So I'm back with this next chapter. Let's get a move on.
Disclaimer: first chapter.
Night 4 part 2
"Hoh…Lancer-nii is coming. There's this fine purple mist too; Caster's gotten hasty with herself if I do say so myself. And Shinji is ready for blood. A fine day for a massacre it seems." He slurped down a bow of ramen as he scouted the area. He heard the slight screech of a broken seal done by Rin's Servant. "What say you, Lily? You can tell the signs that a battle will take place, right?" Saber glared at Archer with calculative eyes.
"I told you to call me Saber! And if you accompanied me in this mission, would you at least aid me, Archer?" Saber requested with a harsh tone. Archer, none too fazed by this, shrugged then slurped another chopstick full of noodles. "Would you listen to me?!"
"I'm sorry, but what you're doing is nothing but useless." Archer drawled. "Those seals, even if broken, will reactivate when the time comes. And by my calculations, just unwinding ten of these seals isn't enough." Saber listened intently at her ally's explanation. "We are facing Medusa, and these seals activate by her will. They-"
"How do you know Rider is Medusa?" Saber interrupted.
"What Servant uses a blindfold? What Servant mainly uses their eyes to achieve something? What does she have to hide?" Archer recited. "Basic questions I asked myself when I saw her the first time." He lied. "Now if you would please not interrupt me again…" Saber became bashful, and motioned Archer to continue. "As I was saying, they regenerate after a day, and to foil your little mission, she has placed even more seals to buy time. To delay her from activating this for only a day, you would have to eliminate all 150 seals she placed in the course of three days. While admirable that you wish to weaken the effect, your efforts are wasted."
"And I take it you have a plan?"
Archer sighed, and leaned back on the chained fence of the rooftop. "You make it seem like I'm incapable of making tactics, Lily." He felt her scrutinizing glare on him. "The effects are stronger at the source. An easy way to draw people out of the school is to trip up the fire alarms, and start a fire to keep them out." Saber nodded at the simplicity. "If some manage to get out, they will be free from the effects, and if the rest are trapped, they would only fall into unconsciousness and feel anemic as a result of the event."
"Ah, but there is a flaw to your plan."
"Aye. Shinji won't allow the students to escape so easily. And those outside would wonder why they can't get back in if someone decides to be a hero." Archer admitted. "That's why drawing the students as far from the source is my aim. If you wish to keep dismantling those sigils, be my guest. I'll be all over the building placing bombs to facilitate a chain reaction."
"A decent plan." Saber agreed. "I'll do just as you said. If only to lessen the burden on these children."
Archer smiled. "Atta girl, Lily." He gave the woman a thumbs up to join in conjunction with his smile. The desired effect was achieved; Saber blushed lightly, which she played off as nothing by averting her gaze. "Aww…the flower of the battlefield blooms for me? What an honor to be on the receiving end!" He left the roof immediately to evade her womanly wrath. When inside, he composed himself.
"Now then…to business. First a distraction, and I just have the perfect one." His outfit changed into an orange, buttoned, long-sleeved, collared shirt tucked in by spotless black slacks strapped by a leather brown belt and silver buckle, and gleaming black dress shoes to contrast the bright colors of his hair and top. In addition to aid contrast, he wore a red tie with black stripes angling downwards. He looked in a mirror he created, and felt satisfied with the appearance. "But to top it off…" He slicked his hair back in similar fashion to his Servant Archer, and tied his long, waist length hair at the back of his head like Lancer. He then placed a pair of black-framed spectacles that he knew would make women just melt, and he revealed a small amethyst gem necklace over his tie. "Transformation complete!" He grinned mischievously. How would Taiga react to this? Better yet, how would Lily, Rin, and Rider react to the change? He didn't need to imagine Shirou's reaction to his entrance.
He teleported just outside the entrance with a Manila Envelope, with his forged files done by one of his clones doing overtime during the nights. He hadn't informed Saber about this part of his plan…how could he? This is what he was known for: the most unpredictable! He walked briskly and with purpose. His presence demanded everyone's attention as he passed classrooms with glass walls. Many boys were awed by the man's noble-like qualities whereas the girls had flushed cheeks that they hid quite well. One of the more responsible teachers ran out the room and questioned Archer's purpose for being here.
He turned around at the teacher, and smiled with a bow. The girls who saw his smile swooned at the foreign nobleman. They wanted to watch the show so much they monopolized the windows and doors to not let any lucky boy from hearing the stranger's intentions.
"I apologize if I intrude, good sir." Archer spoke. "I'm looking for the principal's office. If you must know, I'm attempting to get a job here at this school." The students, mainly the girls whooped for joy, and the Servant couldn't help but mentally sweat drop at the sight. 'Am I really that handsome? I understand if I gain one or two followers, but classes full of girls? Ignoring the growing interests of the girls in the Elemental Nations, I don't think I deserve such praise…'
He seemed to forget he got a harem in his lifetime. Shame.
"Is that so?" Asked the teacher. "Take the main stairwell at the main entrance and head up to the next floor. The principal's office is to the right at the end of the hall." Archer bowed in response to the teacher's answer.
"Thank you, sir. I'm sorry if I interrupted your class. I shall be on my way now. Have a nice day."
"W-Wait. Shall I call the principal to inform him of your arrival?"
Archer bowed again, "Do as you please. But I shall take my leave. I have interrupted your class for far too long. And I do not wish to lengthen my stay for something as trivial as my query." Archer left with a mental grin. He could get used to this noble foreigner act. Thank goodness he actually paid attention to those etiquette classes he got from Saber, Berserker and Ruler.
Ah…the torture. He would not like to revisit those days.
The Servant followed the teacher's instructions, and went to the second floor and to the right. The door was a bit grander than the metal sliding doors of each classroom he's passed. This one was made out of pure mahogany with a semi-gloss coating that made it shine when the light from the windows to the left shone on it at just the right angle. Even then, it was a simple door. It only had a plaque with the principal's name and title of being principal; no extra decorum could be seen on the polished wood. He approached the door calmly, and knocked on it.
"Come in." Said the principal.
"Pardon my intrusions, sir." Archer bowed. "My name is Erik Gunther."
"And my name is Takato Ao. Nice to meet you." The man was fairly old, but Archer could see some youth in the man. Only balding at the top, the principal only had a few stray grays accompanying his still healthy sea of black hair. He had full cheeks that wrinkled his face with each movement. Archer deduced that the man was around his sixties or high fifties.
"I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Takato." Archer replied. The principal motioned for the Servant to take a seat in the unoccupied chair in front of his desk.
"You must be the young lad Fujimura-san talked to me about." Said the man. Archer leaned back on his chair. For all of the woman's eccentricities, he would have never expect her to actually follow up on this idea. "It's so nice to hear she's finally found a man."
'What?' "Um…sir?"
"Oh! Pardon me. I'm but an old man with nothing much left to entertain me. Fujimura-san is a wonderful woman, yet it boggles me why she hasn't found a man to spend the rest of her life with."
"I see." Inside, Archer sweated bullets. This man was planning on hooking him up with Taiga! He didn't need this!
Yet he seems fine flirting with Rider, Saber, and Illya…
He needed to remedy this quickly. "But sorry to say, that I'm happily married with a child on the way." Archer's lie was as smooth. 'This should quell any further digressions.'
"Oh." He said, fully disappointed by the fact. "A sad time of be Fujimura-san. It also seems I lost that bet with Raiga… That man has all the luck in the world sometimes." Archer sighed. That was close. He could admit that Taiga had her charms, but it's only because she can't live in his side of the world, the world of Magi and death, that he couldn't risk her life. She was Shirou's crutch for his younger years. It would be a damn shame if she became a victim of this War.
"She'll find that right one for her. I just know it, sir."
"I suppose. But as her teacher at one point, I can't help but wish for a prosperous future with her significant other that still eludes her." Both took a moment of silence. "On to business. May I see your credentials, Mr. Gunther?" Archer handed the man the folder of forged files, and waited patiently. Only time would tell if he was qualified for the job.
"Fujimura-san. A minute of your time?"
"Okay!" She answered gleefully. "Class, self reading until I come back, okay?"
"Yes, sensei." The class chorused.
"What do you need Ao-san?" She asked the principal after she closed the door. "Did I do something wrong again? I'm sorry if I wasted paper supply on my last packets." The man calmed the frantic teacher down. He placed both hands on her shoulders.
"You've done nothing wrong Fujimura-san. In fact, the dashing young lad you told me about has applied to our school, and I hired him."
"Really?!"
"He's also behind you." Archer spoke from behind her. "For a Kendo practitioner and Archery instructor, you seem to fail at inspecting your surroundings, Fujimura-san." He caught the frown the woman sported for an instant, but did not pay any mind to it. "Erik Gunther, assistant teacher, at your service." He gave the woman a theatrical bow before standing straight.
"Assistant?" She turned to the principal. "Ao-san what of his credentials?"
"Skipped two years of high school, gained full scholarship to Oxford with a Bachelor's, and returned for a Master's as well as the other degrees further up in the hierarchy. I know this is a far cry, but we simply do not have the time to restructure the roster to bend on one man's will. So for this year, let him be your assistant to let him get the hang of things." He turned to Archer, "Erik-san, you'll actually be Fujimura-san's assistant next week, so treat this as an orientation. Now I have stuff to be doing, so don't let me keep you from your job." The man left to go to his office, which meant he also left the two teachers alone.
"I'm in your care, Fujimura-san." He bowed to the woman.
She bowed quickly with some form of embarrassment shown in her face, "No problem. Shall we introduce you to the class then?" She opened the door with eagerness and vigor. "Everyone! May I have your attention?!" The class became silent, and Shirou wondered what this was about. "I've been given an assistant." Murmurs erupted, yet quickly silenced by a slap of her Shinai on the board. "It's short notice, but I'll let him introduce himself."
And there came Archer in full pretty-boy glory: the flashy slo-mo, the glowing appearance, and the sparkles. "Hello, class. I'm Erik Gunther. Pleased to meet you. This is my first time teaching so I hope that I can be of use."
"Erik-san?!" Shirou fumbled in real surprise at the news. Shirou wanted to die after seeing this. Many, if not all, turned to Emiya to hear this side of the story.
"Ah, Emiya-kun. So you're in this class. It seems I don't need to tutor you anymore if I'm a teacher now." Shirou really wanted to die.
"Hah! Another fool enters this class…"
"And you might be?" Archer turned to the Matou boy.
"Shinji Matou."
"Ah, so the dog barks it name." Shinji growled at the insult, and was ready to retaliate with a verbal comeback. Archer put a stop to it but chucking an eraser centimeters off the boy's right. "I wouldn't be so hasty to bark, boy. I will not tolerate rudeness. I will not tolerate smugness. And I certainly do not tolerate immature brats thinking they're . If I have to, I will bury it down my foot, and make you gain some humility." Silence surrounded the classroom. The gentle nobleman hid an iron fist.
'This guy… This harsh tone. It's Archer.' The Matou gritted his teeth at the annoyance that is this Servant. He couldn't wait to get rid of him.
"Now as you can see class, while I may not be a real teacher, I can and will enforce rules to make you honorable students if Fujimura-san can't control you guys. So…any questions?"
It was lunchtime; word spread quick about the foreign assistant english teacher, and many students surrounded him from all sides if only to question his background. He switched with a clone to let it handle his role. He walked around to scour for his Master's whereabouts. Whispers of him and the Tohsaka Master together got the Servant to smirk for a bit. He would have headed directly to them if he hadn't heard Shinji rambling.
Archer hid his presence from the two, and idly stood by the corner. Shandies' panicking voice amused him. The boy doesn't know the consequences of speaking out his mind. Granted, Archer did that in his lifetime, but he matured unlike this moronic brat. "This is getting serious, Rider. Archer is here posing as a teacher! You have to do something."
'Oh sure. Let her do all the work.' Archer sarcastically babbled in his head. 'Use your damn brain, Matou.'
"And what do you expect me to do with this many eyes present?" Archer heard the concern in Rider's voice. Hm… it didn't sound like she was as bloodthirsty as the legends say. "My hands are tied, Master."
"Then kill them!"
Archer sighed. It's as he feared. The boy is lost. No reformation tantamount to a mind wipe would be able to recalibrate the Matou's attitude. The boy's lack of compassion for his fellow peers. At least Gilgamesh could hand out mercies, albeit extremely rare. Another plus, Gil had the skills and armament to justify his arrogance while Shinji…what was his skill in Magecraft? What's his specialty? That was one thing not even Archer's Servant Archer had figured out.
"Hmph…foolish Matou. You just signed your death wish." Archer's whispered the words. He promptly left his spot to meet his Master and Rin again. But as he left, his whispered words reached Rider's ears, yet not by Shinji's. She had flinched slightly once she heard him. They had been found out so quickly.
Archer reached rooftop with the charming lass of the Tohsaka family. Whatever moment they were having…
He'll wreck it.
"Yo, Master." Archer greeted from behind the two teenagers. This earned a great shriek and shout from the girl and boy respectively. The two fumbled around bumping into each other, and getting embarrassed as time went on.
"So you actually became a teacher. Wow. I never pegged you for the responsible type." Rin joked.
"Neither did I expect you to be a joker, Tohsaka."
"A-Archer!" Shirou interrupted. "Why are-?"
"I'm here so I can keep a close eye on you, have an alibi, and cause distraction."
"Cause distraction?" She heard a distant explosion from the empty home economics rooms, and another just outside the hall. The students were panicking, and many ran quickly out the doors. A fire alarm was set off, and smoke billowed out from the broken windows where the explosion occurred first.
"And destruction." He added. "My bad. Though it's amazing that they rhyme."
"You did this?!"
"Shinji has a Bounded field that'll trap anyone inside, and drain them of Mana. The farther from the source, the weaker the drain and effect. My aim to get them out of here, and it's my only logical and tactical plan of clearing out the area so no innocent casualties become part of the battle. It's a battle of wills to see if Shinji will do what I think he'll do."
"…It's a messy plan." Shirou admitted. "But I'll agree to it. See to evacuation plans properly, Archer. You're a teacher now, right? You can't risk the lives of your students of the first day of your job now can you?"
"Yeah, yeah. After this, we scour the school and clean out the remaining Masters and/or Servants so that we can make sure none of the innocents are there to witness the battles."
Archer's clone substituted with the original. He and Taiga as well as other staff members directed the flow of oncoming students to the doors. They heard the screams of fear, a sound Archer hadn't heard in a long while. Last he heard of it…Gilgamesh and Madara slaughtered unlucky souls. But here…Archer managed the outcome. Unlike Servant Archer, he roused this into action to not let Shinji get his way. "Slow down!" He ordered. "Please exit as orderly as possible! The more you panic, the worse off you'll be!"
"Hey, Fujimura-san, Gunther-san, this floor is clear; we'll be moving downstairs." Said one of the teachers. Others followed once they were ready.
"Are we going, Gunther-san?" Archer shook his head.
"You go ahead, Fujimura-san. I'll do a second sweep to make sure no one is still in one of the classrooms."
"But-"
"Trust me on this, Fujimura-san." Archer reassured. "I'm built like a tank. I've handled a few explosions here and there." He tried to downplay it, yet Fujimura would not budge. He had to admire the woman's fire. If she were part of Konoha's forces, she would be undoubtedly one of the more dangerous Kunoichis if only for her tenacity. "Please, let me do this; I'll be fine." It appeared that his explosions were a tad bit stronger than he realized. Cracks ran along the walls, and reached the ceiling. Another explosion went off, and the cracks grew in size and number. Archer looked at the steps, which fragmented as seconds pass. He turned Taiga around, and shoved her down the stairs before it collapsed along with the ceiling above the stairs.
"Gunther-san!" Taiga hollered. The Servant sighed; the woman was okay. "Are you all right?"
"Aside from almost losing my head and yours, quite swell." Archer replied humorously. "Don't wait for me, Fujimura-san. I'll find my own way out with those other straggling students with me." He wasted no time talking, and moved into the hallways in search of Shinji. It didn't take long to find him.
Shinji was in the middle of the hall waiting for him to arrive. His face gave all the information Archer needed to know what the boy thought. "You know there were three things that you could have done: run with the crowd, fight me somewhere else, or not declare that you would actually slaughter your classmates." Shinji snarled at the Servant. "Yet here you are. Why did I ever think that you had brains? Well…no matter. Master ordered me not to kill you…" Shinji smirked at the sentence. To Shinji, it was a foolish waste to have used a Command Spell on Archer on that kind of order.
"What an idiot, that Emiya." The Matou chuckled. "Now you have to fight Rider, it seems."
"Not necessarily so." Archer said. "His words were 'to not kill you.' In no way shape or form does it say that I can't mutilate you!" Shinji stepped back. Shirou's Command Spell was null and void if Archer exploited that loophole! He tripped to the floor once he got it in his head that he actually might die. But he wouldn't let that happen.
"Rider! Kill him!"
Meanwhile, in another part of the collapsing building, Shirou and Rin evaded falling debris as they ran for the stairs. "Tohsaka, call Saber, and find Shinji. We have to deal with them now while Archer has their attention. I'll go and look for any trapped students." Before Rin could protest, Shirou ran away to do his self-imposed mission. He examined every empty, ruined classroom for any sign of life. With each empty room he found, he felt a splitting feeling in his heart. He was happy he hadn't found anybody yet, but he what if there was someone trapped in this crumbling building? He had to make sure no one was in here. He can't have anyone die on him!
He did not want to see any more people dying again!
He heard a shriek come from his left, and the sound of collapsing debris came soon after. He went full sprint to find out the source of the commotion. "Sempai? Sempai!" The voice of a panicking student gave Shirou enough information without being at the site. There were two people: one fine, the other likely to be injured and trapped under debris. When he arrived, He saw a crying girl calling out to an unresponsive Ayako Mitsuduri, the brunette captain of the archery club, trapped under a considerably large portion of the ceiling.
"Mitsuduri!" Shirou called. There was no response. He gritted his teeth, and carefully treaded down towards her fallen body. "Mitsuduri! Wake up!" She still didn't stir herself awake. Shirou looked closer, and saw the upperclassman suffered a heavy hit in the back of the head; blood dripped from the slab of floor underneath her. Unleashing adrenaline, Shirou grabbed the heavy piece of ceiling, and lifted it as far high up as he could in order to reach Ayako's unconscious body. The sheer weight of the debris made Shirou's knees want to buckle. His will refused to let that happen. Putting more effort along with the addition of reinforcing his body, he finally pushed the slab off Ayako, and tended to her to see if she's alive. "Mitsuduri! C'mon…wake up, Mitsuduri." He placed two fingers on her neck, and felt a pulse. He sighed; she's alive.
"It's useless. She'll die momentarily." Said a woman's voice. Purple mist surrounded the area. Shirou had feared that Caster would exact revenge; he just didn't expect it to be exactly the next day that she would do it.
In hindsight, with the amount of Mana she has in store, healing almost instantly would not be a daunting task.
"…Caster?"
"Indeed. Now die for me, Shirou Emiya." She blasted a beam at the boy, who had no time to react accordingly. Thankfully, his Saber went in front of him, unfazed by the attack. A dome of translucent sky blue deflected the beam. Saber hoisted her blade, while Caster took a wise step backwards.
"So…the eighth Servant is you, Saber?" Caster asked without the need of confirmation. "How does a 3rd-rate Magus like him able to sustain you and Archer? The thought just boggles my mind…"
"Step away, Caster." Saber ordered while completely ignoring Caster's queries. "I will not have you harm my Master. If you don't comply, I will put you out of commission." Saber's threat wasn't pushed aside since Caster felt Saber flare out Prana from her body and sword.
However, Caster felt confident. "Come and try, Saber." She went into the hallways, and beckoned the Knight to follow after her. The Princess of Colchis had other plans now that she found the eighth Servant. Since Archer is out of her reach at the moment, she would settle for this Saber instead. Yes…it would be a momentous help for her to gain Saber as her puppet. And like the puppeteer she decided she would become, Caster had Saber following her with seemingly reckless abandon.
"Saber…be careful." Shirou told to no one in particular. He returned his focus on Ayako, and held her in a bridal carry. He went downwards to the classroom beneath the rubble, and found the exit to the room. He searched for an exit, but seemed to be trapped at the moment. The hallway's right collapsed while the left side, where the side exit resided, was blocked off by more rubble by the upper floor no less. Right behind him, he could hear beams tear through the structure of the building as Caster fought Saber in a no-holds-barred fight. Since the smart thing to do was to stay away from the fight, Shirou had to figure out how to get past the obstacle in front of him. He had no heavy weaponry on him.
At least not physically on him.
Then a spark of genius got him. He laid Ayako on a wall, and tried projecting Archer's broadsword. His mind recreated the white blade with its black hilt and handle along with the strange red revolver on it. With the schematics done, Shirou brought the sword into the real world. "Trace…on!" Right in his empty hands, the sword occupied instantly. It wasn't heavy, much to Shirou's surprise. He hefted it upwards while he pulled a trigger on the handle. He felt a drain on his Od as he cut through the rubble with the sword creating a trail of black and red aura. He brought the sword down, then smashed the surrounding debris, which gave a cleared path to the side exit.
He collapsed to his knees. The sword drained a lot more than he thought. "Not going to try that for a while." He noted himself. Groggily, he stood up. He couldn't fail here. The building would collapse at any time; he didn't have time to spare being lazy. He went to Ayako's side, and carried her all the way to the side exit.
But just before he reached his destination, he saw a glint of something in the corner of his eyes. He went into a power slide, which allowed him to completely avoid a sword made out of bone. Unfortunately, he couldn't stop, and hit the wall using his head. Fortunately, he reinforced his skull. He looked over Ayako, still in good condition aside from that head injury. He had to lay her against a wall again. In order to keep the War a secret, he had to eliminate some minions.
Shirou could hear the bones cackling behind him. 'They think this is going to be an easy kill? Fat chance! I'm not gonna die to some brittle bones!' In his hands, Kanshou and Bakuya resided in both left and right hands respectively. "Come on, Caster's lackeys!" He shouted, his body not even facing towards his opponents. And yet, in a flash, the frontmost golem turned to dust.
Time wasn't wasted as Shirou sent Bakuya on another unsuspecting golem, which had the sense to block the attack. He stepped back a bit before he sprung himself forward to smash at the golem's guard with both swords. 'Two down…' He thought. Now with his body low to the ground, Shirou threw Kanshou laterally to mow the golem's numbers. It weaved like a snake that attacked at exposed guards before it inevitably turned back. In conjunction with this, Shirou cut down the weakened golems using Bakuya. He spun around, using rotational motion to put force into his attacks, and destroyed a golem. He made Bakuya graze the floor as he cut a golem from underneath. With a step forwards, and a twist of his torso to face slightly to his left, Shirou leaped and spun to become an aerial buzzsaw that chopped the unsuspecting golems. The boy noticed how everything was slower than usual. Whether or not he was actually accustomed to this speed or not, he was happy to have this development. During this, he caught Kanshou with his left hand, and doubled his killing potential. He landed with his left foot, and used his momentum to smash the final golem.
He sighed, then lowered himself to one knee. The exhaustion from before was still there. "Well…that was a workout. I guess all that observing on Archer's movements was useful after all…" He withdrew the swords, and returned to Ayako's side. He carried her again, but this time, he got a reaction from the unconscious girl. Awake actually shuffled a bit, and her eyelids moved slightly.
"Ugh…" She groaned.
"Mitsuduri? Are you okay?" She didn't respond with words; she clung to Shirou closer. Shirou had the decency to blush, and did not look into it further. He readjusted his hold on the girl, then exited the crumbling building. 'I hope Archer and Saber are faring well.'
"Dishonorable Caster, lay down your staff!" Caster responded with a laser beam that Saber easily dodged. Saber charged at the sight of an opening, and went in to cleave the Servant. She missed her strike. Caster had phased through the sword as if an illusion all along.
"How can I when you won't lower your sword, Saber?" Caster snickered from behind. Saber swung her sword behind her when Caster managed to fade out once more. The Magus reappeared above the Knight with her magic circles ready to tear down Saber's defenses. Saber unveiled her sword, and golden light seeped though the winds. With a burst of Prana, Saber propelled herself towards the floating mage. As Saber came close, Caster fixated herself on the golden light.
There's only one sword in legend that glows a heavenly gold.
Caster smirked; it seemed her desire to capture Saber was not merely an urge. Her wish to make Saber her Servant only grew stronger. But if possible, she would also want Archer to be part of her ranks. Maybe she could persuade the man into seeing her perspective? Though at the moment, she had to block Saber's sword. A magic circle appeared inn front of her right palm. The shield completely stopped the sword, but the force of Saber's strike managed to push Caster back.
"My, my…how nice for the King of England to take me seriously." Caster mused. Saber returned Excalibur into its sheath of wind, then pushed back when Caster's goal minions appeared from the ground. "To gaze upon the mighty Excalibur for but a moment…I am honored." Saber scowled. This same woman, who captured her to be a puppet… This woman, who made her harm Shirou. This woman, who weakened her.
Saber would destroy her a thousand times over!
"For you to see my blade…my honor is stained." Saber declared boldly. "The Magus known for numerous betrayals…Princess Medea. Do you plan on making me your pawn?"
"And if I am?"
"Then I will eliminate myself." Saber answered. "There's no honor for a King to be subservient to someone else. I've already been offered the chance one time -politely- and like I told him, I say to you that I cannot not bear the shame of being someones else's underling."
"I see…"
"Now will you use your Noble Phantasm to break my contract or simply defeat in in honorable combat?"
The skeletons cackled while Caster snickered slightly. "Me? Honorable combat? Surely you jest, King of Knights. I, the betrayer, would do honorable combat with a Knight?" She scoffed. "You might as well slap a death sentence on me, Saber."
In a burst of speed, Saber cut down the minions in front of Caster. Shards of bone flew into the air at break-neck speeds. She lowered her sword, which cut deep into the floor, and raised it in an uppercut motion, "Then let me make that statement come true, Caster!" Caster didn't flinch; merely smirked at the Knight. A giant, skeletal hand grasped the attacking Knight then chucked to the end of the hallway like a baseball. When Saber recovered, she saw a giant golem, much like the tinier versions block Saber's line of sight. The King of Knights snarled since her progress had taken several steps backwards.
"Lower yourself, Saber!" A man's voice shouted. She knew who it was, so she followed the order. "Gae…BOLG!" A red light flew above Saber, then proceeded to melt the walls, floor and ceiling of the hallway both she and Caster (as well as her puppets) occupied. The once sturdy foundations turned to molten lava that burned if it even touched the air around that red lance that streaked like lightning towards its targets. Anything in front of the flying lance disintegrated, and exploded the wall behind where Caster used to be.
"Lancer…"
"Had a feeling you were the eighth." Lancer said nonchalantly. "It's always surprises with that guy."
"You do realize she's still alive, and now knows your identity." Saber chided.
Lancer nodded while he spun his spear in order to let it land on his shoulders. "I do. But she'll think twice about fighting against us."
"It's this attitude of yours that made Naruto so playful when he fights women."
"What? Impossible." Lancer said. "The boy may have game when it comes to flirting, but it shouldn't be at a level where it does affect female opponents." Saber scowled, which caused Lancer to step away from her. Her anger subsided to be replaced with a blank expression.
"He flirted with the other version of me, and she got a furious blush on her face. He flirted with Rider, and I'm sure that she gave Naruto a reaction as well." Saber deadpanned. Lancer winced; his teachings in wooing the opposite sex may have stuck a bit too well with Archer. "Though I suppose it can't be helped. We are quite influential during his growth." Saber relented. She decided to change the focus of the conversation. "Now…what brings you here?"
"Scouting. I haven't fought Caster yet, but from what I saw, it was enough to judge for."
"Is it now?"
"Yep." Lancer answered. "Now to find Berserker." Saber's eyes widened. "You know for a walking tank, he's surprisingly sly. Hah! Imagine him on his tippy-toes while sneaking around; hilarious!" Lancer laughed at his own joke for a bit, slightly keeled over in his musings. He braced his sides then became serious. "I'm off then, Saber. Send my regards to Naruto."
"I will."
Meanwhile, at the start of Archer and Rider's battle. Archer showed his shield, then pumped his left arm to reveal that hidden blade inside the guard. Gleamed in elaborate and embellished silver with gold kanji characters etched on the blade. He presented his shield, decorated in the most passionate orange and fashioned as a sun at the shield's center with four cardinal points that reached out to the corners of the shield. He disappeared. Rider maintained her composure as she searched diligently for Archer's position. "Come hither, o' Death. A soul is in need of reaping, and here it shall be acquainted with thee!" Rider realized she wasn't the target, and swiftly moved in front of his Master to block the blade that aimed to make her Master bleed. Archer moved back a few paces, and lowered his weapon.
"Archer. I thought it was beneath you to eliminate a Master."
The orange Knight scoffed. "And when did I say that? I don't recall actually following any code of honor in this war so far." Archer flared his Prana, and reinforced the blade to the point it grew in length and viciousness. At the edges near the shield, feather-like protrusions covered the blade. Like the teeth of a saw, the weapon could tear a person to ribbons with a mere scratch. Archer swiped his left arm to his side, and cut the wall of one classroom in half without any resistance. Sky-blue eyes turned to cold, cobalt blue orbs. "I am a Servant who safeguards the innocent. Those who harm others unfortunate to be caught in the middle, I slay." He directed his weapon at the boy, "And you, Shinji Matou, are one such person. Had you not verbally decided to use the Bounded field, you would have live another day. While I'm surprised you haven't trapped anyone in that field, it doesn't change a thing. I guess that you realize the consequences if you truly done the deed. If I failed to kill you, the Mages Association would have your head. Yet despite that, your attitude won't change. Alas…a fool such as you cannot hope to change. Not even the threat of death can force you to change."
"Why should I care about them? They're normal lowlives who can't stand in the same pedestal as I am! I am a Matou, the one true heir to the Magic crest and secrets of the Matou family! I am! Not that adopted whore from the Tohsaka family! My birthright was taken from me! I won't stand for this; I can't be on the same level as those people."
"You're right." Archer said calmly. Shinji looked relieved to see Archer agree. "You're absolutely correct. Those people aren't on your level."
"Yeah! See? You do understand. I'm doing this to show that I am top dog, and not anyone else!" Archer sighed. The deluded visions of a child were things he could not comprehend. It's a phase every child inevitably had.
"Indeed, they aren't on your level." Archer confirmed. "The general populace is far above you in that regard." Shinji looked astonished, yet scared at the answer. Archer bent his knees and leaned slightly forward as if to pounce on his prey. "You, a piece of trash, are not worthy to live among the people you would willingly kill for your own benefits!" Like a jousting Knight, Archer charged forward with no signs of deviation of his path. In front of him, the Gorgon braced herself for impact, or so Archer hypothesized.
Instead, Rider weaved around the attack, and moved her arms around so her chains constricted Archer's arm. Once part of a loose wrap, Rider tightened her grip and constriction on the Servant's arm before dragging the arm along with her to keep Archer's weapon far away from Shinji.
"I see you won't let me reach him." Archer said. "Well then…come at me, Rider! If it means your Master's survival, then please do all you can to entertain me." He shook off the chain from his left arm, and allowed Rider to retrieve her other half of her weapon. Not a second later, Archer closed the gap between them with a leap that merged into a hammering strike of his weapon. Rider easily blocked, but the impact left a crater on the floor. The Gorgon pushed the blade off her weapons then aimed to skewer the archer in an unfortified location: the neck, thighs or armpits. In a randomized choice, Rider chose on of her targets. Archer expected her to leap when she actually sprinted in a zigzag much like a snake. Rider held her daggers tightly while she weaved during her approach.
An array of swords materialized around Archer. Not seeing the looming threat of her mistake, Rider kept on her target. At that moment, Archer spun like an orange twister. The sheer wind halted Rider in her tracks while Shinji was pushed back to a wall; however it wasn't just that. The floating swords glowed a molten, burning orange; moreover, they spun in the same speed as Archer did. So for full effect, Archer became an orange dome of pointy things shredding other things at something revolutions per second. Yes… per second. The walls beside Archer were no more; gone with the wind, dust particles of what was the walls became one with the air, and followed the air current.
The swords dispersed. Archer stopped his rotation. The Servant struck a pose similar to that of a dancer in a flamenco. Both arms above his head, and his left foot in front of his right with his spine rigid and straight. His coattails that followed the rules of physics, spun around his legs before returning to their normal position. "There we go, Rider! You actually made me dance! Now how about you try?" Gone was the arm blade, and to replace it was a pair of golden, translucent daggers connected to chains much like Rider's own weapon.
He took a step forward.
A dagger flew towards Rider. Archer threw it with great accuracy, but as skillful as the throw may be, Rider dodged it. Embedded into the floor, Archer moved in for the next step. He spun clockwise on his left foot, and pulled on the chain. Rider jumped to avoid the dagger that lashed from behind. Archer threw his right dagger into the ground just in front of Rider, then leaped to her left, then moved in a crescent motion, and impaled his left dagger behind Rider. The end result led to a chained Rider at the torso.
"You think this is enough to trap me?" Rider rhetorically asked.
"I just want you to follow the beat, Rider." Archer bowed. "Now won't you dance with me?" The chains dispersed, and another set of daggers emerged from the palm of his hands.
"Since you keep pestering me, I shall indulge you with a dance." Rider answered. Both fighters took a stance. When both took one step, the flurry of rapid footwork meant to trip the other became a swift dance, which both failed to step or trip the other's foot. The arms that swung from one side to the other could be interpreted as motions to the next step of the dance, yet in truth were the two aiming to carve their respective weapons into the other. Sweat flew outwards like a miniature shower; their passion, shown by their efforts just dripped off of them in waves. One attack was intercepted by Archer, who let go on his right dagger, and let it flop over Rider's arm. Instantly, he grabbed the dagger once more, flipped it over for good measure, and dragged it to Rider's right side while he went behind her with his left dagger ready to pierce Rider's heart. The Gorgon managed to pull herself away by spinning out of Archer's grasp with her left arm still wrapped by Archer's chain.
Archer yanked the woman towards him. Rider allowed the action, and slid on the floor as she swung from the shortening chain coming from Archer's palm. Once she was in striking range, Rider stood up and aimed to pierce Archer's neck. The blond Servant caught the arm, but Rider let go of her dagger to grasp Archer's left wrist instead. And with both hands seemingly intertwined, both Archer and Rider aimed to make the other submit by doing arm submissions without letting the other go. The simple maneuver of forcing the partner's arm behind them, then retaliating with the same action with rhythmic footwork just made the idea of this being a dance rather than a battle even more true in essence.
All the while, they attempted to never leave eye contact except for the times they performed those spins. The two pairs of eyes, hidden by visor and blindfold held a drive need not be said or shown by their eyes. Their arms struggle for dominance, and become another motion in this dance. They both let go of each other's wrists, and moved away from each other.
"I'm surprised you would not strike my Master while my back is turned."
"And ignore your advances?" Archer asked with mirth in his voice. "That's ungentlemanly of me. You did answer to my dance, of course. Can't ignore the maiden that answered to my request."
"Your persistent courting will be the end of you, Archer."
"And your talking will cost you your arms and head!" Archer shot a chain at the ceiling. He hopped, and immediately retracted the chain, pulling him towards Rider like a comic book hero. He spun himself in the air. Unsure of the maneuver, Rider stood still to take the attack. So when Archer brought his heavy foot, a shockwave in the shape of a sphere deformed the walls, ceiling and floor. He used his other foot to spring off of Rider's crossed arms. Directly above her like a bird, Archer dove with daggers in hand ready to chop off Rider's delicate arms. A step backwards allowed Rider to move away from Archer's attack. Archer went low with a sweep. Rider jumped, and retaliated with a throw of her own weapon. Archer flipped to the side, slyly evading the attack.
Rider returned fire with a rapid set of kicks that Archer blocked with his shield. Archer grabbed one of Rider's legs and flipped her over. He delivered a set of kicks of his own, which rattled Rider's torso. The attacks pushed Rider back.
'What heavy kicks. What muscles does he pack underneath that armor?' She thought.
She had not noticed the chains that were at her sides, which impaled the wall behind her. Archer retracted the chains, pulled and lifted him off the ground. The rattling of metal echoed throughout the hallway. Archer closed in on Rider with his knee leading the charge. Rider stopped him with her hands.
A chain grabbed a Kunai from a pouch hidden in his cloak, and threw it to the ground just behind Rider. Rider couldn't see Archer's smirk when he substituted with the Kunai. With him behind Rider, Archer proceeded to stab the woman in the back. However, he stopped when he felt the structural integrity of the floor he stood on weakened considerably. That and he could literally see the floor turn bright orange as if it was melted iron. He jumped to the ceiling, where he got a good view of the floor melting before his eyes. The pathway of the liquefying floor led to a terrified Shinji. The surrounding walls were collapsing along with the ceiling he stood on.
"Your Master is in danger, Rider." Archer said to Rider. "If you still want him to live, I suggest having him evacuate to escape from an early demise."
Rider turned into a blur, and reached her Master in record time. The floor chased after her like a orange snake slithering through the cracks. But it was at such a slow pace that Rider had enough time to ask, "I thought you wanted my Master to die?"
Archer reoriented himself right-side-up like a normal person, and answered, "Make no mistake, Rider. I'm letting you get away so I can kill him with my own weapons." Archer explained. "Now run along. I'll see you later tonight." He stomped the floor, quickening the crumbling state of the current section of the building he stood on. The slightly melted floor fell to the floor underneath it, and the walls collapsed subsequently.
"Do you know the meaning of subtleness?" Rin's Saber asked.
Archer didn't bother to turn around. "Yeah. This isn't it, Lily. Apparently, Murphy was too keen on the idea of destroying the school." The Knight in white sighed. "I seriously thought my craftiness wouldn't affect the school too badly. Now I stand corrected."
"You planted explosives, what did you expect would happen?"
"Something completely different." Archer replied hollowly. "So? What of your Master?"
"She sent me to find you so I can help in your fight. Though as I can see, I'm not needed. As for her whereabouts, I'm not sure. She told me she would be looking for trapped survivors."
"I see." Archer changed into his teacher's outfit, and made it look like he went through a dust storm. He turned around to face Saber. "I guess I should do that too. I'm a teacher now, so I need the students to be alive." He fashioned a small smile. The new appearance struck Saber, yet Archer did not make a sly comment about her reaction. "If you wish to follow me, then disappear into your Astral form."
They jumped down to the second floor. Archer listened to the silence, and hope he heard the slightest pant or gasp of air, or even the tiniest grunt with his reinforced ears. He heard none but someone's footsteps with a pace he recognized. From their perspective, there was a hill of rubble with the melted floor/ceiling topping the pile. It had a small, walkable gap to a side where anyone could traverse through. So when he heard the footsteps come from the other side, Archer panicked. 'Crap!' There was no time to delay this confrontation, and Lily's words were the final nails in the coffin.
"Who's there?!" Lily commanded as she came out of Astral form. She brandished her sword hidden by wind. "Come out, I say! Are you a coward, Spirit?! What type of yellow-bellied Servant are you?"
'Well…the cat's out the bag now. If there's one thing I learned during my lifetime…' His face showed a grimaced expression. And from that side, the Saber Archer was most familiar with emerged in her kingly glory…by eradicating the pile of rubble as if nothing was there. Archer and Lily covered their eyes to not let any stray piece of rubble from hitting their eyes. A golden light shone from the dust. '…Saber-nee hates people taking away her food, hates people that hurt her loved ones, and hates people who call her a coward.'
"My, my…to think that I would call myself a coward. What life did I live in that lifetime? I wonder…" Saber swung her sword, which wiped the dust from her immediate range. "Care to tell a story, Arthuria Pendragon?"
Two hours later…
"Murphy hates my guts…" Archer whispered to himself. "My explosives were a bit too strong, but managed to keep the building upright. Though in the end, the main building was torn to the ground."
"Be grateful that we only destroyed that building." Saber huffed. Even after two hours, the Knight could not let bygones be bygones when it came name-calling. Archer sighed. Saber decided to speak of the positives. "Besides you still have your job, and the hearts of pre-pubescent girls who have the cops on speed-dial. That and you had Taiga clinging to you like a lost teddybear. I bet you were enjoying that, weren't you?"
Archer turned his gaze to the side. "And you say I'm influenced by Lancer. You've gained Rider's snide comments."
"W-What? I most certainly do not! I'm much better than that avaricious pirate!"
"You're better at lessening the impact of your teasing; that's what you mean." Archer translated.
"Hey, hey, Tohsaka! That's my ear!" Shirou cried from the other side of a wall.
"I'm not that stupid!" Rin shouted. "This is your punishment for withholding information again! And what's this about you holding Mitsuduri in a bridal carry?!"
"It's not my fault!" Shirou stated clearly. "It was for tactical purposes! And that was the most comfortable way I could have carried her!"
"Lies! You must have groped her at least once when you carried her like that!"
"I'm telling you I didn't do it!" Shirou shouted back. "Sure she has those features that any healthy boy would react to, but I would never-"
"Hey, Master. You want a shovel? You're digging yourself a grave right now."
"Keep it! You've got one yourself!"
"What do you me-Oooooh…" Lily popped into view. Her jade eyes twitched in unbridled rage. "Nice comeback, Master." Archer guessed that this would be a long night.
And that's that for this chapter. Saber get's revealed to Rin and Lily! Shinji didn't get to use Blood Fort Andromeda, Lancer stepped in without warning, and Assassin and Luvia are nowhere to be seen. Next chapter will be fights galore. At least I think it will…maybe.
I hope you readers liked Shirou's little moment of badassery and the little setup for Naruto's teaching career.
So review, follow, favorite, I don't care.
This is Azure, signing off.