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 IV: Asurashreshtha
A long time ago, in the Age of Gods, there was a certain goddess.
Born in the expulsion of the Potnia Theron from the Goddess of the Root, she embodied the very waters of India itself. Her true name was lost to time, but the Vedic Hymns had given her a name from western lands, Danu.
But as she lived quietly within her waters, Danu felt incomplete. Like lonely Tiamat and gentle Auðumbla, Danu desired companionship and offspring. And so, from her womb emerged the first of the Asuras; the hundred Danavas, who carried the blood of the sage Kashyapa.
However, one among the Danavas was different. Whereas all ninety-nine of their siblings came from the joining of Danu and Kashyapa, this one Danava was fathered by the heavenly builder, Tvashtr. Through Tvashtr's blessing, the Danava could not be harmed by any weapon known to man. Wishing to sate their desire for pain, the Danava set out into the wilderness to learn of suffering. But in the wilds, the lonely Danava became a destroyer of life. Wrapping themselves in the hungering skin of a dragon, they grew to monstrous size and form. Hunting both Asura and Deva for sport, its malice and pride grew to untold heights. Like their mother, they had no mortal name. But the mortals of the land had whispered of a Danava that enveloped all who came before it, snuffing out their lives.
Thus, the legend itself became the monster's name. Lauded as Vritra, the Sanskrit word meaning "Enveloper", the Danava was enshrined in history as a swallower of the mortal, depraved, and divine.
In time, Vritra developed a particular interest in hunting the Gods of India's rivers. Unable to resist the wishes of Danu's child, they would be coaxed away from their dwellings, creating drought and famine. Soon enough, this cycle of destruction drew the notice of the heavens. Unamused by Vritra's actions, the Storm God Indra rushed down to Earth. A king and hero amongst the Devas, Indra was a fiercer foe than any Vritra faced before. But without any weapon to compliment his lightning, Indra's elemental strength was not enough. Vritra was triumphant and swallowed the defeated Indra whole.
In a desperate ploy to save their champion, the Devas concocted a scheme. Aware of Vritra's boredom with the world, they promised the dragon an even greater rematch with Indra. Intrigued by their offer, Vritra regurgitated the nearly-digested Indra.
Ashamed of his rescuing, Indra initially refused the Devas' request to hold a rematch. But Vritra suspected treachery. To force the Devas' hand, the draconic Asura demanded a gift from their mother, Danu. By Danu's command, all the rivers of India became trapped in Vritra's cave. The gods of India were no longer free to plan, for the Enveloper had caught them in a yoke. If they were to save India, action had to be taken.
They tried trickery at first, for Indra still refused to shame his honorable loss. Sending the beautiful Apsara nymphs, they did manage to steal back a portion of the world's rivers. Yet, it was still not enough to sustain humanity. Indra had to fight, or else the land would be swallowed by endless drought.
Seeking a way around Vritra's blessings, the gods crafted Indra a special weapon. Crafted from bones, time, and seafoam, it was dubbed "Vajra", the Thunderbolt.
Upon seeing the Vajra, Indra felt a new surge of purpose. Armed with his new weapon, the God strode off to do battle with Vritra.
The Storm God dueled against the mightiest Danava for ninety-nine days and ninety-eight nights. It was a clash that shook the planet itself, being felt as far as the lands of the Fomorian Kings.
At last, on the twilight of the 99th day, Vritra breathed its last breath. Indra was victorious, and with his victory, the rivers of India returned to their proper place in the world.
This would not be the end for Vritra, however. Despite its transgressions, Brahma had willed his great-grandchild to be welcomed in the halls of Vaikuntha. Unable to accept this, Indra sought out Danu, slaying her with one thousand bolts of divine lightning.
Furious, Vritra rejected Brahma's invitation to the heavens. Swelling with hatred and destructiveness, the draconic Danava ascended to the level of a conceptual being. Infusing its theft of the rivers into its very existence, Vritra became a living cloud of desolation. Now an embodiment of the concept of drought, it was no longer bound to a traditional death.
Thus, for all eternity, the two immortals continued to battle. Sometimes the battles would last a night. Others lasted a whole year. Even when their forms faded with the end of India's Age of Gods, their battle continued in the form of natural phenomena. The storm and the drought, trapped into a state of conflictive flux.
Within the Throne of Heroes, it was the barest of qualifications that made Vritra a candidate for a Hero. Their own legend was conflated with their slayer, and they became a Lancer, wielding the Vajra that penetrated their scales so long ago. Their physical form, unable to be fully draconic, mimicked that of Rambha, one of the heavenly Apsara who had stolen from it in life. Never again would Vritra be tempted by the nymphs' allure.
Even after qualifying for the Lancer class, the question of whether Vritra would be summoned remained. None of the center-most timelines were graced with the dragon's presence. Only in that unusual bubble of time, where Heroic Spirits were united by the Grand Orders, had they ever manifested. But now, in this unusual conflation of a timeline, a match had been made.
A symbol of evil, a man who dreamed of becoming a Demon King.
A demonic dragon, the fated enemy of the Vedic Gods.
A twisted match of Master and Servant, a pair of dark clouds who would loom over the False Holy Grail War.
Naka Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning
Seishin Kazaguruma, also known as Native, was no stranger to being in tough situations.
He had spent his life never knowing his father, who his mother always insisted was a famous Native American athlete from the United States.
Adding to that, his school life was soured by his status as a late bloomer, not discovering his Quirk until he was 13 years old.
Even then, the difficulties did not end. Seishin's Quirk, Featherwind Cloak, had the extremely limited ability to manipulate the aerial and gravitational properties of exactly one article of his clothing.
But Seishin did not despair. Through steadfast training, he passed the HPSC's Examinations and gained his Hero license at the age of twenty-five. He never made it very high in the ranks, but that did not bother him. He had a small but dedicated fanbase in his hometown of Kamakura, which he made his primary area of operation.
As a result of his smaller-scale activity, he was less prepared for the challenges that awaited him in Nagoya. His usual opponents of muggers and thieves had been replaced by red skeletons and her.
When Seishin first caught sight of the draconic-looking woman who had pummeled Ryukyu, he was briefly caught off guard by her beauty. Now, Seishin only felt fear. That woman… no, that monster had already ravaged the rooftop of the Naka Ward office building with dozens of strange bronze tridents.
It was thanks to Caster's strings that none of them had been impaled. Those same strings had somehow allowed them to communicate non-verbally by "weaving their minds" together. Admittedly they still had no concrete plan of action, but the telepathy did wonders for their coordination.
Looking at the scattered weaponry, Native suddenly had an idea. Focusing his thoughts, he reached out to his allies.
'Everyone! Those spears are covering the battlefield, but Lancer isn't dispelling them. Can we use them to restrict her movements?'
Ryukyu's voice flowed into Seishin's brain, "It's worth a shot. Let's try it."
Caster led the charge, running with surprising grace for someone clad in traditional Greek clothing. Seeing Caster approach, Lancer conjured two more Vajra spears, flinging them at her with incredible speed. Despite being a non-offensive Servant, Ariadne was still a Heroic Spirit. Using the strands of Heartstring Knossos, she crafted two looped threads. Setting them in front of her like shields, Caster's threads caught the two spears like they were sewing needles. Manipulating the movement of Lancer's projectiles, the spears were sent right back at Vritra. The Servant caught them with ease, but her focus had been drawn away from the rest of the battlefield. Taking advantage of Lancer's distraction, Ryukyu rushed at the black-tailed woman. Transforming into her dragon form mid-stride, Ryuko swung at Lancer with her left claw. The Servant parried quickly before looking up at the descending Kamui Woods and Native. Both heroes were poised to strike, but Lancer was faster. Conjuring another pair of Vajra, the Servant launched one at each of her opponents. But the throws were sloppy, and both heroes managed to safely dodge and land. Believing she thwarted the latest wave of attacks, Lancer was not prepared for Caster's next move.
Suddenly, without her influence, the two Vajra spears Vritra caught began to wiggle. Just as Lancer noticed the thin threads attached to the bronze trishulas, the weapons slipped from her hand, impaling her side and one of her legs. With her focus drawn to dispelling those spears, the two thrown at Kamui and Native were quickly ensnared by Caster's threads. Pulling them downwards, Ariadne guided the two Vajras right through Lancer's neck. The Servant did not have time to exclaim as the words dissipated from her mouth.
For a moment, no one spoke. Then, Kamui Woods began to shake in anger, "Caster… you…"
Ryukyu's expression was one of horror, "You… killed her."
Pro Heroes were not always the paragons of virtue the public saw them as, but nearly all of them tried to avoid killing whenever possible. It was not that Caster's actions were completely incomprehensible, but to the Heroes, she had resorted to killing too fast.
Native turned to Caster, hoping to appeal to her with kinder words, "Miss Caster, why did you kill that woman? I understand she was our enemy, but you didn't have to–"
"No. I did."
Caster's face was stony and emotionless, "I am not a Pro Hero like the three of you. I fought with Lancer because it was kill or be killed. I do not like killing anymore than you all do, but victory cannot be obtained without cost. I was not willing to risk letting this monster survive. She is simply too dangerous."
Sensing her words were not appealing to the sensibilities of the Pro Heroes, Caster prepared to dematerialize. Just before she vanished, she stopped.
'Wait… why are the spears still materialized? Better yet, why is Lancer's body still here? I struck her Spiritual Core, I'm sure of it!'
As the heroes caught sight of Caster's worried expression, a cackling laughter resounded from Lancer's body. As the dozens of Vajras dissolved, Lancer turned towards her opponents. Despite the gaping holes in her body, she seemed wholly unconcerned. Looking closely, the four could see a strange nebulous energy slowly filling the injured areas before suddenly regenerating back to skin and cloth.
"Impossible… I'm sure I pierced your Spiritual Core! You should have returned to the Throne of Heroes!"
Caster's desperate confusion made Lancer grin, "Oh… so that's what you were after? Well, I admit you pierced my Core… but unfortunately for you, I'm no ordinary Servant. It will take more than a fatal blow to make me die."
Caster's brow furrowed.
'Is this the work of a Personal Skill or a Noble Phantasm? Either way, it's one powerful enough to overcome death itself… this is bad. I can't afford to leave Nagoya, but Lancer outclasses me!'
As Caster considered her options, Lancer continued.
"I would never reveal myself to lowly mortals such as yourselves, but managing to kill me deserves a reward. Die knowing you have perished at the hands of Vritra itself."
The next words she spoke carried a striking fear with every syllable.
I am the dragon who covers the heavens and earth.
As Lancer's chant began, the mana in the air thickened. The Pro Heroes did not understand the situation, but Caster could clearly feel the weight of Vritra's magical pressure. It was the same overwhelming force she felt from Chaos Storm Isfet, only this time, much more concentrated.
'It can't be! Another Anti-World Noble Phantasm?'
While Caster's Naxos Asteria had sealed Apophis's Noble Phantasm, it was the sort of Noble Phantasm that could not be deployed on more than one target at a time. As such, Caster had no way to block Lancer's next attack. Even dematerialization was not behaving as intended.
Gather O' Asuras, demonic troops who are my flesh.
Dark energy began to swirl at Vritra's feet. As the Pro Heroes looked down, they could see the forms of strange monstrous beings trying to claw their way out.
As the umbral miasma bubbled, stillness filled the air.
Separated by that logic, cover all of creation!
NOBLE PHANTASM: ASURASHRESHTHA!
Like a geyser of darkness, the Asuric storm whirled upwards into a miniature tornado, covering Vritra's form entirely. What lay behind the shadow was no longer the imitative shell of Rambha. Although obscured from view, the true form of the Devana Vritra had emerged upon the world. As the whirlwind covered the whole rooftop, the shrieking of the Asuras consumed by Vritra filled the air.
A second storm had come to Nagoya, a draconic storm born of primordial India. The world again felt the trembling sensation of a power that could undo creation itself.
On the streets of the Naka Ward, Ouma Takeru sniffed the air. Although he had seen no sign of those skeletal constructs after the strange light spread through Nagoya, he was still worried about an ambush.
Hearing movement, Oogami turned to see a squad of sidekicks, led by one of his own agency's sidekicks, Balto. The sidekick, who had a canine mutation Quirk similar to Ouma's own Doule Quirk, had a hopeful expression on his face.
"Sir! We've swept the area. No sign of those monsters anywhere, not even any sand!"
Oogami nodded, satisfied, "Good. However, I'd like everyone to be on their guard. Sending the injured to Stencil's location and another squad to the source of the light makes us understaffed."
Balto nodded, "Right you are, sir! We'll do another round!"
Oogami waved his paw-like hand, "Nah, that won't be necessary. I'd like to start reconsolidating the western front."
Balto saluted with a wag of his tail, "Sir!"
Suddenly, Oogami felt on edge. Following his instincts, he turned towards the same high-rise where the golden light emanated from. He couldn't tell if there were people on it, but something told him there was danger there.
The ground began to shake; it wasn't an earthquake, but something far more. It was like reality itself was trembling. As Oogami and the various sidekicks stood transfixed, the distant rooftop was submerged in a dark cloud. It set Oogami's fur on edge in the same way the red clouds over Nagoya had. Although he could not see any detail, he knew something dangerous was in that umbral cloud. His animal instinct roared for him to run and hide. Although he stood his ground, Oogami's throat felt dry, and his sidekicks cried out in surprise and terror.
Whatever lay beneath that darkness, it was an apex predator. The part of Nagoya where the golden light of hope once shone was now filled with despair once more. The serpent of Nagoya was not the only monster on the field. The world would feel the might of a genuine dragon this day.
Higashi Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning
In the high-rise that once housed Francesca Prelati's base of operations, the activation of Lancer's Noble Phantasm created a moment of pause.
Even Avenger, itself a wielder of an Anti-World Noble Phantasm, had its focus drawn to the west, where a spiral of darkness had taken form. All Might, although curious as well, was not one to forsake an opportunity. Some might call it fighting dirty, but the No.1 Hero knew he could not afford to waste such an ideal chance.
Closing on Apophis's head, Toshinori Yagi swung his right arm up at Avenger's lower jaw.
"ALBANY UPPERCUT!"
The yell brought the other fighters' attention back to the battle. Avenger, unable to dodge, felt its head slam into the ceiling with a crunch. Unleashing a blast of red sand, the angered serpent tried to strike back, but the man punched through it with his super strength.
It was then that Archer took his chance to attack, firing several arrows at Apophis's eye. The serpent shut its eye, blocking the shots, but the Hero of the Bow took the second of blindness to shower his opponent with more arrows while the serpent blocked All Might's follow-up with his tail.
On the other side of the room, Jester Karture unleashed another tornado at Saber and Rider. Dodging with ease, the two Servants continued their approach. Sensing it would be unwise to stay grounded, Jester leaped into the air.
As he jumped away, Jester's mind focused on the change in the world's state. It was similar to what the air had felt like when Chaos Storm Isfet had been active, a sense of instability as the world broke apart.
'So there's another Anti-World Noble Phantasm in this war? How intriguing indeed. I do wonder though, can the world withstand all the damage being dealt to it?'
U.A. High School, Mustafu
A Few Minutes Earlier…
Ibara Shiozaki knew something was wrong the moment she felt the first thread snap.
Up until that moment, she had been periodically praying and discussing with her classmates about the publicly available information. Although there was an air of slight boredom, there was plenty of unease among the students.
Parents had been contacted, and many of those students who lived close enough had already left. Among Ibara's classmates, only Pony Tsunotori and Tsuka Kirisame lived close enough to be picked up on short notice, so most of Class 1-B was still here.
While most students had decided to wait and watch the broadcasts, there were more than a few students whose moods were far from ideal. In particular, there was a female student from Class 2-J, who had been sobbing uncontrollably after failing to reach her parents.
Ibara was one of those who had settled for sitting silently, honing her senses on her connection to Caster. Through Ariadne's strings, Shiozaki had felt it when her Servant used her Noble Phantasm. She had been forced to conceal the wave of exhaustion as dehydration, which thankfully her classmates believed. But as Ibara now felt the repeated severing of the threads Ariadne had attached to her, she knew something was terribly wrong.
She raised her hand, causing her instructor Vlad King to walk over.
"Shiozaki, what's the matter?"
"Mr. Kan, I'd like to check with my father about whether he is coming to get me. Is there somewhere I could make this call privately?"
Vlad King glanced over at his colleague Cementoss, "Hmmm…"
Seeing Cementoss nod, Vlad King nodded as well, "Alright, Shiozaki. Come with me. Honenuki, I expect you to keep your classmates in line."
The recently elected Class 1-B rep nodded, "Got it."
Following Vlad King out of the gymnasium, Ibara was led to a small dead-end hallway.
"I'll be around the corner when you're finished. Make it as quick as you can."
Trying to hide her urgency, Ibara nodded, "I understand. Thank you, Mr. Kan."
Fast-walking to the end of the hallway, Ibara clutched her hand as she began to whisper. She did not know exactly what was transpiring on Caster's end, but it wasn't good. Her instincts were telling her to get Caster out of Nagoya, as fast as possible.
"By the power of my Command Spell… Caster, return to my house immediately."
With a small flash of red light, the first of Ibara's three Command Spells vanished. It was a dangerous move, for the effects of Naxos Asteria would diminish more rapidly with Ariadne's departure. But there was no other option; Ibara could not afford to lose Caster to this disaster.
'Forgive me, O' Lord. I am forced to imperil the brave heroes in Nagoya. Forgive me, for this grievous sin of mine.'
Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture
Day 3, Morning
For most Servants, an order to withdraw was usually met with anger and frustration. But for Caster, Ibara's Command Spell brought only relief.
Thankfully, Ariadne's ploy of snapping her threads worked. The moment Lancer began to chant, she had begun systematically severing the threads of Heartstring Knossos that connected her and her Master. Ibara had gotten the message and used a Command Spell to extract Ariadne from Nagoya. Unfortunately for the Shiozaki dining table, she manifested right above the part of the house Ibara most associated with home— the dining room. The resulting hubbub of her arrival had the unfortunate effect of both ruining the dining table and spooking Piero Shiozaki quite significantly.
Tearing his attention away from the television, Piero turned to the Servant with surprise.
"Caster? What are you doing here— ah, never mind that, you're injured!"
Rushing over, Piero helped Caster up, sitting her in one of the dining chairs. The man rushed to the kitchen, retrieving a first aid usually reserved for accidents while chopping ingredients.
As Piero dressed the Servant's wounds, he returned to his prior questioning.
"Caster… what happened to you? Undoubtedly Ibara used a Command Spell…"
"I was locked in combat with an enemy Servant. I thought I had defeated them… but Lancer is far more formidable than we could have ever anticipated."
Seeing Piero's concerned expression, Caster continued.
"That Servant… I don't know how it's possible, but someone summoned a dragon into this False War. Lancer is Vritra."
Piero's voice was but a whisper, "The Hindu personification of drought… to think something so close to the divine could qualify for a Servant…"
"Indeed. But that is not all. I pierced Vritra's spiritual core, and yet they survived it. It was only thanks to Ibara's quick action that I survived the resulting retaliation."
"Retaliation… does it have to do with this strange trembling in the air?"
"Yes. The Noble Phantasm Lancer unleashed was no ordinary one. It was one within the highest grade of Noble Phantasms. An Anti-World Noble Phantasm."
"A Noble Phantasm capable of destroying the world itself… is that what the storm in Nagoya was as well?"
"Yes. I don't know the identity of the red storm's source, but this means there are two Servants capable of destroying the planet. This is no mere ritual anymore, Piero. I could feel it in the ley lines. Something is changing. The False Holy Grail War… it may not be a farce for much longer."
Naka Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning
When Ryuko Tatsuma was six years old, the island of Okinawa had been hit by a massive typhoon. Although Ryuko and her family had been safe, the now adult Pro Heroine could still remember the feeling of helplessness. Even in the age of Quirks, to a massive typhoon, humanity's newfound powers hardly mattered at all.
The moment Lancer began chanting, Ryukyu felt that same overwhelming sense of powerlessness. Of being a mere human, set upon by nature. From the moment the pressure had set in, Ryukyu knew fleeing was pointless. Her wings were too damaged from the earlier battle to support flight. Kamui Woods's injuries were catching up to him too, and Caster had vanished in a strange burst of red light. But Native… Native still had some strength left.
'Kazaguruma, you might hate me for this… but I'm not letting you die too!'
Native, who was frozen in fear, was wholly unprepared for the strike of Ryukyu's tail. Flung off the rooftop, he yelled in shock.
"Ryukyu!? What are you doing?"
Just before the churning clouds of Asurashreshtha blocked her and Kamui from sight, Ryuko looked him in the eyes.
"Live."
Seishin watched in horror as the rooftop erupted with dark energy, tears streaming down his face.
On the other side of the clouds, Ryuko sighed in relief. She may be dying here, but at least Seishin had a chance to survive. Despite the agony Lancer's Noble Phantasm was inflicting, she did not flinch. Even as her body began to wither away, she smiled.
'So… this is it huh?'
Her mind flashed to her agency. Yugure and Nejire, in particular, would be inconsolable. If Ryuko had one regret, it was that she would not get the chance to say goodbye to them.
'Thank you everyone… for everything.'
Then the world went white…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…and Ryuko woke up.
For a moment, she had a spark of hope. Perhaps this was all just a bad dream. That was until she looked at her surroundings.
"Spider lilies…"
Looking down, Ryuko noticed she was in neither her hero costume nor pajamas.
"...and a white kimono?"
Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded out next to Ryuko, "Surprised me too, I'll admit."
"Kamui?"
Her fellow Pro Hero was similarly dressed in a simple white kimono.
"I woke up seconds earlier. I suppose I gave out first."
'Gave out…'
Ryuko's voice was quiet, "So it really happened… we died."
"Unless this is all some strange illusion Quirk? It seems that is the case."
It was strange to hear Kamui Woods be so apathetic. The man was usually so zealous, but now he was rather subdued.
Shinji turned to Ryuko, "Did Native survive? I saw you hit him off the rooftop."
"I think… I hope so."
As Kamui Woods nodded, Ryuko began to observe her surroundings.
Far as the eye could see, Ryuko saw bright-red spider lilies, and on the horizon was a featureless white sky.
It was a realm the living had no place in. The Egyptians had called it Aaru. The Greeks, Asphodel. For Ryuko and Shinji, this place would be called Yomi. To mages, there was another name: Akasha. To be more specific, this aspect of the Root was a manifestation of transition, a non-physical purgatory where souls became one with the Root.
It was not truly a "place" that took up space. It was more akin to a spasm, a last impulse before the soul reached its equivalent of postmortem rigidity.
When would this moment end? None could say. Within the Root, the moment had yet to begin, yet to conclude, and yet had also long since reached a conclusion.
Of course, Ryuko and Shinji had no way of understanding the timeless they were in. The time they had left in individuality was however much they required, trapped beyond both beginning and end.
"Do you have anyone you'll miss, Kamui?"
"Call me Nishiya… and Takeyama, I'd say."
"Mount Lady? I thought you told me you weren't dating."
"And that is the truth. Although… to say I had no feelings for her would be a lie. But heroics always made things complicated. I could never convince myself to try and make it work."
"I get that… I had a fiancé once. But when I started my own agency, I got really busy. We called the wedding off not long after and went our separate ways."
Ryuko looked up at the featureless sky, "I was inconsolable when it happened. Locked myself in my apartment for two whole days till my dad came by. He told me something, something that helped me stand back up and move forward."
"What did he say?"
"He said 'The world needs you, Ryukyu.'"
"..."
"It was not comforting in the slightest, and yet it was exactly what I needed to hear. Even if we lose our own happiness, the world still needs heroes. So I picked myself up and moved forward. But I'll never stop wondering what might have been if I chose her instead."
Ryuko's face was wet with tears as she let out a hollow laugh, "I must look pathetic right now. Talking about all these what-ifs when I'm dead."
"Not at all."
Ryuko turned towards Shinji, whose gaze was set upon the endless field of spider lilies.
"Everyone wonders what could have been. It's because we cannot change the past that we desire to do so. And I do not see a pathetic woman who fell to her what-ifs. I see a strong heroine who stood back up and kept fighting."
"But…"
"Even if we have died, that doesn't change. We did our best and saved the lives we could. Now it's time for us to rest and entrust our hopes to those who live."
Ryuko was quiet for a long while, before finally pushing herself up from the ground.
"I suppose you're right, Nishiya. So… should we see if there's anything else the afterlife can offer us?"
Shinji chuckled, "Sounds good to me."
U.A. High School, Mustafu
Day 3, Morning
"Mr. Kan, I'm done with my call. My father said he won't be able to pick me up early."
Calmly walking around the corner, Ibara Shiozaki looked at her homeroom teacher carefully. Had he seen the light of the Command Spell? Did he realize she didn't actually call her father?
Luckily, it seemed Vlad King had not noticed anything unusual. Nodding, the teacher turned and began walking back to the gymnasium.
"Alright then. Come along, Shiozaki."
They did not speak the entire walk back, and Ibara Shiozaki re-entered the gymnasium. As she made her way back to Class 1-B's area, she glanced around the room, seeing that the mutters and worrying increased.
'It's as I thought… removing Caster from the board must have changed the situation. And not for the better.'
As Ibara settled down on the cold floor, her classmates scooched closer to her. Manga Fukidashi was the first to speak, his speech-bubble-shaped head warping into the shape of a question mark, "So, did your dad pick up? Are you leaving early?"
Ibara shook her head, "My dad picked up, but he won't be able to come get me right now."
Her wavy-haired classmate, Setsuna Tokage, gave a slightly nervous smile, "Well, guess you'll be stuck waiting here with the rest of us."
Before Ibara could respond, Hiryu Rin, one of Class 1-B's foreign-born students, interjected, "Hang on guys… there's some sort of new development on the broadcast."
Several of the students looked over at Nirengeki Shoda's tablet, which they were using to watch the live news from Nagoya.
Sen Kaibara spoke nervously, "Is that a freaking tornado? And why is it all dark!?"
Next to him, Shihai Kuroiro chuckled, "Hehehe… a tornado of darkness."
Kaibara flinched, "Egh… Kuroiro, that's just creepy."
Ibara watched silently before a strange feeling coursed through her.
It was like the world had gone out of flux. Reality almost seemed to lag, and a feeling of static flickering was felt all the way to her Quirk factor.
Although Ibara and Momo Yaoyorozu had felt the worst of it, the strange feeling had reached everyone within the gymnasium. Talking stopped at that moment. Ibara's own classmates, Monoma and Kamakiri, who had been arguing with each other, both froze from the odd feeling.
When the moment passed, the conversation slowly began to resume. Amongst Class 1-B, Yosetsu Awase spoke up first, "Uh… what the hell was that?"
Juzo Honenuki looked down at his hand, "I… it was like the world turned off a second. I don't know how else to describe it."
Ibara nervously looked upwards. For her classmates, it had been momentary, but she could still feel the mana pulsing across Japan. It wasn't to the same degree as the wave from before, but it was still palpable.
'The air… is shaking.'
Nomu Factory, Kamino
Day 3, Morning
Even from the depths of his underground lair, All For One could feel the waves of mana in the air. It was an undercurrent of unease, bypassing his dozens of sensory Quirks and striking his Quirk Factor.
He knew what was happening, of course. With Kurogiri's aid, he utilized two of his stolen Quirks to hijack a drone and create a mental image of its video data. Through the drone, he observed the battle in the Naka Ward. He 'saw' his Servant's battle with Caster and the Heroes, including Lancer's apparent defeat. Unfortunately, the defeat sparked his Servant's anger, and she released her Noble Phantasm. It was something done in a fit of emotion, a need to assert her dominance over Caster and the Pro Heroes. But ultimately, it was a wasteful action. Rather than utilizing Caster's shock to strike with Vajra, Vritra instead opted for Asurashreshtha, giving Caster's Master both time to pull their Servant away and for Caster to learn Lancer's identity.
Furthermore, All For One could feel a subtle throbbing in his head from the Phantasm's activation, and Doctor Garaki immediately analyzed his physical state. The Doctor had originally been visiting the Factory to check on the Upper-Tier Nomu, "Basher", the next step in the League of Villain's experiments on an Anti-Symbol of Peace. But the work on Basher was pushed to the wayside as Garaki focused on his master's physical state.
Although he could not see Garaki, All For One's various sensory Quirks gave him an ample picture of the man as he shuffled between monitors. The doctor had always been energetic, but the recent weakening of his Quirk had begun to cost him his mobility. It was not unexpected; Kyudai Garaki was over 120 years old, and the anti-aging Quirk he possessed was a mere duplicate of his original one.
'I am glad that Life Force is in my possession, but it will be unfortunate when the Good Doctor is gone. Perhaps I will have to consider locating a consciousness transfer Quirk.'
As he mused to himself, the villain noticed his senses were, for lack of a better term, "fuzzier" than usual. With a slight rasp in his voice, All For One spoke.
"It would seem Lancer's Noble Phantasm is taking its toll. My 'sight' is worsening."
Doctor Garaki turned, rubbing his hands together, "Your sensory Quirks are acting up? Hmm… yes, it would seem my suspicion is correct."
"And what suspicion is that, Doctor?"
"I have theorized that, in addition to a mental strain, the extensive usage of a Servant's abilities has a diminishing effect on the Master's Quirk Factor. There are also subtle changes to blood pressure and cortisol, but those seem less significant."
"Elaborate on the diminishing."
"Ah, yes, yes. As Ms. Prelati explained to us, the humans of this world are not magically capable. Thus, Masters here must substitute the magical link to supply a Servant with a link to their Quirk Factor. But like any supply of energy, this connection can be strained, and such strain will reduce the output capacity of a Quirk Factor. This results in a reduced output from an individual's Quirk. Or Quirks in your case, milord."
All For One mused, "How long should it take to recover?"
Garaki contemplated before speaking, "I'm afraid I don't know, milord. As this is the first instance of Lancer using her Noble Phantasm, I have no prior data to compare with."
"I see. Then keep watch on the instruments, Doctor. This data will be vital for when the Holy Grail War reaches its later phases."
"Of course, of course! It is as you say!"
Eager to please his master, Kyudai Garaki focused on the machinery. He would analyze the data in detail later, but a live understanding was just as important.
All For One, meanwhile, had a separate concern. The Doctor had not commented on the change in the air, but All For One had his suspicions.
'I did not know of its nature earlier, but the similarities to Asurashreshtha's energy is unmistakable. Whatever lies in the center of Nagoya, it too wields an Anti-World Noble Phantasm.'
All For One continued to contemplate, as the weight of the mana in the air grew.
'A Noble Phantasm capable of destroying the world… I have no knowledge if that truly is the case, but if two have been used in such succession… that is certainly not good for the planet.'
Although he was a villain who sought to upturn society, he was not a mindless destroyer. Every king, tyrant, or paragon, needed something to rule. If Lancer's actions brought an end to this world, none would claim the Grail and his chance at victory would be lost.
'I did not want Lancer to use her Noble Phantasm in Nagoya in the first place, and she defied that request. It seems I will need to use a Command Spell.'
As he lifted his hand, the Symbol of Evil spoke to his loyal subordinate.
"Doctor, I apologize. I will have to interfere in your data collection."
Turning, Garaki looked before shaking his head, "A Command Spell? Ah, do not worry, milord. I will make do with the data I have."
'Lancer's Noble Phantasm is simply too volatile, and the utter destruction of Nagoya does not benefit me. Even if that wretched All Might is there, I hold no illusion that One For All would vanish so easily. He likely already has a successor.'
The Symbol of Evil internally chuckled.
'Saving the life of my archenemy. I wonder how Yoichi would react.'
"Continue to watch the instruments carefully, Doctor. I am curious to see how a Command Spell's activation might be recorded."
The bespeckled man nodded rapidly, "As you command, as you command!"
"By the power of my Command Spell… Lancer, I order you to dispel your Noble Phantasm and return!"
As the Symbol of Evil unleashed his first decree, a red light illuminated the room. For a moment, the air was still. Then, drawn forth by the stigmata of absolution, space itself gave way as Lancer was pulled from the skies of Nagoya.
Naka Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning
Vritra could sense it. The fear, the trepidation, It was a glorious feeling. It reminded them of their memories of primordial India, of their eternal battles with Indra, a clashing of storm and drought.
'Ahhh… it feels so wonderful unleashing my power upon the world. To let myself be whole once again.'
Servants, by nature, were not genuine to their past selves. Altered by human perception and the yokes of the Class System, only so much of their legends could manifest within the world. Some, such as Jack the Ripper, were so twisted by human memory that a difference in Class brought forth two entirely different entities.
Secondly, the limitations of a Servant could confine their power. While less mystical entities might find their power bolstered, Divine Spirits, Dragons, and other phantasmal existences had to be bridled, unable to display their true strength. But there were always those who stretched the rules. A conceptual incarnation, Vritra should have never manifested under a normal Grail War. Their power was simply too great, lingering too close to divine.
But Olkoth's world did not have the same restrictions as the Magi's one. With such low Mystery, even Divine Spirits and Elementals had a slim possibility to manifest. Thus, by a strange fluke of compatibility, All For One had summoned Vritra into this False War.
Neither of them particularly sought the Grail. Instead, they would act as barriers to victory. All For One was the pinnacle of villainy, a trial that Hero society had yet to overcome. Vritra too would be an obstructor, guarding the Grail from the Heroic Spirits of the War.
In their desire to clash with Servants, Vritra had fallen victim to their wants. The thought of consequences had long since left the Danava's mind, replaced by a goal of unleashing their boundless power on the world.
Caught deep in the liberation of Asurashreshtha's activation, Vritra hardly noticed the scattering of their opponents. The escape of Native and the death of Ryukyu and Kamui Woods were mere footnotes in their mind. Only Caster's escape merited a little thought, but that was ultimately left to the wayside. Let the bugs flee as they wished, drought would consume all in the end.
Or, at least, that was Vritra's plan.
By the power of my Command Spell… Lancer, I order you to dispel your Noble Phantasm and return!
Instantly, the will of All For One pushed against the Servant's own. In a scene that utterly baffled analysts of the Nagoya Disaster, the tornado of Asuric shadows suddenly vanished, as Lancer's power scattered and they forcefully returned to Astral Form. Thanks to the power of the Command Spell, space itself gave way to bring Lancer to her Master.
Forcefully returned to her humanoid form as she manifested beneath Kamino, Vritra's expression was one of demoralizing realization. Like a dousing of icy water, Lancer's high had been shattered at its zenith.
For a moment, she was silent. Doctor Garaki looked on nervously while All For One waited for Lancer to speak. He needed only to hear the sound of the cracking concrete at Lancer's feet to know she was livid.
Vritra gazed at All For One, her fury bubbling forth, "You… dare…?"
All For One, despite being crippled and face-to-face with an angry dragon, was undaunted. Even if the being before him could kill him instantly, he would not show fear. This was not about mere strength, but will.
"Yes, I dare."
Without giving Lancer a chance to interject, the villain continued.
"You have been frivolous, Lancer. I observed your battle with Caster and the Pro Heroes. You indulged yourself, and not only revealed your identity to Caster but also gave her an opening to escape. Furthermore, you know the effect your Noble Phantasm has upon the planet. If the storm unleashed in Nagoya is of the same degree, you could have caused the destruction of the world. Knowing all of that, I could not abide your actions any longer."
If Lancer had a retort, she did not offer it. Instead, she swung her tail roughly against the floor, shattering the concrete. With heavy footsteps, she stalked her way up the stairs. Turning briefly, she spoke with venom in her voice.
"You have nerve, Mukuro Shigaraki. You have earned my ire this day, and I suggest you do not earn it again."
Ascending further, Lancer dematerialized, leaving the underground chamber mostly silent. Only the sounds of machinery and Garaki's labored breathing filled the room.
All For One put a hand to his chin, "Hmmmm… although I do have two more Command Spells, it seems I will have to handle Lancer more carefully from now on…"
'Her lust for battle will be difficult to contain, but I suppose it is not so different from managing young Tomura. I will simply need to provide her with an outlet for her destructive tendencies. But how best to indulge her needs?'
In moments, the evil mastermind had come up with a solution.
'Yes. That will be beneficial. He will be able to help Lancer let loose a little bit.'
"Garaki."
The diminutive man jumped, still on edge from Lancer's threat.
"Y-yes, milord?"
"What is the location of Gigantomachia?"
"He is still in the vicinity of Mount Itapi, last his tracker indicated."
"Hmmm… that's in the Fulmo Mountains, correct? How close is it to the nearest city?"
The Doctor paused to think before answering, "The nearest city is Deika City, but there is ample distance between them. His current location is quite isolated. Will that be an issue?"
All For One grinned, "No, Doctor. It is actually perfect. Send a communication to Gigantomachia to maintain his position. I want an accurate reading on his coordinates for Kurogiri to use."
Garaki's face brightened as he realized his master's plan, "Of course, my lord! I will do so posthaste!"
As the Doctor hobbled off into another part of the lair, Mukuro Shigaraki chuckled to himself.
'I do wonder… how much of the Fulmo Mountains will be left when this play-date I'm scheduling concludes.'
Higashi Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning
Staring out west, Jester let out a sigh of disappointment.
"Ahhh… seems that Servant's Master decided to call them back. How utterly boring. Wouldn't you agree, you two?"
Behind him, Rider and Saber stood side-by-side. In most situations, a battle against two Heroic Spirits would be troublesome for the Dead Apostle. But Jester, due to absorbing the heart of Sakura Matou, now held a deeper connection to the Grail. Through the vestiges of Angra Mainyu, Jester's mana production had been upgraded.
Bringing his hands together, Jester manifested a swirling matrix of wind and flame. Coiling the elements together, the blazing sphere spun faster and faster. This spell was frivolous and wasteful, but Jester did not care. Even if casting it would necessitate a change of form, he would deal with it then.
"I wonder… how will you heroes handle this?"
That was the only warning the combatants got before Jester's attack was unleashed. It was an eruption, a plume of flame that filled the entire floor. Leaping backward, Archer cursed as he was forced to move behind a pillar, All Might following his lead. While Heracles had God Hand to revive him, he knew showing that ability to other Servants too early was unwise. But Avenger, unaffected by the flames, did not ignore his opponents' distracted states. Before the flames had even properly cleared, Apophis began its counterattack. Destroying Archer's pillar with a single swing of its tail, Heracles was sent careening towards the skyscraper across the street. Meanwhile, All Might's pillar was instantly surrounded by a small army of Sekhem. Although the Symbol of Peace tore through the constructs quickly, it was enough time for Apophis to strike. Looming its fangs toward All Might's head, the No.1 was trapped as he pushed back against the serpent's maw. As he pushed against Avenger's jaws, Toshinori could feel his stomach injury screaming in pain. That, along with the prolonged usage of his muscular form, was slowly but surely exhausting him. He had plenty of fight left in him, but his strength would continue to decline as the fight continued.
Saber and Rider, who had also hidden from the flames, found themselves in their own precarious situation. As Rider bolted out from behind a pillar, his sword drawn to strike Jester, the Dead Apostle merely laughed. Reaching into his shirt, Jester turned the revolver-like pattern, exchanging his "Apostle" concept core for a new soul.
With the nauseating sound of squelching flesh, Jester's form expanded into that of a towering red Werewolf.
Using his new form's enhanced strength, Jester batted the pink-haired paladin back and turned his head up toward his second opponent, Saber.
Chrysaor, who had snuck down to the floor below, burst upwards in a vortex of water.
'He leaped down to the lower floor and then attacked me from below… not bad, Saber, not bad.'
The lupine Jester, arrogance pouring off his form, spoke with a more gravelly voice.
"I had to wait, you know? Needed to make sure you weren't wielding Lobera or something. This form is useful, but its weaknesses are a pain as well."
Jester's confident declaration caused a momentary pause in the battle. Archer, who had just lept back to the building, regarded the Dead Apostle carefully.
"A werewolf transformation? My father told me stories of such beasts. Did you absorb one of the kin of Lycaon, vampire?"
Hearing Archer's words, Saber's eyes narrowed. Although it was only a few words, Archer had unwittingly given a few hints to his identity.
'Archer is a Greek Servant? That narrows his identity down significantly… but I won't interrogate him here. Even if he is the one who slew my son, I cannot forget my Master's request. I can learn the truth afterward, but for now, Nagoya comes first. Calm your rage, Chrysaor.'
However, as he spoke to Archer, Saber's voice now carried an undercurrent of suspicion.
"Archer. You should go back to supporting All Might."
Archer, although surprised by the sudden chilliness in Saber's tone, knew his fellow Servant was right. Bounding to the left, Archer moved to aid the Symbol of Peace.
With Archer gone, Saber sighed before he launched himself at Jester. Before he could strike with Kapros, Jester flung his arm out, clotheslining Saber deeper into the penthouse's wreckage. Rider, meanwhile, went low, trying to slash at Jester's legs, but the Dead Apostle dodged. Skidding to a halt, Astolfo came to a stop not far from Saber's crash site.
Despite failing at his attack, The paladin's face was full of smiles, "Man, that form is a tough one!"
Nodding, Saber looked analytically at Jester.
"His new physical capabilities are certainly better than before… but I think it might lack range. In his other form, he would have been throwing projectiles at us by now."
"Yeah, maybe that last fireball really took the mana out of him!"
Although it was said on a whim, Rider's comment was spot on. Due to the firestorm he unleashed earlier, Jester's mana had fluctuated significantly, even with the Grail's support. For the sake of the ritual, it had become necessary for him to shift to one of his more physical forms.
Despite possessing six souls, there hadn't actually been much for Jester to choose from. Since his goal was to lower his mana usage, his "Apostle", "Magus", and "Golem" forms were immediately out. Their offensive abilities all required mana to be effective. As for Jester's "Child" soul, that form's function was purely for disguise, not battle. It would be of no use here. That had left his "Werewolf" soul and his newest core made from Chitose Kizuki. As neither Saber nor Rider appeared to have werewolf-slayer properties, Jester decided that the power-focused werewolf form was his best bet.
Although not on the level of a Gold or Silver-furred werewolf, Jester's werewolf soul was nothing to scoff at. Created from a genuine red-furred Werewolf Jester had fought in Transdanubia at Van-Fem's request, it had served Jester well many times in the past.
But neither Jester nor his opponents could be fully certain how their match would progress. A battle between a Servant and a vampire had never once happened in the whole of human history. In most worlds, it was a matchup that was wholly inconceivable in the first place.
Across the myriad timelines of existences, two philosophies dominated the flow of worlds. The first philosophy, an affirmation of Human History, applied a universal logic that led to the manifestation of Servants. The second philosophy, although its exact affirmation was unclear, led to the propagation of Dead Apostles and the formation of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors. It was only in a scant few threads of time, most of which could be considered pseudepigraphical (or inversely so) in nature, that both philosophies persisted. In such strange and fake worlds, both Servants and Dead Apostles thrived, carefully co-existing in their adjacency. It was from one such thread, where the stage had been set for Snowfield's False War, that Olkoth's World Egg had sprouted forth. The world line deviated, and with it, the futures of both Servants and Dead Apostles.
All the divergences had culminated in this moment, an impossible clash between a Dead Apostle and Servants. A conflict that should have never even been conceivable.
Neither side could be certain of how the battle would evolve, but they would not back down at their uncertain odds. Whether it was for the sake of chaos or the continuation of the Human Order, they would fight to the end to ensure the completion of their own desires.
At this precipice of conflict, it was Chrysaor who made the suggestion that would bring the battle into the climatic stage. A declaration of the lengths the Heroic Spirit of the Sword was willing to go to for the sake of victory.
"Say Rider… what do you say we give this bloodsucker a taste of our Noble Phantasms?"
Minato Ward, Nagoya
Day 3, Morning
If Ikudo Narita had to summarize his recent mood, he would have to say nervous fit quite well.
A rising star in the Nagoya police force, Ikudo began the day eager to do his patrols. Then, shit completely hit the fan.
First had been the storm and skeletons, plunging Nagoya into chaos. During those early stages, Ikudo had guided civilians away, aided by Uwabami and several other Pro Heroes.
Then, the black knight came. It appeared out of nowhere, sending both heroes and police officers flying in its wake. Through a risky strategy, the Pro Heroes Electrophase and Captain Sparta teamed up to drive it away. The strategy had hinged around Electrophase's Quirk that could generate electromagnetic spheres which the Hero used to magnetize Captain Sparta's armor. The Bronze Age Hero had then ran deeper into Nagoya before Electrophase struck the knight with a second sphere. The magnetic energy proceeded to send it hurtling away toward Captain Sparta. While successful in luring their opponent away, it had come at a cost. According to recent intel, Captain Sparta was killed in action. The black knight was now in combat with Eraserhead, Gunhead, Khao Lam, and Gang Orca.
But they needed help and fast. Gunhead was potentially out of the fight, and Khao Lam had been heavily injured. Narita was so worried that he almost didn't notice the strange shaking in the air a few minutes earlier. But now, for the first time since the chaos began, he had a spark of hope.
The No.2 Hero had arrived.
Accompanied by numerous sidekicks, the Flame Hero, Endeavor, had arrived in Nagoya. Narita had seen the man in photos, but to see Enji Todoroki in the flesh was something different. He didn't have the hopeful exuberance of All Might, but the man had his own form of inspiring charisma.
With a gruff voice, the Flame Hero spoke to Narita's superior.
"What is the situation?"
Captain Kinro Konatsu, a man with a dark orange ponytail, saluted Endeavor and his sidekicks.
"Endeavor! Glad you and your agency are here. The situation is grim. Gang Orca's line has come under the attack of an unknown armored villain."
One of Endeavor's sidekicks, Kido, scrolled on a small tablet.
"Matches our intel, sir. An unknown villain in black armor, currently in combat with Eraserhead, Gang Orca, and Khao Lam. Gunhead is present, but is unconscious."
Endeavor turned to Kido and two of his sidekicks.
"Kido. Onima. Burnin. I'm leaving you three in charge here. I'm going in."
The trio of sidekicks saluted, "Yes, sir!"
Unleashing flames from his feet, Endeavor rocketed down the street, heading towards the battle.
Narita watched the Flame Hero blaze a path forward as he flew off. As he stared, a Pro Hero in a white skin-tight suit walked up to him. Her eyes, covered by a gray visor, were set on Endeavor's distant form. Next to her was a bearded man in military-esque attire and pauldrons that seemed to be made of rock.
The female Pro Hero giggled, "He's pretty cool, isn't he?"
Narita stifled a yelp, "Ah! Ms. Hyade! Mr. Basilion!"
Silvia Okkotsu, also known as the Meteor Hero: Hyade, winked, "No need to be so jumpy, man. We only snuck up on you a little bit."
Genbu Tatakura, also known as the Rock Scale Hero: Basilion, chopped Silvia on the head, "Hyade. Enough. Electrophase wants us to follow Endeavor."
Hyade blinked, "Me? My Star Speed might make me fast, but it won't do anything to an opponent in armor. My physical strength stays the same."
"Even so, your speed could still be useful. Let's move, Hyade. Officer, keep up the good work. We're counting on you."
Narita excitedly saluted, "Yes, Basilion sir!"
The Rock Scale Hero chuckled, "Good man."
The two heroes then jogged away to meet up with Electrophase.
The Electromagnetic Hero nodded at them in acknowledgment, "Are you both ready? Let's move out."
Basilion turned to see Hyade smirking and sighed, "Oh great. She's going to do it, isn't she? Damn speedsters."
Bluish waves of kinetic energy gathered around Hyade's feet, and she took off in a white-colored blur, "Better move quick, you two! STAR ROAD!"
Further back, Uwabami watched Electrophase and Basilion chase after their swift-footed ally. Lacking any sort of speed or propulsive abilities, it would take the two a while to catch up to Endeavor and Hyade. Uwabami considered following them but decided against it. Her Quirk wasn't good for direct combat anyway.
'At least Saber is doing his part. And as his Master, I will ensure he gets all the energy he needs.'
As she pondered, the heroine repeatedly pushed Quirk Factor through her link to Saber, the alien energy morphing into magical energy. She could feel it— Saber was gathering his energy. He would need all the power he could get.
'So use it, Saber. Use your Noble Phantasm and save this city!'
To be continued in Chapter 10: Howl of the Mad Dog
AN: If I had a nickel for every Shinji I killed off, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's interesting it happened twice.
Servant Profiles: False Lancer
Bio:
Class: Lancer
Master: Mukuro Shigaraki
True Name: Vritra
Gender: Genderless (Vessel is Female)
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Stats:
Strength: A
Endurance: C
Agility: A
Mana: A
Luck: D
Noble Phantasm: EX
Class Skills:
Magic Resistance: A
Personal Skills:
Dragon-kind: A
The Vajra That Penetrated: A
Fated Enemy of God: A
Eternal Immortal Demon: EX
Noble Phantasms:
Asurashreshtha
O' Demon, Cover All the Heaven and Earth
Rank: EX
Type: Anti-World