AN- whoo boy. Once upon a time, I said I would release this chapter in January.
*insert the Spongebob meme here- 8 months later*
So yeah. That didn't happen. For a lot of reasons. Like, a lot. As in January was the worst month for writing for me ever- with enough drama to fill a post on its own. And then I went back to uni and kinda put writing on the backburner to finish off my final year strong. And then I had to graduate. Then I moved. Then we had mice. Then a lot of drama happened. Then I had writers block due to having actually played FGO and realising just how many things could have been done with this fic…
And then (now, rather), I'm actually starting my full-time job.
It's been a VERY long journey to release this. And I'm honestly not happy with it, but fuck it, at least its released. I intend to finish this eventually, and it IS attainable, seeing as I'm about at the 40% mark.
Hopefully next chapter should be out sooner.
Recap: James summons his sixth Servant, Mata Hari Is Actually Useful and scopes out the Red Team via Gilgamesh intervention and Grey Team enters into an alliance with the Blue Team to assault the temple.
Chapter 21
It was a tense moment for all of us, when the actual battle began. Our groups agreed to remain separate to prevent an enemy Assassin or Archer from spotting our alliance- so the Blue Team headed off first to make the first strike- while we were close enough to be able to spot the action and add our own forces when the way to the temple was clear.
And then, through the eyes of Medea, I saw the Blues began their swift assault upon the temple guardians.
Lancer of Blue had slunk in from the shadows like a rabid beast with his leash finally removed, and with a loud roar of approval he sprinted for the gates like a madman- while behind him EMIYA followed behind with a barrage of arrows, and Caesar kept pace beside them. He didn't seem too concerned with attacking his own allies, anyhow. Then, bringing up the rear were the Masters. Rin, Kotomine and Older!Medea- with Kozuki just ahead in case any combatants made for the weak parts of the alliance.
And there, at the gates, Medea projected the image of the Servants whom manifested to halt their progress. A loud roar accompanied the monstrous form of Berserker of Red as he manifested before Lancer of Blue. Human shaped, bare chested, a horned helmet obscuring his face which didn't prevent his ash like hair from escaping out the back. Berserker was clutching an axe which was immediately swinging at Lancer's neck, which was blocked just as easily. Cu Chulainn just as easily handled the broadsword that the second Servant attempted to use- held by a white-haired man garbed in a trenchcoat. "That's Assassin, I'd reckon."
Then, a final combatant stepped forwards to help apply more pressure and keep Lancer away from the temple. The enemy Lancer of Red- Hector. He opened his mouth to speak, saying something I couldn't hear due to the absence of sound that Medea was providing, and then there was a massive flare of power.
"Master, it's an activation of a Noble Phantasm." It was bad enough that I could feel it from here, as the ground all around the temple trembled as I caught a brief glimpse of glowing walls rising from the floor in indescribable patterns, then the structure rose up and encompassed every combatant. Then, the walls vanished as quickly as they appeared- leaving the mountain steps completely bare.
"What the fuck?" I wondered to myself- everyone was gone.
"I should have guessed. Asterios… otherwise known as the Minotaur." Medea spoke softly. The minotaur… and with him his Labyrinth. "I'm glad we don't need to fight him. I don't think that even with my magic that I would be able to navigate the Labyrinth. It has more mystical weight than anything I can pull out at short notice."
"Focus on the fight at hand." Scathach said pointedly, manifesting her twin spears. Menacing and crimson- they were all but identical the Gae Bolg. Considering in mythology my Lancer was the one to give the damned murder spear to Cu Chulainn it didn't surprise me that Lancer possessed a copy (well, copies) too.
"Right, are we all ready to go?" Rider asked, a resolute tone in her voice.
A round of nods, so Rider summoned her chariot and we all mounted it- the vehicle itself expanding slightly to accommodate so many riders. The way to the temple was clear and we intended to ride straight in.
Then with a rush of speed, we moved off. Faster than ever before, Rider drove her mount with more intensity than I'd ever experienced before. What was once a distant temple was now startlingly close by- and then I blinked and we were halfway up the stairs. A deep breath, and we'd plunged straight through the gates. A Servant had taken a defensive position there- no doubt awaiting to see the results of the Labyrinth when the Noble Phantasm ended- Caster only narrowly avoided getting run over by our arrival by a movement spell of some kind.
Our ride skidded to a halt right in the middle of the temple grounds, stopping briefly for several of our numbers to leap off, weapons ready.
"An alliance? How audacious?" A scathing voice rung out across the temple. "But if the Grey Team wishes to take advantage of the Blue Teams assault, then they'd best be ready for death."
That's when the explosions started.
XXXXXXXXXX
Asterios' mind was taken back to those endless years of skulking in the darkness, of hunting and screams and terror, of those that had tried to kill him and those that he had been destined to kill. And he that had in turn been destined to slay the monster that he was. It wasn't hard to do so- in many ways, Asterios was always thinking of the darkness, despite seeking the sun.
And here he was once more, power thrumming in his veins from his Master, with his Noble Phantasm Chaos Labyrinthos trapping new victims.
He didn't want to kill them, but they'd come to kill him, and his Master had asked him to do it. Familiar habits, familiar situations.
He could smell them. The Servants Master told him were friends, and all the others. The invaders. All of them were scattered in the depths, Servants separated from Masters, wandering aimlessly. He could feel the Labyrinth at work, twisting and changing and actively guiding them. They would have no luck navigating, and no luck escaping. But the labyrinth seeks conflict. Blood would be spilled. They'd find each other, if not the exit.
Asterios found himself roaring. His first prey approached. He'd kill them quickly, them move onto the next one. Six kills, right? And then…
"Finally, a fight." A blue clad figure stepped from around the corner. A rune held in one hand, projecting excessive light into the wide passageway, with a spear twirling in his other hand. "This war has been far too boring so far. So, hows'about we throw down, eh, beastie?"
Beast. Yes. Monster. He was Asterios to himself and his beautiful Master, but to others...
"Kill." Asterios growled, clutched his weapon tighter, then charged.
"Excellent! Give this everything you have!" Lancer responded with equal relish and bloodlust, rushing forwards to meet him.
XXXXXXXXXX
Elsewhere within the maze, a rather unusual fight was occurring.
Assassin of Red, Sanson, was on the defensive. And not even against a Servant.
The hard-faced man in a suit he was facing… if not for his high Luck, Sanson would have fallen within the first few seconds of battle.
When Assassin had found an enemy Master in the twisting passageways and not a Servant, he'd fully intended to let the man live. Force him to use his Command Seal to kill his own Servant, yes, but never kill. This war was messy enough even as it was, so he could at least do his duty in the least bloody manner possible.
Now, if only the enemy Master didn't defy all expectations.
A hand aimed for the jugular, a chop from an implausible angle towards the armpit, a lunge towards the weakest point on the spinal cord, an iron like strike at the liver… each and every blow would be fatal if it collided. His Human Anatomy Study skill clearly told Assassin that each and every strike was fatal, that the man before him was arguably just as used to killing as he was, and mayhaps… he was even better than him at it.
By all rights, this was impossible. A modern human this good at killing, albeit from the bloody angle of assassination as opposed to his clinical ability as an executioner… even with Magecraft boosting his abilities, this was surprising.
Assassin was forced to fall back under the barrage, his extra reach from his claymore being of no use to him here.
Sanson frowned. "Just who are you anyway?"
"Nothing more than a decayed killer." He replied, slipping smoothly into the next stance of his style.
"Surrender. You don't need to die today."
"I could say the same to you." Well, Assassin didn't find the Master to be wrong.
"So be it." Sanson's own stance hardened. His enemy was exceptional… but he was still only human. He excelled at swift murder, but Sanson was starting to understand. In many ways, his enemy was predictable in his unpredictability. Every strike was fatal, every blow designed to end the encounter or overwhelm the enemy to the point of failure. The death of unpredictability was understanding, and Charles-Henri Sanson understood killing.
Before, Sanson was surprised, on the defensive, with little real to desire to needlessly kill. Now, he couldn't ignore the very real threat the hollow man standing in his way possessed. He would sever his enemies head cleanly, Sanson decided. It would be the least he could do.
XXXXXXXXXX
As for Caesar? Caesar was undeniably lost.
"What I wouldn't give to be able to just demolish this whole damn monument." The Roman grumbled, walking through the tunnels. He was in no rush- he knew of the legend of the Minotaur. No point struggling to escape, when either the beast would come to him eventually or someone else would slay him. And frankly, the Saber Servant didn't rate his own chances highly should he encounter the monster.
At the very least, the longer he spent in these tunnels, the less time he spent in combat with those he once called allies. Once upon a time, Caesar had greatly respected Iskandar the Conqueror, so to be able to work with him in person…
Circumstances change, however. And for his wish to see Cleopatra and his son once more…
"War cannot be fought without blood." But if he could leave his hands just a little bit cleaner than they had been in life, well, that would be a positive.
XXXXXXXXXX
"An Archer with swords, hmmm? How very unusual." Lancer of Red noted with a playful smile after yet another round of clashes which left the pair of Chinese blades broken, and another projected in their place.
"You aren't the first Lancer to be surprised." Archer of Blue said, shrugging. This needless banter bothered him, but he wasn't one to waste an advantage, and if Lancer wished to waste time talking that was fine with him. His Master had told him that Medea had been able to contact her and had confirmed that all other Red Servants were also battling- his Master was safe for the moment in the Labyrinth, and the longer they remained within the more chance there was of the remainder Red Team members and reluctant Grey allies had of bleeding each other out.
"Still, such fragile swords only go so far. Laziness is fine if coupled with confidence, so if this is how it is… what are you waiting for?" Lancer was as sharp as his namesake. Though, considering how his enemy was the legendary Hector of the Gleaming Helmet based upon that spear he carried, this wasn't a surprise. "I see. Well, while I'd like to use my prerogative as an old man to take my time here, I probably shouldn't." Hector's golden spear gleamed as he actively prepared himself for using it.
Archer waited patiently- in a battle, one must always be ready for anything their enemy can throw at them. Understanding is what was the most fundamental part of forming a response. And unfortunately for Lancer of Red, Archer of Blue already knew everything he needed to do to counter that Noble Phantasm from the very moment he laid his eyes upon it.
Durindana, a golden bladed Noble Phantasm capable of swapping its shape between sword and spear format. Its most famous property, however, was its legend. Said to be able to pierce anything, this fact has carried on into its now ascended Noble Phantasm state. If it is thrown, and if it strikes, then no defence may prevent the damage it inflicts.
Well… no normal defence.
"Time to get serious…" For a single moment, Lancer's carefree features hardened as he aimed his weapon- expecting his foe to dodge once the throw was made, and consequently preparing himself to readjust his own aim. "Target confirmed. Durindana, fly away!"
And then the Noble Phantasm was deployed. Hector threw his mighty spear so quickly that sparks erupted behind it as it shot forwards in the tight confines of the corridor.
Archer wasn't worried, however. After all, the one thing that could block such an attack already existed within his Unlimited Blade Works. "Rho… Aias!"
XXXXXXXXXX
The ground detonated. I had a brief vision of lines criss-crossing along the floor suddenly bursting into glorious light, and then the ringing sound of multiple booms rung out and I couldn't hear any more.
When I blinked away the light dancing in my line of sight, I realised that our plan was already in motion. We were completely unscathed from the trap thanks to a combination of Medea's hasty defence and Boudica's own Noble Phantasm, and already Boudica had urged her chariot onwards towards the back of the temple, to where Mata Hari had directed us. On the chariot, there was now only myself, Boudica, Scathach and Kiyohime- we'd left behind Medea and Lily.
A quick glance behind me saw that someone had gone to intercept them- the Caster I remembered primarily for setting fire to the hotel I'd been staying in. His sword was glowing and around him he was protected by a hundred fiery forms- were those fire spirits, or something more dangerous?
I had little time more to wonder about that, as another Servant was already firing upon us. The Archer of Red was stood atop one of the temple roofs and was strumming his beautiful bow, and yet what fired weren't arrows but instead something akin to blasts of compressed wind, accompanied by an almost mournful trill.
"Leave this to me." Lancer said, simply. She gave me a small smile, before leaping from the moving chariot with surprising grace while spinning her spear before her to block the arrows. Again, I had only a single moment to see how the fight began- with Lancer closing the distance quickly while batting aside numerous sonic arrows and the Archer leaping away in response, before our chariot was racing on ahead of the battle.
"Over there!" I shouted, pointing at the building in question where the Masters were meant to be hiding within. One might consider this set up suspicious, but I didn't care. The Red Team had only allowed me to go this far because they wanted me to come to them, since they still had their final and arguably strongest Servant to serve as the final line of defence. Why bother having their Servants act as a remaining block to prevent us intruding further into their defences, when they could instead isolate my Servants one at a time and then hit the one supplying them with their strongest Servant?
Then again, they didn't know that I knew. I knew exactly how to deal with Iskandar the Conqueror. And I wanted to go for the equally squishy Masters he was protecting.
"Fool." The voice of Cornelius Alba rang out once again. Arrogant asshat. "Do it now, Rider."
Rider manifested in a blur of light, standing proud and strong as he did so. He lucked fairly unconcerned by the chariot now aimed directly at him, instead looking aside to the main building. "Hmm. Do I really need to listen to such a spineless coward?"
"You do." Waver Velvet made a brief cameo, stepping out from the protections to address his Servant. "One does not always choose who their allies are."
"But even so…"
We skidded to a stop a hundred meters or so away from him. "Sup." I said, brightly greeting them. "How goes the war? Fancy a chat?"
"Ah, now this one seems to have the right of it." The vast man beamed brightly. "It seems you wish to speak, do you not, Master of Grey!? Well, I am Iskandar the Conqueror! Before battle begins, let us parley!"
"El Meloi, control your Servant." Cornelius' voice was now more tense. His words before had been 'do it now'. But Rider was really in no real rush to begin this, nor was I. "Our enemy is at our door, and now is the time to cut him down!"
"One does not so easily control a Servant, Alba." Waver sounded just a little bit amused.
"Took that one quite a bit of time to figure it out, mind you." Laughed the Rider before returning his attention to us. "So then, two pretty ladies and their Master has come to me. Blood will naturally be spilled, but before we begin, I shall ask you one thing."
"Only if I may ask you something in return." I replied, easily.
"Very well then! My question is less directed to you, young Master, and more to your guardians. I wish to conquer the world, raising allies in a glorious race to the ends of the world themselves! I may not know you, but you are Heroic Spirits none the less! Will you join me at my side!?"
Kiyohime's face turned up in disgust. "I follow only my Anchin. The thought of anyone else is repulsive."
Boudica gave me a teasing look and gave her own reply. "Well, you aren't Roman, and I suppose I could do with better working conditions…" I gave her arm a light slap. "Well, the boss has spoken. Seems I'm already preoccupied."
"A shame." He shook his head. "Unfortunately, due to the nature of this War, I am not 'allowed' to draw this out too long lest my Master suffer from his allies. Likewise, while my allies bleed in battle I cannot sit out. Master of Grey, what is your question?"
"This is for both you AND your Master, actually." I said, looking over to Waver and making sure he was also listening.
"Ask it quickly, then." Waver decided.
"I ordered you to do it now." Alba said via his Magecraft, his voice audibly annoyed by the delay in the execution of his 'plan'. If he'd had his way, Rider would have been fighting before a word had so much been said, which would have been bad for me.
"And Rider does as he wills." Waver gestured to the visibly smug king. "Ask."
"Rider of Red and Waver Velvet," I began, speaking loudly and clearly, looking Rider dead in the eyes. Then, I asked the single question which would absolutely win me this battle. "Would you kindly turn on the Red Team and kill all your former allies?"
For a moment, the world stopped at the absolute ridiculousness of my question. It was absurd, to seriously ask that, and Riders face showed it… until the light in his eyes dulled and he shrugged as if it was the most understandable thing in the world. He grinned. "Sure. I'll do that just now."
And then the pause was broken by the massive outflow of power coming from Rider of Red as he prepared to unleash his greatest Noble Phantasm, while Waver sprinted towards Rider and away from the Reds base. "Ionioi Hetairoi!" invoked Rider as the world faded away in a flash of light.
By the time I opened my eyes, we were in a completely new world. The sun beat down harshly overhead, a dry wind had picked up across the infinite arid lands, while in the distance foots upon the ground could be heard. Boudica and Kiyohime were close by my side, while ahead of us stood Iskandar and his Master. And far across from us were the Red Team… and they didn't look happy.
Luvia pused her lips. "A traitor? This I didn't expect from you, El Meloi."
"Because he isn't one. Brainwashing is a bitch." I explained simply. "Oh, and while I remember, Iskandar, Waver, would you kindly accept no other orders from anyone expect myself tonight?"
"Sure." Waver shrugged. "No hard feelings, but we're under new management."
One of the Masters, Reines El Meloi, had a hard look on her face. "I see. A Noble Phantasm- was it that harlot you dragged around the temple earlier?" I shut my mouth- she hit the nail on the head. When Mata Hari encountered Iskandar and Waver I felt her suck up a lot of Prana because she took a risk and activated her final trump card, the Noble Phantasm named after herself, Mata Hari: The Girl Who Has Sunny Eyes- an ensnaring dance which absolutely brainwashes a target until the following sunrise. With that, Mata Hari was easily able to pick Wavers brains for everything he knew about the Red Team, as well as personally visit the base of operations. And for good measure, she even stuck a trigger command into them just in case. Thus, the reason for my confidence- the Red Teams final line of defence was my trump card from the very start of this attack, and specifically why if I was going to attack the Red Team, tonight would give me the best odds.
"I'm correct then, aren't I?" Reines concluded.
A slow clap from the asshat Cornelius Alba. "Turning our trap against us… well played."
"Sorry but not sorry. Now, kindly do your stuff Iskandar."
Rider manifested his horse and chariot and mounted it, while the sound of an army marching became louder and louder still. From all sides I could see the endless army of the conqueror marching on their former allies. Check. "Observe, my true friends. Their bodies may be ash and their stories long since told, but tonight they answer my call even still! We ride once more! Towards the ends of the earth once more! AAAALaLaLaLaLaie!"
And then the King began to storm, and his followers rode with him, all converging on the isolated Masters.
This wasn't over though- not by a long shot. "Everyone on the chariot!" Boudica argued, and we all complied, getting on, even Waver. He was a little out of place, having little to do for now, but he had his role still to play. I'd find a use for him. We rode alongside the Conqueror, easily keeping pace with him.
Reines raised a hand and confidently made an order. "Lancer, to my side." A Command Seal is absolute, and one of the attackers against the Blue Team would naturally need to be recalled in order to defend against the three Servants coming for the Red Masters. Hector appeared in a flash of light, definitely looking worst for wear based upon the jagged cuts running along his side.
He took one long look at the situation he'd been summoned into, before sighing so prominently I could see it even across the vast distance. "Can you manage one more, my Master?"
"I have the Prana."
"Very well then." He readied his spear, making it very apparent what he was about to do.
"Time for some defensive manoeuvres!" Boudica shouted, veering to the left and accelerating hard as we swept away from Rider. Then, Hector spun around. "This time, no shield will be allowed. Target confirmed. Durindana, fly away!"
And then the spear was cast towards the main body of Rider of Reds army at supersonic speeds. I could feel the detonation as it struck the army in the middle, exploding in a large burst of flame which decimated the ranks from the middle. "Huh. I woulda thought that would be an Anti-Unit ability, not Anti-Army."
Then again, considering how many Sabers had laser swords…
"Stay on target!" I reminded Boudica. She nodded.
"Who are we aiming for?" Waver asked quietly.
"Alba." I told him. Frankly, I wasn't sure if Iskandar would even succeed at killing any Masters, but I didn't really expect him to. The Red Team would be fools not to blow all their Command Seals pulling back their Servants.
"Ah. Use the chaos to strike down the 'leader' of the Red Team. Not a bad plan." Waver seemed to approve, anyhow.
"Assassin, to my side." Another order was spoken amidst the chaos. That meant the woman whom spoke was Forte- and Charles Henri Sanson was entering the fray. The Executioner arrived at her side in a flash of light.
"Rider, dodge!" bellowed Waver, burning a Command Seal, fully expecting what I was. After all, I had gotten my information on Assassin indirectly from Waver himself.
"Assassin, KILL!" Forte used another Command Seal.
Two opposing orders. One to absolutely dodge, and one to absolutely kill. Sanson raised a hand. "Executing the sentence. La Mort Espoir!"
Here, two things occurred simultaneously. Iskandar leapt from his chariot (letting it continue moving forwards on its own), blade drawn and rocketing towards the Assassin Servant; Sanson lowered his hand. An oversized guillotine appeared overhead- it would be almost comical due to its 'overkill' nature if it didn't give off such an ominous aura.
The blade fell, and the battle between Rider and Assassin ended in a single move.
At the end of the day, that Noble Phantasm was based around killing. One check- success equals death. And it was employed by one that excelled at execution. Meanwhile, Iskandar was a ridiculously lucky soul that had been ordered to absolutely dodge this attack. To dodge death itself.
So who would come out on top? It might have been down to a flip of a coin, for all anyone knew.
But in the end, the outcome was absolute.
Boudica urged her chariot on amongst the cacophony of the world itself breaking down around us- as the Servant that had maintained the Reality Marble was no longer in this world.
"Rider…" I couldn't look Waver in the face- even while controlled by a Noble Phantasm, his mind and emotions dulled, his agony was still apparent. Anyone that said Waver didn't love his Servant in at least some way clearly had never heard the heartbreak in his voice at this one moment.
And I was the direct cause of this death.
I suppressed the feeling of guilt- after all, Waver would have killed me and my Servants without question. He chose to enter this War after all- and in War people die.
As the real world appeared once more, I saw that we had reappeared not by the building the Red Team had been hiding within but by the grand lake that served as the battlefield for the end of the Fate route in the original Visual Novel- and that everyone else had been scattered nearby too. In other words, Riders last act had been to fulfil the order I had given him previously to the best of his ability- truly turning on the Red Team by removing them all from the strongest protections they had.
Even in death, Iskandar the Conqueror was a freaking beast.
I felt out my connection with Boudica and overclocked it. I didn't care how much power it took- so long as Rider got every bit of speed possible out of her ride as possible.
Cornelius Alba barely had time to utter a single word before Boudica was cleaving off his head with her blade.
"Summoning isn't a free action." Alba was a typical Magus, and with that came flaws. Mages duels typically take turn, and as a Magus he is prone to less indecisive and impulsive decisions. And Alba is a damn fine Magus- and one of the hardest to face in a direct fight.
Unfortunately, Alba should have summoned his Servant the moment Rider of Red was compromised. He didn't though- seeking to preserve his Command Seals and keep two of my Servants away, and that delay cost him his life.
One of my main objectives for this attack was complete. The Red Team was bloodied. They'd lost Iskandar, one of the scariest threats to my Team in this war. And I'd gotten revenge against that asshat too.
"Good work." I told Boudica. She offered me a reassuring smile but said nothing more. Treachery doesn't come easily to that woman, and I don't blame her. I'm just grateful that this hadn't led to another Shinji Incident- that she cared more for our survival and victory than that of our enemy.
["Master, the Blue Team is free."] I heard Saber speak in my mind.
["Hmm?"]
["Whatever was keeping the Blue Team trapped broke while you were in that Reality Marble. They're back."] Okay, so another of the Red Team is down. Probably whoever was trapping them- what I wouldn't give to be the fly on the wall that watched that fight.
"The Blue Team is free!" I announced loudly, telling the Red Team what they were probably already being told by their own Servants via telepathy. "Retreat!" I suggested.
A quick set of looks between the other Red Team members. A decision was reached, one of them nodded, and the others followed suit.
"Do you intent to let us go freely?" Hector asked.
"I don't wanna fight right now." I agreed. "So please. Feel free to run." Run directly towards the only exit, the one where the Blue Team was probably based at. Please run, so that we may flank you from the rear, thank you.
"You should listen to the boy. After all, our fight isn't with you." A familiarly coy voice rung out. I look to where the main body of the temple was to see Medea the Elder hanging in the air casually, her Master by her side.
"What the flippity fuck are you doing here?" I asked, incredulously. Rather, why wasn't she battling the other Red Team members? Why was she here?
"You should have listened to my younger self better. I'm betraying you." Her statement of intent was just as casual as my own delivery to Waver and Iskandar had been, and the betrayal itself was just as quick- though to my eyes, it was as if everything was in slow motion.
Kiyohime was in motion within nanoseconds, grabbing me by the shoulder and throwing me to the floor so quickly I was sure my arm had just been dislocated- using her own body as a shield. Rider was taking a defensive stance, eyes wandering far and wide for signs of Casters betrayal. But my eyes weren't on Caster- she couldn't betray. Not easily, anyhow. My eyes were elsewhere.
On the fast-moving shadow that was already lunging for my torso. Kiyohime reacts, but far too late. The figure's arm stretches unnaturally, bleeding a malicious red light which finally alerts Boudica to his presence. She motions for her chariot to start once more, but its already too late.
I open my mouth to speak, but then a cold, clammy hand brushes across my torso almost carefully, before pulling backwards, something throbbing forming in his palm.
As I look at the skeletal mask of the Hassan of the Cursed Arm and the phantasmal copy of my heart beating in time with my own heart, only then did I finally understand the final warning Gilgamesh had given Mata Hari, and of just how wrong my perception of the Blue Teams state had been.
"Oh yeah. There are still two more… two more Assassins."
Finally, the Assassin of Blue spoke a single word and crushed my heart, and I knew no more.
