Prologue
I could hear a soft voice coming from the rooftop, one that crushed my hopes as I recognised its owner. In the end she decided to ignore my advice and came after all...
Quietly opening the door I slowly made my way towards miss little red rooftop. If we were to part ways then I would prefer it to be just like old times.
"What a beautiful sunset."
"I can only imagine how captivating this sight must be for the people who live here."
"It is indeed a very beautiful scene. A shame that it doesn't really exist."
"On the surface it seems like such a benign, peaceful world. A pity that it'll soon come to an end." She let out a sigh before turning around to face me with an impassive face.
"Impressive, to think that such a sight managed to impress the miss Tohsaka." Putting my hands up in a sign of defeat I stopped in front of her with a mocking grin on my face.
It made me sad to think that we would soon come to blows with one another in this cruel war for the miracle, but for now we could enjoy what little peace we had left in the preliminaries.
"...What are you doing here Shirou."
"Now now is that anyway to respond to an old friend?"
"Seriously! Why are you here Shirou this isn't a game its a bloody war to the death!"
"A bit late for." She responded with a harsh glare that threatened to curse me to death if I didn't start explaining.
"...Fine." As much I would like to mess with Rin I didn't want to destroy the fragile relationship we had right now.
"Your right, normally the holy grail wouldn't interest me but..." I looked up towards the skies before continuing. "I just wanted to find my little sister."
"Shirou..."
"Not to mention if I had won, it would have helped you in your fights against the Harweys. Such an opportunity shouldn't be wasted as it would have be two birds with one stone."
"Shirou you... You idiot!"
"Idiot?" For a brief second I was stunned at the absurdity of such a statement. How was I an idiot?
"Yes you blathering fool what makes you think you could win against the Harweys with your pathetic skills at hacking."
Harsh but true, after all it hasn't been long since I was introduced into the cyber world, however who said I was going to be using spiritron hacking in the first place.
"I mean its a miracle that you were even able to become a wizard in that short of a time but." I held up my hand to stop her tirade, my experiences with her told me that it could last a while.
"Look Rin I know what I'm doing besides it's a bit late for that now." I see so this is how Sakura must have felt that day.
Letting out a strained smile I continued. "After all the moon holy grail war has already begun."
"Shirou... Are you alright?"
"?"
"Here hold still for a second." Rin took out a small handkerchief but I stopped her from coming any closer.
"No Rin it wouldn't be right." Shaking my head I refused her help. We had both entered into the moon holy grail war, there was only one outcome for the both of us, one must live and one must die.
"Shirou..." I could hear the pain in her voice as her emotions interfered with her reason but eventually reason won out as she didn't finish her sentence.
"Hopefully this would be the last time we meet Rin." I handed her one of my custom made programs before leaving. With this I could finally settle my debt.
"That idiot why now." Letting out a small sigh Rin picked up the program, and started to scan the information contained within.
"I see a one time explosive." Contained within the mystic code was all sorts of information, information about the moon holy grail war that Shirou has uncovered, his basic programs along with his signature code cast reinforcement, instructions on the mystic code and its purpose.
"What's this?" Attached to the mystic code was a message. "P.S By the way... I think black hair doesn't suit you I liked blond better."
"...Shirou you never learn." A brief smile was on her face for a second before it disappeared. Turning her head Rin continued to watch the sunset only leaving when the sun was no more. Soon she too disappeared from the reality marble.
"Here it is... Once I go past this point there's no going back." In front of me was a concrete wall located at the end of the west corridor of the first floor.
From the very start I had already noticed this anomaly, but I wanted to enjoy these emotions one last time before I had to kill everyone in my path.
After all it reminded me about the peaceful days I had lost before Miyu was discovered, the school life that I never got to finish. But all good times must go to an end and it was finally time for me to become a master.
Placing my hand on the wall the illusion covering the entrance faded away, revealing an old door in it's place. Pushing the door open, an entrance to another world appeared.
Walking through the door I entered into what I thought was an old dusty storeroom. Boxes stacked upon boxes littered the room, old dusty shelves pushed against the wall, the only source of illumination being the single window right next to the pixelated door I came out from.
Yet the most striking feature of the room would be the large doll standing right in front of the shelf and boxes. Compared to the ones I have faced this doll was a cheap mockery of the Ainsworths dolls.
Being completely featureless having no facial expression or bodily parts as if it was roughly constructed in the shape of an human. The only thing of note was these strange red and yellow pulsing lines on its body connecting towards the oval on the doll's face. The lines probably being the lifeblood of the doll, acting as its pseudo nervous system which allowed one to control the doll.
"Trace on." Running my magical energy through the circuits I activated my magecraft.
I wasn't going to be taking any chances, maybe the doll was another test from the moon cell?
The doll upon noticing me turned around to face me with its left arm raised high.
In an instant I burst forward.
With blinding speeds I struck the dolls left arm before following it up with a right jab knocking it off balance only to end it with a grapple.
Using the momentum I threw the doll onto the ground before snapping it's arm off, causing the arm to fade away into darkish purple particles.
"Welcome, potential master." I stopped my attack as a voice started to play out of nowhere.
"That effigy with you is your sword and shield for what lies ahead. It will move in response to your commands."
"Now then, please proceed. The truth that you seek lies ahead."
"...I see." An overreaction, I thought that it was going to attack me but I guess it was greeting me instead.
"In that case Code cast: structural analysis." Placing my hand onto the ruined effigy I examined the source code comprising the effigy. It appeared that the central control system still worked despite the missing arm and the damage I've inflicted upon it however it wouldn't be fighting anytime soon.
"Code cast: Reinforcement." I reinforced the effigy entire body to about eighty percent of it's presumed maximum capacity. With this it should be far more durable than the others and that was all that mattered as I would be the one fighting.
"Effigy your orders is to stay behind me and focus on defence." I couldn't risk losing it as it was probably a test by the moon cell to weed out potential masters.
"Trace on" I conjured an image of a gun cocking and firing.
Judging the conception of creation. Twin swords created on the orders of a king, a sword without a purpose, a sword crafted for the sake of being crafted.
Hypothesising the basic structure. Twin swords with a curved blade that broadens towards the point, each representing a force, yin and yang together they create the cycle.
Duplicating the composition material. Created by the finest materials at the time of its creation.
Imitating the skill of its making. Created in grief by one of the finest blacksmith of China, Gan Jiang.
Sympathising with the experience of its growth. The twins was separated upon it's creation, one given to the king the other staying with its creator.
Reproducing the accumulated years. Kanshou used as a memento by it's creator, always waiting for the day it reunites with it's counterpart. Bakuya used primarily as a ceremonial sword, always waiting for the day it reunites with it's counterpart.
Excelling every manufacturing process. Twin swords reunited once again with the death of it's creator.
I felt a slight strain on my magic circuits as I finished the incantation, without the support of Miyu I had to draw from my own supply which is why I chose theses blades.
A pair of swords lacking in pride and yet it's craftsmanship is extremely captivating and beautiful. A noble phantasm that is rather lacklustre to it's peers, however it does contain some vital features. Mainly it's bond with one another and most importantly its sheer efficiency. Not only are they quick and cheap to create they also boosts the wielder magic and physical resistance along with increasing their own rank by one.
...It felt strange to once again be using his blades, symbols that belonged to a hero of justice after all this time but... For the sake of my wish I would once again use the power meant for humanity for one person.
"Wait for me Miyu, I still have to fulfil my promise to take you to the ocean."
I entered into what appeared to be an endless path in the abyss, the only source of light being the ground I stood upon. There appeared to be no walls on this path but... I slashed at my side with Kanshou causing it to clash with a sheen of white light, just like the preliminaries it was there just hidden.
My eyes darted from left to right as I slowly moved forward, it may appear to be an innocuous path with one way but an enemy could always be lying in wait to ambush me.
For a couple of minutes nothing happened, despite the previous message there was no enemies lying in wait it just a simple path to another area.
"Hah." Taking a deep breath I prepared myself before slowly continuing onward with the effigy right behind me. If there would be an enemy waiting to ambush me then the moment I entered would be the prime opportunity to strike.
"...Nothing." Clenching the married blades I positioned them in a defensive manner but it was all for nothing as I was greeted with an empty room with a passageway leading to another room.
Taking a quick scan of the surroundings, I noticed that I was in some sort of under the sea themed area that appeared to be like a game dungeon. It was filled with the skeletal remains of massive beasts, and countless swords lodged within the sand making them appear as graves. The area was sealed tight by see through walls and floors allowing none of the water to seep through, if it actually did exist in the first place.
Extending my reinforced senses outwards I picked up signs of hostile programs waiting in the middle of their respective passageway. The first one appearing to be some kind of glowing blue orb that resembled my effigy's head only bigger.
"Welcome, potential Master." It appeared that the test was about to begin as the same voice from before started to speak.
"If you are looking for answers, you must reach the goal. Now, please step forward."
Obeying the instructions given to me I walked forwards slowly to the next room. In front of me was another room but with a illuminated cube in the centre.
"The illuminated cube in front of you is called an item folder."
"Inside of it is a farewell present of sorts for those about to face the coming trial. To obtain it simply go ahead and touch it.
I walked up to the cube and accessed it's program, causing it to open up and giving me an item/program called ether shard. It appeared to be some sort of shard of a crystal but what was it for? Taking a closer look at the item a screen appeared in front of me. A mysterious crystalline substance that restores a small amount of a Servant's damage.
"I see." So it was a healing type program designed to specifically repair a servant's damages in combat, but I wonder could it be used for something else? I took a quick look at the effigy wondering if it would repair the arm but ultimately decided against it. I only had one charge after all.
Pocketing the ether shard, I continued on the footpath until the voice blared out once more.
"Along the way you would meet many trials and tribulations but the main one is what is known as 'enemy programs'. These programs are specifically designed to attack on sight in order to test and train the master."
"Strange..." The voice stopped for a brief moment in the middle of its speech. It appeared that that something was amiss with the Moon cell NPC and that itself was cause for concern.
"Normally the masters are not required to fight as they are too fragile, the effigy given to them will fight in their stead and later on the servant will fulfil that role." The voice changed from its monotone lifeless voice to one that was eerily familiar as if I heard it before.
"But like all living beings there will always be an anomaly, an exception if you will." The voice paused for a moment before continuing. "I have had this duty for a long time, but this is the first time I've seen a master like you, a master whose position is reversed with his effigy."
Again the way the voice talked and the manner of speaking... It felt oddly familiar. Then it hit me an image of a priest dressed half haphazardly in his work clothing and a cooking apron appeared in my mind.
"Kotomine Kirei that's who you are isn't it? I don't have the time nor patience to play games with you so I have only one question. Do you know where Miyu is?"
"...I am but a mere part of the system, a guide tasked with giving a standard message and given the personality of a prior participant. I am no more than words, no more than a record of the past but if you seek answers then you must reach the goal. I would be watching you and your progress." The voice slowly faded away until it was silent.
So that was how it was going to be. If I wanted information on Miyu I needed to win another holy grail war only this time I was prepared.
Walking up to the glowing blue orb with my effigy right behind me the old monotone lifeless voice played out.
"The enemy before you should be quite easy to defeat as it is designed to familiarise masters with battle situations. It is only programmed to perform a certain attack pattern that focus completely on power as long as you." I dashed forward mid speech. Lifting up the married blades I cleaved through the bluish orb in a single pass turning it into cosmic dust. I didn't have time to waste on a mere program designed to train masters I had a war to win.
Sprinting to the next area I encountered another glowing orb only this time it was green. Not waiting for the moon cells 'help' I quickly made short work of the orb and moved onto the next room.
In an instant upon seeing another of the same training program, I threw Kanshou at the glowing orange orb while continuing to move to the next room. By the time I entered the next room the white blade has already made its return to my free hand.
"All of the enemies programs you've faced so far only used one move, which won't happen in a real fight. Like you, your enemies will choose their actions based on the situation and general observation." The voice started to play its message once more but the fight was already over, I was just preparing myself for the final room and test set by the moon cell.
I re-examined the effigy that stood right behind me this entire time as a silent observer. Taking a brief moment to scan through the information it appeared that all of its functions seems to be in working order, while it couldn't fight due to the damage I've inflicted it could still defend itself just fine.
"Effigy your orders remain the same, to stay behind and focus on defence." I repeated the same order for good measure before entering into the final room with my effigy.
I stepped into the final room slowly with my effigy trailing behind me at the same pace. My eyes darted across the surroundings searching for the final test set by the moon cell.
"Not again..." Was this going to be a repeat of what happened earlier, or was it some cunning plan to make me let my guard down?
Taking another look around the area I examined my surroundings more carefully. I was in a wide circular room at least 20 to 30 metres long in diameter, the room itself was bare and the only thing worth of note was three large arched shaped doors with a weird mosaic etched upon it in front of me. Turning upon my attention onto the floor it too had the weird mosaic along with a dead corpse sprawled out on the floor alongside his effigy.
Seeing the fallen corpse relieved my doubts, he must have failed the final test set by the moon cell and was eliminated from the moon holy grail war.
! Without warning the fallen effigy lying next to the corpse stood up onto it's feet with a clatter. Twisting it's body it launched an attack.
In a heartbeat I quickly deflected the attack using Bakuya before running the effigy through with Kanshou. Its core pierced the effigy collapsed onto the floor.
"That was the final test?" I muttered in disbelief at the situation. Out of all the potential opponents an effigy was the final enemy? I could defeat that thing with my bare hands let along using the married blades.
"No it can't be that easy." This was a holy grail war, I shouldn't underestimate the danger that those words signified especially considering I've experienced one first hand. After all a holy grail war was a fight for survival where you have to use everything at your disposal to barely eke out a victory.
Then it dawned upon me, this was only the preliminaries the moon holy grail war has yet to start.
"I see so that's why he called me an anomaly." Following the train of thought, I realised the tests that I've done so far was to weed out potential masters by judging one's abilities as a master. The effigy behind me was probably meant to defeat the opposing effigy through my command and skill with Spiritron hacking hence testing my capabilities as a master.
However unlike the others, I was a master who could fight with his servant on the front lines, as well as having the abilities to defeat one on my own.
"...!" I quickly retreated knocking into my effigy midway as I heard the sound of breaking glass. Two of the large arched shaped doors in front of me disintegrated into nothingness. While the remaining middle door started to glow brightly as it bathed in an ethereal golden light that shone above it.
I could sense a being of great power slowly rising from the floor in the middle of the room. I have felt this kind of power before, it was similar to the stench that the cards gave off, it was the power of a servant being summoned. But was it my servant?
With a gust of wind, a proud figure appeared before the door, the back of their body materialising out of thin air. The figure turned around to face me before slowly walking up towards me not caring about the fact that I had my swords pointed at her.
The figure turned out to be a young beautiful woman garbed in a japanese kimono, with loose arm sleeves draping over most of her arms leaving her shoulder's bare. She wore black geta styled shoes and her legs was covered by indigo stockings. She had yellow eyes and long pink hair tied up in a ribbon. Yet the most striking aspect of the lady would be the orange fox ears and tail that jutted out of her ribbon and clothing.
"Are you my."
"Even if you weren't exactly clear why you need one, I've brought you a vulpine wife from the imperial tomb!" The woman took a strange pose as she proclaimed this fact.
"...What?" My voice came out as lifeless as one could be in response to her sudden proclamation.
An awkward silence occurred as we struggled to process what just happened.
"Ah, you seem a little apprehensive. Um you are my master right?" She said nervously as she clearly expected something different in response.
"...Yes." I dismissed the married blades, if we were to be partners I had to show at the very least I was willing to trust her. Nevertheless I didn't let my guard down until the contract was sealed.
"Yay! Contract established! I look forward to fighting by your side, my dear master!" She started to jump out of happiness before doing a twirl on the spot.
"To be honest, I, the mighty Ta- I mean, I hoped that I could be a servant to someone like you!"
"...Oh, my abilities might be a tad limited so you might not be happy with me, Master, but... I'll try my best!"
She walked up right to my face before vigorously shaking my hand up and down.
I felt a sharp pain run through my right hand as if I was cut by a sharp knife. On the back of my hand was a strange symbol that slowly started to form into some sort of magical crest. The symbol was shaped in the form of a sword with a star shaped guard.
I felt another wave of pain when the strange symbol integrated itself with my magical circuits, and started to heat up giving me the sensation of being burnt alive.
"The mark imprinted on your hand is your command seal. It is proof that you hold dominion over a servant. You can use it to give three orders that must be obeyed. Think of them as disposable strengthening spells. It is also your proof of your participation in the holy grail war. If you lose it for some reason, you will die."
"Congratulations. You have endured much to make it here. Now rest for a while; you've achieved your first goal."
"Now, let us commence your baptism. You have proven yourself worthy of the honour. For most, the monotony of everyday life continues on without end. Your decision to look beyond the accepted and progress means you have earned the right to exist. However, you have but taken the first step. Be jubilant, young knight, for the holy grail war begins now!"
"In war, a weapon is needed. That is your servant. They're the spear that pierces, the shield that protects. A heroic spirit whose sole purpose is to clear your way to the grail. That is the one who stands beside you."
"It seems you have decided, and with that decision as payment, I now open the gates to the holy grail war.
"Now let the holy grail war begin. No matter the era, deciding who is worthy through battle is the divine providence of man. Magi who have been invited here by the moon; show me your true strength!"
"Kotomine Kirei..." If that fake of a priest wanted to see my true strength so bad, then I shall show him the might of a previous winner.
"Servant lets go." Turning towards my servant I gestured towards the door, there were many questions to be had but for now it was more important to complete the last step of entering the moon holy grail war.
"Mouu I have a name you know its Ta, I mean call me caster master." She replied cheerfully as she latched onto my arm with a small pout on her face.
"... Very well Caster let us enter this moon holy grail war as partners." Giving her a soft smile I let her hang off my arm. A small price to pay if it would make my servant happy.
"YES Master!" Together arm in arm we walked through the portal and so begins my first step on the journey to find my lost star.
Author notes
Lazy bad author that only writes first drafts.
This is a reboot of an old series, basically I felt like writing about tamamo since I got her using the ticket in fgo. Not to mention there is barely any fate extra stories nor ones with tamamo so here we go.
If you read the old version then know its going to be changed, as I long forgotten what the old version direction was and people change with time.
I will probably play the game fate extra again with tamamo as the pick in order to write this story as I forgotten alot about fate extra.
Shirou's hacking skill is rather lacklustre, due to inexperience and knowing a different system. Mainly he would play off his magecraft as if it was code casting but he does have one proper skill in hacking which is to screw with other peoples programs.
Knowing that he doesnt have much skill nor knowledge in that area he chose to specialise in that one skill, by overwriting certain parts of a program he could render it worthless. There are big limitations on this skill as in that its not really useful in the heat of battle but rather more of an utility tool to bypass security and obstacles. The idea behind this skill came from the properties of an reality marble where you literally overwrite reality in your own colours.
Feel free to send me suggestions on some opposing servant classes as I haven't really decided on them yet, however archer class is decided, and saber is also decided. Naturally he will be facing nameless in the final with female hakuno.
Anyway so open slots are Lancer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, Berserker.