DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the Fate series, or any other series I write about in this site.
Chapter 1 – World of Apocrypha
Shirou shot open his eyelids as he inhaled a gasp of air into his lungs. Shirou quickly bolted up from his lying position and straightened up his back as he sat on the ground surveying his new surroundings. With widened eyes, Shirou raised his eyebrows in surprise at the completely different surrounding view than he was expecting.
Instead of the familiar scene of a deserted plain of swords, all around him was what can be best described as an old classical European town as people roamed to and fro among the streets and dirt roads in between the brick made one-story buildings that housed the sparsely populated residents. In short, this is completely opposite from what Shirou would expect in Japan or anywhere in Asia for that matter.
"Where am—" Shirou was interrupted from his self-musing when a piercing pain shot through his heart as he immediately clutched his chest tightly in discomfort.
Finally, the wave of nausea and pain drifted over Shirou as he exhaled a sigh of relief while he cautiously removed his hand away from his chest. Stretching open the collar of his shirt, Shirou peeked into his long-sleeved clothes as he examined the flesh over his heart.
Shirou's eyes widened at the impossible sight as he touched where his heart is again in disbelief. His chest, his heart … was completely healed, beating steadily as if nothing has ever happened. There was not even a speck of blood nor a single scratch on him! The only indication that his fight with Archer ever occurred is the blood-soaked torn clothes he is now wearing with the blood completely dried out by now.
Standing up from his seated position, Shirou blinked a couple of times to get accustomed to the blaring sunlight as he looked over at the horizon.
Where is he? What happened? And how can he get back? These were some of the numerous questions that popped into Shirou's head as he pondered the thoughts over and over again but finding no solution.
Something happened back when Archer's sword stabbed him, but Shirou was too far out of consciousness due to the sudden searing pain that everything during that time seemed to be a blur to him. And the next thing Shirou knew, he was here, lying on the dusted ground of this city.
Stretching his back and loosening up his sore joints, Shirou began to set foot towards the more populated area of the city. And if he was lucky enough, Shirou hoped he would be able to figure out what and where this foreign area was.
Walking left and right around the simple yet confusing intertwining roads of the city, Shirou began to slowly realize how grim his situation is. As far as he understood it, this place is definitely not a popular enough place to provide a nice tour center for foreigners like him who have no idea where they're at with a nice bit of information of this location.
Shirou sat down by a small deserted parking lot beside an inn as a slowly creasing frown made its way up to his face as he crossed his legs and pondered in thought.
None of the people here spoke Japanese, that much he was certain. He is also definitely no longer in Japan as clearly evident from the architecture, language, and people around here. Whatever the phenomenon did to him back in Archer's Reality Marble, it had somehow transported him in what he guessed as somewhere in Europe. The language and the predominant physical traits of the people here indicated that he was most likely in the Western side of the world, opposite of where his home country, Japan, is.
Shirou stood back up as he wiped the dust gathered on the back of his pants off. If he is going to find out about his whereabouts, he needed to get assistance from somebody with some kind high standing around here who may be able to assist him by at least finding someone that speaks the same language as he does. But seeing the very simplistic lifestyle everyone carried themselves with in this foreign city, Shirou doubted a person like that even exists here.
Shifting his gaze unconsciously to the right, Shirou noticed a child around five years of age holding his mother's hand while hopping up and down repeatedly, excitedly pointing somewhere far away in front of him as the mother continued to smile down at her son, making sure he doesn't get carried away with his enthusiasm.
Shirou followed the boy's pointed direction and quickly noticed something he wasn't able to before. Up in an elevated hill far away stood a massive castle with walls encompassing all four corners of it. This is beyond anything Shirou had seen before. Yes, the Einzbern Castle is big in its own right, but this castle put the Einzbern Castle in Fuyuki to shame. The castle before him is a truly formidable and majestic fortress.
Shirou widened his eyes in realization at the implications behind his thought. Big castle is equal to important people, and important people is equal to – hopefully – a way back home. And if this castle isn't meant purely for the aristocrats of this country, then this place is bound to attract some kind of tourism around here. Either way, Shirou could finally begin to see his chances of at least finding a person to communicate with brightening.
Jogging lightly up the hill he was on to get a better overtop view of the castle, Shirou squinted his eyes as he scrutinized the road path from the city, through the forest, and finally to the castle as Shirou quickly jotted and memorized the information down into his mind.
Shifting his gaze upwards to the gradually dimming sky as the sun slowly sank over the horizon, Shirou hummed in thought at whether it is a wise idea to go traveling during the night. But having no money or anything valuable on him, Shirou knew he will not be able to survive for long due to his unfamiliarity of the area and language as he is forced to resort to his last option of walking up to the castle immediately to find some people for help. Judging by the distance from the city to the castle, Shirou estimated it will take at least half a day before he gets to his destination. And Shirou knew he would like to arrive at the castle in broad daylight where the probability of meeting someone is ensured.
Shirou's stomach growled in protest as Shirou looked down at its abdomen. Looks like it was settled, he is going to travel tonight through the patch of forest leading up the way to the massive infrastructure before the next day arrives. To wait any longer will cause trouble down the road, and Shirou needed to save his energy to get back home as fast as possible, especially since the Grail War is still ongoing and Archer is surely still alive somewhere roaming about.
Furthermore, if Archer knew that Shirou is alive, Archer, having only two days left on his existence here in this time, may end up killing Tohsaka out of spite as he once stated to Shirou though Shirou is unsure of the validity behind the man's statement. However, Shirou was not willing to risk precious time to test Archer's words. With time pressing on him, Shirou began to set foot towards the direction of the stone built castle.
Shirou placed his hand on a tree beside him while his back slouched and his lungs panted for air. The bark of the tree uncomfortably tickled Shirou's skin as he used his other hand to wipe off the sweat gathering on his brows.
Shirou always considered himself to be overall decently fit for his age. Although he knew there was always improvement that can be made, it didn't mean he was a completely inept and weak man. However, after jogging at a steady pace for three hours on end, with ten minutes of walking for every hour he ran, Shirou was wiped out. Never has he done so much consecutive exercise at once.
With his lungs burning, his throat completely parched, and his saliva thickened, Shirou's muscles protested in exhaustive strain as his body threatened to give out from under him.
If only water was readily available nearby, Shirou could have taken a drink from it to replenish his energy. However, such a luxury was not readily available to him.
Straightening up his body as he stretched his uncomfortably tight back and arms, Shirou began to set foot once again towards the far away looming castle up in the pinnacle of the hill before him.
Walking in the deadly night with the biting cold wind freezing his exposed skin relentlessly, Shirou stared stoically ahead of him, detaching himself from the pain and numbness his body suffered. Shirou has long since learned this technique when he first began creating makeshift Magic Circuits from his nerves, the unorthodox process feeling like a hot metal rod being inserted into his spine. To cope with the nauseating and life-threatening pain, Shirou had no other choice but to discipline himself to separate a part of his mind from his body and train his mind on how it conceives pain.
Yes, Shirou did without a doubt still felt the pain. But this method aided him to better handle and cope with it. It is a psychological technique to put it simply.
While traveling up the unrelenting hill, a loud creak proceeded by a booming crash could be heard from afar. Shirou whirled his head around behind him at the source of noise to see dust billowing high in the air several kilometers away from where he's at. Shirou gave a contemplative expression at the odd sight and sound as he prepared to begin walking once more before another crash resounded the forest, this time much closer than it was before.
Shirou's face made a grim expression as his lips thinned into a line, ready to face any unexpected danger coming his way. More crashes resonated throughout the forest grounds, this time in succession while a maniacally booming laugh could be heard approaching quickly.
Shirou involuntarily swallowed his thickened saliva as he moved his body in a battle ready position, his ears listening all around him as Shirou's eyes focused on what is in front of him.
"HAHAHAHA – MUHAHA – HAHAHA," the series of laughs grew louder and louder as the sound of trees snapping and hitting the earth grew in intensity.
In less than three minutes, whatever this thing is, it had traveled from a place several kilometers away to a mere a kilometer away from where Shirou's at. This is something no human can do; this is something only a …
Shirou's eyes at that moment widened in alarm as his body moved instinctively on its own, dodging a rapidly falling tree by a hair's width.
"Wha—?!"
Shirou didn't even have the time to voice out his surprise when a massive double-edged broadsword came plummeting down in his direction. Shirou quickly leaped back as the force of the blade came crashing into the ground, sending Shirou flying several meters away before he tumbled over and over again onto the rich moist dirt.
Shirou stood back up as he winced in pain, what is that thing?! Taking a good look at the gigantic and muscular man in front of him who is smiling maniacally, Shirou could only come up with one answer.
"A Servant?!" Shirou muttered under his breath in disbelief. Another Servant which he isn't familiar with in a far off land? Is this possible? Disregarding the technicalities behind the situation, Shirou gauged the giant's abilities to be somewhere near the level of a standard Berserker Class Servant. Looking at the crazed being, Shirou knew this "Servant" should never be allowed to set foot anywhere near human populated areas.
Readying for the inevitable battle, Shirou, with eyes fixated on his opponent, chanted the ominous words of a man who is willing to give up his life for mankind's salvation.
"Trace –" Shirou shouted as green neon light extended from his arms to his fingertips, all his twenty-seven Magic Circuits activating at once, thrumming with power.
"—On!" The seven processes of recreating a blade from its history to structure manifested firmly into Shirou's hands as the Chinese blades of Kanshou and Bakuya projected into existence.
The berserk giant, as if unheeding to the threat before him, continued to wreak havoc around him with crazed glee. The giant then brought up his unnaturally massive sword as he swung the blade down to the ground right at Shirou who was standing by the side.
Shirou quickly sprinted out of the way as the sword split open the ground, creating a long chasm while dirt flew everywhere in the air as a result of the overpowered blow. Not wasting the opportunity, Shirou honed in on his target as he threw Kanshou and Bakuya at his crazed enemy with pinpoint accuracy, both blades crisscrossing in the air like boomerangs before hitting its intended target, the eyes, with a resounding and explosive boom.
The giant flinched at the explosive contact before blinking his eyes a couple of time as if ridding the pain and confusion. Once the giant's temporary disorientation cleared, the giant's crazed smile broadened in glee at Shirou's attack.
"GREAT! MORE!" the giant roared at Shirou's attack.
"Wha—?!" Shirou made a voice of disbelief at the odd behavior of what he assumed as a Heroic Spirit. This man … wasn't a masochist by any chance, is he?
Waiting for the giant to first make his move, the powerful being then swung his arms around as all the trees that were in his way were subsequently plowed down by his blade as his lethal weapon made its way towards Shirou violently.
Looking at the giant with a calculated gaze, Shirou ducked the blow at the last second before charging forward with all he had, even attempting the dangerous magecraft of reinforcing his legs to get to the opponent before him faster. Shirou then threw Bakuya and Kanshou once again at the giant's legs as both blades ignited powerfully at the contact as Shirou projected the same blades one more time.
Suddenly, as if by nowhere, a gigantic hand smacked Shirou at his unaware side as Shirou flew into the air before hitting a tree trunk with a loud resounding boom. The air in Shirou's lungs was instantly forced out of his body as he choked out a string of blood immediately afterward. Shirou's body slumped forward in pain at the violent collision as he panted for air in a mixture of agony and exhaustion.
"HAHAHA – AHAHAHAHA – Are you the oppressor?" the giant asked as it approached Shirou rapidly.
Shirou gritted his teeth as he lifted up his body. So this man is not truly berserk after all. This giant still had somewhat of a coherent mind of his own, unlike the Berserker of the Fifth Holy Grail War which his Servant, Saber, crossed blades with. Forgetting the technicalities behind what's going on, Shirou lifted his head as he stared at the man with little to no armor.
"You first attacked me," Shirou stated simply with a hint of protest, ready for anything the giant will be throwing at him. "Why am I the oppressor?" Shirou muttered under his breath in the end, seeing no use in communicating with the crazed giant.
The giant continued to wear his unchanging delightful smile on his face as he walked closer and closer to Shirou before the ground between them suddenly churned and shifted as the earth mended together to form a humanoid-like creature from the rocks and soil underneath.
"Golem?" Shirou said with uncertainty, having never seen such a creature before as his voice laced with confusion. Immediately after Shirou made his question, four more identical creatures birthed out of the ground, all of them just as tall as the giant as they all surrounded the man from all sides, cornering him in a tough spot.
The gleeful grin on the giant's face widened as he immediately charged at his new opponents, not wasting a single breath as he lashed out his massive blade right through the first golem, his sword easily cleaving through the earth made material without much resistance.
The giant quickly whirled around as he swung his blade in a mighty arc as he decimated the second golem before him. The third golem managed to deliver an overpowered punch as the giant was sent stumbling a few steps backward before the crazed being struck the golem at its midsection with his muscular legs, breaking the golem in half.
Shirou's mouth began to feel dry, so this was the power of the giant. There was no doubting it, although this giant is nowhere nearly as powerful as Hercules was, the giant before him is definitely worthy of the title of a Berserker Class Servant.
Leaping into the air, the giant finally swung down his blade as he made quick work of the last two golems, sending stone and earth flying everywhere in the battlefield.
Shirou didn't have time to wait for the billowing dust to settle down when the giant emerged from the thicket with his blade lifted high, ready to strike whatever is in his way. Shirou, without thinking, quickly scrambled out of the attack's way as the blade is immediately brought down as it severed the tree Shirou was previously beside at in half.
Shirou gulped, this is not going to be easy … or more like, impossible. But disregarding his inabilities and shortcomings, Shirou traced out Bakuya and Kanshou once again as he readied into a battle stance. The giant then turned around and began advancing towards Shirou's direction before a periodically green flying arrow suddenly whizzed out of nowhere, the arrow digging square into the giant's massive feet with stunning force.
The giant grunted in pain as he gave a disturbing laugh at the event. "GREAT! MORE! MORE!" the giant roared as he scanned around the forest, looking for the oppressor.
Shirou, doing the same, began to scan around his own surrounding, trying to pinpoint the potential new threat.
Another arrow whizzed through the air with lightning speed as the projectile dug into the giant's bulging muscular arms.
The giant didn't even flinch as he promptly acted by rushing in the direction where the arrow shot from, not even heeding how he was crashing through the numerous tall trees in his way that served as a troublesome obstacle.
Shirou, without thinking on what he's doing, began to swiftly follow after the stomping destructive giant's warpath. Two more arrows coming from different directions rapidly whizzed away in a blur as one sliced a deep gash across the giant's wrist while the other punctured his shoulder mercilessly.
Finally, to Shirou's right, Shirou noticed a vague outline jumping inhumanly fast from tree to tree, aiming her bow at …
Shirou's eyes widened as his pupils shrank in realization, turning his body immediately as he sidestepped off to the side, an arrow shot away as the projectile grazed the front portion of Shirou's hair. Shirou stumbled backward at his sudden action before quickly regaining back his balance. It seems like things weren't going to be as easy as he hoped it would be.
Shirou projected Kanshou and Bakuya again as the dual blades manifested in his hands while he crossed the blades defensively in front of him.
The giant, as if unaware what's truly going on, continued to plow through his way in the forest as he crushed trees and anything alike in his way without restraint, all the while doing this with a crazed gleeful grin, shouting something about "oppressor" this and "oppressor" that.
Three more arrows whizzed out in succession as pasture green light arced across the dark forest. Shirou didn't have the time to register what is going on before his body, once again, moved in accordance to its own will when he first ducked the first arrow before sidestepping the next one as it grazed the top of his hair. Lastly, Shirou placed a foot in front of him as he instantly advanced forward, swinging Kanshou down with all his might as the blade crashed into the midflight projectile, shattering it into oblivion.
Shirou panted quietly as his lung inhaled and exhaled rapidly in exhaustion. "What was that earlier?!" was the question Shirou has been asking himself moments ago ever since he performed the crazy stunts he should never be able to do anytime soon without extensive training. It almost reminded him of …
There was no doubting it, the moves, complete and not wasted, flowing together with perfect synchrony as the combination of actions also taunting the enemy to continue its approach by using cleverly disguised yet obvious openings. Shirou didn't know how he knew all this, but these reckless moves were no doubt something a certain Archer devised and would do.
Shirou gritted his teeth in frustration, ever since he's got here, nothing has been going the way it should be. First, he gets thrown somewhere halfway across the globe, then he is forced to walk tens of kilometers up a hill of forest only to get attack by a ridiculously powerful and somewhat insane giant attempting to maul him on several occasions. And when finally the giant's attention left him, Shirou was left by himself to fend off a hidden attacker's arrows. If this wasn't Archer's E rank Luck at work here that is somehow inherited in him, Shirou didn't know what else it is.
Nothing happened for a couple seconds as the giant continued to pursue the hidden attacker to no avail, snapping branches and uprooting trees as he went. From what Shirou witnessed during the battle, it was clear the hidden archer had no intentions of killing the giant. The archer was only using his arrows to either stall or discourage the giant, perhaps maybe even stopping him but without killing the berserker. But seeing the giant's resilience and tenacity towards pain, Shirou doubted something like a "minor" wound to the arms or legs would impede the gigantic warrior much.
However, a thought bugged Shirou to no end. Why him? It's one thing to shoot the giant as it is a reckless and insensible man. But him? What has he ever done wrong?
Shirou was quickly reminded of the time when he accidentally stumbled into a fight between Archer and Lancer back in Fuyuki City at the school grounds. The results were given, Lancer abandoned the fight and decided to pursue and ultimately kill him because he, an outsider, had witnessed a battle he should not have seen.
Shirou's fists clenched tighter in alarm, as if his instinct is warning him of imminent danger. If what he thought was truly the case, then Shirou was beginning to find the possibility of him getting dragged into yet another Grail War becoming more and more likely.
Suddenly, Shirou saw a person's silhouette from his peripheral vision as the figure leaped into the air and before the giant without fear while puffing up his chest in confidence. Upon closer inspection, Shirou noticed the person having long braided pink hair with a black ribbon tying it all together, the design of the person's golden white cloak with black and red inside armor suggesting what Shirou assumed as a "she" originated from the Western world during her past – assuming "she" is a Servant that is.
"Behold, Oppressor!" the giant greeted with his maintained crazed grin as he approached the newly emerged figure. "My might will wreck havoc upon your arrogance!" the giant declared crazily as he boomed a chain of laughs.
"Oh, boy," the pink haired person sighed as he slapped his hand on his forehead before he straightened his body back up, fixing his eyes on the foe before him.
"Let those afar off listen; those who are near, see!" the person carrying an odd-looking lance declared. "I am one of Charlemagne's Paladi—" the person was quickly interrupted when a massive black blade thrusted towards the long-haired person, missing him by only a centimeter to the side.
The pink-headed person yelped in surprise as he leaped back defensively towards safety, away from the reach of the giant as the dark-skinned muscular man pulled back his one-handed broadsword.
"At least let me finish!" the self-proclaimed paladin exclaimed in childish protest as Shirou continued to conceal himself within the foliage, hoping to not get discovered by the clearly two powerful individuals and the one that has yet to reveal himself up in the trees.
"I haven't had the opportunity to do so in a long time!" the paladin continued in complaint, as if unconcerned of the dire and dangerous situation he is in.
The berserker hefted up his sword as his grin widened before his muscles bulged out as he released a burst of strength, charging over at the petite paladin.
"That's … unsettling," Shirou muttered under his breath as he continued to watch the scene unfold while the giant unceasingly laughed in disturbed joy during his rampage.
"If that's what you want, that's what you'll get," the paladin said with an unconcerned sigh as he readied the lance in his hand, pointing it straight ahead of him as he leveled the weapon perpendicular to his chest.
"Trap of Argalia!" the paladin shouted as mana from the air gathered into the tip of the lance with bright hypnotizing light as it swirled powerfully into the Noble Phantasm before a blast was unleashed out of the lance as the paladin charged in the berserker's direction.
It was but a split second later before everything ended with a gaping hole in the giant's thigh and an unscathed paladin who had his back facing the giant as he skidded to a stop.
The paladin then straightened up his body as he let his pink hair fall down harmlessly over his shoulder without care. "You see," the paladin began, "this lance returns whatever it strikes back to its spiritual form. Awesome, huh?" the paladin asked as he gave a satisfied and confident grin while turning his body around to face the clearly insane giant.
"You think that is going to stop me?!" the giant asked in a deep gruff voice and a maniacal smile as he attempted to get back on his feet to attack the paladin once again. However, before the giant can get to reaching distance at his opponent, a number of lances, as if shooting out from nowhere, stabbed through the berserker's torso and appendages mercilessly as the giant was forced to stop his advancement.
"Calvary's here," the paladin said with a dismissive wave of his hand, not at all concerned of what could have happened to him if the giant managed to snatch him. "Bye bye! See you later~!" the paladin said with a playful tone of his voice before he skipped away back behind the said "cavalry".
Replacing the earlier figure was now a group consisting a trio of men with only one person on an armored horse. The man on the horse clearly declaring his supremacy with the regal air he held himself. His eyes, empty and cold-blooded, signifying that he is willing to kill and do anything to his advantage.
"Rebellious Berserker of Red!" the ruler addressed with a raised voice at the supposedly rogue Servant.
Shirou widened his eyes in realization from behind the foliage as he watched on from a distance. So his prior unsupported hypothesis was right all along. This is none other than the Holy Grail War in another country. The man before him has even declared one of the common aliases denoted for a Servant or Heroic Spirit during these wars between magi. However … Servant of "Red"? What is all that business about?
"If you seek the one in power, you are facing him," the ruler on the horse continued to announce as he stared at the rogue Servant with cold unwavering eyes.
The Berserker gave a booming audible laugh as he looked at the man addressing him. "Are you the oppressor?" the giant asked before lifting himself up from his battle wounded position. "You shall now face my wrath!" the Berserker Class Servant attempted to rush at the man in charge before suddenly a group of golems rivaling his stature appeared from his four corners.
The giant swiftly smashed his blade into the first one before turning around to meet his second opponent with the edge of his blade. A rock fist of a created familiar struck the giant's abdomen as the Servant stumbled backward in pain as he counterattacked the golem recklessly, without care for his life and wellbeing. This was the difference between the Berserker Shirou knew and this Berserker.
Although it is clear that both are well-trained warriors in the past and capable of insurmountable feats, it was still nevertheless as transparent as day that the Heroic Spirit Hercules is clearly far more powerful than the Heroic Spirit present fighting here. This judgment still applies even with this Heroic Spirit still having some sanity in his semi-berserk state, even Hercules with his complete berserk state was able to retain his skills completely by instinct alone. This Heroic Spirit, however, was clearly not the same caliber as Illya's Servant.
Berserker whirled around as he met another golem with his blade, cleaving the familiar in half before the ground from under him churred and shifted. Berserker turned his eyes downwards to see the earth from the ground making its way up rapidly on his legs and torso. Before even a second has passed, Berserker's entire lower body is encompassed with an inescapable hold.
"Kazikli Bey," the man on the horse uttered as miasmic dark purple energy gathered into the ruler's hand as he formed his right hand into a fist. The miasmic form of mana then formed a circle of crackling energy as spears shot out from the ground beneath the trapped giant, impaling through his body without resistance. The giant's blade extended out at that moment, trying to skewer the man on the horse before him to no avail after having been so swiftly and tactically stopped.
"Your rebellion is against the oppression of the weak by the powerful," the ruler began speaking to the immobile Servant in front of him once more. "That is noble," the ruler stated with respect evident in his voice. "I am tempted to show respect to a rebel," the ruler finally finished his thoughts aloud at the dying Servant staring at him.
"I will crush you, Oppressor!" the giant roared as he attempted to further extend his sword to impale the man in front of him.
"Fall now," the ruler said stoically with an unwavering expression as his eyes narrowed dangerously, an act truly fit for a cold-blooded king, "rebel!"
At those words, more bladed lances emerged out from the ground as it fully impaled the berserk giant without a problem as the giant stopped his movement and drifted into unconsciousness with blood dripping rhythmically everywhere he was struck.
"He's yours," the ruler stated as he turned his horse around after the entire fight has come to an end.
"Nothing more for me to do, right?" the paladin said with a hint of excitement, having earlier been watching the entire spectacle of display of power. "Okay, then, see you guys later!" the paladin hurriedly spoke as he turned around and tiptoed his way out of the gloomy battleground.
"Rider!" a lady's voice resounded the forest. Shirou quickly noted in his head that this woman must be none other than Rider's Master by the way she held herself and addressed the said Servant. However, what confused Shirou the most during this entire exchange is the fact on why and how so many Servants are working together when one Servant is more than enough to defeat the rogue Berserker Class Servant. What is going on?
"Oh! My poor back!" Rider groaned with exaggeration as he bent his back and pretended to wince in pain, something which Shirou thought as the most unrealistic display of a poor excuse. "Ehehehe," the paladin gave a faked laugh as he rubbed his back uncertainly, trying to worm his way out of the tough situation. "I think I need to lie down!"
"Caster, I'll now sever Berserker's pact and force him into a new contract," the man cloaked in white interrupted Rider's unconvincing excuses with a monotonous voice. "Assist me," the man then commanded.
"As you wish," Caster said without a pause.
Shirou frowned in thought. No normal Master would use the words "Assist me" towards their Servant under ordinary circumstances.
"Celenike, Roche, help me as well," the man continued after Caster's response, directing his statement at the woman whom Shirou pinpointed as Rider's Master and a child who is beside Caster. Shirou didn't know anything about the child's involvement in this Grail War, but Shirou desperately hoped this kid is not another Illya. The thought of another kid having the same kind of power like a certain white silvered hair girl sent chills to Shirou's spine. And if this child had Illya's personality tacked onto it, there is no telling what disastrous events can happen.
"Okay, Darnic!" the boy answered with a piped up expression.
Shirou's eyes shifted to Rider's Master as the said Master looked over to the opposite side of where the man named Darnic was. "Fine," Rider's Master punctuated, as if reluctant to offer her help but having no other options, an obligation in other words.
After a momentary pause, the black long haired man who was speaking earlier opened his mouth once again as two Servants suddenly manifested seemingly from thin air beside him. A man in standard armor that looked like a warrior in every way to the other person who is a girl in a flawless white dress carrying a club like weapon in her hands indicated to Shirou that they must be Servants of this war as well.
"I'll leave the other two to you, then," the man audibly addressed the command to the other two Servant as both Servants wordlessly obeyed the issued order by walking further into the forest ground and towards Shirou's direction.
The other people present, also without a word, followed after the man riding on the horse as they headed back to what Shirou assumed as their base of operations. From what Shirou could gather through past experiences, this was the common norm during the Holy Grail Wars.
Shirou continued to blend himself in the midst of the foliage as both the oddly dressed girl – who had what can be best described as a pair of ear mufflers and a spike with a metallic shine protruding out of her forehead – and another Servant who carried himself stoically while carrying a standard medieval sword walked side by side with the impractically dressed girl.
Suddenly, both Servants came to a stop as deadly silence permeated through the forest grounds.
"Yo, I've been waiting for you two," a man with light green hair that bordered dusty yellow spoke with eyes closed and arms crossed as he leaned on the tree trunk behind him in a relaxed manner. "Saber and Berserker, I presume," the man commented as he straightened up his body and faced his two opponents.
Shirou frowned at the revelation. A Berserker and a Saber Class Servant … isn't that overkill for combatting only one Servant? However, Shirou was quickly reminded to never underestimate an opponent or gauge their abilities by sight alone. Shirou knew there is bound to be something he either didn't know or isn't able to understand.
"Man, I'm held in such low regards. Sending only two Servants to handle me?" the Servant said with his spear resting behind his neck harmlessly, as if unconcerned of the threat before him. The Servant's eyes then opened his eyes wide as he gave a bloodlust grin at his two opponents. "I'm offended!" the Servant shouted menacingly.
Both Berserker and Saber held up their weapons, ready for anything coming their way as the other lone Servant readied his spear by spinning his weapon in a lethal and random fashion around him.
"Rider is my class," the Servant continued before stopping his spear once it was vertically parallel to his body, "but no worries, I won't be using my chariot," the Rider Class Servant ended with a confident grin as he pointed his spear tip threateningly at his two enemies. "It will be disgustingly unfair against only the both of you," Rider finished arrogantly.
Shirou's forehead creased and wrinkled in thought. There was too much he didn't understand here. Why in the world are there two Berserker Class Servants and two Rider Servants in this war?!
Rider then fixed his eyes at the two enemies before him threateningly with a smile as he spoke his final sentence. "I'll beat the real meaning of a true hero – a true warrior – into you!"
As if those words triggered something, both Saber and Rider immediately leaped into action as Saber, without wasted movement, traded continuous blows at the swift Servant. With Rider being totally on the offensive, Saber continued to meet the overpowered inhuman blows one for one as they traveled through the entire battleground with lightning speed.
Batting away Saber's sword with his spear, Rider quickly dodged Berserker's reckless charge and her proceeded blow with her massive club. Berserker attempted to attack once more only for Rider to sidestep the blow and advance forward to her vulnerable stomach with a bone-crushing kick, sending the girl Berserker several meters away helplessly tumbling on the ground as she growled incoherently.
Saber then came with a rushing approach behind Rider's exposed back as Rider widened his eyes in realization. Reacting within a split second, Rider twisted his body as he grasped Saber's wrist midway with a vice grip, stopped the blade's trajectory right there.
Shirou felt his mouth gaping open at the nigh impossible sight. Did that Servant … just stop the other Saber Class Servant with raw strength alone?
"Too bad," Rider said with an arrogant smirk as Saber shook with strain. "You're nowhere near my level!" Rider shouted as he brought down the spear in his left hand down with unbelievable strength, the spear's trip piercing through Saber's armor before hitting his shoulder.
Rider, surprised by the fact that Saber didn't so much flinch at the detrimental blow, retreated a couple steps back as he reanalyzed his opponent. That blow should have had incapacitated Saber's arm, but however, the opposite result is shown before Rider.
"So you're an endurance fighter then," Rider stated in interest. "This is going to take a while."
Saber maintained his stoic expression as he eyed his enemy in close regards.
Rider looked at the expression worn on Saber's face before giving an amused snarky smile. "If you can't laugh on the battlefield, you won't get to laugh on the Elysian fields either. Show some good nature and consider these as your very last moments."
"A laugh in a battle may offend a person," Saber, for the first time, spoke a matter-of-factly.
"Those who revel shall be saved," Rider said in a peaceful and relaxed stance, as if uncaring and dismissive of what's going on around him.
At those words, suddenly, a bolt of green energy induced arrow shot out from the dark as it hit Saber square in the chest, sending Saber crashing into the trunk of a tree behind him.
Shifting his gaze to follow the arrow's trajectory, Shirou was finally able to make out the person that was fighting Berserker and himself.
"I see you take my sister's blow seriously," Rider commented as he approached the dual Servants before he fixed his eyes at the female Berserker. "We just lost our Berserker Class Servant, it's only fair if we return the favor, is it not?" Rider questioned as he readied his spear by pointing at Berserker.
Berserker gave a ferocious roar that sounded completely unnatural coming out from a little girl's mouth as a gale of wind gathered around her, signifying a sudden mana concentration surrounding her. The club that is held in front of her then split apart into four sections as green energy and lightning coursed through it with stunning force, creating a force field of lightning encompassing around her.
The sudden and unexpected force exerted by Berserker sent Shirou stumbling in place, making him create minimal noise by accidentally stepping on a patch of dried out leaves behind him. However, despite how quiet the noise was especially considering how Berserker's weapon is crackling with immense energy loudly, the nearly inaudible sound didn't escape the notice of the Servants present.
"Who's there!" Rider immediately shouted, no longer fixing his eyes on Berserker anymore but instead scanning throughout the forest.
Shirou mentally cursed in his head. How could he have been so careless?! If Shirou doesn't move out fast, the Servants present are bound to find him very fast. After all, Lancer of the Fifth War had found and discovered Shirou relatively fast when Lancer had first guaranteed killed him, a while later finding Shirou again to kill him once more despite not even originally knowing where Shirou lived. Compared to the former event Shirou recalled, this search should be significantly easier.
Shirou didn't have any more time to ponder his dilemma when he caught a momentary glint of light to his right. Shirou whirled his head around to see the female Archer staring at him in melancholy, readying her bow. Shirou didn't even bother thinking twice when he leaped out of hiding as three arrows shot out from the Servant's bow, the arrows digging themselves deep into the tree trunk that Shirou was hiding before not even a second ago.
"Ha, there you are!" Rider shouted as he charged in Shirou's direction.
Shirou quickly projected the dual Chinese blades when Rider began to rush in to attack him. Rider, with a smile on his face, didn't bother to hold back when he delivered an impossibly fast blow for Shirou's gut. Shirou, guided by instincts and experience alone that felt foreign yet familiar all the same to him, redirected the incoming blow expertly as he stepped forward and attempted to bring his other blade for Rider's neck.
Rider widened his eyes though his grin widened as he leaned back, allowing the blade to graze past him and through the air as Rider came back up and swung his spear around to attack Shirou's vulnerable side. However, Shirou already knew this was coming when he blocked the overpowered blow with his dual blades.
"Ha, too bad!" Rider exclaimed as he exerted even more force against Shirou's blades suddenly, successfully sending Shirou flying several meters away as Shirou smashed into a tree trunk violently when he could not match the raw strength of the Servant in front of him.
Shirou spat out a pool of blood as his body was in a fit of pain and his nerves lit alive like fire.
"Hmm, so you were the lad fending off Berserker of Red earlier," Rider commented. "I suppose that explains your tenacity now. Unfortunately, it is in my Master's interests to end your life here," Rider said before he added with a dangerous glint in his eyes, "though I don't mind an entertaining fight with a mage."
"I-I-I," Shirou struggled to stutter out as he peeled himself off the tree as he stood up shakily in strain, his entire body protesting with immense pain. More likely than not, Shirou had a good number of bones in his body completely shattered and broken beyond repair, "I c-can't d-die h-h-here y-yet," Shirou declared in a whisper before his downcast eyes stared at Rider straight ahead with unwavering determination.
"Ho," Rider voiced out with a hint of surprise, indicating he was slightly impressive. "I like that," Rider replied Shirou's statement, his own determined gaze rivaling Shirou's. "Here I come!"
Rider, vanishing from his spot in an instant, immediately appeared by Shirou's side as Shirou widened his eyes in shock. Shirou barely even had the time to whirl his head around when Rider delivered another kick into Shirou's torso without restraint, sending Shirou flying once more.
"Ah, that's it?" Rider asked in the form of a taunt, though there was a lace of respect in his voice. To see a human in this day and age capable of recognizing the direction where his lightning attack came from is truly an impressive feat, especially since mages are known to normally work in the shadows and not fight in the open.
Rider began to approach Shirou as he bared his spear down to the ground. "Sorry lad, but you are facing a foe far beyond you, so smile at your last moments for standing up against me for so long," Rider ended with a smirk.
However, before Rider could approach the severely injured and lying Shirou any further, Saber stood blocking the way between Rider and his target, with Saber readying his blade by pointing it in the direction of Rider's neck.
"So that's how it's going to be," Rider said as his grin broadened. "This should make me kill some tim—" suddenly an arrow pierced through the dark air, the supersonic arrow lighting up in the deadly night as it hit Rider right on the shoulder.
Rider widened his eyes in surprise at the unexpected development. "What?!" Rider exclaimed silently in astonishment as he moved out of the way of the next barrage of arrows coming down at him rapidly with pinpoint accuracy.
"Tch, Archer of Black," Rider clicked his tongue in annoyance as he swung his spear expertly, dodging and hitting the projectiles midair without fail in the pitch black night.
Berserker roared in action once seeing Rider's struggle as she attempted to finish the fight right there and then.
"So you attack, Berserker of Black," a stoic voice said in the night as the hidden archer pulled her bow with a cocked arrow on the string back as green waves of mana piled up into her arrow tip, charging the projectile with insurmountable power. "For your recklessness," the archer continued, "you shall pay in blood!" releasing her string, the arrow shot through the air with explosive force as the arrow traveled straight at its target, Berserker's head.
However, the hidden archer's arrow was swiftly intercepted when another arrow from afar hit the other arrow midair and knocked it off its intended course.
"What?!" Archer of Red voiced out her shock before nodding in understanding. This has to be the act of the other Archer in the opposing faction of the Great Holy Grail War.
Shirou continued to watch the entire spectacle play out with blurred vision as it continued to unfold. This fight is beyond anything he has seen before in his life. The sheer magnitude of Servants present in one battlefield stacked the odds up against all the Servants here. This kind of fight at such an immensely difficult level is bound to have someone here releasing their Noble Phantasm to finish the opposition. And this is something Shirou can never allow to happen especially with the city so close to the forest. There is no telling what any of these Servants' Noble Phantasms can do this close to human population.
Suddenly, the barrage of arrows coming at Rider halted to a stop.
"Ha, just like I thought," Rider remarked as he walked towards Shirou. "Archer of Black is unable to shoot me from his line of sight at my position right now," Rider revealed as he continued to approach Shirou.
Saber continued to stand there in the way, guarding Shirou stoically with a determined and fierce expression on his face. A face that is determined to protect at all costs.
Shirou gritted his teeth as his hands clenched to a fist. No matter how impossible it is, regardless of what other people say, Shirou was intent on achieving his dream as a Hero of Justice. If Shirou allowed the fight between Saber and Rider play out and escalate, it was clear that Saber will eventually be pushed back until he is forced to use his Noble Phantasm if no one aided him from here on out. And this is something Shirou can never allow to happen no matter what. And Shirou was also not planning to wait idly and hope for the best outcome either.
Standing back up to his two own feet as blood dripped off his arm and mouth, Shirou gazed back stoically at his opponent.
"Still standing," Rider noted before smiling impossibly wide. "I like it!"
Rushing like a wind, Rider stood before Saber in a split second as both Servants began to exchange lightning blows without restraint. Though it was clear Rider is holding back in the sense that he had limited mobility due to Archer of Black's waiting eyes from afar, it is still nevertheless evident that Rider still held the upper edge in the battle.
"Ha, think that'll cut me?" Rider asked as he intercepted Saber's sword mid-trajectory with his powerful right grip before Rider flung Saber and his blade to the side.
"Finished resting?" Rider asked Shirou seeing how he is now standing up straight.
Shirou didn't bother to grace Rider an answer as he stared at him. This was kill or to be killed. And Shirou was not planning to get killed until at least the fight between Servants diffused to the point where it is guaranteed that Noble Phantasms will not be unleashed here.
Rider grinned once more as he charged at Shirou head on, not even waiting for Shirou to project his dual swords.
However, Shirou did something completely unexpected at Rider when Shirou allowed his body to guide himself as he first leaped over Rider's lightning jab before Shirou stepped onto the spear's tip and directed the weapon's blade to hit the ground, digging itself into the dirt. Shirou then quickly ran across the short length of the spear's wooden shaft as Kanshou and Bakuya were recreated into his hands as he aimed for Rider's head.
Rider quickly ducked, not giving into his momentary surprise before Rider retreated back as he forcefully retrieved back his spear with his superhuman Servant strength.
"You seem to be more than a handful than you appear to be," Rider stated with a persisting smile. "Now give me the best you've got!"
Shirou, without hesitation, closed his eyes as he uttered the two words to his own form of incantation of Gradation Air, also commonly known as Projection Magic. "Trace On!" Shirou spoke aloud as his Magic Circuits flared back to life.
Shirou quickly went through the seven steps in recreating a weapon as a blood red spear rested firmly in his grip. The pure bloodlust emitted by the spear created a strained atmosphere, fully capable of leaving any normal human subjected by the blade's end to shiver and cower in fear.
"Wha—?!" Rider exclaimed in surprise, even the hidden archer couldn't contain her gasp of bewilderment at the fearsome aura the spear emitted.
"Gae—" Shirou began announcing the Noble Phantasm's name in his hands as blood red mana began concentrating on the tip of the lethal ornate lance.
Rider quickly readied his spear in front of him defensively, ready for anything that is about to happen.
"Bol—" Shirou uttered the Noble Phantasm's name partway when suddenly a stinging sharp pain assaulted his senses as Shirou looked down on his body in an awkwardly slow fashion. Widening his eyes in surprise, down on Shirou's line of sight was a blade protruding out of his chest. Shirou didn't have time to further register what is going on when three more blades came out of his body in succession, making him kneel down on one knee in pain and weakness as Gae Bolg, the weapon of Lancer in the Fifth War, left his hand and faded away from existence.
"What?!" Rider muttered out in question, seeing the unexplainable phenomenon before him for the first time.
Shirou, unable to keep his body upright any longer, kneeled both legs down to the ground before he dropped cold onto the dirt terrain. Rider, gathering himself, walking over to the fallen form of Shirou as he looked at him in a mixture of confusion and awe. "Today is just not your lucky day, lad," Rider commented with a carefree statement. "Spend your last moments reminiscing your past and be proud of it."
Rider, leaving Shirou to the ground during his last moments, left without a word, finding absolutely no need to deal the final blow on the innocent bystander. This, in Rider's own manner, is his way of respecting the magus.
None of the Servants present were able to so much do anything when an arrow blasted through the sky from afar, splitting trees and branches without a problem as it whizzed through the air, heading for Rider.
Rider widened his eyes in surprise as he quickly batted away the projectile. Rider gave a click of annoyance before he began running along the ground in a randomized pattern to avoid the raining arrows. Finally seeing for once that he and Atlanta are at the disadvantage here, Rider turned around to face the far away unseen opponent.
"I will face you again next time, Archer of Black!" Rider declared as he veered his head to the side when another arrow tried to shoot his head to no avail. "May the gods of Olympus bless our contest with glory and honor."
With that statement, Rider put his two fingers into his mouth as he gave a shrilling whistle. As if on cue, a blast of a powerful mixture of lightning and energy shot down from the heavens before him, revealing a chariot with three mighty stallions. Rider swung his body over and into the chariot as he shook the reins to urge the horses to go.
"We shall fight again!" Rider announced as his chariot began to take off into the sky with the hidden archer meanwhile jumping off a tree and into Rider's chariot. "I look forward to seeing your face!" and with that ending statement, Rider and Archer of Red road through the night sky with unfathomable speed. Disappearing in the same amount of time they had just appeared in the sky.
Shirou looked at the entire spectacle numbly as a series of thoughts ran over through his head. What had happened? How is he dying? Have all his efforts in pursuing to become a Hero of Justice ended in vain failure? Shirou quickly shook away the abhor thought. He had decided from the very beginning to stay true to himself no matter the circumstances and to never regret the outcome, whether good or bad. And even though Shirou despised how his life came to such a pitiful end, Shirou was nevertheless glad that he was still able to give it a try to defend the innocent unaware people in the city nearby. And because of just that, Shirou was satisfied for what he was able to accomplish.
Shirou opened his eyes when he felt someone touching him to see Saber staring at him intensely as the Servant, with caring and powerful arms, slowly lifted the limp Shirou up. Shirou was unable to realize what's going on when he unwillingly fell into the sweet blissful embrace of unconsciousness as everything turned black in his sight.
"Old man," Shirou made his last thought before his eternal rest, "did I become a Hero of Justice?"
Thank you for reading! Please review, I would love to see what suggestions, ideas, or comments you guys have with this story and chapter.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions):
I know you guys may be wondering, why is Shirou so powerful? The answer is, he's not. Yes, I am well aware the skills Shirou displayed here should be well beyond him, and this fact is no different in this fiction too. To put it simply, there is another interfering factor involved here that gives Shirou this kind of power, but as seen in this chapter, even with the enhanced ability, Shirou is still have trouble with it as evident in the end of the chapter.
Future chapters will further explain the reasoning behind this "phenomenon".
Anyway, hopefully I will be able to get a new story out during this week – namely Fate/Stay Night (back in time to Britain) Idea 2, further details can be seen under my profile page.
Fate Blade Zero update coming out this upcoming Monday! – SteelBlades333