Summary: At the end of Olympus, the leader of the Crypters extends a hand to try changing things. It's the first time the Chaldean Master ever turns a hand down as a Saber and Alter Ego watch. Perfection is not the answer. Two Shinsengumi captains reflect on this with pride.
Note: When Day 31 (my way of documenting Atlantis) originally came out on March 5th, 2022, I got some choice reviews that were unhappy with the way I wrote Wodime, more so considering his backstory that we got in Olympus.
This is where I'll say I don't give a damn about those reviews. Put me in the minority of the fanbase that doesn't like Wodime, I don't care. I stand by what I wrote and then some.
Wodime's backstory only gives him an excuse. It's not a good excuse for me. Disagree all you want, this is still a story that I'm writing for the sake of my writing, no one else's. So there.
The themes for this chapter are split up between four specifically: (1) As the Last Master, a track from the Babylonia anime; (2) Twinkling of stars from the Solomon movie; (3) the titular song for Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans from the soundtrack of the same name; and (4) Independence by ReoNa, from Sword Art Online Alternative — Gun Gale Online.
Content Warning for massive LB 5.2 Olympus spoilers and mentioned sexual assault, by the way. You've been forewarned.
Otherwise, here we go.
Day 44: Independence
"Join me, Vy." Wodime was offering a hand. An open extended palm, towards their Master, with that same cursed smile on his face. "Even if I refuse to submit to Proper Human History, you and I both have no desire for the Foreign God to rule the Earth. As fellow gods in the new Humanity, everyone will be a god capable of saving everyone else. That is what Humanity will become, even if Proper Human History can't be saved. Don't you agree my plan has merit?"
Meltryllis turned her head to look at Vy. Vy — her Master, her Albrecht — had stayed eerily silent the entire time the piece of trash that was their enemy was talking, lips knit into a tight line. Only Meltryllis and the other Grailed Servants could sense what was going on in the little Master's mind — hot rage, frustration, and indignation all fiercely coursing through their shared bond as Vy slowly clenched her fingers into tight fists.
"…Senpai?" Mash quietly ventured.
Vy's inevitable answer ended up being obvious to everyone but Mash and the person who posed the initial question.
"…Fuck no."
Wodime blinked, arm still extended. "Excuse me?"
"Exactly what I said. Fuck. NO." There was a deep breath on Vy's part as she lowered her gaze to the floor. "I listen to you for so long and then you say something like that, so why wouldn't I say no? What you're doing is no different from the Foreign God, Wodime," Vy slowly growled out past gritted teeth, shaking her head. "And if you think I'm going to join you on just the count of us both not liking the Foreign God, fuck the hell no. You don't know me well enough to say that kind of shit and get away with it."
A smile slowly spread out on Mash's cheeks. "Senpai…"
That's my Albrecht.
Meltryllis allowed herself the joy that came from seeing Wodime's smile disappear, watching eagerly as his ice blue eyes narrowed in Vy's direction. Good. He was off-kilter now. "You're wrong there, Vy. It may not be my place to say anything, but since I'm the elder Master, let me give you some advice." With a sigh, Wodime lowered his extended arm, putting a hand on his hip with his staff still clenched between his fingers. "Now that you've seen the Lostbelts for yourself, you know that they're no different from Proper Human History. They all had the same goals: unify humanity, make full use of Earth, and keep the world alive. But the Foreign God is different. They don't care about Earth or humanity."
Even if that's true, I also call 'bullshit,' Meltryllis could hear coursing through the link connecting her to the other Grailed Servants, and turning her head revealed Scathach-Skadi glaring daggers at the Crypter in front of them all, red eyes glowing. The you that I knew didn't care either. Bastard.
Undeterred by the growing animosity in the room, Wodime closed his eyes. "You might be wondering why they bleached the world then. And you would be right to—"
"And even then, I don't fucking care."
"...What?"
Meltryllis felt herself smile proudly as Wodime paused, his eyes widening again once he finally noticed how much Vy was trembling. Her fists were clenched tight enough for her gloves to squeak from the strain, fingernails digging into her palms as Vy raised her head.
"What kind of good 'advice' can come from you when you never became a Master of Chaldea?" Vy spit the words out like they were venom scalding her tongue, pure disdain and disgust clear in those bespectacled brown eyes. And considering what Meltryllis had seen before with her, it was obvious Wodime was barking up the wrong tree. "Hell, how can you call yourself an 'elder Master' when you betrayed Chaldea to begin with by siding with the Foreign God? Highly doubt I could even trust a douchebag like you when you haven't seen what the people of Olympus could do when they're desperate. Not to mention the denizens from the other Lostbelts."
With one blink of his eyes, Wodime's frown deepened. "Vy—"
"You don't get to call me by name like we're friends, jackass," Vy snapped, slowly extending her bo staff as she continued to glare at him. "Last I checked, you haven't earned that right ever since you murdered my family and tried to justify their deaths with your self-righteousness. Not to mention let Limbo and other bastards like Rasputin run around freely like they're kids at an amusement park without adult supervision. Which, by the way, Muramasa as one of the Foreign God's Disciples can cut down gods like, oh, I don't know, the one Atlas you were trying to keep in your Fantasy Tree! Did you ever consider that?"
As if on time with her statement, the Tree of Emptiness behind her started to glow red.
Wodime was starting to lose face if the tight grip on his staff was any indication. "I am trying to—"
"Trying to what, Wodime? Convince me otherwise? Save everyone? Because all that's fucking bullshit and we both know it." Vy pointed her bo staff at him with an unamused frown as she put a hand to her hip. "Have you ever listened to the cries of the Olympians when their Gods were killing them in their attempts just to get to Chaldea? Did you even try to save them?"
"Vy—"
"Shut your pothole." Without hesitation, Vy followed up by reaching to a pouch attached to her back and then throwing a boomerang right at Wodime's face, her brow barely twitching as Wodime nimbly dodged in spite of his shock. "You've talked my damn ear off long enough, now you get to hear me." She took a step forward, catching her boomerang on its way back to her hand with a flick of her wrist. "Have you tried to talk to Adele and Macarios to figure out why they denied your friend Zeus? Have you ever tried to visit the other Lostbelts, figure out why they couldn't be saved? Why they were so flawed like the Proper Human History you keep denying because it was 'incorrect' in its progress? Did you even try to save someone without resorting to the Magecraft you pride yourself on back in Proper Human History before this whole shitstorm of a mess?"
Wodime's features hardened. "You have no idea where I have—"
In response, Vy threw her boomerang again. Wodime dodged like before, but this time, Meltryllis could hear a single, quiet voice echo in the back of her mind.
Melt-san, could you get your dance routine set with Skadi-san? I have something to settle with this son of a bitch and I believe you can show him what's up. Just between you and me. The others can provide back-up.
Meltryllis grinned, one of her shoes scraping the floor in anticipation. Of course, Albrecht. Do you have my song ready?
No need to ask. Achi has the music player all good to go. It's all up to you now.
As if on cue, Meltryllis could hear the Rider press a button and rock music started to float into the air.
"Sure, I don't know where you've been. You've probably been through your own demons. And even then, I don't. Fucking. Care." Vy accentuated every single word with pure disgust, pure poison lacing her normally kind voice as she then ducked to swipe at her enemy's legs with her bo staff, and this time Meltryllis found herself holding back a laugh once said staff landed hard against Wodime's crotch area. Every male in the area winced, but Vy still advanced with hard determination in her eyes, catching her boomerang from the air again. "You never had to take responsibility for killing four other worlds like I have. You never bothered to know your other Crypters as people, considering how Pepe and Kadoc actually helped me and Chaldea get here to face you. You never saw how much Ophelia tried to sacrifice for you, how much Hinako was truly hiding from you as Yu Mei-ren." Vy continued to advance with careful steps of her boots as Wodime stumbled back and fell on his bottom from the constant bo staff swings, his blue eyes going wide.
Meltyrllis didn't even need her programming from BB to revel in the scene in front of her. Wodime's lack of motion must have been from hearing the names of his other Crypters. What a joke — not even considering the slight possibility that they could try to betray him.
"You never bothered to know the people your friend Zeus was governing, how he was treating them as mere 'pets' rather than autonomous living beings. Hell, you could just tell me you got here because some homeless boy sacrificed himself to help you in the past, and you know what?" Vy stabbed one end of her staff close to Wodime's nearest foot while putting away her boomerang, her frown deepening. "I'd say you don't deserve that sacrifice anymore when you're trying to change humanity into something that it's not. When you're forgetting the people around you by trying to force them to become gods in the first place."
Wodime's mouth opened, then closed. Even an AI like Meltryllis could see that the leader of the Crypters was caught off guard. "Vy, my plan is supposed to elevate all of humanity into gods. So that inequality could be solved and peace could be achieved!"
"And that's where you're not thinking!" Vy roared, stabbing her staff into the ground near his other foot this time. Without hesitation, she then raised one foot of her own to kick Wodime in the crotch hard, not even flinching at the Crypter lurching back again from the pain. "You're just turning a blind eye to the consequences again, you absolute fool! All of history, from the Lostbelts to even Proper Human History, has seen people fight. You giving everyone in Olympus god powers is the same as giving everyone a nuclear bomb switch! Giving unknowing people the means to kill each other more!" Vy was screaming now. Meltryllis couldn't blame her for it. "THAT CHANGES NOTHING! CONFLICT WILL STILL HAPPEN, EVEN WITH THE GODS! SUPPRESSION WILL ONLY GET WORSE BECAUSE PEACE CAN'T BE ACHIEVED WITH JUST POWER! HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING FROM THE MANHATTAN PROJECT AND THE COLD WAR?! DID YOU NOT EVEN STUDY WHAT HITLER DID?!"
Wodime's eyes were about the size of dinner plates once Meltryllis started to advance in the advent of Vy's shadow, Skadi carefully casting an ice floor along the way. "I—"
The Chaldean Master cut him off with a deep breath and a shake of her head, braid brushing the back of her neck. "You're a joke, Wodime." Vy finished flatly, taking a step back. "If you can't even acknowledge the differences between each Lostbelt denizen and the people around you when trying to 'save' everyone, then I know why you and the rest of Team A failed in trying to help Humanity. You don't even understand war." With a simple huff, Vy twirled her staff once more as Meltryllis finally jumped forward with Skadi's speed rune.
Meltryllis let herself laugh out loud once she got to see Wodime's growing expression of horror.
"Why should I care about you, Wodime," Vy bit out through gritted teeth from over Meltryllis' shoulder, just before Meltryllis put her hands in the air to twirl over her new ice rink, "when you never bothered to look into a sexually assaulted Master like me and how I Grailed more than seven Servants?" With a sarcastic smile, Vy stepped back some more to let Meltryllis take the spotlight, her faded lotus Command Seals glowing from her resolve. "You should really start looking into human history more."
Sarasvati Meltout!
As much as she hated it, Meltryllis had to admit a few minutes into the fight that the Crypter known as Kirschtaria Wodime was sturdy. Her poisonous nectar should've had plenty of time to seep into the wounds she was inflicting on him with every kick and twirl, but the blond-haired man was still standing with that same defiant look in his blue eyes.
Like he didn't want to give up. How foolish.
In another place, Wodime would've been likened to her Albrecht and her own refusal to give in to the immense odds stacked against her, but not now. Not anymore. The determination here was different. It was honestly disgusting to see how this piece of trash wasn't even acknowledging his mistakes — the consequences of every decision he made — that ended up leading him here. Vy at least did, every single day. Even if she took on more than she should've.
"Even a superior Alter Ego such as myself can tell from a fool of a man like you that your plans are not worth the time to fight you," she sneered, allowing herself a second to breathe with the remark before starting her duet with her Albrecht again, making space for her Master's turn to advance with weathered bo staff in hand. "I may call myself perfect, but what you're trying to do is achieve something beyond perfection, and not even the Moon would permit that. Even my mother failed in that journey by making me and the Alter Ego class, and she prided herself on being the perfect kouhai. The main similarity between you two is that you're both laughingstocks!"
Even if it was from that useless Archer, Meltryllis felt her chest puff outwards from pride at hearing his barely hidden chortle in the background mid-way through making another one of Wodime's Magecraft-induced meteors explode. Good. At least someone was getting some joy at the insult she carefully lobbied at BB. She meant it in its entirety.
"H-How could you say such a thing?" Wodime was coughing up blood once he was being pushed back by Vy's staff, his own staff shaky in his hands as his sleeves slipped down his arms, revealing gray, wrinkled, emancipated skin. Hm. That was odd. Vy was much better than what her dreams suggested back in that digital sea, but she shouldn't have caused visible aging in her attacks. "I-I would have thought an AI like you would have agreed with my plan, Meltryllis. With everyone as gods, you would have more peers as equals! So why are you taking Vy's side?!"
"Don't make me laugh, Crypter. Having the power of a god doesn't change how weak humans are in devolving into war. You're not even worth an ounce of EXP." Meltryllis let her smile drop in favor of a glare she learned from Protea and Lip. As expected, the measly human lurched back like the measly ant he was, and she let her lips curl back up into a more natural, sadistically satisfied smirk. "And my Albrecht's worth is far greater than you can ever process."
She made me legs that let me be human, not you. And you never bothered to look into me, did you?
With a flip of her long hair, Meltryllis let her smirk widen. "And last I checked, you were worth more of a fight when you had that Divine Spirit of a Servant with you, Kirschtaria Wodime. He was more of an equal than you or your gods could ever be."
Wodime didn't even have a chance to retort before Vy's bo staff was rearing one end towards his wide-open face, making him scurry back pathetically like an ant to block her attacks. Vy kept her stance flexible the entire advance forward, the backs of her boots digging into the ice underneath for strength as a single thought roared through their mental connection.
Melt-san, can you star in the finisher? Mash and I can set it up. Vy wasn't even letting up in her attacks against Wodime, continuing to switch her arms to keep her grip on her bo staff with every swing, but with Wodime's attention on her, Meltryllis could see that mentioned Shielder slowly approach the battlefield on her own ice skates, nodding. Make this finale one he won't ever forget even in his death throes.
A surge of magical energy worth more than 100 NPCs' worth of EXP flooded her chest with the words, green light filling the back of Meltryllis' eyes as her smirk widened. Of course, my Albrecht.
With one more strike from Vy's bo staff, Wodime's back hit a pillar just as Mash kneeled to bring her shield up above her face.
Meltryllis skated forward, bent her own knees, and jumped, bouncing off of Mash's shield once for momentum. Vy had already retreated with the waves Meltyrllis created, possibly finding refuge with the other Grailed, but at that point, it didn't matter. She was out of the attack range and Meltryllis' target was decided. The Alter Ego memorized the contours of Wodime's horrified face with all the sadistic joy she could muster as she descended with all the water of her Authority swirled around her. No more EXP from this piece of trash, Meltryllis let herself think. You've hurt my Albrecht long enough.
Over the music player, the rock singer's voice rose to an all time high in time with Meltryllis' ballet shoes.
"Disappear, you worm! This dance is far beyond your reach! Sarasvati Meltout!"
Arturia knew that the literal "backstab" was coming. With how Wodime had conducted himself, even in the face of deflecting a Rhongomyniad blast coming from what felt like her sister, not even Arturia felt pity for the man as Beryl Gut used his knife to stab Wodime through the stomach. Despite feeling Vy's instinctive cry of shock through their bond, Arturia kept her arms around her Master's shoulders, keeping her back from doing anymore as Achilles raised his shield for defense in front of them all, just in case.
The man known as Kirschtaria Wodime deserved nothing more than betrayal nipping at his heels when it came to acknowledging his mistakes. Nothing more, nothing less. Even if the excessive number of stabbings on Beryl's part towards Wodime was unwarranted.
"Beryl, why—" Wodime coughed up more blood, his previous composure all but gone in the face of what had occurred as red covered the white floors of what was once the Greek Gods' greatest temple of the Great Oribital Shrine. The light of the foreign Holy Spear disappeared with one last shaky wave of his hand, and he narrowed his eyes at his colleague. "Why are you interfering with my plan now?"
"Huh." Contrasting Wodime's wounded form, Beryl merely shook off the blood from his gloved hand still holding his knife, staring at it with an unknown look behind his glasses. If Arturia didn't know better, it was as if Beryl had cleaned out some dirt from the underside of his fingernails with how nonchalant his voice was, in spite of the bright red burning Fantasy Tree behind him. "You really don't get it, do you? Figures." He raised his head and smiled, exposing fanged teeth. "Of course you wouldn't. Even that little ruthless minx of a Chaldean Master spelled it out to you and you still don't get it." Vy flinched underneath Arturia's grip, and the Grailed Saber hugged her close for sending as much comfort as she could afford with all the others from Chaldea readying their weapons. "I don't wanna be some great enlightened version of myself. I'm perfectly okay with staying a piece of shit, and I don't need powers to kill you."
Wodime's eyes widened again. "But…" his voice came out weak for the first time since Atlantis, sounding almost like a child's tone as he fell to his knees, hands barely keeping back the spilling blood from his stomach. "As gods, everyone would've been free…"
"What was it that you said?" Beryl twisted his wrist back and forth, barely sparing Wodime a glance past his slightly dirtied gloves as his nose wrinkled against the bridge of his glasses. "'Everyone will be like a god unto themselves?' That basically means it'd be a world where I couldn't kill anyone anymore, right? To hell with that." The fanged teeth behind Beryl's lips exposed themselves with his darkening voice as he grinned again. "I'd die of boredom before the end of the first day in that new world. So even if I don't fully agree with the little minx and her ballet dancer who beat you, they helped me with my job!" Arturia felt her stomach curl in itself in disgust once Beryl's gaze turned towards Vy and sparkles emerged in his eyes. "Thanks for that, Vy!"
"…Shushie to you, jerkface," was all Vy could murmur in response, glaring at the opposing new Crypter with hate clear in her eyes. "I wasn't fighting to help you."
"Pish posh, all that jazz," Beryl waved off with a laugh, making a point to then look at Mash instead of Vy, and not even Arturia could forget how small the Shielder looked when she flinched at being Beryl's center of attention. "You're not the target I'm after, Vy, even if your ruthlessness was so cute to die for!"
"…Ew," Vy deadpanned in time with Meltryllis giving Space Ishtar and Ereshkigal the closest to a disgusted shrug she could make through her long white sleeves. "Not interested. I'm taken and I'm ace, thank you very little. And I highly doubt my beloved kouhai reciprocates your actions either."
"Th-Thank you for that, Senpai," Mash put in after a moment, raising her shield for better defense. "Took the words out of my mouth."
Beryl's previously gleeful look quickly transformed to that of disappointment as he took in Mash's guarded stance, a tiny sigh leaving his lips after a few seconds of pause. "What a shame. You looked so much better back when we were in Team A together, Mash. I guess I earned your ire, huh? Darn. Anger and distrust just don't suit you," he cooed, turning his head back to Vy and revealing pure hatred in his gaze. "I guess I know who caused the change this time. How would it feel to snap your neck…?"
Oh, he didn't, Achilles said through their shared bond. Arturia didn't even need to get a glimpse of his face to know he was gritting his teeth. That's just wrong.
He did, Robin deadpanned. And I'm already up to here, Arturia could see him gesture with his arm to measure out the rough height of one of the pillars in the room, with this guy.
You and me both, Archer, Shiki added in matching total deadpan. You and me both.
"Not on your life, fiend," Arturia snapped in time with her Grailed allies' remarks, dispelling Invisible Air to brandish Excalibur in Beryl's direction. "We only let you get to Kirschtaria Wodime. We will not let you get to our Master."
Whatever smile was on Beryl's face immediately disappeared in favor of a brief glimpse of shock, his other hand leaving his pants pocket in consideration. "Huh," he said quietly, uncharacteristically careful when his eyes reflected Excalibur's glow. "Didn't expect to see that. I heard the reports from Pepe, but King Arthur… wonder how she'll take it."
What? Arturia still kept Vy close to her chest as she readied her sword. Who is she? Could he be referring to the Morgan I felt through that Rhongomyniad?
"Ah well, I can't stick around for long. This Lostbelt will disappear sooner or later and my job's done. Gotta get the fox's paw for this, especially with the Foreign God close to coming home." Beryl didn't even seem deterred at how Rasputin was glaring at him from his corner of the former temple, waving at everyone with an uncharacteristic yet cheerful grin. Koyanskaya immediately appeared behind him, making all Servants tense. "Well, I had fun! Enjoy dying, everybody! You especially, Wodime! It was fun playing with you!"
One last wave of his arm was all the room got, and once Koyanskaya put an arm around him and purred something unintelligible into Beryl's ear, the duo disappeared.
Vermin, Skadi hissed. Arturia couldn't agree more.
No one noticed Wodime's collapse in the end.
Atop the Storm Border, Arturia faced the former Servant of the Crypter known as Kirschtaria Wodime with a face. The Foreign God had disappeared, having been driven away by a strange suicide attack on Wodime's part and a well-timed boomerang to the face from Vy beforehand. Adele and Macarios were far away now, protected by Europa most likely while waiting for the end to come. Olympus was already falling apart.
Yet Caenis — Divine Spirit ruined and yet empowered by Poseidon all the same — was standing across from her with lance in hand, wild grin on his face.
"…Caenis, there's no reason to fight us anymore," Mash started, her voice surprisingly gentle in spite of the defensive stance she took at Vy's side. Good. She was prepared at least. "You've already lost your Master, and any reason you may have had to protect this Lostbelt. And despite all that, you still want to fight us?"
Good questions, Space Ishtar put in quietly for the first time since the entire confrontation with Zeus started, her voice sleepy-sounding in spite of her clenched fists beneath her starry mantle. What is there to be had in one more fight aside from personal revenge? As the Primordial Goddess of the Origin Universe, I would understand if it was just for revenge, but there's something else here…
I think I know, Achilles put in suddenly, slowly putting away his shield in favor of his spear. If I'm right…
Caenis merely raised an eyebrow at Mash. "…You done?" With a toss of his head, he glanced at Vy, standing in the center of them all with the same contemplative face. "So, now we know what one of your Servants thinks, Vy. How about you? Got anything to say?"
Despite the blood drying on her skin and the messiness of her braid, Vy steadily returned Caenis' gaze with an exasperated look of her own. "...Only this: you're not going to back down because of Wodime, huh?"
To no one's surprise on the Storm Border, Caenis closed his eyes and smirked. Unlike Beryl's fake smiles from before, this smirk was battle-hungry but lacking the primal thirst for blood. "Hell no," he said, slowly opening his eyes to reveal darkened blue irises. "This unfinished business ain't gonna finish itself. You punks brought down freaking Olympus." With a twirl of his lance, Caenis grinned wider. "That's huge. I couldn't ask for more worthy opponents. And hey, I might not be your typical Greek Heroic Spirit, but it's still what I am. And if there's one thing we all know Greek heroes are about, it's revenge, ain't it?"
Vy merely let out a very exasperated Meh noise from the back of her throat.
Knew it, Robin deadpanned. Greek battle-hunger 1, forest hunter 0. I'll grab you a drink when we get back to the Wandering Sea, Rider.
Thanks, but we can talk about that later.
Can I get a drink too, Archer? Space Ishtar put in with a shrug of her shoulders. I guessed it too…
Later, Avenger, Achilles interjected. The conversation isn't done yet.
"It sounds almost farcical hearing that from you, Caenis," Holmes put in with a careful breath around his pipe, nursing one of his attack mirrors with care. "Given how much you despised Olympus. But I can't deny that your will to fight, your drive, and your spirit are more united than ever before. This must be your final destination — the one you failed to reach in your lifetime. It seems you finally arrived at your answer, Caenis."
Okay, as much as I said 'later', I'm still calling it. Yep, Achilles muttered through their link. I most definitely called it.
Shhh, Musashi Berserker said, apparently still chipper even after what they had all seen, her Saber counterpart's disappearance included. Not done!
"Then as such, we are obligated to respond accordingly, even if this battle is entirely unnecessary." Arturia still couldn't help but feel grateful towards the formerly great detective as Holmes moved forward to keep Vy behind him and closer to the crowd of the other Grailed Servants. Her allies. Good. "Vy," he started softly, turning his gaze to the young woman from over his shoulder as his mouth turned downwards apologetically, "I'm aware your magical energy has also long reached its limits, but… can you still do this?"
Even with all three Command Seals used up and bo staff nicked in some places, Vy nodded with all the ferocity Arturia recognized from their very first meeting back in the original Chaldea. "Always." Her gaze then flickered over to Caenis, and even through her glasses, Arturia could see her eyes focus into a sharp glare. "Let's do this, Caenis!"
Art-san, can you take front lines? Melt-san needs a break, suddenly tickled the back of Arturia's thoughts, and glancing in Vy's direction revealed the named Alter Ego nearby crossing her arms behind Vy's shoulders in an obvious show to hide her fatigue. Plus, I think you and I have a score to settle with Wodime's last Servant.
As much as I don't like passing on the spotlight, Meltryllis interrupted with a huff, the light you have should be plenty enough for this washout, Saber. Give them no chance for an encore.
There's no need to ask, Meltryllis. Vy's word is my will. Arturia smiled and turned to Caenis, stepping forward. I'm always at your command, Princess.
…Thankie, Art-san.
The small animal appendages on top of Caenis' hair flattened for a moment as the Lancer considered Vy's spoken words, but it didn't last for long as his gaze flickered to Arturia. With two raised ears, Caenis twirled his spear. "Ha. Well, look at you… a goddamn weakling of a Master growing up to command so many Servants and glaring at me like you actually know a shit! Where was this fire when we faced off in that Scandinavia ice castle? The ice queen definitely would've put up more of a fight if you had this spirit lingering inside ya, alternate ice queen by your side or not!" Arturia could sense Skadi moving from clear offense, but Caenis shrugged his shoulders anyway, pointing his spear at Arturia nonetheless. "No matter. Fine then. When we're done, all that's left of you and your Servants will be dangling from my spear!"
Not on your life, Arturia let herself think, allowing Vy's remaining mana to flood her veins. Her cloak and crown from her time as King Arthur materialized all at once, covering her shoulders and head with light weight as she shook her head. We will never lose to you.
Dark red aura began to spill from Caenis' Spirit Core as he frowned. "Oh yeah, one last thing: remember my name. I am the one who made Poseidon pay for violating me, and took his place as a god in recompense. I am the foolish king who lost himself to the vices of killing, violence, anger, and pride. But right now, all that I do…" Caenis stabbed his spear into the floor of the Storm Border. "I do for my contracted Master! I am Caenis, the Divine Spirit! And I am the only Servant who Kirschtaria Wodime truly trusted!"
Arturia blinked, remembered red lightning from another time in the darkness behind her eyelids, and took a breath. "Remember my name as well then, Caenis. I am the one Britain looked for when searching for a new beginning. I am the one child born from Uther Pendragon with a dragon's heart and the last King of Britain, slain by the son she never acknowledged until after the end. And all that I do now is also for my contracted Master, my Princess!" Putting both hands on Excalibur, Arturia readied her stance. "I am Arturia Pendragon, the King of Knights! The Grailed Saber Servant of Chaldea, chosen by my only Princess, Vy Duong! HAVE AT YOU!"
Vy didn't even need to summon the Shadow Servant bearing Okita Souji's image for assistance. Holmes and Mash didn't need to advance either.
All it took was one good swing of her sword, and Caenis was bleeding out on the surface where Saber Miyamoto Musashi once stood.
It took only a few turns of battle, and then it was all over.
Somewhere, through it all, Arturia hoped that the light of Excalibur could bring rest to the souls still left in Olympus during its fall. That the Mordred who fought here, before Chaldea arrived, could finally smile in the end, knowing his work with the God Destroyer Alliance was accomplished.
Saito Hajime turned off the recording with a soft wave of his hand to the electronic display still shining in the now darkened library of the Wandering Sea, putting a hand on his hip after taking a moment to stand in place. "So," he admitted under his breath. "That's what happened." It was an understatement, but Saito couldn't muster up any other words but that.
"It's why we all fight as hard as we can, Saito-san," Okita Souji spoke up from over his shoulder, looking small despite regaining her hakama from the Shinsengumi days. "My Shadow barely participated in that last battle, but even I couldn't forget how everyone looked back then." How Vy looked back then, was left unsaid, but Saito knew Okita had it in mind.
"And Olympus is gone, huh?" Saito turned to his former comrade with a wry smile, tucking his hands into the sleeves of his Shinsengumi haori. "Poof, just like that?"
"Poof," Okita confirmed with a splayed-open hand, her smile looking dim even without the lightning in the study hall she chose with Saito to pour over the information. "Just like the previous four Lostbelts that we traversed before. There's still two more to go."
"Which means it'll get harder now that we know what the Foreign God looks like," Saito rubbed the back of his neck, blowing at a stray strand of hair falling into his face rather childishly while breaking off his gaze from Okita's. "What do you think Master-chan would say if I tried some of the Shinsengumi's torture techniques on that Kadoc guy when he wakes up? Think I'd earn anything?"
"Depends," Okita said mildly, a bit of levity coming into her voice as she stood up from her chair to stretch her arms. "Maybe you'd earn the new Director's ire if he doesn't get to Kadoc with his 'acclaimed bacon' first. Hime might agree with you. I'm not sure in the end, Saito-san. She hasn't been that ruthless since the fall of the Great Orbital Shrine."
Funny, considering her training.
"Eh, I can lose out on eating the bacon and dealing with Master-chan's pouting," Saito said outwardly with a smirk, walking over to the study's door and turning the doorknob. "I just think the little lady taught me a few things I'd like to take up again. Think nails and candles would be good for interrogation?"
Turning his head back revealed Okita grinning at him. "In moderation, Saito-san," she said softly, contrasting the expectant gleam in her eyes. "In moderation. Sion and the others seem to have something planned already."
"Alright, alright, got it." Once Saito looked out towards the rest of the library past the door frame, he felt the sigh he didn't need to hold leave his nose in a quiet huff. The lamps (and maybe Murasaki too, if she was still awake) were all that could witness him when he whispered, "It's the least I can do for you after you stood up fighting for so long. Right, Master?"
Far away, in the Grail Lounge where all the Grailed Servants of Chaldea could be found resting, Vy slept her exhaustion away in the care of Robin's embrace, oblivious to Saito's words.
Note: I've had this chapter on standby for a few months. Since I finished Olympus in NA back in April, actually. And I don't regret this. After all the times jobs have tossed me back and forth like I'm nothing since I graduated from college in 2020, it felt good to write this. More so since the starring Servants in this chapter are actually based on the Servants I used to beat the story.
Hope you enjoyed the ride. I'll see you all in the next chapter.