Chapter 6

The Iron Saint

Plasma bolts, Swords, a glass horse and a shield slew with the sounds of death to the monsters that occupied the forest of interest to Chaldea. It was the location of a Leyline that they can use to send much-needed supplies and possibly summon servants to bolster their numbers. With direction from Da-Vinci, they create the required summoning circle and start the restock of Supplies.

Doomguy continued his role as the guard as everyone sat down and chatted away for a bit of small talk to get to know each other better. Of course, he didn't partake in it and left it to Vega to answer questions. Fou ended up following him around so did let fou jump on his shoulder as he patrolled the area around the camp.

"Fou seems to like Doomguy" Gudao mentioned looking back at the two.

"I guess it doesn't matter who you are to like small animals. For a Berserker, he seems quite calm and coherent." Amadeus said looking at Doomguy curiously.

"Berserkers can be coherent but it's hard to predict which legend would be the lucky one." Dr Romani said. The conversation continues to different topics ranging from helping Jeanne come to terms with her Alter to some questions some question directed to Vega himself.

"...So, Vega was it? How are you doing with the current adventure?" Marie said curiously.

"I am used to such adventures as I worked with the slayer for over a year. However, this is the first time involving a form an of time travel. As an AI, an experience like these help evolve my core functions so I can better utilize previous data to produce desired outcomes." Vega said as the eye of the drone rotates as he just received some data.

"What was that?" Ristuaka asked.

"Just a report from the slayer. He just killed some hostile creatures encroaching on our position. No shots fired and Fou is unharmed." Vegas report slightly worried Mashu about Fou but she trusted Berserker.

"So you're saying that you become smarter? Like a human?" Ristuaka asked

"Very much so but my processes run faster than the human brain. Though I would need proper hardware to reach my fullest potential. I am currently running my code off of the Praetor suit systems." Vega said

"So, what kind of hardware are we looking at?" Dr Romani asked.

"To not bore or confuse you all, I would mention that I would need a planets polar icecap to keep the core CPU from melting as temperatures can reach the surfaces of the sun," Vega said and Dr Romani just shook his head mumbling words about how ridiculous this AI was.

"Vega? Did you ever have a human body?" Marie asked out of the blue causing some eyebrows to raise among the group.

"No, I never was a human…" Vega said as he was never human in the first place. He was developed by the UAC and...No he didn't like thinking about his origins.

"Strange, you seem just as human as anyone else. Are you curious about getting a body?" Marie continued.

"Marie, Please stop with the silly questions towards Vega," Amedeus said shaking his head.

"Oh quit being a stick in the mud. It was just a harmless question." She refuted at the musician.

"I appreciate the comment, Marie, but I do not believe I am capable of getting a human body," Vega said calmly but the idea did make him curious, it would be an experience he would've never seen before. Nonetheless, the mission mattered more than his curiosities.

With that note, Gudao decides to make some food as the sun was setting and the skipped lunch due to the battle. Ritsuka and Mashu agree that they need to keep up with calories. Servants do not need food as the flow of mana from a source is all they need to remain summoned in their current state. Mashu being a demi servant still requires food as she is still human regardless of her enhanced powers. The young masters still offered some food and the Servants happily accepted.

"Fou!" Fou yelped as Doomguy returns from his patrols. The little creature then Jumps off and runs up to Mashu who had some food prepared for him.

"Welcome Back, Dinners up!" Ritsuka said and Doomguy notices the food being served by the masters. Berserker waved it off signalling that he'd pass as he did not need to eat.

"It alright, there's enough food to go around." Ristuka smiles as she prepares a ration for him. Berserker was about to protest more, looks over to Vega who was staring back at him. He mentally sighed remembering the AI's suggestion of improving his bond with her. Berseker nods but makes the hand signal that he will only have a little bit of food as he wants to prioritize the masters and Mashu. The man then sits down next to Mashu as Ritsuka gave him on of the sandwiches she prepared back at Chaldea. Of course, he couldn't eat with his helmet on and everyone looks at him in anticipation of seeing his face. Much to their dismay, He just detached the chin guard on his helmet to make it easier to eat while keeping it on. As Doomguy takes a bit of his food...he couldn't taste anything. Maybe a little bit of salt or maybe spice, but he couldn't taste it...Judging from the happy faces around him it wasn't the food itself. Looks like his taste buds must be out of order from not being in use for thousands of years in hell.

"So, how is it?" Ristuka asked him and he quickly gave thumps up and she smiled. Even though he couldn't taste anything, he wasn't going to upset her. After a much filling meal for everyone, they decide to rest for the night while Doomguy resumes his patrols with Mashu. Jeanne and the others take charge in watching over the sleeping masters…

"The age of his reckoning was uncounted. The scribes carved his name deep in the tablets of Hell across aeons, and each battle etched terror in the hearts of the demons. They knew he would come, as he always had, as he always will, to feast on the blood of the wicked. For he alone could draw strength from his fallen foes, and ever his power grew, swift and unrelenting."

"None could stand before the horde but the Doom Slayer. Despair spread before him like a plague, striking fear into the shadow-dwellers, driving them to deeper and darker pits. But from the depths of the abyss rose The Great One, a champion mightier than all who had come before. The Titan, of immeasurable power and ferocity. He strode upon the plain and faced the Doom Slayer, and a mighty battle was fought on the desolate plains. The Titan fought with the fury of the countless that had fallen at the Doom Slayer's hand, but there fell the Titan, and in his defeat, the shadow horde were routed."

"And in his terrible rancour between worlds and through time, the Hell Walker found the wretch who shall not be named, but in his heresy was loyal to his evil cause. The wretch adorned the Doom Slayer in a mighty armour, wrought in the forges of Hell, impenetrable and unyielding. With sword and shield of adamantine strength, the Doom Slayer set to banishing all that was left unbroken by his savagery to the void. Yet as the mighty Titan fell and dread engulfed the armies of Doom, the demon priests of the Blood Temples laid a trap to capture this scourge of Hell. Insatiable, even by the vanquishing of the Great One, the Hell Walker sought prey in the tombs of the Blood Keep. And blinded by his fervour, the lure drew him in. The priests brought down the temple upon the Doom Slayer, and in his defeat entombed him in the cursed sarcophagus. The mark of the Doom Slayer was burned upon his crypt, a warning to all of Hell that the terror within must never be freed. There he lies still, and evermore, in silent suffering."

As the final message was spoken, Ristuka was left with more questions then answers as she sits in a void of darkness. She was able to conclude that this was a tale of her servant, most likely written by his enemies. Her servant was the Doom Slayer, Bane of Hell. But who was he? How did he become the Doomslayer? What caused his unholy hatred of the demons he slew? Ristuaka ponders for moments but wonders the most important question…

What caused him to become the Doomslayer?

"He is a tormented soul" a mysterious, but soft sound female voice calls out. Ristuka looks around to search for the source of the voice

"A broken man…with one single purpose left in his empty, hardened heart..." A light shines behind the redhead that cut through the darkness. What she saw was something she wasn't expecting

A brown Rabbit, Glowing in golden light…

"Senpai? Ristuka Senpai?" Mashu shakes her friend awake as a situation has come up and needs both masters on their feet.

"W-what is it Mashu?" Ristuka asked rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"We are under attack!" Mashu answers as the sounds of wyverns and undead soldiers echo throughout the forest. Ritsuka looks wondering where her servant was and she was answered with the screech of wyvern followed by the sound of gunfire.

"Alright, let's go! Rider, Caster! With me!" Ristuka said running to the battle with both servants behind her.

"You ready Mashu, Jeanne?" Gudao asks.

"As we can ever be!" Jeanne said with determination.

"Awaiting your orders, Senpai!"

It was an ambush in the night as a huge search party of the undead and mythical beasts invade the once peaceful forest. Marie was riding her hoarse causing crystals to form around the undead and explode, killing them. Amedeus was providing support with his music causing debilitating curses upon enemies while Mashu and Jeanne struck then down. Of course, the person in that was cutting through the enemies like butter was Doomguy using the Destroyer Blade attachment for the ballista. Instead of shooting twin beams of Argent energy, it charges up fires horizontal blade of superheated power. Just a few shots will cut down an injured tyrant and Doom hunter into mincemeat. The only disadvantage of the Destroyer blade requires a full charge to be effective which can leave the Slayer open to attacks.

Another charge is fired, unleashing a blade of death onto not only a massive group of zombies but an unfortunate wyvern that decided to land behind them. The blade stops against the beasts hide and explodes. It is stunned for the moment, it tries to get back up until its head was crushed under the hooves of a crystal horse.

"And stay down!" Marie said riding past the Slayer.

Ristuka looks up to find two more wyverns circling about above then and gets an idea.

"Doomguy! You got anything for those two?" She calls and The slayer looks up. Pulling out his rocket launcher, he was ready to take them one.

"Wait! I got something to give you some extra kick!" Ritsuka then uses the other function of her mystic code: Instant enhancement. Doomguy was then engulfed in a red aura as his power was increased thanks to his master. It wasn't close to a Quad Damage, but he appreciated the extra power. He locks on to the beasts, firing two bursts of rockets into both and shattering them. Okay, maybe it was closer to a Quad then he thought. Seeing that the enemy was slain and nothing else as come crawling out of the darkness. Doomguy walks over to his master and offers a fist bump to thank her for this assistance.

"Guys! I am detecting a servant approaching! Get ready for a fight!" Dr Romani warned as to his console lights up in warnings. It didn't take long for mentioned Servant it jumps right into their field of view, creating a dust cloud on landing. Once the dust clears with moonlight revealing one of the Berserk Servants they met. It was the Priestess with a staff that did not participate in the previous battle.

"...Hello, everybody. What a lonely night. I am Rider." She said with a calm smile while everyone was ready for anything.

"Who are you!?" Jeanne Demanded the servant's name as she twirled her flag, ready for the upcoming fight. The servant took a moment to process the question that the hero of Orleans asked.

"Who? Let's see...I wonder who I am...I forced myself to be a righteous saint but, in this world, I'm a slave to a broken one…" The enemy said looking to the scorched forest floor.

"A broken Saint..." Guilt fills Jeanne's heart as she knew that she Alter was causing this servant to suffer. The women look at her with anger welling in her eyes.

"Yes, Thanks to her, My reasoning has left and I've gone mad... I am doing what I can to hold myself back. What a mess this is…" She said closing her eyes and tightening her grip on her staff. Gudao and Ritsuka could see that Berserk Rider was trying to fight back against her wrongful madness.

"We don't have to fight, Rider! Maybe we can help you!" The young man suggested as he wanted to avoid bloodshed.

"Please! You don't have to do this!" Ritsuka said with hope in her eyes that they can save Rider. The servant looks at them both, she could see the unchained hope in their hearts...However, it was too late for her. It would only be a matter of time before her control falters, thus becoming the monster her 'master' intended Rider to be.

"...I appreciate your hopes, I cannot join you as long as I have this cursed madness…" She Looks away from there bright eyes.

"But…" Ristuka felt sad as Rider seemed like she was suffering.

"Then why are you here?" Vega asked.

"I was meant to watch you, but my waning reason urges me to fight you...so I shall test your might as masters. You face the Dragon witch. Disaster incarnate, Riding on the Ultimate dragon." She then slams the bottom of her staff into the ground.

"Come to Me, Tarasque" With those words, A massive, lizard creature come crawling out of the woods behind Rider. The size of the beast made the Wyverns look like mere pups compared to it. It could be in the same species as it was covered in heavily armoured brown scales all over its body but its quad set of hind legs. The beast was armed with massive claws that looked like it could rip a Baron of hell with ease. If the claws weren't enough, it's massive tree truck of a tail looked like it could play golf with a Manncubus being the ball.

"Wait! Did she said Tarasque!? The Dragon that was pacified by a saint with nothing but praying to god?" Dr Romani said as he quickly goes through the database to find the true name of this servant. Luckily, Vega already concluded who this servant was with his speed as an AI.

"Identity confirmed. Berserk Rider's true name is Saint Martha and her Noble Phantasm is Taerasque. The Dragon she pacified from her legend." Vega confirmed as everyone prepared for a battle to the death.

"Then there's nothing left to say...Defeat me. Plunge your blade into my heart without hesitation." Martha said with no hesitation as her Iron dragon roars and charges at the group. Doomguy grabs both masters and jumps backwards out of the way as Mashu bashes the dragon with her shield, slowing it down.

"There's no way out of this, Master's Your orders!" Mashu said as Berserker Drops the masters at a safe distance.

"Mashu, keep the thing busy so while the other deal damage to it!" Gudao yells as Doomguy returns to the fight with his Chain gun. Amadeus begins his symphony to attack the beast's ears to keep distracted while Maria pranced around it on her glass horse. With each step around the beast, her horse leaves behind a crystal that would explode in sparkling shards against Tarasque's hide. As the beast was trying to chase around the french queen, Doomguy opens fire upon it with his chaingun. Unfotrtuanly it would appear that the dragon's hide was much stronger compared to the wyverns they have been facing. Nevertheless, the strategy was working as the beast was distracted and it's rider open for attack.

"Have at you!" Jeanne yells as she strikes at saint Martha with her flag. The berserk saint quickie reacts and blocks with her staff with ease. Martha may be a saint but she was an expert with quarterstaff combat. Twirling her staff around she counters and lands a blow on Jeanne's back.

"Agh!" She said as she backs away to let Mashu block the follow-up attack with her shield.

"Shielder...I was impressed with the strength of your shield back there." Martha said as she swung her staff at Mashu. Jeanne comes around from the side in an attempt to take Martha down fast. It was blocked with a loud sound of clashing metal as staff and flag deadlocked with each other. Both Saints look at each other dead in the eyes wondering who was going to play the next move.

"Hiya!" Mashu tries to counter Martha, however, her attack was blocked with merely her foot. Martha had both servants in a deadlock with her as others fight her Dragon.

"Just..how is she...this strong?" Mashu said holding her ground.

"It's the madness enhancement. It gives servants great strength regardless of who they are!" Jeanne said as her arms begin to go numb due to her lowered stats.

"Yes, it's why Jeanne alter gave all of use this curse of madness. I hate it…" Martha said letting the last line slip out. The berserk Rider then lets out a burst of light from her body sending both servants rolling across the ground.

"Mashu! Jeanne!" Gudao uses his mystic code and heals both of them as they stand back up. With blistering speed, she dashes headfirst into the brawl against her dragon. Martha goes after the musician that was assaulting Tarasque ears, she drops right in front of him and does a swing kick sending him flying a tree. Her assault was halted as Marie stood right in front of him causing Martha to stop in her tracks.

"I see...Your very beauty is a skill that prevents others from attacking your person…" Saint Martha, even with her madness was able to figure out Marie's mode of defence.

"Correct, I am a beautiful princess after all! Now Doomguy!" She yells as Doomguy was keeping the dragon busy on his own. Seeing this moment, he kicks off of Tarasque sending himself speeding at Martha. Two dashes from his suit boosters and he was right behind her as he delivers a blood punch to her left flank.

"Gagh!" She was sent flying into many trees and leaving a crater behind where she landed. Seeing his master injured, Tarasque unleashing a stream of pure Dragonfire all around, setting the nearby forest ablaze as his enemies dodge or block the inferno.

"Gahh!" Mashu yelled as she was a little late on the draw pulling up her shield and got singed a severely. Her yell causing the Slayer rage to build once more.

"Mashu! Take this!" Gudao command seal lights up as he uses it to heal Mashu back to perfect condition.

"Oh no! The Forest in catching fire! We can't let this go out of control!" Romani said trying to figure out a way to put the flames out…

"Tarasque...Your enemies are the servants, not the forest!" Martha yells and the beast understands his master's intention. The dragon blasts the burning woodland with ice breath to put out the flames.

"Even during a battle, she tries to save the forest…" Ristuka feels her heart go heavy as she still wanted to save Martha.

Berserk Martha then reappears from the trees, bloodied but still standing as she used her healing abilities on herself.

"Taraques, to me!" She yells as the beast runs to its master. Jeanne felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She knew Martha was about to unleash her noble phantasm. Mashu wasn't ready for another block with a shield so it was up to her.

"Everyone! Behind me!" Jeanne yells and everyone, even Doomguy, regrouped behind her. Tarasque then stops at his master's side as she closes her eyes and begins to glow with white light.

"O, Sad Dragon that Knew Naught of Love… Here. One, two! Like a star! Tarasque!"

Martha then jumps behind her dragon and bats her dragon-like a giant hockey puck and sents the beast spinning as a massive fireball.

"Defend my brethren, my banner! God is here with me...Luminosité Eternelle!"

Jeanne strikes her flag into the ground and banner unrolls itself as a golding light engulfs it. A barrier of while light extends from the flag just in time as the Iron Dragon Crashes right into it. A stalemate between phantasms roared on as Tarasque showed no signs of slowing down as he continued spin against the shield.

"I..I can't hold it off..much longer!" Jeanne said as even her noble phantasm was weakened due to her other self's existence. She can only hold it back for a few more moments. Vega looks back at Saint Martha as discovers that she is severely wounded herself for some reason as she focused her power into her dragon.

"Martha appears to Be vulnerable. I would recommend a counter-attack while she is open." Vega said while giving a weapon recommendation to the slayer via his hud. Gudao looks to Mashu who looked like she was on her last legs fighting off berserk two berserk servants one after the other.

"Doomguy...Go end it," Ritsuka said accepting that he was there the best chance at defeating both at once. The slayer nods as he pulls out a small object...A crossguard and hilt of a sword with the familiar symbol of the Slayer glowing right in the centre.

With a mighty leap, he scales the barrier and ignites his blade...the Cruisble of the Slayer. Everyone looks in awe of such a blade that was completely different from the rest of his arsenal. Some questioned if it was even made by humans at all judging from the blade of solid energy. As he gravity sends him back down he aims his sword right down onto the Dragon. The burning blade cuts through the dragonhide like butter as Tarasque was stopped and now was waling it pain as the Slayer thrust the blade farthing into the beast. It tries to shake him off as it runs around bashing into trees and rocks. But the slayer twisted the blade so that the Crucible's outward blades hooked themselves into the dragon flesh. Finally, with one upward cut, The slayer sent a burst of red energy towards the Tarasques head causing it to explode. With the dragon down he jumps off and runs at Martha with crucible still burning with red flames. Time slowed down for Martha as she decides her options. She would've had to do something this point, healing, putting up a fight or even retreating were all good options for her… She looks down and finds herself still bloodied…She thought she closed her wounds as she came out of the woods.

'Why didn't I heal myself? Why am I just standing here?...why I am I fighting them…?"

Martha then came to the answer...she wanted to end this miserable existence as a servant to a corrupt saint. Looking at the man coming at her with a flaming sword..it was like the stories of Archangels in her faith…

The madness demanded her to fight...but her battered body refused. She will accept her punishment as tears of guilt fall from her eyes.

The Slayer stopped right in front of her, Sentinel blade at her neck.

"Just do it...Please…" Martha begged as the man remained where he was.

"Please, I can't stand it anymore! It torments me so much…" She continued as more tears fell from her eyes. Doomguy looked at the woman in front of him, begging for the release of death. She stood in the way of the restoration for this world, a very good reason to kill her. However, this person wasn't a monster or a slave of hell. She was an innocent soul being enslaved by another to do unspeakable things. Nevertheless, a crucible blade would her what she wanted...So why does he hesitate

Now he remembers…

Long ago...During the fall of his earth...A mother was crying in a local church next to her slain family in a burning city. Begging God for forgiveness as she was possessed by a demon to kill her loved ones. Sadly no-one answered her cries...except a lone marine. The mother begged the Soldier to end her life as she knew it wouldn't be long before they took control again…

He obliged...giving her the mercy that god refused.

The Slayer powers off his crucible, There was no saving this version Saint Martha...But he wasn't going to end her life with brutality. He draws his pistol, a rarely used tool but he kept it around regardless. Martha's look to the gun, then to the man in front of her...He nods as if he could understand her pain.

"Thank you...I pray for the blessings of god on your journey. There is a servant not bound to the Witch...A dragon Slayer...Find him and this battle will be in your favour. I hope that maybe we can be on the same side one day." She smiles and closes her eyes.

Three shots are fired and Saint Martha falls as she fades away in golden dust.

Out of respect, Doomguy puts his pistol away and gives the fallen a warriors salute. After a moment of silence, the slayer returns to the group after the hard-fought victory. Everyone seemed to only be mildly injured with the worst being that mean kick Mozart took during the fight.

"Thanks...for your concern." Amadeus groans as Gudao uses the First aid function of his mystic code upon the Caster. Luckily the wound wasn't fatal, however, he would need to sit out a fight or two just to be safe. Not that he was one to be on the frontlines in the first place.

"...Even in the Iron saint couldn't resist her." Jeanne said as she becomes more worried about what her Alter can do to people as it looks like even servants are not safe from her curse.

"She'd undergone madness enhancement, as an addition to being summoned by Jeanne Alter. Normally it would be impossible to talk to her...The only reason why we were able to communicate was because of her incredible self-control…" Mashu mentioned while looking at Doomguy for a quick second with that thought.

"But even then...it looked like she was suffering…" Gudao said as he pulled Amedaus off the ground.

"Yes. She was a peaceful, yet fierce as a person. She is the Iron saint. She's a woman of adamantine, who solves things with her fists." Marie said looking over to the slayer who was watching over his saddened master.

"And I would like to think that the Iron saint is thankful for him for freeing her of such burden." She said with a smile as they decide to return to camp to get some much-needed rest. Ritsuka remained quiet as she was still upset that they couldn't save Martha from her demise. Meanwhile, her servant was concerned with the effects of the Madness enhancement trait of his class. He could tell that Saint Martha had an iron will much like his own, yet the torment of the trait pushed her nearly to the limit. The man wondered how far can his madness go before he could no longer her his master's voice. He shook his head, The slayer will adapt and Control his new rage. He'd already made some progress in giving Martha a merciful death so that showed much promise. His train of thought was then halted as they reached the camp and the two masters jump into their sleeping bags to catch up on some much-needed sleep while the servants remained on guard for a second wave.

The loyal Madman...

"Those weaklings are starting to annoy me…" Jeanne alter said as she observed the battle through the crystal ball. She just lost another servant to Chaldea while their numbers remained.

"Even using a command seal to boost Rider's Madness enhancement didn't do shit!" She yells slamming her fist on the armrest of her throne. The commotion causes her second in command, Gillies de Rais, The mad Demon Marshal, to enter her throne room.

"Is there something wrong my holy Jeanne?" He said as he adjusted his blue mage robes that covered his grey skin as he bowed.

"Isn't too oblivious!? We just lost rider! Dammit!" Jeanne Alter said as her frustration destroys her calm yet evil demeanour. She then calms down to run over some plans with Gillies, possibly involve the summoning more servants and using her secret weapons against Chaldea next time they meet.

"...Gilles. Who do you think is the real one? Me or her?" She asked the mad caster who grew a twisted smile as his eyes become crossed

"Of course it's you. Are you listening, Jeanne? You were burned at the stake. Betrayed by everyone! Charles VII left you to die because he didn't want to pay a ransom!" He continued to go into a speech about his holy Jeanne and how France abandoned her. Yet even this did not distract Jeanne Alter from the thoughts about the Berserker that Stands with Chaldea. The two masters were a nuisance to her, but that man was becoming a real threat…

"Jeanne?" Gilles said to bring his master out of her thoughts.

"Is that Berserker troubling you? You shouldn't worry, you are much stronger than him. Losing one or two servants is nothing compared to your power my Jeanne" Gilles said praising his leader. With those words, Jeanne alter pushes the thoughts of that man to the side as she agrees with her subordinate. She was still stronger regardless and will crush those that oppose her.

"Very Well, Pass the word onto assassin. I doubt he's going to last long but it shouldn't matter if he lives or dies. Just have him fight." Jeanne Alter order and Gilles bowed before leaving the room. The dark Saint then sits back down on her throne, leaning back as she tries to get some rest.

"That Hellwalker…"

The Quest to Find A Dragon Slayer.

The day reaches noon as Ritsuka wakes up to the smell of breakfast being prepared. The servants let the masters and Mashu sleep in thanks to there watchful guard.

"Morning Ritsuka," Gudao said walking up to her.

"Morning Gudao." The redhead greeted back.

"You still having thoughts about that battle last night?" Gudao asked as he could read her face like a book.

" A little bit...Is it that obvious?" She asked and He nods. The Battle with Vlad and Camilla were different, Because there madness brought out there monstrous side and showed no signs of resistance. However, Saint Martha seemed more like she wanted to help them but her contract with Jeanne alter was stopping her.

"It bothers me too. I talked to Mashu about it, she mentioned that it will be a high possibility we might end up fighting heroes like Saint Martha. Fights we can't talk our way out of." Gudao looks to the Sky.

"But there is a silver lining to all this." He said as he looked back to his fellow master.

"What's that?" Ritsuka looked at him curiously

"Well, We can always try summoning them to our side. Then we can make things right afterwards with them" He said with a smile as Ritsuka is reminded that she is a Master, someone who can form a contract with a heroic spirit. Both of them can give misguided servants a second chance at doing some good!

"Y-your right! I keep forgetting that!" Ritsuka said as she stood up feeling better.

"Thanks, Gudao." Ritsuka then goes about looking for Doomguy to talk to him about things.

"No Problem," He said glad that he was able to cheer her up, this whole Grand Order is going to be hard to get used to. He is constantly worrying about Mashu so he must be the best master possible for her.

After a short walk, Ritsuka found her servant walking back from patrol. She waves to him and he nods acknowledging her presence. Both then proceed to walk back to the camp while the redhead wanted to talk to her servant about a few things to get off her chest.

"Hey, I just wanted to say...Thanks for giving Martha mercy...I understand that she was an enemy and we can't save everyone. But, I appreciate that you showed mercy." Ritsuka said.

The Slayer just nods as he understands that the masters and Mashu are just barely young adult's being thrust into a battle for humanity. There are going to be situations where it's Kill or be killed with no other options. The real reason that he spared Martha his wrath was that face she was showing signs of resistance and regret. That was the only reason he showed mercy upon her death as a warrior. Now, With the past behind them, it was time to make a move against the Dragon Witch and closer to closing this singularity.

A few hours later.

The group were standing outside of a town, waiting for Marie to come back with some intel as they didn't want to risk gathering too much attention. She was chosen for not only being a born Frenchwomen, but her charm skills allowed her to coax men to reveal more information with ease. The major issue was Jeanne's name being pulled through the mud thanks to her alter, it was the only option they had. It paid off as it was no issue for the Queen of France to simply ask around with her normal cheerful smile. Unfortunately, the town of Lyons was Destroyed and now was filled to the brim with Undead. Nevertheless, such news still had some interesting info on what happened before the town fell.

"They say that Lyon had a protector," Maire said and that got everyone's attention.

"A protector?" Mashu asked.

"Yes! A knight with a large sword, who defeated Wyverns and the undead!" Marie continued.

"That good news, perhaps we can convince them to join us?" Jeanne pondered.

"..But a little while ago, some scary people came. Servants, probably. He was overwhelmed by there numbers and now is missing." Marie finished her report with a slightly disturbing note.

"I am afraid this tactic of overwhelming an area with berserk servants is how Jeanne Alter must've destroyed the other towns that showed resistance. Gruesome, yet effective for her means." Vega said as he summarized the data he collected so far on the local area.

"I hope he's alive…we are going to need all the help we can get," Mashu said worried about that servant in question.

"Is there anything else, Marie?" Ritsuka asks.

"Oh yes of course! General Gilles de Rais Marshalled the routed Soldiers and are preparing to retake the town." The platinum blonde added and Jeanne widened her eyes at the mentioning of a longtime friend.

"Gilles?!" Jeanne said surprised that he is still alive in this mess of a war. It brought her concern on what possibly he is thinking of what she has become. Jeanne couldn't bear the thought.

"It would be best if we avoided him, He was an admirer of me during my time so I can't imagine what his reaction would be if he saw me," Jeanne said.

"I wouldn't say that...I understand that you might not want to see him! You're a girl after all!" Maire said.

"It would be best to keep the local military forces away from areas that could house powerful enemies such as wyverns or servants," Vega suggested and everybody agreed to go to Lyons before the French army attempts to retake the town.

"We can do it!" Both masters said in unison causing a small burst of laughter among the group. Minus Doomguy who was silently relieved that the young ones were still themselves after all that happened. Vega begins to calculate a path for them that would avoid the french army patrols and get them to Lyons the fastest on foot. With barely a second going by, Vega pings a waypoint on the Slayers hud and sends similar markers to the Master's wrist units. With the path set, they head out in search of this possible ally

AN: Another Berserk servant bites the dust and now Chaldea is off to find a dragon Slayer. That fight with Martha was something. With just her in-game animations to go off of, it was difficult to come up with something unique. I figured that she would most likely have her Dragon out most of the time if it was a wide-open area.

I always thought that doomguy would be merciful if the person showed that they were suffering. Heck, the Betrayer is still alive, even after letting Argent d'Nur fall and the Slayer helped him free his son's soul. Do not expect this to happen to every servant they face. Servants dying is commonplace when it comes to FGO so it shouldn't take that long for the masters to realized that not every servant can be saved. But they can make allies with them later on of course!

Been thinking of adding segments or Interludes that would involve The Slayer going about his daily routine at Chaldea and all the silly stuff that can happen. They can be considered canon or not depending on the reader. Something like a short story during some of more silly events like holidays, Summers and the Prisma Illya event (Doomicorn slayer anyone?) I am thinking of calling these segments "At Chaldea's Gate". Fitting for Doom and FGO right?

(Note some events are going to considered cannon so they will be part of the main story. E.g C.C.C)

As Always, Thanks for reading!