sword dragon and the phoenix -chapter 6 – the witch and 8th servant
this chapter will cover the arc for caster arc and the introduction of the 8th servant of the war
it will cover episodes 17-20 and make many changes involving Shirou.
Shirou pov
it was the next day, I asked Saber about her reign, and she told me about her reign and how she ended up becoming out of touch with her people. I told her, "If you redo your life, the future world won't have you. I am not sure what it means, but there is likely a reason you shouldn't go back. all kingdoms were meant to fall, and Ravel has told me your family line and your sword exists in this time." Saber then stared and said "how, I don't remember having children." Then she thought of and said after looking down "my cousin Gawain had three children and my own sister took advantage of a time I was about to impregnate my wife. She had Mordred and accelerated Mordred's aging. I wouldn't be surprised if both produced family lines that I never knew about." I wouldn't be if either line or my sword come back to bite you after this war, and I am gone."
It was after that, we had to deal with illya moving in and explaining to her about, the fact I am a devil and Halsin was an elf. It was after that, she revealed to us "I am really eighteen and had my aging stopped and my life would end within a year no matter what you do." It was after that we saw a news report about comas and illya revealed there were two masters at Ryuudou temple, and each has a servant of their own. at Ryuudou temple. She said "I don't know where they came from, but I know there were two Americans and one British woman that came into the airport the same day I did. Each of them is likely masters for the remaining servants. But from what I can figure out, Caster is at the temple and killed both hers master and the master that summoned assassin. Her command seals are in the hands of a normal human, and she has the command seals for assassin." Finally Illya reveal Caster was the witch of betrayal Medea.
After that Ravel spoke to me alone and revealed "the letter from Archer told me, he is you from about ten years into the future. As for why he looks so different from you, that is due to him overusing magecraft without knowing of his true potential. It caused his skin to become darker, his hair to go white and his body to become taller. You have the same potential he does and more. you can do what he did but without damaging your body like he did."
It was after that, one of my classmates came to check on me and revealed that one of our teachers and fellow monk in training Kazuki lived at the temple with him. so that night after school ended, we stalked him to check to see if said man was the master. When the path was clear, Rin used a magic attack to see if the servant would reveal herself and as we planned, she did. After Rin's attack failed, we came out and tried to reason with the teacher. But on asking, we learned he was just as twisted as his servant.
Then we began our battle, but soon learned Caster was enhancing the man and said man was powerful martial artist that when enhanced could match Saber in battle. He even passed up Saber and pushed her into a wall. When all hope seemed lost, I remembered Archer was me and formed his two swords in my hands and then blocked his attacks. As I did, the teacher's enhancement began to wear off. Caster, knowing the fight would soon turn in my favor, broke in and said "I can summon the grail without completing the war by using all the souls in this city and then the wider would to keep the grail going. But she would need a magus as the core for the grail to do so.
After that, Caster teleported away while mentioning she would go for another master. I soon guessed said target would be illya and had Ravel teleport Saber and I went back to the house and ran to find illya. I then checked for illya and found Sakura in the place I left my sister. But when Saber checked on the girl, Sakura stabbed her with a strange knife and revealed Caster was controlling her body. Then shortly after Saber's armored dress fell off and I had to cover her with my shirt. As Caster controlling Sakura revealed, "Saber won't be able to fight for at least a few more hours. but by then I will use this girl to create the grail. If you can save this girl in time meet me at my temple."
We knew the said temple would be within Ryuudou and we would have to hope I could get Saber fully ready for battle in time. So, we made our way to the temple and hoped we could stop Caster in time as I recharged Saber the best I could. But she would likely not be able to use Excalibur for the battle to come.
After that, I made sure illya was safe. Then Rin, Saber and I made our way to temple and hoped we could save Sakura in time.
Caster pov
I was as I prepared the ritual, I remembered the master who summoned me and the fact he just wanted the grail to help revive Chronos and even I knew that titan would be bad news. So, I took the first chance I could do break my contract and kill the master that summoned me. After that, I ran into the master of assassin and convinced him to take over my contract. He soon revealed he wanted to revive an equally evil Egyptian primordial god, and I convinced said master to go the Ryuudou and there made the kill once again but at Ryuudou found a master that didn't want to revive and evil god and would help me.
After that, I began the process of checking on Sakura and soon learned, this girl had fragmented a holy grail in her body and was molded to be a backup grail if needed. I knew in proper time; I could turn her into the vessel of the grail and, but it could take a lot of time to do so, and I might have more luck in supporting Chronos than this. But I knew that would likely not go well either and I would have to hope one of Chronos' followers didn't arrive to check on me any time soon either.
Shirou pov
As we made it past the front gate to find no servant guarding, Rin charmed a monk to reveal where Caster was hiding and that lead to a cavern under the temple. When we made it into the cavern, we learned Caster made a city out of magic and filled it with skeleton warriors. But with the power of a copy of Caliburn I made Saber was able to clear a path for us. But at the next gate was Assassin who prepared to face Saber while letting us cross the path to face Caster. As we left, I learned that Caster had cut Assassin off from her mana to use for the grail and would vanish after this battle ended no matter the result.
We arrived in the next chamber to find Sakura struggling against Caster's command. I sent Rin to try and save Sakura while I battled with my teacher, with the two blades and my platinum bracers aiding me. I knew Caster couldn't summon the grail while enhancing Kazuki and defend against Rin.
Saber pov
I fought assassins as I learned his pure skill was making up for the loss of mana. I knew if I was up to my fully potential this man wouldn't stand a chance against me in battle but as of now, we were on equal footing. In battle, I figured my resolve out and what I wanted. Knowing that I wouldn't be able to go back and restart my life and that I may be needed in the future, I know wanted to be reborn and live a new life in the future before I was needed. My next strike bent his blade, but as I pushed the man up the stairs, he revealed he could use his noble phantasm very soon.
He soon unleashed the strike but I was able to counter and just lose a hair by filing my blade with the mana Shirou was giving and as he struck I was able to deal a fatal.
Rin pov
I battled through Caster's magic and made it to Sakura. As I did, I remembered she was the sister my father gave away. I knew her life would be shortened by this and was already shortened by all the stuff Matou family did. I knew part of this from the note Kiritsugu left on the fourth holy grail war, I knew the man that became her uncle died a very terrible death using Lancelot. It was as I saved Sakura, the life drained from her body and I heard a female voice say in my mind, "her life will take a path through relic left behind in the moon. you may see the path or not. I can't tell for now. but one of my sons will see that path."
After the voice cut out and Sakura's body went cold and vanished into light, I watched Shirou battle and start to overpower Kazuki. I could tell with each good hit my teacher's life was draining away.
Caster pov
As I watched Rin save Sakura, I knew the two were sisters and I also knew there was a goddess hiding in my territory. I knew who that goddess was and the person she was watching wasn't Rin. She had her eyes on the boy fighting my master, I knew she was the moon goddess Artemis, and this boy is her son. I could only guess how she had children but soon figured this child was much like that of Athena, a child born without breaking the virginal fate placed on her. I also knew it was getting harder to keep enhancing Kazuki, like the boy was using the strange gloves to undo every strengthening spell I would place, and my master's life was draining as well. This son of the moon would soon win this fight and my life wouldn't last long after that.
At the same time, I could tell Gaea was starting to stir again and with that came the chance she would revive the real me, the me that wasn't a servant. So, I decided to use the wind spirits to leave a message for that other me. I would warn her to avoid the sons of the moon.
Shirou pov
As I was close to winning clash of fists and blades, the man got in a lucky punch and threw me to the ground. But at the same time, I could tell Saber had won her fight and was heading in to help me. but even with Saber on my side, Caster was going to use her final gambit and destroy this temple with everyone inside.
But as she was about to, a strange golden clad man showed up and said to Caster "you don't deserve to win this way." then he opened and a gate and rained blades down on Caster and Kazuki to kill the pair." After that pair was killed, the man starred at Saber and said, "soon we will meet again and then I will want my answer."
But before I could ask Saber who that man was or what he meant; I knew we had to leave the temple Caster made. Saber, Rin, and I had to run out in as it vanished. After that we made it back to my house and Rin let out a long cry as she revealed to me, Sakura was her sister and vanished only to be taken away by someone that could only be a goddess to use for her sons. She said Sakura died from the process but didn't know what this goddess would use Sakura for in the future.
After that, Saber told us about the golden man and that he was the Archer from the holy grail war ten years ago and the two battled over the holy grail as it was born. Then Rin revealed to us he used the grail to preserve his life. It was then Saber told me; she didn't know who this servant was. then asked me about each sword and I replied they were swords used by different heroes throughout history, but each had strange feelings about them that I could figure out exactly."
After that, Saber told me, "In the last battle of the war, that man demanded my hand in marriage, and I turned him down." then i asked her "would you like to use the grail to stay in this world like him." but she replied "if I have to defend Britan once more, I would like to live as a human once more before I have to do such. I want to chance to have the life I missed out on before."
after that Saber told me "That servant couldn't have had the grail since your father had me destroy it." in turn I replied with "he must have had a good reason to do so." Then I said "as for how that golden servant is back, Halsin told me 'there was an explosion followed by an implosion.' Likely the servant was sucked into implosion and came out with a real body."
After that, Saber revealed to me "I can't enter spirit form due to the fact, I am not completely dead. I asked to become a servant at a point close to my death." I said to her "after this war ends, it would be best if you accept death. If you do, we might be able to see each other again at some point in the future. At a point after you are reborn. I have been told devils don't die of old age and can look like any age they wish. So, I promise to see you again no matter what." With that Saber accepted the path to being reborn once again.
After that, I went to the church to ask the priest about the eighth servant, and he said what I guessed that said servant could have used what was left of the former grail to return to this world in a new body based on his container.
The next day, I decided to take Saber on a date that involved the two of spending the day together and I even bought Saber a stuffed lion cub. But as the date ended, we met the golden servant again. but this time in plan cloths as he said "you can't make my property leave this world. I will keep her forever as my queen." Then he prepared to attack the two of us.
Chapter end
I cut down on the date scene due to time and the fact it was mostly pointless fluff, I also changed Saber's wish due to even later.
Next chapter will have saber and Shirou face off with the golden servant and his master in one last battle.
But first Rukia will aid captains and Vizard in clearing the path for Ichigo
For updates
week of 3/31/24 reaper of Rome
week of 4/7/24 sword dragon and the phoenix [fsn arc finale
week of 4/14/24 reaper of Rome
week of 4/21/24 sword dragon and the phoenix [fsn after math]
week of 4/28/24 reaper of rome [finale of arancar arc ]
dates subject to change
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