Nexus opens his eyes looking around of his surroundings as he sees something unfamiliar that looks more like the a room inside of a castle. 'Hm….looks like my clairvoyance is now giving me a sight upon my dreams, huh?' he thought casually not the first time seeing the events on his dreams as he stops to look at the lone figure in the room. The person happens to be a female with pale skin, golden eyes, and short white-blonde hair wearing black armor with chains over her upper attire and a cross-shaped guard sword on her left side with a tattered black dress with burgundy over the end and black stockings. She holds a banner with black swallow-tailed flag adorned with a black symbol. 'Dragon, huh… ' Nexus guessed the symbol that resembles a dragon. 'Would she happen to love dragons, too? Also could this appearance be a different aspect to the original counterparts like Saber? They seem to have characteristics of being Alters.' he wondered questionably as the woman began chanting.
"Hear ye. My will creates, your body and your sword creates my destiny. Heed the Grail's call, and obey my will and reason, then answer me. I hereby swear, that I shall decimate all evil in the world. But let thine eyes be clouded with fog of turmoil and chaos. Thou art trapped in a cage of madness, and I the summoner who holds thy chains-" the mysterious woman chants from the summoning circle tracing beginning to glow. "Seventh Heaven clad in the great words of power! Come forth from the circle of binding, Guardian of the Scales!" she finishes her chant as the circle begins to glow in a pillar of light revealing several figures coming out from the pillars.
'So, that's how summoning works, huh?' he wondered in thought as he witnessed the several Servants coming out. One is a male with a complexion that looks more like a corpse with slicked back black-hair and huge rolling eyes looking outwards like a frog wearing a dark blue robe with scarlet patterns adorned around his neck more like a jester holding a book on his right and cracks on his left.
'What the hell?' he thought looking at the robed person weirdly that is gives off such eerie as he decides not to look at him and looking at another Servant. The person had blonde hair with a fair complexion and aqua-blue eyes. This one wears a blue hat with a pink fluff curving inwards and pink garment over a light blue suit with frills, white pants, and white gloves holding a sword with a curved guard.
'Swiss saber?' Nexus thought in wonder looking at the sword from the person. Although he couldn't tell whether it's a boy or a girl so he'll just stick to a "him" since he's not into traps and would just stick with them being dudes.
'God there's so many. Okay, I'll just narrow it down to one description not to waste anymore time for the readers to get bored. Okay, frog-eyes, trap, old vampire, catgirl, saint, and dominatrix vampire. Yep I'm sure that's everyone.' Nexus summarized seeing the woman greeting the Servants as her master to slaughter and destroying everything that is happy and peaceful.
"No matter how evil or cruel, God will forgive on every acts. Should he ever give punishment, then that's fine in its own way. This is a mean of proving God's existence and His love." she declared with a grin on her face.
'Hmm, so they decide to destroy every prosperity from the people for the sake of God, huh…? I wonder how much hatred that woman is holding.' he thought in wonder adjusting his eyes to get a closer look at her emotions. The person's aura was emitting in a furious matter. He could see the mixture of black, red, and dark purple flames filled with hatred, resentment, vengeance, and scorn. 'That much, huh?' as the woman called out to frog-eye who called him Gilles bringing someone over. He nodded in acknowledgement bringing over someone.
"…Wh-What's going on? Where am I? Who are you people?" the man stuttered to which happens to be an old priest.
"Oh, Pierre! Bishop Pierre Cauchon! How I have missed you!" the woman said delightfully to the priest name…..(A/N: You know what let's just skip into that name since he's going to die anyways) although Nexus could sense that wasn't the case. He could see that the old man is looking at the woman in horror not believing what he was seeing the woman to be Jeanne d'Arc.
'The Saint of Orleans, Jeanne d' Arc? Hmm…' Nexus thought as he heard him spout out killing her three days ago, 'Ah, I think I remembered…she was burned at a stake accused of heresy as a witch….I guess this is her side of a grudge from her death that was manifested….people can be so stupid in the old days. Just accusing innocent bystanders as a witch with no justified evidence and then executes them….' he sighed at this in a silent thought to himself. 'Well, at least they didn't have worse experience than mine…'
"Spare me. Please spare me." the priest pleaded on his knees wailing, "I'll do anything. I beg of you, spare me!"
'Uwaaahhh….I've seen ugly crying faces before. But this is just way too much…' Nexus commented to himself witnessing Jeanne d' Arc to be witnessing by his pathetic pleading laughing hysterically.
'Well, I guess I can't blame her for that after all. I wouldn't save a hypocrite. Guess he'll die.' he looked at the scene coldly as she begins her execution by summoning her flames scorching on the priest until there's nothing not even leaving the ashes. Jeanne Alter returns to her Servants giving them one order, to wipe everything off from France starting with Orleans.
"Age, gender, and religious beliefs are trivial. You are to kill all of them equally. That is the only order I give you as your Master." Jeanne Alter stated.
'Huh…well at least she plays fair.' Nexus complimented as he heard her that she gave all of her Servants with Berserker attributes. He narrowed his eyes on hearing this. From his gathering, every (or should he thought most) Berserker possesses a common trait, Madness Enhancement. She calls each of her Servants of their respective classes Berserk Saber, Rider, Lancer, Archer, Caster, Assassin, and Ruler as herself.
"In the name of dragons, the symbol of catastrophe, we will burn this world to the ground. Oh and one more thing. Laugh. Laugh as if you are enjoying yourselves from "the bottom of your heart." she added laughing hysterically out of enjoyment.
'So she orders them to be killers then turn them into hysterically killers. This is going to be a problem…' he thought seeing this as Jeanne Alter stops for a moment looking like she notices something. His eyes popped out in realization as the fallen saint looks into space that makes it look like that she was staring at him.
'Crap!' he immediately shuts his clairvoyance off not to be noticed as the presence disappeared for Jeanne Alter ending his dream.
"Is there something the matter, Jeanne?" Gilles asked in wonder for her to notice something as she returned back to her senses.
The Dragon Witch shook her head over this, "No, it's nothing." She hides her smile in amusement, "I do have a feeling that someone interesting would be coming for us." she whispered menacingly.
"Fou? Kyu, fou?" Fou perked bringing Nexus's attention waking up seeing Fou perched on top of him.
He groans from his awake groggily scratching his head, "Morning, Fou. Just what do you think you're doing here in my room, you little rascal?" he greeted him lifting him up and petting him as Fou purred when the door started to open.
"Good morning, Senpai. It's finally time for brief-Eek!" Mash was about to greet him as Fou jumped off to Mash's face climbing over to her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't get out of the way. Still, I'm glad to see you so full of energy in the morning." she apologizes caressing on Fou, "You too, Senpai. Did you sleep well last night?"
"Yeah, no problem at all." he said to her not to worry about his sleeping habits. That vision however gives him concern from that woman in the flag along with her Berserker Servants that plans to decimate France. It's not like he had any sleeping problems at all, it's just that he never gotten a chance to sleep that often. Well, aside from that dream, having to sleep once in a while isn't so bad for Nexus.
"I'm glad to hear it. They say it takes talent to get a good night's sleep." she said with a smile.
"No, I don't think talent gots anything to do with sleeping." Nexus said in a sweatdrop.
"Is that so…?" the pinkette wondered in thought, "Well, we should go to the briefing room now."
"Yeah, yeah." Nexus gets up walking alongside Mash to the command room with Dr. Roman waiting for them.
"Good morning, Nexus." the doctor greeted to him, "Did you sleep well?"
"No worries, Roman."
"Alright let's get started then." Roman starts straight to the briefing, "Before I begin, the investigation and fixing the singularities is humanity's turning point of era. The pivotal "event" in human history. You must travel to there, investigate, discover, then correct it. Otherwise, there'd be no 2019. That's your first objective. Second, is the "Holy Grail" which could possibly relate to the singularities. You must either secure or destroy it. Those are the objectives, everything clear?"
"Go to history, fix it, get the Grail. Got it." Nexus summarizes breaking it down.
"Glad to hear it. There's one other thing I want you to do for the mission. It's nothing major, it's after you Rayshift. I would like you to find a leyline and make a summoning circle like you did in Fuyuki." Roman suggested, "Telepathy is good but it won't work without supply transport. So once Mash sets it up, it'll trigger the summoning circle then you can summon Servants that will probably be tied to that time and place. Understood?" Nexus nodded in acknowledgement.
"Understood. Before everything else, we'll try to establish base camp. We'll need a place to relax, a structure with a roof, a home to come back to. Right, Master?"
"Is that so….? Well, I guess it's not bad to have a home. I suppose I'll be looking forward to that, wouldn't I?"
"H-Hearing you say that, means a lot to me." Mash stuttered caught in surprise from his expectation, "I know I'm an inexperienced Servant, but I'll be giving it my all to fight by your side!" making Fou have a squeak of agreement.
"Heh, good to know."
"Hmhm, to see Mash as a serious, quiet and kind of mysterious would grow up to be a fine lady…" Roman said happily from her cheerfulness.
"Hey, get over yourself. How long are you gonna keep me waiting?" Da Vinci perched up getting annoyed feeling left out.
"Oh, right. I forgot you were there. I'll introduce you. Nexus, he…no…she? Uh, who?" Roman getting confused on what gender to identify on Da Vinci as he continues. "Um…is Chaldea's pride and joy, Leonardo. The head of our Engineering Department."
Mash looked at Da Vinci in surprise, "A Servant…this is incredible, Senpai. This person is a Servant!"
"Yeah, yeah. I can see that."
"Bet you are~ Chaldea's honorary tech advisor. But I'm more of a proud inventor of Renaissance! The one-and-only Leonardo da Vinci in the flesh!" the Servant introduced herself in a proud, confident, and peerless manner. "But you can just call me Da Vinci since you don't see many pretty ladies around like me."
"No, this is wrong! Leonardo da Vinci is supposed to be a man!" she said in denial.
"That's what you're going on about? I've seen a lot of characters that were male both historically and mythological but turns out to look female for some. Does it really matter if they should be a boy but not a girl? Or should they be a girl but not a boy?" Nexus interjected.
"Th-That's…well…" Mash was trying to look for an argument but couldn't seem to make words out of it.
"Well, it's like the male says. Besides, who was the first to call me a man or a woman? Sheesh." she muttered sighing in exasperation, "I pursue beauty through both inventions and arts of my own, personified all ideals, and all beauty. The ideal beauty is Mona Lisa. Isn't this simply an unavoidable result?" this made the others wonders in such unimaginable means coming from this Servant. As to Nexus which he honestly didn't care.
"Well I'll be referring to you as a "her" so is that okay with you?" Nexus suggested.
"Yes, I don't mind at all. So you've finally see me as a woman now, right?" she grins at this.
"I guess so. I decide to convince myself that you're a woman so might as well look at you one."
The Servant stood there in silence turns back blushing from the response of the man's response. "Th-That's quite a forward response coming from you. That startled me…" she said hiding her embarrassment.
"What? What am I seeing right now? Is he getting embarrassed from it? It feels kinda gross…" Dr. Roman remarked witnessing an unbelievable scene from Da Vinci.
"Well at least you'd be here managing around Chaldea so it'll be nice working with you, Da Vinci." Nexus greeted her holding out a hand.
"Y-Yeah, it'll be my pleasure." Da Vinci responded shaking his hand bringing back to her own self, "Although I can't jump into era with you since I'm summoned here. So I'll be supporting you with supplies, researching, and keep you updated through contracts instead."
"I don't mind. The more help, the better. It's more than nothing."
"What's with that response? It makes me feel like that you're not interested in me at all. If you had a contract with me, I could help you way much more in that matter." Da Vinci responded from the man's statement as she put it aside and walks away, "Well, I'll be looking forward to it by then, Master." she waved before leaving from the command center.
"And there he goes…" the doctor muttered before clearing his throat continuing on with what he's going to say next, "Now then, before we begin prepping for the Rayshift let's get you to the summoning." The doctor guides Nexus to where the summoning is.
"Well, here we are, the Guardian Heroic Spirit Summoning System. But you can call it FATE for short." Roman said showing the circle that is engraved of a cross-shaped symbol. "Before we start I should give you these." he hands out a seven-pointed prismatic stone that in three pieces to Nexus putting them on his hand.
"Is this used for the summoning?" the black haired magi questioned curiously looking at the stones.
"Yes, these are Saint Quartz. They're used for summoning Servants to assist you. Focus your Mana in this circle right there and begin your incantation."
"I-Incantation…umm….alright…" he reluctantly agreed walking to the circle as he drops the quartz and sparks of light floats up activating a magic circle for the summoning.
"Let, the light be my….ergh…ally to guide… ummm….eternal devotion…"
"You know what I'll just skip to the chanting now and be done with. So come on out of there!" Nexus declared for his call of summoning.
"That's your incantation? I'm aware how bad an incantation be from an amateur but I didn't expect for it to be this horrible." he muttered from Nexus's performance as the circle glowed brightly and abrupt a pillar of light.
"IT WORKED!?" the doctor exclaimed in shock not believing that it worked as the pillar died down revealing a figure stepping out from the circle.
"I have answered by your summons." the voice said of a female to which Nexus could tell all the more familiar from back then. He remembers that same skin, same hair, same eyes, and all of her black attire. "Are you what they call, "Master?"" she asked as it was none other than the Saber he fought back in Fuyuki. He could reminisce that scene as if it was yesterday. The corrupted King of Knights protecting the Grail from destruction, holding the black sword that carries all of those conflictions within her overflowing of immense power as she stands before him.
Upon seeing this odd man, she presents him with smirk across her face, "Hmph, it seems that my wish wasn't wasted after all, Nexus."
"Huh, so you do remember me, after all. Well, I guess you're going to be stuck with me from now on as an ally. Sorry if I don't meet up your expectations."
"No, you've already proven yourself since Fuyuki. There's no reason for me to be disappointed by you. Also, if we're going to deepen our relationship, it would be better if you would call me by my True Name."
Nexus lifts his eyebrows questionably, "Isn't that a bit too soon for you to reveal your name like that? I mean, we barely just met."
The black knight nodded knowingly at this, "True, our first encounter were to be fated as enemies but now that I am contracted by you, there's no reason for me to hide it anymore. As you know by my sword, I am known to be as Artoria Pendragon, King of the Knights. However, I am completely different from the original one since I am most likely the opposite of the counterpart me."
"An Alter, right?" he guessed.
"Right, I was manifested as an Alter by the curse of the Grail. You can say that I am more of a tyrannical king rather than a charismatic king." she answered firmly, "Also, I would rather be called other than just "Artoria." I despise being compared to her after all."
He took into this with seriousness since he wouldn't compare someone to anyone. Just because that they look the same, doesn't mean that they are the same. Every person has their own form of aspects no matter how much they're alike. He considers the people's traits to be an individual rather than a group even named by the same person. "Understood. Then anything other than "Artoria" be fine for you?"
"I don't mind. As long as it isn't my lone name."
"Alright then, it'll be a pleasure working with you from now on, Artoria Alter." he said extending his hands to her as she shakes on it, "Yes, I'll be looking forward to what you'll become, Master."
"Wait! Wait a minute!" someone trivial decides to chime in the conversation interrupting the atmosphere as Saber clicked her tongue in irritation.
"I see that you brought an insignificant being to our meeting. You, why are you here?"
"I'd like to ask the same thing! Why are you here? Weren't you trying to kill us back then? How is it possible that you summoned her!?" Roman exclaimed as the door opened revealing Mash and Fou to come in.
"The Rayshift is ready now so feel free to-" as Mash was about to finish her sentence seeing Saber, she backs out and hides behind the entrance peering with cautious, "S-Senpai…isn't she the one that we fought in Fuyuki."
"Hoh, it seems that you remember me, mysterious Servant. No need to be so tense, I have no interest becoming your enemy since I am now contracted to Nexus." Artoria Alter assured the pink haired girl as she was unsure if the fact that she is their ally, "Are you alright with this, Senpai?"
"What's there to worry about her tone? You don't need to be so tense around her. Even if she intends to or gets things out of hand, I'll put a stop to her on my own."
""On your own?" Wouldn't you use a Command Seal for that?" she asked questionably.
The black haired shook his head at this, "I don't intend on relying those things. I'd rather handle things on my own than some magic tattoo. I'm just not that kind of guy."
"Hoh?" the Black Saber remarked with a smirk of amusement hearing that conclusion of his.
Mash looked at the man with surprise seeing this side of his letting out small laugh, "At first I've thought of you to be a person who is apathetic to everyone. But now that I realized that I was in the wrong. Even though you're a stern person, you really are a kind person, after all."
Nexus scoffs at this with disagreement, "Don't get ahead yourself for calling me "kind," damn it." he remarked walking with Alter following behind on his way to the Rayshift, "I prefer if you don't say that to my face. Because I don't deserve being called like that…" he said under his voice that weighs a heavy burden under it.
"Senpai…" Mash looked behind him worryingly as they made to the coffins where Roman was waiting for them.
"Is the coffin ready?" he turns to the doctor.
"Ah yes, it should be ready for you once you Rayshift. It should be safe and quick. We only picked the time period that has the least fluctuations. Once you get there, we'll be sure to communicate ourselves." Roman explained to him.
"I see…" he nods knowingly as he enters it as the speaker starts its preparation for the Rayshift as the portal opens up the same as when he was sucked into it before spiraling through diving into the blinding light commencing on their first Singularity of Grand Order.
Nexus opened his eyes as he looks around where he ended up. Looking at the scenery, he sees a grassy plains with valleys and a few trees around him. It was completely different to what he saw back in Fuyuki where everything was burning but now he could see natural that are calm soothing to him.
"It has a nice feeling being out here, for once." Nexus muttered out of his mind taking the scene.
"Is this what you yearn for, Master?" Artoria Alter queried her Master beside him.
He shook his head dismissively. "There's nothing I would yearn for, Artoria Alter. I choose not to think too much about it. Since it wouldn't last forever, after all. Sooner or later, the next thing you know this would end up nothing but a desolate smuk around here. Besides, I would never fight for something so foolish like this. The only thing I'll be fighting for are protecting those that I care for."
She looked at him with silence hearing that comment of his. Nexus put those words to truth after all. After all, he's aware that peace wouldn't do much is one person couldn't agree. Those that were released would be freed and probably change unless they admit to their crimes and not repeat it. If they intend to redeem, they would surrender themselves along with their ignorance. However, if they tend not to and repeats the same mistake again, then they'll have to be dealt with permanently. However, it wasn't his problem unless it gets in his way. If there were anybody that would hurt anyone he cares about, he will kill them regardless. That's the kind the kind of person he is. And he never intends to change that just because he felt like it nor it was for anyone's request. It was his decision and he chooses it on his own accord, nothing else.
"It seems like we made it to the Singularity just fine, Senpai." Mash reports the status of Rayshifting arriving on the field.
"Fou! Fou!" Fou barked in excitement as Mash was unnoticed that Fou came along.
"I see that you're all bundling with excitement there, huh little furball?" Nexus chuckled seeing him going with them the second time.
"Fou!" he barked angrily at Nexus calling him a "furball."
"Eh? Fou-san came with us again? I didn't noticed. He must have sneaked either mine or Senpai's coffin." Mash said surprisingly, "Well, luckily he isn't harmed. Since he's attached to one of us, when we come back he'll come back as well."
"How does that even work?"
"It's probably because we share the same fate, after all."
He put his hands over his face sighing looking up, 'Share the same fate, huh….? I wonder how old that kid has the guts to say something like that.' he pondered in thought.
"Master, I've confirmed that we're at the year 1431." Mash responds after analyzing the coordinates. "We're at the Hundred Years' War. But we should be during the war's respite period."
"Hm, so it's like they're having a half-time off from the big game, huh. Well it isn't much of an exaggeration since it's not even a 100 years in literal terms." he said scratching the back of his head looking up at the sky as his thoughts were stopped when he saw something abnormal above the clouds. The clouds were all separated into a circular motion that separates the sky around the ring more like a boundary that couldn't be entered through natural elements spreading throughout the continent.
"Right, relatively they're carefree since captured knights were paid almost…Senpai?" she stopped her track of thoughts looking at Nexus like he saw something abnormal.
"I think I've seen peculiar shapes of skies before, but I've never thought it'd turn into something like a black hole before." Nexus remarked at the sky making the girl perplexed to what he was saying.
"What are you…huh?" her confusion disappeared as she also looked at the same abnormal sky as Dr. Roman starts up his communications.
"Alright, we're connected! Not the best, but I've also got the video feed." he said as he looked at the two strangely on what's going on, "Huh? What's wrong? Why are you both staring at the sky so weirdly?"
"You said you got the video feed right? Come see for yourself." Nexus told him still looking at the sky as Mash sends visual through the monitor letting him witness the abnormality of the sky.
"A ring of light… No, is it some kind of magecraft cast over the orbit? Other than that, it's huge." Dr. Roman said speechless, "Hmm, there weren't any records showing such a thing in 1431."
"It could be a Singularity. No surprise at all considering that this timeline is causing irregularities to the future." Nexus guessed.
"It could be. We'll analyze it on our end, you guys just focus on your missions by looking for leylines."
The black haired nodded knowingly. "You don't need to tell me twice. Explore, make contact with the locals (if possible), and set up a leyline. We're just gonna have to take this slow. First let's find if there's any urban place. Let's go, Mash, Artoria Alter."
"Right." the two Servants respond in acknowledgements following their Master to their destination.
They continue walking at the fields as Nexus decides to stop his tracks. "Looks like we found a local." Nexus said seeing the sight of a man wearing a light armor armed with a sword at the distance.
"It seems to be a French scout brigade. What should we do? Attempt to make contact?" Mash asked.
"I wouldn't be sure about that, Mash. If you try talking to him, you might startle him and he would cause himself to retaliate."
"Even so, they look like humans. I'm sure we could make a peaceful resolution." she said walking towards the figure.
'Just where did she get all of that confidence from, geez?' he thought as the two walks along with the lilac haired girl in case there's anything wrong is about to happen.
"Excuse me, we happen to be travelers-" she gets the soldier's attention as he looks at them and flinches drawing his weapon in surprise.
"Eek! Enemy! Enemy attack!" the soldier shouted in alarm as the other soldiers started gathering around drawing their weapons surrounding the three.
Dr. Roman decides to bring up the visual to see what their status are, "Whew, I'm free for now so let's see how you're…Wait, why are you being surrounded by an armed group?" as he interrupts himself looking at the situation.
"It seems our little missy here happened to give them a scare." Nexus remarked.
"I apologize. I should've greeted them in French, instead." Mash apologized.
"No, either way they would've taken us as an enemy regardless of you speaking French." he retorts flatly with a sweatdrop, "Well it's not like we could consult them anyways. We're just gonna have to do it the easy way now."
"Agreed. We shall swat every last one of these insects." Saber Alter agreed as she readies her sword.
"Wait, did you meant the "easy way" for fighting? Also, against the French elites? Let's calm down for now. A time paradox won't happen so engaging them won't be a problem, but…" Dr. Roman pondered in thought about the outcome from this Singularity.
"Doctor, do you know any French jokes at times like this?" Mash asked Roman for some advice.
"Hell should I know? I'm a loner! Wait I think I could think of a witty joke right?"
"Why would we have any French jokes at a time like this? Even if we did, it would take ridiculous amounts of years to learn such a deranged language like that. It's like you're comparing a potato to a mud apple in linguistic terms." Nexus retorted.
"I think I heard a silly voice somewhere…Ready your weapons! They're suspicious!" their cautiousness rises up upon hearing Roman's voice out in space believing that it's a specter.
"Great job Doctor! You just been promoted to have these men even more suspicious about us. Now they all think like we're some necromancers that has a ghost around us." the black haired stated sarcastically.
"Eh!? It's my fault!?"
"Ehhh!? You realized your mistake yet you didn't intend to condone it? I don't believe it?"
"Do you really have to make such a retort like that!?" Roman shouted angrily from the hologram as the others focus on their current situation they have to deal with.
"In any case. It would be bad if we harm the locals so we should attack them holding them back." Mash suggested.
"Whatever you said was the complete opposite of what your intentions were!" the black haired magus shouted.
"Eh? Did I say something wrong?" she asked with a perplexed look on her face not aware to what she just said.
'~Sigh~…..this kid is gonna get the best of me, huh…' he thought putting his hand over his face.
"Just hit them with back of your blade! It'll limit the bloodshed so use the back of the blade!" Roman shouted.
Nexus puts his thoughts aside as he readies his stance on focusing the enemies, "Well you heard the doctor, Alter. Although you your sword is double edged so use the flat of the blade, alright? I don't know about Mash but I'm sure you'll figure out something, right?"
"Yes, I'll be sure not to harm on any of the locals here."
"Hmph, it's a pity. If it's the Master's orders then I shall obliged to avoid killing them, if possible." Artoria Alter reluctantly agreed heeding her Master's words.
"Now, now just put up with it for a while. Sooner or later, you'll be fighting with no holds barred, I promise you that." Nexus assured making the Black Saber feel a little of ease upon hearing that word as she puts up a smug on her face.
"Hoh? You promise, huh? Then you will promise me to have a serious fight once I'm to up to my full strength. I'll be looking forward to see how strong you are." she asked Nexus a favor causing the black hair to sigh exasperatedly at his hearing that.
'I should've known she would make such a troublesome request…Well, not that I blame her I guess.' he said into his mind knowingly, "I get it. I get it. I'll let you have your way with me."
"Hooohh….that's quite a bold statement you made there, Master. Very well, I shall witness your skills once we've found a mattress to indulge in."
"No that's not the kind of "have your way with me" I meant, Artoria Alter. Just focus on the enemy." he flatly said to her as she made a sound of disappointment begrudgingly engaging the enemies from her Master's order hitting them with the flat of her blade and Mash using her shield that would consider her to be the "back of the blade" as she starts bashing into them.
As for Nexus, a couple of soldiers goes after him for one swinging his sword as he easily dodges sideways delivering a blow on the lower body. The other lunges his spear as the black hair turned using his elbow at his face dropping his spear and Nexus takes it swinging to the back of his knee falling down then swings the other way to his head using the butt of the spear as he uses this on other soldiers going after him.
"Geh! All units retreat!" the captain commanded leading the others to retreat away from them groggily.
"Hey!" the black haired called out to the soldiers when a few decides to look back at them. Nexus throws the spear at the soldier that he took as he catches it.
"I don't take weapons from soldiers unless they're dead. Keep it, you might need it for the upcoming battles, unless you have spares for your own. And don't even think about saying thanks to me. I only did it because it is necessary for you to need it, that's all."
The soldier looks at the mysterious man confusingly for a moment as he gives a knowing nod and returns on retreating with the others.
"I guess we didn't hit them hard enough. They've retreated." Mash reported.
"Is that so? I thought I was convinced when I heard their bones cracking. It was more than enough for me to use the flat of my blade." Saber Alter convinced herself in terms of condition after the battle against them.
"Well it was more than enough that you didn't kill them. You did good for holding back, Artoria Alter." Nexus complimented the Alter patting her hair in a carefree manner as the black knight flinched from his straightforward actions.
"Hey, you! Just what do you think you're doing!? I never permit you to use such actions!" Saber Alter exclaimed angrily from his patting with a tint of redness on her face.
"You hate it? Then forgive me your Majesty. I just caught myself on a whim so I shall never permit myself in patting your head whatever the case it may be."
"I-I never would never let you go that far. I never said that I hate it. I-it just startled me….So…I shall permit it since you are my Master, after all.." she said hiding her embarrassment narrowing her eyebrows.
"I see…" he said hearing this in a slight chuckle caressing her head as someone watches the scene with an angry look on her face pouting.
"Senpai! I-I've also done a good job holding back! What about me!?" the pink hair pouts begging for his attention to be praised as the black haired sighed at this scene and pats her head.
"Alright, alright, you did a good job, Mash." he praised to her satisfied as the white creature also pouts on seeing this as he wants to be petted on too.
"Fou!"
"You too?" he said trying to get over with this pet thing as he tolerates himself once more petting Fou purring with satisfaction. 'Let's just hope that this won't be more troublesome than this….on second thought maybe I shouldn't think of that since I might get wound up for some plot convenience for a herd of people begging for headpats.'
"If you're done with your headpats, they're going back to their forts. Go after them before we lose them." Dr. Roman interrupted bringing back to their thoughts.
"Right, let's go." He said knowingly as they followed behind the soldiers.
When they arrived to where the French soldiers were to their fort, or what it remains that is. It was more of a desolate area with the outer wall to be moderately intact but there wasn't any structures that are considered to be colossal for a place where soldiers would settle in that would barely call it as a fort.
"Well, so much for calling it a "fort", I guess. Nothing but wounded soldiers here." Nexus side commented at this.
"Right, in 1431, Charles VII of France committed a peace treaty with Philip III, an ally of England." Mash explained as Nexus' Servant slightly surprised upon hearing that news as Nexus noticed this.
"What is it, Alter? Something reminiscent to you?" Nexus asked the Black Saber in curiosity as he can tell that there's something familiar in her along with the words Mash had said.
"…." she stood in silent for a moment knowing that her Master knows something related to her. Even if she didn't say anything, it would be pointless to cast off from his perception. Since he'll eventually find out sooner or later. So as her Master, she would at least reveal it to him to not tamper her efforts if this keeps up since she already revealed her True Name to him. "You are aware that I was the King of Britain from England, right? We happened to be involved with France before, supposedly for the "other one". But for this place to be in ruins, it could be something that causes a disturbance."
"The "other one," huh…" he said as he could guess that the "other one" would be her counterpart, the original Artoria Pendragon. As he was thinking of this he noticed that the soldier guarding in front of the wall noticed them as he braces himself.
"Guh! It's them again!" the guard stuttered arming his weapons.
"Calm down, now. We're not here to fight you so you can be at ease." Nexus assured with his hand up to calm down.
"You're…not the enemy?" the soldier asked putting his weapon down easing himself in front of them.
"Huh, at first I thought you weren't going to comply with it and fight. But it seems that wasn't the case considering you don't have any stamina left in you to fight." Nexus said knowingly looking at his conditions. He could see most cuts and bruises around him and he's breathing heavily having no stamina in him at all with his vision. "Well anyway, if you're convinced that we're not enemies, then it doesn't hurt that I would ask something of you now, wouldn't I? Why is this war still going? Didn't King Charles VII signed the treaty?" he asked to the scout.
"So you didn't know about King Charles, huh?"
Nexus lifted his eyebrow in wonder on hearing this, "What happened? Was he killed?"
"Yes, he was burned by the witch's flames." the guard answered.
"A "witch?"" Nexus wondered narrowing at his eyebrows, 'Is it "her?"' he thought reminiscing the white haired woman he saw before.
"It's "Jeanne d'Arc." She has risen again as the "Dragon Witch.""
'Thought so….I guess we're in Orleans, now.' Nexus thought knowingly.
"England has retreated but there's nothing left for us to go. It's our home but there's nothing we can do." the soldier said doubtfully.
"Jeanne d'Arc, huh…."
"Yes, Jeanne d'Arc happened to be a renowned saint who saved France since the Hundred Years' War." Mash explained from the basis about the saint, "However, she was captured by the English and was burned at the stake after the inquisition, endured gruesome torture and humiliation daily. They believed that she was only a heretic and never as a saint. Even when she was burned she held onto her prayers till the end and was branded as a saint for 400 years."
"Endured gruesome torture and humiliation daily, huh…." Nexus muttered those words deeply knowing the reason why that the white-haired Ruler's intention were. Well, not that she had worse than his as he starts to reminisce glimpse of a familiar man full of cuts, bruises, punctures, blood and dirt all over him looking down on his knees with a pillory hanging on him with blood trickling all over his abdomen that were carved into him resembling a message that defines his integrity to the others….
He shakes himself off not to let any of his mind that lasted a long time ago letting out an exasperated sigh putting his hand over his face as he shook his head in dismissal. 'Why am I thinking of such trivial matters, damn it.' he curses to himself as it is pointless to dread over such pasts.
"Nexus, what's the matter?" Saber Alter asked to the black haired for herself to see her Master in such a state like that.
"No, it's nothing." sighed Nexus shaking his memory off focusing on the present, "Just thinking what I should I whip up something, that's all." he concludes his statement changing the subject.
She slightly caught her interest mentioning about him cooking a meal. He doesn't seem to be the type who enjoys cooking nor that he's capable of being one which was surprising to the Alter. ""Whip up something?" Hm, despite your appearance, I never took you for someone who is capable of cooking. Honestly, I'm surprised."
"Is it that surprising? Well, I do make decent meals but I'm not really sure if I would make a meal that is good and all. I just cook most of it for my own." he answered to her as she was curious about his obscure versatility.
Suddenly, Nexus sensed something that is coming from the distance as the soldier shouted to the others for the incoming enemies scoffing in amusement. "Guess those bones weren't the only thing that could move, after all." he commented to the oncoming skeletons that has a sense of directions to where the survivors were at.
"They're familiars! This time it's different. You can be wild as you want." Dr. Roman said.
"Well you heard him. No need to hold back since they're dead already." Nexus remarked forming his stance against them.
"Yes. Let's pulverize them, Master!" Mash replied.
"Then I shall hold nothing back." Artoria Alter stated gripping her sword tightly as the three begins to charge towards the horde of skeletons. Saber wiping out the skeletons decimating them in her way with the swing of her sword, Mash crashing at them with the swing of her shield, and Nexus breaking them with combinations of punches and kicks at blinding speeds as the battle was concluded with ease making the soldiers look at these mysterious travelers in shock from their skills on taking those skeletons.
"A-Amazing….I never thought that you could take on those things…"
"Yeah, well we're accustomed to this for a while. So you were saying that Jeanne D'Arc has returned, right?" Nexus asked to the soldier.
"Ah, yes. I took part in the siege of Orleans and the ceremony, so I remember it clearly. She has different hair and skin color, but there's no doubt that it's her. Hearing the news that she was burned by the English, we were furious. But now she's back with the devil's pact!"
""Devil?" Something worse than these lots?" he wondered directing to the pile of bones.
"Well yeah, we can handle those it's just that-" before the soldier could finish his sentence there was roar coming to their directions.
"Dammit, they're here! Stand up! They're here! Dragons are here! If you don't fight, they'll eat you!"
"Dragons?" this caught his attention at an instant hearing the word "dragons" as looked to the distance with sheer curiosity only to be returned with a slight disappointment on his face seeing the herd of them, "Oh, they're just wyverns."
"That's what you're disappointed by!?" Roman screamed shockingly from his blatant reaction from Nexus not even surprised that the wyverns were coming to them.
"Well, it's more of a subspecies to a dragon, though." Mash excused.
"They have features of a dragon but that doesn't mean that they are one. Usually a generic dragon has four legs, the one we're seeing now only has two with the other two using as their wings with a barbed tail while the others are long and muscular. But I guess you could call it a dragon in a sense." Nexus explained.
"You seem to be have quite the knowledge of dragons, Senpai."
"Of course I do. That's because I love dragons. How can I not know about them? Well it's nice to see that I get to see some dragons. Kinda disappointed not seeing an actual one for some time, but it's not my place to complain. Every dragon has their own qualities and aspects to themselves that makes them unique. So I learned to appreciate all dragons no matter how they look like." Nexus concluded firmly as Alter looked at him with utter surprise from his clear statement looking away with a hint of redness on her face.
"It's coming!" Roman shouted as the wyverns are nearing them.
"Master, they're different from those old bones so respond with full force!" Mash suggested.
"Ehhh….full force? I don't know about full force considering that they don't have the durability to withstand my strikes…." he muttered hesitantly if he should use his full force to his strength or not. The only significant thing he does remember in his time was that his full blow is powerful enough to decimate an entire planet. "…..What should I do...should I hold back for it to look like a full force? Well that can be convincing for them…." he was thinking over to himself as he noticed that someone else is coming. It wasn't the wyverns that he sensed, it was more abundant with magical power, it's weak but it's enough for someone to materialize a spirit and also….dignifying of some sort.
"Soldiers! Douse yourself in water! You can defend yourself against their flames momentarily!" the woman shouted to the soldiers as they were caught by surprised on such an abrupt shout from someone who just came out from nowhere, to them that is. That woman had similar features to the one he saw in his dreams but her skin is fairer with blue eyes and long braided blonde hair tied to a black bow at the end. She wears the same as the Ruler's but hers are purple with silver armor holding the flag pole adorned with a gold ornate symbol almost resembling a saint.
'So there are more than one people with striking similarities, after all.' the black haired thought to himself.
"Together with me! Follow me!" she said leading the soldiers against the wyverns.
"Is that…" Mash uttered surprisingly seeing the woman as she couldn't believe what she was seeing before she could finish her line.
"Jeanne D,Arc, huh…no doubt the original one, I presume." Nexus finished as he joins the others defeating the herd of reptilian creatures aiding the holy saint.
Chapter Done
Whew, took a while for this to be finished since I'm kinda preoccupied with school work. I heard of some messages for the last chapter, then I'll say some regards, if that helps. The last chapter does seem to be stupid to some but it's the only thing I could muster up with and the best I could. So if you're going to spout some snarky comments, then I honestly wouldn't care. It's a fanfic, it's not necessary for the story to be authentic enough. If you think that way, then that's just your opinion. If you want me to continue this or not, it wouldn't matter. I'm just writing this because I simply want to put this into my imaginative mind.
If that's all then I'll just continue my own business so bye.
