Words Count: 4960
A/N: A/N: I need a new USB wifi adapter 'cause this one ain't working. The fucking Internet is so slow I'm waiting for to load for like fifty fucking minutes… On a side note, I had my best improv of my Life yesterday. What can I say? Keeping secrets for friends is hard Well, here's the Sequel. Hope you guys enjoy.
Here's my usual spiel:
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I must admit, when I finally got to meet the representative of House Whitlock- The same House responsible for the sacking and theft of Enkidu's Temple and its Relics- I had expected a bloody, hard-fought battle which would leave both sides in perils, but I was wrong. While the man was not overly-polite, he's leagues above than some of the uncultured swine back in the Tower.
Even better, he's not too subservient or emotional- something I could genuinely respect as a fellow man. "Tea, Mr. Magnum?"
"There's no need for that, I've brought my own." With the slightest twitch of my hand, a bottle filled to the brim with a thick, toxic-looking purple tonics- a chemical mixture I had invented two years ago with the help of a certain Sorceress to catapult my Stats-Growth. It's far less effective now that I was nearing the Limits of Rank: F, but until I could create a replacement recipe, it'd have to do. "So, I've heard from Wilson your House wish to propose a trade for Enkidu's Relic?"
A shattered piece of the Chain forged from Enkidu's body, buried next to the spot where its namesake had lost his life- it was more than enough to be a Catalyst for my Servant. I was hoping to get the guy as a Lancer, but I wasn't a picky fella– Although Berserker might prove difficult to command, with Gil spectating the Grail War, the odds of 'Mud Man' getting out of control were negligible.
Sure, Enkidu might abandon me halfway through the War to accompany Gil- Hell, the sentient Divine Construct might even do that as early as the beginning of the Grail War, but it's not something I cared all that much about. I was never banking on successfully summoning a powerful and/or useful Servant to rely on in any case- Not when I alone could perhaps solo any one Servant and emerge victorious.
Sure, it's most certainly going to be one Hell of a fight due to my lacking Stats in comparison to theirs,
Yes, I'd likely be badly hurt in the process
Still, with everything I had in my Arsenal, achieving victory was definitely well-within the realms of possibility. With or without a Servant, I was a threat to everyone in the War, but since I had Command Seals of my own, it'd reduce the number of Servants I needed to deal with.
Besides, this was a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity for personal growth. Everyone, and I meant everyone- the Servants included, always came out of a Holy War a changed person.
They're more mature, and less… Fanciful, I supposed? If the Harem Protagonist– Shirou Emiya himself was able to rival even Gil in the Visual Novel after a few measly fights, imagine what I could do with the Gamer? Granted, he did cheat by synchronizing with a version of his future-self, fortunately so was I- cheating I meant. Already, I had received a Quest related to the Grail War.
It's only one singular Quest, but did you know how long I had waited to get it?!
Fucking forever!
The stronger and more experienced I became, the harder it was for Quest to be created and assigned.
The last time I actually saw one was three years ago, and that's a measly Side Quest… The Rewards then had been five unallocated AP, which was fine, but compared to what a Chain Quest had to offer? It's simply pitiful. Do keep in mind that the list of possible Rewards also got expanded with each and every Level and Power-Ups I received. At my current state, with Stats in the Mid to Late of Rank F, a Quest wouldn't be created unless the situation proved to be an threat to my life.
Anything less and no Rewards for me, else I'd have been able to net far beyond six measly Levels in the past seven years. Well, I guessed this was consistent with how my Game worked, but that didn't mean I couldn't be upset about it. Had there ever been a Gamer who was as poor as I was? An entire decade and yet I was only in Lv20. It was so pitifully low, every time I looked at my Status Page, I felt the desire to bawl my eyes out…
Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the point stood.
My Game must be one of, if not the most restricting System straight up, and with every Level, it was only growing more and more unreasonable, not less. I was hoping the next Function-Unlock would even the playing-field, and I was right. The Rewards for winning the Holy Grail War were a whooping fifty AP, three Skill Orbs, Exp plus a new Function, and unlike the Map, this time it did tell me what the new Function would be: [Shop].
That's what it said, though if my understanding of those Transmigration stories were anything to go by, that Shop was going to be filled to the fucking brim with OP shits– From Spells, Traits to Racial Advantages and Skills which're likely unobtainable to the current me. "You're correct, I was indeed sent to make a trade with you. I see you have been chosen for that little Ritual of the East…"
He paused, licking his lips almost hungrily. "I'm sure you're still in search for a viable Catalyst, something we of House Whitlock can provide… For a price that is."
"Enough of all the games, what do you want for the Relic and where is it?" I said that, but my gaze had already shot towards the sealed case safely tucked on his seat and behind his back. Spatial-Awareness sweeping through the case, I smirked toothily. "Bold of you to bring it to the negotiation. Is your Master not afraid I would steal his Relic? Or does he actually think you can fend me off?"
[Tyrannical Charisma] and [Hell King's Engine] both made themselves known,
Beside those, [Future Tragedy] was amongst the Skills I used in negotiations the most, but there was no need for it… Not yet, at least. If they tried to rip me off, I was not above simply taking it here and now, unfortunately Whitlock was one of the few Houses with more allies in their corner than I could count, having sold a lot of ancient Artifacts to their peers for favors and resources.
I didn't want to antagonize them needlessly.
The representative laughed, waving off my Skills with practiced ease. It's surprising for sure, though not completely unexpected given his profession. If their representative was a coward, the House would undoubtedly incur loss after loss. "Of course not, Lord Magnum. Who hasn't heard of your name? The things you do to your enemies, neither my Master and I wish to experience it first hand. You've made quite a name for yourself in the Tower- an unshakeable reputation which we trust you'll live up to–"
I snorted. Reputation? If they really believed all those tales and rumors, they would not have sent just one man. "– It is said that you're cruel, vicious, lethal and at times… Barbaric in your approaches, but only if someone is testing your patience, which I can assure you won't happen today. House Whitlock hasn't survived for so long by upsetting a potential buyer."
"What do you want?" I questioned, leaning into my seat.
"We have calculated it, and the odds of you winning the War are overwhelmingly high. No other Master has the capacity for Magecraft or the experience to truly come out on top–" I put my finger up to stop his rant, glancing lazily at the man. "I'm not giving House Whitlock the Wish, I have needs for it."
"We aren't asking for that, Milord." Running a hand through his swept-back hair, the man quickly silenced my concerns. "We have no desire for the Holy Grail, what we want is your cooperation… As you might have guessed, our Magecraft is suitable for information-gathering and excursions to ancient sites, but these can get pretty dangerous every so often, even if most of the defensive measures in them have broken been rendered inept by the passage of time."
I tilted my head. "So you want a discount for my products?"
"A thirty-percent discount for all of them to be precise." Thirty-percent? Hmmm… That's not a lot, and at this point the Tech Companies I had previously invested had grown large enough to provide for me and mine perfectly even without the sales of my Potions. But, if House Whitlock used the discount to empty out my wares, it could cause a problem for me. "I can agree to that, on one condition: You Whitlock can not buy everything I have in stock, only 30% of it, similar to the discount."
I was expecting him to protest, to bargain- most Magi I knew would have- Yet contrary to my assumptions, he just accepted with a smile. "Your term is reasonable, but we also want an Alliance between our respective Houses."
Seriously, that's it? Wouldn't they be taking a huge loss? Sure, the fragment of the Chain was old and brittle, but it could always be re-forged into a newer, better Mystic Code. Plus, I was sure there were Houses who'd pay good money for it. As though he could see and hear my thoughts, the representative explained.
"It's never a loss to befriend a Powerhouse, Milord. My Master has observed your progress for the past eight years, and he believes you have the potential to become a second Lorelei- not just in strength, but influence and political prowess as well."
Ah! It made sense now.
Still, wasn't this a rather risky gamble on their part? I was about to get in a magical Death-Game, and while I did like my odds, I was a realist at heart, there was always the possibility that I might be the first Master to perish. "And what do the terms of this… Alliance entail?"
"Nothing much, just a defensive and non-aggression pact. We're willing to sell you any Relic we might find at a discounted prices, we're only asking you to shield us should the need ever arise." Holy Shit, this was a fucking steal for me no matter how I looked at it. House Whitlock had so few enemies and so many friends that I might go through life without ever needing to step in! "Deal."
Offering my hand, we shook on it as he pulled out a Geas. "Cheer to a long-lasting Alliance then, Lord Magnum."
"To a long-lasting Alliance." Raising my bottle, I chugged down the disgusting tonic once I had read the terms thoroughly to ensure no hidden clause was put. Only after did I sign the Geas. "Here, this is my personal Crest, bring it to my stalls, give it to the cashier and you'll get your thirty-percent discount."
I slid the Crest to the representative and telekinetically grabbed the case. "It's been a real pleasure doing business with you. I was honestly expecting a fight or something… It's good things didn't come to that."
"It's been a pleasure for myself as well." He said politely, then pushed a slip of paper to me. A glance told me what it was- his card. "Sadly, my Master is not a very sociable person. Some might say an introvert, so you'll have to reach him through me. If you ever have needs of our services, my number is on my business card."
Touching my chin, I summoned a Gem of mine- the ones which allowed people to communicate through Universes even. "Here, we'll be able to keep in contact easier if you use this…"
He did not take the Mystic Code, rejecting with an awkward smile. "I- I'm sorry, but–"
"Ah-You're afraid I'll be able to trace it?"
He nodded cautiously. A valid concern- I wouldn't have taken it if I were in his shoes either. Not to mention, he's right… The Gems had indeed been bugged ages ago- another measure by me to keep the girls safe while I was away. Granted, I hadn't been able to check on them as much as I'd have liked, but once every four days didn't affect my schedule that much. "Well, I guess I'll contact you though the phones then."
'Phones are even more traceable.' I thought smugly. "We'll talk soon."
Giving him a slow nod, I blended into the moving crowd and disappeared. The meeting had been an eye-opening for sure, but now I needed to summon my Servant.
Let's just hope the slot for Lancer hadn't been taken yet.
— [Fate: DML] —
"Tohsaka-san, I've been meaning to ask, but why is your… Servant–" Licking her lips as if she couldn't quite understand the meaning of the word, Shiro continued. "– Perched atop my roof again?"
Wearily, Shiro inquired as she put down the utensils while her adorable kouhai made the table. The older Tohsaka, who was clearly as confused as the redheaded Heroine herself was, could only shrug awkwardly in response. "I- I'm not sure. Maybe he likes the fresh air up there? I've heard Hell isn't exactly the coolest of places at this time of the year."
No one had any idea why, but after getting to meet Shiro, Archer had had a full-blown mental breakdown since.
"Yes Rin! BECAUSE LIKE EVERY OTHER QUESTION, THE CORRECT ANSWER IS OBVIOUSLY: I AM SATAN!" Archer's gruff voice resounded throughout the entire building. "Oy! Grumpy Lucy, either you come down or stop listening in our conversations like a creep, idiot!"
"I'm not coming down until that- that thing leaves!" It's obvious to everyone who the Archer clad in red was referring to. While Shiro herself might not take any offence, the same could not be said for Sakura and Taiga, from the corner of her eyes, Rin could see those two stiffening up in anger- even her younger sister, who's usually a kind and gentle Soul. "Lucy… You're being rude! Shiro has graciously agreed to host us, be polite to her!"
Stubbornly, the Servant shouted. "I'll stay up here then!"
"That's an Order!"
"Screw you and your Order, Rin!"
"Well, I tried?" Three pairs of differently-colored eyes snapped towards Rin as she sat. "Just let him do what he wants. He's Satan, if God can't control him, I don't think I can."
"For the last time: I. AM. NOT. LUCIFER!"
Waving off his exclamation, Rin smugly pointed her nose upwards. "Don't be silly, Archer. Who else would you be if not the formerly brightest Angel?"
"I don't know, Rin. Maybe an unfortunately amnesiac human Heroic Spirit like the rest of the Servants probably are?" So angry was the tanned Archer that his voice picked up several pitches higher than usual. "How did he get here anyway? I thought the Grail War takes place every half a century? That's what Leo said, did he not?"
Visibly confused by the turn of events, Taiga asked.
Out of everyone, the Tigress of Fuyuki was likely amongst those with the most changes, appearance-wise: Her hair had been cut short, framing her face. Gone were her casual outfits, instead in their place was a clearly expensive suit, reinforced and magically enchanted to enhance her combat-prowess.
"That's the thing–" Sighing, Rin rested her elbows on her crossed legs. "– We don't really know… Logically, the Holy Grail War needs at least fifty years to charge up, but here we are. This has never happened before. Granted, only four Wars have been fought so it's not like we have a lot of references to compare this War with."
"Have you guys contacted Leo then? Maybe he will have an idea as to what's going on?" It was a valid point Taiga had brought up, yet none of the girls present wish to bring him in this mess. Some were guilty, not wanting to cause trouble the boy who's their mutual friend. Though most were just upset at him for disappearing nearly a decade ago without so much as a warning or even a postcard explaining where he was. Yes, he did send gifts back once in a blue moon, but neither Shiro, Sakura or Rin was the type to be so easily bought.
Not to mention, since Leonis disappeared seven years ago, none of the girls had been able to call him- not through his Gems and certainly not through the phones.
While the girls were deep in their thoughts each, Archer was thinking deeply on the matter- or more precisely, he's thinking about the name Leo. It was familiar to him, that name. It's like an itch he couldn't quite scratch, bubbling to the forefront of his mind- desperate for attention, yet refusing to make itself known. "Leo… Leo. Where have I heard that name before?"
He repeated, as though that'd do him any good and- surprisingly enough- it did. "Leona? Leona Magnum?"
A flash of memories appeared to Archer- a girl who's much, much shorter than him with hair darker than a bottomless abyss- a girl who was foul-mouthed, angry and–! Immediately, Archer fell to his knees, clutching his face in agony as a stabbing sensation jabbed at the crown of his head. "What the–?!"
That's when he felt- or rather saw it, a snow white glint shinning through the deep curtain of darkness of the night. Instantly, Archer sprung to actions, screaming to notify the girls. "Rin! We're under attack, take cover!"
From afar, a bullet was shot, aimed directly at the Emiya Residence and in but moments, half the structure was utterly annihilated. Although he's worried, Archer couldn't afford to avert his eyes from the enemy- a man in a snow white cowl- a rather eye-catching outfit for a sniper. Bow and arrows readied, Archer silently took aim, trusting his Master and the other four girls to know to flee to safety.
"Wha- What's going on?!"
"No time for question, Taiga-nee! We need to leave now!" Shiro, ever the dependable young woman that she was, scolded as she pulled the angry Tigress away. To her credits, Taiga was not at all afraid of the attack, but more upset that dinner, which she hadn't even put a finger on, had been ruined.
One…
Two…
Three…
Arrows and bullets met, shattering in a brilliant, flashy show- like firework atop Fuyuki City. Glancing back, Archer made a decision and leapt towards the girls. Whoever the attacking Servant was, they're obviously very proficient with guns, and judging from the spotless white cowl on their back, Archer already had an idea of their identity, and fighting the White Death- Simo Häyhä while simultaneously protecting the girls simply wasn't plausible. The fact that Simo hadn't taken them all out was a miracle in and of itself.
Archer doubted there'd be a second time.
Grabbing the girls by the scruffs of their necks, the tanned Servant launched himself up in the air, weaving past trees and objects. Thankfully, the Emiya Residence was situated in front of a thick forestation, and having lived here all his life, Archer could navigate it quite easily even with his newfound amnesia making Archer's memories a faded mess.
These obstacles should hopefully render the White Death unable to locate them…
"Well, that sure escalated quickly." The tanned Servant was instantly proven wrong when a bullet swerved past his head, destroying the tree next to them. "I- What?! Who was that? Is it Assassin?!"
"No–!" With a rough tug, Archer threw the girls behind a rock, grimacing slightly as he felt a bullet entering his shoulder and exiting through the other side. "– No Assassin can shoot so accurately from such a distance… My guess is Archer."
"I- What?! But aren't you Archer? If the Class is occupied, how can someone else have it?!"
"I'm not- I'm not sure actually." Pale, Archer rested his back against the rock. Rather than asking such useless questions, Shiro asked. "Can you, I don't know, out-archer him?"
Annoyance visibly flared up in Archer, but given their current situation, there was no point in quarrelling when they had greater enemies to fight. "I can, under the right circumstances… Unfortunately, he has a clear advantage on me- the advantage of the high ground and I don't, which should be more than enough to make a difference for the White Death."
"What if I can give you a clear shot?" Archer narrowed his eyes at that, alongside the other girls as they made to protest. "Absolutely not, Shiro!"
"You can't senpai!"
"Taiga and Sakura are right… It's suicide to even attempt it. Simo Häyhä is not someone who misses often. That first shot was just to give him a clear view of us." Archer shook, not sure how to feel about his- about the younger girl. He wouldn't cry if she dropped dead right here and now, but at the same time… "He uses old rifle and the bullets are big enough for me to cut through them–"
"""NO!""" Three voices echoed in unison.
"It's either this or we all die here, what will it be?!" The amber-eyed Heroine glared as she summoned her falchions, eliciting an enraged cry from the tanned Servant. "Oh-You've got to be fucking kidding me?! This is just ridiculous! Where did you even get those?!"
"The- These?" Blinking owlishly, Shiro raised her blades. "Yes!"
"Leo-senpai gifted them to me…? Why?"
"I- Argh- Fuck it… What are the odds of your survival?"
"High enough?" Again, she gave a question instead of a statement. "Archer, I said NO!"
"Do you guys have a better idea?" The girls all shook. "Then shut up and let us get our asses out of this mess!"
"Shiro, you don't have to do this!"
With a gentle smile on her lips, Shiro replied. "Yes, yes I do. While Archer and I are dealing with this, you three are to run as quickly and as far as you can, understood?"
"Dammit…"
Brimming with tears, the three girls could only allow the amber-eyed Heroine to draw get the heat off of them.
"Don't you dare die! I swear I'll dig up your grave and desecrate your corpse if you do!" Threateningly, Rin shouted, though her words held as much weight behind them as an Asian father's promise to give their kids a PS5 for the holidays. "And Archer, protect her at the cost of your own life. If there's even a scratch on her, even Hell itself won't be able to compare with what I'll do to you!"
"Got it." Archer lazily raised a thumbs-up.
Another shot shattered parts of the boulder, the broken fragments of the bullets nearly injuring the girls.
"Let's get this over with then."
— [Fate: DML] —
Did you know 3AM was the perfect time to summon a Servant? In many cultures, 3AM was known as the 'the hour of Spirits'- or'the hour of the Dead', which was why instead of resting, I was down in this dingy basement in the first place. The Summoning Circle had been carved into the floor years ago, and with the assistance of Magecraft, keeping the Circle in pristine condition was a fairly easy thing to do.
With a beckon of mine, a bottle containing mercury dropped into my hand. Carelessly, I poured the liquid into the carved lines, smiling. "It's done… Now what was the Incantation again? Ah-Right! Let silver and steel be the essence,
Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation.
Let rise a wall against the wind that shall fall.
Let the four cardinal gates close.
Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate."
Blades of wind flared to life as everything in the basement was destroyed, yet I was calm as ever. "Let it be declared now; your flesh shall serve under me,
And my fate shall be determined by your Sword–"
I could see him, hear him. 'Enkidu, I'm offering you the chance to reunite with your one and only friend, so please- please answer.'
"Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail.
Answer, if you would submit to my will and my truth." Motes of light began to converge as I poured more and more Mana into the Circle. 'She doesn't show it, but I know Gil misses you. At least- At least give her this opportunity for closure.'
I didn't like Enkidu, it's the truth.
The Queen of Heroes loved him far too much, even if she hadn't realized it, and I was not one to share with someone else.
I did not like him, but…
Suddenly, memories of Gil who seemed so utterly alone came to my mind. "I hereby swear an oath to you:
I shall attain all the virtues of the Heavens,
I shall have dominion over all evils of Hell–"
'Not sure about the first, but the second oath is pretty spot on.' Angra joked. I didn't deign him with a response, instead focusing even more on the Ritual.
I could see his outline now, just a bit more and I shall have Servant Enkidu.
"From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power,
Come forth from the ring of restraint, protector of the holy balance!"
"Servant Lancer, Enkidu. I've answered your call, please use me as mercilessly as you see fit, Master." Dressed in spotless white robe, hair colored green and eyes a surprisingly soft grey, Enkidu- the eternal rival and friend of the one and only Gilgamesh- now stood before me. Well, 'stood' wasn't correct since he was kneeling, but you get the idea. "Wel7come back to the World of the Living, Enkidu…"
Since I- or rather he had never paid much attention to Enkidu, even during his time playing Grand Order, I was clueless about my Servant's character. I expected a lot of things, but a gentle feminine voice, coupled with graceful movements was definitely not one of those things. "Please, there's no need for you to be courteous with me, Master. I'm but the broken weapon of the Gods, you can treat me as such."
"Hmmm…" I gave him a quick look, from head to toes and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank Gods I succeeded. I thought I'd summon Ishtar and the likes with my shitty Luck."
Immediately, there was a reaction at the name. A nigh unnoticeable twitch of his hands when Enkidu heard the name. "So… I've heard you are genderless. Which do you prefer? She or he?"
"Whatever suits your design most will suffice, Master." Christ… Bro, could you be any more indecisive? "I have no need for a being who fail to think for themselves, so consider this my first Order as your Master, pick the pronouns to your liking quickly, Lancer."
"Ah-I suppose he/him will suffice? My friend used to call me that."
I raised a brow at that. "Was that a question or a statement?"
"A statement, Master." Enkidu said softly. Fuck, I couldn't even hate the guy. He's too… I don't know how to put it, gentle? Demure?! What the fuck was this?! "Alright, he/him it is then. I will bring you to get some clothes for the duration of your stay. Can't have you wearing that eye-catching robe everywhere."
Hearing my words, Lancer's entire being shifted into his Astral Form. "I can stay in this form just fine, Master. There's no need to–"
"I'll get you clothes and that's final!" I rolled my eyes. "I don't want Gil thinking I'm abusing her friend."
"Gil… Gilgamesh? She's here?"
"Yes, she has been resurrected a decade ago. Last I heard, she's still travelling the World, though I expect her to return when the Grail War officially starts. Why? Wanna run back to her already?" I was not ashamed to admit there was a tiny, teeny bit of jealousy in my tone. "Will we meet her in battles, Master?"
Translation: Was Gil involved in the Holy Grail War?
"No, she's merely spectating." I had little doubt I'd meet the Golden Queen in combat, but that was more of a personal matter than something related to the War. "C'mon, let's set out, we're-"
"Master, just a second. Are you aware you're being followed by an ancient Spirit?" Ancient Spirit? What Ancient S– Oh-He meant Angra, didn't he? "I'm aware, Angra will stay with us until the War ends. I've made a Deal with him, he won't harm us."
'Not like I can in the first place… As a collective, we're powerful but an individual Martyr is pretty much powerless.' Hearing my words, the green-haired Lancer released a muted sigh. "My apology,…?"
'Angra Mainyu. You can call me Angra, but do not use Mainyu. It sounds stupid.'
"Roger."
"If you two are done, we must–" I never got the chance to finish my sentence. Every Mystic Code I had ever created had a connection with me, especially the girls' since I'd want to know should they come under attack. Some might call it a rude invasion of their privacy, but in my humble opinions, privacy meant jack shit if they were hurt, or worse. What I just felt was the bracelet I had given Sakura for that Chirstmas Night seven years ago, which was odd.
I had expected Shiro, Gil or even Taiga to get in fights, but Sakura was not a combatant- not unless we're on route to Heaven's Feel, which could only mean one thing. "Goddamnit… How combat-ready are you, Lancer? Something just came up."
"I'm your weapon, wield me as you please, Master."
"Good."
I muttered, grabbing him by the shoulder. "Let's hurry then."
We disappeared in a flash of cyan particles, our destination? Fuyuki City.
'It's about time we return.'