First Singularity, Part 6: Orléans
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Ritsuka slammed the empty potion bottle onto the floor, letting the thin glass shatter beneath him as he struggled for breath, hiding himself behind an overturned wooden table. The people whose house they had hid in had hid themselves elswhere. He brought both his hands to his chest, gripping his combat suit tight as he channeled the power that he had replenished. His hands glowed a soft, soothing green/blue, revitalizing his body and healing the light cuts that he had gotten.
"Bota." The energies coursed through his system, accelerating the process for his untrained body.
Amidst the healing process, his blue eyes landed on the three Servants that were also in the house. Saber; Siegfried; was kneeling between the two Saints with his sword on his lap. Jeanne d'Arc was to his left, and the Saint that they had all met; Saint Georgios; was to his right. Wearing an armor of bronze with a white cape draped to one side. His exposed right pauldron had the shape of a dragon's head decorating it. The both of them were performing the Baptism Rites, in order to rid Siegfried of the many layered curses coursing through his entire being.
"Fou." The soft mewling of the creature close to his feet reminded Ritsuka of his existence. His hand reached for the creature's head, ruffling it like he would a cat. He then brought it close, letting Fou sit on his shoulder like he would usually do with Mash.
When he felt his reserves were sufficiently replenished (as much as he could with his capabilities anyway), he pushed himself off the stone floor, peering past the table and through the open window, seeing the conflict outside. Mash was dealing with Sir Lancelot again, though she was having an easier time since her last battle. Mozart wasn't having that much luck, which was to be expected for a whole slew of reasons. Barely keeping the Berserk Lancer distracted with his magecraft.
With that in mind, Ritsuka shuffled closer to the window, with his hand and fingers aiming the noble looking Servant. A small orb of malice formed just at the tip of his fingers, pulsing each time it grew larger. When he felt that he reached critical mass, he fired.
"Gandr!"
He was thanking whatever fortunes that were favoring him, because it was thanks to their currently Berserk conditions that he was even able to land a hit with his current capabilities.
"My thanks, Ritsuka!" Mozart called out, leaping back and creating as much distance as he could between them as he fought back to the best of his abilities.
"Pitiful efforts, mage!" the noble Servant said aloud, slowly breaking out of the paralysis. With his spear, he plunged it into the ground. Blackened stakes emerged from the ground, shattering the stone path.
Mozart kept leaping back and leaping back, chuckling amusedly. "Summoned Berserk, and being so far away from home. The odds are stacked in my favor, despite my apparent disadvantage."
"Hmmpf." The Servant grunted as he finally freed himself, already chasing after the composer.
With the two Servants leaving his view, he turned back to Mash and Sir Lancelot, finding a mess of a market thanks to their fight.
"Mash! How are you doing?!" he called out with his hands around his mouth.
"Not as bad as yesterday, Master!" she responded, bashing her shield on the Berserker's faceplate. In return, he grabbed the market stall beside him, shattering it and its content on her. Then he kicked her on her exposed abdomen, sending her tumbling away from him.
"GAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
"Mash!" he fully stood up, his hands gripping on the windowsills. He glanced down to his hand, seeing his Command Spells, missing one of them from yesterday excursion. Sometime in the future when he thinks back to this moment, he would remember it as him struggling with himself on whether he should have used the Command Spell or not. In actuality, he came to a decision within that second. "Mash! Keep fighting, you can do it!" as vague as it was, it was enough to empower the Shielder.
Her tumbling came to a stop with her on her knees and the shield propping her up. "Yes, thank you! Senpai!" with renewed confidence, she charged the Berserker once more.
He sighed with relief, relaxing himself for a moment before he tried to look for Mozart again, before he felt a pulse of power that stopped him in his tracks. The hairs on the back his neck rose, an involuntary shiver coursing through his body. He glanced back to where the Saints were standing, his eyes widening when he saw Siegfried stand to his full height. No longer hunched; burdened by the weight of the curses placed upon him. And in his hand was Balmung, his fingers curled around the handle.
"It is done." Saint George declared with sweat dripping down his face. Ruler on the other hand looked like she'd been in a marathon.
"Yes, the curses… have been lifted." She said, leaning her back onto the brick wall.
The Saber Class Servant slowly approached Ritsuka, his head bowed in respect. "Master. Orders?"
"Orders…" he turned his attention back outside, seeing Mash fighting the Berserker with more fervor. And though he couldn't see it, Mozart struggled with keeping the Berserk Lancer at bay. "Reinforce Mozart-san."
"Fou!"
"As you wish." He held his blade up with both his hands, before bursting through the door.
"Oh, finally!" Mozart cried out, backing away from the Berserk Lancer with a missing left arm. Despite the haphazard state he was in, he still had a smile on his face. "Let's end this before I die, please."
"You will not escape so easily!" the noble Servant called out, ready to strike Mozart.
"I beg to differ!" he countered, backing away yet again, giving the space to Siegfried, who met the Berserk Lancer's weapon with his sword.
The hostile Servant took a single step back, before attempting to strike again with a powerful thrust of his weapon. He found contact with an impenetrable wall that is Siegfried's skin, barely even reacting to the spear that failed to pierce him. The Servant only got a second to fully register what had just occurred, diving back from a downward swing of Siegfried's blade. The Saber then swung it back upward, unleashing a small blue wave from his attack, carving through the cobblestone road towards the hostile Servant. He retaliated by plunging his spear into the ground, causing stakes to once again erupt towards Siegfried.
The stakes and the burst of wave struck one another, an explosion of pressure erupting from the contact. The explosion covered up for the Berserk Lancer as he took another leap backwards, pulsing with power as he reared his lance back. "Covered in blood, I hereby offer my life!"
The weapon covered the space between them in a split of a moment, sticking through Siegfried's shoulder. His face didn't betray any sort of pain, but he was still held in place by the sudden Noble Phantasm. The Berserk Lancer curled up around himself, blood bursting from his veins and flowing around him. "Bloody Monster King… " He met Siegfried's eyes, the blood around forming into a large lance.
The lance of blood then shot out, speeding towards Siegfried. "Kazikli Bey!" and exploded in a shower of red, covering the surrounding buildings that were still intact.
The hostile Servant's weapon reappeared in his hand, his eyes narrowing on Siegfried's form still standing where he was stopped.
Thankfully, beside the shoulder wound that was healing itself, he looked none the worse for wear. He stood to his full height, his sword raised to the sky held by both his hands. In response, the noble Servant frowned, preparing his own stance with his lance in his hands. Siegfried dug his feet into the broken path, cracking into a small crater, exploding into dust the moment he launched himself towards the other Servant. The Servant was brought to ground as Balmung slammed into his weapon, pinning him closer to the ground.
Unfortunately for the Berserk Lancer, so focused on the dragon slayer, that he did not notice a rising army building up to surround him. Despite hiding himself with Ritsuka and the Saints, Mozart didn't spend that time doing nothing. With his remaining arm, he casted spell after spell, calling forth more conjurations of his music made manifest. A personal orchestra, one that was created to sooth a compassionate death god. As if to encapsulate this, the serene smile on Mozart's face was telling. "Time for a performance. Enjoy it, to the fullest."
Ritsuka watched in awe as the conjurations came to life, each bearing some form of classical instrument in their misshapen hands. With a command of his baton, the orchestra began leaving the house, group by group, through the doors and the windows as Mozart himself straightened himself. "Listen, to this bewitching sound!"
The conjurations formed up around the two Servants that were focused with one another, all lining up in their respective sections. Both Servants realized all too late that they were surrounded, though truly Siegfried had no reason to worry. The Berserk Lancer, on the other hand.
Within the house, Mozart's smile turned to a confident smirk. "Behold… The Funeral March for the Death God… Requiem of Death!"
The Symphony resounded throughout Theirs, with each and every single denizen being an audience to the Noble Phantasm, regardless of whether they were to witness it or not. But while they were all graced with this moment, the symphony was not catered towards the masses. The target stood in the middle of the converging orchestra, brought to his knees as he felt his entire being weaken. And Siegfried merely watched the struggle with a passive face, slowly walking towards the noble Servant. The Saber didn't even have to use his own Noble Phantasm, thanks to the efforts of the Caster and his own.
The Berserk Lancer, weakened and continuously damaged by the symphony, could only turn to face Siegfried in pain. "Finish it."
The dragon slayer nodded, raising Balmung up high, and letting the weight of the blade decapitate the Servant. And the one who would be forever remembered as Dracula, was no more.
Back within the house, Mozart sighed with relief, dropping himself on an available wooden chair. "Looks like we're done."
Ritsuka glanced to the other fight that was happening, seeing the Berserker retreating from a ragged and wearing Mash, barely holding herself with the massive shield. Ritsuka flopped onto the floor, his shoulders deflating as the tiredness set in. "Yes, we're done. For now, at least." He said, followed by the mewlings of Fou.
Not a moment too soon, the voice of the acting Director spoke up from his communicator. "Great job, everyone! And thank you for your help, Saint Georgios!"
The male Saint chuckled, waving to the air. "Think nothing of it. It was why I was summoned, after all."
"And you, Ruler, how are you faring?"
"Fulfilled." She replied with a sigh. "We, are close to our goal."
"That, we certainly are." Mozart said as Mash and Siegfried entered the building.
"Doctor Romani, can you connect us to Ayako-san?" Ritsuka asked as Mash sat herself beside him.
"I'll try, but there's some interference just as the Dragon Witch arrived." He said, the sounds of clicking audible to them.
"Did something happen?" Ruler asked, concerned.
"The last thing we saw was the activation of Cú Chulainn's Noble Phantasm." He explained.
"It must've been that burst of light before those two came knocking." Mozart commented with a nod.
"It makes sense." Siegfried agreed with a nod.
"Got 'em!"
"Hello? Doc?" the familiar voice of the Puppeteer echoed in the building.
"Ayako-san! Are you guys alright?" Ritsuka asked.
"Ritsu-chan! Hey! Yeah, as alright as one can be when they've faced a dragon." Her chuckles were shared by a few of them.
"What happened, Ayako?" Mash asked the Puppeteer.
As Ayako began retelling her side of the events with Koleen giving, entailing the appearance of the Dragon Witch that had arrived upon Bordeaux, Ritsuka closed his eyes as he relaxed himself, relief washing over him after the strenuous event. Soon he too along with Mash began regaling their experiences. They could all feel it; that it was close. They could head to Orléans and finish this, once and for all. And so with a well thought out plan to account for their strengths and shortcomings, they will do so.
"Have you ever seen anything like this?" she heard Ritsuka ask her, as they all stood overlooking Orléans.
The magnanimous city, was not a sight to see. Blackened skies, compounded by the dark clouds that blanketed over the cityscape and the scavenging birds that circled above them. The surrounding earth looked more like it belonged in a swamp, filled with death and decay. And the people; what very few of those that remained after the Dragon Witch's occupation; looked as lifeless as a corpse, filled with no hope within their hearts.
"Mostly from movies." Ayako finally answered with a growing grimace. "She's really done the place in."
"That she has." Saint George said, standing in front of them. She couldn't see what kind of face he was making, but she had an inkling that it wasn't far off from a frown.
"She must know we're here already." Koleen said, clenching her hand tight. "Mash, be prepared."
The Demi-Servant turned to her. "For what?"
The blonde pointed towards the sky. "That."
Emerging from the corrupted castle, a barrage of arrows that began blanketing the already darkened skies. Mash's eyes widened, rushing immediately to the forefront. She slammed the massive shield onto the ground, glowing in power, and called upon its temporary name.
"Lord Chaldeas!"
The glowing light expanded, covering the group with its magnificent shield, just in time to protect them from the rain of death. All three Masters huddled up around Mash, while the rest of the Servants stood calmly behind the Noble Phantasm that shielded their entireties. Cú Chulainn and Marie in particular prepared themselves, their eyes trailing on where the arrows originated from. The Queen called forth her crystal steed, mounting it with practiced elegance. The Druid hopped on behind her, standing on what little space was available on the crystal horse.
"Got her." He said, his red eyes narrowing like a hound.
"Her? You can see that clearly?" Marie asked, gripping tighter onto the reins.
"Aye. She can't run away from us now." He said with confidence.
"That's good to hear." Marie said with her own soft smile.
They waited, and waited, for the onslaught to be over with. A seemingly endless barrage of arrows, pinning them down. Fortunately for them, a lull soon presented itself. And the moment it did, with Mash's Noble Phantasm ceasing…
"GO!" came Ayako's shout of command.
And off the horse went, sprinting past them with haste.
"Everyone, Go! Go! GO!" Ayako and the Masters started running behind Mash as they charged towards Orléans. "Saint Georgios, intercept Berserker!"
"Yes!" the Saint mounted his own steed, as he too rushed into the corrupted landscape.
"Siegfried-san, please keep Fafnir off of us!"
"Yes Masters." Siegfried burst forward, trailing behind the Riders but still far faster than the Masters.
"Ljósta!" Ayako took a wild shot into a congregating group of skeletons. The bullet exploded, taking with it a number of them.
"Lancer, throw this as hard as far and hard as you can." Koleen handed Elizabeth one of her last concoctions.
"Roger that Kitten!" carefully holding the concoction, the Lancer pulled her arm back, and threw the glass bottle like a bullet.
"That was a good shot." Kiyohime complimented, somewhat begrudgingly, when its contents melted the skeletons it hit.
"Zombies, rising!" Ritsuka warned, pointing to a group of them forming at the gates.
"Masters, what should we do?" Mash asked, referring to herself and Ruler.
"Mash, just protect us! Ruler, prepare yourself for the Dragon Witch!" Ritsuka told them, sounding the most sure in his words since he stepped into Chaldea.
"Yeah, let us handle the scrubs!" Ayako said, taking another shot of her rifle. "Kiyo! Clear the path!"
"Alright, if you say so!" the Berserker rushed to the forefront, skipping farther ahead. "BURN!" a stream of hot flame spewed from her mouth like a jet, melting the walking corpses.
When they broke through the flames, their first hurdle had been succeeded. "Let's hustle people!" Ayako shouted in the midst of her shots.
Koleen wrapped her hands around her neck, the veins of her neck blackening. "S̷̴͟͝H̨̛͝O̴͞Ú̡̕͡Ţ͘͡!̧̛" she separated herself from the group for a second, turning to the very few locals left who eyed them in terror. "Restez chez vous!" she shouted, her voice echoing throughout the city, overpowering the noise that is the battle around them. "Ne quittez pas vos abris!"
They didn't need to be told twice, as they began running towards the closest buildings near them. She rejoined the group when she no longer saw anyone close.
They marched onward towards the keep that stood in the middle of Orléans, where the clouds were at their darkest and the murder of crows were proving to be an actual nuisance to them. Both Kiyohime and Elizabeth turned them to mincemeat, with the use of their flames and blade. And in their rush, any sort of undead they crossed were either ignored, or swiftly dealt with, be it by a Master or a Servant. They ran, and ran, and ran. Crossing street, and rubble, and house, and shop, leaping through them with a quickness that they never have before, and the moment they reached the steps of the keep.
They burst through the gates with abandon.
Within the closest thing to a safe haven in enemy territory, the Masters used this moment for a breather. Even Ayako, the most physically fit of the Masters, was leaning on her knees, chugging down a bottle of water that was offered to her. With Mash minding the Masters, Ruler scouted ahead in the rooms ahead of them, while Mozart adjusted the arm that had fully healed. Kiyohime and Elizabeth kept their eyes out the gates, for any unsuspecting undead that would crawl their way towards their flanks.
"The dragon slayer is terrifying." Kiyohime commented, visibly shivering at the sight of the battle in the sky.
A shockwave erupted from the battle above, with the dragon struggling to regain its foothold against Siegfried.
"We haven't heard from the Old Man and Queenie though, you think they're alright?" Elizabeth asked the room.
"They better be." Ayako said as she straightened herself. "I got a bad feeling about all of this." An unnerving shiver crawled up her spine as she voiced her peace.
"You didn't have to say it out loud, Ayako-san." Ritsuka said with a grimace. "Bad things always happen when you do."
Both Masters chuckled, despite the weight of the situation. "Mozart, how are you feeling?" Koleen asked the Caster.
"As good as I can be." He said, flexing his fingers. "Well, no time like the present. Let's finish this."
All three Masters nodded with reinvigorated confidence. "Let's."
"Damn you, all…" the battered form of the Dragon Witch, standing in the middle of a faded summoning circle. "You bastards!"
Ruler visibly cringed, almost flinching at the anger that was directed towards them. With her and Mash standing at the front, everyone else readied themselves; Elizabeth with her lance in her hands and her wings out; Kiyohime and her unfurled fan, as a light coating of flame hugged her form; Mozart with his baton, ready to bring forth the symphony; Ayako with her rifle strapped to her back, this time opting for her runestones instead; Koleen had her last concoction on one hand, with the other ready with a needle; and Ritsuka, with his hand pointed at the Dragon Witch, ready to call forth whatever he could call.
The Dragon Witch, with the deepest of scowls on her face, even in her heavily wounded state. She withdrew her sword, pointing it at the Ruler who had begun approaching her.
She was silent, her face devoid of emotion, with Mash slowly trailing behind the Saint. "Wait." Saint Jeanne d'Arc called out. "I need to ask you a question."
"Does it matter?!" the unnamed sword trembled within her hand, sparks of purple fire threatening to release.
"Just one." She continued walking, bringing the mirror image closer to each other. "Do you remember? Of our childhood?"
"Huh?"
"Even though our lives were filled with war and battle, my fondest of memories were of the time, when we were a simple farm girl." The Saint said, finally stopping. "Do you remember?"
"Do I…" the Dragon Witch took a step back, her hand reaching for the side of her head. "I don't… remember anything…"
"I see." Ruler nodded with finality. "Thank you. For now I know, that I must end you, not with anger, but with sadness."
"SADNESS?! I don't need your PITY!" the Dragon Witch rose with ferocity, her sword aimed at Ruler, but a loud pang echoed in the ruined hall, her sudden attack halted by Mash as she intercepted the attempt.
"Ruler." Mash glanced behind her, her lavender eyes meeting the Saint's.
"Let's end this." She drew her sword, and struck.
The already weakened Dragon Witch faltered, doing the best as she could to defend herself. She fought back, swing either her sword or her banner, but every time her attempts were thwarted by Mash, blocking the already durable Servant, by virtue of her Class Container. And with each defended attack, there is a counterattack, as the Saint's own attacks struck true, showing her true prowess as a genius in combat. And like someone who has seen war, she was not afraid to use underhanded tactics, be it a quick kick in an attempt to trip, or a sudden punch to disorientate.
The fight, like Orléans, was not a sight to see. It was not an honorable duel to the death. It was a Coup De Grâce. One that was finally ended, by a clean stab to the Dragon Witch's chest.
"Damn it… damn it… damn it!" the Dragon Witch crawled back, the wound to her Spiritual Core sealing her fate.
And what should have been the final seconds, none of the Masters could relax. Ayako constantly felt the unbearable chill down her spine, already preparing the runestones she would need. Koleen took out one of her last revitalizing potions, handing it to Ritsuka as her other hand held onto the needle tightly. Ritsuka himself took the bottle, keeping it sealed for the moment, his eyes scanning the room. The Servants though, were the first to realize that there was someone entering the room. Ruler's eyes widened in realization as to who the Servant was.
"Oh, Jeanne." Gilles called out, though not to her.
"Gilles, this isn't how it's supposed to be." Her voice was growing weaker by the second.
"It's alright, Jeanne. You can rest now, I've prepared everything to end this all."
"You have?"
"Yes." He said, in the most disturbing smiles the Masters had ever seen. "So, embrace the slumber. I'll wake you up when it's all over."
"Good… good… I'll leave it to you…" her final words were uttered as she dissipated into motes of black dust, leaving behind the very thing they were all looking for.
The Holy Grail, coalescing into existence, before it floated towards the newly revealed Servant.
"I see." Ruler took a step back, nodding in understanding. "She was never real. A figment, of your creation, Gilles."
"That's right, Jeanne." The Servant replied, holding the Holy Grail in his hand, with a tome on the other. "She was my wish. Retaliation against those who betrayed you!"
The entire keep shook, almost breaking their foothold. "Ruler!" Koleen called out to Ruler, as if to remind her of their existence.
"Then I will stop you, Gilles! For your transgressions against humanity!" Ruler said with determination.
"If you stand against me, Jeanne! Then you too are my enemy!" the floor below him erupted, his entire form consumed by a bulbous creation.
A horrific creature that slowly grew to twice the size of the keep, the old building barely even keeping itself together. Tentacles sprouted from it, further destroying the foundations below them. Their Servants got to their feet, Mash quickly rushing to Ritsuka, keeping him in her protection. Contrasting that, Elizabeth flew to Koleen, keeping her in the air within her arms. Between them, Ayako alone had some form of flight with her red coat wrapped around her, glowing the runes she had inscribed to it long ago. The rest moved as far as they could as everything began crumbling.
"I WILL FIGHT AGAINST MAN! I WILL FIGHT AGAINST SAINT! I WILL FIGHT AGAINST GOD! ALL TO BURN THOSE WHO TURNED THEIR BACKS AGAINST YOU!" his voice was clear, coming from the unearthly abomination. "AND I! WILL! CRUSH YOU!"
The tentacles of the abomination came crashing down onto the remnants of the keep, hitting Mozart and Kiyohime in its periphery. The Caster was sent flying back into the city, while Kiyohime went further down into the rubble. The Berserker, dazed and buried in the rubble, struggled to free herself through the confusion. As her eyes trailed upwards, she saw a tentacle, large emerging from the being, descending upon her. Her pupils shrunk to pinpricks, at her impending death.
"Rauðr!"
A red coat suddenly wrapped around her, before pulling her out in a figurative sprint, deftly escaping her harrowing fate. Feeling the weightlessness that was the coat, her golden eyes found themselves on the back of the Puppeteer, standing on a still intact tower of the keep. Six runestones, three circling around her hands, each.
Ayako, feeling her entire being so completely diminutive in comparison to the abomination, cursed to herself. "Caster, please tell me you're done."
"We are, we're heading back towards ya."
"Good." The Command Spell shone, its order spelled out even before she voiced it. "Prepare your Noble Phantasm."
"On it." His reply came to her as the tentacle rose again.
The runestones erupted around her, immediately sinking into her skin.
ᚦ ᛇ ᛉ
ᛗ ᛁ ᚦ
"Thurisaz, of the God Thor. Laguz, of Water. Algiz, of Protection. Mannaz, of Man. Isaz, of Ice. And Thurisaz, of the Giants." Her hands and feet turned a lighter shade, almost a sickly blue, as white overrode her red hair. She looked up defiantly at the tentacle that came swinging towards her. "Strykr Jötunn!"
The tower was shattered, and Ayako was sent flying along with it. She tumbled in the sky, spinning uncontrollably towards the ground. It didn't take long for her to land, crashing into the cobblestone and leaving behind a crater in her wake.
"Ayako!" Koleen called out in the hands of Elizabeth in worry of her friend, before turning back to the abomination. "Mash, Ruler, Marie! Form a wall, a barrier to contain it!"
"Everyone else, make sure it doesn't get pass them!" Ritsuka added as he himself began running towards Ayako.
"Yes, Masters!" The Servants, all of them, now that their respective tasks were fulfilled, went into action, barring a select few who also went towards the Puppeteer.
Ritsuka arrived first, kneeling beside the slightly changed Puppeteer. She was bringing herself up, now on her hands and knees, breathing like she was put in through a wringer. Soon Koleen arrived in the hands of Elizabeth, followed by Kiyohime a good distance behind them.
"Birdie, are you okay?" Elizabeth asked with a worried look on her face.
"I'm fine." She replied, almost struggling to force out her answer.
"Fine? I can hear your heart beating like crazy!" Koleen rushed to her friend, and along with Ritsuka helped her up.
"I would've died otherwise." She shook her head, letting the braid loosen, freeing her whitened hair. "It lasts for 30 minutes. I just have to endure it." She saw the unsaid question on their faces. "I'll tell you when we get back. We need to make sure Bluebeard doesn't get past their defenses."
"You're right. Liz, help them out, we've got it covered here." The Lancer nodded, before she flew back into the fray. "How many Command Spells do you two still have? I have none left."
"One." The both of them answered. The male Master turned to Ayako. "I can strengthen Mash."
"Do that, I'll give mine to Marie." She said, as the banner of the Saint lit up in the blackened city.
And above them, the rest of the Servants were in combat with the abomination and its creations. Saint Georgios covered the streets, doing endless rounds to rid them of the creatures that had wormed their way into the streets. Siegfried was more destructive, unleashing wave after wave from his sword. Mozart didn't have any reservations, already building up his Noble Phantasm once more as his orchestra congregated around him. Elizabeth didn't waste any time, her powerful bellow holding them back from the skies. And Cú Chulainn, had hid himself somewhere within the city, chanting as the primeval runes began forming above the abomination, one by one.
As the last of their Command Spells were spoken, the covered form of Kiyohime finally approached. Koleen was the first to notice the Berserker. "Kiyohime, you're alright?"
"Yes, I am." She answered, her eyes only briefly lingering on Koleen, before it shifted to Ayako.
As her Command Spell faded, Ayako took notice of the gaze that was set upon her. "Kiyo, sorry, I almost didn't make it."
"It's fine." She answered, almost a bit too quickly. "Do you want your coat back?"
"You can hold on to it. I'd like my gun though." The Berserker took the rifle, carefully handing it to the Puppeteer.
Ayako then gave the rifle to Ritsuka, who backed away slightly. "Uh, why?"
"Kalls has her Witchcraft, and I can fight like a Servant as long as I'm like this." She explained. "We need to keep the streets clear from those creatures, but don't go crazy with the ammo, okay? Just point and shoot."
Hesitantly, Ritsuka took the rifle, doubt clear on his face. He felt a hand on his shoulder, the blonde moving to his side. "Don't worry, Ritsuka. We've all got this."
"Yeah." He nodded, holding the rifle properly.
"Kiyo, can you help us?" Ayako asked the Berserker.
"Yes! Absolutely I can!" the Masters almost flinched from the sudden excitement.
"Alright, then let's finish this…" The Puppeteer stood up, clenching her blue fists. "once and for all."
The Masters and the Servant split up, each taking a cardinal direction in relation to what was once the keep. Kiyohime joined the other Servants, her form shifting into that of a blue flamed eastern dragon. Ritsuka ran to where Mash had holed up, taking his time to aim with the unfamiliar weapon in his hands. Koleen rushed to one side, closer to Ruler, her eyes shifting to red as she channeled her Witchcraft. Ayako, emboldened by her temporary strength, met the abominations head on, with her entire body soon covered by its gore and viscera.
They held on, for as long as it was needed for the Celtic Druid's Noble Phantasm, 8 of 18 already formed in the skies. Marie Antoinette, atop her horse within her Crystal Palace, leaving destruction where the unearthly creatures were. With Mash focusing her all on her Noble Phantasm, it was up to Ritsuka to deal with the stragglers that made their way towards them. Ruler, with her banner unfurled and displayed, taking in all the anger and rage of the otherworldly with her unshakeable faith. Siegfried, the only one taking the fight straight to the enemy, quick and heavy attacks before it could retaliate. His efforts were supported by Mozart, his Noble Phantasm playing the march of the death god within the protection of the Crystal Palace. Saint Georgios, covering the most ground with his mount, leaping from one street to another. Elizabeth, swooping down to help Koleen cover great distances, all the while the Witch kept muttering her curses. Kiyohime, despite the mobility provided by her Noble Phantasm, seemed to be lingering around Ayako, helping the Puppeteer deal with monstrous creatures.
The numbers seemed endless, but the light at the end of the tunnel was bright, they could all feel it. Even as their resources dwindled, they persevered.
18 primeval runes, lighting up with power like a halo above the creature that had consumed Gilles, the Masters and Servants pausing as they all looked up at the now brightened skies. The abomination that sat upon the keep stilled, its tentacles shriveling from the light. The Child of Light, with his narrowed red eyes locked on the creature, smirked with absolute confidence.
With his staff pointed towards it, he muttered. "Great Carved God Seal… Ochd Deug Odin!"
Once again, within the same day, France bore witness to light that shined brighter than even the sun. So bright that the darkness that had enveloped Orléans dissipated like a wash of holy light against them. The abominations, burned to a crisp. The undead that still lingered across the captured city, turned to ash as their decayed flesh and bones proved to be too weak to withstand the power. The and monstrous abomination that stood above the ruined keep, not the beast itself but the Caster that was consumed inside of it, embraced the warmth that he had forgotten.
"Oh Jeanne…" his final words; of pain; of regret; of remembrance; drowned by the primeval light that disintegrated his entire being.
Eventually, through the searing heat that briefly enveloped Orléans, the light faded into nothing. Silence reigned following the Noble Phantasm, most of the locals were temporarily blinded and deafened by its magnanimous effect. And in its wake, where the summoned abomination was, is nothing. Nothing, but the remnants of the keep, at one point a symbol of splendor yet now nothing but a ruined heap, and a glowing golden chalice floating close to the ground in the epicenter of the crater. Their primary objective, the reason for why they were here in the first place. The thing that ties the Singularity together.
The Japanese Puppeteer was the first to reach the crater, stumbling to her knees as her hands, feet and hair returned to normal, signaling the end of the spell that she took in. She coughed in fits, pain coursing through her after the strain it had taken.
She felt a coat wrap around her, her red coat place around her, as soft hands helped her up. Expecting either of her friends, she was surprised to see Kiyohime. "Are you alright, Anchin-sama?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." She sighed tiredly, before shaking her head in confusion. "Anchin-sama?"
"There it is. You guys done it!" the relieved voice of the Doctor spoke through to them, as everyone gathered around.
Mash, looking as battered as everyone else, walked towards the chalice, carefully picking up the Holy Grail. "Holy Grail secured, Doctor Roman."
"Fou!" the small beast poked its head out of Mash's pocket.
"The timeline restoration is about to start!" he told them.
"You children best prepare yourselves, the rayshift preps are ready." Medea's voice added.
"What?! We don't have time to explore?!" Elizabeth cried out, before a fist knocked her down. "Ow!"
"The lasses got something already." He told.
"They did?!"
"Yeah, we did." Ayako said, pulling out the two bottles from her coat. The bottles were cracked all over, but they were intact. "I should've reinforced them."
"At least none of it spilled." Koleen said with a tired smile, slowly turning to face the Servants that were summoned. "Thank you, all of you."
"Yeah, we wouldn't have been able to do it without you guys." Ritsuka said, still holding onto the rifle.
"We were happy to help!" the Queen declared, wrapping her arms around Mozart's and Saint Georgios'. "All for France, and her people!"
"And thank you, for helping me." Siegfried said with gratitude, kneeling before them as the telltale signs of dematerializing.
"This, isn't the end, is it?" Ruler asked, holding her banner tightly in her hands. "There is more, that you will face."
"Mhm." Ayako nodded. "If you really wanna help, well, guess you'll have to answer our summons now." She said cheekily.
"I'll try." The Saint said with her own smile.
"I'll find my own way, Masters." Kiyohime said with a giggle. "I'm very persistent."
"Oh my god, we're back." Ayako said as she dropped to the floor unceremoniously the moment she stepped out of her coffin, exhausted to her very core.
"That was the longest three days of my life." Koleen said, agreeing with her friend and leaning on hers.
"At least we got something out of it!" Elizabeth said with an elated smile, walking towards Ayako. The Puppeteer didn't struggle as the Lancer perused through her coat, searching for the two bottles of wine.
"How are we this exhausted?" Ritsuka himself was struggling to stand, doing his best to not lay himself on the floor. Fou ran up to him, climbing up his pants.
"Come on, Senpai. Ayako, Koleen." Mash said, urging them to get back up.
"Just let them rest, lass." The Druid said, crouching beside them with his staff on his shoulder.
"Yes, the Masters have all been working so hard. They deserve this moment of respite."
All heads snapped to the source of the voice, eyes widening and mouths hanging open at the sight. The Berserker they encountered, Kiyohime, in all her resplendent glory. Her fan was unfolded, hiding her lower face as her golden eyes trailed through each of them, landing on Ayako.
"…Kiyo?" Ayako herself was at a loss for words, clearly not expecting this turn of events.
And judging by everyone else's reaction (including the Servants), neither did they.
"I told you, that I'd find my own way, Anchin-sama." She said, ending with a light giggle.
"Oh, she's trouble." Cú Chulainn said with a sigh, standing up with his hand behind his head. "I can tell."
"Hey, how did you get here?!" Elizabeth shot up, closing the distance. "That's not fair! I had to answer their summonings!"
"And I answered as well, in my own way." Kiyohime said, tapping her fan on Elizabeth's face.
"Calm down, kid." The Druid said as he pulled Elizabeth back. "People are coming."
The steel doors that separated the room slowly opened, the smoke that came from the room slowly leaking out. The Masters sighed tiredly, all three standing back up as they waited to greet the Doctor who would welcome them back. When the doors fully opened, the ginger haired man walked into view with a bright smile on his face. Walking besides, but slightly behind him, were Medea and Sanson, though the Caster had elected to float towards them. Behind even them was someone they weren't expecting to see in the command room. Kagiso, pushing something with his one arm. A wheelchair, where a familiar head of white sat.
"Olga!" Mash cried out in joy, before realizing what she had done, and calmed herself down.
Ayako however didn't feel any sort of reservations, already jogging towards them. "Director! You're up!" she almost tripped from how tired she was, but continued on she did.
"Yes, Aozaki, I am." She answered as dignified as she could. "Great work, out there. In the SingulaaAAHHH!" the Puppeteer wasted no time, wrapping her hands around Olga Marie, bringing the Director into a spinning hug. "Put me down! This instant!"
"Ayako…" Koleen looked to her friends worriedly as they all converged. "I don't think the Director likes being a ragdoll."
"She can reprimand me if she wants to." Ayako said without a care in the world. "I'm just happy it wasn't all in vain."
"It wasn't! Now put me down!" it was a good couple of seconds before Ayako finally acquiesced to the Director's orders.
"Director, we've brought it back." Mash said, showing her the Holy Grail.
"I would've thought it would be something more powerful." Ritsuka commented.
"It might not be the ones used in an actual Holy Grail War, but it will still serve as a powerful mana battery." Olga Marie told him. She sighed, her hand moving to massage her shoulder. "Let us finally close this mission, and debrief you all. Romani," she turned to the Doctor. "You're not free yet."
He nodded, tidying his coat. "I know, Olga. I'll be there."
She nodded back, with a hint of a pleased smile on her face. "Good. Let's get it done."
"Yes Director." The Masters all responded, standing at attention.
Because finally, after months of uncertainty, a semblance of order finally returned to the Antarctic base of Chaldea.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
this is, by far, the longest chapter in the story. crazily enough, it was longer, and i had to cut all the things that ended up being unnecessary. big problem was, that if i split the chapter up like i did before, it would end up being way too less, and i didn't want to linger in Orleans anymore. so, long as it might be, we are finally done with the Singularity. keep in mind, this (and possibly any future chapters that would most likely be the Singularity finales), are the outliers. i'm still keeping the story around the 4.5k-5.5k range.
also, don't be alarmed by the way i wrote the runes at the end there. once it reaches 6 runes, 's doc manager has a stroke and deletes them, like what it did in part 1 of Fuyuki. that was a way for me to circumvent that. speaking of runes, though, if you guys ever go back and reread this from the start, you will notice the runes that i switched up. back then, i still didn't have an idea as to how i'd approach her runes, but now that i do, i fixed it all up.
it also means that Septem is around the corner.
joy, oh joy...
also, the end might feel a bit sudden. i feel the same. but funnily enough, Orleans was also that sudden. they get the grail, and Roman's all like "alright, get the hell outta there now!" and i was like "what the hell, that's as sudden as the chapter." i kept it as is, for fear of bloat.
now, the translations, as few as it was.
"Stay in your homes!"
"Do not leave your shelters!"
with all said and done, let's get to the reviews!
King0fP0wers: that would be a fun dynamic. it's also a good thing Jalter has a free Berserker version, 'cause i don't have her. (and Summer's not too far away too.)
madmage101: thank you so much!
Lia Angelique: i hope you're not too disappointed with Kiyohime fixating on Ayako instead of Ritsuka. my plan with her and the rest of the Stalker Trio was to have one Servant focused on one Master. Kiyo with Ayako, Raikou will go to Koleen, and Serenity will fixate on Ritsuka.
emiya: thanks a lot!
thank you all so much, for sticking through all of this,
drop a review if you don't mind, and i'll see you all next time!