Chapter 18: Revelations
"Its annoying just waiting here like sitting ducks" Inuzuka mentioned as they stood there, supplying mana and assitance from long range.
"Its better that then us getting picked off one by one by Assassin of Black, who just took out Castor".
"And we still have no visual on Assassin's Master, Toko".
"Well no matter, because right now we should focus on the battles" Terry mentioned.
The loss of Castor was earlier then expected, but ultimately wont hinder the plan. Still, with Marco here, he can still be of use to us.
"HYPER ENERGIZED PUNCH!" Mechar: Prime's pilots shouted as they used voice commands to help activate the systems. They totally were not doing it just because they were pumped up and ready for action, nor from being really excited about things.
"Storm God's Vengance!" it shouted as it dealt damage back to them equal to the damage he took.
"Shields are holding! Wiping them clean of damage now!"
"Activating extra rocket thrusters. Ultra-Rocket punch is ready to go!"
"Alright then, lets do it! Ultra Rocket Punch!"
And so another rocket boosted punch was delivered to the giant god of storms, Zeus.
"If we survive this, we are making this into a manga!"
"And an anime!"
"Agreed!"
"Well right now, focus on the enemy ahead! We dont have infinite stamina!"
""""THEN LETS DO IT! MICROBARRAGE MISSILES, FIRE!""""
The valient efforts of those four were keeping Sabre well occupied, while other forces fought elsewhere. However...
"Hold on...something just rushed by us and cut one of our power lines!"
"Who was it?"
"Its...Assassin of Red! Castor, you have inbound!"
Castor and Rune lept from rooftop to rooftop, closing in on Castor.
"We finally have him in our sights. We take out Castor, and it should make Sabre able to go through with ease! No way that construct can keep moving if the one who made it is gone!"
"Maybe...but, just in case thats why we damaged it right?"
"Exactly!"
Joan dodged the Berserker's violent assault as she moved with grace, while the other Berserker moved in to the fight.
"How are you doing?"
"This thing...is really tough!"
"Then we have no choice! Use it!"
"Right...Berserker, use your Noble Phantasm! Power it up to full using this Command Seal!"
And then, Berserker seemed to buff up in strength, rushing right into the fray and going full on berserker. She fought using wolf like power, and used her claws to the fullest as well as her teeth. Though it didn't look overly effective at first, she sheer ferocity had increased a huge amount, as if she had gotten a boost. That was the effect of her Noble Phantasm, Wolf's Call. That was the power that her myth held, as the Big Bad Wolf.
And then, in a shocking surprise...the enemy Berserker launched a suicide attack, using all of his power and ability to engulf and overwhelm her rather then focusing on defense!"
At first, the masters who watched this were confused, until they remembered Berserker's ability that is.
"Wait, no! Berserker, pull back!" Suzuki shouted.
"Berserker, get back here now! Escape!"
Berserker tried to pull back, but Berseker of Red had already charged forward, rushing in and using all of his power for damage. Berserker pulled back even further...but then fire burst out and overwhelmed the field, flooding everywhere and anywhere. Causing no escape to be possible, as flames overwhelmed everything...as Berserker of Red self destructioned.
"Sabre!"
"Right! Noble Phantasm: Avalon!"
Sabre burst into gear though, using her Noble Phantasm just in time as Berserker of Black got roasted to save her...while the Berserker of Red seemed to fall.
"Activate Noble Phantasm: Burning Life" the boy, the master who approached them, spoke as another Command Seal was used of his. And as such...Berserker came back to life, right then and there, in front of them. "Now, finish off Berserker of Black with your other Noble Phantasm! Fill the battlefield with fire!"
And thus, once again a huge inferno errupted and brought forth a cataclysm of fire down upon them.
"No! Berserker!" Lobo yelled, as the flames overwhelmed them. Joan used Avalon once more ot try and stop it, but...the flames flowed through so much, it could not stop them from going around and incinerating Berserker of Black.
"Berserker, by these remaining Command Seals, heal up and live!"
Lobo used his Command Seals in a desperate attempt, a risky move with Berserker...and it seemed to work for a moment. But then, it charged forward again, with another suicidal attack that seemed to defy all logic. It was an emotional rollercoaster, but...eventually the flames broke through Avalon...and Berserker was lost.
Even Sabre was harmed a bit from that attack, but now Sabre looked very pissed off too.
"I wont let you get away with hurting a team member!" she shouted, and brought forth Excalibur. All of her energy rushing into it, she charged straight ahead and went to cut it in two.
"It wont be that eas...y?"
However, suddenly a rush of mana went into Sabre. That was because Suzuki made use of Networked Mana, and then flowed that mana into Sabre, to power her up. She had actually been doing that for awhile, but for what felt like only a few minutes to some people, it had actually already been an hour since the battle started. Since the war had decided to face a conclusion.
And Berserker found himself skewered, unleashing a final suicide attack on Sabre...however...
"By my final Command Seal, use your Noble Phantasm again...and return!"
And thus, Berserker rose once more to fight.
"Fine then. That is your last life though".
"It looks like they are here" Serdtse-sensei mentioned, as Rune and Assassin of Red arrived. "So you are our opponents in this fight?"
"Yeah, we are..." Rune said, but he had a bad feeling about something. "You are Russian, are you not?"
"Well, thats an odd observation. Why do you..."
"I thought as much. Sorry if this seems random, but would you mind telling me where Ruler is?"
Serdtse-sensei furrowed his brow at the mention of Ruler.
"Waht do you need by that?"
"Well, its just I heard about all the strangeness going on about your side. Systems disabling themselves, people seemingly vanishing without anyone noticing, and suddenly for some reason, suggests someone on the inside. I thought Ruler might want to know it is you".
"Ha! What the hell are you talking abo..."
"You are the Traitor for the Black Faction, right? Tell me, why do you think I made sure not to be at Red HQ during this fight?"
Serdtse-sensei narrowed his eyes with disdain.
"You calling me a traitor?"
"I am saying, each side has a traitor. For some time now, I know there have been some suspicions of traitors both in the Black and Red sides. Thats one of the reasons the Red Side is always so tense, we could just feel something was off. How did we learn about the Holy Grail? How did they know to be prepared this much for all of our assaults? The Eye of Horus can do a lot, but this much? This is just too much prepwork. Someone wanted these fights to happen, probably to try and have everyone kill each other off quickly. Which means...each side must have a traitor. And, out of everyone, aside from Toko who I know is not the traitor, you are the only one who never took to the battlefield directly, never put yourself at risk, only others. I am sure those children are probably safe, but to send them against Sabre...what is motivating you exactly? Why did you unleash Grail on us?"
"Wait, what? Grail?"
"Yeah, Grail. Unless, you seriously expect me to believe that Grail "suddenly" became sentient, "Suddenly" was able to move, "suddenly" decided to attack us all now? You see, as I maybe mentioned, I had put a trace Rune on Luca, to follow his movements. So, I was actually aware of the oddness of his movements first, and had Set watch from a concealed position. And then, between that, and other reports I got, I learned something interesting".
"You mean my daughter?"
"I mean that you paid for your daughter's ticket here. That you paid for your daughter's ticket here, and suddenly she is with Grail, on his side, helping him? You put on a good act in front of Marco and Castor, they told us all what you wanted them to, about the conflict and control...but, you can stop now, Traitor-sensei. Tell me, who are you truly working for?"
Serdtse-sensei stood silent for a moment...and then glared at Rune.
"For my family".
"What, are you telling me your daughter..."
"Not my daughter, the rest of my family" Serdtse replied solemnly. "If you did background checks, you probably know about me by now. Well, the truth is...this entire HOly War was orchistrated by secret group inside The Church".
"...The Church, is it?"
"Yes. And to assure my support, they are keeping my wife and children prisoner...forcing me to work for them".
"Then, the reason the HOly Grail is here..."
"That was actually something tehy did not plan on, but made use of it. Sending me in to ensure that things went there way though...they want to use this war to wipe out some of the remaining mage families with serious power, have everyone wipe each other out, and then take them all out. Especially the one who conjured the Greater Grail here...Suzuki".
"Suzuki did?"
"Yes. It seems her father was some big Mage Scientist who was convinced to work on some special project, given some ridiculous name...HeroBurst I think. It was all done, even the ridiculous name, to draw attention from one way to create new Servants...and that would be to use the remains of a Holy Grail to help bolster their power, pumping the infinite mana out of it. They had a method to connect to the Grail, so she set up a system...a system to Network Mana, and bring the Greater Grail here. The True Grail. As for why she summoned it, it was probably for a Wish".
"So that is it huh?"
"Still, I cant let you win. If the Grail goes to them, they will give me my family. They will be safe. So we cant lose".
"Fine then...game on!"
AN: Sorry it was so short, I had planned to go on longer, but this felt like such a good ending point, and the battles are still going on! And my brain started to malfunction. Might end up accelerating the release of the next chapter to compensate.