Yumi 014 ask about Zero point breakthrough, power of ice. In this universe, this power is translated as some sort of barrier to stop time within the ice. Technically Shirou could do this, he passed the trial which should be harder than mastering zero point breakthrough. But well… you know how Shirou defy logic ha ha ha…
Chapter 09: Punishment from Sky
Einzbern Forest
Finding Ruler was easy enough, apparently while he could sneak around as good as an assassin when he was fighting all out he was as inconspicuous as Rider. From this distance Saber could already tell where he was just from the trail of destruction the servant of balance left behind. The smoke and pillar of flame was as good as fireworks too.
She couldn't help but wonder if Ruler's sword was only good for mass destruction instead of crossing with another. Then there's that indigo miss sword that looked more like a pair of pretty trinkets, it looked like it would snap if Excalibur hit it once. He had another sword too, Saber recalled. He only used it briefly but that was the only sword he used in close contact. Seriously, how many swords that man have in his possession? If Saber didn't know better she'd suspect Ruler had his own Gate of Babylon, and the only thing needed to confirm that was if Ruler started calling a hail of blades like Archer.
If he could, Saber was more than happy to push Caster in the middle of it after she got some piece of the demon. Because…
Then the devil of the year himself appear, looked pretty rattled as he stumbled out of a bush. Singed from top to bottom though one hardly could tell because of his dark robe, suffering from bad burn and losing some hair.
"Jeanne!" He cried happily in relief, "God has sent an angel with flaming arrow, run! And let this loyal Gilles to defend you!"
Saber stared at the mad man in disbelief and concluded, it seemed Ruler had driven Caster further to the pit of insanity. If that was even possible, but Ruler was a man who took delight in proving you're wrong. "...Angel you said? I am sure the man you're speaking of is as far as possible from an angel." Even if he could fly and Magi refer to him as embodiment of sky.
"But it's true! He is wearing holy shroud and-"
She didn't pay attention much to what Ruler wore to be honest, but what he was wearing was indeed unusual. She couldn't bring herself to care at the moment. "I don't care, I am here not to see you nor saving those children…" Saber spat venomously, recalling how Caster tried to fool them with illusion there were children to be saved from his clutches. "I don't even want to fight you for Holy Grail! I am going to exterminate you like a fiend you are!" She declared, pointing her invisible blade at Caster.
Caster shrieked again, "We have to leave Jeanne!" He flailed his hands wildly, and Saber's eyes were drawn to the book he was holding tightly. "I can't let you to suffer in that fire again!"
He wanted to protect her from Ruler, her comrade? Ridiculous! "Begone! Foul demon!" Saber charged, ready to strike the servant of spell but halted when from his un-torched sleeve, a summoned demon blocked her sword. "Guh!"
The demon was easily cleaved in two and where her excalibur cut it, the wound left tongue of flame in its wake. Saber backed away, marveling for a moment that Ruler had lend her his sky flame. She heard a cries of a child and froze when a girl with cute pigtail ran towards her, crying 'save me' at her. She knew the children Caster brought were all beyond saving, but tiny part of her heart wished they were wrong and that hesitation delayed her blade.
That small delay cost her, as the girl burst, and the same monster Caster commanded latched to her, multiplying to get better hold even though she didn't cut them apart.
Einzbern's Castle
"How careless of her." Kiritsugu commented nonchalantly.
Irisviel bit her lower lip, "It's not Saber's fault… even you would hesitate if a child like Ilya run to you like that!"
Kiritsugu faltered, his fist clenched because he knew Iri was right that he would hesitate, perhaps even more than Saber. "Forgive me, Iri." His comment was uncalled for, they were parents after all. "Still… Saber was in precarious situation with those demon locking her arm."
"Saber is very capable." As soon as Iri said that, Saber had broke free with mana burst.
"Right." Kiritsugu agreed, "Iri, it's time for you to leave."
"Can't I… stay here?"
"Saber and Ruler are fighting far away from here, which means this castle is no longer safe and I am going to fight Lancer's Master who is waiting for us to be out of our servants' protection." The best time to kill a Master is when the Master and Servant were acting separated from each other. Which was why Kiritsugu purposely open this gap of weakness, so Kayneth would come to him.
She had finally met up with Kiritsugu, but they are about to be separated again; this made Irisviel very unsettled. She became more unsettled when she found that Kiritsugu was troubled, and her own servant was borderline forcing her husband to confront it. She wanted to be by his side, but Irisviel wouldn't go against Kiritsugu's battle plans due to her personal feelings.
"– I understand."
It was time to leave Kiritsugu to his own battle.
In the forest
Irisviel started to reconsider her decision to escape with Maiya, especially with how uneasy she felt without their servants. She realized once again the importance of Saber and Ruler, who remained by her side constantly. The quiet confidence and tolerance emanating from Saber's lithe frame, warm kindness and snarky sense of humor of enigmatic Ruler… everything about them gave Irisviel much assurance.
It was not that Hisau Maiya, their replacement to accompany her was untrustworthy as a guard; Kiritsugu also held Maiya's abilities in high regards, but it was just not the same. Well, for one Maiya was too quiet for her taste and the heavy silence made her anxious. A good bodyguard Maiya could be but she didn't inspire comfort and assurance like Saber and Ruler.
Still, Irisviel won't blame Maiya as 'why' she felt anxious. She received the reason not long after, a new presence of intruder. Maybe Ruler rubbed off of her if she started to develop a good intuition. "Kotomine Kirei is here."
Maiya's expression was pure terror, it seemed Kiritsugu's assistant shared his paranoia for Kirei. Irisviel herself was unsure what to think about the man, because while Kiritsugu was afraid of Kirei her servant thought Kiritsugu had to confront the man to dispel his 'unreasonable' fear. All this time Irisviel believe in her husband's resolve and his sharp mind for battle steeled that belief, but that changed after Ruler was summoned.
Ruler's intuition was unparalleled as expected of one descended from Vongola family, and he could outwit even Kiritsugu. However it was not his blood trait or quick wit that made Irisviel trusted her servant explicitly. For all critiques and exasperated sarcasm he threw to Kiritsugu's face, Irisviel could tell Ruler was sincerely care for Kiritsugu. It was especially obvious today that… Ruler fret for her husband.
Which was why she decided, "Let's confront Kotomine Kirei… "
"But Madam…"
"It's to protect Kiritsugu." Irisviel declared, "I want to see the man my husband has to face…"
Maiya was quickly convinced, as they both care for Kiritsugu, Irisviel knew Maiya would see her way, and so… they went to confront the man Kiritsugu believed was his nemesis.
Meanwhile back in the castle…
Kayneth was pretty confused to find the gate was open, as if beckoning him to come in. Well, considering the massive bounded field he already knew he won't surprise the Einzbern faction. Beside… he was a noble, if the door was closed he would just valiantly smash it open and declare his challenge. However since the door was already opened, he would take the generous offer.
Beside, he had all intention to keep the material damage to minimum. After Einsbern is dealt with, it wouldn't be bad to take this castle and make it the new headquarter for him and Sola. After Kayneth lost the Hyatt hotel suite, he had evacuated to an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city as his temporary base, and hid Sola there. Obviously, his fiancée's mood couldn't be worse. After all, it's an environment that their noble's pride won't tolerate.
"The ninth head of the Archibald house, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, asks for an audience!" Kayneth, with an air of command, proclaimed loudly in the deserted hall. "Magus of the Einsbern! For the Holy Grail that you seek, let us duel with our life and pride as Magus on the line!"
Kayneth sighed, he felt like a fool to voice a challenge that went unanswered.
Meanwhile Kiritsugu who had monitoring the front hall sighed, you would think after he exploded the hotel suite Kayneth would get a clue that Emiya Kiritsugu was not going to play by his rule. So Kiritsugu answered the challenge, not with his voice but pushing a button.
Beep, GRRROAR!
Kayneth's entrance to Einzbern castle was welcomed by confetti not made of paper but metal beads of anti-personnel mine called a Claymore, a cruel pre-set bomb. When each bomb explodes they will release, simultaneously, 700 or so steel balls with a diameter of only about one or two millimeters. These steel balls would radiate outwards in all directions in a fan formation, a terrifying weapon that people say is made to completely destroy infantry units with one strike. When it explodes, one won't even have time to escape; the only thing the target at the center of the bombs can do is prepare to be beaten into a sieve.
Unfortunately for Kiritsugu, Kayneth while completely unaware of the modern trap had an absolute defense by his side. A thin mercury barrier wrapped around Kayneth like an egg, empowered by mana the liquid reached hardness of steel. Out of the rain of beads that the Claymore mines dispersed not one of them hit Kayneth. All they did was getting reflected back to the hall and hammered the setups in the room into smithereens.
Kiritsugu nodded to himself. 'That answered how he saved himself when I destroyed his base, and… Ruler's comment on whatever Kayneth used smelt like toxic stuff.' That mystic code was made of mercury so most likely it was toxic and also flexible. His wife's servant was like magic- or maybe supernatural phenomena-hound, it was terrifying how easily he discerned Magus' mystery from smell alone. Perhaps even a better hunter of Magus than Kiritsugu if the servant was inclined to do so.
Well then, time to play prey before showing this Magus who was the true hunter.
Back with irisviel
It didn't take long for them to run to him, as Kirei was running towards where they came from. However it was pretty lackluster confrontation, with how relax Kirei was when he met face to face with the wife of Kiritsugu.
"Good evening." Kirei greeted them with expression that betrayed geniality he tried to project with his tone. "The homunculus of Einzbern, right? And also the lesser grail of this war."
Irisviel frowned at him, her back was stiff as she tried her best to approach the dangerous man without making any movement that could be perceived as hostile. She also hoped Kirei didn't notice Maiya in hiding, but… judging from cursory glance to Maiya's general hiding area she supposed the priest already knew. There goes their surprise attack in case this talk goes south.
She took a deep breath before the question escaped her lips. "Why are you here, Kotomine Kirei."
The man was relaxed but Irisviel had no doubt he could pull his black key in a blink of an eye. "I am here for an answer, and as unbelievable as it sounds I am not here to defeat anyone."
He sounded amicable enough, though her senses still screamed danger. "What do you want with Kiritsugu?"
"Just some questions I'd like him to answer…" Kirei answered, "Which seems I have to work hard to get for because he avoids me like a plague."
She glared at him, the homunculus hated this man for chasing her husband and giving Kiritsugu grief "Didn't Ruler already give you them?" Her temporary lost of control made she clamped her mouth shut.
Kirei gave cursory glance at her hand and Irisviel pulled the sleeve of her dress shirt to hide her command seal. "That make sense… you're the 'grail' in a sense. What a situation…"
He found out that her servant was Ruler and not Saber! Irisviel thought in panic.
"Then the more reason I'd like you to let me pass peacefully and I swear I won't harm your husband." he promised with a nod, "I will defend myself if he attack me of course."
Irisviel blinked in confusion at his sudden change of tone, as if she was the one who had advantage here. "Why won't you fight me?"
"Because I can't be gentle when I fight, even if my opponent is a woman." Kirei admitted, his eyes alert in case Maiya would jump him. "I have no wish to incite Ruler's anger upon me, because as saintly as he appear I have a feeling I will reg-"
BOOM! GROOOOOOOAR!
Their eyes snapped at the direction where an ear splitting explosion echoed from another side of the forest, where the servants were fighting. Judging from the lack of holy light and the ensuing pillar of smoke it was safe to assume it was Ruler's doing not Saber. Kirei's show of surprise was just eyes widening for a fraction before nodding to himself. He had confirmed his guess that angering Ruler was a bad choice. He had sent an assassin to spy on the ensuing fight, he couldn't see much of it with all the flame, smoke and explosions but it was enough to make Kirei decide he doesn't want to be in Caster's shoes.
"I will regret getting on his bad side indeed." Kirei exhaled softly, "With your servant openly displaying what would become of fool who anger him, I'd like to stay in his good grace." Kirei admitted without a hint of shame as gesturing towards general direction of recent explosion.
Irisviel covered her lips that quirked up, that was her servant alright. "Is that so? My servant is very sweet but he scares even my husband at times." Especially when Saber and Irisviel was concerned.
"Ah."
Ruler had been an enlightening listener and very understanding but Kirei'd rather not push his luck. Especially since his own servant had a healthy amount of fear for Ruler, not because of how destructive he could be -they only found that just now- but because in their last encounter the servant of balance sneaked behind assassin before greeting Kirei. One hundred face Hassan had all the right to be terrified of other servant who could sneak on them, and then proceed to act as if he didn't notice they were there.
"I see… again I will say my goal for tonight is meeting with Emiya Kiritsugu. Compared to that goal, the matter of the Heaven's Feel can only play second fiddle. " He had no interest with the grail.
Irisviel wondered why the two men who never met face to face had this kind of thought, as if they were connected in spiritual level. "However I can't let you pass." Regardless of what Ruler said, letting this man who scared her husband to the point he reduced to trembling man who clung to her was just too cruel.
That was Maiya's clue to open fire, and Kirei who had been expecting her quickly dodged. He had no time to waste against them. "Get out of my way." He punched Maiya on solar plexus and the mercenary coughed out of bile and blood.
"I will face you too!" Irisviel announced.
Kirei looked troubled and Irisviel chuckled that her servant left such an impression to this man. "Madam, this man is an executor – an expert magus hunter! This is not an opponent that can be faced with only magic!" Maiya who was struggling to get out of Kirei's chokehold yelled.
"You can't win against me." Kirei intoned. "I'll just knock you out." Why Ruler had such a stubborn Master?
Irisviel pulled out the "secret weapon" hidden in her large sleeves. A soft and thin metallic bouquet of wires dangled lightly between her fingers. "Don't underestimate me! I am Emiya Kiritsugu's wife and he taught me how to live!" More than mere doll she used to be!
Kirei's eyes widened at the sight of wire turning to life artform, and a falcon dove for him.
WIth the servants…
Caster cried again as he opened his book, summoning more demon as foul energy poured out of his book. "Oh, Jeanne… open your eyes."
She was wide awake, no thanks to these slimy monster clinging to her. It was so easy to kill them but as they were completely under control of Caster, they quickly learn to divide themselves before she could cut them. She had killed many but they divided themselves twice as fast and aiming to lock her sword arm. Excalibur blessed by sky of flame could cut them, but it couldn't unleash the flame in large area like Ruler's.
Saber was tempted to just use Excalibur to blast him but she had to wait her chance. Still, it was odd a servant as weak as Gilles de Rais to summon this many demon, and he had not expend his mana at all. "Could it be…"
The book he was holding, it was what summoned these countless demonic monsters, resurrected them, and urged them to relentlessly rush towards Saber's sword. And the one reciting the spell was none other except that book of magecraft, which was why Caster was just standing without doing a thing. From the quantity of mana, that book was probably a prana furnace with an incredible capacity, a 'monster' that can use magecraft just by its own power. Caster wasn't reading the spells from the pages of the book, but just freely manipulating that book which served as a prana source.
"Even if you're in a dangerous situation overwhelmed by enemies, you never feared, did not succumb, and your gaze never doubted your own victory. You are indeed the same. That noble vigor, that dignified soul, is undoubtedly evidence of the holy maid Jeanne d'Arc. It's so obvious…"
He was so full of nonsense, it was a wonder he didn't explode yet. She didn't know how alike she was with Maiden of Orleans in appearance, but Saber was sure the similarity was skindeep. Yet, this man who claimed his devotion was beyond compare couldn't tell he got the wrong person, and it irked Saber to no end. She won't voice it though, as it would only encourage her enemy if she rebuked him word by word.
"Why? Why have you still not awakened to the truth? Do you still believe in God's protection? Did you forget the battle of Compiègne? Forgot God's trap that pushed you down from the zenith of glory to infernal destruction? Do you still consent to remain God's puppet even after so much humiliation?"
She was so done with this mad man.
"Fine then, Jeanne! Despair! Weep! Be defiled and surely you will see the truth that God is-"
STOMP!
"There you are." A chilling voice that almost foreign to Saber echoed, and Ruler dropped from the sky to that clearing. "Caster…"
"Ruler!" She was ashamed to admit it but she was so glad he came.
He glared at her, his hood was pulled down so she could see his dark expression clearly. "I told you to not come!"
"I want to come!" She shot back, "And our Masters ordered me to come, because if I didn't, his prey would just circle the castle."
Ruler growled, "Why… that hunter with one track of mind, I swear he did this just to prove me wrong."
"That." Saber cut another monster before finishing. "I have to agree."
"DOOOOOOOOOOOOOON'T! IGNORE MEEEEE!" Caster snapped at the two, howling in rage. "How dare you take Jeanne's attention away from me?! You, YOU!" Ruler raised an eyebrow at him, "You are cruel angel God sent to take Jeanne away from me again, aren't you?!"
Ruler crossed his arms, "Is it just me or he is even madder than before?"
Saber stared at him in disbelief, "Isn't that your doing?"
"Certainly his new make-over is my doing, but I have no hand in this newfound level of insanity or idiocy." Ruler deadpanned, rolling his eyes. "Anyway Saber, did these summon touch you?"
Saber blinked owlishly, wondering why he even asked. "I am fighting them, of course they latch-"
The servant of sword stopped at murderous look Ruler suddenly shot at Caster, "I am so done with this demon, don't you think your death would be painless…" He drawled in a hiss, promising world of pain.
Caster shrieked like a banshee, before he recalled what he had done to stall this guy. "How could you get past my summons?!" He had wasted a lot of mana to summon more to stop Ruler from following him.
"Oh? Your slimy friends are now fertilizer for Einzbern forest…" Ruler informed him, smiling coldly at the servant of spell. "And you're joining them in hell where you all belong…" For daring to touch Saber with that slimy monster.
Saber now was really confused because Ruler made it sound like he had a personal grudge against Caster. "Ruler." Saber called him, "That grimoire he is holding, it's his Noble Phantasm."
"I see, so that's your Noble Phantasm, huh?" Ruler eyed the book made of human skin with critical eyes. "That book reek of death, blood and also putrid ammonia smell like rotten sea animal... even more than you."
Caster blinked, "This book my friend Prelati gave me doesn't stink like fish!" He howled angrily.
"Sure… but first…" He jumped, landing nimbly beside Saber. Sensing his flame the demon scuttered away from the pair. "You're used to be an educated noble, Caster… surely you know the story of Sword of Damocles?"
Meanwhile…
[Shape ist Leben!] Irisviel chanted, the silvery thread she gave breath of life through magic danced in the air, crisscrossing as it drew into complex shapes. It crisscrossed, combined, like a weaved piece of art as it took on a complex solid shape. Possessing fierce wings and beaks, and sharp claws.
"Kyeeeee!"
The bird was a beautiful construct and Kirei narrowly dodged the intricate silvery work of art diving down for his face, a thin trail of blood appeared on his cheek. It was sharp so at the next swoop, Kirei tested its durability with his mana enhanced fist and quickly regret it when the silver thread unraveled and wrapped around his fists.
"Hah!" Irisviel swept her clenched fist to the side and bind struggling Kirei to thickest tree she could find. "Maiya-san! Now!"
Maiya struggled to reach her gun but Kirei was faster, knocking the three off of its trunk in instance. "Monster." Maiya breathed out.
Kirei sighed, "At this rate I will really hurt someone." And then-
BOOM!
He shook his head, if he didn't know better that recent explosion was a warning from certain red clad servant. "Assassin! I will leave them to you."
His servant, two of them appeared from veil of darkness. The most familiar female under his command took one look at pillar of smoke in the distance and then to Irisviel and Maiya. "Uhm…"
Kirei gave them a suggestion, "Well Assassin, hold them back but don't give Ruler a reason to go after you."
"But Master!"
He ignored their protest and fled towards the castle.
"WAIT!" Irisviel yelled, glaring at assassin blocking her way. "Move!"
The servant of shadow sighed, "I wish, as I am now have to stop you from following my Master." She just hoped she could stop this homunculus from advancing without harming a single hair of hers.
For a very brief moment Irisviel wondered Kirei had just ditched his servant and what Ruler had done to scare Assassin so much. She almost felt sorry for them even.
In another side of the forest
"Caster… surely you know the story of Sword of Damocles?"
The man clad in red asked him.
Gilles de Rais's expression froze in open mouth bewilderment. "Huh? Of course I know! It's a foolish story though…"
Sword of Damocles was famous, but not in the same sense of other legendary sword like Excalibur or Gram. It was a story that become ancient moral parable popularized by the Roman philosopher Cicero in 45 BC. Story of a fool who thought a king who ruled with iron-fist lived a blissful life and given a chance to taste the luxury for one day. To drive his point home, the king hung razor-sharp sword from the ceiling. It was positioned over the fool's head, suspended only by a single strand of horsehair. The fool was terrified and unable to enjoy anything under the threat that literally hanging over his head.
The fool's name was Damocles, thus the story was titled Sword of Damocles.
"I lived for years blissfully enjoying my wealth, indulging in damndest sins imaginable with my friend Prelati!" The servant of spell told them. "There's no threat hanging over my head…"
Ruler scoffed, "Oh, really… so you died peacefully in your sleep instead of died by hanging?"
"God didn't punish me!" Caster shot back, "There's no God bringing judgement upon me for my sins, but greedy humans after my wealth! The same detestable men who accused my Holy Maiden as a witch!"
While Ruler was not a believer himself, he had to wonder why Caster didn't even consider it was some sort of punishment from God through human. Aha… he was expecting God to come to him and punish him? "So you want to meet God that much?"
Caster froze, "Yes! You damned angel… I want to see your lord and ask-"
"Stop calling me damned angel, I have no wings nor I come from heaven for you." Ruler shot back, "I don't know about heavenly punishment, but I surely can deliver one from the sky."
The mass murderer laughed out loud, "Fool! Can't you see my demons has multiplied and surround you?" Indeed, when they were talking the tentacle monsters were forming a barricade around them. "If not for my absolute victory I won't bother playing along with you, angel! With this many, not even your heavenly flame can save you!"
Saber hissed at him, "Ruler! Why are we even talking to this demonic cur?! And where's Lancer"
Ruler sighed, there was no changing his opinion about the Vongola being a messenger of God it seemed. Well, he was here under order of a God but not the 'God' Caster think and he was certainly no messenger of that bastard. "Well, I am ashamed to admit I have the same idea of stalling for time…" He sounded sheepish as he said this to Saber, "But we're not worrying for a honorable battle with Caster and frankly after his first attempt at trickery, I could be careless as long as I wipe him off of the face of earth. As for Lancer… well-"
"What are you quietly mumbling about? Your dying prayers, perhaps? God won't save you! Feel the terror. Feel the despair! There is a limit to the 'difference in numbers' that brute force can overcome. Hahaha, it's humiliating, isn't it? To be crushed and suffocated by these ignoble, nameless evils! For heroes, there is nothing more humiliating than this!"
Saber growled, "Humiliating us, that's your aim?"
He shivered in delight. "Haha, that beautiful face... now twist in agony for me, Jeanne!"
Ruler nodded to himself, "You really good at climbing up my hit list… And really, I am insulted you assume number can help you…" He told Caster with no small amount of ire.
"?"
"Celtisette: Sereno." Ruler intoned calmly and in his hand a rapier sword materialized, the thin blade forged for thrusting hummed with yellow glow like the sun. It was elegantly made, with graceful artistic silver lines around the hilt that moved as if it was alive wrapping around Ruler's arm like growing tendrils.
That was the second sword Saber saw from Ruler's collection that looked fit for practical sword battle but Ruler never strike Saber as a fencer type. The tendrils squeezed and much to her shock it started to draw blood. She was about to yell when the tendril unwrapped and drew back towards the forte together with the blood it drew, and flame so bright lit up.
Ruler made a wide whipping motion with the rapier, sending drops of blood around. Saber who was standing with her back on him didn't get a drop on her but… "What are you doing?!"
"A curious nature of this blade is… increasing potency, in this case of my blood."
Caster who was all the way on the back wasn't touched by the blood but his pawn that shielded him had a couple of drop on it. "Blood with gold sheen?"
"And as promised Caster!" The red clad servant didn't let him to marvel about the sight. "The sky shall deliver you, your very own sword of damocles! For the fool who's unaware."
Caster snarled, "There's NO sword above my head you-" He stopped as his gaze traveled upward to the sky, to see greatsword of sky floating a few meters above the tree line with its blade pointing downward. Since when that sword got there? Why such thing filled with power didn't give off any presence at all?
"It belongs to the sky… and become one with it." Ruler answered his unspoken question. "I suggest you start running." Ruler told him as the sword as if cut from its string fell to earth.
With deafening roar the sword fell once again from the sky and dyed the world with color of golden flame.
Einzbern Castle
The battle had gone reasonably well for Kiritsugu in a sense he had shot Kayneth on right shoulder, which while not fatal served its purpose. The first rate Magus was losing his head, and Kiritsugu could almost taste the acid like anger coming from his person. Kayneth's idea of a duel was noble and flamboyant, gentlemanly games. Where he could admire and acknowledge the opponent's mystery, calmly analyzing its true value, and concentrate in performing his magecraft that would serve as a proper reply for the enemy's craft.
Kiritsugu of course had different idea, and would proudly admit he had not enough magic skill to pull off gentlemanly duel. It was simply laughable that Kayneth was throwing tantrum, smashing everything in his path because he didn't get the duel he wanted. This was Holy Grail War, and if Kayneth wanted to complain he should blame the three families for calling it as such. In war everything goes, and birthright meant nothing when second rate Magus had means to defeat a noble with modern weaponry.
He could see it in Kayneth's eyes, that the man still think the wound in his shoulder was just a fluke and by the next confrontation Fortuna wouldn't smile upon him again.
"You're just lucky you rat! I will corner you like a vermin you are..." Kayneth growled to the empty hallway.
Time for finale of this hunt.
Back in the Forest
Saber saw the sword fell and about to yell at Ruler if he had lost his mind, they were still standing in the middle of would be ground zero. She didn't see what the same attack did the first time around but from the shaking and sound alone she definitely didn't want to get caught in it.
"Just trust me." He said simply.
Her protest died on her throat when Ruler grabbed her sword arm and lifted her Excalibur up in shielding motion. The torrent of golden flame parted over her holy shroud and dispersed to all direction, burning every single alien monster of Caster swiftly.
When the torrent died down, burning their enemies to smithereens Caster was left alone. Some of his monster was still burning and not even dividing themselves helped as the flame acted as if they were alive and devoured Caster's demon hungrily. "How?" He coraked.
Ruler released her hand, and Saber felt strange flip flop sensation in her stomach. "Well, with that much of my blood splattered on them these flame won't cease until I command them to."
He howled. "You bastard- BASTARD bastard BASTARD bastard BASTARD BASTARD BASTARDDDDDD!" Caster's expression twisted until his eyes were rolled to the back of his head and he raged while foaming around the mouth.
Ruler gazed at the servant of spell coldly, a pair of yin-yang chinese falchion formed in his hands and he pointed the yang blade at Caster. "Curse all you want in hell…"
Saber shared her partner's sentiment. "...You had better prepare yourself, demon." The final screams and tears that the children gave out as they were torn apart and cruelly slaughtered was still fresh in her mind.
"Saber." Ruler cautioned her, his eyes rolled to the side and she caught flash of metal to that direction. Suddenly she understood why Ruler never answered when she asked about certain someone. She smiled and thrusted her sword forward. "STRIKE AIR!"
It was amazing how slippery Caster is, while his body had degraded he still had his finely honed instinct as a warrior, throwing himself to the side to avoid torrent of wind. He was about to chant when sound of blade piercing the air stopped him and he jumped to avoid it, only for the blade to come back in pair as if the married swords were dancing.
Caster was so caught up watching the swords intricate spin in the air to avoid decapitation, he didn't notice where he was running into. To be precise towards who, the next thing he knew, a crimson spear lodged to his grimoire and the rose of mortality grazed his right arm.
"AAARH!"
Lancer who inflicted the possibly mortal wound on Caster smirked, "I don't like sneaking around like an assassin, but we're here as hero fighting a monster and not a knight…" Monster was a special kind of enemy, especially one preying on children.
Then a throb disturbed Lancer's line of thought, his master was…
"LANCER!" Ruler's warning snapped him alert, just in time to avoid the blade Caster was hiding beneath his cassock. Lancer dodged and suddenly the air was clouded by mist of blood, Caster had used his own blood as smoke screen.
Saber was quick to use her invisible air to blow the mist away, purifying the air from the stench of blood. Ruler was coughing. "That demon… escape." He clicked his tongue, before materializing his bow. "As if I would let you…" His greatsword that was still lodged in the crater flew towards him and he jumped on top of it
His mana flared and another copy of irregular shaped Hrunting materialized in his hand. "That's…" Saber breathed out as Ruler rose higher on his sword. .
"Hrunting!" He let the sword turned arrow fly, and the silence once again broken.
Whoosh! BOOM!
Ruler scowled as he sniffed the air, his great sword vanished in burst of flame as he was back on the ground. "Ruler?" Saber called him.
"My arrow hit him but he is one tenacious friend, his stench didn't disappear… perhaps I got a limb or two." He hoped he get that much at least after that demon gave them so much trouble. "We could go after him but I'd rather not."
Saber frowned, "Why?"
"My Master is fighting." Then he turned to Lancer who looked lost as looking at direction of their base. "Lancer…" He called out, "Your Master broke the rule of ceasefire and go challenging Saber's to a duel."
Lancer paled at that. "So it's true…" He had his suspicion.
Saber sighed, "There's no need for you to feel bad about it, my Master welcome it openly… hoping for it even..."
The servant of spear frowned, "So it's a duel they mutually agreed on to fight with their honor and life in line."
Ruler kept his face straight while Saber resolutely kept her scowl down. Honor? Kiritsugu? Right… "Let's just go." Saber beckoned Lancer to come, "A piece of advice, Magi have different idea of what honor means…" She didn't wish it to be this way, but as Ruler told her repeatedly in this war servant was not Master's proxy.
As Ruler departed to opposite direction and they parted for their respective Master, Ruler couldn't help but smirked, Saber was learning, wonderful.
Einzbern Castle
After the his origin bullet of irreversible corruption lodged to Kayneth's body, it was a simple matter to kill the first rate Magus. His absolute defense and offense mystic code was indeed a work of art. The immaculate skill that controlled the magecraft of fluidics to such perfection should indeed be the epitome of this unparalleled craft, fully worthy of the prestigious name of the Archibald house.
However Kayneth had no idea that the moment Kiritsugu raised his own mystic code, as if to fire., the alchemist sealed his own fate. As he beautifully completed this magecraft he devoted all his skills in – Lord El-Melloi's destiny met the bitter end as his own body tore him apart from inside out. Kayneth probably didn't comprehend what was happening to his body until the end. The moment that the excruciating pain spread into his body, all of his vital organs and nerves had already been torn into a shapeless mess.
A truly painful death for a Magus, but Kayneth was still breathing.
Kiritsugu was about to deliver the final blow, not out of mercy but because his principle is to give a concrete final blow to a fallen enemy. However someone he didn't invite stepped out from the next corridor and Kiritsugu froze, gobsmacked by none other than Kotomine Kirei who waltzed in as if he owned the place.
His fingers froze in his mystic code, and he contemplated shooting Kirei but decided against it because the man had three black keys in each hand and it would be child's play for Kirei to deflect his bullet. Kirei however was not paying attention to him but to Kayneth who lay recumbent in the sea of mercury and blood, twitching slightly.
"Rest in peace." Was the first line Kiritsugu heard from his presumed nemesis before Kirei ended Kayneth's misery in Kiritsugu's place.
The former lord stopped twitching and stayed still, he was now a corpse. Kiritsugu stood unmoving by this bizarre development and a question escaped his lips. "Why did you kill him?"
Kirei simply turned to face him and answered. "Because it's the right thing to do than leaving the man to suffer for the rest of his life, and it would be indulging in pleasure in my part if I keep watching him in agony."
Right, because that made so much sense. Kiritsugu thought as he contemplated his choice between fight and flight. He didn't manage to reach a conclusion when both Saber and Lancer burst through the window and landed near their respective Master's side. Lancer looked stricken as he knelt beside his fallen lord, the killer just moved a couple of steps to let the knight grief.
"So my Master lost…" Lancer gripped his spears in iron grip.
Kiritsugu wondered if the servant would deteriorate soon with the lack of Master but it seemed he would hold out for a while. Long enough to avenge his Master. Lancer turned to him and seemed to come to a conclusion, avenging his Master and Saber stood firmly in front of him. "It's… my duty to avenge my Lord."
"I understand." Saber intoned, "But you have to get pass me first." As his servant, Saber of course would defend him.
Kirei didn't let them to act out their decision, and spoke out loud. "I am the one who killed Lord Kayneth el-Melloi, so you're pointing your spear at the wrong man."
The two knights turned towards him with shock clearly on their face, and Kirei wondered if they didn't notice his presence at all. "You!" Lancer snarled, "So you interrupt honorable battle between my Master and Saber's?"
Kiritsugu didn't miss the cringe on Saber's expression at the word 'honorable battle' when he was concerned. "..."
Kirei didn't seem to fear for his life as he calmly answered Lancer, "Would you rather I leave him to his suffering? Perhaps he would live with help of healing magic, but your Master would be less of a man he used to be… crippled as both Magus and human." The priest told the servant with no emotion in his voice. "Is that what you want? Knight of Fianna? It doesn't matter your lord suffer as long as he live for you to serve?"
Lancer looked like he had been slapped across his face. "I… No! OF course not!"
"I was under impression for a servant, a heroic spirit to be so submissive like you, serving your Master is more important than the Holy Grail itself…" Kirei told him. "You will happily die if your master asked you to prove your loyalty, command seal or not."
Lancer was shaking now but there was no anger in his handsome face, but pure terror.
"You seek self-satisfaction because of how your life as a knight ended…" Kirei was nodding to himself, a semblance of a smile began to form in his lips. "How interesting, a servant wish to serve for his own selfish interest."
"That's enough!" Saber snapped, unable to bear the broken look on Diarmuid's face as Kirei tore his devotion as a knight apart. "Lancer, you should take your Master's body away… a knight shouldn't let their Master laying on their blood for so long."
The look of gratitude on his face was painful, Lancer gently lifted Kayneth's body from the floor before escaping through the window, grateful Saber gave him a chance to escape.
With Irisviel and-
At some point Ruler appeared after finishing his business with Caster -for now- and came to irisviel's side. His Master was tied up trying to break free from Assassin without much success, while Maiya was nailed to a tree with several daggers on her clothes. Assassin could have defeated them with ease but judging from the stalemate, Kirei's servant had no intention to harm them.
The female assassin for reason unknown froze when she saw him appeared, a few meters behind her. Then she promptly prostrate herself on the ground. "I swear in my honor as Servant, I have not harm even a hair of Holy Grail's vessel! I was told to stop her from advancing, an explicit order from my Master!"
Okay, what did he do to traumatize Assassin like this? He met with one of them once and they were already afraid of him for some reason. "Glad to hear that..."
Assassin quickly hightailed out of Ruler's sight, relieved to know they lived for another day.
HIs master disagreed, scowling at the spot Assassin just vacated. "Ruler! Kotomine Kirei is here! He is going to Kiritsugu!" She latched to his arm.
He sighed, he was so screwed. "Well Master… he is already there, Saber is with Kiritsugu so I am sure his life is not in danger and-" Ruler cocked his head to the side as if listening something. "Lancer is already out of the forest… his master is dead."
"Kiritsugu win!" Iri cheered before stopping. "But Kotomine Kirei is still there!"
"What would you like me to do, Master? Kiritsugu is as safe as he could be with Saber there. And-"
"That man gives me a bad vibe, I don't want him anywhere near my husband!"
"But Master-" He tried to point at a the tree that was currently occupied.
"No buts!"
Someone cleared her throat and said. "Uhm, Madam… can you please help me first?" Maiya who was still pinned to a tree pleaded.
Irisviel blushed, "Why didn't you tell me?" She forgot about Maiya-san!
"That's what I have been trying to tell you, Master." He told her patiently as he quickly pulled daggers that nail Maiya to the tree, while resolutely averting his eyes from Maiya's not so decent state of clothing. Well… better half-naked than dead.
Back in Einzbern Castle
Kotomine Kirei watched Lancer disappeared in darkness of Einzbern forest with dead eyes, and Saber was struck by the similarity of his eyes with Kiritsugu's. No, his was even colder. This was the man who came to Ruler for an answer? She didn't know what Ruler saw in this man but she knew right away what Kiritsugu saw.
A dangerous man.
Kiritsugu had his own dilemma, in one hand an all out straight fight was not his forte but he'd rather be done with Kirei as soon as he could rather than dealing with the man later. He had superior servant, but Kiritsugu had exhausted most of his weapon on Kayneth. A logical choice would be strategical retreat with Saber securing his escape route, but he was not confident Saber could stop both Kirei and assassin long enough for him.
Perhaps he should wait for Iri but-
"What's your wish, Emiya Kiritsugu?" Kirei asked, stopping his line of thought. "Why did you seek Holy Grail?"
Kiritsugu clamped his mouth shut, but his thought keep doing laps around what Ruler told him this evening. 'Just answer his question and dispel your unreasonable fear.'
"I…" He began, wondering what possessed him to believe Ruler that answering Kotomine would stop him from feeling miserable as long as this man exist. "I want to wish away all conflict and war from this world, to save humanity."
Kirei's eyes widened in shock and dare they imagined it for one moment his eyes looked alive. "Of all things… that's what you want?"
The Magus Killer nodded slowly, "That's all I want."
Kirei's expression hardened as he thought over the implication of Kiritsugu's wish, the lesser grail status of his wife, the extreme measure to achieve optimal result… he did a quick calculation in his mind before he arrived to a conclusion. The reason why Ruler didn't want this man's wish to be granted.
"You're a fool." He said more to himself than to Kiritsugu, "And perhaps I am a even bigger fool to expect you have answer for someone as empty as me… "
He was no stranger to be called foolish for wishing a world without conflict, so he didn't take offense for what Kirei said. "You're the one who assume I have."
Kirei was shaking his head now, "After talking with Ruler, I absolutely have no problem you don't have one…" There was something in his tone that make Kiritsugu took a hesitant step back and Saber scooted closer. "I was merely curious… and now I heard it I am convinced you're both a fool and a weakling."
Saber wondered if she should defend her Master but she didn't feel it was her place to interupt this. 'He said Kiritsugu need this, and I don't know I want him to be right or wrong this time.'
"You join in this war to make your ideal reality and determined no sacrifice is too great for true salvation, and you're prepared to sacrifice your everything." Including the woman who loved him went unspoken. Kirei might had driven his wife to her death unintentionally but even with his black heart he'd never wish her to be sacrificed for him. He did everything he could so they would be safe, even from him.
Kiritsugu in the other hand…
"We preach on sacrificing ourselves for the good of other in church, but you're the first I have met who carry that ideal to the extreme…" Kirei drawled softly, "Who do you think you are, Emiya Kiritsugu? Second coming of Messiah?"
"Certainly not." Kiritsugu replied cooly, "Your Savior didn't shed even a single drop, did he? Only his."
"While you intend to bring salvation with river of blood made of us all who participate in this war, including your own wife." Kirei returned swiftly and Kiritsugu in rare show of emotion raised his gun, aiming at Kirei's head. "Did I say something untrue? Considering what Irisviel von Einsbern is, she is the finest lamb you in the lot… and you who sacrificed the woman you love is a weakling who is too weak to accept your ideal is impossible."
Kiritsugu was still, his tongue was numb as the priest before him tore his ideals.
"A weak man who can't even place his wife above his ideal. A man who can't accept reality of his ideal like a delusional child who think the world revolve around his childish dream."
Kirei pointed at Kiritsugu with his index finger and declared, "That is your true self… Emiya Kiritsugu."
The hand holding his Thompson Contender was shaking, "Kotomine Kirei… you-"
Saber who was standing beside Kiritsugu feared the man would lose his self-control and fire. While he had all the reason to kill another Master, Saber knew Kiritsugu shouldn't do this now out of anger. If he did, it would be path of no return.
"If you shoot you're admitting your own weakness…" Kirei told him, "That you can't face the truth." Kirei shook his head and turned around, a pair of assassin clad in darkness moved to shield his back in case Kiritsugu attacked.
They didn't need to worry because Kiritsugu's mind had went on haywire, the hand holding his weapon hung uselessly in the air.
"I reject your ideal, and that's why… I will join this war earnestly now. From the way I see it, the world need to be saved from your ideal… Emiya Kiritsugu." Kotomine Kirei declared as he looked back at Kiritsugu in the eye, and there was a new life in his eyes as he said this.
As if he had found a new purpose while leaving Kiritsugu with shattered remain of his. Kiritsugu didn't move as Kirei walked away and Saber let them leave. Tonight Kiritsugu won against Kayneth but he was utterly defeated by Kotomine Kirei without either of them spilling blood to each other, just words exchanged and ideals broken and remade.
Celtisette: Sereno (Sun flame)
A Deschaux Rapier with sun flame properties activation with spiral hilt that could grow and commanded by Shirou either to heal or draw blood as if it was alive. One of most versatile fragment in his repertoire that could be used for crossing swords in the earnest. Shirou also used it to boost his blood's conductivity to increase effectivity of his Cielo fragment's Damocles BURST attack.
Ps: It's a long consideration but in the end I delay rain's debut for sun and while at first I plan to go with… well, the boring old but make sense scalpel but L's cappuccino succeed convincing me to design a sun rapier modelled after dechaux design. The spiral hilt is what sold me, imagining them to move like they're alive so they can work like bandage ha ha.
OMAKE: Celtisette: Cielo (Damocles Mode)
Inspired by the famous story and parable, in which sky fragment sword is used as destructive projectile. In spite of its massive size, the greatsword with its harmony properties is hardly noticeable in the sky where it belongs. It stayed still in the air for a long period, as sucking in prana from surrounding before it fell after reaching sufficient energy level. A method of attack Shirou thought up to shut protesting elder up, that he didn't waste the exalted sky flame he inherited just for convenient rocket.
BTW the title for this chapter is actually a joke on 'heavenly punishment' or sort, and Caster's complete misunderstanding of Ruler's nature. He is a sky but he is not heavenly ha ha ha
SCENE from last chapter preview, change of plan as the fight with Caster and inserting Kirei's scene got too long. That scene is on 11K words so I just cut them to the same end scene in anime... Hhh... I miscalculated.
ANYWAY... Kayneth is dead, yippee~ Just kidding, I don't really have any feeling about his death in this chapter other than to 'highlight' Kirei's change from canon route. You see in canon he prolong the life of other characters to see them suffer SOME MORE but here Kirei end Kayneth so he won't suffer any longer. Showing restrain to his base impulse... as of now he acknowledge himself as a monster, but one who show control and careful.
Frankly... in FSN canon I always feel in the end Kirei become just like Gilgamesh who indulge himself in pleasure and then crave for more and more, that in the end while he had his entertainment he is not satisfied or content with his life. Which is why in changing him I settle on a man who is balance being both monster and human.
As for Lancer's fate... eh- I feel bad for the guy but I feel his continued devotion to Kayneth is damn pointless in canon. Beside... for Kayneth, pompous ass or not I grant him mercy kill now. Beside... if Kirei didn't kill him I imagine Shirou will, because in his pitiful state Kayneth would be too unstable and unpredictable. As shown in canon... While this fic would be quite dark I'd like to make sure in this version, some character would be granted 'kinder' death or sort. Not all would be saved... and Shirou know it, but I think the current him now know salvation for each people doesn't take the same form of saving.
The knights on Masters duel. I feel it's incredibly stupid the knights, as in Saber and Lancer act as if Kiritsugu killing Kayneth is inexcusable. It's a war, and their Master has right to fight their own battle without their servants. Kayneth also come to Kiritsugu on his own accord, as far as war is concerned Kiritsugu won his battle fair and square.
That's why Ruler teach them that simple fact that, both you and your master have your own battle. They can protect their master, but they can't impose their value on how their master fight.
ps: I just finished Kara no Kyokai and WOW I was blown away! And now I can't help but imagine what if Tsuna meet Shiki? Maybe an interlude scene or omake? I feel like Shiki would hate Tsuna at first sight ha ha ha...