. "You'll be alright!"
"ONII-CHAN!" Illya's desperate wail came next as she crashed into the ground in front of him, staring at him in horror. Miyu was next, the girl pale as a sheet, expression filled with horror.
"...Well…" Another voice called out, motes of light coalesced into the form of a man, clad in golden armour, perched atop a street lamp "...That was most disappointing." he sighed "It seems I had too high a hopes for him." he clicked his tongue "A pity that this one knew to die when the King demands it."
"Identify yourself." Bazette stepped in front of the groups, gloves still glowing and eyes narrowed.
"I see no need to introduce myself to Mongrels." The man scoffed, portals opening over his shoulder "I had hoped that the Faker would provide some form of entertainment as he died...but he was worthless." his eyes flickered over to Chloe, the girl froze "Ho? Another Faker?" he raised his hand "Begone."
Before he could snap his fingers, he jumped up, Miyu shooting past him with the appearance of the Saber card, Excalibur in her hands with a blank expression on her face.
The Servant hit the ground, expression set in a scowl as he fixed his gaze upon Miyu "...Fool. I belong upon the heavens. Yet you would dare to have me trod upon the same dirt as you?" he narrowed his eyes, snapping his fingers as dozens of portals opened up behind him "Your usefulness will only afford you so much patience." then his eyes turned towards the others, still staring at Shirous impaled body "...These mongrels however."
He snapped his fingers.
Chloe leapt out in front, projecting Rho Aias in front of everyone as the servant released a wave of swords, the weapons clattering off the pink shield. Chloe winced as more blades shattered on the shield, however the pink shield cracked under the pressure.
Miyu went to strike then the Servant spoke again "Raise your hand against me, and I shall cease holding back." red eyes flicked to her "I do this for amusement, should your insolence continue, I shall consider it a form of pest control."
Miyu froze.
Shirou blinked his eyes, he was tired. Very tired. The pain in his chest was burning, he couldn't hear anything. Irisviel was in his face, tears streaming down her cheeks as she stared into his eyes.
He didn't know what was going on. His vision blurred as he trailed his head around, Chloe was in front of them with a pink flower like shield. Beyond it was the golden man.
His eyes trailed around until he saw Illya. She was alright…
No...She was hurt.
He could see dried blood on her clothes and a nasty cut on her side.
Ah...He couldn't protect her. He wasn't there when she needed him most.
He was going to die...So was everyone else. That Golden man was going to kill everyone and he wouldn't be able to do anything to stop it.
Wait…
His numb hands grasped something in his pocket, pulling it out feebly and holding it in front of him. The Class Card.
He'd grabbed it on a whim, something about it telling him that their goals aligned.
Illya would die if he didn't do something. He'd die if he fought the golden man.
But...He'd protect Illya.
"In-" He coughed out more blood, Irisviel recoiled, then noticed the card in his hands, her eyes went wide "In...stall." he whispered out.
Then his world was consumed with light.
Gilgamesh stared at the mob in front of him with a disinterested gaze. He'd been expecting something from the Faker, at least a certain level of competence to ensure that the justice he inflicted would leave him with more satisfaction. As it was, it felt no different to cutting down sheep.
How dull.
His eyes kept flicking to the Grails Vessel, her incorporation of the Saber card was unexpected. But her attachment to these Mongrels prevented her from acting, the second she did he would level the entire neighbourhood with but a thought. That was the one thing keeping her in place.
She'd eventually realise she could just surrender to him.
The second Faker was more amusing, likely a doll using the class card of that servant. She bore a resemblance to the others…
Hoh? He narrowed his eyes, there was a disturbance of mana. Then a flash of light from behind the doll.
Gilgamesh dropped the portals at the same time the doll dropped the shield. Something flickered through his eyes.
"To think you would persist." He mused "You truly are a hardy mongrel."
Shirou stepped forwards, ripping the spear from his body and throwing it away. Steam hissed where the wound closed shut. He marched forwards with purpose, the slab sword in his right hand resting on his shoulder, despite its impossible size.
He stood protectively in front of Illya. His entire appearance having changed, a metal skirt around his waist, his chest exposed and entire body glowing a subtle red hue.
"O-onii-chan?" Illya whispered behind him in surprise "N-no! Run away Onii-chan!" she pleaded, Shirou wouldn't listen.
Illya was in danger from this man.
"Illya. Stay behind me." Shirou cut off her desperate pleas, then stared at the servant with a scowl "I won't let you hurt Illya."
"Hmph." The man replied with a scoff, crossing his arms and looking more amused at the situation than threatened.
"N-no! Onii-chan! He's a Servant! You can-"
"Quiet doll." The man cut her off, still staring at Shirou, something in his eyes "You have heard his declaration. What will you do Faker? I fully intend to end the girls life."
"I'll stop you."
"Fwhahahahah!" The man threw back his head and laughed "I see! Then perhaps you have something in common with him after all!" he stopped laughing, amused smile still on his face "Come then, Faker!" dozens of golden portals opened up behind him "Your execution might relieve a little of my boredom!" he smirked "If you wish to imitate the power of a Heroic Spirit! Then I will show you the strength of the genuine article!"
Shirou released a roar and kicked off the ground, charging the golden servant.
AN: Annnd we'll cut it off there.
Gotta love those cliffhangers.
Really though I am spoiling you.
But yeah...Perhaps Miyu using the Saber card wasn't the best of ideas. Considering which Berserker is approaching them.
