Chapter 25
What I Fight For
Looking around me, I wondered where the explosion had come from. "Weird.", I said. "You feel it, don't you?", Dantes's voice asked. "Where are you? Face me!", I said. Chuckling, Shuwen's voice said, "Oh, that's rich. You wanting to face us even though you can't face yourself.". Jeanne's voice then said, "They're right. You will literally die if you keep devoting yourself to kindness, compassion and empathy.". "You're joking.", I said. "No, we're not.", Mash's voice said. Noticing a dark red pillar piercing the very sky, I ran toward it, wondering what could be spawning it. As I ran, I felt a strange dark power surge inside me. Wondering if it was connected to the Negative Speed Force, I then saw a strange black knight covered by a strange black haze. Nervously walking up to it, I then felt a painful surge of black and dark red electricity come forth from my right arm. As my vision grew redder, I then saw the knight rush towards me whilst holding what looked like a black and red telephone pole. Dodging, I then heard Tristan's voice say, "Unleash it! Unleash your black flames of hatred and forge ahead!". Firing a blast of dark red energy from my right arm, I then unleashed a violent onslaught of punches, kicks and claw swipes, my fists and feet covered in a black and dark red flame. As the knight bobbed and weaved through my attack, I then fired a burst of dark energy in the shape of the Black Beast's head that gnawed through the knight's armour.
Not to be outdone, I then unleashed a giant storm of darkness that caused the knight to strangely vanish. Watching as the dark red pillar disappeared and flowed into my left arm, I was then filled with a strange and violent anger. "Now, now, now, that's not gonna be enough.", a voice said. Looking up, I saw a man with grey hair tied up into two ponytails, green eyes and a silver arm wearing a beautiful suit of silver armour. "Bedivere?", I asked. "That's right. I am Sir Bedivere, the Shining Airgetlam.", the man said. "Would you mind telling me where I am?", I asked. "Well, you are on the rural outskirts of Camelot, the Holy City and capital of the Kingdom of Avalon.", Bedivere said. Suddenly, another painful surge of dark red electricity surged forth from my right arm. "You still haven't properly embraced your true nature. Don't fight it; embrace it.", Bedivere said. Screaming in pain, I then unleashed a giant storm of black and dark red energy that burst forth from my body. "In fact,", Bedivere said with a maniacal smile on his face, "why don't I actually help you?! That way, you can awaken and I can serve as a proper witness to it!". Gripping his rapier, Bedivere's right arm then glowed a very familiar golden glow, the light itself being remarkably familiar to that of Excalibur.
Rushing at me, Bedivere then performed a series of fast stabs, each stab growing faster and faster than the previous one. Dodging each stab perfectly, I then unleashed a strange dark burst of energy from my right arm that dispelled the radiant golden glow covering Bedivere's right arm and then unleashed my own onslaught. Attempting to summon Zantetsuken, I then shockingly saw my attempt fail. "Huh?", I asked. Then, I saw a strange figure in Bedivere's place who shockingly looked like Sigurd's first Ascension in Fate/Grand Order, the figure saying, "Do you really think that you were using Zantetsuken?". "Who are you?", I asked. "Who am I, you ask? Maybe that's something you should ask yourself.", the figure said. "Anyway, what do you mean about me not using Zantetsuken?", I asked. "During your fights against the Hound of Hulainn, the Hero of the Endowed and the Falcon Witch, did you notice anything odd?", the figure asked. "Well, when I summoned Zantetsuken, it looked like a red double-bladed sword with one of the blades being shorter than the other.", I said. "That is because it is not called Zantetsuken but is actually called Gram. You were conflating the two because of your status as the Dominant of Odin; very understandable, I must admit.", the figure said before disappearing.
Snapping back to the fight, I then unleashed another burst of dark energy; this time, I focused the energy and then burst it to summon a red demonic double-bladed sword with one of the blades being shorter than the other and a black hilt connecting both blades. "So you think unleashing Zantetsuken's power will be enough, huh?", Bedivere said. "Unleash your dark infernal flames before me and burn my enemies! I command thee, demonic sword Gram!", I said, grabbing the sword's hilt causing it to unleash a dark red beam. "Wait, did you say Gram? As in the demonic sword used by the King of Warriors?", Bedivere asked. "Is that a problem?", I asked before rushing at him. Bedivere gripped his rapier tighter once again causing his silver arm to glow with a radiant golden shine. As I slashed with Gram, I felt my attack speed greatly increasing and my fighting spirit burned even brighter with each attack. Summoning a demonic dagger to my left hand, I then unleashed a brilliant dance of demonic steel that Bedivere struggled to even keep up with. Unleashing a series of dark red fiery beams, I then dismissed both Gram and the demonic dagger to unleash a giant dark red beam of dark energy that pushed Bedivere back into a stone pillar. Hearing another strange explosion, I then rushed in Camelot's direction, hoping that maybe whatever was trying to awaken hadn't yet woken up.
Arriving in Camelot, I noticed that the city looked like a typical mediaeval town that you'd find in most fantasy novels. Strangely, the city was empty. No civilians, no animals, nothing at all. Looking around me, I noticed a nearby signpost that looked like it was bleeding. Near to it was a ring with a red cross not entirely dissimilar to the ones that Barry, Julis and Aoko were wearing. "I was wondering when you'd see it.", Arjuna said behind me. "What is the ring anyway?", I asked. "Why, it is a ring that denotes membership in the Templar Order. In their fight against the Assassins, the Templars need all the help they can get. Indeed, that's why they recruited Barry Allen, Julis Riessfeld and Aoko Aozaki to begin with.", Arjuna replied. "But why is there a Templar Ring here in Camelot?", I asked. "Because the Knights of the Round Table, Camelot's military arm are also part of the Templar Order, not to mention the X-Laws, the Japanese Imperial Demon Army and the True Cross Order.", Arjuna said. Turning around, I then saw Arjuna wearing a white tunic with a red cross emblazoned on the chest. "Arjuna, why?", I asked. "I told you: the Templars need all the help they can get in their war against the Assassins.", Arjuna replied. "He's right, kid. And now we need the final piece to help us complete the Ascension Project: your allegiance.", Cu said, brandishing his demonic red spear. "I vowed to destroy the Ascension Project, not complete it. Besides, if it is completed, the Ascension Project will destroy the whole Multiverse, resulting in the deaths of anything mortal.", I said. Summoning his bow, Arjuna then said, "Well, your funeral.". Summoning Gram to my right hand, I then rushed forward whilst unleashing a furious onslaught. Countering my furious blows, Cu then retaliated with a powerful strike of his own only for me to dodge and retaliate with a blast of darkness. Gripping Gram tight, I then unleashed a blast of dark energy in the shape of the Black Beast's head causing Cu and Arjuna to smile. "Yes, that's it! Unleash your dark power and become the cruel and ruthless tyrant that shall crush Aionios beneath his heel!", Arjuna said. I then unleashed a giant burst of dark energy causing a black and dark red aura to engulf me, causing their smiles to grow even wider. "Yes! Give us a fight that only the Sovereign can give!", Cu said, caught in his own mania. Snarling, I then unleashed a brutal onslaught that Cu and Arjuna orgasmically responded to. Confused by their response, my slashes grew even faster and harder, causing both Cu and Arjuna to laugh with a peculiar madness. As I prepared to unleash a very powerful stab, I then found myself in a strange chamber with a strange note on a wooden table.
Walking over to the table, I then was overcome by a strange sense of pain. As the pain subsided, I then saw a vision of Alphen talking with Gilgamesh. "You know, Gilgamesh, that if your precious son refuses to succeed me as Sovereign, I will have no choice but to crown Yuito instead.", Alphen said. "I know. In fact, I may know of a solution that will force Jack to succeed you and fulfil the Ascension Project.", Gilgamesh said. "You do? By all means, do tell.", Alphen said. "Well, I don't have the solution myself, but my sister in law Morgan has a powerful Mystic Code that when activated is able to force someone to snap out of any trauma they have and ensure they are able to fulfil a role expected of them.", Gilgamesh said before the vision faded. "Wait, what?", I asked. "You know, don't you? You know what you truly are, don't you? You know what you have to do, don't you?", Iori said as he walked into the room. "But still, master, even you know how harmful the Ascension Project is. It will destroy everything and create a world without freewill, a world that may as well be dead.", I said. "Why, because freewill actually makes a life worth living? Get outta here, man.", Iori said. "It's true though. You know the Ascension Project will destroy what it means to be human.", I said. "That's all fine and good for someone who is actually and genuinely human but you aren't human and it's time to stop pretending you are.", Iori said, drawing his swords and prompting me to respond in turn with Gram. As our swords repeatedly clashed, I felt a strong surge of anger and hatred well up inside me, giving me a dramatic boost in power. At this, Iori's own smile grew much like with Cu and Arjuna as I grew only angrier. Suddenly, I then unleashed a giant blast of darkness as my anger appeared to fade as quickly as it came. "What was that?", I thought. "Seems you still aren't in control of it. A pity.", Iori said as he walked out of the room.
As I wondered why I became so angry and received such a substantial boost in strength from my anger, I then experienced yet another vision, this time of Goku and Madoka talking. "You know he's an Extra Class much like you, Goku. If he'd only realise it, then all this bloodshed could be avoided.", Madoka said. "Still, to think that one man can get such a dramatic boost in power simply by tapping into his hatred. Makes the blood run cold.", Goku said. "I agree, it is quite odd for a regular Heroic Spirit but I expect that it would be quite normal for an Avenger-class Servant. You know how angry Dantes can get sometimes; much like Jack, he gets a dramatic boost in power when he taps into his hatred as well. Regardless, I can't help him as I am merely a lowly Core Class and an Archer at that. Maybe you can help him, given you're an Alter Ego-class Servant.", Madoka said. "I only hope I can.", Goku said before the vision faded. "Wait, I am an Extra Class Servant?", I asked. "That's right.", a voice said behind me. As I turned around, I saw that the voice belonged to a woman who looked surprisingly like Jeanne, albeit with pale white hair, yellow eyes and pale skin and wearing a suit of menacing black armour with a matching black mantle. "Wait, Jeanne?", I asked. "No. I am Jeanne d'Arc Alter, but you can call me Jeanne Alter.", the woman said. "Let me guess, the Holy Grail's corruption got to you and corrupted you into an Alter, is that what happened?", I asked. "Wrong-o. I was formed from a corrupted wish by a corrupted sorcerer in the Singularity designated as Orleans. Consequently, I am an Avenger-class Servant whilst that loathsome copy of mine is a Ruler-class Servant.", Jeanne Alter said. "Still, you need to give in to the darkness and embrace your true nature. You really do have no choice in the matter lest all life in the Multiverse be destroyed.", Dantes said as he walked out of a burst of black fire. "Still, it's not like we can really force you given what YHVH did to you.", Jeanne Alter said. "YHVH had no right to do what he did to you. And then there's what his loyal Chosen did as well.", Dantes said causing me to look away in shame. "Don't blame yourself. Blaming yourself for the crimes of another is pure foolishness. If anything, you deserve to crush them underneath your heel.", Jeanne Alter said before she and Dantes mysteriously and suddenly disappeared.
Walking out of the room, I then found myself in a strange pathway to a castle that looked like the upper half of it was just gone. Continuing on, I found myself in an underground passage. "Huh?", I thought. As I walked on, I then found myself in a strange room where Morgan and Circe were waiting. "A-Aunt Morgan?", I asked in confusion. "Well, if it isn't my former nephew.", Morgan said derisively. "Former nephew?", I asked. "You didn't know? Well, you are no longer part of the Kingdom of Avalon's royal family, nor are you part of the Kingdom of Waloed's royal family.", Circe said. "But why?", I asked. "Well, you not only refused to succeed Alphen as Sovereign but also subsequently refused to give in to the darkness and embrace your true nature. Do you have any idea how insulting and offensive that was to us?", Morgan asked. "I didn't mean to. I'm sorry I refused.", I said. "Your apology is not accepted. Turning down your duty to rule is not something you can easily take back. And for that, you will die.", Circe said as she and Morgan raised a horrible army of monsters- Morgan raising an army of shadowy beings with black and dark purple bodies and glowing yellow eyes and Circe raising an army of skeletal soldiers wielding swords, axes, lances, bows and daggers. "This army of Mors and Dragon Tooth Warriors will prove to be your undoing.", Morgan said. As another strong surge of anger rose up within me, I said, "Try me.".
Summoning Gram to my right hand, I rushed at the Mors and Dragon Tooth Warriors that Morgan and Circe had summoned. "You think an inherited Noble Phantasm will be enough to stop them?", Circe asked as I slashed through the monstrous army like a typical Dynasty Warriors character making their way through hordes of peons. "It won't be enough.", Morgan said before I unleashed a violent blast of dark energy from my right hand in the shape of a head of the Black Beast, greatly unnerving the two witches. "Wait, you have such a dark power?", Circe asked, terrified. "Does it really matter what power I wield as long as I get my revenge?", I asked in response before unleashing a black and dark red storm of fire from my demonic left arm that burned through the seemingly endlessly respawning Mors and Dragon Tooth Warriors leaving open enough space for me to rush past Circe and Morgan with the power of the Negative Speed Force. As I ran, I let hatred enter and consume my mind, growing faster all the while. My vision grew redder and redder only for it to return to normal as I entered the castle. Walking through the castle, I saw that its dimensions were quite alien and otherworldly, not even making sense from a geographical standpoint. Looking at the various pictures on the walls, I then had yet another vision, this time of Cu, Arjuna and Circe talking about something. "You know, we will need to stand by Jack's side if he is to overcome his trauma. Besides, affirming our friendship with him is the only way to help him fight it.", Circe said. "If that's the case then we will need to keep him in the dark about his true nature in order to protect him. Sometimes, it's best to keep people in the dark if they should not about something harmful.", Arjuna said before the vision faded. "Bullshit.", I said while dismissing Gram. Walking into the castle's living room, I saw Mordred whose face lit up again when she saw mine. "Brother! Remember when we used to play here?", she said much to my confusion. "I don't remember being here as a child.", I said. "Sure you do.", Mordred said, her smile unchanging.
As Mordred looked into my eyes, I then found myself on a strange cliff face. "Wait, why am I here?", I asked. "That should be obvious, fake Sovereign.", Husk said behind me. "Yuito is the fake Sovereign, not me.", I growled. "Keep telling yourself that.", Husk said. Turning to face him, I then said, "Still, I feel there's some reason you brought me here but I quite can't fathom it. Like there's a reason I need to be here.". "Like before someone stabs you in the back?", Husk asked. "Wait, what?", I asked before I felt a piercing steel blade run itself through my back. Suddenly, a strange feeling came over me as the power of darkness coursed through my body and unleashed itself in all its unholy glory. Then, a strange anger consumed me as I felt something within me just break. Roaring in utter rage, I then unleashed a black and dark red inferno as my trauma burned away in its entirety. Glancing behind me, I saw that the person who had stabbed me was none other than Mash, causing my anger to skyrocket to a whole new level. "Mash, you bitch.", I snarled. "Well, I had to in order to free you from your trauma.", Mash said sweetly. As the inferno died, I felt the last vestiges of my trauma disappear, freeing me from my torment. Grinning, Mash then flicked her sword, sending me into the depths below.
The story continues in the next chapter.