The Story of Illya Emiya
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Fate Stay franchise or the characters associated with them.
"talking"
Thoughts
Caster & Assassin III
"I am the bone of my sword".
"Looks like things are going to get interesting" Caster chuckled as he started to fighting harder. But once Archer had started his aria, his projections became more powerful giving him the slight edge against the magus of flowers in terms of swordsmanship.
"Steel is my body and fire is my blood".
"As far as I've ever known there has never been a case of two reality marbles existing together at the same time. I'm actually quite excited to see what will happen".
"I have created over a thousand blades" Archer continued to chant as he fought back with his customized versions of Kansho and Bakuya as Caster was slightly forced back. "Unknown to death, nor known to life".
Caster then fired several plasma bolts only for Archer to swat them down while continuing to evade.
"Have withstood pain to create many weapons. Yet those hands will never hold anything".
Waving his sword in a large circular motion several spell insignias appeared as they fired off a barrage of plasma bolts.
Standing his ground while raising his right arm up with support of his left a pink blossom like shield emerged before him blocking the magical bolts. Giving his trade mark arrogant smirk his interest was somewhat piqued as it was just as Caster had said. There was just no telling what would happen as it was one hell of a gamble. But living most of his life on the edge of death and defeat the feeling of risk made it all so exhilarating. With his final verse, "so as I pray, unlimited blade works!"
~ Camelot ~
Meanwhile elsewhere sometime earlier another battle was about finishing up.
"You damn monster" Assassin cursed. She was bloody and beaten while breathing heavily trying to calm herself down.
But unlike her opponent Illya gave a girl like creepy chuckle as not once had that malicious grin left her lips. Tapping her hammer against her shoulder she had succumbed to madness as she was drowning in battle lust. Several times she could of killed Assassin yet refrained as she had yet not gotten her fill of conflict. "What's wrong Assassin?! You were talking about all that good sh*t a moment ago! Come on! Hit me! Fight me!" as she dashed in swinging Mjolnir as her opponent jumped out of the way.
Blitzing back the knight of treason countered with a stab.
But deflecting with her hammer, Illya knocked Assassin off her balance. Though not deterred the knight of treason swung her fist back striking her opponent across the jaw. Finally getting a hit in Assassin felt some bit of pride from it only to be crushed a moment later as Illya started to laugh ominously. "That's more like it!"
Punching her right back, Assassin felt her mind blank out for a couple seconds as she was sent into the ground grinding back a few feet. Trying to get back up Illya had already walked right up to her as she swung her hammer knocking her right into the air before landing into the ground again.
"Get up!" Illya shouted swinging her hammer again sending Assassin traveling once more. "I said get up! I haven't had enough yet! More! More! More!" Illya's mind had become completely clouded by battle lust. Parts of her body ached and shivered waiting for the release she needed like an animal in heat.
As her opponent got closer Assassin could barely stand. But for all the pain she felt she fed it into her rage making her sword grow brighter with malice. Going back on the offensive it was so pointless. With how much damage she had accumulated her body had become sluggish. Her strength and speed had been badly dampened to a point a mere mage could fight her now.
But like a cat to a mouse, Illya continued to play with Assassin waiting for the ultimate climax. Yet the knight of treachery was not getting her where she wanted. If so then she would need to take care of her own needs. Just as her opponent swung her blade once more she caught and tightly gripped Assassin by the wrist. With the strength difference between them Illya threw her up and slammed her against the ground.
Cringing at the pain Assassin was stunned as she then saw the young homunculus drop her hammer. She then gripped her right arm with both hands as she placed her foot on her chest.
"Wha . . . . What are you . . . ." as Assassin felt her arm under considerable pressure.
"You owe me a scream" Illya sneered as she started to really pull. "Now squeal" tightening her grip, "like a pig!"
Hearing the grotesque ripping of flesh and bone Assassin gave off a howling scream as she wiggled out rolling in pain holding the spot to where her missing arm was.
At listening to that heart breaking screech as the warm blood of her enemy splashed on her Illya felt the release she needed. Grasping her body smearing the blood across her chest was euphoric. But soon her high eventually died down as she saw Assassin wiggling around like a pathetic worm. Seeing no further excitement from this battle Illya raised her hand out as Mjolnir returned to her hand. Raising the hammer above her head clouds started to gather as bolts of lightning struck it. "It's been fun Assassin, but . . . . Time . . . . To . . . . Die . . . ." she cooed out playfully.
Seeing her impending doom the knight of treachery pushed what was left of her power to brace for impact.
With one strike of her hammer a blast of lightning flashed out as a crater was left in the wake of the aftermath. However Illya gave off a dull look as her opponent was still alive. Right outside the crater Assassin was kneeling holding her wound while breathing heavily.
At the last moment she had used mana burst to escape the attack. Though she couldn't completely avoid it as her armor and cloths were in ruins as she suffered from some severe charring. All over her body were terrible burns as much of her skin was scorched black.
Walking right up to the defenseless servant Illya gave her a rather annoyed look. "If only you put up this much effort in fighting. Hmph, now get out of my sight" as the young homunculus started charging up for her final strike.
Assassin could only grit her teeth as there was nothing she could do now but wait for her demise. Even if she didn't attack the damage she took was much more severe then perceived as her spiritual core had been ruptured. So regardless what happened it would have been a matter of time till she just faded away.
Just as the hammer was about to drop a painful jolt coursed through Illya as she held her mouth as a strong metallic taste shocked her senses. Dropping her hammer her other hand held her stomach as the painful convulsions were getting worse. Then falling to her knees her servant form shattered into sparkles of light returning her back to her original form. "Wha . . . . What happened . . . . The red line . . . ."
Illya was well aware of the dangers of the instal spell and by training her mind and body she was able to extend the time limit. But in the heat of battle your sense of time would become skewed. Thus she created a fail safe spell on herself to force her out of instal the moment her body hit a point of no return thus the red line. Though she should have felt the effects, Berserkers powers must have dulled her other senses. But with it gone now she was paralyzed in agony as she felt like she would break at any moment. Though with enough time she would recover.
But looking up from her spot, she wouldn't get that opportunity.
"You filthy peasant!" as Assassin had managed to muster her strength. Standing on her feet she gave a punishing kick right into Illya's gut as she went flying a couple feet. If she were at full strength that would've been enough to kill her. But with her power diminishing quickly she needed to kill her soon before she faded away.
Illya cringed in pain as she felt at least two of her ribs crack. As much as she wanted to fold into the fetal position to bare her suffering she needed to get up and move as she began stumbling away. She knew Assassin's condition as she just needed to buy some time.
For the knight of treachery had retrieved her sword dragging it behind her as her face was warped with rage. "Get back here!" she screeched. Catching up she lunged forward with her weapon.
"Time alter, double accel" Illya muttered out. With her current mana, she was only able to use her magic crest for barely a second. However that was enough to dodge.
Enraged at her miss Assassin pushed forward with her attack.
Yet Illya was squeezing out all the power she had left as she continued to dodge. "Just a little more . . . ."
For the both of them were on their last legs dancing on the very edge of death. With her limit about reached Assassin would not settle to lose like this. Before she disappeared she would kill Saber's master no matter what. Raising her blade up she threw her weapon with all the strength she had.
". . . . I have nothing left" as Illya had once more fell to her knees. She was completely exhausted as she saw Assassin's sword flying right at her. ". . . . I'm sorry everyone" as the bladed edge came closer and closer. Just as the sword was about an inch away from her face it had suddenly stopped much to her and Assassin's surprise.
At that very moment just a split second earlier a sword had materialized in front of Illya. From that it dampened Assassin's attack just enough stopping it before it could claim it's opponent's life. Seeing the final result, ". . . . Damn" Assassin muttered out bitterly as she soon faded from existence.
Counting her blessings Illya fell back taking deep breaths as she was saved. Slowing her heart rate, she started the recovery process. But looking around as she turned her head back and forth she wasn't sure what had happened. "What in the world is going on?"
Reality itself was becoming distorted. For a moment she saw Camelot only for it to flicker as she saw an endless barren field of swords . . . . No, it was filled with an uncountable number of noble phantasms. As the two worlds flickered between each other for brief moments they would fuse together in a distorted amalgam before flickering again.
Illya had an idea what was happening and how utterly insane it all was. But she had other worries she needed to see too. For somewhere in the castle, she sensed there was something terrible there that was trying to enter this world. So wobbling to her feet she would have to recover on the go as she had a feeling that her friends and family needed her.
~ Distorted world ~
Shirou was having difficultly coping. The moment the distortions occurred within Camelot his mind had begun to be bombarded by noble phantasms. So much endless history throughout the world.
Holy swords.
Legendary swords.
Demon swords.
Ancient swords.
Divine swords.
But it wasn't just that as there was an array of weapons, shields, and armors of a much older time. The origin of the heroes who wielded them. The bloody battles they fought which earned them their glory. Ultimately how they all met their end.
Everywhere he looked there was a noble phantasm for him to see as his mind instantly copied it. He felt like his brain was going to explode if he absorbed anymore of this knowledge. Yet looking to the new landscape he couldn't help but feel sadness or perhaps even pity. It looked like a graveyard . . . . The end of someone's story . . . .
However he couldn't muse for long as he needed to stay focused as Luvia would not give him a chance to rest. Though he wasn't sure how long he would be able to keep this up as he was almost out of power.
"What is this?" as Caster looked around the distortions.
"Oh that arrogant bastard" Rin cringed as as she felt her mana being sapped away. "To think he actually had a reality marble let alone opening it within another reality marble". Yet it didn't really matter for now as this was the distraction she needed. After scanning around she finally figured out the witch queen's trick.
There was no way Luvia alone would be able to handle this many servants without dying. Thus a web of contracts was formed to reduce the overall stress they would have to carry. But for how Luvia had managed to summon both Merlin and Morgan Le Fey that was the trick in itself. Aiming well, the brunette magus fired a gandr as it hit something. Before long a spatial distortion emerged as the trick was revealed.
Sitting in a throne like chair was another Luvia as she was unconscious and wrapped up in thorny vines.
Seeing an annoyed Caster, Rin couldn't help but grin. "Ores scales" Rin simply said. "That's how all of this was possible. I'm very well aware of the Edelfelt's participation in the third holy grail war as at that time the head of the family were twin sisters. Due to the case of their sorcery trait it allowed them both to participate in the war with their own servants of the same class. But when I heard you were the one she summoned all the pieces fell into place. I know you have a certain penchant for creating homunculus. So that's what that meat doll over there is" as Rin eyed them as Shirou picked up on it and had no further reason to hold back anymore. With the first chance he got he gouged a blade right through her chest.
"Hmph, you must feel very proud of yourself. But not that it matters" as Caster started to float off the floor. "This game has run it's course as I have grown bored of it now". With a mental command several spell seals filled up the entire room behind her as they started to glow. "I believed you would serve as an interesting pet. But it would seem you are more trouble then you're worth". Then with another mental command magical bolts filled the entire room.
"Rho Aias!" Shirou exclaimed. After finishing off the fake Luvia after a hard fought battle the mage smith saw the incoming danger as he went to immediately shield Rin. "What were you thinking?! What would you have done if I was late by even a moment?!"
"Because I knew you would make it" Rin grinned confidently. For when he didn't have any handicaps he was not a force to be reckoned with.
"Well I hope you have a plan" Shirou grunted as the flower like shield was starting to fail. He was almost out of mana as everything he had in reserve was being used to project it. But if Caster kept on attacking then that was it for them.
Giving a hard look Rin needed to make a tactical decision. With all the pieces in play she and Shirou were the only ones who could take on the witch queen as they couldn't depend on backup. As things stood she had the mana but not the offensive ability while the mage smith was the opposite.
She then looked to her hand clenching it as she was getting weaker as long as Archer kept his reality marble open. But if they planned to win this it was a life threatening gamble she needed to take.
Resolving herself for what she was going to do, "buy me a couple of seconds. I need sometime to prepare" as she started chanting.
"Well whatever it is make it fast!"
~ Distorted world ~
Saber still had her hands occupied dealing with the knights of the round.
As it were it was a stalemate as neither of them could get the upper hand.
If there were fewer of them she would have had a better chance. Since they were together she couldn't isolate them long enough to deliver the killing blow as she would be blocked by one of them. Then forced on the defensive again.
Though with a command seal that maintained her calm under the circumstance she still felt it distasteful.
For the time being she had to hope everyone was able to pull through on their own as she wouldn't be able to get to them any time soon.
~ Distorted world ~
"Truly astounding" Caster chuckled as he wobbled on his feet.
"You damn punk" as Archer was no better.
"It's a contradiction within a contradiction in which they are not only rejecting each other but also by that of the world. So between the two of us it has become a contest of whose willpower will overwhelm the other".
But looking past the red servant the girls were still busy holding the darkness back as the oozing mud tried to escape.
"Though I guess you can't help but feel distracted needing to protect them".
"It would make things less troublesome for me".
Caster could only shrug. "Well I don't exactly make it a point to harm cute girls. However I don't really have a choice either".
Archer could only scoff to himself. Handicapped battles were practically the story of his life each one winning only by the skin of his teeth. "Well no point in whining about it now. Come Caster! Our steel shall decide the victor!"
"Well said" as they charged at each other.
Kuro was gritting her teeth as she was weakening. Her breaths were growing more shallow as she was running out of mana and uniformly her own life. But she couldn't give in. Looking across from her Miyu would not be able to handle this on her own. If she falls then the barrier will fail as this creature will be let loose into the world.
This had been a difficult struggle of tug of war as this creature threatened to swallow them up at the first sign of weakness. There was no doubt they were weakening as this evil will easily consume their light.
For Sakura, her condition was unknown as she had disappeared into the mud once enough of it had escaped from her. Though the only consolation they could take from it was that she was still alive otherwise the connection would have been severed already.
The dark homunculus could barely keep her eyes open as he body was growing heavy.
Seeing her weakening state, "Kuro?!" as Miyu could not move from her spot.
"Sorry . . . . I think this is where I might be checking out . . . ." But before she could completely fall she was grabbed from behind as she was held up by her shoulders. Surprised she looked back to see her sister. "Illya! How did you . . . ."
"I'm sorry for taking so long" Illya gently smiled. Taking Kuro's hand she transferred some of her mana over. It wasn't as effective as a kiss but it would have to do for now. Of course Kuro had a lot of questions to ask but it would have to wait. For the most immediate question, she had recovered her mana as her body was back in a more stable condition. Most of the knights of Camelot were already defeated as there were a few stragglers. But not to waste time she had used her magic crest to bypass them to get here. At a glance, she had a god idea what had happened here.
"Illya! Thank goodness you're alright!" Miyu brightly smiled.
"Thank you for holding on for as long as you did". Taking her place the young homunculus raised her hands as she started to apply her power. Taking their ques, Kuro and Miyu felt revitalized as they applied more of their power. Now with the three of them working as one the seal grew brighter in intensity as the mud started to disappear.
"It's working!" Miyu cheered.
"Stay focused. It ain't over till this thing is forced back to where it came from" Kuro stated.
"Come on Sakura! Come back to us!" Illya exclaimed.
Within moments the mud had dissipated as the Matou heir was seen. Though she was still alive she still appeared to be in pain as the creature was still trying to claw it's way out of her.
As things were turning out Caster was glad for them. But as ordered by the command seal he had no choice but to stop them. So long as the ritual was being impeded then he only had to deal with Archer. But with it's reversal he now had to do something about it.
Yet it was taking all of his will power so slow himself down. But that was just about it. Coming to his aide were the remnants of Camelots army.
Charging all at once Archer held them back as a rain of swords fell on them. Though they were easy enough to deal with they were still many and coming at them from all sides. However he wasn't the only target as Illya and others were about to be attacked too. Thus he moved to protect them as they still needed more time to stop the ritual.
Needing to focus on so many battles at once injuries startled to pile up. One of the knights got lucky nicking his leg before he was dispatched. Then that was followed by another injury then another and another. Before long there were some swords and arrows sticking out of his body. But regardless of the severity of his condition none of the knights were able to pass him as he successfully held them back not allowing one attack to touch the girls.
"Archer . . . ." Kuro breathed out watching the bravery of the red servant who fought so hard to protect them.
Miyu grimaced at her own powerlessness as Archer continued to get hurt for them.
Illya was greatly pained that he had to endure to keep them safe. "Just a little more. Just hang in there . . . ."
Taking advantage of the confusion Caster then stepped in with his sword as needed to take out one of them. Targeting Illya he charged at her with full killing intent. ". . . . I'm sorry" was all he could say as his body moved on it's own.
But even with how badly hurt he was Archer would not allow any harm to come to any of them especially to Illya. In life he may have died a dogs death betrayed by his allies. Even unable to become a true hero as he was but person clinging to a pointless ideal. Yet as jaded as he was, there will always be some part of him that will never let go of the people around him. If not as a hero then simply a man that wanted to do the right thing.
Out of time and out of energy, Archer did the one thing he would foolishly do in his youth. Intercepting the magus of flowers, Caster's blade gouged through the red servant as Archer coughed out painfully as that hit was the final straw. However he was the kind of man to go down swinging. Grabbing Caster's arm with his left, he projected the one blade he needed. In one thrust Caster wasn't surprised what had happened even giving a relieved smile.
"Well done" said Caster. "At least know that your sacrifice will not be in vain".
"Heh, the story of my life . . . ."
The girls were shocked at what had happened as Archer began to fade away. Right on time they had just succeeded in their task as they were able to repel creature forcing it back to wherever it came from. As Miyu and Kuro attended to the unconscious Sakura this left Illya staring wide eye to Archer's back. She always had this lingering feeling to who he was. But as his spirit began to merge with her, her heart weighed heavily as he began disappearing. Biting her lip, her eyes began to moisten as she didn't want to believe it.
". . . . Don't cry Illya. Don't waste your tears on someone as pitiful as me who wasted his life chasing an unattainable dream".
"But I . . . . I can't . . . ."
"There is still a chance" Archer continued. "I have already planted the seed. Now it's up to you to decide how his story ends. So guide him Illya. Make sure he doesn't make the same mistakes I did . . . ."
Illya's teeth clenched sniffling as tears streamed down her cheeks. She couldn't accept what she had learned as the red servant had then faded from sight. As his spirit became a part of her she was overwhelmed in grief at the fate that waited for the boy she loved. Grasping her hands over her chest her heart felt like breaking. Unable to bare it, "oniichan!" Illya screamed out.
Yet still standing there was the servant who killed Archer! Who killed her brother!
As her sadness twisted into rage, "Instal! Archer!"
To be continued . . . .
Author's notes: Thus another chapter and here are some notes.
There was really no way to tell what would happen when two reality marbles were opened at the same time. But of what I could understand, they were the crystallization of the ideals of their caster. So in the end it would be a battle of those ideals between the two users of whose ideal was stronger or for that matter if they can coexist in some form or way.
Mordred's overall stats were kind of hurt because she was given the wrong class. Granted she qualified for the role of Assassin considering her purpose. But for the kind of person she was in life she was better suited as either Saber or Berserker. Thus why Berserker Illya completely man handled her. Though as noted she wasn't absorbed into Illya. There will be a reason for that latter.
Still haven't seen a display of what Morgan Le Fey can do. But with a title like witch queen she must be pretty powerful in terms of magic to be a rival to Merlin out classing any kind of modern day mage.
In Heaven's Feel it took Illya with the dress of heaven to force Angra back while also shutting the gate on the grail. However it also costed her life in doing so. But with three grail units working together they should be able to pull the same feat without anyone dying in the process.
If there are any questions or concerns feel free to ask as I'll try to answer them.
So thank you for reading and I further extend my gratitude if you can review as well.