Review Responses:
Guest- Due to the ensemble cast style of this story, it was quite difficult to decide on which characters to put in the story description. I've edited it since Ch.7's release to list Jester instead of Jiro, but I'll be keeping Izuku as one of the four listed. Izuku isn't very relevant right now, but he is intended to be a major character in the story as a whole. I understand it might be confusing at present since he isn't presently involved in the Grail War, but I wanted the description's characters to reflect the story as a whole, not just the earliest stages of it.
Thank you to everyone who Favorited, Followed, or Reviewed. Enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia or any Fate works, and they are the properties of their respective creators.
Nagoya Sublimation III: Lonesome Princess
Higashi Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning
If one were to describe Apophis's thoughts on humanity, "insignificant" would be a fitting term. As a monster that fought against the gods themselves, mere mortal beings were insects in comparison. Yet, Apophis strangely could not definitively say when it first encountered the lowly species.
Despite Servants normally having a strong grasp on their own identity, Apophis interestingly could only partially recall its past. But that recollection was also an abnormality itself. In an ordinary summoning, Apophis should have had no memory of its own origins.
The reason for this lay in an ancient conspiracy, enacted by the Egyptian Gods. It was not Apophis that was engraved in human history, but Apep.
When Ra stood at the brink of death, the god Thoth had dared to meddle with Apophis's legend. Weaving together a grand lie, the God of Knowledge wrote the character of Apep, the evils of Ra, a serpent spawned from the Sun God's umbilical cord.
It was not a complete obscurement of truth. If Thoth had tried to change the legend too significantly, the laws of the Feather of Truth would have immolated him. Nevertheless, the damage to Apophis's identity was still done.
But in reality, before the tapestry became tangled, the story was different. It was not from Ra's flesh that Apophis was born. In fact, Apophis was not even of Egyptian origin, but a monster of the nearby lands of Sumer.
At the dawn of time, the twin seas of Abzu and Tiamat birthed myth into Mesopotamia. But then, in an act of terrible parricide, Marduk and the Sumerian Gods turned their blades upon the twin seas. A tale that would be enshrined in the golden blade wielded by Lugalbanda of Uruk–- Merodach, the Original Sin. But the parricide was only the beginning. As beings above even the Gods, Abzu and Tiamat would not be simply killed like lesser beings. Lacking concepts of death, the gods of Sumer were forced to suppress them by other means. Tiamat was captured, perhaps by her own wishes, and sealed away in a space of endless imaginary numbers. But Abzu would not be so easily contained. Gathering up Tiamat's spilled blood, Abzu crafted his own flesh into an endless tide of monsters. A death of the self, but the birth of countless inheritors of his will.
The Divided Spirits of the Freshwater Sea clashed against the Gods of Sumer, but they could not hope to triumph. One by one, Marduk and his allies cut down Abzu's brood. But, by some defect, one particular Divided Spirit did not find itself completely enchained by Abzu's mission of retribution. Fleeing Mesopotamia, the serpent Apophis came to Egypt, the land of the Ogdoad. Seeing the familiarity to Tiamat in the Duat they were crafting, Apophis curled itself deep in their creation. They tried to stop the invader, but, unlike the Gods of Sumer, they had a conceptual disadvantage. The Ogdoad, all Gods of Water, could not harm a Divided Spirit of a fellow Primordial Sea. Only Tatenen, the mightiest of their children, ever managed to repel Apophis. But each time Apophis was repelled from the Duat, they would terrorize the lands of Egypt. From that terror, the serpent would draw strength. Soon enough, even Tatenen lay broken in its wake.
Ultimately, the Ogdoad fell to Apophis, and the Duat became the serpent's domain. Banished to the mortal realm, the surviving children of the Ogdoad rallied themselves against the monstrous usurper. But in time, Apophis would meet with undoing. The army of Gods fell under the leadership of Ra, a new type of God who held authority over the boundless fires of the Sun. Accompanied by his half-brother, Sobek, and wily Thoth, Ra entered the Duat to battle Apophis.
It was a clash that seemed to last an eternity. At the climax of the battle, Thoth dared to distort the fabric of history. Apophis was supplanted within humanity's memory, replaced with a falsehood of Thoth's creation. The serpent known as Apep concealed the true Apophis from history. Through Thoth's machinations, the last flicker of Abzu's rage had been confined.
In any other instance that could have produced its summoning, it would have been Apep was was summoned. A false identity, wholly unaware of the fictitiousness of its own existence. But Jester, who had absorbed the magic of Sakura Matou and Angra Mainyu, had inadvertently linked himself to both the Imaginary Numbers Space and Tiamat's Black Mud. Thus, perhaps through their mother's distant love, the appellative bindings on Apophis had weakened. While the influence of Egypt upon their existence was still palpable, it was not a false serpent that had been summoned. It was Apophis who had been called, a Divided Spirit of Abzu who pushed back against Thoth's concealments.
Of the memories Apophis could recall, one of these was the memory of slaughtering countless ancient Egyptians. It was those memories that made the present sight all the more pleasing. Despite the humans' insignificance, there was a sense of satisfaction to be wrought from all of this. They would suffer, even if the plan caused a feeling of dissatisfaction within the serpent. Chaos Storm Isfet was a Noble Phantasm of Anti-World level. In any normal situation, Avenger could have already begun to reduce this human city to dust. It was a necessary sacrifice to drag the Holy Grail into the world, but it was still annoying to be constrained in this way.
Although Avenger wished to have a more active role, the ritual meant that they had to stay by Jester's side. The Sekhem would have to do all the work, but they were struggling. Avenger could sense that in each direction, humans who possessed a modicum of skill were steadily holding back the Sekhem. There had been hundreds of casualties early on, but now that the city was evacuated, things were changing. Humanity was making a counterattack. But Avenger could not concern itself with the Sekhem too much. Eventually, Saber would make it through the hordes below along with the other Heroic Spirits who would foolishly scurry towards them. Whether it was Berserker, Saber, or others, it mattered not. This would not be like Deika City where Apophis was forced to only use a sliver of its power. The Chaos Storm had been unleashed, albeit not in full. Even if all seven Servants stood against them, Avenger was confident they would triumph.
Letting out a hiss of anticipation, the Serpent of the Brackish Sea felt a sense of long-forgotten excitement. It was time to remind humanity of the true meaning of fear.
Minato Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning
As the armored Berserker approached, the four pro heroes stared down their opponent. Gunhead turned slightly to speak to Aizawa.
"Eraserhead, could your Quirk work in this situation?"
Aizawa shook his head in response, "No good. They are covered head to toe in armor. My Quirk would have no effect."
The Erasure Hero was frustrated. First the sand constructs and now this. His Erasure kept coming up short.
Khao Lam cursed, "Damn. Well… does anyone have any bright ideas?"
As Gang Orca went to speak, the conversation was interrupted by a howling roar from their opponent. Lunging with superhuman speed, Berserker closed in on his targets. Dodging to the side, Gang Orca yelled to his allies. They didn't have time for intricate planning. It was rudimentary, but they had no choice.
"Gunhead, you and I will try to fight him off! Eraserhead, Khao Lam! Use your Support Items and Quirks to slow the enemy down! Sidekicks, maintain the perimeter!"
Not bothering to listen for their confirmation, Orca rushed forward. Gathering his breath, the Killer Whale Hero unleashed his paralyzing sonic voice.
"HYPERSONIC WAVE: LOW TIDE!"
As the sonic waves bombarded Berserker, Gunhead followed Gang Orca's lead. Utilizing the full power of his Quirk, Gatling, the Battle Hero sent forth a barrage of keratin blades.
However, it wouldn't be enough to delay Berserker. With a roar, the Servant of Madness rushed forward at Gang Orca, ignoring Gunhead's suppressive fire like it was not even there. Despite the failure, the Killer Whale Hero wasn't worried.
'Alright, you two… it's your turn!"
Just before Berserker could tear out Sakamata's throat, Aizawa's capture weapon swung forward and latched around Berserker's ankle. As the Servant was caught in place, a huge swath of bamboo shot out of the ground between Berserker and the Killer Whale Hero. Gang Orca's gambit had paid off, as Khao Lam's attack sent the Servant flying back. Straining his muscles against Berserker's weight, Eraserhead directed their opponent away from the front line. Flung back towards the Hercules, Berserker crashed awkwardly against the hood with a loud crunch.
Khao Lam looked at the downed knight nervously, "Did we get him…?"
"I…"
Before Eraserhead could respond, a growl came from Berserker as the Servant pushed himself off the hood. Standing up, the black knight reached out to grab the roof of the car. For a moment, there was only the whine of straining metal until the roof was torn right off. Wielding its unorthodox weapon, Berserker launched itself at the heroes once again.
As it moved forward with frightening speed, the power of Berserker's Noble Phantasm began to encroach upon the car roof. Through the power of Lancelot's Knight of Owner, an enchantment was placed upon the large piece of scrap metal. It was no Arondight, but the roof was now far more than ordinary steel; it was now a deadly tool for Berserker's rampage.
Seeing the approaching Servant, Khao Lam put his hand to the ground. Although his throat felt even drier as a result, he unleashed an equally large burst of bamboo as a barrier. But this time, the charging knight was ready. Swinging the torn-off roof like a chakram, the Servant cut through Khao Lam's Bamboo like it was nothing but grass.
The hero barely had time to even react, "Wha—AAGHH!"
Khao Lam, who was now unguarded, had his thoughts cut off as the sheet of metal slammed into him with the force of a truck and sent him flying. The sound of cracking ribs was sickening. Landing farther down the street, the hero groaned in agony; his impact-absorbing costume meant he wasn't out of the fight, but his body was screaming in pain.
"Shit."
Seeing Khao Lam fly back, Gang Orca could not help but curse. The Bamboo Hero was not the strongest of fighters, but his Quirk was important to their strategy. The plan needed to change.
Sakamata narrowed his eyes, 'This guy likely targeted Khao Lam due to his Quirk… which means his next target will be… me!'
As the Killer Whale Hero predicted, Berserker turned towards him. Luckily, Khao Lam was not their only means of support. Racing towards a part of the Hercules's wreckage, Eraserhead activated his Quirk, making his eyes glow red and his hair stand on end.
Although Aizawa's Quirk would not affect this armored villain, he was using it anyway. For whatever reason, the activation of his Quirk made his head receive a localized anti-gravity. Taking advantage of this, Eraserhead used the anti-gravity to make it easier to deploy his capturing weapon.
Swinging the carbon-fiber cloth with practiced skill, Eraserhead latched it around Berserker's ankle. Thanks to the armor, his opponent was certainly too heavy for him to swing repeatedly, but forcing a fall was more than feasible.
As Aizawa hoped, Berserker stumbled as he went to take a step forward. If the Servant had been more focused on Aizawa, he might have predicted the attack, but luckily for the Hero, he was not. Not wanting to give Berserker a chance to steal his capture weapon, the Pro Hero quickly retracted the cloth. The knight made a grab for it, but Aizawa's quick thinking meant the Servant's hand narrowly missed.
Given an opening, Gang Orca leaped backward as he drew in his breath. This level of sonic damage was usually reserved for non-living targets, but Sakamata knew he could not afford to hold back.
"HYPERSONIC WAVE: HIGH TIDE!"
The sound waves struck Berserker head-on. Even for a Servant, this was a painful experience. For the first time in the fight, the Servant had taken damage. Seeing the opportunity, Aizawa and Gunhead began hitting the Servant with projectiles. Although the keratin blades bounced off, and the asphalt rubble thrown by Eraserhead shattered, some strikes managed to get through. Although they did not observe any major damage, the Heroes could see a small amount of blood dripping from their opponent's armor.
Unfortunately, a bit of blood was not going to be enough to deter Berserker. Roaring, the Servant threw its makeshift Noble Phantasm at Gunhead. The hero managed to stop it, but his muscles ached from the effort.
Seeing the Battle Hero's strain, Aizawa's eyes narrowed.
'The Hercules… Khao Lam's Bamboo… Captain Sparta's spear… and now this scrap metal. None of those should have been this powerful. Not to mention this armor… could it be?'
As Gunhead narrowly dodged another attack from Berserker, Eraserhead watched the car roof suddenly lose its darkened coloration and drop to the street. His eyes widened in realization.
"Gunhead! Orca! Khao Lam! His Quirk is an enhancer! Anything he wears or wields becomes stronger!"
Aizawa's theory was not completely accurate, but for someone with no knowledge of Servants, his guess was close enough to the truth. However, it was one thing to deduce Berserker's capabilities, it was another to overcome them.
The deluge of keratin and rubble had been exhausted, and Gang Orca was not yet ready to unleash another Hypersonic Wave. There was nothing standing in Berserker's path. Sakamata prepared for a repeat attack, but the charge never came. Instead, the black knight moved left, grabbing Gunhead by his throat. With a street-cracking swing, the Battle Hero was slammed face-first into the pavement, knocking him unconscious.
Standing up, Berserker faced Eraserhead and Gang Orca, seemingly undaunted by the earlier damage. The Heroic Spirit Lancelot let out a low growl at its remaining opponents.
He did not say a word, but the heroes could sense his intent all the same.
One down… three to go.
Watching from a Detnerat-owned Apartment in the Minato Ward, a young man observed the battle between the heroes and Berserker. He had silver eyes, messy white hair, and wore a thick light blue parka with a fur-lined hood.
The man's name was Geten Himura, known amongst the Meta Liberation Army as Iceman.
Although he was not an executive, Geten was one of the six Masters (now five after the death of Curious) entrusted with Command Spells by Re-Destro. At the Grand Commander's orders, he had been deployed here to Nagoya to manage Berserker.
It had been a serious surprise when the Servant voluntarily materialized and began moving towards the Aichi Prefecture, but Skeptic had a theory as to why. The strange red clouds that covered the sky of Nagoya were the work of Berserker's previous opponent, Avenger. Skeptic theorized Berserker wanted payback, and Re-Destro decided that utilizing a Command Spell to stop the black knight was a waste of precious resources. The Command Spells had already been depleted from their last encounter with Avenger, and using a second one was an absolute last resort.
Geten had been concerned when Berserker decided to fight the group of Pro Heroes instead of other Servants. But the Grand Commander had communicated to him to let the Servant do as it pleased. So, even when Berserker had been struck by Gang Orca's ultimate move, Iceman did nothing.
'To be honest, I was not even sure Berserker could bleed. I suppose that's an interesting thing.'
Despite the heroes drawing blood, Geten was still confident in Berserker's strength. In a relatively small amount of time, Berserker had taken out Gunhead and nearly taken out Khao Lam. That was no small feat, but, then again, Berserker was the Lancelot. If a dragon-slaying knight wasn't capable of this much, Geten would have been severely disappointed.
The ice-Quirk user had to hand it to the sidekicks present. Despite the pummeling their bosses were receiving, neither Gunhead nor Orca's sidekicks disobeyed their orders. They were holding the line against Avenger's creations, regardless of the state of the battle behind them.
'That tenacity is one of the reasons I can't ever truly despise Heroes like that serial killer, Stain, does. Dogs of the world order or not, these Heroes certainly have a strength to them. Not that it will matter when Berserker finishes off their bosses.'
Naka Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning
In the skies of the Naka Ward, there was a heroine in the form of a dragon.
The heroine's name was Ryuko Tatsuma, also known as the Dragoon Hero: Ryukyu. Like other Pro Heroes, she had come to Nagoya to speak at the Fauna Thematic Heroics Conference. Now, with the outbreak of Avenger's Sekhem, she joined the efforts to contain the skeletal hordes.
Most of the heroes in Nagoya had split across the four cardinal directions. But after observing the enemy climb buildings to attack civilians trying to hide on the upper floors, a change of plans was necessary. Thus, heroes capable of flight or complex vertical movement formed a fifth "perimeter squad". They first helped evacuate the larger high-rises, and now were ensuring no enemies got by the ground squads from above.
As she flew above the streets, Ryukyu caught a group of red dots in the corner of her vision. She spoke into a communicator attached to her outfit.
"Ryukyu reporting. I've caught sight of another group of climbers near Kanayama Station. Moving to intercept."
Swooping down, the Pro Heroine slammed into the Sekhem, crashing through the window of the office building. Cringing as she tore through several cubicles in the process, Ryuko internally apologized. Hopefully, Espa Electronic Systems kept proper digital backups of their files.
Unable to move properly in the confined space, Ryuko morphed back to her human form. Hefting up her Drachen Claw, the Dragoon Hero rushed towards the remaining Sekhem. Although they tried to weaponize themselves, Ryukyu was faster. With axe hands still half-morphed, they returned to dust.
Brushing some glass off herself, Ryuko surveyed the street before transforming back into her dragon form. Flying up to the rooftop, the heroine looked out for any other Sekhem in the vicinity.
'Nothing that I can see. I suppose I'll meet back up with Elytrian? Or maybe Kamui and Native?'
"Oh? So you are the dragon of this era I felt?"
Whirling sideways as fast as her dragon form would allow, Ryuko was shocked to see a strange-looking woman next to the building. She looked to be Indian, with golden hair and a fancy black dress. What caught her attention was the woman's black lizard-like tail and the floating bronze trishula she was standing on.
'This era? Where did this woman come from anyway? I didn't even hear her coming!'
Ignoring Ryuko, the woman put a finger to her chin in contemplation.
"Ah right, there was no Age of Gods in this world. So, I suppose you're just a pretender."
Turning back to the heroine, the woman gave a bloodthirsty grin as she manifested a second bronze trishula with a twirl of her hand.
"Well, you'll be nowhere as tough an opponent as I'd like, but I suppose I'll have to find out how fast you die."
Lancer's next words were spoken with dispassion, but their intent was clear.
"Penetrate, Vajra."
On pure instinct, Ryukyu morphed back to her human form as the trishula elongated with nigh-imperceptible speed. Although the heroine's quick thinking had prevented a direct hit, the Dragoon Hero's side erupted in pain as Vajra grazed the right edge of her abdomen. Although the blood did not show through the dark red color of her dress, Ryuko could feel it oozing slowly down her leg.
Locking eyes with Ryukyu, Lancer clicked her tongue as she gave the heroine a vehement glare.
'Pathetic. I thought she would have the pride to die as a dragon, but in the end, she was nothing but a pitiful human. What a disappointment.'
"You humans are so tiresome. I should kill you and be done with it, but you annoyed me. For that, you will suffer, mortal."
Closing the distance between them in an instant, Lancer kicked the heroine in the stomach. Unprepared for the sudden attack, Lancer's opponent fell to her knees. But rather than finishing the heroine off, Lancer kicked her again.
"Get up, mortal."
As Ryuko struggled to push herself up, Lancer impaled one of her Vajra Spears into the heroine's back. This continued six more times before Ryukyu finally pushed back. In a burst of adrenaline, her flesh expanded into her draconic form. The sight made Lancer grin.
"Good. Reactivate your little Quirk, Pro Hero, and I will slay you as the false dragon you are."
The Island of Naxos
A Long, Long Time Ago…
"Alexondra! Nausicää! Where are you?"
As she wandered the forests of Naxos, Princess Ariadne, still wet from her bath in the river, desperately called out for her handmaidens.
The two had left a while ago to speak to Kyriakos, who had some sort of message from Theseus. Focused on bathing, Ariadne had not noticed quickly enough that her two handmaidens had not returned from the discussion.
'What is going on? They would never leave my side for long… unless…'
As she dashed through the tree line, she held her shoddily donned chiton together. Ariadne's mind was clouded with panic as she muttered to herself.
"Oh no… Phaedra… she would not have…"
After Theseus had slain her brother, Asterios, he offered to take Ariadne and her sister, Phaedra, to Athens with him. But this came with the unfortunate side effect that both princesses came to believe that Theseus wanted to marry them. This led to numerous jealous arguments during the voyage towards Athens, the two sisters competing for the affection of the handsome Athenian prince. But Phaedra, like her and Ariadne's father, Minos, was wily.
In a vile betrayal, Phaedra told Theseus she received a vision from the goddess Artemis. According to Phaedra, the Olympian was displeased with Ariadne. If they continued to sail with her aboard, their vessel would surely sink. Theseus, who trusted Phaedra, believed her lie without question. Anchoring on the island of Naxos, Theseus suggested Ariadne disembark to bathe, knowing full well he was abandoning her here.
By the time she made it to the shoreline, it was too late. With Kyriakos having retrieved Alexondra and Nausicää, the ship departed Naxos. Ariadne had been left behind.
Staring at the ship sailing away, Ariadne's face was wet with tears. She could not pray to Lord Poseidon for help. The day her father slighted him, the day her mother had been cursed to mate with the Cretan Bull, her family lost the favor of the Sea God.
'Phaedra… would you truly abandon me here? Your own sister?'
Falling to her knees, Ariadne wept. It should have been her, not Phaedra, who sailed to Athens at Theseus's side. Had her sister truly been so jealous? Or had betraying her father truly angered the Gods so much?
Ariadne's thoughts were filled with despair, 'Is this my fate? My punishment? To die alone on an unfamiliar shore?'
The princess had held no illusions about her chance of survival. Perhaps if she had been of a more rugged upbringing, she might have tried to brave crossing the mountains surrounding the coastal forest. But she was a sheltered princess, a person who knew nothing of hunting or gathering.
As Selene's cold moonlight filled the sky, Ariadne still dared to hope. At the dawn of the next day, as Eos's rosy fingers touched the sky, she stared out at the horizon. Even as Helios, eldest of Hyperion's three children, blazed across the sky, she continued to watch. But there was nothing.
Soon, Ariadne began to lose her desire to live. The hunger had set in, and she had no doubt she would soon die of starvation. The few fruits she had managed to find had run out, and now she did not have the strength to reach fresh water to drink. The princess, who had once longed to see a ship on the horizon, now prayed for the ever-approaching embrace of gentle Thanatos. She was tired of her life, the life that was ruined by a naive Theseus and a jealous Phaedra. Soon, the shackles of starvation would fall away, as Hermes carried her soul to the Fields of Asphodel. Ariadne knew she would not reach Elysium. She was but a footnote, a forgotten and discarded part of Theseus's legend.
But when Ariadne, at the very edge of death, heard footsteps on the sands of Naxos, it was not the nigh-silent approach of black-winged Death. Instead, it was an almost melodic stepping, a festive crunching sound. Weakly opening her eyes, Ariadne tried and failed to turn her head to the visitor. All she could manage was a weak groan, but it was enough.
Noticing the sound, the newcomer's steps became a dash. As they moved closer, Ariadne heard them yell at their companion. The voice was that of a young female, full of excitement and lively energy.
"Big Sis Artemis! There's someone here!"
In her current state, Ariadne's brain did not register the impossibility of this stranger's companion. Instead, she tried to look at them, but through her hazy view, all she could make out was a blob of colors.
A second female voice rang out, "Geez Dionysus, don't surprise me like that!"
"There must be something we can do to help her. Isn't there?"
Ariadne did not know who this "Dionysus" was, but she felt a spark of emotion at the genuine kindness in the first girl's voice. It was not the cold platitudes of the Cretan palace; it was a true and honest wish to help a stranger.
In response to Dionysus's plea, the goddess, Artemis, sighed. With a swirl of light, a small glass vial appeared in her hand. It was filled with a burning liquid.
Dionysus looked at the vial curiously, "What is that?"
Artemis smiled, "Phlegethon Water!"
Dionysus went to yell in protest, but Artemis put a finger on the demigod's mouth.
"Shush, little siblings should listen to their big sisters!"
Turning to Ariadne, Artemis telekinetically flung the flaming liquid into Ariadne's mouth. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, suddenly, Ariadne felt strength return to her. Her emaciated limbs became smooth and strong. As her vision returned, Ariadne was filled with confusion as she looked down at herself.
"How is this possible? Who are you?"
With her sight restored, Ariadne could at last see the two individuals before her. On the right, clutching an empty vial, was a goddess. Although the woman had stated no such fact, Ariadne knew that was the only thing she could be. Even in a mortal shape, the divine beauty and power she radiated were as bright as the moon itself. Her body was lithe and her skin was pale. Her eyes were as blue as the sky, and her messy long hair was the snowy color of a mountain slope. She wore a white chiton lined in red thread, and on her back was a large crescent-shaped silver bow.
Ariadne instantly fell to her knees, "Goddess Artemis. Please forgive my disrespect!"
In response, the goddess shrugged, shattering Ariadne's preconceptions of a cold-hearted huntress.
"Ehh, don't sweat the details and all. I don't have the p-word for that."
Ariadne was dumbstruck, "p-word…?"
It was Dionysus who answered, whispering to Ariadne, "Patience! It's one of big sis's least favorite words so please don't say it!"
Although confused, Ariadne nodded. It was best to indulge the gods' quirkier traits.
Turning her head slightly, Ariadne observed Artemis's "little sister".
Dionysus was young, and her curly black hair, adorned with a crown of ivy and grapes, contrasted well against the sky-blue eyes she shared with Artemis. She wore a white and purple chiton, with the only unusual addition being a leopard's pelt on one of her shoulders.
'She must be a child of Almighty Zeus… like father was…'
As Ariadne continued to look, she saw the girl blush. Realizing her staring was likely making the teenage demigod uncomfortable, Ariadne broke eye contact.
Artemis looked at Dionysus and chuckled, "Oooh-ho? I don't think that blush is from wine, little sister~"
Luckily for Dionysus, Ariadne had a question that needed answering.
"What did you have me drink? It was… warm."
Dionysus's expression immediately became ashen; Ariadne's heart sank. Whatever Artemis had given her, it must have a terrible price.
Dionysus whispered, "Phlegethon."
Ariadne's throat felt instantly drier, "I drank… the waters of the Phlegethon?"
In the realm of Hades, there flowed five rivers, each of which held a special effect when mortals drank from them.
Cocytus, the River of Lamentation, which granted mortals visions of their sins.
Acheron, the River of Woe, which allowed mortals to gaze upon the spirits of the dead.
Styx, the River of Dread, which could strengthen mortal flesh.
Lethe, the River of Oblivion, which would erase all memories from a mortal's mind.
Phlegethon, the River of Fire, which could heal all manner of wounds.
But the blessings of the rivers always came at a price. For the Phlegethon, it was lifeforce. To drink from the Phlegethon was to burn away one's future to live in the present. For Ariadne, who only had a little more time left to live, the toll exacted was without question.
"How long do I have left?"
Dionysus frowned, "I don't know, but probably… no more than a single night."
After a moment of silence, Dionysus turned to the Goddess of the Hunt, "Artemis?"
Artemis, who had been ignoring the conversation, turned, "What is it, little sis?"
"Could you… give us some time?"
"Huh? What? But I'm supposed to take you to Olympus right away!"
"Please Artemis. These are Ariadne's last hours. I don't want her to be alone, not at the end!"
"Muuu~, fine! Still, making me wait after I went all the way to India to find you? Big sis doesn't like that~!"
With that miniature tantrum, Artemis stomped off before launching herself into the air. When the light trail following her dissipated, Dionysus turned and walked closer to Ariadne. Sitting down next to her, the demigod chuckled.
"Artemis probably wasn't what you were expecting, huh?"
Ariadne smiled softly, "No, she wasn't. I was expecting something more… subdued?"
"Yep, that's what everyone seems to expect."
"Mhm."
As the night went on, the princess and the demigod talked for hours. Sometimes the conversation was about Ariadne and her childhood antics against Daedalus. Other times it was about Dionysus and her travels in India.
Partway through their talk, Dionysus turned to Ariadne with concern.
"Ariadne… are you angry at Artemis's actions?"
"You mean making me drink the Phlegethon?"
"Yes. That water burns away at life. There may have been other ways to save you, but my big sis didn't even try!"
In response, Ariadne gave the demigod a heartwarming smile, "Dionysus, this night has been the happiest one I have ever had. For the first time, I felt truly loved. I would not reject this fate of mine, because I am happy to live my last night in this way."
Dionysus, tears streaming down her face, cried, "Ariadne…"
As the first hints of dawn touched the horizon, Ariadne gave Dionysus a final smile, "Thank you, Dionysus."
Feeling a strange exhaustion wash over her, Ariadne felt her eyes close. She knew, without a doubt, this was a sleep she would not wake up from. Hugging her last and greatest friend, Ariadne's life force burned away.
The Phlegethon had run its course, and the flames of the netherworld could no longer sustain Ariadne's mortal soul. As Thanatos and Hermes, unseen by all, whisked her soul down to Hades, Dionysus sobbed. Ariadne did not deserve to die, she believed this in her heart.
A few feet away, a sparkle of light filled the air as Artemis returned to the shoreline.
Seeing her little sister crying while cradling the body of the Cretan princess, Artemis remained unusually silent.
At that moment, the Goddess of the Hunt witnessed Dionysus's godly heritage display itself. As the tears landed on Ariadne's body, the princess began to transform into a golden light. Carried by an invisible wind, the light flowed towards an outcrop a little ways away. As the light touched the grass, a miracle occurred. Sprouting and growing, a Citron tree formed rapidly from the outcrop.
It was not a tree native to the land of the Greeks, but instead, a plant Dionysus observed in their travels. A favorite of a particular Vedic God she had befriended, the Citron Tree would now be a commemoration. A lasting legacy of the lonesome princess, who died in Dionysus's arms.
Walking up to the tree, Dionysus took a moment to kiss the bark of the newly sprouted grave marker. It had only been a single night of the future Olympian's long life, but it would never be forgotten. Through Dionysus's efforts, the story of Ariadne was not lost to time.
Carried on by oral traditions, the world would remember the princess Theseus abandoned, the girl Phaedra schemed to erase.
And so the princess remained enshrined within human memory. That was the end of her story… until the princess was chosen by the False Grail.
Naka Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning
Struggling in the confines of Caster's strings, Kamui Woods shouted with fervor, "Gahh! You villain! Undo your Quirk at once!"
Caster raised an eyebrow, "I am not a villain, but if I were, why would I listen to your request? Besides, if I wanted to hurt you two, I'd have done more than this."
Native, who had resigned himself, looked at his fellow Hero tiredly, "She does sorta have a point you know?"
Kamui flinched at the realization, "Guh!"
Smiling at the two, Caster was reminded of her childhood arguments with Daedalus.
'I suppose he was right in the end, that old craftsman. But the time for reminiscing is over. I must cull this maelstrom before it grows any further.'
Gathering her magical energies, Caster directed her strings into the ground. One by one, her pores filled with the raw mana of the ley lines. An ordinary Magus would be incinerated trying to control such a flow, but Caster was no ordinary Magus. Born in the Age of Gods, she had lived in an era where the bar was higher, where mystery was thick. While not on the level of Medea or Circe, the prowess she inherited from her mother was nothing to scoff at.
With magical energy coursing through her body, Caster began to chant, guiding the flow toward her Spirit Origin.
I am a princess, adrift on the wind.
As she chanted, a strange energy filled the rooftop. Kamui Woods and Native watched with awe as ethereal trees began to sprout all around them. Even when Caster's focus on her Noble Phantasm caused the strings holding them to loosen, they did not move to capture her.
My mother is Pasiphaë, my father is Minos.
Flowing back into the ley-lines, the power of Caster's Noble Phantasm began surging towards Avenger's location. As the energy passed beneath the city, a sense of serenity filled the area. As the air seemed to glow with golden light, the Sekhem that Oogami's team was fighting began to disintegrate. By the will of Caster's Noble Phantasm, the bindings keeping them in the mortal world shattered.
Under the moon's gaze, I sprout upon the shore.
Throughout Nagoya, the Sekhem began to feel the Duat pull them back. The storm clouds that covered the city began to dissipate, even if only partially.
Holding the hand of Dionysus, this is my last breath.
False Caster did not possess the parameters to be able to stand against most Servants in direct combat. Her physical parameters, even for a Caster, were on the lower end of the scale. But she possessed a rare kind of Noble Phantasm, one that could push back against the powers of other Servants— an Anti-Phantasm Noble Phantasm.
Although the connection between the worlds was not broken, the effects of Chaos Storm Isfet began to wane. Such destruction would not be permitted within Caster's gaze. A seal had been enacted, and the storm could no longer threaten humanity. Moving forward with the golden light of hope, it was time for the Heroic Spirits' counterattack.
"My name is Ariadne, Princess of Crete. I reveal my Noble Phantasm."
Slumbering Island of Citron Leaves: Naxos Asteria!
FALSE CASTER: ARIADNE
Higashi Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning
Initially, Avenger and Jester paid no heed to the golden light in the west. The movements of the mortal flies were inconsequential, after all. But suddenly, there was a change. Chaos Storm Isfet began to rapidly wane, and a whole legion of Sekhem had been returned to the Duat. Somehow, likely through another Servant's Noble Phantasm, Avenger's own Noble Phantasm had been sealed away.
"It would seem that one of the summoned Servants has the ability to seal your Noble Phantasm. How intriguing."
Deigning not to speak, Apophis's voice echoed in the Dead Apostle's mind.
'So it would seem. What of the ritual, Earthborn?'
Jester smirked, "Still intact. Your Noble Phantasm was merely a tool for us to blast open the passage. Even with its deactivation, the link between worlds remains. As long as we are standing, the ritual will continue as planned. Although…"
Stepping towards a large hole in the building's floor, Jester gazed down at the street below.
"...it may be more troublesome without a perpetual source of Sekhem. They were a useful means of containing those pesky Heroes. Now, where has Saber gone off to?"
Just as Jester peered downwards, his ears caught the sound of roaring water. If Jester had looked earlier, he might have noticed Saber's approach. But he had not, and now Saber would make his first strike.
Seeing the Sekhem lessening, the Servant took the chance to break through their line. Once through, Saber used his hydrokinesis to compel the water of a nearby fire hydrant. Using it to propel himself, he shot his way up penthouse level. Striking before Jester could dodge, Saber's poisoned blade cut right through the vampire's right eye.
"Arghg! Dammit!"
As Jester cursed, Saber continued riding the flow up to the floor above Jester and Avenger. Running over to a hole between floors, the Servant of the Sword dropped between his opponents. Avenger swept at him with its tail, but he dodged it again and again.
Watching the dance between hero and snake, Jester felt the blood drip from his eye. The wound burned as Jester dissolved the invasive poison coursing in his bloodstream.
'This Saber… seems he will be the troublesome sort.'
As Saber dodged again, he took the chance to strike at Apophis's tail. However, the blade seemed to only scratch the serpent.
'Does this monster have Protection From Blades? Or is it some other Skill? Either way, this makes things tricky.'
As he went to dodge again, his path was blocked by a wall of flames. Turning to Jester, he grimaced.
"Dammit, you healed already, bloodsucker?"
Saber's battle instincts roared as Avenger turned towards him, the massive jaws of Apophis closing in on the Servant of the Sword. A quick glance informed Saber that his only escape route was blocked by Avenger's tail.
"Ah, this might be bad."
Just as it seemed Saber was done for, a loud shout echoed through the high-rise.
"DETROIT SMASH!"
Apophis's head was suddenly knocked back by a powerful punch. Not questioning the opening, Saber swung his sword against Avenger's tail, springboarding himself away from the pair. When Jester went to attack Saber, he suddenly found himself bombarded by a stream of arrows.
The vampire grunted, "Kuh!'
On opposite sides of the penthouse, two massive figures stepped into view. On the right side from Chrysaor, across from where Jester stood pincushioned by dozens of arrows, stood a man with dark skin, wild black hair, and a bow. On the left, across from where Avenger lay coiled, was a man in colorful spandex. His hair was blonde, and his face had a charismatic smile.
Turning to look at Saber, the No.1 Hero spoke with gusto, "No need to fear, brave swordsman! For WE are here!"
'All Might, huh? And the other one could only be Archer. Does this mean All Might is a Master? Yet I see no Command Spells on his hand… nevermind, it's not the time for inquiries.'
Saber was curious about the connection between the two, but there was a more important situation… the two enemies before them.
Avenger and Jester picked themselves up from the respective surprise attacks. As Jester picked Archer's arrows out of his white blazer, Avenger was in a state of tumultuous frustration.
How did this man, a mere mortal, overcome the power of Nega-Genesis with only their fists?
After the battle with Berserker, Avenger was increasingly irate with the frustrating tricks of its opponents. It had been gratifying to see Saber's blade utterly fail to cause damage, but now this man and his Quirk had somehow achieved what the Servant of the Sword could not.
Avenger, who was more deeply intertwined with the world than most, already sensed the alien element within the humans of this world. These "Quirks", sparked by an Outer God, rejected the proper laws of reality. Yet, as Avenger experienced in Deika City, an individual person's Quirk Factor was still weak enough that it could not overcome its defenses. There were only two explanations: either this man had a Quirk that counteracted the very concepts that defined Nega-Genesis, or he wielded an unnatural level of Quirk Factor. Given the alien essence oozing off the man's soul, Avenger suspected the answer was the latter.
For the first time in its existence, Avenger was forced to see a mere mortal as a threat. The Serpent had never felt such disgrace, even in its battle with Berserker.
Jester, on the other hand, was curious as he continued to pick the last few arrows from his ruined attire. He could tell this "All Might" was no ordinary individual. A normal man would not have been able to damage Avenger.
'A Servant who can damage me… and a human who can damage my Servant… how intriguing. And then there is Archer to consider as well.'
Even with the ability to deal damage, the power gap remained wide. After all, being able to damage your opponent was not a victory; both sides were well aware of that.
As Avenger and Jester regrouped, the three Heroes made their plans.
Without losing sight of his opponents, Saber spoke to his new allies, "All Might, Archer. Can you two deal with the Servant? Whatever its scales are made of, I can't get through them. I'll handle the Dead Apostle."
Archer nodded, "Very well."
All Might, although he had many questions swirling in his head, decided to trust the two warriors. The snake seemed to be the source of the storm, so taking it down was his priority. "Good luck, young man."
"Just call me Saber, All Might."
With lightning speed, the three split. Saber, crouching as he ran, allowed Archer to leap over him as he drew his bow at Avenger. Looking up at his opponent, Jester picked the last arrow before sending a spiral of wind at Saber. Dodging with ease, Saber called upon his hydrokinesis, sending a crescent-shaped slash of water at Jester. The Dead Apostle countered with a concentrated wind blade, canceling out the attack.
Glaring at Chrysaor as he spoke, Jester's voice was thick with a scathing attitude.
"So you come at me alone, Saber? You may be a Servant, but that is not enough to defeat m—."
Suddenly, from behind Jester, a blur flew into the penthouse. Cutting off Jester's taunt, a loud crash resounded. Ceasing their assault momentarily, All Might and Archer jumped back to survey the situation. From the small mountain of rubble, there was a sound of shifting stones as a foot kicked its way out of the pile. Soon after, the dusty form of Rider pulled himself out. Surveying the room around him, Rider looked at each of the battlers with a hint of awe.
"Wow, we got some serious machos here! Howdy!"
All Might, in particular, was caught off guard. Did this young girl have no sense of social awareness?
Chrysaor, guessing at the newcomer's class, called out to the new arrival as Jester rushed forward, "I'm guessing you're Rider! Our opponents are the serpent and this vampire. I'd appreciate some backup on my end!"
"Yep, I'm Rider! And a vampire, huh? I think me and Charles met one or two of those on our adventures! They were pretty wacky!"
Saber, who was pushing against Jester's claws with his sword, grunted in annoyance, "Rider. Give. Me. Back. Up."
"Oops, sorry about that! Don't worry, you can count on Astolfo to save the day!"
Jester clicked his tongue. He, in particular, was forcing himself to limit his mana output. Although it would take a lot of effort to ruin the ritual, he preferred the previous odds. Dealing with two opponents would be more troublesome. The chance of failure was still extremely low, but it was not as much of an impossibility now.
'These damn Servants. I did gather them to absorb the ambient mana from the ley-lines, but they keep making things difficult.'
Thus, the penthouse battles were set. On one side, Jester and Apophis, rejectors of the worlds' boundaries. On the other, a ragtag team of a Pro Hero and three Servants. With Caster's interference, the Chaos Storm waned, but the battle for the False Grail was only just beginning.
Naka Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning
"Hah…"
Caster panted as the ghostly trees atop the rooftop dissipated. She had done it. Through the power of her Noble Phantasm, Naxos Asteria, she had sealed the storm that Avenger unleashed upon Nagoya. The effects were only temporary, but as long as she remained on the battlefield, it should last long enough to turn the tide.
Turning towards Kamui Woods and Native, the winded Servant looked at them expectantly.
"Well, weren't you going to try and arrest me, you two?"
Turning to face each other, the two nodded in sync before turning back to Caster. Native was the one to shake his head in response.
"No, Miss…"
"Caster."
"Miss Caster, we have decided to let you go this time. According to protocol, we should arrest you for vigilantism. But after what we saw… that would not be right. You might have saved Nagoya with your actions today."
"I am merely playing my part in protecting the world. The storm was far too dangerous to ignore. Still, I find it hard to believe that one as ardent to the law as Kamui would let me go."
Kamui clenched his fist, "As a protector of the people, I condone vigilantism and its dangers. But… stopping that storm and dispelling those monsters… I cannot fault that."
Kamui gave her a half-glare, "Although, if I catch you vigilanting again, I will not be so lenient. I swear this on my honor!"
"Not an oath on the River Styx, but I'll take it. You're a good man, Kamui Woods. As are you, Native."
"Thank you, Miss Caster. Now, we must be going. There is more to be done."
"I suggest you head to other Wards. My technique would have only mass dispelled the summoned constructs in this region of the city. Good luck."
The two heroes nodded, but before they could launch away, a resounding crash filled the rooftop. Looking up, the two Pro Heroes saw a familiar-looking dragon slam into the rooftop's water tank.
Native gasped, "Ryukyu?!"
The Dragoon Hero, who was bleeding and bruised, stumbled down to the rooftop.
"Native, Kamui! There's no time to explain. We need to regroup and…"
A mocking voice interrupted Ryukyu's desperate warning, "Running away, little pretender?"
As the speaker leaped onto the rooftop, Caster and the three heroes locked their eyes on the golden-haired form of Lancer. Caster, feeling the phantasmal power in the woman's mana, paled.
'Another Servant… and a dragon, no less?'
Lancer glanced knowingly at Caster and smirked.
"I knew I sensed another Servant in this direction. So it was the Caster of this War?"
"And you are… Lancer, perhaps?"
Lancer slowly clapped, "Correct, correct! Quite astute of you to figure it out when I don't even have Vajra on display! Now… who would like to die first?"
Native looked at this so-called "Lancer" incredulously, "Excuse me?"
Pointing a finger at Ryukyu, Lancer sneered, "I've grown disappointed with this excuse of a dragon, but it seems she led me to a trio of new opponents. And one of you is a Servant! So, after I eliminate Caster here, you mortal heroes will entertain me further with your deaths."
Glancing at Caster, Native looked at her with renewed suspicion, "So it's you this woman is after? Who are you really? Your ability was strange too… I've never seen a Quirk that requires a chant."
Caster did not take her eyes off Lancer as she spoke, "Heroes, I understand you have questions, but this isn't the time. You are involving yourself in forces you don't understand. If we survive this, you can question me all you want, but we are all in grave danger."
Ryukyu nodded in agreement, surprising her two colleagues, "She's right. That woman is a monster."
Lancer looked at her nails in boredom, "Are you done talking? I'd like to start killing now!"
Seeing her opponents freeze, Lancer smirked, "Wonderful. I'll start with you, pretender!"
As Lancer launched herself at Ryukyu, claws bared, Kamui Woods jumped in the way.
"You villain! Human lives are not something for you to toy with! ARBOR CULVERIN!"
Intending to ram Lancer backward, Kamui had unleashed a large swath of wood at the Servant. But instead of being pushed back, Lancer casually batted the ligneous mass aside, distorting the attack's trajectory with a mere strike of her hand. Deflected leftwards, Kamui's attack struck nothing but air.
"I do hope you can do better than to toss branches at a dragon, man-tree."
Grabbing the extended mass, Lancer's hand began to exude an eerie purple flame. In an instant, the fire began rapidly snaking up the wood. Thinking quickly, Kamui cracked his arm in half, just as the flames consumed the entire limb segment.
Due to his Quirk's qualities, Kamui's left arm already began to regenerate, but it would take a while before it could unleash an attack of that scale again. In a single counterattack, Kamui was already at a reduced offensive capacity.
Caster's worries, however, were not on Kamui. Instead, her focus was drawn to the unnatural ability that Lancer just displayed.
'Those flames… they aren't normal. That was a conceptual flame that incinerates life itself… could this dragon be a conceptual incarnation?"
Lancer gazed excitedly at her opponents. As she had hoped, the Flames of Obstruction she unveiled struck fear in their hearts. These opponents were no Indra, that was for certain, but perhaps they could provide her a modicum of entertainment.
Grinning as her eyes settled on Caster, Lancer conjured a Vajra spear into her right hand.
She would show these interloping mortals what a true dragon was capable of.
FALSE LANCER: VRITRA
Chikusa Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning
Flying above the buildings of the Chikusa Ward, Keigo Takami glanced down at the heroes battling below. Although Rodeo's team looked like they were struggling against those strange skeleton monsters, Hawks knew his task was not to support them.
As much as it frustrated him, his mission was merely to gather intel. The HPSC, in their arrogance, believed sending the other two members of the Top Three Heroes into battle would be enough to protect the city. Hawks could safely be relegated to intelligence gathering. Despite his strategic worth on the battlefield, he was not supposed to lift a finger to aid the others.
'And yet here I am, too cowardly to defy them.', the Hero thought bitterly.
Interestingly, not long after he had flown into Nagoya proper, the red-colored storm had ceased. Hawks had looked at the reports on the Hero Network as he flew, which indicated a westward origin to the counteraction.
However, as he was in the east, there were still plenty of monsters to be found.
Glancing down to see a few of the constructs on a nearby roof, Hawks sent a series of feathers to take them out. 'At least I can eliminate any that qualify as a threat to me. Not that it's gonna matter if All Might doesn't take out the puppetmaster.'
Hawks was not sure what lay at the epicenter of the attack. He could only hope that All Might could stop whatever threat was causing all this.
'He has managed to punch his way to victories so far… he'll probably be alright.'
With a flap of his wings, the Wing Hero cleared the next block as his eyes settled on another vertically-acquainted group of Sekhem.
'Even if the HPSC won't let me enter the fray directly, I'll still see if I can lend a hand. I'm a Pro Hero, after all.'
To be continued in Chapter 9: Asurashreshtha
Servant Profiles: False Caster
Bio:
Class: Caster
Master: Ibara Shiozaki
True Name: Ariadne
Gender: Female
Alignment: Neutral Good
Stats:
Strength: E
Endurance: D
Agility: E
Mana: A
Luck: D
Noble Phantasm: B-
Class Skills:
Item Construction: A
Territory Creation: B
Personal Skills:
Beautiful Princess: C
Ephemeral Love: B
Labyrinth Advantage: A
Noble Phantasms:
Heartstring Knossos
Guiding Thread of Destination
Rank: E
Type: Unknown
Naxos Asteria
Slumbering Island of Citron Leaves
Rank: B-
Type: Anti-Phantasm