Chapter 3: First Ride
Kiritsugu Emiya was always prepared, he always knew everything about his target, their likes, dislikes, family members what they hold dear, and what they would rather be without. This information was used against them, to get what he needed from them and how to manipulate them in a way that benefited him.
That's why he despised not having anything on the man he had made a deal with, the agreement in question was done out of desperation seeing as how he had no other way out, he had agreed to work for the man
Kiritsugu had been in a tight spot when he made the deal, facing insurmountable odds with no other option but to accept the offer presented to him. The man he had made the deal with was shrouded in mystery, his motives unclear and his intentions unknown.
But Kiritsugu was no fool. He knew that deals made with mysterious figures often came with a price, and he was prepared to pay it if it meant achieving his goals. However, the lack of information about his new employer left him uneasy, unable to predict his next move or anticipate his true intentions.
Even when he went to find any info on who he was, nothing, no date of birth, no known associates, no criminal record—nothing. It was as if the man didn't exist, or at least didn't want to be found.
But Kiritsugu was not one to give up easily. He delved deeper into the shadows, using all of his resources and connections to uncover any trace of the man's identity. He scoured through databases, hacked into secure networks, and even interrogated informants, but to no avail.
The man remained an enigma, a shadowy figure lurking in the depths of the underworld, his true nature obscured by layers of secrecy and deception even through all that scouring came up with something, a name, Mephisto. A name commonly associated with a demon in Faust legend, and sometimes the devil himself.
Which either meant the man was an arrogant haughty Magus that had given himself the name of a demon as either part of his magecraft or as a haughty title or, he was truly something beyond human, something otherworldly and sinister.
Kiritsugu couldn't shake the feeling that he was dealing with forces far beyond his understanding, forces that could spell disaster if not handled with extreme caution, either an actual demonic spirit or the actual devil himself, Kiritsugu didn't know. He was forced to go in blind, while this man held all the cards, and that irked him to no end.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his new employer, Kiritsugu knew he had no choice but to fulfill his end of the bargain. The deal he had made was binding, and failing to uphold his end would have dire consequences.
"Where are we going?" Kiritsgu was broken out of his thoughts and turned down to face Shirou, the boy he had recently saved and adopted as his son, they were both holding hands as they walked towards their destination. Mephisto had given him a call earlier, saying he had wanted to talk about his employment and to bring Shirou along.
.Kiritsgu felt a pang of guilt as he stared down at Shirou, here he was with another child while Illya was left in the hands of the Einzberns, no doubt locked away in a room till the 5th grail war occurred, it was all his fault, it always was.
He shook his head brushing away his darker thoughts, no he was going to save her, he just needed to deal with Shirou and make sure he was situated after talking with Mephisto, then he would go save his daughter.
Kiritsugu tightened his grip on Shirou's hand, offering a reassuring smile. "We're going to meet someone, Shirou. Someone who might be able to help us understand what's going on."
Shirou nodded, his expression a mix of curiosity and apprehension. He trusted Kiritsugu implicitly, but the mention of meeting someone new left him feeling a bit uneasy.
As they continued walking through the bustling streets of Fuyuki City, Kiritsugu's mind raced with thoughts of what might await them at their destination. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into a trap, that Mephisto had some ulterior motive for summoning them.
"Shirou, you remember the man that you made a deal with the man in black and red." Shirou nodded he couldn't forget the man whom he had made a deal with, who had gotten him to Kiritsugu, saving his life.
Seeing Shirou know who he was talking about Kiritsugu continued "Well I had made a deal with him too, and now he wants to talk with us."
Shirou nodded again, understanding the situation leaving them to continue their walk in silence, Kiritsugu pulled out a slip of paper, that had suddenly appeared in his mailbox and it merely said 'let's talk' on the front, the back held an address stamped on the corner was a bolded italicized M.
The Magus Killer merely scoffed at the note and continued to look for the indicated address. Despite his outward confidence, Kiritsugu couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at him. He knew better than to trust mysterious invitations from unknown sources, especially ones with such ominous implications.
As they arrived at the address, Kiritsugu scanned the area with practiced eyes, assessing potential threats and escape routes. Kiritsugu looked up from the paper and stopped in front of a nice large home, it was built in a more Western style, which was strange considering what part of the world they were in, it seemed out of place among the surrounding Japanese architecture. The house exuded an air of mystery, with its darkened windows and lack of any discernible activity.
To make matters strangers all the locals seemed to act as if the house had always been there. Kiritsugu sneered, classic Magus trick set up a bounded field that made people think that the sudden appearance of the house wasn't strange, allowing them to hide in plain sight. But the Magus Killer reminded himself that this was most likely not a Magus or even something human.
As they approached the front door, which was marked with a bold "M." Kiritsugu's senses were on high alert, every instinct screaming at him to turn back. But he knew that backing out now would only lead to more questions and potentially dangerous consequences.
"Stay close, Shirou," Kiritsugu said quietly, leading the way into the building. Inside, they were greeted by a dimly lit hallway that seemed to stretch on endlessly. Kiritsugu proceeded cautiously, his senses on high alert.
Kiritsugu walked up to the door and lightly knocked on it, as he waited to hear someone walk over to open it, the door merely opened itself. Someone's trying to be flashy, Kiritusugu didn't bat an eye while Shirou, seemed to look in wonder, as both entered the home and the door shut behind them.
The interior of the house reminded Kiritsugu of what he would see in London, the decor coming off as very old-school Victorian English, complete with intricate wallpaper, ornate furniture, and dimly lit chandeliers casting eerie shadows across the room.
It was a stark contrast to the modern city outside, further emphasizing the mysterious nature of their surroundings, there were even large bookshelves, and from a glance, dating back centuries ago, filled with tomes and grimoires of various sizes and colors, further adding to the enigmatic atmosphere of the place; complete with antique furniture and dimly lit chandeliers. The air was thick with the scent of old books and something else, something more sinister that Kiritsugu couldn't quite place.
As they proceeded down the hallway, they heard footsteps approaching from their left. They turned to see the figure of a man. Kiritsugu scowled as the familiar face of Mephisto came into view, his sharp features accentuated by the dim lighting of the hallway.
Mephisto wore the inverted colors of the suit they had first met him in, red being the base and black being the accents. Still impeccably tailored, the red suit seemingly glowing in the low light along with his eyes.
"Ah, Kitrtsugu, Shirou right on schedule" Mephisto snapped his fingers and the landscape around them changed,
transporting them to a lavish sitting room adorned with rich furnishings and elegant decor. Kiritsugu tensed slightly at the sudden change of scenery, his hand instinctively reaching for the concealed pistol at his side.
"Welcome, Kiritsugu Emiya, Shirou," Mephisto said with a grin, gesturing for them to take a seat on the plush sofas arranged around a low coffee table. Kiritsugu remained standing, his eyes narrowed as he surveyed their surroundings. "to my not-so-humble abode"
Mephisto sat on one of the extravagant-looking couches, his demeanor relaxed as he regarded Kiritsugu and Shirou with amusement dancing in his eyes. "I trust you found the journey here to your liking?"
Kiritsugu remained silent, his expression guarded as he studied Mephisto. He was wary of the man's casual demeanor, knowing all too well that it could be a facade hiding his true intentions.
Shirou, on the other hand, seemed less perturbed by their surroundings. He looked around with wide-eyed curiosity, taking in the opulence of the room with a sense of wonder.
Mephisto chuckled softly at Kiritsugu's silence, seemingly unfazed by the Magus Killer's stoic demeanor. "No need to be so tense, Kiritsugu. We're just here to have a friendly chat, after all, come now take a seat let's discuss the details of your employment, and your abilities my little rider."
Both Kiritsugu and Shirou felt a chill run up their spine, both would come to be on edge during meetings with Mephisto, especially after learning what the man truly was.
Mephisto waved his hands and drinks appeared on the table, two glasses of water, and a carton of apple juice
As Kiritsugu and Shirou cautiously took their seats, Mephisto's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he watched their reactions. Kiritsugu eyed the drinks warily, his hand still resting near his concealed weapon.
"Relax, Kiritsugu. They're just drinks," Mephisto said, his tone laced with amusement. "I assure you, they're not poisoned."
Kiritsugu remained silent, his gaze unwavering as he assessed Mephisto's words. Despite the reassurance, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air.
Shirou, however, seemed less wary, reaching for the glass of apple juice with a sense of innocence, but was stopped by Kiritsugu who was eyeing their well-dressed supposed employer with suspicion.
Mephisto caught Kiritsugu's look and shook his head "My, my Kirtsugu suspicious of me still? I am merely trying to be a good host." The man reached for one of the glasses of water and took a sip, nothing happened to him proving that it was normal water, but the Magus Killer didn't budge.
Mephisto held a slight smirk "Still suspicious I see, come now if I wanted you dead, poisoning your drinks wouldn't be the way to go." The man took another sip from his glass "You work for me I wouldn't want you dead, at least let little Shirou have a drink"
Kiritsugu hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering between Mephisto and the glass of apple juice. After a moment of contemplation, he reluctantly nodded, allowing Shirou to take a cautious sip of the juice.
He took a cautious sip, his eyes lighting up at the familiar taste.
Mephisto chuckled softly at Shirou's reaction before turning his attention back to Kiritsugu. "Now then, let's get down to business, shall we?" The man crossed his legs swishing his glass "Your job my dear Magus killer like I told you, is to train this boy in everything you know, knowledge of weapons, combat tactics, and survival skills. I want him to be well-prepared for whatever challenges may come his way."
Kiritsugu's eyes narrowed slightly at Mephisto's words, his suspicions growing stronger with each passing moment. "And what do you get out of this arrangement?" he asked, his tone sharp and to the point.
Mephisto chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Ah, Kiritsugu, always so direct. I like that about you." He leaned back in his seat, swirling the water in his glass absentmindedly. "Let's just say I have an interest in young Shirou's development. Consider it an investment in his future."
Kiritsugu's expression remained guarded as he regarded Mephisto with skepticism. He knew better than to trust the words of a man with hidden motives, especially one as enigmatic as Mephisto.
"And what exactly is your interest in Shirou's future?" Kiritsugu pressed, his voice steady despite the underlying tension.
Mephisto's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, you'll see, Kiritsugu. All in due time." He took another sip of his water, his expression unreadable. "besides my little assassin you should already know, the same event that led to your previous and current employment"
Kiritsugu's eyes widened at the answer and stood up from his seat glaring at the other man" No, it's not meant to happen for another 60 years!" Another Grail war, this early, this couldn't be right, he had already even set up a countermeasure just in case another war took place. Planting explosives to create a 'bump' in the nearby leyline, which would ensure an earthquake in thirty to forty years' time.
"There's not enough magical energy!" Kiritsugu's mind raced as he processed Mephisto's revelation. Another Grail War, decades ahead of schedule? It was unthinkable. The carefully laid plans, the contingencies he had put in place—they were all thrown into disarray by this unexpected turn of events.
Mephisto's grin widened at Kiritsugu's reaction, his eyes alight with amusement. "Ah, but you see, my dear Kiritsugu, fate has a funny way of playing tricks on us." He leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "And sometimes, events unfold in ways we least expect."
"Tell me Kiritsugu, did you make a wish, no need to answer that, I know you didn't, instead answer me this" The well-dressed man simply twirled his glass and took a small sip, it had changed from water into a nice red wine, "where do you think that built up magical energy went, you didn't make a wish, so it was all still there was it not?"
Kiritsugu's mind raced as he processed Mephisto's words. The revelation sent a chill down his spine, realizing that the Grail's magical energy hadn't been expended as it should have been. Instead, it had been allowed to build up, recycled for a future Grail War—an eventuality he had not anticipated.
The implications were dire. Another Grail War, decades ahead of schedule, meant that all of his carefully laid plans and contingencies were now in jeopardy. The explosive he had planted to disrupt the leyline and delay the war had been rendered useless by this unexpected turn of events.
But even more concerning was the fact that he had unwittingly played a part in allowing this to happen. By not making a wish, he had left the Grail's magical energy intact, providing the fuel for another conflict to arise.
Kiritsugu's expression darkened as he realized the magnitude of his mistake. He had thought himself prepared for any eventuality, but this was something he had not foreseen. And now, he was faced with the consequences of his inaction.
Mephisto watched Kiritsugu's reaction with amusement, his grin widening even further, at the Magus Killer's realization. "You see, Kiritsugu, the wheels of fate are always turning. And sometimes, even the best-laid plans can be undone by a simple twist of fate, or by a single choice"
Mephisto merely sipped again from his wine glass before continuing due to your actions the 5th grail war will be taking place early." The man lazily raised his other hand and pointed at Shirou " And your son will most definitely be a contender,"
Kiritsugu's fists clenched at his sides, his mind racing with thoughts of the implications of Mephisto's words. Another Grail War, and Shirou inevitably involved as a contender—it was a nightmare scenario he had hoped to avoid at all costs.
"Shirou..." Kiritsugu's voice was barely above a whisper, his gaze shifting to the young boy sitting beside him. He felt a pang of guilt knowing that his actions had inadvertently placed Shirou in harm's way once again.
But there was no time for self-recrimination. Kiritsugu knew that he needed to focus on the task at hand—to protect Shirou and ensure his survival in the midst of the coming chaos
"Ah, the burdens of fatherhood," he remarked casually, taking another sip of his wine "You would know all about that wouldn't you?"
Kiritsugu's jaw clenched as he resisted the urge to lash out at Mephisto for the obvious dig at his less-than-stellar parenting with Illya. It didn't help that the man's casual demeanor grated on his nerves, but he knew better than to show any sign of weakness in front of him.
"I am merely making sure senseless destruction doesn't take place, we don't want a tragedy worse than what happened last time to occur, you, I, and your son will all be heroes, isn't that great Kiritsugu I'm sure little Shirou would agree."
At the mention of being a hero The Magus Killer glared at the man, Mephisto wasn't phased by this at all just growing more and more amused " Now, now no need to get hostile, After all, we're all on the same side here, working towards a common goal." Mephisto's smile widened, his eyes glinting with mischief. "And who knows, Kiritsugu, you might even find that we may become close friends."
Kiritsugu's expression remained stoic, his distrust of Mephisto evident in his icy gaze. He knew better than to trust the words of someone who reveled in chaos and manipulation, especially when their motives remained shrouded in mystery.
"I highly doubt that," Kiritsugu said flatly, his tone devoid of warmth. "Our interests may align for now, but don't mistake that for friendship."
Mephisto merely chuckled in response, unfazed by Kiritsugu's cold demeanor. "Ah, Kiritsugu, always the cynic, It's a wonder what a woman like Irisvel saw in you," he remarked with a smirk. "But perhaps time will change that. After all, stranger things have happened."
With that, Mephisto leaned back in his seat, his gaze shifting between Kiritsugu and Shirou with a sense of amusement. "But enough about that for now. Let's discuss your training regimen, shall we? I have high hopes for you, Shirou, and I expect nothing but the best from both of you."
The boy faced the man, his apple carton dry of juice, there was a confused look on his face, wondering what he could do to help the man, but he had helped save both him and his Kiritsugu so he would try his best.
"Now, all you have to do is listen to your father, and grow strong in preparation for the war, your father will explain what that is in more detail." The man then put his hand against his chin pretending to think before continuing "After that, I give you other jobs from time to time, dealing with bad guys like a hero, just like your dad."
Out of the corner of his eye, Mephisto could see Kirtsugus's glare harden and intensify at the mention of being a hero like him, but the man didn't care he merely gave the boy encouragement.
As Mephisto spoke, Shirou listened intently, his expression shifting from confusion to determination. He may not have fully understood the gravity of the situation, but he knew one thing for certain—he wanted to make Kiritsugu proud.
Now after getting the boy to trust him more, Mephisto reached over the table and ruffled Shirou's hair, while to the boy it was seen as something affection. Mephisto was merely checking the effect that having both a spirit of vengeance and the sheath of Avalon would do to a boy whose soul was essentially a blank slate. He was curious, what would happen.
Avalon was created by the faires along with Excalibur, he knew this, said to grant an ultimate defense to King Arthur. The greatest protection in the world that goes beyond defending or reflecting, completely isolating its user in a world completely separate from the regular world how dull and grating.
But even he had to admit, impressive what those gnats could make, a treasure to show dignity and nobility like a crown or staff than a weapon. The spirit of vengeance was a spirit born from the pit, the purpose of a host was not to enhance the spirit but for the host's humanity to hold the spirit back, acting as a filter and only allowing small bits of the spirit's true power to be used.
He was curious how these two opposing forces interacted in one body Avalon, the ultimate defense, a treasure of the fae, and the sheath of Excalibur, contrasted sharply with the dark origins of the spirit of vengeance, born from the depths of the pit. The two forces were like oil and water, fundamentally opposed yet somehow existing within the same vessel.
As Mephisto observed Shirou's reaction, he couldn't help but wonder how these opposing forces would manifest in the boy as he grew older. Would he be consumed by darkness, driven to seek vengeance at any cost? Or would the light of Avalon prevail, guiding him towards a path of righteousness and nobility?
Lancer wasn't having a good night, he lost his original master and was now forced to work under a messed-up priest, to make things worse, the said priest had to be a damned sadist or something since he had sent him out at not even half of his full strength, to scout out the competition.
Seems easy enough, till he ran into some kid and his girl on their way back from class. It was a damn shame, but no witnesses and all that, so he made a move to end the kid; to his surprise, the kid had a backbone and held his own for a bit against him. Honestly, that was the most pleasant thing to happen tonight, he hadn't been expecting this era to have such spirited fighters or anyone with even a hint of skill in combat, let alone a teenager.
But as much as he admired the kid's courage, Lancer knew he couldn't let him live. So he had decided to give him a memorable death, was the least he could do, his noble phantasm was overkill but it didn't matter, the spear had stuck true like it always had piercing his heart.
"Hound of Culain, your spear reeks of blood and death, your very essence tainted by the souls of those who have meant their end upon your lance," The servant barely dodged a flaming chain swung his way by his attacker, who previously looked like a normal teenager "You have been judged and your sins have sealed your fate, prepare to face penance!"
So explain to him how the hell was the kid still standing, sure, he felt him struggle a bit, but he was sure he went limp, nope he wasn't dead. Instead having ripped Gae Bolg out of his chest, his entire body surrounded by flames, and his head now a skull wreathed in flames and oh, it got worse, somehow knew his identity, yup not his night.
He cursed his luck and the priest but he remained calm as he focused on his opponent, trying his best to figure out what was going on exactly, he must be a servant as well, and that whole school girl and boy walking home together after the class thing was all an act to get him closer.
Meaning that the girl from earlier must be his master, no she didn't seem to know anything, and they were honestly shocked when he showed up. So they weren't waiting for him, didn't rule out that this kid, was a servant as well, and if so what class?
'This is all that damn priest and golden bastards fault' Just as the Lancer-class servant cursed at his supposed allies, the brat rushed towards him, the flaming chains wrapped around his forearms trailing behind him.
Lancer quickly regained his composure, dodging the brat's attacks with ease. He knew he couldn't underestimate this opponent, especially now that he had revealed his true nature as a servant.
"Interesting, so you're a servant as well," Lancer remarked, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "But you're no ordinary servant, are you? What class do you belong to?"
The brat didn't answer, instead, he continued his relentless assault, swinging his flaming chains with a surprising amount of skill and precision. Lancer had to admit, he was impressed by the brat's combat prowess. The child of light dodges with relative ease, staying on the defensive looking for an opening and a chance to regain his spear, which behind the brat, tossed aside when he ripped it out of his chest.
"Not the talking type? You were pretty vocal earlier what's wrong" Lancer barely dodged another swipe from those strange flaming chains, and from how hot the flames it was covered were, it was definitely not normal fire, like the flames produced by most magecraft these ones were more intense and he would mostly likely feel these burns, should he get hit.
As the servant dodged another flaming chain swing, he rushed into Shirou's guard, seeing an opening, closing the distance between them. The boy attempted to defend himself, as he blocked the strike, withstanding the force of the blow, but Lancer was counting on this.
The servant crouched down and swept his legs under the boy, knocking him off balance and sending him crashing to the ground. Before the boy could recover, Lancer seized the opportunity to retrieve his spear, Gae Bolg, from where it lay discarded nearby.
"You're quite the fighter, kid," Lancer remarked, twirling his spear with practiced ease. "But let's see how you fare against me with my weapon in hand."
As Lancer taunted, Shirou scrambled to his feet his mind racing as it was filled with information on his opponent, the spirit of vengeance basically giving him the rundown of Lancer's entire story an obvious boon to have in a holy grail war. Though the info most focused on were the sins, that the man had committed in his life.
Ireland's Child of Light, Cu Chulainn, a legendary hero, renowned for his incredible skill in combat and his unwavering loyalty to his homeland. However, his story was marred by tragedy and bloodshed, as any hero during that time would likely be.
Lancer's past was riddled with sins and regrets, the deaths he caused when he lost himself to ríastrad be it friend or foe, the accidental murder of his son, and just the amount of bloodshed he had spilled in battle alone were enough to make the spirit bristle in rage.
To the spirit of vengeance, it didn't matter if he was considered a hero or not, his sins were still sins, they had marked him, and now he was here to face penance.
Shirou knew he couldn't afford to let his guard down, facing such a skilled opponent with a deadly weapon in hand. He focused on his training with Kiritsugu, recalling the combat techniques and strategies he had been taught.
As Lancer lunged forward, Shirou quickly sidestepped the attack, narrowly avoiding the deadly spear. He retaliated with a series of quick strikes, using his flaming chains to keep Lancer at bay.
But Lancer didn't let up slashed, his spear aimed directly at Shirou's, the boy's instincts kicked in, and Shirou managed to narrowly evade the attack, sidestepping at the last moment as Gae Bolg sliced through the air with deadly precision.
Seeing an opening Shirou sent his flaming chains to wrap around the servant, searing into his skin as the hellfire ate through his magic resistance, causing the man to wince, Shirou wasted no time taking advantage of this. Pulling Lancer towards him, burying his fist into the hero's gut, hellfire spewing from his hands as he delivered a powerful blow. Lancer staggered back, grunting in pain as he felt the burning sensation eating away at his flesh.
The flames licking at his skin. Lancer gritted his teeth, feeling the searing pain of the hellfire burning through his magical resistance. He knew he had underestimated his opponent, but he wasn't about to let that stop him.
"Heh alright, kid you got spunk I'll give you that," The servant had a smirk across his face despite the pain "Let's see if you can keep it up!"
Lancer swung his spear once more, aiming to impale Shirou with all his might. But Shirou was ready, he swung his chains, using them as a makeshift defense from Lancers attacks.
The impact of the blow, however, sent Shirou skidding backward, his feet digging into the ground as he struggled to maintain his footing. Lancer, however, was relentless, pressing his advantage as he continued his assault, his spear a blur of motion as he struck with deadly precision.
Shirou knew he was outmatched currently, but he refused to back down. He focused on his training, his mind clear as he analyzed Lancer's movements, looking for any weaknesses he could exploit.
As Lancer lunged forward once more, Shirou waited for the right moment, then with a burst of speed, he dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the spear's deadly tip. In one fluid motion, he wrapped the chain around Lancer again, the hellfire burning into the servant's skin. But before Shirou could pull him in, the servant merely smirked and pulled Shirou towards him instead.
The force of Lancer's pull caught Shirou off guard, but he wasn't out of options and opened his mouth, hellfire gathering in the base of his throat as he engulfed the servant in hellfire, but before he could react. Pushing through the flames, and Shirou still flying towards him; the servant delivered a powerful kick to Shirou's jaw, snapping it shut, and sending him flying backward.
Shirou landed hard on the ground, the impact knocking the wind out of him. The young rider looked up and saw that Lancer was standing, holding visible burn marks across his body they were light, but still there, showing the fire had been damaging him though hellfire mostly targeted the soul, so he was sure that his spirit core was taking the brunt of the damage, even a small part of his ponytail had caught aflame.
"You fight good kid, definitely better than what I expected, still not going to tell me your class huh?" The servant let out a chuckle as despite the obvious damage he sustained he pushed through, twirling his spear "That's alright, just try not to die."
As Shirou struggled to catch his breath, he knew he couldn't afford to stay down for long. Lancer was relentless, and Shirou could sense that the battle was far from over. With a determined expression, he forced himself to his feet, his mind racing as he analyzed the situation.
Lancer approached slowly, his gaze fixed on Shirou with a mix of amusement and curiosity. The servant seemed to be enjoying the challenge, relishing the opportunity to test his skills against a worthy opponent.
Shirou knew he needed to change his approach if he hoped to defeat Lancer. He couldn't rely solely on brute force—he needed to outsmart his opponent, "It's time to try that." Shitou steeled himself as Lancer got closer, Shirou pulled his hand back, and he felt both his od and hellfire listen to his command, he focused his magical energy, summoning forth the image, as he started to visualize the weapon he needed, he needed something heavy with stopping power.
Lancer got closer weapon ready, but that didn't matter to Shirou, his focus was on projecting something to end this.
"Trace on" He muttered under his breath as he visualized the hammer of a gun firing; gripping the newly formed weapon in his hand and opening his eyes
8 feet
That's how close Lancer was, definitely in range Shirou raised his weapon and pulled the trigger, blasting the servant with hellfire-infused buckshot.
Shirou's improvised weapon, a hellfire-infused sawed-off shotgun, adorned with a skull, discharged with a deafening roar. The buckshot tore through the air, enveloped in flames, hurtling toward Lancer with deadly intent. Caught off guard by this unexpected attack, Lancer had little time to react.
The flaming buckshot ripped into Lancer's body, tearing through his flesh and armor. Despite his agility, he couldn't fully evade the attack, and the searing flames seeped into his wounds, causing him to grit his teeth in pain.
The impact knocked Lancer back several feet, his body crashing to the ground as he struggled to regain his footing. The intense heat from the hellfire buckshot burned through his magical defenses, leaving him vulnerable and exposed.
Taking his chance Shirou then shot out his chain wrapping it around the Servant's neck and forcing him to the ground, before walking over and forcing him to look up at him.
'He must suffer, he must pay' Shirou could feel the spirit egging him on in his mind. But he held himself back, that was a last resort, he wouldn't use it, not now anyway if he didn't have to. "Burn, he will burn" the spirit drew out its words.
As Shirou was reigning in the urges of the spirit of vengeance, Lancer could feel his body ache, whatever was in that kid's gun targeted his spiritual core; ignoring all his magical resistance. It was most likely those flames, he knew they weren't normal, goddamn did they burn, if Shishou was here, she'd chew him out for losing to a kid barely old enough to shave.
As Cu was swallowing back the pain he caught something out of the corner of his eye, it was a man in red with a girl standing next to him. Most likely a servant-master pair from how the guy was dressed, wait wasn't that the direction this brat girl ran well off too? Might as well warn the kid.
"Oi brat, I would love to keep on fighting but what about that girl of yours, you sure she made it back safe?" He didn't care about the girl, but he might as well remind the brat what led him to fight a heroic spirit in the first place. This seemed to get to Shirou, breaking him out of his thoughts, the servant used this opening to slice the chain wrapped around his neck and kick the kid away.
Besides, he was merely here to scout not pick fights, might as well go back to the priest. "Well kid it's been fun, do me a solid ok? Don't die before we can get another fight in" Lancer's grin grew savage and spread from ear to ear "And next time I won't be holding back"
The servant then disappeared from view, moving faster than Shirous eyes could track leaving him standing alone, the boy seeing no more threats reigned in the spirit of vengeance returning to normal.
Shirou stood there, panting heavily as he watched Lancer disappear into the night. The adrenaline still coursing through his veins, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment at having held his own against such a formidable opponent.
But his thoughts quickly turned to the girl Lancer had mentioned. Ayako. He had completely forgotten about her in the heat of battle. Guilt gnawed at him as he realized he had put her in danger by getting involved in this fight.
Leaving Ayako on her own with probably more servants running around, he needed to get to her.
As Shirou turned in the direction of his home he saw two people standing from afar, it was a man in red and Tohsaka. He tensed up, looks like she was master as well and that was her servant but who was—
"Agh!" Shirou then clutched his head as he tried to get a better look at the man before him, the spirit was screaming out bloody murder at the man before him.
He was bombarded with visions of blood and death. The screams they were too much, too much to count, too much to comprehend too many souls, too many screams, too much.
Shirou reigned in the spirit and tore his eyes away from the man, panting heavily, what sort of monster did Tohsaka summon, what man had that many kills In his history, how much blood did he spill, enough to fill a pond? No too small, A lake, no bigger, an Ocean? Shirou shivered at the thought, his entire being disgusted
He needed to get out of here if he stayed any longer he couldn't stop himself from attacking him.
'Just need to get to Ayako, just need to make sure she's fine.'
Shirou ran to his home and didn't turn back.
As Shirou made his way back home, ignoring the two figures, Rin Tohsaksa was in a state of shock, stupor, and slight horror
"Archer, what the hell was that." the girl Rin Tohsaka asked her red-clad servant, after they had both witnessed Shirou Emiya of all people put a fight against a servant, and not like he was merely trying to distract him. He had honestly held his own, trading blows and leaving Lancer with burns, while Shirou was exhausted sure, but seemed relatively unscathed
"In all honesty, I have no idea, you know him better than me" The servant tried to make a joke "Perhaps you should have paid him more mind master" " The servant chuckled which didn't do anything to calm the girl down instead it seemed to irritate her.
"Well excuse me, I didn't know Emiya was a Magus let alone be able to do this!" the girl yelled at her servant Rin's frustration was palpable as she struggled to make sense of what she had just witnessed. Shirou Emiya, a seemingly ordinary high school student, had just engaged in a battle against a servant and managed to hold his own. It was a feat that defied all logic, considering Shirou's lack of formal training in magecraft.
Archer could sense the unease in his master's voice, but he remained composed, offering her what little insight he could provide. "It seems that Emiya possesses some degree of magical ability, though the extent of it is unclear. Perhaps he stumbled upon some ancient relic or inherited latent talents from his family."
Rin shook her head in disbelief. "No, it can't be that simple. There's something else going on here, something we're missing." She clenched her fists, frustration evident in her expression. "We need to investigate further. I won't rest until I uncover the truth behind Emiya's abilities."
"Archer we're going to Emiya's home, let's go" The pridful girl began her walk in the direction of the boy's house not knowing the internal turmoil going on in her servant's mind.
'What was that, it wasn't normal, Shirou Emiya shouldn't be able to do anything like this, so how did he do it that? Something is different, very different.' Archer's thoughts raced as he followed Rin, his mind filled with questions and uncertainties. Whatever was happening with Shirou Emiya, it was clear that they needed to tread carefully.
Shirou reached his home, and to his relief Ayako was fine he had found her in his living room with her archery things from school, he had found her with her bow and the quiver strapped to her waist, it was an interesting sight, to say the least.
"Um, what are you doing" Ayako looked up at Shirou with a surprised expression, still clutching her bow tightly in her hands.
"Emiya!" She dropped the bow and ran over to hug him, basically squeezing the boy "I was worried, you idiot"
Shirou returned the hug slowly surprised but a sense of relief washed over him seeing how she was ok. "Sorry for worrying you, Ayako." He stared at her for a bit, seeing her holding her competition bow.
"Um, so what were you planning to do exactly?"
Ayako pulled away from the hug and looked at Shirou, a slight blush on her face and a pout. "I was going to go out there and find you save your butt of course! I couldn't just sit here and do nothing while you were out risking your life." She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, "Emiya, tell me the truth, what's going on? Who was that man, how can you shoot fire from your hands; none of this is making sense, please, tell me what's going on Shirou"
Shirou felt his chest tightened, on one hand, he wanted to tell her, to ease her worries, but on the other hand. Civialialls aren't meant to be involved in the world of magi, she was at risk.
'She's already at risk' The familiar voice of Kiritsugu chimed in his mind. "What she's seen she'll never forget Shirou, and Lancer has already seen her face. If she lives, shes going to search for answers, which will end up getting her killed. Or Lancer will finish the job another night
Shirou sighed, his adoptive father had a point, just knowing about the machinations of magi was already putting her in danger. "Do you have any idea what I should do?" Shirou could feel his father take a thinking pose in his mind.
"Well, the course of action I would take in this situation is to kill her." Shirou stiffened at his father's response, it was typical of the magus killer but Shirou recoiled internally at the suggestion. He couldn't bring himself to even entertain the thought of harming Ayako, let alone taking her life. Despite the danger she might face by knowing about the world of magic, he couldn't bear the idea of betraying her trust or causing her harm in any way.
"No, I can't do that," Shirou thought firmly, rejecting his father's advice. "There has to be another way to protect her without resorting to such extremes."
Shirou could feel the stoic gaze of Kiritsugu in the back of his mind, they both knew it was a risk, but Kirtsugu felt that his adoptive son wouldn't budge on this merely letting out a sigh
"Then take responsibility for your actions, you introduced her to this, meaning," Kiritsugu tensed up as memories of a woman in black dying in his arms, a smile across her face flashed in his mind "You need to ensure her safety, no matter what, she's your responsibility"
Shirou nodded solemnly, acknowledging the weight of his responsibility to Ayako. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he knew he had to do.
"Ayako," he began, his voice steady but filled with conviction, "you may want to sit down for this"
It was dark, where she was it always was dark, the familiar disgusting feeling of the worms crawling in and around her body, but even that couldn't distract her from her thoughts, senpai knew. She didn't know how but, senpai knew she was dirty, she was filthy. She knew she was going to be alone for the rest of her life, especially after her brother started to hate her.
But senpai made her think otherwise, that light in her darkness, though now, that light saw her for what she really was, filthy, and no amount of pleasure or disgusting feeling these things gave her, could make her ignore the growing aching hole in her heart.
A/N
Yup, final revision...oh who am I kidding I'll probably change it up in a month or something. As you can see for those who were here before the revisions I changed up a lot of things. Hey I also gave Cu a longer fight scene instead of getting mollywoped, also removed a few things if you noticed because I felt that was a bit too early.
I kept the whole spirit of the chapter and the major plot points, I think, and I think I did an alright job characterizing Mephisto's relationship with Shirou and Kiri and just overall I think this reads a bit better. So yea, hope you like this after this, there should be another update sooner or later, either this or Arcaliber, ciao.