Chapter 6: Ambush
"Ascending the Angelica Cage from the bottom is quite the ride."
Saber was taking a bath in the giant bathroom inside the elevator. She cupped some rose-scented water in her hands and rubbed her arms softly.
"Well, that's true." Rin responded, also naked in the bath. "The sky of SE RA PH is like an ocean."
She had intruded into their vicinity sometime after the Christmas incident, looking for a place to stay. Apparently her hoverbike ran out of fuel. Although Emu was sceptical of her intentions, Takeru was more than happy to let her stay to repay her for helping them out on the lower floor.
"Speaking of which, Maestro, do you not wish to join us in the bath?"
Emu was sitting outside on a couch. As a matter of fact he did not want to go into the bath with them. Partially because there were two naked women inside the bath already (which was terrifying), and partially because he had a lot of thinking to do.
Takeru had explained in detail what happened with Drake inside the Eyecon, and thus the words that Drake delivered to Emu gained more context.
You shouldn't lose yourself as you ascend. Otherwise, you will end up like Shinji.
He already knew that, the way he was going, he was not going to end up like Shinji. No.
He would have actually preferred to end up like Shinji. After all, even though he was a coward, there was reason behind his actions. Whereas him…
I've been thinking about nothing but hate and revenge. I have killed without remorse. Slaughtered without a single thought behind it. Massacred without reason.
He looked at his hands.
In the end, nothing has changed. Even revenge on the one who killed me… That wasn't enough.
How deep was this hatred of his? What would satiate it? He knew instinctively what he wanted. No. What they wanted.
Can I call myself human anymore?
"What are you worrying about?"
Saber's voice resonated from the door of the bath. Emu turned and saw that she had nothing but a single ribbon on covering her more private parts. This was enough to snap Emu out of his introspection. He quickly averted his eyes.
"There she goes again…" he muttered.
She ignored him.
"Self-desire, ego, lust… Indeed, humans fight for those three things. Those reasons alone are of no relevance for my judgement towards them. Because of how good it feels, they insist of granting them. However," she turned to Emu. "Because you are unsure of your desire and how to satiate it…"
She spun round and lifted her hand in the air.
"We shall satisfy it by climbing this ocean!" she proclaimed.
Emu nodded in agreement. "That's sounds right. You can start by putting some clothes on."
"Very well, then." Saber lowered her hand and went off to change.
Takeru came out from another room.
"What was that about?" he asked.
"Nothing." Emu responded. He was grateful that Takeru wasn't there to see her naked.
The elevator landed in an abandoned building, this time something that would not be out of place in the British countryside. From far away, Dan Blackmore sat with his rifle in his hand. He raised his head.
"Finally, someone arrives on this floor."
He stood up, gun in hand.
"Now, let us start the Holy Grail War. We'll defeat the enemy so I can ascend to the third Stratum."
A shadowy figure emerged from the shadows.
"Another battle again? Even if there's only a few participants and SE RA PH is torn apart, not to mention the unknown whereabouts of the Holy Grail?"
"Of course, Archer." Dan replied, opening the breech of his rifle.
"I care little about the Holy Grail."
He aimed the rifle at Archer, testing the scope. Satisfied, he reached towards a table of bullets and picked one up.
"I descend to the moon only to fight and win."
He loaded the bullets one by one into the chamber of the rifle.
"Because of that, I left my hometown to fight marvellous enemies, to experience marvellous battles, and to achieve marvellous glory. For those are my desires."
He closed the bolt of the rifle.
"For those desires alone, I kept living until now."
Archer, now fully emerged, had a bothered look on his face.
"Now," Blackmore continued. "I welcome you, young Wizard. This time, be the formidable foe, able to satisfy my heart."
The trio of Emu, Saber and Takeru emerged from the broken doors of the building. They were on a terrace of an abandoned mansion overlooking a dense forest that stretched out in all directions.
"It seems that we have arrived." Saber noted. "Apparently, this is not the SE RA PH I know. The rules of the Holy Grial War is void, and the glory of battle is no more. Nonetheless, our purpose has not changed."
Emu understood.
"We need to seek the Master, and then…" Emu started. A lump formed in his throat as he finished the sentence.
"…take him down."
Saber nodded his head.
Takeru peered down to the forest below them.
"Nothing but trees, huh?" he said.
"Umu. This place already looks like ruins, does it not?" Saber responded.
Blackmore peered through the scope of his rifle. He noticed that there were two humans in addition to the Servant. Were they both Masters?
He gripped the rifle tighter.
I shall take them both down together.
Then, he pulled the trigger. The bells of the Clock Tower chimed.
Before Emu realised it, Saber reacted very quickly. She shoved Emu aside and used her sword to deflect a bullet that was heading straight for his head. The bullet landed on the ground.
"A sniper? Maestro, watch your head!"
Emu looked around to find the source of the bullet.
Saber had to lift her sword to block the bullet, so it must be coming from a high location. That means…
He saw the Clock Tower and realised.
From there!
Takeru materialised his sword as well and, thanks to his heightened reflexes, managed to block a bullet heading for his head as well. It ricochet and hit the terrace walls.
"We're done for if we stay here!" Emu shouted. "We need to jump! Split up!"
Saber nodded, and so did Takeru. Saber took Emu's hand and leaped off the Terrace.
Just as Takeru was about to jump as well, a bullet hit him in the right leg. Blood spurted out of the open wound. He yelped out in pain and mistimed his jump, falling downwards into the canopy of the trees.
"Takeru!" Emu cried just as he entered the dense cover of foliage.
The bullet shells landed on the floor.
"As expected for them to jump." Blackmore said. "From the terrace to the forest. That's right, because there's no other way. Well, I took one out of commission, so that's fine."
He turned to Archer
"That means it's your turn, Archer. Don't be nervous. Go all out."
"Roger that." Archer responded, putting the hood over his head. As soon as he finished, he vanished. He walked out of the tower, his footsteps leaving clouds of dust as he walked.
Emu and Saber were wandering the woods searching for Takeru. They couldn't see where he had landed, and Emu was worried that Takeru may be vulnerable to attack.
"There's no mistake, the shooter was aiming at you. He is our enemy." Saber said.
"For a surpise attack, the shooter surprisingly intended to take your life with one shot."
"Yes." Emu agreed. He had a feeling that the sniper wanted to end things quickly. As he did. "I saw where the bullet came from." He turned to the Clock Tower, visible through the foliage.
"It had to come from there."
"Umu. He's in that Tower. That aside, Maestro,"
Saber then turned around.
"You were able to guess the location of the shooter in such short a time?"
Emu nodded his head. It looks like all that time playing shooting games did help after all.
"Umu, umu! I'm proud of you, Maestro! Such a talent is deserved for someone who wishes to achieve their desires!"
Emu paused. Is it really? He hoped that his talent wouldn't be used for killing again.
"Thank you." Emu responded.
"Hm? No need to keep thanking me. In fact, including just now, you always show your gratitude so easily."
Emu was confused. Isn't that what you're supposed to do when praised?
"Right. I apologise."
The two kept walking.
"Saber."
Saber turned around again to him.
"Ever since the bottom floor, I haven't said something I wanted to say."
Saber smiled.
"I know this isn't the right time, but it is something that has to be said."
Emu then took a breath.
"Thank you. Because of you, I'm still alive."
"Umu!" Saber responded gratefully. "Keep praising me! I feel delightful to see you smile."
Hmm? Emu wondered.
They started walking once again.
"You always look so miserable. I am delightful to be able to hear your gratitude sincerely. We can't keep thinking about battles and killings."
She raised her hands again.
"No matter how high your position, no matter how quiet this place, show no arrogance. By not forgetting the beauty of flowers, by not forgetting the beauty of melodies, by not forgetting gratitude, then, by not forgetting the blooming pride in your heart."
She took a breath.
"No matter how strong you are, no matter what you obtain, no matter how long you have been here,"
She stopped and spun around, immersed in her speech.
"By not forgetting your heart that loves flowers, by not forgetting the prosperousness of melodies, by not forgetting the feeling of gratitude you build for your own,"
How long is this going to go on? Your friend is injured. Shouldn't you be a bit more hasteful-
Shut up. Let her speak.
"Moreover," Saber stroked Emu's face. "by not forgetting the feeling of self-reminder to never lose to anyone,"
She paused, then turned to Emu once again.
"I wish for those feelings to stay. I wish to live like that. No,"
She stopped again.
"I am grateful for being able to have been living like that." She finished with a smile.
Emu didn't know what to say.
Suddenly, Saber's smile vanished. She turned with a disgruntled look on her face.
"Saber?" Emu inquired.
"My, how rude!"
She materialised her sword.
"How rude of you for ruining my beautiful moment with Maestro!"
A voice responded from above.
"Pardon the intrusion."
The forest darkened and began to fill with a purple smoke, engulfing both Saber and Emu.
"However, because we're both Servants, it's more preferable if we kill each other than to have a conversation, is it not?"
Emu looked around rapidly, trying to find the source of the voice. However, he could not see anyone.
Saber sensed multiple arrows flying in her direction. She lifted her sword and deflected them.
"Try not to inhale the smoke, Maestro!" Saber warned. "It's poison!"
Emu had picked up on this a while ago, as he felt the gas burn his lungs. He was covering his mouth desperately trying to hold in his breath. Then, he felt the voices in his head speak again, controlling his movements. It lifted his hands and opened up a virtual console.
Code Cast – Poison Immunity
Emu could not understand why they would be helping him like this. Then he realised. They wanted him to continue, to complete their revenge. Though he was wary of their assistance, Emu understood that he was in no position to complain.
The pain in his lungs eased, and he breathed normally.
"Despite how motivated the Servant is to fight, the Master doesn't seem to be ready."
What?
How could he know?
Emu backed up slowly, hitting a tree.
"I get it. Now I do. Why? Because we have something in common."
A snake fell from the tree, dead. Its flesh dissolved before Emu's eyes, leaving only its skeleton, which also dissolved in the mist. Emu saw the danger of the poison, and was grateful that he could cast Poison Immunity.
"You're kind of a pessimist, aren't you? Your face proves it. If you can't do it, you'll only accept your fate."
No. I'm not a pessimist. At least, I'm not supposed to be.
"You're wrong." Emu muttered. Then he looked down and saw the grass on the ground dissolve as well.
"You don't care about the Holy Grail, do you?" The voice asked mockingly. "Or, perhaps, you don't want it?
Emu paused.
"You know that if your desire is granted, you will never forgive yourself. You are too kind to prey on those around you. You don't have the ego to do so as well."
"Shut up, you wanker!" Saber shouted, planting her sword on the barren ground.
"Real warriors fight not with their mouth, but with their swords face to face!"
The voice ignored her.
"You're actually scared. You want to run away, abandoning all hope. You don't care with the end result. Won't you feel relieved more quickly that way?"
Then, Emu caught on to where the voice came from. He turned his head. Saber also anticipated a new hail of arrows and blocked them with her sword, bolting from her spot and rolling to avoid the arrows.
"A camouflage Noble Phantasm…"
"Correct" The voice said. "However, my body isn't the only thing you can't see."
The arrows.
Saber was able to block them because of her heightened reflexes. However, as he is, he would not be able to dodge them.
I need to transform.
He ran.
He heard the arrows hitting the ground beneath him as he ran. He took out his driver. Suddenly, his leg caught on something and brought Emu down, causing him to drop his driver. He looked at his legs. Red sigils were encasing his foot, keeping him in place.
A bear trap!
"Maestro!" Saber ran towards where Emu had fallen. He heard more arrows being fired. Saber turned around to block the arrows with her sword, but she felt one embed into her chest. She recoiled from the impact and staggered back.
The voice whooped. "I'm laughing how perfectly according to plan things have been!"
"It is too troublesome to have this arrow in my line of sight." Saber said. She pulled out the arrow out of her chest. Blood spurted from the entry point, and Saber flinched.
"This arrow gives me no pain." She declared. "Considering how much of a coward its owner is!"
"Is that so?"
Suddenly, she felt weak in her legs. She fell to her knees, clutching the sword for support.
"Aha. I was wondering how much longer it would take for it to act."
"Damn it, the arrow's poisoned? How much more cowardly can you get?"
The voice laughed.
"Enough to win this fight! Now, I shall turn you into a hedgehog!"
And with that, he levelled his crossbow and fired at Saber. She tried to raise her sword to block, but she was too weak to even lift her arms.
Emu closed his eyes.
Forgive me, Takeru. Looks like I can't get to you in time.
Suddenly Ghost, transformed into a form with a red and black Damashii and a hood shaped pirate's hat, rushed in and blocked the arrows with his Gan Gan Saber, deflecting them just in time.
"Takeru-dono!" Saber exclaimed. Emu couldn't believe his eyes.
Ghost split the sword into two guns and fired upwards at the trees. The leaves and branches fell down like rain on Ghost and Saber, and a cloud of dust erupted from the ground.
When the dust settled, Ghost held his stance for a moment. There was silence. Emu wondered if Ghost managed to kill the enemy Servant. Then, he fell on his left knee and detransformed. His right leg was still bleeding from the bullet, blood oozing from the wound.
"Too slow. You missed." The voice said. "We're in the endgame now."
He fired again.
"Saber!" Emu yelled. He knew she was too weak to do anything now. What could he do?
Then, he heard them again.
Not here. Not here. Give her strength.
As if by instinct, he raised his hand. The Command seal on his arm flared, and a third of it vanished.
Saber's sword flared with fire. She got up onto her two feet, and, with a yell, swung the sword in a circle. The sword exploded, and a pillar of fire erupted from the ground, incinerating all the trees in the vicinity.
When the fire settled, Saber was standing in the middle of charred stumps 20 metres in diameter, panting. Emu was unaffected, and so was Takeru. But would it be enough?
"Oy, checkmate."
They looked up. Another hail of arrows were coming towards them from a distance. Saber tried to lift her sword again, but she let it slip from her grasp.
It's over. Emu thought.
Suddenly, the arrows exploded in the sky, creating fireballs. Archer, now visible, flew backwards from the explosion.
"What the hell?"
He backflipped and landed on the ground.
Saber mustered a final bit of effort and, picking up her sword, leapt at Archer and struck downwards. He jumped backwards and landed on a tree.
Now that he was visible, the three could take a good look at him. He had orange hair and a green cloak, and his appearance was very medieval and green. On his arm was a crossbow.
Takeru couldn't believe his eyes.
"That outfit… it can't be…"
Archer jumped away, retreating for the time being. Saber breathed a sigh of relief. So did Emu.
"Excuse me,"
This time, it was a girl's voice.
Emu turned around.
Standing on the root of an unburnt tree was an Indian girl with purple hair wearing a hat. She was also wearing a white shirt and a dark purple blazer with gold decals. Around her neck was a green sash with a purple gem.
"It looks like you three require assistance." She said.