AN – been awhile, and will be awhile before the next one.

... I may or may not be playing Elden Ring. You can't prove that I've been doing that. Just where did you hear something so terribly, absolutely correct? (So yeah, good game, been lost in Elden Ring land – update when I myself can drag myself away).

Chapter 33

There was only four of us going out tonight: me, Boudica, Chevalier d'Eon and Ereshkigal. Rider was our get-away vehicle for an emergency (now that her Noble Phantasm had recovered from the last time we broke it – dear lord, does it seem like we break that chariot a lot), Saber was the bodyguard/tank while Archer was our ranged dps. We had no plans to fight any large crowds; the intent of this evening was scouting for the Red Team.

Meanwhile, the others were left behind to hold down the fort against any potential attacks until we could return. Medea ran the bounded fields and supported, Scathach was our main line of defence, while Margaretha was left behind because we couldn't afford to bodyguard her and me. It made me feel a lot happier knowing she was behind some serious spellcraft.

I guess I would be better off there too – but I refused to hide away and leave business to everyone else.

We were heading straight towards one of the Edelfelt mansions – the one close to Kotomine Church. Why yes, we were poking the hornets nest, thank you very much.

"Yeah – there is definitely a Bounded Field here." Archer confirmed. From the ground, she grew a femur bone and tugged it out. Then, super casually, she threw it forwards. You could immediately see the field activate as the mass passed it by if you were observing it mystically. Even I could sense it.

No harm – merely an alert.

"And it definitely curves?" I asked.

"Yes." She nodded with resolve. "It has a wide curve and is a complete dome. I am fairly sure that this was set up by the Red Team... or is a very large and costly decoy."

"In that case, all we can do is test it. Right, Rider?"

"I'm on it." At her will her chariot manifested and we all mounted it. Then, we rode into enemy territory – not straight on but at an angle. We were riling them up, but we sure didn't want to head to the heart of their home ground and potentially face off against everyone, and be close enough to the edge to escape quickly.

Finally, we got a response as expected.

"What the – minions!?" Archer announced, already summoning her bow and firing right as a figure rose from the ground in front of us taller than some buildings – a giant golem of constantly shifting dirt and stone, a hand of soil looking to swat us out the sky. Archers shots struck true and the hand exploded, letting us pass through untouched.

"More at 7 o'clock!" Saber shouted. Rider adjusted her course, taking to the skies above where they could reach. We circled above, looking at the collection of large guardians amassing. Then, a Servant and a Master.

"Ohoh – you're a confident one, aren't you?" Lancer of Red appeared in a flash, weapon already drawn back and ready to throw.

"Unfortunately, we need him alive." A woman's voice said. From one of the streets to the left, she appeared with Assassin beside her. It took me a moment to place her. The last time we met, we didn't really exchange words as I was too busy trying to kill them all with a brainwashed Rider of Red. So that meant she was...

"Forte, right?" I snapped my fingers, the name finally coming to me. "Enforcer."

"That is indeed my name." She gave a little mocking bow. "So, have you come to partake in our famous hospitality."

"Very tempted." I called down. "Honestly just trying to meet the Neighbors."

"From all the way in the dock district?"

"Sure, why not?" I shrugged. "Take the fact that I don't have full Servant count as evidence that I'm not here to fight."

"Who says I care about that?" Forte noted with a dry voice. "You've been a pain in my ass from the beginning of this war and it would be my absolute pleasure to finally break your winning spree. Taking you down would be the best way to win this round of the war."

"Then why aren't you, hmm?" Archer interjected, arms crossed. "What do you want?"

"To size you up." She admitted. "And to speak of a mutual problem."

A mutual problem? What could she -?

Oh, right. "Waver's still with you. Guessing he's mentioned Gilgamesh!"

"As if this war isn't a big enough pain in my ass already." She growled. "So as much as I'd like to cut you to ribbons or get Lancer here to ground you, I unfortunately can't."

"Well, what a coincidence! I could get Archer here to shoot you down first, but I can't, because Gilgamesh is so bullshit I need every meat shield I can!"

"So kiddo, are you going to keep shouting down at us, or are you going to get down here so we can all talk like the responsible killers we are!?" Lancer was the one to ask this one.

I looked to my Servants for their opinion. A quick mental exchange later and I nodded. "Send away your Golems."

"Fine." A few shared words with someone and the Golems began to disperse, moving away and returning to the ground. When the coast was clear, Boudica finally started driving us closer. We stopped a few meters away and a few above – we were close enough to speak, close enough that I could throw a Runestone at her if I wished, and she could do so much worse to me in turn. The enemy Servants had their weapons still drawn, but very much is a loose, relaxed position.

But we were at an impasse. I came here to check the position of the Red Team and see about recruiting them for my anti-Gilgamesh task force, while they were in an even worse position to take on Gilgamesh themselves.

In other words... we needed each other alive more than we needed each other dead.

"So. Let's get down to -"

And that was when everything went wrong.

"Ambush!" Archer shouted. I wasn't sure what she'd seen or sensed, but everyone immediately reacted. Saber had already grabbed me and thrown.

I was airborne now and out of control – I didn't know where I was going and I was spinning. In other words, I couldn't see what happened behind me. All I could do was whisper the command to bring up my magic shield from the charm Medea made me then pull out a Runestone from my pocket. Vertical line – two lines more meeting in the middle, like a triangle attached to the middle. Thurisaz – for Defence. I quickly ran a current of energy through it and it became live.

Then I felt a whoosh of air behind me as something moved quickly and detonated. I could feel the explosive force of whatever just struck behind us – the sheer weight of the explosion tossed me even faster. As I hit the ground and skidded, I was ridiculously glad to have two layers of manual defence up to add to the defences Scathach had carved onto my clothing. Rather than going SPLAT, I merely went THUD.

It hurt really bad and I could feel bruising where I hit the ground – but no blood. No bones through my skin. And after having my heart crushed, this was nothing. I pushed myself to my feet and saw the entire land was once again alive with Golems. Forte was intact and wind was bellowing around her, while Assassin had clearly taken the worst of the hit for her. Lancer was also intact and was already reacting. He wasn't dashing to me though – he was looking elsewhere, towards the main city.

A third party?

"James!" Archer was already at my my side and throwing me over her shoulder. I should be more offended, but I frankly don't care.

"Bail!" I screamed. Someone... was trying to snipe us off. They'd used me and Forte coming together to talk as a nice chance to try and take us down with one big explosion. I should be grateful they hadn't gone for a more accurate shot on just one of us – because it looks like their plan failed, seeing as not one of us died.

"There's another!" Saber warned.

"You owe me one!" Forte snapped. "We need the Grey Master alive! Got it!?"

Nobody replied, but the Golems seemed to react. A red gleam shot through the night straight for me – I knew this to be true as I could feel its gleam dead ahead in my vision, even as Archer sprinted away with me, because the damn thing was curving. It was tracking our position and redirecting itself mid-flight.

Then, a Golem lurched between us and had its entire torso blown out as the projectile ploughed straight through.

"NOT ON MY WATCH!" Boudica was on the save, driving her chariot straight into the shot. Her defences dented – but held.

"I think its a sniper! So it has to be Archer of Blue!" I shouted. Had to be him – nobody else still in the competition could reasonably be able to shoot from so far away that the Red Team couldn't even sense them in their territory. It was very much EMIYA's preferred MO to snipe a target from afar.

"Can you hit him?" I prompted the Goddess still clutching me tight.

"Even if I could aim right now, no." She grit her teeth. "It's out of my range."

"Then could you shoot down the arrows?"

"Maybe." Better than nothing.

"Put me down. Thanks." Once my feet were on the floor and my Servant could aim again, I took a deep breath and called out to Forte "Hey, can you handle defence!? I'll send Rider and Saber."

"I don't take orders from you." She immediately replied with a sour look. "But fine."

I nodded my head and focused on my defensive shield – maximising its protective power. With Medea having made it, I bet it could take one shot from EMIYA if it wasn't one of his larger payload weapons. Maybe. I had to hope that Archer and the trio of earth Golems Forte had directed to surround me could keep the projectiles away long enough for Rider to get to EMIYA and shut him down.

I didn't need to tell Saber and Rider – they were already storming off atop the chariot.

["Hey Scathach. I think I've got EMIYA sniping on me, while I've got a Red Team I'm tentatively working with but fully expecting to be stabbed in the back by... despite us both needing the other for Gilgamesh. Can I summon you?"]

Because Scathach was very firm about not wanting to be Command Sealed, but I was also very firm about not dying and if anyone could bodyguard me with this enemies on hand, it was probably her.

["I don't like it. But I understand, and excuse you this time. You may summon me if your protections break and your need is great."]

["Cheers!"]

Okay, so I had her permission. Great. "Lancer," I began, channelling my Command Seal carefully. I wasn't using it... yet. It needed the command to be completed. 'Lancer, come here'. Two more words. If I rush the words, I could do it in a second or two. If I need her, she'll be here.

I waited for the next projectile to appear – for another sword to try and blow through our defences. But the seconds passed – nothing.

Then, thirty seconds of nothing as we all stood here tensely waiting while Rider accelerated away into the city's skyline.

Had Rider... already caught up? Or was EMIYA trying to lure us into a false sense of security then maybe assassinate one of us later?

"That... that... that asswipe!" Screamed Ereshkigal. "I should have expected it from that sarcastic bastard! It was a pot shot! He saw a chance and took it, but can't be bothered to enter a full fight yet, so after he saw we survived the first shot and his follow up, which were probably the shots most likely to kill, then saw we had the means to get fighters to him quickly, he probably just decided to leave."

"So... he's gone?"

"I don't know!" The blonde looked like she wanted to tug her hair out. "Because it would be just as in character for him to pretend he was doing that, then just try the same fucking thing later but with three shots instead!"

"Let's not take the chance then." I decided. ["Rider, back to me. It's probably a feint. Maybe he wants to draw you two out and Unlimited Blade Works you or something. Or snipe me later. Or something. I don't know, but he's crafty and resourceful. So we're retreating instead."]

"We're gonna go." I told the Red Team. "If we stick around, he'll probably take another shot. So we'll talk next time. But tentative Gilgamesh allies?"

Forte gave me what could almost be a smile if you ignored the cold desire in her eyes to disembowel me. "Tentatively. I'll gut you once the King of Heroes is dead, anyway. I'll be seeing you soon..." she finished with a promise.

"Great?" Rider was back, skidding across the floor as the full chariot spun to turn 180 degrees and be close enough for Saber's arm to lash out and immediately drag me onto the chariot so they could take off immediately. No more time for words, we were already dashing away.

For a moment I feared we'd left Archer behind, but nope, she'd grabbed the back of the chariot as it passed by and was holding on tight with a dissatisfied look on her face.

"Everyone in one piece?" A round of agreement. "Great. Then its time to go home and figure out what the hell we do now."

XXXXXXXXXX

A sword plunged into Makiri Zolgen's body with a rather satisfying thud – then two more followed suite, causing the man's body to break apart.

"Well, you have improved since last I saw you, haven't you Shirou Emiya?" Makiri said aloud, prodding at his maggot infested chest. "I keep saying this, but this isn't my real body, so this is merely an exercise in futility."

"I figured." The Emiya admitted. "But it is satisfying."

"Also not the first time that has been said either." The ancient Magus shrugged. "Do you want to impale me a few more times just to stall for time while that Archer tries to get into a position to find my real body, or should we cut to the chase?"

Unfortunately for Shirou Emiya, Makiri Zolgen was as sharp as ever. And he didn't expose himself like this without a few precautions.

"What do you want anyway?"

"I wanted to meet you face to face." He admitted. "I suppose I see something in you that I once had, and can see how you've lost it too. I wanted to ask for your wish."

"To save my sister." Shirou's reply was blunt and to the point. "Which would have been easier without your interference."

"Maybe. No, probably." Makiri shrugged. "I assumed as such. Frankly, I felt that considering my own selfish choices, I at least owed it you to look you in the eyes and acknowledge you before this all comes to an end."

"Well, you've looked me in the eyes. Are you satisfied?"

He hummed much in the way an elderly man would – very much still having some of his old habits, despite his new youthful appearance. "Yes. I have confirmed our similarities. Two fools who both wanted to save everyone, both bound to an Einzbern they each wanted to protect above all else... and both having paid with their dreams to reach where they are now. Yes, I can confirm that of all my enemies, you are the one I will regret killing the most." And at his words, the world began to blacken.

BANG. A new sword plunged into his body from behind. "Ah." Zolgen laughed. "And Archer enters the conversation. Do you have anything you wish to add to this discussion?"

"Your wasting your time and your breath, Zouken." the Counter Guardian manifested, throwing one more sword. This one was less destructive and failed to strike Zolgen, instead plunging into the ground behind him before activating.

"Pinned shadow? Been awhile since I've suffered a Black Key..." with that, Zolgen gave up and his body broke apart completely and the nigh-time reverted to its normal colour of shadow. Despite the insect puppet having now broken up, his voice remained as loud and clear as ever. "You are a dangerous Servant, Archer of Blue. Farewell."

With that, the encounter ended almost anticlimactically. If it weren't for the dead bugs scattered around them, it would be as if he had never been there in the first place.

"I didn't need you to step in Archer." Grouched Shirou, not looking the other man in the eyes. "You should have kept up the attack against the Greys. Did you even get anyone?"

"Tch. Zouken is dangerous enough normally, let alone after whatever the hell he's done to himself now. And with what he was trying to do at the end there? You are too incompetent to match up against him – and if you died now, then the work I put in bringing you up to absolute basic competency would be wasted."

Shirou had the feeling that the Archer was correct – but that didn't mean he was right, or that Shirou had to acknowledge that fact at all.

"We'll try again another night. Maybe we'll get luckier tomorrow." Either way, it was time for a very long and very awkward journey back to the Einzbern castle.

XXXXXXXXXX

As was tradition, so began the post battle break down. Everyone was sat down nursing our drinks of choice, generally just making ourselves comfortable before the proper talk began.

"So, anyone got anything they want to bring up?" I began, opening the floor to the team.

"Well, there isn't much aside from the obvious." Admitted Boudica. "We confirmed where the Red Team was and they appeared interested in an alliance against Gilgamesh which is a plus. If that Forte woman was being honest, anyway."

"You don't think she was?" Prodded Margaretha. "Was there anything about her behaviour that stood out? Or is it just a gut feeling?"

She shrugged. "Mostly just a feeling. Forte didn't really seem like she was lying. She just seemed pissed." Yes, that was a Magus that really didn't like me. Probably didn't like my novice ass making it this far into the game. "But you always need to consider it when it comes to alliances. I mean, just look at when we teamed up with the Blue Team." Ouch – hand to the heart. I'll never live that one down, will I?

"So if they agree, great! If not, we'll deal. But they'd have to be idiots to prioritise us above Gilgamesh." He was like the most nonsense foe you could find yourself up against in a War, after all.

"We also saw some more of their capabilities. Golem making..." Chevalier d'eon hmmm'ed, apparently thinking deeply on the matter. "It doesn't narrow it down too much since many Caster's could pull it off, but they definitely seemed more western than eastern."

"I'm not sure if those were Golems." Disagreed Ereshkigal. "Earth aligned yes, but they felt a lot more... primal. They weren't alive by any means, but there was definitely something animating them. I think they are more likely Elementals."

"Elementals... is that generic fire, water, earth and air spirit stuff?"

The former Magus nodded her head. "To vastly oversimplify the explanation, yes. I fully expect Caster of Red to be able to summon those of other elements."

"And then to top off the night, we almost got sniped. We all know there is only one valid target for that." Yeah Lily, the exploding sword was a bit of a give away.

"So that Servant is still in the game, huh?"

"You're looking rather thoughtful Ereshkigal. Any complications?"

"Not really, just... remembering him." She smiled a little. "I'm kinda glad he isn't dead since he was this host's Servant at one point, but I also wish he wasn't since now we must fight."

"Well, we need to fight him at some point, but we need him first." Rule Breaker and what not. "So yeah, glad he's still in play. And I think we can conclude one other thing from this about him in particular."

Lancer, who had been silently observing the discussion as she hadn't been at the meeting in person, finally chipped in. "His Master, no?"

"... well, you aren't wrong." A bit anticlimactic to just reveal it before I could but there we go. "He probably isn't contracted to the Red Team. I imagine they might be a bit more pissed off at the backstabbing and Forte looked too surprised for it to be a planned attack by her. I guess he could be Master-less, but I doubt it. We're probably past his Independent Action's cutoff point. So that leaves two options. Scratch that, three. He could be contracted to someone completely unknown and out of context – that is technically an option. But the two major ideas are Medea or Shirou."

"Shirou? Why him?" My own Medea asked. "Wouldn't it be more likely for him to choose my other self if he wants the maximum chance of getting the Grail?"

"Remember, he doesn't want the Grail. He's a Counter Guardian. Other interests on his plate. One of those interests includes killing his younger selves, so that might on paper rule it out, but hear me out. He does that to stop the Shioru walking the same path he did, and also maybe to paradox himself out of existence. But this Shirou has already turned away from his path to walk the 'Ilya Route'. If there was any Shirou that EMIYA might be willing to work with, it would be this one."

That was my personal guess anyway. It lines up with how conservative the Archer had played that encounter anyway, since Shirou has a lot less magical oomph to play around with than Rin or Medea the Elder, who lets be honest, could let EMIYA spam so god-damn much.

"So does this impact... anything?" asked Lily.

"Not really. This was just the first night of the second round. I think everyone is still finding their feet still. I think that everything is going to just kick off all at once, but until then, there just isn't much to do."

"Then what do we do tomorrow?" Asked Medea.

"Something I'm really not looking forwards to." I admitted. Because tomorrow we has two objectives to tackle.

Number one, we knew EMIYA was around and likely paired with Shirou. They could be anywhere in Fuyuki, but I'd bet real money that they would still be hanging out at the Einzbern mansion. We needed at least one of the two of them for Rule Breaker, and if possible we needed them on hand for Gilgamesh as they'd significantly raise our chances of victory. But this was going to be an awkward talk at best and a fatal one at worst.

Then there was number two: Medea... the Elder. Even if I hated her guts and couldn't trust her as far as I could throw her (not very far at all), she was still a major player. I had to at least try and get her on board for Gilgamesh – I hoped that she would be pragmatic enough to see the logic in it. If she sent even one of her faction to assist us, that could be the difference between victory and defeat. I was just kicking myself for seeing the logic too – the last 'alliance' didn't work very well, after all.

But it had to be done. There was no way past that Demigod except through him – and no way through him except with excessive numbers and even more excessive trump cards. And even then, there were no guarantees concerning Humanities oldest and strongest Hero.

"James, you're doing that thing again." Hushed Boudica, bringing my attention back to the group. I was acutely aware of how I'd completely tuned out everyone else, too busy worrying about Gilgamesh. "If tomorrow is going to be so busy, you'd best get a lot of rest now."

"Indeed." Scathach rose from her seat and gave me a stern 'obey our common sense' look. "We should maximise your gains tomorrow, so I intend to put you through your paces tomorrow. No slacking off will be permitted going forwards." Slacking off? That was my best, I'll have you know!

"Oh joy." Despite myself, I found myself yawning. "Fine. Meeting over. Go do what it is Servants do. I'm off to sleep."

"Pleasant dreams~" offered Medea cutely and brightly – far too energetically for this time of night.

"I'll try." Then again, with who I would inevitably end up meeting in my dreams, 'pleasant' was furthest from the truth.