-What a mess. What a giant mess. Ruler was shouting while everyone was travelling up the portal to the next battle area.
-That thing in the sky. It was an elder god wasn't it? A being from beyond the cosmos capable of shaping reality with mere thoughts. The gods of gods to put it simply.
-I wonder if Iztlacatini and Quetzalcoatl are... what happened to them.
-Master.
-Just how many times it happened? Manfred, Gustav, Teach, Iztlacatini and Quetzalcoatl, just how many allies must I leave behind before solving this crisis?
-Their sacrifice allowed us to gain time. We can finally get into the next world before the madman does so. If we can keep this advantage then we will get to the grail before him.
-And how do we do that? What do we even do? If that madman reaches us again, how are we going to fare against a second elder god? How are we going to save the world?
-We can't have a second world go through what happened to the previous one. If the mad man appears I'll destroy the world with him on it. If this is a new world perhaps we could awake Tiamat to rebuild humanity after that. Gilgamesh proposes.
-Let's not think about destroying another earth before we try everything we can to stop the madman. Fujimaru says.
-That's your whole act isn't it? Ruler asks angrily.
-You swoop down from the sky, get to meet a bunch of people stronger than you and you convince them to bash their heads against your problems through your optimism and morals. Why does your association send you? Why didn't they send someone like Iztlacatini, a mage capable of doing things? Why didn't they send a stone cold killer, a man that doesn't get weak at the knees and breaks his own heart every time one of his friends is left behind? You're even worse, killers put a blade to the throats of their victims and do the deed themselves, you convince the people you've killed to die for you. You girl, you're fond of this master of yours, I'm sure you'll die far before he is going to.
-Master did his best and thanks to him humanity has been saved...
-A million times I bet. What did he do actually? Did he pick up a sword and slay the dragon himself or did he get a dragon slayer to risk his ephemeral life to do it in his stead. Those are the most dangerous kind of people, the ones that make you kill yourself willingly. I have no pity for you cult leader. Get out of our war and let us finish this as fast as possible. Fujimaru looked at him flustered and angry but before he was about to say anything Ruler came back at him.
-What, nothing to say? No "I'm doing this for humanity's sake" or "this war has to end?". No heroic saviour seeking to do his best while he does everything capable to stop people from actually saving the problem. You want to actually do something productive? Kill two of the contestants, right here right now. The last one to stand will get his wish to seal the madness away and everyone will live happily ever after.
-And how do we stop another Iztlacatini? Lancer asks.
-What do you mean?
-How do we stop one of the three masters to wish themselves above the madness and rule like some deranged god? Lancer was very strategic out of nowhere. Until then everyone thought that whoever gets the wish will desire to rid the world of the elder gods however Lancer brought up the possibility of the winner becoming an entity above them meaning two things. One, no matter who wins they can both save the world and become god-like beings and second, everyone, even if they didn't think about that, is now a suspect. Yuna could say the truth in not desiring to become a god but everyone could just attack her with allegations of lies so that she might not be simply given the grail at the demerit of the other two fighters. At the same time one like caster and his master cannot be trusted since they are the kind of person to actually be selfish enough to become gods and finally there was Leon in the middle of the bunch.
-The longer we stay here the more it will take to enter the next world meaning it will be easier for the mad man to enter it.
-No! We cannot leave this portal before we make a choice. Lancer shouts with a commanding voice.
-When we exit the portal we'll all be in the very same location meaning we'll have to fight as soon as we get out. Who loses now will make a huge difference in the next battle.
-That's right. Ruler agrees before pointing towards Fujimaru.
-Because of you! If the battle starts and Yuna loses then you'll ally with Leon to defeat caster who is considered the worst choice between the three. If Caster loses then the battle will be between Yuna and Leon, you will not interfere but it's obvious that Yuna is going to lose. If Leon loses Caster wins immediately since Yuna cannot stand against both of them without time to prepare meaning... Caster has to lose now.
-You are targeting me?
-You've been shown the most merciless one so far.
-Lancer literally just stabbed Odin in the back. I offered myself to exit the war to save the world.
-Indeed you did so, to cover up your tracks knowing no one would actually have you exit the war the way you proposed at that time. I think you made yourself look willing to sacrifice everything to save the world in order to gain more chances to win the war.
-What are you going to do then? All there of you are going to fight me?
-Yes. Ruler answers.
-Fujimaru. If you're going to prove yourself useful then pick up a sword and fight against caster. Use Gilgamesh to defeat him then keep quiet and let the war end with Leon as the winner.
-I...
-Make a choice now! I am the one making you act, you are now where so many servants stood in front of you. Make a choice, leap or don't leap.
-What are we to do, master?
-We... we fight! Leon, are you going to wish for the salvation of humanity and nothing else?
-Yes.
-Are you just going to trust him like that? Just because you met him before you met us? How do you know we aren't the more moral person instead of him? Let's give the win to Yuna and be done with it!
-No more talk! You're just dragging everything in for no reason! Ruler says as he pulls out his sword and attacks.
-It's do or die then master! Lancer shouts as he goes on the offensive too.
-What do we do Rider? Do we fight too? Do we stand back and let them fight?
-I'll join too, this is the only way to prove we wish a fair end to the war.
-Now Fujimaru! What are you going to do?
-I'll chose for him! Gilgamesh says. He stops Fujimaru and crosses his arms.
-We'll do nothing. You are right Ruler. Fujimaru is a bastard that puts people in uncomfortable positions, so we'll just take the easy way out and let everything sort itself. Knock yourselves out for all I care.
-Then we just watch people slaughter each other?
-Do you have a better solution? Can you stop the madman, and even if, can you stop the world from dying out because of the crown? Even worse, the one man that could save humanity is possibly dead because of our actions. All we can do now is stand by and wait for one of them to win then if needed, beat them into saving the world. And so they waited and waited inside the portal but the battle was just dragging on into an excruciating display of violent cruelty. Caster wasn't about to simply stand down and die to please the other three. Ruler, Lancer and Rider were not making too much progress either. The three were really hot headed and butted into one another every time one tried to do something. When Ruler was about to attack Lancer gets in the way, when Lancer is about to swing his weapon he pulls it back too far and hits Rider, when Rider charges Ruler tries to stop him in this weird square of everyone fighting everyone else. It couldn't go on forever however. Caster was still fighting a one against three battle and no matter how much the three would fight amongst themselves, the collateral damage would still reach him no matter what.
-Now! This is going to be the end! It will doubly benefit us, we'll both reach a second new world leaving the mad man even further beyond as well as making it easier for a winner to be decided! Ruler raises his sword into the air and is just about to reach Caster's throat when out of nowhere the portal destabilizes and all are flung into a new world.
-Why? What happened, did we damaged the portal, did we take too long to exit it? Just as Ruler was asking that a second portal opens and a huge eye peers through it. It was one of the eyes of the golden titan. It started squirming and moving and tentacles and the black ooze was flowing out from it.
-Ruler! A choir of voices shout from inside before Saber's huge sword pierces through the eye letting Iztlacatini, Quetzalcoatl, Saber and Aike enter the new world. Quetzalcoatl immediately jumps and locks Ruler in a limb lock as Iztlacatini was crawling out of the dying flesh. With his free and only still attached hand Iztlacatini was holding a piece of the reliquary.
-It has your stench all over it ruler. Why did YOU summon Xerxes into the previous world as a servant then used the mad man's powers to corrupt him?
-Slander!
-No, it fits you well... Machiavelli. Lancer says stepping in between Ruler and Caster.
-Hew. Our gamble worked out in the end. Rider says falling on his back to rest for a second on the grassy fields. They were on the banks of a river outside some large city.
-Ruler did all this?
-They are lying. They must have been killed and brought back by the mad man in order to confuse us about what's really happening.
-Fujimaru. This Ruler right here played us all like a fiddle for way too long. Quetzal, snap his neck now, I don't want any last moment surprises.
-I would master but his body is sticky and smells like fish...
-So he got away before we reached him.
-What is going on Iztlacatini?
-I'll tell you what's going on. Ruler wanted the grail for himself all along. Odin says as he too appears out of nowhere. Lancer never killed him, it was an illusion created by Iztlacatini to hide Odin away from Ruler and have a bigger force in order to take down the golden titan then catch up with Ruler and stop him.
-Ruler is Machiavelli and he tried stealing the grail from the very beginning. First he summoned the mad man to distract us from his actions. He became the "true villain while the war was raging on" while in reality the war was the most important thing all along. At first he allowed the servants to kill one another as they pleased but after we've entered in contact with one another he became more and more desperate and he started summoning servants to kill the participants one by one, always failing because of you Fujimaru. First you allowed the fighters to reach mount Kilimanjaro thanks to Gustav then Teach saved Odin while in the underworld. Izanami was also one of Ruler's summons too. Xerxes, the world ending when we found Gilgamesh that too was Ruler's plan all along. If he could he would have killed you alright there and then and took the grail for himself once the last man standing was being overwhelmed by all the pillar gods and the titan.
-Even in the tunnel he sought to sow destruction amongst ourselves. He wished to take out Caster who was the most likely to distrust him leaving only Leon and Yuna as contenders which he could easily eliminate afterwards.
-He also knew Iztlacatini wasn't dead, his connection with the dying titan told him so, that's why he wanted to leave the previous world behind so fast.
-So we stalled for time until Iztlacatini could reach us and team up to defeat Ruler.
-Yeah... I'll... need more than some energy potions for this one. Iztlacatini was still standing and moving but his legs and right arm were completely burnt off, only a few strands of yellow ash were floating where his limbs were supposed to be. He worked himself too hard to get out of that situation without using his godly powers.
-So what do we do now? Fujimaru asks. While drinking Iztlacatini points with his pinky towards the sky. The night sky was split in half and a giant portal the size of the universe was opening above their heads.
-Do you still have pieces of the reliquary?
-Yeah... I still have only one?
-He stole them from you.
-He must have stole while he was all in your face calling you a cult leader. Gilgamesh says.
-Ah, just summon something while... while I catch my breath a little. It would be unpleasant not to see the earth for fifty two years you know...
-But we have to Izt... We've promised we'd help out humanity as much as we can.
-Yeah, yeah. Even if that means destroying our human bodies and taking our godly forms to do so.
-You'll still have to tell me that one truth when we are over.
-Yeah, yeah... There's nothing I'm not ready for today.
-Fujimaru. This time I won't be saying goodbye as I know we'll see each other again soon enough. Fifty two years will fly by in a second in my world so I'll come to say hello when that's over. Are you ready Izt?
-Let's get this over with. The two gods take their real larger than life form in order to struggle and labour for humanity's sake once more. They each appear on one side of the giant eye in the sky pushing as hard as they can to keep it close while the remaining fighters are going to try and destroy it. From the eye hundred of servants and cosmic horrors fly towards the planet seeking to kill the last three fighters in the war and take the grail for themselves. Machiavelli at the moment was god-like, he summoned the most powerful servant in existence but also one impossible to control without the endless supply of command spells to keep him in check. If the war ends so does Machiavelli's control over the madman. H.P. Lovecraft, the unique servant from the class "doom caller" with the one and only ability to summon elder gods into the world in their pure form. He needed the grail and he will have it. Gilgamesh summons his spaceship and he starts flying towards the opened eye.
-A point blank Enuma Elish will be enough to stop the eye from opening at the very least. If only Enkidu was here he could have sealed it away with his chains of heaven.
-How are we to reach the eye though? Rider and Lancer ask as they cannot fly.
-Hopefully this mutt will help us out at least in this moment of need. Odin says punching the skull on the pelt tied to his spear. The spear starts moving on it's own and the skull grows in size until Fenrir manifests himself once more as a berserker.
-Ooooooodin! Instead of biting he struggles to keep composure before howling into the night. From beyond the earth Jormungandr appears with his jaws opened wide striking at the centre of the eye. The snake's body became a bridge and the remaining servants started running towards the centre.
-Stop for no one!
-This is it girl! The charge to save humanity! This polish king once saved the world from ruin! Are you ready to see him save it once again in the greatest charge in history?
-Yes!
-Then, the winged hussars arrived! Rider unleashes his noble phantasm and his winged hussars erupt from the ground facing the endless wall of servants and cosmic horrors coming from the sky. The horsemen run along the back of the giant serpent spiralling around it's spine, twisting and jumping out to meet any opposition that would stop them. Both Yuna and Rider were coughing up blood as they were forcing themselves beyond what is possible both with the same incredibly smug and satisfied expression on their faces. The gates to the underworld opened once more but instead of people being dragged inside an army of hellish devils spewed out to help the judge of hell in his final battle.
-They are... a lot. Gilgamesh says as he struggles to go through the wall of enemies.
-Protect the shirtless one! If he reaches the eye and strikes it then it will close and the battle will be ours.
-Then allow me! Lancer shouts, grabbing the spaceship from below. The ultimate technique, the art that made a mortal into a god of war. The ability to not be touched by harm no matter what! Lancer picks up the spaceship over his head and starts dodging with it on his back as more and more enemies attack him. First he was surrounded in three directions, then four then five. It was only backwards possible for him to move but no! Not one step back. Lancer dives into the swarm of blades and magic head first using the last of his power to make the spaceship pass through the wall as he remains impaled in all the weaponry.
-Think of my sword as a shield! Saber shouts as he uses his noble phantasm to swat away enemies from hurting Gilgamesh and Fujimaru. They were getting closer and ready to hit the eye. Everyone's hard work was allowing them to reach their goal, just one more step forward and Gilgamesh could have used his point blank Enuma Elish to stop the eye from opening. Just as Gilgamesh was about to use his noble phantasm to put an end to this, Machiavelli and his servant appear from beyond the darkness of the eye and jump in their path with one of the monstrous metal birds destroying Gilgamesh's ship immediately. If not for Mash using all her might to block the attack with her own Noble Phantasm they would have been at the very least mortally wounded.
-Last shard of the reliquary! Bring us a saviour, bring us someone to protect the future of humanity! And for the first time Fujimaru's wish reached the throne of heroes from which the shards were bringing forth servants, bringing the very protector of mankind himself. Thor! In the last moments before the end of the world everything slowed down as if time grinded to a halt. The metal bird was being blown away by Thor, Gilgamesh was running with Ea pointing at the eye of the cosmic horror while everyone around him was doing their best to hold back the tide of monsters. One last step. A bright light engulfs the area, the beam of energy pierces through the eye making it bleed black clouds filled with stars. Iztlacatini and Quetzalcoatl manage to close the eyelids of the cosmic god as everyone started falling to the ground. It was over. There was no more need for death or war. With Machiavelli and the mad man killed by Thor the cosmic horrors and all the servants summoned to fight on their side disappeared without a trace. The two Mexica gods disappeared back to their realm immediately after. The fighters return to earth, Gilgamesh dead from the explosion caused by his own noble phantasm. Fujimaru and Mash were as unscathed as they could be all considered. Lancer was dead, Caster was dragged back to hell by his very legions of demons, rather he died using his powers and kept sustaining himself while the gates were opened. Now that he could no longer keep the opened he was dragged to hell. Yuna and Rider were still alive but barely. Even breathing was hard for them and anything could have killed them, even a sneeze. Aike and Saber survived through all of this but they were gone, only a great-sword left behind with a piece of Saber's cloth tied to it's pommel. Odin and Berserker returned home as their fight was over and a new fight amongst themselves was looming over the horizon.
-We've won. Ruler and the madness are gone! Mash says joyfully that the battle has ended.
-What do we do now? Fujimaru asked and a voice immediately answered.
-You get back home.
-Iztlacatini? Didn't you say it would take fifty two years to get back to your human form?
-I don't know if you've noticed but I lie a lot. Anyhow, it's only normal for the grail to summon it's … totem spirit let's call it. My toy called out to its master and here I am.
-What are you going to do?
-Not granting any of you a world bending wish that's for sure. I'm taking this fake grail with me and go hide it somewhere where no one is going to find it ever again. I'll also take all of you back home and... then I'll go have that uncomfortable conversation with Quetzal about her drinking habits... Never call onto me again! Also, Quetzal asked me to give you this Fujimaru. A catalyst imbued with divine power, use it to call us over every now and then when you need help, next time I'm going to send Huitzilopochtli to help you out, he is... better suited for war than the two of us combined. You'd better prosper, you hear me Chaldea, live long lives and prosper... Do I know you all need to.
-Is it all over?
-Da Vinci!
-We've lost you for quite some time. What happened? Everything is returning to normal, is the war finished?
-Yes, yes it is.