Hi! Lugal kug-ga here! I am a long time reader but a first time writer.
Imma say this now, I own nothing of the originals portrayed in this fic, I'm merely making an iteration.
And should you see some similarities with other fanfic Authors, it might be because I've…. copied it. Or took some parts of their works and incorporated it in mine. So, credits to them.
Enough of the boring A/N and onwards to the story.
I've committed to finishing this work, should it stop updating for a year, I've probably self deleted. So, sit back, enjoy, and review!
—In The World of Unlimited Blades—
Within the world of eternal twilight, Archer had an indescribable expression. The cause– one of his interactions just died.
Well, one or several dying isn't that unusual, but, this one caught his attention. Having shared some of his memories, this iteration's existence became one which he could closely see.
Imagine countless screens in front of you, if you want to see everything that shows up on the screen, you'll have to move and see them one by one, in archers case, he could see everything in front of him, but still can't see the ones on the side, so he has to move in order to face those screen.
As for this one iteration, you could say, its screen is being carried by a drone which followed him whenever he moved.
"... what?" He asked.
He's not questioning how and why that iteration died, but what happened after it died.
" Is something wrong, red bowman?" Veldaruin asked, turning his head which had been facing Aesir.
They were chatting amongst themselves about how it was sometimes boring being a long lived race but can't really go out to have an adventure, when suddenly Archer's expression and question caught their attention.
"What? Got raped or something?" Aesir intoned, his crass words eliciting a scowl from Archer. Aesir had a shit eating grin as he saw Archer's expression.
Veldaruin sighed, seeing their interactions. The two of them were not usually like this, but whenever Aesir interacted with Archer it would sometimes devolve into petty squabbling.
"Enough. So, did something happen?" Changing the subject back on track, the conversation won't progress if he allowed them to squabble more than it already had.
Archer, back to his usual expression, looked up at Veldaruin and answered.
"Kotomine, that kid died."
The words elicit a humm from the dragon, while Aesir tilted his head not knowing who they were talking about, and wondering why they would concern themselves from the death of the fake priest.
" How does Kotomine's death warrant a concern for us?" Aesir asked.
Archer looked at him like he was an idiot and cannot believe that he just said that. While Veldaruin raised his scally eyebrow.
"... what do you mean how, Aesir? Don't you have any sympathy for the other you?" Veldaruin's words came as a shock to Aesir.
" W–what! That Kotomine is also me?!" He shouted.
Archer, after a moment of silence, just scoffed. Before looking away after giving Aesir a Condescending look.
Aesir, growled at Archer's action.
Veldaruin, not wanting to see another squabble, asked Archer if he could explain.
"Long ears thought it was Kirie Kotomine." Was his reply.
Veldaruin now had the face of realization.
"Right.. you never had seen each other have you." He said looking at the high elf, who merely tilted his head in puzzlement.
Veldaruin, not saying a word, just extended a claw towards Aesir. Knowing the dragon's intention, just stood there.
"...so there is also a possibility of not being adopted by Kiritsugu Huh." Aesir spoke, looking at the sky as Veldaruin claws retracted.
" So? What happened to him?" He asked offhandedly to Archer.
He stayed silent, but waving his hand, a projected image of the events that transpired appeared. Aesir's brow furrowed seeing the last scene, while Veldaruin sported a thoughtful expression.
"..was that?" Aesir voiced amidst the silence.
"... Yeah, it's the counter force." Said archer not looking away from the projection.
"...is he the only one?" Aesir asked.
" Yeah, I've already checked every iterations. but, he might not be the only one from now on."
"the counterforce really finds a way…hmmm, does that mean I also am a candidate?" Veldaruin said, grinning at the end.
Archer and Aesir looked at the dragon with raised brows but didn't comment on it.
" Well, I have already made some preventative measures for it to not just summon anyone as it pleases." Archer's words made the dragon sag slightly in disappointment.
"Well, if you want, I'll send you to a suitable world in future summons." This managed to lift the dragon's spirit, if the slight sway of his scally tail is any indication.
Aesir, smiling wryly at the dragon, turned to speak to Archer.
" so? What use does the counterforce have to a dead body anyway?"
" That's the thing, he was brought back. It sent him to another parallel timeline. As for the place? I still don't know." He answered with a shake of his head.
" Well, I'm sure you could ask him yourself later, I'm pretty sure he also has questions of his own."
" …okay..then I'll be leaving for now. Don't want the elders to think that I'll be resting forever already. Sleeping for three years before was a bad idea." Aesir said.
Archer didn't react, while Veldaruin gave a huff of amusement. Aesir then disappeared in a mote of light.
Veldaruin then turned towards Archer whose expression was still that of a troubled one.
"..so what was that earlier?" He questioned.
"... I don't know, but I think this was one of Zelrech's reasons why he appeared before me back then." was his answer.
" Hmmm, is that also why you made that sword?"
" No…that sword was just my backup in case my first failed to kill myself. Well, considering the old man, I guess he has foreseen that I would create it."
They were talking about the one that killed The Kotomine boy, Aesir might not have noticed, but the heroic spirit and the dragon God of Destruction certainly did.
"Well, I'm sure he'll be sent back after he's done doing what the counterforce intended him to do." Archer said with a shrug. Veldaruin agreed with a nod.
With that silence returned, the two beings now merely watching several iterations of them that Archer projected at the dragon's insistence.
—Kotomine Shirou POV—
—Timeline of Apocrypha—
Shirou shot open his eyelids as he inhaled a gasp of air into his lungs. Shirou quickly bolted up from his lying position and straightened up his back as he sat on the ground surveying his new surroundings. With widened eyes, Shirou raised his eyebrows in surprise at the completely different surrounding view than he was expecting.
Instead of the familiar scene of the classroom, all around him was what can be best described as an old classical European town as people roamed to and fro among the streets and dirt roads in between the brick made one-story buildings that housed the sparsely populated residents. In short, this is completely opposite from what Shirou would expect in Japan or anywhere in Asia for that matter.
"Where am—" Shirou was interrupted from his self-muse when a piercing pain shot through his neck and left arm as he immediately clutched his collar tightly in discomfort.
Finally, the wave of nausea and pain drifted over Shirou as he exhaled a sigh of relief while he cautiously removed his hand away. Stretching open the sleeve of his shirt, as he examined the flesh over his Arm.
Shirou's eyes widened at the impossible sight as he touched where his neck was again in disbelief. His arm, his neck… Well, his head specifically was completely healed, still there as if nothing had ever happened. There was not even a speck of blood nor a single scratch on him! The only indication that the Sabertooth Tigers had bitten him ever occurred is the blood-soaked torn school uniform he is now wearing with the blood completely dried out by now.
Standing up from his seated position, Shirou blinked a couple of times to get accustomed to the blaring sunlight as he looked over at the horizon.
Where is he? What happened? And how did he get here? These were some of the numerous questions that popped into Shirou's head as he pondered the thoughts over and over again but finding no solution.
After he The teeth of the Tigers were in front of him, everything turned black. And the next thing Shirou knew, he was here, lying on the dusted ground of this city.
Stretching his back and loosening up his sore joints, Shirou began to set foot towards the more populated area of the city. And if he was lucky enough, Shirou hoped he would be able to figure out what and where this foreign area was.
Walking left and right and asking around the simple yet confusing intertwining roads of the city, Shirou began to slowly realize how grim his situation is. As far as he understood it, this place is far away from Japan.
Shirou sat down by a small deserted parking lot beside an inn as a slowly creasing frown made its way up to his face as he crossed his legs and pondered in thought.
Fortunately The people here spoke German. One thing is, how did he go from Japan to somewhere in Romania! Whatever transported him here can't be the one that killed him. If it was,.it wouldn't have healed him.
Shirou stood back up as he wiped the dust gathered on the back of his pants off. If he is going to find a way back, he needs to get assistance from the church. There might be one around here that may be able to assist him, at least in his financial problems. but, as he asked around, he found out that the nearest one is several kilometres away from here.
Sighing he Shifted his gaze unconsciously to the right, Shirou noticed a child around five years of age holding his mother's hand while hopping up and down repeatedly, excitedly pointing somewhere far away in front of him as the mother continued to smile down at her son, making sure he doesn't get carried away with his enthusiasm.
Shirou followed the boy's pointed direction and quickly noticed something he wasn't able to before. Up in an elevated hill far away stood a massive castle with walls encompassing all four corners of it. This is beyond anything Shirou had seen before. Yes, the Hortensia's Castle is big in its own right, but this castle put the Hortensia Castle at Soho in London to shame. The castle before him is a truly formidable and majestic fortress.
Shirou widened his eyes in realization at the implications behind his thought. And if this castle isn't meant purely for the aristocrats of this country, then this place is bound to attract some kind of tourism around here. Either way, Shirou could finally begin to see his chances of at least finding some way to contact the church, even if by the second owner of this city.
Jogging lightly up the hill he was on to get a better overtop view of the castle, Shirou squinted his eyes as he scrutinized the road path from the city, through the forest, and finally to the castle as Shirou quickly jotted and memorized the information down into his mind, a habit he developed working as an executor.
Shifting his gaze upwards to the gradually dimming sky as the sun slowly sank over the horizon, Shirou hummed in thought at whether it is a wise idea to go traveling during the night. By the distance from the city to the castle, Shirou estimated it will take at least half a day before he gets to his destination. And Shirou knew he would like to arrive at the castle in broad daylight where the probability of meeting someone is ensured.
Shirou's stomach growled in protest as Shirou looked down at his abdomen . Looks like it was settled, he is going to travel tonight through the patch of forest leading up the way to the massive infrastructure before the next day arrives. Not really the first time he's t
raveled through the night. To wait any longer will cause trouble down the road, and Shirou needed to save his energy should anything unexpected turn up.
Straightening up his body as he stretched his back and arms, Shirou began to set foot once again towards the far away looming castle up in the pinnacle of the hill before him.
Walking in the deadly night with the biting cold wind freezing his exposed skin relentlessly, Shirou stared stoically ahead of him, detaching himself from the pain and numbness his body suffered, he just wished his Executor Attire was on him right now.
While traveling up the unrelenting hill, a loud creak preceded by a booming crash could be heard from afar. Shirou whirled his head around behind him at the source of noise to see dust billowing high in the air several kilometers away from where he's at. Shirou gave a contemplative expression at the odd sight and sound as he prepared to begin walking once more before another crash resounded the forest, this time much closer than it was before.
Shirou's face made a grim expression as his lips thinned into a line activating his circuits and tracing several black keys, ready to face any unexpected danger coming his way. More crashes resonated throughout the forest grounds, this time in succession while a maniacally booming laugh could be heard approaching quickly.
Shirou involuntarily swallowed as he moved his body in a battle ready position, his ears listening all around him as Shirou's eyes focused on what was in front of him.
"HAHAHAHA – MUHAHA – HAHAHA," the series of laughs grew louder and louder as the sound of trees snapping and hitting the earth grew in intensity.
In less than three minutes, whatever this thing is, it had traveled from a place several kilometers away to a mere a kilometer away from where Shirou's at. This is something no human can do; this is something only a …
Shirou's eyes at that moment widened in alarm as his body moved instinctively on its own, dodging a rapidly falling tree by a hair's width.
"Tch—?!"
Shirou clicked his tongue, as a massive double-edged broadsword came plummeting down in his direction. Shirou quickly leaped back as the force of the blade came crashing into the ground, sending Shirou flying several meters away before he tumbled over and over again onto the rich moist dirt.
Shirou stood back up as he winced, what is that thing?! Taking a good look at the gigantic and muscular man in front of him who is smiling maniacally, before sensing what the man was, Shirou could only come up with one answer.
"A Servant?!" Shirou muttered under his breath in disbelief. He's only known about them from some of the churches archives and Archer's knowledge. But, how Is this possible? The church never notified him of any grail war happening, as the Grail system had already been dismantled by the Magus Association and the church. Disregarding the technicalities behind the situation, Shirou gauged the giant's abilities to be somewhere near the level of a standard Berserker Class Servant. Looking at the crazed being, Shirou knew this "Servant" could pose a challenge.
Readying for the inevitable battle, Shirou, with eyes fixated on his opponent, chanted his Aria.
"Trace, On!" Shirou shouted as green neon light extended from his arms to his fingertips, all his twenty-seven Magic Circuits, thrumming with power. As he reinforced his body and clothes as well as the black keys, making them more broader and longer.
The berserk giant, as if unheeding to the threat before him, continued to wreak havoc around him with crazed glee. The giant then brought up his unnaturally massive sword as he swung the blade down to the ground right at Shirou who was standing by the side.
Shirou quickly sprinted out of the way as the sword split open the ground, creating a long chasm while dirt flew everywhere in the air as a result of the overpowered blow. Not wasting the opportunity, Shirou honed in on his target as he threw the black keys at his crazed enemy with pinpoint accuracy, eighth blades flew straight in the air before hitting its intended targets, two to it's shadow, four to the Torso, then the last two to the eyes, then with a resounding and explosive boom, all eight detonated.
The giant flinched at the explosive contact before blinking his eyes a couple of times as if ridding the pain and confusion. Once the giant's temporary disorientation cleared, the giant's crazed smile broadened in glee at Shirou's attack.
"GREAT! MORE!" the giant roared at Shirou's attack.
"Tch, no effects huh–!" Shirou made a voice of disbelief then at the odd behavior of what he assumed as a Heroic Spirit. This man … wasn't a masochist by any chance, is he?
Waiting for the giant to first make his move, the powerful being then swung his arms around as all the trees that were in his way were subsequently plowed down by his blade as his lethal weapon made its way towards Shirou violently.
Looking at the giant with a calculated gaze, Shirou ducked the blow at the last second before charging forward, reinforcing his legs to get to the opponent before him faster. Shirou then threw several black keys once again at the giant's legs as the blades ignited powerfully at the contact as Shirou projected the same blades one more time.
Suddenly, as if by nowhere, a gigantic hand smacked Shirou at his side before he could even react, but fortunately managed to reinforce it more at the last second. He then flew into the air before hitting a tree trunk with a loud resounding boom. The air in Shirou's lungs was instantly forced out of his body as he choked out a string of blood immediately afterward. Shirou's body slumped forward in pain at the violent collision as he panted for air in a mixture of agony and exhaustion.
"HAHAHA – AHAHAHAHA – Are you the oppressor?" the giant asked as it approached Shirou rapidly.
Shirou gritted his teeth as he lifted up his body. So this man is not truly berserk after all. This giant still had somewhat of a coherent mind of his own, unlike the Berserker of the Fifth Holy Grail War which Archer crossed blades with. Forgetting the technicalities behind what's going on, Shirou lifted his head as he stared at the man with little to no armor.
"You first attacked me," Shirou stated simply with a hint of protest, ready for anything the giant will be throwing at him. "Why am I the oppressor?" Shirou muttered under his breath in the end, seeing no use in communicating with the crazed giant.
The giant continued to wear his unchanging delightful smile on his face as he walked closer and closer to Shirou before the ground between them suddenly churned and shifted as the earth mended together to form a humanoid-like creature from the rocks and soil underneath.
"Golem?" Shirou said with uncertainty, having only seen such a creature before in Archer's memories and some of Touko's albeit just a glimpse. Immediately after Shirou made his question, four more identical creatures birthed out of the ground, all of them just as tall as the giant as they all surrounded the man from all sides, cornering him in a tough spot.
The gleeful grin on the giant's face widened as he immediately charged at his new opponents, not wasting a single breath as he lashed out his massive blade right through the first golem, his sword easily cleaving through the earth made material without much resistance.
The giant quickly whirled around as he swung his blade in a mighty arc as he decimated the second golem before him. The third golem managed to deliver an overpowered punch as the giant was sent stumbling a few steps backward before the crazed being struck the golem at its midsection with his muscular legs, breaking the golem in half.
Shirou's mouth began to feel dry, so this was the power of the giant. Well, some of the monsters he encountered were powerful in their own right, but he had already escaped when they managed to get serious. There was no doubting it, although this giant is nowhere nearly as powerful as Heracles was, the giant before him is definitely worthy of the title of a Berserker Class Servant.
Leaping into the air, the giant finally swung down his blade as he made quick work of the last two golems, sending stone and earth flying everywhere in the battlefield.
Shirou didn't have time to wait for the billowing dust to settle down when the giant emerged from the thicket with his blade lifted high, ready to strike whatever was in his way. Shirou, without thinking, quickly tried to gained some distance out of the attack's way as the blade is immediately brought down as it severed the tree Shirou was previously beside at in half.
Shirou grimaced, this is not going to be easy … or more like, impossible. But disregarding his inabilities and shortcomings, Shirou traced out more black keys to his hands once again as he readied into a battle stance. The giant then turned around and began advancing towards Shirou's direction before a periodically green flying arrow suddenly whizzed out of nowhere, the arrow digging square into the giant's massive feet with stunning force.
The giant grunted in pain as he gave a disturbing laugh at the event. "GREAT! MORE! MORE!" the giant roared as he scanned around the forest, looking for the oppressor.
Shirou, doing the same, began to scan around his own surroundings, trying to pinpoint the potential new threat.
Another arrow whizzed through the air with lightning speed as the projectile dug into the giant's bulging muscular arms.
The giant didn't even flinch as he promptly acted by rushing in the direction where the arrow shot from, not even heeding how he was crashing through the numerous tall trees in his way that served as a troublesome obstacle.
Shirou, without thinking on what he's doing, followed his instincts and began to swiftly follow after the stomping destructive giant's warpath. Two more arrows coming from different directions rapidly whizzed away in a blur as one sliced a deep gash across the giant's wrist while the other punctured his shoulder mercilessly.
Finally, to Shirou's right, Shirou noticed a vague outline jumping inhumanly fast from tree to tree, aiming her bow at …
Shirou's eyes widened as his pupils shrank in realization, turning his body immediately as he sidestepped off to the side, an arrow shot away as the projectile grazed the front portion of Shirou's hair. Shirou stumbled backward at his sudden action before quickly regaining his balance. It seems like things weren't going to be as easy as he hoped it would be.
Shirou crossed the blades defensively in front of him, ready to defend from any incoming attacks.
The giant, as if unaware what's truly going on, continued to plow through his way in the forest as he crushed trees and anything alike in his way without restraint, all the while doing this with a crazed gleeful grin, shouting something about "oppressor" this and "oppressor" that.
Three more arrows whizzed out in succession as pasture green light arced across the dark forest. Shirou didn't have the time to register what was going on before his body, once again, moved in accordance to its own instinct when he first dunked the first arrow before sidestepping the next one as it grazed the top of his hair. Lastly, Shirou placed a foot in front of him as he instantly advanced forward, swinging his black keys on his right down with all his might as the blades crashed into the mid-flight projectile shattering it into oblivion.
Shirou panted quietly, anticipating another attack."What was that earlier?!" He asked as his nerves were tensed from the tension of the ensuing battle.
Then, suddenly, he noticed something, it was how he fought earlier, normally he would have just stayed a distance away from his opponent and thrown several black keys or some of the swords he copied by the church's orders. Merely engaging in close quarter combat when necessary.
There was no doubting it, the moves, more complete and not wasted, flowing together with perfect synchrony as the combination of actions also taunting the enemy to continue its approach by using cleverly disguised yet obvious openings. Shirou obviously knew how he knew all this, these moves were no doubt something a certain Archer devised and would do, it seemed he instinctively used it when he was pressured earlier.
Shirou once again clicked his tongue in annoyance, ever since he's got here, nothing has been going the way it should be. First, he gets killed and thrown somewhere halfway across the globe, then only to get attacked by a ridiculously powerful and somewhat insane giant attempting to maul him on several occasions. And when finally the giant's attention left him, Shirou was left by himself to fend off a hidden attacker's arrows. If this wasn't his accursed luck working overtime, Shirou didn't know what else it is.
Nothing happened for a couple seconds as the giant continued to pursue the hidden attacker to no avail, snapping branches and uprooting trees as he went. From what Shirou witnessed during the battle, it was clear the hidden archer had no intentions of killing the giant. The archer was only using his arrows to either stall or discourage the giant, perhaps maybe even stopping him but without killing the berserker. But seeing the giant's resilience and tenacity towards pain, Shirou doubted something like a "minor" wound to the arms or legs would impede the gigantic warrior much.
Shirou's fists clenched tighter in alarm, as his instinct was warning him of imminent danger. Suddenly, Shirou saw a person's silhouette from his peripheral vision as the figure leaped into the air and before the giant without fear while puffing up his chest in confidence. Upon closer inspection, Shirou noticed the person having long braided pink hair with a black ribbon tying it all together, the design of the person's golden white cloak with black and red inside armor suggesting what Shirou assumed as a "she" originated from the Western world during her past – assuming "she" is a Servant that is.
"Behold, Oppressor!" the giant greeted with his maintained crazed grin as he approached the newly emerged figure. "My might will wreak havoc upon your arrogance!" the giant declared crazily as he boomed a chain of laughs.
"Oh, boy," the pink haired person sighed as he slapped his hand on his forehead before he straightened his body back up, fixing his eyes on the foe before him.
"Let those afar off listen; those who are near, see!" the person carrying an odd-looking lance declared. "I am one of Charlemagne's Paladi—" the person was quickly interrupted when a massive black blade thrust towards the long-haired person, missing him by only a centimeter to the side.
The pink-headed person yelped in surprise as he leaped back defensively towards safety, away from the reach of the giant as the dark-skinned muscular man pulled back his one-handed broadsword.
"At least let me finish!" the self-proclaimed paladin exclaimed in childish protest as Shirou continued to conceal himself within the foliage, hoping to not get discovered by the clearly two powerful individuals and the one that has yet to reveal himself up in the trees.
"I haven't had the opportunity to do so in a long time!" the paladin continued in complaint, as if unconcerned of the dire and dangerous situation he is in.
The berserker hefted up his sword as his grin widened before his muscles bulged out as he released a burst of strength, charging over at the petite paladin.
"That's … unsettling," Shirou muttered under his breath as he continued to watch the scene unfold while the giant unceasingly laughed in disturbed joy during his rampage.
"If that's what you want, that's what you'll get," the paladin said with an unconcerned sigh as he readied the lance in his hand, pointing it straight ahead of him as he leveled the weapon perpendicular to his chest.
"Trap of Argalia!" the paladin shouted as mana from the air gathered into the tip of the lance with bright hypnotizing light as it swirled powerfully into the Noble Phantasm before a blast was unleashed out of the lance as the paladin charged in the berserker's direction.
It was but a split second later before everything ended with a gaping hole in the giant's thigh and an unscathed paladin who had his back facing the giant as he skidded to a stop.
The paladin then straightened up his body as he let his pink hair fall down harmlessly over his shoulder without care. "You see," the paladin began, "this lance returns whatever it strikes back to its spiritual form. Awesome, huh?" the paladin asked as he gave a satisfied and confident grin while turning his body around to face the clearly insane giant.
"You think that is going to stop me?!" the giant asked in a deep gruff voice and a maniacal smile as he attempted to get back on his feet to attack the paladin once again. However, before the giant can get to reaching distance at his opponent, a number of lances, as if shooting out from nowhere, stabbed through the berserker's torso and appendages mercilessly as the giant was forced to stop his advancement.
"Calvary's here," the paladin said with a dismissive wave of his hand, not at all concerned of what could have happened to him if the giant managed to snatch him. "Bye bye! See you later~!" the paladin said with a playful tone of voice before he skipped away back behind the said "cavalry".
Replacing the earlier figure was now a group consisting of a trio of men with only one person on an armored horse. The man on the horse clearly declaring his supremacy with the regal air he held himself. His eyes, empty and cold-blooded, signifying that he is willing to kill and do anything to his advantage.
"Rebellious Berserker of Red!" the ruler addressed with a raised voice at the supposedly rogue Servant.
Shirou widened his eyes in realization from behind the foliage as he watched on from a distance. So his prior unsupported hypothesis was right all along. This is none other than a Holy Grail War. The man before him has even declared one of the common aliases denoted for a Servant or Heroic Spirit during these wars between magi. However … Servant of "Red"? What is all that business about? Did the church not deem it unimportant to notify him?
"If you seek the one in power, you are facing him," the ruler on the horse continued to announce as he stared at the rogue Servant with cold unwavering eyes.
The Berserker gave a booming audible laugh as he looked at the man addressing him. "Are you the oppressor?" the giant asked before lifting himself up from his battle wounded position. "You shall now face my wrath!" The Berserker Class Servant attempted to rush at the man in charge before suddenly a group of golems rivaling his stature appeared from his four corners.
The giant swiftly smashed his blade into the first one before turning around to meet his second opponent with the edge of his blade. A rock fist of a created familiar struck the giant's abdomen as the Servant stumbled backward in pain as he counterattacked the golem recklessly, without care for his life and wellbeing. This was the difference between the Berserker of Archer's memory and this Berserker.
Although it is clear that both are well-trained warriors in the past and capable of insurmountable feats, it was still nevertheless as transparent as day that the Heroic Spirit Heracles is clearly far more powerful than the Heroic Spirit present fighting here. This judgment still applies even with this Heroic Spirit still having some sanity in his semi-berserk state, even Heracles with his complete berserk state was able to retain his skills completely by instinct alone. This Heroic Spirit, however, was clearly not the same caliber as the Einzberns Servant.
Berserker whirled around as he met another golem with his blade, cleaving the familiar in half before the ground from under him churred and shifted. Berserker turned his eyes downwards to see the earth from the ground making its way up rapidly on his legs and torso. Before even a second has passed, Berserker's entire lower body is encompassed with an inescapable hold.
"Kazikli Bey," the man on the horse uttered as miasmic dark purple energy gathered into the ruler's hand as he formed his right hand into a fist. The miasmic form of mana then formed a circle of crackling energy as spears shot out from the ground beneath the trapped giant, impaling through his body without resistance. The giant's blade extended out at that moment, trying to skewer the man on the horse before him to no avail after having been so swiftly and tactically stopped.
"Your rebellion is against the oppression of the weak by the powerful," the ruler began speaking to the immobile Servant in front of him once more. "That is noble," the ruler started with respect evident in his voice. "I am tempted to show respect to a rebel," the ruler finally finished his thoughts aloud at the dying Servant staring at him.
"I will crush you, Oppressor!" the giant roared as he attempted to further extend his sword to impale the man in front of him.
"Fall now," the ruler said stoically with an unwavering expression as his eyes narrowed dangerously, an act truly fit for a cold-blooded king, "rebel!"
At those words, more bladed lances emerged from the ground as it fully impaled the berserk giant without a problem as the giant stopped his movement and drifted into unconsciousness with blood dripping rhythmically everywhere he was struck.
"He's yours," the ruler stated as he turned his horse around after the entire fight had come to an end.
"Nothing more for me to do, right?" the paladin said with a hint of excitement, having earlier been watching the entire spectacle of display of power. "Okay, then, see you guys later!" the paladin hurriedly spoke as he turned around and tiptoed his way out of the gloomy battleground.
"Rider!" a lady's voice resounded the forest. Shirou quickly noted in his head that this woman must be none other than Rider's Master by the way she held herself and addressed the said Servant. However, what confused Shirou the most during this entire exchange is the fact on why and how so many Servants are working together when one Servant is more than enough to defeat the rogue Berserker Class Servant. What is going on?
"Oh! My poor back!" Rider groaned with exaggeration as he bent his back and pretended to wince in pain, something which Shirou thought as the most unrealistic display of a poor excuse. "Ehehehe," the paladin gave a fake laugh as he rubbed his back in uncertainty, trying to worm his way out of the tough situation. "I think I need to lie down!"
"Caster, I'll now sever Berserker's pact and force him into a new contract," the man cloaked in white interrupted Rider's unconvincing excuses with a monotonous voice. "Assist me," the man then commanded.
"As you wish," Caster said without a pause.
Shirou frowned in thought. No normal Master would use the words "Assist me" towards their Servant under ordinary circumstances.
"Celenike, Roche, help me as well," the man continued after Caster's response, directing his statement at the woman whom Shirou pinpointed as Rider's Master and a child who is beside Caster. Shirou didn't know anything about the child's involvement in this Grail War.
"Okay, Darnic!" the boy answered with a piped up expression.
Shirou's eyes shifted to Rider's Master as the said Master looked over to the opposite side of where the man named Darnic was. "Fine," Rider's Master punctuated, as if reluctant to offer her help but having no other options, an obligation in other words.
After a momentary pause, the black long haired man who was speaking earlier opened his mouth once again as two Servants suddenly manifested seemingly from thin air beside him. A man in standard armor that looked like a warrior in every way to the other person who is a girl in a flawless white dress carrying a club-like weapon in her hands indicated to Shirou that they must be Servants of this war as well.
"I'll leave the other two to you, then," the man audibly addressed the command to the other two Servants as both Servants wordlessly obeyed the issued order by walking further into the forest ground and towards Shirou's direction.
The other people present, also without a word, followed after the man riding on the horse as they headed back to what Shirou assumed as their base of operations. From what Shirou could gather through past experiences, this was the common norm during the Holy Grail Wars.
Shirou continued to blend himself in the midst of the foliage as both the oddly dressed girl – who had what can be best described as a pair of ear mufflers and a spike with a metallic shine protruding out of her forehead – and another Servant who carried himself stoically while carrying a standard medieval sword walked side by side with the impractically dressed girl.
Suddenly, both Servants came to a stop as deadly silence permeated through the forest grounds.
"Yo, I've been waiting for you two," a man with light green hair that bordered dusty yellow spoke with eyes closed and arms crossed as he leaned on the tree trunk behind him in a relaxed manner. "Saber and Berserker, I presume," the man commented as he straightened up his body and faced his two opponents.
Shirou frowned at the revelation. A Berserker and a Saber Class Servant … isn't that overkill for combatting only one Servant? However, Shirou was quickly reminded to never underestimate an opponent or gauge their abilities by sight alone. Shirou knew there is bound to be something he either didn't know or isn't able to understand.
"Man, I'm held in such low regard. Sending only two Servants to handle me?" the Servant said with his spear resting behind his neck harmlessly, as if unconcerned of the threat before him. The Servant's eyes then opened his eyes wide as he gave a bloodlust grin at his two opponents. "I'm offended!" the Servant shouted menacingly.
Both Berserker and Saber held up their weapons, ready for anything coming their way as the other lone Servant readied his spear by spinning his weapon in a lethal and random fashion around him.
"Rider is my class," the Servant continued before stopping his spear once it was vertically parallel to his body, "but no worries, I won't be using my chariot," the Rider Class Servant ended with a confident grin as he pointed his spear tip threateningly at his two enemies. "It will be disgustingly unfair against only the both of you," Rider finished arrogantly.
Shirou's forehead creased and wrinkled in thought. There was too much he didn't understand here. Why in the world are there two Berserker Class Servants and two Rider Servants in this war?
Rider then fixed his eyes at the two enemies before him threateningly with a smile as he spoke his final sentence. "I'll beat the real meaning of a true hero – a true warrior – into you!"
As if those words triggered something, both Saber and Rider immediately leaped into action as Saber, without wasted movement, traded continuous blows at the swift Servant. With Rider being totally on the offensive, Saber continued to meet the overpowered inhuman blows one for one as they traveled through the entire battleground with lightning speed.
Batting away Saber's sword with his spear, Rider quickly dodged Berserker's reckless charge and proceeded to blow with her massive club. Berserker attempted to attack once more only for Rider to sidestep the blow and advance forward to her vulnerable stomach with a bone-crushing kick, sending the girl Berserker several meters away helplessly tumbling on the ground as she growled incoherently.
Saber then came with a rushing approach behind Rider's exposed back as Rider widened his eyes in realization. Reacting within a split second, Rider twisted his body as he grasped Saber's wrist midway with a vice grip, stopping the blade's trajectory right there.
Shirou felt his mouth gaped open at the sight. Did that Servant … just stop the other Saber Class Servant with raw strength alone?
"Too bad," Rider said with an arrogant smirk as Saber shook with strain. "You're nowhere near my level!" Rider shouted as he brought the spear in his left hand down with unbelievable strength, the spear's trip piercing through Saber's armor before hitting his shoulder.
Rider, surprised by the fact that Saber didn't so much flinch at the detrimental blow, retreated a couple steps back as he reanalyzed his opponent. That blow should have had incapacitated Saber's arm, but the opposite result is shown before Rider.
"So you're an endurance fighter then," Rider stated in interest. "This is going to take a while."
Saber maintained his stoic expression as he eyed his enemy in close regards.
Rider looked at the expression worn on Saber's face before giving an amused snarky smile. "If you can't laugh on the battlefield, you won't get to laugh on the Elysian fields either. Show some good nature and consider these as your very last moments."
"A laugh in a battle may offend a person," Saber, for the first time, spoke matter-of-factly.
"Those who revel shall be saved," Rider said in a peaceful and relaxed stance, as if uncaring and dismissive of what's going on around him.
At those words, suddenly, a bolt of green energy induced arrow shot out from the dark as it hit Saber square in the chest, sending Saber crashing into the trunk of a tree behind him.
Shifting his gaze to follow the arrow's trajectory, Shirou was finally able to make out the person that was fighting Berserker and himself.
"I see you take my sister's blow seriously," Rider commented as he approached the dual Servants before he fixed his eyes on the female Berserker. "We just lost our Berserker Class Servant, it's only fair if we return the favor, is it not?" Rider questioned as he readied his spear by pointing at Berserker.
Berserker gave a ferocious roar that sounded completely unnatural coming out from a little girl's mouth as a gale of wind gathered around her, signifying a sudden mana concentration surrounding her. The club that is held in front of her then split apart into four sections as green energy and lightning coursed through it with stunning force, creating a force field of lightning encompassing around her.
The sudden and unexpected force exerted by Berserker sent Shirou stumble in place , making him create minimal noise by accidentally stepping on a patch of dried out leaves behind him. However, despite how quiet the noise was especially considering how Berserker's weapon is crackling with immense energy loudly, the nearly inaudible sound didn't escape the notice of the Servants present.
"Who's there!" Rider immediately shouted, no longer fixing his eyes on Berserker anymore but instead scanning throughout the forest.
Shirou mentally cursed in his head. How could he have been so careless?! Shirou didn't have any more time to ponder his dilemma when he caught a momentary glint of light to his right. Shirou whirled his head around to see the female Archer staring at him in melancholy, readying her bow. Shirou didn't even bother thinking twice when he sprinted out of hiding as three arrows shot out from the Servant's bow, the arrows digging themselves deep into the tree trunk that Shirou was hiding before not even a second ago.
"Ha, there you are!" Rider shouted as he charged in Shirou's direction.
Shirou quickly projected several black keys when Rider began to rush in to attack him. Rider, with a smile on his face, didn't bother to hold back when he delivered an impossibly fast blow for Shirou's gut. Shirou, guided by instincts and experience alone, redirected the incoming blow expertly as he stepped forward and attempted to bring his other blade for Rider's neck.
Rider widened his eyes though his grin widened as he leaned back, allowing the blade to graze past him and through the air as Rider came back up and swung his spear around to attack Shirou's vulnerable side. However, Shirou already knew this was coming when he blocked the overpowered blow with his black keys.
"Ha, too bad!" Rider exclaimed as he exerted even more force against Shirou's blades suddenly, successfully sending Shirou flying several meters away as Shirou smashed into a tree trunk violently when he could not match the raw strength of the Servant in front of him.
Shirou spat out a pool of blood as his body was in a fit of pain and his nerves lit alive like fire.
"Hmm, so you were the lad fending off Berserker of Red earlier," Rider commented. "I suppose that explains your tenacity now. Unfortunately, it is in my Master's interests to end your life here," Rider said before he added with a dangerous glint in his eyes, "though I don't mind an entertaining fight with a mage."
"I…–I," Shirou struggled to stutter out as he peeled himself off the tree as he stood up shakily in strain, his entire body protesting with immense pain. More likely than not, Shirou had a good number of bones in his body completely shattered and broken beyond repair despite having reinforced them, a testament to the Servant's strength"tch! I, I'm not, done yet!," Shirou declared in a whisper before his downcast eyes stared at Rider straight ahead with unwavering determination.
"Ho," Rider voiced out with a hint of surprise, indicating he was slightly impressive. "I like that," Rider replied Shirou's statement, his own determined gaze rivaling Shirou's. "Here I come!"
Rider, vanishing from his spot in an instant, immediately appeared by Shirou's side as Shirou widened his eyes in shock. Shirou barely had the time to raise his blades when Rider delivered another kick into Shirou's torso without restraint, shattering them and sending Shirou flying once more.
"Ah, that's it?" Rider asked in the form of a taunt, though there was a place of respect in his voice. To see a human in this day and age capable of recognizing the direction where his lightning attack came from is truly an impressive feat, especially since mages are known to normally work in the shadows and not fight in the open.
Rider began to approach Shirou as he bared his spear down to the ground. "Sorry lad, but you are facing a foe far beyond you, so smile at your last moments for standing up against me for so long," Rider ended with a smirk.
However, before Rider could approach the severely injured and lying Shirou any further, Saber stood blocking the way between Rider and his target, with Saber readying his blade by pointing it in the direction of Rider's neck.
"So that's how it's going to be," Rider said as his grin broadened. "This should make me kill some tim—" suddenly an arrow pierced through the dark air, the supersonic arrow lighting up in the deadly night as it hit Rider right on the shoulder.
Rider widened his eyes in surprise at the unexpected development. "What?!" Rider exclaimed silently in astonishment as he moved out of the way of the next barrage of arrows coming down at him rapidly with pinpoint accuracy.
"Tch, Archer of Black," Rider clicked his tongue in annoyance as he swung his spear expertly, dodging and hitting the projectiles midair without fail in the pitch black night.
Berserker roared in action once seeing Rider's struggle as she attempted to finish the fight right there and then.
"So you attack, Berserker of Black," a stoic voice said in the night as the hidden archer pulled her bow with a cocked arrow on the string back as green waves of mana piled up into her arrow tip, charging the projectile with insurmountable power. "For your recklessness," the archer continued, "you shall pay in blood!" releasing her string, the arrow shot through the air with explosive force as the arrow traveled straight at its target, Berserker's head.
However, the hidden archer's arrow was swiftly intercepted when another arrow from afar hit the other arrow midair and knocked it off its intended course.
"What?!" Archer of Red voiced out her shock before nodding in understanding. This has to be the act of the other Archer in the opposing faction of the Great Holy Grail War.
Shirou continued to watch the entire spectacle play out with blurred vision as it continued to unfold. This fight is beyond anything he has seen before in his life. The sheer magnitude of Servants present in one battlefield stacked the odds up against all the Servants here. This kind of fight at such an immensely difficult level is bound to have someone here releasing their Noble Phantasm to finish the opposition. And this is something Shirou can never allow to happen especially with the city so close to the forest. There is no telling what any of these Servants' Noble Phantasms can do this close to the human population, it was his responsibility as a member of the church to Prevent that..or eliminate it.
Suddenly, the barrage of arrows coming at Rider halted to a stop.
"Ha, just like I thought," Rider remarked as he walked towards Shirou. "Archer of Black is unable to shoot me from his line of sight at my position right now," Rider revealed as he continued to approach Shirou.
Saber continued to stand there in the way, guarding Shirou stoically with a determined and fierce expression on his face. A face that is determined to protect at all costs.
Shirou gritted his teeth as his hands clenched to a fist. If Shirou allowed the fight between Saber and Rider to play out and escalate, it was clear that Saber will eventually be pushed back until he is forced to use his Noble Phantasm if no one aided him from here on out. And this is something Shirou can never allow to happen no matter what. And Shirou was also not planning to wait idly and hope for the best outcome either.
Standing back up to his two own feet as blood dripped off his arm and mouth, Shirou gazed back stoically at his opponent.
"Still standing," Rider noted before smiling impossibly wide. "I like it!"
Rushing like a wind, Rider stood before Saber in a split second as both Servants began to exchange lightning blows without restraint. Though it was clear Rider is holding back in the sense that he had limited mobility due to Archer of Black's waiting eyes from afar, it is still nevertheless evident that Rider still held the upper edge in the battle.
"Ha, think that'll cut me?" Rider asked as he intercepted Saber's sword mid-trajectory with his powerful right grip before Rider flung Saber and his blade to the side.
"Finished resting?" Rider asked Shirou, seeing how he is now standing up straight.
Shirou didn't bother to give Rider an answer as he stared at him. This was to kill or to be killed. And Shirou was not planning to get killed until at least the fight between Servants diffused to the point where it is guaranteed that Noble Phantasms will not be unleashed here.
Rider grinned once more as he charged at Shirou head on, not even waiting for Shirou to project his blades.
However, Shirou did something completely unexpected at Rider when Shirou allowed his body to guide himself as he first leaped over Rider's lightning jab before Shirou stepped onto the spear's tip and directed the weapon's blade to hit the ground, digging itself into the dirt. Shirou then quickly ran across the short length of the spear's wooden shaft as Black keys were recreated into his hands as he aimed for Rider's head.
Rider quickly ducked, not giving into his momentary surprise before Rider retreated back as he forcefully retrieved back his spear with his superhuman Servant strength.
"You seem to be more than a handful than you appear to be," Rider started with a persisting smile. "Now give me the best you've got!"
Shirou, without hesitation, closed his eyes as he focused, he knew it was a death sentence, taking your eyes off your opponent in the middle of a battle, but this was the only thing he could think of. "Trace On!" Shirou spoke aloud as his Magic Circuits flared back to life.
Shirou quickly went through the seven steps in recreating a weapon from Archer's memories. A blood red spear materialized and rested firmly in his grip. The pure bloodlust emitted by the spear created a strained atmosphere, fully capable of leaving any normal human subjected by the blade's end to shiver and cower in fear.
"Wha—?!" Rider exclaimed in surprise, even the hidden archer couldn't contain her gasp of bewilderment at the fearsome aura the spear emitted.
"Gae—" Shirou began announcing the Noble Phantasm's name in his hands as blood red mana began concentrating on the tip of the lethal ornate lance.
Rider quickly readied his spear in front of him defensively, ready for anything that is about to happen.
"Bol—" Shirou uttered the Noble Phantasm's name partway when suddenly a stinging sharp pain assaulted his senses as Shirou looked down on his body in an awkwardly slow fashion. Widening his eyes in surprise, down on Shirou's line of sight was a blade protruding out of his chest. Shirou didn't have time to further register what was going on when three more blades came out of his body in succession, making him kneel down on one knee in pain and weakness as Gae Bolg, the weapon of the hound of Ulster, Cu Chullain, left his hand and faded away from existence.
"What?!" Rider muttered out in question, seeing the unexplainable phenomenon before him for the first time.
Shirou, unable to keep his body upright any longer, kneeled both legs down to the ground before he dropped cold onto the dirt terrain. Rider, gathering himself, walked over to the fallen form of Shirou as he looked at him in a mixture of confusion and awe. "Today is just not your lucky day, lad," Rider commented with a carefree statement. "Spend your last moments reminiscing about your past and be proud of it."
Rider, leaving Shirou to the ground during his last moments, left without a word, finding absolutely no need to deal the final blow on the innocent bystander. This, in Rider's own manner, is his way of respecting the magus.
None of the Servants present were able to so much as do anything when an arrow blasted through the sky from afar, splitting trees and branches without a problem as it whizzed through the air, heading for Rider.
Rider widened his eyes in surprise as he quickly batted away the projectile. Rider gave a click of annoyance before he began running along the ground in a randomized pattern to avoid the raining arrows. Finally seeing for once that he and Atlanta are at the disadvantage here, Rider turned around to face the far away unseen opponent.
"I will face you again next time, Archer of Black!" Rider declared as he veered his head to the side when another arrow tried to shoot his head to no avail. "May the gods of Olympus bless our contest with glory and honor."
With that statement, Rider put his two fingers into his mouth as he gave a shrilling whistle. As if on cue, a blast of a powerful mixture of lightning and energy shot down from the heavens before him, revealing a chariot with three mighty stallions. Rider swung his body over and into the chariot as he shook the reins to urge the horses to go.
"We shall fight again!" Rider announced as his chariot began to take off into the sky with the hidden archer meanwhile jumping off a tree and into Rider's chariot. "I look forward to seeing your face!" and with that ending statement, Rider and Archer of Red road through the night sky with unfathomable speed. Disappearing in the same amount of time they had just appeared in the sky.
Shirou looked at the entire spectacle numbly as a series of thoughts ran over through his head. What had happened? How is he dying? Had he really been careless, even after everything? Shirou quickly shook away the abhor thought. Shirou then opened his eyes when he felt someone touching him to see Saber staring at him intensely as the Servant, with caring and powerful arms, slowly lifted the limp Shirou up. Shirou was unable to realize what's going on when he unwillingly fell into the sweet blissful embrace of unconsciousness.
"heh, am I finally gonna kick the bucket?" he thought as everything turned black.
a~nd done! phew~ that was hard as shit. anyways, there ya go.
oh! and before this blows up into my face, imma say it now.
Guest 1 and 2: Don't worry they'll get what they deserve. and it's still in the early chapters, no one actually died...yet.
no one's actually dying, after chapter 15 or 20.
well... Lucifer's part was an exception, please ignore that.
Guest 2 and 3: ... well, don't worry, not all are schizophrenic would be a psycho, they're just one of the extremes and just there to show one of the reason why Zel appeared on the first chapter.
you might be wondering why the servants of red did not comment on Shirou using black keys and dismissed him being a member of the church? well, first, he didn't have his priest attire, second, they didn't see Amakusa fight yet, third, he fought berserker. and last, Shirou knows jack shit, Red was the churches and associations faction.
so there you have it. ciao~
(imma just slip this here...bruh! it's still chapter 14, no one's dying! ...yet! I admit, my bad for using the wrong words at the last one.)