Chapter 17: Pest Control
The Phantasmal got on its hind legs, entire body towering over Goetia and black eyes focused solely on him. While most Phantasmals usually displayed at least some hind of intelligence, this thing was nothing more than a beast.
Goetia could see nothing in the animals orbs to indicate anything which could even me misconstrued as intelligence. It was...Disappointing to say the least. It would appear the descriptions of the Phantasmals as mere 'Demonic Beasts' had not been completely inaccurate.
Still, whether that was because this one in particular had been the subject of imprisonment or if it was a common trend was still to be decided. The Wolves had displayed some hint of intellect, the Alpha at least, had deduced Von Riegans trap. Of course, the younger phantasmal had blundered through it all and flung itself into the spiked hole, but the evidence of intelligence was there.
Perhaps it was merely the difference between the circumstances between the two.
Either way, it didn't matter right now. The pale blue lizard towered nearly twenty feet over him as it stood on its hind legs. Then threw is whole body forwards into his barrier. He frowned, it impacted the barrier with a rather hefty thud and with enough power behind it to cause a small shockwave at the point of impact.
Not nearly enough to break it though, although the spell it had unleashed against him earlier was nothing to scoff at. As he expected from a Phantasmal, it had damaged the barrier he had put up.
Then it threw itself forwards again.
And Goetia heard the sound of cracking, he focused on the now spiderweb like crack in his shield. He narrowed his eyes, it had more power behind it than he had expected. He could feel it, the presence it held was growing.
The fluctuations of Mana in the air were converging on the creature.
It was absorbing the Mana in the air into its body, he realised with slightly widened eyes. Much like an animal drinking water, this phantasmal was drinking in the magical energy surrounding them.
How interesting.
The beast let loose another roar as its maw opened up, the back of its throat glowing a brilliant purple before it unleashed another orb similar to before, but at much closer range and towards the point of damage. The orb was spat from the mouth and impacted the shield seconds later, releasing a small explosion and causing another, larger, crack to appear in his shield.
It growled, backing up away from his shield. Goetia raised an eyebrow, it appeared it was going to attempt to charge him. How quai-
Its body glowed, Goetia's eyes widened in alarm for the first time since the encounter began, then the beast shot forth again at a faster speed than previously.
Slamming into his shield and releasing an explosion at point blank range, shattering his barrier, launching its whole body towards him. He glowed and then disappeared seconds before it landed, teleporting a few metres away from the beast.
He narrowed his eyes, Mana Burst. That's what it had used. He should have expected it, with the benefit of hindsight, but it was a skill that required finesse to use, or at the very least some modicum of intelligence. A natural skill then, releasing its vast quantities of magical energy.
Either way, it mattered not now.
The high speed incantations flowed from his lips immediately as the beast rose up again, whirling around to face him as several golden spheres appeared behind Goetia. The orbs stretched out into spears of light before they shot forth, the beast flung itself forwards at the same time.
Goetia watched the spears of light clear the distance between himself and the beast in an instant, the animal had made no move to avoid them. Although he supposed that it wouldn't have been able to move its body fast enough to dodge any-
The spears shattered upon contact with an invisible barrier.
Goetia eyes widened in surprise "Magic Resistance?" he muttered, the beast carrying forwards, oblivious to the skill it had just shown him. Goetia once again teleported away from the animal, moments before it crashed into the ground where he had been.
This time he appeared in the air, staring down at the beast with minor surprise. This was far beyond what he was expecting. Those were C ranked spells he had used, both the barrier and the spears. For the Phantasmal to shatter both.
No. He knew what the presence of the animal had been, it was above the wolves, that much was certain. But it was no where near that of a Dragon, if he were to give an estimate. The presence would have been of a low to middling class Servant. He had no doubt that with sufficient man power, it could have been killed by ordinary humans.
Yet the abilities it had demonstrated. They were not what he had been expecting at all. Mana Burst and Magical Resistance? Coupled with the obvious signs of capture, that only led credence to the theory that the Phantasmal had been experimented on.
It would seem he would need to investigate the extend of the Beasts endurance.
He threw his arms towards the animal, calling "עמוד האור" which brought forth several rings to appear around its body. The Demonic Beast cried out, turning its head upwards towards him and glaring hatefully at him, opening its mouth again.
He put a stop to that by clenching his fist, the rings constricted around its body and face, snapping the jaws shut. It rolled over as it thrashed around, the rings becoming a tight rope as Goetia twisted his hand. Another ring of golden light appear around the animal, and began to spin rapidly "מגיע לשמיים" he finished as the rings glowed a bright colour. Then a pillar of light consumed the Demonic Beast, shooting into the sky for a few seconds before it died down.
Revealing the charred remains of the Demonic Beast.
Goetia lowered himself to the ground, slowly approaching the animal, giving it a cursory glance.
It was definitely dead.
"...Well...shit." He heard Claude comment behind him, the young man coming along and standing next to him "I...I think you got him there Sparkles."
"Hmph." Goetia grunted, still looking the animal over "Most curious."
"I'll say...You said a couple words and then." Claude made several gestures with his hands "Woosh! Demonic Beast turned into a barbecue...Seriously though...that was something else entirely."
"Well…" Manuela cleared her throat "It was certainly an...impressive display."
"Impressive!?" Leonie parroted incredulously "He just teleported into the sky and then zapped it out of existence! That's a little more than impressive!" she turned to him "When can I do that?"
"The time it would take to teach that particular spell would be far too long to be useful to you." He replied, then frowned "Besides, I would not have normally used it."
"Why?" Claude asked "Seems pretty damn effective if you ask me."
"Because normally the first attack would have killed it." Goetia responded, turning his head back to the Demonic Beast with a thoughtful expression "Lysithea." he called out, the girl jumped and approached him.
"Yes, Teacher?"
"Get my bag." He replied, crouching down "I'll take samples from these Beasts." the girl nodded and ran off, he turned to Manuela "How often have you been on these raids?"
"Not often." The woman admitted "But enough, why?"
"Are they usually resistant to Magecraft?" He asked, turning his attention back to the Beast.
"Depends on what type you're dealing with and what form of Magic you are using." She admitted "These ones-" she gestured to the Demonic Beast "-Are better at dealing against Dark Magic."
Goetia furrowed his brows "Is that so…" he muttered. That was rather strange, so they had a resistance to it, but not the type he had seen. So someone had made modifications to the beast. However, quite what the extent of those modifications were would have to wait until he could collect samples.
It was at least something of interest, to alter a Phantasmal enough to grant them Magic Resistance and Mana burst was far beyond what he had seen the Magi of Fodlan capable of.
Well, at least so far.
"So…" Claude coughed into his hand, looking around "Are you gonna collect those samples now or in the morning?"
"Now." Goetia replied instantly "They would be better when fresh." he gave Claude a sideways glance "I was also under the assumption you are you're associates would be disposing of the bodies in the morning."
"That is probably true." Claude admitted, staring at the charred Demonic Beast with a slight grimace "Probably want to get rid of these things before they smell too bad."
"Indeed." Goetia replied with a frown "Besides. I would prefer to get this task completed as swiftly as possible."
"Fair enough." Claude shrugged "...Don't suppose you can just magic them away?"
"Sending their corpses into imaginary space does not mean they cease to exist." Goetia replied "It would be better to find some corner of the forest to dump their bodies. Although the smell would either ward off or attract other Demonic Beasts."
"That's probably true." Claude sighed, then frowned "One thing confuses me though, what was it doing here to begin with? I would imagine that Demonic Beasts wouldn't get along too well with different species."
Goetia paused, that raised a good point. "It was possible the Demonic Beast attempted to claim the territory of the now deceased wolves." he explained "However, there are issues present with this."
"What kind of issues?" Claude asked, Goetia stood up, looking over to see Manuela retreat back into the village before he turned back to the House Leader. Despite what he thought of Von Riegan, he could ironically enough trust him to keep a secret.
That woman would likely lose any semblance of professionalism the second she got alcohol in her.
"Look at the arms and legs. What do you notice?" Goetia asked, Claude stared at him for a few moments before he looked back at the Demonic Beast with a curious expression. His brows furrowed at something as he leaned down and looked closer at the scales.
Or rather, where the growth of the scales had been stunted by the presence of something there.
"Are those…" He leaned back up and faced Goetia "Those are chain marks." he stated "This thing was chained up until not so long ago."
"Oh?" Goetia titled his head "And how are you so sure it did not simply escape."
Claude shook his head "I've read that Demonic Beast regeneration is impressive, but scars from escaping chains?" he clicked his tongue "I don't think so. Someone had this thing locked up and let it loose…" he trailed off and turned to Goetia, then a smile appeared on his face "But you already suspected that, didn't you?"
"I did." Goetia admitted "However, I believe there may be more to it than that." he shrugged "It will depend upon what I find."
"So...why tell me and not your student?" Claude asked, then he widened his eyes and shook his head "Because you already think I can keep a secret."
"It is also unlikely anyone will believe you." Goetia added on "You have a reputation for exaggeration."
Claude gaped at him then grinned "Jeez, Sparkles. You really are quite devious when you want to be." he nodded his head "Fair enough...although I don't suppose I could ask you about it later."
Goetia shrugged "Do as you will. It is just as likely to be the result of an over enthusiastic Magi attempting to control Demonic Beasts than anyone of credible threat." a complete lie. This was beyond what he had expected, unless it was merely a Demonic Beast of great power that had yet been encountered.
But he wasn't convinced that it was something as simple as that.
"Teacher!" Lysithea quickly returned "Your bag!" she handed the leather satchel to him, he nodded to her and turned back to the Demonic beast, opening it up and levitating scalpels and tubs.
"Well…" Claude clapped his hands "I'm gonna go get some shut eyes." he turned to Lysithea, and gave a cheeky grin "You probably should as well, what with your bed time and all." he sprinted away before she could deliver a rather scathing remark.
"That oaf!" She hissed "Treating me like a child! I don't-" she was cut off by her yawn. She blushed when Goetia slowly turned around to face her, she bowed her head at him "P-perhaps I shall also get some rest. Have a good night, Teacher!" she ran off, quickly following in the same direction as Claude and the other Golden Deers.
Goetia watched her leave with a raised eyebrow before he shrugged and turned back to the corpse. Placing his hand on it and analysis the body for the areas of most worth to be studied.
His targets in mind, he began extracting them.
"Truly, thank you again." Lennerd gave Manuela, Claude and Goetia another heartfelt thank you. Claude waved his hand.
"Don't worry about it, we were happy to step in and lend a helping hand." He looked over to where the other Golden Deers were busy filling in the hole in the ground, Hilda and Lorenz were scowling and shooting Claude particularly venomous looks for having been able to escape most of the hard work.
"Right." Lennerd nodded, then turned to Goetia "Thanks again, Sir Mage." he bowed his head "That last beast looked to be quite nasty, we're grateful you killed it."
"Hmph." Goetia grunted, strapping his bag back onto Ilse before he nodded once to the village chief. The man took that as the only kind of acknowledgement he was going to get before he once again thanked the trio and departed back into town.
"You're not used to getting thanked often, are you?" Claude asked him.
"I am not used to performing actions worthy of thanks." Goetia replied "Most of my actions were born of duty, thus no thanks were ever required or expected." he paused "This is becoming a first for me."
"Feels good, right?"
"...Hm." Claude rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Well then, I better-"
"Help out your fellow Deers, Claude." Manuela finished with a smirk "There is still more to bury."
"Ha...ha…" Claude gave a strained smile "You sure Professor? I say they have it well in hand…"
"Now Claude." Manuela chided "Before I decide to make you do it yourself."
"Well then." Claude raised his hands in surrender, turning around and making his way over to the other Golden Deers "I guess I better set an example as House Leader and help them out."
Goetia watched him for a few moments before turning away, his reasons for informing the Young Deer leader about the possibility of the experimentation on the Demonic Beasts were his own.
In truth, it represented a useful source of information if such a thing were to continue to occur. This particular event had gained his interest, and should similar beasts emerge, he would need to determine if experimentation upon the phantasmal truly had boosted its capabilities. He narrowed his eyes.
No, everything about that animal was geared towards purpose. Only high level Fodlan mages would even have been able to damage it through its magic resistance and it could use mana boost to augment its physical skills to deal with any who attempted to approach it for a more direct confrontation.
The phantasmal was a weapon and it lacked any higher form of intelligence. Still, he had collected what he wanted from the Demonic Beasts.
Skin, parts of their brains and other organs.
But especially where their hearts had been, or should have been. Instead of their hearts, there had been a spherical stone construct. At least on the larger phantasmal, the wolves appeared to have the same construct as a growth on the heart rather than the heart itself.
Perhaps that was the difference in scale between the two of them. He would need to test this theory.
"I see you have all returned." Seteth greeted them as they rode back into the Monastery, he nodded to Manuela "Professor, I trust the mission was a success."
"It was." She nodded, getting off her horse "However we ran into complications." she added on, then raised her hand when it looked like Seteth wanted to say something "Nothing that wasn't handled, you can thank light beams over there for it." she gestured over to Goetia, Seteth raised an eyebrow and looked over at the tanned man as he retrieved a leather satchel from his horse.
"Hmph." He grunted "Very well, I shall request a full summary of your mission by the end of the day. However, I shall take your admission that the situation escalated and forced your intervention?"
"Well, his intervention anyway." She chuckled "Although he handled it well enough. The students seemed impressed at any rate."
Seteth's frown grew as his eyes tracked back over to the tanned man, Goetia had only agreed to step in if the situation had evolved to a point where he himself felt it was necessary. While Seteth had only spoken with Goetia twice, he felt as though he had a basic grasp on the man's personality.
Goetia would only act if it was in his best interest, although he wouldn't confess to knowing the man completely and he suspected it would take more talks for him to fully grasp his personality.
Despite being rather open in revealing his past, Seteth couldn't help but feel that although the information Goetia had given him had been true, it hadn't been worded correctly.
Then again, it was just as likely Goetia had played things close to his chest because he did not trust Seteth with the full truth, trust was a two way street.
Although, Seteth was grateful that Goetia had seen fit to set in and help when the time came.
"So, you're back Claude." Dimitri smiled at the boy as he strode through towards his classroom, Claude stopped and shook his head, grinning.
"You see me off and then you come to greet me upon my return?" He gave a wry grin "Your highness...I didn't know you cared this much about me! I'm flattered!"
"Claude, please. Do not joke about that." Dimitri rolled his eyes "Although I am glad to see you are uninjured. Demonic Beasts are nothing to joke about."
"We dug a hole and lured them into it."
"O-oh...Is that right?"
"Yeah. Like those old hunters traps." He shrugged "Hung a deer over a hole filled with spikes and they just...fell right it."
"A Deer." Dimitri blinked at him "You...Claude, should you not be more concerned with the fact you killed your Houses mascot animal?"
"No, no. Its fine." He waved him off "I came up with this whole 'Poetic' analogy for it. Its great." he sniffed "...Okay the wolves were easy and then the blue lizard thing came."
"Blue...lizard thing?"
"Yeah." Claude nodded "Huge! Like the size of a cottage and then Sparkles just zapped it into burnt meat."
"Oh…" Dimitri blinked, then chuckled "It seems like you had quite the adventure Claude. But I trust that you realise you won't always have the aid of individuals like Goetia...and please do not call him 'Sparkles' it is quite disrespectful."
"Psssch." Claude blew a raspberry and waved his hand "He doesn't care that much, also that's a pretty funny thing for someone to say when they have the help of someone like Teach."
"Claude, please." Dimitri shook his head "I fully understand the consequences of battle…but if the Professor were to lend her aid to the Kingdom I would not reject her."
"Hmm…" Claude raised an eyebrow "I see. Still, I think you might be barking up the wrong tree there." he looked around conspiratorially and then leaned in "...Don't you think Sparkles has a soft spot for Teach?"
"What?" Dimtri blinked "Now Claude, that is…" he paused, thinking back to the pairs conversation before they left and then put on a thoughtful expression "No...I'm sure that...wait...you don't think that…"
"Who knows." Claude shrugged, leaning away "Well, if you excuse me, I need to-OH SH-" he turned away to walk off then jolted and let out a gasp of surprise when he saw Byleth standing right behind him.
Claude clutched his chest, hand placed over his heart and breathing heavily "Jeez Teach...don't sneak up on a guy like that, you almost gave me a heart attack."
"You're back." She noted, then looked over at Dimitri "Our mission begins tomorrow."
"Yes Professor." Dimitri nodded his head "I'll be ensure that the other Blue lions are prepared."
"Hmm." Byleth nodded, then looked back at Claude "...Where's Goetia?"
"Went off to his room." Claude answered "Said he needed to run tests on his samples, that kind of stuff." he shrugged, placing his hands on the back of his head "I'm not really all researchy like that, but it sounded interesting enough so I might stop by at some point to talk with him about it."
"Okay." Byleth nodded, then turned around and walked away.
In the direction of Goetia's room. Claude and Dimitri watched her leave, then the former turned back to Dimitri with a knowing smirk.
"Claude, please. You should not take part in childish gossip." He shook his head "I'm sure they are just good friends."
"Uh-huh." Claude grinned "I'm sure Teach is very good friends."
"She wanted to visit." Byleth answered as Goetia let her in his room, Sothis manifested herself, floating in-between the two.
"I am not accustomed to guests." Goetia answered with a small frown as he unloaded his satchel "However, I suspect you will either approach me today or tomorrow."
"She won't be here tomorrow." Sothis answered "We're travelling to the red canyon to deal with bandits." she crossed her arms "I see the young children are all alive an uninjured."
"You doubted their skills?"
"I doubted you."
"Hmph." Goetia grunted, placing the jar with the stone on his desk "I stepped in when the situation escalated. As I said I would."
"What is that?" Byleth asked, preventing Sothis from responding, as she stared at the jar with a small frown.
"It was functioning as the heart for the Phantasmal I dealt with." At her blank expression he clarified "Demonic Beast."
"Oh."
"Hmph." He looked over and saw Sothis staring at it with a strained expression, he raised an eyebrow "Does the sight offend you?"
"No…" Sothis shook her head, biting her lip and raising a hand to her forehead "Its just...that looks familiar somehow."
Goetia furrowed his brows, he hadn't run any tests on it yet, although he suspected it worked as a reversal to a magic core. While they generated magical energy, the phantasmal appeared to draw in magical energy from its surroundings.
Perhaps that was why the beast was larger than the wolves, they only had the growths on their heart while this creature had the complete version.
"I see." He instead went with "Still, I am conducting a small investigation into their biology."
"Hmm…" Sothis hummed, floating away from the jar "Fine, that makes sense." she nodded to herself.
"...Mission go well?" Byleth asked him, Goetia looked at her and nodded his head.
"Mission objectives were completed with no loss of life." He answered "That would categorise it as a success."
"...I see." She nodded "...Did you use any spells?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
"…"
"…"
"...You two need to work on speaking with people." Sothis grumbled, she pointed at Byleth "You say far too little!" then at Goetia "And you have all the charm of a tree."
"My skills at conversation are hardly a concern." Goetia dismissed "If I have need to convey information, it will be done in a concise manner. Presentation is barely a concern."
Sothis gave him a flat stare "Your manner of conversation is how I imagine a book would talk if it was capable."
Goetia gave a slow blink at her "...Was there anything else you needed?"
"No, I think we're done here." She turned to Byleth "I'm going for a nap." then vanished, leaving the pair alone in the room.
"Bye." Byleth waved to him as she left.
"Farewell." Goetia nodded back to her, the door to his room closing as she departed.
Conversational skills? What a laugh, he was perfectly fine at conversations.
Omake: Back Home Again III
He knew it was coming, the inevitable encounter.
It hung over him like like a headsman axe, the encounter between his current self and his self from the past.
He could disguise his true name from Fujimaru Ritsuka and the Ruler servants easily enough, but he would never be able to disguise his similarity to himself. His current version would no doubt see the connection between the two of them.
How that would affect him, he didn't know.
With the presence of the Kaleidoscope, his Beast self might view him as Solomon from a different world. That was, perhaps, the better outcome. The other would be that he would recognise him as a version of himself.
And Goetia would have responded accordingly to that threat, when he had come to London it had purely been on a whim.
He didn't need to do anything, but he had felt some urge to meet the human who had acted against him and dealt with the singularities. When he had left, the only servant of any interest to him was Mash Kyrielight, which is why he had held back against the Master.
At the time, he didn't want to kill her.
With himself being here, his Beast self, despite holding a power similar to a Grand Class servant, would recognise Goetia as a potential threat.
What the result would be then...he couldn't guess.
His way of thinking back then and his way of thinking now were separate entities, despite their similarities they were different individuals.
But he knew one thing.
His Beast self would feel insulted by his presence beyond all measure.
"You seem troubled." He turned his head to see David approach, Caster gave him a sideways glance and went back to looking out of the window "Care to share what's on your mind?" he smiled "Its good for the conscience."
"Confessions?" Goetia snorted "But if you seek to ask if I am troubled...then yes. It has not happened yet...but I feel as though something approaches."
"Ahhhh…" David nodded "Gut feeling is it?"
"...Something like that." Goetia responded cryptically.
"Don't worry, I'm sure it will be fine." David pat him on the shoulder "If it is something big, then we'll just deal with it."
"You seem to have a rather limitless supply of overconfidence." Goetia replied, David snorted and shook his head.
"Nothing like that, I just think its good to hope for the best outcome, rather than the negative." He gave Goetia a strange look "You really are quite pessimistic, aren't you?"
"Pessimism is the foundation of Realism." Goetia replied "Situations rarely proceed how you wish them too."
"Speaking from experience?"
"...Perhaps."
"Hmmm...Alright then Caster." David turned away "Keep your secrets, just be sure that they don't drag you down. Like I said, confession is good for the conscience."
David walked into another room, Goetia watched him leave and then turned away before another voice called out.
"He does speak truly." Sothis spoke, floating over to him as Byleth approached "Perhaps speaking would do you some good. Especially if it got that scowl off your face."
"You're troubled." Byleth pointed out with a small frown, Goetia looked at her and then sighed.
"I am."
"More than a gut feeling."
"Hmm…" He nodded, turning away and looking out the window into the foggy streets, he whispered several words forming a small bounded field around them "I had come here to face the Master when I was...different." he confessed "The individual I was during this time will arrive...and then he will see me." Goetia met her eyes "And I do not know what to do."
"Are you ashamed to admit that you are the defeated foe they currently face?" Sothis asked, Goetia blinked and then looked down in thought.
"Shame, you say…" He chuckled "Every fibre of my being told me I was right. My dream was right. Shame...I would feel shame if I were to attempt a similar feat now. But I cannot admit shame for the actions of my past self. We are two distinct entities. He is the King of Demon Gods. I am he who could have been King of Humans. That is all there is to it."
"Is it?" Sothis tilted her head "How do you expect your past self to react when he encounters you?"
"...Rage." Goetia admitted "He will either suspect me to be the equivalent of Solomon from Fodlan...or a lesser version himself from the same place. Either way, he will view my being as an insult to him."
"Would it not be best to warn Master then?"
"...Fujimaru Ritsuka defeated me in my own temple. I had every advantage." Goetia met her gaze "I was he who could have become the World itself. And I was defeated by an ordinary human. Besides, he will only target me. Fujimaru will be in little danger."
"And you will just offer yourself to him?"
"…"
Sothis and Byleth frowned "Is that really alright?" the latter asked "He'll probably kill you."
"He'll still lose in the end." Goetia shrugged "I did. Because...He never could understand humanity."
"...Be careful."
Goetia was dumbfounded in his temple. The Chaldean servants had arrived in the London singularity and almost ended it. That in itself wasn't a surprise, they had already dealt with the previous three.
And yet…
And yet!
This one servant. Looking upon him when he first entered, Goetia felt an indescribable rage overtake his being. The pillars had been alarmed by the sudden emotion which had flooded his body.
This servant...This 'Caster' from another world.
They shared a connection and that appearance...that cursed appearance.
He looked like Solomon, indeed if he was from another world he could be Solomon...and yet that was wrong. He knew it was wrong.
It didn't matter.
He rose from his throne, red eyes gleamed, he would deal with this himself. He had been meaning to make a brief stop by the Chaldean's anyway.
"Space is opening!" Romani cried into the communicator "Its coming and I don't know what it is!"
The chasm shook as space ripped open in front of them, a figure shrouded in dark shadows stepped through before space sealed behind him.
The servants all tensed themselves, save one.
Fujimaru and Mash blinked in shock as their new Caster broke rank and approached the shadow walking towards them.
"What the hell are you doing!?" Mordred cried out "You got some kind of-"
"I had not thought it possible." The shadow spoke in an eerily familiar voice "This presence...that spirit origin. Every instinct is telling me that you are scum below even the humans who cower behind you. And yet...and yet!" the shadows parted, revealing a tanned man with long white hair in a braid, wearing ornate robes with a predominantly black colouring to them.
Caster and the new arrival stared at eachother.
"What-No...Who are you?" The newcomer narrowed his eyes, pacing towards Caster "This...I feel this connection to you...but you aren't me." he paused "And you conceal your name...your true identity. What are you then? Some failed fool from some alternate world?"
"I am what I am." Caster replied. Then it clicked with then why the voice was so familiar, despite the tonal shift and the slight echo of multiple voices speaking over at the same time. The centre voice remained the same.
This newcomer and Caster, their voices were identical.
"Who are you?" Ritsuka asked, straightening himself. The newcomer sent a glance at him before looking away.
"Be silent, trash." A flicker of light shot across towards him, only to be met by a copy. Both spells slammed into eachother.
Barely twenty feet from the man, Caster and the new arrival glared at eachother.
Then, the man laughed. His mocking laughter echoed throughout the chasm, his hand rising to hold his head "Hahahaha! I did not think it possible! No...I could not envisage it! But I realise what this emotion is! What it truly is!" he stopped laughing "I hate you. I don't even know who you are and I despise you. No...I despise everything about you. Your very presence disgusts me beyond words. Know this, otherworlder, you have my congratulations. You are the first being I have encountered who I truly despise and I don't even know why!" he threw his arms wide "Is that not amusing!?"
"As you say." Caster replied "I despise you as well. It seems that we cannot abide eachother."
"No. We cannot." He replied "I am Solomon. King of Magecraft. He who burned away the filth that is humanity and all they are."
The servants took a step back "S-Solomon!?" Romani cried out over the communicator "He said Solomon!? But that's…"
"So what?" Mordred scoffed "He's got some big name, who gives a shit!" she grinned "He's just some tool for some cowardly Master."
"You should spend less time flapping your gums, Knight of Londinium." Solomon scoffed "I am no one's servant. Do not rank me on the same level as you incompetents. I summoned myself under my own power." he looked away from her "But that is irrelevant." his eyes fell back on Caster "I have found someone who I genuinely want to kill, a new experience for me."
Caster remained silent exhaling through his teeth.
"Fujimaru!" Romani cried out "You need to help him, even if he is a high ranked Caster, these readings I'm seeing here are-"
"I will not be interrupted." Solomon interrupted Romani "But out of gratitude for bringing me this new feeling, I shall only summon four of them."
The ground split apart as four Demon pillars emerged, eyes blazed with hatred as they focused in on the servants.
"Caster!" Ritsuka cried out "Fall back to-"
"I shall keep him occupied, Master." Caster replied, floating himself off the ground, a yellow band of light formed behind him with ten spheres circling through it "He represents the greatest threat."
"Hahahaha!" Solomon laughed "So I see you feel the same. Perhaps that is why I hate you so much!" he floated off the ground until he was level with the Caster.
The two stared at eachother for a few moments "However marginally fascinating your origin is, you stand no chance against me. As a mere servant, you are limited to being trash."
"Perhaps." Caster nodded "I am aware of my limitations...but that is what makes me human." a flicker of a smile formed on his face "And if I am aware of them, I may surpass them. Perhaps you underestimate humans."
"Foolish final words from scum." Solomon spat, a look of pure hatred on his face "I will not even ask your name, I will ensure any trace of your existence dies with the rest of humanity."