As they are walking, the Director begins on muttering to herself. The black-haired could hear her muttering about the worst case on what would happen on Chaldea in a pessimistic feeling.
Roman decides to speak up from the communications, "Looks like the Director is talking to herself again. This could take a while." he said like saying it from someone who experienced this side of her.
"Does this happen often?" asked Nexus to Roman.
"Yeah, it always happens when she was working back to back." Roman answered, "Anyway, why don't you rest for a bit? It looks safe over there." he directed to where they were headed.
Mash nods in agreement, "I agree with you, Doctor. Senpai, would you like some rations?" she offered Nexus with packs of non-perishable meals.
"I appreciate that but how are you holding up?" he asked to her.
"Are you asking if I've been having any problems since I became a Servant?" she said questionably, "Well, for the most part. It's scary to fight, but I'm doing fine overall."
"I see…." he said knowingly wondering if she's feeling alright. He could see that she's doing fine as she said. But he wants to make sure so he asks her, "Are you sure that you're okay with me being your Master?"
"Of course. I think you might've been the best Master so far." she responded happily.
""Best Master", huh?" he mumbled to her response, "I don't think the "best" would never be a fitting title for me." he suddenly stops to himself as he could sense more enemies incoming. "Something's coming."
"You're right, I'm picking up something!" Dr. Roman said in shock, "Wait, this is-" before he could finish his sentence a silhouette comes up in front of them. It doesn't reveal on any specific details from the figure besides blackness. He could tell that this silhouette is no ordinary enemy at all. He could feel its power that exceeds than any normal mobs. The shadowy figure takes an appearance of a tall young woman with long hair and a slender physique wielding a sharp-pointed dagger attached to a long chain with a ring at the end. He could disengage it if nobody was there but not with the two people accompanying him and the doctor monitoring.
"What…is that?" Olga stammered terrified by looking at the shadow figure.
"A Servant is there!" Roman exclaimed. "Don't fight it, Nexus, Mash! It's too soon for you to fight a Servant!"
"Yeah, like the Doctor said. We should fall back!" Nexus said.
"Even so, we're cornered here. Mash, prepare for battle! It's a Servant, you can do something about it, right?" Olga said to Mash.
"Yes. I will do my best!" she acknowledged reluctantly as she prepares on engaging on the shadow figure as it dashes onto Mash. Mash guards herself on the figure on an impact. She could feel the impact pushing back at her as the figure comes behind her and Mash retaliates her attacks. The figure was quick and agile from her daggers forcing Mash to focus on guarding her consecutive, swift attacks. The lilac-haired girl's stamina is wearing off, she couldn't get herself to counter the spot for the figure's nimble movements.
"Mash, try to find a certain spot to counter." Nexus said to her.
"How am I supposed to know when, Senpai?" she asked keeping up her guard.
"There's an opening when you see it. You just need to get the right timing, okay?"
"Yes! Understood!" the lilac girl said decide to trust on his words as she tries to find some spot for an opening. The shadow then jumps above her aiming at her daggers downwards, she raises her shield up against it making a slight delay on the shadow's next move.
"There's an opening, Mash!" he called out.
"Yes!" Mash acknowledged giving her a chance to counter pushing her aside and dashes into her making a clear hit to the shadow as it disperses.
The Demi-Servant catches her breath seeing the battle to be concluded. "Okay…..Okay…..we won….I was sure I didn't stand a chance, but actually we did it."
"No time to celebrate, Mash. We'll have company soon." Nexus warned
Roman speaks up from the comms, "Nexus is right, a similar signal before is heading this way. I don't have to tell you what you need to do right?"
"What, same signal? No way…" Mash said that she couldn't take on another Servant since she was having a hard time fighting one.
"There's no time, we need to get out, now!" Nexus said running along with the other two getting some distance away from the Servant coming ahead.
As they ran far enough, they decided to stop near the bridge as the two women starts to catch their breath. "Okay…..just what is happening? Why are Servants here?" Olga said gasping for breath being paranoid witnessing of such an event.
"I see… A Holy Grail War? A Holy Grail War was going on in that town!" Dr. Roman exclaimed in realization.
"Could this have something to do with the Singularity?" Nexus appointed to the Doctor.
"It could be. Normally, it'd be a battle royale amongst the seven Servants summoned here. I'm not surprised there's a Servant without a Master since it's natural for them to target other Servants."
"Does that mean as long as I'm here, I'll be targeted by others?" Mash asked in a tensed expression.
"But she has nothing to do with this! That's just a wandering phantom gone mad!" Olga proclaimed as another shadow happened to come over their location.
"…I found it." the shadow muttered, "New prey. The Grail shall be mine!"
"Oh great, just happened to get caught up into another shadow." Nexus said sarcastically.
"It's an Assassin-class Servant! Be careful, everyone!" Roman warned as the Assassin shadow starts to dash into them.
Mash readies her shield up, "Senpai, please give me your orders! I can still fight!" Mash said resolutely.
The black-haired mage nods in acknowledgement, "Alright, just hold on for a little longer!"
"Yes. I'll bring you victory, Master!" she said dashing to the Assassin.
"You don't need to win it, just bear with it for a moment." Nexus commented at her as she clashed against the shadow with its dagger. She swings her shield and the Assassin forces itself to jumps back in throwing daggers. Mash deflected it and the Assassin circles around her maintaining a distance to it throwing daggers at certain points. It was fast that she couldn't even see it as she barely deflected it dashing to the shadow.
"Alright… How about that!" she makes a hit at the Assassin being guarding her strike with a dagger backing out.
"This was a waste of time. I could have handled this on my own." said the Assassin.
"On its own?" Nexus questioned in realization sensing another presence, "Mash, get back! He's not alone!" he called out to her as she returns to her Master's side.
"Too late! One more just caught up!" Roman exclaimed to them as another Shadow Servant joins in.
"No way… There's one more on the way?" Olga shuddered from this. Nexus narrowed his brows in this situation. Mash struggled on taking one but it's difficult to take on two.
"Let's finish this, Lancer. I don't know what kind of Heroic Spirit that is, but I will have her head." Shadow Assassin declared.
"Ha. Hahahahahahahaha!" Shadow Lancer laughed clearly to be enjoying it.
"Director, Mash, hang in there! You need to keep moving!" urged the Doctor making Fou to bark in agreement.
"Haha. Hahahahahaha!"
"Is that all you could ever say!? Guess they didn't teach you the basic knowledge to speak in linguistic terms." Nexus remarked at Shadow Lancer's way of speaking or considering that it's not its way of talking but to laugh.
"Ha! You sure got some nerve from someone who isn't a Servant!"
"Oh so you can talk, after all." Nexus said noticing that he could speak.
"Silence!"
The two of girls couldn't move shivering at the intimidation coming from them. "Dammit, they both let fear get to them… Nexus! Give your orders, you're the only one that is calm!" Dr. Roman said to the black-haired cutting themselves up to a corner.
"Geh, there's no way out of this but to fight!"
"Understood. We're out of options." Mash acknowledged.
The Shadow Assassin let out a laugh at their pointless efforts, "Futile! Fight, then die. Run, and still die. The demise of the futile, oh so miserable."
"Go ahead and struggle. Miserable people are ever so entertaining." the other mocked.
"F-Fight? Are you serious?" the Director stammered, "We don't stand a chance against something like that, right!?"
"Sure, chances are slim and all. But I'm not going to back down and die over a pointless death. I would rather stand and fight than running tail between my legs from hearing all of that mockery from them." Nexus proclaims himself.
Mash nods at his response, "Senpai's right. I will find a way for us to get out of this alive!"
"….You've just sealed your fate, girl! And also that young Master of yours!" the Assassin declared at them jumping in along with Lancer.
"Huh, I thought you were just some girl, but it looks like you've got some fight in you. Then there's no reason to leave you like this." a new male voice comes in. Nexus noticing the voice's presence as it fired a projectile at the two.
"Ugh, who are you?" the shadow demanded to the voice revealing himself.
"What are you talking about? Can't you tell? Don't tell me that there's mud stuck in your eyes?" the voice belongs to a man that is blue-haired with red-eyes wearing a silver stoned earrings, dark-gray undershirt with light-blue garments and a robe carrying a cane-shaped staff with a rune at the top of it.
The Shadow Lancer growled in frustration, "Curse you Caster! Why are you siding with the Wanderer?"
The mysterious voice known as Caster looks at them confusingly, "Huh? It's better than siding with you guys. And hey, I don't brats with some potential in them."
Caster turned to Mash, "Young lady, get ready for a fight. Don't worry, you're good. You can turn the tide if you can just pay attention."
Mash nods at his advice, "Y-Yes…I'll do my best!" she said with resolution.
"Hey, you're her Master, right? Wait…." he turned to Nexus as he looked at him with a slight shock seeing him. Caster gets a distinct feeling that he's familiar with this black-haired mage but couldn't get it out if he could remember or not. "….Uh…I could be wrong but have we met before?" he asked to Nexus in curiosity.
Nexus looks at Caster for a moment. Truthfully, he does know him before but was more different. He questions himself to the fact that why he would wear robes instead of that bodysuit he wears all the time. But it's no doubt that he's the same person he's familiar with and decides to scoff it off not wanting to reveal any secrets.
"Who knows…..I could be the person you met or maybe not…I'll just leave that to your imagination…." he shrugged dismissively.
Caster looked at him confusingly but shook his head off focusing on the situation, "Well, I'll be leaving the orders to you then. Right now I'm a Caster-class Servant so they don't really like me now. Not like the enemy of my enemy is my friend, but for now you can trust me."
'"For now."' thought Nexus. He is aware that he has no evil intentions but does get things that gets things out of hands in situations. But he'll take his words for now giving a knowing nod.
"In honor of this brave young lady there, I'll form a temporary contract with you and fight as your Servant!" Caster declared as the two Servants engage the enemy.
Lancer dashes in and Mash dashes in clashing on each other. The Assassin was about to throw the daggers at the Shielder until firebolts started coming at forcing itself to dodge it.
"Where are you looking at? Shouldn't you focus on somebody else!?" Caster provoked as he casts runes of fireballs at the Assassin giving it a hard time on retaliating on his consecutive casts of fireballs.
"Young lady, just focus on the Lancer. I'll take care the other one." Caster called out.
"Yes!" she said in acknowledgement focusing on the Lancer as Caster gets a clear shot on the Assassin pulling out another sets of daggers and he fires it making a clean hit on the shadow falling to the ground. As the lilac-haired Servant was also finished as she pushed the weapon out from Lancer leaving itself wide open as she takes her chance slashing at the shadow concluding the battle.
"Ugh…..Curse, with the Holy Grail, before my eyes…." it muttered as it began to disperse themselves.
"Um, excuse me…" Mash attempts to get Caster's attention, "Thank you very much for saving us." she thanked with a bow.
"Yo, good work." he complimented, "You don't owe me for this so don't worry about it. You should be more worried about your body. That damn Assassin kept targeting your butt like a pest!"
"Oh." Mash flinched from that remark as Nexus sigh in frustration putting his hand on his face shaking his head from his behavior.
"Hey, you do look fragile but a pretty nice body! Icing on the cake! Don't know what class you are but you're pretty sturdy…Saber maybe? No, you don't have a sword."
Nexus groans, "First you lend out a hand, then you just sexually harass on an innocent girl. Are you even a Servant or just a no-good womanizer, boy?"
"Hey, just who are you calling a boy?" Caster called out to him angrily even though it sounds awfully familiar to him.
"…Hey Nexus, what's your thought of him?" Olga asked Nexus.
"Definitely, an old pervert." he remarked deadpanned.
Dr. Roman decides to get to the point, "Well in any case, let's get some information. He seems to be a decent Heroic Spirit."
'"decent", huh?' thought Nexus doubtfully.
"Oh, someone who wants to cut to the chase." Caster noticed a new voice coming from space, "What is this? Some means of communication through magecraft?"
"Well met, Caster Servant." Roman greeted to the blue-hair, "I don't know which Heroic Spirit you are, but we have nothing but respect and awe for you."
"What are you doing, Roman? Are you trying to set up a gospel choir for worship? We don't need any of that." Nexus told to the doctor.
"Yeah, you can spare the remarks. I'm sick of hearing them." said the Caster, "State your business, weakling. Isn't that what you're good at?"
"Uh…I-I see. All right then…" the Doctor said taking that remark from a blow, "Weakling…I got called a weakling from someone I've met for the first time." he murmured hurtfully.
""First time"? I thought that every co-worker calls you that." Nexus commented.
"Please, just stop Nexus…." Roman said somberly almost sounding like he's about to cry.
After Roman's self-recovery, he explained to Caster on the situation from Chaldea. Nexus as the current Master conducting a field research and clarifies Caster as the only Servant from the Holy Grail War that broke out in the city.
"If you mean that I haven't lost. Our Holy Grail War was changed entirely along the way. No idea what happened. City in flames, humans vanished, but we're the only ones here." Caster explained, "Saber was the first to keep the Holy Grail War going. Began rampaging like a tiger released from a cage."
"Hmph, to think that Saber lost her mind and starts crashing on everything on her path. I guess that's what it means to be free when you have no sense of conduct in you." Nexus remarked at that.
"You're probably right there. Archer, Lancer, Rider, Berserker, and Assassin were all defeated by Saber." Caster agreed.
"The survival of the Seven Servants… That rule of the Holy Grail War was broken here." Olga mumbled shockingly.
"In the end you won, Caster…or rather, you were the only one who survived." Mash concluded.
Caster nods his head, "Yeah. Any Servant was defeated by Saber became like those two, corrupted by the black mud."
"Black mud?" questioned Nexus.
"Yeah, they and the others that sprung like maggots started looking for something. The troublesome part is that I'm the one. The Holy Grail War won't end unless I'm dead." the runic mage concluded.
"So you and Saber are the only Servants left…" Dr. Roman claimed, "Then if you defeat Saber…"
"It would probably end the Holy Grail War here but I'm not sure if it would actually return to normal." Caster finished.
"I see. You decided to help us for your own sake, right?" Olga stated, "You want to defeat Saber, but can't do it alone. That's the reason why you zeroed in on us…right?"
"That's right." Caster answered, "But it's not such a bad deal, right? At any rate looks like we've got company."
Nexus could sense more enemies incoming roaring at them. "God. There's really no end to this shit, huh?" he commented in frustration for enemies constantly coming at them.
"Yep. That's why there's nothing better than having allies!" Caster exclaimed.
"True, having numbers would make things quick and easy." Nexus admitted facing the enemies in battle.
Mash sighed out of exhaustion after the battle. "Sigh…things have settled down for now. It's true, we can't have decent conversations like this."
"My bad." Caster apologized, "If I'd been summoned as a Lancer. I could've finished Saber off with one strike. Man, Caster is just tough for me. I don't like being a Caster in a Holy Grail War like this."
"Guess you lack the ability to adapt, huh?" commented Nexus from the Caster's complaint.
He sighed in admittance to the black-haired man's words, "Yeah…you're right….I'm just not good with anything besides a spear."
"Guess some Servants changes classes to classes, I see…."
"Yes. It's been known that some Heroic Spirits have the attributes of multiple classes. He isn't just a spear-wielder, but a high-level Heroic Spirit with qualifications to be a mage." Mash explained.
"But couldn't be proficient at it." Nexus proclaimed.
"It seems like it. But he must be one of the top Servants that would be featured in the magazine Vivian."
'A magazine Vivian?' thought Nexus confusingly from that statement.
"Oh right, you said you were Masters of an organization called Chaldea, right?" Caster affirmed from the situation, "I guess that's all I need to know. Generally, Servants tend not to get involved in someone else's problems outside of their own time period. Your goal is to investigate the problem and mine is to put an end to the Holy Grail War."
"Yeah, for those who is committed to put an end to it." the black-haired mage conceded.
"You do have a point there. However, we do share mutual interest. So how about we join forces?" offered Caster to be their associates.
"That would be a rational proposition. But who will be your Master?" inquired the Director.
"Well him of course." he responded referring to Nexus. "He does have high quality magical circuits but he doesn't have any aptitude as a Master right? Is it a curse?"
The mage scratches the back of his head in a carefree manner, "Who knows? It depends on what curse you're referring to. Why would you care?"
Olga sighed over this, "Alright, he's in your hands now. Just use him wisely." she advised to the Master.
"Then it's settled. The contract is temporary, but I'll leave it to you. Now that only leads to the Greater Grail. It could probably be the one you're looking for."
"Greater Grail?" Roman questioned, "I'm not familiar of that name. What is it?"
"Supposedly this land's true "heart."" Caster responded, "If there really is a "Singularity," it gots to be that. But Saber is lingering around the Greater Grail along with the remaining Servants she contaminated."
"Only the Berserker and Archer are left, huh…? What are they like?" inquired Nexus with curiosity.
"Well, Archer can be dealt with if I'm with you but Berserker is the one you need to be cautious about. Even Saber had problems with that monster so won't attack unless you get close to him. So ignoring him is one option." he explained to them as Nexus begins to ponder in thought about what Caster said.
"We understand the situation now. We'll team up with Mr. Caster for the Greater Grail. Would you mind showing us the way?" Roman asked to the mage.
"You can drop the "Mr." there. I'll show you the way but this guy will decide when to make our move."
"Much obliged." Roman agreed, "We'll resume our search. I'm counting on you, Nexus."
"I'll be sure to make this quick." Nexus concluded making his way.
While they are walking, Mash was brooding over throughout the entire walk making the atmosphere look gloomy. Everyone was silent but couldn't shake off the gloominess that Mash is emitting.
Olga decides to whisper Nexus, "Hey, Nexus. It's pretty obvious that Kyrielight's looking depressed."
"Yeah I can tell." he muttered back. He could figure out what was brooding on her. She's disappointed in herself that she couldn't use her Noble Phantasm not knowing the Servant's True Name. She believes that she's no Servant at all without a Noble Phantasm.
"Well if you know that, then do something to cheer her up! You're her Master aren't you?" she urged to him.
"Didn't you say that I wasn't worthy to be her Master?" he interjected to her.
"Yeah but even so, her efforts will go down to waste if this keeps up. I don't want her to waste her efforts once the new one comes in. You're the only one that is here for her."
Nexus sighs at this as he reluctantly agrees to do it, "Fine, but don't expect me to be good at it." He looks back to talk to Mash, "Is something bothering you?" he asked to her.
"Yes. I'm ashamed to say this, but…" she flinched trying to get her words out, "Um, under your command Senpai, I have gained experience…"
"But?" he questioned knowing that there's more coming.
"But…I'm still unable to unleash my Noble Phantasm. I don't even know how to unleash it…it's like I'm a defective Servant." lamented Mash as Nexus would've expected with Fou yipping softly. It seems that Mash is responsible for her inability to manifest her secret technique and it keeps weighing down on her.
"So that's what was bothering you. You have such a strong sense of responsibility, Mash…" Roman responded to her, "But I don't think that'd be settled overnight. After all, it's a Noble Phantasm. If a Heroic Spirit's secret weapon can be mastered within a day or two, then Servants wouldn't be so special."
"I beg to differ doctor." Nexus interjected, "Do you ever see a Servant who got summoned and could use their Noble Phantasm with no problem whatsoever? That's very opinionated of you."
"Well…." Roman was at a loss of words from the black-haired man's statement.
"Yeah, we can master something like that easily. After all, Heroic Spirits and Noble Phantasms are the same thing." Caster pointed out, "If the young lady can fight as a Servant, then that means you could your Noble Phantasm. If you can't, then that just means your magical energy isn't circulating right."
Caster ponders into his thoughts figuring out ways on triggering her Noble Phantasm. "Let's, enthusiasm, maybe? No, perhaps too reserved? Anyways, I'm sure it's because you just don't yell out when you practice."
"Really? R-E-A-L-L-Y!?" she shouted loudly breaking her words down to work which made everyone cover their ears from her aggravating scream.
"Faaaaaaaaa?" Fou yelped in surprise.
"Okay, okay. Let's turn it down a notch, alright lady?" Nexus told the Demi-Servant.
"Jeez, you're going to burst my eardrums, now." Olga retorted.
"Sorry Director, Senpai." Mash apologized, "But Caster said we should shout…"
"It was a metaphor. He doesn't mean that you should do it literally." said Nexus.
"Well, it seems like she do have some enthusiasm in her." Caster remarked, "Nexus, you heard the lady. You mind if we take a quick detour?"
"What? You decide to help out, sexual harass, and now you decide to take a detour? You really are a damn lecher, deviant, pervert. Damn bastard." Nexus accused him flatly showing no restraints.
"You're wrong! It's not what it is!" Caster shouted defiantly, "I'm just taking her a special training."
Nexus looked at him with a cold stare of his words. "No it's nothing like that! Stop looking at me like that." Caster protested as the Master decides to overlook for now.
Caster lets out a sigh of relief as he begins his instructions, "Well I'm a Caster, so I'll do the healing. First let's start off small. I'll inscribe some misfortune- runes…" he begins on inscribing runes on Olga's coat. "Done."
"No no no, just what are you doing? Why would you inscribe runes on my coat?" she asked nervously.
"Hey if something attacks you, you can take care of yourself, right? Look." he pointed out to more monsters coming in.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Olga screamed.
"D-Director, get behind me! You too Senpai, prepare for battle!" Mash called them getting behind her.
"All right, that'll do. To put it simply, a Noble Phantasm is part of a Heroic Spirit's instinct but hard to use if you think too much. Therefore, you should go all out young lady! Man, I'm a genius!" Caster said confidently.
"Probably a genius in stupidity." Nexus remarked flatly.
Once it was over, the Shielder was so exhausted that she couldn't take another effort to fight again as she was gasping for her breath and her stamina is running out soon. "I can't, go on…..Any more back-to-back, battles….I'm sorry, Caster….rather than test my will, please teach me some solid theories…."
Caster looked at her in silent with disappointment, "You just don't get it, do you? Did I made a mistake?" he decides to shrug off as he decides on his next step, "Oh well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I'll be your next opponent. You don't need to hold back since we're allies. And I won't hold back when I kill Nexus."
'Even though I said I would kill him, I'm not sure if I can kill him.' Caster thought anxiously, 'I wanted to motivate the young girl's spirit just to get her Noble Phantasm up. But if she couldn't then he'd be next. That's the problem there, he gives off an air of such that could kill me on an instant once he has his sight on. He kinda reminds me of mentor to be honest.' He stops his track of thought noticing something, 'Wait, why do I get a familiar feeling with him and mentor, though? Do I happen to know him?' he shook his head as he tends to focus on the subject now.
"Wh-" Mash shocked hearing that decision of his.
"Hoh?" Nexus muttered in curiosity not even afraid of his intention on killing him.
"Just what are you saying? Are you crazy? What does Nexus have to do with this?" Olga protested.
"A Servant's problems are the Master's problems. Didn't I mention you share the same fate?" he conceded, "You understand that right, Nexus? When the young lady can't stand anymore, it's your death."
The black-haired gives a slight nod at his response as Mash decides to stand front of him. "Master, please, stand back! I…..won't be a hindrance for Senpai… I won't!" she stated resolutely.
"That's what I like to hear. Let's have a real Servant battle now." Caster said starting to inscribe runes to fire.
With her limited stamina, Mash decides on dashing through avoiding every firebolts she can. She comes close hitting him with her shield and Caster defends it with his staff pushing back. Caster decides hit his cane on the ground creating a rune under Mash. She stops her tracks from the glowing ground and backs off as it explodes covering with her shield from the impact. She recovers as she sees Caster summoning a line of fire pillar coming at her. She dodges aside coming into Caster attempting on another hit as Caster blocks it and they both back away.
Mash was gasping for her breath as she couldn't hold out for much longer as she needs to finish this quick but Caster isn't letting out. "Ok, it's time to finish this. Burn to the ground with your Master!" he declared as he starts energizing his magical energy.
"My spell is the coffin of flames, giant of verdant thorn. Retribution, a shrine that will purify human misery." Caster chanted as he is about to unleash his Noble Phantasm.
"Befall the Wicker Man! As both good and evil bite the dust!" a torrent of flames were unleashed revealing a humanoid giant in straws called as the Wicker Man.
"Ah…..ah…." Mash steadies herself in order to stand straight. 'I must protect…I must unleash it, or everyone will….' she thought in her mind as she needs to release it, 'Even if it's fake, even if it's just for now…' the straw giant with its foot inflamed coming into them. She clenches on her shield strongly. '…I have to unleash it properly, or everyone will disappear!' she refuses to let that happen as she let out a scream bursting out of magical energy. The Wicker Man's fist were nullified by a giant barrier encrypted by a magic circle.
She was at a loss for words on what she did right now, "….Did I, manage to unleash my Noble…Phantasm…" she uttered as it started to fade out.
"It sure looks like it." Nexus stated in acknowledgement.
"Whew, I knew you'd survive that. But I never thought both you and your Master would go unscathed." Caster complimented. "Be happy, wait no… Praise her, Nexus. That young lady here is without a question, a first-rate Heroic Spirit."
"Senpai, I… just now!" she was about to tell Nexus bet interjects.
"Well, your effort has paid off, after all. Congratulations, Mash." he complimented her giving her a pat on the head with Fou yelling in excitement.
"That was a surprise. I didn't expect her to unleash her Noble Phantasm that soon. She was never someone with a strong will…" Roman said shockingly.
"That's where you're wrong. You may call the young lady here, a protector." Caster interjected, "There's no point in teaching a bird to swim if it can't fly high." he stopped for a moment knowingly. "Although…she didn't get to obtain its True Name."
"Right, even though I unleashed my Noble Phantasm. I still don't know its True Name…" Mash muttered in disappointment.
"Well, isn't it fine already?" Nexus said to the Servant girl, "Your very desire made it come out for you. You never asked for a True Name like any others. But I'm sure that you'll find out someday."
"Senpai…"
"Well anyway, I'm pleased that you're able to use your Noble Phantasm now. But it's inconvenient to use without a True Name so I'll think of a good spell." Olga decides pondering her thoughts for a good name for her Noble Phantasm, "Since it's pseudo-deployment…let's see…Yes, we'll call it "Lord Chaldeas."" Olga decided its name for her. "Chaldea has a meaning for you too. So it's a good spell to activate your Spirit Origin, right?"
"Y-Yes…Thank you, Director!" Mash said cheerfully satisfied a name the Director has given to her.
"Lord Chaldeas…Yes, I like it. It fits perfectly for you, Mash!" Roman agreed. "And the desire to try it out is only human nature. Caster, would you mind being her sparring partner."
"Sure, I was holding back before but her defense was impeccable. As someone with more experience, I'll hammer the basics of Noble Phantasms into your head. Nexus, young lady, are you ready?"
"Yes, please!" Mash responded.
"Well she does need to have experience from a veteran fighter, so go ahead." Nexus agreed.
Once their sparring was done, they decide to go into the cave where Caster says that the Greater Grail leads a little far back. It seems to look more like a natural cave. Nexus wonders if there ever was a cave in an urban city. Olga thinks that this cave was half natural and half artificial for an underground workshop for mages years ago.
She decides to ask a question, "I forgot to ask you something important. Do you know Saber's True Name? It sounded like you'd fought her several times."
"Yeah. Anyone who gets hit by Saber's Noble Phantasm will find out that bastard's name…all the others were defeated since it was that powerful."
"A powerful noble Phantasm, is it? What was it like?" Mash asked.
"The sister sword of the Sword in the Stone. The most famous sacred sword in your time period. Its name…"
"The Sword of Promised Victory, Excalibur. The one wielded by King Arthur, the King of Knights, right?" Nexus finished as the others looked at him in surprise.
"You know it?" Mash asked.
"I had time learning the basic knowledge of its history. And also, how long do you intend to stand there, Archer?" Nexus asked to the shadow figure standing as all the others noticed his presence. It takes an appearance of a man with short hair and wears a black sleeveless shirt and black pants. His left eye completely blackened holding a bow.
"Hoh, for a Master, I never expected you to notice my presence. I suppose you're not ignorant as I thought you would be." said the Archer.
"Oh, speak of the devil. Or should I say, faithful follower. I see that you're the loyal knight, as always." remarked Caster.
"Hmph, I don't recall being a follower of anybody. I'm just here to chase away unwanted guests."
"In other words, you're the gatekeeper. I don't know why you're protecting Saber, but let's end this here." Caster declared, "It's like you're bored from a game that never ends. When push comes to shove, we need to move the pieces forward."
Archer acknowledges from his statements, "From what you're saying, I think you understand the circumstances. Yet you're still absorbed by your own desires…" looking at him in pity, "You still haven't changed despite being a mage. In that case, I'll put on some sense into you." he readies his arrow taking the shot.
"Hmph, big talk for a mere Archer. Hey, young lady!" he gets Mash's attention, "Cover for me alright. Without your shield, I won't have time to cast my spells."
Mash comes back to her senses now, "Y-Yes… sorry, I was just spaced out a bit. I'll do my best." As she blocks the incoming arrows.
Archer projects another weapon that looks more like a mid-length spear firing another shot at Caster making the Shielder to block it as he casts more runes firing the corrupted Servant. He dodges it while shooting on weapons he could project with. Archer was jumping cliffs to cliffs as Caster found a clear shot as to where his next landing would be. He casts a rune at it and fires at the cliff on Archer's landing exploding on impact. The smoke disperses as there was no evidence to where Archer is.
"Tch, gone. Where'd that damn Archer go?" Caster cursed looking around where he could be.
Nexus sense Archer's presence as he was behind him in mid-air charging his next arrow increasing its destructive damage at the Master firing. "Behind!" he called out. Mash rushes to her Master's side.
"Lord Chaldeas!" she anchors on her shield creating a barrier nullifying the damage. Caster then inscribes a rune at Archer since he's wide open and fires a shot at him exploding on impact.
Archer laid on the ground motionlessly indicating that the battle has ended. He smiled in acknowledgement, "Well done, Mage of Flowers! Who knew her Noble Phantasm can be used like that." he muttered.
"Yeah it's time for you to take a hike! The young lady and I will take down the Sacred Sword!" Caster exclaimed to the Archer dispersing himself.
"…I'm glad that you trust me, but do you think I could guard against it?" she asked anxiously. She couldn't stop shaking, "I've heard about the Sword of King Arthur. My fingers are trembling, it seems too much for me…" unsure if she's capable enough on enduring the king's sword.
"Well, you'll just have to have courage. But from the way I see it, you're perfect for the job." Caster assured, "That shield will never shatter, if you lose, it'd be the young lady's mistake. If you let go of that shield, your Master will disappear behind you." Mash shivered from the thought of that.
"Listen, don't think about beating the Sword. Just think about protecting your Master. You can do that, right?" Mash nodded at Caster's words determined on protecting her Master as he was watching their conversations in this.
""Protecting your Master", huh? Protecting me…" Nexus muttered at those words deeply. He could never imagine anyone with the full commitment of protecting him. Considering for him to have a solitude life.
"Well, anyway. Just leave Saber to me and just do what you need to do." Caster advised.
Mash nodded her head knowingly, "Right…I'll be sure to take that advice."
They were almost at the end of the cave that leads to the Greater Grail, according to Caster. As they are going to solve the source of this rippling time and what the entire purpose for this event to come.
"Time for the Greater Grail. This is it. Is there anything you've left undone?" Caster asked to the black-haired.
"Hmph, we came this far already. It'd be a waste to go back down now. I'll go."
"That's good to hear. I dislike Masters who can't make up their minds in the brink of it." Caster said with a smile, "Although you're a rookie, but you've got most important thing for any pioneer. The divine luck to grasp fate, and the ability to make decisions. Don't forget how to be reckless. People like that would get blessed by the stars."
Nexus scoffs casually on his words, "I don't know about "divine luck" or "fate", I'll consider my choices. But I'm not expecting to be blessed either. I'm just going to make my own choice and keep moving forward."
"I don't know whether of you two are talking about. Whether we forge ahead or go back, we need to rest first." Olga suggested, "Doctor, are you checking vitals on Nexus? He seems fine but I want to make sure."
Dr. Roman inspects Nexus's vitals to see if there are any problems, "Hmm…from what I can see, his vitals are normal and there's nothing wrong with it despite having another Servant contracted with him. His magic circuits are running at full capacity, but it doesn't seem to be putting stress onto your brain, Nexus. But let's just set up camp just in case with some tea for the others."
"Alright, let's settle here for now." Nexus agreed.
"Yes, I think now is a good time for tea." Mash said setting up base camp for tea and other rations. "Senpai, would you like some? I think maybe it's a good time for you to rest."
"I appreciate your offer but I'm fine." Nexus declined the offer.
She looks at him with concern, "Are you sure? You were walking non-stop for the whole travels. Are you not tired at all?"
"She's right, even though the doctor checked through you should take a break for once. A normal civilian couldn't possibly take a hike throughout the city." Olga joined in.
"Well, is it really that bad? He probably just got himself a head start. Anyways, I'll go for some wild boars to hunt." Caster said as he was about to go searching out.
"I wouldn't be so sure if there are any out there. Besides, forget about the boars, get some fruits instead." Olga suggested.
They finished on their break having tea and dried fruits that were Olga brought for preparations. Mash was grateful that the Director had prepared for something like this. Nexus noticed Olga was giving out a tensed look on her face like she wanted to spout out something but doesn't want to admit at the same time.
"Is tea not good enough for you, Director?" Nexus asked to the Director bringing out a conversation. He figured that Olga drinking tea didn't work out for her as she wasn't relaxed at all.
"No, I like coffee more than tea." Olga responded as she realized from answering such an odd question from him, "Wait, why would you ask me that? That's not what I want to talk about."
"Then, what do you want to talk about?"
Olga stopped for a moment trying to come up with something, "Well, it's just….it was…oh forget it!" she throws it out and decides to speak honestly for him, "Th-The work you've done has been passable. As the Director of Chaldea, I'll give you credit."
"I see." Nexus responded from someone's praise scratching his head, "Well, whatever I guess that's fine."
"What's with that response? What I'm saying is that you keep it up and you might hear praise from me yet. A third-rater can at least do a first-rate work." she muttered. Roman was surprised on seeing the Director being lenient to him as she begins on denying it. Nexus watches over this scene of them teasing Olga for her unexpected kindness as he focuses on moving to the Greater Grail.
As they arrived to their final destination out from the cave that Caster directed them. Outside revealed to be a dark eerie looking sky with a black pillar to which it appears to be the Greater Grail rising above in the middle over the mountainside above them.
The white-haired director looked upon this in utter shock, "This is the Greater Grail…an ultra-superior Magical Reactor…" she muttered speechlessly, "What's it doing on this island nation in the Far East."
"According to our data, it was built by an eminent family of alchemists called the Einzberns." Dr. Roman inspected.
'Einzberns? Where'd I heard that from?' Nexus wonders in thought of this name which sounded very familiar.
"Apparently they didn't belong to the Mage's Association and were solely made of homunculi." Nexus stand silent upon hearing those words, "homunculi". An artificial lifeform created through alchemy used for Magic Circuits. Well it's not like he should he be involved in them but for them to be created like that bothers him but tends not to indulge it.
"Sorry, but chitchats are over. The lady has noticed us." Caster cuts off as Nexus could feel the intimidation.
He looked up seeing a figure of an armored female. She's cladded in jet black armor and black with red markings as if it was corrupted. She had pale skin with platinum blonde hair staring at them with her cold, pale-gold eyes that pierces a normal person to be shaken from the woman's gaze. She holds a black sword with red markings emitting in some sort of dark energy.
"…Unbelievable magical output…Is that really King Arthur?" Mash muttered feeling the pressure of her overwhelming magical energy she was emitting.
Nexus narrowed his eyebrows on her power. It's no doubt that she is the King of Knights. Although her appearance have changed and her personality considers to be heartless, cold, apathetic to anyone that is not worthy enough to battle her.
"No question. She seems to have changed somehow but she's the king of Britain, Arthur, wielder of the Sacred Sword." Roman stated to Mash, "Her gender's different, but she had her reasons for dressing as a man in Camelot. You can't assume to be king unless you're a man, right? It could've been for family reasons. It's mentioned in the legends, but Merlin really does have a terrible taste."
"Hmph, you think that a look like hers could convince me as a male. I honestly see her as a woman once I caught my sight of her. She still has her feminine appearance." Nexus protested.
"R-Really? I couldn't tell that person was a woman. I thought it was a man." Mash said shockingly from Nexus's perception.
"Don't be fooled by her appearance. She's a monster. Her power are not just her strength but a ridiculous amount of magical energy. Every single strike is massive. If you're not focused, half of your body would go flying." Caster warned.
"And then the other half can just stand there with their pants wet." the Master remarked sarcastically.
"Basically, just think of her like a human rocket." she clarified convinced by the comparison of her to a rocket, "Understood, I'll fight with everything I've got."
"That's good to hear. If you defeat her, then everything happening here will be over and that includes both me and her. After that, it's on you. Don't know what happens, but do whatever you can."
The corrupted king looked at them with amusement, "I see. You have an interesting Servant with you."
"What! You can talk? You were just maintaining your silence all this time?" Caster gasped surprised of her linguistic capabilities since he believed that she was always the silent type.
"Yes, and you were being watched the whole time. I merely acted as a scarecrow." she stated her purpose as she caught someone interesting to her eyes. "But….it's interesting. I'm curious about that Noble Phantasm." Mash sterns herself catching sight of her interest readying her shield.
"Be ready, strange girl. This sword shall test the truth of your shield." she declares to Mash as she readies her sword and comes charging towards her.
"Here she comes, Master!" Mash prepares herself.
"You don't need to beat her. Just focus on defending!" Nexus called out.
"Yes! Mash Kyrielight, here I come!" as she begins to defend against Saber's blow.
As Caster said, her strike is too heavy for Mash forcing herself to move aside her sword. Saber dashes into clashing her with her shield. The Shielder gritted her teeth holding at her ground. The black sword grating over the massive shield with great intensity from the black knight's strength overpowering Mash. Saber noticed the incoming fire from Caster as she jumps back dodging it.
"Where are you looking at? Shouldn't you be aware that she's not the only one fighting?" Caster provoked at her firing more fire runes at her.
"Of course I'm aware of that." she said dodging every shots, "That's why…" as she came up close to the mage leaving him wide open. "I just come here to finish what I left off…." she channels her magical power into her sword with dark energy increasing its length, "…cleaning up the mess I left off." she swings her energized sword at the Caster forcing himself to defend with his staff. The impact made an overwhelming power that made Saber push Caster out in full force crashing through the ground.
"Caster!" Olga shouted to him as Caster barely recovered from that impact.
"Gh…..it seems that I'm not good enough as a Caster, after all…since I lack both strength and endurance…sorry…young lady, Nexus.." he muttered as he couldn't move from that impact before as he felt a hand rested on his shoulder from the black-haired mage.
"Don't beat yourself up, boy." Nexus reassured him, "You just lack the effort to adapt, that's all." Caster sighed at his remarks. Nexus then returns his gaze at the fight narrowing his eyes. Each strike of Saber's blow leaving a great force. Mash is losing stamina every time she guards Saber's strike overwhelming her. Nexus could expect Mash that she can't handle her on her own now that Caster is incapitated and not experienced enough for a Servant to fight in this situation. As Saber throws another strike at Mash creating a massive force making her fall to the ground.
He would have no choice but to act on this as he starts to make his move Olga stopped him.
"What are you doing?" he dared ask.
"I might ask the same thing to you."
"I'm just going for a little hike."
"Are you seriously making such an impeccable retort at a time like this?" Olga retorted.
"You saw her. She can't take another blow at Saber."
"And that's all the more reason for you to stay. She's your Servant and you're her Master. Now that Caster couldn't fight there's nothing else that you could help her." he didn't argue about this so he stayed silent as Mash struggles herself to get up lifting up her shield.
The King of Knights scoffs in amusement, "I must commend you for enduring this long, strange girl. Now…" she starts increasing her magical energy holding her sword upwards as it focus on all of its dark energy on her sword increasing the length drastically, "…let us see how much your resolve is behind that shield of yours."
Iron Hammer of the Hollow King.
Overturn the aurora.
Swallow the light!
Excalibur Morgan!
She shouts at her Noble Phantasm as she swings her sword downwards that projects a giant wave of dark energy coming towards Mash as she begins to set her Noble Phantasm.
Activating Noble Phantasm.
Lord Chaldeas!
She throws her shield on the ground emitting the barrier as the wave makes contact with it creating a great force from the two Noble Phantasms. Mash holds her barrier with all of her strength resisting the force of the king's sword.
"Endure it! Mash!" Olga exclaimed. For Nexus to see this collision with Fou on his shoulder he couldn't hold himself for this outcome. He could see that Mash is holding out from that beam but she can't hold it for much longer. Any second she would pass out from her fatigue as he decides to act now.
He had enough on being as a benchwarmer any longer as he dashed through the director to the middle of the battle. "HEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? WAIT! NEXUS!" the black-haired man ignored Olga's words as he increases his speed on an instant to the dark wave.
Mash was about to lose her ground from the beam as Nexus suddenly kicks on the beam putting his strength into it. He gritted his teeth putting his velocity into his leg as he kicks the beam out from Mash aiming it away and explodes on impact. The King of Knights looked at this in shock seeing that someone was capable enough to move her Excalibur Morgan out of the way like using only his legs. She can't apprehend on what happened looking at the man who stopped a Servant's Noble Phantasm which no normal human could ever achieve.
The director was speechless along with Caster witnessing a Master that could take on a Noble Phantasm, a Servant's most powerful technique. Mash fell to her knees holstering her shield up weakly seeing her Master in front of her. "Sen….pai?" she muttered too exhausted on what happened just then.
Nexus sighs on what he just did. "Well, guess I can't let myself be a benchwarmer anymore."
Mash tries to get herself up staggering to her Master "Get….back…Senpai…I can…still….fight…." she stopped as Nexus put his hand on her head.
"Good work, Mash. You've done a good job making this far." he reassured the Shielder giving her a slight smile, "Get some rest, Mash. You can leave it to your Master. Don't worry." Mash nods her head falling to her floor relaxing all of her muscles that were put through. He carries her speeding through next to the director.
"Take care of her." advised Nexus to Olga lending Mash on her arms and putting Fou down.
"Uh-Uh…yes, I'll make sure she's alright…" she reluctantly agrees as she puts her mind back on track on what she saw, "Wait, this is too sudden to take! What was that!? How were you able to kick off a Servant's Noble Phantasm!? You have no combat training!"
"Firstly, I never said anything about having no combat training. I only said that it's not worth mentioning it." Nexus said flatly. "And secondly, is this really a good time to talk about it now since I need to handle this matter? There are other things to worry about than idle talk." he stands up looking at Saber with sharp eyes walking towards her.
Fou stops him looking at him with concern, "Fou..."
He pets the white creature's head with reassurance, "Don't worry about me. Just watch over Mash. I'll take care of this." Fou nod in acknowledgement as he returns to his position against the black armored knight.
Saber scoffs at the mage's presence, "This is surprising. For a mere human like you is able to force my sword out." she shook her head in disbelief, "No, no humans are capable on taking the force of a Noble Phantasm at all no matter how talented. What exactly are you?"
"Who knows? I'm just someone who just puts up myself to live "ordinary." But I guess It's to hide that facade." Nexus said readying his stance against the king. "After all, if you intend on threatening my allies, then I'll be sure to crush anybody who does."
"Hoh?" Saber responded his claim in amusement clenching on her sword, "You sure are a bold one to spout something like that. I can't tell whether you're courageous or a fool. I'll be sure to give you a quick painless death."
""Quick", huh?" Nexus muttered at this deadpanned, "Well then…" with a blur of speed coming above Saber's head instantly raising his right leg high as she widened her eyes in shock, "….let's see which of us is quicker to kill one or the other." he said flatly.
'Fast!' she forces herself to guard with her sword as he swings his leg downwards at creating a massive shock wave around them. She struggles from the Master's unexpected sheer strength that is forcing her ground making a crater.
Nexus pushes himself off performing a back-flip in mid-air recovering from the ground. Saber decides to dash into the black haired giving him no time to act as she slashes him horizontally but Nexus avoids her sword by quickly arching his back over. He performs a rising kick to her chin launching her in mid-air as he jumps up to match her length combining a roundhouse kick at her side crashing to the ground. Nexus lands on the ground as the dust from the crash.
"I see….it seems that you're not a fool after all." Saber said behind the dust as she blows it away from her sword energized with dark magic once more. "I take back whatever I said. You truly are a worthy opponent to be fought." she declared smiling at Nexus increasing her magical output bursting her speed faster than before coming to him fast. The young mage blocks at her strikes increasing more speed than before. Nexus could guess that this Saber is utilizing her sword skill as he decides to use a different method. His hands starts to engulf in flames constructing a sword to counter her consecutive strikes as darkness and fire clash together backing off from each other
The flames caught Saber off guard as she inspected Nexus holding a strand of flames with his bare hands. It takes a shape of a single-edged sword that closely resembles a katana. The Black Saber looked at Nexus with curiosity, "First you fought me in unarmed combat now you draw your sword? What is your reason for this?"
"At first I realized that I got myself out of hand so I decided to use a sword, for now. Gives me a good excuse to duel with you. If you don't mind that is." he offered to the king at his red, fiery, orange eyes staring at her pale golden orbs.
She chuckles thinking if this man was bold or a fool, "For a mage with no aptitude for magic, you're interesting than I thought. It's hard to think that you're no ordinary mage. Very well, I will accept your duel. I may be a fallen king to my people. But I have at least have of chivalry in me." she charges at a blinding speed at Nexus swinging her sword with great force that contact his sword shaking the ground.
The two blades grate on each other as Nexus switching gears turning his edge to the flat of her blade pushing it off. Saber turns back returning a strike as Nexus guarding the strike handling the intense force of pressure she's igniting.
'It seems like Cu said is true. Her strikes are a force to be reckoned with.' Nexus thought feeling the direct contact of how much power she was exerting through. It did have the strength of a rocket but that was only an exaggeration.
'That force of a rocket was an exaggeration after all. I don't have any problems taking it but it would only take so much energy to handle consecutive hits on it.' thinking that he needs to change his style as quick as possible from the black sword grating it hard making to flex his right arm to resist it.
'However...' thinking quick, he angled his sword aside from the flat of her blade exerting the necessary force pushing it away leaving her wide open as he takes the chance to strike but she instinctively blocks it.
"I don't need to take on a heavy strike unless I could maneuver her strikes to keep the heavy force out. Well not like it'd be problem if I took the full force anyway.' he planned his strategy as he began swerving, dashing, weaving at the black king's swings. Her strikes and movements are straightforward as Nexus analyzed. It's not necessary to counter strike through brute force, instead he needs to focus on his strength to counter her strikes aside or dodge in order to do it deflecting the horizontal slashing skidding towards her swinging it down getting close and personal until she shoots a deadly uppercut and Nexus back flips away from it recovering continuing to attack. He should never underestimate on any opponent on the battlefield in terms of experience, her attacks may be reckless but she may quickly notice his plan and may shift gear. He phases out with his speeding past her shifting her eyes to where his location as she felt a quick pierce of the burning blade searing out from her abdomen through the armor from the man in a rear thrust position quickly taking it out that she wasn't dead yet as both makes quick, clean slash of two blades resonating each other kicking sparks creating distance. She slightly grunted from the pain from the mysterious warrior had given her. She didn't any sign of frustration at all, she was smiling. Smiling of a strong encounter with exceptional skills of sword fighting and was enjoying the moment to fight someone strong. Nexus turned back to the black armored knight stoically readied their swords up returning to their fight.
Caster was in awe watching the two clashing their swords at each other sparks of dark and fire flying out each other. Each of them countering and striking leaving them no chance to expose their opening. 'How can he handle the strength of that monster? He's striking every swing of her sword with precise aim. How is he doing that? First he was a laid-back and carefree guy when I met him now he's turned to a serious and fierce fighter.
'He kinda reminds me of my mentor.' he thought as he stopped for a moment. 'Wait, I think I'm getting a fuzzy feeling on this guy. He did seem familiar.' he thought hard for moment in his head as visions come flashing back at him.
He caught a glimpse of a certain figure that is familiar to him. He had the same black hair, the same figure as him sitting next to a woman with long maroon hair leaning on his shoulder with affection.
"Hey, what are you spacing out for, boy?" the guy speak to the blue haired man, "Is it too boring for you to be here?"
He scoffs at his question, "Like I care. With you around, I bet there's nothing boring here. You are the strongest one in The Land of Shadows after all."
"Hey, I don't remember being called like that…it's troublesome that I don't want any mobs fighting me…" He snapped back at him taking a breather, "...So, you're fine being in this gloomy world of hers?"
"There's no need for me to be here. After all, she's with you, right? I don't think that she would be lonely anymore. After all you did stole her heart after all." he winked with a toothy grin on his face that makes the black-haired to wipe that into oblivion.
"You've been wanting to say that, didn't you?" he retorts sighing exasperatedly looking at the woman seeing a small smile leaning on him.
"Well...I guess it's not so bad…." the man said with a slight smile on his face putting his hand on her head pulling close and the scene began to fade out.
Caster returns back his mind into the present as his eyes widened in realization on who he is. 'Master…could it be that you….' his thoughts were cut into the battle by the swords. Gold eyes are gazed into fiery eyes each other leaving no sign of exhaustion.
"It's time settle this." Saber declared extracting all of her magical energy into her black sword once more summoning her Noble Phantasm.
"EXCALIBUR MORGAAANNN!"
She swings her sword emitting a giant wave of dark magic to the black haired. He remains himself in composure as he closes his eyes taking his stance holding the sword in a sheathe position. He channels his sword increasing its flames extending with great intensity. He compresses all of its flames focusing only on his sword concentrating from the dark wave coming to him. Then, just that moment, he immediately opens his eyes at the opportunity to retaliate.
"HA!" he throws his arms sword through a tearing through a powerful force breaking through releasing a massive wave of flames as it speeds up and increasing its width of flames drastically from the winds colliding the giant dark beam exploding in a large impact of the diameter spreading all over with a massive shockwave. The others cover themselves from the explosion resisting the amount of force that is pushing into them with a bright light flashing over.
As the light died down and the rumbling stops shaking everyone decided to get up as they couldn't believe what they just saw. The dust starts to kick off revealing the Nexus holstering on his fire sword and Saber lowering her sword revealing her armor completely charred horizontally.
"I see…..it seems that I couldn't fight like this when I'm in such a weakened state, unknowingly." Saber said with a smile, "I stand at the very end defending the Holy Grail and lost due to my tenacity. No matter how my fate changes, I'll meet the same end."
"Hey! What do you mean by that? Just what do you know?" Caster demanded" Caster demanded witnessing from all of that battle with Nexus.
"You'll realize it soon, Ireland's Child of Light. Grand Order…..the battle for the Holy Grail is just the beginning."
Olga flinch in shock upon hearing that name as Saber emits in a golden light about to fade away.
"But…." the Black Saber looked at the man from his orange eyes, "It's quite a shame….to think that I wouldn't have contracted to an interesting man like you. Let me hear your name, warrior. I wish to know the name of someone who traded swords with me."
"Nexus." he introduced with no hesitation relaxing on his own stand as he disperses his sword and his eyes turn back to black, "That is my name."
"Well then, Nexus. I would ask, no….I demand that you summon me as your Servant. So that I can witness your battle and show how strong you are. That is my desire" Saber concluded her statement.
Nexus chuckles at her demands, "That's quite a demand you're putting on there, king. Are you really that interested in me?"
She nods her head in agreement, "Of course. I am very intrigued about you much less that I wouldn't mind being as your partner."
"Hey, hey isn't that a bit too far. Listen I can understand what you're saying but I don't think that there's a possibility for me to summon you." Nexus protested.
"No, you will. I will have you as my Master." she avowed unyielding, "I swear." she left off with a smile as she disappeared.
Nexus scratches his head with a troublesome look on his face, 'How am I going to deal with this?'
"Hey, wait! Just what are you-Whoa!" Caster was about to say something as he noticed his body about to disperse, "Crap, am I getting sent back too? Dammit! I don't like this, but whatever. Hey Nexus, sorry about what I said. I didn't mean anything to get you mad."
He waved his hand dismissively from his apology, "It's fine, it's fine. At least you realize it already."
"Yes, next time you can summon me as a Lancer. It'll be just like old times, brother (aniki)…" Caster said with a smile before dispersing himself. He sighs at his words leaving a smile on his face. "Yeah, just like old times….Cu Chulainn…." muttering his True Name to himself.
"Confirming both Saber and Caster vanished. Did we win?" Mash asked shockingly.
"It seems so, for now." Nexus said as Roman speaks up from the comm, "That's true, but….I'm really shocked about this….."
""Shocked"? About what?" Nexus asks dismissively not knowing the outcome of his battle.
"DON'T GIVE ME THAT "ABOUT WHAT" THING! WHAT!? WHAT WAS THAT!? HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO TAKE ON A SERVANT LIKE THAT!? JUST HOW STRONG ARE YOU!?" the doctor was screaming over the comms shockingly from what he had seen how the black haired mage fought.
"You're so loud, Roman. Are you trying all of your effort to put up a mating call for your nonexistent girlfriend? No nevermind, I don't think you never had a girlfriend throughout your entire life." Nexus retorted dismissively.
"Is this really a good time for you to badmouth at me!? Although, it did hurt me both socially and mentally. But do you really have to!?"
"I was surprised too." Mash interjected, "I didn't know you were this strong to take on a Servant…"
"Well, I can be full of surprises. How's the Director doing is she okay?" Nexus looked over as he saw her making a troubled look on her face.
"Grand Order… How did that Servant know that name?" she ponders to herself as he walks over to her.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked although he could guess on what's wrong. Considering that Saber mentioned the name "Grand Order." This could get complicated either way but the one thing that bothered the mage is that she said the Holy Grail War was just the beginning. He expected worse but now that it's just the beginning. There's no doubt about it, he's going to have his problems loaded for plot convenience is what he is thinking.
"Huh? O-Oh right. Well done Nexus, Mash." she congratulated them while still being perplexed, "There are some things that are unclear, but it's confirmed that the mission is completed. First, let's retrieve that crystal. It's the reason Saber went out of control and why Fuyuki became a Singularity." she said pointing at the Grail, "And secondly….." she turned her gaze at the young mage.
"You….you have a lot to explain once we get back. We're going to have to discuss this matter to the Mage's Association! Whatever you are, it's clear you're dangerous! I want you out of this field and out of Chaldea!" she spouted with vehemence to the man making the others concerned of Nexus taking it with his bangs shadowed over his eyes stoically.
"Well gimme a break here, Madam. Is this how you treat your savior through language of vehemence?" Nexus laughed it off trying to get at her good side or at least to ease at her tension.
"Shut up! You have no idea what you've got yourself into! An ordinary much less a third-rate mage would ever hope to achieve on defeating a Servant. That's a monster!" he let's his sarcastic smile go off.
"Fou..." Fou said feeling sympathetic with the black haired magi.
"That's wrong, Director! Senpai sa-" before Mash could finish her sentence Nexus's hands shot out to her.
"Stop it." he said coldly to the pinkette leaving her quiet. "That's enough, Mash. You don't need to say it." he turns to her gaze. "I'm used to it."
She was shocked seeing her Master to stop, ""Used to it? What do you…"
"Well, I didn't expect you'd get this far. This was beyond my expectations and tolerances." the voice interrupted them as Nexus turned back with eyes concealed with hated vehemence, "Master Candidate #48. It was my mistake to overlook you as an improbable person. But it seems to me that you're more than that."
"Oh, I wonder where I smelled that stench of yours." he sarcastically said before growling under his breath, "No, it was all over you that it wants me to cut it off and burn it from the existence, Lev." witnessing the familiar figure wearing the green suit holding the cup.
"Professor Lev!?" Mash exclaimed.
"Lev!" Roman shouted, "Professor Lev, you say? He's there?"
"Oh, is that Romani I hear? So you survived as well." the green suit said, "I told you to come to the command room now, but it seems that you have forgotten. Honestly…" as he pauses for a moment spreading a maniacal smile, "Trash who can't even follow orders, just makes me want to throw up from a mere sight of it. Why is it that humans always try to ignore their predetermined destinies?"
"I don't know, maybe because they don't like it how it is and decides to change something that is worth to them." Nexus retorted.
"Watch your mouth, trash. Before I cut that tongue off." he hissed off.
"Oh." Nexus said making a smirk of amusement, "Then shall this "trash" cut your throat off while you're at it. Let's see if you're capable enough." he mocked at the green suit making him infuriated.
"You…." he growled gritting his teeth.
Mash flinches as she dashes in front of Nexus, "Master, get back! Please, get back!" she said covering for him. "This person is dangerous…th…this isn't the Professor Lev we know!"
Nexus scoffs off at her warning, "You got it wrong Mash. That is him. It's not that the Professor that you know. You're only seeing the scum that showed his true colors."
"Eh?" Mash muttered perplexed at what he said. As she looked into his eyes and shows that he isn't lying at all.
"Lev….oh thank god you're alive! Without you, I don't know how I could protect Chaldea!" she felt relieved that someone she could rely on is here as she walks toward him.
"Director don't! That man is is…" Mash warned to Olga ignoring her as she began walking up to the cliff meeting the green suit in person.
"I can't tell whether she's a fool or an idiot. Probably both." Nexus commented flatly.
"Oh, you seem well enough, Olga. It seems that you had a hard time." he said with a smile.
"Yes, yes, that's right, Lev! The command room blew up, city in ruins, and I can't return to Chaldea! I'm losing my mind for all of this! You can fix this, right? As long as you're here we'll be fine, right?" she said keeping up her smile, "That's what it always been, right? You'll help me this time, won't you?"
"Of course. Honestly, all of these complications have irritated me. And it all comes down to you, Olga. I set the bomb right under your feet, yet you're still alive."
She suddenly turned pale from the assistant's remark as she couldn't believe what he was saying. "What? Wh-what's that supposed to mean, L-Lev?" she stuttered trying to keep her voice clear but was too frightened in a feeble manner.
"Technically, you're not alive. You were already dead a long time ago." he said unsympathically with no problems at all, "Trismegistus transferred you to here after you'd become a lingering thought. In fact, you had no aptitude to Rayshift at all. You can't teleport without a physical body, after all. You see, you gained the aptitude you so desired after you died. That's why you can't return to Chaldea. If you do, your consciousness will vanish."
She froze upon hearing all of the news as she couldn't even begin what she needed to say on the news of her death. "Wh-What? I'll vanish? I…I can't return to Chaldea?"
"Indeed, but that's too sad of a story for you. Instead, I'll show you the fate of Chaldea that you so devote your life into." as he holds up the golden cup showing the scene of the command room.
"Wh-What? Chaldeas is bright red?" she muttered looking at the disaster horrified, "It's a lie, right? It's just an illusion right, Lev?" she tries to deny it.
"It's real." he clarified, "I've connected the dimensions for you from the Holy Grail." He spreads his arms out for the revealment. "Now, behold, descendant of Animusphere. Your folly! Not one speck of blue human survivors. Nothing but burning, bright, red. That is the outcome of this mission. Isn't it wonderful, Marie? Once again, your incompetence has brought tragedy!"
"That….That's not true!" she exclaims in denial, "I'm not responsible! I didn't fail! I'm not dead! Who are you? What have you done to my Chaldeas!?"
"Who said it was "yours." What an annoying girl you are, honestly!" he spouted annoyed at her ignorance as Olga could feel a gravitational force pulling into her. "Wha….What? Something's pulling-my body across space-"
"Didn't I tell you? That place is now connected with Chaldea." he responded revealing a black hole that is pulling into the Director, "I could kill you, but it's not worth it so instead I'll just grant your final wish. Now embrace on your own treasure you can think of it as my farewell gift."
"Wait-what do you mean, Lev? My treasure…as in Chaldeas? No, stop! A high-density body of data? Territory of dimensional paradox?"
"Yes. No different from a black hole nor the sun. but either way it'd be a hellish pain on a molecular level on contact. So have a taste of infinite living death!" he laughed maniacally.
"No-No, no! Someone! Save me! Help! I…I don't want to die!" she desperately pleaded for someone for help in tears. "I've never been praised…never been praised by anyone! Why? Why does this always happen to me!? Nobody valued me! Everyone hated me! No…no, no, no, no, no….I haven't even accomplished yet! I was never accepted by anyone-!" as the wormhole was about to suck into her losing of her footing when suddenly her hand was caught. She opened her eyes looking at the familiar black haired mage.
"Ne…xus…?" she muttered looking into his black eyes with his calm demeanor holding his foot to the ground from his strength not effected by its pull.
"Senpai!" Mash called out as she noticed him dashing up to the cliff holding Olga.
"You!" the green one sneered as the mage shots a killing glare at him making the professor shiver in fright of his intimidation. The wormhole has finally died out bringing back Olga to her foot then falling to her knees.
"Why….did you….save me?"
"Because I don't want you to have a pointless death." Nexus responded to the white haired girl.
"Y-Yes, that's right…..You're here to save me right?...since I'm not gonna die here…..right?" she asked hopefully forcing a smile.
"I never said that I won't let you die. I merely said that I don't want you to die for a pointless death. Like he said, your body is fading and once you return you'll vanish from the existence. There's nothing I can do to save you at this point." her smile slowly faded away with her dead eyes lost of hope from his cold words. She hoped that she could live, saved, or be happy but it was no use. She had lost all of her hopes now.
"Then….then…" she muttered and bursts out of anger, "THEN WHY DID YOU SAVE ME EVEN IF YOU SAID IT WAS POINTLESS!? EVEN THOUGH I WORKED MY HARDEST! I WORKED MY HARDEST AS THE DIRECTOR FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE WHO WORKED FOR! FOR CHALDEA! WHAT WAS THE POINT OF YOU SAVING ME FOR EVEN THOUGH I'M GOING TO DIE!?" she sobbed pounding at his chest overflowing in tears from her fate. Nexus no remorse into this not even flinching from her cries remaining emotionless. "….I just….I just want to be….someone that values me….since no one ever praised me…." she muttered between her cries hiding her face into his chest as he puts his hand over her head.
"Geez, you're really are a pain aren't you? You're going to make my clothes wet." Nexus remarked to the Director sobbing at his shirt as he sighs before speaking.
"How could you say something like that?...~sob~…..Just what did you think about me this whole time?" she said crying.
""What did I think about you," huh? Well, if you're asking of it, then I'll just be blunt to you about it. Olga Marie, you're the most pitiful person I've meet." he said apathetically making her stay silent as he keeps on going. "You're uptight, selfish, arrogant, weak person that puts themselves superior than others with no self-esteem at all that just relies on others rather than standing up straight for themselves as the Director of Chaldea like you should. Like a hard covered armor concealed over an empty eggshell that would be shattered by a matter of seconds." Olga was about to go break down crying from hearing all of those hurtful remarks from someone who outranks her as she suddenly felt a gentle caress from her hair.
"But, you know….for you to get through this….having no talents at all for a Master…You still pulled through, regardless…." she stopped crying for a moment slowly looking up to Nexus staring into his eyes that are somewhat showing a slight gentleness from him. "And besides…it's not like you're the only one accepted by anyone. But yours is beyond different than mines. That's why….." she was confused by what he meant as he slowly embraced her as she begins emitting a gold light.
"You did a good work, Director Olga Marie Animusphere." she widened her eyes from hearing this, "You…really did your best for pulling this through…." he said petting her head hearing from that praise of his. She could feel the gentle of embrace reminding of her time as a child. "Also, it's not a fact that nobody ever valued you. Dr. Roman and Mash values what you are and cares for you. So don't admit that nobody accepts you because there are people who acknowledges you. So….you don't need to worry about anything. They'll finish what you've started, I'm sure of it…." upon hearing those words of assurance she starts breaking down crying over his shoulder as he takes all of this in silence.
She dries her tears off as her body starts to fade away, "I'm sorry….it seems that I got the wrong idea about you. You are an incompetent smart-mouthed….but it seems like you caring heart, after all."
Nexus scoffs off at this. "Don't call me that. I'm not so caring when I couldn't save you. And you're just pitiful spouting those words before your death. Hurry up and have a painless death. You don't need all of that burden carry into death's door. You can leave it to them."
"Heh, to think that someone I hate to give me a lecture and then encourage me to die. You really are a horrible person. At least you're not horrible as Lev..." Olga lifted up her head and stood up with resolute, "Number 48 Nexus, On behalf of the Director of Chaldea, I now make you as an official Master." he looks at her from her own side making him as the official Master of Chaldea despite disappearing. "Thank you for your support, Nexus. Now there's no need for me to worry about Chaldea anymore." she thanked him with a smile before she completely disappeared from the light.
He sighs at her farewell, "There's no reason for you to thank me. I'm just doing whatever I want to do. And besides…." he said standing up straight before finishing his words smiling, "I don't deserved to be thanked for…."
"Hahahaha, I have to say that is amusing. Although, it was disappointing that she couldn't die sooner or later." the green suit hollered bringing Nexus back into his mind as he glares at the man.
"What do you know? You gave yourself out on being human, after all." he remarked.
"Oh? So you can sense that I'm a fundamentally different life form. Impressive for a Master."
"Oh it's not that I could sense it. I could just smell it from you." Nexus retort coldly.
"I see….then shall I reintroduce myself? My name is Lev Lainor Flauros and I am responsible sent to dispose of you humans in 2018."
The black haired man raised his eyebrows questionably, ""Sent"? You mean that there's a mastermind you're working with? I'm surprised. Guess masterminds couldn't get enough on using hopeless scums being fodders."
"You really are an irritating one, aren't you?" he said angrily going back to his saying, "Are you listening, Dr. Roman? As a fellow magecraft, I'll give you a last advice. Chaldea is finished. You humans have reached the moment of your end."
"…Professor Lev. No, Lev Lynor." Dr. Roman started changing the name as he begins questioning, "What do you mean? Is it related being unable to see 2019?"
"It's not "related." It's the reality that is the end. You simply babbled that it'd "disappeared." That was wishful thinking. It didn't disappear, it was incinerated the moment Chaldeas was dyed crimson. Your end is certain. Your era no longer exists. Chaldeas' magnetic field may be protecting Chaldea but the outside will face the same fate as Fuyuki."
"…So that was it." Roman said quietly, "It wasn't the fact that we lost the outside world from interference, we simply lost it itself."
"Hmph, you really are perceptive. A shame I didn't kill you immediately. Especially, you 48."
"Not unless I kill you first, shaggy leprechaun. Not that I kill one, perhaps. By the way, if I happen to rip you out open with my hands would it spill out Lucky Charms? No, wait, forget it, you don't seem to have the luck nor the charms from all of that ugliness in you." Nexus insulted to the green suit making him infuriated.
"Be silent! Your resistance is futile from the very beginning! Once time passes 2018, Chaldea will be wiped out from the universe. No one can change the outcome now. This is the rejection of humanity by human history. You haven't perish through the inability to evolve nor to war. It was your foolishness! Your incompetence! You lost the grace of our King! Like a bunch of worthless papers burned away without a trace!" he bellowed manically as the ground starts shaking violently, "Ah, is this the limit of the Singularity?...Cursed Saber. If you'd just obeyed, you would been allowed to live. Even with the Holy Grail, she caused so much trouble by wanting to sustain this era." as he was suddenly side kicked brutally from the side of his face with a powerful force from the mage. The green suit barely gets up holding his cheek sorely from the intense pain Nexus had given him.
"I don't give a damn about what you say. But…" he looks at the green person glaring at him enraged, "….you even got the gals to put someone into this mess.."
"Geh…..curse you, monster!" he grunted feeling the pain from the kick as it felt the side of his skull cracked. "I'll be taking my leave now since I got more important things to do. Farewell, Romani, Mash, Candidate #48 but my enjoyment of your destruction ends here. Be swallowed by the dimensional warp. Although I'm not cruel, I'll allow you to say your final prayer for once."
"All right, I'll say my final prayers to you." Nexus looks at him at a cold glare, "This isn't over. The next time I see you, I'll be damn sure to kill you."
"Geh…it seems it was my mistake to lend out a final prayer to you. But I doubt it…" he sneered as he simply vanishes.
"Tch, don't count on it."
"The underground cavern's collapsing! No, the cavern wasn't stable in the first place!" Mash shouted from the collapsing ground. "Doctor! Perform an emergency Rayshift! At least we can save Senpai!"
"Understood! I'm already doing it! Sorry, but it may collapse faster than I can fix! If it does, then do what you can on your side! We can survive space for a few dozen seconds, right?"
"Is this really a good time for a question, Doctor!?" Nexus exclaimed to Roman. "For now just shut up and focus on Rayshifting us!"
"O-Okay, just hang on to your consciousness! If we don't lose that, I might salvage-" but cuts off as the ground starts on collapsing crashing to the surface losing balance for everyone. "We can't make it!"
He speeds back to Mash and Fou's side lending out his hand, "Grab on!" Mash holds her Masters hand tightly and then Nexus holds into Fou covering them as suddenly everything went bright.
Once he opens his eyes, he sees familiar white roof as he gets up to a familiar wall. He now realizes that he's in his room seeing a familiar white creature that is Fou and an unfamiliar person next to him….'Huh?'
"All right, all right, good boy. Want something to eat? Nuts? Fish maybe?" the unfamiliar person suggested as Nexus begins to stare at the person blankly playing with Fou. It seems to take an appearance of a woman with long brown hair with azure blue eyes that and has a face that resembles Mona Lisa wearing a dress of red, brown, and gold trims along with a blue undershirt decorated with gold stars wearing a blue garment over her shoulders dangling with a group of red strings at the ends of the tips. A metal bird that is perched on her right shoulder and holding a staff with a gyroscope at the top with a blue shard in the middle being held by an antique-looking gauntlet.
"Hm, not sure if you're a cat or a squirrel. But that's okay, since you're cute!" as Fou noticed Nexus has woken up letting out a squeak. "Fou…Kyu, kyu…"
"Hm? Ah, the hero has awakened. There, there, that's how a main character should be. Good morning Nexus. Are you conscious?" the unfamiliar person asked.
"Hmm….that depends….to the person who am I talking about." Nexus answered.
"Hm, it seems you're not thinking straight yet? This must be the first time we've spoken directly like this. What? Are you shocked that you woke up at the sight of such a beauty? I understand, but I'm used to it."
"No, I never said that you were a beauty nor that I was shocked. I was only asking the unfamiliar person of who you are." Nexus said in a deadpan face.
"Huh!? You're weren't charmed by my beauty? Al-Although I did say I'm used to it, but I never thought that a man would never be mesmerized by me…" she said falling to her knees in tears, "It can't be….to think that someone out of everyone else were shocked by my unparalleled beauty. You just broke this maiden's heart…~sob~.."
"No, I don't think that there's anything that defines you as a "maiden", to be honest." Nexus said deadpanned as the unfamiliar person took that remark a bit as the recovers herself/(or him?) and clears his/her throat.
"I'm Da Vinci, a Chaldea collaborator. Or perhaps the third Heroic Spirit but we'll discuss that later. There's somebody waiting for you to the command room." the person now named Da Vinci directed to him.
"Who, the doctor?"
"Roman? Roman's waiting too, but he's not that important."
"Oh, I see." Nexus stated flatly not even feeling any sympathy from the doctor. "Is it Mash, then?"
"Oh, so you are aware of what the situation is?" Da Vinci impressed, "I guess you really are the main character after all."
"Stop saying that. Why else would this author put me in for? Do you take of me over some dense protagonist troupe?" he said scratching his head.
Da Vinci waved her hand in dismissal, "No, no. it's nothing like that. You look like an ideal type of a protagonist."
"Fou, Fou!"
"Oh? It seems the little one wants to get moving. Come one, time to get up."
"Yes, mom." he said sarcastically as he gets out of bed and walks out to the command room.
"From here on, you'll be the center of this story. The choices you make will probably save us all. Just like the many brave souls who weren't remembered by history as they saved humanity." Da Vinci told Nexus.
"Specifically, "probably." You have the guts to compare me as these brave souls? I'm no hero." Nexus protested as he shook his head.
"True, you've been given a role to fight, not as a hero, but as the human walking a path preordained by the stars." she paused for a moment there, "You are the hero aren't you?"
"Quit saying about being preordained. I don't believe that kind of shit."
"Even so, I put my own faith into the character to fight for what's right in their own path. I'm sure you'll do fine."
"Just where do you get that optimism from, Da Vinci?"
"Of course, my genius intellectual!" Da Vinci said proudly as he gave a sigh over her remark. "Although, it's a shame though. There's so many things I want to discuss about."
He looks troubled from that statement foreseeing what she would say but decides to ask, "W-What would that be, I ask?"
"You, of course! For someone who's capable enough to combat against a Servant and also has the power to construct a weapon out of fire. But I'm sure that there's more to that." her curiosity sparkling upon seeing this mysterious man giving off a troubled look on his face. 'Ah, I should've known that she's those kinds of people...'
"I'm interested in what you're capable of. Although I can't calculate anything from you with my observation which makes it even more intriguing about you. Where'd you get that strength? Do you have any other powers? What abilities you don't have? What's your secret? Also, can I get a physical examination from you? Hey, hey, tell me."
He gave off an exasperated sigh from hearing her nagging as he chooses to answer her last question, "Even if I told you what my secret is, it wouldn't even be a secret all. So I'm not answering. And you're getting nothing out from me."
"Ehhhhh? You're no fun." Da Vinci pouted not satisfied giving the black haired a slight of amusement into his face as he opens the door.
"Good morning, Senpai. I'm glad to see that you're okay." Mash greeted Nexus in her Servant attire along with Dr. Roman in the scene.
"Heh, I see that you're all well and good, Mash." Nexus chuckled at her cheerful spirit.
"Yes, thanks to you holding my hand. I now believe the saying, "what happens twice will happen thrice.""
'Was there ever a saying like that?' he thought to himself questionably.
"Ahem. I'm all for your reunion, but we bring ourselves to the subject please. First, congratulations on surviving and completing your mission Nexus. Well done. While the situation was uncalled for, you bravely faced challenges and overcame it…." Dr. Roman paused for a moment, "And to think that you had such skill in you to take on a Servant no human is capable of….you would probably be a Servant already with that kind of feat."
"Well, I'm no Servant. Even if I were, I wouldn't give loyalty onto anybody." Nexus remarked to that.
"Well, in any case, you did earned my respect and appreciation since Mash and Chaldea were saved now." as Romans face slowly turns sadly, "It's a shame for the Director, but we have no time to hold service." everybody went silent on mentioning her name from what happened.
"The least I can do is give her something that is meaningful. There's nothing I could do."
"Right, even though the Director died, you saved her from her suffering. At least she didn't die for over a pointless death for we need to defend humanity in her place. That's how we pay her tribute and what you've said, Nexus."
The Master gave off a quiet sigh of mixed feeling from hearing that, 'I didn't save her. I only gave a tribute to which she can't die over something pitiful, that's all.'
"In any case, I have the report of the crystal from Mash, and what Lev said. He wasn't lying from Chaldea's state so we can't contact from the outside world and the staffs haven't returned. I fear humanity has already been destroyed. Chaldea happens to be the only place outside of the normal timeline. Perhaps it's stabilizing right before the collapse."
"Like a colony floating in space. Outside world is dead unless we do something about it, right? Is it even possible to do it?" Nexus queried.
"Yes, I want you to see this." Dr. Roman comes over to show the scanner of Chaldeas, "We tried scanning over Earth with the working Sheba. It's in the past, not the future. And Fuyuki city was destroyed. But we hypothesize that future is unchanged from another cause. The result being-" before he could finish he shows Chaldeas from the burning Earth shifting to blue with a speck of light in the middle. "An undiscovered dimensional disturbance which Fuyuki differs. They say you could change the future by changing the past, but you can't overthrow future by altering past. History has the power to regenerate. You might save a person or two…"
"But?"
"But the end of that era will end up with the same result. But singularities are different, humanity's turning points." he goes on and on from what ifs to what ifs turning to an ultimate decision point for the state of humanity. "Destroying them is like causing the foundation of human history to crumble. That's what these seven singularities are."
"Seven? Why seven, specifically?" Nexus asked considering the fact that most of the stories always goes on those sevens. How many does he need to hear these things that involves the amount of seven. Seven Chaos Emeralds, seven Dragon Balls, the Seven Warlords, seven Sol Emeralds, anything that doesn't involve with the amount of "seven." Well, at least there's six Infinity Gems so that's alright.
"It's been decided from the future forming these seven singularities. As Lev said, humanity doesn't make it to 2019. But we're different. Chaldea has yet to reach it. Do you understand? Only we can fix it. Now we have a chance to return them to normal." Dr. Roman turns back to look at Nexus, "So here's the deal. Rayshift into these seven singularities and fix history. It's the only way to save humanity but we're still powerless. All the other candidates are frozen and Mash is the only Servant we have. I know that you're being forced into this but I'll say it."
He looks into his black eyes as he makes his statement under no hesitation, "Master Candidate #48, Nexus. If you wish to save humanity…if you wish to have a future beyond 2018…then you alone must go and face these singularities in human history. Are you prepared to do this? Can you shoulder the burden of Chaldea and humanity's future?" he requested to the black haired man for him thinking over.
He sighs scratching over his head, "What you said is true, Roman. This is quite an absurd request and any person with a common sense wouldn't able to handle it alone through naiveness and through sheer ignorance. It would be completely off of my hands on saving humanity." hearing those words made the others downed their faces with sadness and disappointment losing their hopes, "However…"
He lifts his head up high for them, "It's better than staying here rather than walk across the ends of humanity with no hope for the future at all. So I'll do whatever I can."
Roman was speechless from hearing his answer as he puts up a hopeful smile, "Thank you. with those words, our fate has been decided." as Mash was also smiling from his words now that there's hope with him. "We will now carry out the Preservation of Humanity on behalf of Olga Marie Animusphere, former director of Chaldea. Our objective is the protection and recovery of human history. It will be each era's relic and Grail. Our opponent is history itself. Many great Heroic Spirits and legends will stand against you so fighting them is a blasphemy against the past but for the sake of humanity we must defy it. But this is the only way to survive. No, the only way to take back the future. No matter what awaits us at the end."
Nexus scoffs in amusement upon hearing this, "Defy human history, huh? Heh, I'll do it either way if it stands in my way."
"Glad to hear it. To reflect our determination, we will abandon the name, First Order. This will be Chaldea's last mission. The Grand Order! In the name of magic world's highest order. We will take back the future!" Roman declared making the others cheer for his declaration.
He lets out a sigh of relief from all of this looking at them, "I don't know about highest order. But I'll be damn sure that I'll see through this however long…..hmph, guess my life will always be abnormal after all…" Nexus thought over from his words from what he'd been through during Fuyuki. "Well….I never hated my life anyways. So, I'll just see how this goes…"
Chapter done! Wooo, I did not expect for this chapter to be so damn long but I think I pulled it through. Well, now that this is done, I might start the next one. Now I'm not sure whether you're curious about my OC or not but you can be damn sure that he's powerful. If you are then I shall give it some info for the next chapter. This is DragNexcore, and I'll see you someday, occasionally, might as well to be barely active on making A/N but whatever you can find.
