Fate: Souls and Singularities

by Mundatorem

Singularities. Points in Human History which have become corrupted with the presence of a Holy Grail with the end result being the incineration of Humanity. However, it is not the Grails alone which are divergent. The Incineration comes about as one world in particular comes to an end. The two become linked as figures from a different Throne reach across the barriers between worlds

77. Singularity 3: Chapter 19

Chapter 76: Time of Drift

The repeated tapping of wood as Jason drummed his fingers along the side of the Argo was the only sound to be heard upon the ship, the blonde Servant held a heavy frown on his face which was a mix of impatience and concern. The man continued to stare out across the sea towards the island before he exhaled through his teeth.

"What is taking him so long?" He grumbled under his breath, shaking his head in annoyance and moving his other hand to rest against his cheek "I hope he didn't lose it again. It's such a hassle to try and calm him down when he acts out of line like that." his eyes shifted away from the island and towards Medea, where his frown worsened "What is the matter with you?"

Medea didn't answer him, the girl was still staring at the island with her pupils dilated, her skin somewhat ashen.

"Oi!" Jason called out to her, snapping his fingers and jolting her out of her trance "What is the matter with you?"

"I-I apologise, Lord Jason." She bowed her head quickly as she turned to face him, her eyes still darting to the island as she slowly raised herself "I-it is just that…I believe someone deployed a powerful Noble Phantasm just now and it…" she trailed off, biting her lower lip "It…"

Jason scoffed in response "Don't tell me that it has you frightened?" the blonde waved his hand dismissively "It means nothing. Heracles will get the Goddess, bring her back and then we will claim the Ark." his expression morphed into a wide grin "And I will claim my destiny."

"Indeed." Medea agreed easily, her face returning to its usual calm demeanour with a hint of worry flashing through her eyes as they darted back to the island. The Caster wet her lips slightly as she continued to scan the island. Even from the distance they were at, she could feel the very moment that someone had deployed the attack.

It was difficult not to, the power the attack had held - even at a distant setting - felt as though it attacked the very texture of the planet itself for a brief moment. She was under no illusions that it was something which belonged to one of the other Servants. With Heracles still missing despite having left some time ago, and the evidence of his conflict with someone if the explosions and flashes of light were any indication, and still not returned then it was likely he had been on the receiving end of the attack.

Which left no doubt in her mind that he was dead. Something of that power would have taken multiple lives. Although whether or not Jason would believe her hypothesis was an entirely different issue altogether, if nothing else he had complete faith in Heracles abilities even as a Berserker. However, it mattered little if that were the case. With the Grail in her possession, then she could still enact her back-up plan easily enough.

Rendal had remained silent with his eyes focused entirely on the occasional flashes of light followed by the singular explosion on the far side of the island. It was certainly a sight to behold and the dead silence which had followed likely meant Heracles had failed. A frown worked its way onto his face, it also meant that Caenis had failed as well. Her reliance on her Divine Blessings and her overconfidence likely played a hand in that.

If there was one thing that life in Lordran and Balder had taught him, it was that overconfidence would get you killed quickly. An unfortunate lesson he had not truly taken to heart until his doomed venture into Sen's Fortress. His old failings aside, he was more concerned with what their plan would be now. He had no doubt in his mind that if both Heracles and Caenis were dead, then the Chaldeans would be coming for them next.

His eyes drifted over to Jason, the young man still impatiently tapping away at the deck of his ship.

Despite it all, Rendal did see some slivers of potential in the young man. He was insulting, overconfident and often times incompetent…

But…he had potential. If only barely. His complete and unwavering faith in his friend was something to be commended at the very least, loyalty such as that did not come easily and it was clear that this man cherished Heracles even so much as to declare him a greater Hero than himself. He was at least slightly humble at any rate.

Although he doubted it would matter much for long. Depending on how injured the Chaldeans were, it was possible he could fight off some of them for a period of time. But if they rested and recuperated, then he wouldn't be able to face them all alone. If they waited any longer, then the moment Jason realised Heracles might be dead - if he was dead - then he would have Medea summon him once again. The Chaldeans would press the advantage while they still had it with whatever forces they had at their disposal.

A weary sigh left his mouth as he pushed himself to his feet, cracking his neck and moving his hand to the pommel of his sword.

"Jason." He called out to the blonde man who showed no sign of responding to him, nevertheless he continued on "Enough time has past that we should consider the possibility that Heracles is-"

The drumming stopped.

Jason's head mechanically turned towards Rendal with a blank expression, save the burning anger in his eyes.

"Don't." He warned as he glared at the undead "Heracles is running late, nothing more."

Rendal slowly nodded his head "Even if he is…I would suggest that we make ready for the possibility that-"

"There is no possibility." Jason snarled "He's Heracles. The greatest Hero in all of Greece-no, the world. He wouldn't be defeated by some rag-tag bunch of no names and one airheaded Goddess." he scoffed and looked away "I wouldn't expect you to understand anything. He will come back, so there is no point in debating that he's gone."

Rendal closed his eyes and gave a weary sigh, shaking his head and turning himself towards Medea and slowly paced over to her before leaning down to the young girl and whispering to her "I would advise you make preparations in the event the worst has come to pass and Heracles and Caenis are dead."

Medea gave him a reassuring smile "Worry not, Lord Rendal." she raised her dainty hand and placed it on his shoulder "I have already made preparations. If the Chaldeans have bested Lord Heracles, then we shall be more than ready for them." Rendal stared at her with a slight gaze of suspicion before he nodded his head.

She was aware of something, but hadn't deigned to inform him. It was her right as his Master, he supposed. In his current capacity, he was a Knight rather than a King so it was not his place to be made aware of every detail of the plan. Still, it did concern him somewhat that he wasn't made entirely aware of everything that was occurring.

Rendal moved towards the bow of the ship, resting his hands on the railings he stared out across the horizon and towards the eastern side of the island. His eyes narrowed as the form of the opposing ship crested from around the edge, limping along at a much slower pace than previously - likely because they were relying on natural air power rather than whatever the Unkindled had done - although they would be upon them in moments.

His hand rested comfortably upon his scabbard before moving up towards the grip of the sword and tightly grasping it. "They approach.'' He announced out loud to the others on board, Jason snapped his head to the man and then looked out across the ocean towards the Golden Hind, his eyes widened as his head tilted in an obvious display of confusion.

"W-what?" He stuttered, moving to the bow of the ship and pushing Rendal aside "That's not…where's Heracles?" he asked in a quiet tone of voice "He should have been…but how could they…?" his whispers were slightly broken as he looked down at the surface of the water. "He couldn't have…"

Rendal stared at the blonde man, raising his hand to place on his shoulder before he stopped just shy of touching him. Biting his lower lip, Rendal slowly withdrew the limb and allowed it to hang by his side. Turning away from the man, he moved towards Medea and nodded to her. The Caster nodded back as she sported a more serious expression than before, already weaving her spells and crafting her Dragon Tooth familiars.

---

"The Argo is in sight now." Ritsuka announced as he lowered the binoculars from him, then handed them back to Ash with a grateful smile before he turned back to the others "I propose an arrow barrage from afar to try and weaken them." he winced "Unfortunately Noble Phantasms are a bit of an issue at the moment because of…" he nodded towards Ash in a meaningful manner. "That and we need answers."

David nodded "The sacrifice of a God to the Ark produces a very niche result and ordinarily, no one would even consider it as an option. Someone apparently knows their stuff."

"I would also like to be informed as to who actually wanted to sacrifice me like some common animal." Euryale remarked with a hint of irritation in her voice.

"And we are certain it is not Jason?" Ash asked, looking around. Atalanta shook her head in response.

"No, Jason is a fool but his idiocy isn't so self-destructive." She got several blank stares in return, the woman cringed before she continued on "...Alright, it isn't usually as self-destructive as this particular instance." she explained further "He wouldn't do anything that would jeopardize his own life or ambitions."

"So he is an easily manipulated fool?" Sanura suggested with a tilt of her head, looking around at the others before her attention fell back onto Atalanta "Right?"

"Yes." Atalanta affirmed instantly "He's an idiot, but he is at his most dangerous as a cornered animal." she frowned. "It is often quite astounding how quickly he can turn a desperate situation around, therefore it would be best if we act with caution when dealing with him."

"Very well." Archer grunted in response, Atalanta subconsciously scowled at the tanned Servant as he spoke up "We can discern what information we can from them - if they have any to begin with - and then take the Grail and be done with this singularity."

"As long as we don't get careless." Ritsuka warned "No one takes any more reckless decisions and we'll all get back alright." his eyes slowly turned towards Ash and narrowed. The unkindled stared back with a blank expression before he frowned.

"Is…there an issue?"

"Yes." Atalanta spoke up before Ritsuka, the boy closed his mouth as the feline Archer continued on in a scolding tone of voice "The issue was your stunt against Heracles was reckless and was made worse with your self-harming use of a Holy Grail." Ash opened his mouth to speak up before the Huntress raised her hand and cut him off "Your excuses aside, it means that for the time being it would be best if you did not participate in an active role, from my understanding you have a bow you may utilise. Do so and remain far from the action."

Ash opened his mouth to reply before Atalanta cut him off again "That is final."

The mouth closed, Atalanta gave a somewhat pleased nod at having talked the Saber down. "Now sit back down and allow yourself to recover."

"She's right." Boudica placed her hand on the Saber's shoulder and slowly led him to the staircase leading to the upper deck before forcing him down to sit on the steps. "You've done more than enough in this Singularity, if things get desperate enough then you can step in but there's no need to risk yourself further."

"...Very well." Ash nodded his head slowly in response as he leaned forwards and rested his forearms on his knees "It would be foolish of me to risk further injury if none is necessary at the moment." his eyes flickered up to Boudica "...But I feel it necessary to point out that I will use a bow if the situation calls for it."

Boudica and Atalanta stared at him with mildly strained expressions before they looked at eachother and reached a silent decision before looking back at Ash. "...Alright then." Boudica shrugged, crossing her arms in front of her "Like I said, if it gets desperate enough, there isn't anything we can do to stop you."

Ash gave a single hum in response before staring around the deck of the ship and finding the eyes of everyone locked onto him with varying degree's of amusement. "What?"

"Nothing." Ritsuka replied much faster than the Unkindled thought possible, the Master's eyes swept across the other Servants before they fell onto Ash and his lip rolled in and he shook his head at the Shielder - looking as though he was trying to withhold his laughter - who stared back with a confused expression.

"Isn't little Atalanta so caring, Darling?" Artemis cooed as she stared at the Archer, the feline woman fidgeting uncomfortably at the starry eyed look the Goddess was giving her "It's wonderful."

"Yeah." Orion nodded his head "Makes me a little jealo-ow!" he winced as the Goddess pinched him "Really?"

The Saber remained silent for a few moments before an epiphany seemed to strike him and he looked up towards David "Was there something strange about that conversation?" he whispered to the Archer.

The man stared back with a blank expression for a few moments before he shook his head. "No. Didn't see any problems with it at all." he smiled "In fact, to be worried over by such lovely women makes me quite jealous."

"Someone make sure to watch David until Ash comes back." Romani quickly alerted everyone through the communicator "I am quite worried about his health as of this moment."

David blinked in surprise and turned to the Doctor "Why? What's the issue?" Romani stared back at the man in open disbelief for a few moments before he opened his mouth to reply, too slow to actually speak before Drake interrupted him.

"Hate to break up the conversation." Drake commented as she rested her hands on the wheel of the ship "Because we're coming up on them now."

Ritsuka looked over his shoulder towards the Argo, the ship now within two hundred metres of them and closing, the Master breathed in heavily as he moved towards the side of the ship and stared out across the ocean to the opposing vessel. If he squinted his eyes, he could see the blonde mop of hair belonging to Jason and the dark hair of Rendal.

The Greek man paced across the deck until he was leaning over the railings of the ship and virtually glaring at the Golden Hind. Ritsuka remained as composed as he could at being the target of the rather potent glare.

"How are you here!?" Jason shouted out across the water at them "Where's Heracles!?"

"He's dead, Jason!" Atalanta called back, the blonde's eyes snapped onto her and widened before they narrowed in anger "Don't continue this stupid stunt of yours any further, we both know its over for you."

"You-" Jason seethed at the Huntress "You traitorous little…" the man growled "Why couldn't you just vanish like the useless little-" he let out a gasp and ducked down low to avoid the arrow of light loosened at his head, flying just above him as he dropped to the ground. Rendal watched the arrow soar over the ship and then splash into the ocean in the far distance before returning his attention to the Golden Hind.

The eyes of everyone - including Atalanta - fell upon Artemis as she glared at Jason, then blinked in surprise as she seemingly realised she had her bow raised and glowing from firing an arrow. The Goddess released a slight giggle before nervously looking around "Sorry…he said some hurtful things about Atalanta and I just got a little angry." she waved her hand around anxiously "D-don't mind me, just…er…go back to whatever you were doing."

"..."

"Sorry again!"

Jason's head slowly crested over the railings of the ship, his eyes quickly sweeping across the Golden Hind before he climbed back to his feet while still holding a somewhat shaky expression which quickly gave way to frustration. His eyes fell onto Ritsuka before pointing at him "I see how it is! You're too jumped up on some power trip after you lucked your way through beating Heracles that you think you can now just command a Goddess to kill me on the spot!?"

Ritsuka did a double take "W-wait what?" the Master stared back in disbelief "Hang on a second-"

"So you can try and kill me again!?" He snarled back "Every single time I attempt to forge my own destiny and take what I deserve I'm constantly assailed by scum like yourself!" he stamped his foot on the ground "All of you! Every single one of you! You can't just let me claim my right as King!"

"I don't see how you could achieve that if you sacrificed a Goddess to the Ark." David shouted back across "That would have the exact opposite effect than whatever it is that you're attempting!"

"What?" Jason stared at him with a frown "What do you mean? That is the legend. You sacrifice a Goddess to the Ark and that grants you Lordship of the Ocean."

David blinked "What told you something as foolish as that? Whoever they are, they are tragically misinformed."

"Indeed." Atalanta shouted out in support "Jason, you will kill everyone if you attempt something so stupid. Even Heracles - mad as he was - attempted to kill Euryale to put a halt to this madness."

"Of course not." Jason scoffed "Heracles was just…becoming difficult, all he needed to do was obey my commands. As a Berserker he was a little rough, not that I would expect you to understand."

"Every instant in which he attempted to kidnap Lady Euryale, he was clearly attempting to kill her." Sanura pointed out "Surely that concerns your plans?"

"Heracles was difficult!" Jason argued "It means nothing!" he gestured to Medea next to him "Tell them!"

Medea remained silent, the Caster still staring at the Chaldeans. Jason continued to gesture to her before he frowned, his head slowly turning towards the Caster "Medea? Tell them about the legend."

Atalanta slowly turned her head to the purple haired Caster and blinked in confusion "Medea? What did you tell him?"

"That if he offered a Divine Spirit to The Ark of the Covenant he would be granted unrivalled power." She replied casually "Which is true. With the sacrifice of a Divine Spirit to the Ark, the entire world would be destroyed within this Singularity." her smile turned beautific "With the destruction of the world, your enemies would no longer exist. In effect, you would become unrivalled."

Jason stared at her in silence, his arms falling limply at his sides "W-what?"

"Sorcerer…scum…" Havel growled as he paced over to the front of the ship and placed his hand on the railings of the ship, his fingers dug into the wood and started to splinter it as his helmet glared at Medea, the young woman avoided looking at him with her attention still on Jason.

"Medea…you…" Jason's eyes were glued onto her before they narrowed "You…lied to me?"

The Caster put on a slightly hurt expression "I did not lie, Lord Jason. I spoke the truth from a certain point of view."

"A certain point of view!?" Atalanta growled out, the Archer stomped towards the front of the ship until she stood next to Havel "Medea you-!" she snapped her mouth shut and glared at the Caster with a somewhat broken look in her eyes "Why!?"

Medea turned her head to stare at Atalanta with a disturbingly calm expression, the Caster offered little more than a shrug in response "There was nothing else I could do. I was summoned to obey my Master, he gave me the information necessary to ensure that I could move Jason in the right direction."

"And Caeneus?" Atalanta scowled, then pointed over at Rendal "And him? Were they aware of this?"

Medea looked to Rendal and shook her head "Until this moment, he was not." then frowned "As for Caenis. I cannot say. She was not summoned by me and never spoke of her Master to anyone else." she stared at Rendal "What will you do now?"

Rendal stared at her in silence, then looked away and towards the Chaldeans with a blank expression, "You…have placed me in a difficult position. I either join your cause and participate in an act of utter barbarity…or I betray my own code of chivalry and strike you down and brand myself a traitor to my own ideals."

The man closed his eyes and exhaled.

"...I can only hope that I find defeat in this fight." His eyes opened "But…I will see this through." he looked down at Medea with a dullness in his eyes "..Until the very end, I will serve you."

She bowed her head at him "Thank you, I understand this might be difficult for you."

Jason stared between the two of them with a growing expression of rage before it exploded "You-!?"

Archer scoffed and shook his head "The amazing things that duty and honour will allow." he held out his hand and manifested his sleek black bow "Let us be done with this quickly then-"

Jason beat him to it, instantly grasping his sword and rushing towards Medea, the witch stared up at him with a perfectly calm expression as he closed in before he was stopped a few feet from her. He stumbled, the sword falling freely from his hand and clattering against the deck of the ship.

Red liquid dribbled out from between his lips as he stared down at his chest with disbelieving eyes, then slowly turned his face to stare at Rendal. The Knight had swiftly unsheathed his sword and ran the servant through the heart. Exhaling, the King placed his hand on Jason's shoulder in a comforting manner before he slid the blade out, making sure to keep Jason upright as he did so. Jason's left hand grasped onto Rendal's wrist as he struggled to stand, his legs wobbling slightly as Medea approached him with the Grail in her hand.

"Worry not, Lord Jason." Medea gently cooed to him as she approached "I will realise your dreams." holding the Grail next to his chest, she then forced it into the hole where he had been stabbed, Jason coughed and sputtered out as the golden light flooded across him.

"O' Holy Grail. O' Ultimate Vessel granting my desires." She removed her hand as Jason clasped at the wound while still choking "Manifest. Remember. You are one of the Seventy-Two Demon Gods."

Jason screamed as his body began to steam over, his skin turned red as it started to split open. Rendal grimaced and turned to Medea who stared back at him before nodding her head towards the edge of the ship.

Rendal sighed and placed his other hand on Jason's opposing shoulder before roughly shoving him backwards, sailing over the railings of the ship and splashing into the water.

The entire crew complement of the Golden Hind stared at the bubbling water before their eyes slowly shifted back to Medea and Rendal, the former still wearing her calm smile despite the specks of blood upon her cheeks from Jason's rather violent end. Atalanta's expression was still one of complete shock at the casual nature she had killed Jason.

The Huntress would have been among the first to call Jason out on his behaviour and what he was as a person, but even she would admit that had been far too grisly a fate than he deserved.

Archer frowned as he stared at the water and then back at the Witch, he swiftly loosened an arrow at the Caster, Rendal stepped forwards in a blur of movement and parried the arrow away from him. Staring at the Archer for a few moments before his eyes scanned the rest of the Golden Hind.

"...That was fuckin' sick." Drake grimaced in disgust, then pointed at Medea "What the hell was that supposed to be?"

Medea took a single step backwards. "A summoning spell."

"Summoning?" Mash blinked at her in surprise "But then…what did it-"

The ocean began to steam and boil, the bubbles where Jason had fallen started to wildly emerge and burst with scalding flecks of water as the area looked as though it was being heated up. Ocean then dropped downwards into a whirlpool. Drake widened her eyes and frantically turned the wheel of the ship, steering the Golden Hind away from the maelstrom, the Argo remained stationary as if held in place by some invisible force, the ship not even buckling as the whirlpool expanded and ordinarily should have dragged the vessel down.

The Captain continued to look between the ocean and the ship as she sailed away, the other Servants all rushing to the railings and staring out at the whirlpool.

David stared down at the water before he looked up at Medea, his expression of genuine puzzlement "Did she say…Demon God?" he muttered in surprise "But…the only one who could summon those was-"

"Pillar Activation: Confirmed."

A deep voice reverberated through the very air, Ritsuka stilled as it felt as though the words passed right through his body. The Master stepped away from the whirlpool as glowing light soon peaked through the surface of the water as a large shadow passed just underneath the whirlpool.

"Presence of Heroic Spirits: Confirmed."

"Presence of Divine Spirits: Confirmed."

"Threat Level: Minimal."

The voice boomed again as the maelstrom soon began to rise, the shadow passing beneath the water darkened in intensity as it seemingly rushed towards the surface.

"The Time of Drifting Hath Come."

"We are of the Pillars which Observe Time. All of the Past, Present and Future is within our Jurisdiction."

The surface of the water bulged as a shape forced itself out of the ocean, the bubble remained stationary before it ripped itself open as the tentacle emerged into the sky, looming over the Golden Hind with deep purple skin which looked to be made of patchworked lumps of flesh. The Tentacle was lined with glowing circular red eyes with black cross shaped pupils moving upwards, rows upon rows of the orbs swiveled around as they scanned their environment before they locked onto the Golden Hind as one.

"Pillar Designation: Forneus. Rank: Marquis."

The pupils contracted one by one as each eye glowed bright red and began to heat up, Ritsuka felt his mouth dry up. It was the same phenomena which Aldrich had used against them in Rome. But the fact that even he could tell at a glance this was going to be much more powerful did nothing to calm his nerves. In fact, it made them all the worse as he stared up at the looming meat pillar.

"Incineration Rituals: Charging."

"Commencing Incineration."

The eyes flashed and Ritsuka's world was bathed in burning red light before darkness took hold of him.

---

The first thing that came to him was a ringing in his ears, an endless noise which seemed to reverberate through his entire head. It was as if nothing else except for the ringing existed for him, the high pitched sound continued on with no sign of stopping. The next thing he noticed was that his eyes were tightly bound shut.

Opening them was a gargantuan effort, even shifting his eyelids felt as though it was an attempt to push a boulder up a hill, although that might also have been because his entire body was numb. Whether or not that was good or bad was something he couldn't tell in the least.

His body shifted slightly, a brief pang of confusion shot off in his head before he realised that it was a rumbling. Almost like an earthquake but the movements were sporadic and random, often accompanied by a low thump and a flash of red managing to pierce through his closed eyes.

Eventually - after what felt like an eternity - his eyelids were pried open. The first thing he noticed was that his vision was blurry. That and the blue with blurred white smears.

'Ah, right…the sky…' He mutely understood, the sky wasn't that detailed before his vision had been reduced to blurred shapes, so it was at least easy enough to determine what he was looking at. A pained groan worked its way through his lips as he attempted to move, the effort was rewarded by a flash of pain and the sudden desire to just lie back and stare at the sky instead.

He understood that he was probably on his back, although he couldn't feel much of anything at the moment so it was difficult to tell what he was lying down on - he hoped it was the Golden Hind - but he couldn't be entirely sure. A flash of light occupied the leftmost corner of his eye, soon followed by another rumbling shake which rattled his body once again. He continued to look up before noticing the flashes continued on at random intervals.

Slowly but surely, feeling returned to his body.

It was - without a doubt - the worst pain he had ever felt in his entire life. His skin felt as though it was on fire, to say nothing of the piercing pain in his left side and the strange tight sensation on the right side of his face, as if someone had thrown paint over him and allowed it to harden. It was deeply uncomfortable and resulted in a deep wheezing cough erupting from him.

A shadow passed over him, the blurred outline of an armoured figure with lilac coloured hair with only one visible eye. That would be Mash then, although he wasn't quite sure what expression she was making. His vision was still blurry even as he tried to squint at her. The girl seemed to be shouting something at him, but all he could hear was a muffled unintelligible noise everytime she opened her mouth.

Her head looked over her shoulder before she swung her entire body around, hosting her shield up and tensing her entire being. Another flash of light was accompanied by the girl staggering backwards as a burst of red energy impacted her shield and was directed either side of them, avoiding Ritsuka entirely before being accompanied by a much deeper muffled voice.

Something roughly grabbed his shoulder, shifting his attention to whatever was grabbing him. He could at least recognise the blurry shape of David easily enough, although he wasn't quite sure where all the red covering his left side had come from. The man started to drag him away as Mash covered their retreat. As David continued to pull him, he recognised the blurred shape of Archer with his bow as he continued to fire something.

He then noticed the shape of Sanura lying down on the ground.

His eyes squinted slightly, she had been quite close to where he had been lying although he was curious whether it was his vision or if she had always been that short. It almost looked like she was missing her bottom-

…

His eyes started to clear up, the top half of the Lancer lay motionless on the ground as specks of golden light already started to peel away from her body, her form becoming transparent as it dissipated into nothingness.

He stared unblinkly at the spot where she had been before he felt the hardened part on the right side of his face slowly begin to loosen itself up, as if something were coming free of him. His eyes darted to his right side as he watched the splatters of red liquid staining his uniform similarly begin to turn golden and vanish away.

His breathing intensified as he continued to be dragged away, the flashes of light became clearer to him as every little sound caused his eyes to dart towards them, the deep rumblings soon started to clear up as he realised what they were. Ritsuka's eyes darted up to the shadow being cast over the ship, the Pillar looming over them in the distance as they sailed around, the eyes flashed before releasing a beam of energy towards them.

He watched as the right light slammed into Mash a second time while another beam went high and struck Havel, the Berserker being knocked over by the impact and roughly landing on his side before he scrambled back to his feet and clashed his shield.

"Elimination of Lancer Class Servant: Confirmed"

"Rider Class Servant: Crippled."

"Chances of Victory for Remaining Heroic Spirits: 27.95%"

"Adjusting strategum to further decrease margin for failure."

The pillar boomed out in its clinical tone as flashes of light struck along sections of its skin, chunks of meat where blasted away only to slowly begin to reform themselves moments later. He could vaguely hear Drake curse before another barrage of cannon fire sounded out, the artillery shot out across the ocean and slammed into the base of the pillar, Forneus body rocked backwards from the detonation at his base. The Pillar leaned back slowly before it halted, the eyes swiveled around before they froze and locked back onto the Golden Hind, crimson light cut through the smoke as the pillar unleashed another beam of energy towards the ship, the light smashed into the side of the ship and rocked the whole boat as it scorched its way along the side of the vessel.

The ship shuddered as the impact forced it to turn before the beam slowly died down, Ritsuka's breathing began to increase before he found himself gently rested against the side of the railings and David crouching in front of him, the man still held a smile although this one held a fair amount of panic.

"How are you doing?" He looked Ritsuka up and down and nodded his head "No visible injuries to you, so that's very good!" he exclaimed with an overly positive tone before he darted his eyes back to Forneus, the Pillar still glaring at them as the eyes lining its body slowly began to glow once again. "Mash! Incoming!" David cried out, Ritsuka watched as the Shielder stumbled her way to the side of the ship and raised her shield towards the pillar before the eyes contracted and unleashed the barrage of fire upon them.

Crimson light rained down upon the vessel, blasting holes through the deck of the ship and slamming against the Shielder as she continued to act as the defense of Ritsuka and David. The barrage seemed to continue for eternity before the rumbling died down.

Ritsuka numbly looked around before he stared at David "Wha-"

"Medea…she was far better connected than I ever could have imagined." David explained with an unusually serious expression "Heard of them but never saw one before." he wet his lips "Whether it is or is not one of his, it doesn't matter right now. We're fighting a Demon Pillar or something that is claiming the name."

"What-?"

"Right, sorry." David waved his hand "...First barrage crippled the ship and knocked you out." he explained "Second barrage…Well. Sanura was taken out immediately…" he exhaled "Boudica's over there somewhere-" he gestured to the far end of the ship "She got hit pretty bad…I think she lost a leg but we've got our hands full trying to keep ourselves afloat." he threw a thumb over his shoulder "Mash has been wonderful, by the way. So has Havel and Drake is trying to keep us alive."

Ritsuka swallowed as he continuously blinked, his vision virtually cleared up enough to see the nasty burn mark on David's face, the man looked calm despite the wounds on him "Our Archer's are trying to keep the amount of eyes firing on us to a minimum but it's tough and healing…slowly. Might be because of the magical energy of the Grail or something within it, I can't tell."

He looked to the side "You got anything?"

"We're trying!" Ritsuka blinked as he heard the Directors rather panicked voice, the image of the woman appeared with her expression nothing shy of frantic "The Magical energy that thing exudes exceeds that of the Grail and it's just…I can't…it-"

"I'll take over from here." Romani interrupted, sliding in front of the Director as she hyperventilated in the background, the Doctor's expression was stern as he stared at Ritsuka "For now we will refer to our opponent at Forneus, as that is what it called itself, and move onto its capabilities. It's stronger than all your Servants." he began immediately "But the principles of its attack seem similar enough to that of Aldrich in Rome."

"T-the eyes." Ritsuka gasped out "The eyes."

"Right." Romani nodded "From what we can discern, they seem to be a variation of Mystic eyes although whether releasing pure magical energy as a concentrated beam is their only function, we don't know." he winced "You'll have to be careful though…It's displayed a limited form of regeneration but it appears to be…" he paused as she searched for the right word "Stunted. That's it. There's a delay as if it's a conscious effort on Forneus' part, my guess is that it's using the Holy Grail to heal itself. It's not an innate ability of them but something they're trying to force on themselves. If you can damage them faster than they can repair themselves, you should be able to outlast them."

"That's helpful." David nodded "However-"

"Begone."

Space directly next to the ship warped, a speck of glowing violet light suddenly expanded outwards in an explosion of raw magical energy, the detonation rocked the ship as light consumed Ritsuka's vision, he hissed and raised his hand at the rays of light which invaded his sight and touched upon his skin even being able to feel the heat despite Mash's effort to protect him.

"...That." David commented as the vessel steadied itself. "We're a mess and too many of us are close range fighters." he bit his lip and nodded to something "Even he's a little out of his depth."

Ritsuka tilted his head in confusion, then turned towards where David was pointing. His eyes bulged out of their sockets as he saw Ash with a bow - which looked identical to Gwyndolin's - raised and an arrow already nocked in the string and glowing before he loosened it in a burst of light towards the pillar, the arrow glanced along the side of Forneus and cleaved a small valley through the meat before the flesh slowly wound its way back together.

Ash ducked down and raised a large rounded shield in front of him while hobbling slightly, placing the bow back at his side and bracing himself with both hands as the return fire smashed into his guard and nearly barreled him over. It was only at that point did Ritsuka notice the bleeding form of Boudica resting behind the Saber, her right leg was horribly burned while her left one was missing below the knee.

The woman was breathing heavily with both her eyes tightly shut as the Saber was forced back inch by inch, the shield itself slowly beginning to glow as the heat of the beam ate away at the metal barrier. Ash's eyes tightly shut themselves as the metal around his arm began to steam.

Dozens of arrows launched through the sky before impacting against the eye of the Pillar that was attacking, the beam of light was cut off and Ash heaved as he fell backwards, hissing in pain as he crawled back with one hand on the bow.

Archer continued to fire arrow after arrow at the eyes of the attacking Pillar in an effort to try and remove some of its offensive capabilities, Atalanta and even Artemis had followed suit in the similar approach of attacking. Although it was quickly proving to be somewhat ineffective against Forneus, the Pillar shifted itself into the oncoming fire before it twisted its body like a snake until it was curling sideways towards them. The eyes lit up row by row as Archer realised the intention almost instantly.

"Broad side!" He called out, dropping down and noticing that Mash was already struggling as it was with defence of the ship. He grit his teeth before his eyes shifted to Ritsuka, the boy looked worse for wear, he could still feel that he had enough magical energy to protect the ship if need be. The truth was, this wasn't a situation where he could afford to hold back.

The Servant allowed his bow to dissipate into motes of light as he turned to face the Pillar, his eyes closed before he exhaled and extended his right hand towards Forneus as the glow of the cross-shaped orbs intensified.

"I am The Bone of My Sword." Archer intoned as the beams shot forth towards the Golden Hind "Rho Aias!" The transparent seven petaled shape flower exploded forth from his hands, instantly covering the width of the Golden Hind as the attack approached. The beams of light smashed into the shield with enough force to cause the Servant to grit his teeth as he felt his body tense.

The Pillar - as if noting the resistance to be marginally more than it had expected - responded by increasing the power behind the attack. Archer braced his right hand with his left as he felt the bones in his arms protest. The first layer of seven remained strong, even as a minute crack formed in its surface as a result from the attack, the Pillar poured forth more magical energy into the beam of light, the crack in the first layer grew ever so slightly in response.

Archer would be impressed at the attack power if it didn't have horrifying implications. Each layer was the strength of the walls of Troy which had been able to block even the throw of Hektor, for Forneus to begin to crack away at the layers with just a simple attack was quite indicative of how much power the Demon Pillar had at its disposal.

His eyes shifted slightly from the Pillar as he noticed movement beneath the surface of the water. The Servant managed a frown through gritted teeth as he stared at the shadow as it closed in on the Pillar.

---

"Fujimaru-kun…" Romani muttered out as he stared at a screen to his left with a puzzled expression "I'm picking up a high rank Phantasmal approaching your position."

Ritsuka felt his eyes torn away from the pink shield and fell back onto Romani with a puzzled expression "What do you mean?"

"I mean…you've got a high rank phantasmal virtually right on top of you!" The Doctor exclaimed "It doesn't make sense!"

David frowned before he let out a hum "Huh…I never realised how close we actually were to the ruins of Atlantis." he seemingly realised "I wonder if Peg Leg Pete was right?"

Ritsuka stared at him in confusion for a few moments before the name eventually registered. It was difficult not to, considering the topic which had been discussed at the time of his name. "The Hydr-"

The word had barely gotten free of his mouth before the water beneath Forneus exploded outwards as over half a dozen eel shaped heads with fins running down their back and almost the width of the Golden Hind erupted from the water and clasped down around the pillar at multiple sections. Forneus recoiled away from the heads, even as one of the jaws clamped down around one of the larger eyes and ripped it free of the Pillar's body.

Forneus released a deep roar as dozens of eyes lit up as they turned to face the Hydra, instantly barraging the beast with a torrent of magical energy. The Hydra recoiled away from the Pillar with a gutteral hiss of pain as its outer skin became littered with burn marks from the Pillar before several of its head scooped up a mouthful of water before their maws opened.

The water shot out of their jaws like a jet, lacerating the skin and eyes of the Pillar upwards of its body. The wounds gradually started to reheal even as the beast began to take in more mouthfuls of water to continue the offensive.

Ritsuka grunted as he hobbled to his feet, David supporting him as the Master stared at the two giants begin to fight it out. Although it quickly became clear to him that the Hydra was obviously going to be the loser of this encounter, given that even if it was firing water at insane speeds it was still just water. The wounds weren't nearly deep enough to do lasting damage - even without the healing factor - and they would be right back where they started.

"Everyone!" Ritsuka cried out "Focus fire on the Pillar eyes!" he ordered out "Try to take them out before they fire, make sure the Hydra isn't taken out before Forneus!" he turned his attention towards Mash and Havel "Keep us on the defensive in case either decide to take pot shots at us, Archers and Ash lay down covering fire for the Hydra." he turned up "Drake, keep steering the ship and keep us at a safe distance, I'll give a signal for you broadside the Pillar to try and stagger it!"

He looked around for a few moments until he saw a few nods of affirmation before he called out again "Alright, let-"

He stumbled as the ship suddenly rocked forwards, the Master looked around in surprise before he turned back towards Drake, the woman spun around to look at their stern before her eyes narrowed and her lip curled into a slight snarl "Argo is coming up on our ass!" she bellowed out, spinning back around and turning at the wheel.

Ritsuka and David stared at eachother before the Master began to snap his fingers repeatedly in thought "Alright…um…" he turned to Archer "Archer! You keep fire on the Argo instead, Medea is the bigger threat so go for her…Atalanta and Artemis keep fire on Forneus.'' He then turned to Havel and saw the Berserker staring at him expectantly. Rituska grit his teeth "Havel, if Rendal tries to board, kill him."

Ritsuka then turned to Ash at the far end of the ship "Ash!" the unkindled swiveled his head towards Ritsuka, the Servant looking quite terrible if his strained expression was any indication, "Keep Boudica safe!"

Ash nodded his head in affirmation as he turned back towards the Rider and adjusted her position to be just out of sight while steadying her. Boudica's eyes slowly cracked open as she saw the Saber hunched over her and looking back at the missing leg. Boudica frowned and then stared at the stump before releasing a pained huff "Look at me…all that talk and I'm in worse shape than you…"

"A missing limb?" Ash shook his head "It is no concern. Like with Vendari, with enough time you will be back on your-"

Boudica widened her eyes at something just over Ash's shoulder, the Saber blinked in confusion before his inner senses screamed alarm at him. Spinning around, he watched as Rendal virtually warped into space behind him with his sword drawn and already pointed at his chest, the King lunging towards him. Ash raised his left hand towards him and allowed the glove to heat up with a pyromancy.

Rendal's eyes instantly locked onto the glove before he shifted focus and thrust the sword through the Saber's palm, Ash grunted in pain as Rendal instantly forced him to the ground and nailed the Saber to the deck of the ship. Ash hissed in pain as he attempted to raise his right hand, Rendal swiftly knocked the limb to the side before coiling back his fist and slamming it into the Sabers face and bouncing his head off the deck of the ship.

Ash's eyes turned dazed as his head rocked from the blow, Rendal then ripped the sword free of his hand and slashed across the Saber's chest, splitting open his chain and rolling him to the side. The King's eyes snapped to Boudica as she attempted to raise her sword towards him. Rendal pulled his arm back in preparation for a thrust before his eyes darted to the side.

The Saber jumped back to avoid Havel's club as it swung through the air where he had been, stepping backwards, the Saber continued to retreat as Havel swung the club around and forced him further back. Rendal narrowed his eyes as the Berserker as he pulled his arm back, staring the Servant down as he rose to his full height and stepped in-between the Saber and the wounded Servants.

---

Ritsuka stared at the sudden appearance of the Saber with obvious surprise before he swiftly engaged in a fight with Havel, his expression turned confused as he stared at them before he looked at David.

"Must have been a Command Seal." The Archer explained, biting his lip and standing up "We should-" he stumbled when the ship rocked again, flashes of light shot over the deck of the ship as beams of light cut through the air, striking across sections of the ship as Drake turned around, raising her flintlock and unloading several rounds at the Argo.

Medea weaved her hand as a transparent barrier blocked the return fire before she waved her staff again, magical circles forming being her before they split off into multiple projectiles which shot through the air towards the ship.

Arrows sliced through them almost immediately, detonating them prematurely before he prepared another dozen arrows, loosening them at rapid speeds towards the Caster. Medea frowned as she waved her staff again, smoke erupted from beneath her feet and spread out across the deck of the Argo as Dragon Tooth climbed free of the smog, grasping their clumsy weapons and staring at the Archer.

The tanned servant shifted his attention between the two of them as they continued to exchange blows, every time he'd take out one familiar it was as if three more would take its place. The Argo now rapidly closing in on the Golden Hind as some of the armed familiars looked ready to jump over.

"Mash." Ritsuka turned to the Shielder "If they get over, you and David try and clear them out." he ordered her, the Shielder nodded her head in affirmation, "Right, Sanur-" he cut himself off, sighing heavily as he realised what he had said. "...Just make sure to keep them away from Artemis and Atalanta."

"Yes, Senpai." Mash gave a fierce nod before turning away from him and moving towards the side of the ship, watching as the Argo rapidly closed in on their starboard side, the Dragon Tooth archers keeping their Archer and Drake occupied while the sword armed familiars tensed themselves to jump across the ship.

Mash gave a shaky breath as she tensed her body, looking to her right to see David twirl his staff before he similarly assumed a battle ready position.

The Familiars threw themselves across the ship, clearing the distance between the two vessels in a single jump before roughly landing on the Golden Hind, Mash released a battle cry as she rushed forwards to meet the nearest skeleton, already swinging her shield towards its mid-section.

---

Rendal stepped backwards as Havel attempted another swing, the attack going wide before he rushed in and thrust towards a slight gap in the armour, Havel shifted his body at the last moment, the tip of the sword bounced against the stone armour on his forearm - narrowly avoiding his elbow - as he released a deep growl before rushed forwards and swung his club down through the air. Rendal stepped backwards as Dragon Tooth buried itself to the deck of the ship at the base of his feet. Rendal rushed forwards, stamping down on the top of the club and swinging his body forwards into a shoulder barge, striking Havel in the chest and staggering him slightly before he shifted his sword in his grip and thrust upwards towards the head.

Havel grunted before he pulled upwards, Rendal shuddered on his feet as the Berserker lifted both him and the club back into the air, throwing the King off the weapon and flat onto his back. Making to advance, Havel raised his club into the air before something slammed into his side, the Berserker staggered with the blow as Rendal quickly seized the advantage, shooting to his feet and thrusting his sword towards the joint in his armour at the side of his knee. Havel retracted his knee as the sword just skimmed past the zone before he swung his leg out in a kick.

The attacking Saber raised his arm in a block as the kick connected with his bracer, forcing him into a roll away from the Berserker as another attack slammed into his back and staggered him. Havel swung his body around just in time to tank another beam of light to the chest, his armour absorbing the blow. The helmet fixed its entire attention upon Medea as she already started to form more magical circles in preparation for a renewed offensive.

A swift barrage of arrows cut the offensive plans short, Medea quickly shifting between attack and defense as Archer distracted her with another rapid rain of arrows. The tanned Servant shifted between firing upon her and on the ship, blue explosions detonated upon each impact and soon started to scar sections of the deck. Medea frowned as she levelled her staff towards the Archer and began to form several magical circles pointed in his direction. The circles flashes before they unleashed another dozen beams of pink light directly towards the Archer.

The Servant rolled to the side to avoid them while loosening several arrows from his bow, Medea flashed up another shield as they impacted against them, the arrows detonating in another explosion of blue flames which temporarily obscured her form. The flames swirled around before they were parted by a singular beam, Archer jumped back to avoid it, narrowly managing to dodge the attack by a hair's breadth. Medea's attention switched from Archer back to Drake as the Captain attempted to steer the ship, the woman occasionally looking over her shoulder at Lily before she frowned at the girl, the woman waved her head hand towards the Argo as space distorted behind her, the cannons encroached out of the portals before they unleashed a rapid barrage of weapon fire on the Argo.

A deep scream echoed out across the ocean, snapping Drakes attention ahead of her just in time to witness a crimson beam of light slice through one of the Hydra's heads, the severed head splashed into the ocean as the creature recoiled backwards. Forneus pressed the advantage as they continued to unleash a salvo of lazer fire upon the Hydra, forcing it to retreat further before the beast roared out in return. One of the jaws opened up before unleashing a high powered jet of boiling water into one of the base eyes, obliterating the ocular nerve and cutting across the skin.

Forneus released a deep growl before several arrows of light struck it along the side, gouging deep holes in the pillars flesh and rocking the being to the side, several eyes flashed away from the Hydra before they locked onto the Argo and narrowed, several beams of light instantly crossed the distance and splashed into the water around the ship, the explosions around the ship forced spouts of water to wash over the deck, Atalanta raised her arm to cover herself as the heated water drenched her before she shook her head and nocked another two arrows, quickly loosening them towards the pillar and striking it.

Artemis loosened several arrows of light at much greater velocity behind her, the glowing projectiles slammed into the pillars eyes and ripped through them, Forneus growled in response as they swung their whole body upwards while one of the larger eyes turned itself to face the Hydra, the pupil exploded with crimson light before a titanic beam erupted from the orb and slammed into the centre of the Hydra, blasting the creature back and burning across its chest. The beast limped away before it released another deep hiss, the heads coiled back before swinging forwards and throwing the whole creature under the water and into the depths.

Forneus' eyes remained on the water for a brief few moments before they all turned at one and faced the Golden Hind - still locked in combat with the Argo - before they began to glow. The water directly to the right of the pillar rippled and bubbled as something rapidly approached the surface.

Atalanta's eyes nearly bulged as the Hydra jumped out of the water, its six remaining heads launched themselves forwards with jaws wide and aimed directly towards the top of the Pillar, the beast's body was revealed in full. Despite the front half being that of a oily aquatic fish, the centre of its body was hardened like that of a turtle before the limbs tapered out into thin vines like a jellyfish. The peculiarities of the creature aside, it did nothing to take away from the fact it was virtually propelled out of the water while its side under the shell exploded outwards and broadsided the Pillar with accelerated jets of superheated water. The attack staggered the pillar as they eyes swung up to face the Hydra before they narrowed.

Beams of light cut through the underside of the creature as it released a scream, the heads stretched out and clamped down around the fleshy skin of Forneus as it accelerated past them before approaching the water, the entire mass of the near two-hundred metre long beast dragged the pillar down as it swung through the air, Forneus releasing a surprised noise before the pair slammed into the water, Forneus beams of light arc'd up and into the air as its entire body was swung around at an awkward angle.

"Phantasmal Class Opponent: Supplemented."

"Adjusting Capabilities to match."

The eyes swerved to face the Hydra ripping chunks of flesh from the Pillar, Forneus released a deep groan as they all lit up before it unleashed a concentrated barrage against the beast. The flaming beams of light scorched their way through the leathery skin of the hydra, slicing through another head while incinerating a second. The remaining mouths released the Pillar and recoiled in pain as Forneus gradually rose out of the water, bite marks and lumps of flesh dangled freely from its body where the Hydra had mauled them, the Pillar's eyes glowed once again before a bombardment of glowing orange beams of light collided with the base of the Demon God.

Forneus recoiled from the attack, the concentrated attack cutting through several sections of its base as it redirected its attention back to the Golden Hind.

Drake stood on the bow of the ship, facing the Pillar with a sharp grin as she waved her hand again, the formation of fresh cannons behind her emerged.

"I ain't done yet!" Drake exclaimed out, briefly sparing a glance over her shoulder at the sound of clashing steel as Rendal jumped away from Havel, the Berserker pursuing after him with. The woman's attention snapped back to the Pillar as it straightened itself out.

"Replenishment of Magical Energy: Commencing."

"The Time of Drifting Hath Come."

The air shifted around the body of the Pillar as it stretched itself into the sky, towering over both the Golden Hind and the Hydra. A deep thrumming sound emerged from the Pillar as magical energy condensed around its body, visibly shifting the air. Medea seemed to realise what was occurring as the Argo suddenly split off from the Golden Hind, sailing to clear the distance between the two vessels.

Drake watched the second vessel break away from them with wide eyes before they slowly shifted back to the Pillar.

"Oh…Shit."

"Replenishment of Magical Energy: Completed."

"The Vestiges shall be erased."

"Incinceration Ritual: Forneus."

The water beneath the Golden Hind and the Hydra glowed a brilliant white before it exploded upwards. Jets of burning magical energy shot into the sky, consuming the shapes of both the Golden Hind and Hydra within their embrace. Forneus remained unaffected as the explosions washed over his body, Medea throwing up a shield around herself and the Argo as the wave of fire reached them even at the distance they had cleared, the Caster visibly straining against the impact before it gradually began to settle.

---

Ritsuka blinked as he once again found his vision returning to him, the Master looked around breathing heavily before his eyes noticed a shadow looming over him, then widened in recognition.

Ash stared back at him, the left side of his face almost burnt clean off, the Saber panted heavily as they climbed back to their feet, staggering slightly before looking around in a daze, their left side was in a similar state, the skin had been blackened and the cloth of his armour had been burnt clean off, exposing the chainmail underlayer. The unfortunate aspect about that being the superheated magical energy had fused sections of the armour to his skin, his left arm dangled uselessly at his side as he looked around before staring back down at Ritsuka.

"You…are…alive?" He croaked out, then noticed Ritsuka's downright horrified expression before he nodded back at him "Good…" he stumbled slightly, trying to regain his balance.

"Wha-" Ritsuka tried to reply before he looked around. A hole had been burnt clean through the ship, almost splitting it in half with the sails having been snapped and draped over the side of the vessel. Further scanning of the ship, he quickly located Boudica, the Rider had the circular shield placed over her in a cover to protect her from the worst of the damage. He noticed he couldn't see Drake either.

"I can't…see…Mash." Ash croaked as he stalked towards the Darkmoon bow strewn on the deck, the Saber leaned down and clasped it with his right hand before raising it up, dry heaving as he struggled to move. "Can't…escape…" he continued on, turning his head to stare at Forneus. "...Oh well…" he grunted out, his voice sounding more resigned than anything else.

The charred remains of the Hydra disappeared below the waves, half its body missing from the attack. The Argo similarly began to turn to face them again, already moving to close the distance.

Ash stared blankly across the ocean towards Medea before he reached for the quiver on his back. Drawing forth a single arrow and nocking it. His left arm rattled as a stray chain protested against the movement, the Saber bit down on his lip to avoid screaming as he pulled the arrow back as far as he could while struggling to take aim.

Ritsuka coughed out a lungful of air as he tried to warn the Saber against it, the arrow began to glow a brilliant white before Ash gradually lifted his aim to rest slightly above the Caster and the Argo.

"I offer…this prayer…" Ash coughed "False though it…might…be…" the arrow shifted as light began to glow around it, his form started to crack as he drew forth whatever magical energy he had left in him. "Deliver…judgment…upon my enemies…drown them…in…the…" Ash's eyes fluttered slightly as he struggled to stay on his feet.

"You've fought well, Unkindled." Ritsuka's heart turned cold at the voice, his eyes slowly drifting to his right. Rendal just finished throwing his body onto the deck of the ship. The man having sections of his armour seared but looking little in the way of injured. "Don't let your final moments be ones of fruitless struggle." he spoke in a respectful tone as he approached with his sword drawn.

Ash's head turned towards the King with a dull look in his eyes.

"Just let yourself pass away in peace." Rendal stopped walking "You struggled against impossible odds. None can fault you for failing."

Ash continued to stare blankly at him before he opened his mouth and replied, his voice coming out in a dead tone "I am…Unkindled." he replied "My life is nothing…but…fruitless struggle against the impossible." he turned his body towards Rendal, aiming the arrow at the King instead "Until the very end…I will…serve to…fulfill my duty."

Rendal stared back at him before he gave a respectful nod of his head, his mouth shifted into a small smile "Indeed. Perhaps I was the fool for expecting a different result, or perhaps I insulted you by expecting you to accept such an offer." he bowed slightly "I offer my sincerest apologies." the man's expression steeled "...I will ensure your end is quick."

"We'll…see." Ash grunted.

The two stared at eachother blankly for a few moments, Rendal's feet shifted while Ash's arm wavered slightly from the injuries.

Only Ritsuka caught sight of movement behind Rendal, his eyes widened at the figure before they shifted back to Rendal.

Rendal launched himself forwards as Ash prepared to loosen the arrow.

An arrow of pink light shot through the air behind Rendal, the projectile slammed into the back of his knee and brought out a grunt of pain from the man and eyes wide with surprise at the sudden attack. He stumbled slightly as Ash loosened the arrow, while not fully charged it did more than enough.

The glowing arrow slammed into the Saber's chest, puncturing a hole straight through his body and sent him stumbling backwards. Rendal coughed out a mouthful of blood as he stared at the hole in his chest where his heart was before he looked over his shoulder.

Euryale stared back at him, the girl's dress ripped and burned around the base while she glared at him through narrowed eyes.

"For your information…Asterios wasn't my pet." She sneered at him, Rendal coughed out once before his lips thinned, then looked back to Ash.

"You should know how durable we undead are." He pointed out, shooting forwards and swinging his sword towards the Saber's neck. Ash raised the Darkmoon bow to protect himself as the blade collided with the metal bow, staggering Ash from the force of the impact before Rendal swung his arm in from the opposite side, slamming his fist into the right side of Ash's face and knocking him to ground.

Spinning on his heel, Rendal swung his sword upwards like a blur, deflecting several arrows of light from Euryale as she fired from her small bow, the Saber staggered towards her as he continued to block the projectiles, several got through his defense and struck his arms and legs, the man buckled under the assault as he closed in on them.

A blur of red shot in from the right side, Rendal turned his attention towards Archer as he rushed in towards him, his body still dripping wet from having emerged from the water. Rendal swung down at the tanned Servant as the twin swords swung up towards him. Rendal's left arm raised itself in a blocking motion to stop the leftmost sword.

Archer remained stone faced. Then loosened his grip on Kanshou, allowing the blade to dissipate into motes of light inches before it connected with Rendal's guard. The man widened his eyes as the empty hand slid just underneath his guard before it reversed and clenched into a grip. Kanshou reformed in a reversed grip before Archer thrust the Dao sword directly into Rendal's gut, the black sword punctured through his body and out the back of his torso.

Bakuya collided with his straight sword in a blocked the counter, Rendal coughed out another mouthful of blood as Archer kicked against his wounded leg and caused him to stagger. He skipped backwards as Euryale pelted him with dozens of rapid attacks and caused him to stumble slightly.

Archer rushed in again as Rendal was distracted between the two blows, the Knight's eyes locked onto the tanned Servant rushing in from the front, his knee buckled slightly as he attempted to turn towards the Archer servant, still pained by the wound in his leg before he thrust the sword towards him.

A sword burst through his back causing him to stagger forwards, the man stared down at the weapon with obvious surprise before his eyes traced themselves back to Archer as the white sword approached his neck. Rendal stared at Archer for a few moments before his eyes slowly closed themselves, a casual acceptance of his fate before Bakuya cut through his neck, severing his head from his shoulders and sending it clattering to the deck of the ship. The body remained standing for a few moments before it slumped down onto its front, the body already fading away into golden motes of light. The steel sword which had pierced through his back faded away into blue motes of light as Archer dismissed it from existence.

The Servant exhaled before he shifted his expression back to Ritsuka "You're alive still? Good." he answered without waiting for a reply "We're down multiple Servants and the ship can't move. Our current situation is-"

"Surviving Heroic Spirits: Sighted."

Forneus interrupted him, the shadow of the Pillar falling over the boat as the Demon God's eyes started to glow.

"Chaldean Master: Sighted. Priority Target."

"Prepare for Incineration."

Ritsuka swallowed as he looked around before he exhaled.

He had no idea what he was supposed to do-

The ocean rumbled as the water began to bubble. Forneus' eyes turned downwards as multiple whirpools began to open up in the ocean. Ritsuka gaped at the display in shock as even the Demon Pillar seemed taken aback at the sudden display.

"Presence of Magical Anomaly: Confirmed."

"Activation of Noble Phantasm: Error."

"Presence not consistent with Heroic Spirit."

"Information err-"

The ocean roared.

Jets of water exploded outwards as shapes forced their way free of the depths, Ritsuka covered his eyes as he suddenly found himself drenched in the downpour kicked up by the sudden arrival of whatever was beneath them. The Master slowly lowered his hand and felt his eyes widen.

---

Romani stood up from his seat as the image came through, the Doctor using his desk to hold himself upright as his eyes nearly bulged out of his skull. "That…that isn't-"

"It's entirely possible." Da Vinci's voice came from behind him, the genius strode into the command centre without a care in the world as she came to a stop next to the Doctor. Olga, having calmed down from her panic attack, felt her jaw unhinge itself and almost drop as she beheld the image in front of her.

"Holy…shit…" Kerry whispered out.

"For someone who changed the course of history…" Da Vinci cracked a smile "You can't say that anything in the world is impossible for them." the woman looked at the two out of the corner of her eye "Even taking on the powers of their future self…or rather, the Heroic Spirit they will become even when they're still alive."

"T-that's…" Olga sputtered "That's absolute nonsense! It's unthinkable! It's…It's…" the woman's lip twitched upwards "It's just what we need!"

---

"I don't understand half of what happened..." The calm voice echoed out across the ocean as footsteps thudded out on the deck of one of the floating vessels. Drake moved across the ship with a confident step to her. "Hell. I don't even understand half of what is currently filling my head right now."

The woman came to a halt at the bow of the ship, resting her left arm on her knee as her expression split into a smile.

The derelict forms of ships gradually pulled themselves free of the ocean and started to float into the sky, Forneus' eyes scanned each of the ships before they eventually fell onto Drake. The woman standing atop an exact copy of the Golden Hind. The difference being this one floating a good five metres above the ocean surface.

Ritsuka noticed shapes moving across the other ships, the forms of Atalanta, Artemis, Havel and David quickly became clear as they all looked around in confusion and surprise.

The shape of Mash stumbling out from behind Drake caused Ritsuka's heart to settle slightly as he allowed a relieved sigh to escape from him before he returned his attention to Drake.

"I suppose I should thank you." She gestured down at Ash "That little stunt of yours with the Grail convinced me how much it could be used…" a smirk made its way onto her face "Then I heard how it chose me to be its vessel and figured…I could probably handle it."

"Inconceivable. You are not even a Heroic Spirit."

"The power granted by the Grail cannot afford you an advantage."

"Chances of a Chaldean Victory remain within an acceptable margin for Error."

"Recent events change nothing."

Drake smirked in response "That's where you're wrong." she gestured to herself "Because not only have you got to fight me…you've got to fight the best crew of pirates on this ocean." the woman's smirk grew into a full smile "Before you were fighting Francis Drake. That ain't who I am anymore."

She pressed a thumb into her chest. "I'm Temerso el Drago." The floating ships slowly began to shift their cannons to turn entirely to face the Demon Pillar. "I'm the woman who felled the Sun."

Forneus glared back at her, every single one of its eyes fixed themselves entirely onto the woman before they burned a brilliant red.

"Priority Target: Shifted."

"I shall-"

Several glowing rocks rocketed through the air, slamming into the Pillar as a voice called out amongst the creaking of wood and crashing of the ocean.

"If you're going to call yourself a Demon Pillar God around me, you should know what that means!" the voice cried out, David stood on the bow of one of the floating vessels, the sling at his side spinning up rapidly until it became a glowing blur. The King stared down at the Demon Pillar with an alien frown on his face "Especially if you seek to claim the property of Yahweh for your own interests."

Forneus' eyes looked up.

"David."

"Your Presence means nothing to us."

"Our King's will shall be fulfilled."

David stared back "...I see." he sighed "Then I suppose I am well within my rights to act against your King." he raised the sling above his head as the weapon began to release a low whistle "You might not be a giant in the traditional sense, but I suppose you'll have to do either way!"

The man hurled the rock forwards "Hamesh Avanim!" The man launched the glowing rock forwards, the projectile shooting across the sky in a single instance before it slammed into the Demon Pillar. The rock ripped a hole clean through the flesh of Forneus and exploded out the other side, staggering the Pillar backwards.

"Alright Mateys!" Drake's battle cry echoed out "Let's finish him!" The woman thrust her arm forwards as the fleet of ships continued to grow "King of Storms, Swarm of Ghosts, this is the beginning of the Wild Hunt!"

The fleet of vessels instantly opened up in a barrage of cannon fire, Forneus recoiled as its body became swarmed in shells. Arcs of red light erupted from the explosions as the Pillar returned fire towards the ships, the derelict vessels ate up the return fire without slowing down, wood splintered and shattered as beams of light ripped through several ships before more seemed to emerge to replace them.

---

Medea stared as Forneus began to get overrun with concern, the Caster bit her lip in worry. It was without a doubt going to lose unless she could do something. However, at the present time - and with Saber unfortunately dead - it meant she wouldn't be able to-

The ship rocked as something thudded into the ground behind her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she felt a deep dread flood through her system. The Caster slowly turned around to see the source of the commotion. The form of Havel gradually arose from the cracked wooden crater where he had landed. Medea directed her eyes upwards to see the shadow of one of the flying ships pass over her head as it continued to bombard Forneus before her eyes darted back to Havel.

The Berserker shifted the club until it rested on his shoulder and he craned his neck down to stare at her.

"...Caught…you…" The Berserker grit out as he took a single step forwards, Medea instantly wove nearly a dozen magical circles behind her before unleashing them upon the Servant. The beams of magical energy ripped through the air as they rocketed towards the Berserker, who made no effort to move.

He didn't need to bother.

The beams of magical energy slammed into a barrier just in front of him and faded into nothing, Medea blinked in surprise before she started to craft more magical circles and stepped back as Havel continued his slow advance. He threw down his shield with a heavy thud as the beams of light continued to fail to reach him. Sweat began to trickle down her forehead before she waved her hands, weaving the creation of her familiars.

Havel backhanded the closest one without ever taking his attention away from her, shattering the creation into dust before he swung his club out, obliterating several more with a single swing.

Medea began to step backwards as she attempted to clear the distance. The magical spells still failing to reach the Berserker. The Caster then shifted her approach, focusing on a singular magical circle and rapidly chanting under her breath. Havel tilted his head slightly as he watched her work before the Caster opened her eyes and thrust her staff forwards.

This time a titanic beam of pure while light shot forth and slammed into him, Havel skated backwards as the attack started to burn away at his stone armour before he slid to a halt. Havel released a deep growl before he tossed aside his club. Then started to march forwards.

Medea bit her lip and continued to pour forth magical energy into the attack, the Berserker showing no signs of stopping even as his entire body started to steam from the extreme heat he was being subjected to. Each step sent a deep thud across the entire ship as he closed in on the young girl.

Spreading her cape wide, Medea floated backwards to avoid Havel as he closed in. He rushed forwards with more speed than he had any right to at the last moment, clamping a large hand down around her ankle and pulling her roughly into the ground. Medea let out a pained gasp as he slammed her into the deck of the ship with enough force to daze her. Havel released her ankle before he reached out and snatched the staff from her grasp. The Berserker stared at it before he growled, snapping the catalyst in half in his fist.

Medea's eyes widened and she attempted to scramble away from Havel as he reached down and clasped his large hand around her neck and collar before hoisting her up into the air and at eye height. The young woman started to gasp as he began to tighten his grip around her neck Medea clasped her hands around the wrist gripping her in a fruitless effort to free herself.

Havel stared at her for a few moments without making a single sound as he strangled her.

His head shifted slightly in remembrance of something.

'Just…try to make it quick.'

…He must be getting soft if he was taking the advice of a Sorcerer. Then again, the boy was a downright terrible Sorcerer. Havel exhaled through his helmet and stared at the Caster in his grip.

His hand snapped closed, breaking her neck instantly and causing the hands to go limp. He stared into her lifeless eyes for a few moments more before he opened his hand up and clumsily dropped her onto the ground.

"Sorcerers…" He grunted to himself, turning around and moving to pick up his shield and club "...Always…doing…stupid…shit."

---

Forneus' body buckled under the combined weight of the offensive brought about by Drake and the other Heroic Spirits, portions of their body being ripped apart as the bombardment continued. Whenever they successfully destroyed some of the ships more would merely emerge to re-engage where their departed had left off.

The Demon Pillar felt its body begin to break down, it could no longer regenerate faster than it could be damaged and with Medea now deceased, it was only a matter of time before this body was destroyed. It was an unexpected set-back.

No. It was illogical. It should not have been possible for the Heroic Spirits to best them and yet Forneus was undoubtedly on the verge of defeat. This would shame them to the same extent as Flauros' failure had done so.

Inconceivable that a mere human had disgraced them as such.

The entire Pillar swung itself towards the Golden Hind, the eyes lighting up as the Demon God summoned as much magical energy as it could muster behind its eyes. If nothing else, it would kill this woman before they were destroyed. Not that their destruction would matter in the least.

Drake stared down at the Pillar with a blank expression as the eyes burned, slowly heating up before they unleashed their bombardment towards the Golden Hind. The woman remained unfazed as the beams closed in before her lip quirked upwards.

"That which he held in his heart!" A blur moved past the Captain to the bow of the ship "Which spurred us on to this end!" Mash slid to a halt and raised her shield up high as the attack closed in "The Hope that burns in his heart shall protect us!" she slammed the shield down into the deck of the ship as the shield exploded with light, spreading over the entire vessel "Manifest! Knight Chaldeas!"

Mash let out a battle cry as she felt the final dregs of Oscar's power flood through her body, pouring it into the shield as it intensified, manifesting the section of a transparent wall in front of the ship. The beams of light from Forneus collided with the shield, crimson light rebounded off the vessel and seared themselves across the surface of the water and into the sky. Mash grit her teeth and braced herself as the strength behind the beams of light increased, Forneus pushing their reserves as much as they could in an effort to break through the shield. The wall remained stalwart in the face of the attack, even as sections started to crack the defensive shield remained strong in its effort to protect the ship.

Another barrage from the fleet and the Servants tore away at the Pillar in response, Forneus body began to get ripped apart from the continuous fire being thrown against them, large sections of their body being pulverized and falling into the ocean as it staggered and swayed as the base was torn apart. Forneus released a final deep groan as the Pillar swayed sideways.

"Damage: Exten…sive…"

"Self-Repair: Impo…ssible…"

"Destruction of Anc…hor…confir-"

The Demon Pillar toppled over, the base of the God collapsed into a smoking pile as it plunged into the water with a tremendous crash, kicking up a wave of boiling water as its body started to fade away into red motes of light, flickering ashes of its body dissipating into the sky.

Drake exhaled as the lights in Forneus' eyes dimmed, the Pillar ceased its movement.

---

"The presence of the…Pillar…" Romani muttered out the word in a strange tone of voice "Has diminished. I would say that it is dead…" he span in his chair to face Da Vinci and Olga "...Right…I'd say we should prepare the other's to-"

"Yes!" Olga cheered under her breath with an ecstatic expression, the girl even going so far as to pump one of her fists in victory before she froze. Noticing both Romani and Da Vinci staring at her in equal tones amusement and surprise. Olga coughed into her hand and quickly composed herself "I-I mean…" the woman looked around before her expression steeled "Begin preparation to return Fujimaru, Mash, Ash and the Servants to Chaldea!" she ordered.

"...Right." Romani stared at her for a few more moments, then turned to Da Vinci and shrugged, the woman smiled at him in an amused fashion before she turned back to Olga and continued to grin at her. The Director shifted slightly at the amused smile before she threw her hands up.

"What?" Olga frowned, Da Vinci turned on her heel and crossed her arms behind her back.

"Nothing~" She amusedly remarked as she turned to face the monitors again, then leaned down to Romani and whispered to him "The command centre has security cameras, right?" she heard Romani let out a tired sigh, which was all the confirmation that she needed. Da Vinci made a mental note to find that footage for later. If only to try and 'convince' the Director to sign off on future projects of hers.

---

Drake let out a huff of air as she stepped back onto the original Golden Hind, her copied version vanishing into motes of light as she dismissed it. The woman watched it disappear with a faint smile before she stared back across the original with pursed lips. "...Man…It's gonna take some work to fix this."

"I'll say." An amused voice sounded out from her side, the woman looked over her shoulder as David approached, the man jumping down from one of the ghost ships flying overhead, the other Servants similarly dropping down onto the Argo from their own vessels, Atalanta fell down with grace before a heavy thud behind her signaled the arrival of Havel.

The Huntress watched the Berserker cross his arms before she thinned her lips. "I understand you bested Medea."

"...Yes…" Havel grunted.

"I…appreciate that you didn't make her suffer." She nodded to him, Havel slowly turned his head to face her for a few moments before he let out a dismissive huff.

"Didn't…do…it…for…you…" He remarked, Atalanta stared at him with a mildly curled lip before she looked away from him with a heavy scowl.

Her eyes falling onto Ash and Boudica resting at the side of the Golden Hind.

The Sabers' condition looked nothing shy of horrific, with his left side burnt black and sections of his chain armour fused to his skin. The Saber turned his head to stare at her, the disturbiningly blank expression remained as if he wasn't registering the extent of his injuries threw her for a loop before her expression tightened.

"It looks worse than it feels…" Ash replied, then coughed "...Probably."

"It isn't." Boudica chuckled from his side, the woman having put a tourniquet around the stump over her leg to stem the bleeding. "It's just you have no reaction to pain."

Ash remained silent then slowly nodded his head "...You're probably right." he agreed, leaning his head back against the railings.

"Yikes." Drake grimaced at him, then looked around "You can do something about that, right?"

"Most definitely." Ritsuka replied immediately, staring at the Saber with a mildly disgusted expression "...Are you sure you're alright?"

"I can't feel my left side." Ash replied "Therefore it cannot be that bad, I only become concerned when I can feel the pain."

Mash stared at him "...That's not how pain works, Ash-san." the Shielder replied slowly "You should probably go into Spirit Form."

Ash remained silent as he stared to the side for a few moments before he looked back at the Shielder "It is not that serious. I shall be fine."

"I'm with Mash on this one." Ritsuka nodded his head at the Saber, gesturing to him "You should probably go to Spirit form to conserve energy."

"It's no trouble." Ash replied with a calm voice "I can endure the pain."

"That's all well and good…" Ritsuka trailed off "But I'd rather play it safe than sorry." he looked at Boudica "You as well."

"Right…" The Rider chuckled before she winced "Probably right." she admitted as she stared down at the missing limb. Leaning back, the Rider allowed her body to fade back into Spirit Form, Ash watched the form turn transparent before he turned back towards the expectant faces of the Servants in front of him.

"...What?" He frowned.

"Really?" Ritsuka stared at him with a raised eyebrow before he sighed, "Fine." The Master turned around as he noticed the other Servants slowly started to fade away. David stared at his transparent hands with a sigh before he lowered them to stare at Mash and Ritsuka.

"Guess time's up for us then." The man placed his hands on his side as he looked up at the sky "It's certainly been an adventure and a half." he chuckled before he looked back at Ritsuka "What about it, O' commenting Mage?" he joked "Any final comments for me?"

"...Somehow you were useful." Romani begrudgingly replied "And knowing everything, you'll probably show up again and cause some trouble in the future."

"Ah…a biting remark, even at the end." David let out a light laugh "But that's fine. I know your sort anyway. You secretly like everyone…well, nearly everyone but that's just pedantic." he waved his hand "I'm almost certain we'll meet again." he sighed "But if we don't…I'll let you know I enjoyed our little banter."

Romani sighed "Yeah…that sounds about right."

David gave a final laugh in response as he pointed from Ritsuka to the communicator "Notice how he didn't deny it?" he exclaimed triumphantly, then turned his head to face Havel. His expression turned calmer as he and the Berserker stared at eachother "I hope you find your faith again." he offered with a nod.

Havel remained silent before he nodded back at him as he vanished into motes of light.

Atalanta stood over Ash, tapping her foot on the deck of the ship as she stared down at him with what could only be described as a disappointed expression. Ash stared straight ahead to avoid eye-contact with her, which only prompted the Huntress to lean down to stare at him. Ash's eyes flickered up to hers as they exchanged glances.

"You were reckless and beyond stupid." Atalanta bluntly described with a frown "It has become clear to me that you have never been educated on how to behave properly."

Ash frowned in response "Cecilia did her best." he argued back, then winced as he understood the context behind it.

"And had she ever raised children before?"

"...No." Ash admitted, looking down. Typically, Fire Keepers were Maidens, therefore she wouldn't have any experience with children. In fact, he hadn't even seen a child before. Except Ritsuka, but at first he had just assumed them to be a short man. That was a surprise and a half for him, if he was admitting it.

"...Fine." Atalanta leaned back, narrowing her eyes "...It seems you are certainly lacking in key areas and indeed act in much the same way a child would." she sighed "...It will need work." she turned around and levelled her finger at Ritsuka. "Grow him out of it."

"...Right." Ritsuka nodded his head quickly, Atalanta gave a single pleased nod before she allowed herself to be summoned away. Ritsuka watched her vanish before he looked down at Ash "...She's intimidating."

"Hmm." Ash hummed in response without answering.

"Hey…" Ritsuka blinked, turning to see Artemis standing near him with a slightly down expression to her "...If you do summon us again, can you make sure you also summon that nice Sanura girl." she asked, then tightened her grip on Orion to stop him making a comment "...I want to at least thank her properly for all she did for me."

"Yeah." Ritsuka nodded in response "Make sure of it."

"Thanks." Artemis beamed "I wonder if she'd be open to becoming a Huntress with Atalanta!" the Goddess grinned as she stared down at Orion before her expression became more joyous "Or she could become a Huntress of Linny and we could both have Lioness Huntresses to match!"

"Yeah, that would make him real proud." Orion snorted as they vanished "See ya around kid." he waved to Ritsuka with his little bear paw as they vanished into motes of light.

"I suppose that just leaves me left." Euryale commented as she exhaled before looking up at Ritsuka, her lips morphing into a coy smile "I suppose I should thank you for picking up Asterios duty." the smile shifted into something more genuine "And for treating Asterios with a degree of respect. You shouldn't lose that quality of yours…it makes you quite the tolerable human." her eyes shifted down towards Ash before her expression cooled "...I suppose if Asterios can make so many friends, you should be able to as well."

Ash remained silent, then turned his head to stare up at the sky "Farewell, Goddess of Youth."

"Oh?" Euryale grinned "Goddess of Youth. I like that, quite flattering I suppose." she mused as she vanished away.

"...I suppose we're almost finished up here then." Archer pointed out as he crossed his arms and looked up "Quite the strange first mission. Not my strangest, but indeed something memorable." he looked down at Ritsuka and nodded "Not bad for a first time Master. Room for improvement though."

Rituska blinked at him "Um…thanks." he awkwardly replied, scratching the back of his neck "Got a little touch and go, for a moment though, right?"

"I think you did very well, Senpai!" Mash cheered for him as her expression turned somewhat crestfallen "...We fulfilled Oscar-san's wish in the end."

"Yeah…we did." Ritsuka nodded along, then clapped his hands together as he turned to face Drake fully, the woman watched him with a patient smile before letting out a light laugh.

"You're not gonna start crying now, right?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at the pair. The jest earned a snort from Ritsuka and a twitch of the lip from Mash, the Shielder shook her head as she stared at the Captain. "Good. No reason to be sad about this anyway." she remained silent for a few moments "Well…maybe the fact is we won't be able to sail around the world as one, right?"

Ritsuka chuckled at her before his brows furrowed, he stared at her in surprise "Wait, wha-"

"Got more than a little extra firepower from the Grail." Drake waved her hand "But…Well, when you go all those memories will as well." she sighed "Doesn't bother me though." she placed her hands on her hips "Even if I know how I'll die, it doesn't matter. I always I'd die in the end, but that just makes you want to enjoy the here and now even more." she sent a knowing look towards Mash "Doing good deeds because you feel like it and doing bad deeds because it makes you happy. That's just what being human is all about. As long as you enjoy yourself in the moment and make the most of your own life…that's what matters." the pointed at the Shielder "That's the type of life I'd wish for. One day Mash…I'm sure you'll find your own wish if you haven't/"

The woman sighed, raising her hand and rubbing her forehead before she looked down at Ash "I had a lot of fun, kid. I laughed, I drank, I fought and I did it all with a crew of the weirdest bunch I'm ever going to meet but in the end…even if you were an asshole for the most of it…I didn't hate you." she admitted with a shrug "I'm sorry you died before you found your own wish…but I hope you find another one out there that makes you do something for you without a single regret in the world."

Ash stared at her unblinkingly before he sighed "...Your way of life will always be alien to me. That will not change."

"Maybe." Drake admitted easily "Maybe it won't." she threw a thumb over at Ritsuka and Mash "I'm relying on this bunch to take care of you and try and get you to liven up. Even Oscar did stuff he wanted…best fisherman I ever met and he did it because he enjoyed it and nothing else."

"...I am not Oscar."

"Probably not nearly as good a fisherman for a start." Drake joked before she turned away to stare at the horizon "...Well, I guess I'll be seeing you all. Before you all go…I want to ask that you remember all the times we had here. Good and bad, it was one hell of an adventure we had. It was rough, it got sad…"

Drake looked back at Ritsuka "But I had fun…" she pointed at the Master "And I bet you did too. At the end of the day…That's all that matte-"

"How Worthless."

Ritsuka stared unblinkingly with a frozen expression as Drake's head was separated from her body by a sudden blur of movement, her expression still frozen in smile remained that way even as the head clumped against the ground and rolled across the surface.

The Master stared at the corpse for a few moments before his brain caught up with what had happened. "Wha-"

"Master!" Archer roughly gripped his shoulder and dragged him back while throwing himself in front of Mash to stop her movements.

"Wha-" The Shielder gaped at him "But Archer! Drake is-"

"Unless you want to join her, stay back!" He ordered her with steel in his voice as he glared back at the figure which had just emerged.

Havel shifted his body to face the new arrival, throwing himself towards them.

"Begone."

The figure flicked their hand, Havel being struck dead in the chest by a flash of light which launched him across the deck of the Golden Hind like a ragdoll and slumped against the railings unmoving.

"Fujimaru-kun!?" Romani cried out through the communicator "What happened!? Fujimaru-kun!? The screens cut out and we're stuck with audio! What's going on and why have Drake's lifesigns been cut out!?"

"You…" Ritsuka stared at the new arrival, the air in front of Archer shimmered as Boudica manifested herself again, using her sword as a brace as she stood herself up on one leg. Ash attempted to climb to his feet only to grimace as he forced his body to move in spite of his injuries.

"Such a pathetic figure was a Pioneer of the Stars?" The man spoke in a disgusted voice, raising his left hand with his fingers slick with blood before he flicked them clean. "It seems as the era's flow onwards, humans seem to only degrade themselves further."

"Fujimaru-kun! We're picking up a new Spirit Origin! This one dwarfs the Giant enemy you faced! What is going on down there!?"

The man stood casually in front of them without a care in the world, his long while hair freely flowing down from his head in a braided ponytail which draped over his shoulder and down his front. Clad in ornamental red robes with a silver collar and shoulder guards with black highlights, the man casually stepped over Drake's corpse without sparing it a second glance.

His cold golden eyes turned themselves down at the head before his head tilted slightly. "Hm." he hummed, leaning down and picking Drake's severed head off the floor of the ship and staring at it. "Intriguing." he mused as he scanned the head before dismissing it entirely.

"Archer-san!" Mash continued to struggle "Drake-san is-"

"You should calm yourself, Shield girl." The man spoke in an almost cordial tone of voice as he let out an amused huff "That was quite the trick you pulled. I was unaware Chaldea even had an illusionist in its roster…" he allowed the head to fall freely from his hand. Mash stared at it in shock before it turned to confusion as the head and body disintegrated into petals. "Certainly different form the Divine Spirit from the alternate world…" he seemed to mull over it for a few moments before he ignored it "I shall assume it was another of Flauros' failures then."

"W-what? Then-"

"Calm down Mash." Da Vinci spoke through the screen "If it's illusionism, then Drake isn't dead yet."

"Chaldea…" The man frowned "So your voices are still present after all." he shrugged "It does not matter to me either way." his eyes fell on the group as if noticing them for the first time since his arrival, they swept across them before they landed on Mash. Staring at her in silence for a few moments before they moved on.

Then landed on Ash, the Saber still pulling himself to his feet as he struggled to stand up.

"...A pitiful sight indeed." His lips pulled into a frown "Quite how Flauros and Forneus blundered their way into defeat against you eludes me."

"And…" Ritsuka spoke out in a curt tone of voice "Who are you?"

The man's eyes remained on the Saber for a few moments with a hint of intrigue in them before they left him and turned towards Rituska, staring at the boy without a hint of emotion to them. "Yes, that's right." he realised "One of the Masters who existed only to fill in the spare seats. Fujimaru Ritsuka. I will correct your ignorance as to my identity if you have yet to discover it thus far."

He offered in such a way that it felt pandering to them.

"The names Flauros and Forneus are the names of familiars who belong to a certain King." The man explained as he stood in front of them with his arms casually at his side "They made up only two of his Seventy-Two familiars. Together, they were labelled the Seventy-Two Demon Gods. This King utilised their abilities to govern his country with them." He stared dead into Ritsuka's eyes "That King was Solomon. In the past, he was the third King of Israel. Now with those Demon Pillar Gods. He is the one who set about the Incineration of Humanity."

"King…Solomon…" Romani muttered out "That…can't…"

"Solomon…" Ritsuka muttered under his breath before he frowned at the man "David's Son?"

Solomon stared back before his own lips pulled into a frown "Solomon was offered up to God to become a King Greater than David from before he was even born. David's role was as Solomon's progenitor and nothing else. His relationship with me is nothing." he curtly replied.

"So…" Archer stared down at where Drake had been before he looked at Solomon "I suppose you are here to finish us now we are weakened?"

Solomon shifted his attention to Archer before he raised an eyebrow "Why would you assume such a thing? In the very beginning, I don't even recognise you as enemies. What purpose would your deaths serve me?"

"You attempted to kill Drake." Ash pointed out as he leaned against the railings, matching Solomon's blank tone with one of his own.

"A whim." Solomon admitted without much of a care "Nothing more. I arrived in this Singularity and merely decided to remove an eyesore."

"And why are you here?" Ritsuka asked again with a steeled tone of voice, Solomon shifted his attention from Ash to the Master within the blink of an eye.

"Why?" Solomon replied with an equally steeled tone "That should be my question to you." he floated off the ground into the air "What are you attempting to achieve here? Do you believe that correcting the Singularities will undo the Incineration of Humanity?" Solomon's eyes narrowed "You are mistaken in that belief. Even if you undid the work of all seven of my Singularities it changes nothing. Unless you defeat me, you will forever remain as nothing but a distant memory until Chaldea's shielding fails. At which point you will cease to be even that."

Solomon's aura magnified to the point where Archer cringed.

"Unless you believe for one moment-" Ritsuka suddenly found space around him shift, within the blink of an eye he had moved from being stood behind Mash to finding himself directly in front of Solomon, the man glaring down at him "-that you could defeat me?"

"Senpai!" Mash exclaimed in shock.

Ritsuka stared up at Solomon as he stared back down. "...Why did you incinerate humanity?"

The tanned man huffed and floated back "Why? Because it became disgusting to look at. To behold your lives was beyond revolting." Solomon explained "It was something I could no longer allow so I did away with it. Humans were pointless, your lives held no meaning and therefore to allow your continued existence was repugnant to me." For a brief moment, his eyes shifted from Mash to Ash before back to Ritsuka. "That is why."

Ritsuka remained silent as Solomon floated back into the air and stared down at the Servants "Take this warning as my mercy to you." he commanded "Why do you continue to fight with the knowledge that only death awaits you at the end? Why do you cling to this trivial desire to live? So long as you cling to that desire, you will falsely believe that you have the chance to undo my work. I offer that you save yourselves the pain of failure and abandon this foolish quest here and now. Throw away that which motivates you, die pointlessly and close off the path to the future with no salvation." he turned away from them "For you who have endured beyond the end. That is the easiest way in which you can spend your final months until you fade away."

The man remained silent for a few moments before he waved his hand, tearing open space into a black void in front of them "Or you can disregard my warning. You can continue on in your plan to unravel the Singularities. I will no longer make an effort to interfere personally. Your lives are fleeting without a purpose behind them, as such…It would be best to let them fade away…"

"...Like a Flame which has flickered for too long."

---

"He came personally then?" The figure on the throne mused as the familiar aura appeared within their castle. Their eyes opened before they fell upon the burning shadow manifesting in the far corner of the room. "I assume as much as I could no longer observe."

"Correct." The Burning bush replied cordially before it released an amused chuckle "I had not expected it…but it was a pleasant surprise regardless."

"Hmm." The figure on the throne hummed in response, leaning back and resting both their arms on either side "A meeting between both who struggle to upturn fate. One who seeks to undo what has been done and one who seeks to undo what always was." they mused "Certainly intriguing." a sigh escaped their throat as they tilted their head to the right, raising their arm to support their cheek "Although I doubt it holds much personal interest for either of them at the moment. Unless you mean to suggest that it is fortunate the Chaldeans can see the face of their adversary."

"One."

The figure frowned "One?" they repeated in surprise "There is more than one?"

"I have not personally spoken with the other…but we have had dealings."

"Oh?" The figure nodded their head "Is this why your visits have been sparse?"

"Indeed."

"Well…I suppose you would have spoken of them if it were important." They dismissed "Have they safely returned to Chaldea?"

"They have." The bush agreed before it chuckled "I noticed your helping hand."

The woman tilted their head at the bush, while hair shifted slightly as cold blue eyes stared at him with a trickle of amusement "The Hydra? It served little purpose to have one in my current location, so I simply placed it somewhere it would be better comfortable. Whatever aid it provided the Chaldean's did not come from my hand."

The bush let out a mild chuckle of amusement at the woman's words "Quite so…"

"Now then." The woman leaned back into her throne "I am holding court soon."

"If you continue as you are…you might become an adversary to the Chaldeans."

"Obstacle." She corrected "It would be remiss of me not to understand the capabilities of my…Junior? I believe it is the modern term?" then paused "No…They are of the east…The word in their tongue is Kouhai?" they tasted the word before nodding their head "Yes. An…intriguing word to use, but I cannot say I dislike it. I wonder how long it shall take before we meet face to face."

"Not Long." The bush reassured as it retreated back into the floor "May we meet again…Half-grown Hollow."

The white haired woman released a tired sigh as he vanished "Feeling nostalgic, were we Aldia? You have not called me such a name in…Ages long past."

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AN: Wow…

That was a long ass chapter. 18k words? Yikes, But I suppose I wanted this done and dusted pretty quickly and didn't want another cliffhanger so here we are!

I doubt Chapters will be quite this long in the future though.

Although, we will get another Chapter after this where everyone comes back, so it will probably be a little shorter but that's alright.

Anyway…

I suppose you could all guess who that was at the end. Yeah…Technically all three protags had a hand in Okeanos in some form or another.