"- so that's just about why it's referred to as the Founding, even though obviously to outsiders the Einzbern hasn't changed much since the, centuries ago now, great exodus of human magi. I'd tell you why that happened if we knew, but I don't since the last holdouts destroyed their records fairly completely.''
"Hmm, not really the most conventional story but I guess that's part of working with non-fiction,'' Nursery Rhyme was recording Gudao's summary retelling of the Founding Conflict. "Though I must add that, generally speaking, you hardly expect some sort of carefully thought-out long-running scheme to actually recover or obtain a True Magic. Out of all the records of such things, people don't get there using those means.''
"That's what Anaz said too,'' Gudako hopped into the conversation as they were going though the next floor of the tower. Though it was slow going, the process was not hard, at least. "In any case, if the claims about having lost it are true, they clearly didn't do anything serious enough with it. Like say: making sure they wouldn't lose it.''
"On the other hand, you have the holder of the Second Magic who uses it to: make magical girls. Unless there's something more to that affair,'' Chloe grumbled, feeling a little bored. The group had tasked Martha to clear rooms one by one, as everyone else maintained a close formation and covered the Ruler's back to avoid ambushes.
"Like I've said before, those Kaleidosticks are no normal wand,'' Scathach reminded her. "If anything, it's a pretty good implementation of obfuscation since Ruby can use some components of the Second Magic but even someone like Sasaku cannot get anything out of her.''
Gudao thought back to some of the related experiences of his mother. "Even with the Jeweled Sword blueprints we couldn't get it to work as specified.''
"Those are two separate things,'' Rhyme shrugged. "Blueprints don't tell you how to make the components, or the instruments needed to make the components, or the instruments needed to make the instruments and so on. Of course it wouldn't really enable you to construct one of those without having had to do all the previous work. Which is to say most of the research. A full set of documentation would allow you to just set about building.''
"Emiya did say it was more of a trick like the carrot on a stick trope,'' Gudao agreed. "But there's probably no real documentation on the process anyway, arguably as long as someone succeeds he can just hop over and take one from there.''
"Excuse me !'' Martha emerged from the last room on the floor with a very colorful figure in her iron grasp. "You might want to hear what he has to say.''
"Uh, that's not a great id-'' Rhyme was interrupted when the captured Mephistopheles pulled out what looked like a cartoon depiction of a bomb, complete with a clock-face timer and bright red cylinders of explosive.
"(Tick Tock B-
There was a sudden pause as a knife flew and hit the clock on the left side. The bomb promptly fell to pieces.
omb) !'' the Caster continued excitedly, but nevertheless nothing happened.
"Ah sorry, I instinctively killed your Noble Phantasm. Even though I doubt that it is strictly limited to that toy.'' Shiki remarked in a deadpan tone of non-apology while taking out another knife.
"Why yo-'' *crack* Mephistopeles started before his monologue was cut short by Martha reflexively snapping his neck.
"... couldn't you have disabled him?'' Gudao frowned, but it was clearly too late as the body started to break apart into loose spiritrons.
"He was just attacking you,'' Kiyohime pointed out. "But in any case we have the key needed to go up to the upper half of the tower without him, right?''
"Since there are six floors and we've cleared three, it stands to reason the focal point is on the fourth floor,'' Scathach continued into the room Martha had dragged the enemy Servant out of. "Shiki, you were right about us being early. There's been hardly anything serious, so far.''
"I would imagine they might do the obvious play of pulling all their forces back to defend the core,'' Gudako suggested soberly as their Ruler located the gate to the staircase up and unlocked it. Not long after that there was an ear-piercing shriek and the rustling sound of many spirits rushing towards the fourth floor.
"Fufu, did they finally take us seriously?'' Kiyohime abruptly rushed past Martha with her fan at the ready. Shrugging, everyone followed her up to find a wrecked fourth floor. A number of the walls had collapsed, showing clearly where the layout of the structure's main pillars. Most importantly, though, was the large mass of congealing stuff in what Scathach placed as the middle of the entire floor space.
"Ah, Chaldea. Showing up unwanted and uninvited as usual,'' a figure safely screened from the group by a number of bodyguard ghosts sighed in exasperation, though the glowing red eyes that provided the only contrast to his own shadow-cloaked form showed no emotion.
"I'd tell you to give up but we both know that's not going to happen,'' Gudako quipped. "I'd assume you're a Heroic Spirit of some provenance, so you might want to rethink your choice of master when you get back to the Throne.''
"You'll have to work for that,'' was the unintimidated reply as the whatever it was in between the two of them abruptly began fountaining upwards.
"Shiki, if you'd be so kind,'' Gudao shrugged, guessing that they were to be attacked. In response, the Assassin drew and threw a single knife which, gleaming dully as it sliced though the shadow, pierced the approaching target a little to the right of center mass.
Nothing seemed to happen.
"Ah that's not a single entity,'' Shiki grimaced after using more energy to view their attacker more deeply. "More like a chaotic mess of many smaller spirits.''
"That's my cue then, right Master?'' Kiyohime hopped into the spotlight - no that was just the light coming off an eager bit of flame coming from her mouth.
The two Masters shared a look, and Gudako grinned and gave their opponent a taunting wink and used a Command Spell. "Ok Kiyohime, burn it with fire.''
"I hope that won't destroy the pillars,'' Chloe said nervously. "Reinforced concrete against fire, sure. But a Noble Phantasm is, well, a Noble Phantasm-level thing.''
"Ah, the Command was more to help her with control,'' Gudako revealed. "Though she had used up a good bit of magical energy with the other big ghost, which is what I assume this would become if there was more time.''
"Then, though it brings bad memories of liars: since you love grudges, take this, my (Dojo-ji Bell Form 108) !''
Nursery Rhyme blinked, her eyes reflecting the spectacle that was the proto-giant ghost being caught in a massive bell that radiated enough heat to make even a Servant sweat. "Of course she would have... that.''
"Can you hit that guy from here?'' Gudao asked Chloe quietly as a number of ghosts rushed up from either side and were countered in turn by Scathach and Rhyme using their separate magecrafts; even if the latter's looked like candies, cupcakes and the like, it was still effective.
"He started moving the moment Kiyohime made her move, probably using the bell as cover between us. In any case, I can't detect him now.'' However, Chloe had already taken out a couple of arrows and made ready for the moment the Berserker's attack ended.
*fwoosh*
The moment she could see clearly the Archer loosed an arrow that reached out to the enemy who had incautiously given away his position with the rather bright object in his hand.
"Wait, that's a Grail fragment,'' Martha pointed out as the target somehow dodged the projectile. Chloe had already adjusted and shot again, but this time they could all clearly see him casually flick to the side as though reality had abruptly stuttered for a moment. Chuckling as he hid the fragment under his cloak, the plotter quickly ducked behind a section of wall as a number of spirit-like wisps came out through it.
"These don't look as well-formed as before,'' Rhyme observed. "We have him on the back foot !''
"That should be a staircase up,'' Shiki recalled. "Do you know what is further above?''
"I've never been past the third floor,'' Rhyme said. "The gate was locked if you recall.''
"There should at least have been another way up,'' the Assassin frowned. "But then again, the 'other half' of this building doesn't seem to be here.''
"What do you mean?'' Scathach asked. "I've been extending the Territory as we go, and there's a complete tower here.''
"Exactly, the one I knew had a hidden half section, but that's clearly not the case here. Or perhaps it has been renovated away from that setup.''
The fifth floor was obviously unfinished, with only the structural pillars spanning the bare concrete floor and ceiling; the latter was simply the slab that made up the sixth floor's floor.
A lone piece of furniture dominated the area. The massive, fire-blackened hardwood throne had a rich white cape draped over it, making it easy to see the outline of the dark figure gloomily presiding over her court of spirits. The courtier shades respectfully made a path as their liege stood up, drawing a massive black sword from its sheath as she did so.
Stepping forward slowly, not lagging but with dignified purpose, Boudica approached. Clearly there was no occasion for dialogue.
Raising a hand, Scathach brought forth a number of her spears made from the wood of the forest outside, flinging them at the oncoming Avenger with a small motion. As though it was their cue, ghosts up and down the line broke ranks to throw themselves on the missiles, which not being Noble Phantasms were able to destroy them but also lost their force. Not a single point made it to Boudica.
"Martha, back me up !'' Seizing the initiative, Shiki ran forward. In the same tempo, the Ruler followed the Assassin with her weapon's light blazing out through any that tried to interfere.
With her Mystic Eyes, Shiki could see a place through which she could end Boudica's weapon with a single strike. A little back from the edge, about a handslength from the tip. Even if Boudica did not know of her opponent's capabilities though, the simple act of deflecting thrown knives meant that this point was not pierced.
If I close in, perhaps I could settle for one of the lines, she thought. Certainly with Servant-level physical ability it was not an impossible task. Especially with Martha to help make a small opening.
"Clear the chaff,'' Gudako remarked to the other four Servants, who began blowing away ghosts. That said, a number of them started pulling out weapons so perhaps they weren't civilian spirits in the end.
Boudica's weapon was much larger than their original sword, being a full-sized two-handed weapon that she swung about with gusto, leaving no obvious openings. On encountering this wall of whirling sharp black steel, Shiki hurriedly retraced her steps behind Martha's staff which the wielder of was stepping up to the challenge.
Making use of the opportunities from her equipment combination of staff and Holy Knuckles, the Ruler thrust and struck at Boudica, less in order to score a hit on her opponent as to catch her blade between the head of her polearm and its side projections. The Avenger for her part was presumably targeting Martha's arm at least above the end of the gauntlet, which was quite hard going as there was so much wood and steel in front of it.
As the battle raged around them, Shiki kept trying to put some angular space between herself and Martha; this simple movement forced Boudica to eventually give ground in order to avoid being flanked as her belabored defender ghosts could not maintain their formation to her sides.
There was the briefest of moments where Martha stepped forward just a hair before Boudica could move back, the point of the sword was a little bit too far forward; with a quick twist of her wrists the Ruler trapped the weak of Boudica's grudge-laden weapon at the crosspiece of her holy polearm.
Quickly identifying a viable line, Shiki leapt in from the side and slashed, taking a good quarter off the end of the sword.
With a knowing smirk, Boudica, her weapon now freed from the lock, swung back - instantly slicing off Shiki's retreating hand with the false edge of her now slightly-shorter sword. The Assassin's hand, still holding her knife, dropped to the ground as the Avenger prepared to thrust her through with the newly cut but coincidentally very sharp tip of her weapon.
"Shiki, no !'' As Gudako watching this from her position in the rear prepared to use a Command Spell, this was interrupted as one of the ghosts, no it had a Servant-level signature, darted forward parrying the strike with a dagger from the side on the way.
Now if any of the Chaldeans could remember useful details about their previous encounters with Jack the Ripper, they might have recognized the dagger-wielding schoolgirl who had abruptly interposed herself into the battle as the Servant's first form that they encountered in the Industrial Revolution Singularity, on a misty London street. But they couldn't.
On the other hand, Boudica recognized the girl immediately. Not because she knew the Ripper, but rather the girl whose form the mysterious Assassin was using. "You're my dau-''
"Mommy !'' Jack exclaimed brightly while in the same instant thrusting Boudica through with a dagger that apparently pierced her torso armor with no appreciable resistance. The entire battle immediately froze in that second as Jack turned to Shiki, eyes glowing with excitement. "And you too are a mommy !''
Recoiling in confusion, the other Assassin instinctively raised her arm to defend but handless, it was only her arm that was available for the task.
"Return !''
Jack struck before Gudako could recover and use the recall Spell. Remembering in time what had happened to Rhyme, Shiki quickly covered her stomach with both arms and while Jack's blade went through both of them, it was not able to go further before Shiki was abruptly recalled backwards out of her reach. However, this meant that Shiki's right hand, now some distance from its owner, was lost and began breaking up.
Martha quickly changed targets, swinging her staff at Jack while simultaneously using footwork to pull back towards the main Chaldean group as it did not seem like Boudica would pose much of a direct threat at the moment. Backing her up, Chloe shot several arrows at Jack who, laughing, dodged them all, rolling under Martha's swings before deciding to escape for the moment.
"Curse you Chaldeans, what have you done?'' Boudica mumbled to no one in particular as her Spirit Origin faded away into a mist of bright and dark points which seemed to then go their separate ways.
"We didn't have anything to do with Jack though.'' Gudako retorted to the air.
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"Yes, it is possible to regenerate these things but the circumstances and my lack of familiarity with your Spirit Origin mean it isn't possible right now,'' Scathach had to break the news to Shiki.
"I'm impressed that your first response is `it's possible','' was the Assassin's oddly calm response. "Well, it seems I can probably use my other hand somehow? Odd, is that the case for all Servants?''
"Hadn't really thought about it,'' the Caster replied. "But probably; bar some specific reason why not.''
"Well some of these things aren't critical features, if you think about how many legends have people doing things like fighting until they literally bleed out and so on,'' Martha commented while examining her staff which had a deep gauge in it where she had trapped Boudica's blade. "What's really odd is how all those ghosts just disappeared when Boudica was defeated.''
"That suggests they were linked to her,'' Nursery Rhyme pointed out. "It isn't likely that they had moved in, since the tower wasn't properly `opened' for business by the time you arrived.''
"But she was here,'' Chloe frowned. "And past the locked gate, too. How did she get in if Jack had the key and seems prone to attack women in general? And actually did attack her just now, at that?''
"Wouldn't that be evidence for her being up here before Jack came along?'' Rhyme asked in turn. "I know she didn't come through after I arrived, but I haven't been here all that long, and didn't have the time to chat with Jack before you got up to my floor.''
"If you don't mind my asking, how come you weren't affected by this tower's function?'' Scathach asked without looking up from treating Shiki's wounds. "Of course you had your Territory, but something like that isn't trivial to set up either.''
"That might be because grudges are more of a human thing,'' Rhyme shrugged. "As Queen of the Land of Shadows, you should have enough of an outsider's perspective to know the World is essentially composed of stories.''
The Caster eyed Chloe for a moment. "The more powerful stories, long-told, are `legends' with all their rankings and local fame. Although the Mooncell explicitly runs various simulation cycles or loops, it might actually be able to maintain a version of the Throne because essentially the World System is doing the same thing.''
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(Back in Chaldea, da Vinci's Workshop)
"I think this one will work !'' the Rider exclaimed triumphantly, hopping off her chair and skating a lap around her Workshop. "Well, now it's up to Scathach's evaluation for this Ascension Plan.''
"It would be great if this one didn't miss any hidden variables,'' her assistant agreed, looking over the proposed procedure.
"At least Caster can tell us if we got it wrong, even though she can't explain how to do it right,'' Shirou shrugged, though the result was presumably of great personal interest to him, since it had to do with his own long-delayed Ascension. Or more specifically Sakura's since she was the critical portion of their Spirit Origin.
"Ok, now that's done, let's go get something to eat since we can't work on the sensors either while they're Rayshifted out,'' da Vinci started making her way over to the door, quickly followed by the Alter Ego.
"Hmm, oh yes that reminds me: Heroine X's ship had trashed comms, but the emergency broadcast system she mentioned still works. In fact, that might be the better of the two to be able to salvage.''
"How so?''
"It broadcasts on a set of fixed emergency channels, right? Every Chaldea that has one of these will presumably all be keyed in to these channels. Obviously, no one on this side will be using them for spaceship SOSes, so as long as we can get usefully tweak the message payload instead of transmitting only the canned distress signals, we can make follow-up arrangements.''
"I see you have a good mind for this,'' the Rider said thoughtfully, though she either had enough presence of mind or simple Riding Skill to avoid an oncoming cat.
"Making do is one of the first needs of war,'' Shirou chuckled, in a more knowing than amused manner. "By the way, I noticed the only other case whose Ascension has as much documentation is Sasaku's,'' he commented casually as the pair walked towards the cafeteria. "Was that from the Masters?''
"Mhm.'' She had been expecting him to notice that immediately. "Like you, she was quite different from what who we were expecting, oh and also the other Rulers freaked out a bit when they realized she was the one who had the Command Spells. Not like those necessarily let her just take control or, well, command at all. Anyway, she was probably a little too blase about the whole changing affair, but apparently she's just like that?''
"Because of the, uh, `events' in the Roman Singularity right?''
"res Publica. And basically no, though it isn't by any means a bad guess. We basically weren't sure what would happen during the Ascension. I said `we' but actually now that I think of it, the Masters kept quiet on that at the time. But anyway, hehe, we managed to pull one over on Ruby et al, so to speak.''
"She didn't seem that different when transformed, though?'' Shirou asked quizzically.
"That's exactly our success. However, she is a little different, actually; or at least we're pretty sure she is. If there was a pitfall, we avoided it, good enough. That's the reason there was a procedure, Scathach kept nixing a number of planned Ascensions, which wasn't the case with the other Servants. Since it takes her a while to digest each one and then determine if it will be `good' or not, we can go much faster by doing some data analysis on each failure.''
"But normal humans just need a wand, right? Or homunculi, since Chloe is one.''
da Vinci took a bit longer to unpack the question. "Is this about Iri somehow? She's the only one I can think of that you could be thinking of.''
"Well, you know how it is, she got the short stick in terms of not being able to pick up her mother's Magecraft. I mean she has access to everything in the Four Houses but you know what this sounds really stupid now that I'm trying to explain it.''
"Eeh, it's not hard to understand where you're coming from, but I'd recommend against thinking of the Kaleidosticks. And I can see what you're asking now and it's highly unlikely that anyone can just study Magical Girl-class Magecraft.''
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Notes:
The (Magical Girl) Skill was mentioned in here in AA Chapter 10 (Welcome to Chaldea). There's also a discussion about Ruby being a Skill (as in FGO) that "applies random effects'' (a play on that sort of unhelpful Skill description) back in Chapter 2.