In Chaldea, in which heroes and heroines from different timelines meet- a ruckus or unflappable scenarios straight from paradoxical comedic drama and fantastical imagination of insane humans are the routines of normal life. Truly, with different human, hybrids and gods from all regions of the world compacted into a single organization concludes shenanigans and hundreds- if not thousands of damages on day to day basis, courtesy of their super natural powers and undeniable liberties to prove their worth are far greater than the others. Yes, negative emotions like envy, greed and jealousy are still present, but with a caring Masters and cheerful bob of orange haired girl tying their leash like good kittens to humbly accept one another, is where bliss and utopia are created.
Brawls are common occurrences besides the rifts that vanquish their real identities, supporting a fascinating tales and humble lessons which they read and passed on to employees and children. And no wonder their happy and chaotic lives are strings and intricate the epitome of 'trouble', to forget for a moment the decaying and hard times they had in the field with their Masters and friends. Avoidance is not the answer for their questions, but preventing the pessimistic thought about the world has its merits with incredible foes within the family of heroines and heroes.
It's also the reason why the hectic disappearance of two strangers and several fellow Servants were nothing much of a concern. Or rather, with how humungous the base of Chaldea is, it's a possibility that they were merely somewhere hidden to the prying eyes. And thus, ignorance to the true threat reflects to their laidback selves and notorious laughter within the cozy walls of a new location and renovated cafeteria- the previous one had been secured, close of in prescription to the research of the Mysterious Beacon left from the tremendous gush of power three days prior.
However, not everyone is as laidback as it seems-
"ROMANI!" as Gudako slammed her hands in the figure head's table at the cafeteria- attracting unwanted attention, in tow are a few Servants which foretold their visions and premonitions to their Master in haste- who by chance, is definitely pissed off.
A rare occurrence... but it made Romani's spine stiff and uncomfortable. The Master are covered with bandages from her left arm down to her right leg, the limp she had before is gone, so thus the bruises the Singularity had done to her image.
"Ye- yes?" he peeped, placing down his chopsticks and box of milk to properly whirl his hands together. "What do you want, Gudako?"
"How could you!? It's been three days and you never even told me about what transpire and what you learn from Mordred!" the orange haired Master shot back with all intensity, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "How can you stay calm and eat normally when Hakuno and the others are missing!? How can you keep your cool when Mordred ask for your help and you did not even do a single thing!" she continues, clenching her fist to draw back the persistent bubbling in her throat.
"Gudako-!"
"Why are you keeping the whole truth from us, Romani?"
"Wha-?"
"They trusted you!" she bawled, slapping the face of the pink haired man with all her patience running thin. The cafeteria oozes with tension, silencing any further celebration with the meetings of palm and cheek. Each Servant turned their heads to the commotion, hearing the ramblings of their surprisingly angry Master. "Saber Mordred trusted you! Altria trusted you! Jeanne Alter trusted you! Jack trusted you! Even Hakuno and Mordred of the future trusted you!"
It was supposed to be a fine morning- a day where she will rest all her mixed feelings and settle it up in stability, just after that hectic Babylonian moment she experiences with her Servants, yet, all went in different route as Amakusa Shirou, Scathach, and Merlin entered with a grim facial expression turning her mood into asunder.
They spoke of their premonition produced by their Clairvoyance, an artifact of the future lost and scribbled in reset. The battle which will take place to the Moon. A person who will sacrifice their life for their kin and the betrayal Romani is defining up until now. Adding another layer of salt to the wound, the newly summoned Enkidu and the ever freedom seeking Jack have also come, bearing the factual evidences of omen, and a conversation hidden outside her knowledge.
"He did what?"
"He insisted that I keep it a secret from you, Maman~!" Jack fumed, nuzzling the arm of the orange haired girl, her bangs shielding her twinkling yellow eyes from Gudako's view. "He's been avoiding the topic for two days now from me and he keeps ignoring me when I pursued him to keep his promise to Father (Mordred) about what he will do. He's bad Maman, it's like he did not want to help us at all!"
"If it's so important, then he should've told me sooner! What if they're in a really bad situation right now? It's been what- three days?" Gudako gawked in bafflement, pushing herself out of the bed to look at her Servants equally with both bewilderment and determination.
"Fret not, Master." Enkidu- the feminine man with long green hair bowed in respect to her concern. "I am delighted that you would help us without any remorse, so I will gladly ease your concern to their well- being. Warping out the Time is different that it is supposed to be, Master. And thus, time is irrelevant and different from both past, present or future. It may be days from now in this moment, but it might just be hours since they ascend into the Moon Cell, Master."
"Really? You're not joking right?" Gudako make sure for the second time, leaning forward to the Servant smiling kindly at her. "Is it not too late for me to act now? Can we make it there in time? They need help right?"
"As much as they need air to breathe, Master." The green haired Servant nodded, glancing at his fellow Servants affirming with stiff hums of approval. "Forgive us for burdening you with our trials. We're running out of option, if I may request for your assistance- may you counsel the disappointment of a Chairman Chaldea has?"
"Gudako... just let me explain." Romani sighs in defeat, cupping the bruise cheeks of his. What a coincidence, it's the exact same spot where Mordred had punched him in their Private Room.
"You better be," then, without so much of a thought- a hand grabbed his shoulder forcefully, and the irritated brother of the fuming girl punched his other cheek without restriction- doubling him into the floor, dizzily watching as the two Masters looks down at his pitiful figure, rage clearly visible in their tense necks and fist.
"You better be explaining here..." Gudao spats, albeit calm- the frustration of not seeing his secret lover (Jeanne Alter) for three days have shed alight after he heard of what is occurring inside his sister's head on their way to the cafeteria. "...In front of us. Fully detailed. You have ten minutes, Romani. I don't care what everyone heard- if ever your stupid explanation will be- we want to hear it. Loud and clear."
And just like that, the truth was spilled. Disgust and disbelief coated each and every orbs of the gallant human and creatures alike in histories- sparing the weak and guilt stricken Romani no further glance if they wanted to spare his life. The cafeteria looks so unwelcomed anymore- everyone's wrap out in their fantasies, solidifying their disgust of the man in front of an unusual silent Masters coaxing a dark and menacing aura of authority within their presence.
Even the kindest of Servants, have soured their moods and entertain the pink haired human such looks that could slaughter, disapproving to his choice of action for the matter.
"... So, you will act..." Gudako drawled, biting her inner cheeks in silent reprisal. "... After we complete the last remaining Singularities..."
"... Y- yes..."
"... Even though they said it is the upmost priority. That it's a part where the Rayshift could not identify the end of human civilization, that it is much closer than the thousand years we've been wandering to, rewriting everything out until it became a tiny speck of misapprehension. And yet-!"
"... You decide for all of us to wait and see what will occur. Be a spectator, even if we could do something that can prevent mass destruction of the future we wanted to create..." Gudao growled, gritting his teeth in complete disgust to the man, turning his head to the side- straight to the gleaming eyes of the little Servant from the future observing everything with her cat- like eyes. "How could you stomach waiting while they hope you will move and help them in their complications? Romani... just... what the fuck are you thinking?"
And with those parting words, the Masters leave the area with the Servants activating their spirit form- exiting the once beautiful and comfortable area, in pursuit and in motion to their Masters growing objective- walking straight to the Command Room, deliberately stomping any rules and regulations.
They give no damn, they will save the future- whether Romani like it or not.
00100001(Fate Extra: Grand Order)00100001
"Alright, now we're talking!" Mordred laughed to herself, staring at the stairs where her instinct has been guiding her to come. Mordred simply refuse to waste much time even if she does not have an evidence to prove the hypotheses of hers.
It's been one of a silent and tedious walk for the both of them, but with Nero's small cycle of Christmas Carol (Mordred's grateful she chose the most favorable song) and the seaming wonderful blast of the calmness of the flow of artificial water created by the Moon Cell, all was worth the effort.
"Oh? Another one, I presume?" Nero asked, stopping her small humming with a single sigh of exasperation.
"Well duh! Of course it's another one, what do you expect? I don't care if you took off somewhere though." Mordred nodded, continuing to walk to the path. "You're not my nanny, so you don't have to trail behind me all the time."
"Nonsense! You are undefended!" Nero counters, vastly honing her palatable sense to see if she could discover the hideouts of the Enemy Programs of the maze they are in. "With all my dignity, no lady should be walking all on her own if I could help and be the light honing upon the Crimson Sword of Rome! Umu, those plebeians' shan't lay even one nasty claw in your flawless guise!"
"But you're more of a nuisance than a big help, dumbass." Mordred growled, her dislike being repeatedly pronounce 'girl' emerges with the Mind itself present, her canine teeth sticking out in an adorable manner, thoughts hidden into the sharp and iridescent clasp of green hues.
Nero gasped, planting her hand to her chest to express her intense offense to the jab. "I beg thy pardon? I am not a foul cur suited to belittle lightly!"
"Uh- huh, says who?"
"My na-! Ma-! Umu! Praetor Hakuno and Master Gudako had said once!"
"Once, and it was never repeated. Wow, lucky you."
"Hmph, such uncouth sarcasm! How low of you to ridicule a wondrous woman like I.." the said Emperor pouted with all the defiance she could muster, wiping off Mordred's teasing in place is a disgusted expression .
"Wh- whatever. Stop that, please. I won't fell in you ugly pout too easily."
"H- how rude!" Nero stammers, glaring at the shivering younger blonde stopping at the middle of their journey, just a tad bit away from her post.
"But our chitchat aside, it's been years yet this area didn't change..." Mordred quips, ascending a steep floor still transparent, up to the Upper Floors to where she remembers the exits is with Nero in tow. "... same reviving fountain, boxes, maze and hidden passages. It seems the Moon Cell treasures the prime memories of victory. If only I can access to the box items, shift and exits again."
"Hm? 'If only?' Pray tell, why couldn't you?"
"It's because I don't have a Portable Terminal and a possible Code Cast in my arsenal," Mordred explains, green eyes meeting the Emperor's. "M-... Hakuno could do it, with her status as a Master and Wizard and all. She can teleport with it, exit this arena with her items or with that portable, and she could just... do everything limited to us is all. Like breaking the rules of the Moon Cell and shifting into another places in the map we trashed back for example. But you'll see in time, we'll get the item we need to branch us off here."
"Umu, do as you see fit."
Just like she said it, the map of Chimeric Lunar Sea in the Third Round opens up its stage, as the world shifts of that in the Wonderland, with the epidermal routes and pink and blue glows presenting the world where the Cyber Ghost Alice wanted their tea to end up with. The virtual seagrass blocks Mordred's way to the center, and she gently shove the waving grass gently to behold the table and teacups she and her Master was invited with, subtract the lingering and obnoxious screaming of the reviving Jabberwockys.
"It's so empty... good." Mordred hushed, scratching her head in satisfaction. With Clarent still nowhere to be seen, she does not know if she can compete with the Enemy Programs lingering in this stage. She can holler up and use her fist, sure, however...
'I still feel... incomplete.' She thought to herself, digging up to the data she received. If it says correctly, and undeniably it's the most brain- wrecking if it is not, she's still in the verge of process being the actual Servant Mordred Pendragon Hakuno summoned from the start of the Holy Grail. With her Soul and Body missing, damaging the information such as Heart and Mind would be a terrible idea. In fact, the tell a tale discoloration and difference of her Mind has been prominent as of now, yet Mordred needs to sealed her protest to her own thoughts once more, in order to reach for her short- term goal and leave this location before she will let the Heart confront her defected Mind into the consciousness of her being.
'If only I did grasp the replica of Clarent from that Chaldea's Mordred...'
"Mah, guess we have to take advantage in what we have." She then said loudly, reverting back to reality with a flourish of a sculptured fake. Fuck Clarent for now, she crave to hear if Hakuno's safe. The slight sting and light brush of fear in her heart has become stronger and stronger. Damn possessiveness, she can't prioritize everything to list out her girl to the top. Clarent is a factual need for the future outcomes of warnings, but her steel heart will wretch its way to oblivion without any proper acknowledgement- just to embrace her beloved Master's frame.
"You seem to pick the strangest of places to be sanguine, Mordred."
"Can't help it, we got a hell lot of walk and now's the time to rejoice, our chance to escape is within arm reach after all. Add the boorish nonsense floating in my head about how I won't express myself in action though, it gets pretty hectic and stupid for me." She said, tapping her forehead repeatedly.
"Indeed, though a loath to say this exemplar labyrinth has been boring as of late. Where did the little insects hide their viciousness, I wonder?" Nero responds haughtily, both fist in her waist and her eyes proclaiming her frustration to the dull strides they had been doing for more than three mazes they are in.
"Are you not right on the head or are you not really informed what lies here before?" Mordred snarl, a vine popping out in her head as Nero gave her that same regal and posture tilt of her head.
"Hmph! A Royal Servant as I, will not see those Enemy Programs as a mighty foe to be called equals." then Nero smirks at the end, fueling Mordred's ire to her more and more. "They are but a stepping stone of the strong, those who enact great assistances and impressions in their ranks are magnificently subpar only with the maggots deep in the ground."
"Of course that's their function here, dumbass. Don't get cocky," Mordred huffed, proceeding to her destination in the center of the calming hum of the artificial sea. "You've been summoned having all your skills, but Hakuno and I need to scrape all what it has to offer before we rest for the day in this hell holes. Without my Noble Phantasm and additional skills, we're the bottom pile of the losers there is so don't talk shit about equals or what not. Those Enemy Programs can chop of our heads on how fuck up my Arsenal Skills are."
Nero blinks her thoughts away, as she follows and stares at the back of the younger blonde murmuring her displease to the words she heard. "I spoke too much-"
"You always was.." Mordred murmured, but Nero continued- hiding the tick of her veins in her fake smile of authority.
"- And I knew I upset you with my words, forgive me for my upbringing. It truly was unbecoming." The Fifth Emperor apologizes, deeping her head a little even though Mordred cannot see her action.
"I'm not upset. I'm just stating the factual injustice we had back then," Mordred sighs, straining to catch a glimpse of the other blonde's face before staring straight ahead again. "... So stop with that solemn face, it creeps me out you know."
"Muuu..." Nero humph, saying no more as they sauntered freely into the transparent halls. With every steps she took, Mordred's mind began to wonder to the days she's been in that Arena, always behind the fragile form of her Master... the Master she loves with all her passion, giving up her long dreamt Wish just to be in her presence once again. She stood at an inch away to the whole seat of tea cups in a round table, full of artificial foods mainly retaining its sweet tooth vibrancy and theme at impressive set of frills, elaborating children banquettes. And now, as she grips the back of one of the wonderfully crafted chair circling a well suited teacups and sweets, she closed her eyes in resignation...
... Reminiscing about the memories they last had within that hall...
The tears.. the shift of behavior... that intuition... the absurd talk. She did not realize she slowly smiles as these memories kept flashing in her head. Nero watched silently, a touch of curiosity and happiness to see the wicked knight in her utmost fragility. Truly, a blooming flower in the battlefield is what Mordred is- the Emperor must protect it, life on hand and death willed it deem.
Mordred's eyes focused beneath the row of sweets and flowers once more, reaching out carefully, bringing her back to their last moments with this place.
"Master, I see no reason for us to come back here after our Elimination Round with that girl and Nursery Rhyme." She huffs in irritation, focusing her howling gaze at the Master sitting at one of the small chairs with its back facing her. Her Master- Hakuno Kishinami nodded in agreement, interpreting that she is listening to the words of her Servant. Yet, Hakuno's silence has been rubbing off of her in a different manner that she could not help but growls in distress, stomping its way at Hakuno's side...
"Ah..."
To behold the tears of the silent and stoic brunette. With those blank does staring at the small bouquet of sweets at the table, she dare not speak and let the Master cry her sorrow in a silent manner, not knowing what to do but be by her side in the time of need. Hakuno's shoulders do not quake in accordance to her tears, yet the deep silence speaks true meanings.
She remembered how it always came to this point, where she will study her Master up close to the development of her identity. She remembers seeing the first expression of shock and dread at the First Elimination Round, where she fought her best friend in exchange of advancing until the Second Week. She remembers the first concern and doubt, the heartwarming gaze of a broken doll to her very being and to the man they fought at that time. And now, with the Third Enemy in ruins, she witnesses the sadness and the pure ignition of the word loneliness in those doe depths. She pities her Master, how such a little broken thing can mend the hearts of all but could not repair hers. It's always been like this, scorching her heart and slapping it simultaneously- urging her to move her body to comfort the fallen and twisted Master who could not even remember what she is or who she is for that matter.
Unconsciously, her clothed hand has raise in the air, aiming to touch the brown locks waving in its own way. She aims to soothe down her Master's concern to the dead, but her annoying pride have taken its way. Before her fingertips can trace a single strand of her Master's hair, her hand spasm and came into a halt, for she did not need to, as the Master dried her tears away. "Done weeping, Master?" she asked calmly, masking out her sympathy to the brunette, hiding her treasonous limb. Hakuno nodded one last time before those puffy brown eyes stare at her soullessly.
"So... can we leave now?"
"... Not yet." Her Master responded, then, with not so much as a sniffle or pause in continuation, Hakuno bares her Portable Terminal and slides it in the bottom pile of the sweets, confusing her Servant with this action.
"Master... what are you doing?" she asked incredulously, looking at the hidden Portable then back again at her Master.
"Hiding it."
"What is it for?"
"... Secret escape route." Hakuno said, with her little and single cryptic word.
"Secret escape route? What secret escape route!? Master, that's a Portable you just offered, are you stupid!? How do you expect us to get out of here!?" she burst in frustration, shaking the little shoulders of her blank and stupid Master. "Pick it up again, Master and just choose some item in your Portable. It is a crucial Terminal we needed to advance at the Fourth Week, you got me?" she explain in rush of her irritable reactions, but Hakuno merely sighs her understanding, grasping the covered hands holding her shoulders tightly.
"Yes. What defines it as. I am not nuts. I have an extra given by Rin. I will not. Yes, I did." She then responded chronological to the questions her Servant blurted, completely staring back at the fire- burning eyes of her Servant. "I have no use of it now since I retract all the items into the Portable given to me graciously by Rin. Alice's data have corrupted it that one function is available to access in its state."
"... And what is that?" she spats, gritting her teeth slightly as the Master. Hakuno blink once, twice and thrice, before she nodded and gave her the answer she did not expect to be heard, less to the insufferable Master.
"Access to our Room."
"... What?" the Servant's mind short- circuited, almost seeing her Master in a small plushie form with that canonical bored eyes.
"... Just so you know, our room's also plagued with Alice's data and sooner or later it will disperse the privacy Moon Cell had given us. So I am offering our room to those who will discover it. Before you throw tantrums again, I have replaced our Room a good distance to our previous, both furniture and goods replicated to the very spiritrons it is created."
And just like that, Hakuno's Servant bellow with all the defiance she has to their previous enemies. "Come on! That little squirt did all of that junk!? Why haven't you say so, Master!? I could have just-!"
"You can't change back time, Saber." Hakuno said it with such ease her Servant close her eyes in complete defeat. "... but I am aware that it may not be discovered. Yet... there's something whispering into me that I should leave it there and await for it to be used again."
"There's a goddamn ways to simply eradicate it, you pipsqueak."
"True, but it is still running. It should not go to waste, everything has its merits."
Finally, with all there is to it, Hakuno squeeze the hands of her Servant, standing in succession to her calm visage in the face of a lion cub. "I don't know how far we can go Saber, but I knew for sure 'Instincts' have its reason."
"You're not making any sense." The Servant deadpanned, extracting her limbs affectionately being held by her Master.
"My instinct guides me to leave it here, Saber." Hakuno explains, turning her back to her Servant. "If ever there was a time a person will lose their way, just like Alice does, that Portable will be their last resort. Maybe it won't be discovered, but I have my utmost faith it will."
"Hah, would you look at that Hakuno." Mordred whispered to herself, pulling out the Terminal her Master had hidden under the bush of delicacies, smiling genuinely out of love. "It seems your absurd instinct will save my life now." She inspects it carefully. The abbreviation H.K on its back is still shiny, with specks of yellow triangular running up and down the infinity sides and the rust of discoloration at the top screen left her to conclude that it doesn't have much time left before its system collapses.
"Mordred?" Nero asked, tilting her head to the side, confused as she was at the first day she met the young blonde. Mordred nods at her direction before she reaches out to press a button to their fate-
*BOOOM!*
-Until the sound of explosion above create a static and ear- screeching reaction to the floor they were in, covering the lime violet and cyan hues with menacing red and dark atmosphere, trembling with ferocity and quaking the artificial walls to their sides as the world flashes in and out in their peripheral.
"Ugh, what is it now!?" Mordred growled, not appreciating the disturbance and the swirling churn of her stomach... !?... before a loud scream of a familiar voice echoes at the next maze above...
No, it's more than a scream. It's a yell of activation, she heard it before... and she can replicate it to the very core.
The two blonde looks at each other in alarm, before they swiftly turns in the direction of the collapsing stairs up the steepest section of the maze, in reaction to the horrifying sparks of goo exploding and creating a newly formed enemies, their common eyes brimming with gleam of red and purple.
"Oh look, the fucking maggots!" Mordred said in rush, sidestepping unstable parts of the floor, creating a silhouette of a red lightning to boost her speed equal to Nero.
"Unfortunately, we must depart and assemble with the others above!" the emperor flawlessly countered, her feet quickly running with a grace of a gorgeous dancer.
Their eyes flash in deem light and their body moves with the sound of the flow of water grumbling to be release. The two run with all their entire capacity, sparks of abilities materializing which leaves a trail of brilliancy.
The earie resemblance of the newly formed enemies to Babel's Pieces and Monster at their seventh week did not help Mordred to ease a comfort to eradicate the beats of her heart at all. It's a program system rivaling that of the two weakest Servants- Assassin and Caster- and with her body now, it could ripped her off to shreds.
'Now that is disturbing,' she thought, looking above, still clutching her Master's portable, a dust of hope blooming in her chest.
She will pull this through. She must stay alive for her Master.
That's her absolute rule.
00100001(Fate Extra: Grand Order)00100001
Awkward.
Astolfo is not accustomed to the word 'awkward'. In fact, that word is neither in his vocabulary nor even a part of his personality everyone loved about him. Born as optimistic and blessed by charisma of the highest caliber, his expectant views to the world have earned him the innocence of a little child unmarked by negative views on life. He maybe a knight, but what is there to think but the chivalric way of helping others and serving his King with all his heart? Subtract the unsuspecting thoughts, and prioritize the good ones- his mind were directing itself to search for the right actions and exhibits a justifiable results to antagonize the pessimistic nature of guilt, and hence, the addition of the vile realities of the world.
But his mind aside, he could count in one hand how much uncomfortable gatherings he interrupted with his wild cheer and impeccable timing to sedate the tension into a miraculous friendly atmosphere. Almost attracting all attention with his good humors and funny antics- he's confident that he can turn everything into a well inventive event.
But he's not sure he could do it at the moment, not without implanting himself to the ire of the two identical historic legends- Altria and Arturia Pendragon in the intoxicating and mind bulging frizzles of unwanted warnings to not step even an inch to their 50 meter separation. He tried, he truly did- but their stubbornness is stronger than his traits.
"Mou~! Come on you two, why won't you speak to each other!?" that's his last straw of entertaining, for he is at the brink of giving up in their dissatisfied attempt to ignore their presence like the wind.
Silence met his words, and it doesn't surprise him at all. His drawl out sigh is longer than he thought it would be, before he raise his head to the absurd environment they are in- Chimeric Lunar Sea of the third round, the First Map- Altria said once- the first and last sentence she utter before they discovered Arturia Pendragon within the vicinity with them. They did not leave the space of the maze so far, as they were put out and in the verge of knowing not to do- with Altria in every sense neutrally persistent being mute to their journey.
'Come to think of it, why aren't they talking to each other?' is what he wondered to his own world, unconsciously moving away from their small group into another part of the maze which caught his short- vision attention, leaving the two woman beside the bypass point.
Why is it, truly?
Arturia have an idea- but she refused to let it surface and cloud her judgement to her another self. She's equally confused as Astolfo, starting from the point where they experience a lifetime of Rayshift like momentum before they were set off in this Area, up to this continuous cold interaction with Altria- she's in a gutter of a right way to pronounce her words without amplifying the rude greeting as it is.
And while Altria's coldness continuing, the idea blooms and grows into a confirmation- making her unsympathetic also, much to the foiling of the third person they are acquainted in.
It's not about Arturia's presence which made her avoidance oblivious as a sun... but the dismissal of the King of Knight's very existence. Altria's a person who did not condone her beliefs- she's a part of Arturia, yes, but the rejection she permitted to roll in her life was what made the Lancer incoherent and chary to not glance at the disgust of a father she had become.
Yes, it pertains in the air. Or is it because they were once the same person of the past that they can attentively set their mind in a correct pattern? Arturia meant her decision to reject the son of hers which brings down her death on that faithful battle. Altria's full history is a mystery to the King of Knights, but she knew enough to counter that it is a happy ending for her other half. With not so much of a thought, her eyes pierce through Altria's- connecting their fate, heat rumbling off to receive the displeasure of the moment.
She understood the implication of Altria's denial... but is it just Altria that has the right to judge her in a negative manner?
No. If she remembers correctly, Altria hid her precious son to her and act as the 'one true father' within close walls. Is it not a crime to be called barbaric with a magmatic argument of which is which? Her instinct as a father is at stake with the much refine version of hers... but she won't back down lightly- not until she takes back what is rightfully hers from the beginning.
Altria knew this will be a loss cost for the three of them. It's been six hours after they return back in time, and still of signs of her daughter and their worrisome Master. Add to the fact that they were submitted in a place which should not exist anymore- the Holy Grail labyrinth- the start of Hakuno's journey. A major combustion of plans have been eliminated by a single failure she had avoided by using Release- and that is to directly pierce Avalon in the epicenter of her daughter's heart, which she simply converted into a cleave just below the thumping muscle of her cub. Not only she failed to transfer them back together, it is Arturia of all people that whom partnered up with her. Refusing to talk was her only counter measure to grip her ranging disappointment, but with those eyes silently locking up with hers- all is for naught as Arturia thinly line up her lips in seriousness, waiting for the right time to speak- unprecedented and unnerving.
"... Why?" and at last, Arturia venomously asked, uncharted. It's a single word with too many misconceptions battling for dominance.
'Why did you take my child away from me?'
'Why did you take my privilege from me?'
'Why did you steal my chance to make amends with my son?'
'Why did you hide her from me?'
'Why are you replacing me?'
Why indeed? Altria wanted to ask the specific topic of such pompous version of herself- acting all high and mighty, prideful and gloopy, yet simply dejecting and avoiding the real reason behind the 'why' have never been so inviting, but pride is her definition of hate- and thus, she met the fierceness head on with her own angry glare- as two dragon descendants trace each other's verbal claws. It is not a matter of who are the strongest, but rather, the worth of being chosen as a father of a person with two entities as its soul. It's not like Arturia knows anyway, how Altria hogged all of their young hatchling's love all by herself.
Yes, this is a fight of honor between fathers- no one will understand their judicial rights, especially if they saw one another as a fraud of a father in the eyes of their child.
"You deliberately bequeathed her to me," Altria simplified her answer, crossing her arms to her plated chest. "You have all the time to make it right, ask for forgiveness and receive her affections like before. However, you waited for the right time- or rather, you were finding solitude that she will never replace you; hence your choice to postpone the opportunity outstripping your self-reliance. Too many times."
Arturia slate her teeth, the invisible arrow tweaking her heart in jeer. "Bequeathed her? Or is 'stole' a genuine word to delineate what you done?"
"A harsh words, Arturia. I see no evidence of your declaration to my name."
"Is the revelation that you're hiding my own child from me still not enough?"
"I still see no evidence-"
"You cur," Arturia hissed, her frown doubling in intensity as her hands flex in complete tenseness to draw out Excalibur and wipe the calm face of her other version. "Have you forgotten that I'm present at the transmission that happens before we entered in this maze?"
"Fa... ther..."
"It's okay, beloved. Father's here, forgive me for what I've done."
Arturia could not believe her eyes. As they ascend into a portal of glowing colors and devastating high speed and frizzing realities mending in a speed faster than light, her attention have greatly focused to the two figures at her front- the Mordred which is pierced in the heart with Avalon and another version of her origin, cradling the sweating bullet of her supposed to be child. The Mordred and Hakuno of another dimension have been long far gone ahead to them, as well as the other Servants unwillingly plunge into the reversion of space to the future.
She watch the spectacle with a heavy feeling in her abdomen, as Altria comforts the whimpering in pain Saber Mordred of Chaldea, weakly wheezing out her breathe to her blood dripping nose, and seeking sanction of warmth in the grown woman's neck- stuttering in complete pain, clutching her blood soaked white shirt.
"You... did it, Father." Saber Mordred weakly laughs, coughing out an amorphous amount of blood before nuzzling the neck of her beloved father again. "You.. completely k-... kick her arse."
"I did, my love. But refrain from speaking too much, I need to stabilize your health when this is all over. Await my care to you, cub, please forgive me for doing this to you." Altria replied with all the love she can give, her voice in verge of fear and her eyes spokes true terror of seeing Saber Mordred in pain- earning Arturia a grand inquisitiveness and a load of jealousness engrave to the fleeting touch Altria has been doing to her own son.
"Hehe... Best.. Father... Ever... Dada." Saber Mordred laugh once more, before her eyes trace a semblance of recognition when Arturia's eyes and hers meet- tensing in surprise to her acknowledgement, until her body disappeared in a flash of glowing particles.
"You abominable scum... how could you manipulate my own son to abide you as her father?" Arturia continues, teeth grinding in succession.
"Hmph, you insistently blame me for Mordred's action, does it cross your mind Mordred has her own free will to decide what she want to enact? You blame others due to your incompetence and so thus not to burden your name with falsified acts unbefitting for a King of knights. I did not do such a thing to make her acknowledge me as her 'father', perhaps your injustice avoidance has compelled her to do what she done."
"Harsh words for a third rate version of mine. I admit I am at fault- yet it did not explain why you expected I won't pursue her at all after what I had witness. You yearned for her as much as I do," Arturia coldly stated, her eyes a barrage of icy steel of annoyance. "And you have taken great caution to steal my son under my nose for many months. I admire your desire, albeit it gave me a reason to despise you with what you've done."
"I do expect you will. It's no matter when, what I do want to know is how you will bring back her love to you, King of Knights." Altria continues, almost showing her fabrication of abhorrence. "You have known not one glimpse of what transpire unto your child for so many hours she is within my care, nor what connects her in this world we are in at the present."
"Hn, be as it may. Sooner than you realize, I'll take her back as my son- prepare to trail in my dust, I will eliminate the trace of your manifested obsession to my child. The mystery in her relation to this world, that I will coax personally out of her. Without your help, I'm afraid. And I certainly won't let her near you anymore." Arturia countered, baring her deviant flex of aura acquainted to her ascension in the fourth stage.
"Do as you like," Altria half- heartedly wave her hand in dismissal, her eyes showing of the boredom of a challenge she have the upper hand of winning. After all, Mordred walks on her life in her own free will- not because Altria search for her, but because there's a part of her own child still in the Vessel. It's a matter of challenge who will win to the two Mordred's out there somewhere- she will respectfully accept everything it will result into if Arturia have won her self- proclaim bet. "Talk all you want in her steed- we hold no strings of her choices- let her decide which to the two of us she'll recognize as her father."
"... so be it. Let this time imprints its vow in our hearts. I'll take back what's mine- and you will adhered with this trial." Finally, with a last convicted statement to start their first ever conversation to their delicate position as the father of a child, Astolfo suddenly emerge within their front with a speed of his class [Rider], opting to jostle up and down in complete cheerfulness, looking at them back and forth.
"What? What happened here? Did you two talk when I'm not around? Did you? Did you?" the Rider rambles on and off, while the terse woman nods their head in confirmation to his question.
"Really!?" Astolfo laugh, jovially- clapping his hands in celebration. "That's great! If you told me sooner then I could've just leave for a moment to let you talk privately you know! But gist out and about, I probably should tell you we need to keep going, you know- change scenarios and all that! Come on, let's go~!" Then, without much of a permission, he pulls the two women by the wrist in haste, opposite to the direction he run off before- confusing the two blondes in his sweating and cold grip.
"What is the matter, Astolfo?' Arturia asked the pink haired boy, stomping her foot to the ground as the Rider squeak in surprise. It seems the Saber's strength is more apparent now that he can't move forward with Arturia locking his wrist in a secured grip.
"N- nothing~! Just nothing~!" he obviously lied with the high speech he produces. Altria forcefully grip Astolfo's other hand harder, warning the Rider to tell them the truth.
"Astolfo..." she murmured, like a lion ready to smash his head off.
"I told you it's nothing~! I just kind of enters this awesome secret passage and then I met this huge looking guy with a cylinder style as a head~ and then- he yelled and kept chasing me, you know~ And then,,, And then..." with his ramblings not stopping at full force, Altria's breath hitch as the screeching scream of a familiar monster penetrates her hearing.
If she remembers correctly... that was... !? 'Rare Monsters; Claustrophobia and Monster combination guarding a rare artifact. It's also called SE. RE. PH. The greatest cleansing program for Servants who devoted everything to their Master, bending SE. RA. PH. 's rule.' With her thoughts in continuous overdrive, her face went pastel and lighter. She definitely fought one with her previous Master, and it is a moment she never wanted to happen again.
"Let me guess... he kept chasing you while bellowing and come what may, many other different programs emerge and are on their way in this location, perhaps?" she risked confirming it, materializing Rhongomyniad to all its glory.
"What?" Arturia, alarmed by the statement unleashed her full armor, consisting of her formal battle wear with a cape and a crown on her head. She access the resting place of Excalibur, and holds it with the shining holiness for the world of SE. RA. PH. to see.
"Ahaha~! That's pretty much what happened~!" Astolfo grinned nervously, scratching his head as the thumping of tremendous weight and buzzes of screeching maggots of a Program giving a obscureness altitude of the numerous amount they are in pursuit to. It's been hours since the Enemy Programs are unmistakably nowhere to be found, yet what triggers their appearances is not because they are needed in this turf... Or perhaps it's because...
"Is that all you've done, Astolfo?" Altria pointed out, readying her stance as a Lancer, still not summoning her trusted white horse.
"What?" the airheaded boy asked, curiously- letting his sheathed sword taste the air of the virtual world they are in.
"The Rare Monster you saw, it could not be provoke unless you've done something which warrants its complete attention. With the secret passage barrier, it should be staying low in that particular area of the maze guarding a rare artifact- never once I heard of it rampaging and following someone without them doing anything to impute the monster in haywire. So I ask of you for our safety; what have you done to the place you went through?"
"Oh, so it's a rare monster, huh. Oh man~! It just settled I made it mad, ahaha~!" the boy laugh to his irresponsible act, making the two serious woman to deadpanned at his inexcusable merriment. But within a moment, the boy compose himself- staring straight into the route of the maze making an static and disturbing dark splotches when the quakes appears to affect the virtual environment.
"Astolfo, I believe this is no laughing matter." Arturia berated- gulping down her emotions as she readies her blade.
"... but I have no choice but to do it, Saber, Lancer," he continued, pulling out his Tome and waving it in their narrowed eyes- before an ornamental sword pierce the floor at his right side, standing straight and still as its tip was buried to the ground.
"That's-!" Altria gasped while Arturia stood immobilized in shock.
"Cla... rent?" She whisper, hypnotize to touch the immaculate pattern of the Sword of Peace.
"I found this stuff being guarded by the guy over there," Astolfo added, whirling Clarent into a produced belt and strapping it at his back to secure the sword to his body, before pointing at the violet scrapped entity sending tremors in its wake with flying and crawling beasts as its first defense. "I kind of remembered that Mordred of Hakuno's- the human one, no?- have no weapons at her disposal when we literally jumped here. So I guess it will become handy if ever we'll see her again."
"Hmph, a good judge of action, Astolfo." Altria complimented, nodding her head once more- before walking forward with the two in tow, ready as they can be- as the first wave speed up their death-
And the wave of mana within them detonated, creating a halo of colors combusting the Area with its glamorous finest... Obscuring the appearance of a small flash of light at the exit point, as the brawl ensues between heroes and creatures.
00100001(Fate Extra: Grand Order)00100001
"You little squirt, I thought you will get us out of here!" Saber Mordred cracks, but not a second passes, her biting words turns into a merry laughter while she rolls on the ground, soaked and still wet from the reviving fountain. "Tell me first so I don't get my hopes in the gutter, will you?" she spats, showing her canine teeth to the blank gazed brunette standing to her side, also drench from head to toe.
"Sorry to disappoint," she responds, placing the terminal straight to her peripheral vision- her slight concern hidden within her cool orbs, confirming that it's just a single floor above their previous. "It seems we shunned the inexorable. We must embark to the bypass point in this maze."
"Whatever," Saber Mordred rolled her eyes, settling with a quiet sigh on the ground, her arms covering her eyes in satisfaction. "Shall we go now?"
"... Let your body rest for a moment." Hakuno advised, sitting down next to the blonde, saving her breathe and slowing down the turbulent pace of her heart as well. It's been a little overwhelming, hunted down the very moment they get acquainted in her past mischiefs with her Servant, does the Enemy Programs greet them with all defiance they had got. Thankfully, with the right amount of specks and grateful to the terminal Rin have given her so long ago which she treasures with all her might, their escape has been successful, even if it's a little uptight.
She looks at the portable again, rereading and repeating the process again and again.
Year: 2043.
It's a huge miscalculation of transfer- yet Hakuno can't blame Altria if the presences of the untimely Servants have glitch the system operating the crafted Avalon of the Lancer. Still, she knows not the complete reason why this is the exact year they are appointed to, it matters not anyway. She will find the truth and her other halves with her friends, she will make sure of it as this begins their trail to find the answers of their ends.
With her mind grinding into ways to possibly get them out of here and post haste return at the Building at the very top of these mazes, her thoughts have been boggling her lately about the 'off' sense of things inside the Area they were in. If she recalls correctly, there's just one rule about the wins and defeat of the Servants and Masters in the labyrinth.
[The enemy programs are activated to not harmed any Master, and hence, the duel is but with a Servant and Programmed Viruses. If the Servant wins, the ranking abilities will increase, yet if the Servant loses, the Master too, will be eradicated.]
However, this rule are almost reset and changed into something more sinister. The Enemy Programs attacked everything in the vicinity, not only they are willing to crush the barrier of 'safe zone' and reviving fountain, it seems the very code making them function was infected with the trace of diamond ringlets coursing through their bodies much like BB's shadows, but more prominent and tentative- increasing their power horse and intensifying their guard.
"Here you go again, trailing your head off with your thoughts. Damn, what an idiot you are." disturbingly, Hakuno went still as she monotonously turns her head to look at the blonde who caught her attention, both arm resting limply at the side of her body, one eye close while she regards the brunette.
"..." finally, without much of a second thought-
"Woah! Damn woman!"- Hakuno poked Saber Mordred at the exact same spot she knew her Mordred is sensitive, just below her left rib. Saber Mordred roll away from her after shuddering like a pup, a mockery of indescribable expression upon her face as a red blush burns its way. "What the hell was that just now, dumbass? Do you want me to punch your face?"
"If you would kindly not interrupt my thoughts, Saber Mordred." Hakuno subtly murmured, tangling her arms together to lull as much warm as possible to her form. Her eyes trace the pattern of Saber Mordred's body before wandering her gaze of again, just about far enough to ward off the wondering cusses of the blonde next to her.
"I'm just stating the fact, idiot. You implied I was talking to you when I was just saying my thoughts."
"... Is that so?"
"... what are you, a robot?" Saber Mordred huffs, itching to hold a groan as her hand went down to her chest, scratching an uncomfortable place. With the small movement which shows her true health, Hakuno sigh her own exasperation.
Even with different Mordred from alternative worlds, it seems their streak of being stubborn is still visibly anchored within their personality.
Without prompting anything further, Hakuno have no means of totally escaping the Arena without the Servants around. She could take Saber Mordred, sure, but she is still too wobbly and vulnerable against the thrust of Avalon, clearly- if she added, as the apparent shaking and convulsion of her muscles have been there since. It doesn't help that Saber Mordred's tone are getting hazy and drawled, it's not much but Hakuno might pull some stunt to give her a boost if the indication of a fight somewhere that trembles the whole Area specifies great trouble. However, par from her abilities, she knew the Servant is more powerful than she let on, she may speak of her fragility- but she's a true monster in combat if she based it to her previous time with her Mordred in the Coliseum.
Then with that in mind, she trace the patterned of her Command Seal which suddenly appeared in her hand, it's beautiful enough- but the golden color instead of its usual red have been bothering her since the beginning. Finally, as her mind stops it's trail of options, their peace of seclusion have been broken by the monstrous screech of a program, sending a wave of goosebumps to her skin. In flash, Saber Mordred's at her front, Clarent in her wobbly hand- as the world turned static and dark, red and purple shades emerge to replace the calm hues of pink and blue, creating more shadow than light, suppressing their eyesight further with the static collapse of virtual stage as the sea's calming activity turns into a storm.
"What the fuck's happening in here?"
"Somehow the Arena's reacting violently into something. These might be because of the irregular spawning sessions of the Enemy programs." Hakuno supplied, pulling out the terminal to show the sections map and the rapidly increasing red dots going at the same location.
"What's that different dots?"
"Red means enemies, sky blue's for entrance, green for exits, orange for items, lime pink's for an specific request, red's stars for rare monsters, the blue dot is a person and their Servant and gray circles are for bypass point."
"Red star's a rare monster you say?"
"Affirmative."
"Damn, that's a shitty load of it moving in the bypass point you're talking about."
"Yes, they are." Hakuno breathes out her concern, typing off code cast used by her late friend before.
"Oi, little girl. I think it's our allies in the place those Monsters are going. I can hear it from here, do you want to proceed and give it a shot?" the blonde asked the brunette. Saber Mordred's ready to debate and argue their compromising position to a bored looking girl if she were to refuse, however, she do not expect the girl to nod her head in agreement to her choice- simply brushing off her clothes the same as her Master back in Chaldea before awaiting her move to walk at the deeper part of the maze.
"... what?" the girl silently replied, pocketing the terminal and staring at her orbs, challenging.
Mordred shakes her head out of its baffled state. Right, this girl's the Master of the King of Moon Cell. With the specks of memories the Mind has been reflecting for many months she reside within her, she can actively said that this girl at her back is not something to lightly tempt with. If ever, she must be an opponent worth observing for as long as it is needed to encompassed their abilities as a leader and as a Master who not only secured victory once, but twicein a same row- unwilling still and by incident pushed into an action where she survived and prepared herself in quick resolve to live.
Add to that her charismatic aptitude that lulls same sex to want her- either friend or foe. Truly, at that Mordred shudders in fear- nope. It's not happening.
She's Jeanne's, no one else.
"Alright, you're ready?" she grinned maniacally, showing her childish antics for battle to the silent brunette who nodded, taking the lead to run and show the way, however, she pause to give one rule to be obeyed.
"Saber,"
"What?"
"... I have a proposal for you."
00100001(Fate Extra: Grand Order)00100001
If the screeches are not bad enough, the dim light, the cracked floors and the static reaction of the maze she's in have been frustrating. Not only it would mean great disadvantage to her footing, she's also next to an unknown territory of enemies, small to their stature but with a strength surpassing even the swift Assassins. The once beautiful and enchanting environment has turn into a wide dystopia straight from hell.
There's nowhere to run. No chance to escape. With every step she took, her chance of survival have been decreasing in a rapid pace against the bombast monsters in different forms and earie resemblance to a laughable squids of video games.
'Unbelievable.' Arturia thought as she promenaded and cleave her ways from one point to another. The creatures have swamp and pointedly attack with a mind of colonial bees to their position, breaking off her perfect guard and captivatingly intercepting her movements with a few flashes of their own. It's almost exactly the same as the Skeletons and other entities they fought in the Singularity, yet, while she was pushed back further and away from her allies- she knew this is not a duel but a wild brawl of tactics. The enemies act on their accord, unsystematically attacking, breaking and guarding her attacks intelligently, like they have mind on its own.
She cannot find any pattern, for if she strikes one down, ten will respawn. There were also the skills and abilities they surprisingly have. It shocked her at first, as a [skill: Stun] have rock her body to be paralyze for two seconds- enough for the crawling moths to widely arc their sharp teeth close to her legs, before she incinerated them with [skill: Prana Burst] and a swift mighty leapt to distance herself to the crawling cogs of virtual programs. With her in the air, she pulverized each and every upcoming Klein and Viper- Altria called it that- with a mighty swing of her Excalibur- left, right, somersault, and then a wide arc of slash in a speed of sound, creating a 360 degree twirl, before her plated knee slammed in the ground with Gammawave in it- swords poise and shimmering with its golden light.
The clustered particles falls down in a wonderful scene of purple glimmers, but its beauty have been short- sighted, as another wave grind her down on her toes while she dodge a timing strike of [skill: Stun] in her unaided back. With a force of a horse, she swipe the Tremors off the ground and elevate them two meters apart before slicing them in a rhythmic manner, scorching their innards with her golden shine and decapitating small fries with Excalibur's pommel and guard.
Yet it gets worse. They mob and circle her form, everyone aplomb as if ready to strike at any seconds, then- strike they did, with their stingers and canine arc in display, falling down on her like a grain of salt-
"Hah!" almost catching up as she produces a gush of the invisible air in her Arsenal, generating a heated wind with the sharpness of her blade. Her victory was quickly replace with awe, as the program mammoths have barrel in complexity, dodging her invisible defenses and diving in again, now poise just to kill.
Unceremoniously, Arturia takes the time to dodge the unflappable quirks of the flies, resolutely taking one aim to push her out of their epicenter range and dispatched the following others. Planting herself which leaves a small crater of error, she dash with her prana guiding, enamored by the intelligent programs- pursuing her trail.
'They read me.'Arturia specified in her brain, flexing her muscles and countering the infuriating beast munching their comrades to appear bigger and in mixture of their apparent strengths. 'They're getting intelligent- it's almost like they knew what will I do next.'
As she fought bravely in the swirling mass of data, Altria- a little farther away from the scene discombobulate a pair of Rare Monsters as she pierce through their heads sideways. All too quickly, the compact mash of flesh of the humungous guardians strikes at her location- scraping a strands of her long hair before she delivered a striking blow, damaging the central functions at its heads and blasting it with her mighty kick, sending it off to another area unwanted.
She gripped her lance and send havoc with its stellar light to the unsuspecting Nephilim and Sandstorm, creating a way through the resisting Rider- far off next to being clomp with the hands of the Destroyer.
Without further she do, she lean her body close to the ground and sped off thrusting Rhongomyniad to the group of Destroyers, skillfully weaving through guards and breaking with a rhythmic dance to the clusters.
"Yo! Thanks!" Astolfo happily exclaimed, picking his beaten body out of the fragments of the floor.
"Focus, Astolfo. These monsters are dangerous." Altria reprimanded, guiding the Rider closer to Arturia- succumbing to her thoughts. With how the program enemies behave- it seems they were under control of a direct order of annihilation.
They're much smarter. Stronger. Flexible.
And Altria's at her limit to pursue how to end them with the repetitive procreating the Shadows invented to the prison they are at. She's still recuperating from the continual loss of mana she's subconsciously sending Avalon to repair the damage she wrought to her daughter. And now, with these tribulations unseeing its ending, she could not replicate the same strength she had before in activating a multitude of her Noble Phantasm without Hakuno and their bond remaining dormant for many years.
'If only Master Hakuno's here.'
With an exhale of frustration, she twirls in the masses, perfectly untouchable and riveting- her staid persona on edge to seek long lasting exits, before her back and the other Servant collide painfully to a human's perspective.
"Arara~, this is a bad point, isn't it?" the Rider nervously stutters, dropping the tip of his own lance to pull his body together, sweating bullets as it seeps in his cuts and bruises. "Mou, how can they be so strong with that small body of theirs?" he complains, backing up as the Enemy lines up to trap them in the center, vivid red eyes searching for any sudden movements, waiting for them to attack.
They buzz and shriek like true monsters, aligning and intimidating with their numbers, as they keep moving forward in a slow pace, judging the Servants reaction. The three grit their teeth, stance open yet gallant, lances and sword raise to fight, completely outnumbered, yet resilience and experience hold their life protectively. Finally, though they saw enough- the enemy programs turns into one another- eating, scraping, pushing themselves to others like an insufferable bacteria they are. Slowly- Astolfo grip a single hand to keep his mouth shut in horror.
The monsters are crying- he can truly identify their bawls of pain echoing- as the numerous monsters turns into a single entity, bigger than they face so far- almost scraping the top barrier of the Chimeric Lunar Sea, with its single malicious eye staring down at their little forms. Astolfo crane his neck upwards painfully, dropping his jaw in complete incredulity.
"B- BIIIIIGGGGG!" he yelled in panic, pulling out his hair in different directions. "I've never seen anything that big!"
"... Kh!" Arturia firmly gripped Excalibur's hilt, biting her cheeks as she looks up at the humanoid monster. "Cease your fears, it's coming!" she warned- frantically running out of the front zone. The beast roared in ferocity, slamming its tough hands at the ground, rampaging with a speed of a Servant Rider, toppling Altria with his massive feet.
"Ugh! U-Umbral's... Jabberwocky!" she huffs in strain. The pressure keeps increasing while she held her spear up to decrepit a tendon of circuits at its sole with a burst of explosion of Rhongomyniad's blessing. Backing out of the huge foot, Altria emerge in the dust with her cape missing and a spurt of blood flowing down her primal arm. Altria glared with all her might, eyes drilling holes to the gigantic Jabberwocky colored with disgusting dark purple skin and yellow diamonds creating halo of menacing and destructing visage of warrior. It confirms it- the Umbral Star had done its deed.
It partially controls the Eye of the God now, it's only a matter of time before the whole SE. RA. PH. succumbs to its infection.
She plunge her javelin over and over, skidding and landing at the giant's shoulder, already dashing with Rhongomyniad deeply penetrating the flesh of the infected monster, tracing patterns as she push her weapon forward while she sidestepped every attempt of swatting the Jabberwocky did- screeching its displeasure, uncontrollably thrashing about the area- raining black goo. While Altria is busy holding up and irritating the monster, the other Servants have taken their rightful position, thinking on their own while the impact of a dislocated arm of the giant sends her flying down hard.
Airborne for a moment, with a great aptitude as her own hero, the quick stumble was interrupted by her timely ignition of a light beam from the tip of her spear, simply effecting her hard fall into a roll, ending up kneeling with one leg and the other buried in the virtual debris, lance posted with bright light.
Out of reach of the giant, Arturia held her sword close to her face, eyes closed in concentration, calling for the power praiseworthy as the light of victory.
The Jabberwocky release a colossal roar, splitting the crack floors in half- his loud scream sending tremors even in the air- almost breaking the Servant's eardrums as it moves to raise its arms to-
"Nu- uh! HOLD IT!" Astolfo bellowed, blowing La Black Luna and creating a dome of barrier to repel the suffocating pressure of limbs. He blew without pause, lest he jeopardize Arturia's weapon or they will be flatten to the impacts the jabberwocky is doing. Altria extract her lance at the base of its neck, before leaping close to its single eye- time slowing when they eyes met, and then-
"RHONGOMYNIAD!" the Babel's perfectly crafted light of God's blinded and exterminated almost the chunk of flesh the head once was. Add to the wide range of Rhongomyniad is the utterly elimination of further beacons sustaining the maze. She stumbles across the monster, wailing its agony to the world. The Arena's on the boundary of crumpling, losing more and more of its dainty grace when the world turns into a pitch violet, sparks of warning cautions emerging from different areas.
"The fudge!?" out in the staircase next to the bypass point, the part of the Moon Cell's Mordred and Nero emerge in haste, sidestepping the rush of fist the Jabberwocky wildly gives, as it howls at its missing vision, painfully generating much bigger chunk of tendons in its neck.
"King..." the Lancer murmured, meeting the eyes of the little blonde for a second until they went to depart out of the monster's steeping zone, backing out close to the wall.
"Hn, prepare wanton knaive!" Nero proclaims to the monster- pummeling her Crimson Sword at her side. She ran with grace, and a wide tail of fire awaits to be unleashed trailing their mistress. The Jabberwocky, as if sensing the danger leapt and spread its small wings at its back, covering his face as Nero presents the fire of her ire, scorching the flimsy flesh with its magmatic temperature, creating a vast damage to its wings and back, angering the monster more in rage.
"NERO, GUARD!" Mordred ordered, shouting in caution. Without any much thought, Nero did what she is ordered and she is grateful to the warning in advance, for the large right arm swipes at her side, deflecting it- making her airborne-
"Now use that thing with your sword again!" Mordred added another command.
"UMU!" which Nero gladly obeyed, igniting the same torture of her flame, slicing down the upper shoulder of the right arm, severing it to the main body of the Jabberwocky. While she can be pretty useless without her beloved sword, she knew enough how such monsters behave while repetitively fighting it to the maze below.
If she remembers it vividly, the Jabberwocky's much connected to a Berserker, with a massive Mad Enhancement and could only be killed by a Vorpal Blade. With it's huge structure, she knew what actions it will pertain now that it is in motion, calculating the weakness of her enemy. She recalls it would be in six patterns, but with how enamored it was to itself, she'll calculate it would just be three strikes to counter it down.
First, it will break her allies' defense. "Altria, intercept!"
"By your command!" Altria shouted, using [Prana Burst] to tentatively rammed her spear at the intact arm of the Jabberwocky, pushing it high up contradicting its fast momentum to fall at the Emperor's place.
Second, it will attack with its beam.
The Jabberwocky regenerates its head in instant, opening up its mouth while a beam of purple shot collects its intensity in its innards. "Astolfo, shut it up!"
"Roger!" however, Astolfo intervenes and using his Hippogriff, he condone a strike to its jaw, shutting the jaw up until the beam explodes inside its mouth, creating a fatal damage to its system.
Third, it will not move, as if paralyze and recuperating what magic it lost. So, with a time to idle- Mordred shut her eyes and gave Nero the call. "Nero, use it now!"
"ARTILERRY APPLAUSE!" Nero dropped a single rose on the ground, her gift to her enemy before breaking the barrier of impossibility and arcing her Crimson Sword to form a ringlet and cutting its way unto the center. With a speed of light she strikes in a chain dance of her flame, ceasing still as she stoop down at the Jabberwocky's behind, completely completing 14 chain strikes in its chest, imploding the skin with her burning cinders.
The monster quivers and erupts in madness, he looks out to the heavens until a cast of chain prevents him from moving back up again.
"Now's your chance, SABER MORDRED!" Altria quickly turn her head to the plain brunette more than hundred meters away from them, yelling in signal, hands raise and definitely using [Code Cast: Bind].
"My Lady!?" the Lancer gasped.
"Hakuno!" Mordred is delighted, but she's focused at the task at hand. And thus, before she could act-
A vermilion beacon raise high up to the virtual sky- smothered with embers directly above the brunette, its trail is at the hands of a rough looking blonde, face fierce and supporting a maniacal grin. Saber Mordred's physical body sparkles with red lightning, showing extraordinaire burst of power as she hovers in the air... and delivers the first blow of domino effect with Arturia in tow. Together, side by side, yellow and red clash and combine their shine, creating an orange glamour and striking down their foe in one single step of their clothed feet.
"CLAAAA-!"
"EEEEXX-!"
"- REEEEENNNTTT!"
"- CALIBUURRRRRR!"
The father and son dually intercept the regenerating process of the Jabberwocky, shooting the spiral victory and hatred in a single strike- decomposing the wild animal with its extravagance- lightening up the whole Arena with their spite.
00100001(Fate Extra: Grand Order)00100001
"He's a tough cunt." Saber Mordred hissed, forcing herself up with Clarent to the digital floor as her two fathers dislodge the remaining tendons of circuits redeveloping the monster's body. Without any magic left, after Hakuno profess to make a short contact with her as a Pseudo- Master, she thought she can make it alvie without fainting. Alas, it was not meant to be if this goes further. However, her health aside, with the enemy's failed contextual makeshift, the small program enemies diverse into one another, completely submerge with defeat with every single one missing different parts of their bodies.
"Hakuno!" the brunette whirls around in her stupefied state to behold her lover, running alongside Nero- panting and overjoyed. With the familiar face clearly visible and alive, Hakuno met the blonde halfway in juvenile, jumping at the arms of her lover to find the comfort she needs.
"You're okay... You're okay." Mordred breathe in happiness, nuzzling the hair of her favorite girl without a care in the world. "I thought I lost you.. with all this crap just throwing themselves to us."
"Un... I'm sorry, Mordred. I was worried for you too."
"Wh- who says I am!?" Mordred spluttered, if only Hakuno's not embracing her tightly then she will pull out in any moment. With a few struggles, she laid her head again to Hakuno's- sighing out the exhaustion and the tension the day have gave them.
"We have so much to talk to, Hakuno."
Hakuno nodded, caressing Mordred's scalp momentarily, before she went out and kiss her lover's cheeks again in hope to minimize her ever growing nervousness. "We do."
"But our problems aside... why are you wet?" the incredulously asked, mentioning the apparent soaked figure of her lady, the clothes clinging to her slim form. With her question interpreted as a jest, she earned a small squeeze in her shoulders, Hakuno's small giggles brightening up her day.
"It's a long story..." she responded. With her arms raise to Mordred's shoulders, her small kiss in her lover's lips was covered from the prying eyes of the other Servants completely focus to the assembling enemies at front.
"Uh... hate to interrupt," Astolfo called out, the Servants circling the two humans in tense movements. It seems the fight is not over yet. ".. but I guess we need a lift out now if you know what I mean."
Hakuno blinked once and observe the Arena in a brink of ruins. Add to the horror are the goo of shadows stepping up in the ladder next to the bypass point they needed. Indeed, she need to get them out of here before it's too late.
She pulled the portable out of her pocket, successfully tapping sources and codes to transfer them-
"You're not going to transmit us to another Maze, are you?" Saber Mordred cuts off, eyebrow raise in total seriousness while the brunette gave her an unimpressed look.
"I won't." Hakuno tersely replied, before making her objective right again.
"Just checking..." Saber Mordred shrugged, awaiting for the transmission to do its deeds. And when it does- with their body turning into a spiritual particles reverting out of the place, the monsters eerily watch them from the sidelines, completely different to their abrasive stunts and worrisome moments back then.
With them in succession to escape, and their bodies presently out of the maze...
"Hah... My Jabberwocky!" a small silhouette emerged in the shadows, kneeling next to the burnt remains of the monster.
"Muu, Hakuno- nee chan..." the silhoutee- no, a girl sniffles, brushing her friend's remain with a purple clad hand in remorse, her violet eyes watery, but as innocent as it was born. "... Why did you hurt Jabberwocky? He just wants to play."
AN: Fluffiness is on the way.