FATE/IRREGULAR SUMMONS
Chapter 24: Reconnection and Disconnection
Chaldea
Connla laid on her side and breathed heavily. Cuchulainn Lancer continued to hold her hand, but he was growing more and more fatigued from maintaining his connection with her Spirit Origin. Things were made even more difficult when she started to experience her other self's ferocious battle, which caused her grip on her physical form to slip even further.
"Damn it," Cuchulainn cursed. "What the hell's going on here? It's like she's getting farther and farther away from me."
Despite her lucid state, Connla always kept Mini-Cu close to her. Inside the doll, Cuchulainn Alter's Bloodstone shone as he woke up from his long slumber. He immediately understood what was going on and said to Lancer, "The kid's witnessing a fierce battle."
"I should have guessed," the spearman muttered. "Is it having an effect on her connection with her body here?"
"Depending on the opponent, it's entirely possible. Since she's struggling so much, my best guess is that she's fighting another Cuchulainn in a duel to the death."
"Shit… I'm getting tired enough as it is…"
"That's why I woke up. I'll take over from here."
Mini-Cu's eyes flared red, then a crimson streak burst from the toy and materialized into the Berserker version of Cuchulainn. He stood next to Lancer and took Connla's hand, renewing the connection between their Spirit Origins so that his counterpart could rest. Lancer stepped back and gasped in exhaustion, glad to be relieved of his duties despite his growing concern with Connla's health.
"Say, Alter," he wondered. "This is just a theory I have, but you know the whole premise about how you die in a dream, you could wind up dying for real, right? You think it's possible that that could happen to her? That she would be so absorbed in her other self's life, she'd wind up mimicking what the other one is going through? Even if it means death…?"
"Beats me," Alter grumbled. "I'd leave that shit for the eggheads to figure out. All I care about is making sure the kid comes back in one piece."
"Yeah, I guess. I'll try asking around, just to be sure."
"Suit yourself. Don't worry about her. No matter what it takes, I'll pull her out of even the deepest void and drag her back here kicking and screaming."
"Right. Caster and I are counting on you."
Einzbern Manor
"YAAAH!"
Artoria screamed a battle cry as she cut through Gilgamesh's sword. The severed blade sailed away until it jammed itself into the floor, but he wasn't concerned whatsoever. He simply conjured another golden portal to deliver another weapon in his hand, and he resumed his advance against her.
"Don't tell me you came here without a strategy," he taunted. "It's clear that you can't win over me, and the runt doesn't have the power to stop the Holy Grail on her own."
"Second Lancer will not lose, just as I will not lose to you," she retorted.
"It would seem I need more to make you realize how hollow your sophistry is."
Gilgamesh raised his arm and commanded the portals to fling countless weapons at Artoria. All she could do was raise Excalibur to at least protect her face, but several blades carved through her thick armor and gouged her flesh. Once the flurry of swords ceased, she was left kneeling in anguish. Although heavily battered and bleeding, she managed to get back up and glare at her foe.
"It is time I demonstrated the difference in our power," the King of Heroes declared and stuck his hand inside a portal. He gradually extracted a peculiar weapon that had never before nor since existed in all of humanity's history. It resembled a sword, but the 'blade' was much too blunt to be considered any sort of slicing weapon. In fact, this weapon was crafted well before the concept of a 'sword' existed, so while it had the shape of one, its function was dramatically different. Although she didn't know its true properties, Artoria understood that it was a weapon meant only to be used exclusively by Gilgamesh, and that alone made her anxiety skyrocket.
This was the Sword of Rupture, a nameless weapon that was the most powerful Noble Phantasm in Gilgamesh's armory, and put all other Noble Phantasms to shame. Gilgamesh only attributed the name Ea to it after the Sumerian god of water and creation. Likewise, as the unusual weapon's 'blade' spun like a drill and produced red-colored winds, he denoted the name of this Noble Phantasm to the Babylonian creation myth:
"Enuma Elish!"
Artoria yelped when Gilgamesh launched a ferocious torrent at her, and she needed to concentrate on powering Excalibur enough just to block it. An incredible heat seared her skin, threatening to cook her alive if she remained this way. The heat was reminiscent of what the Babylonians believed the world was like before its genesis; a hell consisting of nothing but fire, lava, and scorching gases. The heat overcame her senses, causing her to be engulfed in a storm of burning red winds that tossed her against the farthest wall. Gilgamesh canceled the attack and watched in delight as she slumped onto the ground. Wafts of smoke rose from her body, and portions of her combat dress had been burned into cinders. The only reason she was alive was due to her armor and Excalibur protecting her.
He slowly approached her and muttered, "This is it, Saber. As much as I would like to force you to submit to me, I think the idea of showing your corpse to the fools who wish to end the Holy Grail War would be a far more suitable role for you. If you care that much about being remembered by others, then the sight of your decapitated head will burn into their retinas and cause them to plummet into the depths of despair. Then the curses of All the World's Evil won't be such a bad thing to them. Perhaps it might give them the strength to overcome this trial, thus making them worthy of my sovereignty."
"Ngh…!" Artoria grunted and tried to get up. She thought about Shirou and Rin, and how she was still connected with them. No matter what happened, she needed to fight for them.
"You should rejoice," Gilgamesh exclaimed as he kneeled in front of her and snatched her cranium. "If I am gracious enough, I may allow you to bathe in the Grail's curses. Then you will be able to enjoy a second life alongside me. I will let you make the decision; being mutilated to inspire fear, or living as my eternal concubine."
"I will not obey anyone who has been corroded by those curses."
"Corroded? Don't make me laugh. I'm still very much me. If humans want to curse me that badly, they'll have to bring three times that amount!"
He pounded her face onto the ground and stood up while saying, "What is a hero if he cannot drink so much of a curse? Unlike you, I am a hero who can bear all the weight of his people on his shoulders. I have done so since the beginning of human history, and will continue to do so."
"So you're saying your own ego protected you?" Artoria muttered as she stumbled to her feet. "Ridiculous. A king is someone who is supposed to serve his people."
"When did I say the word 'king', Saber? I am talking about heroes here. If you can't understand the difference, then I will have to agree with Rider on one thing; you're just a delusional little girl chasing after an impossible dream. I, on the other hand, am someone who takes everything whenever I feel like it. Whether it is a treasure, a person's life, or a woman's hand, I will claim anything that my heart desires."
"Though you may be the king who stands above all heroes, this world is still not your oyster to pillage, Archer. If anything, I will not become your possession, and neither will all of human life itself."
"Reality is such a cruel thing, isn't it?" he smirked and raised Ea once more. "Speak such prose all you want. The truth is that you cannot touch me. Know the full weight of your miserable ideals and plummet into despair, woman!"
He charged his weapon, and she raised hers in a defensive stance while clenching her teeth.
Shirou…
As Shirou's group dashed through the forest back to Edelfelt Manor, the teenager unexpectedly stopped in his tracks. Kojirou likewise paused and asked, "What is it, Master?"
"I thought I heard Saber's voice for a second…"
"How?" Rin wondered as Kojirou set her down.
Shirou raised his hand upon his chest and closed his eyes. His magic circuits shone and traced themselves as bright aqua lines on his face and body. Someone was calling to him…
"Emiya Shirou…"
It was an old man's voice. Yes, it was the same person whom he had been having dreams about lately. His irregular presence was starting to feel stronger and stronger inside him.
"Who are you?" he whispered. Rin and Kojirou wondered who he was talking to, but didn't say anything.
"Listen to me, boy. You still have a connection with Saber. Remember what it is that Kiritsugu bequeathed upon you in order to save your life that day."
"What Kiritsugu gave me…?"
"Saber needs that connection with you now, more than ever. It is the very reason why you summoned her in the first place."
"… Right. I remember it now," Shirou realized. He thought back to when he was dying within the roaring blaze that destroyed his neighborhood. As Kiritsugu kneeled over the comatose boy, he held something unusual in his hands; an intricate gold-and-blue sword scabbard. He placed it over the child, and it vanished in a flurry of white particles. At the time, Shirou didn't know what it was, other than it possessed some kind of healing properties that saved him from death.
In other words, he owed his life not just to Kiritsugu, but also to Artoria. It was time for him to repay the favor with his support, even though she wasn't his Servant anymore.
"Trace… on."
Artoria felt an unusual sensation welling within her very spirit. It felt powerful enough to explode from within, yet was gentle in nature. The energy flowed through her body and made its way to Excalibur, illuminating it with a brilliance unlike anything seen before.
I see. Shirou… You were my scabbard, weren't you? You harbored the utopia that I always dreamed of.
For a passing moment, both of them shared the same thoughts.
It's name is… Avalon!
The light penetrated through any windows that were nearby, brightening the dark night with incredible luminance. Artoria's wounds closed, and the scabbard's healing power rejuvenated both her physical state and her will to continue fighting. Gilgamesh became frustrated when he saw what was happening, and he sent another Enuma Elish toward her. To his astonishment, she barely had to put any effort into withstanding the Noble Phantasm this time. With Avalon's blessing (and by extension, Shirou's tracing sorcery) powering Excalibur, Artoria could fully resist the scalding shockwave.
With a determined grunt, Artoria swung Excalibur in a mighty arc. Her counterattack was so powerful that it reversed the red wind's trajectory and threw it back at him. He yelped in surprise, then covered his eyes to shield himself from his own attack. Artoria used this chance to charge at him, unleashing a battle cry as she drew closer to him. Then her breastplate, gauntlets and faulds shimmered pure white until they vanished as particles. The dancing lights converged onto her sword to enhance its holy powers.
"You think using a cheap parlor trick like that is going to defeat me!?" Gilgamesh raged with all his soul and got into his battle stance with Ea. The staff-like sword spun once more, generating a crimson tornado around it.
Artoria swung high and shouted, "EX-!"
"ENUMA… ELISH!"
"CALIBURRR~RRR!"
Both Noble Phantasms were unleashed simultaneously. With Excalibur possessing enough power to cleave through a star, Artoria swiped clean across Gilgamesh's chest in a diagonal line that left a glowing golden sunburst in its wake. At the same time, Ea pierced through Artoria's abdomen. Since she had sacrificed her armor, she didn't have the means of protecting herself from a sword that could shape the planet itself. A blood-red tornado exploded out of her back and decimated the walls behind her, much like how her attack destroyed everything behind him. The holy light and the demonic wind seemed to fight for supremacy well after the two Servants had lost the strength to fight.
Artoria knew it… Even with the impregnable fortress Avalon protecting her, she would not survive against Enuma Elish's full wrath. Her body was much too mutilated to be worth salvaging. So long as she put Gilgamesh in the same state though, she was satisfied. Her mind drifted away from the battle as she thought about the truth behind the Holy Grail Wars, and what it meant for her own wish. She had sold her afterlife in order to be summoned time and time again so that she could win the Grail. Yet she couldn't forget the lessons she had learned from the Fourth War about what it meant to be a king, as well as the knowledge she gained from the Fifth War about what she could be potentially sacrificing just to escape her fate as King Arthur.
Everyone she met made some kind of impact on Artoria's life as a Servant. Through noble or despicable means, through dialogue or battle, everyone either enlightened or challenged her preconceived and naïve notions. She got to discover things and meet people she never thought she could in her original life. Through witnessing so many perspectives, she slowly came to accept that she was indeed the King of Knights, Britain's last bastion against its imminent collapse.
She had done everything she could for her country, both as a king and as a human. And now, she had done everything she could as the Saber-class Servant of the Fifth Fuyuki Holy Grail War. She started to realize what the Fourth War's Rider meant when he said he had no regrets about his kingdom perishing after his death. It wasn't that their kingdoms were destroyed – they simply changed hands. Humans were supposed to pass the torch to their successors. Artoria had refused to do so this entire time, trapping herself in the past and ignoring what should have been extremely obvious from the start.
Since she was dying from Enuma Elish, she had to accept that her role was over and entrust everything to her comrades. In particular, she thought about Connla and how similar they were as knights who protected their kinsmen. Artoria was sure she could leave the remainder of this war to her. A light smile crept on her bleeding lips as she pictured the little girl in her mind one last time.
Son of Cuchulainn… Though my life will be used to fill the Holy Grail… I know you can bring an end to this nightmare. You have shown me your kindness. Now, show me your courage, and demonstrate why you are called the Innocent Hero…
"Ah…?"
As Illyasviel and Sakura were tending to Bazett, Illyasviel tensed up when she felt her heart beat in an arrhythmic manner. It wasn't painful, but she felt two distinct throbs well within her chest. She gasped for air and doubled over, trembling uncontrollably.
"Illya?" Sakura wondered and leaned in to support her. "Are you okay?"
"Ungh… T-The Lesser Grail's… being filled…!"
"Hang in there! Senpai and the others should be coming back anytime soon!"
"I'm okay… I'm still myself… I haven't become the Grail yet…"
Standing behind them was Medusa, who heard the conversation and murmured, "It seems at least one more Servant has perished."
"No… I think it's two…" Illyasviel moaned.
"Hm. If that's the case, we're at four Servants dead now."
"This is bad," Sakura murmured worriedly. "If any more Servants die, the Grail will be completed."
That was when they heard the front entrance slam open, and both Shirou and Rin cried out, "Sakura! Illya!"
Sakura and Medusa helped Illyasviel head downstairs to meet with the others. They saw the white-haired girl's anguished expression, and Rin asked, "Is everything okay?"
"The Lesser Grail inside Illya is filling up as we speak," Medusa explained in her typical cool, apathetic manner. "She thinks that two Servants have perished just now."
"I see…" Shirou murmured, then glanced at Rin's hand. To his dismay, the Command Spells were no longer present. Likewise, he admitted, "I can't feel Saber's presence anymore…"
"Yeah," she replied with a grim nod. "I imagine she must have destroyed Gilgamesh in a mutual strike."
"Damn it!"
Sakura looked around, then wondered, "Where are Sister Caren and Second Lancer?"
Kojirou stepped forth and said, "I believe that within the confusion, they got separated from us."
"Shouldn't we go look for them? If they're all by themselves, it's possible that Kirei and his Lancer could catch up to them. Or even worse… Grandfather could…" the violet-haired girl shuddered.
"We're too exhausted to consider launching a search party," Rin replied. "Our priority should be to protect Illya and Bazett. Even if Caren winds up dying, Second Lancer won't be affected. So long as she keeps herself safe and returns to us, then everything will be fine."
Shirou didn't like how blunt Rin was about Caren, but opted not to argue with her. Instead, he muttered, "I'll watch over Illya for now. The rest of you should think about guarding the perimeter."
"Leave the grounds to me, my liege," Kojirou offered.
"Oh, before that, can I see your nodachi for a second?"
"Hm? What ever for?"
"I noticed that it was cracked after your battle with Saber. I think I can repair it."
"If you can, that would be most gracious. My Noble Phantasm failed against her not only because she found an opening, but also due to my blade not being in perfect form."
"Let me see it."
Kojirou handed Monohoshizao to Shirou, and the teenager carefully inspected the long blade. He performed his tracing magic all along the sword to pinpoint the exact areas where it was damaged. A peculiar heat radiated from his hand and traveled through the magic circuits to the cracks, magically filling them in with small amounts of concentrated mana. The process only took a minute, but only was the sword fully repaired, it likewise gleamed with a sharpness that Kojirou had never witnessed before.
"My word," he murmured in amazement as he reclaimed his weapon and appraised Shirou's handiwork. "What fantastic craftsmanship. If only blacksmithing wasn't a novel rarity in this day and age, you would have made for a most talented metal-worker."
"A blacksmith, huh…?" Shirou grumbled as he thought about what Connla told him earlier. He sighed, then held Illyasviel's shoulder and brought her upstairs to his room. Kojirou walked around the manor for a while to get used to its layout, as well as to watch for any enemies. Sakura and Rin returned to their respective rooms, and Medusa leapt up to her favorite perch on the roof.
Unbeknownst to the group, a grey-scaled insect with bladed wings fluttered in the bushes just outside the front entrance.
Acrid grey smoke curled everywhere, blanketing the darkened forest in a spectacular fog effect not unlike that seen in movies. Connla's petite form burst through the thick fumes left behind when the fireball she made exploded against Cuchulainn's hastily-crafted barrier. She knew that wasn't going to be enough to stop him, so she needed to be constantly on the move. She suddenly twirled aside like a top to leap away from Gae Bolg as it was thrust at her back.
"GRAAAAH!"
She heard his hideous snarl as he discovered her location and pursued her. After retrieving his weapon, he swung high over her, and she flipped aside to avoid being cleaved into half. She spun her torso about to swing her spear at him, which he blocked. They kept up this frenzy for several frantic seconds, then Cuchulainn leapt over Connla before jabbing his spear into the dirt inches from where she stood. She took a mighty swipe at Gae Bolg to knock him off balance, but he was deft enough to regain his momentum and kick at her cheek simultaneously. She jerked her head away, but wound up clumsily tumbling backwards after narrowly missing his steel-toed foot.
Connla scrambled to her knees and gasped hard while staring at Cuchulainn. Only now could she see numerous burn marks and bleeding gashes that had formed on his exposed skin. She too suffered some distinct bruises and lacerations. Even so, both Celts would not be slowed down by such trifling injuries. The key to victory wasn't strength or speed, but rather stamina, and Connla obviously didn't have as much as Cuchulainn did.
"Feels like things are different from last time," he said to her and casually put a hand on his hip, directing her attention to the long horizontal scar on his lower abdomen left from when she disemboweled him previously. "Your little magic trick gave you the confidence to fight me while leaving me clueless to your identity. Now that it's been dispelled though, your technique is obviously getting sloppy. Are you really taking this whole Servant business seriously?"
"Of course I am," Connla retorted. "I always give 100% to anything I do. It's just that it sometimes isn't always up to snuff compared to someone else's strength and determination."
"It's those kinds of excuses that leave you dangerously vulnerable. Even though you're a kid, you're still a Servant. You better start showing your stuff-"
Cuchulainn instantly disappeared in an azure flash. Connla felt the wind rustle a few feet away from her, and she turned her head to stare in shock at the tip of Gae Bolg's blade.
"-or I'll kill you."
Connla immediately bent backwards to dodge the thrusting spear. The force behind his stab was so amazing that it felt like she was riding on a roller coaster. She knew he harbored murderous intent toward her, but she couldn't understand why. Did he hate her because she interfered with a war that he was supposed to fight? Was he under some kind of artificial Madness Enhancement due to Zouken's influence? Or was he putting her through a most grueling training exercise in order to draw out her true capabilities? There was no denying that Cuchulainn was overjoyed to see Connla once again, but she never thought their reunion would be so treacherous.
"Ah!?" she screamed as he kicked her so hard that she was sent sailing across the dirt. She soon got on her hands and vaulted back toward a tree, then leapt off it to meet him in combat once more.
"HAH!" he shouted and knocked her aside with a hefty swing of Gae Bolg. She tumbled in mid-air and landed in a crouching stance near him. She raised her hand in an attempt to conjure a Rune spell, but that was when something unusual began to happen around them. Although it was a clear and moonless night, the wind picked up around them for no discernible reason. The breeze turned into gusts, then into a bona fide storm that threatened to easily throw the two Lancers away like tumbleweeds.
"Nnnngggh!" Cuchulainn growled, then planted his spear into the ground to steady himself. Connla likewise tried to stay upright, but she lost her balance and was tossed further into the forest. Her smaller body made it easier for the surprise storm to scoop her up and throw her hundreds of meters away from Cuchulainn. All she could do was scream helplessly as she vanished into the night.
"Shit!" he cursed and turned his attention toward Einzbern Manor. The entire structure was being ripped apart by the penultimate clash between Excalibur and Enuma Elish. Golden light and blood-red winds tore every section of the house into miniscule shreds. Soon, an incredible explosion rocked the entire area like an unforeseen earthquake. Cuchulainn fell forward and tried to block out the atrocious tearing sound for a few moments.
A good minute later, the cacophony settled until only a few stray breezes remained. He soon got to one knee and glared at the crater left behind by the explosion. He mentally swore to himself, unable to fathom that he was that dangerously close to being decimated so easily. Furthermore, he could have risked exposing Connla to such immense destruction. He was actually glad that the storm blew her far away, so he was certain that she was safe.
Cuchulainn faced away from the wreckage and thought about where to look for Connla. However, that was when several Blade Worms emerged from the woods and buzzed around him.
"Lancer," he heard Zouken's voice echo in his psyche. "Leave that Servant for now. My familiars have discovered the Lesser Grail's hiding spot. Fill it up as soon as you can, then retrieve it for me."
Cuchulainn grunted in agitation, but an order from his Master was nonetheless absolute. He could always save his fight with Connla for later. Allowing the Grail to escape would have serious consequences for him, especially considering how deranged his new Master was. He looked up at the Blade Worms as they flew further into the woods, and he followed them.
In Bazett's room, Illyasviel took care of the sleeping woman. Shirou stood in the corner and watched in silence for a few minutes. Now that they were finally alone, it finally dawned on them just how awkward their first proper conversation was going to be. He couldn't forget how Illyasviel had attempted to kill him through Berserker, and of how delighted she looked at the prospect of his death. The situation was vastly different compared to back then, but that sense of doubt continued to linger within him.
"… Shirou?" she finally murmured.
"Hm?"
"Um… Well… I just wanted to say… that I'm sorry… for attacking you before…"
"It's okay. I didn't understand what was going on back then, but if you have a connection with Kiritsugu, then maybe meeting me was your way of reuniting with him."
"A connection… It's not so simple. I hated him so much for abandoning me. I was left to suffer through my training all by myself, with no one to support me. Compared to that, Kiritsugu took in a boy he had never met before and gave him all the love that should have been reserved for me."
"I see. So you thought that by killing me, you would be indirectly killing Kiritsugu."
"Mm. But now…"
"What do you think now? Do you still hate him now that you know the full story?"
Illyasviel closed her eyes and whispered, "It's difficult for me to completely forgive him…"
"Of course it would be. Forgiveness shouldn't be something that is easy to give."
"I know. But now that I know he was actually exiled after failing to secure the Holy Grail for the Einzberns, I think my hatred is being directed towards them instead. They don't care who they hurt or what they do to achieve their ends. All they want is to reclaim the secrets of the Third Magic that have been lost to them. Because of their selfishness, Kiritsugu, Mother, myself, and so many of my fellow homunculi went through such unimaginable pain. I bet even Old Man Acht never enjoyed a moment of happiness in his life. Honestly… I just wish it could all stop for good…"
Shirou smiled. "That's what we're fighting for. These Grail Wars have become a twisted joke. In my mind, no wish is worth sacrificing so much. I heard from Saber that Kiritsugu was the one who ordered her to destroy the Grail in the previous war, so I'm sure he felt the same way."
"… Say, Shirou?" Illyasviel turned her eyes toward him.
"What is it?"
"Kiritsugu's final moments… What were they like?"
His smile immediately vanished. He thought of the man as they sat on the porch and stared at the full moon. Kiritsugu's eyes looked so heavy that he probably should have passed away long ago, yet kept going through sheer willpower. After he adopted Shirou, he had spent the last few years enduring unimaginable visions of billions upon billions of demonic-looking humanoids commanding him to die. The curses wore away at the last vestiges of his body and soul that he passed away while gazing upon the moonlight, never giving any indication to the young Shirou of how ghastly his nightmarish existence really was.
"He was in pain," Shirou finally admitted. "But he was smiling."
"Smiling?"
"Because I promised that I would carry on his mission in his stead. I think once he heard that, his mind was finally put to ease."
"His mission, huh? Kiritsugu always did like talking about heroes of justice."
"Right? I thought that if I became one in his place, he could watch as I matured into the very thing he always wanted to be. I'll have to admit that I was going about it the wrong way this whole time, but everyone's been showing me the truth of my own stupidity. Whatever it takes, I'm going to survive this stupid war and find a different path to becoming a hero of justice. I bet surviving this nightmare is what Kiritsugu would want the both of us to do."
"Surviving…" Illyasviel whispered in a hollow voice. "Kiritsugu wants me… to survive…"
"Isn't that what all parents would want for their children?"
"… Yeah. He might have abandoned me, but it wasn't because he hated me… He still loved me… At least he didn't kill me, like Lancer's father did…"
Shirou became silent as he thought about Connla's legend. He couldn't imagine how heartbreaking it must have been for the child Servant to be murdered by her own family. Because of that though, it made the pair realize just how fortunate they actually were compared to others. At least they still had their families to provide solid foundations for them to walk upon.
"Shirou," Illyasviel wondered, "where's Lancer? I want to talk with her for a bit."
"She hasn't come back with Caren yet."
"Oh. I hope they're doing okay."
"Me too. All we can do is pray that they make it back safely."
Not many seconds after Shirou said this, both of their nervous systems instantly flared up when they heard a bloodcurdling female scream pierce through the silent night.
"AAA~AAAH!"
"Sakura!" Shirou shouted and bolted toward her room, with Illyasviel following him. They, along with Rin and Kojirou, reached the doorway and discovered what was wrong. Medusa stood in front of the frightened Sakura as they stared at the walls, windows and floor, which were covered with thousands upon thousands of wriggling maggot-like insects. Any bugs that made movements toward Sakura would be cleaved into pieces by Medusa's daggers, but there was no way she could eliminate all of them unless she was allowed to use her full powers. In such a confined quarters, she would easily destroy the mansion if she did so.
"G-Grandfather's… found me…!" Sakura trembled.
"Good god, this is too gross for words!" Rin snarled. Up until now, she had no comprehension of what the Matou family's Magecraft was like, plus she didn't understand why Tokiomi had traded Sakura away to Zouken like livestock. Now that she finally got to see what these Crest Worms were, an intense pang of disgust threatened to burst within her. Although the insects were certainly revolting to look at, the idea that Tokiomi allowed Sakura to be fed to these things was unfathomable for Rin to comprehend. Perhaps more than that, she was angry with herself for being completely ignorant of her sister's many years of indescribable suffering. With an enraged growl, she barged into the room.
"Tohsaka!" Shirou implored, but he couldn't stop her.
She got next to Medusa and tossed whatever gemstones she had remaining while shrieking, "Sieben!"
A green barrier materialized, instantly pushing the horde of critters back to the balcony. Some were crushed by the sudden force, but the insects just kept rampaging the place like famished termites.
"We must retreat, Master," Kojirou said, keeping his composure despite the situation they were in. "Since our location has been compromised, escape is the only option we have."
"But what about Bazett!?" Shirou exclaimed.
"Don't worry," Rin assured and activated her magic circuits. In Bazett's room, which was unscathed by the Crest Worms for now, an intricate glyph glowed beneath her bed until it generated a dome-shaped barrier all around the comatose woman. Rin showed them her glowing circuits and said, "So long as I am alive, the Bounded Field protecting Bazett will not fall. Besides, I don't think Zouken is going after her. If we retreat into the forest, his familiars should follow us instead, which should keep Bazett safe."
"All right, people, let's move!" her classmate commanded. Medusa carried Sakura out of the infested bedroom, Kojirou carried Rin and Illyasviel, and Shirou took the lead. He guided them to a rear entrance and hopped forth into the woods as swiftly as if he was moving like a Servant. His own magic circuits shone trails of light over his limbs and face, as if awakening to his desperation.
Kojirou and Medusa kept up with his pace, and the former asked his Master, "Pray tell, where do you intend to mislead those abominations?"
"I don't know…"
Illyasviel then exclaimed, "What about the graveyard where I first introduced Berserker to Shirou and Rin?"
"Good idea. It's a wide open space, so those things won't have many places to hide from us."
"Let's just hope that Caren and Second Lancer won't get themselves into trouble," Rin grimaced. "I wish we could tell them where we're going, but we'll have to leave them to their own devices."
"Yeah. Lancer will take care of Caren," Shirou agreed. "Let's just focus on protecting Illya and Sakura!"
"Unngh… Ahnn…"
Caren's moaning was loud and distinct. She laid on her side and tightly gripped her ankle, thinking that it was broken. It wasn't, but it was incredibly sore from slamming against a tree in an awkward position. She was used to the pain that her inherent powers caused whenever she came close to a person possessed by a demon, but suffering through injuries resulting from an intense battle was entirely different. She heaved and gasped, her nerves jolting every time she moved her foot even a little bit. Her cries sounded sexual in nature, and they were audible enough for Connla to wonder what the heck was going on as she approached Caren.
"Ms. Hortensia!" she exclaimed. "Are you okay!?"
"Aaah… L-Lancer…"
"Is your foot broken?"
"I don't think so… Ugh! I just… need a minute…"
Connla remained with Caren and waited for her to recover, yet she needed to keep her eyes out for Cuchulainn. The ferocious wind storm plus her battle with him had produced an additional number of scars and injuries, but she had become so adjusted to such wounds that she barely even noticed. Eventually, Caren was able to stand up and hobble onto her good foot without yelping in anguish.
"Where's Cuchulainn?" the priestess wondered.
"I don't know," Connla admitted. "He should have ambushed us by now."
"Either way, it's too dangerous for us to stay here. We should regroup with the others and launch a frontal assault against him."
"You're right… Hm?"
Both of them noticed a peculiar flash of light glimmer in the night sky. It sailed in an arc like a comet, then plummeted into Fuyuki's residential district. To their horror, a massive white explosion detonated a few seconds later. Although they couldn't hear it from their position, they felt a light tremor shake the earth.
"Wh-What in the world was that!?" Connla yelped.
Caren narrowed her eyes and became incredibly serious when she said, "I think that attack was aimed at the Matou residence."
"You're kidding, right?"
"I'm familiar with that area, so I'm sure of it."
"Then maybe Father went to protect his new Master!"
"Maybe. That's the only clue we have, so we might as well investigate. I'm also rather curious to see what kind of effect such an explosion would have on Matou Zouken."
Connla enrobed Caren in the bubble of winds so she could fly next to her. The girl then bolted through the forest at top speed for several minutes until they broke through onto an empty road leading into Miyama district. As they hurried into Fuyuki, Caren wondered, "Do you have any idea where that attack might have come from though? Assassin and Rider are at the mansion, Saber and Gilgamesh are fighting each other, and Lancer wouldn't strike his own Master down like that."
"It looks familiar to me," Connla replied with a grim expression. "If my theory is right, then…"
"Then, what?"
"Let's save that for later. We're almost there."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: And once again, another FGO lotto event is going to be eating up a lot of my writing time. Hopefully not as badly this time around since I have the majority of the last chapters prewritten, but don't be surprised if there's a lag in my uploading. BTW, for those in the know, I'll be grinding for Fake Manuscripts like crazy to farm Evil Bones. So many of my Servants need them, it's not even funny.