I surveyed the beach silently, my hand resting once more on the pommel of my sword, ready to draw it at the first sing of danger. Mordred had Clarent resting against her right pauldron like normal, and I could tell that she was pleased to be on dry land again, even if she didn't overtly show it.
The other Servants spread out slightly, taking up defensive positions around Drake, Mash, Ritsuka, and I. Thankfully, we didn't encounter any sort of ambush. No skeletons or zombies bursting out from under the sand. Nor were there any wyverns circling overhead.
I couldn't help but idly wonder how long it would be before that changed. Probably less than an hour, if I had to be any real money on it. Hopefully more than a few minutes at least.
"We need to proceed with caution, Master," Mash said, looking at Ritsuka with an especially stern expression. Apparently, the soft-spoken girl was still mildly miffed at Ritsuka for getting drunk last night. "We still don't know if the Servant Doctor Roman detected is a friend or foe." Drake hummed, looking towards the edge of the forest.
"Hmmmm, over there, perhaps?" Drake said. It was the only sort of warning we got before Drake suddenly unholstered her right flintlock and pointed it ahead, pulling the trigger the instant the barrel wasn't aiming at any of us. The lock mechanism let out a loud click as sparks shot out as the flint struck the frizzen. Those same sparks flew down into the pan, setting off the black powder. A small cloud of white smoke and a flash of fire accompanied the sharp crack as the lead ball whistled through the air.
A half-second later, I heard a soft thud as someone or something was hit, and then collapsed onto the ground. Damn, how did she see that?
"Fou?!" Mash's animal companion yelped in shock, almost falling off of Mash's shoulder. The Demi-Servant had an equally shocked expression on her face.
"Ack! Drake? Did you see if that was an enemy?" Mash demanded frantically, eyes wide. "Ahhh! Fou, stop running around!" Mash said as the aforementioned critter leaped from Mash's shoulder and scrambled around aimlessly on the beach. Amadeus was gritting his teeth, hands pressed against his super-sensitive ears.
"I sure hope so. Otherwise, you just gave away both our presence here and our current position," I added in a calmer tone, staring at the pink-haired pirate with a raised eyebrow as she holstered the firearm.
"No," Drake answered, looking serious for once. "But I felt a vague presence in that direction, so I took a shot." So, she was acting on intuition, then. Well, at least that was a reasonable explanation if you asked me. Apparently, however, Mash felt otherwise, staring incredulously at Drake as she threw her hands up in the air.
"Vague? Took a shot?!" Mash almost shrieked. It's been only about twenty-four hours since we first met Francis Drake, and already the English pirate had caused Mash to be more expressive I have ever seen her in that timeframe than the past few months when I first met the Demi-Servant! Drake smiled impishly at the frustrated Shielder.
"If you got a bad feeling, fire first, ask later. That's the key to survival, you know?"
"I can second that," Mordred muttered dryly, and I grunted in agreement. Mash shook her head in dismay.
"How violent," Mash muttered, shivering slightly as Ritsuka sympathetically rubbed a hand up and down her back. Her cheeks reddened slightly, but even the platonic (despite Mash's wishes, I bet) gesture from her crush wasn't enough to completely cheer her up. "That's how an outlaw thinks!"
I cleared my throat, and Drake looked at me, unaffected by Mash's comment. "So, did you get it?" I asked, wanting to refocus our energy on the purpose we came here. Drake laughed softly, giving an almost Mordred-style smirk.
"Hah! We won't know until we check it out! I'll go see if it's dead or not," Drake replied before sauntering off. Mash took a deep breath, calming herself down as an equally calm Fou deftly scaled up her back to return to his perch on her shoulder.
"Captain Drake is unlike Nero or you, Jeanne," Mash remarked tilting her head to the silent saint, who smiled awkwardly at that. "She's certainly…something," Mash said, at an apparent loss of words suitable to describe her view on Francis. She sighed softly. "At any rate, like Jacob Senpai commented earlier, there goes our plan to proceed with caution. Senpai, Jacob Senpai, what should we do?"
"Well, first step is to keep calm," I said, my gaze sweeping across the beach as Drake reached the last spot I had seen the barely distinguishable form of her target. Despite the noise she had generated, for the moment, we didn't have to worry about some sort of horde of enemies bearing down on us.
"Yeah. We'll just have to play it by ear," Ritsuka decided, and I signaled my agreement with the concept with a slight nod of my head. Mash nodded in turn.
"Yes. I will calm down and play it by ear," she said, sounding just a little bit stiff as Drake called out.
"Hey, Jacob! Come over here!" I motioned for us to all do so, and when I got there, I saw that Drake was crouched, holding something grey and rectangular. Whoever she had shot must have been one of those pirate concept thingies, seeing as how there was no body.
"A stone tablet?" Mash commented, looking at the object Drake held as the pirate stood back up.
"That's right. Any of you able to read what's written on it?" She asked, slowly waving the engraved stone at us. I furrowed my brow as my eyes narrowed. I could see the writing Drake was referring to, but it was neither French nor English. In fact, the letters weren't of the standard Latin alphabet or based off of it.
I looked over, sparing Jeanne a look. I had been extremely surprised to learn that the blonde Ruler was actually illiterate, though it did make sense. After she had confided in me about this, I had offered and was teaching Jeanne how to read and write. Mordred shook her head, looking bored as always during these moments, and one by one the other Servants accompanying us also indicated their inability to read and translate the tablet.
That was, until Chulainn got a chance.
"I can't read them, but I'm pretty sure those are runes," The Irish Lancer said. While it wasn't as good as if he had indicated that he could translate the runes, at least we knew now what we were dealing with.
"Doctor?" Mash asked, fiddling with her device in order to allow Roman the chance to see the runes. However, the voice that came over the line wasn't the one belonging to the acting-director of Chaldea.
"I see, I see," Da Vinci hummed idly. "These are relatively new runes. I'd say that they were carved within the last week or so."
"Um, Da Vinci? That's my job, yes? Don't take my job, okay?" Roman asked, sounding absolutely unamused by the Caster's antics. Said member of Chaldea merely laughed softly, before humming again.
"Let's see here…'Bloodaxe King, once laid to rest, shall awaken once more'. That's the general gist of is, at least," Da Vinci said casually, while I frowned slightly. Bloodaxe King? Well, didn't that sound like one friendly person. It couldn't be something like Friendly King. "But, Bloodaxe King? Why does that name sound familiar—" At that moment, Roman let out a loud yelp of alarm. Da Vinci in turn released a squawk as we heard the sound of rustling cloth.
"Th-The Bloodaxe King is the name of the Viking king who ruled Norway during the 9th century! Also, I'm detecting readings similar to those copied pirates from earlier coming from that stone tablet," Roman said in his normal rapid and borderline panic tone.
"Enemies?" Mash asked. If it was anyone else, I would have presumed the question to be a rhetorical one. Not from Mash, though. Drake cursed under her breath and threw the tablet away from us, drawing both of her pistols.
"Yeah, it appears so. I'm getting a very bad vibe here. Get ready for a fight! First to strike is the winner!" Drake called out as large crunching noises could be heard. It sounded like boots tromping through the undergrowth.
About thirty or so 'pirates' appeared from the forest, armed with cutlasses and hatchets only this time. The lead one waved a rusty-looking cutlass menacingly over his head before pointing it at us.
"For King Eric, our great and glorious leader!"
The cry was repeated several times. I was willing to go out on a leg here and presume that 'King Eric' and this 'Bloodaxe King' were the same person. I looked over my shoulder, seeing the Servants accompanying Ritsuka and I already drawing their own weapons and adopting their combat postures.
Fight first, question time afterwards.
"You know the drill! Take them down, hard and fast!" I roared as I drew forth my weapons. The Servants summoned by Ritsuka and I all brandished their own weapons as the enemy force charged forward.
The battle was over quickly. Ritsuka felt a bit nauseous at the carnage. A sensation he had felt one time too many in the last singularity, albeit rather reduced this time around. At least this time, however, they were only killing copies of people, and not actual people.
Still, it was a bit unsettling to watch his friend as he fought besides their Servants. In particular, the look on his face. It wasn't one that indicated he took any pleasure in the killing, thank god, nor enjoy the thrill of combat like Mordred or Chulainn do. No, the unsettling part of it was the overall lack of emotion on his face. Cold, dead eyes as Jacob stabbed one of the pirates in the armpit with the dagger he had been gifted by Nero.
Ritsuka nervously thumbed the pommel of his own dagger that the Emperor of Roses had gifted to him. He hadn't yet drawn it in anger, a status that Jacob seemed intent on maintaining despite all of the combat lessons he, Chiron, and a number of other Servants had been imparting to him. While he didn't enjoy the feeling of not contributing as much as Jacob did at times, he wouldn't deny that he was in any hurry to…to kill.
But when would that end? That was a question that troubled him greatly each night. Just as it was now as the last few remaining enemy pirates were dispatched, and Mash returned to his side once more.
"Whew," Mash sighed loudly, dismissing her shield before stretching her back slightly. Ritsuka's eyes took in the profile of her body as certain aspects were emphasized slightly by the motion, before feeling a bit guilty about some of the thoughts that were running through his head. Yes, Mash was a rather attractive girl, but she was his friend, too! "The battle has ended, Master," Mash reported dutifully.
"Searching surroundings," Roman added over Mash's still-open commlink. They all waited a moment in silence, waiting for the acting-director to report his findings. "Nothing detected. The Servant that I detected earlier appears to be right where they were originally. Perhaps they haven't noticed us?" Roman mused, before clearing his throat. "Anyway, you guys need to get out of there fast."
"Roger that. Let's move on," Mash said bluntly. Next to Ritsuka, hands on her hips, Captain Drake was….sniffing the air? He looked at Jacob, who merely shrugged his shoulders. Ritsuka looked back towards the pink-haired pirate when she suddenly huffed in displeasure.
"Treasure," she muttered loudly. "Will I get a whiff of that treasure?" Mash groaned softly.
"Captain Drake, treasure doesn't have a smell." Apparently, Mash's response was entertaining to Drake, for the English pirate threw her head back and laughed.
"You think so, Mash? Treasure does indeed have a scent."
"Is its scent like booze?" His fellow Master asked dryly with an arched eyebrow, and Drake winked at him, while Mash's jaw dropped.
"What?" She asked, and Ritsuka could tell that she was overwhelmed with disbelief. Drake merely smirked at his kouhai.
"Ah, that look says you don't believe me! If there's treasure up ahead, like I said…." Drake trailed off for a moment, rubbing her chin as a thoughtful expression appeared on her face. "Hmmm, what should we do?" Then her eyes lit up in excitement, and she snapped her fingers. "I know, how about coming with me on a trip around the world, Mash?"
"Around the world, you say?" Mash asked, and Ritsuka could sense the warring sides of excitement and skepticism in her voice. Drake nodded, a toothy smile on her lips. Did she sense blood, much like a shark?
"When I flee these waters and return to England, I'm going to sail around the world on the Golden Hind. So, what do you say? If you help me out, I bet I'll be the luckiest pirate ever." Ritsuka had to hide the smile creeping onto his lips as Mash blushed, another one of her more innocent, child-like looks in her eyes. Those were some of the most adorable moments to witness, in his opinion.
"Around the world…" Mash whispered softly. Drake turned to look at him.
"Of course, Ritsuka will come along, too. You're Mash's Master, aren't you? And what about you, Jacob?"
"I'll think about it," Ritsuka said, speaking up first. He forced the smile on his face, knowing already what the answer would be, even if he had agreed.
"I'll see what I can do myself," Jacob added, lowering his head slightly. Drake's smile got even bigger somehow, and once more Ritsuka found himself comparing the happy-go-lucky pirate with a certain blonde Saber of his. Drake nodded solemnly even as she still smiled.
"All right, and if I lose….if I lose," Drake mused, humming to herself under her breath before looking at Ritsuka and Jacob with an inquisitive glint in her bright blue eyes. "Is there anything else you want?"
"Nothing," Ritsuka said in all earnest. Or rather, nothing that was within Drake's ability to grant. Otherwise, he would have wished for his family to be safe. Drake frowned softly, and Ritsuka couldn't help but wonder why as the pirate cocked her head to look at Jacob.
"And you?" Jacob chuckled, before looking at Mordred with a soft, affectionate smile.
"I have enough already," his friend stated, and Ritsuka noticed how the Saber's cheeks were beginning to turn a pinkish-red before her helmet covered her face entirely. However, Drake's frown deepened, and she finally turned to look at Mash. The Demi-Servant shook her head.
"There is nothing I want, either. If I had to choose, having your assistance like this is enough." Drake seemed to scowl for the briefest of moments before closing her eyes and shaking her head, her frame shuddering slightly as she laughed.
"Really? That's really greedy, you got me there! That's gonna cost you dearly!" Mash blinked, recoiling slightly as Drake jabbed a finger towards her, before looking towards Ritsuka, seeking assistance. Sadly, he was just as confused as Mash, and sadly shook his head with a small and sympathetic smile.
"E-Excuse me? Senpai and I both answered that we've been repaid actually. Jacob Senpai, too. In fact, we've gotten a good deal," Mash finally responded. Drake clucked her tongue against her mouth with a reproachful look in her eyes.
"What's gotten into you?" She asked, sighing heavily with a shake of her head. "You said that you have no wishes. That's the most troublesome wish. Because you can't but items that don't exist. I am, after all, a merchant, among other things!"
"A merchant?" Ritsuka repeated, and Drake nodded proudly, puffing her chest out.
"Right! Now, if I can't keep my customers happy, then I'll be a third-rate one. And THAT, I will not have. That's why first, I need to get whatever it is you want. But you said that you couldn't think of anything. Now, that is going to be a problem. How can I deliver something you don't want?"
Roman made a sound of understanding. "I see. I'm beginning to understand why this crude outlaw of a woman has that skill. Wait…"
"Master!" Amadeus called out in alarm, and Ritsuka whipped around to see that Jacob's Caster had a scowl on his face, staring ahead. The composer's conductor baton was drawn.
"Amadeus, what are you hearing?" Jacob asked, his brow furrowed as the voice of a suddenly frantic Roman came from Mash's commlink.
"The Servant signature from earlier is on the move. Looks like they sensed you guys. They're coming in fast!"
"And he's not alone!" Amadeus added.
"And he's not alone!" The Caster in our group called out, and the other Servants accompanying us summoned back into their heads their weapons.
"I don't like this…" Jeanne said softly, her headpiece jingling slightly as she looked to the right and left. Next to her, Vlad grunted.
"Duly noted," the Lancer said, his posture speaking of one at ease even as he tightly gripped his lance. "Orders, Master?"
"Let them come to us. Let's see what we are dealing with first," I replied, staring straight ahead as Mordred shuffled over to me.
"I'll get you for that later, idiot," my partner whispered, and I smirked.
"Of that, I have no doubt. Still worth it, though." Mordred scoffed, and I accepted the silent victory in the exchange of words. A second later, I dismissed that smirk on my lips.
I could now hear the sounds of undergrowth being trampled, and the occasional dull thud of something hitting the ground. Trees, perhaps? I gripped the hilt of my pugio when a tree a few yards away from us suddenly fell down to the side, kicking up a light cloud of dust. I saw a shadowy figure amidst that cloud, and I waited patiently for the debris to settle so that I could get a proper glimpse of the one we were probably about to fight.
A large, shirtless man tromped forward, clutching a massive, crude-looking battle-ax made out of some unknown red and black material. He was ripped, much like Spartacus, but not unnaturally so, at the same time. He had a beard, but no mustache, and had brown hair a few shades lighter than mine. His eyes were a dark red, with the pupils being a crimson light. Above each of his ears was some sort of cut-off projection. Were those the stumps of…horns?
"Gagagagagaga! Gigigigi—giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!"
The Servant threw back his head, and a horrible, screeching, roaring, gargling noise made its way past his lips. I clenched my teeth tightly. Finally, the audio abomination ended, and the newcomer lowered his head, eyes still dancing with what surely had to be madness.
"M-My! My name! Eric! The Grand…Eric!" He said, and I was reminded of Caligula's speaking patterns, with a dash of bestiality added in for good measure, though. He had to be a Berserker. Behind him filed out a dozen and a half or so more pirates. Each looked a bit tougher and stronger than the previous two batches of these copies we had encountered so far. The Servant, Eric apparently, violently stabbed the head of his weapon in our direction.
"Gah-go! Kill! Kill anyone in the way! Kill. KILL!" The Berserker shouted, and his followers roared their support, a madness of their own taking hold over them.
"He's not going to be willing to listen to reason," Mash said sadly, summing up the situation quite nicely.
"Seems so," I said, my eyes looking over and taking note of the enemy numbers.
"Good luck, Mash," Ritsuka said softly. Mash nodded at him, that determined look in her eyes reappearing once more.
"Yes, Mash Kyrielight—going in! Captain Drake!"
"Sure thing!" The busty pirate shot back, drawing out both of his pistols but holding them loosely in her hands. Drake had that excited look in her eyes as she stared directly towards Eric. "Vikings from Norway! They're like my ancestors, you know? I'll pay my respects, but also give him a dose of reality! Jacob, Ritsuka, this is how we say it in the pirate world! 'Shut up, you bearded freak! The old need to retire!'"
I snorted softly in amusement. Even in a potential life-or-death scenario, Drake certainly had guts! I looked over towards my Lancer. "Vlad, Amadeus, can you focus your efforts on dealing with the chaff?" The two male Servants contracted with me nodded.
"Of course," Vlad said simply in that rich voice of his. Amadeus's grip on his baton tightened slightly.
"Normally, I don't enjoy fighting. However, I find myself with an unexpected load of frustration to deal with. If it means getting to shed off at least some of it, I will gladly do so," my Caster said sternly. I flinched slightly.
Yeah, Amadeus might have reached his limit here, it seems.
"Jeanne, keep close to Drake. She should be able to hold her own, but we can't afford to take any risks," I said, and the Maid of Orléans nodded. "Mordred, take him down."
"Understood, master!" Mordred said excitedly, and I could sense her preparations to unleash her Mana Burst ability and (hopefully) deliver the first blow in the battle. Next to me, my fellow Master started giving his own set of instructions to his other Servants.
"Jing Ke, help Mash out. Chulainn, please assist Vlad and Amadeus."
"You got it!" The blue-haired Lancer said with a wild glint in his crimson eyes. Jing Ke, meanwhile, merely sighed, shaking her head as she looked solemnly at the Berserker.
"If that is your wish, Master. You dare face us? Then you may as well have accepted death," the Assassin declared bluntly. Eric shook his head ferally and howled, before charging forward.
And with that, our first true Servant-on-Servant battle of the Third Singularity began.
Original Endnotes: And done! Wait did you guys think? Slowly creeping closer to the end goal of hooking Ritsuka and Mash up! Another Servant fight, which will be seen from Mordred's perspective! Also, writing the game interactions between Mash and Drake is great! Also, Jacob being cheesy/fluffy! Wasn't that an adorable moment? I swear, I'm not trying to pick on Amadeus here!
Who's excited for another Servant fight?!
So far, classes seem to be going well, so double-knock on wood that keeps being the case. Yucky rainy day so far for me, but I hope today's weather has been far more pleasant for y'all!
Now, for the question(s) of the chapter! First up: For everyone who is playing FGO, who else is looking forward to this year's Valentine Event? Second question: Who wants to see Gareth being Mordred's big sister and interrogating Jacob when she is summoned and finds out about it?
As always, thanks for reading another chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it, and please feel free to leave some form of feedback! Can't wait to hear y'alls reactions and comments and answers! Hope you all have a good rest of the day, and see you in the next chapter!
Updated Endnotes 10/15/21: As always, full version can be found on Ao3, with Chapter 128 being posted tomorrow. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and see you all in a few days on this version.