D'Eon stood behind Hestia, his hat held in his arms as he stared at the large building in front of impassively.

It was made marble, chiseled with statues of famed historical figures and heroes- a tribute to those who had made history. Ironic, considering D'Eon was one of them himself, at least in his world.

He looked at the tiny goddess, raising an eyebrow as he noted the tension being emanated from her tiny frame. Her twintails bounced behind her comically. "Is there something wrong, my lady?" He returned his hat to his head, stoic sapphire eyes staring right into the goddesses lighter ocean ones.

"Sorry, D'Eon," she responded quickly. "I'm a bit nervous." Hestia bit her lip, rubbing her hands together as she watched another god and his child enter the building. "What if they know about you?"

D'Eon did not respond for a few seconds. Then he gave out a soft sigh. "Those are things we cannot control, Lady Hestia. If they display interest in Chaldea, then we will deal with the problem as it comes. There is no point in worrying about it now."

Hestia narrowed her eyes before pouting. "I thought you were a big-shot spymaster? Shouldn't you know if any of the other deities are planning to question Chaldea's presence?"

"If I had an ability such as that then I would be clairvoyant, Lady Hestia." D'Eon gave her a light smile. "While I might have been known as an excellent spy, I was supported by an excellent network and several funds to do so. I have no influence here, so the only place where I can get information from is the streets."

Hestia slumped, her twintails drooping as well. "Well, if all goes well then then the others will be discussing the strange monster variants that have been seen in the dungeon," she decided. "That was what we were invited for after all."

"It is what was written in the letter, yes," agreed D'Eon. "However, I would still advise caution. It is better if you prepare for the worst."

Hestia frowned. "Do you have any specific advice?"

D'Eon rubbed his chin with a frown. "Do not let them gauge our true strength. If they notice that you are suddenly more confident than you used to be then things will become problematic." He fingered his rapier. "It is beneficial for the both of us if the other gods do not learn of the possibility of grail in the dungeon yet."

Hestia nodded glumly. "Thank you." She took a deep breath before raising her head along with her shoulders. "Alright," she proclaimed loudly. "Let's do this."

D'Eon gave a light giggle as the two of them entered the building. A member of the guild greeted them, and after checking their invitation, led them into the meeting room. It consisted of a round table, much to D'Eon amusement, as he recalled a certain set of knights back in his world. Each famila's name was plastered to the back of their chair, on which the deities sat while their children stood behind them.

D'Eon noted quite a few big named adventurers, especially the ones belonging to the biggest familias. Behind the chatty Loki stood a tiny palum. Finn, if D'Eon remembered correctly, a rather famous figure in Orario.

Opposite them sat Ishtar, and a toad-like woman stood behind her. Phyrne Jamil- another well-known adventurer but with a much more controversial reputation. He gave out a breath of relief, glad that Enkidu was not here to see the goddess.

She might not have been the Ishtar that had destroyed Enkidu, but her presence was no different. Perhaps, Chaldea's Ishtar is better than the one of this world? D'Eon shook his thoughts away to observe the rest of the gods.

Dionysus and Demeter were present as well, chatting with Ganesha to his right. It was quite an interesting conversation, judging Ganesha's extravagant gestures and posing. Hestia only shook her head when she caught him looking. "Ignore Ganesha," she muttered. "He's always been like that."

"I see." He smiled at the sight, remembering the happy and over enthusiastic queen he served. He felt someone's gaze focussed at him and instantly focussed on the rapidly approaching redhead.

"Hephaestus!" Hestia instantly broke into a smile as she saw her friend, jumping into a hug with the goddess. Hephaestus awkwardly returned the gesture, nodding as she pushed the twin tailed goddess off.

"It's good to see you as well, Hestia. I see you have found another new familia member." She gave an approving glance at D'Eon. "She certainly looks experienced, at least more than that other child of yours."

"Aah, Bell is getting better," Hestia muttered sheepishly. "D'Eon, this here is Hephaestus, a good friend of mine. If you need help-"

"You can rely on your goddess," Hephaestus cut her off, one red eye glaring at Hestia. "Unless it's a crisis, I don't want you mooching off me, got it Hestia?"

D'Eon decided to cut in. "Do not worry Lady Hephaestus. Lady Hestia is in good hands. I'll be sure to keep her safe." Hephaestus gave him a small smile, turning to the woman who appeared behind her.

"This here is my familia captain, Tsubaki Collbrande." Tsubaki gave them a grin, before approaching D'Eon. "Tsubaki, be polite! You'll have time to admire that rapier later."

"Right, right Lady Hestia," the woman apologised hastily. "Sorry, I kinda get really excited when I see high quality weapons." She grabbed his hand and shook it. "Nice to meet ya!"

"A pleasure" D'Eon returned. Hephaestus and Hestia casually chatted while waiting for the other goddesses. Soon, the seats began to fill up, the last one to enter being Freya.

The only Level 7 adventurer within the city followed her, Ottar the King, a huge greatsword strapped to his back. D'Eon raised an eyebrow, a bit curious of the strength possessed by the adventurer. By their estimates, a Level 7 should have been able to go blow to blow with another servant.

Hephaestus returned to her seat as the meeting began, leaving a Hestia to glare at Loki who was sitting with her feet on the table. D'Eon fiddled with his gloves, blue eyes analysing the mood of the room.

He could make out two factions among the gods. One that was nervous and concerned, constantly fiddling around and discussing the topic of the meeting unofficially. The second were nonchalant, socialising casually while continuing their game of one-upping each other.

"Then, with Lady Freya's arrival, I think we should begin the meeting," declared a guild official who was presiding over the meeting. "The main issue for today is the strange variations in monsters that have been appearing all across the dungeon."

Instantly the atmosphere across the room changed. Happy grins slithered away, and the cheery eyes turned into the sharp knives that were common in the field of politics.. D'Eon scanned the room, a hand on his hat as he tipped it ever so slightly to hide his eyes.

No one spoke. The silence was like a blade, and the first one to speak would be the first one to be cut. He didn't move, knowing that the beginning of the meeting would set the tone for how it would proceed.

"I AM GANESHA!"

A single sentence shattered the web holding the room, and Ganesha stood up, raising both of his hands in a pompous manner. A few smiles broke out, even if they were tightly strung. He paid them no mind, as he clambered atop his seat. "My fellow deities," he announced with a mighty breath. "The official speaks true. Several of my children have been injured in the last few days, and many more have told me of these strange monsters that have appeared in the dungeon."

"We already know that stuff," said Loki, her mischievous smirk returning to her face. "I've also had people who have been injured by some strange Killer Ant. Hell, if someone here doesn't know about it, then I'll eat a hat!"

Ganesha coughed lightly. "Yes," he admitted. " However, I have a proposition-"

"Hold on a moment," spoke Ishtar, interrupting the god. "I have a much more interesting question to ask someone here." Her eyes turned towards D'Eon and Hestia.

"That is not what we gathered to speak about Ishtar," said Loki, a raised eyebrow pointed towards the dark goddess. "Do not bring your stupid games in an emergency meeting like this."

"Emergency?"Her voice lowered to a sultry rasp. "All of you are simply overreacting. This meeting is but a joke. The dungeon has always been dangerous and there have always been variations in the type of monsters that appear. Why should we be worrying about it now?"

"Ishtar," Freya spoke up, her eyes curling into a smile. "You seem to have walked into the wrong meeting. Perhaps you should return to that wonderful home of yours."

The goddesses twitched but did not respond. "The point I'm trying to make is that if you are looking at something suspicious, it is the fact that Hestia here has had several new familia members join, all within the span of a day."

Hestia tightened her knuckles. "And what are you trying to say here, Ishtar? Am I not allowed to have familia members?" D'Eon felt a cold wind blow across the room as Hestia began to slowly lose her composure.

"No, not at all, my dear Hestia," laughed Ishtar with a hand covering her mouth. "It is just that I find the timing rather interesting."

"I don't," interrupted Hephaestus bluntly. "Hestia may have gotten new adventurers, but that means absolutely nothing. This meeting is about the strange monster-"

'Yes, yes Hephaestus, we already know that," said Apollo, twisting a strand of his hair. "I assume you have some sort of reasoning behind what you are saying Ishtar."

"Of course Apollo," she said with a smile. "It isn't strange for adventurers to join up with certain familia when they enter the city. What I find interesting is that all of them are incredibly strong."

"Oh?" Loki was the one to speak. "And how strong are we talking about? Level 2? Level 3?"

Ishtar paused, showing a tiny smile through the slips of her fingers. "Oh, I wouldn't really know, Loki."

"What are you playing at, Ishtar? So what if my children are strong? So are yours and Hephaestus'. Stop this nonsense." Hestia bit her lip, dark eyes clouded with frustration.

"Oh, but Hestia," drawled the goddess. "I really do not know what level they were at." She tilted her head. "After all, they didn't have one."

Silence filled the room and no one spoke. All eyes were pointed towards Hestia- D'Eon specifically. He could feel their curious gaze and hear the gears of their mind beginning to creak.

"Oh, and did I mention," the goddess continued. "One of them reached the seventh floor without receiving a falna, and they beat those variant war shadows of yours easily."

D'Eon could feel the flow of the room shifting, turning towards him and Hestia. Ishtar had masterfully manipulated all the deities and now, their curiosity had taken control of them.

"And do you have proof of this?" Hestia's voice was low, lower than he had ever heard. Gently, he nudged her back, reminding her of his presence. She turned a single blue eye towards him, before returning to glare at Ishtar.

"Oh, the child of mine who saw them isn't here," Ishtar admitted. "But, we could ask your captain over there. Surely he would know if what is said was true or not."

"You will not involve my familia in these games of yours," Hestia shouted, gritting her teeth. "D'Eon won't tell you anything."

"So his name is D'Eon," mused the goddess of fertility. "What a lovely boy. Surely you will tell us the truth, won't you?"

D'Eon felt hazy, a strange mist clouding over his senses. Instantly, his Self Suggestion skill took over him, breaking the charm. He looked at Hestia, and then back towards Ishtar. "Forgive me, Lady Ishtar, but I follow the order of my goddess first."

Ishtar looked surprised, but it was Freya who spoke. "My, my Ishtar, forcing Hestia's child to speak isn't necessary. Isn't this a meeting between deities? Or have you forgotten already?"

Freya's gaze landed on D'Eon, giving him a mischievous nod before returning her focus on the other participants in the room. "We should resume the topic we came here to discuss, otherwise we will simply be wasting our time here."

"Indeed, Lady Freya," said the guild official who seemed to snap out of a stupor. "Since the problem is already known, we shall begin this discussion by accepting suggestions. Does anyone wish to volunteer?"

"I, Ganesha have something to say," said the god, regaining the bluster he had lost. "I believe that the higher ranked adventurers should form a party and work together in order to understand if there is a specific cause to this sudden influx of monsters."

D'Eon frowned at the mesopotamian goddesses' ploy, and even though her words had not swayed anything, there was no doubt that she was up to something. Someone had seen Nobunaga and Bell at the middle of the night, and someone had become a bit too curious about the Hestia familia. He would need to consult with Serenity.

He observed all the deities who were present, his mind churning as he tried to wrap his fingers around the complicated political game that was being played among them. There weren't any factions, but rather a messy set of alliances and rivalries that were entirely based on grudges and jealousy. Behind every polite comment or gently rebuke lay venomous snakes that slowly coiled itself around the receiver.

D'Eon had been to several courts in his lifetimes and had delved into the shadowy intrigue of each one of them, but what he was witnessing might have been one of the most poisonous of them all.

Archer could feel the monster's presence before he saw it. He knocked back a normal arrow, allowing the monster to appear from the dungeon's mist before he let it loose. It pierced the Orc's heart, shattering its magic stone. The monster faded to dust.

The cycle had been endless as their party headed down to the lower floors, and EMIYA was beginning to suspect that the dungeon was specifically targeting them. They had met nearly three other adventurer parties who were about to be overwhelmed, and they were being attacked by lesser numbers.

"You don't suppose that we should get someone to collect all these Magic stones?" Archer shook his head at the redhead, instead pointing towards the monsters that were spawning around them.

"We will collect them while ascending, Master. For now, it is better if we remain on guard." Gudako pouted, fiddling with the stone that had been dropped by an Orc before dodging a blow. She pulled out her knife and cut right through the Orc's arm, before pointing a finger gun at the beast.

"Gandr!"

The spell hit the creature's head, causing it to pop off in a shower of blood. "That was inefficient, Master. You should try and not make such a mess."

Gudako rolled her eyes. "Let me have my fun Archer. I have a lot of pent up frustration that I want to let out. Mash, can you herd some bigger ones towards me?"

The girl sighed, but nodded. "Right away Senpai. Please be careful."

Gudako grinned as she charged them with her knife. Archer sighed. "Why me?" He turned his sight to another set of monsters spawning, however, before he could kill them, Jeanne beheaded them with the end of her flag.

"Ah, sorry Archer. I didn't mean to steal your kill."

Archer raised an eyebrow. "This isn't a competition. You know that right?"

Jeanne flushed slightly. "I'm sorry. It's just that this is a real adventure. A true adventure." She twirled her flag as she took out another Orc. "I find myself a bit excited."

Archer sighed. "Again, why me? I'm sure Enkidu or Nobunaga would have fit right in. Why was I assigned babysitting?"

"That's not fair Mr. Archer. I am taking this seriously," Mash pointed out as she bashed another monster with her shield.

"I suppose you are, Kyrielight," he acquiesced before narrowing his eyes. "But you're still putting up with Master's ridiculous requests."

"I got the command seals Archer," the red head declared as she shot a reinforced punch at an orc, causing the monster to go flying. "I haven't even pulled out my sword, yet."

Archer paused at that. "You have a sword?

Gudako pulled out a gripped cylinder which began to rotate rapidly, creating a red glowing blade. "Ta dah," she said, swinging the blade smugly. "The light saber."

Archer put his hands to his head. "Save me from this woman and her pop culture obsession."

The girl turned even more smug. "Say, Archer. Can you trace this?" She put the sword in front of him suggestively and the silvered man could only sigh as he edged away.

"I won't recognise that as a sword Master. That is not a-" His expressions fell as he recognised another blade be created within his reality marble. Dully, he opened his fingers, shock transforming his face as a lightsaber similar to the one in Gudako's hand appeared in his.

The girl happily walked over, picked it up and held adjoined to her first sword, creating a double-sided laser blade. "This is so cool," she cheered, ignoring the mental breakdown Archer was having next to her.

"Are you alright Mr. Archer," Mash asked politely, deflecting the strikes of an orc. "Please do not mind senpai's antics. She has already driven Ritsuka-senpai mad with them."

"I know," Archer said sorrowfully. "I just thought that I would be an exception." He seemed resigned. "But I can now say with full certainty that she is the most chaotic person I have met in this world."

"With all due respect Archer," Jeanne said softly. "I think you should have realised that when you saw her getting along with Merlin." She looked away. " I mean Merlin is a fantastic magus and all but…"

"I understand," Archer said with a sigh. He then turned towards his Master, only to see her causterising an Orc's flesh as she stabbed the light saber through it. "You are not supposed to do it in that manner, Master."

Jeanne sighed next to him. "This is why I spend more time with Master Ritsuka than Gudako. Despite his protests, Archer seems to get along with her just fine."

Mash nodded slowly. "I think it takes a very unique kind of person to get along with Gudako-senpai." She blocked a heavy strike. "Mr. Archer also gets along well with Ishtar, Nobunaga, Astolfo, Okita, Jack…" She trailed of as she slammed into a monster

"And my Alter gets along with her as well. I wish I could get along with her as well as Master does," Jeanne added sadly.

Mash nervously fiddled with her shield. She didn't want to tell the pure and kind-hearted Jeanne that Gudako-senpai was increasing the alter servant's inner darkness. Some things were left for other times.

"Jeanne, Mash, get ready in formation."

Instantly the two servants readied themselves, allowing their awareness to spread as they looked at the newest threat. It was an imp, a tiny monster with a tail as thin as a whip that ended with a heart and a pair of demonic wings that sprouted out of its back. The ones that their party had killed earlier had skin the colour of wood, but this one was a bit unique.

It had silver hair on it's head, a trait they had not seen on a single imp before . Green glowing eyes illuminated the darkness, and its grin was wicked. In its hands lay a pair of purple butcher knives.

Jeanne's flag loosened in her palm, her mouth falling open in shock. "Lord have mercy on us," she said softly, causing the Gudako and Mash to look at her. Archer kept his eye on the enemy, but his stance grew defensive.

"What's wrong," Gudako asked immediately, her eyes narrowing as she dismissed her lightsaber, instead preparing herself to cast supportive spells on her Servants.

Jeanne swallowed. "My skill- True Name Discernement has informed me that the monster in front of us is a servant." The blonde took a deep breath. "That over there is Jack the Ripper."

Gudako's expression changed from focussed to one of shock, her golden eyes holding a tint of vulnerability in them. "Are you telling me that we are fighting against our Jack?"

"Not likely Master," Archer intervened. "If I am guessing correctly then whoever has the grail is infusing the heroic spirits with the monsters of the dungeon." He grimaced. "I am afraid that we cannot go on any further. We need to defeat this opponent before heading back up and getting more reinforcements."

" is right, Senpai," Mash agreed, her lilac eyes searching through the mist for hidden monsters. She stood behind Gudako, covering the rear.

Jeanne raised her flag and stood directly in front of the Imp. "I do not know if you are suffering in that form, Jack," she said slowly. "But I shall free you from this demonic form that tarnishes your very existence." Her declaration caused the imp to make a shrill noise.

"Are...You...My...Mommy?" Its head tilted 90 degrees and it jumped away from Jeanne, disappearing into the Mist of the tenth floor.

Archer grimaced. "This is a bad environment to fight in," he said.

Gudako nodded slowly. "Archer, Mash. We're going to enter a tighter formation. Jeanne, I want you to fight the Imp." She glanced at the three command seals on her arms. "Tell me if you need a boost."

Jeanne nodded, her stance low and ready. Archer dropped his bow and summoned his twin blades, silver eyes wary. Mash tightened her grip on her shield, a grim expression forming on her face.

A minute passed and nothing happened and the tension seemed to eat at their nerves.

Another sixty seconds and sweat began to pool above Gudoko's brow."Do you think it's gone?"

"It may have, Master," replied Jeanne, not allowing for a momentary lapse of concentration. "But it would be better to stay prudent."

Gudako tapped Archer's shoulders, poking his cheeks as he turned his head. "I think it's gone Archer," she announced with a smile. She hopped out of the protective formation. "I think-"

Suddenly there was a clash of blades and Archer's Kanshou struck against the Imp's butcher blades, allowing for a split moment of reprieve where Jeanne attempted to cut it down.

"That was reckless, Master. You cannot let yourself be bait," scolded Archer, his face set in a scowl. Gudako hopped backwards towards Mash, hiding behind her back.

"It was necessary, but still, I'm sorry," she said with a shrug, not looking one bit apologetic.

"You're making me feel useless, Senpai," Mash said sadly. "I know that you managed to draw the Imp out but please do not take so many risks. I am the one with the shield" Her complaint was silenced by a pat on the head.

"You're just making me want to tease you even more, my adorable kouhai," Godako said with a laugh.

Meanwhile, Jeanne engaged with the Imp in close combat, not allowing the creature to escape into the fog. Her ears twitched as she heard low groans coming from the mist. "Archer," she called out.

"Leave it me," he announced, summoning his bow as he began to send out an array of arrows at the oncoming monsters. Gudako pulled her fingers into the form of a pistol and began firing curses as well.

"This is getting bad," Mash said, destroying some of the stragglers who managed to get closer. 'We need to find a way to deal with this horde."

Gudako bit the inside of her lip before coming to a decision. "Archer, use your noble phantasm."

Archer raised an eyebrow. "Master?"

"We need to cut the monsters away from their source of power in one swoop. By destroying them all in one go, we will be able to retreat while the dungeon is attempting to recuperate."

The man nodded and took a deep breath. "I am the bone of my sword."

Mash slammed an orc away from him while Gudako shot one in the eye. "Steel is my body and fire is my blood."

Jeanne planted her flag on the ground using it to block a low strike from the Imp. "I have created over a thousand blades."

She pulled the flag out, rolling over the creature to cut a chink out of the monsters back."Uknown to death, nor known to life."

Gudako pulled out her lightsaber, rolling under an orc while cutting at its knees. "Have withstood pain to create many weapons"

Mash jumped into the air, her shield raised as she smashed the staggered orc onto ground crushing its skull. "Yet those hands will never hold anything."

"So as I pray,

Unlimited Blade Works"

It was a world of steel they found themselves in.

A rusted sky above them and a rusted earth below. Huge gears, slow from age and the coloured with decay slowly cranked about in the distant horizon. Blades, long and short, heavy and light, from those of the East to those of the West, sprouted front the ground- fakes, yet real enough within Archer's mind.

They were in the world of Unlimited Blade Works: Archer's reality marble.

The silver haired counter guardian instantly commanded his blades to rise into the air, stinking the hundreds of monsters that he had pulled in. Their flesh was split apart like melted butter. It was a slaughter, yet a slaughter was what the lone Master had demanded.

Archer ordered his blades to rise again, this time turning them towards an abomination that had been ripped away from the mist. If Archer had never been summoned to Chaldea, then he may have hated Jack the Ripper.

He knew her as a relentless serial killer in history, a figure that was completely against everything Archer stood for. He no longer considered himself a Hero of Justice, yet Jack was an antithesis to his entire life, both as Emiya Shirou and counter-guardian EMIYA.

A killer with nothing but a single-minded desire. Without mercy, without hate. One who killed for the sake of killing.

He had been wrong.

Yet, when a lone silver-haired girl had arrived in front of him when he was cooking while searching for cookies, Archer knew that despite the murders and despite the death that Jack was a child.

She was evil and she was a monster, but she was still a child. One who had never had the pleasure of having a mother. Archer had no memories of his mother, yet he had memories of people who took care of him nonetheless. Jack on the other hand was a wraith created to find the one thing she could never get.

She searched for a Mother and that was the beginning and end of her desire. Seeing the girl constantly attached to Gudako's back had been something that Archer enjoyed to see, because despite everything that he had gone through, he still liked to see the people around him happy.

Seeing the girl tainted in this manner, her existence defiled in this way angered him terribly. Servants were offered pretty raw deals, since they were not allowed to rest even after they died. They were forced to carry their regrets and failings with them till the end of humanity itself.

But to be corrupted in such a manner? It was beyond monstrous. It was utterly unacceptable.

Archer couldn't do anything about the girl who was currently being trapped in the hideous form before him. So he offered the one thing he was good at. The one skill he had mastered despite how much he hated it. He killed.

Four blades ripped through the Imp's body, and instantly the creature broke into a scream. "Mommy...Mommy..MOMMY" It writhed, allowing its flesh to be torn off by the sharp blades, losing all four limbs and its tail. It bled as it tried to create more mist, but Archer's realitystopped it from doing so.

"Mommy. Give me Mommy. I want Mommy." Archer looked at Jeanne who wore a resigned face. The servant had a tight grip on her flag, and her eyes winced as she saw the Imp.

Mash's face revealed many more emotions, namely sadness and horror. Archer wished that the girl wouldn't have to see the dark parts of the world like he had, but when was life ever fair?

Gudako- Gudako had a strange expression on her face: A sad smile that roseall the way to her eyes. She began to walk towards the Imp and Archer immediately knew what she was trying to do.

The other two servants didn't try to stop her either. They knew her well. It was the reason that they had chosen to follow their Master through Heaven and Hell.

Gudako neared the screaming Imp, softly bending down as she put her arm on to the creature's silver hair. "I'm sorry," she said. "I cannot save you, Jack. But, I can hug you before you go. Do you want a hug?"

The imp stopped struggling, its demonic eyes widening as the panic turned to grief. "Are you my Mommy?"

"I am to another you," Gudako replied softly. "I cannot save you, Jack. But-" She giggled to herself. "What am I even doing?"

Without warning she grabbed the Imp, gentle despite the speed she used, not caring about the blood on her clothes. "Mommy,'s here Jack. I'm sorry you had to go through this."

"Mo-mmy," the creature gasped slowly before smiling. "Mommy" it repeated with a smile, the confusion in its voice bleeding into happiness. Minutes passed and the two of them stayed like that, in each other's warm embrace.

Soon, golden light began to encapsulate the Imp and slowly the creature began to dissipate into light. It's torn limbs were the first to disappear, and slowly the effect spread to its body.

It's stomach turned to light and then it's chest. The Imp turned around and gave one last smile. "Thank you, Mommy. You didn't leave… " It burst into dust and soon, Jack the Ripper was gone and all that remained in her place was a large silver stone.

Gudako stood up, bloody and teary. Wiping her eyes, she put up a smile. "Let's go," she told them, pocketing the stone.

The world of steel bled back into the world of mist and the party began a swift upward descent, remaining quiet the entire trip.

AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter.