"Can you stop pacing around like that? It's driving me crazy!"
Euryale's harsh tone brought Ritsuka to a skidding halt, and the Japanese magus shoots her a sheepish and apologetic smile. The prickly gorgon, however, rolled her eyes, sniffing dismissively as she looked away from him. He turned to Mash, who offered him a helpless shrug, just as at a lost to handle the grieving Archer as Ritsuka was.
Hopefully, the chance to help take down Heracles would help improve Euryale's mood. Of course, it was thinking about that very upcoming encounter that was causing him such distress.
They currently were standing by the edge of the beach of a decent-sized island that, when he and Jacob had scouted while riding with Astolfo on the Rider's mount, seemed to be about half the size of Shikoku. The geography of the island had been rather intriguing, and also seemingly advantageous for both fighting Heracles and the plan Jacob had come up with, though not without the input of the others.
Starting a yew yards from the edge of white, sandy beaches was a rather thick forest that eventually gave way towards a large, flat grassy plain at the center of island. After finishing up the quick scouting session, and confirming that there were no enemies already on the island (for once), the various roles that everyone would be playing were given.
He, Mash, and an extremely reluctant Euryale would play the role of bait. The latter had required much bargaining and convincing before she had agreed, but Mash and Ritsuka had actually volunteered before anyone could have been given the escort role they served.
Ritsuka still felt the layer of excitement in his soul despite the covering and oppressing layers of anxiety he currently felt. He wouldn't deny that he looked up to Jacob, and the fact that his older friend had allowed him the role filled him with a sense of pride. Of course, Mash had helped out quite a bit in convincing Jacob to let Ritsuka put himself in harm's way like it, but she was just awesome like that.
Feeling his cheeks starting to heat up, Ritsuka mentally chided himself before reviewing the plan for the seventy-eighth time. Seventy-nine now, actually.
After luring Heracles onto the beach, and provoking the dangerous Berserker into another one of his mindless rages, the trio would make their way through the forest towards the center of the island. While he would undoubtedly smash his way through any that got in his way, the sheer number of trees would still serve to slow down Heracles. And that wasn't the only advantage the forest would give them.
Hidden in the dense undergrowth were Nero, Sasaki, Jing Ke, and Vlad. Of the four Servants, Vlad had one of the most important jobs: taking one of Heracles's lives as the enemy Greek Servant was lured further into their trap. While the two Assassin-Class Servants lacked either the strength or Noble Phantasm ranks that would allow them to also kill Heracles, they could still temporarily injure the monster, further slowing him down and stopping him from squishing Ritsuka and Mash to a pulp while abducting Euryale.
The Emperor of Roses was a different matter, though. While his Saber also lacked the requirements necessary, she did possess the Imperial Privilege skill. Depending on if Heracles had any skills that boosted his strength to Rank A or higher, theoretically, Nero's Imperial Privilege would allow her to copy it and use it. However, Doctor Roman, albeit reluctantly, had reminded them that it was a theory at best, and even Nero had said, in a rare degree of humility, that it might not be enough to get through Heracles's God Hand. As a result, the Roman Servant's role was best described as being rather fluid between also being a distraction or a life-taker.
Once they cleared the forest, and hopefully with a somewhat weakened Heracles behind them, Jacob and the bulk of their Servants would spring the trap, running the gauntlet of attacks. It was going to be a close battle for sure.
Especially since they didn't have enough Servants meeting the damn requirements to guarantee a minimum of one life being lost to each of their attacks. After hearing Jacob reflecting on that, it was with no small amount of nervous excitement that Ritsuka had informed his fellow Master that he had a trick of his own up his sleeve regarding that dilemma.
Instead of pacing around this time, Ritsuka slipped a hand into the right pocket of his trousers, his fingers curling around the cold gem he had been 'lent'. He closed his eyes, and recalled the memory behind the magic-infused gem in his possession…
Ritsuka had arrived in Fuyuki on an early Saturday morning. He was brimming with nervous excitement. The hand-written letter (a surprising rarity in the Digital Age) that he had received had informed him that he had been accepted to work at Chaldea for the duration of the summer. It had arrived two weeks ago.
While some of the joy had been tempered with sadness over the fact that it would only be him, and not his twin as well, she had accepted the news graciously. Or rather, when he tried to apologize for the outcome, Gudako had punched him in the arm, scowling.
"If you try to do anything other than your best, I'll kick your ass seven ways to Sunday," Gudako had stated sternly, before she had broken out in a smile. "I'm proud of you, bro. Just don't act up and look like an idiot, especially since I won't be there to bail my baka of a brother out of hot water this time.'
The two weeks had gone by surprisingly swiftly, and before he knew it, it was the day that he had been instructed to meet with someone described as being very important. There, he would be given some final documents, as well as the private plane ticket and security clearances necessary for his new job. Why it had to be a private plane, and require security identification material, Ritsuka didn't know, and quite frankly, he was too excited to really care about that minor set of details.
His hands shook as he approached the wrought-iron gates of the impressive and massive mansion he had been instructed to visit after arriving in Fuyuki. Inside dwelt the most senior representative of the Mage's Association in Japan, and a former Grail War participant to boot.
Rin Toshaka.
He knew the name, and a few details, but that was about it. He knew that the young magus was apparently one of the most skilled of her generation, and thus had been appointed as the head representative of the MA for Japan as the result. Even though the Fujimaru family was a very minor magus family that kept to themselves, it went without saying that they knew just the overseer of any and all matters regarding Magecraft, and vice versa, was.
Ritsuka wasn't sure what she would look like, but he could imagine it, alright. Probably a haughty, arrogant woman who lorded her status and reputation over others. The few magus Ritsuka had met outside of his family had all been as such, so why would Miss Toshaka be any different?
Now, Ritsuka stood afore the door. Checking his watch, he nodded at seeing that he was about two minutes ahead of schedule. Feeling proud of that, he started to reach for the doorbell to announce his arrival. He already expected to be looked down as a lower-tier practitioner of Magecraft. Like hell he'd give anyone more ammunition to be used in the upcoming belittlement.
The final chime of the doorbell (a surprisingly old-fashioned tune at that) had barely ended before a young woman opened the door with a soft smile and warm, dark purple eyes that matched her hair color. There was a pink ribbon tied in her hair, and the girl was dressed in a simple blouse and skirt. Not a servant, then. She had a warm, if somewhat sad, smile on her lips, and she tilted her head.
"Fujimaru-san, I presume?" She asked in a soft voice. Ritsuka nodded, bowing politely. "My sister will be pleased to see that you arrived early. She's in her office, follow me," the girl, apparently Toshaka's sister, said, opening the door and gesturing for Ritsuka to come inside, which he promptly did so.
"I'm Sakura Matou," she said in a way of greeting as she led Ritsuka through the mansion. While it was just as impressive on the inside as it was looking outside. He couldn't help but feel like there was something…off…about it. A moment later, he realized why.
The home felt empty. Emotionless. Was it just because Toshaka wanted it to be that way to unnerve Ritsuka? Or was it something more, something darker?
As much as he wanted to ask these questions aloud, he kept his tongue in check, following the friendly Sakura as they finally reached a pair of decent-sized doors made of solid oak. The mon of the Toshaka family was emblazoned on the doors.
"You may go inside. Good luck," Sakura said sweetly. Ritsuka felt his cheeks flush ever so slightly at a friendly and well-developed girl giving him attention, but quickly regained his composure, looking ahead at the doors. Pushing one open, he stepped in to meet Rin Toshaka in their first face-to-face encounter.
The office was surprisingly spartan, especially for the top magus in the entire country. More surprising, however, was the only other occupant in the room, seated at the desk and looking at him with piercing, aqua eyes.
"Ah, Fujimaru-san. Have a seat. We don't have all morning," she said, sounding brusquer than condescending, like he had been expecting. He bowed softly in greeting before making his way over and sitting down on the chair indicated by her. Looking back up, he got his first good luck at the magus.
Rin Toshaka wore a red turtleneck, over which was a brilliant, crimson-colored long coat. She had pale skin, and long back hair that she wore loose and let down. Apparently, she had been reading some important-looking documents, though whether they were there for show or just simply convey how much of a 'nuisance' he was, Ritsuka couldn't say. He also noticed a few jewels of various sizes, shapes, and colors, and he could sense the mana they contained.
So, these were some of the famous Toshaka gems, huh?
"Good morning, Toshaka-san," he said, trying to break the ice. Toshaka, however, merely tilted her head forward slightly, instead staring at him intently.
"So, you're one of the last two Master candidates, huh?" Toshaka said calmly, her eyes frigid as she examined him. It was extremely difficult for Ritsuka to not flinch or look away from the intensity he was getting from the Grail War survivor. "What's your element?"
"Um…" Toshaka stared at him flatly, clearly unimpressed.
"Of all my luck, I met another one like that bonehead," she muttered under her breath. He wanted to ask what she meant by that, and who this 'bonehead' was, but he kept silent as her gaze once more pinned him to the chair. "What kind of Magecraft can you do?"
"Gandr, reinforcement, and basic healing-oriented techniques," Ritsuka said, glad that he had an answer this time to her inquiry. "My family prefers to wait until the mid-twenties before seriously engaging in the Moonlight World."
His words seemed to cause Toshaka to calm down, though only slightly. "Well, you're already in a better position than one of the other Masters was at the start of the Fifth Holy Grail War. Still, it's not going to be enough." The Magus fell silent, the only sign of movement was the silent drumming motion the fingers on her right hand were making.
Ritsuka felt a bead of sweat start to trickle down his forehead, quickly followed by a few more. Good lord, he had expected for Toshaka to intimidate him somehow, but he certainly hadn't imagined that it would be like this!
"If it were up to me, I would request your removal from the project. However, Chaldea has made the final word, and I can't do anything about it. However, I'm not in the mindset to let a Magus under my authority, incompetent though they apparently may be, go forth on a project as important as this without some assistance."
"Toshaka-san?" Ritsuka asked, ignoring the veiled insult in her words What the hell kind of summer job had he gotten? Toshaka merely rolled her eyes, however, as she looked down at her desk and reached for the small pile of gems. Picking up a decent-sized ruby, she examined it as Ritsuka watched in silent confusion. Nodding her head, she looked back at him, placing the jewel on the thin stack of papers she had been looking over.
To his surprise, Toshaka then proceed to slide the gem and documents over to him, gesturing for him to pick it all up. A standard manila folder that contained an ID badge with his name and face on it, along with the logo of Chaldea in the background as an ethereal watermark of some kind, a number of papers filled with text, and a plane ticket.
Closing the folder, Ritsuka looked back up at her. Toshaka seemed a bit impatient now. "Your flight leaves in three hours. I suggest you make you way directly over to the airport. Your baggage has already been picked up, and Sakura's called for a taxi to take you straight to the airport. Don't make me regret this."
"Why are you giving me one of your gems? Aren't they hard to come by?" Ritsuka asked, doing his best to not sound rude or anything. Toshaka sighed heavily.
"You're not wrong with that last part…sadly. However, you're a bit mistaken on that first part. I'm not giving it to you. I'm lending it, so make sure that if you use it, that its for the right situation. When you return, one of two things will happen. Either you will return the gem if you haven't used it, or you will come over here and we will discuss the matter and method of repayment." Ah, the transactional side of most magi was showing its ugly face once again. Ritsuka sighed internally.
He didn't like the idea of being in someone's debt, even if Toshaka was more cold than haughty or any of the other descriptors he had originally used in imagining her. Especially one that didn't have a clear standing of what he would have to repay her with. Still, something was telling him to accept, and it wasn't someone trying to influence him, but rather his gut instinct.
"Very well, I accept your offer, Toshaka-san," Ritsuka said, carefully pocketing the gem in his pant's pocket. For the first time since the 'meeting' started, Toshaka smiled at him. The kind of smile more befitting of a predator.
"Good. Now, get going. You won't want to be late."
Ritsuka shook his head as Mash urgently nudged his shoulder, her brow furrowed. "Senpai, this isn't the time to daydream," his kouhai said, acting less his junior and more a maternal figure at that moment. Ritsuka's ears heated up, and he rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish smile.
"Sorry, Mash," Ritsuka said. Mash nodded, pleased by his answer, no doubt, and turned back towards the beach.
"Just keep your focus. Jacob Senpai is counting on us to play our part perfectly." The pink-haired girl stiffened, summoning her shield. "I can see the Argos. Up ahead," Mash called out, and sure enough, the sight of the massive trireme could soon be seen.
Ritsuka's hand not holding the gift Toshaka had leant him curled into a tightly clenched fist. His nails started biting into his own palm it was a miracle the skin there remained unbroken. It wasn't just anger that he felt. Nor was it terror, rather, a mixture of the two: anger towards an apparently abusive 'hero', and terror over trying to outrun a Servant. But as his fellow Master and semi-mentor would say, 'nothing risked, nothing gained'.
"Get ready, Senpai," Mash called out, as a large figure jumped off the Argos, and started swimming towards the shore with such speed, they may very well have been possessed by an oni. Unfortunately, the reality wasn't any better in comparison. A few minutes later, Ritsuka watched as Heracles walked to the water's edge, water dripping and rolling down his massive, armored-like body. The droplets falling off of his crude-looking but extremely deadly weapon as if it was blood. Though, that last part might have more to do with a rather active imagination.
"GET HER, HERACLES! DO WHAT YOU WANT WITH THE OTHERS!" Jason's voice echoed across the beach, smugness and bloodlust dripping from each syllable the blonde uttered. Heracles threw his head back, his long, black hair soaked with seawater dancing in the wind.
His blood-red eyes were focused on Euryale, and even as Mash shouted and slammed that shield of hers into the sand, the Berserker was interested solely in the gorgon. And as much as he lo—liked Mash, she wasn't strong enough to gain his attention. It was now or never, then.
"I hope that you weren't pulling my leg when you said this would help, Toshaka!" Ritsuka muttered to himself as he withdrew the bright red ruby. Closing his fist around it and quickly muttering the incantation that Toshaka had provided in the folder of papers during their meeting. Then, winding up like one of those baseball players he had seen from time to time, Ritsuka chucked the gem at Heracles.
The Berserker either didn't notice or didn't care about the small, oncoming object, even as it started to faintly glow as it began its terminal descent. A split-second latter, the gem exploded in Heracles's face like a grenade, and Ritsuka slammed his eyes shut before any grains of sand kicked up by the blast could be sent into his eyes.
Cracking open an eye, Ritsuka blinked frantically, his jaw dropping open as he saw the scalded muscles and bone of Heracles as the cloud of smoke dissipated. The Berserker didn't move or make a sound, and as the lead-colored skin/armor rebuilt itself over the grievous-looking injuries, Ritsuka couldn't help but let out a yelp of excitement.
He did it! He took one of Berserker's lives!
The thrill was rather short-lived, however, as a low and threatening rumble brought the Second Master of Chaldea back into the present. He stood still, one arm in the air in a mid-pump gesture as he stared at the now no-so-silent Berserker.
Fully healed but still smoking, Heracles's eyes snapped open, revealing the burning red light of madness that marked him as a Berserker. Slamming one foot into the sand underneath and kicking up quite the cloud of the gritty material, the Greek Servant crouched down, the muscles on his torso and in his legs somehow managing to bulge further. His eyes were no longer focused on Euryale.
Now, they were fixated on Ritsuka, an obvious message in them. Prepare to die. Then, Heracles roared again, before he resumed his charge at Ritsuka and his two companions, that massive sword-axe of his raised overhead.
"Run!" Ritsuka called, terror threatening to sink in as the already-large figure of Heracles, no longer smoking and looking completely pissed, started to grow larger and larger with each step he took. Actually, it felt like an understatement to call them steps when they were more akin to small leaps. Perhaps the only reason he hadn't reached them yet was because of the soft sand absorbing his heavy footsteps.
"Have I mentioned how much I hate this plan?!" Euryale shrieked, bending down swiftly to grab the hem of her skirt and hiking it up, revealing delicate legs as she turned around with Mash and Ritsuka. "Especially since Asterios isn't here?!"
"Run now! Complain later!" Mash shot back, taking up the rear as Ritsuka had reluctantly agreed. Out of the three of them, the Demi-Servant was the one best suited to tanking any lucky hits Heracles might land. Ritsuka had tried to protest it, but Mash stared him down with an intense and stern glare usually reserved for Doctor Roman when he was getting distracted instead of helping them.
He still didn't like it, but he could complain more about it later. Because that would mean they were alive still to do so!
Ritsuka found himself glad that they had gotten a chance to examine the path they would take to lure Heracles to the others. The slightest stumbling over a tree root would spell almost certain death. Besides, any obstacle that might delay them by being underfoot would do next to nothing to their pursuer, who upon entering the forest began smashing trees out of the way furiously. The first few times, he was unable to compare the sounds to spines or necks being broken, but soon his terror became numb as he adjusted to its now-constant presence through his body.
Birds screeched in panic as the branches they had been roosting on turned vertical, and every second he couldn't help but expect to experience his life being snuffed out cruelly and painfully. Mash's quite urgings, and Euryale's bitching, however, helped kept him moving, even as his lungs and limbs began to ache. It had only been but a few minutes since they started running, but it felt like it had been hours.
Still, there was some good news up ahead. Or rather, up above. Recognizing a particularly old and solid tree coming up to the left, Ritsuka waved a hand frantically, signaling to the Servants in waiting to attack.
The next second, Ritsuka found himself and the others lying on their backs just a few feet beyond the tree. The world seemed to be spinning around drunkenly for him. While he didn't really hear anything beyond a faint ringing, he could feel the earth under him, shaking and shuddering as Heracles closed in on them.
Shaking his head, he looked back, and his eyes widened. Apparently, Heracles had slammed his weapon into the earth, and caused the ground between him and where the trio had been to erupt, launching them forwards and off their feet, thus explaining their current state.
Thankfully, the tree still stood, and as his hearing returned, Ritsuka listened with a vicious smirk as Vlad III issued forth a battle cry, dropping out of the tree branches that he had been nestled in. His stake-like lance was tightly gripped in both hands, and Jacob's Lancer plunged it straight through Heracles's neck.
A bright geyser of crimson blood erupted from both the mouth of the Berserker and the entrance and exit wounds Vlad's attack inflicted. The Berserker's body jerked violently to a stop, the light going out of his eyes, and Vlad yanked free his weapon, standing between the massive shoulder blades of the Greek Servant. Another life bites the dust, so to speak.
"Back on your feet, Master. Your job isn't over yet," the former Romanian prince chided him as he helped Mash back up onto her feet. "You're almost there. We'll buy you some more time but go. Now!" As the Lancer uttered those words, it could be seen that already Heracles was in the process of reviving. The flesh was starting to knit itself over the ghastly wound Vlad had inflicted.
Ritsuka turned to a still-prone Euryale. "Euryale, come on, you have to get up," he urged, but the high-maintenance Archer merely shook her head.
"Can't…too tired. Not used to…running this much," she wheezed, and to her credit, she certainly sounded exhausted enough that it was unlikely she was faking it. Ritsuka growled at this latest development, before walking over and crouching down before her, his back to her.
"Climb on. I might not be Asterios, but I'm sure I can make do for him this time," the Master said resolutely. After a split-second of hesitation, Ritsuka muffled a grunt by breathing deeply as he felt Euryale climb on. Her child-like legs wrapped around his waist in a vice-like grip, and her deceptively thin and delicate arms gripped him just below the neck.
"You better not drop me," Euryale growled, exuding a menacing aura. Numb to fear by this point, however, Ritsuka merely grunted as he stood up.
"Hurry, Senpai," Mash urges, as Ritsuka wasted precious seconds as he adjusted to the new balance of weight now that he was carrying another. Then, he and Mash resumed running, just as Heracles growled, having finished healing.
He could hear Vlad shouting out, followed by the sounds of combat, and he saw Sasaki, Nero, and Jing Ke run past them, shouting out their own brief words of encouragement before joining their fellow Servant in delaying Heracles.
The next few minutes were a blur, and the sounds of combat from behind started to quiet some, though not because of distance, though his and Jacob's Servants had given them back an adequate enough lead. The fact that he could hear and feel Heracles's footsteps. All Ritsuka could do was pray that if any Servants no longer fighting were merely injured, and not dead or dying. The sound of Nero crying out in pain almost brought him to as complete halt, if not for the urgings and reprimands of Mash and Euryale. Thus, he carried on.
"Senpai! We're almost there!" Mash called out, panting heavily. Ritsuka merely grunted loudly, unable to muster words just yet from the exhaustion of both running as fast as he could and while carrying Euryale on his back for the second half. Now he too wished Asterios was here, not just for his strength, but because he was honestly the one best at handling the demanding and petulant Archer in question.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jing Ke flying off to the side, tumbling head over heels as she crashed through several trees. His Assassin finally came to a halt with a sickening thunk against a particularly thick-trunked oak tree, but there was no time for Ritsuka to check to see if the Chinese Servant was going to be okay. More and more trees could be heard being snapped or bent out of the way, he took in a deep breath as he heard Sasaki shout out in pain and alarm, followed by some more crashing noises.
Still, the valiant actions of the two Assassins had bought them some more time. Much needed time at that, too. He and Mash were only a few yards or so from clearing the forest. Ritsuka muttered a quick, silent prayer in his mind, hoping that Jacob and the others were ready.
Ritsuka, Mash, and Euryale rushed past the tree line finally. Just in time, too, for judging by close the noise and angry roars of the enemy Berserker that had been hounding them were, Heracles was almost on top of them, having made up for the delay Vlad, Jing Ke, Nero, and Sasaki had caused him. Breathing in heavily, Ritsuka raised his head, shouting as loudly as he could.
"Jacob! He's right behind us!" Ritsuka called out, just as Lu Bu thundered by the three, his halberd lowered as she thrusted it forth into Heracles's heart, instantly slaying the behemoth and further reducing the stock of spare lives he had. With Heracles no longer focused on him and the others, Ritsuka and Mash, along with Euryale, darted towards the direction of a frantically-waving Jacob as he heard Heracles finishing his revival. Without looking over his shoulder, Ritsuka listened to Heracles roaring angrily at his latest aggressor, who roared back defiantly.
And with that, hell was unleashed.
Original Endnotes: And thus ends the first half of the fight! Did you enjoy it? I wanted to write it from the perspective of both Masters, so I hope I did it justice. Next chapter, it'll be Jacob's PoV, and lots of Noble Phantasms being thrown about. Especially excited tow rite how the battle will end, but no spoilers!
Also, some cameos! While we won't see Rin, Sakura, or Shirou directly in the Will to Fight, we will be seeing them in the sequel. Therefore, I saw no harm in introducing some of them a bit early, and also showing how they have been after the end of the Fifth Holy Grail War and the events of Fate/Stay Night. I hope you enjoyed it!
So, please let me know what your thoughts and comments are regarding the chapter! Chapter 76 will be coming out in the next three to four days. Have some short papers to finish up by Wednesday, which I am doing great progress on, so no worries. Hope you guys and gals will be hanging on the edge of your seats, so to speak, for it!
Now, for the question of the day: Who is your favorite Master in Fate (or the top three), and why?
As always, thanks for reading, and please feel free to leave feedback! Can't wait to see what y'all thought! I hope you enjoyed it, and see you in the next three to four days with Chapter 76!
Updated Endnotes 2/18/22: Hello. It's been a while since I updated on here. Sorry for the delay. I had some irl drama pop up that distracted me from keeping up to date on this version in addition to my usual updates to the original version of it. Will try to go back to more frequent updates now here.