Class: Archer
True Name: Hereward the Wake
AKA: Hereward the Outlaw, Hereward the Exile
Parameters
Strength: B+ Mana: B+
Endurance: A Luck: B+
Agility: EX NP: C+
Skills
Aiming: A-
Charisma: C-
Clairvoyance: C-
Determination of Steel: B
Disengage: C
Identification Misdirection: A
Independent Action: B+
Magic Resistance: C+
Sabotage: A
Noble Phantasms
Warden of Ely – Hero of the Isle | Rank: B
Unhorsing Shot – Denial of all Pursuit | Rank: C-
Hereward… the Wake…?
…Who the hell was Hereward the Wake?! Sure, I wasn't like Nathan or anything, but who the fuck was this guy?! I've never heard of an archer with a name even close to something like that!
And those skills! Those stats! Freaking EX ranking Agility?! Not even Lancer had EX ranking in anything, and he was literally standing in his home country! Not to mention Lancer was surely far more famous than however the hell this Hereward guy was!
…It must have something to do with what he did to the roof…
A quick check of Archer's Noble Phantasms would prove the assumption true. His Noble Phantasm 'Warder of Ely' was a form of territory creation.
So even though we're in Britain, Archer narrowed it down even further; a specific location…
At least, outside of Agility, Lancer still had Archer beat. Not that it was doing much good for us though, seeing as Lancer was having a hard enough time just trying to close the distance between himself and Archer.
Pling! Pling! Pling Pling Pling!
"What's the problem, Lancer" Archer called out from somewhere within one of the trees. "Am I moving too fast for ya?"
Pling Pling! Pling! Pling Pling!
Lancer didn't even have time to respond before more arrows rained down on him. I swear though, it looked as if the arrows had come from a different tree than the last volley. No, I knew it was coming from a different tree! When the hell did he switch his position though; never even saw him move!
Pling Pling Pling!
"Lancer, are you-"
"I'm fine, though I admit this isn't how I envisioned-"
Lancer was cut off as more arrows came at him from seemingly nowhere, this time aimed right at his legs. While he managed block them with his shield in time, the sudden movement by him in order to defend himself caused him to lose his balance and stumble forward, nearly slipping on the muddy ground.
Pling Pling!
"Careful now, old timer" Archer laughed again. "This is no time to go and roll in the mud!"
Pling Pling Pling!
"You know Archer" Lancer called back, and I could hear a slight edge in his voice, despite his smile, "this is far from what I'd call an honorable method of battle!"
"I'm a mercenary, Lancer, not a knight! Besides, honor couldn't save my people from the Normans! Did it save yours from the Saxons?!"
"Oh, now that's a low blow, Archer!"
"Ha! That was far from a low blow, Lancer! But this won't be!"
Pling Pling Pling Pling Pling Pling Pling Pling Thwunk!
"Lancer!"
"Just a- a bit of a flesh wound" Lancer tried to sound reassuring as he swiftly pulled the arrow out from where in punctured his armor, right in the thigh, though he couldn't fully mask the grunt as he pulled it out.
"My respect, Lancer! Seems I'll have to kick it up a notch if I wish to topple a knight of the round!"
Pling Pling Pling Pling Pling!
"More like ten notches, especially after I do this! Master, get ready to catch!"
"Huh?! What do you mean catc-
Crack!
"Shit" was all I managed to blurt out as I broke out into a mad sprint to the edge of the roof as Lancer launched himself forward with explosive speed, slamming his shield into the trunk of a tree and toppling it near instantly.
"Air step!"
The tree had already fallen a good sever or eight floors, so it took me to just about my limit to create a platform of air beneath it, bringing it to a stop in the middle of the air.
"What t-the hell L-Lancer" I half grunted, half shouted as I slowly forced the platform to rise.
Pling Pling Pling! Pling Thwunk Pling!
"Have to take out his cover somehow! Here comes the next one master!"
"What?! I can't-
Crack!
"Wind wall!"
I barely had time to turn my head to see where I was casting my spell before the tree began to come down. The tree bounced off the wall and, thankfully, toppled inward, coming to a rest on the roof.
…Not that I had time to really think about it.
"Air step!"
Great, there went all my progress with this one!
Pling Pling! Pling Thwunk! Pling Pling Pling Pling Pling! Thwunk Pling Pling!
"Impressive! I never imagined a knight like you taking such a… creative approach" Archer laughed from somewhere behind me.
"Clearly you don't know us knights well enough then!"
"Guess not! But can your master keep up the pace?!"
Pling! Pling! Pling Pling Thwunk!
"No, I can't! Lancer, give me a-"
Crack!
"Whoops! Sorry master!"
"Argh! Wind wall!"
"Good work mast-"
"Air step!"
"-er! Only a couple more left-"
Pling Pling Pling Pling Pling!
"-left to go!"
"Damnit Lancer!"
Fortunately for me, the remaining couple of trees were towards the inside of the roof, so there was no risk of them toppling over the edge and potentially killing someone. As such, I could finally complete the slow process of dragging the last tree back up and over the edge of the roof.
As I did so, however, I couldn't help but notice what appeared to be a small smudge on the roof of the next tower over.
On the second tower within the bounded field.
Then that smudge there… it had to be Archer's master. But why was she exposing herself to-
And it hit me. This battle may have been on a rooftop up high, but… not high enough to be out of range of the U.S. government's surveillance capabilities. Nor was it tame enough to not give off any visible indicators that it was indeed happening. Hell, Archer initiated the fight by shooting an arrow of bright, white light straight up into the air! Might as well have just shouted to the government that magecraft existed and, if they wanted proof, here we were!
That was, unless…
…She must be using her illusion magecraft to hide us. Between that, and the bounded field…
Even if the bounded field was anchored to a leyline, considering what it did, it must have been extremely taxing regardless. Between keeping that up, and performing whatever magecraft was required to hide the fight between Lancer and Archer… she must have no way to defend herself.
Was the perfect opening for Johnathan and Saber to finish this, but considering Archer had the Sabotage skill, at A rank no less, and we didn't come across any traps in this tower here… well, I'm confident in saying that Lancer and I weren't getting reinforcements from him and Saber any time soon.
"Now I've got you" Lancer grinned as I was finally able to turn my attention back to the fight at hand.
He wasn't wrong either. Archer may have been faster on his feet, but without the cover of the tree canopies, Lancer could keep track of him, and slowly close the distance.
Pling Pling! Pling Pling! Pling Pling Pling Pling Pling!
"Good fight, Archer, but it's over now" Lancer declared triumphantly, going for a final lunge that would absolutely catch Archer, straight through his chest.
But rather than try to dodge out of the way, even if it would be in vain, Archer simply held his ground. A sly smile formed on his face, his bow dissipating from existence.
And in its place, right before Lancer's spear pierced his chest-
Clang!
"Wha-"
Clang Clang Clang! Clang Clang Clang Clang Clang!
Lancer didn't even have time to finish a single word as his thrust was deflected and he was immediately thrown back on the defensive, a flurry of blows coming from Archer as, in his two hands, he held a giant blade.
"What the hell" I shouted as Lancer jumped back, out of the range of Archer.
I wasn't seeing things. Held by both of Archer's hands was indeed a massive sword. Hell, it was nearly as tall as I was, I swear!
"Why does an Archer have a bloody claymore!"
"Missy, what kind of a mercenary would I be if I only knew how to fight with a bow" Archer burst out into laughter. "No close-range protection, as a mercenary?! That's just asking to get yourself killed! And you, Lancer! Are all knights so cocky when they think they have victory in their sights?!"
"No, but I'm far from what I'd consider to be a good knight" Lancer smirked back, dissipating his shield and changing his stance.
A moment passed. Then two. Just enough time for both of them to size the other up; come up with a plan of attack.
Then, simultaneously, they charged one another.
Clang! Clang! Clang Clang! Clang!
The battle resumed anew, and while buried beneath the clashing of metal, I could faintly make it out.
Laughter.
The laughter of two warriors who were finally able to put their all on display for their opponent to see.
A/N
Sorry, but... I just couldn't resist not continuing the meme of Archer's fighting with swords xD
Ah well, I think it'll be more interesting this way anyways! Hope you all enjoy nonetheless, even if you think Archers with swords is stupid.
Mind you, it's not actually a claymore; just a really big sword. Sortiara just isn't cultured enough to know the difference ;)
Also, I did plan of having this out yesterday, but... well, Lostbelt 5.2 dropped yesterday, and I spent all my free time getting through that.
Not going to go into big detail about my thoughts on it here (not really the place, I don't think) but simply put... meh? I wasn't all that impressed by it, to be honest. Not like 5.1, at least.
To top it off, FGO NA now enters the 'dead year' of main story content, so to speak... Hoo boy...
Oh well, least I have this to work on in the meantime xD
All that said... while I may not care for them as a character, for their contributions to the preservation of humanity, I salute you, {Data Lost} o7
…See y'all in the next post.
