Chapter Three: Evil Revealed
The day had been on the long side of things, as it was for Nathaniel. Between the whole business of Chaldea being blown up. Getting thrown into a singularity to deal with against his will. Not to mention all the crap he and the others had to deal with leading up to this point. Should he have been more prepared for this possibility after the archers's words? Probably, but for all he knew, the guy may have just been screwing with him. Granted, This wasn't the worst-case scenario for him. At least he wasn't facing some twisted, evil version of his mom. That would have been the absolute worst, so count the small blessings as they come around.
Still a terrible setup for a family reunion.
That didn't change the fact that he was still facing King Arthur. That was still going to suck as it was. Not because he couldn't bring himself to fight or even kill the king. While he didn't particularly like his grandfather, he didn't hate them either. His feelings towards them were mixed if anything. What had him worried was the simple fact, corrupted or not. Dealing with the king of knights would be quite the fight. He knew what he needed to be done, though his companions were going to have their reservations about it.
"That's King Arthur?" Olga commented in confusion. "But Arthur looks like a woman."
"That's because they are, and their true name is Artoria, not Arthur," Nathaniel replied, gazing at the enemy servant.
"How would you know-, oh right."
"Hold on a sec," Ritsuka cut in. "You said she was your grandfather, though?"
"She is,"
"But if she's a girl, how did she..."
"Blame Merlin."
"What's our plan of action?" Mash spoke up, steering the conversation back to the task at hand.
"Simple, really; you four stay back here while I chat with my Grandpa, as it were," Nathaniel explained.
"I have a few issues with that plan, Nathaniel." The shielder retorted seriously.
"You honestly expect me to sit back and do nothing?" Chulainn barked out, also not thrilled by the notion.
"I can explain my reasoning on this," the blond shot back. "Mash is too inexperienced as a fighter to go against someone like the King of Knights unless there is no other option. Chulainn, you said it yourself, if you die, we all lose just like that. It's too risky for you to engage as well. Never mind the fact that someone still needs to guard Ritsuka and Olga. There could be more dangers here that have evaded detection and are just waiting for the right moment to strike."
The blue-haired caster gritted his teeth in frustration. "I really hate that you're right, you know that?"
Olga sighed in resignation. "Like it or not, he is correct, Nathaniel; defeat the king of knights and end this nightmare once and for all," the director of Chaldea ordered. Nathaniel looked back and nodded.
"Nathaniel," Ritsuka said, her voice laced with concern, catching the blond's attention. "Please win and don't die on us in the process. Too much has already been lost today."
Nathaniel locked his emerald eyes with Fujimaru's orange ones and smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it, Ritsuka." With that, he turned his eyes to the corrupt king and marched forward. As he walked closer, the darkened king of knights made no move against him. Instead, they seemed to eye him with curiosity, unsure what to make of his presence. He stopped once a few meters distance is all that separated the two.
"I recall no one like yourself in my service during the Camelot days. Yet, I feel something familiar about you." Artoria Alter spoke with an emotionless voice after a moment. Then her gaze turned to his blade, and her eyes narrowed slightly. "How did you possibly gain possession of that blade? Who are you?"
"Ah, so you recognize this even after all this time? It's a little surprising since you practically never used it," Nathaniel mused as he stared down Artoria. "To answer your question, I am Nathaniel Hawke Pendragon, Son of Mordred."
Whatever the alter had expected to receive as an answer, it hadn't been that. Her usually expressionless face briefly turned into one of genuine surprise before turning to a look of contemplation as her eyes narrowed, and she looked at him more with a more scrutinized gaze. "I see it clearly now, the way you carry yourself. Your armor, while different, is reminiscent of Mordred's own. To think she would find someone willing to lay with her. Let alone sire an offspring with as well."
"Oh please, like you have any right to judge people's romantic ventures." Nathaniel cut in sharply. "So, gramps, what brought about the appearances? You look somewhat different from how Mom described you to be."
"The grail granted me insight into past mistakes, and a few changes occurred."
"Interesting. What's your play here? What do you hope to achieve here?"
"Merely playing my role here in the grand order, humanities incineration." She answered coldly.
Nathaniel's brow furrowed at that. "Just what the hell is that supposed to imply?"
"It matters little; you won't live long enough to learn," Artoria Alter said with a cold smile. I will crush you and your companions, as it is my duty to crush all who dare challenge me here."
"That's rather bold of you to assume, ' Nathaniel bit back as he willed his helm to form and took a combat stance. You know my blade and its purpose. Considering your position, it will serve to only strengthen it against you. The corruption appears to have changed you from a humble king to an arrogant fool."
"It seems I will need to put Mordred's misguided bastard in its place—just as I did with her at Camlann," Artoria replied emotionlessly, taking a stance of her own.
"Jokes on you, my parents are married, and happily so. Which is certainly more than can said about your own marriage. Seeing how Guinevere apparently stuck you in the cuck chair to watch. While she got slammed by Lancelot."
A genuine look of anger briefly flashed across the alter's face before she charged forward. Nathaniel brought his blade up and blocked the incoming strike. A loud clang rang out, sparks flew, and the very ground seemed to shake from the sheer force of the collision of blades.
"Seems I pissed her off with that last one."
Soon, the cave was drowned in the sound of clashing metal. Both fighters attacked, counter-attacked, and blocked one another's blows. The cavern itself shook from the intensity of the fight. Small rocks detached and fell from the roof. The very ground cracked around the feet of the two warriors every time their blades crossed in a shower of sparks. Neither one was able to truly gain a decisive edge over the other. Their respective blades clashed once more as the two blades locked against each other.
"My mother spoke about how great you were, how wise you were, and more! Since when did the great king of knights reason for such madness!?" Nathaniel roared.
"Once that all was true, but everything I once stood for is no longer needed. The actions of your wretched, twisted spawn of a mother made that so." The corrupt saber retorted cruelly.
Nathaniel snarled behind his helm as his corrupt grandfather's comments managed to truly piss him off for once. The two pushed off each other before engaging in another blow flurry.
"Kami and I thought his fight with Medusa was intense," Ritsuka said as the clash played out before her. "This is a whole different level."
"It isn't surprising," Olga replied as she watched. "Saber is stronger than Medusa was, not to mention this's on the personal side for him."
"I just wish I could help," Mash spoke with concern. "I'd just be in the way if jumped in."
"Don't worry too much; he'll take care of business, I'm sure of it," Chulainn muttered.
Nathaniel and Alter locked blades once more before shoving off. Jumping back to create more distance between each other as they did.
"I grow tired of this," Alter stated as black and purple colored mana began to swirl around her, preparing to unleash her noble phantasm.
"By all means, let's end this!" Nathaniel retorted briskly as he moved his blade to an inside stance. His helm disassembled as it was required to use his noble phantasm. The pointed ends on the guard jutted out by a few inches. His body and blade became engulfed with the intense glow of green-colored mana, and arcs of similar-colored lighting radiated just as intensely around.
"Vortigern, hammer of the vile king, reverse the rising sun, swallow the light," Alter chanted as her mana radiated more intensely. Preparing to swing her blade.
"This is the blade meant to protect humanity and grant its preservation; it shall carve through the darkness of all that threatens it and bring forth the light of salvation!" Nathaniel chanted as his own mana grew in intensity as well.
"Excalibur Morgan!" Alter roared and swung.
"Carnwennan!" Nathaniel yelled as he thrust his blade forward.
Black and purple crashed into emerald as a colossal blast of force rocked the cavern. Giants slabs of stone broke from the ceiling and began falling all around.
"We're going to be crushed at this rate!" Shouted an alarmed Olga.
"No, we're not!" Mash yelled as she felt something stir within her. "I may not be able to help in the fight, but I can help protect everyone else!" She thought to herself as she let feeling within guide her actions. Her body glowed as she thrust her shield upwards. "Unleashing Noble Phantasm!" A massive magical barrier appeared above everyone to protect them from danger.
The two noble phantasms continued to clash, and then both died out. Alter was surrounded by a thick layer of dirt and dust from the blast of the attacks, which she could not see through. Nathaniel suddenly burst through the dust cloud, helm back in place. Swinging Carnwennan with a single hand. She quickly dodged and went to make her own counter-swing. Then, he did something she did not expect. She believed he would dodge, block, or counter like he had done the entire fight beforehand. Instead, he moved towards her as she attempted to swing and reached out with his free hand. Grabbing her sword arm and halting its momentum. Alter was caught by total surprise by the action. That moment of stunned surprise was all the emerald-eyed swordsman needed.
The sound of metal and flesh being sheared through could be heard. As Carnwennan was buried up to the guard in the corrupt servant's chest. Excalibur Morgan fell to the floor with a clang as Alters grip went limp.
"My defeat here means little...the battle for the Holy Grail...the Grand Order...has only just begun..." Alter spoke weakly as her body began to glow.
"What does any of that mean?!" Nathaniel demanded as his helm disassembled.
Alters eyes locked onto his own, and she smiled weakly. "It matters...little...you will learn...soon enough...grandson..." With those final words, she disappeared and returned to the throne of heroes. Leaving behind a Holy Grail and some dark crystal.
Nathaniel looked at the crystal before swinging Carnwennan and destroying it. "I think that was the true source of the corruption; at least that's over." His thoughts couldn't help but linger on his corrupt grandfather's final words.
"What the hell!?" Chulainn suddenly stated as he began to glow and dissolve, too. "Looks like my time here is over with as well. Good job on all of you. Should you summon me at some point, try to do so with me in my proper class. Later!" With that, he, too, disappeared.
"Excellent work, Nathaniel, in dealing with the saber. You as well, Kyrielight, and finally utilizing your noble phantasm." Olga stated that she and the others approached the swordsman. "Now we just grab the grail, and everything should correct itself."
Ritsuka went over and picked up the grail. "I got this."
"Now that the grail is in our possession, things should start shifting back to how they're supposed to be soon enough," Explained the director.
"Goodness, I didn't expect any of you to make it to this point. How unfortunate that is," A masculine voice said mockingly.
Everyone's gaze whipped to the entrance of the cavern. Nathaniel and Mash took defensive stances in front of Olga and Ritsuka, waiting to see the source of the voice make itself known.
"Master candidate forty-eight, it seems I was foolish to overlook you as I did. Master candidate forty-nine, your rebellious tendencies worked in your favor. Though I must admit, I knew you were hiding something. I never would've anticipated what you've shown yourself to be." As the source of the voice made itself known. A man with long brown hair and a tacky green outfit showed himself.
"Professor Lev!" Ritsuka exclaimed.
"Lev is there!?" Romani cut in over the radio.
"Ah, Romani. I could've sworn I told you to report to the command room," Lev said, shaking his head in disappointment. You're just as bad at following orders sometimes as the Pendragon brat."
"Oh, fuck you too, then." Nathaniel snapped back with a growl. Something was seriously wrong with this guy. His time with Lev at Chaldea had been few and far between. The aura Lev gave off back then was nothing like he felt right now. Every instinct in his body was screaming at him to be cautious.
"Master, keep behind me. Something is very wrong with Professor Lev." Mash said, seemingly picking up on what Nathaniel was feeling, too. "He doesn't feel human anymore."
Olga, however, had a very different opinion on the matter. "Oh, Lev, it's so good to see you're alive! Things have been so terrible. The explosion, being stuck in this awful place." The Director of Chaldea then proceeded to rush forward towards Lev.
"Olga, get back here!" Nathaniel ordered. "He can't be trusted!"
"Don't be ridiculous; it's only Lev; he's fine," the silver-haired woman replied as she approached the man.
"Olga Marie, things must have been tough on you. Frankly, you being alive is rather amazing." Lev said, his fake bland smile still plastered on his face.
"It really was Lev, but here now, everything will be alright."
"Especially when one considers the fact I planted the bomb under your seat."
Olga's face shifted from joyful to one of surprise and shock. "What? I don't..."
"You backstabbing son of a bitch!" Nathaniel roared in absolute fury.
"I suppose so. You have a point." Lev replied before his grin turned demonic. "Though it's rather hard to betray someone who is already dead. Her body was destroyed by the explosion, though it seems Trismegistus was able to salvage her consciousness and shift it to this place as a spirit. How… unexpected. Still, it seems that returning to Chaldea would result in her spirit completely disappearing."
"I... don't...why?" Was all Olga could say, so caught up in the shock of everything.
"You humans truly are gullible pieces of trash," Lev said, his tone turning sadistic. "Allow me to show you your precious Chaldea!" He waved a hand, and suddenly, the cave ceiling shifted to show Chaldea and the orb of Sheba. That was a burning red instead of its usual calm blue.
"No, no...This can't be happening!? This can't be my Chaldea! It can't!" Olga cried out in disbelief.
"Bear witness to the folly of you and the rest of your pathetic race!" Lev spoke cruelly. "Instead of Humanities survival, your incompetence has brought about its destruction! Isn't it glorious!?"
Olga was too stunned to say anything at first, but then her body started to be pulled upwards by some unseen force. "What's happening!?" She shrieked in fear.
"I did say that returning to Chaldea would mean your disappearance, didn't I?" Lev chimed with twisted glee. "I could have allowed you to disappear, but that seemed too cruel. So why not reunite you with your family's legacy one last time."
Olga suddenly looked more terrified than she had ever been as her body moved closer and closer to the orb. "Chaldeas is the space of a different territory. Being pulled in..."
"Just like being sucked into a black hole. Enjoy your endless death for all eternity, you pathetic girl." Lev spoke joyfully.
"There has to be something we can do?" Ritsuka said desperately.
Nathaniel gritted his teeth and gripped the hilt of his sword so tightly that if it had been a regular weapon, his grip would have crushed it. "There's nothing we can do. She no longer has a physical form for her soul form to be grounded to. If we got too close to her right now, we would only be sucked into Sheba along with her." He said with frustration.
No! Stop! Please stop!... I haven't accomplished anything yet!" Olga pleaded in desperation. "I've never been accepted by anyone…" Then Olga disappeared into the red orb of Sheba.
The area seemed to go deathly quiet for a few moments after that. Then Lev's dark chuckle could be heard. "Well, that was certainly entertaining." He mused as he put his attention on the remaining trio. "I should properly reintroduce myself. "My name is Lev Lainur Flauros. I am in charge of the year 2017, sent to dispose of you humans." He announced with far too much glee.
"What my grandfather said earlier..." Nathaniel muttered in shock as things began to come together.
"You're getting it now, boy, and I hope you're listening closely as well, Romani." Lev began as his grin turned demonic once more. "Chaldea is dead! Humanity has finally reached its destruction! This singularity is not related to the end but is part of the end! The future didn't simply disappear. Rather, it was incinerated the moment that Chaldea drowned in crimson! Your end has come! Your era no longer exists! Those magnetic fields may protect Chaldea, but any outside of it will face the same fate as Fuyuki City! Humanity has effectively been erased from existence!"
Then, the cave began to shake, and a glow enveloped Nathaniel, Mash, and Ritsuka.
"It would appear this singularity is at its limit, and with the grail in hand, you pieces of trash are being pulled back to Chaldea," Lev said far too casually for someone who just killed most of humanity. "No matter, you fools will meet your ends soon enough. Farewell Romani, Mash, candidate forty-eight, and you especially candidate forty-nine. Enjoy what time you have left with your pathetic existences."
"Lev Lainur Flauros," Nathaniel snarled with all the vicious hatred he could muster, staring down the monster before him with the gaze of an angry dragon. "You haven't won yet; we will reverse what you've done and save humanity, but at some point, before reaching the end. I will kill you!"
The demon merely smiled in amusement at the threat.
The trio was fully engulfed by the light, and before they knew it, they were back in Chaldea. There was no celebration to be had, however. One problem had been solved, but the true challenge was about to begin.
A/N: Chapter three down, hope you enjoyed it. I had fun writing it. We finally get know the indentity of Nathaniels blade that's been teased about in the first couple chapters. It should be known that Carnwennan only appears in the Welsh version of the Arthurian tales. Even then the info on it, is rather scarce. It's listed as a weapon on a similar scale of Excalibur and Rhongomyniad. I am taking some liberties in regard to what exactly its purpose from a Fate perspective will be. Also the fact that in this story it's a sword instead of a dagger. But, Fate as a franchise loves to take plenty of its own liberties with all sorts of things. Especially FGO. Anyway that's all for now. Till next time.