Chapter Seventeen: Ruler, Artoria Pendragon
Artoria pulled a shield from its place mounted on Marrok's side and readied it as the wolf charged and Archer launched four more blades their direction. Two bounced harmlessly of the shield as Marrok rushed straight for them, while the abrupt reposition angled Artoria to be able to knock aside the other two. Archer took a hand in hand and slashed at Marrok's face but the wolf simply headbutted the attack aside with the armor now on his head.
Archer was able to deflect a thrust from the lance but the force was so great that it disarmed him. He sprang to the side, but this was no horse that the King of Knights was mounted on. A wolf is far more nimble even at that size. Marrok showed this as he whipped around, Artoria matching the motion with a slash using the sharp tip of Rhongomyniad. However, when she moved to follow-up with a thrust, Archer rushed at the lance and grabbed it like he was putting it in a headlock, throwing all of his weight into it with the intention of dismounting her. He felt it work.
Then he saw it worked when Marrok wheeled around in front of him without Artoria on his back, however, the sound of her landing was off. When he turned quickly to attack her first, what he saw instead of a dismounted knight was an armored wolf with gold and white fur and the size of a horse.
"What the?"
Artoria growled. If he spoke wolf he'd have understood that was, "Boo!"
Archer then promptly found himself impaled on Marrok's sword Cavall from behind. Coughing up blood, he raised his hand.
Artoria couldn't possibly have seen what he had summoned behind her, but both her and Marrok dodged to the side as Archer's airship shot out of a portal and he rolled onto it, slipping away.
"Damn, my sword is still in him. I left my other one with Maiya." Marrok (who had popped into human form behind Archer for his attack) would curse his luck, but it was also immune to those.
Saber, still in the form of a wolf, bolted after Archer. Marrok quickly fell into step behind her after a quick change, "He's headed for the church, Kirei Kotomine kidnapped Irisviel and took her there."
"Dammit. Archer killed Kariya so they must be trying to steal the Grail out from under us as a team."
"Kariya's gone?"
"Archer twisted him against me just to kill him in front of me."
"What kind of King of Heroes is that?" Artoria growled, "He'll answer for that I swear to you!"
"He'll beat us to the civic center at this rate. Where's Kiritsugu?"
"He was already headed that way, so it's vital we at least catch up to him. He has Secace, but that won't help him against Archer's Noble Phantasm."
"Did Maiya awaken his origin?"
"Yes, the proper way."
"Well, we're set then."
At the center, Kirei Kotomine was there to meet Archer as his craft zoomed in and then returned to his armory. The servant extracted the sword from his chest, downing another elixir to heal himself. He grumbled at having to use the so often, but stood and dusted himself off.
"You look like you've been having fun." Kirei quipped dryly
"The contract, Kirei. I'm running out of mana and those two have gained some sort of power increase, there's no time to waste."
"It's nothing you have to worry yourself with, Archer. Moments ago I spotted Saber's master approaching. I will simply intercept him and kill him before they arrive."
"You seem happy."
"Truly. It feels like I've been waiting for this confrontation my entire life. Like I was born to kill this very man."
Gilgamesh smirked, "I know the type."
With some common ground between the two found, Kirei Kotomine raised his hand and began the incantations to contract with Archer. There were no dramatic entrances to stop the union, it just happened.
Kirei moved to the edge of the building, "I will intercept him in the parking garage on the sub-levels. You should wait in the Grail Chamber, it will be more dramatic to confront your enemies there."
"I do appreciate theatrics. Don't lose, Kirei."
His master supplied some theatrics as he jumped off the building to get to the bottom floor faster then made his way into the parking area for his fateful encounter. Gilgamesh merely chuckled and used the stairs. It wasn't far to the Grail chamber, and when he got there the priest supervising the war walked over to him, knowing to bow respectfully due to past interactions.
"Archer, the Grail is complete and since a moment ago has been speaking the same general announcement every few moments.'
Gilgamesh walked over to the pedestal and looked at the Grail, soon it spoke in a female voice Archer had only heard a little before. Irisviel's, "Only one valid servant and master pairing remains. Archer, bring your master to the Grail. Only then may you both claim the prize for the Fourth Holy Grail War.
Archer was confused of course, "Only one? There is still one other master and two other servants. Do you acknowledge my superiority?"
"There is only one valid Servant and Master pairing remaining."
Gilgamesh began to laugh in his triumph, as Artoria ad Marrok crashed through the same window together. Artoria landed first and Marrok proceeded to scoop her onto his back, the king taking human form in the same motion and ending up sitting astride her wolf once again.
"Archer!"
Gilgamesh turned to them dramatically, "You've lost! The Grail acknowledges me as its one true owner!"
"You've gone mad! This war isn't over!"
The Grail interjected, "You are mistaken. Only one valid servant and master pairing remains. The Fourth Holy Grail War is decided."
"There's two more servant right here!"
"You are mistaken. A ruler class servant may not participate in a Holy Grail War."
"Ruler class servant?"
"Ruler Class servant: Artoria Pendragon. You are not a valid servant in the Holy Grail War."
The Grail called forth a servant profile, one that neither Marrok nor her had taken the time to notice they could not see like they could Archer's: theirs. Their singular servant profile.
Class: Ruler
Master: N/A
True Name: Artoria Pendragon w/ Marrok Kingshound
Gender: Female w/ Male
Height/Weight: Variable (154cm/42kg w/ 182cm/91kg)
Alignment: Neutral Good
STR: A, END: A+, AGI: A, MANA: B+, LUCK: B, NP: EX
Artoria was stunned. Further down, the profile revealed they both had access to all of their Noble Phantasms from life with the exception of Avalon, Cavall, and Secace, which were all elsewhere at the moment. Instead of the Curse of Lycanthropy Marrok and Artoria both had something called 'Hounds of Camelot'. Both of their attributes were identical and higher.
Marrok looked back at his stomach, and though still wolf form commented, "I gained a kilogram?"
The Grail ignored the wolf's noises, "Ruler class servants are arbitrators of the Holy Grail War. They are to only enforce the rules and remain neutral. You may not compete in the war."
The priest, the name of whom neither Artoria or Marrok knew, protested, "What? I am the selected arbitrator! I've never heard of this 'Ruler' nonsense!"
"You did no remain neutral. You planned to assist Master Tokiomi in accessing the root and now seek to do the same for your son. The services of mankind have proven no longer adequate for this role."
"I was-" abruptly the priest's assigned command seals imploded into his body, shredding him in a pile of chunks before the mana surged into the Grail.
Artoria and Marrok went wide-eyed... this was hardly the attitude they'd expected from the Holy Grail.
Which spoke again, "Gather the victorious master and servant here. They must claim the spoils of war."
Archer chuckled, "I do not like the two of you being called Rulers, but it seems you aren't allowed to interfere with me any longer. Step aside. I must retrieve Kirei."
Marrok growled.
Artoria drew her lance, "That is wolf for: To hell with the rules and to hell with you!"
Marrok grumbled.
"I know you phrased it more colorfully, but I'm not saying that."
He whined.
"Fine." Artoria sighed at leveled her lance at Archer, "FUCK YOU!"
Archer glanced over his shoulder at the Grail, "They aren't remaining neutral."
"You launched an attack against Ruler not long ago. Thus, they are within their rights. Consider retrieving your master and returning if you wish to claim your prize."
Archer turned in time to see Artoria sailing on the back of Marrok through the air, lance forward, a mere foot for impaling his head on it. He dove to the side just in time, cursing his luck (which is not immune to those).
In the parking garage, Kiritsugu revealed his presence to Kotomine with a spray of bullets from his submachine gun, which proved useless. The man simply turned and walked through them towards Kiritsugu.
"I've been waiting for you. Right now, my Archer should be overpowering Saber. Any minute now and I will have won the Holy Grail War."
Kiritsugu ducked behind a pillar as a set of Kirei's knives sailed at him, putting away his pointless gun and reaching for his contender. It's higher stopping power should cut through that Kevlar and his reinforced body even without the effect of his Origin Rounds former ability to pierce and punish such things.
"So you formed the pact with Archer then?"
"Indeed. Now this isn't a contest between masters, but a race with the King of Heroes to see who can execute the last enemy first."
Kiritsugu smirked, drawing Secace, "You'll be losing that race. Secace! Sword of Burning Victory!"
Kirisugu and Kotomine's physical abilities equalized. Kirei set the sword down, having been told it was required to keep it in hand. Instead he took out his submachine gun instead.
Kotomine scoffed, "That only plays to your advantage if you are the superior fighter. I've read your file. You are an assassin that prefers long range. I am one that fights directly. You stand no chance."
The once-priest punched the pillar Kiritsugu was behind, taking a chunk of it off as the magus killer rolled away in the middle of loading his Contender with an Origin Round. It was no longer able to sever magic circuits and reconnect them all wrong. In fact it did pretty much nothing special to the large majority of mages anymore. Kirei was also correct, Secace did not make him a match for Kirei in close combat. It made the fight fair in attributes alone. However, it didn't factor in techniques. Kirei's magic amplified his stats, which Secace effectively neutralized. However...
"Time Alter: TRIPLE ACCEL!"
Kiritsugu Emiya was a cheater. Altering his personal time did not alter his actual physical ability. It moved him in relation to the time around him. So Kirei simply saw him move incredibly fast to one side and fire one round before there was any hope for anything short of a monster to react.
Kirei Kotomine caught the bullet in his hand. Literally in his hand, as the round penetrated and stopped inside his palm, right through his command seals. He didn't wince or cry out in pain. He never had such feelings. He did however notice a flicker in his command seals.
"What did you just do?"
Kiritsugu smirked.
Back in the Grail Chamber, Artoria knocked the four blades wedged in her shield out of it with a sweep of her lance. Archer, covered in blood, smiled in satisfaction that two more had gotten through. One to her shoulder, and one to Marrok's.
"Seems you can't protect both of you with that shield."
"Do not act like you are not worse for wear, Archer."
Archer summoned another bottle from his treasury, "I have plenty of these."
As he tried to drink it, the Ruler was suddenly right in front of him, and striking the bottle away, backhanding the servant with her shield.
Suddenly, the Grail interrupted, "No valid servant master pairing remain. Two masters and one servant are still alive. However, no contracts exist between them."
Archer protested, "What? That can't be."
He tried to draw mana from Kotomine.
"What has happened? Why is the contract gone!" he raged at Artoria, "This is some treachery from you isn't it?"
Artoria didn't bother replying, instead charging once more.
The Grail insisted, "Archer, form a contract and claim the Grail at once."
Archer shot a sword into the ground at his feet, blasting a hole to the floor below that allowed hi to dodge Artoria's attack and he then repeated the process the descend towards the parking garage.
Artoria gritted her teeth as they landed on the other side of the first hole. As they were about to leap after him the Grail spoke.
"One valid master remains."
"Kiritsugu..."
Below, the dust was thick from Gilgamesh's descent, the Archer clutching his chest wound from Artoria's prior attacks as dust got into it, "KOTOMINE! WE NEED TO REDO THE PACT KOTOMINE!"
A lone figure was standing there in the dust as it started to clear.
From above, Marrok assumed human form and yelled down, "Kiritsugu shoot him in the chest!"
Archer had glanced up at the cry, but looked back down at the figure, "Koto-"
A single bullet cut through the dust and straight into Archer's chest wound. He shuddered, but felt no damage. The dust finally settled, revealing Kiri standing over Kotomine, the former's head blown off.
Archer roared, "DAMMIT! ARE THERE NO COMPETENT MASTERS IN THIS WAR?"
Kiritsugu threw aside his contender. Its only use in the fight done, he raised Secace once again, "Now, let's see if you're good at close rage combat."
Archer held up his hands, "Wait, wait! You don't understand the situation! Your servant changed classes! They aren't eligible for the Grail anymore."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"Ask the Grail! Or them!"
Marrok and Saber landed behind Archer, looking very different from when Kiritsugu last saw them.
He noted that, "Any truth to that?"
Artoria was honest, "Apparently so. Something merged us, and now we've been disqualified and the grail called us a Ruler class servant. He's right. You can only win the war with him. If that's what you want... it wouldn't be right for me to stop you."
Marrok nodded.
Archer laughed, "That's right! I won the Holy Grail War! I just need you to form a contract with me, and whatever your dream is we can make it happen together. You can even have my wish! I have no need for such things."
Kiritsugu looked at the King of Heroes, "I have a few questions. First: Where's Kariya?"
"I killed him to punish the dog. He betrayed you, so what do you care?"
"Second: Where's Irisviel?"
"Oh, sacrificed to the Grail already. I mean, that bastard Kotomine slit her throat from the look of the place, but you avenged that already. Is that it?"
Kiritsugu clenched Secace so hard that his knuckles went white, "Third: How are you in close combat?"
On that note, he dropped the sword and erupted in blue flames.
"Secace! Sword of Burning Victory!"
The Grail suddenly roared, the former voice distorting, "FORM A PACT AND CLAIM THE GRAIL!"
Kiritsugu yelled back, "NO! Not with this piece of garbage!"
Archer was livid, "YOU DARE!"
The Grail screamed, "FORM A PACT AND COMPLETE THE RITUAL! FORM A PACT AND CLAIM THE GRAIL!
The ground shook, the building started to crack and fall apart.
"NO!" both Kiri and Archer shouted.
The floors between them and the Grail collapsed and the cup tipped end over end, strange black ooze dumping in an impossible sea. Outside of the building, Maiya had finally caught up, only to see the entire church fail into an ocean of some unholy blackness.
"NO! NO! NO!" Maiya cried out for her family.
Next Chapter: Altered Fate
Author's Note: Next Chapter is the end of the Grail War, Hero of Justice vs Ancient Villain, some Alter shenanigans, and the Final Boss appears. After that (which I promise will take a few days this time unlike this one ended up taking), there will be at least one chapter of aftermath things. Maybe more if I decide to lump in a few chapters of goings on between this war and the next one. It's been a ride.
Oh, and what Kiritsugu's Origin Bullets do is implied here, but will be explained net chapter. Basically they "liberate", severing contracts and ongoing enchantments and boosts on the target. So, suddenly without any of his magical strengthening, Kirei basically got one-shot off-screen by Kiritsugu and his time alter. It also has another effect related to that which is going to be a thorn in Gilgamesh's side.