Hello everyone!
Here's the next part of the fic, a chapter just fresh out of the oven, which continues to set the context and bring in little concepts of its own (and which I won't be including in the "canonical" Fate/Archetype fics. I hope you enjoy reading it, feel free to contact me or leave a comment.
Lenia 41
Update 2023/11/30 : corrections done.
Chapter 2 - Chained Destinies
Desert, Al-Muthanna, Iraq. 2004. One month later.
How far away the time of ignorance and peaceful days seemed!
Leaving behind them the shimmering gardens that surrounded the still nascent building of the Aegis in London, they were now under the bite of the sun and the burning dust of the desert.
Karim had nothing against his native country, which still had a special place in his heart. Although disfigured and weakened by decades of conflict, the land of his ancestors was rich in history, culture and magical knowledge. The heart of the land still beat beneath its ruins.
If his students had been able to see him now, when he was supposed to be on sabbatical, they might not have recognized him from afar. The teacher had had to undergo drastic training, both physical and magical, to keep up with the other members of the curious and eclectic team he had joined from day one.
Enkidu was very willing. Their enthusiasm for battle had initially taken him aback, as had the ferocity the Spirit could display against tough compatriots. Even his previous traumatic experience, when extremists had carried out a terrorist attack on the Warka excavation site a few years earlier, of which he had been the only survivor of the expedition, paled in comparison to the slaughterhouse to which they were very happily sent.
"Feel free to use me as ruthlessly as you see fit."
Their views differed on this point, however. He understood Lancer's opinion - in light of how the latter viewed himself - but he himself was not inhuman enough to treat him like a common weapon. It was all the more difficult when he considered the immense intellectual curiosity of the Divine class spirit according to the new classification. Enkidu was rather introverted and reserved by nature, very calm and confident in his abilities. This peaceful appearance concealed their relentless and ruthless temperament in battle.
No, he definitely could not bring himself to consider his ally as a simple tool.
The professor was called to order as a gigantic golden spear grazed him by a few millimeters. Shaking his head, Karim focused again on the present moment and on the thorny situation, they were in.
As the latest arrival and a civilian, Salar did not yet have the reflexes of his peers.
Placing one hand on the ground, the archaeologist combined an air essence with an earth essence to create a thick veil of sand and rock around himself and the other human next to him. This would blind their opponent for a few moments, perhaps, but any distraction was good to take when faced with the monster that confronted them. For there were no other words to describe their opponent.
- Karim-san, I am going to try a breakthrough to help Saber. Could you cover my back?
- I already told you that "Karim" is enough, Shirou. I can arrange a diversion for you, if you want. Don't you want to recover a little and let me take over? Salar proposed to him by noticing his tiredness.
A young man of ten years his junior looked at him on his left. His red haircut short was in disorder and his brown eyes determined. A good person, brave and sometimes too reckless. Shirou Emiya, one of the few Masters who had survived the Fuyuki Grail War. Karim sincerely hoped that his laudable but fearless intentions would not cause him to perish too young.
- No, sensei! Evelyn would be beside herself and we have to hold out until Rin returns. You are our trump card and one of our two wild cards if nothing goes as planned," the young Japanese man declined.
- As you feel it, conceded Karim reluctantly. I warn you, if I estimate that you are too much wounded, Evelyn or not, I will come to seek you by the skin of the neck if it is necessary. Do we have an agreement?
Emiya was one of the members he got along with the best and was most similar to his own situation. Rather friendly and warm, he was very easy to like for the teacher. It continued to amaze and amuse him to see him in such good friendship with another survivor of the previous Grail War, Rin Tohsaka. Endowed with a strong character, an arrogance proper to the most talented and a patience sometimes quite fine, the seventeen years old Japanese girl was the second youngest member of the team as well as one of their greatest assets.
Wasting no time in trying to negotiate with him, Emiya nodded her agreement and conjured two short swords, one white and one black, with her trance skills.
Karim focused a small portion of his mana to generate several creatures and golems from the wind and earth, shaping manticores, sphinxes and other entities from his extensive bestiary, which darted straight towards the terrifying figure in golden armor that towered over them from the heavens.
They would probably end up skewered or destroyed, but they would make good cannon fodder.
He was hardly surprised to hear his earpiece crackle a few moments later and a disgruntled female voice contact him with a hint of a French accent in her perfect English.
- Salar, do you read me? Can you tell me what Emiya is doing playing hero? I thought I told you to stay covered until an opportunity arose.
- This is Salar. The kid is going to help his partner. Don't worry, I'll go get him if it gets out of hand," Karim replied calmly and displeased. After all, I am not the most exposed of the team.
- Idiots will always be idiots, D'Elvaren pestered. The younger they are, the truer it is... well. I will cover it. You people stop squandering your magic like that and go support Lancer.
- With all due respect, I wish I could do that. It would be easier if I could make an exit, my options are limited at such a distance, Karim grumbled.
- Well, what are you waiting for? Ask them!" replied the ex-military operates curtly. There must be something we can do without making you a living target for Pride incarnate.
The military were all the same, Karim assumed, trying not to lose his temper and shout at her. Evelyn was not a bad person. She did not have a bad background, just a strong military discipline and manners as well as a strong French character. Despite their very bad start, their stormy relationship had improved significantly over the month of intensive training that had preceded it.
That said, she was not entirely wrong. Her indirect suggestion was worth checking out.
The teacher decided to create two protective barriers to anticipate and warn him of any approach to his position before kneeling. During the accelerated training, he had been vaguely told of the existence of a psychic link, more or less developed depending on the team and the time spent fighting together. Theoretically, although they were in their infancy, this should be within the realm of possibility for him and Lancer. After that, he would not know until he tried the trick.
A story of focusing his thoughts consistently and concentrating on it enough...
So he would have to trust his barriers to protect him the time he found the trick and could retain the feeling, and deduce the way to do it so that it would be easier later. Taking deep breaths, Salar sought to make enough the vacuum in him without disconnecting himself from the reality. He was not crazy at this point and wanted to keep his head on his shoulders.
"Enkidu? Can you hear me?"
It was still quite vague to him, a bit like throwing a bottle into the sea. The situation still seemed to him a little extraordinary and new, he tried to appropriate it as soon as possible. After several anxious minutes fighting against the temptation to go and check while hearing the explosions and other firecrackers of the burning fight, which took, place a few meters away.
Well, it was not that yet. He could feel, through the link, Lancer's presence, but it was too confusing to crystallize into intelligible words. The mage could feel the Spirit focused on the fight, in a calm fury. He could feel it exalted to fight, which had surprised him upon learning the identity of the threat in question. If he had been unconvinced by the news, Lancer had been delighted.
Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, no less. One of the undefeated finalists in the Fuyuki War.
Enkidu did not seem bothered in the least. When he had asked them about it, Lancer had told him in a cheerful mood that it was not a good confrontation and disagreement that would harm their millennia-old friendship with the Archer-class spirit.
Dumbfounded, Karim had seen firsthand the excitement of the two spirits at the idea of confrontation. The formidable Archer had been more annoyed by the involvement of humans and other spirits, as if they were just vermin distracting him from the only opponent worthy of him.
In any case, Evelyn's plan had worked very well on this point. She had anticipated it well.
He felt something delicately brush against his mind, as if to attract his attention.
"Don't worry. It's a very exciting fight and I don't get broken up that easily."
The peaceful voice, with its almost inhuman serenity, was familiar to him from the last few weeks. He still could not return a clear answer, which frustrated him somewhat. Lancer, however, seemed to get the gist of it and answered him between two muscular passes of arms.
"It is always exciting to fight against him, he never bores me! He is more powerful than I remember, by the way. It would be nice if the other mage came along; we are going to get serious. I'll protect you, but I won't guarantee the integrity of the others and the surrounding area if it comes to that."
This was a bad sign. On the one hand, Karim was a little more reassured to know that his partner had his back; on the other hand, he did not want to have on his conscience the deaths of the other mages and, even worse, of the civilians in the vicinity who had not asked anything of anyone. Thanking Enkidu with a thought for the information and asking him to signal him if he needed more active support, the Iraqi mage switched on the microphone of his communication kit on the private channel.
- Elvaren, this is Salar. Lancer is doing well, but they feels that the opponent is tougher than in the past. If we continue at this pace, it will become serious and I do not give a damn about our skin.
- This confirms my observations," the soldier replied immediately. Thank you Salar, I will tell Saber and Emiya to get closer to my Lancer. I will reinforce my offensive support from a distance. Rin contacted me, she will be here in a few minutes with Archer, and they finally flushed out the Asset. In the meantime, keep in touch with Lancer and if it gets out of hand, I am counting on you to do the right thing.
"The Asset" ... even he did not know anything about its nature, D'Elvaren had only opened up about it to Rin, who had kept an absolute silence about this information, which motivated her additional independent mission. She and Archer were their best bet for stealthy, quick, and adaptive actions. Likewise, Shirou and Saber had to know tactics that he, Rin, Archer, and Lancer didn't know, just as only he and Evelyn knew what she meant by "doing the right thing."
That was the main reason she wanted to keep him as far away from the game as possible, so that he could preserve his mana and integrity for the last, very delicate part of the operation. This did not mean that Karim was happy with this, on the contrary.
He had not been surprised to learn that the Flood had not come without a stir. The sudden irruption of the former Servants, now called Spirits, in the lands and in the daily life of mages and non-mages had been a revolution difficult to digest for some. Solutions were being negotiated between the two sides, with the nascent Aegis acting as mediator, and it was they who justified the importance of their mission. Since no independent spirit could intervene at the risk of starting a war, it was up to them to deal with the more difficult cases.
The former king of Uruk and King of Heroes, the Archer Gilgamesh, was one of those spirits who would not negotiate with them, even if it meant using force to get his way. The trouble was, he was almost divine in power on the new grading scale, he was experienced with at least two known Grail Wars under his belt, and he knew how to fight without support.
The annoying boss had been very clear: if they could bring the recalcitrant Spirit to his senses, if necessary through tough negotiations, it would make future discussions much easier.
De Clare rubbed his hands together, since he did not have to get his hands dirty...
A warning from his barriers saved his life, as the Iraqi had time to step back and erect a windshield to deflect some of the weapons projected in his direction. The force of the impact was such that it forced Salar to move back a few meters and to put a knee on the ground.
- This is where you have been hiding, mongrel. I am going to crush you like the insignificant vermin you are.
The crimson gaze of the entity was not inherently evil. It seemed on the other hand consumed by arrogance and annoyance intermingled while other golden circles appeared around him.
For a moment, Karim had the impression of seeing a foreign ochre glow in them, without being able to confirm it. Something in his presence seemed to alter his aura, without him knowing what it was.
With a heartbreaking hiss, a volley of energetic shots of pure magic pierced the air to the east to rain down furiously on the warrior ruler, more angry than worried. Dodging the downpour of magic, he simply waved his hand to conjure up chains similar to Lancer's, which he flung with a snap of his fingers toward the spot from which the concentrated fire came.
Evelyn!
Karim was about to rush to her aid when more chains hit the ground in front of him, effectively blocking his path. When the dust cleared, the professor's concern receded as he noticed that the chains had been placed in the way of other powerful links whose sharp tips were pointed at just a few inches away from his torso.
Lancer's graceful, feline figure landed at his side, their eyes alert and their smile fierce.
- He is still holding back his strength, but it cannot last long.
- What must it be like when he's fighting hard," Salar said with respect and a grimace.
The marks that were deeply etched into his flesh were evidence of the contract that bound him to Enkidu, though Salar sometimes struggled to see what made them compatible.
- Although he is as good as his old self, something is disturbing his presence," added the unruffled Spirit.
- I will take your word for it. You know him better than we do, after all," conceded the magician.
- What are your orders, Karim? Lancer asked, keeping his eyes on Archer.
- I don't think the orders have changed since the briefing," he replied, trying to joke before answering more seriously. Evelyn said.
- I don't care about her orders," his partner cut him off in a serene and firm tone. It is your instructions that I want to know. You are the only one who can use me, and as you see fit.
Karim did not know what to answer him at the time, a little overwhelmed by a situation that was becoming unprecedented. It was quickly clear that if he had a good talent of observation and a solid capacity of adaptation, he was not used to fight in a group or even to fight at all. Of their team, he was therefore the most novice in terms of tactics and strategies, especially against such spirits. He was always so confident in his job, but he did not feel legitimate enough to challenge this truth.
He could clearly see Saber in the distance, with his fabulous sword surrounded by a golden aura, trying to keep Archer at bay as he again attacked the woman he had been unable to seduce. Shirou was also doing his best with his trance to support her and counter the king's attacks.
He did not like to stand back, especially when seventeen year olds, who could have been or could be his students, were putting themselves in danger like this. He did not want to be left behind like that. Frustrated by his own helplessness, the professor clenched his tense fists and quickly made his decision.
- We have to get him away from Shirou and Saber, they are in bad shape. They must retreat to Lancer. We need to give Evelyn time to recover. Enkidu, we need to focus his attention on us.
- Understood. Will you confirm permission to confront him without restraint?
He would have preferred to be able to consult Evelyn or Shirou on this, but the former was not responding on the common channel and the latter was far too busy fighting Archer. He would assume his choice.
The professor simply confirmed his words with a silent but clear nod.
- All right, then. In this case, fight with me.
Surprised, Karim turned his attention away from the King of Heroes who was waiting for them and who was still holding his ground against the relentless attacks of his fierce fighter, the King of Knights.
As on the day they had sealed their pact, Enkidu held out a hand in a gesture of invitation. His right arm began to tug at him rather uncomfortably.
As soon as their palms touched, he felt as if a fire was blazing in his arm.
A golden aura grew and soon became blinding, as the fiery furrows of magic tracing the seal of their pact streamed down his body from his magical circuits. He felt as if countless chains had closed over him and were trying to bruise him. Struggling to stay conscious, the chains overcame his will and tore him away from his grip before carrying him straight to a large pillar of light that blended with his circuits.
It seemed to him that the Spirit's voice was a little deeper before unconsciousness seized him.
"Let us fight as we see fit. We no longer need to show restraint."
"Evelyn? Evelyn, can you hear me?"
"Yes, Jeanne. Nothing broken, stay where you are. I am coming.
The soft, but worried voice of the Maidenhair roused Elvaren from the darkness that had covered her brain. Although she and Lancer had developed a definite aptitude for telepathic communication quite quickly, the exercise was not obvious when the mind was somewhat stunned.
The former commander of the British army's specialized mage division pushed aside the rock rubble that had collapsed on top of her as best she could. Some were heavier than others were, but she still had enough mana left to draw from the Reinforcement. This art, which she excelled at, had served her well during the armed operations she had participated in, giving her increased physical strength, speed, and senses for varying lengths of time, depending on the intensity of the reinforcement she desired, temporarily.
These melees, of a completely new form for her, had required her to adapt her usual tactics of combat, not being alone anymore and facing entities much more powerful than her.
If the French-British woman had volunteered, she did not like these fights between titans.
Some were much better company than others were. Her teammate of two months was an excellent example. Her own coldness had not stood up to the Spirit's kindness. When they had been introduced to each other in an interview that she had not been notified of before, the soldier had found her quite endearing and warm, full of goodwill and resolution.
In addition, Evelyn had to admit, they had complementary combat skills.
"Just the time to extract myself. How are you doing on your end?"
"Several unforeseen events, but no losses! Do you need help?"
"I'm doing fine, thanks. You will explain this to me... What about Rin?
"Not there yet. With your help, I can hold on until she arrives.
"Take all the mana you need. Thank you, Jeanne; I will be with you as soon as I can.
The other lunatic had spotted her position after all; she had no reason to linger in such an unstable perch. A glance was enough for her to see that her heavy rifle modified for concentrating magic was too damaged to be used without risk of failure. It was a useful tool for mages with damaged or uncooperative magic circuits.
She had other tools that might have the same functionality, though not as powerful. Inspecting her equipment with her eyes, she still had her augmented contact lenses, two heavy pistols, a reinforced sword, and her knife of last resort. Her earpiece and walkie-talkie had been smashed to bits, however, so she would no longer be able to remotely manage their tactics.
Boy, did her head hurt... this was going to be a great concussion.
Why had they given her the leadership of a team of rookies with strong characters?
Nevertheless, it was her duty to ensure the success of this crucial mission. The two younger ones had experience from the previous Grail War, although they were quick to be reckless. The older one was inexperienced, but he was observant, cooperative and quick to adapt. With a Saber, an Archer, and two Lancers, the Spirits were quite diverse in their abilities.
Evelyn would keep her word to bring them all back to the "fold" alive.
She could sense the presence of the Maidens as long as they were not too far away, it helped her to orient herself and find the fastest and safest way to reach them.
Emiya was in a sorry state, Saber was doing a little better than his mage partner was. Jeanne, to her great relief, seemed to be doing well as well and stayed on her feet to defend.
- Nice job Emiya, Artoria. Just be more careful in the future. How are you doing?
- I am fine, Evelyn-san, replied the redhead with a reassuring smile. It is only scratches.
- Nothing will happen to him as long as I'm up," Saber replied. I can still fight.
- Excellent," commented Evelyn. I will take care of your wounds, sit down and stay put.
Putting her money where her mouth was, the military woman crouched down to the young man's level when he was seated and looked him over. He had not lied, his wounds were numerous, but seemed not very deep and had not reached risky zones. He had been very exposed, too.
Pushing back the blond locks that had escaped her bun in the melee, D'Elvaren leaned over the young Japanese man. She had inquired about the King of Knights and about him. She knew of their connection to the scabbard of the mythical sword Excalibur. Avalon had been returned to Artoria, so in return for Saber's increased power, the former Master of Avalon no longer enjoyed its miraculous healing effects. Therefore, someone had to take care of the injured.
While Evelyn did not have an outstanding potential for magic, which was passable, she did have a few talents that could be useful and that she would need to explore further.
Closing her eyes, she focused some of her energy to call upon an arcane of white magic by muttering a few words in the ancient Latin language. Her right hand brushed against the wounds without touching them, surrounded by a soft glow that seemed to heal and close them rather quickly.
Healing was one of the few abilities inherited from the D'Elvaren that was expressed in her. Evelyn did not have their talent for pyromancy, which had caused her to be dismissed from the family.
That, however, was a story for another day; she had no time to be melancholy.
While catching her breath under the watchful eye of Lancer and Saber, the Frenchwoman turned to the King of Knights, a silent question on her lips. Artoria declined with a negative nod.
- Thank you, but that will not be necessary, Evelyn. I only need Shirou and Avalon.
- Okay. Catch your breath for a few minutes. Have you heard from Salar and Lancer? My walkie-talkie is broken," asked D'Elvaren as calmly as possible.
- None," said Shirou apologetically. Mine is broken, but I can fix it if you give me a few minutes. I have not heard anything from Karim-san since Archer focused on Saber and me.
- Lancer is still fighting, Saber said. That must be why Archer has not attacked us since. They are too far away to see exactly what is going on, though.
While the situation was not as dramatic as she had feared, it was not good.
Re-establishing a means of communication was essential to keep Rin and their Archer informed of the situation and to be able to support them when they returned. Saber and Emiya were their only remaining strike force, however, since Lancer was busy. She and Jeanne would have to step up their defensive role, and could not be an additional offensive support. Tohsaka and Archer would have to be there soon... and she would have to make sure Salar was out of bed. Though express trained, he was still a civilian.
The radio silence of the latter was worrying; she hoped that it was only a material damage.
Evelyn herself was not in a very good state, as a worried look from Jeanne pointed out to her, but she was the coordinating officer of their team and would honor her duty.
- We need to regroup given our condition, she decided. Saber and Emiya, you will create a diversion at the first opening. Lancer and I will look for Salar and join you. Jeanne, can you confirm that you can sustain Archer's assault for a while if we use the standard?
- I can indeed," agreed the Maidenhair. I do not mind revealing my identity if it allows me to defend you all, Evelyn. I will protect you, to my detriment if necessary.
- I trust you. Emiya, do not be reckless! Artoria, I am counting on you to make sure of that.
The more the fight continued, the more Evelyn felt that the power of their opponent was abnormal. As famous as her myth was, as numerous as her exploits were, and as extensive as her raw power was, she completely surpassed their expectations and calculations based on the last Grail Wars. Something was wrong, Jeanne had the same feeling. Even in three against one...
She and her partner did not linger, taking advantage of the dust and chaos created by the ongoing melee to hurry to Professor Salar's last known coordinates.
With her two magic-catalyzing pistols in hand, Evelyn hurried as best she could. Her heightened senses were on high alert, while her scopes helped her keep an eye on the approximate distance of the two warring spirits and their only remaining Japanese tandem. An unpleasant surprise awaited her when she arrived on the scene.
There was no one there.
There were traces of a recent mage's presence, such as fragments of used magic crystals. Still, the position was deserted and heavily damaged.
- You give them simple instructions and they can't even keep to them," the Frenchwoman grumbled through clenched teeth. Where is he?
- Evelyn?" asked Jeanne in her soft, concerned voice.
- I told him to keep his distance especially," continued the military woman, inspecting the tiny asperity where the professor had hidden himself at her request.
- Evelyn, you have to see this.
Anyone other than the Demoiselle d'Orléans would have spoken to her with such insistence would have received a well-felt retort in return. It was rare, however, for Jeanne to insist in this way to draw his attention to something else, so Evelyn assumed it must be important.
The officer moved closer to the legendary Lancer and followed her celestial gaze to a specific point.
Two sets of chains slammed together with a loud clang. It was not difficult to feel the immense magical concentration that raged there. In the eye of the cyclone of raw power, two humanoid figures silently faced each other.
The mood of the King of Heroes did not seem to be improving as the minutes passed. From what she could see with her augmented lenses, his expression was split between a frustrated grimace, astonishment and a look burning with both annoyance and excitement for the fight.
Opposite him, a second tall figure had their back to them, draped in a sober white robe whose folds flapped in the gusts of auras given off by the two divine-class spirits.
- I don't remember Lancer having black hair," Evelyn commented with perplexity.
- It's not just that," Jeanne added with a frown. Their aura is... different, too.
- What do you mean by that?" asked the mage with a curiosity mixed with concern.
- The presence they gives off. Usually a quiet, restrained force of nature. Here, it's a force of nature unleashed without effusion, barely guided by an almost imperceptible breeze.
Evelyn was having a little trouble making sense of what Jeanne was trying to explain to her, not having the ability of the Heroine of France to sense the presences of mages and other spirits. The main thing she knew was that Salar was gone and Lancer seemed to be altered.
They did not know much about an unexpected ally who had come to the Aegis on his own initiative. The Frenchwoman did not want to question the Director's judgment, but had he underestimated her?
They slowly approached their position, while making sure to keep a safe distance.
Closer up, Evelyn could actually see some rather marked differences in Enkidu, whose long ebony rather than emerald hair was only the most apparent of all.
The previously immaculate white toga had black ends on the long sleeves surrounding their arms, where the brightness of the rest of the simple outfit was drowned in lines and arabesques. Likewise, a long, thin pendant of bright green fabric surrounded their neck to their knees. In addition, their alabaster-white skin had taken on a duller hue close to a golden brown.
The blue-green eyes remained the same, with a sharp gleam of calm assurance.
- If it is a fight you want, I will fight. After all, it is not that I hate fighting.
Enkidu's voice was clearly deeper than the one they knew. Stretching their limbs and cracking their knuckles, the Spirit resumed while dodging Archer's targeted assaults with ease.
- My power has increased. The mage...? No. It is a different enhancement. Interesting.
From where she stood, Evelyn could not hear what the hostile Archer was cursing at Enkidu. He looked far less happy and friendly than he had at the beginning of the fight, before these strange modifications. With arms crossed and a look of both excitement and anger, he brought the long chains with which he had been devastating his environment until then to him and made them disappear. Their fearsome target made even more golden circles appear around him. The sudden and constant increase in magical concentration was not reassuring to Evelyn, who feared the worst.
She did not need to hear Archer's words or read his lips to guess what he was up to. He was going to pull out one of his Noble Phantasm, it was very bad!
Without further ado, Evelyn rushed with Jeanne in her shadow toward Saber and Shirou who had rushed toward Archer to weaken him. She had to watch over the remaining mage and Spirit!
Fortune was in their camp, since the person concerned was visibly taking his time, both to show the extent of his power and in order to finish in less time to say it.
The Japanese seemed surprised to see her arrive without Salar, in such a hurry. Saber seemed to have noticed the threat, as she sought to concentrate her mana to unleash her Noble Phantasm in hopes of countering and matching one of Archer's final attacks.
Jeanne beckoned him to wait and placed herself between the threat and them. Drawing on Evelyn's mana with her tacit approval, the Maiden allowed her unusual spear to take on its true form as a white flowered standard as the magic focused around her.
- Gate of Babylon.
The Maid of Orleans was about to begin revealing her Noble Phantasm when a white lightning bolt struck right in front of her, soon revealing the sheet of a white robe and black hair. Unperturbed by the countless weapons rushing toward them in a blinding golden halo and harbinger of death, the deep, impassive voice merely spoke three words.
- Age of Babylon".
Giant golden circles appeared beneath their feet, while countless weapons of all sizes emerged from the ground beside them, on either side of the area where "Enkidu" was the epicenter.
Without further ado, the various blades clashed with the infinite weapons that Gilgamesh was raining down on them. The clash of the two Noble Phantasm was such that Jeanne came to protect her and Saber rushed to cover Emiya in the mirror, thrown several meters away.
Stunned, Evelyn slowly stood up with the help of the Pucelle. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Saber was also helping Emiya to her feet, both safe and no worse for wear.
There was no trace of the countless blades, only the craters of their impact around them.
- Thank you Lancer! Are you okay? She heard Jeanne ask the spirit.
- Lancer," Evelyn whispered, trying to focus her mind, "where is... do you know where Salar is?
The Spirit concerned did not even grace them with an answer, a cold smile on their lips. They merely glanced at them for a few moments with his clear, ice-cold eyes, and then quickly turned their gaze to the regal figure of Gilgamesh. They only had eyes for him, Evelyn noticed. Why did they come to help them, then?
- Not bad, Gilgamesh! Your sharpness has not dulled with the millennia, on the contrary.
The Spirit was not listening to them and she doubted that he really cared about them, which made her feel a little cold. Where was the professor who, on the other hand, cared about the welfare of their team members? Something in Lancer's deep voice appealed to her, though.
- It was time to get a little more serious. There is only one question I have...
Lancer's sudden personality was unprecedented and did not match the temperament described by the legends that mentioned him, nor did the psychological tests that had been submitted to him. The spirit's quiet smile was as sharp as the blade of a well-made sword. It did not reassure Evelyn to see that this "Enkidu" was enjoying this destructive melee.
The instinct of the military put her on her guard, as if she was facing a wild beast.
- Where am I going to cut you now?
Without paying any further attention to them, Enkidu had gone back to confronting the King of Heroes on their own initiative, without the slightest proof of team spirit. This was clearly not an attitude that Professor Salar would have supported, had he been there. Given the level of magic that Lancer was displaying at that moment, it was inconceivable that the archaeologist had lost his life. Was he unconscious, defenseless, and trapped somewhere in this confusion?
- You did not lose your aim at all. Let us continue, the fun is just beginning!
Clearly, only Salar could make the Spirit listen to reason, or at least he was the only one to whom Lancer would deign to listen. All he had to do was compare Enkidu's interactions with them and compare them with their attitude toward the archaeologist during the month of accelerated training to fear that possibility. They were an ally of circumstance.
There was more to worry about. Despite the wounds they had managed to inflict on him with great difficulty, King Gilgamesh was not tiring. His brute strength remained intact and his mana seemed inexhaustible. Even worse, the arrival of this Enkidu seemed to excite him even more and encourage him to be even more devastating.
Evelyn did not know if it was better to confront him when he was in a bad mood or on the contrary in a good mood. The two cases of figure were as destructive one as the other.
If she did not hear what Archer replied to Lancer with a wicked grin and an amused glint in his blood-red eyes, they seemed to be increasingly tinged with a very cold ochre glow. Now that she was paying attention, even his pure gold armor had darkened slightly.
Was this the anomaly the Bureau feared? The anomaly she knew nothing about.
Chains gripped Enkidu's arms and legs to prevent them from moving further. The being did not seem to be particularly worried for as much, their features remained impassive.
With a strong and authoritative voice, the belligerent Archer conjured a strange sword from a golden circle.
- I speak of a genesis. The elements merge, unite and shape the star weaving creation.
- Ranged in the breath of the stars. A torrent of bright life, Saber continued without further ado.
- Protect my brothers and sisters, my standard," Jeanne began to incant.
Its truncated tip rounded, black blade was engraved with glowing runes that ran, literally, along the body of the sword above a gold hilt.
- Pay homage to him with death. "Enuma Elish"!
- The Sword of Promised Victory. "Excalibur"!
- God is here with me. "Luminosité Éternelle"!
An incendiary red glow began to dance across Archer's blade, like torrents of pure magic rushing toward them like a tidal wave of devastating flame. Seconds after their creation, with a gigantic sword of light in his hands, Saber swung the magic-filled blade at the wave in hopes of dissipating its power.
Despite her best efforts, several fiery waves pierced Enkidu and rushed toward them.
In her stride, Jeanne unfurled her banner and raised it to the sky. A lightning bolt broke through the fog caused by magic and enveloped them in a warm and soothing glow, powerful and quiet. La Pucelle slammed one end of it into the ground, clasping it in her gloved hands. The defensive magical barrier was so powerful that it blinded the two mages and the three spirits. Its unyielding radiance dispersed the last waves of destructive magic sent by Archer.
Their two Noble Phantasms together had finally overpowered the King of Heroes'.
The first sight that came to Evelyn's eyes chilled the blood that ran through her veins.
Though some of Archer's armor plates were dented and scratched from the exchange of blows, he was still standing and glaring at the chained figure... partially.
Enkidu was motionless and chained at the wrist and left ankle. Their torso, however, was a gaping hole and their entire right side looked like it had been blown to dust.
Evelyn was about to decide to use their last card, because of Salar's disappearance and the precariousness of their situation, when a laugh slipped between the lips of the greatly mutilated Spirit.
- Splendid, but insufficient. I would be a poor weapon if I were broken so soon.
What was left of the Spirit's body dissipated into dust? The cloud gathered further away and molded itself into a humanoid being with the features of the famous Lancer. The ferocious yet amused smile on their lips was unlike any they had ever seen. Under their silent gaze, their body and clothes had been rearranged without a hint of a hitch.
Dropping a knee and a hand to the ground, the earth beneath their feet was surrounded by a golden circle that covered a second emerald green circle. The entity's blue-green eyes were focused on Archer.
- I will awaken the breath of the Earth, for I walk with Humanity. Therefore... Child of Men let us chain the gods. "Enuma Elish".
The same Noble Phantasm as Archer? No... Evelyn soon realized that while the latter had the same name as the former, the two high-level magic were quite distinct.
Leaping into the sky with a speed and strength unexpected from such a delicate figure, Enkidu was enveloped by an intense golden aura. The pillar of near-godlike light shot into the sky, before its gigantic spear-like tip slammed into Archer at great speed. An explosion of light blinded the others on the scene, as Evelyn's augmented contact lenses made out bright chains from the glowing pillar that came crashing down on the King of Heroes, gripping him tightly in all directions and immobilizing him.
These chains did not dissipate as Lancer resumed their more humanoid appearance without taking their eyes off their target. The spirit seemed to be short of breath and a little paler in color. No doubt, the Noble Phantasm had drained much of the mana from the fighter.
They put a knee on the ground, won by a sudden weakness. Their calm voice sounded rather surprised.
- Well... am I out of mana?
With clearly surprised features, "Enkidu" seemed to remember their presence only at that moment and turned to them. Their long black hair seemed to slowly shorten and their features blurred, while their increasingly foggy blue-green eyes were riveted on the officer.
- I am going to have to shut down for a while. You know what you have to do... Evelyn.
The deep voice became strange, as if it split into two distinct timbres. Likewise, the entity's ferocious smile softened, almost appeased, as their hair returned to waist height and took on its usual green sheen. A tarnished golden aura enveloped the Spirit for a few minutes like an evanescent cocoon before dissipating.
When it was dispersed, it revealed the presence of two more familiar inanimate figures.
- Karim-san!" exclaimed Shirou, rushing towards him, his face clearly worried.
Saber surprised approached with prudence the inanimate silhouette of Enkidu, who seemed unconscious, while keeping with the eye Gilgamesh who seemed particularly furious. Evelyn put a few seconds to follow the step of Jeanne who hurried to join the bedside of Enkidu to inspect their state, still puzzled by the unforeseen course taken by the events.
Professor Salar, reappeared from nowhere, was not particularly in a beautiful state to see.
His jacket was perforated on all sides, as well as his pants of fabric. His shirt had been torn to shreds with dried blood, and there were numerous wounds on his arms, legs and torso. From the looks of it, they were both burns, cuts and deep scratches.
She was trying to make sense of a situation that made no sense at first, but time was running out.
Crouching down at his level, she first checked his pulse and then pressed her hand into his.
- Salar, can you hear me? If you can hear me, let me know. Raise a hand, squeeze your fingers, blink, but do something.
After a few seconds where she hesitated to slap him in the face with a controlled slap to check his state of consciousness in a final test, she heard the researcher let out a harsh gasp and then jerky breaths, which he was clearly trying his best to calm. Seeing that he was trying to get up despite his condition, she supported him and kept him in a semi-sitting position.
- Welcome back among the living, she added with a trace of humor. Did you have a good trip?
- Officer, murmured the researcher in a weak voice while opening eyes still dull, Archer...
- We will take care of it, she confirmed. You have done most of the work, now rest a little. I will start the ritual; you join me if you get enough strength. Emiya, you will help me the time that Tohsaka deigns to arrive. Let us not waste time while he is paralyzed like this.
Salar wanted to protest, but she put him back down without further ado, and he could not get up on his own for the moment. He probably would not be able to for the next few hours, anyway. She would have many questions for him, but the confusion he expressed was already a preliminary clarification that would suit her. She took a few drops of his blood, with his consent.
He was no longer a danger to anyone and no longer a danger to himself.
Drawing a seal around the immobilized spirit as quickly as she could, mixing her own blood with Salar's, she began to chant the Latin words when she heard the stubborn professor insist on accompanying her and joining what little magic he had left to the ritual.
Half-dead, he was determined to have his way with her, obviously. She would yell at him... later.
She could feel Emiya channeling some of her magical strength into the ritual, to make up for some of the mana Salar had lost in the fight. She was grateful for this.
The spiritual restraint ritual that the Director had passed on to her and Salar was particularly complex and remarkably energy-intensive. It was the only magical solution available to the mages in the time allotted to stop the threat.
- For a mongrel, he did not slow Enkidu down too much. Ordinary, but not necessarily uninteresting. Since he entertained me, I will give him an honorable death.
Gosh, the Spirit still had some under the throttle! Evelyn was all too aware of the time that was slipping away and the fact that the ritual was paralyzing her completely. If he were to break free from his chains and escape, the mission would be a bitter failure and they would lose their lives. Jeanne and Artoria could probably give them a little time, maybe a couple of minutes.
Evelyn tried to ignore him and concentrate on the incantation she was conducting.
- You on the other hand... you do not stand a chance. Scold while you can, you poor fools, too stupid to run away when you should while you still can.
Saber was clearly holding back from lunging at him and cutting him to the quick to make him feel his way, but the proximity of the young Emiya was probably helping him keep a cool head a little longer. Jeanne did not seem to mind his provocations, her face marked by a calm resolution.
Alas, time was clearly not on their side. Little by little, the golden chains faded.
Holding back from railing through her teeth and clinging to her last flicker of hope, Evelyn tried to ignore Archer's evil smile as he straightened up and focused on the ritual incantation.
All seemed lost when a volley of red magic shot out at the King of Uruk, and a red-draped male figure came to strike the hostile spirit with a felt right hook.
- Well, you started without me. I'm offended you didn't wait for me," a young woman's voice said with a touch of annoyance and arrogance.
- Sorry, a bad habit. He will never learn his lesson, added a weary male voice.
Evelyn could not hold back the satisfied smile that wove itself on her lips and the relieved gleam in her eyes. Not a moment too soon... without stopping to chant the long incantation, she saw Rin Tohsaka join them with confident strides, with her long black hair and azure eyes shining with pride. Dressed in a red top with a short black skirt, the young woman seemed to be in good shape. Unsurprisingly she also noticed the arrival of the last spirit of their team, the Archer-class crewmember who is True Name remained a complete mystery, probably known only to Rin. His short-cropped white hair contrasted with his dark skin, and the former Servant wore a long red coat over black leather armor, long pants and boots of the same color. After a short bow to Saber, he turned his stern, critical brown eyes on his long-time enemy.
- You've taken a lot," Rin commented, stopping. A little help from me will not go amiss.
The kid was lucky that Evelyn was busy with the ritual; she would not have gotten away with it otherwise. A shouting and a sermon in good and due form would have been de rigueur. Tohsaka had to see it in the black look she gave him, shrugging her shoulders.
- I know, it took longer than expected. The kid was not cooperative. We had to take a long detour, and even use the last resort. You cannot imagine how much time we wasted buying help from that person. It was pretty... persuasive. We will take care of this desperate case and I will tell you all about it. Archer, I am counting on you to keep an eye on the phenomenon until everything is ready.
The King of Heroes then showed an unexpected burst of energy and rose to his feet with a speed that surprised the three Spirits who were watching him, who immediately went on guard to intercept him. However, he had no time to conjure anything before he was frozen in place again.
His furious crimson eyes immediately focused on the origin of the chains, on a large shadow...
Which soon gave way to a shorthaired kid with annoyed and determined eyes. A Heroic Spirit indeed, but a simple kid dressed in a white jacket and an indigo top, over khaki pants and sneakers. His hands held the chains that were so paralyzing to Archer.
- How is this possible? No one can defeat me but them or myself," the King of Uruk hissed with barely contained fury as he struggled against the chains that held him.
- Maybe yes, maybe no... In any case, you will never know! Retorted the insolent kid without the slightest smile and without making any effort to hide his disapproval.
The child's crimson gaze was riveted straight into Archer's crimson eyes, burning with resolve and anger. This kid... the Maid had identified this childlike Spirit in the words of her voices. The risky gamble Evelyn had taken on her own initiative... that gamble had paid off. Despite his small, youthful figure, he held the thinner chains that held the King of Heroes immobile with a firm grip. He was creating an opening for them, they would use it.
In chorus, she and Karim chanted the final verses of the restraint ritual with strength and conviction.
In the best case, the ritual should seal him and they could finally isolate him. In the worst case, it should weaken him enough for veteran spirits to remove him permanently.
Too much hypothetical and conditional in the explanations of his superior... that had challenged Evelyn during their pre-briefing interview. Now, it worried her a lot. She had been careful not to tell the others these details and imprecisions, so as not to sow doubt.
Her military brothers and sisters in arms would have said that they had been thrown right into a scrapyard.
The golden tyrant was not about to be put away quietly. He was struggling like a beautiful devil. Evelyn could only notice the energy he still had, despite the ritual's bonds that were beginning to sap his strength. The little kid was struggling fiercely to keep him down.
Crushed by exhaustion as they chanted the last phrase of the incantation, the Frenchwoman felt in the same instant an unfavorable relief. This nightmare would soon be behind them.
The circle and the arabesques decorated with Latin characters shone with an intense bluish glow as opaline bonds sprang up and enveloped the entity's lips, upper and lower limbs to prevent it from moving further and from using its spiritual abilities.
The demon made man was not willing to admit defeat and surrender. His golden aura wanted to appear around him to fight against the bonds of the ritual and the chains of their Trump, chains that half materialized without succeeding in obtaining tangibility. Evelyn became alarmed as she saw Salar let out a muffled groan of pain, herself clenching her teeth to silence her own growing pain. Although they were less affected as adjuncts to the ritual, Emiya and Tohsaka were no more spared than they were by the suddenly increased absorption of magical energy.
Saber, Archer and Lancer were about to take up arms to finish off the too dangerous enemy. Evelyn, struggling to stand on shaky legs without losing her focus on the ritual, realized something was wrong. The ritual was taking far too long.
The magic concentration level that had been rising steadily to combat the hindering ritual was seized by increasingly sharp fluctuations. What in the world was going on?
A blinding golden flash forced him to look away, bruising her fragile azure eyes.
Blinded by the pure golden glare, the eight members of Aegis Division 1 could no longer see.
They did not see shadows detach from the silhouette of the hostile Archer, who was held tightly by the youngest Spirit who stood against him, his blond hair disheveled.
Now that he had him in his chains, he wasn't about to let him escape.
Two pairs of crimson eyes faced each other, one burning with rage, the other cold with anger.
He was not helping these mages out of the goodness of his heart. He was quiet and comfortable, traveling, as he had liked to do since he was brought to this world after the implosion of the Grail during the last confab. One of those magi and his associate had come to bother him. These mongrels had even dared to resort to blackmail by involving the diabolical goddess in their simulated negotiations.
It was only because of collusion of interests that the Spirit had reluctantly agreed to help them against a common enemy. After all, he could not stand him any more than they could.
He represented everything he was fighting against and everything the child had no desire to become.
- Hold still "Goldie"! Don't you think you have done enough of that already?
If Archer could not answer him with the chain around his mouth, the look on his opponent's face spoke volumes. Gil's desire to kill him was mutual.
At first, he had been very dubious about the effectiveness of the ritual that the mages wanted to use to restrain the King of Heroes. Oh, he did not doubt that this spell could be effective on Elemental Spirits or Noble Spirits, but he was not convinced about Legendary Spirits. Let us not even talk about Divine Spirits or even quasi-divine ones such as "Goldie"!
He usually liked to be right. It happened often enough, of course, but he did not like it very much in situations like these. The mages were finished, without him.
If he was rather kind and affable of nature usually, he did not like to be trodden on the feet and counted well to dissuade them to start again to resort to such disrespectful methods.
His eyes stopped glaring at his opponent and lowered, worried, to the shadows that surrounded Archer more and more. He could see subtle changes in the latter, both physically and in his terrifying presence, which did not reassure him much. The gleaming golden armor that he so proudly boasted of was beginning to tarnish, piece by piece.
It was then that some of the shadows clearly split from the Spirit as if they were tearing themselves away from him, diminishing even more rapidly the spiritual forces of the latter.
Like a cloud of ink, they cut off the last of the mist that connected them to the Heroic Spirit before chiseling themselves into a humanoid figure whose features gradually became more defined.
As if reflected in a mirror, Archer's tall stature was preserved by the still nebulous apparition. Short blond hair soon emerged from the dark cloud, followed by the clothes and the more precise appearance of the individual who was gradually being revealed.
The shoulders covered by a short jacket with a navy-blue collar edged with gold, a large gold collar hid the neck of the man. The sleeves of the jacket were open, revealing a purple tattoo on both shoulders. The bottom of his body was covered with a wide red sarouel edged with navy blue, which was half-open from the knee to the bottom of the shins. Gold and indigo sandals covered her feet. Finally, his left forearm wore an azure blue bracelet while a black gauntlet with gold plates protected his left forearm and hand.
The child's features twisted into a grimace. Oh no, this was not going to do it at all. He did not need a second "Goldie" in this world, that was already two too many!
- So, what is it this time? I'm very busy, so don't waste my time," asked a deep voice that made no effort to hide its boredom.
Gil was about to draw dangerously on his own strength to generate more chains when the stranger opened his eyes, revealing purple irises similar to his own. Cold and authoritative, the man's gaze fell alternately on "Goldie" and on the child, before settling on the latter.
- Ah, it's you kid. What brings you here? You did not seem to want an early death.
Although suspicious and aware of the balance of power against him, the young Gil held the newcomer's stern and impassive gaze. He looked like the one he hated, yet different. However, if "Goldie" was there - and there was no mistaking it - who was the person who knew him?
- You don't seem to like these images and yet you're helping them," the "Goldie" mirror said as if it had not heard her thoughts. It is an interesting situation.
- I'll never have peace as long as he's around," Gil replied with aplomb. He is going to cause more trouble and if he keeps it up, things are going to end really badly.
- And that gives you a chance to get out of his shadow," retorted the other, amused. You seem to have bitten off more than you can chew, kid. Are your eyes bigger than your stomach?
- I do not have a choice and I do not want to have to fix the damage done by his overweening ambitions.
- Nor do you want to be thrown to Ishtar to eat," mocked the Spirit. I forgive you, you are still a child.
Stung to the quick, young Gil had clenched his jaw and his red eyes crackled with indignant anger. Before he could say anything, the other raised a hand to silence him.
- Kid, I am in a magnanimous mood and I am ready to defend peace. Especially if it's to be left alone," the older spirit said, turning to Archer. Hold him steady.
A clay tablet concentrated in magic appeared in a golden circle before falling onto the outstretched palm of his right hand. The object soon shimmered with a golden glow, ancient graphemes dancing in the air around the artifact and the gauntlet worn by the Heroic Spirit. He exuded an aura of authority even greater than Archer's did, though his spiritual power was less than that of the spirit Gil reviled. Who was this other him he had never seen in his visions?
This was not a good time to wonder, the boy decided resignedly. He didn't care much for having to deal with two older versions of himself at the same time, so as long as this other one didn't do anything stupid, he had no reason not to cooperate... for now.
Archer continued to struggle between the meshes of his net of thin golden chains edged in azure, requiring all the attention and much of the younger Spirit's energy to hinder him. The magical bonds generated by the mages were becoming more and more tenuous, so that young Gil had to redouble his efforts to keep the rabid dog down as it struggled with more strength.
- They call that magic. Pitiful, but I did not expect anything better. Open your eyes wide, mongrels! This is very magic! His alter ego shouted, holding out a hand to Goldie.
A golden seal of runic magic appeared on his feet, before the torrent of spiritual energy rained down on the bonds of the ritual begun by the humans, from which plains of pain escaped. These creatures were so fragile, Kid Gil mused, focused on keeping Goldie immobilized. Somehow, his less insane alter ego had managed to override the mages' authority over their own ritual and rewrite it in part with his own runes, to make it more effective. Goldie struggled even more angrily, her crimson eyes gradually turning an unusual gold as her golden armor became tarnished with black and crimson, her plates seemingly rearranged.
- It is now or never, kid.
Kid channeled all the magic he could into the chains that bound his older Archer-class version, whose corruption fed off his growing anger, watching as his more sensible alter ego did the same. Their combined forces reinforced the mages' waning ones. The enemy of his enemy would be his ally for now. The ritual initiated by the mages was not bad in itself, just not powerful enough. They had taken on something bigger than he could handle. These mages would never learn, obviously. In that respect, they were as much fools as Goldie. His features tense with effort, the royal child shackled his corrupted adult version as golden runes inscribed themselves around their target, in a magical circle then spreading across the skin of the enraged King of Heroes. Thus hemmed in by the power of the ancient runes, gagged by the incantations of the mages and his loyal chains, Goldie could no longer make a single move or utter a single word. No doubt, this mysterious Alter Ego was the cause, and no doubt, it was a Caster class from what the young Archer had seen so far. The runic circle turned into two doors that opened wide under their common enemy, revealing a thick, unfathomable abyss. The child immediately understood the plan of his impromptu ally, and strengthened his grip. It was not a permanent solution, but they would gain a little time.
At least, that was the best they could do with such unprepared and weak allies.
Their combined efforts allowed them to stabilize and strengthen the ritual initiated by the mages, to project the Servant, whose very spiritual essence was being eaten away by a strange corruption, right through the doors and close them on their target. "She" was probably not going to be happy about having to deal with the oddball they had sent him, but he would not be able to come back up from the deepest abyss of the underworld where they had sent him.
Two pairs of carmine eyes fell on the mages, who were reduced to slump on the ground, exhausted. The Heroic Souls who accompanied them were barely holding on, standing between the humans and them. The Aegis, eh... They were a poor shield in his eyes. If they were reduced to this state, they were not at the end of their troubles. The young Gil turned his eyes on the black-haired mage with the red cloak, declared to his attention in a firm, and annoyed voice.
- Don't count on my help anymore. I have fulfilled my part of the bargain; it is up to you to clean up.
He paid her no further attention, content to keep an eye on the Archer-class servant who had come between them despite the sorry state he was in. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Goldie's Alter Ego approach an older man, utterly disdaining the young blonde woman who was trying to get to her feet, aided by the spear-wielding Heroic Soul at her side. His gaze was unfathomable as he glared at the man before grabbing the man by the collar and lifting him up with ease until the mortal's ebony gaze met the Heroic Soul's.
- You, the assistant. Enkidu seems to value you, so you must be the least stupid of the lot. I know you can hear me. For the sake of an old friend, I will let you live today. If they value their lives, let them never set foot here again. I will not always be so magnanimous.
Caster lowered his grip and released the mage without much ado, leaving him slumped to the ground, drained of his strength. Young Gil kept his distance, both from the strange Servant and from the mages, as the former concluded his remarks in a voice that was both sharp and full of gravity.
- Whether you like it or not, a new world is beginning. You cannot stop it. Get it through your heads, adapt or perish mongrels.
Young Gil saw other mages approaching the scene, all of them not as strong as those who were slumped here. He saw the sometimes suspicious, sometimes hostile looks of some of them, but ignored them. He did not want to devote more of his attention to them, and estimated that he had already lost enough time. He barely had time to move away a few steps when a gloved hand came and grabbed him by the arm.
- You come with me, you.
- I have other things to do. Protested the young Gil with aplomb, without succeeding in freeing himself.
- And I have to talk to you. The less time you waste on me, the sooner it will be done.
Professor Salar's dark eyes observed the scene in silence, without being able to understand it. His eyelids fluttered as the supporting reinforcements approached. The next moment, the two figures that had taken out the enraged Heroic Soul disappeared in a bright golden flash.
The archaeologist arrived then at the end of his forces and let himself catch by the arms of the unconsciousness.