DISCLAIMER: I do not take credit from the Fate universe and its characters. The rights and credits go to the original authors.
Read the notes in the first chapter if you haven't done it already.
This is my very first story. I'm confident in my grammar, but if there are any mistakes, then let me know and I'll try to figure out how to fix them as soon as I have time.
Hope you enjoy.
FATE/Oppression
-Beginning-
Chapter 1
Planet: Earth
Date: May 12 2020
Location: Chugach National Forest (Alaska - U.S.A.)
(======)
The first thing he noticed once he was summoned to the Real Side was a strange, nostalgic feeling that began to pervade his chest and mind.
Shirou opened his eyes, curving his lips into a smile that was both nostalgic and sad. The sight that greeted him... it was definitely peculiar. And yet, at the same time, it was painfully familiar for him. A wide, blue sky above his head, the nostalgic and familiar smell of wet grass and mud, the chilling sensation of cold wind caressing his skin… it was a very familiar thing for him.
He was in the middle of a gigantic valley, entirely made of large expanses of grass, hills and snow-covered mountains. Immense forests of pines and firs filled the land as far as his eyes could see; while behind him, far away, towards the horizon, his gaze could catch a glimpse of sea and ice in the distance. But the main detail right now was that he was alone. There was not a living soul around him, human or animal alike. He could only hear the sound of the cold wind coming from the ocean, the faint chirping of birds hiding in the woods, and the salty, familiar smell of the ocean. He was in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nature, with no idea of his location.
No, he knew where he was. He was home.
He couldn't keep a smile from his lips. This was the Real Side of The World. The place where he was born and raised. Where he had lived his life, fought his countless battles, shared his pain and joy, before his exile. This was his world, his home. And now that he was back, it was… strange. So painfully strange and familiar. So much so that even an usually cold and detached person like him could not suppress entirely the nostalgia from his heart. It was simply impossible.
Although the Real Side and the Other Side of the World were similar in appearance and shared many landscapes (the Other Side was still a copy of the Real one, born from the logic and the faith of humanity and, consequently, a reflection of reality) they were markedly different in constitution. Yeah, mountains, forests, seas, and lakes were shared on both sides, sure; but it wasn't the same thing. It was different. He could sense it. He could feel it. It was in the smell of the air, in the feeling he felt in his heart, and in the awareness of finally being no longer in the world of 'fantasy' but in the 'real' one, in the original. He was home. The air was crisp, clean and cold, and lacking the usual density of prana and magic that the Other Side possessed in large quantities. Here, only pure, clean air pervaded his senses, his body, and his mind.
He was finally back home.
"…I'm back," he said to no one, similing a little as he breathed in the crispy air.
But now it was not the time to be immersed in nostalgia. After a couple of seconds, once his growing sense of longing was silenced once again, his mind steeled and returned to focus on the task ahead: find out where he was and what was happening to the world.
He moved without wasting a second.
He quickly began to make his way to the highest hill among the ones that surrounded him, and once he reached its peak, he began to look around with a cold, calculating gaze; observing everything around him as the wind blowed on his hair and shook the long, elegant white cloak that covered his shoulders. His eyes narrowed in suspicion as they surveyed the vast landscape of forests, the snow-capped mountains and the ocean on the horizon. Despite the breathtaking view, his instincts were perpetually alert for some reason. That was something that he could not overlook.
Something was wrong. He could feel it. It was in the stillness of the air, and in the growing tense sensation which pervaded his mind.
And he was a God of War. His instincts were rarely wrong, if ever.
Somehow, he had to find out what was happening to the planet. The sudden disappearance not only of Alaya, but of the entire Counter Force was something that could not be ignored. If there was indeed the hand of a powerful entity behind all this, Divine being or not, he had to stop the mastermind and restore the order once again. Humanity was in danger, and he could not waste a single second.
But what could he do?
Without the Counter Force to guarantee the order and without Alaya to preserve the survival of the human race, the entire planet had fallen into a state of total blackout. Not literally, of course, but figuratively. His people, the humans, were still here, unaware of the coming danger, but… there was simply no way to intervene and protect them now. Gaia, alone, had no way to directly intervene in the existential plane of reality. Not like before, at least. She didn't even have a way to find out what was going on right now.
The Earth, and the entire world of men, had been literally severed and isolated from the mind of the planet itself. And now, only he could do something to stop this chaos.
Question is: how did it happen? And why?
And that's without taking into account the biggest detail of all.
The disappearance of the Throne of Heroes.
Shirou gritted his teeth as he began to descend the hill at great speed, moving towards the forests on the West.
His last chat with Gaia still echoed inside his mind.
. . .
"Where will you summon me, then?"
"I'll try to get you as close to the anomaly as possible, but we can't be certain about the result. Without Alaya and the Counter Force, not even I am able to monitor the Earth and the minds of humans. That's a major problem. As much as I hate to admit it, I have no idea of what's going on down there, nor of where you might end up once you reach the Real Side."
"Tch. That's just great. So much for 'absolute Mistress of the planet'."
"Do not mock me, Shirou. I don't enjoy being powerless either. If there was another way, I wouldn't be here talking about this."
"Alright, alright, I get it. Just... any idea of what I should expect once I get there?"
"...I have no answer to that. I just know one thing: the Heroes and the Guardians are being unleashed on the world, against the planet's will. You will most likely face some Heroic Spirits once you come closer to the anomaly. Fighting will be inevitable, almost certainly."
"How is that possible? Heroes are nothing more than spirits. Memories that come to life thanks to their legends and the will of the wizards who control them. And now you're telling me that they're being released into the world, against your own will? How is it possible? It doesn't make any sense."
"I told you: this is the work of someone more powerful than me. I have no idea how the entity responsible for all of this managed to do it... but it did. It will be up to you to find out what is happening and how to stop this."
"…that's messed up."
"Indeed. I will provide you with all the necessary knowledge about the Throne of Heroes and the modern age. But right after then, once you reach the Real Side, you'll be on your own. I'm really sorry, but there's nothing else I can do to help."
"And what if I fail? What if I can't get everything back to normal? Then what?"
The woman's smile was both confident and terrified as she spoke her next words.
"Then everything you, me and my sister have fought and bled for until now will be destroyed forever."
. . .
"As close as possible my ass, Gaia. I'm literally in the middle of nowhere here," he muttered sarcastically, running through the trees and vegetation with a swift pace and a frowning face.
With no clue and no precise information about the situation that had plunged into the world, his only option was to head inland, towards a town or a city, to gather information and expand his knowledge. He had no alternative at the moment. If he wanted to decide what to do, if he had to plan his moves, he had to know the situation better and learn the identity of the enemy he was facing. It was a basic rule to every battle.
And, also, keeping both his identity and his goal hidden was a good idea. He had to blend in the world, not stand out awkwardly. His cover would certainly blow, otherwise.
He continued to advance and run for several minutes through the pine forests and thick vegetation of that cold, freezing area. If his knowledge of the world and the information he received from Gaia through the summoning were correct, then he had to be somehow close to the Arctic and its glaciers right now. This was something he would have gladly avoided, if possible.
It would take him a long time to reach a town from here, after all.
Even though he was a God and still possessed some of his original powers, his body was still similar to that of a normal human. He didn't really need food, given his immortality, but he needed rest. Because of this, when the light was gone, he would need to find shelter, start a fire and rest for the night. That is, if he didn't want to lose too much energy and avoid the risk of being caught at a disadvantage in a sudden fight. Because of this, reaching a town, a city, or an inhabited center whatsoever was a top priority for him right now. There were no alternatives.
But this, of course, without contemplating any unforeseen events.
It was after about fifteen minutes of uninterrupted running through the woods that Shirou felt something.
He halted immediately, stopping his run and widening the senses around him to the nature that surrounded him. His eyes narrowed in suspicion and resignation after he confirmed his suspicion. There was no mistake. He was sensing a presence approaching his position, coming from South-East. And even though he had spent most of his life in exile on the Other Side of the World, occasionally killing a few dragons, beasts, and many other creatures that dared to threaten him in the past, even a retired God like him knew what kind of threat was approaching him right now. Gaia had explained it to him extremely well, after all.
A Heroic Spirit. A Servant.
Shirou cursed his luck. He wasn't expecting to face a spirit so soon after being summoned. And especially not right here, in the middle of nowhere and so far away from any inhabited center. What the hell was a Heroic Spirit doing in such an isolated place? It didn't make any sense. But one thing was clear, no doubt. Whoever and whatever this Servant headed towards him was, it was a threat. Just as he had perceived it, the enemy could perceive him as well. The faint signature of energy and prana was getting closer and closer by the second. It was searching for him, reaching him.
Very well, then. This could be an opportunity to learn and discover more information about what was happening to the world and the enemies he had to face from now on. Although unexpected, this opportunity could turn out to be advantageous for him. He could gather some intel because of this. He couldn't let this chance slip away without testing the waters first, could he?
And besides, there was no way he could ever lose a fight against a mere descendant of his.
"But still, Heroic Spirits, huh?" he inwardly mused, casually walking towards a clearing in the middle of the pine forest and sitting on a rock with a calm expression. He crossed his arms, shaking his head resignedly while he closed his eyes with a sigh. He didn't like this situation. He didn't like it at all.
Of all the enemies he could face, now even Servants...
He didn't like this one bit.
. . .
"You do know what Servants are, do you?"
He scoffed at her rhetorical question. "I'm not that ignorant, Gaia. A Servant is nothing more than a spirit. The spiritual form of a Hero of old, who managed to reach the Throne thanks to his or her legend. Like me, they are warriors who achieved great deeds in life, and became objects of worship after their deaths."
"And what's the difference between you and a Servant, then?"
"They're dead, I'm not," he replied promptly, grinning in amusement at her exasperated sigh. "That's why I cannot become a Heroic Spirit. Only when a Hero dies he can reach the Throne and be summoned as a Servant. But all the beings that exist outside the natural laws and beyond human understanding… beings like me... we're simply different. I could never be a Servant, even if the concept of 'Hero' was born after me. Because of me, to be precise."
Gaia nodded. "Correct. Categorically speaking, they're closer to Elementals or Wraiths than humans or… well, you. But they're essentially familiars, summoned thanks to the intervention of a Magical Artifact and linked to the world thanks to a Magus's prana, a catalist or a vessel."
"And that's what bothers me. Summoning a Heroic Spirit is impossible without a catalyst and the intervention of a Magical Artifact. So, tell me, Gaia. How in the literal, genuine, actual fuck-"
"Language."
"-is it possible that the entire Throne of Heroes has now been released on Earth?" Shirou demanded, looking ready to explode in anger.
She swallowed nervously. "That's… something I cannot understand either."
"Don't fuck with me, Gaia. I could have accepted such an answer if only a couple of Servants were summoned in the world. But the WHOLE Throne, Gaia? The whole fucking Throne? You MUST know something about this. Don't lie to me. I'm a little gullible, not stupid."
"...I cannot answer that," she replied, looking visibly ashamed and torn under his piercing gaze. "I have some suspicions, but no precise answer. Not yet. I cannot answer this question."
"There's someone behind the disappearence of the Throne, isn't it?" his eyes narrowed dangerously as her face grew more and more ashamed. It didn't take long for him to connect the dots. "And let me guess... your sister might be the very same one who did it. Am I right?"
Gaia was a mask of steel and calm under his accusing gaze. "...it's a possibility," she merely said.
Shirou sighed in frustration, running a hand through his hair. "…how many Heroes were contained inside the Throne?" he finally asked.
"...more than two hundred."
He nearly choked on spittle. "Y-You... You're expecting me to fight and defeat more than two hundred rogue Servants? Heroes who are currently roaming free on Earth?" he asked, visibly incredulous. His face twisted with anger and disbelief. "And you're telling me this NOW!?"
Fortunately, she shook her head.
"I never said that. Fighting all the Servants may not be the only solution," she broke in immediately. Her face became even more determined than before under his enraged expression. "Yes, if my suspicions are correct – just like you deduced – Alaya is indeed the one responsible for the disappearence of the Throne and the Counter Force. But… But think about it. What if she did it for a reason? What if she had no other choice? Maybe she had foreseen something. Her disappearance, the disappearance of the Throne and the Counter Force, the release of the Heroes on Earth... maybe it's something she didn't want to do, but she was forced to do for some reason."
"And she did all of this without telling you anything?" Shirou was skeptical. "I may not had much to do with you two during the last seven hundred years, but I know you and your sister well enough, Gaia. Alaya is not that rash. She would never do such a thing without trying to warn you first. Even more so if she had a reason to realease the Heroes on Earth."
Gaia nodded. "I agree, and I already suspected as much. But don't you see? That's exactly why I'm sure she was forced to do this. She's not the one who's binding the Will of the Planet, Shirou."
The God of War narrowed his eyes in anger as he realized what the planet was implying.
"Someone is binding her."
. . .
"Heh! Foooound you!"
Shirou suppressed a sigh, keeping his eyes closed as he sensed his opponent appear in the middle of the clearing with a loud thud, placing itself about ten feet away from him. His shoulders dropped in resignation. There was no way he could avoid this confrontation now. Might as well make good use of this chance, then. It was time to prove his theories.
He did not get up from the rock. He merely, lazily, opened his right eye, keeping his arms folded and looking at the newcomer with an indifferent gaze and a blank face.
The Servant before him was a figure dressed in metal and small in stature, covered in thick armor that wrapped its small frame entirely. It was literally impossible to see what lay beneath all that metal. It was like watching a single mass of steel come to life. The armor was made of silver steel trimmed with bright red markings, and the only crevices in that full-body piece of metal were two displaced eye holes in the center of a horned helm. It was literally impossible to see who stood under that armor, let alone distinguish their gender. But, judging by the proud, elegant appearance and the big, long broadsword with similar red markings that the Servant held in his hand, he must have been some kind of Knight.
Shirou didn't really care, though. He simply arched an eyebrow at him. "…that's not what I was expecting," he muttered under his breath.
If the Knight heard his rebuke, he didn't show any reaction. "You there," he spoke loudly instead, waving his long broadsword and driving its tip into the ground with a movement that was both decisive and solemn. "Who the hell are you?"
Shirou sighed, shaking his head. "...I could ask you the same thing," he replied, never getting up from the rock where he was sitting. "What's a Knight in full-body armor doing here in the middle of nowhere? And what business do you have with me?"
The Knight's helmet tilted to the side, as if in an ironic gesture. "Don't you get it already? I was summoned not far from here, just like you. I could detect your presence right away after the summoning. So, I followed you," he replied, staring at him with an unseen gaze from behind that menacing helmet.
"I see. And why did you follow me, pray tell?" Shirou asked him again.
The strange Knight watched him for several seconds in silence. With his trained and expert senses, Shirou could literally feel the confused expression behind that helmet. It was as if his opponent was hesitating for some reason. That realization made him smile inwardly.
"You're a Servant," the Knight replied after a few seconds of hesitation. "Just like me. That means we have to fight each other to the death."
Shirou merely arched his other brow at that explanation. "And why, good Knight, should I fight another Servant?" he asked back, keeping his arms folded like before. He didn't bother explaining that he wasn't really a Servant. Better use this opportunity to get more information. "I don't ever recall meeting you, nor doing anything offensive. So... why should I fight you?"
"Are you kidding me?" the other muttered, almost laughing with sarcasm. "You do know what we are, right? What our purpose is? You're a Servant. I'm a Servant. Therefore, we must fight to the death!"
He blinked, utterly confused. The guy had made that statement as if it were a fact, a foregone conclusion.
Shirou did not understand. "Why?"
His sincere confusion only seemed to infuriate him further. The Knight growled in obvious frustration. "Stop feigning ignorance and get ready to die!" he declared loudly, detaching the sword from the ground and pointing its tip towards him with blatant hostility. He seemed really determined to fight him, for some reason.
But Shirou smiled innocently. "I refuse to fight someone I don't even know," he promptly retorted, shrugging with a causal indifference. The hostile attitude of his opponent did not frighten him in the least.
The Knight's arms trembled after that declaration. Shirou watched him in silence as his whole body shook with tremors. Whether it was for anger, irritation or amusement, Shirou had no way of knowing. However, after a few tense moments, something happened. The Knight's helmet made a dull, metallic sound, before suddenly snapping and separating itself into several pieces that moved to attach themselves to the armor, revealing the Servant's face for the first time.
Shirou's eyes widened slightly as a sudden mass of golden-blonde hair tied in a ponytail welcomed his vision. And when his gaze met that pair of emerald eyes before him, when his eyes saw the pretty and delicate face that was hidden beneath the helmet, the God of War almost flinched and had to hold a breath in amazement and shock.
But his opponent didn't seem to care about his stupor.
"I am Mordred Pendragon, Servant Saber. The one and only heir of the legendary King of Knights!" the young girl in armor declared fiercely, her voice loud and clear as it echoed into the wide clearing in the middle of the forest. Her emerlad eyes narrowed on him with anger and irritation. "Now, summon your weapon and fight me to the death!"
Shirou blinked, utterly stunned by her declaration. A homunculus, huh? That was unexpected. "Wait a second… Mordred?" he asked, incredulous. "The son of Arthur Pendragon, the King of Britain?" he asked again, as if seeking for clarity.
"His one and true heir," the armored Knight responded with obvious pride on her face, given her wide smirk and her gleaming eyes. Shirou stared at her for a few seconds, regaining his composure and finally allowing his arms to fall on his lap. He glanced at her green eyes once again as a single thought registered inside of his head.
"And… you're a woman?"
Her reaction was immediate.
Mordred's face contracted in a ferocious snarl that was both terrifying and outraged. Even the air around her body began to pulsate with prana and red bolts of energy. "...if you dare call me that a second time, I'll slit your throat and stab your guts while you choke to death," she threatened him in a low, cold voice that would have made any human being tremble in fear. Her eyes were wide and ferocious as she looked at him with that snarl.
But Shirou wasn't just any human being, right? He merely smiled in amusement. Interesting. A homunculus with gender issues. He almost laughed at that thought. "Point taken. Forgive my slip of the tongue, Sir Mordred."
She narrowed her eyes, her arms trembling in anger. "Now that I've introduced myself, tell me who you are, before I kill you!" she growled.
The retired God simled widely. "My name is Shirou. Shirou Emiya. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir Knight."
Her reaction was exactly the one he expected from her. Mordred blinked, before lowering her sword a little in a slow and hesitant motion. Her face was a mask of confusion as she stared at him as if he had grown two heads on his neck. "Shirou... Emiya? The heck? I've never heard of such a name before. Are you really saying the truth?" she questioned again, looking at him with a dubious scowl.
The red-haired God widened his smile. "Of course I am. That's my name, honest," he casually replied, winking at her stunned face with a smirk. "But the fact that you've never heard it doesn't surprise me. My legend is not one worth remembering, after all," was all he said.
The Knight narrowed her eyes in suspicion and doubt. Then, a large grin appeared on her lips. "Heh! I don't know if you're lying or not, but if I've never heard your name before, then you must be pretty weak as a Servant! A warrior with such an unknown legend cannot be that strong. Am I right?" she mocked him with a sly grin and a sneer.
He smiled at her taunting words, closing his eyes with a tiny sigh. Indeed, he was much weaker now compared to the past. He had given up most of his powers and weapons before his exile, after all. But still, it wasn't exactly wise to underestimate an opponent if you wanted to fight him; no matter how weak he or she may seem. That Knight would learn this lesson soon, he mused.
But there was no point in saying that out loud, right?
"Who knows… maybe I am, or maybe not," he shrugged, crossing one leg as he sat on the rock with a wry smile on his lips. "But that's not really important now. I'm curious, though. Why are you so obsessed with the idea of fighting me, Sir Mordred of the Round Table? What are you after?"
Her grin widened. "Isn't that obvious? Servants need to fight each other! That's why we were summoned again, after all this time! You heard the voice too, didn't you? She said we must kill each other if we want to survive and be considered worthy!"
Shirou narrowed his eyes with suspicion and confusion after those words. Voice? Fight? Be considered worthy? What was she talking about? "What do you mean? I heard no such voice after being summoned here," he said, trying to extrapolate more information.
Mordred raised her sword with a determined expression and a casual swing of her arm. "No matter. Even if you're saying the truth, giving you an answer won't do you any good once I'll have beheaded you. Now stop wasting my time, and let's fight at once."
Shirou waited a couple of seconds. Then, seeing that the girl had no intention of speaking further, he let out a resigned sigh. With a shake of the head, he slowly rose from the rock and stretched his arms a little. "As you wish... but before we start, let's make this more interesting, what do you say?" he stated, smirking a little in her direction with a confident gaze. He even removed his white cloak, placing it on the rock and showing his bare chest and torso.
The former Knight of the Round blinked in confusion as she readied her sword. "The heck do you mean?" she spat, direct and straightforward as always.
The red-haired God widened his smile. "Let's make a bet," he said, making her eyes narrow in suspicion and irritation. "If you win, then you'll be free to kill me or do whatever you want with me. But if I win... then you'll have to answer all my questions, without complaints. What do you say?"
She tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword. "That's a pretty useless deal, Shirou Emiya," she spat with a short laugh, stressing his name in blatant mockery with a taunting grin. "But as a Knight, I'll kindly humor your delusions and agree to those terms. Even if there's no point in making bets with a dead man."
Shirou merely smirked.
"We'll see about that... little girl."
His words had the desired effect. Mordred stiffened abruptly, her expression becoming even more ferocious and outraged than before. Her eyes were positively murderous while she snarled at him in barely suppressed rage. However, unlike before, this time she decided to remain silent after the provocation. She just raised her sword, glaring at him with a growl while a mighty explosion of prana, energy and red electricity came to life around her. And then, with a jerk of her legs and a burst of prana, she charged forward with a roar and a mana burst.
Shirou smiled, whispering two words under his breath. "Trace On."
A flash of green energy struck the retired God's right hand. Soon after that, almost by magic, the sword Clarent collided with his newly summoned sword in a spray of sparks and energy, making the air hiss with the metallical sound that echoed throughout the wide, silent forest. Mordred gaped, observing the long katana that had suddenly appeared in the hands of his opponent with wide and incredulous eyes. She hadn't expected such a quick reaction from this man. He was able to cope with her mana burst charge without moving, not even backing down an inch after the collision.
Her previous shock forgotten, the Knight smiled ferally, starting to make more pressure against the opponent's blade with a feral grin. "Hoh? You're a Saber too? I would have never guessed!" she hissed, trying to force him back with her sword. Shirou said nothing after her words. He just smiled as he blocked and resisted the opposing pressure without any apparent fatigue. Mordred's eyes narrowed in irritation as she realized her strength wasn't working against him.
Then, the katana and the mighty Clarent parted abruptly. After that, with unprecedented speed, the two opponents began to exchange blows, slashes and thrusts of all kinds, moving purely on instinct. They clashed again, with an explosion of sparks and metal that caused the air to hiss and the forest ground to tremble from the strength of the two Servant's blows. Mordred spun with her whole body, trying to get past the opponent's guard to hit him in the side with a quick swipe, but Shirou didn't move an inch. He just raised an arm, and with a causal but quick movement blocked the blow before it could hurt him. His serious and impassive eyes meet the astonished gaze of the younger girl.
The female Knight grunted, jumping backwards as she disengaged from her opponent to try to catch her breath. Then, with a roar, she sprinted in a charge once again. The crashing of blade against blade created ripples in the air that dealt a lot damage to the surroundings. The ground began to crack, the trees shivered and shed leaves from their branches, and the birds hiding in the forest began to fly away in fear and instinct. And yet, for every thrust, for every slash that Mordred launched against her opponent, Shirou was able to block and deflect every blow with unparalleled skill and mastery. Their swords collided again, and again, and again. And the more they swords clashed, the more frustrated and angry Mordred became.
Then, the girl did something unexpected. Leaping backwards with a grin that was a combination of a growl and a smile, she threw her sword at the opponent as if it was an arrow, aiming for his heart with unprecedented precision. Shirou just blocked the tip of the enemy sword with his own blade, but Mordred had foreseen this. With a sudden dash, she jumped in front of him and kicked Clarent's hilt with all her strenght, thrusting the sword even deeper towards him. Shirou smiled, leaping away before the blade could impale him straight in the chest and avoiding it with precision. The broadsword continued its trajectory like an arrow, plunging itself into a tree with a sharp cut and a dull sound.
"Not bad, kid," Shirou mused in his mind, staring at the blade with an impressed gaze.
Mordred grinned, quickly retrieving her sword and sprinting back at him with her arms raised in an overhead lunge. The red-haired God faced her charge straight on, without any hesitation. He simply slid a foot backwards as Mordred stepped in with a slash from above. Then, Shirou reached out with his right hand and pushed his blade forward, aiming at his opponents arms as she tried to slash his neck with Clarent. With unprecedented speed, his arms moved to perform a series of lightning-fast strikes, while parrying the enemy assault at the same time. His movements were so quick that his katana was almost invisible to the human eye as it moved through the air. It was like seeing a gust of wind swirling towards the enemy.
The Knight gritted her teeth in frustration and slight fear, cursing under her breath as the opposing blade smashed the armor on her right forearm and left arm. If it wasn't for her armor, she would have been severely injured by those slashes. And such wounds on her arms would have certainly prevented her from attacking with the same strenght and precision as before. Her lips parted in a snarl. She had underestimated this enemy for too long. It was time to fight back for real. And so, she did the only thing she could.
"TAKE THIS!"
With a roar, an immense burst of prana enveloped her arms and her sword, and the girl charged with a vertical slash towards her opponent, roaring her anger and using all the force that her body could muster thanks to sudden the burst of energy. Shirou narrowed his eyes and readied himself with a stance. Then, he moved his arms forward, managing to block the slash with the katana and frowning a little while the power and pressure of the blow caused the earth to crack beneath his feet. A small crater, literally, formed under his feet, but his body did not succumb under the power of the blow. His sword, on the other hand, did.
The katana shattered after a couple of seconds under the mighty pressure of Clarent. It exploded, literally, breaking into numerous fragments of energy and prana that dissolved into the air as if they had never existed before.
Mordred grinned ferally. "Got you, you fool!" she roared, charging at him with a second slash from above.
And yet, Shirou merely smiled.
Mordred wasn't sure of what happened next. It still shocked her quite a bit. Her eyes widened in stupor and confusion as they saw Shirou spread his legs and raise his arms in a defensive pose, preparing himself to take the blow. She knew it was useless, of course, but then… then, with unexpected rapidity, she felt something hard, and powerful, and painfully tight grab her arms at the exact same moment as she moved to cut through the enemy; and a second later... her world blurred and faded instantly. The ground beneath her feet disappeared, and she found herself spinning in the air before being promptly knocked down on the ground behind Shirou, slamming her back heavily on grass and stone.
Mordred groaned in pain, spitting a bit of blood from her lips. Her eyes widened in pain and shock soon after. The force of the impact was monstrous. She could literally feel her bones groan and her back throb with pain. Then, amidst the pain and the shock, she realized what happened. That damned pest had literally grabbed her by her arms before she could slice his chest with Clarent, and then he lifted her up and knocked her on the ground with a tremendous and terrible strength. All of this in less than a second.
She gaped in shock and horror in equal mesure. T-This wasn't supposed to happen. A weak Servant like him shouldn't possess this amount of strength! He shouldn't posses such reflexes and skills! Not if his legend was really unknown as he stated before. It was impossible!
She scrambled to her feet with a groan and a hiss of pain, growling ferociously and glaring at her enemy with an incredulous, furious expression. Shirou took a step back, unfazed by her glare, staring at her with cold eyes and the slightest hint of a smile on his lips. His fingers even began to motion to her to get up and come at him again. He was challenging her.
"What's wrong, kid? Weren't you supposed to behead me? What happened to your previous confidence?" he joked, smirking under her incredulous gaze.
Mordred saw red.
"Why… YOU!"
She roared, snapping at him with an angry expression as she charged again to cut him in half. She tried to strike another blow, but again, Shirou was faster. Mordred groaned as a kick as hard as the most unyielding steel hit her in the chest, so hard that she could almost feel the breastplate of her armor bend and crack under the force of the kick. She flew several yards backwards, shuffling her legs on the ground to keep her balance. When she raised her head, her eyes widened at the sight that welcomed her.
"W-What the-"
A large bow made of black metal had appeared in Shirou's hands with a bright burst of prana. The Knight didn't even have time to blink or register that fact before a sudden rain of red arrows were shot at her with monstrous speed, glittering with prana and red energy.
Mordred cursed, deflecting the enemy's arrows with swift thrusts of the sword. Despite her skill as a swordsman, one arrow still managed to hit her, stricking her on her left forearm. The girl growled, tearing it away with a grunt of pain and irritation. Then, she rounded on her opponent again, staring at him with obvious anger. Her mind was literally blown by what had just happened. "A bow? You're not a Saber?" she snarled, her body shaking with rage.
Shirou merely shrugged, firing another set of arrows with a smile. The blonde-haired girl deflected them all this time. "I'm not a Saber," he conceded, smirking a little under her stunned face. "And I'm not an Archer, either."
She was incredulous. "Then what are you?" she growled, reading her sword again.
"Hm? Why do you care, sir Mordred? I thought it was useless to talk to a dead man."
Mordred growled, glaring at him. If looks could kill, Shirou would have dropped dead instantly. Instead, the red-haired God smiled in amusement when she jumped on him once again, avoiding another thrust of his opponent's sword with a casual step to the side. The female Knight growled, but did not give up, attempting another offensive with a spinning kick from the left that would have certainly destroyed his bones if she had hit the mark. Shirou squatted, pushing one hand forward and punching the attacker away, sending her to the air. Then, with a wide smile, he gathered a little burst of energy in his fingers, just before a long, pointed weapon appeared in his hands again.
The Knight sank Clarent's tip into the ground, leaning on her sword as she panted a little. Her face was a mask of disbelief. "No way…" she breathed, looking completely lost and flabbergasted. Shirou looked at her in confusion. "What the hell is that?!" she ended up asking, pointing at his new weapon.
Shirou blinked in confusion, wondering for a moment if his opponent was so stupid that she had forgotten that they were in a fight. Then, he remembered how curiosity could make people do stupid things, his own past and youth being a prime example of that, and merely shook his head in mirth.
"This is a lance, Sir Mordred," he spoke in the most condescending tone he could muster, while moving the new black lance he had summoned as it if was weightless, which to him it practically was anyway, prompting Mordred to growl at him and get her focus back on the fight. He didn't even bother explaining that this weapon was a Projection of the legendary Tonbogiri, a legendary spear capable of cutting through almost any metal (as well as one of the countless weapons he forged during his life as a God). It made no sense to reveal his secrets, after all. But Shirou was not done yet.
"Want to get a closer look?" he asked, and almost immediately after that he actually threw the lance directly at his opponent, making the Knight's eyes go wide and forcing her to quickly move to the side in order to avoid a direct impact. Of course, he didn't throw the lance as hard as he could – since it would do him no good if Mordred got maimed too badly in the fight. No, he needed her alive. For his plan to work, and for him to receive the information he needed about the current situation, he needed to play with her for a while first. If he wanted to get his plan to work properly, he had to tire her out and take advantage of her moment of weakness to win the duel and force her to speak.
The spear imbued itself in the ground just beside Mordred, who had managed to move out of the way just before it reached her. Right now, her attention was more on the lance than her opponent, which was no surprise considering that the spear was the projection of a Noble Phantasm and – more importantly – that it was currently releasing an eerie glow.
Then, with a flick of Shirou's hand, the spear actually broke into dozens of glass-like objects, all of them floating on the spot on which the weapon had been before.
Mordred narrowed her eyes, but she had barely time to move before the multiple shards of darkness came upon her, forcing her to do her best to avoid them. She began to run in a random pattern while doing her best to avoid the shards, although Shirou could clearly hear her growl when one of them actually cut her cheek a little bit.
As soon as a shard touched the ground, it disappeared. So, when the number of objects became significantly less, Mordred swung her sword and opted to block the incoming projectiles while walking backwards.
And of course, since her focus had been on avoiding the deadly projectiles, she didn't notice the fact that Shirou had moved until the red-haired God appeared just beside her in a instant.
The female Knight widened her eyes and parted her lips in a gasp, but she still managed to react on instinct. With a growl and a mighty leap, she sprinted away from the red-haired God just when he summoned a second katana and attempted to assault her from her right side. Seeing that the element of surprise hadn't worked, Shirou looked at her with a calm smile while she distanced herself ten feet away from him, staring at him with wide eyes full of disbelief and tension.
"You..." the Knight hissed, frowning in anger and disbelief. Her mind was starting to fill more and more with panic and confusion by the second. She had never seen or heard of such a warrior before. A Servant capable of using not only a sword, but also a bow and a spear? It was impossible. It didn't make sense. Servants were usually restricted to a single class. To be able to use so many different weapons at the same time... it simply wasn't possible. "Who the hell are you? How can you use so many weapons? It shouldn't be possible!" she spat.
He smiled at her accusing gaze. "Beat me, kid, and maybe I'll tell you," he casually replied, lifting his sword with a mask of absolute calm on his face.
Mordred snarled, letting the rage and fury flood her body without control. Then, with a sudden snap, her sword broke off its restraints and started to pulse with a red, buzzing energy; and a sudden rush of air, prana and wind began to pervade the environment around her. Shirou narrowed his eyes as he saw the Knight pour more and more energy into her sword, preparing to deliver a deadly attack on him as even more red lightning bolts began to buzz around her armor.
Clarent glowed with energy, enveloping its blade in an immense cloak of mana similar to a red, burning flame. "I wasn't expecting to use it so soon, but it's all or nothing now!" Mordred hissed in her mind with rage, preparing to release her Noble Phantasm and end this duel once and for all.
The Knight grinned, staring at him with anger and determination. "Very well! Since you're so full of yourself, then I shall answer in kind!" she roared, while the raging flames on her blade became even more bright and menacing. The air around her body was filled with red bolts of lightning and prana.
Shirou stared in silence, dissolving his sword with a narrowed gaze. "I see. She's going for the kill..." he realized, narrowing his gaze at the enemy's Noble Phantasm.
His fists clenched in decision and resolve.
"...then I shall do the same."
Mordred grinned in an evil, twisted way; raising her sword to the sky and releasing all her prana at once. "CLARENT-"
Shirou moved, swift as the wind and strong as a thunder.
"-BLOOD ARTH-"
It happened in an instant.
Mordred didn't even have time to blink. She couldn't even release her attack.
Shirou moved. He moved his body with such a rapidity that it almost seemed to teleport in front of her – literally teleport in front of her – with a cold stare and a determined expression on his face.
She widened her eyes, but it was too late. Shirou smashed a fist right on her chest before she could slam her sword on him, with enough force to make the air hiss and the ground crack under the pressure. Mordred couldn't do anything. The blonde girl was simply sent rolling on the ground for dozen and dozen of yards with a groan and a silent scream of pain. Then, while she was still trying to recover, Shirou moved once again and lifted her up by the throat, fixing her with a cold stare that made her skin crawl. Mordred squirmed and choked, gasping for breath; her legs kicking in the air and her eyes wide and filled with fear and fury under his cold, merciless gaze.
"Sorry, kid," he coldly said, his voice devoid of emotions. "But this is over now."
"L-Like hell it is!" she mentally roared.
Mordred tried to react instantly. With a swift movement of her right arm, she lifted Clarent up and tried to lunge at the enemy who was holding her in the air by the throat. But once again, Shirou was faster. Without letting go of her throat, he used his left arm to deflect the flaming sword as if it were a miserable stick of wood, using a Reinforcement spell on his limb to avoid any damage. It was like hitting solid metal. Clarent shot out of Mordred's hand, and the girl could only gape in terror and shock at that scene. He... He had just dismissed her flaming Clarent like it was nothing. I-It was impo-
Then, Shirou decided to put an end to that farce. They had played long enough.
It was time to end this.
He slammed her on the ground, making her scream and trash in pain. Then, he lifted her up once again, before kicking her square on the chest without any restraint and hesitation.
There was nothing she could do. Mordred felt her vision, her senses and her mind become a blur as she crashed into a tree, and then another, and then another again. Eventually, she felt her body collapse on the ground and her lips parted in a groan of pain and agony. Se didn't need to open her heavy eyelids to know that her armor was completely ruined now; smashed and bended across the chestplate and several other places. She coughed blood from her mouth, desperately trying to get up, but to her inner shock and horror… it was all in vain.
She wans't able to move. The blows she had suffered from her opponent had been devastating. His strenght was something else entirely from what she had expected before. He was definitely much stronger than a normal Servant. And because of this, she had underestimated him and paid the price of her mistake. Her energies were almost completely exhausted. She wasn't in mortal danger – she still had quite a bit of prana in her spiritual body – but she simply lacked the strenght to use it. It… It was her loss. As much as she hated to admit it, she had lost this fight.
She had been defeated.
While she panted and coughed blood on the ground, Shirou cringed a little, mentally cursing himself for his brashness when he saw the Knight's pitiful conditions. Damn. He didn't really intend to hit her with all that force. He acted instinctively, and because of this he hurt her more than necessary. Damn it. He should have restrained himself more. He wanted to win, not to destroy her. His impatience had nearly costed him her life. He had to make up for this.
It seemed that he still had a lot to correct about himself. Old habits die hard.
But there wasn't much he could do at this point. The damage was already done. He merely sighed, moving to retrieve his white cloak from the rock he had placed it before the fight. He wrapped it around his shoulders with a casual movement, before starting to walk towards his defeated opponent with slow and steady steps.
Modred squinted at him in pain when she saw him kneel in front of her and place a hand on her chest. As her labored breathing subsided and her mind cleared again, she could see a regretful, sad expression on the red-haired man's face. And that made her pause for some reason.
"I'm sorry, kid," Shirou spoke slowly, calmly, his voice dripping with remorse and guilt. "I didn't mean to hit you that hard. I should have restrained myself. I'm sorry."
Mordred wheezed a little. "Y-You... who the hell are you...?" she panted.
Her tired eyes widened slightly. She could feel a slight warmth on her chest, right on the point where Shirou was touching her. A pleasant and warm sensation that pervaded her body from head to toe. The Knight felt something cool and warm at the same time flood her chest and limbs, offering her a pleasant sensation. As the seconds passed, in fact, the pain in her body diminished more and more. Her eyes widened further.
"I'm putting a bit of regenerative prana into your body," he explained, focusing his attention on the task he was doing. "I can't cure you directly, but it will help you overcome the pain, and make the wounds heal faster."
Mordred gaped. "You... You're h-healing me?" she breathed, managing to sound confused and shocked even despite the pain and fatigue. Her mind began to go blank. "...why?"
"…I never wanted to hurt you."
She swallowed. "The heck do you mean? We're Servants. We're supposed to kill each other."
He smiled. "I'm not a Servant, kid."
His eyes could pratically see the shock and astonishment bloom on her face. She didn't believe him. She couldn't believe him. She simply couldn't. No man should posses the amount of skills and powers he had and not be a Servant. No mere human could be that strong, that quick, that powerful. It was impossible. Logically impossible.
He didn't blame her for her disbelief.
"…then what are you?" she asked, too tired and exhausted to be able to do anything.
Shirou smiled. "I'm just an old man who wants to retire in peace."
She snorted. For some reason, his answer made her laugh despite the pain and the humiliation she was feeling. Defeated by a mere human. Damn it. This was gonna stain her pride forever. But right now, she was too exhausted to really care about that. She even coughed a bit of blood, but didn't seem to care at all.
"Heh. Y-You're… interesting."
"And you're quite skilled with a blade. I was really impressed by your moves."
Her smile widened with visible pride after that compliment.
"Of course! I'm the one and true heir of the King of Knights! There's no Saber stronger than me!" she boasted with a weak voice, grinning despite the pain.
"But you lost the duel."
"…next time I'll kick your ass. You'll see."
"Alright, alright," he chuckled, shaking his head in mirth. "You know… I like you, kid. You're pretty good beneath that foul mouth of yours, aren't you?"
She scoffed, but her lips curled into a smile. He even saw a tinge of pink starting to color her cheeks.
Alright. Enough teasing.
"Can you answer my questions now?" he asked then, pulling his hand away from her chest and helping her sit against a tree.
She stared at him with a tired gaze. "…what do you-"
Their conversation stopped abruptly.
Shirou narrowed his eyes as he felt a sudden presence rapidly approaching their position from above. Even Mordred, despite her worn out state, manged to sense that something was coming. A Servant's enhanced senses were really something.
There was no time to react. A second later – no, an instant later – something large, and heavy and mighty crashed into the middle of the clearing where they fought before without a warning, generating a large explosion and a shock-wave of air and pressure that flooded anything for dozens and dozens of yards. Even a series of blue lightning bolts began to rain from the sky as the object crashed on the ground with a mighty crash. Shirou and Mordred turned their heads abruptly to the direction of the impact, staring at the newcomer in silence. The red-haired God stared with curiosity and intrigue, and the blonde Knight with stupor, fatigue and shock.
"Hoho… I knew I felt a source of prana coming from here!" spoke a deep, strong voice amidst the smoke and debris caused by the crash.
Shirou blinked in wonder. Mordred gaped in shock.
Before their very own eyes, in the midst of smoke and debris, a great, mighty chariot had appeared, landing from the sky with enviable strength and might.
A tall, proud and muscular man wrapped in red cloak stood atop a large antique war-chariot with two prows led by two Divine Bulls with rippling muscles. The chariot's dimensions were far greater than that of an average truck and it had two large, curved sickles on its sides capable of demolish surrounding obstacles and hurl debris on any enemies. The bulls and the chariot treaded atop lightning strikes, with electric flickers buzzing around them even now. But more than the chariot itself, the two warriors' attention was focused on the man who rode it.
He was a gigantic man standing over two meters in height, with large muscles that give the impression of being able to kill a bear with his bare hands. He had sternly chiseled features with eyes that gave off a dazzling glow, able to overtake a man's soul in an instant with their sharpness, and burning red hair and beard. He wore bronze armor, with cuffs and greaves with white-furred fringes that leaved his arms and thighs unprotected; along with a thick, red mantle with a fluffy white fur collar that was luxuriously decorated, and looked like a curtain wrapping the stage of a theater.
He seemed, in all respects, as an imposing figure who inspired awe and respect at first glance.
The man in red grinned broadly, spreading his arms to the sky and turning his gaze to the two warriors watching him in silence and stupor.
"Both of you, cease your disputes… for you are in the presence of a King!" he declared loudly, smirking at Shirou's confused expression and Mordred's stunned and gaping one. His grin widened further, staring up at the sky with pride and determination as he screamed his presence to the world. "I am Iskandar, the King of Conquerors! I was summoned to the Earth once again, joining this quest of conquest as a Rider class Servant!" he announced, drawing a sword skyward.
"I am the great King of Macedonia! And by my blade, I declare my supremacy in this Holy Grail War!" he roared, grinning at them with pride and resolution.
The other two watched him in silence. Iskandar grinned. Shirou blinked. Mordred gaped. Her jaw almost hit the floor in shock and amazement.
Seconds passed, followed by sheer silence.
Until, Shirou tilted his head to the side and voiced the one and only question inside his mind.
"I'm sorry... what's an Holy Grail War?"
CODEX PLANETAE
[COUNTER FORCE] Database
Taken from the notes of Alaya
Subject: Tyr [-Shirou Emiya-], #1 among the Ancestral Heroes
Alias: God of War, Humanity's Liberator, Grand Hero, God-Slayer, First Hero of Humanity
Description:
If I have to be honest, I'm not exactly sure on what to write about this subject. As the Will of Humanity, I should despise and hate him, like history dictated in the past. And yet, as a matter of fact, I cannot help but feel respect and awe for him. This man, this God, is extremely different from all those who came before him. His skills in Magecraft and combat are peerless, and thankfully he does not have a habit of traumatizing or despising humans and elves like the previous Gods during their rule on Earth. He is truly fascinating. But there are other... unprofessional feelings for him that I cannot and will not commit to these notes. From a standpoint as the Collective Will of Humanity, I can say that he is a welcome asset to the Planet and I would rejoice if he truly decided to side with the [COUNTER FORCE] in the future.
Tracking his movements over the centuries has been a pain, especially seeing as Tyr's main friends on the Other Side of the World are either confined inside the Elven Kingdom, hidden from the Will of the planet, dead, or too "hazardous" to approach. The majority of the data I gathered was through a meeting with Ado Edem organised by [ERROR]. But seeing the animosity between Edem and Tyr, I have been forced to discount some of Ado Edem's claims in this report.
To avoid further confusion, I shall address Tyr as Shirou Emiya in these notes from this point on.
Shirou's presence in the Real Side of the World is nonexistent prior to his first appearance 4982 years ago, but he has been active for over 5000 years. The first recorded incident being his confrontation with the Supreme God Uranus, the First of the Gods. During that confrontation Shirou was able to demonstrate techniques of an unknown form of Magecraft that the [COUNTER FORCE] has only been able to partially duplicate after a long period of study and observation, and especially after the intervention of [ERROR]. This puts his Magecraft as something inimitable for anyone. Or, at least, anyone who does not belong firmly to the Age of Gods.
The battle had some indeterminate amounts of damage and claims as to where it happened, but one major consensus is that Shirou's greatest weapon "Caledfwlch" was used to finish the fight and carved out the majority of what is now known as the Grand Canyon of Arizona. After the confrontation, Uranus was killed and Shirou Emiya declared war to the Gods.
His own status as a Demi-God is strange given that he bears apparent similarities between a True Ancestor and an Ultimate One. I suppose it's no surprise, given who his mother is. But my concern is about the fact he was able to survive for all this time, despite being part human. My hypothesis is that due to his connection to mankind's history and the fact that he's the one who freed the planet from the Gods, my sister Gaia chose to treat him as she would a Fae, an extension of her will. She too harbors feelings for him, after all. Then, it would stand to reason to say that she has granted her own protection upon him.
Without taking into account his birth due to a scandalous relationship, there are two main reasons why the Gods decided to reject and hunt Shirou in the past. Firstly, is that he is close friends with the human race. Shirou was rejected by his own mother, and forced to live on Earth under the care of a small human tribe. There, a woman by the name [ERROR – DATA CORRUPTED] gave him his current name – Shirou Emiya – despite being originally born as Tyr. He grew up loving his people, and refused to be addressed and treated as a God for the rest of his existence.
The second reason is that Shirou appears to lack impulses, peculiarities and attitudes typical of the Gods. Traits such as arrogance, desire for conquest or power, and most importantly superiority complexes over the other races. He does not wish to receive praises and adoration either. We know that he can bind others to his own will (- like what happened during his fight with [ERROR] that resulted in the complete destruction of [ERROR – DATA CORRUPTED] along with the whole island -) but he has refrained from doing so for his entire existence.
I believe the reason for this is that he doesn't seek glory, nor fame; but to simply live peacefully among his own race. According to Ado Edem, all he ever wanted was to be loved and accepted by others in total sincerity, just like his adoptive mother wished for him. However, I lack evidence of this and... I don't think I could simply ask him. He would not respond to me, given the treatment humanity chose to give him.
From this point on I shall attempt to narrate his life so I can better understand the Planet's greatest mystery... and a growing obsession of mine.
Important notes:
I got the idea of inserting the CODEX at the end of this chapter from another story I read some time ago. The story is called 'Those Who Dance in the Moonlight: A NarutoxFate Story' written by -SierraBn312- You can find his profile among my favorite authors.
Before you accuse me of plagiarism, be warned that I texted him some time ago, and I asked his permission to use the CODEX in my story. I also said to him that I would use similar lines and structure to those of the codex that he used in the first chapter of his own story. I deliberately, PURPOSELY made the two of them similar, because I consider this idea a TRIBUTE to his own story. So, you can give credit to this idea to him, if you want.
I don't wish to steal credit from him, that's why I'm saying this, and I want to be absolutely and completely honest about this.
If you don't believe me, you can ask him yourself.