Chapter 21: Showdown

Swishing and clashing. Sparks and fire. All of this and more clashed against each other as the final battle was underway. Sabre against Sabre, Master against Master.

And meanwhile, Toko laid there on the ground when Horus, Set, and Rune finally arrived.

"Damnit!" Rune shouted, creating a healing wound to help keep Toko alive while he used others to cleanse the areas and disinfect it. He also established a barrier rune to help keep the area safe from any attacks.

"What..."

"...what the hell is going on?"

"Damnit...so that bastard was behind everything the whole time! Hey, I need you two to help me! Help me heal him and stabilize the wound!"

"Right!"

"ON it!"

It seemed that the situation was so shocking, Horus and Set had put aside their own argument for the moment, and they were all working to figure out what to do.

Meanwhile, deep in the woods...

"Take this! Full Blaze Enchant!"

"Activate Artificial Noble Phantasm: No Moon's Sanctum".

The two clashed, with seemingly equal power. Suzuki was having all of the networked mana at her disposal to power her and her abilities, but it was being matched by Terry Blood and his Artificial Noble Phantasms.

"Reactor Shift!"

"Blood Enhancement, Third Gear!"

Several weaker and younger trees went flying as the two clashed, and proceeded to fight each other.

"Furious Slash!"

"Shell Shield!"

Suzuki and Terry were going all out now, though Suzuki was pushing him to be on defense with her relentless attacks.

"Hmmf. You really think you can beat me? At some point, your power will run out".

"So will yours! You dont have limitless power either!"

"I have more power then all of you combined!"

"We will see about that!"

SHe then suddenly accelerated, moved behind Terry, and delivered a powerful blow. He was sent skidding, but as the dust cleared he was still on his feet, having blocked the attack apparently.

"You wont have much use for your magic here, you know".

"You sure about that?" she replied, when cuts appeared across his body as if he had been cut repeatedly. "Because, it occurs to me...you dont really know much about my magic, do you?"

Terry clicked his tongue, as he was not sure what she had done to cause those wounds. But he knew who she was...there had been one scientist that disappeared, who no one was sure what they had happened to. And after the festival, he had discovered all of her records had been faked. She just seemed to appear at school, the same time as Toko, and that was that.

"I know who you are...Doctor".

She smiled rather mischevously in that moment, her eyes appearing like the eyes of a predator.

"I must admit, using your magic to change your appearance that much was quite impressive. I didn't realize who you were until after I had gone back to HW and looked things up. You are the missing doctor...or rather, you were the one who alerted the Mages Association to what happened. The spy, the informant. You were the one who put a halt to everything".

"Clever boy, clever boy" she replied. "But you know, when you force someone to work on something inhumane against their will, they are going to fight back you know?"

"Damn...should I call you a bastard or a bitch then".

"How about, you call the your killer?"

Suddenly, she disappeared from his view, and appeared to his side as she slashed into him with a sword. His skin was strong enough and hard enough to stop him from getting cut in two, and his muscles managed to absorb a lot of kinetic energy, but he was still sent flying. His momentum was only stopped by the third large tree he impacted.

However, he jumped out in a condition that was still able to fight.

Strange...the longer the fight is going on, the faster and stronger she gets...could it be...Perpetual Motion?

She wasted no time at all, appearing right in front of him and moving even faster.

"Activate Artificial Noble Phantasm: Shockwave Shield!"

As she was about to land a blow though, shockwaves began to eminate from his body and push her back. It was clearly a move to slow her down, but she then started to cut through the shockwaves. This was not going to be as easy as he thought.

"Damnit! This blood...its continuously hurting Toko! We need to keep going, or he wont last much longer!"

Meanwhile, Rune and the Assassins were in a desperate fight to save Toko's life, which was being eaten away at by Terry Blood's Artificial Noble Phantasm. They were so focused in fact, none of them noticed or could react in time as Lancer of Black appeared, charging right at Rune to skewer him.

And yet, the lance was stopped, as there was a barrier in her away. Still, Lancers were masters in the art of piercing, so as she dug her lance into the shield, it began to crack rather easily.

"Sorry...but I am afraid this is the end of the line for you" Ren mentioned as she stepped out of hte shadows. Just as she had hoped, she had managed to get everyone to go and try to kill each other. Only a few master/servant teams remained now. Suzuki would weaken that hulk of a man Terry, then get finished by him, and then after she finished these three off, she could finish him off too, defeat a masterless Lancer of Red, and win the Greater Grail War.

"Damnit! So this was your plan all along!"

"Indeed. And now, thanks to all of you, I will be the one winning the Greater Holy Grail War".

The three of them tried to move, but then found their minds scrambled by Ren's Mental Interference Magic. She had been saving this for just an occasion, so she had made sure she was fully charged up.

And so while those three were mentally assaulted, she had Lancer continue to break through the barrier.

"It is a bit sad that everyone at HQ had to die to Lancer of Red to make this plan work, but I had to adapt to things as they happen. No plan is perfect after all" she said as she stepped forward, only to find Lancer suddenly picking her up and carrying her away before several arrows rained down on her position. "Huh...wait what? But, I heard both Archers were..."

"Any servant without a master..."

"...and any master without a servant..."

""...might not be out of the game just yet!""

A duo of voices could be heard, and so the group turned towards them. And as for who it was, it was the duo of Mika and Icarus.

"Tsk. Mika is back in the game? Hold on, but what about Lancer?"

Mika and Icarus thought back to Lancer for a moment...

As Lancer had been standing back up from the rubble...Mika and Icarus took positions that overlooked him. Mika was holding Billy's Weapons he had given her, and Icarus was using his Noble Phantasm.

"Ice Storm Cataclysm!"

"Arrow Barrage!"

And then unleashed multiple powerful attacks before he could recover and dodge.

"...we caught him off guard".

Ren scowled as she heard that. No, that isn't just it...its Mika herself thats the issue. Toko and Suzuki have their own oddities for sure, but Mika...she is just a natural talent, and a powerhouse. Her magic circuits are unusually powerful and efficient, and she can deliver attacks. And those weapons on her side...Noble Phantasm Class Gear now, I bet. But where is this courage coming from? She was not much of a threat before because she was more timid, and hated fighting...but now, here she is. Brimming with courage and confidence? This was not a very good time for this development.

"You know...if Toko there dies, all the remaining Black Faction members are girls now it seems. We could work toge..."

"I was never fooled by you, you know?" Mika responded, her voice confident and unwavering. "I knew from the start what kind of person you were, but I didn't want to create any conflict and never did anything about it. But...I dont think you can be trusted, with a wish from the Greater Grail".

Icarus raised his weapons, as Mary raised hers.

"You servant...is Mary the First".

"How did you..."

"Like I said, I prefer studying and passifism to fighting. I did my research, knowing one day we might have to, in order to find a way to avoid fighting. But...I wont let you go around, manipulating people for your own whims anymore! And I wont let you do anything else bad either!"

"Tsk. Damnit, you idiotic, annoying brat! I will show you just how much better I am! I wont let you get in my way!"

"Icarus, by this Command Seal, I order you to take down Lancer of Black!"

"Mary, by this Command Seal, I order you to slaughter them both!"

"Eternal Frost Prison!"

Icarus flew into the sky while Mary charged at Mika, only for Mika to create a huge block of ice that managed to stop her for a few seconds.

"Mary, use all your Mad Enhancement to the limit!"

"I WILL MURDER ALL PROTESTANTS!"

"Water Spurt!"

And then, as Mary broke out, a huge spurt of water knocked her into the air as Icarus unleashed more barrages on her. She twisted herself around though, and swung her lance at him. He was just barely able to dodge, but it seemed she manipulated force dispersion to get near him and knock him towards the ground.

However, she was then hit from above by a giant water blade.

As for Ren herself, she was trying to use her magic on Mika, but Mika's own magical ability and the power of her circuits seemed to give her some sort of magic resistance.

Icarus then flew out of the crater made by his impact, affected but still in the fight.

"Its okay Icarus-kun! You can do it, I believe in your!" Mika told him, the same words Billy had told her to help her stay strong. She couldn't help but find the situation a bit meloncholy and sweet and amusing, because she knew how happy BIlly would be right now.

I will win this. I wont let your sacrifice be in vain.

Meanwhile, Icarus and Mary were engaged in intense combat. He was still sad about loosing Inuzuka, but Inuzuka had used his remaining Command Seals to give him a chance, a chance to see this through to the end. A chance to get help. A chance...to find a master.

You were so kind to me. In ways, we understood each other. And you realized...you realized how easily I could get a second chance, how I could make a friend with an available Master from Black Faction. I wont let your death go unpunished, and I wont let you down. For us, for all of us, I will win this Grail War. I wont let you down, Inuzuka...oniichan.

The two, who had both lost someone, synergized very well. Billy had given her the hope, the courage, to face the things she did not want to. And for Icarus, Inuzuka had taught him the value of staying near the ground sometimes, of making friends. Apart, they might not have known how to utilize these lessons. But together, they could help each other push through this, to honor their partners, and make it to the very end.

And because of that, they were both able to manifest all of their power together.

Meanwhile, Suzuki and Terry had gone all out with each other, but so had the sabres. And yet...Joan of Arc was indeed losing, as she was blown back by the latest attack. She had been all but defeated, as only the final blow had been missing. No, rather, it had been deliberately held back.

"...waht the hell are you doing?"

"isn't it obvious?" Zeus replied as he smiled. "I am enacting a plan, fit for a god".

And then and there, Sherlock realized everything. What was going to happen. What was about to happen. The final clue that they had been meticulously shielding to prevent his Noble Phantasm from working came into view.

"...I see...so thats it huh? That is the anomaly I must deal with".

And in the woods, far away from everything, Suzuki and Terry clashed to the last blade. Terry had recieved a number of injuries...but, Suzuki was the one who fell to the ground. She was not dead yet, but he had finally managed to cut her. Between his Noble Phantasm, her exaustion, and the blows he gave her that did not cut, she was incapable of moving and would probably die soon. However, his own state was not great himself.

As he took a step forward, a stormcloud appeared overhead.

"Did you finish Sabre off? I still see her remaining Command Seal".

"About that...there has been a change in the plan" Zeus replied, as Terry was suddenly struck by lightning from the stormcloud. His final Command Seal disappeared in that instant, and his mana and lifeforce was drained from his body.

"Wh...what?! YOu cant..."

"Oh, but I can. You see, there can only be one ultimate god at the top of this world...and that will be me. I shall be the one who will take the Greater Grail and lead this world, all on my own" he replied, as Terry coughed up blood and began to shrivel. "But thank you, for being such a good pawn".

And then, as he finished that, the stormcloud scooped up Suzuki, and headed right for the caverns undernearth the school, where the Greater Grail was being kept. Towards his prize.

Ren dropped to her knees in shock, all her plans foiled, as she saw the most ironic twist ever. Mika had finished Mary off with a giant spear of ice that shot out of the ground, piercing her through completely.

And between that, and all the fighting and stress, she just passed out and fainted right there. Totally not because Icarus flew behind her and hit her head or anyhting. No, he was just behind her, innocently whistling.

But with it done, Mika then ran over as Rune dropped the barrier, so she could help stabilize Toko. However...it seemed like no matter what they did, there was no hope. That was it.

Horus looked off in the distance though, unhappy. "It looks like...Zeus killed Terry Blood, kidnapped Suzuki and Sabre of Black, and is now heading towards the Greater Grail...and I cant see any way to save Toko, or defeat him".

"...did we lose? Wait, does this mean we all lost?" Set asked, in shock and confused as well. After all, if Horus could not even see...

"No! I dont want to let Toko-kun die! We have lost too many already! We all seem to be getting along, cant we just have an allied victory?!"

"Actually" a very familiar voice said as a figure walked out of the shadows. "There is a way, to save Toko, and have all your wishes granted. Rune, do you still have it?"

Rune realized what he was talking about immediately, and took out what looked like a golden rod. "It took this form...can it still be used?"

"Indeed. It only took that form out of recoil from being seperated from the personality that developed in it. It will only work in the pressence of the Greater Grail though, and there is technically a way you can have two wishes granted from it".

At those words, everyone looked at him with shock. Maybe it was just their imaginations, but it sounded like hopeful music started to be played, like when an allied group of protagonists would have in the background right before the final fight.

"What did you say?"

"You see, normally I am not allowed to help like this, but now things have changed. Zeus, a Servant, a dead being, is attempting to become a GOd, to rule over the living. As such, a rule has been violated, and I am allowed to take action. My plan is dangerous, reckless, and unheard of...but, its the best chance we have".

Everyone looked at each other, and nodded. No one wanted to let Zeus win, certainly not become a massive overlord of everything.

"Alright then, tell us what to do".

And so, the preparations for the final battle...began.