Crane at the Fuyuki Docks
Unbeknownst to the other Servants, Assassin was spying on the situation, reporting everything that was happening to his Master, who in turn reported everything to his teacher. And what he saw right now was definitely something not good.
Ah, Hueston! We've got a problem. Goldilock is losing his marbles.
Kirei, on the other side of their connection, stood guard.
Elaborate.
He is opening hundreds of his portals right now. It is almost as bright as day.
Now, this made Kirei very nervous.
What caused him to do this?
Well, this Berserker eats one of his portals, so yeah, situation is very bad.
...What?
Berserker did what?
He ate Gate of Babylon.
Okay, they really did have a problem.
Send one of your clones to locate Berserker's Master; if the situation worsens, do what you must.
Assassin replied.
No problem.
With that, Kirei turned his gaze towards the communicator. "The situation is serious."
Fuyuki Docks (At the same time)
The servants and masters alike were gulping at what they saw before them.
Firstly, because of the Berserker. What he did puts almost every, if not all, Heroic Spirit in danger. Noble Phantasms are crystallizations of the historical facts and anecdotes about them. In a sense, they are proof of their existence. For someone to casually consume them is insane.
Second is Archer. Each weapon he carries through his portals are considered individual, unique Noble Phantasms. And just how many of them are showing up is just unbelievable. Even now it's hard to take in all this information.
And if they are going to fight, no matter who will be the winner, the bystanders nearby will not be safe.
The Rider's Master was the first to speak. "Rider! We need to—!" Before he could finish, the fight between the two Servants, as if waiting for a command, began.
Archer was the first one to attack, jumping to the sea, creating a distance, while also summoning a plane-like Noble Phantasm, flying high into the air and shooting spears, swords, axes, and everything else at Berserker. It looked like rain as the light from all the golden rings were obscured by the shower of weapons. Berserker, in response, jumped. Not away or back, but right at Archer, completely ignoring this 'rain'. The jump itself destroyed the ground where he was standing, creating a cloud of dust and rocks.
As the weapons got closer to him, he with inhuman speed and dexterity, used one of the projectiles as a platform and jumped from it to the other, moving through the gaps between, avoiding shots and getting closer to Archer. Golden Servant, seeing this act, while the cloaked one was in mid-air, opened more portals underneath and above, creating a trap of non-stop weapons. For the witnesses, this looked like a completely unescapable situation. The next moment, an explosion happened right in the middle of the trap, creating a big cloud, preventing anyone from seeing anything. It could be assumed that it happened because of the projectiles. Truth, of course, is different.
As soon as the cloud appeared, Berserker leapt out of it, completely unscathed, and moved closer to Archer. The golden Servant, seated upon its airborne throne, narrowly evaded Berserker's outstretched arm. Archer gazed at where Berserker currently stood.
"So, the beast decided to show its claws." His appearance has changed. He now got a pair of wings, claws instead of arms and sides of his face covered in black, round, scales, which, in turn, are decorated by spiraling, blue markings. Like a Dragon. "The King decided to give you permission to entertain him further as jester. Be grateful, mongrel."
Berserker then looked at Archer and laughed. "Kuhaahaahaha!" he laughed. He laughed as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. "Since when did the King of Dragons need permission from the Human King?"
Fuyuki Docks (What left of it)
The witnesses, who were occasionally distracted by the Servants' movements, were still looking at the situation with unease. However, they at least gained some useful information regarding the Berserker. He isn't a normal servant; he is a dragon. Most of them saw it, but Saber, who could not see due to her blood and soul being consumed, felt it. And the more she felt, the more fear clung to her heart. As much as she hated to admit it, if she clashed with him now, she would not win. In contrast, Lancer was delighted. Not only did he get to watch a fight between two legendary heroes, but one of those heroes was an actual dragon. And, unlike Saber, he felt excitement. The third Servant, Rider, carefully analyzed not only the two combatants but also Saber and Lancer themselves and their reactions. Considering Berserker's actions, he does not seem to care about humans, so it is unlikely for him to join his army. Assassin, who was reporting, was very cautious. If everything goes according to his plan, then his Master likely agrees with it.
Now, whatever Servants felt right now, their Masters felt much worse. Saber's Master, who was hiding from everyone's eyes, made an even bigger distance between himself and the center of today's action. He was doing it since the moment he got blinded on one eye by Lancer's Noble Phantasm. His assistant, Maya, got luckier. She blinked at that moment so her sight was ok. She, by Kiritsugu's order, was currently trying to find Berserker's Master. If that person can order such a beast, then he is the most dangerous out of all Masters.
Lancer's Master, since Archer and Berserker changed their fighting place, immidietluly rushed to leave the crane where he was hiding. And he got lucky. 10 seconds after he left his spot, it got completely oblitirated by Archer's projectiles. Right now, he was making new Bounded Field to protect himself since there is a chance that other Masters now could find him. Iriasviel, who right now was very close to Saber, tried to concentrate on the situation. She looked at Saber from behind and understood that Saber right now was unease. So she cast a minor spell to try to make her feel better. And out of all of them, Rider's Master, Waver Velvet, was scared to his toes. He, dragged by his Servant to the epicenter of this mayhem, was not hidingly shaking and pulling his Servant's cape.
"RIDER! We need to—!" And again, young Waver was interupted by two floating Servants.
Back to Sea
This time, it was Berserker initiative.
He didn't get closer to Archer. Instead, he opened his jaw. While he was at it, Archer opened another hundred of gates, but something unexpected happened.
What the—?!
The portals that were near Archer himself were sucked towards Berserker the moment they appeared, as if he was a void of magic. In an instant, a giant ray of magic was shot from it towards Golden Servant. Said man, without bother, piloted his Vimana, barely, as if intentionely, dodging an attack that could have ended him less than second ago while looking with his one eye.
"Are you trying to bore me, Jester?" Archer spoke with a voice full of bore, jest, and mockery. "If this jester decides to make this night boring, then the only verdict for him is—!" Archer couldn't finish his sentence. Not because he couldn't speak, but because of the sea where Berserker's attack got hitten by exploding. A massive blast of magical energy under, almost with the same power as Berserker's Roar, was coming to Archer with an incredible speed. He managed to dodge it as well, albeit his face says that for a moment, he was caught surprised. Which was enough for Berserker. He flew towards Archer at incredible speed. In less than two seconds, his arm was within inches of his torso. But it didn't move. With a thrust, spears pearced his arm, wings and other limbs, nailing him to Archer's plane.
Dragon-Slaying weapons?!
Berserker honestly didn't expect Archer to have this kind of weapon. He also didn't sense magic from these portals near all. Berserker raised his head in the direction where this weapon had been shot. He looked at the clouds and saw a little golden glimpse in the sea of stars. Archer opened them the moment he figured out that using Noble Phantasm near him would be automatically consumed. So he opened tgem out of Berserker's reach. He knew what Berserker was going to do. All of that was a trap.
"Did you think it was so easy to touch the King and take him by surprise? Your mind must be many times more primitive than that of an insect, jester!" With these words, hundred gates were opened, directing the treasures at the nailed Servant. The moment their tips were seen, Berserker looked at Archer, with a mix of surprise and determination... and fun. The moment treasure's end was shown, Berserker looked down with opened mouth. The moment they passes more than half of a distance—
BOOM
Berserker exploded himself, enveloping himself and Archer in purple-white colored explosion of pure mana.
Back to the Docks
The remaing Servants and Masters that were looking at the situation were, to say the least, quite shoked. If Archer and Berserker tried to do things that they had done above the sea here, most were sure they would be at least heavely injured. Everyone else thought that they would die. Some insightful witnesses made a few conclusions from their fight. First, Archer is much more cunning and strategic than he appears. Second, Berserker was clearly THE strongest individual among the seven. It changed the priority of danger for other Masters who are the most dangerous among them. If one could command a beast like this, he should not be taken lightly, even by Holy Grail War standarts.
Finally, after five seconds from the blast, the fog started to erode.
At the sea
With fog starting to weather, two things could be concluded. First, with bumps on his armor, messed up hair, and small lines of blood coming from everywhere from his body, Archer looked quite beaten. Second, the plane on which Archer was riding had a hole in a place where Berserker was nailed, but without Berserker himself.
Culprit, at the time of Archer, was trying to look at the direction of the hole, was already falling with quite a speed. This time, he lacked his draconic limbs, letting his human ones take their place, but still had his wings.
Damn. I can't hold this form much long. I need a ground.
He then looked at the plane with Archer.
But first, I need to deal with this demigod.
With that, though, he 'stood' and flew towards Docks with his back forward as fast as he could. When he felt that he could no longer use his transformation, he opened his mouth.
"Ether Dragon's Roar!"
With that words, a huge ray of pure destructive mana, with almost the same size as a previous one, was relished from Berserker's mouth towards a plane where Archer stood. It hitted Archer's plane in a second. The explosion that appeared was to put quietly, massive. It temporarily turned the dark night into a bright day for everyone in Docks and near.
Berserker did it for two reasons. First, to attack Archer. Second...
Fuyuki Docks
Berserker was 'flying' towards Docks with his back. While human Masters were limited by their human bodies, Servants, who had a much more keen senses, were aware of a Mad Servant 'flying' towards them with one, even without her sight, trying to protect her Master.
In less than five seconds, a huge impact happened between Berserker's back and the remaining containers on the Docks. Some flew as well, and some remained undamaged. Most were just destroyed.
The witnesses stood on guard. Well, more like their Servants stood in front of their Masters while they tried not to be looked intimidated. This included Rider with Waver and Saber with her 'Master'. Lancer stance was a mix of offense and defense. Since his Master was far more far away than the other two, he didn't feel much danger. Saber, on contrast, felt like someone was holding her neck so she couldn't turn away, squithing her lungs so she couldn't breath, shaking her palms so her sword was shaking, pulling down her knees so she would kneel in front this... this... monster. The longer she stood here, the tighter this mix of fear, despair, and helplessness was holding, no, crushing her.
"Damn."
Saber heard the monster's words along with falling pieces of metal. Berserker wasn't having a good time. He again looked like human, without his wings and Draconic limbs, and there was almost no place on his body that wasn't covered in blood. He felt even worse from inside.
Five ribs. One lung. Stomach. Nose. Right shoulder. Both legs. When was the last time I felt like this?
He then looked where his Roar had targered. What he saw was something that made him partly happy. He is happy because Archer definitely got hit. Partly because he was still alive.
Well, he still got worse.
With a sound of splash, what was ledt of Archer's plane fall to the depps of the sea. He himself, on the other hand, was still above the sea, standing on the new plane even bigger than the previous one. Though, standing was a strong word. There was almost no place on him that wasn't covered in red. If it wasn't for his armor, shields from his treasury and healing potion he immidietly drank after blast, the damage he took would be much more severe. Speaking of his armor, it took quite a damage. From massive dents around the chest area to outright missing parts around his limbs. He himself right now saw heavely breathing while his face was a mix of many different expressions. Shock changed to rage, rage chaging to...
"Hhahahahahahahahahaha!"
laugh.
Archer was damaged. Someone defied his will, had an audacity to eat his Noble Phantasm, called themalself King in front of him, and instead of escape, he decided to attack him once more just to make sure it will hit him! And Archer was laughing! To meet someone who will give him some sense of an actual challenge in this sorry excuse for entertainment was something that he could not allow to waste. And there still was anger. So he will not just kill him. He will destroy every fiber of his being down to the point that no one in Heaven or Earth could even imagine! Archer then sat on his new plane's throne and was going to flew towards the docks.
By the power of my Command Spell, quell thine anger and withdraw, King of Heroes.
He faced southeast. Over there is the hill of the Miyama district and the high-class residential area. How many people can guess it being the direction of the Tōsaka mansion?
"Do you think a sermon from someone like you could appease a king's anger? You're quite presumptuous, Tokiomi..."
With a tone of abject annoyance, the Archer spat in a suppressed voice.
"... You dodged death by a hair, mad dog."
He was containing his resentment, but his crimson eyes had already lost the flame of the killing intent. With his firm haughtiness, the golden Archer glared at the row of Servants.
"You mongrels. Cut down the mob next time. I will tolerate no less than a real challenge."
With this final careless remark, the Archer canceled his materialization. The golden armor lost its materiality and disappeared, leaving only the remains of its glow.
The confrontation between the two Servants, two Kings, reached its conclusion in a way no one had expected.
This action wasn't unnoticed by others. Rider was curious. Both Archer and Berserker are the strongest of all servants that he has information about. It would be best to engage the one after he defeats the other, but even then, Rider is sure that chances will not be in his favor. Lancer was curious as well, but unlike Rider, he thought about who would have attacked first right that moment. Between two of them, he has bigger chances against Berserker. Assassin, invisible for alien eyes, couldn't find Berserket's Master. Whoever he is, he is right now his number one priority. Out of all of them, Saber felt the worst. All because of this monster. Since the fight has ended, her Instinct started SCREAMING at her to run away from him. There was a second of silence around all Servants while they were thinking.
Berserker himself was not in his best. If he continued his fight, there is no warranty that he would have ben a winner. He would even go so far to ask that human to use Command Seal on him. He took a deep breath and—
Wait.
He smells it.
Dragon.
He tured towards the trio Servants, who reacted to his sudden change of attention. Saber, who was standing behind Rider and Lancer, felt like cold, long, sharp fingers were piercing her neck, strangling her. It took her all her willpower to just breathe in front of Berserker.
"Show yourself, Dragon!"
Berserker's nose damage couldn't let him identify who is one. But the longer they are here, the faster he will find one. Just a few more seconds, and he could have finded from who comes this filthy draconic smell.
"How did you figured out?!"
These words brought attention to everyone around here. Every Master and Servant atention was brought upon panda who was genuely surprised. Their reaction was different. Saber was both suddenly relieved and surprised. For Lancer to be a dragon. Even she didn't see that coming. Rider, like Saber, was surprised as well. Archer, who finally got here, was curious.
"So you are the one."
Lancer, despite Berserker's glare, stood proudly.
"Of course!" he then took a stance. "After all, I am a Dragon Warrior!"
"Lancer!" Suddenly, Lordof the Clock Tower shouted at him. "Don't reveal your identity."
"Oh, I forgot. Sorry Maste—!"
"Dodge!"
Suddenly, Lancer heard Saber screaming at him. Without a second thought, he ducked, letting Berseker's scrath his cheek. Lancer, in that moment, swiftly pushed his palm towards Berserker and twice had touched him in back and left arm. The next moment, Lancer jumped away from his spot, but Berserker was still there, unable to move his second arm and back. Lancer stood closer to Saber, swifting blood from his cheek.
"Thank you, Saber." He thanked her. Then he took a strange stance. "Now that he is after us, could we, for now, team up against him?" Both Kings looked at him. Rider was skeptical but intrigued. Saber was much more eager to comply. Both knew that if they started fighting now, their chance of winning is not that high. But if they gight alone, it will be even less.
"I intend to win this war. Alive. So be it." Rider said it while turning his chariot on the Berserker's direction.
Young Waver Velvet was not much happy with the now formed alliance. "Rider! If you are going to fight, at least put on the ground!" His Servant didn't comply.
"Don't be fool, Waver. You entered this war where death could wait for you in every moment. And you summoned me, so as my Master, you must participate with me." Hearing Rider's words didn't make him less scared, but he didn't want to run away either.
"Very well, Lancer." Saber said it while taking a stance. She was still scared, but if she didn't start fighting with two more servants on her side, then she just as much lose this war.
"Wait. Rider, turn away. Saber, please look at me." Both King complied with his words. Rider also turned his Master's head, who was curious about what was going to happen.
"Golden Lotus Clap!" Lancer clapped, and golden mist erupted from Lancer's hand. Saber, hearing that Lancer used his Noble Phantasm again, was cautious, but still "looked" at him. The next moment, she saw Lancer's big face in front of her. This moment caught her off guard, but she was still relieved that she unconsciously smiled. "My Master said that I can return your sight."
"Thank you, Lancer." She appreciated his action. Then she turned towards Berserker. Now she has a chance.
"Ok, guys, now or never." Lancer turned as well. In an instant, all three of them rushed towards Berserker.
Sorry for long delay, guys. I was busy with something.