Cu Chulainn lept back as the Taken Lancer slammed its scythe into the ground, while three purple orbs circle its body. Cu gaze turned to the Unknown Taken -which Cu assumed was Assassin, who wielded a knife. It jabbed at Cu with its knife, stabbing into his staff. Cu pushed the former Assassin off, sending a fireball at the entity. The Taken Archer shot an arrow at Cu, who rolled out of the way.
Cu gritted his teeth as he slid across the dirt. Cu slammed his staff in the ground while Gudako watched from behind a rock. Branches reached toward the Taken Lancer, gripping their torso. The orbs spinned a bit faster as it struggled in the thorny grip of the branches. The Archer ran in a curve toward Cu, going to slash its two swords across his chest. Cu stepped out of the way, striking the Taken Archer across the face. The former Archer recoiled back, with the Taken Assassin taking its place.
The Assassin sent a barrage of slashes and stabs toward the Caster, who did his best to block and dodge each of them. One of the strikes grazed the Celts shoulder, leaving a small trail of blood. Cu grunted stepping back slightly to kick the Taken Assassin. It stumbled back at the impact, only to enter a volley of flames and embers.
The Archer who recovered braced for impact as the flames struck against its arms. The Taken Assassin was struck a few times in the body and shoulders. A few hit the branches setting them ablaze, and in turn the Taken Lancer. If they could scream they would, as they recoiled and jerked painfully around with each strike.
Gudako notice the three purple orbs around the Lancer rocket toward Cu. 'Cu, look out,' she mentally shouted.
Cu turned his head and side stepped the orbs, which impacted against the ground. 'Thanks lass,' Cu thanked with a smirk, glaring at the flaming bodies with his red eyes. "This is just sad, lads. It's a three against one and you're still loosing."
As if to prove him wrong the Taken Assassin began to pull itself apart. Gudako was happy that the Taken themselves made little noise, since it looked painful. Soon one they split into two identical Taken Assassin's; all four of them glared at Cu Chulainn.
"Really, I thought my luck was actually turning around for once," Cu mumbled to himself with a sigh.
The black holy sword clashed against the digital glaive, causing sparks to fly. There was a moment of silence between Ari and King Arthur before they struck each other another two times. Ari swung Vexcalibur at Arthur's neck, it zoomed through the air to be met by the metal yet again.
Arthur went to stab the Guardian, who side stepped it with grace. Ari slams the butt of the weapon into Arthur's gut, twirling the glaive to the glaive so the blade faced the king. A shot went off, causing King Arthur to stumble back. Ari marched toward the King of Knights, glaring at her through her helmet.
King Arthur lept at Ari with much force, leading to another exchange of blows, before the skidded along the ground. Ari was the first to charge, swing her glaive yet again. Arthur leaned out of the way, with song strands of blonde hair getting cut. Arthur goes in for stab only to get block by Vexcalibur; the sword gets moved enough where it only grazes Ari's helmet.
The Guardian pushed the King back, her emerald eyes glaring through her helmet and into the piercing gold of her opponent. Ari flicked her wrist sending out a blast of fire toward the king. Arthur runs at Ari, block the fireball. Ari flicked her wrist again sending another one at the King of Knights. The king side stepped it and charged, letting her blade to cut through the air.
Ari blocked the strike, moving her sword out the way. Meanwhile, her other hand gripped the handcannon at her waist and aimed it at the king. The king moved one hand away from her sword, pushing the gun away just as it fired. Ari pushed away violently before firing a few more shots from her handcannon. Arthur deflected each of them, her cold eyes studying the Guardian's every move.
Ari felt the gun loose all its ammunition and put it back in its holster. Back with her group, Ritsuka felt a lump in his throat grow as he watch the two throughout this duel. He felt something in Ari, something new growing in her, as a series of emotions flooded the Guardian's mind. Ritsuka also notice Ari's rather dirty trick with the gun, which felt wrong to him.
"That was a rather unexpected move," King Arthur notted as the two faced off against each other. The king study the Ari, who panted harshly. "I see so much emotion, yet we just met, so imposter could you grant me that insight."
Ari looked up at Arthur, who pointed her blade at the Guardian of Sol. Ari merely stared down Arthur for a second before letting out a long sigh. "I heard you were a great hero once, I also heard you became a tyrant, though I guess the latter was true," Ari began with a slight chuckle. "Don't get me wrong I barely heard your story, maybe when I do this will make sense," Ari tone grew sharper with each word, "but this is all a taboo, all of this! Using the Taken, leaving the city ablaze, all while having my face. I do not understand what you gain from this, but I know it is wrong!"
Arthur looked at Ari with a sharp glare. "If you truly believe that, then take of your helmet and face me properly," Arthur ordered.
Ari gripped her helmet, and with a small hiss, it came off. Her green eyes were glossy from tears running down her cheek. Ari wiped her face and eyes, her eyes going cold as ice, similar to the king's.
Cu flipped to avoid the oncoming stab from the Taken Archer, before getting assaulted by the now two Taken Assassins. The Taken Lancer ran toward Cu as well from behind. Cu dragged his staff along the ground creating branches blocking one of the Assassins and Lancer's assault. The third attacker goes for a stab, but Cu grabs its arm and yanks him away jabbing his staff into its back.
The Taken Assassin stumbled before the other one lept over the branches. Cu let a sigh before backing away from the other Taken Assassin. The Taken Lancer sliced through the branches accompanied by the Archer from the other side.
The three charged at him, with the previous Assassin recovering. Gudako gritted her teeth, feeling the tension. She picked up a rock and threw it at the Take Lancer. The Lancer stopped in its tracks only to be shot by a ball of fire. The Lancer stumbled before Cu rushed in to get out of the other Taken's way. Cu slammed his staff into its gut, just before jamming it down its back. The former Lancer squirmed. Cu noticed the purple glow coming from its back as the orbs emerged from it. Before they could fully form Cu stabbed his staff through the Taken's back into the ground. The other three Taken stopped in their tracks when a pillar of fire and energy burst from the ground.
Gudako looked on in awe at the flames before they disappeared. 'Thanks for the help, lass,' Cu thanked in her head, causing the girl to smile. The Lancer was gone, all that remained were purple, orange, and black embers.
One of the Taken Assassins merely stared at the Caster, before it split in two, just like before. Cu's face went deadpan as the Taken Archer to the opportunity to search for the Master.
The three Taken Assassins charged at Cu Chulainn while the former Archer jerked its head toward a pile of rocks, where Gudako hid. Gudako's eyes met the white orb at the center of the Taken's head. She gulped upon realizing its new target. The Taken Archer formed its bow and drew the string with a black arrow in place. It let go just as Gudako started to book it toward the cave entrance. The arrow barely missed Gudako's ear as she tripped over her heel.
Cu noticed the Taken Archer approach Gudako through the assaults of the Taken Assassins. One went to strike his face only for the Caster to parry it. The onslaught continued, with Cu seemingly hopeless to defend his master, stuck defending between three attackers. He suddenly felt a sharp pain in his gut. He looked down to see one of them had stabbed him. Blood oozed from his gut before the knife was pulled out.
Gudako struggled to get up when she felt the sudden and sharp pull on her hair. The Taken Archer yanked her up placing a blade to her throat, as she squealed. A voice rang in her head, a new voice, unknown to her. "Rise from the Deep or drown in it," it repeated like an alarm in her ear.
Cu saw the situation Gudako was in and felt a revitalized strength. While one of the former Assassins went to stab his head and another his gut, he gripped the former hand and parried the other. He pushed the one in his grip away and kicked the third away. The Celt fired a fireball at the Taken Archer while running at it.
The voice rammed against her head as if testing her. The Archer could've killed her but didn't, then she felt its grip loosened. Gudako noticed the blade was temporarily away from her neck, so she took the opportunity to punch the Taken in the gut and push it away. Gudako scrambled away as the voice disappeared.
Cu says Gudako ran before hitting the former Archer in the head with his staff. The Taken Archer stumbled back, going to swing its blades at the Caster. Cu leans back dodging the slash before slamming his staff into its gut, along with firing a fireball right as the staff impacted. The Archer flew back and skidded along the ground like a hockey puck, before dissipating.
The Taken Assassins recovered and started at Cu, who looked back at them. "One down, three to go," he said to himself turning toward the three. The three charged at him like hyenas hunting their prey. "Burn it all..."
From behind him, the massive humanoid being from Mash's training began to rise. Wood set ablaze as it pulled itself from the ground. "Giant of trees..."
The beast stood towering above the Taken Assassins, the fire spreading across the rock and dirt blocking them off. "WICKERMAN!" The Wickerman slammed its foot down upon them as if they were insects.
Gudako covered her eyes from the bright flames, though she stood frozen from awe and shock. The fire calmed down to reveal nothing as the wooden beast disappeared. The young girl panted thinking about the noise as Cu walked toward her. Her mind was trying to pinpoint that specific voice yet nothing came.
Cu looked down at them with a smile. "You did good." This immediately knocked Gudako from her head. She looked up at Cu to see his smile making her feel fantastic, almost forgetting about the voice. "I dare say you would make a great warrior with the right training," Cu noted, before turning his eyes to the cave. "We should probably go help the other, what do you say Master."
"Yes, we should," Gudako spoke before she noticed the Caster gripping his wound. "Wait you're bleeding."
"'Tis but a flesh wound, let's go," Cu said stumbling. Gudako caught him and they walked into the cave with Gudako attempting to keep him from hurting himself.
A few minutes earlier
Ari and King Arthur stared each other down. Ari's helmet lay on the ground, in the dirt and dust. Ritsuka looked nervously at them as did Olga. Mash hoped Ritsuka would give her orders soon before the two clashed yet again.
'Guardian!' Ghost shouted in Ari's head. 'What are you doing?'
Ari stared down King Arthur, letting out a breath. 'I have a plan, just make sure you save up on energy for it though' Ghost could've sworn he heard a slight chuckle from Ari right before she charged the king.
The two clashed against each other, the blue hue of the glaive slashing against the dark metal of the sword. Ari's eyes remained cold, her cheeks red from her tears of anger. Arthur slashes at Ari only for the Guardian to parry the blade. Arthur; however, quickly recovered and stabbed Ari in the shoulder. Ari grunted as blood gushed from the fresh wound.
For Ritsuka, that was the last straw. "Mash help Ari out," he yelped, going to run in and help as well but Olga gripped his shoulder.
Mash nodded and rushed into the fray, while he stared at the director. "Running in will not help us," she scolded.
Arthur pulled her sword back only to be hit by Mash's shield. Arthur stumbled back, spitting blood from her mouth. Mash slid and turned toward the black-armored king. Arthur faced the girl, as Ari took advantage of the opportunity to go in for a slash with Vexcalibur.
Arthur turned back to Ari, barely blocking the oncoming slashes. The Guardian's other arm flopped around, completely limp. Ari attempted to push forward, but with one hand she had little control over her glaive. Arthur easily parried Ari's next attack, before moving her away.
Mash looked at Ari, with a nervous glint in her eyes. Mash rushed toward Arthur, swinging her shield at the king. Arthur raised her sword bracing for impact. Sparks flew while the King of Knights skidded along the ground.
"Are you ok Ari-san," Mash asked her ally. Ari nodded, growing a small smirk on her face.
She flicked her wrist and a pool of light surrounded her. Blood disappeared from her body and she stretched her arm. Mash's eyes looked on with awe before she turned her attention to Arthur. The King stared at the Guardian, as Ari straightened her posture.
"I'm fine, it's going to take more than that to kill me off," Ari declared. Her eyes were no longer cold as her attention remained on King Arthur.
Mash raised her shield and Ari raised Vexcalibur. There was a beat, and then Arthur ran toward Ari. The Warlock raised her glaive, blocking the slash from the King. Ari returned with a few slashes of her own. Arthur parried each of them before Mash struck her in the side.
Arthur tumbled to the side, only to be met by purple energy colliding with her body. The Saber grunted, her yellow eyes stared at them as she held the purple-singed wound on her gut. Mash and Ari readied to charge at the King, who readied her sword at the same time.
The two charged, interchanging attacks with mild coordination. King Arthur blocked most of them, with some grazing her. Mash overswung one of her attacks allowing King Arthur to dodge with ease. Arthur then slashed at the Demi-servant as if she were a samurai slicing bamboo. Mash barely had time to maneuver for a proper block, and upon impact, she went flying back toward Ritsuka and Olga. The two manage to catch her and help her to her feet.
Arthur turned back to Ari whose face returned yet again to that deadly cold stare. Ari and Arthur's blades collided releasing sparks of orange and purple. Ari slammed the butt of her glaive into Arthur's face, causing her to stumble. Ari swung her glaive down upon Arthur's neck, then CRASH!
Arthur blocked Ari's attack, without hesitation Arthur maneuvered her blade and stabbed Ari in the gut. The Guardian gasped as the air shot out from her body. Ari fell to her knees. Arthur placed one hand on Ari's shoulder -the other on her sword- and yanked her blade from the Guardian's flesh.
Ari fell to the ground limp, and Ritsuka's eyes widened. "NO!" he shouted attempting to run past Olga and Mash to Ari.
Olga gripped him, trying to keep him from getting killed. "No! If you run out there you will die!"
Ritsuka struggled before his exhaustion started to kick in. Mash stood in front of them, feeling King Arthur's glare fall onto them. The shielder gave the king a glare raising her shield.
The King spoke, staring at them. "I am somewhat disappointed, but I had to be done," she spoke almost robotically, her golden eyes falling onto them. "This is the end of your journey I'm afraid."
"Vortigern, invert the aurora..." Arthur began raising her sword above her head, red energy sparking around the black blade.
Olga pushed Ritsuka back, and golden light formed a rather small shield on her forearm, surprising the young boy. Mash's eyes widened, realizing what the Saber was doing.
"Swallow the light..." The King continued her as her sword was engulfed in red energy, with small hints of purple-ish black flames.
"What is happening," Ritsuka shouted, panicking. Everything is happening far too fast, he just witnessed his first and now probably only Servant die, and for all he knows his sister is dead.
"She is using her Noble Phantasm," Olga explained gritting her teeth, her eyes focused on the woman in front of them.
Mash knew there was only one chance at surviving this. She gulped and raised her shield high. "Noble Phantasm, unleashing..."
"Morgan..."
"Lord..."
"Excalibur/Chaldeas!" the two shouted as Arthur brought her sword down upon the group. From Mash's shield the blue and green dome surrounds her and the two humans. The energy collided with the front, shield-looking part of the dome. As they collided the rocks levitated for a moment, just before an explosion went off.
All she could feel was getting dragged down through a thick liquid. The breath left her body as bubbles through a black tar-like substance. She sank downwards, her eyes wavering as sank deeper and deeper. The liquid pushed her down and her vision faded.
She opened her eyes to see a field, filled with lovely and vibrant flowers and green glorious grass.
She blinks.
She sees the grass dying as the ground is deformed with branches and thorns reaching out like hands.
She blinks again.
She now sees two dead bodies, one had blue armor with a small hint of silver and red, and the other was a red-cloaked man with white and red armor and clothes. The one in blue helmet was cracked allowing her to see the cold, dead, red eye of the man. The landscape was covered in bones and vines, gripping onto the landscape. They were like parasites sucking everything dry. Her eyes widened as she reached to touch the bodies, yet she couldn't. No matter how far she reached, she could never touch them.
She blinks one last time.
She saw herself in a chamber with black walls and a black floor, with faint yellow light. Everything was symmetrical and orderly. Her eyes moved to see a tall figure in black, and white smoke coming from what might be its head. Faces from the smoke stared at her as she attempted to stand but failed. The figure turned, revealing a pale face. Its hands formed a triangle as they touched each other, and then suddenly it flicked its wrist.
Dust poured from the explosion, with the dim light of Ghost appearing above Ari's body. He looked down at her corpse with a small sigh, the shell changing to form a moderately annoyed.
"You knew you could resurrect, can you please stop doing stuff like that," Ghost muttered, its shell shooting apart. "For some reason, it has been getting harder to resurrect you, and technically I'm not supposed even be able to resurrect you here... How strange." Ghosts snapped together in a flash of light.
The dust settled to reveal, everyone -minus Ari- still standing. Mash panted staring down King Arthur. Olga looked around in shock at the mere fact they were still standing. Ritsuka looked around, feeling light-headed. Blood leaked from his mouth for some unknown reason.
"Oh my god, they're still alive," a familiar hyper voice cheered, followed by a THUD. "Sorry!"
Ritsuka turned back toward the entrance to see Gudako helping Cu. He smiled at them before the voice of Arthur interjected. "Surprising and impressive," she complimented them.
The King marched toward them with her sword to her side. Mash readied to fight, starting down the king before she noticed a curious figure rising from the dust. Mash squinted her eyes at the figure and attempted to get a better visual of them.
Suddenly- BANG!
King Arthur felt a sharp pain in her gut, blood dripping from it. The group was shocked before another shot rang out. This time through the shoulder. Arthur gritted her teeth, turning her head to see Ari pointing a hand cannon at the King in one hand, and Vexcalibur in the other.
"Never turn your back on a Guardian," Ari warned. Arthur turned still gripping her sword ready for a round two. Ari holstered her hand cannon and reached for her now empty hand.
"That is a very interesting trick imposter," Arthur remarked before making her way to the Guardian. "But all of you stand in my way,"
"I don't care," Ari responded coldly and suddenly. "Blade of the Solar..." Flames started to form from the hand, and Arthur began to pick up the pace.
"Light my darkest hour..." The flames formed into a sword, with flames traveling to the guardian's back like snakes. Arthur started to run at the Guardian.
"Dawnblade!" Ari shouted raising the sword in the air, with a bright flash of smokeless flames, wings of fire emerged from her back.
Arthur swung her blade at Ari, who blocked it with Vexcalibur. "I stopped caring shortly after you told me to take off my helmet since you were in my way from that point on, though I should've stopped caring much earlier than that."
Ari slashed the sword of fire across Arthur's chest, sending her flying across the chamber. Dust flew in the air upon her landing, with her on her feet. Arthur stood in a defensive stance as Ari marched toward the king. Ari slashed the air with her blade, sending an arc of flames at the King. The King blocked the first arc, staggering upon impact. Ari sent another one and another, overwhelming the king. Soon one struck the king directly, then another, and another.
Never once in Arthur scream, in fact at the end she chuckled. Her body was seemingly fading away into a golden light. "I was going to defend the Holy Grail to the end because my tenacity wavered. Ultimately, it seems no matter how much my fate changes, I will always meet the same end if I'm alone." Arthur chuckled.
Everyone watched silently as Ari looked at Arthur. The flames along the Guardian disappeared. "What do you mean?" the Guardian asked.
"Grand Order - the battle to obtain the Holy Grails has only just begun, imposter," Arthur muttered before fading away as small golden orbs.
Ari looked as they flew away, turning her head back at the group. The ghost appeared at her shoulder to see everyone with faces of shock, surprise, awe, and mild confusion.
"That was amazing!" Gudako squealed breaking the silence. Ritsuka gave a light chuckle gripping his head.
"We were having a moment, Gudako," Ritsuka playfully scolded, only to receive a light punch from his sister.
The two laughed, with Gudako letting go of Cu Chulainn. The Caster caught himself with his staff. Olga turned to see the Caster fading himself, much like Arthur.
"It seems we missed a lot, lass," Cu said with a chuckle, catching the redhead's attention. "I do recommend, if you do summon me, please make sure I'm a Lancer."
Gudako looked at Caster before he faded away, like fireflies rising in the air. Her eyes teared up slightly, "I will," she muttered to herself. Ritsuka patted Gudako's shoulder; she turned her head and smiled at him.
Ari stepped forward toward the group, placing Vexcalibur on her back. She scanned the area for her helmet, walking over and picking it up. Ritsuka gripped his head yet again, with more blood oozing from his mouth and him wiping it off. Gudako looked at him nervously.
Olga waved it off, looking at Gudako. "He should be fine, he is just drained due to the amount of Noble Phantasms his Servants used, you both should get used to it after a while," she explains, though she is confused as to why Ritsuka was bleeding.
Mash turned to the group, with a determined look on her face. "Confirming that Caster and Saber have left the singularity," she noted. Gudako ran higher than her followed by Ritsuka who stumbled due to his lightheadedness. "Senpai, you shouldn't overexert yourself."
"I'll be fine, Mash, like the Director said, I'm only tired," Ritsuka said with a small smile. Gudako giggled
Ari marched over with her hands on her hips. She cleared her throat to gain their attention. "Am I not going to get any thanks?"
"Of anyone deserves thanks it's me since I'm the one who revived you," Ghost responded. Ari merely waved him off stepping toward her Master.
The trio turned to Ari, most with smiles. "Never do that again," Ritsuka ordered, and Ari merely shrugged in response. "Wait how did you revive you said you couldn't for some reason?"
"Well at first I felt absolute Darkness around me, though the farther we entered the gave, I felt the slightest hint of light, enough to revive," Ari explained to him, with him nodding, not understanding at all.
Olga stood alone in the back, watching them with a slight smile. She felt a strange sense of pride in them, one she hadn't felt in a long time. She let out a long sigh when she heard the glitchy voice of one peculiar doctor.
"This is Dr. Romani, please come in," a glitchy hologram asked appearing behind her.
Olga turned to see the pink-haired man with a slight glare. "Where were you?" she asked rather irritated.
"I lost signal with you a little before entering the cave, it seems the interference is gone, at least audio interference," Roman explained.
"This is why we don't have the medical team as mission control," Olga sighed.
"Hey, I am doing rather well, all things considering," Roman said in hopes of defending himself. "Anyway, how did they do?"
"They did well for their first outing," Olga admitted with a small, almost envious sigh.
Clapping echoed across the chamber, causing everyone to look up at the ledge. Upon the edge, like a kid looking down upon legos, Lev stood with a moc between a simile and irritation.
"I didn't expect each of you to make it this far. You surpassed my expectations," Lev began before his unseen smile faded. Olga's eyes widened with hope upon seeing the man in green. "It was my mistake, though, for underestimated you two, Master Candidates #48 and 49. I should've known you would have far too many variables."
Everyone looked at him confused, Mash raised an eyebrow. "Professor Lev?"
Ari leaned toward her Master. "Who is he?"
"Someone who worked at Chaldea," Ritsuka whispered to the guardian. "He was nice when me and Gudako met him."
The hologram of Roman grew a face of surprise and confusion. "Did you say Lev, I thought he-," Roman began before Lev cackled. Olga stared up at him, her friend for as long as she remembered staring down at them like an angry god.
"Is that you Romani," Lev began in a condescending tone, looking directly at the hologram. "So you survived as well, I told you to come to the command room, yet you refused to listen, like always." Gudako and Ritsuka raised an eyebrow at the strange, almost demonic tone of Lev. "Trash like you make me want to vomit," Lev said with venom before a slight laugh entered his voice. "Why do you humans constantly try to avoid your preordained destinies!?"
Ari and Mash quickly ran to the front of the group ready to fight. Lev took notice of the Guardian, while Olga attempted to hold back tears entering her eyes.
"Stay back, Master," Ari ordered, using her glaive to block Ritsuka and Gudako from moving forward.
"This isn't the Lev we know, it is a person who is dangerous," Mash added, glaring at the man in green.
"It seems he was right, though it works ways, it will be extremely helpful to us," Lev said to himself starting at the Guardian. "We do have to thank him for this new power, maybe we will benefit from this deal. So I thank you, and when you die thank the mindless beast for me," Lev thanked. "But you will be a rather large inconvenience."
Olga stepped forward, seemingly oblivious to what he was saying. She began to run toward the cliffside, catching the attention of Lev. "You're alive, oh my goodness. Without you, I don't know how I could protect Chaldea."
Ari looked over, attempting to grab her arm, but was unable to grab her. "Don't director," Mash yelped.
"Oh, hello Olga, you look rough," Lev began staring down at the running director.
"It has been rough, that is correct, but now we could-" Olga began before Lev cut her off with a laugh. She paused feeling a deadly glare upon her.
"I just can't hold myself together, you are truly an idiot, I never understood how you could love with your miserable life," Lev cackled. "Yet fate remained merciful, allowing your soul to remain here temporarily, with the help of the Trismegistus."
Olga staggered back, as Ari ran toward her. "What do you mean?" Olga asked with her voice wavering.
"Remember the explosion, Marie? Remember all those people, 'killed'?" Lev asked rhetorically. "Though, your spirit remains here, soon it will fade and you for properly."
Olga clenched her fist, Ari tried to pull her back but Olga remained stationary. "That can't be true," she muttered to herself.
"It is though, your incompetence led to this horrible disaster, and you should die a painful death for this," Lev remarked, before waving his previous statement off. "Not for the loss of human life, but how... what's the word: stupid. For how stupid you are."
Lev snapped his fingers, and behind him, the image of the globe and Chaldea appeared. The Hologram of Roman's eyes widened as the globe was not blue but red, with faint hints of that black flame.
"Olga, you have to come back," Ari pleaded, trying not to hurt her, yet Olga didn't respond.
"Why are you doing this, why is it red, how is it here?" Olga asked rapidly, earning an evil smile from Lev.
"I linked dimensions, so I can show you what your mission has led to, and how much mercy I have," Lev said with a slight bow. "That red is what will remain of humanity, or rather is what remains of humanity. You see you caused this, and to show you mercy for your miserable life, I will make you live your dream of being useful."
Olga began to be lifted from the ground and pulled towards the planet-like behemoth in the rift. Ari grabbed her hand and attempted to pull her back down. The red was engulfed in the black, hellish flames of the Taken.
"Please stop!" Olga pleaded to Lev, but this time he didn't answer before a tendril let out from the flames gripping her leg. Ari gritted her teeth to hold her back. "I don't want to go!"
"You won't just hold on," Ari responded attempting to soothe the director. Mash ran forward to help the Guardian, gripping to her waist and pulling.
"We have to help them," Ritsuka said stumbling toward them, followed by Gudako who nodded. They grabbed on and began to pull with them.
There was a sudden CRACK! Olga screamed, her leg shattered as another tendril gripped her. Ari used more force and started to feel Olga's hand slipping. Ghost flew next to Ari.
"Look for a way to close that portal," Ari ordered. Ghost simply 'nodded' and flew off toward the portal, scanning different locations, yet no result.
Lev's smile grew wider as he began to laugh at them. "Now you will face the pain of infinite deaths!" Another tendril gripped Olga, forcing them to lose their grip on her. Ari merely stumbled while the other three fell. She ran as fast as she could to grab Olga, yet each time she tried she could never reach her.
Ari stopped when Olga was shoved into the flames, her scream disappeared. Ari gripped Vexcalibur tightly as she stared at the ground. Gudako stumbled as Ritsuka passed out from the small fall. She watched in horror as Olga was consumed.
"Chaldea has fallen and you humans reached your extinction," Lev declared happily.
Roman stared at him in horror. "Does this have to do with us being unable to see into 2019?"
"Very perceptive, shame you aren't as reliable when told to do something, but not like it matters much anymore. Chaldea is currently protected by a magnetic field, but soon you will fade too," Lev said disregarding Roman entirely.
"You are wrong," Ari muttered to herself, yet it was unheard by all. Tears fell along her cheek. Lev turned his back and the rift closed.
"Farewell to you all, and happy death day," Lev said walking away before disappearing from view. The cavern shook and rocks fell.
Mash picked up Ritsuka while Ghost flew back to Ari who stood there in a trance. "We need to get out of here," Ghost shouted.
"Roman, activate Rayshifting," Mash ordered holding Ritsuka. Gudako yelped as a rock fell near her.
"Already on it," Roman shouted. Ghost attempted to get Ari out of her trance as she repeated the phrase "you are wrong, followed by the guardian motto to herself.
"Ari, snap out of it," Ghost shouted, causing the guardian to turn and realize the situation they were in. They all began to run.
Ritsuka's vision was blurry all she could see was a rather colorful woman. He looked at her briefly to see a warm smile on her face, though not directed toward him.
"That's a good boy, what would you like to eat, nuts or fish?" She asked starting at a white blob. Ritsuka raised an eyebrow, feeling like he was still asleep.
"Neither," Ritsuka responded with a groan causing the woman to gasp, before laughing.
"I wasn't talking to you, hero, but to the cat... squirrel... thing," the woman laughed, gesturing to what seemed to be a white and pink blob, on top of white covers.
Ritsuka's vision slowly became clear recognizing the blob as Fou. He soon realized he was in a hospital bed, surrounded by the silver walls of Chaldea.
"Now that the hero has awoken, good morning, Ritsuka," the woman greeted with a slight clap of her hands.
"Who are you?" was all he could manage to ask. The woman feigned offense is not being recognized or legitimately offended to not being praised upon sight.
"You must be in shock? This is the first time we are meeting like this. Aren't you surprised by my beauty upon waking?" the woman asked and Ritsuka merely shook his head. The woman's head fell slightly before she took on a grandiose pose. "I am Da Vinci, one of Chaldea's collaborators."
"I'm not good with history, but wasn't Da Vinci a man?" Ritsuka asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I chose this magnificent form, inspired by my greatest masterpiece," Da Vinci explained before coughing slightly. "Anyway, quite a few people are waiting for you in the command room."
Ritsuka slowly removed the covers from his legs and sat up on the bed. Fou moved out of the way with a small squeak. "Where is the doctor?"
"Oh, he's there but he isn't important," Da Vinci said with a kind smile.
"Fou. Fou." Fou added, seemingly in agreement with the inventor. Ritsuka stood up and waved walking to the door, past some empty beds and tables with medical supplies before leaving.
"He and his sister are going to make fantastic main characters," Da Vinci muttered to Fou, who nodded; curling his fluffy tale around his body.
Ritsuka entered a massive room, staring at the massive planet-like display, known as SHEBA. Roman leaned against a console, with Ari and Ghost standing next to him. Suddenly he felt a sudden squeeze.
"Hello Ritsuka," the voice of Gudako rang out from his side, as he gripped him tightly.
"You are going to hurt him," the voice Mash whined a bit as Ritsuka choked.
Ari let out a small chuckle, starting at them with a soft smile. "I'm dying," Ritsuka choked out causing Gudako to drop him.
Roman laughed, before clearing his throat. "How are you feeling," he asked kindly to the boy, with Ritsuka giving him a thumbs up why he recovered. Roman laughed before his expression changed to one of seriousness. "Anyway, now that you all are here I would like to discuss a game plan," Roman began.
"I assume to stop this, Lev," Ari said, saying the man in green's name with venom. Roman merely nodded, looking at Ghost to explain a bit of it.
Ghost flew into the center of the room. "We have tried several ways to fix this crisis, starting with scanning Earth through the resurrected SHEBA."
GuIdahora raised her hand like a schoolgirl in class. "What does the SHEBA do?"
"It searches changes throughout Earth's history, such as the one in Fuyuki City, which was destroyed thanks to you," Roman explained taking over the conversation from Ghost who gave the doctor a small glare. "Though nothing changed after the Singularity was destroyed, implying a different source to this calamity."
"We believe more singularity will appear in time, and if we take them out then the Earth should theoretically return to normal," Ghost quickly added.
Ari crossed her arms with a small small smirk. "So we take down the singularity and stop a Collapse," she summarized. Ghost nodded causing her to give a smile. "I am in," she said.
Gudako gave a thumbs up, "I am too if it means I get to be an action hero!"
Ritsuka laughed running his hand through his black hair. "I can't let Gudako take all the glory," Ritsuka stated.
Mash gave a small sigh. "If Senpai is in then I am as well," she muttered receiving a small hit from the twins.
Roman laughed turning to the SHEBA. "Then we have a long journey ahead of us."
A/N: The end of Singularity F, finally. The next few chapters will be interlude chapters, I'm thinking of calling them Bounties as a reference to the filler task of Destiny.
Roman will start playing a bigger role since I sort of forgot about him throughout this arc.
What was your favorite moment throughout the chapter?
Ignisha: I can see how you like the exposition from Ari and Ghost, though I struggled trying to find a way to put it in, but I am happy with what I have. With your question, for a Traveler to revive someone, it is theorized they must have shown Devotion, Bravery, and sacrifice throughout their lives to be resurrected, which each of them has shown multiple times.
Before we enter the next singularity, what light subclass should Ari use next?