Chapter 138
The lance came from nowhere, Avenger only having a split second to react as the heavily injured Lancer manifested next to her and thrust the lance downwards, her condition making it seem sluggish and weak, but it still packed plenty of punch and speed. The black tip pierced through the back of Avenger without resistance and continued until it struck concrete, boring a hole straight through her stomach. Even with a high rank of Endurance, Avenger's body could only take so much. The pain blossomed in her midsection, her nerves on fire as she choked out a muffled scream. A skill that had lain dormant up til now kicked in, the vow she had taken for the people of Britain in her own history.
Kingslayers Oath.
When the Once and Future King of Britain focused on the danger until it blinded her to everything else, dooming her kingdom and its people, this Mordred took up arms and swore to never fall in battle until she beheaded the person that had once been a shining beacon, to her and to Britain.
Her body gained a second wind, the pain of all the injuries severe and light vanishing as she blocked it all out, a monstrous howl shaking out of her throat and filling the sewers as she ripped herself out of the lance, her guts, liver and blood dripping out of the massive hole in her sides as she swung one fist haphazardly, the back of her hand catching Lancer's cheek as it dislocated her neck, the older Lancer sent cracking to face an odd angle, a frozen look of torment and shock on the Servant's face.
Staggering, Avenger grabbed the lance, ignoring the crimson spike that speared into her palm, and she pulled it free of Lancer's grasp, the Servant unable to maintain a firm grip on the weapon. Holding the large shaft, she clubbed Lancer with the wide cowl connecting to the grip of the weapon. Hard.
Lancer's feet sunk into the ground, cracks forming in the concrete from the pure power of the blow as her eyes rolled into the back of her head, blood leaking from her head and nose as she fell, her body loose like a puppet with its strings cut. Unsatisfied, Avenger swung again, the great lance descending on Lancer's neck with the grace of a guillotine.
The weapon and Servant both faded away to golden dust as they dematerialized, Avenger swinging down an empty fist on nothing before she realized they were both gone.
With blood running out of the many wounds from the Black Keys, half her torso gone, and the mud and armor still interfering with her body, she knew she only had one more chance to break free. She was close, but it needed one last push. With her injuries though, one chance was all she was going to get.
Pushing through the haze of pain that clouded her thoughts, she pulled mana and energy from the Grail and her heavily blocked connection with her 'Master', her imitation Core created by Morgana in her body drawing all the magical energy and condensing into one point, hunching over her back as she bent forwards, her entire body encased in red lightning that arced from head to toe, the air itself humming with ozone and dust as burning flesh filled the air, her wounds frying from the electricity as more and more energy overloaded her body.
There couldn't be any holding back any more. Kirei brandished his Command Seals, heavily depleted after his stunt with Lancer, but still enough to fuel him for a few more fights. Running forward, he braced himself and entered the veritable storm surrounding the Servant, his skin flayed by outbursts of energy and mana as lightning kissed his frock and penetrated through the physical and spiritual defences it offered, searing the flesh to a charred black. His steps never faltered, his body unhesitatingly plugged forward as he thrust two Keys in each hand into Avenger's palms, his feet braced against the floor as he held strong against the constant barrage of mana, spiritual pressure and lightning.
"I will kill. I will let live. I will harm and heal. None will escape me. None will escape my sight.
Be crushed.
I welcome those who have grown old and those who have lost.
Devote yourself to me, learn from me, and obey me.
Rest. Do not forget song, do not forget prayer, and do not forget me.
I am light and relieve you of all your burdens.
Do not pretend. Retribution for forgiveness, betrayal for trust, despair for hope, darkness for light, dark death for the living.
Relief is in my hands. I will add oil to your sins and leave a mark.
Eternal life is given through death.
— Ask for forgiveness here. I, the incarnation, will swear.
— Kyrie eleison".
With the fragment of Angra Mainyu closing off the connection between it and Avenger, and the Grail also powering the Servant to a lesser extent thanks to the fragments influence, Avenger became closer in nature to a wandering spirit rather than a proper Servant anchored to the world with a Master's connection. In that sense, the rite was able to perform at maximum effectiveness.
Avenger howled as the energy dispersed, the stored mana exploding outwards in one great burst, sending Kirei flying backwards as he was blown off his feet by the massive explosion. The ceiling cracked, then caved in, rubble, dirt and concrete splashing into the sewer water and onto Avenger as she was buried in the mass of earth.
The scene of Avenger's furious face, golden specks flaking off it as she was entombed, was seared into Kirei's eyes, then he hit a wall and blacked out.