The sword is many things, little Sengo. It is a symbol of hope, of war, sometimes both at once.
But at its core, it is merely a length of metal that can hold an edge with a handle. Merely a tool, and an underused one at that.
You need not craft a sword to go to war. An axe, spear, or hammer will do, as well as serving even in times of peace.
A sword cannot crush armour and shape it like a hammer can, nor can it rend flesh and timber like an axe can, nor even keep the wolves at bay as a spear can.
A sword is by itself devoid of a true, guiding purpose.
How does a sword attain a true purpose, you may ask?
No? Well, I will tell you anyways. Such knowledge is useful on days beset by Raijin and his ilk. And even on others, oddly enough.
Such an aspiring sword needs two things:
A wielder of peerless skill and a blacksmith like dear Masamune or charming Volund.
When such a sword is swung to its fullest potential it becomes capable of even slaying a god.
As well as one's fate, of course.
Simple, no?
-That nameless travelling monk.
Kanshou and Bakuya II met Kanshou in a spray of sparks.
Instead of pressing against the blade, Shirou slammed his left hand against the bottom of his hilt, forcing Kanshou away. He caught the falling Bakuya on his crossguard, turning the sword to slash against EMIYA's chest in one continuous motion.
The Archer grunted, flinging himself backwards and bringing Kanshou back around to parry the riposte as he retreated.
Shirou advanced, the edge of his blade brushing by the grass with the sound of rasping steel.
EMIYA threw both swords at Shirou, instantly tracing two more afterwards and throwing them as well.
So that's what he's doing?, thought Shirou, recognizing where this would lead.
Shirou set his feet, feeling the cool earth under the grass.
He activated Communion with Nature. As a passive skill inherited from Muramasa, it made his swordsmanship-Muramasa's swordsmanship-unable to be seen through or predicted. As an active skill, however...
Time slowed, and an Awareness spread out him in nine green rings that pulsed in time with each of his heartbeats. The area each ring covered felt more familiar as they came close to his feet. The first ring, a hands length out from his body, felt as if the grass blades themselves were a part of him that he could feel when they moved.
For Communion with Nature to be active, it required him to set both feet on the ground. This limited his range of movement but gave him perception on a level that rivalled Artoria's own Instinct.
EMIYA was coming at him behind the flying blades, on the border of his ninth ring. But not the pressing concern.
The first two swords tapped the edge of his Shirou's seventh ring. he cut a grey line through them all with one swing, scattering solid projected steel into motes of prana.
He was calm even as the steely grey of EMIYA's eyes came to be right on top of his second circle, an arm's length away.
He slid a foot backwards as EMIYA stepped in with a slash.
Kanshou extended into the first ring, aiming for his neck.
Time slowed.
Shirou reached out with his left hand and pushed two fingers on the side of the black blade while slashing forward right-handed.
Strands of red hair fell amidst sparks of metal clanging against metal. Somehow, EMIYA had barely blocked his strike.
"That was weird," murmured the Archer under his breath.
Shirou disengaged, and the fight began again.
The exchange felt to Shirou like a dance that had already been played out to the point of becoming a routine. Every swing EMIYA made he repelled with ease, and though he knew how EMIYA's style functioned he was already finding it difficult to ignore the obvious openings the Archer left in his guard. Muramasa had been able to do it to him, but that ability seemed related more to conscious thought than actual skill.
But Shirou still knew how EMIYA fought in the broader sense.
He was waiting for the moment when his alternate self would present a true opening.
Which he did, eventually.
And like clockwork Shirou slid into EMIYA's shifting stance, breaking the Archer's footing and weakening his guard.
Shirou pushed against Bakuya hard enough to slam his hilt against EMIYA's side. EMIYA grunted and the blow pushed him back several meters, breaking his already fragile stance completely.
Shirou slid forward to finish the fight-
EMIYA pointed Kanshou at him.
"I am the bone of my sword."
Shirou's eyes widened as three blades appeared in the air and shot towards him. He stopped and shattered them into steel dust once more, but by that time EMIYA had found his footing.
Shirou raised a foot from the ground, and his Awareness disappeared.
"I thought we weren't going to blow things up?" asked Shirou with a frown.
EMIYA smirked. "Did you see any explosions?"
Shirou was silent for a moment before he turned to his Masters with an eyebrow quirked.
Gudao sighed and rubbed his temples. "I just don't want things to get out of hand. But this is Chaldea, what was I thinking..."
Gabby shrugged. "I don't mind. This is basically a demonstration anyways. Go ham!"
"Please don't..."
Shirou nodded thoughtfully and shattered another sword coming at his arm.
"EMIYA!" Artoria scolded loudly.
"That wasn't very sporting," said Lily with a frown.
The Archer Traced his swords again. "Just keeping him on his toes."
Shirou smiled at EMIYA then. It was a wholesome smile, and devoid of any real malice.
There was a deep rumble. There was a riotous display of crackling blue prana that soared high into the sky.
There was no more forest.
There was only a grassy plain.
A light shadow was cast over EMIYA and the rest. The Archer looked up at its source with blankly. Then he looked back at Shirou, who had a suitably dry expression.
"Alright," he said quietly. "You've made your point clear. We'll stick to swordplay."
And a wind rustled the leaves of the forest.
The two leapt at each other once more.
Shirou did not activate Communion with Nature. The limitation in his mobility prevented him from getting any true advantage over EMIYA despite his own superior swordplay. EMIYA was somehow still dictating the pace of the fight even though he could not best Shirou in the duel.
As such, EMIYA's eyes widened when Shirou began pressing him back at a rapid pace.
Shirou's every slash came from a different direction in an erratic rhythm. While EMIYA was careful not to get cornered, his expression was strained.
Steel shattered as Kanshou broke under Shirou's onslaught. EMIYA Traced another one just as quickly to parry a stab, but to Shirou, this signalled the end of the fight.
EMIYA swung hard enough to break his own Projections on Shirou's sword to push Shirou back, instantly Tracing two more swords before Shirou could take advantage of the opening.
This did not surprise Shirou, but as he advanced forwards with his sword at the ready what came next did.
"Overedge."
Shirou was forced to turn his advancing slash into a crude parry with his crossguard when EMIYA's Kanshou suddenly grew to strike at his armpit. Bakuya grew as well, cutting at the hole he had left in his defences.
He was still as calm as ever, however.
With motions that spoke of long winter nights counting how many snowflakes he could cut down before they reached the ground, Shirou pivoted and reversed his grip, spinning around and stabbing with the point of his sword at the enlarged Bakuya's edge with enough force to blow it out of EMIYA's grip.
A sound not unlike that of the peal of a bell resounded through the clearing.
Shirou held his sword's back edge at EMIYA's throat.
"I hadn't seen that before," said Shirou, breaking the moment of silence. "You surprised me."
EMIYA held Bakuya's tip to Shirou's side.
"Surprised you?" EMIYA snorted. "I don't think I could have ever been this good with a sword. Besides, this is my loss."
Both of them knew. If he had kept going with that last attack, EMIYA would have lost his head before he could have thrust Bakuya into Shirou's side.
EMIYA lowered his sword, and Shirou followed suit.
"You did your best, Mister EMIYA!"
The two Emiyas turned to their audience, who had no doubt seen who the victor was given their own degree of skill.
Lily clapped softly with a bright smile on her face. Artoria was considering Shirou with a thoughtful expression.
Gabby was thumping Gudao hard on the back. Gudao shook his head with a slight smile that reminded Shirou more of a grimace than an expression of amusement.
"Why did I ever bet against you when it came down to a fight?" Gudao mused.
"Cause you're dumb and have almost no idea where a fight's going to lead once its started!" said Gabby cheerfully. "Thanks for doing all my paperwork for the week bro!"
"...No problem, sis."
"Senpai, don't you think it was a little disrespectful to EMIYA and Shirou to propose making a bet?" Mashu reprimanded Gabby quietly.
Gabby thought about that for a moment. "I mean, not really? It wasn't a real fight anyways. Since we're in Shirou's Reality Marble anyways, EMIYA would have been destroyed if Shirou hadn't held back."
"That doesn't make me feel better any," said EMIYA with a frown.
"Oh!" Lily smiled brightly. "Sorry! My mistake. You did your best, Mr. Archer!"
EMIYA rolled his eyes.
The Shielder turned towards EMIYA for a moment. "You did well, EMIYA-san," said Mashu consolingly, before turning back to her Masters again.
Shirou glanced at the scene briefly before turning to smile at Artoria with a question in his eyes. She relaxed and shook her head, walking over to his side.
"I was simply considering your swordsmanship and wondering to which degree Sengo Muramasa's skill has affected it," she explained, looking at Kanshou and Bakuya II with interest. Shirou handed it to her, holding it by the blade, and she inspected it for a moment.
"Probably a whole lot," grumbled EMIYA.
A smile tugged at the edge of Shirou's mouth as he nodded. "If it wasn't for Muramasa's skill I'd probably have been outclassed. That last exchange confirmed it." Artoria handed Kanshou and Bakuya II back to him, which he took and allowed to dissolve into prana.
"I have more experience than him in actual combat, it seems," said EMIYA with a shrug.
Shirou nodded. "I spent a lot of time in here by myself," he said, looking around his Reality Marble. "And Muramasa trained in seclusion in the forest near Fuyuki in his time. There wasn't much opportunity for him and me to test our skill against skilled opponents, let alone Servants." He shrugged. "I guess for all the skill Muramasa learned, there's still some room for growth."
"You can get better than pushing my sword away with a few fingers?" asked EMIYA flatly.
"Potentially."
EMIYA thought for a moment. "Huh," he said. "That's something."
"It will be interesting to spar with you, Shirou," said Artoria, a competitive gleam in her eyes. "I look forward to seeing how much you have improved first-hand."
Shirou's memories suddenly returned back to the days where she had trained with him in the Emiya dojo.
And of the time she had spent beating on him.
He recalled a lesson Muramasa had learned early on: Disarm the enemy of dangerous intent. Shirou smiled at her. "Of course. I'll always welcome a chance to spend time with you."
"T-that goes without saying," said Artoria, clearing her throat.
"Get me out of here," groaned EMIYA. "Or I swear I'll open up my own Reality Marble and damned be the consequences."
"What happens if you do that?" asked Gabby curiously. "Research into Reality Marbles hadn't really advanced at all before, you know, everyone died."
EMIYA threw up his palms. "I don't know. I said 'damned be the consequences' for a reason."
"Eh, probably nothing good anyways," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "So we'll have to set that experiment aside for later. Shirou, mind telling me why your feet never left the ground for the first part of that fight? Looked like you were gimping yourself pretty hard there."
"Gimping?"
"Handicapping, whatever synonym works for you I guess."
"Oh. I was using an active skill I inherited from Muramasa, 'Communion with Nature'. I focus on my surroundings from the shifting of the earth under my feet and attune my heartbeat to it. It gives me a greater perception of my surroundings and a faster reaction time." He nodded at the listening Archer. "That was the reason why I could turn your sword with just my fingers."
Gabby's eyebrows furrowed and she folded her arms, her eyes turning hazy with thought as she stared at the ground. "Close combat potential high," she muttered quietly. "Mid-range abilities befit Caster classification, long-range abilities mediocre in comparison to known Archers but definite alternative should possibility arise. Potential synergy in combat noted with-"
Gudao clapped a hand on her shoulder. "Sis," he said dryly.
She blinked and swivelled her head around to look at Gudao with an utterly blank expression that quickly transformed into a sheepish smile. "My bad." She turned to Shirou with an apologetic expression. "Sorry if I sounded a little cold there."
Shirou shook his head. "I was just surprised. I didn't expect you to sound so-"
"Intellectual?" said Gabby with a little grin.
"Analytical." Shirou finished firmly.
"Good save," remarked Gudao.
"I've always had a knack for seeing how things work in a fight," said Gabby. "Lord El-Melloi II's lessons don't hurt either. 'Course, Ritsuka here isn't so bad either but he can't hold a candle to me." She puffed out her chest proudly.
"We're seventeen to fourteen in wargames," said Gudao with an eyebrow raised.
"Yeah, but I destroyed you all seventeen times," said Gabby with a saccharine smile.
Gudao opened his mouth for a moment and then closed it upon further reflection.
"It's okay, Senpai," said Mashu. "Your strengths lie elsewhere. It can't be helped that Gabby is almost on par with Lord El-Melloi II's level of-Oh!" She appeared to have thought of something.
"What is it, Mashu?"
"We were supposed to talk to Doctor Roman about the Second Singularity this afternoon. It should be getting close to that time now."
"Man, almost forgot about that in all this excitement," said Gabby.
"No kidding," said Gudao dryly. "Shirou, can you-"
The world collapsed in a flash of white.
"-take us b-oh, thanks."
The practise field spread out under them as they had been left before.
"You're welcome," said Shirou. "I have a request of my own."
Gudao glanced at Gudako who waved a hand in a 'why-not' sort of way.
"This meeting you're going to, may I accompany you? Though I've seen several of Chaldea's staff, I haven't met this Doctor Roman yet."
Gudao "Sure, though it isn't really a meeting so much as a quick catch-up. If Roman had really found something we would have-"
"There you guys are!"
"Speak of the devil," murmured EMIYA.
Shirou turned to see a man rushing over to them.
His first thought was: fluffy.
And it was not because of the small animal riding his shoulder, though the small critter was indeed quite fluffy-looking. Perhaps it was the ponytail, but the man's orange hair seemed to bob up and down with each step he took.
"Finally!" the man panted, his palms slapping against his knees as he took a breather, which the animal took as a sign to dismount with a light fou. Mashu smiled at the creature and picked it up, allowing it to nestle itself on her shoulder comfortably. "I looked in both of your rooms and the game room and conference room and the-"
"Slow down Dr Roman," said Gudao, raising his palms. So this is Dr Roman, thought Shirou as he inspected the man.
There wasn't much there, truth be told. A normal human who did not seem to put that much stock in physical exercise, who also seemed to possess an excitable temperament. Yet, he seemed to be the one in charge of most things happening in Chaldea, so he could not just an ordinary man.
"Take your time," said Gudao. "What's so urgent?"
"Right! Right, time, that's, that's what I was going to say." Dr Roman straightened up and released a short breath. "We've finally pinpointed the Rayshifting coordinates for the second Singularity. Well, Da Vinci did most of the-"
"Really?!" Gabby exclaimed, popping up suddenly in front of Dr Roman.
The doctor reared back in surprise with a high-pitched squeal and promptly fell on his behind. Shirou glanced around saw that all the other Servants had on entirely blank expressions, except Lily who was looking at Dr Roman with some concern.
EMIYA noticed him looking and shrugged. That's how it is.
Shirou slowly nodded in understanding.
"Ow," Dr Roman said with a wince, rubbing at his behind. "Yes, really."
"Where and when is it then?" asked Gudao, walking over and extending a hand, which Dr Roman took gratefully.
"Rome," said Dr Roman proudly, "60 AD."
"60 AD?" said Gudao in surprise. "That would be around Nero's time."
"I suggest we speak to her first before we depart, Senpai." suggested Mashu. "Though history has undoubtedly been rewritten to be different than in her time, more information straight from the source can never hurt."
"My thoughts exactly, Mashu," Gudao nodded at Mashu. "Doctor, how soon can you be ready to Rayshift me and Gabby?"
"Da Vinci and I will have it ready by the end of the day," said Dr Roman, who suddenly noticed Shirou standing there. "By the way, who's this?"
"My name is Shirou Emiya," said Shirou, stepping forward with an outstretched hand. "It's good to finally meet the man who's in charge of Chaldea."
"Oh no, no, no!" denied Dr Roman frantically waving both hands in front of him. "I just pick up the stuff that Gabby, Ritsuka, and Leonardo don't have the time for, I'm not in charge of Chaldea at all!"
Shirou tilted his head. "To my understanding, you're the highest ranking member left alive after Lev Lainur's sabotage."
Dr Roman winced and gave a nervous little laugh. "Ah-ha, well I suppose you're technically right..."
"Roman just doesn't like to reminded of his new responsibilities is all, Shirou," Gabby laughed light-heartedly, throwing an arm around Dr Roman's neck and forcing him to hunch over with a cry. "If he had his way, he'd be in his room either sleeping the day away or watching reruns of that magical girl show he's obsessed with!"
Shirou blinked as Roman cheeks reddened rapidly as they brushed against Gabby's generous 'assets'.
"Man, he doesn't even really do much medical stuff nowadays," said the oblivious Gabby as Dr Roman's complexion turned redder and redder and his futile attempts to escape grew more and more frantic. "But he's still pretty good with all that technical and book stuff, you know? Like how-"
Gudao cleared his throat loudly. "Uh, sis?"
"Yeah bro?"
"I think the good doctor might need some air."
"Really? I'm not even holding him that har-OH GOD!" As soon as she released Roman's neck, he straightened up immediately and faced away from her, the tips of his ears bright red.
"Roman!" Gabby asked, concerned, walking to his side and holding his shoulder in concern. "You alright?"
"Never better!" said Dr Roman in a high-pitched voice as he shook her hand off began walking quickly away. "I'll think I'll just help Da Vinci set up the RayshiftnowokaythanksWHYDIDIJUSTSAYTHANKSOKAYBYESORRYRITSUKAAAAAA-"
He was sprinting by the time he had reached the doors to the observation booth.
Gabby was left staring blankly at the trail of dust he left behind. "Huh," she said, holding up her left arm and staring at her biceps. "Guess I really don't know my own strength."
She turned to see the rest of them regarding her as one.
"What? Why are you guys all looking at me like that?"
"He's a little older than you isn't he?" asked Shirou, perplexed.
"Eh, probably not that much older," said Gabby, considering seriously for a moment. "Come to think of it, we've never really asked about Roman's age, have we Ritsuka?"
"It wasn't really necessary," said her brother quietly staring a hole into the ground. "Until now."
"What was that?"
Gudao looked up innocently at her. "What was what?"
"That little thing you said at the end there. What was that about?"
"Nothing."
"You never mutter something to yourself under your breath, Gudao."
"Maybe you just never noticed it before."
"Dude, I think I would have-"
"Gabby-senpai," Mashu broke in with a gentle smile. "Trust me when I say that your brother would never think of anything other than your well-being."
Gabby frowned. "Well, yeah, but-"
"Gudao strikes me as a man of the highest calibre," declared Artoria. "He would never behave in such a fashion as to shame the trust that I, King of Knights, holds in him."
"I know that much-"
"Indeed," said EMIYA, nodding seriously. "I recommend you put no stock in your reservations about Gudao's nature. As his sister, you should know he would never hold such sinister thoughts as castration in mind when it comes to your, ah, close friends."
"Who said anything about-"
"He's a good guy though," said Lily thoughtfully. "A little air-headed and spineless at times, but that just means he's a good fit for you, Gabby."
Gabby threw her hands up in exasperation. "Okay, I'm lost and you guys know that when I'm lost I change the subject. Are we going to talk to Nero now, brother? Or do you have another squad of Servants standing by to sing your praises hiding in the observation booth?" She turned on her heel and marched towards the aforementioned structure with her head held high.
Gudao sighed began following her. "I guess we've spent enough time here as it is, huh. Yeah, let's go." He turned to Shirou, who had started walking in turn with his fellow Servants. "Thanks for showing us your powers by the way. I can see your parameters and basic skills well enough, but nothing beats seeing you in combat and your actual powers in person."
"It was merely my duty as your Servant," said Shirou humbly. "Every little bit helps to save the world, Gudao."
Gudao smiled at that. "You're right, of course."
They walked through the empty observation booth and soon reached the familiar Chaldea hallways.
"I'll see you around then, Shirou, Artoria, Lily," said Gudao as he started heading off.
"Indeed," said Artoria with a nod.
"Sure!" said Lily brightly.
""Until next time,"" said Shirou and EMIYA at the same time.
The two turned and blinked at one another.
Gudao chuckled all the way around the corner he disappeared behind.
"So," said Shirou, at a bit of a loss. "What do we do now?"
"Well I'm off to the kitchens to prep some food," said EMIYA with a shrug. "Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are my shifts over Cat's."
"Hm," said Shirou thoughtfully. "I might join-"
"Shirou."
The red-haired man turned to Artoria as she fidgeted with her hands held together, looking up at him with a tint of red on her cheeks. That pointy lock of hair shifted from side to side.
"We have...business to take care of, no?" She spoke quietly.
EMIYA's face went blank. "Ah. Well, I'm off then." The Archer beat a hasty retreat. Shirou only nodded in response after he had rounded the corner and gone.
"What kind of business?" asked Lily innocently. "Can I help?"
"You may not!" exclaimed Artoria loudly, her blush blooming to touch the tips of her ears.
Shirou shook his head slowly. "Sorry Lily," he said quietly, still staring into Artoria's eyes. "This is between me and Saber."
"Oh...Oh. I guess...I'll just go train some more now then."
"See you later Lily," said Shirou distractedly as she left quietly.
"Shall we?" Artoria asked, holding one of his hands and tugging him towards the direction of her room.
"We most certainly shall," murmured Shirou as he squeezed her hand softly and began walking a little faster.
Gudao grunted as he caught the hilt of a Roman soldier's sword over the man's shoulder and stopped it before it could be brought down on him.
"Masters!" Mashu yelled as she subdued other soldiers as quickly as she could. Gabby in the meantime was busy casting spells in a flurry, downing or confusing soldiers as they came.
Gudao grasped the man's shield and grimaced as the soldier began yelling curses in Latin, struggling to free his arms.
"Sorry about this," Gudao muttered as he kicked the soldier backwards with a tremendous heave of his right leg.
The rest of Romans barely noticed their fellow fall, concentrated as they became on the Shielder who to them was the biggest threat. Unfortunately, their training to subdue the most dangerous opponent on a battlefield together first only proved effective against humans, not Servants with C rank Strength and A rank Endurance.
By the end of the next minute, the soldiers were all unconscious with no injuries being suffered by either Mashu and the Masters.
Gudao relaxed as he sat upon a nearby rock.
"I'm so sorry Masters!" Mashu exclaimed as she rushed over, her shield astralized already. "You're not hurt are you? It's my fault, I should have-"
"It's not your fault, Mashu," said Gudao. "No one could have predicted being dropped into the middle of a Roman troop. Right, doctor?"
"Fou!"
"Fou?" Mash said incredulously.
The eponymous creature had popped out from...somewhere Gudao was certainly not staring at now. "I guess he hitched a ride," Gudao said, looking anywhere but there.
"Ah-ha," came the familiar nervous laugh from the transmitter on Gudao's waist. "Rayshifting still needs some fine-tuning I guess, sorry about that. At any rate, you're near a suitable ley line so you can call in a few Servants now."
"Well that's good for some peace of mind," remarked Gudao.
Gabby nodded to the fluffy animal as she strolled up to Gudao. "Hey, Fou. Guess you're along for the ride again huh."
"Fou!" It said happily.
"One heck of a start, isn't it brother? At least we don't have to climb a mountain or anything right?"
"Well..."
She groaned. "You're kidding me."
"Only if you want to summon a full contingent of Servants!" said Roman hastily. "If you want a team of six, including Mashu, you should be alright at this point."
"Well that's something," Gabby muttered. She looked at Gudao, who was deep in thought. "You come up with a team already, Gudao?"
"First things first," said her brother. "Where are we? This doesn't look like Rome."
"Fou..." Fou sounded sceptical as well.
"You're not-! Can you even see the city from there!?"
"Nope," said Gabby as she looked around. "Which means we probably ended up on the outskirts or something, because Ray-shifting can't be that inaccurate right?"
"R-right. Yeah, of course!"
"Doctor?" Gudao asked sourly.
"N-no, really, you should just be on the outskirts of the city. Try finding a new vantage point?"
Gudao sighed and nodded. "It's worth a shot."
"Masters!"
The two looked at Mashu, who was looking behind them.
"What-" Gudao was cut off as a great boom resounded across the plains.
"Fou!" Fou chittered excitedly.
The two Masters turned around to see a fight erupt between two forces several hundred meters away.
"A Servant?" murmured Gabby as a woman, faintly visible from this distance, jumped up high and smashed into the ranks of other Roman soldiers with a flaming sword.
"It can't be," declared Dr Roman. "I'm not detecting any signatures of Servants within a kilometre."
"So its someone who's actually alive at this time?" said Gudao in shock as she danced across the front lines, smashing Roman shields with continuously graceful swings of that flaming blade. She looked familiar, actually...
"No matter how impressive she is alone, she's got the smaller force," Gabby pointed out. 'Look, that army she's against may not have a fighter of that woman's calibre, but she can get overwhelmed all the same if she's just human."
The two Masters looked at each other for a long moment and nodded in unison.
"I'll summon two, and you'll summon three?" asked Gabby.
"I could use the help in a melee like that, thanks," said Gudao.
"I'll take Shirou, Cu, and Robin."
Gudao nodded. "Balanced Knight classes. I assume you want Shirou to get some experience first?"
"Yep. As a dual-class Servant, I think we'll be working with him a lot."
"Fair point. I'll take Ushi and George. I don't think we'll be encountering any Assassins here, so we should be alright. Mashu?"
She nodded firmly. "I'm with you, Senpai."
The two took out their Saint Graph shadows and began the summoning.
"Great Emperor!"
She broke the two last shields held by the frontline of enemy soldiers to deny the enemy their defences and then leapt back once more to let her army take advantage of the opening.
"Umu!" Nero Claudius Augustus turned to the centurion who had called her name. "What is it, proud citizen and soldier of Rome? Have you praise for my decisive opening of the enemy defences?"
"Yes, my glorious Emperor! Splendid work!" The centurion yelled automatically. "There also appears to be another force beguiling the United Alliance's rear as well!"
She did not have to survey the battlefield long to see the man's words for truth. A small team of fighters to be sure, but each seemed as powerful as her illustrious self, if not even more so!
Why, that red-haired man, in particular, seemed worth a legion on his own!
Much like she herself was!
"Umu!" She said, pleased at this fortuitous turn of events. "These enemies of our enemies appear to be powerful indeed! Now we have only to seize this glorious moment!"
Emperor Nero raised her beloved Aestus Estus towards the sky as it blazed as bright as a second sun.
"PROUD SOLDIERS OF THE TRUE ROME!" Her voice boomed across the front lines, filling her soldiers with courage and her enemies with fear.
She swept her blade down and her voice rang forth once more. "FORWARD MARCH!"
Nero Claudius Augustus smiled from the bottom of her great and magnanimous heart as the responding warcries and footsteps of her soldiers shook the earth.
"I think he's pissed again," remarked Gabby as she picked her way through the swathe of bodies Shirou had left behind in his wake.
"Oi, leave some for me!" Cu Chulainn yelled in the distance.
"It isn't a competition," the disembodied voice of Robin grumbled from somewhere near Gabby as his bolts pierced through enemy armour as if it were paper.
"Might want to talk to him about that before you send him back," said Gudao as he nodded to George, who nodded back and rode into a shield formation, breaking it wide open for Ushiwakamaru to dart in and dispatch the soldiers.
"I mean, he did yell something incoherent about being interrupted again before he went on that rampage."
Shirou Emiya (Sengo Muramasa)
Biography:
Default: This Shirou Emiya was not someone who possessed the calibre to become known as a Heroic Spirit in his lifetime. However, as a result of this particular Holy Grail War's circumstances, he ended up being summoned as the vessel of the legendary blacksmith Sengo Muramasa. Moreover, this Shirou Emiya seems to possess all his abilities and memories in full due to Muramasa graciously allowing Shirou to take his place. A Pseudo-Servant who has more of the vessel in him than that which was supposed to fill him.
Bond 1:
Height/Weight: 187cm/78kg
Source: Historical Fact - Fate/stay night
Region: Japan
Alignment: Neutral Good
Gender: Male
A man who knows doubly well how heavy the weight of principles and ideals can become.
Bond 2:
Sengo Muramasa was a moderately well-known blacksmith famous for forging 'demonic' or 'cursed' swords. This ability was not something of Muramasa's originally, however, if he were to have been summoned properly as a Saber the swords he would have used would have undoubtedly been cursed with three marked traits: to never be sheathed until the blade had drawn blood, to never be sheathed until the blade had slain something, and to never be at rest unless having recently killed a human being.
Of course, these traits do not manifest in Shirou Emiya's Projections, due to them not being truly 'forged by his hands'. But if any blades were...
Bond 3:
Infinite Creation of Swords: Alternative
Rank: E~~A
Type: ?
Unlimited Blade Works. A pseudo-unique magecraft that imposes Shirou Emiya's world upon his outer world. For a given time, all weapons stored within this Reality Marble become readily available for use. Can be used with or without an aria. When used with an aria, all reproduced weapons fall by half a rank. When used without an aria, prana consumption is greatly reduced, but all reproduced weapons fall by a full rank and a half.
Bond 4:
Communion With Nature: EX
A skill that blends the facets of one's swordplay with the very movement of the swordsman's surroundings. Only those who have lived and trained alongside nature with minimal trappings of civilization can attain this skill. Mastering this skill, however, requires one to give up parts of one's own psyche to fully comprehend the relationship between the fundamental driving force of nature and its effect on the wielder themselves. At rank EX, can be used as an active skill, where perception is enhanced to levels that rival Instinct at ranks A++ and above.
Bond 5:
Projection Magecraft: E- (Conditionally A++)
A magecraft that reproduces tools based on images. As a result of further specialization into his Origin of Sword during his life, this Shirou Emiya's normal Projection rank falls to E-. But when the target of Projection is a bladed weapon, the rank increases by a huge margin. Shirou can have his many projections explode to increase destructive power, but prefers not to resort to such tactics.
Extra:
Affection of Seiba-Face: EX (Hidden Passive)
Shirou Emiya is an existence with an unbreakable and close connection to a certain blue Saber, no matter which timeline he or she originates from. This grants him immediate favour with any and all versions of the existence known as Artoria Pendragon, as well as anyone who bears a close resemblance to her.
"Damn it, Takeuchi."
A/N:
EDIT: Just fixed up an unfinished line to make sure of Mashu's existence.
It took a whole year to get this out.
...Okay, maybe around three months, but it sure felt like a whole year.
Issues ranged from debilitating illnesses to Path of Exile's War for the Atlas expansion. Mostly the former, I'd say. Wrote a long-ish chapter to somewhat compensate. Don't think it'll appease the bloodlust I can feel from a mile away.
I think I hyped up the Emiya v Emiya fight too much, for how much space it actually takes up here. It was originally a chapter on its own, but then I felt like the story was slow enough as it was and so I cut it down a bit. Hopefully, it reads well, I'm not the best judge of my own writing, as made apparent by everyone who reads this crap.
It's tough trying to get a handle on the personalities in Chaldea when there are so many memorable ones. I don't know how GhostXavier does it.
Pretty damn well, obviously.
Saber Wars just came out at the time of me finishing this. While the story is fun, and I can see the Servant-Verse be the site of some funny stuff going down, I must question the sanity of anyone trying to get 2,000,000 points. GudaGuda was bad enough, but apparently, these dailies don't even compensate as much as those did.
But NP5 Lily, the armpits-err-Purely Bloom CE's...they call...in sweet dulcet tones that remind me to say my daily mantra all over again: "Damn it, Takeuchi."
In admiration this time, of course.
Next time, we see Affection of Seiba-Face EX in action.
So overt that it's covert.