Chapter 4:
XxXxX
If Arturia Pendragon, Servant Saber of the current Holy Grail War, could describe her current situation in just one word, she would probably say 'odd'.
Her Master…he wasn't the man she would have prefered for this battle. Instead of facing the competition head-on like she would have done, prefered the use of subfurtage. He was the type of man that would strike from the shadows and let the blame fall onto someone else.
To be fair, it wasn't his fault entirely, it just happened that his talents so vastly differed from her own tastes. If Arturia considered it from a pragmatic point of view, she concluded that perhaps Sir Aggravain would have been a better match-up for the man known by the moniker of 'Magus Killer'.
"Although…" Saber gave a side-glance at the woman that was leading her with a bright smile on her face. "Perhaps it was good fortune that the Summoning Ritual called me instead."
As much as Saber was grateful for having Sir Aggravain at her side all those years ago, even she would admit that the man had a problem regarding women, caused in no small amount by her witch of a sister.
As the saying goes, she should count her blessings.
CLANK
CRASH!
Irisviel let out a gasp as the sounds of battle intensified considerably. It wasn't only because they were getting close to the site of the battle, the battle itself seemed to grow more serious.
"Irisviel," Saber said in almost a whisper, catching the attention of the albino woman. "If things were to get too out of hand, we must run. Mighty as I am, I do not wish to try my luck on combating two Servants while protecting you at the same time," it hurt her pride to admit it, but it was the harsh truth.
Not to mention, her Master couldn't possibly be the only contestant in this conflict that used sneak tactics.
Irisviel pouted, pouted hard at Saber, making the blonde woman for a second wanting to retract her statement. But, being used to the shenanigans of Merlin for so long, she has come to develop some immunity towards childish acts.
Her face remained stoic long enough for Irisviel to give up and instead adopt a small smile.
"If that's your opinion," she relented, before turning on the last metal container.
BOOM!
"Eeep!" Irisiviel held Saber for dear life, a somewhat comedic sight considering the size difference between the two women.
But Saber didn't pay attention to that, her sight was set into the two Servants fighting at these docks.
One was a handsome looking man, showing a great degree of martial talent by fighting with two spears at the same time. He twirled both weapons trying to deflect the volley of projectiles being shooted at him.
The shooter in question was a young woman, even shorter than Saber herself. She used a golden bow from which she launched her arrows with such precision and skill that even her Sir Tristan would have a hard time matching.
Their weaponry gave away their Classes easily enough. The man was Lancer, while the woman was Archer.
The location made things even for both of them. The flat terrain free of containers gave Lancer ample room to maneuver his spears and use his own speed to evade. While the metal containers that littered the docks gave Archer some good vantage points from which to shoot.
They seemed to be tied, but Saber could recognize that Lancer's stamina was deploying rapidly, his movements were becoming a bit more clumsy for each bolt he parried; while Archer looked as fresh as she could be.
But there was something else happening here, Saber noticed. Archer's arrows, they weren't normal. Some of them seemed to multiply, others defying the laws of physics and twisting mid-air at impossible angles.
The more and more Saber looked at this battle, she couldn't help but compare the landscape of shipping containers to the maw of a beast slowly closing in on their prey.
"What are you doing, Lancer?!"
A voice screeched from somewhere in the docks. Saber couldn't properly locate the owner of it by sight alone, which meant that he was hiding behind an illusion of some sort.
Not for a single moment did Lancer take his eyes away from Archer, but he was still capable of responding. "My Lord, I apologize for such a sorry sight! I know that there are no excuses except my own shortcomings, but it seems that Archer, in this battlefield no less, has the upper hand against me! This may not be the result you expected, but there is still time to cut our losses before it is too late! I am begging you, let us retire for tonight! I will do everything in my power to set this slight against you straight, but I simply cannot do it tonight!"
"..."
There was a tense pause in the air, and even Archer for some odd reason stopped her assault upon the spearman. She even had the gall to wave at Saber and Irisviel's direction! But she let them be for the moment.
In the blink of an eye, Lancer entered astral form, indicating the verdict of his Master.
A pregnant silence presented itself at the docks. Now it was time for Archer to have all her focus on the duo. At this, Saber tensed. Archer still held her vantage point, and although Saber did have some long-range techniques, it wasn't an ideal situation for her. That's why, it was a relief for Saber when she watched Archer dissolve her bow in motes of light.
The Servant of the Bow jumped from her platform, her landing silent and agile as a cat. She didn't take any step towards them, but her presence was still intimidating. She was just looking at them.
Saber was going to take her as a mute until she finally spoke.
"That hair color, those eyes, you must be the Einzbern representative," she spoke directly to Irisviel in a cold tone of voice. "And you," she studied Saber for a moment, before speaking once more. "You hold yourself as a knight, and considering that I just fought Lancer, that must make you Saber," her expression changed to a coy smile before Saber tried to dissuade her. "Don't try to fool me, I had met with Rider already, you look too sane for a Berserker, and neither Assassin or Caster would have presented themselves on the battlefield like you," her gaze unfocused for a moment, before she directed them a full-toothed grin. "You are in luck tonight, my beloved has ordered me to retire for tonight," there was a dark glint in her eyes now, something disturbing. "We shall meet again, Saber."
Like a ghost, she banished without leaving a trace of her presence. The only evidence that something did happen there were the signs of battle, but only they remained.
"Let us go, Irisviel," Saber was still looking at the spot Archer previously occupied. This was over.
XXX
BROOMM!
Irisviel loved driving, Saber noticed.
BROOMMM! SCREECHHHH!
She just loved driving a tad too much.
They were driving by the mountainside, their vehicle having long since earned Saber's respect regarding its performance and durability. After all, how many cars could boast being able to jump over road barriers, land on the lower highway, and still be able to drive.
"Of all the toys that Kiritsugu has given me over the years, this one is my favorite!" Irisviel exclaimed, turning to look at Saber with a smile on her face and disregarding the road ahead.
"A toy…you say?" Saber tried to ask in a calm tone of voice, a desire of strangling her Master growing inside her.
Their good-natured talk would have continued, had Saber's senses not told her beforehand.
"Irisviel!" the Servant exclaimed, taking both the wheel and pushing the brakes with all her might.
The tires were screeching like crazy by the effort, and Saber had to turn the wheel to stop their momentum. But they managed to stop…just before the still form of a black giant.
Saber was quick to get out of the car, having ordered Irisiviel to stay behind. She didn't even bother with pleasantries or anything of the like, she immediately changed into her armor and sword, and stood facing the clear Berserker. It was a wild guess to determine if it was capable of communication or not, and Saber wasn't going to run the risk with Irisviel so close.
Once Berserker clearly saw Saber's face, he bent backwards and let loose a monstrous howl to the sky.
"!"
It was a deafening sound, there was no doubt about that, but Saber wouldn't let herself be intimidated by the screams of a mere brute.
"Have it at thee!" she exclaimed on her part, before launching at Berserker.
CLASH!
CLANG!
SLAM!
After such a flurry of movements, Saber finally got a good look at the weapon Berserker summoned when she was mid-swing. It was a sword, one of unusual shape, but a sword nonetheless. The handle was just as long as the blade, but that wasn't a detriment for its wielder, on the contrary, it seemed to increase its deadliness by having more room for his two hands.
"Do it, Berserker!"
Saber's eyes widened, now noticing a hooded figure standing at the shadow of the Servant.
"!"
With incredible strength, Berserker sent Saber flying!
Saber rolled in the air a couple of times before being able to control her own trajectory, just in time to avoid crashing against the mountainside. Yet, she had to raise her sword to avoid being cleaved in half by Berserker's own.
CLANG!
It was on!
XXX
Irisviel had to roll out of the car on the risk of being impaled on her seat by a sword-like construct. For a moment, it reminded her of her own combat style, but that should have been impossible, only a Einzbern Homunculus should be capable of it.
Using strands of her own hair, Irisviel formed 2 hawks and 6 swords of her own, and sent them flying against this unknown assailant.
The constructs circled around their target, and when they were just about to rush at them, the figure pulled out a flask and throwed it in the air.
It exploded into a green mist that practically devoured her Familiars, giving the assailant a window to rush at Irisviel herself. Hand to hand combat wasn't Irisviel's fortress, so she made as many Familiars as she could manage in an attempt to overwhelm them.
It wasn't meant to be, however.
The hooded figure simply passed through her Familiars as if they were made of paper and managed to get her on a chokehold.
Irisviel gagged, trying with all her might to pry this person's hands off her. But it was useless, an inhuman strength held her in place, a small wound even opening on her neck caused by the figure's ring cutting into her flash.
Although most of their features were obscured by that hood of theirs, Irisviel saw the ghost of a smile before her world turned dark.
XXX
Saber's breathing was hard. Tried as she might, this hulking figure, despite being a Berserker, has proven her superior in martial talents. Every swipe of hers was countered perfectly, he didn't have any openings that she could realistically take advantage of, and even in the weaponry department he had the upper hand by the sheer length of his sword.
She was outmatched.
Then, suddenly, Berserker discarded his sword, replacing it instead with a silver chain with runes inscribed into it. She recognized some of those runes. They were similar to those that Vivian always carried on her clothes. Fair Folk runes.
She bristled at this new information.
Berserker, whoever they are, had connections to the Fair Folk like herself.
Seeing that it was useless at this point, Saber dispelled the wind charm that covered her sword. Berserker has been fighting her long enough to already have figured out its true length. It was just a waste on magical energy.
Like thunder, Berserker brandished his chain like a whip, towards her. Saber put her left arm in the way, the metal of her gauntlet heating at a rapid pace and making her flinch momentarily. Her flesh was burning.
Saber was expecting the rest of Berserker's attack, but it never came. He just let his chain burn her arm not even 3 seconds before he suddenly vanished.
Saber fell to her knees. This fight was bizarre from start to finish.
XXX
Artoria entered the recently bought Sweet Home with a satisfied smile on her face. It was fun to mess with Arturia, even if she herself hasn't realized it just yet. Berserker was following her like a ghost through the halls of the Sweet Home, that was okay for her. His loyalty towards herself was unquestionable.
She arrived at the kitchen, finding Rigo preparing himself a simple sandwich. He had a smile on his face, a true smile. Not one hiding nervousness or dread, it was radiating happiness. It made her happy herself, knowing that she helped him come to this point.
And it was just the beginning for them.
"I trust that your night has proven fruitful," Rigo spoke in a soft tone of voice that made Artoria feel like butterflies in her stomach.
"It was," Artoria spoke. "I Stamped Irisviel, while Lancelot got to take care of Arturia."
"With Arturia, I now have all the Servants that I was planning to Capture for this War," he took a bite out of his sandwich, before looking at Artoria straight to the eyes. "In three days time, we will end this war."
His tone was absolute. There was no room for argument, they were going to win this War, of that, Artoria was going to make sure of.
XxXxX
Spoiler: Captures and Purchases
Companions captured 69; sold 0 [97]
Europa(T7) from Nasuverse
Waver Velvet(T4) from Nasuverse
Risei Kotomine(T3) from Nasuverse
Home Perks
Sweet Home -10 [87]