-Chapter 10-
Narumi, Lancer, Shirou, Archer, and Rin moved steadily up the steps toward the Ryudo Temple. The atmosphere was tense, and Shirou's frustration grew with each passing moment.
"Why are we taking so long?!" Shirou grumbled, clearly impatient. "Saber's in there—shouldn't we be hurrying up?"
Lancer chuckled, shaking his head. "Boy, you're really green when it comes to this sort of thing. Rushing in won't help anyone, trust me."
Shirou shot Lancer an irritated look. "Why are you even helping us, anyway?"
Lancer smirked, clearly amused. "Heh. Caster's causing too much of a scene now. My master wants her out of the picture before the public starts noticing things they shouldn't."
Shirou's expression darkened, his voice filled with resentment. "You almost killed me before."
Lancer just laughed. "Well, I didn't, did I? Guess that counts for something, eh?" He then turned his attention to Narumi. "So, ane-san, what's the deal with your real self? You know where she is?"
Narumi looked at Lancer, tilting her head slightly. "Honestly, I don't know exactly what she's doing right now... I think she's still in the Land of Shadows?"
Rin and Shirou's eyes widened in surprise. "Your real self... is still alive?" Rin asked, incredulity in her voice.
Narumi grinned, her tone light. "Of course. Did you forget? I'm immortal."
"Right…" Rin muttered, still taken aback. "I guess that makes sense."
Lancer laughed heartily. "Oldest person alive, period," he joked. "Nobody can top you, ane-san. You're basically history itself!"
Before he could finish laughing, Narumi struck him so fast he barely had time to blink. Lancer was sent flying off to the side of the mountain with a surprised yelp.
Everyone stopped in their tracks, looking in the direction Lancer had flown.
Eventually, Lancer came stumbling back up, rubbing the back of his head. "I thought I was gonna die there, for a second."
Archer snorted, crossing his arms. "Dying without doing a thing? The great Cu Chulainn has fallen so low."
Lancer grinned at Archer, eyes narrowing. "Yeah, keep laughing, Archer. When you're the one on your back, we'll see who's laughing then." He twirled his scarlet spear expertly, the weapon catching the moonlight as his smirk grew wider. "Just make sure you don't miss your mark again."
Before the banter could escalate further, Shirou—already on edge—spoke up again, his frustration palpable. "Can we stop wasting time? Saber's in there! We need to go now!"
Lancer gave him a casual glance, unfazed by Shirou's urgency. "Honestly, boy, you need to learn to chill. If you go charging in without thinking, you'll just make things worse. In situations like this, calm heads win the day."
Before Shirou could respond, a voice echoed from ahead. "It seems I'm at a bit of a disadvantage," came a calm, measured tone from the shadows.
Everyone tensed as Assassin, Sasaki Kojiro, stepped into view, blocking the temple gate. His long katana gleamed under the pale light as he slowly moved into a battle stance.
Lancer's eyes gleamed with excitement as he readied his spear, the scarlet glow of his weapon pulsing in the darkness. "You only need to worry about me, Assassin."
Sasaki smirked, settling into his stance, his sword poised. "I'll be sure to remember that."
"Go!" Lancer barked, signaling the rest of the group.
Rin, Shirou, Narumi, and Archer rushed past the temple gate, leaving Lancer and Assassin to their duel.
As Narumi, Rin, Shirou, and Archer stepped through the temple gates, they immediately spotted a group of Dragon Tooth Warriors ahead, their hollow eyes glowing ominously in the dim light. They clattered forward, weapons raised, a mechanical army blocking their path.
Narumi sighed in annoyance, cracking her knuckles. "Why even bother with this, Caster? These won't even slow us down." Her tone was light, but her eyes were sharp, focused.
With a quick step forward, Narumi delivered a devastating punch to the nearest warrior, the force of her strike pulverizing it into dust. She flowed into motion, each step a deadly dance as she moved from one opponent to the next. One strike, one kill—her efficiency was almost inhuman.
Archer followed her lead, his bow drawn back with precision. He fired a volley of arrows, the projectiles raining down from above with lethal accuracy. Several Dragon Tooth Warriors crumbled as the arrows pierced through their bony forms, shattering them into pieces.
Rin wasn't far behind, her fingers crackling with energy as she fired off Gandr shots, each blast slamming into the warriors, reducing them to smoldering piles of bone and ash.
Meanwhile, Shirou, though less experienced, fought with sheer determination. Armed with nothing but a stick, he enhanced it with his Reinforcement magic, making it sturdy enough to bash through the Dragon Tooth Warriors, splintering their bones with each swing. Despite the odds, he fought bravely, keeping pace with his more powerful allies.
The group advanced swiftly, cutting down the dragon warriors with practiced ease. But just as they neared the center of the temple, Narumi's instincts flared—danger.
Without thinking, she side-stepped, narrowly avoiding a beam of energy that shot past her, the heat singeing the air where she had been standing a second ago.
They looked up and saw Caster floating above them, a cruel smile on her lips, surrounded by glowing magic circles, each one crackling with energy, ready to unleash another deadly attack.
Caster's laughter rang out, high and mocking. "Coming here to my domain? You all must really have a death wish!" Her voice echoed through the temple as her magic swirled around her.
Narumi's eyes narrowed. "Medea…"
Caster's expression hardened. "Don't think I'll go easy on you, Rider," she spat. With a flick of her hand, she summoned a shimmering portal beside her. "Saber!"
In an instant, Saber appeared behind Narumi, her invisible sword slashing downward in a deadly arc toward Narumi's neck.
Narumi's instincts screamed, and she tilted her head just in time, narrowly avoiding the blade by a hair's breadth. Caster laughed triumphantly, her voice laced with venom. "Kill your mother, Saber!"
Saber's eyes were blank, devoid of their usual determination, as she lunged at Narumi once more, her invisible sword cutting through the air with deadly precision. The faint shimmer of the sword's outline glinted in the light, marking each lethal strike aimed directly at Narumi's vitals.
Narumi's instincts flared, her body moving before her mind could fully process the attack. She twisted her torso just enough for the blade to pass mere inches from her abdomen, her breath steady, her movements fluid.
Saber spun on her heel, bringing the sword down in a fierce arc aimed at Narumi's neck. Narumi dipped low, the blade slicing through the space above her as she leaned backward, her balance perfect, her movements almost effortless.
"Saber…" Narumi muttered under her breath, her voice filled with both affection and frustration. She didn't want to fight her daughter, but each strike was relentless.
Saber charged again, her blank expression unchanging as she swung her blade in a horizontal slash meant to cleave through Narumi's side. Narumi sidestepped gracefully, her body pivoting at the perfect moment, the sword grazing her tunic but leaving no mark on her skin. She flicked her eyes toward Caster, who was watching the fight with a cruel smirk.
"Rider! What's wrong?" Caster taunted. "Why don't you fight back?" Her voice echoed in the temple, taunting as she watched Narumi dance around Saber's attacks.
Just then, a volley of arrows whistled through the air, homing in on Caster's position. Archer stood at the ready, his bow drawn, eyes sharp. Caster, sensing the danger, teleported behind Archer in a blink, narrowly avoiding the rain of arrows.
"Your sick games are over, Caster!" Rin shouted, her voice filled with disgust as she prepared another spell.
Before Rin could act, a shadow moved at her side—a man lunged toward her, fist aimed directly at her back. Archer barely had time to materialize his twin blades, Kanshou and Byakuya, crossing them just in time to block the powerful strike.
Rin and Shirou's eyes widened in shock.
"Kuzuki-sensei?!"
The normally stoic teacher stood before them, his expression as unreadable as ever, but his movements were unnaturally swift and powerful. Enhanced by Caster's magic, Kuzuki's punches came in rapid succession, his hands moving like a blur as he pressed the attack against Archer.
Archer parried with skill, but the force behind Kuzuki's strikes was unnatural, even for a human enhanced by magecraft. Each hit sent shockwaves rippling through the air, and it was all Archer could do to hold his ground.
Meanwhile, Caster unleashed another beam of magic directly at Rin, but Rin, ever quick, jumped to the side, the beam barely missing her. She retaliated with a Gandr shot, firing it at Kuzuki, but he dodged with inhuman speed, his movements enhanced beyond normal limits.
Shirou, still fighting off the remaining Dragon Tooth Warriors, could only catch glimpses of the chaos unfolding. He gritted his teeth, frustration mounting as he realized how outmatched they were. "Damn it!" he cursed under his breath, swinging his weapon with renewed force.
The battlefield was chaotic, Caster's laughter ringing in the background as she watched her puppets—Saber and Kuzuki—wage war against her enemies.
The temple gate was lit by the pale glow of the moon, casting long shadows over the narrow stone steps where Lancer and Assassin clashed. Their movements were a blur of steel and sparks, the sound of metal ringing sharply as Gáe Bolg met Assassin's katana.
Lancer's spear extended far beyond the reach of the blade, and his superior agility allowed him to dart in and out with lightning speed, but Assassin was no slouch. Every strike of the spear was met by Assassin's flawless swordsmanship, parrying the deadly thrusts and turning each block into a counterattack.
"You're good," Lancer called out with a grin, his voice tinged with excitement. "I'd like to fight you more, but you and Caster have to go."
Assassin, his face hidden beneath his hat, responded in a low, measured tone. "It's an honor to hear that from someone like you."
The narrow stairs of the temple placed Lancer at a disadvantage. Assassin stood higher up, using the elevated position to compensate for the longer reach of the spear. Lancer, for all his speed, couldn't fully utilize his agility in such a confined space. His movements were somewhat restricted, and Assassin exploited every opportunity to pressure him.
They clashed again, the sound of their weapons meeting in a flurry of sparks, both fighters moving with incredible speed. Lancer thrust forward, aiming for Assassin's heart, but the swordsman twisted out of reach, parrying the blow and advancing with a swift counter-slash.
Lancer danced back, dodging the strike by a hair's breadth. But Assassin was waiting for that.
Assassin surged forward, his katana gleaming in the moonlight. He moved with a grace and precision that spoke of countless hours spent honing his craft. Lancer, sensing danger, leaped back instinctively, but that was exactly what Assassin wanted.
In an instant, Assassin advanced and shifted into his signature battle stance. His katana gleamed dangerously as he prepared his attack.
Lancer's eyes widened as he saw the stance, realizing the threat. He was still mid-air, having leaped backward, with nowhere to retreat. He gripped Gáe Bolg, the crimson spear beginning to glow ominously in his hand.
Assassin struck first.
"Hiken – Tsubame Gaeshi!" Assassin's blade flickered in three directions, three slashes seemingly happening at once, too fast for the naked eye to follow.
But Lancer wasn't just any opponent. With a roar, he threw his spear forward with terrifying force, shouting, "Gáe Bolg!"
Time seemed to slow as Assassin's blade struck thrice in the blink of an eye. Lancer, mid-air, twisted, dodging the first strike by inches. The second and third slashes, however, were unavoidable—two cuts grazed his chest, slicing through his armor and drawing blood.
Simultaneously, Gáe Bolg, the spear of certain death, found its mark. The cursed weapon twisted fate itself, ensuring that it would pierce Assassin's heart.
Assassin staggered, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Gáe Bolg was buried deep in his chest, his heart pierced. Yet, despite the fatal wound, Assassin chuckled softly, his voice filled with quiet amusement.
"Hah... This spear... No wonder they call it the Spear of Mortal Fate." Assassin's words were calm, even as his body began to fade. "But it seems... this is the end for me."
Lancer landed on his feet, panting heavily. Blood seeped from the twin gashes on his chest, staining his clothes, but his grin never faltered. "Your attack... that's one hell of a move. I could feel it. You strike three times at once."
Assassin gave a small, tired laugh, his form flickering as he began to disappear. "Yes... It's a technique I developed... just to cut a sparrow... at three different points... in a single stroke. A fleeting moment of beauty..."
Lancer chuckled, though his breathing was labored, blood dripping from his wounds. "I'd like to fight you again... in a better place... where we can go all out."
Assassin's form shimmered, his body fading into nothingness, his final words hanging in the air. "It would have been... an honor, Lancer."
As Assassin vanished completely, Lancer swayed on his feet, blood still leaking from the cuts across his chest. He coughed, a small trickle of blood escaping his lips.
"It seems... I'll leave the rest to you... Ane-san." Lancer's voice was strained, though there was a certain respect in his tone as he thought of Narumi. With a tired laugh, he sat down on the temple steps, clutching his chest as he struggled to regain his strength.
"Just... need to rest for a bit." He muttered before his form flickered and vanished, retreating to recuperate from his wounds.
Narumi and Saber continued their relentless duel, their movements a blur of speed and precision. Saber, eyes still blank under Caster's control, advanced with deadly intent, her invisible blade shimmering as it tore through the air. Narumi sidestepped, slipping into Saber's guard, trying to sweep her legs and take her down. But Saber was quick, shifting her stance and evading the move with near-perfect reflexes.
Suddenly, Saber's sword emitted a whirlwind of violent winds, catching Narumi off guard. The sheer force of the wind blasted her backward, sending her flying through the air. She managed to twist mid-air, her body landing gracefully on her feet. But Saber was relentless, already upon her, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.
With a roar, Saber's sword swung down, coated in swirling magical winds, ready to cleave through Narumi. But just before the blade could strike, Narumi slammed her palm to the ground, channeling her chakra. The earth beneath them surged upwards, forming a massive hill of rock and earth between her and Saber.
Saber's sword struck with full force, tearing through the hill like paper, the wind from her blade obliterating the rocky barrier. But it was already too late—Narumi was gone.
Before Saber could react, Narumi appeared in front of Caster, her movement a blur. Caster barely had time to widen her eyes in shock before Narumi's fist connected with her face, the sound of the punch like a crack of thunder.
Boom.
Caster was launched from the sky, her body flying across the battlefield like a ragdoll. She crashed into the ground with enough force to shake the earth, leaving a small crater where she landed.
Narumi prepared to close in on Caster for a finishing blow, but her instincts screamed a warning. She darted to the side just in time as a golden beam of energy shot past where she had been standing, scorching the air. The beam barely missed, but the sheer heat of it left a trail of singed earth in its wake.
Caster groaned, pushing herself to her feet. Her once regal face was now bloodied, her cheek swollen and misshapen from the force of Narumi's strike. Even with her defensive enhancements, Caster couldn't fully withstand the power behind Rider's blows. She wiped the blood from her lips, her expression twisted in both pain and fury.
Just as Caster regained her footing, Rin arrived, eyes blazing with determination. She lifted her hand, a Gandr curse already formed at her fingertips, aimed directly at Caster's vulnerable form.
Caster scowled, narrowing her eyes at Rin. In an instant, she teleported, vanishing just as the Gandr blast flew through the air, missing her by mere inches.
Rin cursed under her breath. "Tch... slippery witch."
Narumi, still focused, scanned the battlefield, her eyes sharp. She noticed Caster suddenly stiffen as if she'd sensed something amiss. A flicker of realization crossed Caster's eyes—her connection with Assassin had severed. She hissed in frustration as she realized Assassin had fallen.
From the corner of her eye, Narumi saw Archer still locked in battle with Kuzuki. The enhanced strength and speed Caster had granted Kuzuki allowed him to match Archer's every move, his fists moving in blinding combinations as they traded blows. Archer's twin swords, Kanshou and Bakuya, clashed with Kuzuki's iron-hard fists, sparks flying with every collision.
Caster, now backed into a corner, scowled at her options. Her plan had started unraveling fast. With Assassin dead, and her control over Saber not being enough to turn the tide, she began to reassess. Rin's Gandr curse was ready again, aimed squarely at her.
Narumi, Rin, and Archer closed in. The pressure was mounting, and Caster knew this battle was about to slip beyond her grasp.
Saber dashed forward with incredible speed, her once-invisible sword, Excalibur, now revealed and glowing with its legendary radiance. She struck with precision, aiming for Narumi, who gracefully stepped back, avoiding the blade. But before she could counter, a golden beam of energy formed in the air, speeding towards her.
Narumi ducked, the beam flying over her head, tearing through the space behind her.
Narumi muttered under her breath, "This is getting dangerous..." She could feel the intensity rising. If she didn't take down Caster soon, there would be no way to free Saber from the spell that bound her. But another beam was already charging, forcing Narumi to sidestep with agility.
The beam struck the temple wall, exploding on impact, leaving behind a cloud of debris.
"If this keeps up, she'll destroy the whole place," Narumi thought as she prepared to move again. But just as she recovered, a magical beam homed in on her, giving her no chance to catch her breath.
Narumi leaped, twisting through the air as she narrowly avoided the magical beam that came roaring toward her. The attack whizzed past, leaving a sharp screeching sound in its wake. With fluid precision, Narumi's hands moved instinctively, forming a glowing ball of energy, a familiar spiraling mass of chakra that crackled with dangerous power.
Its ring-like edge spun with incredible speed, emitting a high-pitched whirr that sliced through the air like a saw. Narumi's eyes locked on Caster, who was still in mid-incantation, preparing another barrage of magical beams.
Without hesitation, Narumi hurled the Rasenshuriken, its blinding light cutting through the battlefield. The attack spiraled towards Caster at blinding speed, the violent energy ready to detonate on impact.
Caster's eyes widened as she sensed the impending attack. She quickly teleported away in the blink of an eye, barely avoiding the incoming projectile. The attack collided with a mass of Dragon Tooth Warriors, the explosion of energy completely obliterating them in a single burst, leaving nothing but scattered debris.
Still airborne, Narumi's instincts flared as another beam fired towards her. She twisted in mid-air, avoiding most of the energy blast, but the edge of the beam grazed her, sending her flying backwards. She braced herself, crashing into the ground with a heavy thud, her armor scorched and smoke rising from the burn.
Narumi landed gracefully, but she winced at the pain, glancing at the smoldering burns on her armor. Her breathing was steady, but she knew Caster wasn't holding back.
In the midst of the chaos, Shirou, fighting his way through the Dragon Tooth Warriors, could only watch the battle unfold. His grip tightened on his makeshift weapon, frustration and helplessness surging through him as he realized how outmatched he was. He couldn't do anything to help.
Meanwhile, Archer was locked in combat with Kuzuki, who moved with brutal efficiency. Every punch was precise, enhanced by Caster's magecraft, making even a Servant like Archer struggle. Archer backed down, launching a flurry of arrows to create space between them.
Arrows rained down on Kuzuki, and though he dodged most with unnatural reflexes, several struck him, forcing him to slow.
Rin, seeing the opportunity, fired a Gandr curse at Kuzuki. The magical blast hit him squarely in the chest, the curse powerful enough to pierce through Caster's enhancements. Kuzuki stumbled, his guard momentarily lowered.
"No, Master!" Caster's panicked voice echoed, but it was too late. Archer, not missing a beat, nocked an arrow infused with Caladbolg, his most powerful attack. The distorted sword twisted into an arrow shot forward, its overwhelming energy tearing through the air with a deafening boom.
Caladbolg shattered through Caster's magical defenses like they were nothing, piercing through her. She gasped, blood spilling from her mouth as she crumpled to the ground, her body flickering with fading magic.
With her last breath, Caster crawled towards Kuzuki, who lay slumped, his body riddled with arrows. She reached for him, her fingers barely brushing against his arm. "Ah... Master..." she whispered, before vanishing into a flurry of glowing particles.
Back in the battlefield, Saber had been preparing to strike at Narumi again, Excalibur glowing with deadly energy. But as Caster died, the control over Saber was broken. Her movements faltered, and her grip on her sword slackened.
Saber blinked, her eyes clearing. "Mother?" she said, her voice soft but filled with anguish. She looked down at her hands, realizing what she had done. Her mother was covered in burns—burns from Excalibur, the very weapon she had wielded against her.
"It's alright," Narumi said, her voice soothing despite the pain. She smiled gently, brushing off the injuries like they were nothing.
Shirou, who had finally broken through the last of the Dragon Tooth Warriors, rushed over. "Saber!" he called, his relief evident in his voice as he saw her free from Caster's control.
With Caster's death, the Dragon Tooth Warriors began to crumble, collapsing into piles of bones.
Rin let out a long sigh, "Hah, this is exhausting." She turned to Archer, a rare smirk crossing her face. "Nice work, Archer. Looks like you're getting better."
Archer smirked back, flicking his swords away with a flourish. "As I've told you before, you've got the strongest Servant."
But even in their brief moment of victory, there was a new problem.
Saber, now without a Master, was starting to fade. Her form flickered, translucent at the edges.
Narumi's eyes widened with concern. "Hey, Shirou! You need to reestablish the contract now!"
Shirou, flustered, looked between Narumi and Saber. "But... I don't know how!" he admitted, his fists clenching in frustration.
Rin rolled her eyes and stepped forward. "Ugh, amateurs. Fine, I'll help." She moved quickly to Shirou's side, already forming a magic circle on the ground with practiced ease.
"Just concentrate," Rin instructed, her voice calm but firm. "Focus on the bond you shared with Saber. Visualize it, and offer your mana. She's still connected to you, so all you need is to reaffirm that bond. I'll handle the technical part."
Shirou swallowed hard, nodding as he knelt beside the magic circle, his hands trembling slightly. He closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing. He could feel the faint pulse of Saber's presence still lingering, even as she flickered, on the verge of disappearing.
"Saber," Shirou whispered, pouring every ounce of his resolve into the ritual. "Come back to me."
The circle glowed brighter, a soft hum filling the air. Rin watched carefully, her expression focused, and after a tense moment, the magic surged. A bright light enveloped Saber, her form solidifying once more.
Saber opened her eyes, her fading figure becoming whole again. She turned to look at Shirou, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you... Master."
The dimly lit church was quiet, save for the soft steps of Kotomine Kirei as he approached Gilgamesh, who sat with his usual air of regal indifference, reclining on his throne with a goblet of wine in hand. The flames from the candles flickered in the shadows, casting a golden hue on the King of Heroes, who seemed completely at ease despite the chaos brewing outside.
Kirei's voice broke the silence, calm and measured. "Caster and Assassin have been eliminated."
Gilgamesh's lips curled in a sneer, his eyes glinting with amusement. He didn't bother to look at Kirei, instead swirling the wine lazily in his hand. "Hmph. Insignificant mongrels, the both of them. Caster, clinging to her pathetic illusions of power, thought hoarding the leyline would grant her superiority." He chuckled, the sound low and disdainful. "Yet even with all that mana, she crumbled so easily. How predictable."
His smirk widened as he set the goblet down with a soft clink, his gaze still fixed ahead. "And Assassin—nothing more than a gatekeeper. A swordsman, perhaps of skill, but even the sharpest blade dulls in the presence of a king. Their fates were sealed the moment they took part in this war."
Kirei nodded, his tone matching Gilgamesh's casual cruelty. "With their elimination, we are one step closer to the Grail. Their presence was always superfluous. But now, the lesser Grail vessel will be required."
Gilgamesh finally turned his attention to Kirei, his golden eyes narrowing with amusement, but there was a deadly gleam behind them. "Yes... The tainted vessel, who will fulfill her role in this grand stage soon enough." His smile turned predatory. "But before we can summon the true Grail, the number of Servants must dwindle further. It seems our plan requires a bit of... hastening."
Kirei raised an eyebrow. "You mean to say the Servants need to be thinned out deliberately?"
Gilgamesh chuckled darkly, his fingers tapping against the armrest rhythmically. "Of course. The unworthy must be culled. This war cannot afford to drag on. The Grail calls for only those deserving of its power. By eliminating the lesser participants, the ritual will accelerate. Caster and Assassin were merely the beginning."
He leaned forward, his tone growing more serious. "We shall reduce the numbers ourselves if necessary. This game has gone on long enough, Kirei. If we are to secure the Grail, the remaining Servants must fall, and soon."
Kirei smiled slightly, his tone cold but respectful. "Indeed, the Grail demands sacrifice, and it seems the time has come to clear the path."
Gilgamesh's eyes darkened, a glint of possessiveness flickering in them. "Yes... The fewer obstacles, the swifter the prize shall fall into my hands. But first..." He trailed off, his voice taking on a lower, more dangerous note. "There's one reunion I look forward to. It's time I meet with Narumi once more."
He stood, the goblet of wine forgotten on the table, his gaze turning distant yet focused. "Soon, Narumi. We will rule this world as it was meant to be ruled. And those unworthy to stand beside us... will be erased."
The air seemed to grow heavier as Gilgamesh's chilling words filled the room, the very mention of Narumi tinged with possessive longing.
Kirei simply watched, his calm demeanor betraying nothing. "The plan progresses as it should, Gilgamesh. The path will be cleared."
Gilgamesh's smile widened dangerously, and he nodded. "Indeed. Let us rid this world of its vermin and claim our rightful throne."
-end-