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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

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Chapter 11: Gem, Sword, Hopes, Winds

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What's the difference between a bow and a sword?

Joseph knew this was not a simple question within the world of heroes and monsters. Not when magic was an unflattering fiend when it was involved in those squabbles. In that moment, while he may not have a complete understanding of his immediate foe's abilities, Joseph could tell this one was not in a disadvantage despite being an Archer.

In fact, the gems she used moved with such a flexible fashion that it would be easier to say he was the one in trouble despite a sword being, in mundane occasions, best suited for this sort of clashes. The gems darted fast towards him, but the Saber swiftly blocked the approaching projectiles.

"You smell of... many women," The Archer remarked with a hint of surprise and quite a bit of disgust.

Which was somewhat ironic due to how revealing her outfit was. Still, rather than find it hypocritical, the fellow Servant felt like this was... odd. Up until this point he didn't feel Archer's energy being so... intense. It was like she had turned on a switch and enabled more power in- which was wrong with what the Holy Grail's knowledge provided him with.

"My wives are not reason for sass, missy," Joseph quietly snapped. "Especially when you seem lacking in terms of experience on relationships."

"T-That's not true!" More gems, this time Joseph just dodged to the side as his Master had rushed to help her little friend, with the ranged attack passing by and giving the Saber the chance to rush forward.

Much to his surprise at what should have been quite the straightforward first blood, a shield manifested in front of the Archer, sponging his own attack with Aurea Mors. The sword bounced off the semi-transparent barrier, but it didn't stop Joseph from attacking some more and cracking it slightly.

"Cut it off!" The Archer shrieked, this time the projection of gems erupting in a dispersed attack, almost like a shotgun.

The Saber backed off, moving away from most of the attacks, but getting struck on the hip by a stray round. Not much of a damage, but enough to remind him of the main issue: his enemy could attack him from afar, protect herself for long enough to produce a counter to any direct assaults and she had nothing to worry about as it was currently a 1v1.

That had to change and there was a simple way to get that to happen- he needed to expand the limits of their current battlefield. While he couldn't exactly shatter the shield easily, that wouldn't stop him from using a little gadget he had that was fitting for the occasion.

As he dodged a few more projectiles, Joseph bolted closer to Archer, this time, however, pushing forward with his left hand as the gauntlet he was wearing produced a burst of mana. The powerful wind blast, slammed ineffectively against the barrier, but caused the wall behind her to collapse as she was pushed through it.

Surprise flashed on the Archer's face as she was pushed through the hole and then slammed with her shield towards the ground floor, the cracks doubling in sight as Joseph then rushed downward and slammed his sword on the barrier again, this time actually fracturing a portion of it.

"You-"

The girl's squeaked and panicked as more of the shield broke, forcing her to rush away from the close encounter with death.

"I suggest you have more aces in your metaphorical sleeve, Archer," Joseph remarked flatly. "Because I am in no mood to play it for more than it's going to be needed."

For the first time since being summoned there, Ishtar felt a bit more active than usual... and the snack in front of her was quite a tempting one much to Rin's chagrin.

Ana felt stupid.

Really stupid. She thought she had it- that her Servant was ready to face someone like that stupid-faced Rin and that stupid-minded Shirou. That bastard that had been constantly getting attention from her Senpai, always trying to undermine her chances, and while she wasn't stupid enough to think he meant it when he said he wanted to help and wanted to take part to that ambush to kill him off, the fact she got outmatched like this... was stupid.

She felt she should have been more careful rather than let her judgment be clouded by her irritation towards the condescending redhead, but that had led her there now and... Senpai got to her in time. Rider was quite beaten up, not dying but definitely not going to be fighting for a while. As much as she had endurance, the fact that Shirou's Servant could muster a barrier made it difficult for Rider to crack into it.

And in doing so, Ana was left in a disadvantageous position. That was until Ria and Saber appeared and... now Shirou was approaching them right as the blonde had checked on her conditions.

"Artoria, I didn't know you had a Servant."

"...I knew you had one. I didn't expect Rin to be... a Servant."

"A Pseudo-Servant. Someone that allowed a Divine Spirit in her body to act as a Servant but-"

"Not a proper Servant," Ana muttered quietly, annoyed by this exchange.

"It doesn't... have to be this way. Ana is not a good person-"

"And you are?!" Ria's snappy tone surprised the redhead. "Attacking someone like this? At school?!"

"There was no other way. I had to take care of her at once before she became the monster she really is. She is not a normal girl, her blood is tainted in a way that will make her a mindless beast if this war keep on going. The more mana she uses, the more nervous she is-"

"What? What will happen!?" The blonde's irritation was only growing and then Shirou dropped it.

"Ana was conceived to be the new Medusa."

Ana felt dread churn within her belly as she heard Shirou reveal her dirty secret.

"Her body is geared to ultimately become that monster from Greek Mythology, someone that feeds on blood, that rejects humanity and that seeks to destroy anything that bear life. There is not saving for someone that was born to be a monster regardless of what efforts could be done. I am sorry-"

"No."

Ria stood up, Ana looking away as she felt mortified to the core as she knew that now the truth was out.

"You know, Shirou. I always found you so dedicated to things, to be reliable and quite kind to people..." The blonde muttered quietly. "But I have realizing something with this competition. Something about my own expectations and you as a person."

He looked confused, but did nothing as she walked closer and-

SMACK!

"You are the most selfish guy I ever met!"

Her body tensed as she heard that loud contact noise, a fist striking down on someone's face. Shirou fell backward, groaning in pain as it looked like his upper lip got bust by the punch hurled by the blonde. Ria bolted back to Ana, attention aimed to Rider.

"Astralize," The girl ordered, and while the Servant would usually refuse another Master's orders, but the situation demanded she obeyed for the time being as Ria pulled up Ana in a bridal carry and ran away from that room.

"Artoria, wai-"

Before Shirou could have said something about this in an effort to stop them, a loud crashing noise took him by surprise as Rin was suddenly hurled out of the room, Saber giving chase out of the new hole on the library's wall. Shirou panicked and tried to catch up to Rin, and he ended up finding her groaning and mostly unconscious while resting on what looked to be a small crater.

Annoyance flashed on her face. "They escaped us."

Shirou nodded, "They did."

"Father gave you a gun. Why didn't you use it?"

"..."

"Shirou, I know it's bad but..." Rin groaned, barely having the strength to pull herself out of the hole her body created on the ground. "But we need to win this. Even if people have to die."

"It doesn't feel right-"

"We have to do it for Mama."

...

Shirou merely nodded, and yet he felt like something about this didn't sit well with him.

He just couldn't shrug off this bad feeling of self, no matter how many excuses he mustered.

AN

Ria going in for the tactical smack and... next time, a lemon!