What's up, everyone! This is GKC here bringing you the next chapter to Dissidia/Apocrypha.
Now for the disclaimer: I do not own, except my OC, the Fate series or the Final Fantasy series. All rights belong to their respective owners.
Now let's get this party started… BEGIN!
Dissidia/Apocrypha
Chapter 2: To Be A Hero
[Millennia Castle] (Before Ruler's attempted assassination)
There are many things that Lightning never considered doing in her second chance of life. She never considered being part of a grand bloodsport. She never thought she'd be used as a sex toy by a deranged witch that was her 'Master'. And she especially didn't think she would be watching over a half-dead homunculus child that couldn't even stand on his own two feet.
She remembered how she found him. The rosette had returned from her patrol only to be taken by her bitch of a Master to be used for her… urges. After she was done, Lightning left the disgusting presence of the insane Celenike as she stormed past a few wandering guards every once and a while until she came upon the pitiful form of a half-naked child who was far too thin to be able to walk straight. When she approached him, the boy gave her the most pitiful look on his face that struck at her heartstrings and asked her…
"Help me… please…"
A memory of another child that Lightning had grown fond of came back to her. The homunculus child was replaced by a boy with silver hair, greenish-blue eyes, and a youthful disposition that made him seem younger despite his age.
"Hope…" She said under her breath before making the decision to help the homunculus.
Lightning carried the boy on her shoulder, avoiding contact from the guards as well as the other Masters. While she had experience in healing magic, there was no doubt in her mind that Celenike would call upon her once more for another asinine 'play session'. So, she decided to seek assistance from one of her fellow Servants…
...she just had to pick the guy that sucked at conversation.
Archer of Black, Vincent Valentine, was checking over the homunculus, who slept on his bed, with a stoic gaze. Despite his Class, he also possessed knowledge on how to perform magic. Though he was given more freedom by his Master, the man in red hardly had a need to use it, save for the occasional drink of red wine or brood out on a balcony to stare up at the moon.
"It would seem his Magic Circuits had run wild," Vincent explained after examining the Homunculus. "This, mixed with fatigue, exhausted him to the point of losing his consciousness."
"Is there a reason why he is fatigued?" Lightning questioned on the opposite side of the bed that the child slept in. Her eyes took a gander around the room. It didn't seem like much, despite it being a castle, just a desk with a lamp, a bookshelf with several novels and books, a one-person bed, and a small table with a chair that had a wine glass plus a rather expensive bottle of red wine resting upon the tabletop.
"It is likely that it was the first time he ever walked since he was born." The Archer of Black answered. He decided to explain further before the pink-haired woman could voice her question. "As you know, these homunculi exist to serve as batteries for replenishing magical energy, or prana."
"So… he really is just a child," Lightning said under her breath as she looked at the sleeping boy. Her gaze softened when her memories of a previous boy, who had been so lost and alone, found solace being with a person who had cut out her own emotions as well as her name to act like an adult.
Her fellow Servant looked at her, "Why did you save him, Rider?"
The former Savior glanced at Vincent and answered, "Because I wanted to. He asked for my help, I gave it to him. Most of all…" She placed a hand over the boy's own, watching him as he groaned and whimpered in his sleep. "...he reminded me of someone from my past life."
Archer of Black kept his stare upon Lightning for a few seconds before he closed his eyes, "Just like them." He said quietly to himself as he stood up from his chair and proceeded to the door. "Rider, if you do this then you're going to have to be responsible for him. I have no doubt in my mind that if the other Servants learn of this then they will either help you… or hinder you. Please be mindful of that." With that said, he left the bedroom altogether, leaving Lightning alone with the homunculus.
The Rider-class Servant returned her gaze back to the boy, a brief twitch on the corners of her lips indicated that she was glad to have an ally in Archer of Black, even if he didn't show it.
"Don't worry… I'll protect you for as long as I can," She said to the child, who remained asleep. "I promise…"
[Meanwhile…] (Present)
Two Servants stared each other down. One, a blonde girl with violet eyes. The other, a raven-haired young man with crimson eyes.
Ruler and Saver had decided to stop at a nearby church to rest. When the Sister that ran the place had asked as to why they came, Jeanne told her (with a little help from her Charisma skill) that she and her friend were visiting relatives but had lost their luggage during the flight over to Romania. Though it was partially true since the travel bag that Jeanne had carried was nothing but tatters along with all of Laeticia's spare clothes and school books (which would no doubt get her host in trouble). Hearing this, the Sister agreed to house the two Servants for as long as possible until they could get back on their feet so long as they helped around the church, which both agreed to in relief.
Now we find the abnormal Servants in the same spare guest bedroom on separate beds in a staring contest. An uncomfortable silence wafted in the air as Ruler kept her neutral gaze upon the rather stoic face of her bodyguard. Eventually, one of them decided to break the silence…
"Are you just going to stare at me all day or are you going to speak?" Saver questioned with a slight incline of his left brow.
"What is your True Name and where were you?" Ruler questioned in a tone befitting a scolding mother.
"In that order: I am Sorom Jaeger, the Warrior of Light from the Land of Eorzea. As for my whereabouts, I was summoned within a chapel at the country known as England." Saver answered.
Jeanne raised a delicate brow, "That far away?"
Sorom shrugged, "The Grail wasn't necessarily specific in where to summon me. Be thankful I was not sent halfway around the world."
The blonde sighed, "Fair enough, Saver."
"In any case, is there a reason as to why a Servant of the Red Faction would want you dead?" Saver questioned.
"Unfortunately, I do not yet know. Lancer of Red stated that it was his Master who had made such an order but it doesn't seem right…" Ruler folded her arms over her breasts, a hard look on her beautiful face. "Why would they have me killed?"
"Well, then it would seem that I have to be extra vigilant if I am to protect you, Ruler," Saver stated.
"I appreciate the gesture, Saver," The blonde girl said, rather dismissively. "But I can take care of myself."
"I have no doubt that you can," The Warrior of Light responded. "However, my task is to protect you. I am obligated to use whatever means necessary to do so, even if I have to eliminate the other Factions to do so."
Violet eyes widened a fraction as the mediator of the Holy Grail War stood up, "But that is against the rules! I cannot allow such-"
"Unfortunately, Ruler," Saver interjected. "The Grail has given me the authority to use any means to protect you. I have no need for a Master, nor do I need prana to maintain my connection to this world. My placement in the Saver Class grants me special privileges just like you. I am not limited by rules. I cannot ignore the cries of those that wish to be saved. I cannot allow any form of harm to come to your person."
Ruler frowned. "So, even if I enforce the rules, if a Servant from either Faction tries to kill me…" She trailed.
"I will mercilessly hunt them down and eliminate them." The raven-haired young man finished.
[Millennia Citadel]
He could see it all… He could hear it…
The cries of pain. The screams of terror. All of them hoping to whatever power above that they would be spared an agonizing fate.
He ran to them as much as his barely used legs would allow him. Coming off as a mere waltz with a bit of a stumble like a newborn babe. Horrified tears breaking at the corners of his eyes as he reached out to his 'siblings'.
The others, each of them floating in a large vat of green liquid, could do nothing but plead or call out for help that would never come.
Then it happened…
Each one of the homunculi within the vats began to evaporate, leaving not a trace of their existence.
He could see his lone remaining sister that floated in the vat. Her eyes terrified and pleading as she called out to him. "Save me, please! AHH-" She screamed before suffering the same fate as the rest of her kind.
He could do nothing but watch in despair as he failed to save them from death. So lost he was in his failure that he fell into the endless black abyss beneath him.
Bleary scarlet eyes opened as the Homunculus boy scanned his surroundings and found himself in an unfamiliar room. His gaze landed on the sleeping form of Rider of Black, who had fallen asleep in her seat.
"Who are you?" He asked.
Like her namesake, Lightning awoke with nary a twitch. She looked at the awoken homunculus and spoke, "Finally awake, huh? Good. Call me Lightning. I found you a few hours ago. Do you remember that?"
The boy, despite his tired expression, nodded. "Y-yes," He said then smiled. "Thank you very much."
"Don't worry about it." Lightning said before she focused her sight on the empty space next to the bed. "And the one currently hiding is Archer."
Before the homunculus could speak, Vincent appeared in motes of blue light. "I see you did not hesitate to reveal my presence, Rider."
"You weren't exactly subtle, Archer." Lightning snarked back with a thin smile.
"Rider… Archer…" The boy repeated before his eyes widened in shock with a little bit of terror.
"It would appear the child is scared." Archer of Black pointed out.
"Well, he is in the presence of two Heroic Spirits." Rider stated.
"Fair point," Vincent nodded. His scarlet eyes stared down at the thin homunculus. "But this may frighten him even more. By my estimates, you only have three more years to live before you perish."
The artificial human looked sullen yet accepting, "I'm well aware…"
"You're a homunculus, which is known by magi as the perfect existence," Vincent explained to the boy. "If I were you, I'd start thinking about what you want to do."
The boy looked at the crimson Archer in confusion. "About what?" he asked.
"About what you want to do with your life," Archer answered.
At first, the homunculus seemed to contemplate this before he looked away with a frown, "I… don't know…"
"Then you'll have to make your decision soon. If it ever comes to a point in which you survive these events, you will have to take the first step towards what you wish to do with your life. Otherwise, not being able to do anything would be the same as dying."
"Dying!?" The boy repeated with wide eyes.
Archer sighed, "For the time being, you need to get some rest." He turned on his heel to leave then glanced at his comrade. "Come, Rider. We'll let him have a moment's peace."
"Alright," Lightning nodded as her fellow Servant went into astral form then glanced down at the boy, "Sleep well." She said before vanishing into motes of blue light.
The homunculus stared at the spot in which the two Servants once stood then laid his head back on the pillow. His eyes slowly closing until he fell right back to sleep.
[Castle Gardens]
"Geez, where in the world did that oaf get off to?" Caules wondered as he searched around the castle's garden.
He tried finding his Berserker in the wine cellar but he was nowhere in sight, save for the lack of wine bottles that would surely get Caules in trouble with Darnic. He tried the dining room but that proved to be fruitless as well.
So now he was searching the gardens. Hopefully, Caules could find Berserker, or at the very least, his trail of empty wine bottles.
"Hey, you made it, kid…" A familiar gruff voice slurred.
Speak of the devil...
Caules spotted his Servant resting against the base of a tree with several empty bottles of alcohol messily cluttered around his towering form. The young man sighed at the sight of the drunken hero then began to approach him.
"Berserker, can't you go one day without drinking?" The third-rate magus asked.
"Let me think *hic* about that…" Berserker said then took a half-finished bottle of red wine and downed it in one gulp. "Nooope."
"Why do I even bother…" Caules sweatdropped.
"Geez, can you quit your nagging?" Jecht spat despite his drunken posture. "You're as bad as my kid…"
Caules blinked in surprise, "Wait, you had a kid?"
"Yeah, he was a lot like you... though he was a big crybaby." The Berserker of Black replied. Though his tone sounded dismissive, Caules could see in the man's eyes that he was reminiscing about many fond memories. "He's also the one that killed me before."
"Huh? Really?" Caules gaped in shock. "But why would he do that?"
"I didn't really give him much choice," Jecht admitted with a shrug. "At the time, I wasn't really… all there." He tapped his head with the gauntlet on his hand. "For what it's worth, I was glad he killed me. Mainly because I was more monster than man."
"So then… what is your wish?" Caules wondered.
"My wish?" The man raised a brow then closed his eyes in thought. "Well, if I had to wish for anything… it would be to go back to my son."
"That's it? No endless supply of alcohol?" The Master of Berserker asked in a joking manner.
"Oh, I can get that anytime I want. I'm pretty famous in my hometown." Jecht smirked. "But that's not what I want. I want to spend as much time as possible with my kid because… I wasn't really much of a father to him."
Caules fell silent as he watched his Servant look down with forlorn. Though the wish seemed simple, the young man could respect it since it was an honest and pure reason to fight.
[Meanwhile…]
Fiore had known many things about her Servant.
He was a selfless man with few material needs. He appeared unapproachable and frightening but he was kind and gentle. He was also a rather avid fan of black leather.
Though she was unprepared for the revelation of Archer's wish…
"Your wish is to bring someone back to life?" Fiore asked while her Servant poured his young Master a cup of warm tea.
"Yes," Vincent nodded. "Before I gained most of my abilities, I was a simple bodyguard to a scientist named Lucrecia."
Fiore felt something swell in her chest that made it hurt, "Was she… someone special to you?"
The crimson Archer closed his eyes as if remembering a particular memory then reopened them as he replied, "Yes, you could say that I was… infatuated with her."
"What happened?" She asked.
Vincent frowned. Images of a deranged madman of a scientist who stole the one he loved from him filled his head. "I lost her to someone else. After some time, I was injured and slowly dying before she managed to save my life by… transforming me into something else."
"But… what happened to her?" Fiore inquired.
He looked away with a sad look on his face, "She was driven mad by what happened to me as well as what happened in her personal life. In her grief, she tried to kill herself but only succeeded in trapping her body in crystal."
Fiore gasped in horror, "How terrible…"
Vincent nodded, "But… if I can acquire the Holy Grail then there's a chance that I can bring Lucrecia back. I failed her once before… I will not do so again."
Fiore could see the fire that burned in her Servant's eyes. She knew that Archer would stop at nothing to win the Grail and she was thankful that he was willing to fight but the ache in her heart lingered every time the man mentioned his lost love.
[Graveyard]
Beneath the catacombs of the Trifas graveyard, Kairi and Saber were hiding out in a well defendable position after their previous encounter with the Black Faction's forces.
Currently, the necromancer was sharpening a knife fashioned from the tooth of a hydra while his Servant was resting against the wall of the catacombs.
"Boss, I gotta ask…" Saber of Red spoke up, drawing Kairi's attention to him. "Why exactly did you pick this place?"
The burly man continued to sharpen his knife, "Because it's easy to defend and hard to assault. It's a good location for us to hide in."
Cloud nodded in response, "I can understand that."
"Something on your mind, Saber?" Kairi questioned.
"Not really," The spiky-haired blonde shrugged. "I'm a little curious about the Black Faction's Servants. So far, we only know about the Lancer but even those were vague."
"Yeah, I get where you're coming from. A knight in draconic armor isn't really much to go on." Kairi replied. "Still, it's better than nothing."
Cloud sighed, "Well, it wouldn't be the first time I've faced an enemy without knowing who or what they are."
"Glad to see you're optimistic," The necromancer said with a smirk before the sound of his magical typewriter drew his and Saber's attention. Once the skeletal hand holding the ink pen finished writing, Kairi took the paper to read the message. "It's from Shirou."
Cloud peeked over his Master's shoulder to read the contents, "So our Berserker has gone AWOL, huh?"
Kairi sighed, "Wonderful…"
[Millennia Citadel]
The Masters of Black, as well as their Servants, had all gathered in the throne room with a large magical display showcasing the approaching Berserker of Red, who advanced through the forest as well as the traps without any form of injury or resistance.
"Comrades," Darnic spoke upon the throne while Lancer stood dutifully beside him. "Regardless of the time of day, the Servant you see before you is heading straight for Millennia Citadel. I can only assume that this Servant is the Berserker of Red."
Caster narrowed her eyes when the familiar watching the Red Faction's Berserker was destroyed with a quick swipe of the warrior's sword. Her left hand instinctively went to her chest as if feeling the burn of an old wound.
Fiore with Archer holding the handles of her wheelchair looked to the patriarch of Yggdmillennia. "So what is to be done? Anything?" She asked.
"We take advantage of it, of course," Darnic answered with a smirk. "If we play our cards right then we can turn this Berserker of Red into our pawn."
"I would ill advise that, Lord Darnic." Y'shtola stated. "I know this Servant. In life, he was an enemy to my comrades and even succeeded in defeating our champion at first. He is not to be trifled with."
Darnic looked at the Caster of Black while Lancer spoke for his Master, "Do you know who he is, Caster?"
The miqo'te nodded with a grim expression. "He is known as Zenos yae Galvus, the Imperial Crown Prince of the Garlean Empire."
For some reason, all the Masters of Black felt a cold shiver run down their spines at the mention of the Berserker's True Name.
Darnic frowned, "If he is indeed as dangerous as you say, Caster, then we shall take precautions to eliminate him if we do not succeed in making him our pawn."
Y'shtola wanted to voice her disagreement but knew that Darnic had the final say as he was the leader of the Black Faction.
LINE BREAK
Night had encroached the entirety of the forest. However, there were no sounds of crickets chirping or owls hooting but rather the faint clash of steel against rock.
Berserker of Red, or Zenos yae Galvus, struck down another golem with his sword. The autonomous rock creatures doing little to even hurt the Servant due to his armor as well as his surprisingly well-coordinated attacks.
"Come now, beasts. Bear your fangs at me so that I may enjoy this hunt." Zenos said behind his helmet as he walked towards his next prey.
Meanwhile, watching the deranged Servant from above the treeline were two other Servants.
The first of these Servants is a tall, slim woman with tanned skin, thick, white hair styled in a ponytail and long claw-like fingernails. She also possesses red eyes and, strangely, long, leporine ears that are covered in white fur with speckles of brown fur at the tips. She is dressed in a revealing piece of armor that resembles lacy lingerie in the style of a teddy and stockings. Part of the material of her bodysuit and leg-wear is metal adorned with filigree. The front of her armor is open with a sheer piece of fabric covering her stomach. She has a "rabbit tail" style decorative piece at the small of her back though it was barely noticeable due to her hair. She also wears black elbow-length sleeves with red trimming fastened across her collar bone with a silver clip, slightly lower than the black band she wears around her neck. Her forearms are covered in armor similar in design to her bodice and leg-wear. She wears a headgear adorned in a way similar to her bodice. The headgear has openings for her long ears, and her hair tends to show around the sides. Finally, she wears open two-heeled stilettos with a claw-like design at the toes.
The second Servant is a tall man with straight light blonde shoulder-length hair, blue eyes, and a small goatee. He wears a formal black suit with matching gloves and boots, and a strange pendant around his neck.
"Do you believe we should abandon Berserker and leave, Rider?" The bunny-eared woman asked her companion, who was leaning on the base of a tree with his arms crossed.
The Rider of Red shrugged, "Hey if the guy wants to let out a little steam then let him. I'm not going down there and getting in his way, bunny."
The woman frowned at the Servant, "I told you not to call me that. Either refer to me as Archer or Fran, Snow Villiers."
"Right, right, sorry," Rider waved his hand with a goofy grin on his face. "So how about you and I go check out our competition?"
Fran rolled her eyes then focused back on the sight of Berserker continuing to slaughter the golems without remorse. "Very well. However, if Berserker should use his Noble Phantasm then we are to retreat immediately. That should please our Masters, at least."
Snow frowned as he looked at his right palm, "Our Masters, huh...? Hey, Fran, you ever meet your Master?"
"No," The Archer of Red shook her head in response, "The only Master I've met was the priest, Shirou. The Master of Assassin."
"The connection is there and orders are received… yet he still doesn't show his face." Rider of Red said with a frown. "I've got a bad feeling about this.
Fran continued to watch as Berserker tore through the golems without hesitation or mercy. "From what I understand, it isn't uncommon for Magi to hide in the shadows. While it is understandable, I find it to be quite cowardly." She explained.
The Mad Prince of Garlemald had a smirk behind his helm, "Come, beasts! Show me more of your bite!"
Snow looked at the rampaging Berserker with a sigh, "If that dude keeps on going like this then he might unleash his Noble Phantasm. That won't be good for us."
While the Rider Servant continued to rant, Fran's rabbit ears twitched as she heard a sound in the distance. Her eyes narrowed as she looked straight ahead in the direction of the Black Faction's HQ.
The blonde man glanced at the Archer, "What is it?"
Standing up, Fran brought out an intricately made bow. "They are coming." She warned.
LINE BREAK
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Millennia Citadel, the gathered Masters and Servants of the Black Faction stood at the border of Yggdmillennia's forest.
"Hm, it would seem Caster's information on this Servant was rather spot on," Darnic comments as he listened to the approaching Berserker slaughter the golems that patrolled the forest. "The man is nothing but a wild animal simply fighting for the fun of it."
Rider of Black folded her arms over her breastplate, "I thought Berserkers weren't supposed to talk."
"Hey, I take offense to that!" Jecht angrily retorted.
"While it is a factor that Berserkers are known for their madness as well as their strength and endurance, there are notable exceptions to such limitations," Darnic explained to those gathered with him. "Regardless, we cannot simply let our guard down. If what Caster tells us is true then this Zenos could be quite a nuisance for us."
"Milord," Lancer of Black spoke to his Master as he stood dutifully behind him. "I believe now would be in our best interest to engage this Berserker of Red."
The patriarch of Yggdmillennia nodded in agreement, "Then it is time to begin our task." He glanced at the rosette beside him. "Rider, you will engage Berserker of Red in a battle to gauge his strength. Once we have sufficient information, we shall have Lancer and Caster assist you."
Celenike gave her Servant a stern glare, "Now is the time, Lightning! Go forth and show me your strength in battle!
Rider materialized her longsword, Crimson Blitz, and her shield, Night Lotus. "Roger that," She replied. "I'll be done with this in a flash." Without another word, Lightning took off in a burst of speed as befitting her name towards the approaching Berserker of Red. However, the moment that she entered the forest, her eyes witnessed her foe cut down two golems with a speed that befitted a Lancer.
Zenos noticed the new prey approach him and could feel the otherworldly presence radiating from her. "A new beast seeks to bare their fangs at me?" He took hold of the red katana in his right hand as it pulsed with undisputed bloodlust. "Come then, I would test thy skill in battle."
"You'll be getting more than you bargained, Berserker of Red." Lightning said as she glared at her opponent then lunged at Zenos with an overhead strike that clashed against the Imperial Prince's blade.
"Oh? I can sense you possess quite the spirit," The Berserker complimented as he pushed Lightning back with nary a flinch. "But you are not as powerful as he was back in my lifetime."
The pink-haired Savior raised a brow in confusion about what her foe meant but shook it off as she refocused on her attack. The Rider of Black unleashed a barrage of quick strikes that looked invisible to the human eye but Berserker of Red either blocked or dodged each one without even trying. Lightning could only grit her teeth in mild frustration as she couldn't get a good hit on the Red Servant.
'It's like all of my attacks barely faze him.' She mentally said to herself as she jumped back to avoid a bisecting slash that was aimed at her midsection.
"Such a disappointment." Berserker of Red said in slight discontent. "Though you possess the prowess of a Heroic Spirit, you're just not able to saute my thirst for the hunt."
"Then allow me to further your disappointment!" A voice interjected as a dark purple blur rushed towards the Garlean Prince, who was briefly surprised by the action before he quickly brought up his katana to block the spear of the Black Faction's Lancer.
"Do not interfere," Zenos warned in a bored manner as he pushed back against Kain's spear. However, the Dragoon smirked as he angled his body with the fluidity of a gymnast and struck the Berserker Servant with the heel of his armored boot, knocking the Garlean Prince back in momentary surprise.
"Unfortunately for you, Berserker, I do not abandon my comrades." Lancer of Black declared as he and Lightning went on the offensive, striking faster than the human eye could track as Berserker of Red is forced to use his katana as a means of defense while his armor suffered several knicks and scratches.
Zenos frowned behind his mask as he continued to parry and block his foes' meager blows against his person. Eventually, they will get past his guard and strike at his Spiritual Core. He could not have that. Not until he has either met him again or faced an adversary that rivaled his power. A small burst of mana sent both Black Servants back as the Berserker of Red entered a stance, sliding his katana into the revolver holster while an aura of lightning surrounded his body. "Art of the Storm." He said under his breath before he released a quickdraw slash with his katana as a shockwave of lightning and thunderous winds scattered the surrounding woods.
"Damn!" Kain cursed as he and Lightning brought their guard up as a way to tank the blow before a sphere of aetheric energy surrounded them, shielding them from the Garlean Prince's attack. The dragoon looked around at the magical barrier. "This is…"
"Pardon my tardiness," A familiar voice drew the two Black Servants' attention to an approaching Caster, who had her staff out as it pulsed with magic. "Despite being a Servant, I'm not at all as fast as all of you." She admitted.
"Nay, your timing was excellent, Caster," Lancer of Black praised the arrival of his ally. "I do not believe that I and Rider would've gotten out of that predicament unscathed."
"Thank me when we've defeated this mad beast." Y'shtola told the dragon knight. Her silver eyes glaring holes at the tall Servant, who had once been her and the Scions' greatest adversary.
Zenos raised a brow in slight interest, "Well now, this is certainly a surprise. You are one of his comrades, are you not? I believe I met you once."
"Indeed," Y'shtola said with bitterness. "My body once tasted your steel."
"Aah, now I remember. The mage girl who tried to protect the savage in red. I was honestly surprised that you managed to live after succumbing to such a wound." The Red Servant stated. "Tell me… where is my enemy? My only friend? Is he amongst those summoned as a Servant of Black?"
The Miqo'te narrowed her eyes at the Garlean, "If you mean Eorzea's Champion, no. He was not summoned. At least, not to my knowledge."
Zenos frowned beneath his mask, "Pity. I was so looking forward to our reunion with a duel. It would seem that I'll just have to settle with all of you." He sheathed his blade as the holster spun then he pulled out a sword that bore a definite likeness to a Japanese katana.
"Regardless if my comrade were here or not, he would never waste his time dealing with the likes of you." Y'shtola spat as she readied her staff for battle with Kain and Lightning mimicking their fellow Black Faction member's stance.
Berserker of Red made a small hum of noise as he readied his blade to spill the blood of his current prey. Their deaths should at least provide him with some form of enjoyment.
However before he could make a move, Zenos suddenly froze as he felt his body being seized by an invisible grip. A low growl escaped his throat as he sheathed his sword and gave his prey one last look, "It would seem I am being ordered to return. Make no mistake, beasts. The next time we meet will be the last and not even my Master will stop me from slaying you." With that said, the Red Faction Berserker vanished into golden particles, allowing the three Black Servants to visibly relax.
"Well, Lady Luck seems to be smiling upon us," Lancer said as he glanced at Y'shtola. "This friend you speak of, who was it that faced Berserker of Red?"
The Caster-class Servant closed her eyes in silence, "He was… a dear comrade. In life, he was my homeland's greatest hero and the world's champion."
Kain and Lightning glanced at one another when they heard the fondness in the Miqo'te woman's voice. They looked back at Y'shtola, "You speak of him as if he were something more." The dragoon said.
The cat-like woman looked away with her cheeks aglow. "I have no idea what you mean. Tis simply friendship between us." She immediately denied.
"Teasing Caster aside," A voice interjected, drawing the Servants' attention as Darnic, Celenike, and Roche approached their respective Servants. "You've all done wonderfully against Berserker. Even from further away, I could feel his bloodlust. Such a degenerate creature."
Kain faced his Master and bowed politely, "Your words do me honor, Master. Though I am loathed to admit that I could not slay Berserker of Red before he fled."
"It matters not," The patriarch of Yggdmillennia stated. "This brief skirmish has allowed us to gauge Berserker of Red's abilities. No doubt, he is a formidable opponent but he will still fall to our might."
"If that's everything then I'll be returning to the castle." Lightning said as she turned to the direction of Millennia Citadel and walked off.
"Rider, where are you going?" Celenike demanded.
The Rider of Black stopped in her tracks then glanced back at her Master, "Like I said, back to the castle. That Berserker forced me to expel far too much magical energy than necessary so I need to recharge." She lied, almost smirking with satisfaction when the witch seemed to accept it, despite her scowl. She continued on her path back to the castle, ignoring the looks she received from her fellow Servants and the other Black Faction Masters.
"A strange woman, that one." Caster of Black admitted.
"Agreed," Lancer of Black nodded in reply.
"In any case, we still have some rats to scurry," Darnic stated. "Archer, are you in position?" He asked through the synchronized link.
From high atop of Millennia Citadel, Archer of Black, wielding a long-barreled sniper rifle, was perched among the scaffold with his Master waiting behind him. The crimson-garbed Servant kept a watchful eye on the forest through the scope of his rifle. "Yes, I can see two figures in the shadows. No doubt the other Red Servants that followed Berserker of Red." He answered in return.
Darnic smirked then glanced to his right, "Well then, it is time for you both to do your tasks. I trust that you can handle it."
Materializing out of thin air were the Servants, Saber and Berserker of Black.
Meanwhile, Rider of Red was whistling a tune to himself as he waited for the approaching Servants of Black. He was a little skeptical of the plan but with his partner backing him up, he had no reason to fear, especially since he got a look at the Servants that engaged Berserker of Red. The Rider of Black's identity was revealed to him the moment Archer of Red had described her. Rose-colored hair, fierce demeanor, a crimson sword, and speed that reminded him of one of Mother Nature's destructive elements.
Snow released a humorless chuckle, "Well, Light… looks like we're enemies. I almost feel bad for you…" He said to himself before he felt the presence of two approaching Servants. Opening his eyes, he spots the Servants of Black: Saber and Berserker. "Well, they sent a Saber and a Berserker to fight me? I suppose I should be flattered, especially since I'm fighting one of the three Knight-class Servants." Berserker and Saber of Black summoned their swords, bringing them up in a defensive posture. "I'm from the Rider-class but… I don't think I'll need my mount to beat you both. I'll just use my own two fists." He said while cracking his knuckles.
Noctis scoffed before he threw his sword at Snow, who swiftly dodged the flying blade before his eyes widened in surprise when the Saber of Black suddenly teleported right at the sword, grabbing it by the hilt as he slashed down at the Red Servant. Thinking on instinct, Snow activated his ice-based l'Cie powers, forming a gauntlet of ice over his right arm that he used to stop the blade from hurting him. The two Servants briefly engaged in a small clash that had Noctis and Snow parry or block each other's blows.
'This guy is good…' Both of them thought at the same time as they swung at each other once again, blade meeting fist as the impact sent both respective Servants away from each other. However, Snow wasn't given any chance to breathe as Berserker of Black advanced upon him with his massive blade in hand, which he swung down with a loud battle cry. The Rider of Red quickly engaged Steelguard by crossing his arms over his chest while a barrier-like shield appeared around his body. The moment that Jecht's sword made contact with the barrier, it pushed the former Ace back with a grunt.
Snow smirked at the Berserker's attempt before his ears caught on to an approaching set of footsteps. He quickly turned around at the last moment to bring up his hand as ice molded over his palm, which stopped Noctis's blow from reaching him. The Crown Prince of Lucis glared at the Sovereign, who smirked almost tauntingly at the young man.
"You're gonna have to do better than that, Saber of Black." The Rider of the Red Faction told his opponent before grabbing Noctis by his sword hand's wrist then threw him over to Berserker of Black. The King of Light briefly recovered in mid-air then warped to the ground next to his ally. "I've gotta say, I'm impressed so far. Granted, I wasn't using my mount so it wouldn't really make much difference but I have to give credit where credit is due. The Black Faction's got some impressive Servants."
"Flattery won't get you anywhere, Rider of Red." Noctis spat as he prepared to engage his foe once more.
"True, but distracting unsuspecting enemies is a good way to keep off-balanced." The moment Snow had said that a silver projectile shot past his head and struck Noctis right in the shoulder with enough force to trap him in the base of an oak tree.
The black-garbed prince released a grunt of pain while he mentally cursed himself for letting his guard down. Gladio would kill him if he found out about that. Still, he had kept his Phase ability up just to defend against any unsuspecting attacks. So how could an arrow bypass his Phasing?
"Wow, guess bunny really did come through. Being bait was a bit of a long shot but it paid off in the end," Snow said as he stared with a hint of pride and satisfaction at the Black Faction's Saber being outsmarted. His eyes landed on Jecht, who looked ready for another fight. "Well, we can't really pass this chance to weaken the enemy now. Might as well get rid of the Black Faction's madman while I have the opportunity." His right hand shone with an icy aura before a construct of frozen liquid appeared in his hand. Said construct resembling a large icy battle-ax.
Jecht scoffed with a smirk, "You're welcome to try, you cocky punk!" He said with a scarlet aura surrounding his form. "I'll teach you to respect your elders, boy!"
The Rider of Red smirked and braced himself for what he thought to be the Berserker's Noble Phantasm until both Servants heard a grunt of effort from the pinned Saber of Black, who pushed himself off the tree, the arrow still inside his shoulder.
Noctis brought up his Engine Blade, although he looked like he was struggling to resist such an action, and a blue aura began to surround the young Crown Prince.
Snow smirked at the sight, "So, you're unleashing your Noble Phantasm, huh? Well, come on then! I welcome the challenge!" He taunted.
Unfortunately, Saber of Black was not performing his Noble Phantasm of his own free will… but by his self-centered Master, Gordus. The portly man, after watching the fight, decided that he couldn't allow his Servant to further embarrass him or take priority over a simple fight like it was a game and used his Command Seals to order the King of Light to unleash his Noble Phantasm.
Noctis tried with all his might to resist the command but even with his Magic Resistance skill, it did little to stop his arms from raising his current weapon in the air as the blue aura began to surround the blade like a beacon of light. His teeth gritted so tight that they threatened to crack from the pressure yet his lips began to move without his commands. "Armi-" He grunted out before, suddenly, the light was canceled, allowing the Saber of Black to drop to his knees after the previous order was broken by a new one. The action alone surprised and confused Rider of Red. Without a moment to question his foe on why he stopped, Saber of Black vanished into motes of blue light, presumably entering his astral form.
Snow sighed, "Well, that was disappointing. I was all set to see what the kid's Noble Phantasm could do." He said while shouldering his ice battleax before his gaze returned to Berserker of Black, who looked ready for another brawl.
"Berserker, wait!" The mental voice of Jecht's Master ordered, stopping the Berserker from engaging in battle with the blonde man. "Vincent will deal with that guy. You take care of the Archer in the rear."
Jecht released a grunt of annoyance about his fight being interrupted but he could understand the values in dealing with an opponent's long-range specialist first in a war.
"Now where were we-" Snow prepared to attack the Servant of Black before a speeding projectile struck him in the collar, earning a grunt of pain from the l'Cie of Ice. "What!?" He exclaimed with a pained grimace before his battle-hardened instincts warned him of immediate danger.
*BANG* *BANG* *BANG*
Several gunshots rang out in the night air as the bullets targeted Rider of Red, forcing the blonde man to dodge them with a few steps. However, his distraction was all Berserker of Black needed to speed past him and make his way towards Archer of Red with a bloodthirsty grin on his face.
From atop of Millennia Citadel, Vincent, wielding his sniper rifle, with his eyes glowing a luminous red, took aim at both Servants of Red to further assist his ally in the plan.
Meanwhile, Archer of Red, or Fran, who had been hiding in the treelines, noticed the approaching Ace of Zanarkand. She clicked her tongue in annoyance as she brought up her bow, "Berserker of Black, I will make you regret your decision to face me… IN BLOOD!" She exclaimed, releasing a flaming arrow at the burly man. However, before the projectile could strike Jecht between his eyes, a bullet cuts in, destroying the arrow and allowing Berserker of Black to continue his rampage towards Fran, who looked shocked at first before she released who had interfered in her kill. "So their Archer intervened, huh? In that case…" She brought up her bow once more, this time with several arrows pulled back, and fired right at the approaching Servant.
Several of the arrows miss their mark but two manage to hit Jecht. One in the right leg and another in the left shoulder. Fortunately, Jecht's passive Madness Enhancement forced the pain away and allowed him to continue his reckless charge at the enemy.
Fran grimaced as she realized that nothing would stop the Servant at the moment unless she utilized her Noble Phantasm. "Guess I better retreat then," She said to herself before she leaped from her former sniping position, right as Jecht slammed into the tree with a battle cry.
Standing back up, Jecht noticed that his target had fled and proceeded to dust himself off, "Fucking coward." He cursed in annoyance.
Back with Snow, the Rider-class Servant used both his battleax as well as his Sentinel abilities to either block or tank the bullets from the Black Faction's Archer. He had already sensed that Fran had left the battlefield so now seemed like a perfect opportunity to leave as well. He smirked as he called out to his faraway foe, "Well, Archer of Black, you've certainly got my attention now," He inclined his head lazily to the left as another bullet slipstreamed past it. "It's not every day that somebody can keep up or even wear down my endurance! I'll be sure to test your mettle once we meet face-to-face!" His l'Cie brand glowed icy blue before a crystal appeared that he crushed in his hand, summoning a futuristic motorcycle that seemed to be composed of… two women? The Servant of Red quickly boarded his mount, revving the engine before he took off with a loud, "WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Once the Red Servant had left the vicinity, Vincent lowered his sniper rifle while his Master looked at him with concern, "Seems my opponent for the War has been chosen." He said loudly enough to himself and to the crippled girl.
"Who is it?" Fiore wondered.
"The Rider of Red," Vincent answered. "He appears to be a strong opponent indeed."
His young Master smiled at him, "But I know that you're stronger."
The Archer of Black nodded in agreement with Fiore, "I do not doubt that, Master. For I have you by my side to battle against Rider of Red." He said with a thin smile before he continued to watch the forest with his hawk-like gaze, unaware that his Master sported flushed pink cheeks.
Meanwhile, Rider of Black arrived back in Vincent's room, finding the homunculus boy trying to steady himself on his own two feet.
"Ah, Rider?" The boy gasped in surprise which nearly sent him tumbling down to the floor if not for Lightning's intervention in catching him.
"It's time to leave." She told her charge, who looked up at the rose-haired woman in confusion.
"And go where?" The homunculus asked, unsure if he even deserved to leave while his kin remained shackled by the grip of Yggdmillennia.
This time, Lightning gave the boy a smile, "Somewhere that will keep you safe." She told him, placing a hand on his head. "A place where you can live your life however you wish."
The nameless homunculus looked into the Servant's eyes and felt his heart burst with hidden courage. The way she spoke with sheer confidence and conviction made it seem as if his current lifespan and his situation appeared little to him. In fact, there was something he felt when he stared into the Rider of Black's pupils...
It was a word that had been engraved into his mind since his 'birth'.
A word that escaped his lips ever since he escaped from that accursed vat.
A word that he scarcely could believe...
...that word was called Hope.
[Yggdmillennia Forest Edge]
Standing outside of the boundaries of the Black Faction's territory were the Servants Ruler and her bodyguard, Saver.
The two had recently left the church they had been residing in after a full day of chores and taking care of any problems that the Sister needed to have fixed. During that time, Ruler had made her intentions to approach the Black Faction's territory to witness the inevitable fighting between the Red Faction and Yggdmillennia quite clear to the Warrior of Light. She also believed that by meeting with a Red Faction Master, she could further interrogate them as to why she had been targeted for assassination.
Saver had no objections to such a plan. In fact, he agreed with Jeanne that supervising the battle between Red and Black Servants would make his job all the easier, especially considering his charge had an attempt on her life by one of the Red Faction's warriors.
So here they stood, decked out in full combat gear. Though Jeanne knew her battle attire from heart, she had yet to understand the full specifications as to how her bodyguard was able to change his appearance so suddenly.
Sneaking a quick glance, she took in Saver's newly-garbed figure. From head-to-toe, he was clad in black armor that was far too demonic to belong to a Heroic Spirit of the mythical Saver-class, unless he was a Tragic Hero, which made some form of sense to Jeanne. Behind the armor, she could make out a black-grey trench coat that fell all the way down to his shins with an opening left for his legs to allow freedom of movement. On his back was a massive two-handed black greatsword that was so impossibly thick, it looked more like a chunk of metal with a strange dark red crest at the fuller of the blade.
Overall, the warrior looked like some sort of dark knight from a fairy tale.
"This is it. Are you prepared, Saver?" Ruler asked her companion.
"Yes, let us-" The crimson-eyed man suddenly released a grunt as he held his head in visible pain. Jeanne was by his side in an instant to see if he was okay, unaware that the Warrior of Light's Echo skill had activated…
Images came to the forefront of his mind… two Servants of Black fighting each other… a boy fleeing for his life… a rotund man with a steel fist… the Black Faction gathered…
Sorom released a brief gasp as the images faded and the world around him resumed. When his senses came back, he found himself looking into the deep pools of amethyst that belonged to the girl he was ordered to protect.
"Saver, what's wrong? What happened to you?" Ruler asked out of concern.
"It's nothing. It happens a few times. Regardless, we must make haste. I fear blood will be spilled this night…" A grimace appeared on the warrior's face. "Innocent blood…"
"Very well, let's go!" The Maid of Orleans declared as she took off into the forest with Saver following right behind. The two were unaware of the fact that they were being watched by a bird familiar with evil-looking purple eyes.
A/N: Oh my God! I finished the chapter! And in 2020 too!
First off, I want to apologize for taking so long in updating but I was busy with real-life stuff as I'm sure my fellow writers and authors can attest to. Working most of the time has left me with little opportunity to write my other stories. I'm doing all I can to get them uploaded but at my current pace, you might not see any updates for a while.
And another thing, to all those who have been using the review box in Remnant's Climax Heroes to start up arguments or anything like that? That ends now! Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and how they feel about the story. It doesn't give you the right to suddenly just attack them when they were just pointing out what they liked or didn't like in the story. Well, you can do it to flamers and trolls, I don't give a rat's ass about them. But seriously, if a review isn't a trolling comment or anything like that? Don't start shit with the reviewer because that's unnecessary and disgraceful. Be the bigger man or woman and don't be a troll.
In any case, a few readers were probably expecting Berserker of Red to be changing sides now. Well, I say, FUCK THAT! If I had done that originally, it would've thrown out a perfectly good villain for the story! Especially considering its who Saver and Caster of Black hate the most. Oh, and to all those who guessed the name of Berserker of Red before this? You all get a cookie and the chance to petition the next Fate/Dissidia crossover plan.
Now, there was a lot of action and a little less conversation in this. I hope I did the characters justice because I went off on what I looked upon the wiki and what I remember from the video games.
And in case you're wondering what Saver is wearing, it is the Bale Armor Set for the Dark Knight class without the helmet. You know, the gear that the Warrior of Light wears in the Shadowbringer trailer? Speaking of which, that's also the name of the weapon. I am not kidding, the sword is, literally, called Shadowbringer. I'm still wondering how I can implement that weapon as a Noble Phantasm since I'm putting up my version of the Warrior of Light's parameters up on here. Keep in mind, this is how I envisioned any Warrior of Light having for stat parameters so if you're making a Fate/stay night crossover with FFXIV then take this as an example. Reminder: these stats are based on my avatar. Every Warrior of Light from FFXIV is different from the last.
Review and comment on this chapter. Love it, hate it, but just know that you've read it! ;)
Peace out, everyone!
Name: Sorom Jaeger (Warrior of Light)
Servant Class: Saver
Alternate Classes: Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Berserker, and Assassin
Gender: Male
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Class Stats-
Strength: E~EX (Varies based on Soul Crystal)
Endurance: E~EX (Varies based on Soul Crystal)
Agility: E~EX (Varies based on Soul Crystal)
Mana: E~C (Varies based on Soul Crystal)
Luck: E~EX (Varies based on Soul Crystal)
NP: ?
Class Skills-
Magic Resistance: D~B (Varies based on Soul Crystal)
A Skill that grants protection against magical effects. Varying uses of his Soul Crystals allows the Warrior of Light to resist, endure, or even cancel high-level magic spells, except magic used by Divine Beings.
Riding: A
A Skill that allows the Servant to ride vehicles or animals. Sorom has ridden many vehicles and animals during his adventures. He can also ride some Phantasmal Beasts as his mounts.
Counter Hero: A+
A Skill that reduces the parameters of the statistics of 'heroes' that the Servant faces in combat. In Saver's case, he can reduce the parameters of his opponents by two or three ranks depending on their Luck. Anti-heroes only have their parameters reduced by one rank.
Personal Skills-
Battle Continuation: B+
A Skill that allows for the continuation of combat after sustaining mortal wounds. It will also reduce the mortality rate from injury. In Saver's case, he had sustained wounds and injuries from countless battles against men and monsters. It also adds a boost to his Endurance due to his conflict against Primals.
God Slayer: A
A rare Skill given to those that have slain immortals or God-like beings. The Warrior of Light slew many incarnations of immortals and gods, even world-ending monsters. This Skill lowers the parameters of Servants with Divinity along with Phantasmal Beasts.
Hydaelan's Blessing: EX
A passive Skill granted to those blessed by the Mothercrystal, Hydaelan. Despite being a Primal, Hydaelan favors the Warrior of Light and blessed him with many useful powers and abilities. Several of which act as hidden Skills or Noble Phantasms that no Master or Servant will be able to discern.
Echo: ?
Saver can use this Skill to see certain memories of individuals he comes across. For Servants, he can instantly know all their deeds, abilities, and histories, including their True Names. This works in tandem with [Hydaelan's Blessing] since it is one of the gifts the Primal of Light bestowed upon her Children.
Noble Phantasm-
[Soul Crystal] "To Change One's Destiny"
Rank: ?
Classification: Anti-Unit (Self)
Description: As he was born in the Realm of Eorzea, Sorom can change his current Class via the Soul Crystals, which affects both his Class and his Stats. He can only utilize one Soul Crystal at a time as well as only the Soul Crystals that he attained in his life. Each specific Soul Crystal grants Sorom access to weapons and armor suitable for that Class/Job. For instance, by becoming a Bard, his current Class is changed to Archer. Or by becoming a Ninja, his Class is changed to Assassin. These Soul Crystals also allow Saver to utilize any Noble Phantasm that he acquired during his adventures for that specific Class.
[Dimensional Satchel] "Bottomless Inventory"
Rank: C
Classification: Storage
Description: A magic satchel that all Adventurers of Eorzea carry on their person at all times. This artifact is able to store various tools and objects within such as weapons, armor, potions, and even food. The Warrior of Light has utilized this useful tool in his adventures whenever he had the time to store anything of value. However, this can only be activated outside of combat.
[Nova Fabula Crystallis] "Tales of Fantasy"
Rank: Unspecified
Classification: Undetermined
Description: Information currently unavailable.