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ImNotAWeeb64101- Glad to hear you are enjoying the story!
King-Chris 2426- I'm not going to have Izuku unlock a sudden secret Quirk, one of the things I want to emphasize on this story is that Izuku is Quirkless and that he is on this sort of "hard mode" in his life. Plus, this story is meant to feel like it was canon MHA until Francesca arrived and started all these shenanigans, so giving him a secret Quirk would go against that. I'm personally quite happy with what I've cooked up for just what Izuku is going to use to prove his strength in the Sports Festival. As for Kendo, I am aware of the time limit she is on, but I have already planned out how I want to deal with it.
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Tournament Uproar I: Anti-Foundations
The Viewing Room, The Clock Tower
Present Day
Within the cosmic void of the Viewing Room, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg observed the ever-changing flow of time.
Using the magic of Kaleidoscope was an experience that was impossible to properly describe. The easiest way Zelretch could put it was that it was like observing a desert through a microscope— only that each grain of sand represented a universe, a possibility in motion.
Only a few of these "grains" would ever contain possibilities worth exploring, but even so, "a few" meant little when one regarded the infinite nature of alternate realities. For any being, even one as powerful as Zelretch, to be able to control this power truly was a marker of what it meant for one to reach the Root.
But with the recent advent of Olkoth's influence, the viewing of universes was becoming difficult for even Zelretch, who had had an infinity's worth of experience with his own power. Through the machinations of that troublesome Outer God, it was as though the "sample" Zelretch viewed had become contaminated. The multiverse was cracking around Olkoth's World Egg, and that event had Zelretch catching glimpses of realities estranged from even Akasha's scope.
Universes where a subjugator arrives on a broken world, or universes where five heroes take up new flesh.
Universes where the gods had chosen to live their lives amongst mankind, where a spriggan and titan exist in paradox, or where forlorn blades harkened the sun and moon.
Universes where a god-king built a new life for himself, or universes where a holy knight became entrapped within a silver-eyed soul.
There were so many possibilities it was almost maddening, and anyone other than Zelretch himself likely would have gone insane in an instant.
'Although… no doubt many would say I've always been insane. They just can't appreciate my sense of humor.'
The cracks in reality aside, Zelretch already had his hands full with micromanaging the possibilities sprouting from Olkoth's World Egg. The sheer amount of threats within that war was getting ridiculous, and it was causing the Apostle Ancestor no small amount of headaches.
Prelati herself was Zelretch's primary concern, but there was no shortage of major enemies who could tip the scales toward disaster.
Jester Karture and his Servant Apophis.
All For One and his Servant Vritra.
The Forest of Einnashe and the Labyrinth, both unexpected elements that had managed to evade his preliminary observations.
Even the Sumerian Goddess Ishtar had wormed her way into the war, something that could put Gilgamesh onto a warpath that could be catastrophic if not handled properly.
'I can hope my preparations have been enough. It's not yet anywhere near time for me to make my final move against Prelati.'
Zelretch knew that Prelati's schemes would be the most troublesome of all if they came to fruition. Her intention to spread Grail Wars around the world wasn't the problem. It what was she would seek to do with the wishing power of a primed Grail.
'A wish from a Subcategory or False Grail wouldn't be able to pierce the Root, but it would be able to reach Caubac's Labyrinth. And if Prelati were to grasp his model of the universe… she would be able to achieve her ultimate goal.'
Even before Olkoth's association with Prelati, Zelretch had been well aware of the reincarnator's goals, a plot she had pursued as a collaborator of the American government. By using Caubac Alcatraz's microcosm of the world, Prelati intended to accelerate the advancement of human technology and eliminate Magic from the modern era— an act that while inevitable, could not be allowed to happen this soon.
'I can't say if it would have been less chaotic for the world to continue on her original course in Snowfield, yet it is undeniable that the other world gives her an ideal stage to work outside my notice. That is not even to mention the vast threat Olkoth poses to the paradigm of the Outer Universe, which for now is content to remain somewhat neutral toward our world.'
Despite all the unknown variables, Zelretch was still confident about his decision to send Hansa, Rin, and Shiro into the World Egg. The three had already shown themselves capable of pushing things forward in the ways that Zelretch had needed.
Hansa had noticed the phone Zelretch had provided, making contact with the Principal of U.A. and kickstarting the formation of an alliance of Masters.
Rin had let her Servant join in on the battle between Chrysaor and Heracles, helping keep Gilgamesh distracted from Ishtar and Enkidu's battle long enough for it to conclude.
As for Shiro, he had arrived with Morgan at the U.S.J., protecting other Masters who would play vital roles in the battles to come.
It was unfortunate that Second Berserker gravely wounded False Rider, but such losses were acceptable in the grand scheme of Zelretch's plan.
'Now then, there's that mission that I assigned to the El-Melloi surrogate. I do believe he and the others returned to the Clock Tower the other day. Hopefully, they showed the necessary discretion when sending their report to Policies.'
Unfortunately for Zelretch, the scheming he was now pondering was about to catch up with him. Sensing a presence entering his physical office in the Clock Tower, the Master of the Kaleidoscope compelled the cosmic tapestry of the Viewing Room to fade.
With the completed world dispelled, Zelretch found himself seated within the bounds of normal reality, returning to his office in the Clock Tower.
It was a large Victorian-style office with three stained glass windows decorating the wall behind Zelretch's desk. Each window depicted a notable figure in the Wizard Marshal's life— his great enemy Crimson Moon, the witch Yumina, and Arcueid Brunestud, the White Princess of the True Ancestors. Of course, the windows were far from the only object of interest in the room, of course. Zelretch's office was decorated with numerous mechanisms and dioramas that moved without assistance, and the room's six glass display cases were filled to the brim with artifacts he had acquired throughout his many multiversal trips.
What wasn't an ordinary feature of the office was the woman standing impatiently in the middle of the room.
She was an individual everyone in the Clock Tower knew on sight. Her brown hair wasn't particularly distinctive, nor was her attire of a light pink coat, red pantaloons, and long brown boots. What was distinctive was the woman's right hand, covered in a metal glove Mystic Code that was far less plain than it seemed. The woman's expression was cold and calculating, and in her gloved hand, she was tightly gripping a black riding crop that she looked more than ready to use. As her dull stone-colored eyes cut into Zelretch, the Apostle politely welcomed his visitor— Barthomeloi Lorelei.
"I, uh… welcome, Vice-Directore Lorelei."
The current head of the prestigious Barthomeloi family, Barthomeloi Lorelei was a figure of near-mythical proportions in the world of magic. In addition to her monumental influence as both presiding Lord of the Department of Policies and acting Vice-Director of the Clock Tower, she was a ferocious individual whose name could strike fear even into some of the mightiest Dead Apostles— and Zelretch was no exception.
Even with his power over True Magic, Zelretch found himself flinching at the woman's unrelenting gaze. It was no secret that Lorelei loathed the Wizard Marshal's presence in the Clock Tower. As a magus with a violent hatred for anything vampiric, the thought of one of the Twenty-Seven Ancestors holding sway amongst magus society had always disgusted her. If not for Brishisan's steadfast support for Zelretch's position as Wizard Marshal, Lorelei would have likely motioned for a Sealing Designation against him— True Magician or not.
However, Lorelei, even with her hatred of him, wasn't one who would stoop to harassment. If she was here before him, Zelretch knew it was almost certainly on Policies business.
"Zelretch."
"Lord Barthomeloi. May I ask why you are here?"
"Cease your platitudes, vampire. You know exactly why I'm here. You sent a Lord of the Clock Tower and an investigation team to Japan without proper sanction. Even if you got the Director's go-ahead, you still did not complete all the necessary filing with Policies. Not to mention… all of this only a day after making a sudden visit to the Church and a day before appearing in the domain of the Fourteenth Ancestor. And to top it all off, we now are receiving report after report of pockets of dimensional instability across the world."
"I see Policies' investigations certainly haven't lessened in their thoroughness, have they?"
"I do not foster incompetence in my department. And don't try to deflect again— it's time to cough up answers, Zelretch. Even the Church demands it."
For the first time in the conversation, Zelretch raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise, "The Church? I know I requested an Overseer from them, but there shouldn't be…"
Lorelei cut him off, her tone as sharp as a guillotine, "On the day the instabilities started, it just so happened that the Church was undergoing an extermination operation regarding the Forest of Einnashe. So imagine their surprise when a dimensional portal opened up in Romania, spiriting away one of the last branches of the Forest to parts unknown."
'Shit. So that's where the Forest came from. Of all the things to miss…'
"So now we at Policies have the Church breathing down our necks demanding a statement on the matter. And oh… I haven't even mentioned the reports I got from the Carillon Observatory and Magisfair. Did you think we wouldn't connect the occurrence of a high-grade dimensional event in the heart of the Spiritual Tomb with you? Answer me, Zelretch!"
Looking into Lorelei's gray-black eyes, Zelretch consigned himself, "Seems there's no way out of it— alright. I'll tell you everything."
Lorelei looked briefly surprised, perhaps not expecting him to relent so easily, but nodded curtly, sitting down as Zelretch began his tale.
Over the next hour, Zelretch revealed truth after truth to the Vice-Director. The continuation of the False Holy Grail War. The interferences of an Outer God and his World Egg. The schemings of Francesca Prelati and Jester Karture. The theft of the Greater Grail and the Kaleidosticks. His alliance with Van-Fem to protect the realities. His enlistment of Shiro Emiya, Rin Tohsaka, and Hansa Cervantes. He revealed it all to Lorelei, leaving no stone unturned.
At the end of it all, Lorelei could only sigh in frustration, "Dammit, Zelretch. It's an utterly ridiculous story… but not even you would make such an elaborate lie."
Putting her riding crop down on Zelretch's desk, Lorelei rubbed her temple, 'What a mess… makes my mission to subjugate Louvre seem like a walk on the Strand.'
Sighing again, Lorelei gave Zelretch her final decision, "I am going to call a convocation of the Twelve Lords, and I expect you to tell them everything you have told me today."
Zelretch was hesitant, knowing the effect the truth would have on some Lords. The business of parallel worlds and Outer Gods had never sat well with them, and the attention of the Twelve Lords wouldn't be good for his apprentice or the Emiya boy should they come back alive. However, knowing he had no real choice now, the Dead Apostle nodded.
Picking up her crop and turning to the door, Lorelei gave Zelretch one last glare, "Goodbye, Zelretch. And count yourself lucky I'm not allowed to pass judgment on you as I please."
She then slammed the door, leaving a disgruntled and tired Wizard Marshal to lean back in exasperation, "Ugh… I hate bureaucracy."
Joie De Vivre, Monaco
Present Day
Countless miles to the southwest of the Clock Tower, the nightlife of Monaco was beginning to gain traction. The sun was setting, and the casino ship Joie De Vivre had now opened its doors to customers— Fem's Casa was underway.
Running the nightly event's many gambling opportunities were the numerous Dead Apostles that Van-Fem had welcomed into his coven. And at the head of all of them were the seven Demonic Castles, the artificial daughters of Valery Fernand Vandelstam, the Dead Apostle who lorded over the great casino vessel.
Similar to Caubac Alcatraz's "granddaughter", the Holy Scripture Triten, each Demonic Castle was an ideology from Van-Fem's magical research. All seven daughters were golem creations powered by the "Artifice Blood" produced from Van-Fem's hemonomic principle. That principle, better known as Idea Blood, was the mark of a Dead Apostle Ancestor— a conceptual thesis that all vampires in the world could not deny the pedigree of.
Even though the Artifice Blood that powered the Demonic Castles was a mere offshoot, it still gave them power worthy of any true vampire, and few Apostles dared to mock them for their artificial nature.
Although sisters, each of the Demonic Castles had been created over the course of thousands of years, each the product of a completed study from Van-Fem's lifetime of research. The eldest three sisters— Cupola, Lunette, and Tempera— had existed since at least the time of Alexander the Great, having been written about in local records from the period. On the other hand, the 7th Castle had been made relatively recently, produced from Van-Fem's sojourn into the works of Edgar Dijkstra.
It was in no small part due to the beauty and influence of these seven golems that Van-Fem had been able to entrench himself so much into the nightlife of many an era, an occupation that had gained him his favorite title, "The Demon King of Finance". Van-Fem of course was more than capable of building such an empire himself, but the work of his daughters had allowed time to hone his business to its finest.
Although most associated Van-Fem with gambling due to Fem's Casa, he was regarded often as a collector of information. For all sorts of factions in the Moonlit World, the Joie De Vivre was one way to acquire hidden knowledge, whether it be forbidden magus rituals, Church operations, or even the movements of Van-Fem's fellow Dead Apostles. Both the Church and the Association tended to avoid utilizing Van-Fem as a source of information as a matter of appearance, but many were not so particular, using Fem's Casa as a means of gaining an audience with the ancient vampire.
That was what brought a particular man to the counter of one of Van-Fem's private bar rooms on this fateful night. It was a place he rarely let visitors go to, and aside from the guest and himself, Van-Fem had only allowed two of his daughters to accompany him for the proceedings. The first of these two daughters was responsible for bartending her father's meeting tonight. She held the appearance of a woman with long dark brown hair and tanned skin and was dressed in an indigo dress that sparkled like the night sky. Her name was Lunette, the second amongst the seven Demonic Castles to have been created.
As his secondmade daughter mixed and poured their drinks, Van-Fem looked over at his guest with a chuckle, "So… my fellow Ancestor comes here to talk to me. What information do you seek this time?"
The guest, a white-haired man in a red bodysuit and a cloak, spoke slowly, "Well… it's actually former Ancestor now. They got a little bit too sick of my 'hunting'."
Van-Fem's guest, although he had recently lost his position as the Eighteenth Dead Apostle Ancestor, was a force to be reckoned with in the Moonlit World.
Although his real name was lost to time, he was known across the world as Enhance, the Knight of Vengeance— a Dead Apostle who excelled at killing his own kind.
Taking his glass from Lunette with a nod of thanks, Enhance glanced briefly back toward his sword, set aside in the corner of the room.
Guarding the blade was the other of Van-Fem's daughters to join them tonight— the Fourth Demonic Castle, Rosary. The fourthmade daughter was dressed in a dark blue dress patterned with red thorns. Her pale skin and scarlet eyes contrasted with her hair, which seemed to shift between the colors of blue, purple, and gray. On her head was a flower crown, and flanking her head were two "horns" made of carefully styled hair.
But it wasn't Rosary's presence that drew Enhance's interest— he already knew he could overpower her with ease. Instead, he was bothered by who she resembled to a frightening degree.
"Vandelstam… since when is one of your daughters the Rose Princess?"
The Fourteenth Ancestor chuckled, "That's right, you haven't met Rosary before. Well, you see, Rosary… or Asari, as I originally named her, is a bit of a superfan of good old Rita Rozay-en. Asari met her during the French Incident and was instantly enamored. Her obsession isn't like the competitive admiration between Rita and Sumire, though. My daughter shows her love by becoming just like Lady Rozay-en herself. She used her Artifice Blood to transform herself into a facsimile of that Self-Styled Artist. Right down to everything except the Idea Blood and Mystic Eyes."
"Well, the strong do inspire others. Just look at Saddam Hussein's obsession with Gilgamesh, or my own influence on that mortal man— what was his name again…"
Van-Fem took a sip of his drink, recalling a conversation he had with a boy from the Escardos Family, "Kamiya, I believe? He styled a video game character after you, didn't he? Named him after Alighieri?"
"Kamiya… yes, that sounds right. But anyway, the power to emulate forms… this isn't the first time I've witnessed such a thing from your kin. I believe that some little girl you took under your wing had a similar ability?"
"You speak of Dorothea. She goes by Jester Karture now, I'm afraid. She always was more comfortable in the form of a man. It's funny you should speak of Jester, though…"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I've had to cut my blood ties with Jester. I'd thought him a fellow affirmer of humanity… but he has forsaken my rules. He dabbled with the Holy Grail War, and is poised to threaten reality itself."
Enhance looked at Van-Fem in shock, "You really are insane sometimes, my friend… to speak of reality's destruction so casually. But the Holy Grail War, you say? Surely the banishment of this 'Jester Karture' is not simply due to entering into the conflict? You aren't that particular, even if such an action would anger the magi."
Van-Fem sighed, "I wish it was that simple. Jester has always been the destructive sort, desiring to perform a 'double suicide with the anthroposphere', as he would put it. To that end, he came to seek a forbidden wish. A wish to awaken that which should be left alone— the Spider that sleeps in South America."
"The Spider? How completely idiotic. So he desires to use the Holy Grail to force an Ultimate One's awakening?"
"Indeed. He had made preparations to travel to Snowfield, the stage for a False Holy Grail War organized by Francois Prelati and the Americans. That alone would not have been against my rules, although it certainly toed the line. But when Prelati and the False Grail suddenly vanished, his plans changed. He slew the Matou Family, stole a set of Zelretch's artifacts, and tore open a path to the World Egg of an Outer God."
Enhance who had been taking a large sip of his drink, put the glass down as he shook his head in disbelief, "By the moon… the truth is stranger than fiction, it seems. If it weren't you saying it, I'd not have believed it for a second. I assume you and Zelretch have taken measures to avoid a cataclysm?"
"We are making efforts, at least. We've sent a small team to the World Egg, but I'm sure that soon he and I will have to make a move as well."
"Then I wish you luck. A matter of this scale is not my responsibility, so I can offer you nothing but my words for support."
Van-Fem smiled before emptying his glass in a single sip, "Nor would I expect anything more. But to return the conversation to other matters… you were saying you've lost your Ancestor ranking, yes? Who did they replace you with?"
"You don't already know? It's an Apostle from Serbia… Xenofvier Pandemonium."
Van-Fem mused, recognizing the name, "The Orphan of Malakut… I'm surprised he was able to develop a Principle. Although even for Dead Apostles, his ghouls are positively twisted… perhaps he discovered something new in his research."
"A ghoul crafter, huh? I can deal with that."
"Oh? Do you plan on hunting him down to get your spot back?"
"I have no need to prove myself to Ortenrosse and his posse. I simply want to make it clear that removing my position as Ancestor is but words. My power does not change just because I lost a meaningless title."
At Enhance's words, Van-Fem erupted into laughter, "HAHAHA! Making Ancestor out to be a meaningless title! You truly are a delightful one, mio amico!"
Enhance shook his head, "I am simply a man unable to restrain his rage against honorless vampires."
"Indeed… if men like Roa and Svelten were more like you, we wouldn't have had things like the French Incident— or the destruction of that beloved vacation home of mine."
Enhance finished his own drink, which Lunette offered to refill, but he signaled he was done for the night, "Maybe we could see an era without the titles of Ancestor at all. The Spider took the fifth spot long ago and the Church has sealed Chromclay, Be'ze, and El Nahat. All the while, Calhin, Blackmore, and Offenbaum are dead. Even if Calhin's wraith lingers and Offenbaum's successor mills about in her place, I believe the true number of Ancestors is down to twenty-one or so these days."
"It is true that our ranks have been shrinking in recent years… but we shall not cease to exist. Not while the Idea Blood remains intact. Not before the advent of the Dark Six."
"So you still believe in that old prophecy? Is it even still valid at this point?"
"Who can say? Whether it is a truth or fabrication, the time is not yet right for the Aylesbury Valesti. If Zelretch's words have any truth to them, the magic of this world would shrivel up if we were too hasty."
Enhance stood up, his appreciation for the conversation beginning to sour, "If you say so. Just know that if you and the rest of your little believers' club become worse monsters… I'll make sure to put you down myself."
Van-Fem locked eyes with the vampire hunter, unafraid of his threats, "If that happens, I welcome you to try. Maybe then you'll understand the gap between us."
Enhance scoffed as he walked over next to Rosary and retrieved his weapon, but his words lacked true hostility, "I doubt I would die as easily as you think, you wretched economist."
His piece said, Enhance then gestured to the wall beside him. Compelled by the vampire hunter's dark power, a gothic-looking door appeared on the wall of the Joie De Vivre. Opening it while sprouting demonic-looking wings from his back, Enhance gave one last parting word to his host, "Thanks for the drink, Vandelstam. Put it on my tab."
The Fourteenth Ancestor laughed as Enhance flew off with the speed of a fighter jet, "Farewell, my dear hunter! Perhaps you can pay me back with a share of Xenofvier's research!"
Despite Enhance being miles away already, Van-Fem could tell the man had heard him. Turning to Lunette and Rosary he smiled wryly, "Mhmm… perhaps it's time I began crafting a new sister for you all. I've had some ideas regarding a thesis on Entropic Genesis. I'm sure Chiaroscuro would love another sister modeled after a True Magic."
Smiling, Lunette refilled her father's glass with his favorite cocktail, her eyes betraying no opinion on what she might have truly thought, "That sounds lovely, abūya."
Conference Room Tau, U.A. High School
Day 5, Evening
/::/ "But most importantly, I have an announcement for you all before you start dropping like flies! So listen close, participants!"
In one of the many conference rooms of U.A. High School, the assembly of Masters and Servants listened to Francesca Prelati's message with unease. Although the rest of the individuals in the room could not hear the orchestrator's voice, they watched the expressions of those who could intently.
As she listened to the voice of Francesca Prelati echo through her head, Rin Tohsaka was filled with apprehension, 'Francois Prelati… the Italian Priest who dabbled into magicks that could earn you a Sealing Designation several times over. What's more, she knew that despicable Caster from the Fourth War in life, turning him towards a life of depravity.'
During the Fourth Holy Grail War, at the tender age of 7, Rin helped rescue numerous children kidnapped by Gilles De Rais and his master, Ryuunosuke Uryuu. It had been a nerve-wracking experience and a memory she preferred to keep locked away.
The thought of the one who had corrupted that sickening Servant being the orchestrator of all this deeply troubled Rin, even if she tried not to show it. However, despite her mask, both Hippolyta and Shiro had picked up on her disconcertion.
/::/ "First things first, to the helpful participants of the False Holy Grail War… you've been duped~! Sorry about that promise of a wish, but there's a True War that had to happen too!
Taking in Francesca's confession, Ibara Shiozaki sighed, 'I knew it sounded too good to be true. But it seems the wish is still something that exists, so there is still hope I can deliver the Grail unto the Lord.'
Meanwhile, across and to Ibara's left, Momo Yaoyorozu had her own thoughts on Prelati's words, 'My parents… they lost themselves to a lie…'
As the two girls contemplated, Francesca continued he monologue.
/::/ "However, due to some sorta-unforeseen circumstances in Nagoya, the True War's a little messier than I planned! Sorry about that, but if you wanna blame someone, go blame that Dead Apostle who butted into all this!"
Francesca then began to giggle rapidly through the mental link.
/::/ "But don't worry, all my false participants! You will have an equal opportunity to fight against the two sets of True pairings tacked on to this war! Plus that Ruler that's assigned herself to our good ol' ritual!"
Morgan narrowed her eyes at the direct mention, 'So Prelati or Olkoth sensed my interference after all. It's not something unexpected, but it is annoying that she is putting focus on me.'
Morgan's fellow Servants, meanwhile, displayed mixed reactions to Francesca's words. For Musashi, the knowledge of so many other Servants made her excited about the prospect of future battles. As for Richard, while more cautionary about the matter, was also excited at the prospect of encountering even more legendary heroes.
As the Servants drew their conclusions, Hansa listened calmly, tapping his kneecap absentmindedly as he thought about what had yet to be mentioned, 'Well, Prelati… will you tell us what everyone really wants to know?'
/::/ "But that's all boring stuff— and since we're speaking about the future, I'm sure there's a question on everyone's minds right now! Just how long is this war gonna be?"
Hansa smirked, 'There we go.'
/::/ "Well, the answer took me a little while to get, no thanks to that bloodsucker's rampage… but sorry to say it's no longer the planned two weeks for the False and True Wars! Thanks to Mr. Karture's meddling, we've received an extension! Buckle your seatbelts, everyone, cause you're all on Day Five… of Forty-eight! We've got a lot more time to play with, heheh!"
Hansa lost his smirk, "Forty-eight days? Can't say I was expecting that one."
Tsukauchi and several others widened their eyes in shock, "Forty-eight days? What do you mean, Mr. Cervantes?"
Rin, ignoring the Detective's question, gave her thoughts on the overall situation, "Telling a lie doesn't benefit Prelati much here. The length of the war is merely a countdown to its cancellation, so it is useful for those participating to know how much time they have left. But regardless, assuming what she said is true, this war is going to be more than twice the length of the Fifth Holy Grail War… in fact, I don't think there's been a single Grail War that has lasted this long."
Nezu, turning to Tsukauchi, provided what he believed was the answer to his question, "I suspect whatever the Masters and Servants are hearing presently regards the length of the conflict to come. Let's allow them to listen uninterrupted though, and then we can discuss strategy."
Piero Shiozaki nodded, "I agree. Once we are sure that Francesca's message is complete, we can start planning."
Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture
Day 5, Evening
In a small Izakaya in the city of Tanabe, Kaina Tsutsumi muttered softly at the news echoing inside her head, "Day Five… of Forty-Eight?"
Hearing their customer's mutterings, a brown-haired waitress with a canine mutant quirk walked over curiously, "Excuse me, miss? Is everything alright, garchu? Would you like another beer?"
Kaina waved her hand before taking another bite of her dinner. She shifted her eyes toward the Boss of the Izakaya, who was giving her a suspicious look. While it might just have been due to her choice to sit alone and hide her face with a hoodie, it was best to be cautious— it was time to leave, "I'm fine. Just bring me the check, please."
Although the waitress looked a bit confused, as Kaina was not yet done with her meal, she ultimately nodded with a grin, "Okay miss, I'll get that right out, garchu!"
"Thanks."
/::/ "But that's all from me for now~! Enjoy the extra downtime, and don't go killing each other off too fast! This war will be no fun if you all die too quickly! See ya, and good luck everybody~!"
With that, the buzzing in Kaina's brain began dying down. In the last moment though, a different and more alien voice echoed for a single moment.
|::| STRUGGLE, O' MASTERS AND SERVANTS. SHOW THINE WORTH.
It was a horrifying voice, and Kaina shivered just from hearing it. As she tried to compose herself, she mumbled softly, "What the hell was that… didn't sound human at all."
A couple of minutes later, the waitress returned with Kaina's check. Quickly scarfing down the last piece of her meal, Kaina left several bills at her table as payment. With a muttered "Keep the change", the Tartarus escapee quickly made her way out of the small establishment.
'Izakaya Kurau… if I wasn't on the run, I might have considered coming back here. Seemed like a nice place.'
But Kaina knew she most likely would never visit this Izakaya again. She had already spent too much time in Tanabe as it was.
'I need to find a new place to hide out for a while. Luckily, heroes should be concentrating themselves around U.A., given the Sports Festival is coming up. But where should I go?'
After running through her various options, the former HPSC enforcer settled on one that might have seemed like an unusual choice— Tokyo.
'While it's certainly a hotspot for both heroes and the HPSC, it's also an equally large hub for the underworld. After all, what's one more criminal in a city full of them? Plus, I got a few hideouts I doubt the HPSC ever found.'
As Kaina moved off down the street, her path set, a faint flicker echoed in one of the alleyways she passed. It was so quick that it was imperceptible, but the grayish-white skull mask of Second Assassin was ever so faintly visible.
⊣∄⊢ So… the orchestrator of this farce hast laid the truth bare. Even if it ist a truth that ist incomplete.
⊣∄⊢ This ritual… it shalt shift and churn in the wake of the approaching calm. No doubt many of the Servants shalt lie in wait for the time of fulfillment to come nearer. Their emotions shalt be charged, their power coalesced… and a time of calamity and destruction shalt be at hand soon enough.
⊣∄⊢ But my path remains the same. My blade shall not strike needlessly. I shalt only move to the order of the spells… or to sever the neck of mine Master. Whether it Apostle or goddess, I shalt remain an observer for the principal portion of this war.
⊣∄⊢ I dost wonder though… when shalt my Master choose to take the risk allotted to her? For to truly cleanse herself, she must also walk closer to the chasm. Her sins are many, but a path of purgation dost nonetheless remain— if she dost dare to grasp the rope of the evening bell.
Across Japan, Francesca Prelati's announcement had been heard by more than just the Masters of U.A., Kaina Tsutsumi, and their respective Servants.
In Fukuoka City, the Winged Hero had paused his patrol to dissect the words echoing inside his mind. Elsewhere in the city, back at the hero's apartment, the first True Caster of the war lay in wait for her disciple's return. She had managed to cook a meal without burning it and was excited to tell her summoner of her success.
In the ruins of Azuchi Castle, Second Archer sat alone with a nebulous expression on her face. She had abandoned her Master because of his inability to change and now had to determine her own path forward in this war.
In Tokyo, in a high-end apartment building for heroes, a snake-haired heroine grappled both with the revelations of Francesca's lies and the disobedience of her Servant. False Saber, meanwhile, had to decide what was most important to him— pursuing vengeance or obeying his Master.
On the streets of a city in the Yamanashi Prefecture, a resurrected enforcer regarded Francesca's announcement with a mix of concern and curiosity. She had only just begun to investigate the source of this war— and it seems her target had given her a lead to follow. As for her lavishly-minded Servant, who had yet to return from his investigation of a goddess's energies, there was a feeling of antipathy. The orchestrator and the Outer God she allied with were the reason he and his dearest friend had their bout interrupted— yet if he ignored his friend's warnings, misfortune might rain down upon his closest companion.
That companion, the first True Lancer, however, had a more concerned perspective. They feared not just the ways that Olkoth might influence the world, but also the ways that Prelati might influence their Master. That very Master, the child soldier Francesca once commanded, was self-examining the strange bout of worry he had had as a result of the announcement. The black-haired boy's mood was unsettled by the possibility of Francesca becoming involved in his life once again. For the first time, he had begun to realize the threat his former employer truly posed.
In a bar in the Kamino Ward, surrounded by boxes of packed furniture and bartending tools, were the dragon, the Alter, and the man-child. Each of the three was filled with excitement at the prospect of impending destruction.
The dragon's Master, deep in his underground lair elsewhere in Kamino, was deconstructing Prelati's words. He hadn't fully trusted her claims of a wish or a False War from the start, and her reveal changed little. If it all ended up being a lie, he would simply have to modify his timeline to allow for his successor's continued growth.
In a skyscraper in Deika City, False Berserker's Masters began to process Prelati's claims. They had been tricked, but the trick also afforded them a new opportunity to counterbalance their deficit of Command Spells. As for their Servant, the fallen knight gave no sign it had even understood the message, remaining unseen and unheard in a spiritual form.
In the backyard of a house in the Ota Ward, a girl expelled from U.A.'s Heroics Course and her Servant had paused their training to listen to the warnings. Second Lancer had recently returned from her sojourn to the U.S.J. and was intrigued by the news that her leave from the Land of Shadows would last for as much as forty-three more days.
In the city of Gifu, an innominate serial killer and the False Assassin of the War laughed at the news. It was a delightful revelation— a promise of a lengthier chaos.
The Dead Apostle and the Avenger that had struck out against Prelati, meanwhile, held little interest in the announcement. They had already known the war would be extended, so the knowledge of forty-eight days was of little consequence to them.
In the heart of the ever-growing maze beneath Tokyo, a little girl's heart had been struck with fear. She didn't truly understand the meaning of the words the voices in her head had said, but the tone had terrified her. They both reminded her of the voice of her grandfather's lieutenant, Chisaki.
For that very man and the grandfather of that little girl, as well as the Servants they controlled, there was a mix of emotions present. For the lieutenant, there was a feeling of apathy. For the grandfather, his primary emotion was worry for his granddaughter's wellbeing. For the False Archer, concern about both the granddaughter and his fellow Servants was present, particularly for the self-destructive Saber he had faced mere hours ago. Only the Second Caster of the Grail War was truly ecstatic at the news. The extended timeframe meant that she could more safely undergo her plans to create a new darkness in this war.
Even the vampiric forest, with only a portion of a psyche, swayed unnaturally at the messages unveiled. A continued hunt was promised, and it was certain that more blood would be drunk to feed the True Assassin.
The message even entered the mind of the goddess hiding in a human form, who had returned from her bout with a doll of the Sumerian Gods. A goddess who was concocting plans of her own…
Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture
Day 5, Evening
"What a truly uninspired message, this 'Francesca Prelati' has left us… although I am intrigued by that positively monstrous voice at the end there. So that is what the words of an outsider sound like?"
As she lounged in a small outdoor jacuzzi in Matsusaka, Ishtar gazed out on the city below. Securing a top-class hotel room had been child's play with her authorities, which could turn weak-willed humans into little more than putty in her hands.
The control had made it just as easy to acquire a variety of top-of-the-line clothes without a fuss, such as the gold-lined black bikini she was currently dressed in.
One downside of her current situation, however, was the loss of Bearhead in the afternoon. While he was a reckless idiot and not a substantial loss in any way, he had made a delightful bag carrier for her shopping trips.
Continuing to look down into the city, Ishtar scoffed at the throngs of people going about their lives below. Through the godly sight that helped qualify her for the Archer class, she could make out each one of them, even from countless floors above, 'Mortals are so fragile. Although, I'll admit they are at least more durable than the ones I remember. A byproduct of that outsider's influence, I suppose.'
Of all the Servants in this war, Ishtar was the one most attuned to the World Egg itself. Having been blocked from a body made of mana by the Grail, Ishtar instead had been forced to possess the body of the villainess Dusty Ash. While this did afford certain advantages, the disadvantages were just as distinct. While her durability, especially when enhanced by empyreal magicks, was higher than an ordinary human's, she still was notably less sturdy than a Servant would normally be. Even further, there was a glaring issue that made itself apparent in her battle with Enkidu— the lingering influence of Dusty Ash's psyche.
'While it was necessary to inhabit this human soul to enter this world, I cannot allow her influence to continue to hamper me. I was fortunate against Enkidu— but I cannot take chances again. I will need to sever the lingering connections that bind this mortal's soul to this world.'
Forcing her mind into the fragments of Konako's own, the Rider-class goddess riffled through her host body's memories. As expected, almost all of it was meaningless drivel. Memories of childhood, school, and a fall to greed and criminality— nothing of much importance. Quickly, it was apparent that Konako's family would not be necessary to eliminate. The woman's path of villainy had left her sufficiently distanced from them, and their deaths would not sunder her will to live. But there were two individuals Ishtar now knew she had to eliminate.
Their names were Maguma Iwata and Tsumuji Kazetani, who were known by the codenames Volcano and Gust Boy respectively. They, along with Dusty Ash, made up a rogues gallery known as the "Volcano Thieves".
'Mere mortal thieves… it will be no challenge at all to eliminate them. The main challenge will be tracking them down. Unlike with Servants, their presences will be vaguely recognizable at best.'
However, she would succeed, that much was for certain. She was a goddess, and the Earth itself would dance to her whims. Even if it was another world, Ishtar would correct the struggles of her body, and properly begin her ascension once again.
Rising out of the jacuzzi, Ishtar momentarily indulged in the feeling of the warm water dripping off her body. Stripping off her bikini and tossing it on a nearby chair, she stretched briefly before reaching for a white towel lying on another of the balcony's chairs. As she wrapped herself up, her expression twisted into an avaricious grin.
In time, these superpowered humans would learn that a goddess walked amongst them. She would raise a new temple in this world, and claim the Grail and its wish for herself. Whether it be Gilgamesh, Enkidu, or Olkoth who stood in her way, they would fall in line eventually.
'I will escape from the yoke of the Heaven's Feel. On my pride as the Mistress of the Heavens, I shall reign over humanity once again!'
Detnerat Building, Deika City
Day 5, Evening
In the central conference room of the Detnerat support company, Rikiya Yotsubashi looked at his longest-serving executive, Rojuro Yasutori.
Rojuro, who went by the codename "Sanctum" in the Meta Liberation Army, had been an executive since before Re-Destro even led the MLA. While presently the least active of the executives, Rojuro's experience with leadership was something Rikiya greatly valued. Unlike the zealotry of Skeptic and Trumpet or the wildness of the late Curious, Sanctum was someone Re-Destro could trust and confide in when truly necessary.
"Sanctum… what are your thoughts on the revelations that Ms. Prelati broadcasted?"
"I have mixed feelings on the matter, I must admit. It is beneficial that the Grail War is to last forty-three more days, as it provides more opportunities for our opposition to be thinned. However, the revelation of the additional competitors and the dishonesty surrounding the initial set-up of the War is troubling. Despite her assistance with the production of the vassal Command Spells, Ms. Prelati has brought her credibility into serious question. We can no longer be certain if what she claims is the truth or a fabrication."
Re-Destro nodded with a calculative smile, "My thoughts exactly. We cannot be certain this is even a ritual for a wish anymore, and unfortunately, we cannot ask Berserker for his thoughts. An unexpected downside of summoning a hero trapped in an eternal frenzy."
After a few minutes of thinking to himself, Re-Destro turned back to his former mentor and subordinate. Sanctum, who had given Rikiya time to think undisturbed, was prepared to continue the conversation.
Putting his hand on the table with a smile, the orange-haired leader of the MLA narrowed his eyes, "I have made my decision. We will continue our current plan of keeping both ourselves and Berserker on the periphery of the War. With only a single Command Spell, we must remain cautious to survive through the weeks ahead. Although the HPSC believes Berserker dead, Karture or other parties may attempt to seek us out."
"Of course. And what of the lights reported by Skeptic's subordinates on the day of the attack in Nagoya?"
"As we discussed in our last meeting, we will dedicate resources to investigate this. However, we will need to ensure it seems as mundane a survey as possible. Although the lights are almost certainly tied to the Holy Grail War, we must not make it clear to other Masters that is the nature of our investigation."
"Trumpet and I can have our forces within the Ministry of the Environment organize a cursory verification into the continued health of Mt. Koboh and its surrounding areas."
Re-Destro gave a knowing look of amusement, "My thoughts exactly. Now, I have a meeting to attend with some representatives from the HPSC regarding some advertising. The U.A. Sports Festival is coming up, after all."
Sanctum stood up with a nod, aware it was time for him to leave, "Of course. Stay liberated, my commander."
"And the same to you, Sanctum."
Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture
Day 5, Night
As she returned home from school with her father and Mr. Cervantes, Ibara Shiozaki was still processing all the information that had been revealed at the meeting that evening. She had known Momo Yaoyorozu was a Master, but the discovery that U.A. had a total of four other Masters was quite a shock to her. That shock had been further compounded by Francesca's message, but the bulk of Ibara's focus was on the main point of the meeting— the alliance.
With the convincing of Nezu, both of Mr. Cervantes's fellow otherworlders— Mr. Emiya and Ms. Tohsaka if she remembered correctly— had agreed to this alliance along with their respective Servants (although Ms. Tohsaka was only convinced by Mr. Emiya to reveal her Servant at the very end of the meeting). The girls from Class 1-A had all agreed rather quickly to join the alliance. The most hesitant of the Masters (if he could still be considered one) was Midoriya, but he had ultimately decided to try and show his Servant he could change as Mr. Cervantes had suggested. In her personal view, Ibara hoped that Midoriya could reunite with his Servant, and decided that she would mention it to the Lord in her prayers tonight.
As part of the alliance's plans, the five students would train with the otherworlders and Servants for both the Sports Festival and the battles to come. Nezu had predicted that the Nagoya Disaster was only the beginning, believing that as the war approached its final day, heroes and villains would find themselves caught up in an ultimate confrontation for the fate of the world. If the students, as Masters, were destined to be a part of this final battle, they needed to be ready to face the storm ahead.
When it came time to figure out where to hold the training, the Alliance ultimately settled on the suggestion given by Itsuka Kendo and Mr. Yagi— a local beach park called Dagobah. The choice of location meant a notable commute for Shiozaki (made more troublesome by the early morning start time of the training), but she wasn't one to complain about such things. The benefits of the training would certainly be worth it.
However, there remained one thing that Ibara still needed answers about— the situation with her Servant, Ariadne. Ibara knew from the fact she still had Command Spells that Ariadne was still alive, but she didn't know the exact situation her Servant was presently in.
As fate would have it, however, that matter was about to be solved.
Mere minutes after Ibara returned home, False Caster exited Astral Form in a burst of blue light. Seeing her Servant was alright, Ibara let out an exclamation of relief, "Caster! You're back!"
Ariadne smiled at her Master, "I'm back. And from what I've ascertained, I've missed quite a bit, haven't I?"
"Yes… but where were you, Caster? Did you find the source of that strange energy you were investigating?"
"I did, and its source is exactly what I feared. So by that measure, I suppose we both have much to talk about right now"
A bit later, with the assistance of Mr. Cervantes and her father, Ibara explained her side of the day's proceedings to Ariadne. While Caster was already aware of Francesca's message, having heard it herself, she had not been fully aware of the U.S.J. Attack and the formation of the U.A. Alliance.
"If you were concerned if I would be opposed to the alliance, fear not. The scope of this Grail War has far exceeded that of any typical one, and if we are to deal with threats like Avenger or False Lancer, a large-scale alliance is more than warranted."
Piero, who had been the one to do most of the explaining about the Alliance, now raised his own query to Caster, "Good as that is to hear, Caster, I think we can agree there is a question you must answer. Ibara and I have both been worried about it— just where were you this afternoon?"
Ariadne gave an apologetic smile to both Shiozakis, "I apologize for my secrecy, but I felt that not being too rash to inform upon this matter would be prudent, considering what I was investigating. Admittedly, that may have been the wrong way to think about it all."
Hansa leaned his head on one of his hands questioningly, "And just what exactly were you investigating?"
Breathing in heavily, Ariadne answered Hansa with an almost imperceptible voice, "The Labyrinth."
The whole room faltered at the answer, even Hansa being momentarily taken aback. Piero responded to Caster in an equally quiet voice, "T-The Labyrinth? Do you mean… the Labyrinth of Crete? That Labyrinth?"
Ariadne nodded, "Yes. I am not sure how it is even possible, but the Labyrinth has been summoned as a Servant in this war."
Hansa tilted his head, "The Labyrinth… not the Minotaur?"
"That is correct. Although it is capable of summoning eidolons that take my brother's shape, they are but puppets to the true Servant— the maze itself."
"I see… and what else is the maze capable of?"
"Like it was in my lifetime, the maze is capable of modifying itself, changing its layout while ignoring the limitations of physical space. As a Servant, it seems it has manifested by taking up the space between things, spreading like a virus across Tokyo's underground."
Hansa murmured to himself before looking back at False Caster, "Specifically Tokyo? Or could it spread infinitely?"
Ariadne did not respond immediately, perhaps still trying to decide for herself what the answer was, "I am uncertain, but I suspect it will be bound to Tokyo. If we consider its role in the historical tapestry, the Labyrinth was a place bound to a single island. Even if by that logic, it could spread to the whole of Honshū, I'm not inclined to think that will be the case. Unless it is being controlled by a mana-rich existence like a Dead Apostle, I do not foresee any Master being able to support the maze at such a tremendous scale. And given from what exertions I saw it make against me, I don't believe its Master to be abnormally capable."
Hansa scratched the back of his neck, and Piero finally raised the clincher of the discussion, "Caster, to put it all together… how much of a threat do you think the Labyrinth is?"
Ariadne furrowed her brow, "I will be frank… it poses an immense danger. I was able to weather its assaults due to my unique advantage over mazes and puzzles, but I am unsure the other Servants would be able to stand against it for long. My only hope is that the maze remains passive, content to hide within the in-betweens of the world. If its Master were to push it to true hostility, however, I fear for the safety of Japan and its people."
Piero followed up his questioning, "And do you think that it is likely to lash out?"
"I can't say. The Labyrinth is predictable only in its hatred for intruders. Any further behavior will depend on how it serves its Master."
Piero offered up a suggestion, "Perhaps we should make efforts to locate this Master…"
However, Hansa then took the opportunity to interject, "Not a bad idea, but we shouldn't forget about the Dagobah Beach training. Ms. Shiozaki here should be preparing for the Sports Festival and beyond, and you should not be missing that, Caster."
"Of course. I'd like to make more investigations, but I'll hold off for now. Besides…"
Ariadne's tone darkened, "... if I'm certain of one thing, it is that the maze isn't going anywhere."
Temporary Housing Unit, U.A. High School
Day 5, Night
As he lay in his new bedroom situated within U.A.'s campus, Izuku Midoriya's mind remained restless. Although he certainly hadn't gone through the same crazy day that Class 1-A had experienced, his day had still thrown him through quite the loop. After an ordinary day of classes, he had been confronted by Archer on the roof of the main building, where she revealed she found him lacking as a Master and abandoned him.
He still had the Command Spells on his hand, so he knew she was out there somewhere, but he doubted compelling her to obey him with prove him "worthy". If he was to convince Nobunaga to come back, he needed to do it through hard work and effort— no cheats.
'But can I do it? Can I really beat everyone else and win the Sports Festival? Win against Kacchan, the other Masters, and their classmates?'
Izuku knew that his chances weren't good. He had been weak his entire life. A Quirkless nobody whose destiny was to fail at his dreams. He had regained a spark of hope after summoning Archer, but now he had been forced from his hopeful delusions. Although calling forth a Servant had changed his world, he himself had not fundamentally changed in any way. That eyepatched priest from this evening had seen that, just like Archer had.
It was as Mr. Cervantes had said— Nobunaga despised people who would not change themselves… and Izuku knew he fit that category perfectly.
When he was declared Quirkless, he had let the works strike at his core. Just like Bakugo and all the others wanted, he didn't fight back, not really— he lowered his head and continued on a path of acceptance. In his heart, Izuku had known that he would never be a hero.
But now, aware of his failings, something in Izuku's mind was beginning to shift. Nobunaga's abandonment of him had been a wake-up call, and that priest had hammered the point home.
'I need to change… I need to become stronger.'
Clenching his fist, Izuku practically leaped out of his bed. Exiting his room, he made his way down the hall to the door of his hallmate. Knocking on the door of the adjacent room, he was soon greeted by a tired-looking Momo Yaoyorozu dressed in a pink nightgown.
"Oh… hello. Can I help you, Midoriya?"
His mind catching up to his almost trance-like actions, Midoriya fumbled out his words, "I u-uh… well, uh…"
As Momo looked at him expectantly, Izuku steeled his nerves, speaking as calmly as he could, "Ms. Y-Yaoyorozu, could y-you d-do me a favor? C-Could you use your Quirk to make me some weights?"
Todoroki Residence, Shizuoka
Day 5, Night
Within the walls of the Todoroki residence, sitting around the chabudai table in the main room, the various members of the Todoroki family had gathered for a tense meeting.
Enji, who had asked everyone to stay behind after eating their dinner, swept his eyes around the table. Natsuo and Shoto, sitting across and left of him respectively, both eyed their father with fierce glares. Fuyumi, meanwhile, glanced around worriedly from her position to Enji's right.
Tapping the edge of his empty plate, Natsuo was the first to respond to his father's order, "We're done with dinner, and frankly I don't want to deal with you. So say what you want to say, Dad, and let us wrap this up quickly."
Natsuo's tone was full of vitriol, his displeasure fully on display. Shoto, meanwhile, said nothing, but Enji knew his youngest did not want to stay either.
Enji sighed heavily, "I will try to make this as quick as possible, so… I will get right to it. Shoto, Natsuo, Fuyumi… I left a message for your mother today."
Fuyumi had already known about the call, but Enji's sons were momentarily taken aback at the bombshell. However, when Enji didn't continue immediately, their cold glares came right back.
Natsuo was again the first to vocalize his contempt, "What of it? Call her to tell her how great you are?"
Fuyumi looked at her brother in shock, "Natsuo!"
However, Enji raised his hand to placate her, "Fuyumi, it's alright."
Sensing it was time to continue, Enji took hold of the conversation again, "I understand you all have various feelings about what I have just told you. But for now, I would like to tell you a story. The story of how this family came to be what it is today."
And thus, taking a final large breath of anticipation, Enji allowed his mind to be taken back in time. Drawn into a memory of a day long since passed.
The day a daughter of the Himura Clan met the son of the Todoroki family.
Dagobah Beach, Mustafu
Day 8, Morning
As he sat in a car that was on its way to Dagobah Beach, Izuku Midoriya felt nervous for two completely different reasons.
One was the training that lay ahead of him. These sessions at Dagobah Beach would decide if he had any chance of winning the Sports Festival. And if he failed, he would not be able to prove Archer wrong, much less have the chance to revive his dream.
Second was a much more momentary matter— he was sitting next to a beautiful girl. Although Momo could have sat in the front with their driver, Black Rush, she had opted to sit next to Midoriya in the backseat. For a young man who was close to really only one of his female classmates, and had the bare minimum of experience interacting with girls, the proximity was striking at all his insecurities.
Perhaps not wanting a drive devoid of conversation, however, it was Momo who finally decided to break the silence, "Midoriya. Did you get the chance to use those weights I made for you?"
The boy nodded nervously, his embarrassment growing as he recalled the nighttime interaction they had, "Y-Yes! I've been using them o-over the last couple of days!"
Momo, looking past Midoriya's nervousness, gave a dazzling smile as he replied, "Wonderful!"
The two's brief conversation, however, was soon interrupted. Pulling the car to a stop, Black Rush turned to the two students. Gesturing to the beach outside the car, the Oil Hero spoke flatly, "We're here."
Getting out, the two teens took a moment to appreciate the coastal splendor of their training ground. It was particularly a surprising sight for Izuku, who as a local, was well aware that until recently, the beach had been covered in massive heaps of trash.
Momo, who had no such preconceptions, simply appreciated it as a nice, if simple, beach park, "I must say… the sight of a golden beach never gets old, does it?"
"Y-Yeah! D-Definitely!"
Before Midoriya could stutter any further though, the voice of Itsuka Kendo shouted up to the two new arrivals.
"Hey! Yaoyorozu! Midoriya! Down here!"
Looking down Momo and Izuku saw Kendo, Musashi, and the rest were all waiting down at the bottom of a nearby stairwell. Both Kendo and Musashi were dressed for the training, with Kendo clad in cyan athletic clothing while her Servant was dressed in white sweatpants and a red shirt that had the word "BUSTER" written on it in yellow. In fact, almost all the gathered members of the Alliance were dressed in some type of workout-ready clothing, with even Ruler having traded her black dress for a light blue sports bra and black compression shorts. The only people who weren't dressed for the setting were Hansa, who was dressed in his usual priestly garb, and Shiozaki's Servant, who was wearing an orange-colored dress and a white shawl.
Making their way down, Yaoyorozu, and to a lesser extent Midoriya, extended greetings to their allies. After pleasantries were dealt though, the conversation was interrupted by a clap from Rin. The brunette magus had opted for a similar outfit to Morgan's for the training, albeit wearing a yellow sports bra instead of a light blue one and including an unzipped black jacket for some extra warmth. She'd also taken the time to tie her hair back into a ponytail using an orange scrunchie.
With her clap having gotten everyone's attention, the dark-haired magus began speaking, "Alright, now that everyone is here, let's get right to it. Time for us to smack you students into shape."
Although Rin said it lightheartedly, all five of U.A.'s Masters couldn't help but feel intimidated. For some reason, they had the feeling that Rin's wording wasn't meant to be hyperbole. Furthermore, perhaps to emphasize Rin's point, Shiro used his magecraft to call forth a wooden bokken with a tiger strap. Though it appeared to be an ordinary training sword, the teenagers unconsciously shivered at the sight of Shiro leaning the bokken against his shoulder.
Kendo gulped softly at the beastly aura that seemed to now pour off of the auburn-haired otherworlder. Suddenly, she had a distinct feeling that this was going to make her training with All Might or her father look like paradise.
Behind Shiro, swapping her gaze from the bokken in her Master's hand to the children's sweating faces, Morgan Le Fay's face curled into a smile, 'Poor children. I doubt they were expecting this style of training. But alas, sometimes the best lessons are learned in the face of tigers and dragons.'
Turning her gaze on Izuku Midoriya in particular, the Black Witch of Camelot allowed her fae eyes to delve into Izuku's soul. Most of the time, Morgan actively resisted her natural ability to read the hearts of mankind, jaded by how blackened they always were. But in this instance, she was curious, allowing her sight to flow free.
It was a curiosity that would be rewarded. As she absorbed and comprehended the nature of the human named Izuku Midoriya, Ruler's eyes widened ever so slightly.
'So, I wasn't mistaken on the fifth night. The Quirkless truly do appear to have the potential I thought they would. Perhaps this will be the answer… on how this boy can hope to win his Servant back.'
To be continued in Chapter 25: Tigers At Seaside
A/N: And so the curtain rises on the Sports Festival Arc, the 5th Arc of this story! While we've got some necessary set-up to get through, we'll be moving quickly into the festival proper. As some of you might have suspected based on the length of the war that Prelati revealed in this chapter, the story arcs of Fate: Mysterious Night won't be aligning with My Hero Academia forever, and during this arc and the next, we'll see some sizeable time jumps in the story, as we moved forward through the war. Now with that all out of the way, please enjoy the Lunar File for this chapter!
Lunar Files: Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors
Although usually non-existent in Fate Worlds, derivations that resemble Fate/strange Fake's worldline share Tsukihime Worlds' quality of having the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors in them (although some specifics differ from the Ancestors of Tsukihime worlds). These vampires constitute most of the most powerful vampires on the planet, although some vampires of great power are not part of the list. Especially in recent years, the list has numerous semi-vacant spots, as numerous Ancestors have been subjugated by agents of the Church. The Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors, aside from a few members, are largely non-important in the events of Fate: Mysterious Night, but I've included this nonetheless as a fun piece of worldbuilding.
Style Notes:
Ancestors with a * at the end of their name have not had their full name revealed in any Nasuverse media. What is written is what portion of the name we know.
Ancestors with an italicized name instead of a bolded one have been confirmed as killed, sealed by the Church, declared missing, or are otherwise defunct in the present day of Fate: Mysterious Night.
The Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors of Fate: Mysterious Night
1st- The Dark Six
2nd- Brunestud of the Crimson Moon
3rd- Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg
4th- Millennium*
5th- ORT
6th- Rizo-Waal Strout
7th- Forest of Einnashe
8th- Fina-blood Svelten
9th- Altrouge Brunestud
10th- Nrvnqsr Chaos
11th- Stanrobe Calhin
12th- Lululily A. Paranodahlia
13th- Zepia Eltnam Atlasia
14th- Van-Fem
15th- Rita Rozay-en
16th- Gransung Blackmore
17th- Trhvmn Ortenrosse
18th- Xenofvier Pandemonium
19th- Vlov Arkhangel
20th- Merem Solomon
21st- Sumire
22nd- Chromclay Petastructure
23rd- Zuckham Eri R*
24th- El Nahat
25th- Be'ze
26th- Agape
27th- Caubac Alcatraz