《I do not own TYPE-MOON or any other related franchise in this work of fiction. The story and OC characters are the only works I own.》
Beast of Earth.
A Contract...with the Planet ?.
[ I ]
Woooshh~
Woooshh~
Air rippled as sharp steel cut through the air. A pair of Black Keys ripped through the air assaulting the barrier.
The Boundary Field held strong, it's mighty glass like illustrative structures simply did not even mark over them.
"No effect, huh ?." A cold breath left his mouth.
He held the coat closer to him, the harsh weather freezing his feets.
"Breaking a Bounded Field takes Conceptual interference, he said... Relying on these Craft Essences (toys) wouldn't work, huh." He made a sore look as he spoke watching the blades break away, withering into partickes.
"That fake of priest...even making me pay so much money for these two Black Keys.." He kicked the rock at the barrier in frustration.
The coat fluttered, the image of a boy around his late teens, with a spiky crimson red hair and tinted gold eyes and a lean figure. He wore a black winter coat and dark blue jeans with black and white shoes.
He seemed frustrated and tired. He looks sad and depressed...
A moths has passed already. Unable to breakthrough the Ainsworth's Bounded Field...
The image of Miyu taken away by Julian and the deadly blonde beauty. His own body pin cushioned by weapons hadn't crossed his mind, no, not even once had this memory passed though his mind.
Conceptual, physical, we tried everything we could, yet nothing worked...
The fake priest's words repeat thorough his head, echoing like a phantom warning..
"The displacement field which can connect with space seamlessly is avery simple yet effective defense system...I'm afraid you'll need a conceptual magic strong enough to surpass it to break through." Kotomine says as he sits impassively on his couch, in his lap was the holy book of bible..
His eyes gain an omnious look as he turns to me, the light from the windows falls on him creating an sinister illusive image.
"That can only be only done with something that invades and alters the world..." He opens the Bible and starts reciting them within his mind, yet there was a strange smile playing on his lips.
'Saying things like that nochantly..How the hell could I manage something like that.'
Shirou couldn't help but gnash his teeths at his own inability.. He clenches his fist hard enough to draw blood.
For such things like that...a miracle would be needed. If a miracle did indeed happened, none of this would've even happened to begin with.
As he walk towards his house with a dull and aimless look clouding his gold eyes, the inner conflict burns upon his heart, the sense of defeat looming over his soul..
Would that Holy Grail War, the priest spoke about would actually happen ?.
From then onwards a stillness, a cold silence that make people shudder permeated...
"Sorry...I probably can't come to school for a while...If Sakura is okay with it you can come visit my house again..."
As he stood at the entrance of the house he says with a serene smile, the girl whose eyes were hidden beneath the tip of the umbrella she was holding, smiled solemnly..
"Although I'm happy about the invitation...this is the last time.." She says with a impassive tone, hidden beneath hwr smile..
Thhe chilly atmosphere brought a sense of apathy yet he smile.
" You don't need to be shy..I meant well..If Sakura is willing to come it'd be more—" He gave an apologetic smile as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly yet his words were cut sharply.
"It's the last time..." Her words shook him to the core. His eyes snap open wide. A deep sense of dread creeps over his stomach..
"I also...Actually I really want to be with Senpai more...Going to school, attending club activities, walking home together, saying "see you tomorrow...I treasured those small things"..She speaks with a hick her voice speaking her heart almost in trance.
"Sakura...you." He takes a step back.
Her umbrella tips backwards. The red head gasps.
She was beautiful girl, with long purple hair and deep violet eyes that dripped tears with a beautiful smile wearing a winter clothes along with a skirt and scarf, she was an eye catching beauty. She held an odd card in her hands.
"But..Even that has to end.." She smiles even as tears drip down her face, she takes in the expression of surprise and shock over her Senpai witj a smile, it was face she hadn't seen...
" The Holy Grail War..has begun.."
I had only knew Sakura's smile...
Her past..And her thoughts...And I never ever wondered about it...
To me she is...Neither Magus, nor an Ally of Justice...
She was solely an existence of Emiya Shirou's haven of retreat.
But...such tragic and sad smile...I didn't want to know of it...
"What...What are you talking about ?!." I stuttered, desperately hoping this was nightmare induced by the stress.
"Sakura...why do you know about that term!?." I couldn't help but ask with fear and dread.
In response, she clutched the card with a sad smile..
"The Holy Grail War...A bloody battle were cards are yoused to become Heroic Spirits...This is Ritual created by the Magus Families known as Founding Families.." She explained as she walked with meeks steps.
Then she stopped a weak smile played on those pink lips.
"The Matou...are one of them.." she said with a tired smile.
My eyes stung with sadness overwhelming emotions.. The heart feels betrayed..This bloody ritual...
"Were you always lying to me!." " Was the 'you' infront of me a fake this entire time" These words played over my mibd like a broken tape, yet none came out..I saw her deep violet eyes, tearing up..They were rejecting all of these baseless assumptions..
"That's...unfortunate...I thought...you'd be more flustered.." She says with a smile that stung. Even then her trademark playful smile played on her lips. I felt a bit relief at that.
In response I gave a hollow chuckle.
"How should I put it ?...I've gotten used to lsoing everything, I think." I says with cynical smirk curving on my mouth. As if grains of sand slips off my hands.
"Yet, those hands shall never hold anything.."
For some reason those words that sprung to his mind echoed deep into his soul. Engraving a certain place in his heart.
"A loss, huh ?...That's how you look at it, do you?.." She asks with a strange smile...
"Hey Sakura..." He begins.."Are you here to finish me off with that card.." He ask with impassive voice...
In response, she smiles teasingly..."You really are bad person..Senpai ?." She chuckles.
"This is a Servant Card, principally each card houses a fragment of a Heroic Spirit's essence, their egos and their memory..." She explains like a teacher to a student.."And this Card's Heroic Spirit is without the doubt...the strongest among all.." His eyes widen, the Strongest Heroic Spirit...
"This is Archer Class Card: King of Heroes, Gilgamesh..." She walks to him, he watches her..
"This Card.." She walks to him and reaches them to him.. " I'll let Senpai, have it.." She smiles serenely.. He gasps.
"Huh ?..Why ?.." He asks with bewildered look...She gave a warm smile.
"If you wants to save Miyu..Then win the Holy Grail War...It is the only way you have...Even though chances are slim..with this card the chances are tilted to your favour..." She hands it to his palms, then closes his fingers around it with her small fingers compared to his big hands.
Then she fell over him, her arms slipping over his neck..She was hugging him, softly as her breath reached his neck. The wet dripping feeling he got was from her tears..He knew.
"I-I...I have one request...Whether it is Miyu or Magic..Please run away intead!..Please run away from that...and save yourself!..."
She cries on his shoulders...His hands stay still. His body was frozen, thousands thoughts circling his mind..
"I...I would give everything...to be together with Senpai!" She grieves over my shoulder.. I stands still, I feel like a rock.
'Run..?'
'I see...From the beginning..I never though of that..'
From the start, I had always made it alone..No matter what I give up, I would always be alone.. Before my eyes a hill of swords appear...
"Always alone alone, atop the hill of swords..."
No...If Sakura is by my side...
Ah..
It would be...
No, matter where...
The future would be...
If I juat hug this trembling shoulder...
"This is the first time I've been hugged." Miyu...
"Sakura...I'm sorry." I held her trembling shoulders..."I—" Blood splashed before me.
"Ah!" Sakura gasped.
"Sa—kura!?." My eyes dilated as I saw how a, dagger, black and sharp with blackened metal strip...
"Slutty...You're too slutty.." A disgusting voice echoes..My house's Boundary Field dutifully alerts me of this wretched presence rhat emits hostility.
My eyes turns bloodshot, Sakura lays on my arm, she coughs as I held her closer, I glare vehemently at the attacker...
I found him. With a sneer he walks in, with dark blue curly hair and mad cobalt blue eyes, clad in a grey coat with black shirt underneath and a dark blue pants and boots, he had disgusting presence. Walking like a madman, he giggles and laughs as he makes strange gestures..
"You!.." My voice drips with anger as I screams. " Who are you!."
"Man, Oh man!,Oh man!, Oh man!" He laughs crazily as he held his hair. A dagger in his hand was twirled around..
"Sakura..You're such a slutty sister." My blood boils at his proclamations yet shock slips into it. This..seaweed is Sakura's brother.
"Let your brother... co..co.. coerce ?.. connect ?..correct you as neccessary.." He says mockingly as he smirks madly.
"Bro—Brother ?!...You're Sakura's brother!?—then why are you!" Shirou's word were cut off by the mad ramblings of the crazy bastard.
"Yeah!. I'm legitimate successor of Matou Family. My name is Matou..Matou ?.." He rambles crazily before stopping ominously.. He snaps his head disturbingly as Shirou gawks.
"What was it again ?.." He asks. His eyes dull and mad.
'!?.'
I watch with fear as I saw the madness. The bastard walks with a mad grin, he spins the dagger held with a clith strip.
"Who knows ?..I might've remember something...If I kill these two, forget it!." He yells with a crazy smile as he chucks the dagger at them, the wind rippling as the dagger soars through the air with tremendous speed, ready to impale.
"Trace: On." My instincts reacts, as 27 magic lits up, the umbrella she held in my hands as several neon green pattern lit upon them, strengthening their components...
The dagger collides, it rips the material. My arms staggered, but the dagger return. Thankfully it had not impacted upon us..
"Ugh..senpai.." Sakura groans. I gave a wordless groan myself...
"Hey, Hey, Hey...What was that about..?..This is strange...Why was it blocked ?." He ask with confusion, twisted form of bloody sneer takes place on his face..
"Ah!..My attack!?, why was it blocked !!." He screams a phantom light shines...
" [ Install ! ] "
The air becomes colder than already was. The vitality of the planet that made the world a slowly turn into cold desolate world, signifying the death of the planet...
A burst of mana erupts underneath the blue haired bastard, his form twisting and benting as his form turn into something else.
A pure burst of power erupts over him, killing intent chokes me as I held shivering form of Sakura in my hands...
I gave groan as I watched the mystical sight. A Class Card..I couldn't help but gasp in awe at the power of a Heroic Spirit.
His form now looked ghastly, sunken cheeks and a face hidden behind a skull jaw and black pupil with red dot for eyes. He had skeletal fram for chest, he wore a ragged cloak wrapped around his midriff forming a skirt or sort. Most importantly hands, they were tentacles like, with tendril of dagger like object that seemed to have life of it's own...
'This guy...is insane!' I stare at him with a shock...
Instantly, I let her stand up. "Sakura, this way!."
We ran back to the house.."His appearance..It changed in an instant!...Was that transformation into a Heroic Spirit!." I yell out.
"Augh!" "Sakura, you're wound!." "It's alright, Senpai!." She comforts me with a smile. I grit my teeths as I held her by shoulders, supporting her..
"Senpai, please be careful!..That Heroic Spirit is—"
"Assasin.." I finishes with a grim look.
"More importantly.." Sakura says. However, my eyes dilates and I pales considerably. My hands tremble. Behind Sakura was..
A weapon love and hate approaches Sakura.
"Sak!?—." Instantly I take the hit.
Glass shatters, debris rises. I was flung out of the house, Sakura held safely in my hands. Relief clouds me as I find her safe..Though my back betrays my happiness..
"I have no idea who you are...but you keep getting in my way.." He comments, annoyed.
"I'll kill you after I'm done with her.. Wait your turn!?.." He rages.
"Senpai!." "Shit." Blood dripped from my back. The coat was torn and blood drips uncontrollably..
"You protected me!" She says with tears in her eyes.
"Sakura...Run away!." I got up with a grimace as I yelled.
I gritted my teeths as pain tore into my being, it hurts like hell. I tried to stand up with staggering feet.
"I can't throw away everything...Don't worry about me, Sakura...Escape by yourself.." I manage to utter those words. Guilt and desperation slips into my words..
"And find happiness away from here!." I yell through my pains. She tears up.. Then suddenly she stops crying...
"Sakura ?.." I ask in confusion as she stands up, her resolve burning as she stands before me I saw a card clutched in her hands..That was..Archer Class Card!.
She removes her scarf with determined look, her card held forward.
"I'll defeat you brother!." She proclaimed with a powerful sense of determination latching over her voice. She looks so brave, I couldn't help but stare at her in amazement..
"You grew a backbone, huh ?, Sakura ?...Did that what's-his-name, seduce you or something!...On top opposing your bug brother, you're going to 'defeat me'!!." Hsi mad ranting grew distorted and even mire disturbing.
"Are you rebelling now that grandfather is dead !." She flinched at the naming of her grandfather's mentioning
"What a horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible sister you are!. So sad!, So terrible, It make me cry!." He laughed with disconcerting smile as he twisted and turned his neck creepily...
"With a sister like you..I guess I have no choice but to kill you, huh ?." A foggy breath left his skeletal mouth as he grinned. His red dot like eyes glowing maliciously.
"For siblings to kill each other...D-don't do it, Sakura!.." He screams with terror. He imagined the circumstances with him and Miyu.. His heart twisted at the though.
Her eyes shadowed by the purple hair smiled sadly..."It's okay..My brother has been dead for a long time..also.." She smiles even though tears run down her face. My heart breaks at that.
"You didn't choose me...But, I love you...So, I will protect you!." she gives a warm smile as she face her brother.
"Sakura.." I felt something break in my heart...
"Please watch me, Senpai..I have this card, so I'll win!." she says confidently as the card glows..
" [ Install ! ]"
The light shines brightly..
"Huh ?.." Sakura felt confused.
Shinji trembled as he held his hand over his face before whipping his head back harshly with mad laughter.
"Hehehehheehheahahahhaahha!!?" Shinji mad laughs scared him..." What's wrong, Sakura, can't Install ?." He mocks.
Sakura felt dread clasping on her feets..Shirou felt as if the world itself forsaked him..Was this is it ?..
"It can't be..." She says as her worst fears came true...
"We knew you might betray us!..Did you really think Master Julian would give you the Gilgamesh Card!..It was nothing more than a empty card!. It does not contain any Heroic Spirits!. It's a genuine garbage card!." He laughed mocking his dumb sister for her stupidity.
Sakura had dull empty eyes as she stared with hopelessness.. " Garbage..Card ?." She mutters..
"Run!..Sakura." I screamed with fear. I stumble before rushing to frozen Sakura, But I knew my effort were in waste...I simply won't reach in time...Just like Miyu..
"Let big brother teach you how to use the cards!." He mocks with false sweetness as his tendrills of dagger stretched towards her like a sinister claw...
The world seemed to stop as if it was a black void, devoid of light and in the middle of it was Sakura and her brother. His mad cackling turned into a whisper akin to the soft chill of death..
Those claws reached her heart like the cold caressing hands of death..
"Zabaniya: Perish Performant Heartbeat!~" He whispered in a sing-song voice as mad giggling returned. The sound of glass breaking echoed..
"Sorry.." With the last words uttered, the light in Sakura Matou's eye finally died down..
Like a puppet cut of it's string, Sakura fell..
"SAKURA!!!?." I ran to catch her, to mourn her yet the fate had once more forsaken him as swirl of darkness took her away from...Just like Miyu...
I fell down on the cold ground..The empty card, fell on my hands, tears ran from my eyes.
"Why did you..." I gritted my teeths..
"Where did Sakura go...Oh!, Oh!, I killed her!!?." The Matou started chuckling darkly as he held his templates once more, going into another fit of giggles...They were twisted and terrifying yet I felt empty..
"This...You're next!." I didn't have a time to mourn. Not even to comprehend what happened yet, the next thing I knew I felt a massive pain assaults my gut. The feeling of air leaving my guts feel painful. The entire trachea feels burnt.
'Is this how...Agh!...Is this...Don't screw with me!...Gh!' I doubled over blood dripping from my mouth told me there must be a lot of internal bleeding.
I was in the shed, the broken shed drop away with bricks and shattered pieces...I gasp. This feeling of helplessness...Julian and that blonde woman..
"You see, I'll have to kill lots of people in Holy Grail War...And I want them to suffer as much as possible..." He says with sing-song voice as dread creeps into my very being. A sinister clouds the place.
"So...Let me practise with you!!." He screamed further with a crazed laughter. He was certainly insane. And the image of his madness gave a terrifying glimpse of human evil...
The dagger-tendril limb extended, ripping through the air sharply, ready to pierce through his body.
As his life flashed through his eyes, he had several regrets. Miyu, Sakura, Kiritsugu, Justice, everything...
'Is this how my life ends...' I asked to myself with a blankness...
The image of his father's back, look at the moon with regret and sadness emanating his form flashed over his eyes.
'Now I finally understood the meaning of Kiritsugu's words..His regrets..' I understands..
I kept making mistakes, doing what I thought was right.
And I tried to fix them, I made things even worse...
At the end of the road of trying to save everyone...
...there lies a cliff where one loses everything...
I can't see the moonlight anymore..Nor the
light of stars anymore...
Blood dripped from wounds, from the head to toe he was completely bruised and wounded, torn and bloodied, it was a miracle that he was even alive...
"Hey..are you alive...I got better at using Assassin now...Can I kill you now ?." Matou held him by his neck..
Then suddenly he snaps his head at Matou, despite being superior and having his very life in hands of Matou heir, even in the maddened state, the Matou felt unbridled fear collapse over him as dull gold eyes stared at him with a tranquil coldness..
"How..Did it..feel to..murder your sister.." Between the suffocation he says with a coldness as Matou snaps his head and laughs harder...
"It feels like ejaculating a hundred times !!!. You should try it yourself!." He says as he chuckles.. He throws him towards the wall of the shed, that harsh impact felt his bone crack.
There is no moon miracle...
There is no star hope...
The path is dissolving in darkness...
"Well, that was fun..erm, what was your name again !?." Matou pondera as his tendril dagver swirls once more. It ripples and twists in the air..
However, my body remain...
This is not a prayer...
The class card shines brightly, then a voice called out to me.. It was stoic, feminine, with power and regalia oozing within them, yet it was primal. My body shook to it's core.
Matou's venomous laughter made his skin crawl.
"Do you desire power.."
'Yes' I made a subconscious act of desire..to live...to save...to make amends.
I inched closer to the card...
"Accept this contract, pledge under me, and lay your soul onto me."
I took the card within my grasp, it shone an eerie golden white, Matou closed in to me, his tendrils twisting and turning like a snake...
"Contract accepted, Heroic Spirit : Saint Graph integration process start!."
"Oh yeah!, now I remember..well, then once again.." Matou mused.
Shirou gritted his teeths, the tendril energy burning through his nerves, the 27 circuits lit up in response providing access to the process..
...It's something more self righteous and trivial...
"Heroic Spirit Selection: Searching Compatiblilty...Cu Chulain 44%...Siegfried 76%...King Arthur 82% Sengo Murasama 92%... ...Found...Counter Guardian Red Archer 100% Compatiblilty."
The tendril coalesced into a single claw, the very that ripped out the heart of Sakura..
"Goodbye.." Matou whispers eerily...
The light ripples over my form, glitching to another..
...Something my worthless self can't help but turn into...
"Spiriting Saint Graph!...Succesful.. Integration..10%...20%...50%...75%...85%...95%...100%. Saint Graph integration completed!. Pseudo Servant: Red Archer - EMIYA.."
"Emiya.." Matou finished.
And then the light burst, the entire was illuminated in a golden light.
...An Oath...
"My core is twisted in madness!.."
"Cadalbolg!."
And then an Oath to the Earth was made under the Moonlit Night...
"Your soul belongs to Earth, your life devotes to the planet, your contract is sealed in our souls.."
"I, the Will of Planet, Gaia, announces you as my Servant, and thus I am your Master who hold the Command Seals over your soul..Therefore, I order you by my Command Seal...Win the War.."
Thus began the oath of the Beast of Earth, Emiya..Shirou...