"Damn it!" Rider cursed in frustration and confusion, amongst the sand.
How can he not, a Noble Phantasm is known to be a crystallization of a Heroic Spirit legend, it wasnt hard to figure out the identity of the hero after their Noble Phantasm name is called.
This is also the reason why Rider decided to just tell everyone his identity, if it was going to be revealed anyway why not save time and just revealed his identity, its not like he had weaknesses to exploit anyway.
And yet that's exactly why he got frustrated, despite Berserker throwing Noble Phantasms like a cheap discounted item, somehow he is still unable to guess his identity.
This is a very bizarre phenomena to Rider as a proper heroic spirit, how can he still not able to figure out Berserker identity despite suffering the most end of Berserker assault?
Perhaps an identity-covering skill? It's uncommon but not impossible. Regardless now that they come this far, he needed to end this as soon as possible.
As Rider is thinking of counter-measures he heard his master voice behind him.
"By the power of this command seal..." Waver started.
"I order you, King of Conquerors to..." He trailed.
"Find and killed your enemy, Berserker!!" He commanded.
Rider grinned, it seems he is not the only one who wanted to end this now.
"As you wish, master." Rider said laughing while walking towards the army amidst the sand storm, Waver following behind.
It wasn't long before Rider heard his men's shouting, meaning he is close to the army.
Suddenly Rider stopped walking and grinned as he feel a presence a distance away from where he is standing.
There, a distance away from his right, stood Berserker. After summoning Ig-Alima and throwing it towards Rider's army, opening a path for him to escape, Berserker quickly getting away from the army's surrounding him, he goes toward where Rider was previously, in an attempt to locate Rider and his master. Just as he left behind the army he quickly found Rider not far off, when he did confirm its Rider he quickly prepared himself, before Rider spotted him.
"I am the bone of my sword." Berserker chant.
In Berserker hand is a bow and a spiral looking sword, as Berserker looked at Rider he got into a shooting position as the blade twists, stretching and narrowing into a form more appropriate for shooting. Seeing this Rider laughed.
"Alright let's end this now, Berserker." Rider said looking at Berserker, faintly Rider felt a numb sensation on his right hand, where he block an arrow aim at his master.
Seeing Berserker preparing an arrow, Rider remember the duel he had yesterday, specifically the magic arrow who relentlessly chased after him. Seeing Berserker with his bow Rider instantly know that this shot is unavoidable.
But Rider is not afraid, knowing it's unavoidable he prepared to sacrificed his body to block it, after all if it's unavoidable then he just need to take it right? Besides he only needed one hand to strike Berserker, and Rider is not so arrogance to assume he can defeat Berserker without scratch.
Rider is preparing to charge, but as he locked eyes with his enemy he notices Berserker eyes shifted. Rider who saw this immediately understood Berserker intention and for the first time in this war his expression turned into a snarl.
"Don't you dare!!" Rider warned.
But it's too late, as Berserker let loose his arrow.
"Caladbolg II." Berserker called out his Noble Phantasm true name.
The blade of the sword coils into a spiralthat can penetrate any target by creating a twisting distortion in space, the speed itself fast enough to reach its target in a blink of an eye.
As the arrow flew straight to its target, Rider quickly moved while cursing Berserker.
"Damn you!!!" Rider screamed.
As the arrow hit it's target, blood spilled to the ground, as he saw the outcome of his shot a cruel smile appeared on Berserker face.
Waver is apprehensive, how can he not, Berserker not only survived against Rider's army he even capable of counter attacked.
Remembering the previous attack just make Waver blood freeze in fright.
And now they were going to face Berserker again!?? it cant be help in Waver feel worried about their chances of winning.
Even when he used his Command Seal to empowerd Rider he can't help but feel apprehensive.
As Waver saw Berserker shot his arrow, the next thing he saw was Rider's back before he suddenly fall down, huh?
Why did he fell down?
Why can't he stand up?
Why did he suddenly feel cold?
What happened to...
Unfortunately before Waver can understand what happened everything just turned Black.
In the wake of Berserker attack, Rider is left standing with his hands wide open as if shielding something, on the right side of his stomach a sizeable hole can be seen dripping blood.
Rider fall to one knee before vomiting blood, he then looked at behind him to check on his master condition.
"Master, are you...!!!" Whatever the next words is halted by a choke, as Rider looked at his master condition with shock and anguish.
Simply put Waver is now dead on the ground, from the confused expression on his face its clear that he died instantly, which did not comfort Rider feeling whatsoever.
In retrospect the arrow used by Berserker is Caladbolg the magic sword ofFergus mac Róich. Berserker created a replica of it by means of his personal sorcery and uses it as as an arrow rather than a sword, during this process, the blade further twists, stretching and narrowing into a form more appropriate for shooting. The blade of the sword coils into a spiral that can penetrate any target by creating a twisting distortion in space when fired. It's piercing power is enough to pierce through a servant, much less a normal human.
Waver wasn't just killed, he was bifurcated. Waver's body is separated from the waist down, and upper chest to head, while his stomach is completely obliterated.
The only reason Rider survived was because of his strong body as a servant and the fact that he is not the real target of the attack, thus it merely grazed his side stomach and even then the wound is almost fatal with a fifth of Rider stomach missing.
Looking at the tragic scene Rider tremble in fury, guilt, and shame. His mind remembering all the words he said to his master, replaying it over and over again. Seeing Waver's corpse another feeling of failure once again assaulted Rider.
The boy who summoned him.
The boy filled with potential.
The boy who ride with him to battle.
The boy entrusted to him by the old couple.
And finally the boy whom he acknowledged as his master.
Is dead, murdered by the bastard standing a bit far from him, as realization settled to Rider's mind. Rage starting to take over.
"!!!"
He will have his retribution.
Berserker lowered his bow.
As he looked towards the corpse of Rider's master.
It was nothing personal, it was just the most efficient way to defeat Rider at this stage of battle.
It's not like Berserker didn't have reason to target Waver anyway, a master is always the weak link for a servant, it was foolish of Rider to let his master without any protection.
While Berserker could have target Rider directly he didn't, the reason was because Berserker was not sure if it will work.
Berserker have figured out how Rider survived Gae Bolg attack, it was damage-transference effect. When Gae Bolg targeted Rider he did not in anyway altered its effect, by allowing Gae Bolg to strike himself, but, instead of Rider some body double from his army will be the one to receive the damage, allowing Rider to survived Gae Bolg attack, of course not all damage can be transfer but the most fatal can and that's exactly what happened.
And for that reason alone Berserker evaluated that targeting Waver is the most likely option to defeat Rider, after all with the size of Rider army who's to say that there is only one body double inside it.
And he knew in order to transfer damage from one individual to another it is required for the target to have a connection with the receiver, something that Rider certainly have but his master don't, as Waver is not part of Rider's army. Thus making him a perfect target for Berserker.
As to why Rider didn't tell Waver to hide someplace safe, it wasnt out of arrogance or pride but rather out of respect.
Rider firmly believed that any servant with an ounce of pride and confidence will not shy away from a one to one duel to determine the winner of this war. He truly believed that Berserker will face him in a fair battle of life and death.
It wasn't overestimation or underestimation that defeated Rider, it was expectation that did. Unfortunately for Rider by the time he realized Berserker nature, it was too late.
As he had already lost the battle and the war.
And it was this moment that Rider will rectify it.
"!!!"
As Berserker looked toward Rider in shock, suddenly a fierce bellowed coming out of Rider. As Rider screamed his visege turned wild just like a roaring lions, the majesty of the wild rage gathered around Rider as he charged toward Berserker. The power of the command seal empowered Rider charge as a command from a master won't perish even if the master himself is dead.
It might seem petty but in reality, Rider is not a petty character, in fact as a king he can be said to have a magnanimous trait. But Berserker method of victory had scrapped Rider bottom line and thus the current situation.
Seeing this Berserker quickly retaliated by shooting arrows toward Rider, unfortunately he didn't have time to make a Noble Phantasm and can only relied on ordinary arrows.
But as expected of a Rider while every shot hit the bullseye and not a single one miss Rider. All the arrows hit the charging Rider, a total of eight arrows managed to find itself onto Rider form, six on his body, one on his leg and one on Rider left eye. Yet none of them managed to slow Rider charge, much less stop him.
When Rider reach halfway Berserker threw his bow in favor of summoning his twin sword as he realized Rider can't be stopped.
When Rider finally faced Berserker he uses sword to strike with all his might, swinging his sword from left to right intent to kill Berserker.
Berserker barely able to parried the strike by sacrificing the twin sword. Kanshou and Bakuya were destroyed to pieces from Rider strike, but it was enough to allow Berserker to survive.
The next attack come from right to left, with Berserker quickly get down to let the sword pass him before jumping backward. Rider seeing Berserker distancing away from him quickly followed.
Swiftly Berserker summoned another set of twin sword, he had just enough time to reinforce his whole body and swords before the next straw from Rider came, a downward strike from above. Berserker managed to blocked it but is forced to his knees due to the weight of the attack, Berserker hand is shaking as he barely block Rider attack, unable to move from Riders sword, a cold sweat unwittingly flow down from Berserker forehead.
Meanwhile all around them the dust has settled, it can be seen that the army Rider summoned is gathering around them. Yet they did not move instead all of them do is kneeling with their head down.
When the army heard of their king rage filled shout, they knew right away that they had failed their king. And thus they are kneeling with their head down in shame and humiliation, they had failed to kill the king enemy and also failed to protect their king how could they looked at their king with pride?
As a mere vassal they could not even hope to soothed their King's wrath, how could they stand with honor?
As the army is dissipating into Magical energy, the scenery around them followed as well, as the last grain of sand perished so does the strength from Rider grip. Feeling Rider's grip lightening Berserker quickly abandoned his sword to jump backward, preparing himself to another attack.
But it never came as Rider is dissipating into magical energy just like his army, out of energy and without a master he can't maintain his form in this world.
While Berserker realized that the threat is gone, he is still wary. Standing up Berserker prepared for another surprise, there were none.
As Rider dissipating, he glared at Berserker with his one good eye.
"I'll remember you, snake." He stated.
"This humiliation..." Rider trailed.
"I'll return it tenfold!!!" He finished his threat.
"Mark..." His legs dissappear.
"My..." his chest followed.
"Word." And finally his head.
Seeing Rider vanished, Berserker remained alert for a few moment. When Berserker realized there were no more threat he immediately fall to his knees, his hand laid out on his side as Berserker suddenly hyperventilating with sweat coming out his body like a waterfall.
A few second, Berserker thought.
Just a few more second and I will be dead Berserker thought.
Don't forget before facing Rider Berserker were dealing with his army first and he barely survived, not to mention Rider is superior in stats compare to Berserker, if not for his master assistance he would be dead there and then. As for Rider's threat he didn't think much of it, what good a threat from a dead man last word would do?
Berserker is having a few moments of silence, before it was broken by his master.
'Ber...berserker, quick, to the rendezvous spot' his master told him while coughing, Berserker just nod too exhausted to even form words, forcing himself to stand he slowly left the spot.
Leaving the corpse of Waver there, for anyone to find.
Fuyuki Civic Center is a building formally of Miyama until it was to be moved to Shinto during the 1990s. The location happened to be that of one of the four advent locations of theHoly Grail. It was also the rendezvous spot for Berserker and Assassin if any of them have completed their mission.
As Berserker arrived toward the main hall a voice called out from behind him.
"You're earlier than I expected." Assassin said as her form materializes in front of Berserker.
"I presume Rider is dead?" She asked Berserker, she can be seen holding a sizeable baggage on her shoulder.
Berserker just nod towards her question. Satisfied, Assassin throw the bag she was holding towards Berserker. He caught it with both hands and looking at it in suspicion, they may be allied but that doesn't mean he trust her.
"Inside is your prize." Assassin stated, annoyance can be felt from her tone.
Berserker put the bag on the ground before opening it, as he zip open the bag he saw a cold corpse of a woman in white, it was the corpse of one Irisveil Einzbern the vessel of the fourth Holy Grail, satisfied Berserker looked back toward Assassin.
When he did he was stunned by Assassin.
On another place.
Inside the warehouse on fuyuki harbor.
A man dressed in priest cloth can be seen standing over another man in trench coat, as the other man lied on the ground unable to move.
Outside of the warehouse a group of people in black wearing skull mask is surrounding a woman in blue, the woman in blue is kneeling on one knee while leaning on her sword.
Filled with scratch and bruises The woman in blue glared at the group surrounding her.
"ASSASSIN YOU DAMN HYENA." Her screamed echoed through the harbor.