I've gotten quite a few people enjoying this story. Congrats to all those who figured out who the other servants are. Today is meant to be a day to relax. But when you're dealing with Servants, nothing is ever that simple.
Again, don't own. No profit. Belong to their owners. If you can't get that by now, then you might need help.
Chapter 5: Servants out Shopping.
(9:00pm Friday, Fuyuki Hyatt Hotel)
Kayneth frowned as he looked out the window of his penthouse. This Grail War was very unusual. He thought Lancer would've been skilled enough to kill Saber, even with his Magic Resistance. But he had been stronger than they thought, leeching life from Lancer to keep fighting. After Rider's attack it was only prudent to leave when they could.
What frustrated him the most though, was that none of the servants were normal. Not a single one could be described as a hero of this world, seemingly coming from other worlds. Lancer herself was from a world where god-like beings called Fal'Cie ruled and provided everything for humanity. If they had some way of knowing who the servants really were, they could plan around their weaknesses and win the War. Instead, he's forced to 'wing it' every step of the way.
Lancer kept being difficult with him. Oh sure, she obeyed the spirit of his orders well enough. But she refused to treat him with respect, saying that he reminded her too much of 'Barthandelus'. He had no idea who that was, but his actions seemed to remind her too much of him. Lancer has mouthed off to him, insulted him, and even ignored him outside of battle. He was almost tempted to use a command seal to get her to treat him with the respect he deserves. But, she fights well, and his victory is more important than his ego.
He heard someone knocking on the door. Instantly, Lancer got ready for battle. Kayneth waved her over to the side, out of sight for anyone on the other side of the door. Though he had booked the entire floor he was staying on and had enchanted it to attack enemy servants, to avoid suspicion he had ensured that hotel workers would not be harmed. Still, he informed them to call him if there were any concerns as he was a 'busy' man. He looked through the eyehole, but saw nothing. Yet there was that knocking again. He looked at Lancer, and she seem to get the message. He stepped back into the bedroom with Sola as Lancer opened the door, lance in hand.
"Move a muscle and I'll stab ya." She said to thin air.
"Whoa, whoa." Caster's voice came from the doorway. "Take it easy ma'am. I just want to talk." Lancer looked at Kayneth, who merely nodded. Caster's skill would certainly be useful if he could be ordered to fight.
"Alright then." Lancer said as she backed away from the door. "But uncloak. And if you try anything funny…"
"I know." Caster merely said, the air in the room stirring as he became visible. He was smiling, and his creatures were floating around the room, gazing at everything. Kayneth heard Sola yelped, and looked to see her wrestling one of her bras from one of the creatures. "Calm down guys." Caster said to them. "You can have a look around later." The creatures settled down, mostly sitting on railings and window sills. Kayneth sat down at his chair, giving Caster an once-over. After a few seconds he spoke.
"What is your reason to be here, Caster? To form an alliance between your master and I?"
Caster shook his head. "My master was a murderer, butchering an entire family to acquire the means of summoning me. He didn't seem to know anything about the War, thinking I was a demon and offering a child for me to do something 'cool'." He frowned. "My moral decency could not allow this man to live, and so I killed him there and then."
Kayneth and Sola were shocked. Caster had killed his own master over moral differences? And how did he survive for song long without a supply of mana? Looking at the creatures with a Magi eye, Kayneth realised that they were generating mana for Caster, drawing it from the world to sustain him.
"I see." Kayneth merely said. "And I suppose you wish to have one of us as your master. If so, then what is your wish for the Grail?"
"I don't have one, though if I had to I'd wish to live in this world, seeing all that the world has to offer."
Kayneth gave this all some serious thought. If he made Sola Caster's master, then they may have to fight each other at some point. On the upside, a team of Lancer and Caster would be near unstoppable and if one was killed then the other servant could continue to win. Not to mention that if they were the last two, then Kayneth could merely ask Sola to have Caster kill himself. The rewards far outweighed the risks.
"Very well then. Sola, you will be Caster's master. I will provide the mana for Lancer from now on."
Sola looked at him, annoyed that he had done that without asking. She agreed with him, but he still should've asked if she wanted to be a target. Caster grabbed a bag that hanged on his belt. From the slight stench it gave off it must hold the command seals.
Kayneth smiled. Fortune was smiling upon them.
(9:00am Saturday, Unknown Fuyuki Alleyway)
"Hey. Look at this weird guy." A deep hoodlum voice woke Kariya up. He groaned as he started waking up. His chest still ached from when he felt Berserker getting stabbed. "Doesn't he know that you gotta pay a tax to sleep in our turf?" Kariya felt… better. Better than ever. It was like whatever Berserker injected took away all his other aches and pains when he destroyed the worms. His magic felt stronger too. "Let's show him what happens to people late with their rent."
At this Kariya woke up fully, his body already rolling away from the foot about to crush his skull. He got up quickly as he looked at the hoodlums. Three of them, all around 19 and smoking cigarettes, they had a dangerous look in their eyes. And knives and crowbars in their hands.
"I'm afraid I don't have any money on me." Kariya said as he stalled for time. Where was Berserker? He should've materialised already.
"Yeah?" a skinny man asked, his crowbar spinning in his hand. "Aww that's too bad. Guess we're gonna hafta take it outta ya hide." And with that he ran at Kariya, swinging his crowbar at him. Time seemed to slow as he got closer, but Kariya couldn't think of what to do. He raised his arm in time for the bar to hit it. On anyone else, the bar would've snapped his arm from the blow and Kariya was ready to scream in pain.
Instead, Kariya felt almost nothing. It was more like it had been placed against his arm with the slightest touch. Opening his eyes, Kariya saw that the bar had bent a little around his arm.
"What the fu…" The hoodlum said until Kariya pushed him. Instead of a slight stumbling, the hoodlum hit the concrete wall behind him hard enough to make a crater in it. He collapsed on the old bed Kariya had been sleeping on, blood dripping down from where he landed. Curious, Kariya picked up the crowbar the hoodlum dropped, and bent it.
The crowbar was bent in a full circle like rubber, groaning at the stress it was under. To Kariya it was like bending a paper tube. The other hoodlums started panicking as Kariya smirked at them.
"He wasn't kidding about being stronger." Kariya said almost to himself. He looked at another hoodlum, one with long black hair and sallow skin. One moment he was at the other end of the alley, the next Kariya was close enough to snatch his cigarette. "Faster too." Kariya head-butted the kid and felt the boy's face splatter against him. The last hoodlum, a black kid who had been talking first, threw his knife at Kariya. It sank up to the hilt in his chest, but it felt more like a paper-cut. Pulling it out Kariya chased the kid, wanting to teach him a lesson. Instead, he heard him scream and then there was a squelch as something was crushed. Rounding the corner, Kariya found Berserker.
He was surrounded by the bodies of more hoodlums, probably the rest of their gang. Tendril stretched out from him to them, and the bodies grew smaller as he drank them. The hoodlum Kariya had been chasing was being pulled into Berserker's chest, with only his shoes sticking out. With a final slurp, Berserker consumed the last of them. There was only silence as they stared at each other.
"Feels good, doesn't it Master?" Berserker said, dusting off his hands and stepping closer.
"I've… I've never felt so strong. What did you do to me?"
"I evolved you. Improved you. You are more like me than human. Better in every way."
"Is this what you did with Sakura?"
Berserker frowned. "As a rule I don't evolve kids if I can help it. I've only improved her perfectly human body. Her body has been healed of all damage and at its physical peak."
"This is unbelievable. Is everyone like this in your world?"
"I'd like the world to be like this. Unfortunately, the Government aren't that keen on it as you are."
"Why not? If this heals damage then there wouldn't be any more invalids."
Berserker waved Kariya over, inviting him to walk with him. "Because the source of my 'miracle cure' is actually an intelligent virus. One that if commanded to be harmful, could make every other plague look like the common cold."
Kariya was shocked by this, but before he could say anything Berserker continued.
"Don't worry. Like I said, it has to be commanded to be infectious. When docile, it's the perfect super-soldier serum. You'll probably be fit and healthy for the next Grail War."
"How did you discover it?" Kariya asked, wondering how a virus could be a cure.
Berserker walked a bit more before answering. "50 years ago, a team of scientists discovered a new virus they codenamed CARNIVAL 1. When they tested it on primates they got amazing results."
He already knew what results. "They were improved."
"Yep. Some of them were as smart as the scientists. So the lab boys decided to test it on people. They created a town in the middle of Idaho called Hope. They got together a wide variety of people, and injected them with CARNIVAL, now CARNIVAL 2. They watched the folks for months and they got nadda. Nothing. Zilch. The only sign it was even there was in the newborns."
"What happened?"
"They weren't born right. Mutations. Defects. Some were the old born with two heads, but one baby was born with spikes on his back. And every one of them was a stillborn. It was like the virus couldn't keep up with the baby's formation and just fucked everything up."
"Well, after all those months of nothing, the scientists called it a bust. They packed up their gear, shipped out the men, and left the town and the folks to their boring old lives."
"And that's when things really fucked up."
"They didn't realise that the virus was as smart as the boys. It had infected everyone in the town, gotten into every part of their bodies, and hid away inside them. When the scientists started leaving, everyone started dying within minutes. And then they rose up as mutated zombies."
"Suddenly the military got called in to contain the town. It would've been like a horror film. Weird monsters killing your men, then they got right back up and started attacking their own comrades. Zombie fusing together into something capable of ripping apart tanks. Nightmare."
"Fortunately for the world, the military managed to wipe out the lot of them. And then they found the prize in the box."
"Turns out one of the townsfolk, a young lady called Elizabeth Greene, had mutated differently. All the strength of the Infected, but she was still herself. More or less. I doubt you could see your town turn into monsters and get gunned down without getting a bit broken. Anyway, turns out Greene was pregnant when she mutated. And her kid was actually alive. The military grabbed her, grabbed her kid and firebombed the town to Kingdom Come. They discovered that she was creating a wide variety of strains in her body."
"And for some insane reason, they put her and all the samples right in the center of fucking New York City. And then they got together a team to try and find a way to take the Redlight samples, and make them even more dangerous."
"Alex Mercer here," And at that Berserker pointed at himself. "was the guy who cracked it. Called it Blacklight. Created a monster that could kill the world and all he could say about it was 'I wasn't paid to feel.'"
"After that though, one of the scientists got cold feet, or grew a conscience. He tried to get the story out to the public, since I doubt they would like this news. But the military unit attached to the project, Blackwatch, silenced him before he could. And then they decided to silence any other security risks. Like yours truly here."
"Well, Mercer didn't like that. So he stole a vial of his work and headed for Penn Station. Blackwatch surrounded him, and he threatened to break the vial. They pumped him full of lead, and New York was hit with the fucking Apocalypse."
"Part of the sample infected Mercer's body, and found he had the exact same coding Greene had, turning him into an intelligent infected. A Runner, as they're called. Cause he was almost brain-dead, I woke up with a bad case of amnesia. Got my memory back, but hell, I wish I hadn't."
"So there we were. A free-for-all between Blackwatch, the Infected, and little ol' me. And I won."
"You won a three-way war all on your own?" Kariya asked, amazed.
"Well it wasn't like they teamed up. They were busy killing each other too. After the end of the infection, I travelled abroad. Trying to find a place I could call home. Saw only pain, and misery, and people only caring about themselves. I moved far up north, had a new face, tons of cash, and tried to come to terms with myself. Became friends with the guy I was renting from. Flint and his daughter Autumn." He stopped to order Kariya a hotdog. Though he wasn't hungry, Kariya was grateful for the food.
"Did you like her?" He asked once he had his food. Berserker nodded.
"Yeah. I loved her. Never thought I could love until then." He looked wistful for a moment, then shook his head.
"Anyway. A couple of months later, some guy called Zurich showed up, wanted to buy Flint's land. Flint said no, but warned me that Zurich didn't take no for an answer. He was right, considering that very night two of his goons came to torch the house. After consuming them, I went to have a 'chat' with Mr Zurich."
"Found out that Flint used to be an enforcer for Zurich. I thought the guy was kind and gentle and all this time he had killed and hurt and intimidated people. My rage made me snap his neck, and I went to find Autumn. Get her to leave with me. Found her in my cabin. When I went to grab my cash, it was all gone. And she shot me full of bullets."
"Ouch."
"Yeah. The emotional pain was worse than being shot. I consumed her in revenge, and decided that it was time to improve Humanity. Whether they liked it or not."
"You really thought making them stronger would make the world better?"
"Their time had passed. I was the future. If I make the right strain, I can command the Infected, the Evolved. Alter them to act differently. By evolving the world, I could stop all suffering, all hatred, all wars." Mercer shrugged. "Instead, one of my Evolved resisted me, and finally consumed me."
"You don't sound too angry about it."
"Survival of the fittest. He was stronger than me. I lost. That's how the world works." He looked at Kariya. "This time, I think I'll try not to look and act like I want to kill the world."
Kariya smirked. "I can live with that." And so he passed through the Matou gate, eager to see how Sakura was doing.
(9:00am Saturday, Tohsaka Mansion)
Tokiomi pulled his jacket on. He had promised to see Aoi and Rin today to show he was still fine. For a moment he thought about his other daughter and his heart clenched. But he shook his head. Sakura was in perfect conditions. She was to inherit the Matou Mystic Crest. Zouken agreed to treat her like he'd treat his own sons. She and Rin would grow into beautiful women, and his heart would burst in happiness.
"Ready to go, Master?" Archer asked, and Tokiomi turned to face him. His eyes widened at Archer's look. Instead of the armoured cat-man he normally was, He looked human. His blond hair swept back to look like his ears and his green eyes looked slightly too large for his face. He was dressed in a black suit in the image of his own.
Tokiomi smiled. "That is some impressive illusion spell Archer. If I didn't know you I would say this is your true form."
"Oh. It's not a spell. It's just my hologuise." And by pushing on his belt buckle, Archer flipped sideways like a picture, with his real self standing before Tokiomi.
"Of course." He sighed internally. "Everything he has is technology of one kind or another. Sometimes I wish the Grail gave me a magic user instead." Tokiomi merely said "I am ready." And Archer drove him to the safe-house Aoi was using.
(9:30am, Tohsaka Safe house)
Archer sighed as he watched Tohsaka hug his wife. It was really obvious that they loved each other, and it reminded him about Talwyn too much. He stepped back outside to give his master some time alone, and to reminisce about what he left behind.
Given the rules of summoning a servant, Archer didn't know how he was pulled through. One moment he was at the Great Clock, reading an alert about high energy levels in an unknown galaxy, the next he and Clank were pulled into this fight and with all new knowledge spinning around in his head. He hoped that he could win this, but also hoped that he would get sent back alive.
"Do you work for my father?" He heard a young girl ask him. Opening his eyes, he saw a black-haired, pigtailed girl in a red shirt looking at him. She had a suspicious look on her face, as if she didn't trust him.
"This must be the master's kid, Rin" Archer thought as he turned to face her. "Yep. You know about this 'thing' he doing right now?"
She nodded, before her eyes widened as she realised something. "You're the servant, aren't you?" Archer nodded, and then she had an angry look on her face. "My father had better win this, or I'll make you pay."
Archer crouched down to look her in the eye. "I promise that anyone who wants to harm Master Tohsaka will have to go through me."
Rin smiled at that, before they noticed that Tokiomi was watching them. He smiled at Rin before looking at Archer. "Archer. I may be here for some time. You have my permission to wander the city until tonight."
Archer nodded. Thank you Master." He turned to leave, before remembering something that was bugging him. "Master? What did Berserker mean by his master hated you?"
Tohsaka frowned. "I don't quite know. The only family we haven't seen is the Matou family, and I have a good relationship with them." He waved his hand in front of his face. "Regardless, Berserker won't be a problem for much longer."
Archer nodded, knowing he wasn't going to get anything else. "Right. See you later Master." He walked out the gate before activating his hover boots. Hopefully, anyone who saw him would think he was wearing roller skates.
(9:55am, Fuyuki Shopping District)
"You think he knows something and isn't telling us?" He asked Clank as they walked around the shopping district. It amazed Ratchet just how… primitive everything was. This world was seriously behind any galaxy he's ever been to.
"I do not know Archer." Clank replied. "It would not aid his cause to keep us in the dark about the motivations of the enemy. Most likely, he actually does not know what Berserker's Master's quarrel is."
"Right. In that case, keep an eye out for Berserker. I don't want any sneak attacks." Just then, a faint feeling of mana resounded behind him.
"Human resembling Caster approaching from behind." Clank warned. Archer turned around. Standing before him was definitely Caster, with a red-haired human standing next to him. She was obviously his master. Archer narrowed his eyes, before shaking his head at the nearby forest. Caster nodded, Ratchet's challenge accepted.
(10:10am, Nearby Forest)
"You know, when I said we'd be enemies next time I didn't quite imagine it would be this soon." Archer said as he stood at one side of a clearing. Caster stood at the other end, back in his regular outfit instead of the shirt and jeans he wore before. Similarly, Sola noted, Archer was back in his armour. Could that blonde boy be his real appearance? It was hard to guess with these new servants.
To think this had merely been a day to go shopping! Fate must've hated her to have them run into Archer so early. Still, she was glad to have listened to Kayneth before she left.
"Take Caster with you Sola. If any servants find you, he can ensure your safety. If things are going very wrong, make sure to call me." Kayneth actually looked sad. "I'd rather lose the Grail than lose you."
It touched her that he really did love her. Now if only he could rein in his ego.
"So any rules I should know about?" Caster asked as he got ready to fight.
"With all the trees around us we should avoid fire attacks. Flamethrowers, spells, fire mods. If it isn't contained in a Reality Marble it stays unused."
Caster nodded. "No targeting my master." He remembered to say. Though Archer was kind and trustful, he probably use everything he could to win.
"Agreed. I'd rather kill servants than masters." Archer agreed. "Clank, can you create a barrier or something?"
"Indeed." Archer's jetpack answered, surprising Caster and Sola as his wings contracted and he jumped off Archer. A tiny metal man, about the same size as one of Caster's Djinn, Walked over to her. He reached into his chest cavity and pulled out an orb of some kind. "Master of Caster, to activate the shield generator, press the yellow button on the side." Clank said as he passed it to her. "However, to compensate for the increased duration, its defensive capabilities have been compromised by 35%."
"It means it'll last longer than normal, but it's a bit weaker than usual." Archer translated when he saw her confused expression. Mages never really used technology, believing that magic could do it better. "So make sure to stay out of the range of our attacks."
"Don't worry Mistress Sola." Caster said, giving her a smile and a thumb's up. "I won't lose to Archer."
"A lot of people said that back home, and I proved them all wrong." Archer countered, as Clank hopped on his back again. Archer pulled out a large gun with three yellow barrels. Caster pulled his sword from his back. Sola quickly pushed the yellow button and a barrier surrounded her as she ran to a safe distance. The forest was still for a moment as the warriors sized each other up. Then Archer was blasting at Caster as both ran in a circle.
"I Call Upon Granite, Zephyr" Caster shouted, blocking a shot with the flat of his blade. A Venus and Jupiter Djinn appeared, glowing before the glow passed to Caster. Instantly, his speed increased and the shots were blocked better. Archer switched to an orange gun with four arms. As Caster moved closer to strike, Archer fired the gun. As Caster blocked it, His movement slowed and he was thrown back, hanging in mid-air. Archer pulled out a blue massive gun with four panels covering the mouth, resting it on his shoulder. It fired a blue and yellow ball that Caster couldn't dodge. A blue barrier shrouded him as the ball struck him. A mushroom cloud rose as a massive explosion decimated the forest. Sola thought that Caster was dead, when he shouted "Cure All" and charged through the smoke to Archer. Archer switched for two orange blocks that covered his hands. He charged at Caster, and as the two clashed, Caster was pushed away. Archer switched for a glove with a blue barrel on it. He threw a small ball at the ground as Caster attacked with his Gaia spell. Where the ball landed, a two-barrelled turret formed. It instantly shot at Caster, who had to dodge its blasts.
"Quake" Caster called out, causing the earth to shake and messing the turret's aim. "Gust" Another Jupiter Djinn flew towards the turret and exploded, destroying the machine. Caster quickly followed Archer into the forest, with Sola not far behind. As they moved through the trees, blasts were heard as they struck Caster. He rolled out of the way as they decimated the trees behind him. Looking over, Sola saw Archer standing still, firing a blast from each hand. "Got you now." Caster said as he dodged again and again. "I Summon Thee, Atalanta" A reality marble formed around them as a Greek maiden appeared in the sky. Arrows of air formed around her, before firing down on Archer's position. It destroyed him utterly. As the Marble faded, Caster looked sad. "Any other time, we might've been friends. I'm sorry Archer." But a powerful blast punched through Caster from behind. Crying out in pain, Caster pulled out some herb that healed the damage as though it weren't even there. Looking at where Archer had been, he flickered and revealed a cracked golden robot on a spring as it exploded.
"Nice try Caster, really. But I promised a little girl I'd protect her dad, and I'm not about to break my promise." Archer called out as another blast fired at Caster. "Shade" Caster called. A Mercury Djinn appeared and intercepted Archer's attack. Moving quickly, Caster sprinted in the direction of Archer's blast. Catching sight of Archer, Caster moved in as he called out "Sap". A Venus struck Archer, revealing another robot as hovering spiked balls floated towards him. Calling out "Whirlwind", a tornado pulled them in and caused them to explode. Seeing a moving Archer, Caster shouted "Ray" as a bolt of lightning struck Archer. His cry of pain showed that was the real Archer, and Caster gave chase. It was almost impossible for Sola to keep up. More explosions echoed ahead, and as Sola kept moving, she found more broken robots, scorch marks, and even an inflatable Archer just as they faded away. She finally caught up with them back in the original clearing, both clearly injured. Caster had bleeding wounds everywhere, and Archer was hunched over with a burn mark on his arm.
"Grummelnet" Archer called while Caster used "Cure All". Blue orbs flowed from Clank to Archer, and he stood up straighter while the cocking of a gun echoed continuously through the air. They were about to clash again, when a fainter explosion was heard. Caster rolled, looking around wildly while Caster looked at his current gun – an olive gun with four barrels – before giving it a shake by his ear. Sola looked around until she saw the smoke rising from the city. Strangely, it came from a familiar direction. In fact it looked like it came from-
"Kayneth!" Sola screamed, realising the smoke was coming from the hotel. Caster and Archer looked at the smoke in alarm, before nodding at each other. Their fight was going to have to wait. "Zephyr" Caster shouted again, grabbing Sola as he ran, the shield lying abandoned at their feet. Archer grabbed the orb as he hovered past, his hologuise active again. Even though Kayneth wasn't his master, there may have been innocents caught up in the attack.
"Please let him be ok. Please, please, please…"
(5 minutes ago, Construction Work next to Hyatt Hotel)
"You shouldn't have done that." Saber said as he watched the fire billowing in the window. "You gave away the element of surprise, Emiya. You've let your target know you're here."
Emiya didn't answer him. Apparently there were lines Saber was willing to cross that he wasn't.
"Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi is an old-school Magus." Maiya told Saber. "He'll be expecting us to brave the deadly traps and monsters he's made. He'll never suspect this."
"You forget about Lancer." Saber retorted. "I already underestimated her before. Just because El-Melloi wouldn't expect this doesn't mean she wouldn't either. Your unwillingness to strike civilians could cost us dearly."
Emiya ignored him again, pushing the button on the detonator. Explosions echoed through the hotel, causing the people below to scream as it collapsed upon itself. He got up, certain that despite Saber's worry El-Melloi was dead. Even a powerful Magus like him couldn't survive something like that. But Saber's arm flew past his face, pointing at something in the sky. Emiya grabbed his rifle and turned. His eye widened as he saw a dragon flying out of the rubble. And on its back were Lancer and El-Melloi.
"Don't even say it Saber." Maiya gritted as the servant armoured up and stepped onto the barren floor. He raised Frostmourne above his head, the blade pointing at his feet, before activating a Noble Phantasm.
"With Blood and Frost" He shouted, stabbing the ground. It instantly turned to ice, cracks forming and showing the skeleton of a massive dragon below. Blue fire glowed in its eye sockets as it smashed through the ice. Saber moved to grab hold of it, but not before looking at Maiya.
"I told you so." He said, before being whisked upwards by a spinal bone. A tornado of ice and wind tore through the half-completed building, causing Emiya and Maiya to run before the girders landed on them. As the Dragon flew after Lancer, Maiya had only one thing to say.
"I hate that Servant."
(10:40am, High above Fuyuki City)
Lancer laughed and whooped as they flew through the air on Bahamut. It felt great to fly again, just like when she was with the others. Her master was clutching onto his seat so tightly his fingers were creaking.
Only minutes ago, a fire broke out in one of the lower floors. Kayneth said it was most likely another master, drawing away civilians so as to fight them directly. He went on and on about how the entire floor was filled to the brim with the best defences he could manage. Honestly it got boring really fast. Lancer had pulled out Bahamut's crystal just in case things got hairy.
And it was a good thing she did, as the entire hotel started tilting like they were on the back of an Adamantoise. As Kayneth cried out in alarm, she was already grabbing him and jumping out the window. She invoked Bahamut, before the three of them soared away. Looking back at the hotel, she saw it fall into itself. Whoever did this really wanted to avoid civilian casualties.
"Bad luck for you mate. If you blew it up with everyone in it, we might've died in there."
"Lancer!" Kayneth had gotten his voice back, much to her annoyance. "I arranged another safe location in case we were forced to run. Fly over the river and head near an abandoned warehouse."
"Yeah, yeah. We're going." Lancer sighed. She was about to ask if Sola knew about it, when Bahamut roared and twisted. Kayneth screamed while Lancer held on tightly. A massive icy blast flew past them, causing snow to fall and ice to form on them. If they hadn't moved when they had, they'd have been a massive hail-stone. Bahamut gave a twitch, and all the ice broke off. Kayneth got thrown up too, screaming as he landed in his seat. Ignoring him, Lancer looked down at where the blast came from. She was surprised to see Saber again, crouching on the head of a massive undead dragon. A whirlwind surrounded it, keeping the civilians from seeing them, but it looked ready to fire again.
Looks like Saber's got a pet." She shouted to her master as Bahamut pulled away. Kayneth looked over the edge and got even paler at the sight.
"A Dracolich?" He asked, his voice high pitched. "That's supposed to be impossible!"
"Says the man riding a metal dragon." Lancer shot back. "It doesn't seem as manoeuvrable as Bahamut. Time to take down a Saber." She tapped Bahamut on the back, getting him to fly above the clouds.
Saber watched as they flew higher. He smiled. Lancer was clearly accepting his challenge. By following he would have a chance to fix his master's mistake.
"Sindragosa." He commanded his dragon, who was once consort of the Blueflight. "Follow." The whirlwind rose up to meet the clouds as the two servants prepared to duel.
And we have another awesome fight. Caster may seem over-powered by some, but he's like a sledgehammer. Archer on the other hand, has more than enough tricks to deal with any problem. If Caster didn't have a healing herb, he might've died right then.
Next time on Fate of The Strong, witness a real dragon fight. Who will come out on top?
Archer
Name: Ratchet
Series: Ratchet and Clank
Master: Tokiomi Tohsaka
Alignment: Neutral Good
Strength: B
Endurance: A
Agility: A
Magical Power: N/A
Good Luck: B
Noble Phantasm: A+++
Class Skills:
Independent Action (A)
Independent Action is the ability to remain independent even when rejecting the prana supply from the Master. At the higher ranks, it is also possible to remain for extended periods of time in this world without an established contract. It is both useful and troublesome depending on the disposition of the Servant and the rank of Independent Action. Acting in autonomy from the Master's prana supply, the Master can concentrate their own prana on large spells, or the Servant will be fine even in the case they cannot supply prana due to injury. The downside is that they can be harder to control and keep by their side, making the only true way to command them by utilizing Command Spells. At this level can remain in this world for a week even after losing his Master. However, to use Noble Phantasms of great prana consumption, back up from the Master is necessary.
Ratchet has always been near self-dependant, dealing with large groups of enemies on his own without backup.
Item Construction (B)
Item Construction is the skill to manufacture items. Archer can manufacture items of impressive technological power with the aid of Clank.
As a Lombax, Ratchet has impressive skill with constructing highly advanced items, having built a working hover-bike, an antimatter bathroom buddy and even 'stunderwear'.
Personal Skills:
Battle Continuation (B)
Battle Continuation is the strength of vitality for predicaments. Also, the ability to withdraw from combat and reach allied territory alive after being defeated. At this level Archer can fight for longer than usual, but if he runs out of nanotech he will die.
Due to nanotech advancements, Ratchet has been able to survive things that would kill lesser people. As long as he has nanotech, he can heal all injuries.
Bravery (C)
Bravery is the ability to negate mental interference such as pressure, confusion and fascination. Not usable under the effects of Mad Enhancement. At this rank Archer can ignore mental interference for a while, though continued use will overpower him.
Ratchet has been brave enough to have confronted enemies far larger and stronger than him multiple times.
Clairvoyance (C)
Clairvoyance connotes superior visual perception and dynamic occipital capture, such as to supplement the long-range aiming of projectile weapons. At higher ranks, it is possible that the bearers of this skill have acquired such abilities as precognition ("future vision") and other forms of perception beyond standard eyesight (X-ray vision and so forth). At this rank Archer is capable of keeping track of fast-moving object within a range of 4kms.
Due to training with weapons, Ratchet has become able to hit distant enemies with ease.
Disengage (C)
Disengage is the ability to break away from combat. Bonus effect of returning battle conditions to what they were at the beginning of the match.
During his fights, Ratchet has sometimes been forced into a 'deja-vu' effect, as if he died and restarted the entire fight. Due to this, all ammo and health are restored, though he has acquired more bolts than he originally had.
Uncrowned Arms Mastership
Uncrowned Arms Mastership is arms competency that was not recognized by others due various reasons. To the opponents, the rank of Ratchet's weapons appears to be one degree lower than what it actually is. If his true name is revealed, this effect will be terminated.
All the enemies Ratchet has fought failed to understand the sheer destructive power he has because of his small stature. As such, they do not notice his firepower until they are struck by it.
Noble Phantasms:
Tools of Destruction (Anti-Unit to Anti- Fortress)
Ratchet summons every weapon he has used in battle against his enemy. This can include pistols, rifles, grenades, rockets, transmorgifiers, shields, robots, other strange weapons, and WMDs.
Over the course of his adventures, Ratchet has bought, earned and sometimes even built a wide range of weapons with different features. As they are all part of his legend, he can summon any of them at will. However, if they run out of ammo, he can't use that weapon until the next fight.
Keeper of Time
Ratchet's long-time ally and best friend, Clank is always with him and providing Intel. Needed to use Grummelnet and War-bot 2.0. Can become larger to fight alongside Ratchet.
Ratchet's long-time friend, these two first met fighting against Chairman Drek. They have been through all kinds of adventures, and are willing to die defending each other.
Grummelnet
Once per battle, Clank can refill Ratchet's nanotech and ammo.
Due to the lack of nano-crates and ammo stores, Clank is able to replicate their effects during a fight. Fleeing the fight for any reason will allow him to reload and heal Ratchet again.
War-bot 2.0 (Anti-group/Anti-Army)
Clank utilizes enlargement technology, becoming a 50 metre tall heavily armed war machine.
While on Clank's home world, Quartu, They discovered a machine that granted Clank an Ultra-Mech form. He became larger and more heavily armed, able to destroy a small fleet or planet.