"You got any fours?" A Powder Keg hunter asked on one of the many rooftops defending the Clocktower. Djura had instructed them to keep a close eye for any threats but seeing how nothing interesting had happened for a while they decided to keep themselves entertained.
"Go Fish," His partner replied.
"Dammit," He cursed before drawing the top card of the deck. He looked at his hand devoid of any winning plays while his partner had 5 already. "You know what screw this," He threw the cards down in frustration, ending the game.
"If you're so frustrated with me always winning why don't you invite some of the Executioners to come play some poker." His partner offered.
"Bruh those Gold Ardeos they wear makes it virtually impossible to tell if they're bluffing or not," He threw his arms exasperatedly in the air. "Remember when Djura lost all his betting money when he thought Alfred had a winning hand when in reality, he didn't have anything." What a night that was, when everyone was drunk and their poker night had dissolved into a big brawl.
"Fine I'll go check on the Gatling Gun to relieve my boredom," With a grunt he pushed himself up and walked over to the emplacement. His partner just stayed behind and continued drinking their blood cocktails.
"Man, this is a drag," Running his hand through the gun, everything was still operational. The belt of ammunition that fed into the machine was full, the multiple barrels weren't clogged, and the gears were all greased up. All prepared for the next time that an attack happened.
"Hey buddy when do you think the next attack will be?" He called out.
"..."
"Buddy?" He tried calling again.
"..."
"Okay very funny now drop the-Ack!" Three swords quickly embedded themselves in his gut. He tried in vain to yell the alarm but couldn't muster the strength to do it. When the three swords were pulled out of his body, he fell onto the floor and dissolved into mist.
Kirei wiped his Black Keys clean of any blood before looking at the Gatling Gun emplacement. Walking up to it he begun sabotaging the weapon so that it was no longer operational.
"Assassin what is your progress?" He asked through his mental link with the servant.
"We are doing well here, the half of us can still run interference against the Crows while the rest are sabotaging the various emplacements." Before the assault on the Clocktower could even begin, they needed to hamper the defenses as much as possible so Kirei and Assassin were tasked with infiltration and sabotage.
"Good, continue on without drawing their attention to what we are doing."
"Yes milord," With that Assassin cut the link to continue their distraction.
Refocusing on the task at hand, Kirei could not stop a sigh of disappointment leaving his mouth. Ever since the self-realization of his demented love of abhorrent acts, he found himself wanting more. To see the nightmare that descended on Yharnam to also descend onto Fuyuki City. He wanted to revel in the lowest of what humanity had to offer and bathe in their sins.
"You should look behind you buddy," A voice broke him out of his thoughts as he swiftly threw a Black Key behind him and impaled his ambusher. The key had pierced the ambusher's skull as he slumped over and dispersed into mist. Not letting up, he threw another black key at the voice that had warned him of his ambusher.
"W-Woah! Easy their pal, is that how you treat a friend?" From the shadows, Patches crawled out to greet Kirei.
"Who...no what are you?" Questioned Kirei as pointed his Black Keys at the spider.
"Oh, just a friend, nothing too extraordinary here." He creepily laughed before crawling closer to the priest. "But you my friend look lost, like a sheep."
Kirei did nothing when Patches came closer as the priest did not flinch when a leg came closer to his cheek. "What an interesting person you are. You know what here, a gift for my newest friend," The spider moved back before dropping a strange deformed rock. Picking up the rock the priest looked inquisitively at the spider who was slinking back into the shadows.
"Don't worry about the gift my friend, a little token of my appreciation for piquing my interest," Patches said his farewells before disappearing.
With little thought Kirei pocketed the strange rock before moving onward to the rooftops closer to the emplacements near the Amygdala. Yet now whenever he saw he had this deep desire to now interact with eldritch being, he no longer saw it as a threat.
In the shadows, Patches laughed to himself wickedly.
Everything was going accordingly to plan.
"Master, the Crows are starting to anticipate our moves. I believe it is time to leave."
"Very well, tell your personas to regroup back at the Church. I will join you soon."
"Yes milord."
Kirei looked up from his latest kills at the looming eldtitch horror just a blcok away. It seems that Amygdala had yet to see him as it did not respond to his presence yet. Whether it really could not see him or just preoccupied with something else entirely, but he was not going to wait around for that to happen.
That is until he felt himself get kicked off the rooftop by a very familiar face.
"Serves you right you rotten priest, you're worse than maggots!" Patches mocked when he kicked Kirei off the roof.
For Kirei, the kick had only surprised him so he was about to throw some Black Keys at the spider until a massive hand grabbed him. Imagine to his shock that Amygdala was secretly waiting for this moment. He could do nothing as he was forced upward to look at the Great One, its many eyes looking at him.
" Forgive me," Was all the massive eldritch being said.
With a crush of its hand, Kirei lost consciousness as his body was whisked away to another dimension,
"Heh heh heh heh...Oh Amygdala, oh Amygdala...Have mercy on the poor bastard...Hah hah hah!" Laughed Patches. He had glimpsed the horrors that resided inside the priest. All he did was put him in a place that let those feelings thrive in.
Oh, what horrid beast would stumble out of that nightmare?
Meanwhile back at the Ryuudou Temple.
Caster was leading Kariya and Sakura somewhere.
When they had got back, a Choir member had told them that Caster had something for the two. Wishing to pay back the kindness that the servant had showed them, they agreed to meet Caster while Aoi would be reunited with Rin.
"How are you Sakura?" Caster looked back at the child that Kariya was holding. She shyly nodded before hiding her face in Kariya's chest. She was still wary from seeing the Caster servant and hoped that he didn't have anything plan for them.
"Heh you have nothing to worry child, we are just visiting someone." They reached a vast staircase leading downward beyond what the eye could see. Chanting a quick incantation, the stairway illuminated with fire from the side torches before they walked downward.
They were walking quite a while before Kariya decided to break the ice. "So, uh Caster...What are we doing now?"
"Tell me Kariya, do you know what has happened now that Zouken is dead?"
"Other than the world being freed from monster no," Kariya was confused by what Caster was trying to get at. Was there something else he needed to know?
"True there is nothing to worry about at first glance. The familiars inhabiting both you and Sakura have died now that Zouken is dead. You can no longer use magecraft without them but you seem to prefer that."
"Yeah that's true so what's the problem?"
"Politics," Caster replied before continuing. "What we have done is simply put Sakura back up for adoption by another magus family. The Tohsaka's still have Rin as their heir so Sakura cannot return to her family."
"Bullshit can't they just let her live with them peacefully!? Kariya was outraged with Sakura's fate.
"Unfortunately, not, even if Tokiomi was too die the family has many connections with other magus families and many of them would be more than happy to adopt a powerful Tohsaka child to empower their bloodline."
"B-But," Kariya was defeated, all of that trouble for nothing. All of his sacrifices for naught.
"Fret not Kariya for I have a solution for you but..." They finally arrived at a huge grand door. Opening the door, they were greeted by a massive cavern, specifically the cavern that once housed the Greater Grail. "This may kill you," Was all he said as they walked in.
Standing on the magical circle was a group of white garbed clergy members of the Healing Church and a Great One. The massive pale Great One turned around to greet Caster as the clergy did the same. This Great One was almost similar to Caster's Great One form with all the tentacles coming off of her. However, the greatest difference was the round head that consisted of two pale flaps with green eyes on it that covered a red flesh orb filled with many eyes, almost representing the stars in a nebula.
This was Ebrietas, Daughter of the Cosmos.
"Vicar Amelia, how goes with the dismantling of the Greater Grail?" Caster asked the head leader of the Church.
"It goes well milord, our work with Lady Ebrietas has resulted in the dismantlement of eighty percent of the system. Just a few more hours and the Heaven's Feel ritual will be no more." Out of all the Vicars, Amelia was the kindest to work with. She sincerely cared for the people and the wellbeing of Ebrietas when other Vicars only cared for their own power and wealth.
"I see good work Vicar but I need to speak to Ebrietas alone."
"At once milord," With a bow they left the cavern, leaving the two humans alone with the two Great Ones.
"How have you been Ebrietas?" Caster asked his fellow Great One. Ebrietas was once a blood mule for the Church, having been abandoned by her brother and sisters. It was in her imprisonment that Caster had developed a sympathy for the Great Ones. When he had first ascended as a Great One it was she who had helped get used to his newfound powers.
" Yes, I am well dear friend and I agree with what you are planning." Ebrietas silky voice rang throughout the cavern.
"Thank you for your assistance with this my friend," Chuckled Caster at how good Ebrietas was in guessing his motives.
"What are you guys talking about?" Kariya hoped whatever they had planned would solve Sakura's problem.
"You see Kariya there is a way for Sakura to be safe, and that is for you to become the head of the Matou Family like your father was." Revealed Caster.
"B-But wait I don't have any magical circuits!" He argued as he brought up a serious problem with that idea.
"True but we do have a way for you to gain the power required to be Head of the family," The servant gestured to Ebrietas who bowed her head, a trail of blood pouring out of her head. "A blood transfusion."
Just like the Healing Church took part in communion with the blood in order to ascend to godhood, Kariya now stood in their footsteps. "I must warn you though, even if Ebrietas is willing to help you does not mean that the blood will be pleasant for you. You must need nerves of steel to survive this."
Kariya had heard from Valtr and Ludwig of what the Old Blood did to Yharnman, how greed had turned a once miraculous blood to the instigator of a beastly plague. If men much mightier than him had tried, what hope did he have?
Hearing Sakura coo in her sleep shifted his attention to her sleeping form. Seeing her sleep so peacefully made him realize that this was all for her. Sure, Aoi seemed to be reciprocating his feelings which was nice but Tokiomi was still alive so he knew that she wouldn't cheat on him. So, in reality all he had was Sakura. Kissing her head softly he handed her over to Caster, he was agreeing to go through.
Taking the child in his arms, careful not to wake her, he motioned to Ebrietas. "Then drink deep of our blood, let our power course through your veins."
Resolutely walking forward, the crippled master walked up to the bowed Great One. Stopping right in front of the river of blood flowing from Ebrietas' head, Kariya cupped his hands to pool the ancient blood. Mentally counting to three Kariya jumped down the rabbit's hole and drank the blood.
"Huh that wasn't so bad," Thought Kariya. Sure, the blood tasted like copper but he expected much worse, like he would be on the floor unable to withstand pain he would have never experienced before.
A second passed and that's what exactly happened as Kariya begun throwing up blood. He had mentally prepared himself for whatever happened but the pain he was feeling was indescribable. It was like someone had ripped off his arm, thrown a bunch of salt and alcohol on it before searing it with hot iron, multiplied by ten. His face felt like it was on fire while his insides felt like a tornado was going through them.
He could feel himself blacking out from the pain and in his final moments of waking consciousness, Caster appeared over him.
"Well it looks like you will be fine after all, sleep well Kariya; you still have to pay off the fee for my help." Was all he heard before sleep consumed him.
"Master please wake up," A muffled voice called out as Kariya woke up back in the alleyway that he had fought Brador in. Stretching his arms and feeling some bones crack, he slowly pushed himself up. As he pushed himself up, something felt different about him. Like how a massive weight had been lifted off his back.
"What happened?" He asked as he looked around and familiarized his surroundings.
"Caster brought you here after your little meeting," A voice answered him.
"Thanks for the info..." Kariya trailed off as he realized that the only person that would be with him. Whipping his head around, Kariya he stared in shock at his servant who spoke to him normally. Black smoke still billowed out of the knight's armor but the mere fact that he was talking and not howling was a miracle.
"H-How are you talking?" Questioned Kariya.
"It's simple my master, you finally have enough mana so you don't have to rely on my Madness Enhancement skill." His father had made him summon Berserker so that he could rely on the Madness Enhancement to boost their strength without relying too much on his weak prana reserves. Lancelot had fallen in a pit of despair when he realized that his actions had led to his King's downfall, which translated to the addition of the Madness Enhancement Skill. With it no longer active the servant had reverted back to his pre-knight days. But if that means he no longer had to rely on Madness Enhancement then...
He found a window to marvel at his new transformation. He reached up to cut the side of his face that had once been ravaged by his father's crest warms. No longer did his face have any more protruding veins and no longer was his left eye damaged. His hair still retained its white coloring but other than that he felt great. So great that he could...
"Fire!" He yelled as he outstretched his hand to conjure a flame. All magi were trained to be able to at least conjure a basic fire so if he had gained new magical circuits then...
A bright incandescent fire appeared on his hand as the little fire illuminated the whole alleyway with its glow. "Yes!" A triumphed Kariya yelled as he could now assume the position of Head of the Matou Family and protect Sakura now.
"Yes, what a joyous occasion," A lazy voice said above him which had him look upward to see Caster nonchalantly sitting on the railing of a rooftop.
"How do you like your new upgrade?" He asked
"I feel like a new man, thank you," A gracious Kariya replied.
"Good, good; though we have to talk about payment now."
"P-payment?" What did Caster want him to do now? Deliver him some rare artifact, slay some fearsome dragon, or maybe be his slave for the rest of eternity?
The servant dismissively waved his concern off. "Oh no, nothing of that sorts. There is nothing that you could provide me in terms of material wealth." He begun dissolving into mist before pointing at the sky. Kariya followed his gaze and in the night sky he could faintly see a gold object cruise through the air. Alongside it was Rider's chariot as the two streaked across the sky toward the Clocktower.
"You could repay me by joining in the Hunt, join the other masters and servants attacking the Clocktower. Ascend the Hunt and maybe we will see each other at the end of all this." Was all the Great One said before leaving the two to stare at the masters and servants approaching the clocktower.
The opening act had come to a close.
And now...
The main show had begun.
Chapter 14 is now done! This chapter is short (I'm pretty sure it is) so I could make sure to tie up any loose ends before the fated attack. Kirei will be having some fun in the Nightmare Frontier, I won't show what happens there but you will see the results of it in future chapters. Boy you have no idea the number of plans I have for the next 5-6 chapters. I can guarantee you that one character will show up that none of you guys will see coming. Prepare yourselves.
Also, I'm so happy to see how far this story has come and all the support it has received!
Welp that's all for now and as always...
May the Cosmos Shine in Your Favor This Day!