A still silence spread across the army, as anxiety filled the air
No words could explained what they just witness, their king, Alexander the Great was just struck down by an attack so frightfull the whole army just freeze when it happen.
Now they just silently looking in shock where their king once were.
The place where Rider was is currently clouded with sand and dust so thick nobody can see their king, except for one.
Using magic Berserker improve his eyesight to see beyond the sands and dusts. and what he saw confused him tremendously.
He saw an unfamiliar person on the ground kneeling where Rider and his master was, on her chest Gae Bolg pierce through her heart.
As confusion spread to his face, the wind blow the cloud of sands and dusts away revealing the unknown person.
Once the unknown person is revealed, the anxiety turned into shock and the still silence is broken by a single person loud scream.
"Sister!? No!" Screamed a man as he run toward the woman he called Sister.
As if on cue the rest of the soldiers started to shout as well.
"Commander!!"
"Commander Hephaestion!!"
"Commander!! Quick assist her!!"
While the soldiers is shouting and panicking, Berserker is trying to figure out how did Rider escape Gae Bolg attack.
After all Gae bolg is an unavoidable attack that alter the cause and effect, making it impossible to dodge or block once its true name is called, yet, right here in front of his eyes Gae bolg curse seemingly been blocked by someone else, how?
His first guess is a Noble Phantasm, but he quickly cross that out, a Noble Phantasm is a crystallization of legend who's power stems from fame it accumulated, meaning it is based on legend believed to be exist. Berserker is quite sure that from Alexander the Great history there is no story about him surviving or blocking a cursed attack.
Which means it was a skill, a personal skill from the servant summon by the Rider, but, Gae Bolg is an attack which is virtually undogdeable and unavoidable as its always target the heart of its target, what kind of skill can defend from that effect?
Unfortunately for Berserker he didn't have anymore time to contemplate his thought as an attack force him to move.
"Die!! You cur!!" A soldier scream as he swing his sword toward Berserker.
As Berserker dodge the sword and in retaliation countered by kicking the soldier on the jaw.
His action, of course, doesn't went unnoticed as the soldiers around him turned back to him and glare, before shouting.
"Killed him."
"Avenged the Commander."
"Hang him."
As the soldiers charging at him Berserker can only curse at his situation.
Fuck
Not far from where Rider was previously a mound of sand is moving and rising, revealing what was inside, or more accurately who.
"Pah." Rider rise from the sand covering him while spitting the sand on his mouth, underneath him is Waver coughing because of the sand in his throat.
They slowly standing as Waver walk walked around Rider looked toward something else.
"Partner." Rider said kneeling on one knee while touching the side of the fallen Bucephalus, the proud steed is now on the ground looking back at Rider silently one of its leg bending in an unnatural way, seeing this Rider clench his teeth, but, before he could say anything someone called him.
"Rider! Look!" Waver called him pointing to someone near them.
"I'll be back soon." Rider looked back toward Bucephalus before standing up and seeing what his master point at.
In Rider's eyes a familiar man in armor is on his knees weeping his hand laid out as if cradling something, unfortunately for Rider the woman who saved him had just dissappear just then.
Rider walked toward the man silently, Waver trailing along with him, as he stand near the man Rider called out to the weeping man.
"Hepaestion." Rider said solemnly.
"Your highness." The man identified as Hepaestion returned. As he sobbing he continued to talk.
"In life..." He started.
"You're death...was...was her greatest regret..." He continued.
"She...she didn't... she didn't die mylord...she...she merely fulfilled her duty." He finished stuttering.
"I know." Rider said seriously.
"Hepaestion, stay here and mourn." Rider ordered.
"I'll avenged her myself." Rider vowed as he walk away toward where he saw Berserker last, Hepaestion merely nod in silence. Seeing Rider walked away Waver quickly followed.
"R...Rider wait for me." Waver said, it's not that Waver is slow but he feel very fatigue, the toll of the battle is starting to wear him.
Seeing Waver intend to followed him put a smile in Rider face.
"You want to tag along master?" Rider said with a grin while walking. Waver tiredly following replied.
"I am your Master, right?" Waver said while heaving.
"Then I will fight as well." He said in finality. Rider merely snort.
"Do whatever you want, Master." Rider said smiling which Waver returned.
Once they a distance from Hepaestion, Rider called Waver.
"Well master, I guess you might need to know this..." Rider trailed as Waver listening intently.
"I can't maintain this place any longer..." Rider revealed to Waver yet he didn't surprised.
After all this is the second time in a single night Rider deployed his Noble Phantasm, the fact he has enough energy to do so without burning Waver to death is already a feat worth a miracle in the first place. Asking for more is unreasonable even for Waver.
"We need to finish this now, Master." Rider said to Waver, in response Waver is touching his hand, where his Command Seal located, before nodding.
"Yeah, I...got...it." Waver said trailing as he looked above in shock, along with Rider who is gaping at what they see.
What they see right now is a sword as tall as mountain and as wide as one, now floating high above the desert, it size covering the sun creating a shadow large enough to engulf the battlefield. As soon as Rider saw it appear, it fall down to the ground, as the sword touch the ground the impact is strong enough to create a sand storm which cover the whole battlefield. As Rider and Waver looked on the approaching sandstorm both instantly know the culprit who summoned the sword. Seeing the upcoming waves of sand Rider do the only thing he can for now.
"WHO THE FUCK IS THIS DAMN BASTARD?"
Which is screaming in frustration. Before he was covered in sand, again.
A few moments earlier*
Dodge
Parry
Block
Counter
Retreat
And repeat.
Berserker has been doing these same thing for a while now. After he failed to kill Rider he was sieged by the rest of the angry soldiers.
One soldier attack Berserker, so he got down on his knees hook the soldiers leg and put him down before standing up again.
And unlike before when they charge at him mindlessly, now they are clearly more wary about him.
As another two other soldiers attack him together, he step on the neck of the fallen soldiers breaking them, while deflecting the attack of the other. Getting close, Berserker quickly trip the leg of one soldiers surprising him before cutting his neck, seeing this the other soldiers retreated.
Now they attack in groups of six, on three sides at the same time, spear and shield on the front with the purpose of trapping him in the middle.
There is some gap in their formation, obviously left there for him to retreat, clearly they are trying to route him. Their intention is oblivious to Berserker, to kept him away from their king, Alexander, while tire him out in the process, and as Berserker fight longer he can feel his master weakened for every strike he made.
In the corner of Berserker eyes he can see some odd movement, such as a specific person shouting order behind the scene, another watching him like a hawk, while another moving the army here and there.
Their identity is not hard to guess.
The Commanders.
Only they can control an army this size and not fumbling around each other legs. Not that make his situation any better though.
Berserker tried to get out of the formation by running and jumping using the soldier shield as a leverage, but as he got into the air a spear is thrown towards him.
Unlike a spear thrown by a random soldier, this spear have the power and accuracy unbefitting of a normal soldiers.
Blocking the spear with a twin sword, it's strike with enough power to throw Berserker back to the ground, Berserker spotted the man who throw the spear at him, it was a blond man wearing a fancy armor with a cape.
An elite? Berserker thought.
As Berserker fall on his knees the soldiers quickly assault him forcing Berserker to retaliate, a kick on solar plexus, quickly do the job.
After he brought down the soldiers who assaulted him, the rest of the soldiers quickly retreated, creating some distance from Berserker.
As Berserker observing their movements, he heard something in the air, in an instant out of instinct he summoned a large round shield to cover his whole body.
Just as Berserker covered himself behind the shield, it was hit by a barrage arrows. While Berserker is busy fending of the surroundings soldiers, the commanders is preparing the archers to a place Berserker can't see them, for a surprise attack.
The barrage last for sometime before it stopped, when Berserker feel safe he slowly stand, as he stand a soldier is charging towards him, sword high and ready.
In response Berserker just slammed the shield filled with arrows in his hand toward the soldier, he slammed it so hard the shield broke after contact, seeing this the other soldiers started approaching him warely, giving Berserker some space to breathe.
So here's the niche...
He failed to kill Rider, he is outnumber, the army is wary of him, and his master is running out of energy the longer he fight, great, now what to do?
Luckily for Berserker someone had already take action about that.
"By the power of this command seal..." Kariya voice started.
"I order you, Berserker..." He trailed.
"Survived and defeat Rider!!" Kariya finished his Command as the seal in his hand shine brightly before vanishing, empowering Berserker.
As Berserker felt power coursing through his veins, he quickly make a decision to fulfilled his master command.
First thing first.
This army is a hindrance.
Berserker started to gathering a large amount of energy. Meanwhile Kariya is clutching his left chest and bending over his spine while screaming in pain as he felt his life slipping away.
On the other hand the soldiers around Berserker is trying to stop whatever Berserker is doing, but...
"Stop him!"
"Quick, kill him, now!!"
"Stop!!!"
It's too late.
Trace On.
Ig-Alima