Hey everyone, welcome back to another edition; I hope you're having a nice day.

Important Announcement: I was approved to go on a research trip to Turkey over the summer, so I will be gone the entire month of June. I get back July 2nd, and I can probably get a chapter done within a few weeks after returning to Chicago, so expect a delay after this post.

Now, I don't want to leave you high and dry, so I'm going to make a discord server where if you want to chat, post memes, ask questions, whatever, feel free to follow the link.

Entirely optional to join, but if you want to know where the story's going or possibly see pictures I post from ancient philosophy sites I'm doing my work in, all are welcome.

I might not answer every question, suspense, and whatnot, but as some of you who've DM'd me know, I do give some things away; I always enjoy feedback and convos, so I'm hoping to see some of you there.

This site refuses to allow me to post the entire link, so here's the code; just enter it in the server join thing on discord, I apologize for the inconveniences, but I am technologically illiterate.

/re4pvJ9pRa

Not only did I graduate from college this month, but I also got accepted into graduate school in the UK, so we'll see how that impacts my workload, but I'll still strive to release content on the same level, if not improve.

Finally, sorry for the time between my uploads; I've rewritten this chapter about three times trying to make it that perfect length, but I also had to turn in my forty-page thesis the other day; things are hectic, lol.

...

Mandatory Metal Gear Reference Shoutouts:

TheIncredibleCommentMachine with: We're making the Mother of all Omelets, Jack! Can't fret over every egg! -Senator Armstrong.

So true.

...

rockgleb1999 with: RULES OF NATURE

You fucking know it!

...

I want to say; that this chapter will be a mesh of combat and flashbacks, but it won't be lengthy or repetitive. The rest of Zero likely won't have any more full flashbacks, more references, and comments instead, but this battle brings out old scars for Jack, so I found it necessary to define why he fights.

I chose to write this as a classic 1v1; Raiden and Caster contrast so well against one another, and I like to explore the dynamic of Giles wanting someone to relate to and Jack refusing to do so.

It's also about what someone pointed out in the comments, while the other Servants lounge about drinking wine; Raiden is out there getting shit done. (I understand the caveat that Zero butchers Artoria's character to all hell, but still, I prefer this route. You'll see cooperation in Blade Works, but this section of the story is all about my MC.)

Therefore, to the hunter goes the prey, Raiden vs. Caster all the fucking way.

Also

The minion-waving enemies are outright ridiculous in Zero; I want to write a sword fight so bad, you have no idea. This chapter will be on the shorter side of things, more wrapping up the Caster arc. But, I think you'll like how I end things.

Otherwise, we don't have much shopkeeping to do today; I want to thank you again for following and favoriting this story; it's unreal every time I see those counters go up.

...

This chapter was an endeavor to make, but I'm satisfied with the results; welcome to phase 2 of the Caster fight, let's dance!

...

"We can tell other people about having faith. What we had faith in. What we found important enough to fight for. It's not whether you were right or wrong, but how much faith you were willing to have, that decides the future." - Solid Snake.

Caster Phase 2 Theme: Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance OST - Rules of Nature Extended Looped.

Storm clouds loomed overhead as thunder boomed in the distance, light rain falling over the city of Fuyuki as terror reigned through the metropolis.

Innocents ran for their lives, men, women, and children, trying to escape a tidal wave of death crashing downhill toward the river running through town.

Some managed to duck away to unknown corners, avoiding certain death as others were carried off, their bodies decomposing and assimilating into the slithering biomass as it crashed through town, manic laughter rumbling from within the mound as it moved like flowing water.

BOOOOOM

Civilians turned in horror, expecting another attack from the unknown, only to see the ground burst and crack before sending a torrent of metal and concrete into the air.

A flurry of superheated wind exploded upward, slicing the debris into little more than superheated slag before it evaporated into ash as electric currents roared out of the earth itself.

A figure flew through the night sky, jumping between pieces of rubble and debris midair before blasting off in a torrent of blue energy.

Time slowed as Raiden's processors burned through scenarios, utilizing his limited data to formulate a battle plan.

Bodies lined the ground; some ripped to shreds, others mutated beyond belief, eyes became bulging green lenses, much like a predator, arms turned into slithering tendrils as they lie motionless.

Corpses lined the path leading down to the center of town, a visceral trail of breadcrumbs leading Jack to his target.

The black smog surrounding the samurai grew dense as his grip tightened; Caster was taunting him, taking life to make a statement. The ninja gritted his teeth; he would rip him to shreds for what he did, limb from bloody fucking limb.

His eyes flashed towards the riverbed, flesh crashing into the calm waters, waves splashing about as tendrils settled into place beneath the surface.

Caster emerged from the rift below, his body fully healed from the damage sustained during their fight. The Liberian growled in frustration, guess the healing factor goes both ways.

The madman stood tall, one hand over his heart as his colorful cloak fluttered in the midnight wind, billowing black smoke surrounding his form as a purple miasma emanated from his phantasm.

His spellbook flipped on its own accord, blurring through pages as Giles cleared his throat.

Murasama crackled in rage as gravity took its course; Jack slammed into the ground as asphalt exploded across the landscape. Raiden stood tall as civilians paid his metallic form no mind, fleeing for their lives as they ran past him as though he didn't exist.

Caster's murder hungry gaze flicked in his direction; a smile graced his frog-like visage as he held his tome to the sky, the book settling into place as a page began to glow.

Purple tendrils interlaced with jutting green eyes burst from beneath the waves, entangling his form as the murderer manically grinned, his cold black eyes staring the Liberian down.

"I'm so glad you could bear witness to my worship...our salvation is near... my friend."

Raiden trudged forward, uncaring for the Lovecraftian creatures lying just beyond the water's edge, his eyes burning a hellish red as he slammed a boot onto hardened mud, dust blasting into the air, only to dissipate as electricity crackled around his form.

"I'm done listening to your insane rambling about God...about faith" the mercenary raised his sword, the HF blade humming a bright red as it crackled to life as its glow illuminated his pale visage, "the only thing left for men like you... is hell"

A chuckle turned into a cackle before manic laughter rang out through the night, piercing the silence as Caster raised his arms to the air, his phantasm lost in the mass of biomass beneath his form.

"Your insolence bears the mark of a sinner...but fear not, for I Gilles de Rais shall show you the true path..."

BOOOOM

As though a dam had broken, a colossal torrent of purple flesh roared to life from the waters below. Jack's metallic jaw clicked in rage as Caster shot into the air, rising above the masses as though he were a prophet.

Giles lurched back, his manic eyes wide open, staring towards the moonlit heavens above. "WATCH ON RYUUNOSUKE, FOR I SHALL SPREAD YOUR GREATEST COOOOOOOL!"

The swirling tendrils entombed his form before sinking into the creature's monstrous jaw, its layered teeth rotating before disappearing beneath the mass as the demon continued to rise, waterfalls of blood and water cascading downward as it shot into the sky.

The world dimmed as a visceral mountain of flesh shot into the sky; Raiden stood off without fear, watching on as the flower-like monster roared to life, its voice shattering windows as screams rang out through the night.

Words couldn't describe what the killer saw, as though something had crawled out of one of his movies and burned its way to life. The Liberian felt like he was staring at the dark God Cthulu itself; apparently, the movies didn't do it justice.

His grip over Murasama tightened as a purple haze whisked from the creature, overlaying the sea and the shoreline in a dark cloud of poisonous fumes.

The warrior didn't shake, nor did his breath hasten in caution; he remained static, feeling the wind grace his synthetic skin as it rolled down at him, his armored form unmoving amidst a storm of chaos.

Jack didn't fear death; he walked that line all too often his entire life. The veteran had seen everything; humanity had created monsters the likes people could only dream of, Metal Gears, cyborgs, actual vampires; the soldier knew no worry, no fear. Raiden had endured hell, and he'd send his enemies there all the same.

The samurai dropped into a runner's stance as static began to build beneath his form before exploding in a roaring wave of black energy interlaced with red and blue sparks.

Raiden was and always would be the perfect killer, charging headfirst into the fight, ripping his opponents to shreds, without mercy, without guilt. The killer lived for war; he loved every second of it, every life he's taken fueled his drive, and his bloodlust knew no bounds.

The ground tore apart, imprinted with metallic handprints as dirt and rocks began to rise, flowing along electric waves as they defied gravity itself.

His red eyes flashed as his visor slammed shut, senses readjusting before realigning in nanoseconds, scanning the creature with his hardware.

unknown entity

His metallic jaw clicked in anger; whatever it was didn't matter; these things bled and died like anything else; the cyborg could work with that.

Raiden switched between lenses, settling on an x-ray, inspecting the far-off creature as it slowly maneuvered towards the shore. His augmented eyes spotted a skeletal structure in the center, a familiar lanky figure.

The blackened flames surrounding his armor burned brighter.

There you are.

His enhanced senses picked up murmurings, questions, a distant, "what is that thing!?"

His radar pinged multiple presences along the riverfront, bystanders either frozen in fear or there out of their own ignorance. His enhanced mind burned through scenarios; if he hesitated for even a moment, Caster would tear them to shreds if given a chance; that left one option...

Static blew into the night sky, a luminous beacon of red and blue as darkness burst from deep within Berserker's core, shrouding him in a nearly impenetrable haze.

Relentless assault.

Jack leaned forward, his blade crackling in anticipation as his talons dug into solid rock, tearing through as they aligned in place.

BOOOOOM

The earth exploded, digging a veritable trench as a cyborg lost in time exploded into action, electricity dancing across his form as he crashed from the shore and onto the waves.

His momentum refused to slow as Jack crashed across the waves themselves, his velocity forcing him to stay above water as his augmented limbs blurred into nothingness as more and more power rushed into his systems.

Tendrils burst from below as the killer ran with everything he had; Murasama whirled into a mass of red contrasting with the darkened haze, a beacon of hatred in the night.

Raiden held his grip firm, dragging his blade along the water's surface as superheated steam billowed into the cold air, sparks crackling as he flew towards his targets.

A tentacle cracked towards the killer like a whip, its suction cups lined with blackened spikes as its green eyes flashed like a hungry predator. Prana surged as Jack burst into action, swinging sky high as his tool of war cleaved through flesh as blood burst into the air before vaporizing into nothing more than ash.

As though he moved only once, dozens of slashes appeared across the colossal appendage. The killer flew by as perfectly sliced chunks of flesh fell into the waters below, superheated into instant cauterization as they sank to the murky depths.

Electric currents crashed through the waters with each step as the Liberian refused to slow for even a moment, each stomp faster, more potent than the last.

The rain fell harder, a drizzle turning into a torrent as the miasma interlaced with the clouds above.

While adjusted to his combat suit, the soldier wasn't used to this level of power; Doktor built his systems to have limitations and inhibitors installed to ensure his body wouldn't get damaged by excessive use.

The cyborg dropped low, sliding along his back as electric currents carried him forward, a tendril swiping mere inches above him, parting his hair as it passed by. The killer held his blade high as it tore through flesh, blood raining down, staining his white hair with splotches of red as he flipped back onto his feet, his momentum never dropping.

On some level, Raiden always hated his inhibitors; even when he was playing the hero under Maverick, it never sat well with him. Letting someone else dictate his strength and what he could do wasn't liberation; how could a soldier fight for freedom when they never knew it themselves?

Lightning flashed above through the darkness, illuminating the cyborg out of hell. His metallic form appeared as little more than a shadow surrounded by tendrils before red waves sliced them into oblivion as the figure took off once more, vanishing from sight.

The only reason to hold back is doubt; by refusing to follow your own path, not fighting your own wars, whether you realize it or not, you limit yourself.

The day he killed Armstrong had changed everything; by taking his heart, the killer had embraced the man's ideals, his will to fight. While the Senator was entirely mad, he knew to trust only himself, letting his own principles guide him; Jack would never let that lesson go; he became his own man.

His systems flashed to life as dozens of tendrils crashed to life ahead, trying to block his path forward; Jack's visor flashed a bright orange as static built up in his hands as his relentless push burned onwards.

Time slowed as the cyborg lurched back, palm open, fingertips pointed at his enemies as sparks flickered in the darkness.

Burn

In nanoseconds, lightning slammed through the rain, the droplets acting as a medium as raw energy boomed through the darkness like a javelin of light.

Flesh seared as screams howled into the night as demonic constructs charred instantly, their forms twisting and writhing as magically created nerves liquefied before turning into blackened ash, only to blast into nothingness as the Ripper crashed through.

Raiden manically grinned at their suffering, their agony fueling his onslaught.

As Jack tore his way through their remains, a thought came to mind, "You carve your own path, use whatever methods you see fit...You don't let legal bullshit get in the way. And if it costs a few lives? So be it... Deep inside, we're... kindred spirits... you... and I..."

Thunder boomed in the distance as the killer silently agreed; at one point, he would have never accepted it; that they were anything alike. But...Armstrong was right; Jack was beyond mercy, incapable of empathy for anyone he faced on the battlefield.

It was childish to deny the truth; Raiden was a killer, a murderer, just the same as any member of Desperado; it took a war against the world to realize that. But he was different; they fought out of greed, and they lost their touch with society, thinking that cyborgs were any better or worse than the rest of humanity.

They had sacrificed their morals, feelings, and relationships for power; it disgusted him. The mountains don't give back what they take; if you don't carry it all at once, you'll lose it for good. He was far more than the Ripper; Raiden was a father, a friend, and even a hero to some.

David had reminded him of his humanity, and he would never let him down, he had entrusted the samurai with the world, and he would see that mission through to the end for his friend, his family.

Jack would slaughter as many of the wicked as needed to protect the weak, he may have enjoyed killing, but he could direct his pain, use it for good, and carve a better world corpse by bloody corpse.

The ninja exhaled a cloud of superheated steam, his systems reorienting before diving back into the fray as sparks and torn limbs flew through the night.

The Lovecraftian monster roared as its flesh began to rumble, bubbling as spear-like tendrils shot like jagged arrows from its corrupted form.

Jack dodged and weaved between strikes, the blows crashing into the waters, droplets soaring into the air as Raiden flashed into action.

Murasama crashed into the assault, meeting each strike with targeted precision, flesh falling and burning as his cybernetics flared, power building in his augmented legs as the ninja ran faster with each step, rage fueling his drive.

"Why do you resist me so? Why push on when all is lost, when your God has abandoned you?"

Caster's voice echoed out from within the construct, amplified despite his form lying beneath several tons of biomass.

Static blew off Jack's form as the onslaught paused, obsidian-like shards emerging from across the creature before shooting towards the killer like bullets.

Sparks flashed and burned as he deflected each projectile, blades flying across the landscape, buildings crumbling as their windows shattered on impact.

His radar pinged as the killer grimaced; more civilians were standing along the riverbed, trying to comprehend the unknown creature assaulting their town. Bystander syndrome keeping them rooted in place; Jack's grip tightened; he needed to end this soon; otherwise, they'd be next.

Rotors swept into position as Raiden dropped low, power flashing into his legs as black waves interlaced with electric currents burst around his form.

The killer blasted off into the sky, deflecting projectiles as he soared through the air, his talons slamming Murasama's edge into the summon's body, metal tearing through flesh as the sword burned and seared its stolen flesh to ash.

Static blew off his form as the samurai defied gravity before taking off, rushing straight upwards, facing the night sky as the creature's colossal head and tentacle-like limbs towered overhead.

His enhanced sensors absorbed new information by the moment, calculating and formulating new battle plans as he charged, blood boiling into a fine red mist as his sword flashed in approval, sharing their bloodlust.

His form spun as Raiden lurched to the side, burning laps along the structure as he tore his way upward. His visor flashed as the veteran neared the peak of his newest mountain, his sword severing one of the colossal tendrils resting along the upper levels of the creature as he soared into the air.

The purple haze cleared as the stars shined overhead; the Liberian gritted his teeth as he gazed back down below. Flesh bubbled and burst as the Lovecraftian monstrosity healed within seconds, as though the damage had never happened.

Its head ruptured as thousands of black spines shot out, darkening the mist into a black abyss of death as they neared the mercenary.

His sword flashed and burned through hardened flesh like noth- DING

CRACK

The severed limb had reformed, swinging from behind, slamming into his metallic form as the force blew the killer straight into the onslaught from below.

Hardened spears slammed across his armored chassis, digging into his synthetic flesh as Jack flew off across the sky, the world spinning out of control.

Time slowed as his systems flashed to life, assessing the damage, artificial blood drizzling below like rain as the city skyline bobbed and weaved as he flipped over and over.

A storefront neared as gravity pulled the multi-ton killer down toward the ground as he slammed into the pavement, bouncing like a rock before crashing straight through a shop window, the building collapsing on impact, burying him in the rubble.

...

Kariya dodged and weaved between crowds of swarming citizens, running straight towards the fray as bystanders fled for their lives. The Matou's bleach-white hair frayed in the midnight breeze as he ran with everything his beleaguered form had.

The magus winced as he passed dead bodies lining the streets, their faces contorted in agony before their sudden demise. He never had a penchant for blood and violence; the man had fled his family's iron grip despite his latent magical abilities.

Just because you could do something doesn't mean you should; magecraft led to a life of suffering, a world of rules, and regulations, forcing children to follow the "family line" without any say themselves.

Sweat poured down his scarred face as the Master threw down his hood, uncaring for what the passing crowds thought of him.

Kariya's skin pulsated in agony as each step sent waves through his nerves, driving the worms beneath his skin into a feeding frenzy.

The Matou gritted his teeth as his eyes slammed shut from the pain, feeling himself getting eaten alive as he ran, but the magus pressed on through the crowds.

If he had known what Zouken would do to Sakura, the heir never would have left; his nieces meant too much to him, but stopping Caster meant far more than just their lives.

It broke his heart to see how distraught Rin was over nearly losing her friends to these maniacs; he swore to never let her down again. His sole lens steeled itself back to life, the haze fading away as the moonlight above illuminated his form.

Distant sounds grew clearer, his line of sight catching glimpses of action nearby.

Lightning blew through the air, followed by guttural screeches of agony echoing across the urban landscape. The magus could feel his prana draining away with each iteration as the flow of combat relentlessly pushed on.

The Master-Servant bond was strange; the Matou simply knew Jack was in the fight, as though the information entered his mind on its own.

The pain grew worse by the second; each moment that his energy drained away drove the worms to feast to replenish themselves, yet Kariya pushed through the pain, ignoring the searing pulses billowing through his system; his pace never faltered.

His sneakers dragged along concrete as he took a sharp turn, the river coming into view. Time froze as what seemed as though hell had come into life flashed into reality.

A purple mist clouded his line of sight; the magus gazed up to see a towering behemoth, the likes of which he had never seen, as though it came from Cthulu's mythos itself.

Its shadowed form, hidden beyond the veil, loomed over the city, its tentacle-like limbs flicking about, forcing strong winds to collide with the withered magus as he stood still, gawking at the impossible sight.

The mage froze, lightly shaking as an unspeakable chill ran down his spine; why was he here? What could he...a failure... do to stop something like this?

Lightning roared from beneath the creature's form as agonized shrieks emanated from within the cloud of haze; his sole eye came back to life as red waves soared through the night sky, flying flesh as it dissipated into nothingness.

A figure soared through the night, sparks reigning as they deflected an insurmountable number of projectiles before slamming onto the creature's form, static blowing the fog away.

As his line of sight cleared, a metallic form burst to life, taking off as flesh and gore flowed down with each step, carving a trail of death straight upward as roars echoed through the land. His mind clicked in realization.

Jack...Kariya gripped his bad arm as he watched his Servant charge headfirst into battle, without fear as he fought a demon out of hell.

It took him a moment to even identify his Servant, the Matou had only ever seen his human form, but even from this distance, he could recognize the metallic shape he had seen in his dreams through their connection.

He watched on as the man tore through each attack with ease, colossal tendrils flashing with red lines before dispersing into nothingness, their remains not even reaching the water before the cyborg launched into another assault.

The magus took a breath, exhaling a small trail of white steam as it whisked away into the cold air, rising into nonexistence. He had spent his entire life running from responsibilities, and his actions had dragged Sakura into Zouken's madness.

Kariya took a hesitant step forward, then another.

He knew he would die soon, but that didn't matter; the Matou didn't care about legacy, about being remembered.

Images of Aoi, Rin, and Sakura flashed through his mind as he forced his body to move. His mind settled on his purple-headed niece, the desolate look of despair driven into her very soul, her hopeless status draining all life from the girl; he promised to make her happy again.

He wanted a better world for them, a place where his nieces could reunite...as family, that was his wish, his only desire to use what little life he had left to achieve.

His slow pace turned into a brisk walk toward the hell ahead. His eyes flashed toward his command seals as the Master passed beneath a flickering street light, its orange glow illuminating its jagged red edges as the pattern danced across his pale white hand.

The magus had a purpose, a reason to fight, and the means to enforce it. His gaze flashed up as a severed tendril, easily the size of a small house, crashed into the water, blasting waves in all directions interlaced with blood and viscera.

Jack launched into the skies above as his Master observed his craft.

Raiden was his partner, his sole ally in this war...and it was time for the Master to carry his own weight.

Kariya's brisk walk turned into a sprint as he took off toward the fight.

As the mage approached, he gazed up, seeing a bright blue light flying through the sky, growing closer by the second...is that...Jac-

CRACK

Dust blew across the sidewalk as a metallic form slammed into the paved road, the hardened material cracking and flying off on impact as the Servant bounced along before crashing straight through a storefront.

BOOOM

The Matou shielded his face as glass and rubble collapsed in a heap, burying the cyborg as the force blew debris into the wind, blinding him for a moment.

Kariya grimaced as silence reigned; he waited a moment for the rubble to settle before taking a hesitant step forward, his shirt pulled over his mouth with his free hand.

ZZZT

Kariya winced as sparks crackled from the pile before the ground began to rumble, his legs shaking as he tried to keep his withered form upright.

The rubble began to violently shake and jump before red slashes danced across where the doors once stood, now nothing more than chunks of concrete and glass.

BOOOOM

An unseen force blasted into the pile, shooting several hundred-pound rocks blasting over the river as they skipped like pebbles before sinking to the depths below.

The Master lowered his hand as the dust cleared; he heard thudding footsteps emerging from within the former structure, a familiar metallic figure trudging his way out of the mountain of rebar and rock, Raiden.

The Matou paused as he took in his Servant's appearance; it seemed far more daunting in person to see what a cyborg truly was beneath the surface.

Jack stood tall, his figure illuminated by the bright street lamps above, his black metallic armor shining as blue sparks crackled off into the cold air. Midnight black shards embedded across his armored chassis, digging deep as blood flowed around them, although he showed no signs of pain. His exposed metallic jaw audibly clicked as it settled into place, the sight causing Kariya to shudder.

Just how augmented was he?

The sound of scraping metal drew his gaze down, seeing boot-like appendages with silver-lined talons clicking along the walkway where his feet should be...Christ.

The magus shook the thought away; it wasn't the time or place to question these things, nor did Raiden seem the type to talk about them anyway.

The veteran cracked his neck as he walked, his internal systems listing his parameters as he reached a free hand toward his shoulder, taking hold of one of the spikes that dug into his synthetic veins. The killer gritted his teeth as his knuckles audibly popped, pulling the spine out as blood flowed down his arm, the projectile clanging to the floor.

He had dealt with far worse; cyborgs could take far more damage than most humans could even dream of; they were built to fight armies, and it would take far more to put him down.

As the wound healed shut, a violent hacking and coughing spree to the side caught the cyborg's attention.

His visor flashed as he spotted his "Master" standing there, holding a hand over his chest as his skin pulsated and writhed as though something was slithering beneath the surface...what the fuck?

Raiden trudged his way out of the rubble, pieces of the structure collapsing behind his multi-ton form as he walked out onto the street.

He sighed; concern was not a high priority for the mercenary; people could handle their own affairs just as he handled his, but watching as droplets of blood drizzled from his ally's hand, he had to ask.

"You good?"

The magus caught himself, taking in air as his gaze slowly drew upward, lightly coughing as he stood back upright, wiping blood from his chin with his good hand, "should be asking you that, what happened up there?"

Jack's brow furrowed as he slammed Murasama back in its sheathe, his visor scanning the creature above as it slowly shifted through the water, "Caster got the jump on me; it won't happen again."

His metallic fists balled up as he tried to formulate a plan; that thing regenerated too fast, and every strike he had made was already gone like it never happened in the first place.

Electricity roared across his form as the force slowly pulled the remaining projectiles out of his body, artificial blood following their path before sealing the wounds shut. Jack sighed as the last one clanged to the ground, rotating his arm into position, more a hindrance than a source of pain, but he needed to be at his best.

Kariya winced in discomfort as purple flames lit up across his Servant's form, resealing his injuries before disappearing as whisks of energy. The magus lightly swayed but stayed upright; the fight wasn't close to over; he needed to get his head in the game.

Black smoke billowed off Raiden's form as he popped his shoulders into place; the killer sighed as his rotors shot back into working order; he might as well bring Kariya up to speed; he knows more about magic anyways.

"Caster needs bodies to make those things, my guess? We have one shot at stopping him before he reaches the city."

The magus took a calming breath as the worms settled back into place, his false magical circuits flowing once more. His black lens gazed up, studying the giant summon; Jack had a point; Zouken had taught him just enough about their family line to know some kinds of magic cost a lot more than others. Prices he would never pay, the moral cost too high.

Kariya ran a hand through his white hair as he ran through the numbers in his head. In theory, that behemoth could stick around forever, even if Caster died... if it had enough people to feed on, how many victims did it take to form that thing? He winced at the thought.

There wasn't much time to talk; they needed to act if they had any chance of saving his nieces and the city. The Matou wasn't a hero, but he stood next to one; they both had a role to play.

"This might be a long shot, but...do you think you could take that thing down?"

Raiden clicked his tongue in thought, taking a step toward the water's edge, raising a metallic finger toward the entity, "Caster's in the middle of that fucking thing; I'd need a straight shot at him, even then... the thing regenerates so fast I would have to go at my top speed."

The mage raised his hand, exposing his command seals, "If we used one of these, think you could pull it off?"

The PMC grimaced; the command seals never sat well with him; no one has the right to dictate what others do. He gritted his teeth in frustration; his hands clenched as the killer stared down at the ground before gazing up at the abomination ahead; there was no choice; they had to do this.

Jack grazed a hand over Murasama's case, a light red spark racing off the tool of war and over his hand, almost as though it were reassuring him. He sighed, "Yeah...I could do it..."

The magus flicked his hand up, "then-"

Jack shook his head, "Wait..." The killer ran simulations in his enhanced mind, with so many possibilities, too many risks where they were. The cyborg couldn't fight this thing at full force with so many civilians in the way. If he made a single mistake...it was over.

His mind settled on a plan, leaving him as the sole risk; if he failed, that would be it for him, but it left a chance for one of the other Servants to pick up his mess.

His visor flashed orange as he turned toward his false Master, "Not yet...I need to get it in position; you'll know when to use it."

Tendrils burst to life from the creature as they slowly shot toward the shoreline where they stood. Kariya watched as Jack slowly trudged toward the water, waves splashing across his boots as he stood off against impossible odds.

The magus glanced up toward the abomination before dropping his gaze to his feet, he should be scared, terrified, running for his life, yet here he was, partnered up with an actual cyborg out to fight a demon capable of wiping out the human race.

The Matou chuckled, not even noticing at first; the situation just seemed too obscene. Kariya had seen the Raiden's memories and witnessed some of the conflicts the Servant had endured; they were polar opposites. Jack was always diving headfirst into new wars while the magus ran away, making it someone else's problem.

The man righted himself as he heard screams of fear in the distance; so much was on the line here; it wasn't about trying anymore, no...he had a family to protect. He looked up as Jack pointed his sword towards the center of the summon's mass, lining up his target once more; a question came to mind.

Kariya took a slow breath. "That's all it takes for you?... a half-baked plan, and you're all in?" he gripped his bad arm as a new pulse of pain traveled down the nonfunctional limb, "Jack...How do you just...walk into hell without a care in the world?"

The cyborg faced off toward the beast beyond the pale as pressure built in his augmented limbs, power coursing through his form once again as his systems aligned their trajectory.

A roar billowed as its flesh contorted, bursting into pus-like fluids as new limbs emerged across its body, as though it were a flower of gore, rising towards the stars above.

Jack paused for a brief moment, pondering the question.

How can he act without fear? His hidden synthetic eyes flashed blue as old memories resurfaced.

Raiden fought on Outer Haven almost on a whim; he just didn't care anymore if he lived or died; why bother? The Patriots turned him into a monster, and he lived like one; hell, he wanted to die there, to leave his mess for someone else...trying to do one good thing with his tormented life.

His friend had brought him back to reality; he'd never forget those simple words that meant the world to him. David's withered features, his hazy voice... his genetics forced him to age well beyond his years, but that wasn't what he spoke from; the man endured a life of suffering...so others could live free.

"You still have your youth...don't waste it...you can start over... from here on...this is my fight..."

Lightning flashed through the sky as thunder boomed overhead, almost as though something was calling to him; although the cyborg couldn't tell what, it was just a feeling, fleeting yet there, as though he were missing pieces of the puzzle.

He took his place in that war, making sure not a single enemy got through, so David could sacrifice what little life he had left in that microwave tunnel. But it was his choice; Snake knew where his story needed to end and sought it with everything he had left; Jack had nothing but respect for that.

Their paths parted, both absolutely sure the other would succeed, no matter what.

Raiden tore through those men like nothing, his only weapon a sword between his synthetic teeth, no arms, no backup, and on low power. But he realized something as the warrior fought on with every scrap he had left in him.

Every man fought for a cause bigger than himself; some were never truly certain what they fought for...if they ever even believed in the words they preached...but one thing remained the same on the battlefield as men died for concepts that would live beyond their days so long as they weren't erased back to zero...

His metallic hands gripped his weapon as he lowered his head, wind billowing through his bleach-white hair as he took a stance like a samurai of old as lightning danced across his form.

Thunder boomed like a drumbeat from the heavens above as Jack braced for a new round of combat, new parameters in mind.

"Sometimes...you just need to have faith."

Raiden took off in a flash, augmented limbs roaring over the water as electricity shot through the waves, becoming a beacon of light in the darkness as he charged.

The tendrils changed course, shooting straight at him; time slowed as his visor flashed to life, glowing an intricate orange as it mapped his path.

His worldview expanded, droplets of rainwater frozen in place as though time itself had stopped, lightning mid arc flying above the shrouded mists below.

His sensors pinged movement across the board, too many civilians standing around; his gaze flashed downward, spotting unknown masses beneath the water, stuck in place as his processors burned into overdrive.

This ramshackle plan had so many snags; the Liberian needed to get Caster away from the city, but that was easier said than done, but he had an idea.

Jack flipped Murasama into the air, catching its glowing edge along his metallic fingers as he brought it closer, the device mere inches from his visor as it audibly hummed.

His exposed jaw clicked as it opened, slamming shut along the weapon's grip as he launched off the waves in a blast of energy, water caving into a momentary crater as the killer, out of time, flew sky-high.

The purple haze grew lighter once more as Raiden glanced up, spotting a colossal appendage, puss and blood oozing from its newly formed pores as it remained frozen in place mind swing.

The warrior lurched around, slamming his boots straight into the flesh construct as droplets of blood and gore dotted the air around him.

Jack brought his arms together in an arrow, readying himself for what must have been his worst plan yet. Cyborgs weighed several tons, they were waterproof, but that didn't mean they could float.

The metallic Servant popped his neck in anticipation as he lowered into a crouch, not knowing what awaited below.

The mercenary knew fully well that he was giving up his one advantage, his speed, by doing this. His hidden eyes flashed red; it didn't matter, the killer wanted Caster dead, and he'd savor the pain if it meant shredding that fucker alive.

His metallic chassis shook as the cyborg chuckled; his ethereal red sword vibrated between his synthetic jaw in agreement, anticipating the slaughter to come.

The veteran fought for what was right, but he knew damn well that he just loved to kill, watching the life fade from his victims' eyes as they stared at him in absolute terror; oh, he loved every fucking second of it; Giles would suffer, Jack promised that much.

Electricity crackled around his talons as he forcibly crouched low atop the gore scattered surface, gravity trying to pull him down from his perch without success.

Raiden fought for justice, but his own version of it, not perverted by what others wanted him to be. This was the right thing to do, yeah, he'd admit that, but part of him just wanted to hear Caster scream in terror, to know what it was like for his victims.

Jack laughed in anticipation as he took a deep breath; let's dance!

In a burst of energy, the cyborg slammed beneath the waves, his electric currents anchoring him in place. The darkness loomed ahead as the Raiden blew off pressure in a cloud of superheated steam, blowing off towards the safety above.

His visor flared as it switched between lenses, his vision reorienting to the darkness as it scanned his surroundings, his software creating artificial constructs to match his environment, seeing without really seeing.

His lens zoomed below, catching a glimpse of a human torso, a woman, little more than a head torn and mutated beyond belief; her pale skin stretched into a frozen cry of agony as what was left of her black hair flowed down into the mire below.

Jack swam below the body without a sound as water boiled around his augmented form; there was nothing he could do for the dead but end this madness at the source.

DING DING DING

In an instant, the killer spat Murasama into the water, the glowing blade illuminating the darkness as he spun, water whirling around him as he caught his weapon as it fell.

Behind

His blade carved straight through the woman's skull, HF steel melting what remained of her brain as green pustule-like eyes dilated and writhed before going still.

Her pale skin briefly rumbled as unseen creatures melted on impact before going still, the body once again drifting off to the depths below.

Jack growled in fury as a stream of bubbles rose towards the surface as he whirled back around, facing his target.

His sensors pinged; Caster's summon was just less than a few hundred meters out, slowly drawing closer; his visor flashed orange, good.

The killer took off in a pulse of energy, swimming through the dark abyss as flesh slithered around him in all directions, yet none struck out, allowing the cyborg to pass by.

Jack huffed, a stream of air escaping his metallic jaw as blue sparks briefly crackled away in the darkness. Caster could have attacked him from all sides, not that it mattered; he'd tear his way through hell if it meant flaying that fucker alive. But, there was a clear MO, something he had seen before.

Raiden slowly sank as he pressed on, his multi-ton form weighing itself down toward the riverbed below. Bodies floated in the darkness, their skin slowly dissolving into purple piles of biomass to add to Caster's summon, disgusting.

Caster let Jack find him; that much was clear, just like Mistral, seeking him out, thinking they were anything alike. That mistake cost her life.

A figure slowly loomed in the distance as a colossal shadow, extending in all directions, almost there.

Jack chuckled at the thought; many had made that same mistake, trying to match what he was, and they all suffered the same fate. Watching her freeze and shatter like glass beneath his blade was something he never got sick of rewatching over and over again.

He drew closer, shifting shadows transforming into purple masses, twisting and shaking beneath the water like a tower of death, extending toward the skies above; the smog surrounding him grew darker in anticipation, knowing what was to come.

They never seemed to realize what they were getting into by finding him; murderers like Giles and Mistral butchered their way through innocents, but Jack? He loved to watch people like them suffer, to make them realize what they had done to others, then and only then would the cyborg let them die, alone, in agony.

As Raiden reached his target, the killer slammed into the murky riverbed, soft sand interlaced with blood and viscera shooting around him like a cloud. The pillar of death loomed above him as the cyborg slammed his weapon into its sheathe, holding the trigger in a deadlock.

Energy burst from Murasama's case, a blinding white light spreading through the mire as its grip shook from the output, not yet.

Caster's voice radiated through the waters, almost as though he were speaking directly into the cyborg's mind in an echo.

"Why don't you just give in? Surrender your soul to our collective, join our chorus; you shall suffer no more, I promise you...my friend."

Spears of hardened flesh shot out like a firing line of gore, shredding through the outer layers of the pillar as blood mixed with puss and unknown liquids splashed into the cold waters surrounding the summon.

Time slowed as Jack released his hold; Murasama shot out of its hold like a torpedo into his waiting hand, its edge glowing like a beacon in the abyss as he swung hard, ignoring the currents trying to restrict his movements.

Water charred and broiled as a superheated slash of red light tore through bone-like limbs before crashing into the base of Caster's summon, squeals echoing around the cyborg, his white hair whisking about in all directions as the river vibrated.

Raiden shot forward, reaching the base of the structure as the creature began to reshape its damaged flesh, not yet.

The killer shot into the gap, his boots landing on the soft riverbed in a thud; the cyborg gazed up to see a torrent of purple biomass looming above, time to test his plan.

Jack raisedMurasama diagonally above his head, its scorching-red edge searing through gore as thousands of tons of weight crashed into him at once.

DING-DING-DING

Skin burst and peeled as Caster responded in force, tendrils stretching far out before crashing toward his sunken metallic form.

Jack gritted his teeth as tendrils lashed across his armored chassis, digging into his skin again and again as Caster's voice echoed throughout his dark grave beneath the waves.

"Why do you fight? Why not give in to your hatred?"

Bubbles escaped his air filters as a new onslaught dug trenches across his armor, sparks illuminating the void surrounding him in flashes of light before disappearing into blackness once more.

Bump-Bump

...

Wind billowed through Kariya's white hair as the creature slammed down, blasting water and blood across the riverbed. The summon stopped moving, at least toward the shore for a moment; whatever Jack was doing down there seemed to be working for now.

The magus watched as the summon shook and bellowed as it fought his Servant below the waves, sparks flicking toward the surface with each strike it sent downward. It seemed almost cheesy; just having faith in something would let you fight something like that?

If he hadn't seen his memories, Kariya would have dismissed the idea outright, yet, every time he saw a piece of Jack's life, it was rarely just him; there was always someone else working with him, toward...something...he still had a lot of gaps to fill, but he noticed the trend after a few days.

The Matou gripped his good fist shut, watching as something lightly shifted beneath his skin; as a Master, he had his own role to play, but they had just met, and Jack put that much trust in him? Why?

Uncertainty plagued him; they had one shot at bringing Caster down with minimal casualties; they had to do this right...what if-

Bump-Bump

A pulse ran through his body, a foreign sensation as though a message had gone through; no choice but to try, right?

The Matou trudged towards the shore, raising a hand as he steadied himself; the Master raised his command seals toward the fray, one of the three jagged lines glowing beneath the moonlight, contrasting against his pale, withered arm.

Kariya took in the world around him, the hazy fog ahead, the monsters that could tear and mutate human beings on contact, waiting to kill them all. The city stood behind him; retreat was an option, he could run and leave this all behind, but he wouldn't, not anymore.

Kariya could never understand Raiden; everything was a complicated mystery with him, his life, his morals, it all blended into a weird tapestry he called his ally.

Questions burned through his mind; why was Raiden throwing himself into this without a thought? What kind of rational person does that?

The Master and Servant were like night and day, but both fought this war for the same reason, to save his niece, an innocent life caught up in all this, so that she wouldn't endure a similar fate-

Kariya looked towards his feet as he took one slow step after another, so...that was it, huh?

The mage lightly smirked at the thought; it seemed so simple but so obscure. He'd lived a life of forced isolation, away from his father, away from the truth of the world, trying to live an ordinary life, if one was ever even possible for him. Bloodlines damned children to the miseries of magic studies, forced into conflicts and feuds against their will, but...that could change...with them.

The Matou lightly smirked as he brought his thumb and middle finger together, a command coming to mind.

"Alright... I'll trust you on this one, Jack."

*Snap

...

The world slowly hazed as Jack endured blow after blow, water beginning to leak into his suit as obsidian shards slammed into him like spines with each impact. Caster's assault was unrelenting as the man taunted him from above.

"Why don't you just let go? God loves all things, including your hatred, for why else would he give such feelings otherwise?"

Jack's arms held firm as his legs sank into the mire below, the soft sand not giving him enough footing to stay upright. His form shook in rage with each word; just shut the fuck up.

"Why don't you just admit your faults and embrace your calling? You are the Ripper, are you not?-Why do you hold on to your humanity when they have done nothing more than demonize you, as they did unto me?"

Why?

Bump-Bump

Why does he hold on? Why does he keep whole? The answer was simple but enough for him.

...

Pause Song

...

His blue eyes flashed open, scanning his surroundings as he lay on his side, facing out an open window to the world beyond; birds chirped along with their young, resting along the green trees as life went on.

He slowly shifted in discomfort, adjusting to regaining his nerves, his sense of touch, something the patriots had stolen from him.

The cyborg gripped the pale white sheets beneath his resting form, their silken texture sending waves through his systems, reminding him that he was truly alive.

Machinery buzzed as sensors checked his synthetic vitals, brainwaves, his false heartbeat, and each breath monitored for disruptions.

He remembered this, waking up in that hospital after Outer Haven, taking David's words to heart. They had offered to bring a sense of normality to his destroyed life, and after a lot of thought, he went through with the operation.

Jack had always hated hospitals after what the Patriots did to him, ripping him limb from limb, forcing him to watch as they tore him apart, just to shove what was left in that metal husk...

But...Snake was right; he needed to live...to find a new purpose...

The soldier raised a hand, studying his newly grafted skin, something he often took for granted now, but at the time? It meant the world to feel anything again.

He lay there, basking in the early morning sun as it glared through the window in a gentle dim orange light, too sensitive to put his shirt back on, sensations overwhelming. The killer lay motionless, slowly readjusting to his rediscovered humanity.

A click caught his attention; Raiden groaned as his skin stretched and bent as he leaned upright; he settled into place, his elbows propping him up as metallic lines danced across his pale visage.

The door slowly creaked open, a face appearing through the foggy glass along the top as a familiar figure stepped through. Rose, it hurt the cyborg to even look at her, but his gaze stayed on the woman he once loved.

Her pale skin, perfect brown hair, and how she held herself made his artificial heart flutter against his wishes.

Plastic crinkled as she pulled a bouquet of flowers along into the room, the material dragging along the doorway as she slowly entered.

Their eyes met, two seas of blue, one tumultuous, uncertain, the other hesitant yet loving.

Rose paused a brief moment before pulling a small hand through the door; Jack paused as a small boy with nearly bleach white hair followed her in. The youth stopped as he entered, staring up at the killer as he lay there.

Jack huffed in disbelief, believing the boy to be Campbell's; it hurt more than he could describe knowing she had left him. He grimaced as he slumped back down, staring at the ceiling as she guided the boy forward.

He faced the window, unable to even look at her as she spoke.

"Jack, how are you feeling?"

Rose's voice echoed like honey in his ears, he hated it, knowing what she did to him, but some part of him still cared, unable to let go of what they had together.

It was childish; he knew that now, but his mind was unclear, so he just ignored her, hoping the problem would disappear. In hindsight, Raiden felt lucky a woman like her could ever love someone as flawed as him.

"Do you mind if I sit down?"

The veteran watched her reflection in a nearby mirror as she set her flowers down on a table before taking a seat, the boy huddling close to her.

Why was she here? Just to torment him? To make him feel worse about himself?

"Jack..."

Silence reigned before Rose shot up, leaning over him as the cyborg stared out the window. She was always a firecracker whenever she needed him to understand something.

"Don't shut me out. I need you to listen to me."

He took a breath; Jack knew all too well Rose wasn't going anywhere without saying what she needed to get off her chest; she had forced her way into his life since the day they met, and that never changed.

"What do you want?... Come to laugh at me?"

She lightly gasped, shaking her head in denial as her brown hair fluttered about, "No..."

Rose paused before gently pulling the boy hidden behind her form forward. Her hands rested along his shoulders as she desperately looked at the cyborg.

"Look...Look at the boy."

Jack's blue eyes flicked towards the mirror, glancing the boy over, his pale skin and blue eyes mirroring his mother's. Something seeming all too familiar the longer he looked, he turned away, pushing the thoughts out of his mind.

"Cute...Campbell's kid?"

Rose took a breath, her brow furrowing as emotions flared, "No!...he's yours."

Raiden refused to believe it; she had to be lying to him, as she'd done before...

"I don't have any kids..."

Rose closed her eyes in frustration before gripping Raiden's shoulders, trying to pull him around. He could have stayed there, and she would never have moved him an inch, he weighed far too much for an average human to budge, but something in him just...let her, as though a small part of him wanted to know the truth.

Her pale hands gently gripped his shoulders as her face hovered inches above his own, her fierce gaze staring into his soul.

"He's your son!"

His jaw went slack; a son? His mind raced, almost unable to form a sentence.

"But...you said miscarriage..."

Rose's eyes watered as her lip gently quivered, "I lied...I had a healthy baby boy."

Jack stared on as she gently brought the boy forward; how had he not noticed? The kid was almost his clone, even inheriting his gravity-defying hairstyle...

The veteran froze up briefly; him a father? Raiden didn't know what to do...he didn't deserve to raise a child when he had destroyed so much...yet, there he stood, his own flesh and blood... watching him...

"Roy pretended to be my husband...to protect me...and our son...only until you completed your mission. To shield us from Patriot eyes."

His heart thudded to life in his chest, his mind wandering; it almost seemed too good to be true. Was it all an act...to keep their child safe?

"What?"

Newfound strength flowed through him as the ninja slowly sat up; as Rose stared at him with such a look of affection, something he hadn't seen in years.

"He didn't even tell Meryl. He sacrificed everything... Even his family, to protect us."

His mechanical components clicked beneath his skin as they rotated into position, letting him sit upright. Raiden stared down in disbelief as his son met his gaze, a look of wonder across his tiny face.

"I don't believe it."

Rose gently stepped toward him, her eyes beginning to water, "I'm sorry, Jack. I wanted to tell you."

His voice got caught in his throat; the warrior expected a life of pain and misery even after the surgery; this just seemed like a happy ending in one of his films, everything he ever wanted.

"So he's really?"

Rosemary gently put her hands on the boy's shoulders, trying to scoot him forward, "John...aren't you going to say hello?"

Jack lightly smiled as the boy remained silent, just staring at him.

"My son...Little John."

He gently raised a hand, reaching out, wanting to hug his only child for the first time as the boy hesitantly jumped back.

The cyborg grimaced as he put his feet to the ground, the sunlight illuminating his artificial visage as he looked on in disappointment with himself.

"Scared of me, huh?... I don't blame you..."

"uh-uh, I'm not scared."

His eyes shot up, hearing a small voice; the first time the soldier had ever listened to his son speak, it brought such a feeling of joy, something he could never describe.

"I think you're cool...kinda like a comic book superhero."

Rose took a shaky breath, smiling in awe as their child accepted their father without question, gently guiding him towards Jack.

Compassion wasn't a common thing in Raiden's life; his adoptive father taught him to wage war and never to live in peace. But...seeing the love of his life smiling at him as she approached with his child made him want to try, to embrace a part of him the man had bottled up for years, his humanity.

Raiden gently pulled his son into a hug; that word felt unreal, something the killer never thought he'd have the honor to say.

He closed his eyes as his suppressed emotions flowed through him.

"Rose...I'm done running."

The cyborg gently raised his son into the air, the sunlight illuminating the boy's tiny face, reminding him that the future was still bright; he had a life ahead of him with his family.

He sat John on his knee as the love of his life gently put a hand on his shoulder.

His eyes met hers as tears ran down Rose's flawless features, neither uncertain any longer; both filled with the compassion they once had in their life together, something they would have for the rest of their days.

"And I'm...no longer afraid."

Raiden smiled as he pulled his family into a gentle hug, holding Rose tight as she cried onto his shoulder.

"I'll never leave you alone again."

...

Resume Song

...

Kariya watched on, his arm still held ahead as the waves went still, time seemingly unmoving as the summon's thrashing came to a standstill, huh?

Kariya grimaced as he heard the sounds of shifting water, gazing up to see the demon rumbling in place as the surrounding waters began to bubble.

The blackened waters began to glow as the stream of heated air shifted, the liquid emanating a bright blue glow as arcs of lightning burst from below the waves.

Water vaporized into superheated steam, blue sparks dancing across the surface as the creature's form shook from beneath as its tendrils slammed down towards the abyss, uselessly attacking an entity below.

The water levels dropped as the monstrous summon slowly rose into the air, steam blasting off at impossible levels as the river evaporated before his sole functional eye.

Thunder boomed overhead as black smog shot out like a torrent, static blasting out in a luminous blue glow as a familiar metallic visage appeared within the dissipating waves.

Raiden gritted his teeth as power surged through his systems, forcing himself from the sediment below as he trudged forward one step at a time.

The ground hardened beneath each superheated step, only to implode as several hundred thousand tons of weight smashed down from above.

BOOM...BOOM...BOOM

Each step sounded like a cannon shot as the cyborg's metallic grip dug further in, tearing through flesh as tendrils lashed across his form, his synthetic blood flaking off with each strike as chunks of armor blasted off with each attack.

It felt like he was being crushed; the Liberian could feel his grafted body bending from the force above, his elbows locked as the soldier raised his arms higher and higher.

As though he were Atlas, holding the world above his head, the weight just too much to bear, Jack persisted as his white hair billowed in the winds.

His visor cracked as pressure tried to force him down, only for his cybernetic musculature to keep him upright. The device exploded across the riverbed, blackened fragments reflecting the moonlight as they fell, revealing his blood-red gaze beneath the machine-like facade.

Rage drove him forward; his metallic jaw deadlocked in place as he gritted his teeth, hearing the material creaking, threatening to give way.

Who does he believe in?

Superheated air billowed from his filters as he broke through his limits, forcing his augmented form to further heights as he shook with untold fury.

Whether it's God or something else, Jack would claw his own path forward, choosing his own destiny, never letting anyone dictate his life, a slave no longer.

The killer slammed his heels into the earth, rocks and dust blasting into the air as lightning fried them into nothing more than blackened ash in the breeze as the rain overhead turned into a downpour.

Liquid water danced down his metallic form as the cyborg leaned back, slowly rotating on his heels as the monster above began to spin along with him.

Why does he fight?

Standing by...letting tyranny go by unpunished is just as bad as taking power yourself...the warrior would never let people suffer against the whims of their oppressors.

His friends...his enemies...all had worked towards breaking his chains, the ties that bound him to false ideals, nailed to his own proverbial cross of lies.

Humanity was a cycle of the strong trying to oppress the weak, only to be overthrown by the people, just for a similar figure to rise up eventually.

Raiden would tear that path from the roots, erase it all back to zero, and carve a new world with his own two hands where his son could live in peace.

His systems flashed warnings across his eyes as energy roared off his form.

Warning: Structural Integrity Compromised...Please-

The warrior growled as he forced them away with a mental command, his rotation growing faster and faster, the creature's spin parting the river as its velocity reached new heights by the moment.

Why does he live on?

His arms audibly cracked as Caster formed more biomass from the wastewaters, trying to crush the Berserker beneath as he roared in defiance.

Jack might enjoy the act of killing, slaughtering his enemies without a care in the world, taking pleasure in their suffering, forcing them to endure increments of his own agony.

But there was more to it than just that.

Raiden might be a monster, a killer, or a murderer, but he would always fight for the future to protect the world for his family, John called him a hero, and he would never let him down.

Buildings cracked and imploded as tendrils slammed into their stone structures again and again as Raiden's form blew winds through the night.

The world could hate him, despise his existence, and he would push on without a single regard for what anyone thought. Solidus had raised him in hell, and he reflected it; it was who he really was, his nature.

The Ripper...a name he once rejected, but now?

Power exploded into his legs as the riverbed imploded. The cyborg launched into the night sky, carrying the behemoth above his form as he flew above the masses, soaring even higher than Archer as the man watched with an interested grin from his golden throne as though this were the highest form of entertainment.

Caster would know fear.

His sensors aligned with his trajectory as Jack's shoulders locked up, letting go as Caster went soaring off, over the city and towards the ocean, wind visibly billowing off his summon's form.

The Liberian rocketed down in a burst of energy, slamming down as he watched the waves come crashing back toward him.

His systems flashed as Caster's flight path aligned with his trajectory, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Murasama shot out of its sheathe and into his waiting hands as he dropped into a runner's stance, rocks levitating behind him as electricity roared into the night.

The waves formed a veritable ramp as they hit the riverbed; his eyes flashed as the demon fell into place.

Go.

The Liberian shot off like a bullet, his momentum launching him off a falling wave as he blew through the city.

Buildings flashed by in an instant; he saw innocents, men, women, and children watching in confusion as a cyborg lost in time crashed toward several hundred thousand tons of rage-filled flesh in the distance.

He blurred into little more than a shot of lightning blitzing through the city as he neared Caster's summon, his coarse? A straight shot to the Servant within the beast.

Processors burned in his augmented mind as he deflected everything the beast desperately threw his way. Sharpened spines and hardened, spear-like tendrils scorched away with each slash from his HF blade.

He neared the monster's fleshy stomach as it twisted and churned before his very eyes; this ends now.

His mind slowed as he entered blade mode, slicing through flesh and gore as the demonic entity helplessly blew through the air, the spellbook unable to keep up any longer.

Raiden tore a melting hole straight through the beast as Murasama spun into a vibrant ring of death, thousands of slashes within nanoseconds as the relentless blade shredded toward its target.

Purple flesh gave way to pink pustules before Raiden rocketed into the central chamber, Caster's form almost entirely embedded within the flesh as energy coursed through the cyborg's systems.

The mage could only see vibrant red slashes appearing along the walls of his holy sanctum before they crumbled away as a metallic figure covered in a roaring black flame forced its way in like a demon out of hell.

"Impossible, my fait-"

Jack flew toward his target, his legs superheating from raw energy as they began to glow red; the killer lunged a foot back, slamming forward with everything he had.

Flesh blistered and boiled as his talons slammed straight through Gile's stomach, his ribs turning to ash, the force blasting him out of his rooted position as blood splattered from his mouth, his organs liquifying into little more than paste on impact.

The murderer flew back, the energy blasting him through the back walls of his chamber, digging through his summon's body as heavy steps boomed, flesh squelching with each impact as a hunter pursued his prey.

The beast roared as Giles exploded out of its back and into the night sky as the Liberian out of hell soared after him, a trail of black miasma interlaced with a red aura following his form.

Jack leaped out of the beast, the blast searing the fleshy ground, tearing through the sky as he manically laughed in excitement, the sound piercing Caster's ears as the world whirled into nonexistence. His bug-like eyes remained still, unable to look away from the demon out for his blood.

The mage watched in slow motion as the killer neared him, his eyes and blade glowing the same menacing red as blood drizzled from his damaged metallic form, dents and scrapes leaking artificial liquids to the waters below.

Lightning flashed as two figures loomed overhead for a microsecond, somehow hovering behind Berserker in the air as though they had been watching the entire time.

One was a strange metallic creature the Frenchman had never seen, resembling a wolf yet different. Its body was midnight black, adorned with intricate gold markings along its underside and the various bolts lining its form. Its cord-like tail swished about as it grazed the dozens of knives aligned across its body. Its eyes glowed a bright red as it watched him.

The other figure, a man with tan features, holding a hand to his chin in interest as his smooth brown hair, pulled into a ponytail, swayed in the Northern Wind. He wore a strange grey suit interlaced with yellow plating, a metallic arm resting along an all too familiar sheathe.

The pair disappeared within a second, gone as soon as they arrived.

Jack swung hard, his first strike slamming through what was left of Giles's stomach and out the other side, splitting the man in two before the killer blurred into a flurry of strikes, the body becoming mincemeat as jagged red lines grew across his falling form.

Blood flowed before his eyes as Caster's world went dark.

End Song

...

The pain was gone, as though it had never existed.

A gentle line shined from above through a beautifully decorated stain glass window, its warmth caressing Giles' pale form.

His black gaze scanned his surroundings, a familiar architecture he had missed so dearly, that of his homeland in France, where he met the love of his life.

Intricate stoneworks aligned with ornate columns propped up an ever-rising ceiling, standing high above the former Lord. He took a hitched breath, feeling the eyes of his God above watching him in this holy place, this Cathedral.

A bronze statue of the Virgin Mary stood at the forefront of the altar ahead, beautiful crosses surrounding her immaculate figure. His faith had wavered, but his love for the Holy Mother knew no bounds; her calling reminded him ever so of-

He froze as his gaze settled on an all too familiar figure, standing in reverence to the Mother of Christ. Her long blonde hair cascaded down her slim figure, nearly reaching the floor in a long braid.

Tears built in his eyes as her ornate battledress, adorned in metal frames, graced him with their presence. Without a doubt, this was what he had always wished to see...his love...Jeanne...

The man remained unmoving; was he worthy to see her? Did she want to see him? What could she possibly think of a man like him?

Caster took a breath, his legs shaking as he tried to step forward-

CRACK

Pain shot through his leg as the mage's gaze dropped; the wooden floor beneath him had splintered as a mutilated hand from the depths below gripped his ankle, drawing blood as its black nails dug into his flesh.

Eh?

The floor burst and tore beneath him as more figures emerged, faces contorted in agony; his mind flashed in realization as he settled on their manic visages.

Mere children? No...his victims.

His footing gave way as they latched onto him; he screamed in pain as they tore through his cloak, teeth, and nails ripping his flesh apart as a burst of flames roared to life below.

Giles' form slowly sank as he watched the love of his life slowly turn, tears streaming down his face as his mouth hung open.

Her perfect blue eyes were squinted, tears streaming toward the floor as though she couldn't stomach the sight of him. Her face contorted into a grimace, looking at him with such grief, something he had never seen from the pure maiden.

The world burned around him as memories of his actions flooded into his mind, Caster shaking in pain...and disgust for himself as his victims dragged him to the depths below.

...

Jack threw his sword into the air as he launched upward in a burst of energy, his talons catching Murasama before kicking down with everything he had. The red blade cleaved through the air, leaving streaks as it ripped straight through Caster's spellbook. The face along the tome contorted into further agony as a vibrant white glow with flowing sparks emanated from the phantasm's ripped pages, the boundless prana within rushing to the surface as it destabilized.

Jack fired towards the ocean in a burst of prana, dragging along the surface as Caster's remains alongside his book remained unmoving, droplets of blood still dancing through the air as the cyborg flew beyond the speed of light.

The killer slid toward the rising sun; he aimed Murasama into its sheathe, holding it in place as the water danced around his damaged body, spraying droplets as sunlight spread through them, scattering into rays like a rainbow in the morning air above.

Ring-Ring

His radio activated on its own accord, a voice coming through in a static haze.

"Jeanne...my love...what have...I done?"

Raiden raised a hand, manually activating his transmitters as he slowly closed his eyes in thought.

Rose's face flashed into his mind, her chin resting in his hand as she stared at him with her loving blue eyes. A gentle breeze caressed her brown hair as his heart fluttered at the mere sight of her.

The day they finally got married, he would never forget her or what he felt for the woman that captured his heart; their connection was so pure, so genuine.

His synthetic lenses opened back to their calm blue as energy crackled and burst from the spellbook above.

Click.

"How could a monster like you...know what love is?"

He let go of his blade, the tool slowly drifting back into its case, audibly slamming shut as its defenses locked in place.

Reality rushed into motion as the tome and Caster's bloodied corpse dropped alongside their demonic summon. Energy roared through the air as the wicked book crackled and surged.

ZZZZT

The tome flipped through its remains, its fleshy pages flaking with each motion as its form destabilized, trying to summon the power to maintain its shape in this reality.

Flesh molded and shifted as a colossal downpour of viscera launched toward Caster's remains, forming a jaw with jagged rows of teeth, his remains getting torn to shreds by his own creation, consumed by his own madness brought to life.

Its body began to smoke and burn as purple flames danced to life across its body; chunks fell off, forming into flesh-hungry maws as they tore into their comrades without regard for their imminent demise, only caring for their appetite.

Jack stared into the rising sun, uncaring for the beast behind him; he had left that part of him behind, finding a balance between the man and the monster.

Without a competent head on your shoulders, that's what you become, a nightmare of no nation, without cause, only caring for your next meal, your next victim.

The black smog dissipated as Raiden let go of his hatred, the miasma fading to little more than a light trail of ash before disappearing entirely as he sailed across the calm sea.

Pain drove him to seek new wars, to defend what he loved, his wife, his son, but also the world; how could you know what love truly was if that was all you ever felt?

The demonic entity's cries began to grow silent as its body ran out of material, chunks falling to the water, their remains bursting into little more than wafting ash in the sky before vanishing into purple whisks of energy.

Raiden and Jack represented both extremes, finding balance in their drive to defend what they cared for, two halves upholding the status quo. They would protect their imperfect world with everything they had, allowing humanity to find its own course, never letting the strong dictate how others lived.

It's not about changing the world, but trying to leave it the way it is, with all its flaws, just like the fascinating people that lived in it, they would decide the future, nobles and dictators had no place in his world, never again.

Caster's spellbook cried out, its voice a combination of its victims echoing through the mouth on its front page before burning away to cinders, its infinite prana supply cut off as it dissipated into oblivion.

The purple mist cleared as the city sat drew toward silence as the madness came to an end...it was over.

...

Wind billowed through the city as Kariya dropped to his knees in agony, his pale skin writhing and twisting as the worms consumed his flesh, replenishing their stocks from constant usage.

The magus tried to gasp, to vent his pain, only for the words to get caught in his throat; he pulsed, feeling an all too familiar nausea building as he lurched forward, his head aimed down.

The Matou wretched into the waters as they soaked through his clothes, emptying his stomach out as a torrent of bile and grime.

Moments passed as the Master collected himself, spitting flem into the river as he gasped for air; his sole black eye, hazy from prana exhaustion, glanced downward, seeing crest worms getting pulled away by the current with each passing second.

It felt like his entire body was falling apart at the seams; the mage could feel them shifting around his intestines and across his body, devouring him where he stood.

A fresh pulse of pain shot through his nerves as the parasites found a new section of meat to consume; Kariya fell back, landing in the water, head tilted up, his gaze listing, trying to find anything to distract him from this hell.

His lens flashed to life as he saw the mist clearing; in the distance, Caster's monster was falling apart itself; his vision was cloudy, destroyed from a year of his father's "treatment," but he could tell...

His voice felt herse, dry from constant activity, something his beleaguered body couldn't handle anymore.

"It's over..."

He couldn't believe what he was seeing; they actually did it?

The Matou paused, diving into his subconscious, feeling that familiar connection to his Servant. The magus could never describe the sensation like you were being watched, like you weren't alone, even if you stood by yourself...and it was still there.

Kariya lightly trembled in the cold waters, his skin pulsating in misery, and yet...he felt nothing...no...that wasn't right...

The Master gently brought his good hand to his face, running it through his white hair, a slight smile turning into a chuckle.

"ha...hahahahaha"

As he watched Caster's summon vanish into nothingness, the discomfort, the agony, the hatred just...disappeared. Kariya felt...happy.

"We actually fucking did it?"

The heir let go, letting himself gently fall back-first onto the wet sand below, uncaring if anyone thought he was crazy. For the first time in his life, he had done something of value, something the man could be proud of...they saved his nieces...and the city too.

He briefly lay there, smiling into the morning sky, letting the war drift out of his mind, basking in their victory, a moment of respite in his life of despair.

...

Stillness reigned as bystanders scanned the horizon across the bay, searching for that mysterious tower looming within the fog, to no avail. Both had disappeared in a whirl of motion, none precisely sure what they had seen, trying to process something inexplicable.

So occupied in their own confusion, none had noticed a metallic figure slowly trudging his way out of the waters, his form dented and cracked on all sides as streams of blood slowly trickled downward, mixing with the river before vanishing entirely.

Raiden huffed as what was left of his visor slid back into place on the sides of his head, his gravity-defying white hair parting as the device locked in.

The cyborg stood tall, uncaring if people saw him or not at this point, not that they were looking anyways. The killer had dealt with Otacon's nonsense about his animes and Japan long enough to know he could say he was "cosplaying," and that would be the end of it, not that he really listened to those rants anyways. The man had enough weirdness in his life; Raiden really didn't care to question what people did in their free time.

Streets whirled by as the Servant traversed the streets, passing damaged buildings reduced to rubble from his brawl with Caster; Jack shrugged it off. Collateral damage was a norm in his life; this was a clean run, if anything, compared to what he did in World Marshal headquarters, at least.

His blue eyes scanned the crowds, seeing a group of kids throwing rocks into the waves, jumping back like a boogeyman was going to get them, only for nothing to lash out.

With Caster dead, no more victims would turn up, but if someone like him could come back, the cyborg could only guess what the other Servants wanted out of this war; their wishes meant nothing to him; he'd kill each and every one of them all the same.

Raiden gripped a dented fist in determination, knowing his war was just beginning, the entire world on the line, another norm in his life.

No human being deserved a power like the Grail, but he could make an exception for someone like his "Master," that just wanted to help an innocent life. Whether or not that made Raiden a hypocrite, he didn't care.

The killer huffed in frustration, slamming a heel into the ground as he walked, rocks bursting from the road, spraying in all directions. Just thinking about this War fucking infuriated him.

The old generations never knew when their time was up, never letting go of power, always dragging their children...their descendants into their bullshit, perpetuating violence for reasons they couldn't even remember. At least Kariya knew said bullshit when he saw it, more than most people could claim.

The warrior rounded a corner, the asphalt clicking with each step as he headed toward his destination.

Even now, memes surround their existence, ideas, and concepts, all reinforcing a specific worldview. Truth was subjective; all you needed to do was give someone your truth to influence their actions, their decisions. Convince them to consider their deeds their own when you were pulling the strings the entire time.

Zouken was one of many... but convincing children that blood feuds they had nothing to do with were somehow their business... that they should fight, kill, and die for causes they couldn't comprehend...Jack would kill each and every one of those power-hungry shitheads.

They were all the same, self-absorbed, only caring for their own image, their own legacy, not realizing that without a world to live in, their name meant fucking nothing.

Raiden shoved the thoughts out of his mind as he rounded a corner; his blue lens flashed about, spotting his sole ally sitting in the water, watching the city slowly go back to normal, as though nothing had just tried to kill them.

The killer slowly approached as his "Master" watched the crowds slowly dissipate, the beleaguered magus taking a moment to absorb their victory.

"...Your life always this chaotic?"

Raiden paused; the guy wasn't wrong; hell, the cyborg couldn't think of a day where he wasn't getting into some kind of bullshit; trouble had a way of finding him in a way no one could describe.

Even during his tour of Kenya, N'mani took to calling him "Mr. Lightning Bolt" not only for his name but because even at times of stability and peace, Jack somehow got thrown into a battlefield and had to tear his way out of it.

The killer shrugged, "It is what it is; someone has to get to work when shit like this happens."

Kariya looked down toward his command seals, noticing one of the sharp red lines had disappeared, "Hard to believe we pulled it off; I thought you were a pancake down there at one point."

Raiden chuckled, his white hair lightly swaying in the breeze, "That happens, but like I said, sometimes you just have to trust that someone has your back in all this."

The magus leaned back, looking toward the sky, that was still the cheesiest thing he'd ever heard, and he knew Raiden got it from one of his movies; the man had seen enough of his Servant's memories to understand the cyborg's one hobby...but at the end of the day, he wasn't wrong.

"That's all it takes for you; know me five minutes, and suddenly you trust me?"

Jack shrugged, scratching a finger along his metallic jaw, "You're overthinking it; I just know bullshit when I see it." The killer chuckled, "And besides, if we fucked up, well...suddenly, it's not our problem anymore."

Kariya shook his head, understanding his Servant was an exercise in futility; how someone could talk about walking between life and death so casually, the Master would never comprehend.

His sole black eye glanced back as movement caught his attention, seeing Jack offering him a hand up, "Come on, probably shouldn't stick around much longer."

He sighed; this war was far from over; no rest for the wicked, right?

The cyborg slowly pulled the Matou to his feet, letting the beleaguered mage collect himself. Raiden's brow furrowed as he saw the man's skin still lightly shifting about, something moving underneath. He'd have to get the details on his condition soon, knowing nothing would be a burden eventually, but that was an issue for later.

The Liberian turned off toward the city, ignoring his armor creaking in disagreement with each step, "Come on, we should probably-"

Ding

The mercenary whirled around in an instant, hand along the trigger of his sword as he stared off toward the distant horizon, blocked off by a series of high-rise buildings, waiting for an unseen foe.

Murasama hummed in agreement, like a predator waiting to strike as his metallic hands drifted across the sheathe.

The Matou watched in confusion, "What are-"

Raiden raised a hand, the mage going silent, his gaze shifting toward the sky as a bellowing laugh blew through the morning air, drawing closer by the moment until a familiar chariot flew over a local bank, heading their way.

Jack slammed a boot into the ground as his sensors scanned their surroundings; he gritted his teeth as his augmented eyes zoomed in, confirming his thoughts.

Flying high above the sky, Iskandar stood tall in his vehicle, the colossal Greek towering above his frail Master, barely visible by his side. The man's red beard blew with the wind as he laughed in excitement, lashing his reigns out as the Oxen along his chariot began their descent.

The samurai huffed; this was bad; he could keep fighting, but his "Master" seemed ready to drop at any minute; hell, he wasn't even healing fast enough to stop the bleeding; shit.

His processors burned through hypotheticals and scenarios, best case, they run like hell and fight another day, worst case, Jack fights Rider here, and now, after fighting two other Servants in one night, neither option seemed appealing.

The Liberian's grip over the trigger tightened, his hand waiting in anticipation to strike as his enemies drew near; the Ripper could kill the Master, play the attrition game; that could work...

The chariot slammed down hard, dust and rocks blasting across the empty streets as blue sparks flew off the device, Iskandar's booming laugh echoing over all else.

Adorned in a red cape with yellow whisks along the edge, a layer of fur resting along his neck, the tan giant towered over the cyborg as their gaze met. Augmented blue contrasting with Rider's rusty red lens. The King wore an old suit of leather armor, his muscles exposed, reflecting the ancient Greek style of his time.

The warriors stood off, neither moving as they sized their opponent up, waiting for any sign of hostility. Iskandar broke the silence, scanning the horizon in thought for a brief moment.

His gaze remained over the sea in contemplation, humming in thought, "Berserker..." he turned, cape billowing in the morning winds as he focused on the Servant's strange weapon, still fervently held in his hands in caution.

"So, you killed Caster, huh?" The giant smirked, raising a finger to his chin, "interesting..."

The Greek raised a leg, slamming a sandaled foot down along the edge of his vehicle, the device audibly thudding as he moved, "My name is Isk-"

"I know who you are."

Huh?

The Conqueror paused his mutterings in mild confusion before his grin grew wider, "So, you can speak?" the man bellowed out another laugh before leaping from his chariot, slamming into the hard road below, completely ignoring his Master's cries to stop.

The King observed his adversary where he stood, taking in his metallic visage with interest. The Servant was built into his armor; no legends immediately came to mind. Rider sighed as he spotted the man's hand still resting along the length of his sword.

This conflict had allowed the Macedonian to meet fine kings...and others, a certain little girl coming to mind, the man huffed in annoyance at the thought of such a mockery of kingship.

The Servant raised a hand, "I haven't come to fight you, Berserker, not yet."

The cyborg kept his hand in place, never dropping his guard for even a moment, "Then why the hell are you here?"

The Greek smirked, "Why? You could say I wished to relive my glory days."

Raiden paused, blue sparks crackling off his form, "What?"

Iskandar was the King of Conquerers; his life involved far more than wine and calm discussion; he was a man of action. Rider had come here to relish in the heat of battle, yet this seemed far more promising...

The man stepped forward, towering over the pale killer with a grin, "Conquest, plunder, destruction, I have seen the walks of warfare more than any man could hope to comprehend... I see that same hunger behind your eyes."

Raiden's eyes flashed red, meeting the King's gaze, "You want a fight?" The killer laughed in anticipation, fuck it. "Let's do this, right here, right now."

The King paused, his chest rising in a chuckle before breaking out into all-out laughter, "So, I was right about you after all, huh? But...not here, not now."

The man spun in place, arms held out wide as he laughed in excitement, "I wish to face you at your best, therefore...I, Iskandar the Conquerer, challenge you to a duel!"

The world faded away as Jack's bloodlust took the reigns; either way, he needed to kill Rider; if he wanted to meet up and let that happen, who was he to stop him?

The killer chuckled, pieces of his armored chassis lightly flaking off toward the ground below. "You're gonna regret this; I hope you know that."

The Greek shook his head, "So long as I act within my own will, I'll never regret a day in my life," his rusty eyes flashed to life, "so, what do you say, Berserker?"

Raiden's gaze lowered, a smirk growing on his face as his bangs covered his eyes. The Liberian gazed back up, the lenses burning a hellish red, "Name a time and place."

...

And that's a wrap for the Caster arc; I hope you guys enjoyed the show; we should be just about halfway done with this section of the story now.

The Next edition will be the beginning of the Raiden vs. Rider section; I hope you're looking forward to that because I sure as hell am.

Like I said above, there will be a delay, but feel free to join the discord if you want; it's for both communities, so feel free to do whatever.

/re4pvJ9pRa

Otherwise, I have nothing left to say, so take it easy, and I'll catch you in the next one.