I thought it fitting to upload a double in this instance since I think it fitting. And I really do suffer from not being satisfied with my own work. lol, That nagging critical voice that just loves to be right.

Chapter 5: Grand Order

The two parties stood at an impasse, but only at Dark Saber's mercy. He knew it. He, Saber, Caster, and now Mash and Rin stood on the other side before the valley where the grail glowed high above, and beyond them was Dark Saber. Her dark sword held aloft glowing darkly, an inversion of the holy sword of what was once Excalibur glowing with mana that inwardly made his hair stand from its sheer malevolence.

And like its sister sword, even if he knew it would cost him much, the sword stood next to its sibling in his hill of swords in the middle of the weapon of the knights. Light and dark, good and evil, always a necessary existence of two. Excalibur and Excalibur Morgan, a sword aptly named for the darkness it held like the sister of King Arthur that brought down the Kingdom of Camelot.

Underneath the silence, the brewing tension between them grew. He knew that he couldn't expect to stop Saber once she made up her mind, and this dark Saber was no exception. Fully convinced that this was the only way of whatever she alone perceived.

Only by defeating her could they persuade her that there's another way. He was sure of it.

"Vortigern: Hammer of the Vile King!" Power surged, and dark Arturia swept her sword from the side as the dark wave of power unleashed itself onto them.

"Mana burst!" Fast was Saber in her movement that she closed in before the darkness reached them but their clashed echoed and vibrated the very earth. The winds roared blowing a whirlwind in the cave rattling the stones.

"Prydwen!" Arturia's shield that could turn into a boat, the very same one that traversed through the underworld of Annwn glowed with power even more. When some of the power hit him, he slid back, but the glowing blue barrier held on until more cracks became visible. From the single one it bore before to a spiderweb of crack as the strike passed through its deflection as he held his form even with his body beginning to burn.

She swung her dark sword but the glowing golden sword parried it, and with it, the wind pushed him back sending him skittering back only to be caught by soft hands.

"I'm sorry, Olga." Generous as the Director was, if he could help it, he wouldn't need to siphon magical energy from her. But things were far from ideal. He stood up with shaky legs, Mash supporting him again.

Holy and dark clashed, Cú stabbed with his spear aflame from a single rune and the other sparkling with electricity. Dark Saber's sword blazed and pushed Arturia back to grab the first spear and pulled it, going for the stab only for Cú to spin, his left spear a red arch grazing her armor with a spark before jumping back and throwing the first glowing spear.

"Gáe Bolg!" A line of runes appeared and from it, lightning and fire launched forward dancing in an intertwining form.

Arms raised, power gathered in her as she called forth her attack. "Excalibur Morgan!"

A dark wave bigger than the last burst forth as Gáe Bolg with two elements clashed against, blowing winds and a blinding flash that sent the two of them skidding back despite their resistance to no avail.

"Excalibur!" Golden energy cut the dark power in half as everything exploded in a myriad of colors before Mash stood in front of him raising her shield and slamming it into the ground in defiance.

Once more, swords clashed with the dark sword, sparks flaring and winds blowing with each contact.

"Enough!"

Another spear flew, thrown followed by a line of lit-up runes by Cú charging from her left flank. Saber from the right jumped but her attack met a sword in a light of spark. As soon as it began, it ended faster when dark Saber in a flash disappeared only to clash with the spear, and at the speed of light, a red streak arched and flew back creating a blast of energy to where it came followed by numerous crash almost like a skipping pebble.

With another mana burst the rogue Servant's already dark form blended in the dark meeting Saber's downward strike sending her back falling and skidding to the ground.

His eyes widened when the dark woman was already upon Saber faster than he expected.

"Sorry, Mash."

"Saber!" he shouted legs dashing forward using the shield as a springboard. With a reinforced kick, he launched himself forward charging with a sword in hand glowing with power that lit to keep the dark at bay.

He bore the heat in him, the heat that he was more than acquainted with yet no less painful. Bearing it always for them even if it felt like fire coursed in his veins.

Each step he made drew the sword closer to Saber, which she raised Excalibur in defense pushing her back even if slightly. But dark Saber countered with a deft deflection to the side and stabbed forward.

"Saber!" His throat hurt as he shouted. A sandpaper scratching it from within.

A blue blur slid to a stop in front of him, smoking and ragged yet with a large grin on his face. "Kid." Hands twined and open-palmed.

Nothing more could be said between them when he jumped to the hand and it almost took him by surprise when the wind rang in his ears while holding on to the sword that answered his call.

With his burning arms, he hurled Caliburn to her spinning in the air, a beacon in the dark before everything lit up in agony and the world rolling around him.

"Shirou!" Called a voice when soft hands caught him. Luminous sparks and hammering thunder echoed in the background. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the beautiful face of Rin holding her expression together. Still, even in the darkness, he saw the moisture in those dark eyes that when a breeze blew it made her raven locks swayed hypnotically.

Pulling him up, he saw Mash in front holding her shield aloft in defense.

Saber stabbed with Caliburn and swung Excalibur, forcing the other Arturia to deflect and kick their Saber which met a fist then elbow to her face. Saber reeled but stabbed again with the left sword. She followed with a swift swing downward swing, but her enemy was like a shadow with almost a mere arching flick of her Excalibur Morgan she deflected it followed by a dangerous upward diagonal slash.

Dual golden swords crossed against a singular darkly flaming one. Unequal in strength but not in skill, the blades clash in sparks, of rains of parry and counter, feinting with a sleight of a hand

The distance prevented the other from making large attacks, stopped by Saber's relentless swords of Caliburn and Excalibur. Her strike was a golden blur of grace and strength at the same time that few could only dream of.

The very same strength her opponent had when Dark Saber spun the sword down deflecting Saber's strike and catching the stabbing sword with her hands and the other with her Morgan. Arms shook in a stalemate.

The Tyrant King who held her kingdom together through force of will against the Fair King who put everyone's needs against hers. Arms rattling in a deathly game of sword duel.

"Pathetic. You lack the strength!" He could almost see the grin of the other Saber when her voice reached them. "You lacked the strength to keep Camelot afloat, you lack the strength now."

Saber's ire grew, echoing through their bonds but she held it in. "No matter how I did, because we both failed in the end. Camelot fell, forgotten by time."

With a scream, Saber's enemy released the sword grasped in her hands, pulled her hands, and punched Saber. Close together, the two punched and kicked, two halves that neither can defeat. A sword against fist, and holy sword against dark holy sword, a blur of confrontation beyond actions that all but Cú struggled to see.

A scream came out from Saber when a fist-like ringing bell struck against Caliburn sending her back and the rocks under her shuffling making a path for Dark Saber. She raised the swords when her enemy dropped in with a downward swing of her Excalibur Morgan! Even with the raised swords in defense, she was still sent skidding back almost to the edge kneeling.

"Pathetic! This cannot be me as much as the illusion you call Shirou Emiya is my master. For you cannot bear the truth that I hold."

"Saber! What are you carrying all by yourself," he called, unable to keep the desperation in his voice.

Beside him, Rin who carried his weight then said, "Whatever it is, Saber, let us know. We know you wouldn't do this without reason."

Saber silently protested, but nevertheless, she said nothing but stood up in defiance, holding the two swords that still glowed with unwavering power.

"It is too late," she said with a shake of her head. "He has already ruined the world."

Dark Saber's sword once more lit aflame and rushed in to capitalize on the weakness with a blur Mana Burst. His heart stopped knowing Saber was not taking magical energy from them and instead relying on her reserves.

He didn't know who called out but multiple voices rang in the dark, one of which was his. His heart stopped, and when he moved, he found himself stuck. Frozen in the moment she needed him the most.

Shirou felt his world slow, his heart-stopping, and his breath gasping when the sword approached. He ran faster, faster, faster! He charged without care while she was distracted in the final attack, hoping to sway her to stay her hand.

"I'm sorry, Shirou," Saber said. Resolute in her choice, unwavering in the plan only she knew.

When the golden blur that was Dark Saber moved in closer, time itself stopped. The sweat on his head fell so slowly and the blood in his veins froze.

Darkened sword poised to stab but his—their—Saber stood still. In what could only be called a risky feint, sidestepped. Even when her opponent was poised to readjust herself Caliburn blocked the swing and in a fast turnabout reversed-gripped Excalibur stabbing her from the back. The Golden Sword of Victory pierced through her armor hitting Dark Saber where her heart was.

When she tried to move, she winced with blood slipping out of her lips. He felt a part of him died just looking at her.

"Perhaps I might have been like you once upon a time," Saber's words echoed, knocking him out of his stupor. "But I chose mine, and you chose yours. The road you took might not be wrong in saving Britain, but in the end, we both failed."

Saber said something, he knew it, when the sword on her back was taken out.

He silently apologized to Olga when he jumped with reinforced powered legs to where they were despite the building-up heat becoming more than a fever. The cold settling in him for being unable to save this Arturia. He cannot blame his lover for it, no, not once would he.

He didn't know when it started raining just as he lost his breath by the move that utterly left her lying on the ground. The sword rang when dropped to the ground, reminding him there was one last thing he needed to do for her.

"Saber!" He ran, holding back his emotion. Cold pragmatism the very same one Archer had kicking in. He silently apologized to his Arturia, as he cradled the dark Arturia's head in his lap just to comfort her.

"Master, be careful!" Mash said now behind him.

He heeded Mash's words, but he knew dark Saber as she was now was no more a threat, especially since her hands reached out to him whether she knew this or not.

"Shi…ou." Her hands weakly reached for his. Something he welcomed at this very moment. "It… really—you."

"I'm here Saber." Even just to ease her death, he'd be there for her regardless of what she was now.

"I… I'm…orry." He could see it, her foot now fading into motes of light. "I… not hel—p you."

That I couldn't save you.

He knew what she was trying to say, but none of that mattered to him. Whatever she bore, she did her best and that was enough. Saber's pale gentle hands entwined with his. His hand hugged hers firmly in her last moment. He should be the one sorry, he was not her Shirou, and he felt the guilt swimming further knowing that he couldn't break her heart by telling the truth.

Should it end this way? A resounding no echoed in his heart for this Saber is as important to him as his own Saber. He loved them all for all their being just as he loved Rin, Sakura, and Illya for who they were.

He knew, he just knew, that he wouldn't regret this. Not ever.

"Heed my call," he whispered the beginning of a new connection. The chant of a new binding contract. "My will creates your body. Your sword creates my destiny."

Under the blue night, he remembered it, under duress did she come to his aid.

"Shirou!" Saber said, shaking him. "You can't handle more servants! Even Rin can't handle Caster and I."

"Saber," wistfully smiling at his lover. "I hav… I need to save you. I don't care if it's you here or you from another time."

"Shirou, listen to yourself! You could die!" Rin reasoned.

Dark Saber coughed, her pallor growing paler as she slowly faded. He was never more so resolute in his decision in all his life, few as those times were. "Rin, you know I'd die for you guys too."

"I thought you promised to value your life!"

"I am!" he replied, breathing calmly to still the fires in his heart. He really did. To live not just for saving everyone, but for his loved ones; for the ones who held his heart, he would walk the fires of hell for them. "You guys are my life. Whether it's another you, Sakura, Illya, or Luvia, I will always save you guys."

Copper, Aqua, and green met, neither backing down. She sighed, exasperated and annoyed, but understanding in her gaze.

Caster said something but ignored all for he caressed this Saber's hand saying all that can be said with his actions alone. "If you heed the Grail's call and obey my will and reason." His right hand glowed, power surging through him that made it curl in pain like the rest of him but he found the strength to hold on. "Then answer me."

Golden eyes bore into his unshed tears that glistened in her soft gaze hidden behind the glare that tugged his heart apart. King as always, duty to the end, something he loved about Arturia.

"Do so and I will entrust my destiny to your sword."

When she remained silent, he froze. He wanted to say something, anything, just so she could see that he didn't care if Saber the Righteous King or Saber the Tyrant King. Arturia was Arturia.

Fading right hand clasped his. The ground shook, and when he turned runes blocked a magical attack when Caster moved to intercept.

"Oi, it's not nice to interrupt, you know." Spear and staff on hand, runic spells of fire retaliated to somewhere far away. Cú smirked, winking at him. "Especially for something like this."

All of this, yet this all felt far away right now. Yet, when he looked at Rin and Saber, the fire in his chest lit up! A spark against the odds of what his body wanted.

Please... accept my heart's call.

Dark Saber's eyes lit up, glaring at the source. The fires of defiance that brought to heel many many enemies lighted her very essence as her power flared only to flinch when it bore down on them. "On my honor as King Arturia Pendragon, Saber Alter, I accept your oath!"

Everything glowed red, crashing lights and spells until it faded as fast as it came. The remaining Command Spell on his left hand glowed from the newfound connection. He flinched, a gasp out of his lips, and fell face down to the floor when everything blurred and the air out of his chest. Dark armored hands caught him and cut the connection between them before a golden glow blinded him.

The glowing golden object flew over the hill and into the purple where a shadow now stood.

"With this, the Singularity is resolved, but…"

"Who's that." Cú's demand echoed in the silence, reaching even his ringing ears.

He looked up to see Olga's face strained, looking ahead and stopping the connection to run towards something only for Mash to block her. Shirou could sense it, a different malevolence and quality.

Squinting, he saw a figure atop another valley covered by shadows of the eerie purple, his voice echoing.

"This is unforeseen. I would have never thought the Fifth Grail War masters and their servants would stand here before me. Quite a complication considering I erased all data pertaining to you two in Chaldea, but it seems someone discovered you two again. Is this fate or divine intervention?" The man chuckled. "Such unexpected events are beyond my tolerance in this project."

"Grand Order, you plan to destroy it," Saber Alter said lowly, but the graveness in which she said it left him shivering all at once. Saber Alter. A tyrant. And for her fear to crawl out at this time made him wary of Professor Lev. "Just as we were going to destroy the Grail, in our moment of weakness, he struck."

"Dr. Lev? No… impossible."

"Better believe it, girlie." Caster's hand glowed with runes. "He's not a human."

"Lev!" Olga cried, fear creeping into her voice as rationality left her. "Tell them you're innocent. They seem to think you're an enemy!"

"Idiot!" Rin said, her patience gone with her gems aglow in her hands. "Lev shot Shirou and Saber!"

What charm the man had disappeared when he frowned with open malice. "Romani, I thought I told you to come to the control room."

Dr. Romani beside the Director looked awkward but he could sense a strong will in the man's neutral gaze. His silence told more than any words could.

"He was aiming for Saber! She's corrupted!"

"Look here, young lady," Caster said tiredly. "I understand not trusting Shirou or Saber, but Rin is a high-class magus. If not her, trust me as a druid. I know the Lev you knew is gone. Possessed by something greater."

"Possession!" Dr. Romani said in shock. "But…."

"These things are never clear. It may have been long or recent, but—"

"Professor Lev Ainur's soul is long gone," Rin concluded. "The question remains; what is using his body right now."

"I…," Olga covered her face, her sobs loud enough for him. "That's not true! I know Lev! He'll never betray me."

His laughter echoed in the cavern, grinning maliciously. "Olga Marie Animusphere, you were always a failure. Failure in your father's eyes, at Animusphere magecraft, and now failure to direct Chaldea to live up to your father's expectations. And now failing to accept the truth in front of you."

Olga froze, shaking, and crying silently. Shirou felt himself reaching levels he rarely did. The likes only which few people achieved.

"Say that with your face, Lev!" Saber in front of them pointed her sword next to Caster. "If that is who you really are. As a student of Merlin, I can sense enough to know you're not who you say you are. I can sense the inhumanity within you, of powers beyond Humanity. Reveal thyself monster!"

The man tapped his cane, echoing in the now silent cavern. "Who I am is not important. Just know I'm the one who planted the bomb underneath you." Hands swept to the side, Lev grinned down at them with arrogance bigger than he'd ever seen. "It's unfortunate you lived, Olga, a quick death is what I can give you as my respect. And this."

His snapping fingers carried volume to reach their end and the world twisted to open a window, a window of CHALDEAS. A copy of Earth bleeding red and fiery yellow. "Behold! The failure of Animusphere!"

"Lev… you're lying! Please," Olga's strength failed her but Shirou caught her in her fall. "Ever…. everything. All the we worked for…"

It didn't matter who Lev Lainur was to Shirou, all he knew was that he hurt people. Magus and civilians alike, all in critical conditions. The anger in him gave him the energy to stand, glaring at the one calling himself Lev.

"Stand tall girl!" A simple order—no matter how physically weak Saber Alter was now, that carried power and respect. "Are you a Magus Clan head or not. Betrayal between magi is the way."

"To be a magus is to walk with death," the doctor said.

The only thing true in the world of magic, in a world full of betrayal and lies.

"What does it mean." The dread that froze his heart doubled even more so than when Lev showed up.

"Shirou, remember what Mash said." Rin frowned, her body tensing. "CHALDEAS is a replica of the planet. This is not good."

Then... "Everyone's dead…."

"Dead?" Lev Lainur laughed. "Don't make me laugh, boy. Thousands of years culminated for this very moment! The incineration of mankind."

"Gone," Olga whispered, her voice quivering. "Aren't they…"

"That's the spirit, Olga. Accept your fate. Chaldea, the last remaining bastion of futile humanity will soon fall."

Sakura, Illya, Taiga, Issei, everyone. Never had he felt this anger before. A hot sweltering rage that turned cold in the face of something he'd never faced before. A being with a presence greater than any Dead Apostles he faced. Yet, his anger was unquenchable in the face of death.

"That's why there is no contact from the outside burned. All of humanity's history has been incinerated."

Dr. Romani gasped. "There's no one to receive them!"

"Olga, please, I need your help." His mind already knew the image and gathered the energy, pulling it out of his world and into his hands now pulling the bow string. "My core is twisted in madness."

Power surged which broke the phantasm before he let loose. Arrows after broken arrows launched stopping at ten when he felt Olga breathe deeper and falling to kneel on the ground. Explosions rocked the ground but targeted nothing but the vicinity of the man creating a dust cloud.

Caster cast runes in the air as plants, fire, lightning, wind, and earth all moved. A rumbling of natural elements where the earth closed in on the man, a tornado of great pressure came from the center rune at the same time as lightning wrecked the ground heading forward.

"Did that get him?" asked Romani.

"No. Sabers, I want you to get close to him, my spear won't be enough for this. Luckily, I just have the spell for him."

"Saber," he said stopping the cough out of his lips, only to blink when both women turned to him, one fair and one pale with equally curious faces. "Alter…," he said as an afterthought much to his chagrin. "Will you be okay?"

'Your spirit core was just damaged.'

"I'll be fine." Resolute was her spirit and unbreakable as Excalibur Morgan was her will. She was a weapon that smites foes with the darkness that which she held.

"Caster, any more and our masters—"

"I know. Just distract them. I have enough power for one last move without needing their mana."

The earth rumbled but nothing happened when Caster planted his staff on the ground.

Shirou with sword in hand beside Mash prepared to move.

"Shirou, we don't have much left. Even Olga is feeling the strain."

Guilt flashed in him when she saw her knelt behind him. He knew he was borrowing powers from her, without her he'd have keeled over from supporting Mash and Saber Alter.

Mash without hesitation walked in front, covering them, their eyes meeting once. "Master, Tohsaka-senpai is right. Anymore magical exertion and…." You might die, her silent words said."But if you go, I go."

'I will protect you, Master.'

Olga might die, then him. Would Sakura and Illya understand? A silent yes, but he hated seeing them cry, even for him.

Caster remained still in concentration casting spell after spell after absorbing the mana from the spear. Power rose with every minute passing.

Shirou's hands shook, the unlaunched sword in his hand felt useless just as he did right now. What was a hero if he can't help people all the time? What was he if he couldn't help people?

"Shirou," Rin said, her hands on his sword arm, smirking. "Nothing says we can't support them from here."

Shirou knew his magecraft was limited, but if there's one thing he knew, it's being prudent with his magical energy. Their connection with each Servant would help in coordinating them.

Lev jumped out when Saber Alter went for a stab only to meet a barrier followed by Saber behind slashing across as another barrier stopped her strike, sparking and bouncing.

'Saber, move on my signal.' Broken Caladbolg flew, their reaction swift at flanking strikes before they jumped back by kicking the barrier. Rin chanted, throwing gems in the air, and from it came an electric tornado exploding on a grand scale as his arrow.

He saw the staff, and in his world was it now rooted with the many swords. With it he saw the past, its make, and its ability beyond any of what he could do, thus he knew what Caster would do.

Cú released the power. Runes all around lit up in defense when magical energy of great malevolence and power shot towards them but still Mash jumped forward with a scream, "Lord Chaldeas!"

Castle walls stopped the shot, draining him of power but still he stood. "Hold on, Olga!"

"My magecraft is a cage of flame." Pulsing with power he uttered the aria. "A flaming yet verdant giant. Retribution." Within the weapons' history, he knew what power Cú was calling. "A shrine that purifies the evil of human affairs."

Raising the all-powerful staff, he slammed it down. "The one who destroys; Wicker man!" Up above them, he called and came forth from fiery flames a wooden construct of great size. Both Sabers jumped away, Lev blasted the giant wooden statue but it endured and grabbed him before he could jump off chucking the man inside its hollowed insides as it fell.

His guttural screams echoed in the cave, sending shivers down his spine as the giant fell. Shirou's knees started to shake when his being burned more that he closed his eyes, but he held Rin and covered Olga still. "Rho Aias!"

Winds from the fall blew, strong enough to shake the cave that he had to close his eyes unless he wanted to be blinded. Strong winds crackled and crashed against his shield, cracking with every second of it.

When the wind and dust died down, he turned and called. "Mash, Rin, Olga, are you guys okay?"

"I'm fine," Rin said holding strong and erecting a green gem barrier alongside his Aias and Mash's shield.

Olga coughed, dusting herself off, pretending she wasn't knocked off her feet, and replied shakily. "Never better. Is… Lev gone?" Shirou knew her type of personality with his years of experience with Rin and knew than to call her out.

Knowing how important Lev was to her, only to find out what reciprocation he could have had for her was fake was hard, he knew. The dust far ahead slowly settled, and the very ceiling of the place melted from the sheer heat of Cú's spell where light now penetrated the once dark place.

"No," Caster said gravely.

Saber on each opposite, they stood prepared when a release of magical energy followed by a spell blew the dust away. There, clothes all torn but still unburnt, and radiating malice never before shown. The wave of malice chilled his bones and his hair stood on end. "Your resistance matters not, you will all fall. Saber may have slowed it, but your destruction is assured."

The world trembled, breaking at the very seam as Lev floated and the image of CHALDEAS shrunk. That was when Shirou sensed it, the familiar gaze of himself before running towards Lev ignoring the calls.

"Lev!" Arms wide to the side, broken swords brimming with power that made him suck a deep breath with darkening vision. Swords fired toward the man exploding nonstop. A red flash, nearly a trick of his eye, rushed forward clashing with green until both were gone in a flash.

Rocks fell like rain, and the wind blew a storm.

"Senpai!" Mash landed a few feet away from him and dashed to him shield first.

"Romani! Rayshift us!" he ordered, not waiting for the reply. "Saber! Mash!" He jumped back projecting a roped arrow and bow slinging back to where the others were with Mash jumping and now falling to his left and both Sabers on his right.

Saber Alter grabbed him, mana burst hurling them fast, looking back to see Saber herself carrying Mash. All three of them ahead cast defensive spells holding the falling rocks at back bay.

Landing on a skid, everything flashed in white.

I've been returning to reading books. I finished reading Auric Gods, a Warhammer40k book and Revenge of the Sith. Great books. It took my time along with some stuffs, like playing some new games. lol