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SentinalSlice- Shiro is going to Albion's corpse to meet up with Morgan. The further specifics on why it had to be there will be revealed later on in the story.

Midsunris- I'll let this chapter answer your question on some of my plans for Izuku.

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Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia or any Fate works, and they are the properties of their respective creators.

Summoner's Banquet III: The Undead Warriors

Midoriya Residence, Mustafu
Day 4, Night

"Izuku Midoriya, my partner and I have more than a few questions for you. So, could you start by telling us how you got back here?"

Izuku hesitated as he took a seat at the table. Almost subconsciously, he glanced back behind him where Archer should be in astral form.

'Archer… should I tell them?'

A woman's voice echoed in his head, 'I will not make your decision for you, shrub. It will violate the secrecy of the Grail War if you tell them, but I don't care much about that.'

Izuku breathed heavily.

'I can't lie about this… I'll tell them everything.'

With Chikuchi, his mom, and the two detectives all looking at him, Izuku began to speak.

"Well… it's kind of a long story."

League of Villains Hideout, Kamino
A Few Hours Earlier…

When Kurogiri's warp cloud receded, Izuku Midoriya found himself within a dingy bar— and then everything had gone dark.

When he regained consciousness, he found himself tied to a chair. Glancing around, Izuku got a better look at his surroundings.

It looked like an ordinary bar and likely was so at some point. Bottles lined the shelves behind the counter and an antique jukebox sat in one of the corners.

In front of Izuku were the men who kidnapped him. As the gray-haired villain slouched against a barstool, the smokey villain, Kurogiri, spoke.

"Ah, he's awake. Wonderful. The doctor's drug truly worked exactly as he said."

Locking eyes with Izuku, Kurogiri put down the glass he was wiping.

"Now… Izuku Midoriya. You are probably wondering why villains would go and kidnap a Quirkless boy such as yourself. Well… now you will get your answers."

Without waiting for a response, Kurogiri moved to the bar. After the man turned on a small radio, a crackling voice sounded.

"Izuku Midoriya… it is a pleasure to meet another marked one. However, I am afraid I cannot provide you with my name."

Despite the cordiality in the man's voice, Izuku knew there was an underlying threat.

"Marked one…? You mean, you kidnapped me because of these symbols?"

Tomura grumbled as he removed his left glove, "Oh great, the quest NPC is gonna start yammering, is he? Well, this should shut him up."

Emblazoned on Shigaraki's hand was a similar set of red seals. But unlike Izuku's flower-shaped ones, the villain's resembled a wolf's lower jaw.

Izuku's eyes widened.

The radio man chuckled, predicting Izuku's reaction, "Do you understand now? This is no prank. Our goals here are genuine. Simply hand them over, and no further harm will come to you or your family."

"Mom…!"

"Haha… precisely. Refuse to cooperate, and I will be forced to take drastic actions. I understand you have no understanding of Command Spells, so worry not. We will have a doctor complete the procedure. You need only stay compliant."

Izuku was silent, but nodded, "Alright."

'I won't let them hurt Mom… no matter what happens to me. I don't want anyone to get hurt.'

Although unwittingly, in that moment, Izuku's thoughts were heard by the Grail. The desire it had sensed in him surfaced at last. Although the boy believed his dream was dead, it still lived. For the boy who dreamed for so long to be a hero, it was not so simple to throw away his ideals. At his heart, Izuku Midoriya had a wish.

'I want to be a hero.'

It was not a proper incantation, but the False Holy Grail had already been tempered to allow for lackluster rituals.

As Kurogiri reached to chloroform Izuku once again, the Command Spells on the boy's hand erupted in red light.

None of the villains present had been expecting it. Because All For One's summoning had utilized a lengthy chant Francesca provided them, they had been unaware of the possibility of a spontaneous summons. Now the possibility they weren't prepared for had blown up in their faces.

Kurogiri, who had been closest to the boy, was the most affected by the flash of light. The dimensional force of a manifesting Servant knocked him back into a wall. Tomura, on the other hand, lunged. It would have been wiser to pit his own Servant against Midoriya's newly summoned one, but the villain had yet to summon a Servant of his own.

'It might not work on that dragon bitch… but I'll enjoy seeing your Servant wither into ash!'

Seeing the attack, the Servant in the smoke narrowed her eyes— and fired.

The bang of a gunshot was deafening, and Tomura fell backward as blood poured from his side. He didn't scream, but he clenched his teeth from pain.

As the smoke cleared, Izuku stared at the woman who had suddenly appeared before him.

She wasn't a Pro Hero, at least not one he recognized. There was also a strange connection he felt with her, an innate sense that she was his ally.

The stranger was a young Japanese woman, perhaps in her late teens or early twenties. Her skin was flawless, and her long, straight black hair seemed to glow with a dark red tinge. Her scarlet eyes pierced the air around her, surveying everything with a sense of superiority. The woman's body was mostly covered by a large red cape, but beneath it, Izuku could see a black western-style military uniform with unusual golden boots. Atop her head was a matching officer's hat, which was decorated with a large ornament. It resembled a flower-like sun with rays coming off it, and Izuku realized the flower matched the pattern emblazoned on his hand.

To complete the woman's appearance were her weapons. In her right hand, set against her shoulder, was a still-sheathed katana with red wrappings. In her left hand, the woman brandished a matchlock rifle, which still had smoke wisping from its barrel.

"Seems Nihon always has a pest or two, regardless of the era. But then again, rats do make good target practice."

Turning towards Izuku, the woman dispelled her matchlock. Planting her katana against the bar's wooden floor, she looked the green-haired boy directly in the eyes.

"You, shrub. Are you the one who summoned me?"

Izuku stammered in confusion, "I.. uh, well… I don't know! I don't understand what's going on!"

The young woman sighed, "Such a stupid Master, not even understanding the ritual you are taking part in. You could afford to show some confidence, shrub. But it can't be helped. Based on the shape of those Spells of yours, I daresay you're my summoner. I'll skip all the contractual stuff. It seems the link's pretty much established already."

Turning away from Izuku, the woman regarded the two on-guard villains.

"So, the pest and the yokai want to fight, hmmm? What type are you anyway? An Enenra?"

Izuku was the one who answered, "N…no. I-I think it's just his Quirk, Miss."

The woman's eyes widened, "Quirks? I'll admit that the Grail's information seemed a little lacking, but I'm afraid I don't recognize the term. Here's your time to shine, shrub."

"T-They're superpowers! The smokey villain has warp abilities, the gray-haired villain, I don't know!"

"Superpowers? Now isn't that interesting? Luckily for you, shrub, I'm a flexible thinker. Now then… let's see how many bullets it takes to kill you, not-Enenra. As for you, gray-hair, I'll only need one shot. I'm an Archer, after all."

To match her provocation, Archer conjured forth seven matchlocks, which floated in the air around her.

It was then that All For One interrupted. He was not able to physically see the situation, but the dialogue alone assured him an intervention was necessary.

"Excuse me, Archer."

Turning to the radio, Archer raised her left eyebrow.

"Oh? Someone was listening in? What do you want?"

"I would like to ask you to retreat. I would prefer if my subordinates did not die today."

Archer scoffed, "And why should I do that? I can see the Command Spells on your underling's hand. That makes him my enemy."

"I have made a threat of my own. Should you attack my subordinates, I will exact retribution upon your Master's family. Kill the villains under my command, and I promise I will ensure the death of his mother. Retreat now, and I, as Master of Lancer, swear to not harm her for the duration of the War."

"A promise of words means nothing. Why should my Master or I believe you?"

"... so be it. But understand, Izuku Midoriya, what your Servant is risking. Inko Midoriya does not have to die because of her choices today."

Seeing the tension rising, Izuku watched as Archer began to unsheath her katana. Making his choice, Izuku shouted. Focused as he was, he didn't notice the Command Spell being used.

"ARCHER! STOP!"

The black-haired Servant froze in place, held at bay by the power of compulsion. Her hand pushed her katana back into its sheath, and the floating matchlocks dissipated into naught.

The woman whirled with a frustrated look on her face, "You used one of your Command Spells? What were you thinking, Master? Agh, that's right you're ignorant about this whole affair… fine, we'll retreat! Are you happy, radio man?"

"Very well. I promise Inko Midoriya's safety. For the whole of the Holy Grail War, I will send neither myself nor another to take her life. You have my word. Now leave, Izuku Midoriya. You have earned your freedom."

Izuku was going to respond, but Archer interrupted. Hoisting the boy under her arm, the gun-toting Servant kicked open the door to Kurogiri's bar. Not wanting to give the two villains a chance to backstab them, Archer pooled energy into her legs. Bounding to a nearby rooftop in a single leap, she glanced down at her Master.

"Where to, Master?"

"Mustafu… Shizuoka Prefecture."

Archer hummed, "The Suruga Province, eh? We are in the Musashi Province right now, although I can't say I recognize the locale."

On the distant horizon, Izuku could see a familiar-looking ferris wheel, "I…I think we're in a Ward of Yokohama."

Using her innate connection to Japan, Archer let the information process in her Saint Graph. For a Servant of her intimacy, the country sang out the answers she needed. It took only seconds to align her 16th-century knowledge with that of present-day Japan.

"Yokohama… that aligns with Kannai, hmmm? And Mustafu… seems close to Hamakita. Alright, got it."

Archer smiled, "You're lucky Master. A non-Nihonjin Servant would have struggled to find their way. But I was born into, lived in, and united these lands! No place in this country is beyond my reach!"

Bounding from rooftop to rooftop, Archer and Izuku moved further and further to the southwest. Archer laughed with confidence as she all but soared above the rooftops of Kamino.

'A world of superpowers? What a wonderfully chaotic setting for this War! Revel in excitement, o' world of modernity— the Fool of Owari is here!'

SECOND ARCHER: ODA NOBUNAGA

Midoriya Residence, Mustafu
Day 4, Night

"So, this 'Archer' is the one who brought you home? Traveling over 100 kilometers entirely on foot?"

Detective Tanuma's voice was skeptical. Despite his mind telling him this story was impossible, Naomasa hadn't alerted him of any falsehoods. The boy was (or at least he believed he was) telling the truth.

"Apologies, but I have trouble believing your story, young man. Could you perhaps let us meet this… 'Archer'?"

Izuku hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I…"

"Hmph. You're too hesitant, Master."

The entire group jumped at the newcomer's voice. In one of the formerly-empty table seats, the Servant Archer now sat confidently. Her elbow was against the arm of the chair, and her face donned a prideful smirk. Looking at Tsukauchi and Tanuma, she regarded them curiously.

"So, you two are 'detectives'? In my day, we only had magistrates or doshins."

She turned to Inko and Togeike, "And you must be my Master's mother. And you… his wife?"

As Inko and Izuku froze in shock, Togeike blushed at Archer's bold claim, "W-wife? No, it's not like that! And even if we were dating, we're too young to get married!"

Archer shrugged, "Well, I married my wife in my teens. Not so unusual, I'd say."

Naomasa interrupted before Archer's words brought any more chaos.

"Excuse me, Archer. You speak as though you are from the past. So tell me— who and what are you?"

Archer quirked an eyebrow, "Oh? You're asking for my True Name? Well normally, I would not be so forthcoming, even to my Master. However, being summoned in Japan gives me a distinct advantage— so very well. Be proud you all have been graced with this truth!"

"I am the Servant Archer! I am the Fool of Owari, Conqueror of the Warring States, and King of Innovation! I helped unify the land of Nihon, and immortalized the Oda Clan in greatness! I am Oda Nobunaga, the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven!"

Eizo voiced what was on everyone's mind, "The Oda Nobunaga? That's impossible."

Naomasa shook his head, "Everyone… my Quirk detects lies. The truth is what it is… either you are delusional, Archer, or you truly are the individual you claim to be. So, how is this impossible? Oda Nobunaga has been dead for over 500 years… and he was not a woman either."

Archer laughed, "Sensible questions. Since my shrub of a Master doesn't know about the Holy Grail War, I doubt the people around him would know either."

And so, Nobunaga explained. To the awe of them all, Naomasa continued to affirm her words as truth. But even with his lie-detecting Quirk, the detective himself struggled to believe it.

'Heroic Spirits… Servants… The Holy Grail… as crazy as it all sounds, it makes sense. Toshinori and I were already talking about magic being one of the few ways to explain things. So magic is real… and so is the multiverse, it would seem.'

Inko, meanwhile, was horrified. Her son, her precious baby boy, was to take part in a war?

"Ms. Archer… is there any way my Izuku can leave the War?"

All eyes fell on Inko, who continued, "As a mother, this 'Holy Grail War' is something I can't ignore. I don't want to put my son at risk."

Archer responded with genuine uncertainty, "I can't say. That would be the Overseer's role… but it's a Master's responsibility to know who that is. And I have no hope that Master here would know, given his lack of knowledge."

Izuku's feelings at his mother's words were more complicated. He knew she meant well, but he couldn't help but see this as another instance of her not believing in him.

Archer watched carefully, half expecting Izuku to object. But such a response never came.

'My Master… as I suspected, he doesn't believe in himself. People who give up quickly really are no good.'

"Well, that's all from me. I'm going to return to my spirit form for now."

Archer vanished, leaving her seat empty. Naomasa and the others were still curious about her gender, but no one chose to press the matter. After a brief silence, the ringing of a cell phone filled the room. Reaching into his pocket, Detective Tanuma checked the caller ID before standing up.

"Naomasa, it's the Chief. I'll need to take this."

Tsukauchi nodded, "Alright. I'll wrap things up."

After Tanuma went outside, Naomasa turned to the group.

"Now, there's something I wanted to add before we wrap up this conversation. Tomorrow a friend of mine and I have a meeting with U.A.'s principal, Nezu. I'd like for you to join me, Midoriyas. Furthermore, I'd request that you both pack your bags for tomorrow."

The two were confused as Inko stammered, "Pack our bags? W-why?"

"We cannot guarantee your safety here. Not with a Warp Quirk in the equation. I'm going to ask U.A. to give you asylum starting tomorrow."

Inko paled, "A-Asylum?"

Naomasa nodded, "Yes. Those villains… they specifically noted you as a target, Mrs. Midoriya. While the radio villain promised not to harm you, we can't be careless. Besides, I doubt Nezu would refuse. They are already housing Momo Yaoyorozu on campus."

Izuku looked at his mother, "M-Mom. I think we should do it. I don't want you getting hurt, and the heroes can protect you."

Chikuchi pointed to herself, "What about me?"

"The villains didn't explicitly mention you, but we'll have a hero assigned to your home as security. We'll do the same tonight for this apartment. Then a U.A. teacher will accompany you here in the morning."

Inko squeaked her response, "Alright. We'll go to U.A."

Naomasa nodded, "Wonderful. Now, Tanuma and I will stay here until a hero arrives. Then, we'll take you home, Ms. Togeike."

"Can I call my parents and update them? I know you contacted them at the station but…"

The detective smiled, "I understand. Go right ahead. Just don't share any details of the case. This is extremely confidential."

Togeike nodded and headed to the bathroom to get some privacy.

Naomasa, meanwhile, considered everything he had learned today. As crazy as the Holy Grail War was, that wasn't his only concern. There were also those who had dared to kidnap Izuku Midoriya from Comics Odyssey.

'Those villains— Kurogiri, Tomura Shigaraki, and the man on the radio. They trouble me. Something about this group is reminding me of "that man" and his followers. If Toshinori's archenemy is still around, could he be the man on the radio? It would fit his modus operandi to embroil himself in a wish-granting conflict.'

At times like this, Naomasa felt the itch to smoke again. This was a nerve-wracking situation, and he'd used to use cigarettes to calm his nerves, 'If All For One is truly the one who controls a Lancer Servant… that could make him the Master of the one who killed Kamui Woods and Ryukyu.'

Naomasa sighed heavily, 'Could the Symbol of Evil be back? And could you stop him this time, Toshinori?'

Chiba, Chiba Prefecture
Day 4, Night

"HAH!"

With a forward thrust, Itsuka Kendo's palm struck the open air of her backyard. Even before becoming All Might's successor, training had always been a part of the orange-haired girl's routine. As her father always said, "Even a powerful Quirk is wasted on a weak body."

It also served as a form of meditation for Kendo. With so many questions swirling in her head, it was important to organize all the thoughts she had.

She had a rough sleep the previous night, having found herself in some weird void space with seven glowing figures just outside of clear view. She had woken to find out she had overslept and had an odd bruise on her left hand. Weirdly, it didn't seem to hurt or even ache.

'I'm overthinking. I need to clear my mind. Just as I've always been taught.'

With a deep breath, Itsuka continued her exercises, imagining she was fighting an invisible opponent.

As she unleashed the final palm strike in her imaginary battle, the bruise on her hand erupted in light.

'What the?'

Itsuka's vision seemed to glitch, and she was drawn back to the space from her dream. But this time, she could hear voices, garbled together and distant.

"She… resonating…"

"Symbol… unclear…"

"Linked… all…"

When her vision returned, Itsuka found she had collapsed onto the backyard's lawn, grass staining her hands and gi.

"How long was I…"

"Hiya! Lovely night, isn't it?"

Turning in the direction of the voice, Itsuka saw a beautiful woman sitting comfortably on her rooftop. She was young, likely in her twenties, and had light pink hair styled in a way similar to Kendo's classmate, Momo. She was dressed in a modified red and violet kimono with a maple leaf motif. At her hip were the sheathes for four katanas, one of which was drawn. Holding the blade against her shoulder, she looked incredibly relaxed. Her light blue eyes were alight with curiosity.

Sheathing her blade, the woman jumped down in front of Kendo. But instead of attacking, the woman reached out and grabbed her face.

"Wow, my latest summoner is soooooo cute~~! I could just pinch your cheeks all day, hehe."

"E-Excuse me.. who are you?"

Releasing her grip, Saber stepped back, sheepishly rubbing the back of her head.

"Ah, I forgot that not everyone knows about Heroic Spirits! Even my cute little Iori didn't know in the last world, and now I just assumed you did! Sorry about that, Master!"

Stepping back, the woman put her hands on her hips.

"My name is Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu! The Flower of Tengen and founder of Niten Ichi-ryū! But… you probably know me as Musashi Miyamoto. I sorta just wandered into this world, and it seems we linked up, haha!"

Kendo's eyes widened in disbelief, "M-Musashi Miyamoto? That's impossible!"

Musashi grinned, "Nope, it's very much possible! There's some serious magic needed to make it work, but summoning heroes of the past is totally achievable. Although I'll admit, I'm something of a special case."

Kendo would have thought she was dreaming, but given the pain from Musashi's cheek-pinching, that evidently wasn't the case.

"So you're Musashi Miyamoto… and I summoned you here?"

Musashi nodded, "Yep! I didn't come from the Throne of Heroes like others do, but I did answer your summons. Which makes you my Master for whatever conflict this might be!"

"Conflict? There was the Nagoya Disaster yesterday, but…"

Musashi took a seat on the engawa in the backyard as she spoke. Despite her youthful appearance, she reminded Kendo of when her grandmother would tell stories under the moonlight.

"Well, summoning systems go by a couple of names across the multiverse. The Holy Grail War, The Grand Orders, the Requiem… and as I recently learned, the Waxing Moon Ritual. Do any of those sound familiar?"

Kendo shook her head, "No."

Musashi yawned, "Well, whatever. Hopefully, there's an Overseer who we can track down to explain things. Dayu's War had one, and other Grail Wars I've experienced had them too, so there should be one here. Now, Master…"

Musashi's voice became serious, causing Kendo to snap to attention. What Musashi said next, however, defied the tension.

"...do you know where I can get some udon? I'm starving!"

SECOND SABER: MUSASHI MIYAMOTO

Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Day 4, Night

Returning home, Keigo Takami was relieved to find his apartment still standing.

'Good thing I printed out how to operate my microwave before I left Caster alone. I don't trust that woman in my kitchen for a second.'

In all honesty, the kitchen incident had been a good way for Hawks to distract himself from the craziness of the War he had been dragged into.

'To think the Holy Grail War that "False Assassin" talked about wasn't just rambles. And I'm now taking part as well… with Xuanzang Sanzang as my ally.'

The revelation of Caster's identity was the hardest thing for Keigo to believe.

Even with his unusual upbringing, Hawks knew the infamous Chinese folktale, "Journey to the West".

It was a tale that few did not know, a cultural constant that survived even with the upheaval from the rise of Quirks. Xuanzang Sanzang was the name of the monk at the center of the tale.

According to the story, the Chinese monk, Xuanzang Sanzang, was given a mission by Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Xuanzang was to travel to India in search of the original Buddhist scriptures as part of their destiny to reach enlightenment. To assist Xuanzang in her journey, she was accompanied by a white horse, whose true identity was the dragon prince Bai Long.

The heavens also provided her with a magical silver circlet with a very specific purpose. The circlet was used by Xuanzang to ensure the loyalty of the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, who was to show repentance for his sins by becoming the monk's disciple and protector. Wukong's presence was necessary, for many demons would assail the party, seeking to devour Xuanzang's holy flesh.

With the Monkey King's aid, and the later assistance of Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, Xuanzang reached and returned from India safely. They used the scriptures to found a new sect before ascending as the Buddha of Glorious Sandalwood.

Hawks hadn't expected Xuanzang to be a sinfully attractive woman, but at the same time, he wasn't exactly particular about it. What was crazier was that the fantastical tale had been true— magic, demons, and gods really had existed.

As he stepped into the main room, he found his Servant kneeling in front of the couch, seemingly in the middle of… something.

'Praying, perhaps?'

The woman's eyes were closed but slowly opened as she looked towards him with a smile.

Before Hawks could react, Caster caught him in a tight hug, "Disciple! You've returned! Your teacher has missed you!"

"Ah, hi, Caster."

The woman stepped back, but her rosy smile was infectious. Looking at her childish face, Hawks felt his worries melt away.

"Disciple, might I ask to accompany you next time you depart? I understand these robes of mine are a concern to you, but I am a monk, not a hermit. A prayer made with others is better than a prayer made alone."

Hawks understood Caster's wish, 'She said it in a kind of roundabout way, but the gist is that she doesn't like to be alone.'

"I'll see what I can do. But we will need to figure out your outfit first. It will draw far too many eyes."

Caster smiled, "I believe I have a solution for you, disciple! Behold!"

Suddenly, in a burst of sparkling blue lights, Caster vanished.

"What the..!?"

"Don't worry, Disciple. I'm just in my Astral Form."

'Caster? Is this telepathy?'

"Yep! It's thanks to our link as Master and Servant. Although, let's stick to Caster and Disciple, okay? I understand your hesitancy to call me your teacher, Wukong was the same way! Although his favorite name for me was 'moron'... he got plenty of slaps on the wrist for that!"

'So, using this "Astral Form", you're invisible?'

"Well, incorporeal. I can't attack, defend, or bypass spiritual wards in this state."

'I see. Still seems useful. But can you return to physical form for now?'

"Of course! Anything for my newest disciple!"

Xuanzang rematerialized, sitting in the same position she had been in earlier.

"Anything else you wanted to talk about before bed, Disciple?"

Hawks scratched his cheek, "Well, not really. I'm just a bit overwhelmed by it all still."

Xuanzang smiled warmly, "Disciple, perhaps what you need is to share what you've learned with a trusted ally! The War is supposed to be secret, but I still find telling someone about your troubles can help clear the mind!"

"Maybe… but I don't even know who I'd talk to."

Caster pondered, before her eyes glimmered with excitement, "Oh, I know, Disciple! Why not that man you follow? The one on that apron of yours!"

Hawks grimaced, 'Great, she's reminding me of the apron. But she isn't wrong. Maybe Endeavor will be able to help me. If that 'False Assassin' really is a Servant like Caster, then perhaps that black knight he took down wasn't just an abnormal villain either.'

Sighing, Hawks nodded, "Alright, Caster. We'll go with your idea. Guess it's time I gave the Flame Hero a call."

Fulmo Mountains, Aichi Prefecture
Day 5, Morning

As the sun rose on the horizon, the Fulmo Mountains shook from the clashing of two great powers. Despite only having a C-Rank in Endurance, Vritra's draconic stamina showed through. Even when Gigantomachia hit her with a strike that sent her flying almost a mile, she got back up.

Partially, this was due to Vritra's most esoteric skill, the EX-Ranked "Eternal Immortal Demon". It was a strange ability, a restorative power that drew from the invisible energy of primordial faith. By feeding upon humanity's faith in nature and gods, Vritra could conceal her own concept of death, effectively becoming immortal.

Even in this superpowered world, where gods were just stories, countless people still prayed to higher powers. Drawing from those wisps of belief, Vritra would persist, an undying obstacle that blockaded the Grail. So even when she fell, she rose again.

But just as Vritra continued to fight, so did Gigantomachia. Thanks to the concoction of Quirks granted to him by All For One, the giant villain could not even feel the Vajras piercing his skin. As the whole of the night passed, he continued to fight without stopping.

Pushing herself up from the impact crater of Gigantomachia's latest punch, the Servant of the Lance laughed joyously. He wasn't Indra, but Mukuro's lapdog was proving to be quite the enjoyable opponent.

"YES! YES! This is what I wanted! A grand unceasing bout, an opponent who refuses to fall!"

Gigantomachia, although he did not share Lancer's gleefulness, was certainly in a better mood than before. The woman before him was strong, stronger than any woman he had faced before. A fraction of his mind suggested she might even surpass the master… but the giant abandoned that thought as soon as it appeared. He would not allow his mind to be clouded with such heresy.

"You are mighty, woman. If you were seeking my approval, you have it. You are worthy to stand beside my Master."

Vritra grinned, "Like a dragon needs the approval of a mortal. Now, fight me more!"

Gigantomachia, not backing down from the challenge, nodded.

"Very well. Behold my ultimate move, dragon woman. I will withhold it no longer."

"Your ultimate move? About time."

There was a reason Gigantomachia had not revealed this till now. It was a move so destructive that it would certainly draw the attention of other parties. But the fighter's spirit within him could not resist the chance to use the move against her, even if it was in partial defiance of his standing orders.

Raising his hands above his head, Gigantomachia focused all his power into his arms. As his ultimate technique, this attack had become synonymous with one of his monikers.

"MOUNTAIN CRUSHER!"

As the tremendous force of Gigantomachia's two-pronged strike hit the mountainside, the ground below Vritra's feet heaved. Through sheer physical power, the land shattered, boulders and trees alike being flung upwards.

Trapped in such a vast web of debris, most would be doomed. But not Vritra.

Although the Servant had several ways she could get out of this predicament, she chose one of their more unusual options.

Dispelling all the Vajras she previously created, Vritra summoned the genuine Vajra in front of her. With an exertion of willpower, Vritra forced the Inexhaustible Diamond Pounder to split in two.

It was a process similar to making a Broken Phantasm. However, unlike the technique used by a certain Counter Guardian, this technique merely locked down Vajra's usage until it repaired itself.

Using this ability was a risky move, but Vritra believed it was worth it. Gigantomachia had pleased her with his battle. If he was going to use an ultimate move, it was only fitting she responded in kind.

The halves of Vajra moved apart, settling near the backs of Vritra's hands. Then they began to multiply rapidly. The duplicate Vajra fragments then compounded, forming two massive claws made of divine metal.

Vritra had first witnessed this ability in the Age of Gods. Indra had unleashed this very same technique upon Vritra many times. It was a heavenly thunderclap that split the sky itself, a truly divine attack.

"Strew and Pierce: Nakh Ájakava."

Bringing the two metallic hands together, the piercing power of Vajra was infused into the sound itself. Like a wave, it tore through the rubble released by Mountain Crusher, turning it to dust.

Even Gigantomachia could not go unscathed from the attack, which completely bypassed his Pain Blocker Quirk. Feeling the damage he was taking for the first time in decades, he began to howl in agony.

"RAAAAAAAGGHHH!"

The pain-filled shout was more deafening than Nakh Ájakava itself, and no being that lay within the Fulmo Mountains did not hear it.

While the wildlife scattered, there was one existence that did not flee. It had been stagnant, but the battle had garnered its attention.

The Servant Assassin was on the move.

It came into the corner of Vritra's vision as a black tide, a strange section of forest that infected and overwrote the living greenery.

As Gigantomachia still reeled from the attack, the Danava turned her attention to this aberrant Assassin. It wasn't like anything she'd felt before, and her draconic senses caught wind of an overwhelming smell of blood.

'What is that… black forest?'

With Vajra still disabled from Nakh Ájakava, Vritra unleashed her powers of conceptual flame. Striking the forest with a gigantic purple fireball, the False Lancer expected this odd Assassin to be annihilated.

But Assassin was not an ordinary being. Welcoming Lancer's attack with open branches, the forest began to feed on the energy within the fire. Even though some of Assassin was burnt in the process, the energy it had absorbed more than made up for the damage.

Lancer was surprised, 'It resisted the Flames of Obstruction?'

In any normal circumstance, the attack would have been devastating, turning entire acres to ash and dust. But Assassin, unlike plants, animals, and even Servants, was not a product of human affirmation. The flames that obstructed humanity and their gods could not contain the byproduct of a Dead Apostle.

Vritra unleashed a second deluge of purple flame, but it barely slowed Assassin down.

'It's the same… the Flames of Obstruction are only barely fending it off. It's no Heroic Spirit… I can hardly tell it's a Servant.'

Although Lancer did not know of Assassin's true nature, she could feel this forest was an enemy she could not carelessly face, 'Seems both Gigantomachia and I have overstayed our welcome in these mountains. If we do not depart quickly, the dark forest will envelop us.'

Although Gigantomachia did not understand the situation, the animal instincts granted by his Dog and Mole Quirks corroborated Lancer's claims. Every cell in the giant's body seemed to be screaming that the black forest was deadly. He was not afraid of the forest, but he did know retreat was the best course of action. Using his massive strength, Gigantomachia bounded away, cracking the landscape with each leap.

Lancer, seeing Gigantomachia lunging away, followed. With their superhuman physical abilities, the pair quickly outpaced Assassin, leaving the dark forest alone. The trees, which hungered for prey, could feel the distance between itself and the powerful souls growing. It could not express emotions, so it held no disappointment over the loss. All that mattered was that the hunt was over… for now.

Of all the aberrations in this War, True Assassin was the greatest of them all. Servants were summoned from the Root and were products of human history. This Assassin was neither. It was a vampire, and even then, an oddity amongst such beings.

Sometime in the early Middle Ages, the Seventh Dead Apostle Ancestor, Einnashe, was killed by the White Princess of the True Ancestors. The Princess had made a careless error that day, leaving Einnashe's body near a bloodsucking tree of his own creation. The tree absorbed its creator's power and ascended, transforming the entire forest around it into a Phantasmal Species.

Dubbed the "Forest of Einnashe", the now-sentient forest inherited its creator's position as the Seventh Ancestor. It fed on a rough cycle, surfacing roughly twice a century to feed on entire towns before returning to slumber.

When Jester Karture passed into the World Egg of Olkoth, he caused a reverberative effect in the tapestry of space-time. At the exact moment the forest was on the brink of destruction at the hands of the Church, a single branch of it was dragged through to the Outer God's world.

It remained inactive in its weakened state until a vast amount of magical energy was fed into the Fulmo Mountains by the Greater Grail's arrival. In its feeding, it devoured a set of Command Spell sent out by the Greater Grail, acquiring an anomalous position as the True Assassin of the Holy Grail War. It was the best class the Grail could rationalize, classifying the Thinking Forest as a serial killer of humanity. Over the last day, it had fed from the mana of the Grail and the blood of nearby wildlife, reconstituting itself into a proper form.

It was Masterless, but far from powerless. Its roots had already dug deep into the Fulmo Mountains, forming a black ring that protected the Grail from intrusion. None, not even a fellow bloodsucker like Jester, would be welcome. Intruders had only one role in the Disemboweling Forest's limited understanding of the world— to be devoured.

TRUE ASSASSIN: FOREST OF EINNASHE

The Holy Grail War of the World Egg had become twisted.

In the wake of its messy sublimation, the rules had practically become a footnote. Servants who defied the logic of a Grail War were being summoned en masse.

Servants who were still alive.

Servants who had escaped the Throne.

Servants that approached the level of Divine Spirits and Elementals.

Even a vampiric forest had been made a Servant.

But still, there was another set of oddities. A Master and Servant, both who had seemingly met their end during the Fifth Holy Grail War. One slain by a treacherous Overseer; the other a fragment of the Fourth War, haplessly dragged into the collapsing Grail.

It was on the third day of the war, just after Jester's sublimation, that these two remnant existences would find themselves in a new world.

Fulmo Mountains, Aichi Prefecture
A Day and a Half Earlier…

Of all the places Bazett Fraga McRemitz was expecting to wake up, a mountain forest was not one of them.

"Huh? Where am I?"

Trying to collect herself, the Enforcer quickly realized something.

"I… can't remember…"

All of her recent memories were fragmented and unclear. The last clear thing she remembered was checking into the hotel room she had rented near Fuyuki Airport.

But her outfit didn't match the one she had worn on the plane. When she had flown from Europe to Japan, she opted for black pants, a burgundy dress shirt, and a gray trench coat. But here on the forest floor, she was dressed in her usual Enforcer attire— a traditional black two-piece business suit with a red-violet necktie.

Touching her ears, the magenta-haired woman noticed her catalyst, the earrings of Cú Chulainn, were missing. But from the looks of it, her Command Spells were still here.

'Was I attacked after arriving in Fuyuki? But by who? Atrum might have, but he and I had an agreement. And even if it was him, he would have stolen my Command Spells.'

Shaking her head, the scion of the Fraga clan refocused herself.

'I can't be questioning myself. I could be in enemy territory right now. Time to get my bearings.'

Activating her magic circuits, Bazett began to trace in the air, tracing a shape that resembled a "K" without the upper diagonal. She traced a second rune, this one resembling the letter "B".

Both symbols she had traced were part of a spell from the school of Runic Magecraft. Although its function was simple, the spell was difficult to Master. Combining both the Futhorc Rune 'Cēn' and the Proto-Germanic Rune 'Berkanan', this was a rarely seen example of multilingual Runic Magecraft. Amongst Rune-using Clans, only the Fraga could consistently use this technique.

With the runic array drawn, Bazett activated the spell. With her body serving as the source, an echolative pulse spread across the mountain. Within a minute, she had a complete mental map of where she was.

'It's certainly not Fuyuki. This place doesn't match up geographically at all. But that only leaves me with more questions.'

Contemplating the rune-granted knowledge, Bazett located a town caught on the edge of her mental map.

'Well, civilization is as good a place to start as any. Let's get going.'

But suddenly, a passive defensive rune in her suit went off, warning her of an object approaching from her left.

Reinforcing her body, Bazett dodged the projectile, which turned out to be an ornate bronze sword. Before Bazett could analyze it closely, it vanished into golden dust.

"Oh? Seems you have good reflexes, mongrel."

Whirling upwards, Bazett's eyes fell upon the branches of a nearby tree. Sitting up high was a man. He seemed about the same age as her, with red eyes that seemed to pierce through the universe itself. His hair was golden, contrasting well with his black biker jacket and pants. Despite his normal-looking attire, Bazett knew this wasn't an ordinary man. Behind him, spread in a line, were golden portals, out of which loomed a variety of weapons.

Sensing the lack of active hostility, Bazett opted to simply wait and watch. This pleased the stranger.

"Hmmm. You do well not to balk in the face of a King's radiance. State your name."

Aware that dissidence would be met poorly, she complied, "My name is Bazett Fraga McRemitz, a Magus of the Fraga Clan. I traveled to Fuyuki to participate in the Fifth Holy Grail War as a Master."

The man's eyes flashed with disdain, "Did I ask for anything other than your name, mongrel? Be fortunate your circumstances intrigue me."

She wanted to inquire, but stayed silent.

"Hmph, you are respectful, holding your questions in. But my eyes see past your goodwill. Speak."

Bowing, Bazett spoke carefully, "I was simply curious about why my circumstances intrigue you, your Majesty."

The Golden King chuckled, "Well, that is a question I can indulge. The answer is simple— the Fifth Holy Grail War is over."

"What?"

Ignoring her outburst, the Servant continued, "Allow this king to grant you knowledge, mongrel. It would seem the Grail has been dragged into the World Egg of an external influence. Or to use your common words, the World Egg of an Outer God. The clownish Grail dragged us along with it. I should obliterate it for such transgressions."

Bazett was dumbfounded, "Does that mean you are a Heroic Spirit? Am I your summoner?"

"You are not my summoner, mongrel, but you have indeed been linked to me. Consider it an honor. Now, come."

Standing up, Bazett hurried over, "Y-yes, your Majesty."

Via a portal, Archer conjured a large golden aircraft with green wings.

Seeing Bazett's awed expression, the Servant chuckled, "I see my Vimana impresses you. As should all the treasures in my possession."

"Your Majesty… can I ask a selfish question?"

Speaking in a way that made Bazett feel her question was already known, the Servant responded, "Speak, mongrel."

"May I know your majesty's True Name?"

"A bold question, but I shall allow it."

As he turned and sat upon Vimana, the Servant's attire transformed, becoming some sort of golden Mesopotamian armor that left his chest bared.

"I am Gilgamesh, King of Heroes. Bask in my glory, mongrel woman."

Bazett knew that name— Gilgamesh. The legendary demigod-king of Uruk and one of the first to be engraved within the Throne of Heroes. A Servant whose power could dwarf almost any other.

Tokiomi Tohsaka had summoned Gilgamesh in the Fourth War, but the Mage's Association had never confirmed his defeat or survival.

'Does that mean… he survived all the way to the Fifth War? That shouldn't be possible.'

Knowing she had exhausted the questions she could ask, Bazett let her mind clear. Stepping on board the strange aircraft, she held on carefully as the Throne of the Heaven-Soaring King shot off into the air. Just when it seemed the neural-speed winds would blow her away, a green bracelet suddenly appeared on her wrist. Instantly, the wind seemed to vanish and her feet felt magnetized to the deck of Vimana. Turning to Gilgamesh in curiosity, the Servant only gave her a smirk, as if to say "It would be pitiful of you to die from a mere gust of wind". Accepting the king's generosity, Bazett now stood safely on the aircraft, gazing out as they sped across the land.

She didn't know their destination, but she knew one thing for certain. She was taking part in the Holy Grail War, and this time, she would win.

Pacific Ocean, Off the Coast of Mie Prefecture
Several Hours Later…

For the second time that day, Bazett found herself upon Gilgamesh's Vimana. After flying somewhere in southern Japan, the two proceeded to enjoy a high-class meal at one of Japan's finest French restaurants. She was mildly concerned about how they would pay, but Gilgamesh had assured her there would be no problems.

But her delicious meal had been interrupted by a strange sound. It wasn't like anything Bazett had ever heard, a strange mix of an exclamation and singing that seemed to reverberate through the land.

The moment Gilgamesh heard it, he had stood up, ignoring the odd looks given to him by Bazett and the restaurant's other patrons. The Archer-class Servant had muttered to himself, words so quiet Bazett barely heard them.

"Is it you…?"

The expression that had been on the King's face was nothing like the disdainful curiosity he had earlier. It was a look of genuine bewilderment, of hopefulness and desire.

Gilgamesh had then laughed, ignoring the glares given to him by the restaurant-goers. Producing a solid gold bar from his Gate of Babylon, he had left it as payment as he and Bazett made for the balcony seating area. Moving past further tables, Bazett had watched Gilgamesh's attire change into the same open-chested gold armor he had donned earlier. He then resummoned the Vimana in the view of the entire restaurant, and Bazett had heard the patrons muttering about "improper Quirk usage" as they left.

As she now reflected on that moment aboard the Vimana, Bazett properly considered that odd word.

'Quirks'

As they had dined, Bazett had noticed the unusual appearances of several of the restaurant's patrons, but Gilgamesh had ignored them, so she did nothing. Maybe those mutations were the 'Quirks' they spoke of?

Either way, the King had been silent the entire journey, his eyes firm and focused as they shot forward toward the sea. Confused by his change in demeanor, Bazett decided to inquire into his odd behavior.

"Your Majesty… where are we going?"

The King huffed, "It is none of your concern, mongrel. All you need to know is thus— this Grail War has garnered my full attention."

This was a surprise to her. As they had dined, Gilgamesh had discussed the War with a distinctly bored tone to his voice. The Irish magus was certain that the King of Heroes held no interest in the Grail War, and might even decline to battle for it.

But whatever that 'noise' was, it had intrigued the King so much that he now had a genuine interest in the War.

'But what could interest him so much? I think it could only be…'

Suddenly, the vessel came to an abrupt stop. Gilgamesh stepped away from his throne, manifesting two blades behind his back.

"Bazett Fraga McRemitz."

Hearing her name spoken, Bazett stood at attention. This was the first time the Servant had used her real name.

"You have the fortune of being witness to the greatest reunion of all history. Remember what you see today. Bask in my glory and the glory of the one I call my friend. I permit you to temporarily seat yourself upon the Vimana. Do not tarnish this honor I have bestowed on you."

'This friend, for it to make Gilgamesh want to have me use his seat… it could only be one person.'

Enhancing her eyes with Magecraft, Bazett's suspicions were confirmed. Above an island several miles away, was a green-haired Servant dressed in a white robe.

'So that is…'

The being was a doll, crafted by Anu and Aruru from primordial clay. Although they were neither male nor female, their visage was that of the sacred prostitute Shamhat, the most beautiful woman in all of Uruk. A quiet and reserved being, the polar opposite of the Golden King. Yet, they were also Gilgamesh's one true friend. The single being that the King of Heroes considered as an equal.

'...Enkidu.'

At last standing before his blessed friend, Gilgamesh scoffed.

"Hmph. What a dull location to choose for our battleground. Did your summoner put you up to this? What sort of cur are they?"

Enkidu smiled warmly, "My Master did not put me up to this. I decided on this course of action on my own."

Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow, "Oho? Have you finally learned to differentiate the value of lifeforms? The value of modern humans is low, but I'm surprised you would choose their safety over that of the fish and corals."

Enkidu shook their head, "I'm not qualified to judge such things. But I do hope my creation of new habitats will be acceptable reparations for the marine life I am displacing tonight."

"That way of thinking… you truly do not change, old friend."

Enkidu calmly retorted, "Perhaps. But what of you? I must say, I was a bit surprised when you came at me so calmly. I thought you might come at me full force, striking me with Ea straight away. Starting with a conversation is rather mellow. It's not like you, Gil."

Gilgamesh chuckled, "I suppose I was distracted by ensuring a mongrel's safety. Perhaps both of our Masters are influencing us. How unbearable."

"Having a companion will only help you, Gil. I don't have to be your only friend."

Gilgamesh shook his head, "Only you would dare suggest such things. But no, I shall not accept such a prospect, even from you. I shall share with no other the honor you possess."

"Stubborn as ever, Gil. Your appearance certainly is different. I can't say I recognize that armor, or those blades on your back. Are they from after my time?"

"Hmph. It is nothing so noteworthy. It would seem that the Holy Grail believes itself a court jester, conflating me with some inchoate prototype. Although such a misalignment is preferable to other outcomes."

"So it merged you with an alternate version of yourself? Has your treasury remained intact?"

Gilgamesh snorted, "You need not concern yourself. My treasures do not part with me… even when the Grail taints my form."

"I'm relieved. Shall we be starting, then?"

"Of course. There is no reason for me to have Ea wait any longer. Let our banquet begin, my friend."

Suddenly, in a flash of light, Gilgamesh's hand contained a complex-looking key. Turning it skywards, he pushed it into an invisible lock. The cubic formations on the key shifted as red circuit-like lines expanded upwards. From one of the thousands of branches, a single light flowed downwards back into the key. The instant the light and key touched, it merged into a spatial energy that covered Gilgamesh's hand. Slamming his fist into the space beside him, the air cracked open— and the King of Heroes unveiled the greatest weapon in his vault.

Sword of Rupture: Ea

Although it was called a sword, it looked more like a stunted jousting lance. The 'blade' consisted of three black cylinders marked with red cuneiform and a large golden hilt. Its true nature as a Divine Construct was that of a solidified contract, intrinsically tied to Gilgamesh's being.

With a glowing smile on his face, Gilgamesh shot upwards into the atmosphere. With the boundless night sky as his witness, the Golden King leveled Ea at Enkidu.

"Rejoice, Ea! No worthier stage for you could be set! Rage and whirl to your heart's content!"

As if responding to the Servant's words, the cylinders of the Sword of Rupture began to spin. As the reddish wind coiled off the spiraling armament, a massive vortex began forming off the coast of Japan.

I will tell you of the beginning.

As energy coursed through the clouds, red lightning flashed down, creating explosions of sea foam wherever it struck the ocean.

Heaven and Earth split.

On the International Space Station, a group of astronauts watched in confusion. Even from up in space, the churning winds of Ea's influence could be seen.

Nothingness congratulated Creation…

Back down on Earth, the coastal residents of the Mie Prefecture saw the storm, and their hearts were filled with fear. Had the serpent of Nagoya come for them? Or was this something else?

…and my sword cleaved the world.

The nearby island, which was barren and empty, began to rapidly erode, the wind eating away its fragile form. It would have disappeared in a century or two, but from Ea's influence, that time was cut down into mere moments.

But Enkidu held no fear.

If Gilgamesh was the wedge that divided the world, then Enkidu was the needle that would weave the world back into harmony. As a Noble Phantasm of the Gods, the earthen doll would negate even that which split the world itself.

I will awaken the breath of the planet…

Although this world did not possess a proper Gaia, Enkidu still could feel the planet's fear at the encroachment of Gilgamesh's ultimate attack.

…for I walk with humanity.

Aligning with Enkidu's intention, the will of the planet poured its power into the Lancer-class Servant, whose body pulsed with golden energy. Manifesting in a way humanity could comprehend, a glowing waterspout began to swirl around Enkidu.

Therefore…

As the sky rumbled with red and gold lightning, Bazett Fraga McRemitz could only watch in amazement. So drawn in by the awe-inspiring sight, the Magus hardly noticed the Od practically steaming off her body.

Mortar of the stars…

Far in the sky, her Servant was all but invisible, covered by a growing star of reddish light. But even as Gilgamesh and Enkidu were concealed by their own attacks, their eyes never left each other.

… heaven's hell is the eve of creation's celebration!

Releasing the energy of Ea in a devastating spiral of destruction, Gilgamesh cried out the words that would truly open the grand reunion of friends.

It was the continuation of an ancient tale.

The King of Heroes…

The Star of Creation That Split Heaven and Earth:

…and the earthen doll.

O' Humans, Let Us Restrain the Gods:

Two of the strongest Servants in human history spoke as one, their words echoing across the ocean waves.

"ENUMA ELISH!"

TRUE ARCHER: GILGAMESH

TRUE LANCER: ENKIDU

To be continued in Chapter 16: The First Epic

Theoretical Servant Profile: Gigantomachia
Bio:*
Qualifying Classes: Berserker
Master: Mukuro Shigaraki
True Name: [REDACTED]
Gender: Male
Alignment: Neutral Evil

Stats:*
Strength: B ~ A+
Endurance: B ~ A+
Agility: C
Mana: E
Luck: D
Noble Phantasm: D

Class Skills:*
Mad Enhancement: D
Influence From The Beyond: A+

Personal Skills:*
Battle Continuation: B
Incarnation of the Giant: C
Demon King's Earthen Beast: B+

Noble Phantasms:*
Mountain Crusher
Wrath of the Giant
Rank: D
Type: Anti-Fortress

*Note: This profile is a hypothetical interpretation of Gigantomachia if he was summoned as a Servant. It may not perfectly reflect the actual abilities of Gigantomachia, as he does not possess a Servant's Parameters, Skills, or Noble Phantasms.