A/N: All of you who have written comments, please read my past Author's Notes, and then post comments. Most of your answers can be found there. I don't want to say things twice.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fate/Zero, Fate/Stay Night or any associated works.
Saber could feel that something was... off.
There was a strange feeling in the air. Ever since they landed on Fuyuki, she was on the edge, as if there was a threat in every corner of the street. She hadn't felt this way since... Mordred's betrayal. It unsettled her.
She was initially apprehensive of going with Irisviel out in the open, but ultimately agreed. She felt some sympathy for the white-haired woman, having never stepped foot outside the Einzbern property, however, she couldn't just drop this feeling of paranoia, as they walked through the busy streets of Fuyuki.
Saber and Irisviel garnered a good number of looks as they wandered through the market place. It was to be expected, of course, both of them possessed a strange, unnatural beauty, foreign to these people from Japan. Irisviel's white hair, pale face and crimson red eyes were unnatural and had a strange alien beauty which garnered a lot of attention in public. Saber, dressed in a black suit and trousers, had a hard, cold expression and looked like an effeminate young man, and had a certain irresistible charm. They looked as if they had come straight out of a storybook, or a movie.
In the western part of the city, the sunset, casting an orange glow all over the sky. As the sun descended beyond a mountain range, both Saber and Irisviel were finishing their tour of the city. Irisveil, in particular, was mesmerised by the sight of so many people enjoying their lives and going about on their day to day duties.
Irisviel went to the beach and Saber followed. She had promised to protect her, and she had every intent on fulfilling that promise, on her knight's honour.
A quiet silence had fallen on them, as they stared at the dark, blue sea. Saber was unconcerned about the possibility of an ambush. She had been summoned into the Saber class and had been granted outstanding physical capabilities as a result. She could take on any sneak attack and counter with superb ease. In fact, that is what she wanted. To be ambushed and emerge unscathed would be a show of strength and give an appropriate message to any who underestimate her.
Then, something flickered. In the distance, something was stimulating a strange sensation, like a torch being glowed at one's eyes.
"...an Enemy Servant?", Irisviel questioned.
"Yes. So it would seem."
The sensation did not change. Both Saber and Irisveil could feel it. It came from some hundred metres away, and was aware of Saber's presence. However, the enemy Servant did not come closer. Instead it moved away, distancing itself from the pair.
"He seems to be inviting us."
"Hmm...That seems to be the case. Does he want to chose the battlefield?"
There was no trace of tension in her voice as Irisviel replied. Saber could feel the respect she had for the woman go up. It seemed that she had complete faith in Saber's ability.
"He seems to have the same expectations as us, Saber. It would seem that he is asking for a frontal fight... sort of like you, Saber?"
"That would mean that he is either of the Rider or Lancer class. They would be the best in terms of direct combat, apart from Saber."
"Then, let's go and meet them shall we?", Irisviel says, with a fearless grin.
It could be dangerous for them to go. This could be a bait for a trap, but Irisviel had complete faith in Saber's capabilities. Saber will not fear such tricks and it is Irisviel won't underestimate her Servant either.
As they move to greet their first enemy, Irisviel contacts Kiritsugu of the situation through a communication device he had given her. Apart from being able to contact someone, the device also had a tracker, allowing Kiritsugu to know where exactly she was. It was a device which did not use prana and had allowed Kiritsugu to monitor her position by following an alternate route.
Irisviel was confident in Saber's power. Any Servant with a rank lower than hers will be killed in a single strike by her Servant- that was the result she expected.
Wayn was honestly bored.
He was honestly speaking the most laid-back and laziest when compared to any of his Counterparts. All of them had unique skills and powers, each one of them possessing a unique trait which made them useful to their Original. Some were excellent fighters, others good at formulating plans, while others had unique capabilities making them suitable for assassination. All of them had different personalities which made their Original a multi-purpose tool when it came to assassinations.
His was hopelessly average in everything. Even his Child counterpart was useful for avoiding interrogation and dealing with authorities. He had no special ability or unique skill. He simply played the role of the everyday man who you see on the street. A beggar who sits on the street asking for a penny, and not caring if he receives none. A young man who had come to look for work but would not put any efforts in actually finding one. That sort of thing. It was a momentary disguise, one which will be shed the instant an opportunity to escape appears.
However, as a Servant? This persona of the original Hundred Faced Hassan had manifested in the form of a lazy fellow, one who has no skills, aspirations or dreams of his own. He did not lack in intelligence, and was dependable when the situation called for it, but his innate lazy nature made him average comparable to his other-selves. His other Counterparts were obviously superior to him in most aspects. His most authoritarian and commanding counterparts had taken command positions for his Master's reconnaissance purposes and the more diligent personas were working to disrupt the other Master's surveillance networks. Like the other personas who simply kept an eye out for certain places, key locations which can be used by their enemies, he did not have any such responsibility.
Honestly, he didn't mind. He was not suited for any command position, and he certainly wasn't capable of taking any big responsibility. He was more than content in acting as a spy, and he was curious to what was this time period had to offer. This new age had technologies and features his old one had lacked. He was particularly interested in these 'Video Games', which the young humans of this era seemed to enjoy.
The area he was tasked with guarding was a few miles from the Tohsaka Manor, where his Master's tutor was living. He was what one would expect from a typical magus of that era, and could be called the leader of their little faction. However, everyone knew that this Magus' golden servent, the one who killed Zayd was the one dominating the functioning of the alliance. The golden King was arrogant and prideful, and he could back up that arrogance with the immense power that he held. The Assassins were like flies when compared to him.
The evening was calm. The sun gently set in the west. Above, flocks of crows cawed, the only sound apart from the occasional car passing in the road nearby. The Matou manor he was tasked with watching was a large building. It had several floors and was surrounded by a series of woods, separating it from the rest of the world.
Wayn positioned himself just outside the Bounded Field enveloping the house and grounds. His master had asked to be reported if Berserker or his Master had been roaming in the area. A sickly man, pale and tired from his efforts. So far, Wayn had seen nothing.
Out of nowhere, everything stopped.
All movement in the area ceased. All sounds and scents vanished. The soft breeze passing through the area stopped and so did the rustling of the trees. Wayn was in full alert. There was something there. Something which felt... strange and out of place.
He knew this feeling of course. In life, there were more botched assassination attempts than he would like to remember and his Original self had been lured into traps and ambushes more times than he could count. Even if he wasn't one of those personas who had escaped or fought their way out of those scenarios, Wayn still remembered, since all of them was at one time the same person. Wayn was in full attention, drawing the small, black dagger he used as his primary weapon. An inconspicuous weapon, useful for assassinations, but nothing in comparison to a Noble Phantasm.
Then, suddenly a bush nearby stirred. A rustling noise, Wayn was attracted to it. He cleared the leaves of the bush to reveal...
A squirrel. A small brown animal, with a furry tail and sharp teeth. The small animal looked at him for a second before turning away and running. As the rodent scurried away, the region relaxed once more. The leaves on the trees began to rustle and a calm, slightly chilly breeze flowed through the area. All things seemingly returned to normal. He relaxed for a bit, but there was a tenseness in the air still unsettled him.
A flash of purple light emerged from behind him. The Assassin turned to greet it. A shadowy, feminine form stood beneath the tree, having raised a single arm to fire a powerful lilac projectile spell. A violet, glowing magical circle was in front of her, firing a lilac beam of energy towards him.
'Caster!', Wayn realized quickly. His instincts screamed at him to move and avoid the attack. But his body wouldn't respond. Straining himself, he moved and he quickly rolled to the side, the beam missing him by a hair's width. It went on and hit a tree behind him, leaving a smouldering hole in its trunk.
Caster tsked in slight frustration. She began preparing a second spell to destroy the Assassin. The Magic Circle in front of her tilted to aim at him.
Wayn tried to move, to get closer and counter-attack. But it was useless. The air had gotten heavy and he could feel a great strain on his shoulders. It was as if several heavy boulders, had piled on top of his shoulders and they were all pressing on him at once. 'A Bounded field!', the scout realized.
Wayn desperately tried to reach out to the connection he had with his master-
A brilliant lilac flash consumed him, leaving nothing but dust in its wake.
The clash, no, the duel between Saber and Lancer can only be described as captivating. Arturia Pendragon and Diarmuid Ua Duibhne fought with strength and power impossible to reach by most normal men.
I had known that Servants were freakishly strong however, this had surpassed my expectations. Seeing it animated or reading about it was completely different from actually watching them fight.
Even through the Familiar I was using, I could feel the power displayed by the two. Lancer and Saber were like blurs, and I could only make out a vague outline of both of them as they clashed. Each time they met, I could feel the air crack under the pressure of their attacks. Through the eyes of the bird familiar, I could see minute cracks appear on the concrete road below.
I could feel my heart race. Was it because of the fast-paced battle the heroic Spirits showed, the strength they displayed or the fact that I would have to eventually face them myself in this Holy Grail War? I did not know.
Even through the glitchy visuals provided by the Familiar I could tell that both Saber and Lancer possessed an unnatural beauty impossible to be acquired by anyone of the modern era. Lancer was handsome and had fine features but Saber's beauty was unnatural, almost inhumane. Blood rushes ever so slightly towards my face. I could tell why Shirou could fall in love with her so easily.
I shake my head and turn my attention back to the battle.
Despite the fast pacing of their battle, I could tell what each of them was thinking. Well, not precisely, but by using logic on the data visible, I would be able to estimate their thought process.
Excalibur was shrouded with Invisible Air. That and the high speed of their attacks would make it difficult for Lancer to estimate the length of Saber's sword. Lancer's spears, on the other hand, were covered by some kind of cloth, preventing anyone from seeing its true nature. Saber was under the impression that one of them was a fake while the other was Lancer's true Noble Phantasm. She did know and could not tell that both spears were Noble Phantasms. This carelessness could lead to her defeat.
To be fair, there are very few stories of dual-wielding spearmen. Dual-wielding Swordsmen were much more common in comparison. Using two spears simultaneously would be rather difficult and inconvenient unless the user has incredible dexterity. This is because timing the swings and aiming attacks becomes difficult when one has two long spears. Moreover, balancing two heavy spears is difficult for normal people. It is far more convenient to use a single spear, or using combinations like a shield and a spear or a sword and a spear. Even in his legends, Diarmuid never used both spears simultaneously when he was alive, using a combination of either Moralltach and Gáe Dearg or Beagalltach and Gáe Buidhe whenever he went for battle.
Still, that would mean that the identity of five of the Servants in this War have been confirmed. Lancer, Assassin, Caster, Saber and Archer. Rider has so far not showed himself and neither had Berserker.
Lancer and Saber had stopped their dance and were talking to each other. I could not hear what he was they were talking about, not from the distance my familiar was at. I could go closer, but considering Kayneth, Irisviel and the Servants, it would be too risky.
My head throbbed slightly. The bird familiar was perched on top of a small metallic spire sticking out of the roof of one of the warehouses. It wasn't a bad place for reconnaissance, but it wasn't a very good place either. It lacked the elevation other buildings and towers had provided and it was a bit far away from the scene of the main action. The only advantage, as well as the sole reason for my using this location, was that it was inconspicuous and did not stand out all that much, providing a good spot to watch the fireworks from.
Lancer and Saber have been clashing for one, maybe two minutes so far. However, it feels like they have been fighting for much longer. I turn my attention to other things, forcefully shifted into the side in favour of viewing Saber and Lancer's duel. Irisviel is standing there, a pale, white-haired woman with shining red eyes. She appears to be entranced by the duel between Lancer and Saber, but she also appears to be ready to provide any assistance whenever required. Kayneth is missing, of course, like in Canon.
To be fair, Kayneth is easily the easiest opponent in this War. He may be a superb Magus, but he lacks the will to win the other Masters possess. Except Waver and arguably Tokiomi, each of the other Masters has a genuine and heartfelt desire, and a need to win the Grail. Kayneth just wanted to add another feat to his resume. He was not willing to lay down his life for his dream like Kariya or Kiritsugu.
I felt a tug in my brain. I reached out for an invisible piece of thread, a wire which symbolized the connection between myself and Caster. Then, nudging it slightly, the mental connection between Caster and myself was open.
"It is done, I have destroyed the familiars around the Matou manor," she spoke in the soft, silky voice she has always had. Good, that would mean no witnesses.
I paused for an instant. "What about Assassin?" I spoke while slowly moving across the bridge. It was difficult trying to walk, communicate with Caster, and watch the fight between Saber and Lancer all simultaneously.
"I have eliminated two of their number. One of them was directly outside the Manor, and the other was about a kilometre away."
"Excellent. Stay at the edge of the Manor in your astralized form and be ready to move at a moment's notice."
"Understood." I shut down the connection to save prana.
It would be quite obvious to anyone that something had happened in the Matou Manor, if we just destroyed the Familiars around the Matou Manor. that is the reason why I tasked Caster with the job of locating and eliminating Familiars throughout the city. Not all of them of course, it would be difficult, but some of them would be enough, as long as they are spread out in the city in reasonable numbers. It would make it seem that "Caster has been destroying Familiars everywhere in the city" instead of "Caster has attacked the Matou Manor". This simple misdirection of facts can play a crucial advantage in the future.
It was unlikely that anyone was watching the Manor while Caster was attacking. Everyone's attention has been drawn to the battle between Saber and Lancer. This offers the perfect opportunity for us to strike at Zouken.
I absentmindedly observe the fight between Saber and Lancer. They have been at it for some time now, and they should be getting tired. Not even Heroic Spirits can fight forever.
Then, all of a sudden, a fountain of red spouts from Saber. I have been distracted enough to not realize that Saber was no longer wearing her armor. One of Lancer's spears had slashed through Saber's arm, no, her wrist.
I looked around nervously. This was just about time for Rider to show up. He was the biggest problem in this War apart from Gilgamesh. The strongest Servant if we compare their Noble Phantasms, considering that Ionian Heteroi is bullshit.
And right on schedule, he arrives.
A massive chariot, nearly as large as a truck descended from the skies above appearing in a flash of blue lightning. It was being pulled by two pitch black, powerful-looking oxen, covered with several ornamental items. A massive man, dark and muscular pulled the reins of the Chariot, and a smaller teen, short and frail was right next to him.
"Both of you put your arms down, a King comes!" Iskandar declared loudly. His voice bellowed such that even with the poor audio reception of my Familiar, I can hear him clearly.
Both Saber and Lancer stand down, still on guard, but not making any threatening moves. They seem to have recognized that this new Servant had no intention of actually fighting them, instead just wanting to intervene during their duel. They were clearly annoyed by it though.
The imposing figure of Rider raised his arms and continued to speak in a stern tone.
"My name is Alexander, King of Conquerors. I am participating in this Holy Grail War and received the class of Rider."
Immediately after that, Waver shrieks out, "What the bloody hell do you think you're doing, stupid moroooooon?"
Admittedly if I didn't know better, then I would have had a similar reaction, one far less extreme though. But I could, strangely enough, I could see a bizarre method to Iskandar's madness.
Facing such a powerful Heroic Spirit straight off in the initial phases of the War would be difficult. Since Iskandar is one of the oldest and most prominent faces in the Throne of Heroes, there is every possibility that a weaker Servant-Master pair could join him, and create an alliance. For the same reason, he has openly declared himself as one of the most powerful Servants fighting in the War. The other Masters would be thinking that Rider must be so confident in his abilities that openly declaring his abilities must make no difference to him, and this would deter them from attempting to attack Rider or Waver. I recalled from my History lessons of so long ago, that Alexander was impulsive and reckless, but also possessed a tactical genius when the time called for it.
And it showed.
Rider reached out to the teenage Waver and flicked his forehead with his middle finger. Waver reeled from the impact and considering the fact that Rider was a Servant? That must have hurt.
Rider took a glance at Saber and Lancer who were on either side of him, and continued talking.
"You slaughter each other to obtain the Grail... I want to ask you something before you engage. I don't know what expectations you have of the Grail. But now, consider for a moment whether your wishes are even greater than the desire to possess all of earth and heaven."
A strange silence came over the docks as everyone took a second to take in what Rider had just said.
Saber did not understand fully, but she inquired, "You... what do you want to say?"
"Hmmm...? I think I was quite clear."
Rider's voice drifted from being stern and stiff to being kind and amicable.
"I have descended upon the battlefield, so do you have any intention to pass the Holy Grail to me? If you forfeit your claims to the Grail, I would regard you as friends, and share with you the joy of conquering the world."
A cowardly hero, one who is weak-willed and lacks resolve would have taken up on his offer. However, Saber and Lancer are none of those things. Since he had monitored their fight, Rider must know this. But then why...
A calm silence had fallen in the area, a break from the sounds of clashing steel during Saber and Lancer's duel. Rider had, in openly declaring his true name and in offering the others to join him, was showing that he had no interest in the Holy Grail. Whether this move was bold or foolish? No one could tell. Lancer was the first to speak, as he broke the silence. I could not tell what his expression was from the angle I was present, but he was obviously not amused.
"I admire your boldness in declaring your identity, but... I found it hard to agree to your proposals."
There was a certain steel to his voice as Lancer said this.
"I will win the Grail; that is the oath I swore to the man whom I've sworn my allegiance to in this era."
"...Did you just stop my duel to with Lancer to spout all this nonsense?"
Saber asked, immediately following Lancer's words. She was clearly not amused by Rider's proposal. This suggestion seemed to be very irritating for someone like her.
"Your joke was overdone, King of Conquerors. This is unbearable humiliation to a knight."
Despite Saber and Lancer's obvious hostility towards his declaration, and the fact that no one has agreed to his proposal, Rider did not seem to lose his dignity in any way.
"... Are you offering terms to me?"
"Enough!"
Saber had a look of disappointment on her face as she continued. The scene glitched for an instant, and her voice stuttered, before the scene cleared up again.
"Oh? The king of Britain?" Rider showed interest in Saber's declarations and raised his eyebrows. "How surprising. The famous King of Knights is actually a young girl."
Saber was displeased at Rider's statement. "And, would you like to try the blade of this young girl, King of Conquerers?"
Rider sighed and slumped on his chariot. "My, my... it appears there has been a breakdown of negotiations, is it. What a waste, that's too bad."
"Rideeerr?", Waver groaned from next to the massive Servant. His head appeared to be swollen from when Rider had flicked his forehead. Rider turned his attention to his Master.
"Now what? Talking again and again about conquest, and people still don't like you... do you really think you can beat Saber and Lancer?", Waver said, clearly frustrated by this turn of events.
Rider just laughed, clearly amused by this.
"Em, well, wasn't there a saying that says actions speak louder than words?"
Waver was visibly depressed at this situation.
The atmosphere had relaxed. Rider's introduction and the interaction between him and Waver, was strangely comedic in a certain way. I could see Irisviel slightly relax, from when she went on guard when Rider arrived.
"Oh? It is you, of all people.", a cold, ruthless voice full of hate reverberated throughout the area. "I was wondering who was foolish enough to steal my summoning Catalyst. But, to think that you would be brave enough to take part in the Heaven's Feel on your own, Waver Velvet."
It was Lancer's still concealed Master. He and Waver obviously had some history, and Waver seemed terrified of this new revelation of the master of Lancer.
""Ah..um...", Waver stuttered, unsure on what to say.
"It's a shame really. I actually wanted my poor student to be happy," Kayneth spoke mockingly. "It is for the best that someone as mediocre as you, Waver, only deserves the calm and stable life of a commoner."
Waver could feel the arrogant lecturers gaze on him. He wanted to return some sharp retort, a smart remark to show that he was an equal to the famed Archibald Magus. However, he was unsettled. This was the first time he experienced the gaze of a true magus that was full of the desire to kill. To be a Magus was to walk with death; that is the one fact all Magi know of. This was the first time he was experiencing such a thing, beyond the books he reads. Kayneth's harsh voice and demeanour, made his hair stand on its end. With this tone, he continued to speak.
"As my student, Waver, let me educate you in something. I will teach you the true meaning of a slaughter, and I will pass the terror and the pain of the kill onto you without any reservation. You should be proud."
"Oi, Magus! From what I can understand, you were supposed to be my Master instead of the kid." Rider interjected, addressing the still hidden master of Lancer.
Kayneth's voice halted for an instant. His voice shifted from being openly hostile to somewhat diplomatic. "Why don't you join me, King of Conquerers? Between my skill as a Magus, and you being a Servant of such great power, I am certain that we will win the-"
Rider waved his hand, dismissively, and said, "That's ridiculous. A man who hides in the shadows, and refuses to show his face is undeserving to be my Master. Only someone who rides with me onto the battlefield is deserving of that honour."
Silence fell, and I could tell that Kayneth was seething with rage at this rude rejection. Rider suddenly laughed, and roared out, "Come on out! There must be others. Friends that are hiding in the darkness and spying on us!"
Saber and Lancer seemed to be perplexed by this.
"What is the meaning of this Rider?"
"Saber and Lancer, your duel was most excellent. the sounds of the two of you clashing must have certainly attracted the attention of the other Servants taking part in the War."
There was a pause for an instant, as everyone was expecting another Servant to show up from somewhere.
Rider sighed and continued to speak in his loud voice, "What a shame. The heroes gathered here at Fuyuki! Seeing the prowess displayed here by Saber and Lancer, does it not invoke any sentiments from you? Having a name that deserves praise and respect, yet hiding and spying in secrecy... how cowardly you are! Even Heroic Spirits would be troubled upon hearing this, huh?"
A radiant, golden light appeared at the end of Rider's bellow.
This was obviously the fourth of the Servants present there. The powerful Archer who destroyed Assassin with virtually no effort. Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes.
I had seen Gilgamesh before, but it was through a Familiar, behind the several Bounded Fields and only for a brief instant. But in person, the King of Heroes cut an impressive figure. There was an aura of power and authority around him, which none of the other Servants had managed to match. Wearing his shining Golden armour, he seemed arrogant and prideful in his power. I knew very well that this arrogance was well deserved.
"I didn't expect there would be two fools in one night to have the insolence of calling themselves "kings" and ignore me." Archer seemed displeased by the presence of Rider and Saber. Rider seemed to be bewildered at this turn of events.
"You must be mistaken. I am the famed Alexander, the King of Conquerers. Everyone has heard of me," Iskandar spoke with a small frown on his face.
"The only hero truly deserving the title of King is me. The rest are only a bunch of mongrels." Gilgamesh huffed.
"Then, why don't you announce yourself, then? If you are a King of such fame then certainly you shouldn't be ashamed of your renown?"
"You dare question me, pathetic fool?," Gilgamesh spat. "The fact that you were allowed to get to witness my golden form should be enough."
Tension filled the air, at Gilgamesh's words.
Then, suddenly, a torrent of prana swept over the area. I was able to detect it through the poor prana detecting abilities of my Familiar. With a roar, the prana solidified itself to form a humanoid figure. This new enemy can only be described as a shadow. It was an armour-clad figure, shrouded in the darkness and shadows. Unlike the shiny silver of Saber's armour and Gilgamesh's golden, radiant armour, this new entity's armour was dull and black as night. A rustic helmet covered his head and face, only having a thin red slit the only colour on the new figure. Bloodlust filled the air, this new Servant was obviously a hostile individual.
This was Lancelot, the Berserker class Servant of the Fourth Holy Grail War. The final Servant I needed to know of.
I had been so mesmerised by the goings-on in the docks that I almost forgot why I was watching that in the first place. I snap out of my reverie and reach out to Caster, opening our connection. I absentmindedly sit on the bench at this park, I had somehow reached while strolling throughout Fuyuki.
"It's time."
As soon as Caster heard those words, she immediately began to walk towards the edge of the Bounded Field, with a small smirk on her face.
This specific Bounded Field was surprisingly well made, especially for a Magus of that era. But Caster wasn't some ordinary Magus. In life, there was only one other Magus who could surpass her, and she was his equal in many aspects.
As a Servant? There were only, maybe five other Heroic Spirits who could surpass her. And she was definitely an inferior to only two of them.
She quickly sped across the lawn, rushing towards the gates of the Manor. It did not seem like it, but she was actively tearing down the Bounded Fields surrounding the manor, as she sprinted across to reach the entrance of the Manor.
She had to finish this quickly. Her Contractor could not allow the use of her Noble Phantasms more than once, at least not yet anyway. Also, if she allowed the centuries-old Magus too stall her for too long, it was likely that Berserker would come crashing down on her. She was not ready for such an opponent yet.
The Manor reminded Caster of the many homes of the nobles she used to visit. Well furnished and aristocratic, but vacant in life and lacking in the homeliness she had seen in some other cases. The air of the place felt stale and there was a scent of decay throughout the house.
"What are you doing here, Servant of the Caster class?", an old voice, cold and rasping called out to her from the end of the dark hallway.
She turned to greet this new foe, who emerged slowly out of the Shadows. It looked like an old man, bald and withered, resting on a wooden walking stick. He was wearing a plain black robe and his eyes were sunken, two dots of white in the shadows of his eyes. These eyes shined with hidden cruelty and malice.
'Zouken Matou,' Caster realized. He matched the description her Contractor had given her. Sunken, withered and old in appearance, he was a monster more than a man. Caster could feel his cruel and sadistic nature permeate throughout the air.
"Well?" the Magus, no, the abomination, spoke, irritated by her presence more than anything. "Why are you here, Servant? What business do you have with the likes of me?"
"Zouken Matou, I presume?," Caster spoke, quietly preparing a spell to strike the Magus.
"That would be correct," Zouken sneered at the Heroic Spirit.
"My Contactor has a proposal for you."
"Oh? And what proposal does your Master offer me?"
"It's quite simple really." She raised her hand and prepared to blast him. "Die."
A blast of purple energy slammed into the abomination, destroying most of its upper body. Blood spewed on the floor in small amounts, much less than it should have been. A few charred worms fell from its body.
"HehehehehehehehehehehahahahahaHAHHAHAHAHAHA," A loud evil laugh reverberated throughout the hallway. Crest Worms gathered from every corner of the room, and the abomination's face and body began to reconstruct itself.
That will not be enough, and Caster knew this. Zouken Matou may not have been a Servant, but he was still a Magus who had lived for hundreds of years. She prepared for a fight.
A twisted, spiteful grin appeared on the monster's face.
"I am afraid Servant, that you will not find me that easy to KILL."
A/N: SO, that was it. This chapter took a bit longer to write than I expected, but I have successfully managed to complete it just on the day of the deadline I had prepared for myself.
In other news, I have watched both Fate/Cero by YaroShien and Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works Abridged by Project Mouthwash. They are absolutely hilarious. I would recommend watching it.
OMAKE (Directly Inspired by Fate/Cero):
Rider: I'm just going to say it. Whoever is still hiding...-Totally Gay.
Berserker: NOW HOLD ON THERE!
Archer: I have something to say-
Kayneth: Hey, guys, look! I am here, can you see!
Kiritsugu: That's fine. It's the single life for me.
MC: GOD-FRICKING DAMMNIIT! He was currently two kilometres away from the docks.
Please Review and favourite. It makes me feel nice.