Chapter 5
After a good nights rest and Ritsuka expressing to the group that Berserker won't cause any more trouble, they decide to scout out the rest of Orleans to gather information. They cut through the forest and decide to head for the town of La Charite. Jeanne was taking point in this mission as she knows the area very well and is the best person to understand who was this "Other" Jeanne.
"You're calm," Ristuka said as they followed the Ruler Class servant.
"No, To be honest, I am panicking. No matter how you look at it, the other 'me' cannot be in the right mind." Jeanne said honestly as she expresses the dismay at her clone.
"The possibility of this other Jeanne d'Arc is something else entirely isn't out of the question. It's probably for the best that you keep a positive attitude until we have to gather information." Vega suggested as one of his many functions is the look at all possible outcomes in any given situation.
"T-thanks, Vega, It's just so mind-boggling to know that you either have a clone or something is wearing your face," Jeanne said considering the AI's words.
"You got idea Vega?" Gudao asked.
"A few actually: One is that the enemy is alternate Jeanne from another timeline. Two, She is a Demon that is using Jeanne's power and likeness to cause damage to Orleans. Three, The enemy Jeanne is a construction of our enemy to cause this singularity." Vega spouted a few of his theories on the current situation.
"...all of these theories require additional data before anything is certain, however."
The idea that this 'Other' Jeanne might be a monster wearing her face did put her at ease, but then how is it that her power is only at a fraction as should be?
"Wait a minute. A servant was detected just ahead of your current path. Its location is in La Charite, which is your destination." Romani said over comms and everyone looks concerned at who was the servant.
"Huh, it's getting further away. Oh no, I've lost it. Vega, you got anything on your end?" the doctor asked.
"Negative, I still need more time to calibrate with Cheldeas systems it would seem," Vega said and the Doctore facepalmed.
"Fou! Fou!" Fou yelled and jumped onto Mashu's head. Everyone thought Fou was just being silly but the Slayer caught onto what the little furball was trying to point out. He runs up ahead of everyone to the top of the hill to find the town in question decimated and burning.
"Hey wait- oh no! The Town is on fire!" Ritsuka said catching up to him and with no time to waste the group goes into a full-on sprint. Doomguy kicks open a path through the collapsed gate and into the charred ruins of La Charite.
"I am detecting signs of human life, all that remains are the monsters made from the corpses," Vega said after doing a quick wide-area scan and it didn't take much for the slayer to immediately get to work with his minigun. As a stream of .50 cal bullets tears through the hordes of the undead, Jeanne and Mashu start bashing doors open to let more the of dead out. It was best for them to at least clear the town of monsters so they can't hurt anyone else.
A roar comes from above as a red-skinned wyvern comes diving at the masters with a stream of Dragonfire.
"Masters! Behind me!" Mashu yells as she jumps in front of them. Her shield holds against the fire breath and the beast swings around for another attempt. Before it could do that, it screeches in pain as a something hooked onto its hide. The beast look towards where it was in pain and found a flaming chain and a very angry warrior on the other end. The slayer is sent flying towards the wyvern by the chain of his super shotgun and was able to get himself onto it's back.
The flying lizard tried to shake him off...it wasn't going to get rid of him that easily. Another shot from the meat hook at its head pulling it back as he was pulled closer.
BANG
The wyvern never stood a chance against the super shotgun's obliterating power as its head was turned to bits of brain matter and the body crashing down to earth. Doomguy landed fine on his own to feet as the ground below him cracks due to his sheer power. Jeanne and Mashu were nearly done dealing with the undead townspeople, nearly ready to finally look for clues on who did this. The slayer revs his chainsaw and proceeds to help and clear out the remaining undead. As they all manage to get what used to be the town square, Romani's console lights up with alarming data.
The Jeanne, The Alter, and The Slayer
"Oh, no! Five Servants are converging on your position! Including the first one, we detected earlier!" He warns the party.
"Mashu, Jeanne! Get ready!" Gudao said.
"Doomguy, ready your guns," Ristuka took a deep breath as this is going to be the real deal compared to the battles before. Now both masters are going to have to put their trust in the servants to survive this coming encounter. The slayer preps his shotgun with sticky bombs as Vega begins to calculate any tactical advantage they could use.
Two pairs of servants appeared from both the east and the west of the square. The first pair appeared to be right out of a dark gothic novel. The man was in a fancy looking attire with black and blue being the primary colours, while his weapon was a white spear. His ally beside him looked like some twisted amalgamation of an aristocrat and some form of a torturer. Her weapon appeared to be a staff and perhaps he very long nails. Both had this eerie sense of hunger in their eyes even though it looked like they were trying to hide it.
From the west, it was quite the opposite, Another woman who looked like a priest of some sorts with primarily white attire with her dark blue hair. With her was either another woman or a very fancy-dressed knight with blonde hair. Then, right in front of them, Jeanne appeared. Not the one Chaldea was following but it easy to tell the difference.
This one was in dark attire, platinum blonde compared to natural and had yellow eyes that replace the dark navy that she once had.
The two Jeannes just stare at each other until the dark one finally breaks the silence.
"What on earth? Who knew...Who knew such a thing could happen?" She said at her counterpart who was still stunned to see herself in such a way. Meanwhile, the people of Chaldea just look on in shock and the Slayer at the ready if a fight breaks out. They were outnumbered servant wise, normally Doomguy would be fine with the numbers stacked against him but now he had to protect the young ones.
"Could someone please pour some water on me? This is bad, it's awful, I think I am going to lose it!" Dark Jeanne laughs at the situation in front of her which only disturb Jeanne even more.
"It's so funny I might just die from laughing! Take a look at her Gilles! Look at the pathetic girl. What? Is she a wimp? A mouse? A worm?" She continued laughing at her with great enjoyment. It reminded the slayer of the laughs of the hell priest right before they trapped him in the cursed sarcophagus. His rage was building with each passing second as he knew she was the at the core of all of this death and destruction...Another...Demon.
"According to Chaldea, She must some form of Alternate Jeanne d'Arc summoned as a servant. An 'Alter' if you wish." Vega said too much of annoyance of the alter.
"Call me whatever you want, But know this! I am Jeanne d'Arc, the Dragon witch." She said with certainty. Right, Gilles? Oh, I forgot we didn't bring him along." She looks around and shrugs.
"W-Who are you?! Jeanne ordered.
"I could ask of you the same thing...Right, as a leader, Let me answer that." She then steps forward and summons her flag in her hand and hosts it causally over her shoulder as the banner just hangs there with barely any wind.
"I am Jeanne d'Arc, The devoted saviour of France..."
"What? That nonsense! You are no saint. As I am no saint!" Jeanne said
"But, that is already a thing of the past. More importantly- Why did you attack this town?" Jeanne advanced with her questions. If the Slayer could converse, as if his words would even make a difference, he would just say that it was because she just another demon seeking to end humanity. Right now, he pitied the girl as she was a believer to a god that doesn't give a damn to whoever worships them. For a being of unimaginable power to just sit there and watch people die at the hands of demons….
His anger grew even more…and his master could recognise it in his clenched fist.
"I don't think he'll stay put any longer…" She wipers to Gudao to prep him and Mashu for a fight. The two nods and Mashu ready's her shield.
Jeanne Alter then explains why she is attacking Orleans because she sees France as a traitor to her as they let her be burned at the stake. She has given up hope and no longer listens to the voice of God. To her, that means the Lord has abandoned this land and now all she wants now is to burn France to the ground along with its people. Transforming this place into a damned land of the dead along with the rest of the human race if Chaldea fails their mission. Jeanne questioned again that she was her Alter and the witch snickered at the sight of her still not understanding that she was. Jeanne Alter finally concludes this doubleganger phenomenon.
"...I understand, Seeing you I realized that all there is to the Heroic spirit such as myself. You are neither Ruler nor Jeanne…" Her words strike Jeanne at her very core. Her will begins to waver and she Alter can see it.
"...You are nothing but some leftover residue that I threw away. If you were the existence and class as I, then I should've felt something. But you are worthless. Nothing but a ghost with misguided-" Her words were interrupted when Doomguy unleashed a bolt from his Ballista with blazing speed. Jeanne Alter barely had a second to get out of the way or she would've been killed.
The Slayer had enough of her words of death and destruction all for a false sense of vengeance.
"Berserker…" Jeanne said as he steps forward. He looks over his shoulder and nods to her. The blonde girl understood this gesture and prepped her flag and sword for battle.
"You DARE strike at me while I am talking?!" Jeanne alter yells as she is standing on top of a scorched rooftop.
The four servants step forwards the group from both sides and Jeanne alters smiles.
"Now you screwed up. I will sick my Berserk servants on you and your masters. What do have to say to that you grunt?" Jeanne Alter barely noticed the brute in green armour. After getting shot at she confirmed that he was a servant and possibly a strong one. The dragon witch had the numbers and all of them were stricken with the madness enhancement that made them stronger. Any hero should falter against those odds, right?
The slayer looks to his left and right, then back to her…
He raises his left hand and gives her the middle finger of defiance. The Doom Slayer wasn't, in any form, afraid of her.
"What the-? FUCK YOU TOO THEN! Berserk Lancer! Berserk Assasin! Go deal with that grunt and his friends. You may do as you please with there remains…" She said pissed off at the man as the two servants jump right in front of the slayer.
"About time we had some real prey. Now I shall have your blood." Lancer said with a hunger in his eyes as he raises his spear.
"Not so fast, 'my king' I would like to partake in consuming there flesh and blood. Especially that women that holy woman over there." Her gaze looks over to the red headmaster.
"I suppose she will be enjoyable as well" She licks her lips as Ritsuka feels as if she was about to throw up. Right before both began to bicker for whoever gets the flesh and soul of Jeanne. The slayer opens fire upon them both with his plasma rifle and two frags.
Both servants manage to dodge this opening attack and decide to leave the plans for a meal afterwards.
"So they are Vampires?" Gudao asked as he focused on the battle at hand.
"Yes, and what worse it would appear that all of those servants has been giving the madness enhancement trait! Be careful guys!" Dr Romani said even though they have a berserker on their side they can't leave anything to chance. He can only hope that if things get too dangerous they will be able to escape.
Doomguy faces off against the berserk servants with his plasma rifle. He focuses on the lancer, circling him and keep his distance while VEGA gave him a proximity alert whenever Assassin tried to attack from the side with her freakishly long nails. Whenever lancer got close he had the Heatblast mod and flame blech burn him away as punishment.
"Gah!" Lancer groans against the blast of hot plasma, Unfortunately for him, The attachment was fully charged and Doomguy fire a stream of supercharging plasma before Lancer could recover. As a counter, Lancer slams his spear into the ground causing spikes of blood to come rushing off out of the ground. The attack took Doomguy by surprise and did some damage to his boots. Creating an opening for an assassin to appear right behind him and slash at him with her claws. However, she has pushed away with a face full of fire from the flame blech.
She hisses as she backs away and looks at her foe with eyes of anger. She then notices the small amounts of blood on her claws..the scent was different from what she has experienced. Out of dark curiosity, she put a drop in her mouth and smiled at the taste.
'Interesting...Not a maidan's but still a very unique taste.' she thought to herself. Assassin then turns her gaze over to the two servants protecting the masters. She smirks and changes her targets.
"My King, I shall go after that girl, you may have whatever is left of her when I am done. That man, though, has an interesting taste. I would recommend you try for yourself" She said going after Jeanne with a lust for a holy maidans blood. Doomguy tries to force assassin back to him but was cut off by a wall of blood spikes.
"Such an advantageous woman are you? Very well, leave their souls for me to devour and I will see to this one's blood." Lancer said with a growing hunger in his eyes.
"Jeanne and Mashu should be able to handle Assassin for a while. I will keep you updated on their battle data" Vega said to the slayer via his helmet. Doomguy does a check-up on his wounds. The spike barely grazed his predator suit and the woman only scratched his bicep. Compared The Berserker from Fuyuki, both of them were much weaker. Grabbing his rocket launcher. he fires a lock on barrage at lancer and follows up with his chainsaw. The berserk Lancer defended against to first burst but was pushed back by the blast of the second.
He regains his footing to quickly block a revving chainsaw as it sends sparks flying against his spear. Both warriors duelled against each other with increasing power as Jeanne Alter looks from above. She kept her gaze towards the man in green armour who nearly struck her down with ease if she didn't escape just a second too late. The woman then looks over to the redhead who was keeping tabs on both battles.
'She must be his master. This Berserker is a slight annoyance, but once Assassin kills her. It will back to business as usual.' Jeanne alter thinks for a moment and ponders if she should use her class ability: True name revelation? Part of her was curious about the origins of this servant as he was not from the past like the rest of them.
"Out of my way shielder, I want that maidan!" Assassin yells sending an open Iron maiden at Mashu.
"Ugh!" She holds steady against the torture tool and triggers her skill to give her allies increased defences. Allowing Jeanne to attack from the side and nearly giving a fatal blow.
"Curses, I hate to say it but may need Lord Draculas help with this one…" Assassin spoke the name of Lancer without any concern for her ally.
"L-lord Dracula?" Gudao said realizing the legend that Doomguy was fighting.
"Vlad III, Romania greatest hero...Also, know as the Lord impaler. His legend is also connected to the story of the Vampire: Dracula." Vega states with a brief description and begins to narrow down who was the female vampire.
"To think my true name would be uttered by you in the middle of battle. I am very displeased". Lancer breaks away from a duel to chastise his ally.
"Oh, shush now, Now you have no reason to hold back…" The assassin smirks as the eyes of her mask glow. Vlad knew what she was suggesting and nods in agreement, he will have their souls once the man in front of him faces his doom…
He stabs his spear into the ground and opens his palms and looks at his appoint with the eyes of promised death. The hairs of the back of Ritsuaks back stand on end, something about to happen...and it was something big.
Blood and Roses...
"Covered in blood…"
"Everyone watch out! Berserk Lancer about to use his noble phantasm!" Romani yelled alerting the Chaldea crew.
"Berserker!" Ritsuka yelled to her servant with worry.
"I'll go-gah!" Mashu and Jeanne were about to go save Doomguy with either of there phantasms but Assasin whipped her dark chains in their way.
"Ah, ah, ah! Do not disrupt my lord!" She said as an orb of blood appeared on lancers chest. The slayer had no fear and charges forward, one shot from Lucifers Bane would be enough to end this fight.
"Berserker! No!" His master cried but he did not hear her. His rage was beyond anyone stopping him. Vega tried to warn him with many alerts on his hud but there was no slowing down the slayer.
"I hereby offer up my life! Kazikli Bey." Five massive spears of blood come jetting out from Vlad's chest with an eruption. The slayer tried to dodge the attacks with his speed but one knocks him down leaving vulnerable to the others...All hit there marks with an explosion of blood leaving a coloured smoke where Doomguy was standing…
Ritsuka felt like crying...no she was already in tears…Her servant...Her protector...Gone.
"Humpf, looks likes he wasn't that much of a threat. Now I shall assist-" Lancer was interrupted by his leader
"What are you doing you, idiot!?" Jeanne Alter, in an exposed state of panic, yells at her servant leaving Lancer confused.
"Don't act so relaxed until we know that...Monster is dead!" She yells and Lancer's gaze turns to the cloud of blood where the slayer once stood…
Or one could say...Where he was still standing as a flaming hook comes flying at lancer like a bat out of hell, impaling him where he stood.
"What?! How!?" Lancer his as the hook set him ablaze. Everyone stops and looks at the cloud where the hook came from as it fades away in the wind.
"Berzerker…?" Ristuka looks up with hopeful eyes as the cloud of blood dissipates revealing her servant, still standing and covered in blood. In awe of everyone that can view the current battle…
"No way...He tanked it…" said stumped.
"Even after such an attack he still stands…Did he use a Noble Phantasm" Jeanne said amazed. Without waiting for anymore gawking the slayer pulls back on his Super Shotgun with one hand. Increasing the tension on the chain as Vlad tries to hold back regardless of the hellfire that is consuming his body.
"My king!" Assassin yells out ready to stop him but then Jeanne jumps in her way and swings her flag like a polearm, forcing her back.
"You shall not pass me," Jeanne said with renewing determination that came out of nowhere.
"HAA!" Mashu yells following up with a cross attack with her shield landing a heavy blow to Assasin.
"Ristuka, We got him covered!" Gudao said to Ritsuka takes a deep breath to focus on the battle.
"GO, BERSERKER!" Ritsuka she yells and Doomguy lets the release on the meathook go and he was sent flying towards his foe. In under a second, he was point black in front of Vlad as the hook lets the vampire go and then…
Boom Boom.
Two shotgun blasts fired at the same time rips apart the right half of Vlad's body to shreds leaving him still standing but in agonizing pain.
"I...curse you…" He sputters as his own blood his spilt onto the cobblestone street with venom in his voice. It would be the last thing he said as the marine events his arm blade and stabs the Berserk servant five times in the chest and then decapitates him. His body falls over and fades away into mana with of that energy goes to the victor, healing his wounds. His armour was repaired but wounds remained as a Noble Phantasm isn't something he would easily walk away from. Vega wasn't worried about his prowess in combat as no wound would slow him down. Unfortunately, there is a lack of means to heal from his battles, there was a lack of demons or even some fodder for him to kill. His glory kills worked on monsters and servants but not to the same degree. This would need to be addressed once they retreat from this battle as Mashu and Jeanne were beginning to show signs of fatigue.
The enemy onlookers are mortified at what has befallen of lancer and some of them take a step back as Berserker reloads his gun, still covered in blood. He looks up to Jeanne Alter, who was still a state of complete shock.
"I think I am going to be sick…" Dr Romani said over the comms as the Chaldea team look on in awe.
"Just...Who...What are you?" The dark Ruler whispers to herself as during the beginning of the fight she used her True Name revelations skill and was...overwhelmed with the knowledge of this Berserker. A single man fighting what seems to be hell itself… She had to stop to take a breather as it felt like she was drowning and that was when Vlad used his Noble Phantasm. He acted like it was the end for the armoured man but she knew better…However, it was too late...
Jeanne alter then recomposed herself and scowled at the group as she still had numbers on her side.
"What are you waiting for!? Assassin! Use that bloodlust and kill them!" She yells and Assasins eyes glow yellow with anger.
"I will avenge my king and bath in your blood. I, Elizabeth Bathory, otherwise know as Camilla extract the very screams from your souls!" Assassin yelled her true name out load with her madness fueling the servant. Doomguy was about to come running in but then the Saber gets in his way.
"I will be your opponent, Berserker!" The blonde knight points his rapier at Doomguy. He was ready for another fight but to the others, it looked like he took a missile as the visible wounds leaking blood were anything to say...
"He's still ready for a fight?! Even after taking that much damage?" Dr Romani said as even he can tell those wounds are not something you can shake off. He must have some form of battle continuation to keep him from falling over.
"Even with lancer defeated, we are still at great risk Dr Romani," Vega said as Jeanne and Mashu fight of the blood countess.
"We are going to need an exit strategy, Even with Him still fighting, we can not risk another unknown Noble Phantasm." Vega begins scanning around looking for an escape route as Doomguy fends off the Saber. He was still keeping the knight at bay with relative ease, but, that glory kill didn't do much other than healing the superficial wounds. Fighting servants was more different compared demons, especially with each one holding a trump-card up there sleeves. He could just trigger his own but he wasn't sure if during a berserk state would he be mindful of his master's safety. As he considered his options, Jeanne alter begins to glow with a dark purple aura.
"I need to kill you all ...right now!" She said in anger and frustration.
"Everyone watch out! Alter is about to fire he Noble phantasm!" Dr Romani said in a panic.
"Mashu!" Gudao calls to his servant and she instantly knew what she needed to do.
"Berserker! Come to us!" Ristuka calls out and the slayer nods and manages to break away from his duel with Berserk Saber thanks to his dash thrusters. Ritsuka was relieved he listened, however, worried about his wounds.
"Jeanne get to us please!" Mashu called out and Jeann nods jumping back into the air landing behind them.
"This is the howl of a soul filled with hatred!" Jeanne Alter slams her flagpole into the ground as the banner lights up in purple flame.
"Deploying Noble Phantasm!" Mashu raises her shield in front of her.
"La Grondement Du Haine!" Jeanne Alters then unleashes her sword and rain of purple spears come crashing down on to her enemies.
"Lord Chaldea's!" Mashu yells as a massive blue barrier with medieval insignia is projected in front of them. The spears of Jeanne alter clash against the Mashu's shield as she holds steady. This attack was strong but nothing compared to the might of Excalibur. As the last spear is deflected, the shield fades away as both Phantams shut down.
"Good job, Mashu!" Gudao said to his winded kouhai as she smiled.
"We are alive but we still need to escape and I do not know how we can without a distraction," Jeanne said.
"You are all full of surprises…" Jeanne Alter getting annoyed that they still stood in front of her. Especially her discarded self and that Berserker.
"No matter I still have the numbers...this should be enough, Just be sure I will remove your heads from your necks." She threatened as a small object was tossed into the battlefield.
"A glass...rose?" Mashu said perplexed.
"OH WHAT NOW?!" Jeanne alter said pissed.
"It's not elegant. Neither is this city nor that combat style. I don't like your philosophes or principles either…" A voice echoed from a rooftop. Saber freezes in there place as the voice was familiar to him.
"You are so beautiful, yet you shroud yourself in blood and hatred. For good or for evil, Shouldn't a human try to be free?" A girl dress with cyan blue eyes, White blond hair and red garb jump down from the rooftop. Her face greets all with a smile of elegance as she adjusts her very poofy hat.
"A servant?" Jeanne Alter scowled.
"Yes, that's right! I am so happy. This is what it means to announce oneself as a hero of justice!" She with a twirl and bow. She runs toward the two masters with there servants and faces her foes.
"I know who you are! I also know how powerful and terrifying you are. To be honest, I have never trembled in fear for anyone in my life." She said honestly but still faces her opponents with determination. The slayer looks on and wonders where were more people like her around in his world? Looking to his master, she seems to be full of hope as it looks like this lady's speeches was doing something if not just providing a distraction. He had to admit if this lady didn't show up he would've fired the BFG until he ran dry to let the masters escape. It was Vega who told him to hold fire as he detected another servant approaching.
"...I shall face you even if I have to tear my dress!" The women continued with her words causing the Slayer to raise an eyebrow. This was the weirdest Battlecry he ever heard in his life. And this was coming from a guy who just yells: "Rip 'n' tear' for a living.
"You are…" Saber was about to call this lady by her true name out but stops.
"Oh, so you know my true name. Have we met before, splendid female knight?" the lady in red smiles while also causing some confuse on the Saber servant's Gender. Jeanne Alter looks to her servant wanting answers.
"Saber, do you know her?" She asks.
"..."
"Answer me dammit!" Alter said losing her patience.
"I can tell who she is, even with this murderous rage burning in my heart. Her beauty is unmistakable. That girl is called the Follower of Versailles. She is Marie Antoinette." Saber reveal and The Chaldea masters and Mashu are amazed to find a queen of France has come to assist them in their time of need.
"That's right! Thank you for saying my name! And as long as that name exists, I will play my role no matter how foolish it may become." The queen said with cheer in her voice as she looks back to her allies. She notes that one of them appeared to be severely wounded so she decides to accelerate her plans. As much she wanted to try and win the heart of this dark Jeanne she must assist those that are in need the most.
"With my duty as a queen of this land, Along with this Jeanne d'Arc beside me, I shall make your body and heart mine!" She declares causing major confusion and blushed faces. Minus Doomguy of course who was just waiting on the signal to leave
"It's falling apart...My image of Marie Anntoinette is falling apart…" Dr Romani facepalmed at the current turn of events.
Jeanne Alter, getting even angrier, decides to sick both Saber and assassin on them in a desperate move to kill them off. Rider, The priestess, was put on the backline just in case. She scoffed at the idea that she needed to concern her safety but can't risk anything with that Berserker around.
'Wait...why I am freaking out about him?' She said in a moment of question.
"Here they come! Mashu! Jeanne! I'll back you up." Gudao said ready for round two and both servants nod. Marie herself approached Ristuka with a smile and a request.
"Hello there, I wish we could properly introduce ourselves, however, we must first fight for just a bit longer. Would you be my master in the meantime?" She asked and Ritsuka nods. After a quick contract between the Rider class servant and Chaldea master, they both turn to berserker who was ready to jump back into the fight.
"You are staying here Doomguy. Marie and the others can hold them off until we can retreat" Ristuka said surprising the man to ask such a thing of the Slayer. He was about to object by just jumping right back into the fray.
"Please…" She said with a small tear running down her cheek...the sight caused him to halt as he didn't want her to cry...Because of him.
He reluctantly nods but if things go sour, he will tag back in with his chainsaw. Lucky for them, Marie seems to be ready to spring the escape as rides her glass horse around the battlefield. Keeping the enemy on their feet while also preventing them from trying anything too dangerous upon her allies.
"Damn that Harlot! Hold still!" Assassin cursed as she cannot get a clear shot at Jeanne as her bloodlust gives into the madness. Saber remained silent as they focused on the Mashu, clashing sword against the shield.
"Alright! Everyone get ready! It's time for our escape! Amadeus, Crush them like bugs!" With the queen's word. A Blonde haired man wearing purple and black attire appears from a decimated alleyway.
"Leave it to me! Requiem for Death!" With a wave of his baton, a blast of music is sent open the enemy forcing them to cover their ears and completely unable to counter. Seeing this as there chance to escape, the two masters and group of servants make a mad dash back towards to forest. Maire, with the assistance of Doomguy, takes two masters on her horse as the rest of the servants run a superhuman speed.
Mashu was slipping behind as they run as she was nearly spent after fighting the berserk servants for that extended period. Then suddenly she found herself hoasted over Doomguys shoulder as he picked up the pace.
"D-Doomguy-san!" She said embarrassed but was still thankful for the breather as they run to as a safe distance. After putting a few more kilometres between them and Jeanne Alter's crew, they stop to rest. They find a nearby tree and sit in the shade to lick their wounds while discussing their next move.
Hillside Revelations...
"...And done!" Ritsuka said as she used her mystic code to heal up Doomguy which felt much closer to the recovery he gets from glory kills on demons. He gives a thumbs-up as he stands up to keep watch for enemy patrols while going over the fight he was in back at the town in his head. That was the first real fight with odds stacked against him...He closed his eyes comparing his battles in Fuyuki and now.
Then the knowledge filled his head to answer his question. He has the skill Independent action. Which only takes affect if he was alone and away from his master and it grows stronger as the battle goes on. Linking up with his rage to form a deadly combination of ripping and tearing. It kicked in when he was fighting off lancer and blinded him against his masters call to avoid the attack. He was meant to be the lone predator of hell, as he always was and will be. Being a servant was throwing him off and he needed to adapt soon...for the sake of this world.
"Monsuire Doom-guy?" A voice calls out to him and he turns to find Marie seeking a conversation.
"I would like to properly introduce myself once more. But with less Queen authority and more servant talk." She then does a courtesy bow.
"I am of the Rider Class and specialize in dazzling my enemies with my beauty in combat." She said and all she got was a nod for the man in green armour.
"And I swear to your master that I will aid you all in your noble quest to save this world. Even if I have to sacrifice myself, I will do it with a smile." She finished and gives him a nod. Ritsuka mentioned to her that he wasn't that much of a talker but was calm and understanding outside of a fight.
"I look forward to working together. I will leave you to your duties." Marie Antoinette said returning to the group without getting a word out of Slayer. If the Rider was being honest, She was trying to see if her charms would get a peep out of him. But, Alias it was her defeat as she returns to the group as they discuss a nearby leyline they could use to make a proper base camp.
To the Slayer, She seemed fine to have around. The queen was contracted to his master and did help them out. Still, he wasn't out here to make friends. Chaldea gets a pass as they were trying to save the world but servants he could barely give two thoughts about.
"Slayer, may I speak with you?" Vega said over his helmet comms. The slayer nods as anything info the AI had was beneficial on his quests.
"I wish to go talk about future strategies against servants." The slayer listens as he noticed how sloppy the fight went. He was strong and was winning against lancer up until that Noble phantasm of his blasted him. It felt like taking the punch of a thousand Cyberdemons that were being buffed archives. According to Vega, Mashu's skill was able to reduce the damage but even then it almost put one of his boots in the grave.
Such an attack he would've avoided however...No...His anger got in the way...More than it normally did.
"It would appear your madness enhancement might need some getting used to. These battles will need tactics along with strength." Vega said and the Slayer nods. It was like the early days on Argent d'Nur. Through training, his rage was forged into a weapon that would make him the very bane of hell. Becoming a servant must've messed something for him to make the mistake.
"I believe in time you will find a way to resolve this. For now, might I suggest working on your relationship with Ritsuka?" The slayer looks towards the said girl who was talking with the new servants.
"According to Chaldea's records, A servant is stronger with strong co-operation with their master. Perhaps this would help you wield your rage like before once more?" Vega theorized and shortly disconnects, leaving him with his thoughts. The slayer looks across the rolling his as recollects previous fights...He was pretty much just running in without a thought of his master backing him up. A lone warrior doesn't need help from others...it was easier that way. However, Servants will need to be fought differently, as actual threats compared to just mere monsters. He will need to adapt and evolve if he was to slay the monsters that threatened this world.
The slayer reaches into his back pouches and pulls out a small trinket...A rabbits paw on a military dog tag chain...He takes a deep breath trying to recall the days of calm that once brought him peace.
Daisy…
Even though the memories were faded, Doomguy felt the fires burning in his soul return to the controlled flames he wielded before entering this world.
Meanwhile,
Jeanne alter sits on her throne with a hand on her temples. She had her numbers filled with Berserk servants, yet she lost one of her strongest and nearly was killed herself. The Berseker of Chaldea, he was the variable that she underestimated. If he wasn't there then perhaps her Lancer would still be alive and keeping her numbers strong. The one servant's power even assaulted her mind after using her Ruler abilities.
"Just who or what is he…?" Jeanne Alter attempts to use her skill again…
…
…
"*GASP*" She felt like she was drowning in a sea of rage. She could barely translate what she saw…Jeanne Alter did however understood one thing…
He has been in a form of Hell for a long time...And it was his choice to be there...
AN: WEW, That's a lot of servants to writing in a fight...Hopefully, it doesn't look too bad. Anyways, I wanted Doomguy to get his first taste of a Noble Phantasm that can hurt him. Like in the games, wounds do not slow him down and glory kills still work on non-demonic foes as long as he has fodder enemies to rip up. (Demons supply more of course)
I also wanted to keep the idea of becoming a servant being new to the slayer, Madness Enhancement and having to be careful with his master.
You could say I 'Nerfed' Doomguy but this is only temporary as he continues protecting Ritsuka and fighting servants, he'll become a force to be reckoned with... Some Servants are going to be a cakewalk while others are going to be able to put up a powerful fight against him... (looking at you Camelot servants)
As always, leave some feedback if you want and have a nice day!