"What do you have to report, Qin Liangyu?"
"It seems Akuta was right. The Chaldeans are responsible for the attacks. They are bringing an army from the outside,"
"Are you certain?"
"My lord?"
"Did they attack you?"
"N-No…"
"Interesting. Still, this is a risk that we cannot overlook. We'll send reinforcements for Akuta. As for you…"
"… what will become of me, my lord? I failed you once already."
"Hahaha. How amusing you are Qin Liangyu. No, we'll send you a more suitable partner,"
"You mean…"
"… Our strongest retainer, Xiang Yu. Obliterate the enemy, and make sure that Akuta does not die pathetically."
"Yes, your Majesty! You honour me, as always! Qin Liangyu out!" With that, the transmission cut off. Koyanskaya smiled. The dome shaped building that housed the emperor was cold and sterile. Despite the kingdom's antiquity, it was relatively high tech.
"My lord," ask the Captain of the Guard, staring behind his black glasses. "Are you sure about this?"
"Regardless, the violence has escalated. Two more interlopers are in our midst," said the emperor. Koyanskaya frowned. She was sure that was Beryl. Despite begging and crying for her to take him to the Lostbelt, the second she turned her back to him, he went and killed every single of her creatures. "We must deal with this at once."
The old man nodded.
It was a fun massacre, but very, very inconvenient.
Beryl was looking for Ophelia too, but in his own way.
She was not going to lose that race either. She had the advantage, after all.
"Excuse me, your majesty. I could provide you with a hunting service, for a small price of course," she said, fluttering her eyes at the high tech gazebo that stood in the midst of the dome.
"No thank you. We never did enjoy foreign contractors. We'd like to keep it that way," Koyanskaya smiled once again.
"Oh? So there are no competitors for me out here?" She asked. The Captain raised an eyebrow as the stepped closer to the exit. She kept a mental tab on him, on his every move.
"None at all. Every person on this world is a part of us, of our kingdom. If we require their service, we will call upon them," said the emperor.
"I see, I see. So you don't know," she stated, narrowing her eyes as she hid her face behind a handheld fan.
"There is very little I do not know. What do you speak about?" For the first time since she met him, the Emperor's pompousness gave away to a slightly more concerned voice. It made her stomach flutter.
"Oh nothing… just something very important that Akuta should have told you about. I'm sorry but it's not my place to tell," she said, backing away towards the exit. The Captain did not move.
"So, she has kept secrets from me…" muttered the Emperor.
"Indeed. Aren't humans oh so awful and self serving?" She asked.
"On that we agree, Kochanwawa," her mood soured once again. How she wished the Alien God would allow her to unleash her power, and destroy that pathetic excuse for human being.
"Koyanskaya. Please, at least try to get it right," she said with a small growl.
"And why would we?"
"Because I am your ally."
"So you say. Yet isn't it you who brought those monsters here?" Her eyes opened wide as something pierced her abdomen. She looked down, a bloody fist exiting her gut.
"W-what?" She asked, feeling blood pull up her throat. How annoying. However, she felt something else. Her energy, it was haywire, she could not move.
"We have eyes everywhere. We followed Qin Liangyu on her investigation, even in that deep forest. We know what the Chaldeans said, what they found, and we reached the same conclusion as them."
The fist was retracted, and she fell to the floor, unable to move.
"Now the only question that remains what to do with you. It's obvious I cannot kill you, nor destroy that vessel you are using,"
She let out a growl, but it came out as a whimper. This emperor, he was smarter than she gave him credit for.
"Shall I take her to the prison, your Majesty?"
"Take her to Shiquan Prison. Make sure her accommodations convince her to stay in that form,"
"What about the interlopers," asked Li, slinging Koyanskaya over his shoulder like a common animal.
"Akuta has proven to be unreliable. But we'll give her one more chance,"
Once they got back to the Shadow Border, Sigurd gave the Krichat' to Da Vinci for research while the rest went on to inform Mash of what happened.
Unlike the other members of Chaldea, the mention of Beryl Guy made her visibly upset.
Shirou wanted to comfort her somehow.
"So, no Koyanskaya," Mash asked, once the events transpired in the last hour had been explained.
Mash, Shirou and Ophelia were huddled near the vehicle while the Servants stood guard.
"No. We do have a lead though. Let's hope that at least we can make some sort of peace until we can get to her," Shirou stated.
"Even so… with Beryl here, things have gotten much more complicated. And he's gunning for me, just like Koyanskaya," Ophelia said, hugging herself. "I shouldn't have come here."
Mash turned to her fully, looking at her with a steel gaze. "Listen… it's not your fault."
"It's starting to feel like it. I was just too…"
"Too…?"
"… Selfish. I joined you without thinking about the consequences. I was too focused on– on getting something, on having something. If I hadn't joined you, Fujimaru would not be–" Before she could continue, Mash grabbed her shoulders and looked into her eyes.
"Alright. Stop for a moment, okay? Fujimaru would have given her life for yours. We'll stop Beryl and save her, without you being harmed. Alright?" At this, Ophelia nodded, shaking her head with force.
"Yes. Forgive me," she said, trying to smile. Shirou smiled as well.
"Alright. Then, did something happen while we were away, Mash?" Shirou asked the Shielder Servant.
"Not at all. It was quiet all the way," Mash said, then turned to look towards the east. Shirou did as well.
Floating above the grass, Hildr stood guard.
"You said she lost control?" Mash asked.
"I don't know what happened. But Beryl's Servant is dangerous, she must have had something to do with it," Shirou mused. Ophelia grit her teeth.
"I see. Well, if it comes to that then…" Ophelia said, touching her black eyepatch. Shirou's eyes widened.
"What?" He asked, nearly a whisper.
"I'll use this," she said. Shirou felt his heart stop for a moment.
"I thought you couldn't use it," he said, going to her side.
"The connection was cut. It's not destroyed. If we could restore the connection, then I could probably use it," Ophelia said, grabbing her right arm and massaging it.
"But Ophelia… it could damage you! We don't have the tools to properly restore the circuit connection," Mash said, fist shaking. Just then, Ophelia turned to her, face strained.
"I won't be a coward, Mash!" She shouted.
"It's not cowardice to want to live!" Mash shouted back. Shirou, who stood at the side, decided to step between them, holding them at arm's length.
"Enough! Alright?" He said, turning his head to look at each of the women. "No one's sacrificing themselves here!"
Mash and Ophelia looked at him with narrowed eyes, before looking away from each other.
"Master?" A deep voice called to them. Spartacus stepped up to them. The Berserker already seemed to be up and about.
"Spartacus. Sorry, how is your wound?" Shirou asked, lowering his arms. Although the frenzied look Spartacus wore most of the times would unsettle anyone, Shirou could feel some sort of calm at his side.
"My leg is recuperated already. If an oppressor could keep me down for long, I would bring shame upon myself and my compatriots!" Spartacus said with a softer, more human smile.
"I–I see," Shirou said, scratching the back of his neck.
"Speaking of which, I sense discord among you," he stated.
"It's nothing," Ophelia stated, making Shirou turn his head towards her.
"Oh, but it is something. You think it's brave to die for your cause? It certainly is, when the situation merits it. That's how the oppressors separate us. They assign value to death, and disparage the life of the masses. Then, they turn on each other, believing that one way to fight and die is right, and another wrong. Then, they win," he stated. He looked serious, and for the first time, Shirou felt some sanity come from his Servant.
From the corner of his eye, he saw that Hildr had also turned to look.
Ophelia sighed. "We'll see," she said, before stepping away from the group.
"Excuse me," all heads turned to Sigurd, now accompanied by Da Vinci and Goredolf, who now walked with the support of an IV dripper.
"Director," Shirou said, going to his side. While his opinion on Goredolf was somewhat shaky, he still cared for the man as his employer.
"I'm alright. Just… lost my appetite," he said. He looked pale, and a little gaunt.
"We need to hurry it up, he won't last long. Luckily for us, it seems the creatures you fought were indeed from another Lostbelt. More importantly, Koyanskaya somehow imprinted some of her essence on them. Almost as if she plucked them out of the Lostbelts," Da Vinci explained with a grave expression.
"Do you think this will convince Akuta we are not a threat?" Mash asked. Da Vinci closed her eyes for a moment, mouth pursed.
"It's unlikely," she said finally.
"What?" mash asked.
"She has a bloodlust, and a disgust for you, that makes diplomacy impossible. Unless we reach out to the Emperor himself–"
"Careful, Dragon-slayer. We do not negotiate with oppressors," Spartacus said. Sigurd's expression twitched for a second, but otherwise remained neutral.
"Then we'll have little choice but to take her out, if we do encounter her again," Sigurd said. Shirou closed his eyes for a moment. Akuta had chosen this, and she seemed to be hostile to them on principle. If she would not negotiate, then killing her was their only recourse If it got them one step closer to saving Ritsuka.
"Alright. But let's try to find Koyanskaya first," Shirou said, looking at Mash in the eye. The Shielder nodded, even if her face was scrunched up.
"If that's the case…." Da Vinci said, and opened up a holographic map of the region they were in. A red dot bleeped in the space between them and the huge city, slightly to the east. "...I've managed to track Koyanskaya to a small building. I don't know what it is, but it's energy signature spiked a few moments ago. Whatever she's doing there, we have to move fast."
"Will do," Mash said, and walked into the Shadow Border.
"I think I need to rest," said Goredolf, clutching his stomach.
"Please do so," Shirou said. Goredolf nodded, a shadow of a smile creeping up on his face.
Once he was gone, Shirou glanced at Hildr, who still floated over the field, looking at the horizon. With a sigh, he turned back to Sigurd and Da Vinci.
"Is she alright?" Shirou asked, keeping his voice low. But he guessed that, with being a Servant came keen hearing, so he had little hope of not being overheard.
"Her Spirit Origin graph is completely fine, no alterations or abnormalities," she said. Shirou grimaced. The haunted look Thrúd wore after their battle with Beryl worried him. "If what you told us is true, then it must be some kind of skill that Servant has."
"But to be able to make her do whatever she wants?" Shirou asked, fists clenched. Gaining their own autonomy. The Valkyries in the 5th Holy Grail War struggled with that, so much. Someone taking that away from them made his face feel hot, and his mind tunnel vision.
"She must be a powerful ruler. Or close to one. Valkyries only ever obey one person unconditionally," Sigurd stated.
"Odin," Shirou finished.
"Correct. So we know she is royalty," Shirou grimaced. Why did he always need to fight the King of something?
"Regardless, we cannot take them with us," Da Vinci said. "But without Fujimaru here, there is no way to control them."
"THey'll be fine," Shirou said, looking at Hildr over his shoulder, remembering Thrúd's words. "I trust them."
"I must say that is a poor decision," Sigurd admitted. Shirou turned to him, frowning.
"Well, I'll make it anyways. For them," Shirou replied.
"Say, Sigurd…" Da Vinci said, catching the attention of the two men. "… those glasses of yours, they give you any knowledge you need, right?"
"Correct," he replied.
"Then, did you glean something from the enemy Servants?" Da Vinci asked with a devilish smile. However, Sigurd simply sighed.
"I'm afraid there is a complication there," he said.
"Complication?"
"Yes. It seems this world, or something in it, has made it their mission to destroy or hoard all knowledge and wisdom," at that declaration, Shirou felt something in him grow cold.
"H...How do you know?"
"I cannot access the god's knowledge. Or rather, knowledge is suppressed."
"That's…"
"...Awful," Da Vinci continued, clutching her staff with two hands. "Completely awful. But I guess it lines up. That must be why the villagers know so little about anything, why they are so carefree. They know nothing, and live without troubles. To be able to create such a culture, you'd need to destroy every piece of knowledge available."
"Is that why this is a Lostbelt?" Shirou asked. Da Vinci looked at him, anger apparent on her otherwise cute features.
"Most likely. It must be stopped. My previous self… she would be more than disgusted," she stated.
"Alright. But before we can take it out, we must focus on Fujimaru," Shirou said.
"Oh, I agree," Da Vinci said, more chipper now. "I was just voicing my discontent. Well, better get ready. The walk to Koyanskaya will be long."
With that Da Vinci left towards the Shadow Border.
"I need to tend to my master. Excuse me," with that, Sigurd left as well. Shirou was left alone with Spartacus.
"Well Master, even if these fools do not see the value in resisting this emperor, you do, right?" He asked him. Shirou answered honestly. He was not going to be intimidated by his mad gaze.
"I'd rather not make compromises. So no, we're not negotiating. Much less with Ophelia's life," he stated. He had tried so hard to save her. Thrúd had died to save her. To have her die would be an insult to the memory of the Lostbelt Valkyrie.
"I knew you were the right Master for me! Then let's go face him," Spartacus stated, looking in the direction where the city of Xianyang was.
"Hold on now. We can't take on it alone," Shirou said, raising his hand to stop the giant servant.
Spartacus narrowed his eyes, as if analysing him. "hmm. Very well. Let's get the Valkyrie to help then. She seems as uncomfortable as I am with his place."
Shirou looked back at Hildr. While he was not going to simply charge head on towards Xianyang, he did want to talk to the Valkyries.
"Then let's go," he said. Spartacus followed him closely.
Hildr heard them coming, probably due to the strength of Spartacus' footsteps. So she turned to them.
"Hildr?" Shirou asked. He expected a cold treatment like Thrúd's, but the pink haired Valkyrie seemed much more lukewarm towards him.
"Emiya. Is everything alright?" She asked him with a polite bow.
"Yes. I'm fine," he replied. Then Hildr looked at the Berserker Servant.
"What about you, Lord Spartacus? Has your leg healed?" She asked. The hulking man smiled.
"Very well so. No oppressor shall keep me down. Speaking of which…" he said, his smile fading. He leaned towards the Valkyrie, the difference in height making it seems as if he were judging her. "… you bent your leg against the oppressor. Why?"
Hildr retreated slightly, smile replaced by a frown. Shirou did not like seeing her like that, so he stepped in.
"Alright, back off, Berserker," Shirou said, pushing the man back. He lacked the strength to really push him around, but Spartacus seemed to give in to his command. Shirou then turned to Hildr. "Sorry. But… Thrúd seemed shaken by what happened. Are you three alright?"
Hildr took a deep breath, her eyes closing for a moment before staring him with a grave expression. "We are functional. But we'll never forgive that Servant for what she did to us. She will fall, that we promise."
Shirou felt the need to retreat a little due to the aura that Hildr expelled. He had never felt so much overt hostility from the Proper Human History Valkyries.
"That's the spirit! I like you!" Spartacus said with a smile.
After raising an eyebrow, Hildr smiled in the way she always did, fun loving and amused. "You are a fine warrior according to our parameters, Lord Spartacus. We'd be honoured to take you to Valhalla later."
"Sorry, but I cannot be tied down. Not when oppressors still exist–"
"–Oppressors?" A young voice asked. The group turned to the sound of rustling grass.
"Oh. It's the boy from before," Hildr noted. Shirou raised an eyebrow. He did not like involving children in operations. He found that despicable, but at the time, they had little choice. And Spartacus was impossible to reason with when it came to things like that.
"How are you doing?" Shirou asked, kneeling to his level.
"I am perfectly fine, although I'll admit it was very scary in the forest. I've never been more terrified in my life!" He exclaimed. Yet, he did not seem to cower much.
"That's normal," Shirou replied. He needed to take him back to the village.
"It was also kind of… ummm… fun? I guess," the boy said. That Declaration nearly made Shirou tumble backwards.
"The word you are looking for is exhilaration. It happens when a warrior's adrenaline is at full strength in combat situations. It's your instinct to survive," Hildr explained, something she seemed to be quite content with given her smile and raised finger.
"So you feel that all the time?" The boy asked.
"Indeed. Well, not us. We Valkyries don't feel fear. But many warriors we've met have expressed their terror when faced with combat," she replied.
"Why would you want to be scared tho?" He asked once again.
"Because!" Spartacus voice bummed. "Fear is just natural. You just can't escape it! It is how you fight back against it that defines you as a warriors!"
Shirou frowned as he looked at the two Servants. He did not like where this was going.
"Alright. We'll take you back home," he said, pushing him from his back towards the village. Spartacus and Hildr followed.
"But–"
"I'm serious. Being a warrior is no joke. Enjoy being a kid," Shirou said as they walked towards the village. Apparently, the boy lived on the other side of the town, away from the Shadow Border.
Once they arrived near the building, Shirou gave the boy one final shove, and with one look over his shoulder, the boy went away. When he turned to his Servants, they were looking at him in a way he could not describe well.
"What?" He asked them as they began heading towards the outskirts of the village once again. They were still far away from the Shadow Border.
"Why do you not want him to be a warrior?" Hildr asked him. Her eyes seemed to dig into his being.
"I… It's not a joke. Kids should not fight," he replied.
"He is of age though. In Scandinavia, he would begin training–"
"But that's not how things work," Shirou argued back.
"This is a desperate situation, Master. But I agree that he is a bit too young. Better let him enjoy his freer life," seeing herself outnumbered, Hildr relented.
"Very well. Is that all then?" Hildr asked, before her sight turned skyward. The sudden movement made Shirou and Spartacus turn as well.
"What is it?" Shirou asked, looking to the sky and spotting a tiny, glittering white dot moving across.
"Something is coming. Take cover!" Hildr said, activating her Mystic Code.
"Master!" Spartacus said, grabbing Shirou by his waist and placing him behind his back. "Use me as cover! The oppressors have returned."
"We need to warn–!"
"It's too late. Brace!" Hildr said. The dot soon turned into a shadow, and this into a fast moving cylinder.
In less than a second it impacted the ground a few dozen meters ahead of the group, splitting the ground and scattering dirt everywhere.
Upon closer inspection, Shirou noted that it was some kind of metal capsule.
"What is–?" Another fell beside that one, and another, and another. They fell like dominoes until there were a total of twelve on the prairie. Yet, none of them seemed to be aimed at them.
The Servants raised their weapons, but limited themselves to watching the capsules.
"I detect no life signs," Hildr stated. As she said that, the capsules opened. From the interior, smoke emanated. A second later. Something like a metal mannequin that would appear on a steampunk video game exited it's pod.
It moved strangely, as if barely powered by clockwork. Unnatural and jagged. Shirou was on edge, as the machine instantly turned to them with it's metal face that contained lifeless eyes.
"An… automata?" Shirou asked. As he said that, the other pods opened, and out exited more of the same mannequins. In the end, a total of thirty two were on the field, all facing the Master and Servants.
"Master…" Hildr said, lance and shield at the ready.
"We'll take them on!" Spartacus shouted.
"Hold on, I'll call…" He said, going to his communicator. However, the automata began moving, making room for one more entry into the fray.
Akuta Hinako and her Saber Servant were now in front of them.
"Akuta…" Shirou said, looking at the Crypter. She looked at him with a frown.
"You are…" she asked with a frown, before closing her eyes. "… it doesn't matter. You will all die here."
"And that worked out great last time," Shirou said, remembering the last encounter where she was overwhelmed by a surprise attack. Now she had one less Servant, since her Lancer did not seem to be anywhere nearby.
"You disgust me," she said.
"Oh? Why is that?" Shirou asked, peeking out from Spartacus' back. "We don't want to kill you. We just want to find a cure for our friend–"
"I don't care. I want you gone, gone from my Lostbelt. Humans bring nothing but suffering, always fighting that which they deem inappropriate," she said. The Anger was palpable in the air. It felt like the world itself was crying, somehow.
"We don't want war," he said after considering his words.
"Besides, fighting bring glory," Hildr said. Akuta's head turned fast towards the Valkyrie.
"Shut up, you useless automaton. You were created for war, because that's what gods and humans needed. You are nothing more than that, so don't think you can have an opinion on the matter," she spat out those words, then turned back to Shirou. "I don't care what you want, your precious humanity will bring pain and suffering sooner or later, no matter how good your intentions are. Why else would things like those warriors maidens, or that brute, be considered heroes? They are nothing but killers."
Shirou said nothing in response, neither did Hildr.
"Then there is nothing more to talk about," Spartacus stated. "You consider our rebellion murderous, while we find your contempt sickening. That is all there is to it."
"Akuta, don't," Shirou pleaded. He saw the Saber Servant close his eyes for a moment, but Akuta did not budge.
"You'll die here, human. Saber, deal with them!" She said, extending her hand. Saber raised his sword, and the automata spurred to life, all jumping to dog-pile their opponents.
They clumped their legs together like a drill, intending to kill Shirou. However, Spartacus stepped in, blocked with his arms, and pushed the robots back.
"Don't worry Master," he said, grabbing one automata that ended up too close with his hand and smashing it's head against the floor. "These things will not oppress us."
"Hildr! We'll leave Saber to you!" Shirou said, noticing the robots were trying to surround them, despite their movements and strategy looking somewhat crude. Observing the battlefield, Shirou assumed Saber had something to do with this behaviour. Otherwise, the servant would be on top of them already.
"Got it! Engaging Servant to Servant combat!" Hildr said, blocking an automata with her shield and shoving it out of the way before dashing towards Saber in a straight line.
The Servant clicked his tongue as Hildr dashed through the horde of automatons with swiftness, never once being touched or impeded. He raised his sword to block, and the two Servants clashed, their fight reverberating through the battlefield.
"Focus on the Master, soldiers!" Saber yelled while dodging Hildr's attacks. The automatons seemed to gain some more life, moving more swiftly as they tried to get through Spartacus.
Shirou noticed that Akuta did nothing to help, simply staring with disdain from the backlines.
"Hold on Spartacus!" Shirou said, activating his communicator. "Mash! Come in!"
"Senpai?!" Mash asked. "What's going on? We're reading multiple heat signatures moving at high speeds!"
"We're under attack! Akuta's here, but no sign of her Lancer!" He said, before noticing that one automata had managed to slip past, albeit broken and mangled.
"Commence Tracing!" Bakuya appeared in his hand, and Shirou sliced it's head off. The interior was some weird mix of circuitry and what he guessed was magecraft.
"Emiya-san! We've got multiple automata surrounding the village!" He heard Mash say.
"Protect the people, and the Shadow Border! I'll deal with Akuta," He said, eyeing more incoming automata.
"But Emiya–!" He cut off the transmission, focused on not being killed.
Three automata jumped at him swiftly, moving through the sky without difficulty.
He shot them down with a projected bow, while Spartacus had the ground covered. He slammed and crushed the robots with ease. Any wound inflicted was quickly healed by what Shirou supposed was his noble phantasm.
Flashes of Illya's own Berserker sprung on his mind. He did not need to relieve that terror, so he focused on helping Hildr.
She fought Saber with a grace that still mesmerized him. Despite acting and thinking like a machine, each move she made was graceful and full of life. She had the advantage of not being grounded, so evasion and inertia were not a concern to her as she blocked and thrusted without restraint.
Saber found himself overwhelmed, never being able to attempt more than two slashes before having to retreat. If he assisted her, they could finish him then and there.
His bow turned towards the fighting Servants.
"How are you holding up, Spartacus?" Shirou asked, seeing his Berserker now had some lasting wounds.
"They won't keep me down!" He screamed as more automata latched onto him like leeches.
Shirou's communicator sprung to life.
"Shirou!" Ophelia talked. He could hear grunts of exertion from the other side. For a second, his heart skipped a beat, thinking of her being in danger. "Sigurd and I and on our way! Hold them!"
He relaxed immediately. Sigurd was with her. Good. He was strong. Stronger than him.
"Roger!" he said, shutting it off and aiming at Saber.
He shot multiple times. The Servant deflected the shots without much trouble, and it was not enough to break his defence.
"Fine," he said. He focused his memories, looking for the perfect weapon. Something fast, arrow like and able to hold immense power. "Have it your way."
Sigurd's daggers sprung to the front. He hoped he would not be offended.
"Trace, On!" A small emerald dagger appeared in his hand. It was weaker than the proper sword, but also easier to trace.
He knocked the dagger, reinforcing it to allow it's length to extend a bit. Calming his senses, emptying his mind, he let the arrow go.
It flew through the battlefield. Saber, seeing it, struck at it after pushing Hildr away.
It exploded, an emerald glare blanketing the area for a second. Saber was knocked off balance, and that was what the Valkyrie needed.
In a flash, Hildr's Gungnir pierced Saber through his right collarbone. The Servant had barely managed to dodge a fatal strike.
"Saber!" Akuta shrieked. In tandem, Spartacus smashed the last of the automata.
"So the oppressors fall, in the end," he mused.
For her part Hildr tried to dislodge the spear, but Saber held it in place and slashed at her, forcing the Valkyrie to block with her shield. To break their stalemate, Hildr smashed her forehead into Saber's.
The Servant reeled back as the Valkyrie retrieved his spear. Another kick sent the Servant back, his mask now broken and forehead bleeding.
Hildr rushed at him. Shirou felt proud, their victory secured.
However,
Saber looked up, his face visible to all.
Blue eyes, white hair, soft complexion, skin of porcelain.
He was beautiful. So beautiful Shirou lost his breath, wanting to drink in every bit of his face.
A thought sprung in his mind.
He's even more beautiful than Thrúd.
It felt wrong, like an invasive thought, but it was there.
Hildr was not caught in the same trance, but it was enough to make her stop. That's how Shirou knew something was definitely off.
The Valkyrie had no time to recover, as a spear thrust at her, forcing her to jump back.
Akuta's Lancer made her appearance, face impassive as she strolled the battlefield with grace.
"Where the hell where you?!" Akuta demanded, stepping up to her.
"We wanted to see how you would do," she said. Akuta greet her teeth, fists closed.
"Why you…!"
"Unfortunately," Lancer turned to her Master, a deep frown on her face as she looked down upon the Crypter. "Our Heavenly Emperor has sent you assistance."
"What?! Who?!" Akuta asked. Then, Shirou felt the ground tremble.
"Lord Xiang Yu, of course," Shirou heard galloping, and on the field to the east, Shirou saw a man on horseback approach at high speed.
However, once he got closer, Shirou noticed it was no rider at all. Rather, it was some kind of mechanical horse-man, holding four swords with four arms.
Akuta turned to him, and held her hands close to her chest as if wanting to shrink in on herself.
"L-lord Xiang Yu…" she muttered as the new arrival stopped at her side.
"I have arrived to end this battle," he said, voice calm and machine-like. Shirou trembled, even from his distance, he felt like he was in grave danger.
"Master!" Spartacus screamed. "Retreat! This battle is–!"
"I've seen right through you," it was a statement. Xiang Yu turned his head to Spartacus, eyes glowing. Then, he moved like the wind.
Next thing Shirou knew, Spartacus had his left arm, shoulder and bicep go flying on the air, blood splattering on the field.
Spartacus fell, the ground shaking on impact.
"Target disposed of," the Xiang Yu looked at Shirou for a second, before his head rotated to Hildr, who barely had time to ready her weapons.
Shirou felt his chest go hollow.
He knew then what would happen.
He would rush to her with his inhuman speed, and cut her down.
He remembered,
"You are just like us,"
He knew what he had to do, even if his legs felt weak.
Even if the Rin on the back of his mind screamed to him it was stupid.
Even if the Luvia on the back of his mind asked him to think of himself.
Even if the Illya on his heart pleaded him not to go.
Even if Heroic Spirit EMIYA, somewhere, scoffed at him.
Watching Hildr die again he didn't want to imagine it.
She had died once already.
He had never done so.
It was only fair it was him this time.
He got up from his crouched position, legs trembling, and traced his weapons. All sound ceased to exist on his mind. He heard a faint shout from behind him, calling for him.
He dashed towards Xiang Yu. His top body was human, so Shirou decided to go for the neck and collarbone.
Before he could get his second step off, Xiang Yu was on top of him. The first slash broke Kanshou, the second Bakuya, and the last two would cut his head off.
He would die then and there.
He braced for the darkness, yet…
"Stop!" A voice. From above, it resounded through the battlefield.
The world went still. Shirou opened his eyes, and found his head was still attached.
Two green swords were touching his neck, however. Xiang Yu wasn't looking at him, but at the streak.
"My lord," Xiang Yu spoke.
"Sheath your weapons. We desire to speak to these… 'Chaldeans'," it was a soft, calm voice.
"As you command," Xiang Yu said, and his swords left his neck. Shirou fell to his knees, clutching his throat as if to make sure his head was attached, and breathing to make sure it still worked.
As he did so, he looked back. Ophelia stood a few meters behind him, looking at him with a stunned expression. Sigurd was at her side, but he seemed more focused on Xiang Yu. Shirou then turned to Hildr, who also stared at him with an open mouth and narrowed pupils.
However, the voice in the sky hogged their attention once again.
"Now, 'Chaldeans', we wish to make a deal with you."
A/N: And that's it. Man, what is with fate and making all Berserkers terrifyingly OP lore-wise? But seriously, Xiang Yu is scary, both in lore and as a boss, so I kind of want to demonstrate that here. Shame that the way he is defeated in F/GO is through a simple boss battle.
Anyway, next chapter comes Chaldea's treaty with the Emperor. We'll see how that goes.
That is all for now. Thanks for reading!