Ruler VS Avenger

With Europe slowly turning into a battlefield of servants as Athens was left a flooded wasteland and the isles of Britain were devastated by the battle between Berserkers and Sabers, leaving an island nation separated on a scale unimagined. The church has put Riders and their master in containment as they begin to put preasure on the Holy Grail War. They wish for it to be reduced in scale by any means possible for the sake of others. On the otherside is the Mages Association that wishes to keep the Grail War going for unknown reasons. When their forces clash during dark London hours, they all leave the scene at the appearance of the newly summoned Ruler class servant.

"Halt", he commands with the radiance of the sun. Not a saint or a farlander, but a king who tied Europe to the ground as a king who shined like the sun, Ludwig the XIV.

With the appearance of a Ruler who did not comply with either of their rules, the church and Mages Association have performed a rogue summoning, using the existing Grail War and the Ruler as tools. The church took a number of items from their possession that had been attributed to various holy relics and persons. They settled on a single piece of paper they found attributed to an unknown man with demonic writing etched onto it.

The mages analyzed it, finding it to have connection to the entity the church believes to be a demon. "A demon", the church exclaimed. "Madness! We need not rely on such horrid methods. There must be something else we can do", the man was someone that had been selected to be the master by the church's decision.

The church denounced the idea, it was sacrilegious at best and foolish at worst. The mages association cited it to have belonged to someone who would not be under conceptual threat by the Ruler. His history contained the possibility of suppressing holy servants. They say it would be foolish to not try to perform the ritual with everything on the line, they put weight on the church not wanting to take responsibility over the war as they had agreed on.

But soon a decision had been made as the man who would be the master of the servant, Antonio, would agree to work with the Association. This action was done in secret, hidden away from the eyes of the church within the very vault where the item was kept.

The Vatican

00:39

"Seven thrones, fill fill fill...

Compiled to fourteen... filled.

Arise does an eight throne...

By the scales of the counter force, come oh ninth circle... fill fill fill.

With the power of the father who art in heaven.

With the wisdom of the holy spirit that rests within us all...

Emerge with the bravery of the son that died for us...

Come, oh servant of the scales and heed my command!"

Darkness fills the room, any mages that were present were silenced. It was no projection of an inner world or a bounded field, darkness had consumed all else. "I ask of you", a smooth sweet voice called out to Antonio "Are you my master?" The voice turned dark, as if drowned in a swamp and made speak again.

Antonio turned to see the face of what he had summoned. He saw a man, with a charred hand and a fine suit, carrying an old fashioned bag for carrying notes. He swallowed, "who are you?"

The servant smirked. "Your ever-faithful servant, Avenger." The darkness faded, the mages were dead on the ground, as if they were drained of their soul. The candles and gold was extinguished and slathered in black mold. "I understand you wish to confront the Ruler?"

Antonio was unsure of his circumstances, he had clearly made a deal he had no knowledge of. What else could this thing be but the devil or something similar. The grin, the manners and charisma he shoved made every hair on the man's body stand straight. His guts were squirming and his cross felt heavy. But he had dedicated himself to the protection of his homeland ravaged by this "Holy" Grail War. "But again, I should really ask you - I don't want to offend the Father... who are you?"

The servant chuckled, "how silly of me, I am... P. I am sure an artist like myself who was so horridly branded by the likes of you", IT leered down at Antonio, as if gripping him by his spine. A jolt of burning cold air filled his lungs as the servant continued to stare through him, "wouldn't I be recognize quite easily?" His voice was like the humming of slowly played strings, sharp but suffocating.

"Il violinista del Diavolo...", Antonio's mind wondered. In the archives that he would spend years of his life reading through, he had taken notice of a single particular incident regarding 'the Devil' manifesting into the masses. The man who sold his-

"And I think that's quite enough of that, you sniveling lap dog..."

Antonio revolted back, his mind was rung like church bells with his servant's words. His thoughts became clouded, he tried to stay in control "what did you do to me?!"

The servant looked away, adjusting it's face and clothes. "I can see you know of me, but that is also a danger if we run into the other masters or servants", he spoke calmly, the sound of instruments fading. "So for now I'll seal away your mind, thank your own people for that particular trick." He scoffed at the world, at himself. "What a cruel fate I have been cast with. To fight for you animals, but then again..."

"Halt", a voice commanded like the thundering of wind through the Vatican. Antonio glanced up to the sky, blinded by radiance.

"Is that all you can say, Ruler?" Avenger looked to the source of the sound, his eyes shielded from the light by ever-hanging shadows.

"Begone, you foul demon", Ruler declared and commanded, a radiant staircase formed beneath his feet as he descended.

Avenger scoffed once more, though now with venom at the words spoken to him. "Even the man who brought down the light of God can't seem to be tied down by him. What a horde of fools this land is filled with."

"Speak not another word", the king spoke with a hint of kindness, like a pained plea. "I will not have you taint the story of that musician with your existence any longer."

Antonio glanced at his servant, that was all he could do as his ears were pierced by a howling symphony of strings ripping though the air. His servant had already met Ruler at his feet with a massive violin bow, its strings shining like an ebony blade. Before he could even utter a command or make a move, the two servants had disappeared from sight in golden radiance. He could only hear the cracking of concrete and the far-off destruction in the streets of Rome.

Antonio made his move, making his way to the top of the Vatican, followed by numerous other members of the church. They had no more time to waste on traitors, the chaos of the Grail War had entered their holy ground. They watched as lines of fire and light slashed at the city, cutting it apart and burning it to ash. Not a moment sooner the church's agents were in the field, trying to reduce the damages. Antonio used his command seal to try to force Avenger to watch for civilians, but nothing changed - he simply collapsed.

The light of the flames that erupted through the streets clashed with the single particle of light, emanating from the Ruler.


Ruler held his guard and took every hit with grace. The attacks of Avenger lasted less than a second, cutting at his spirit, pushing dread deep into his core. The sounds of music playing in the flames was infused with curses, vile lies and venom.

Ruler felt his protections and blessings scream at the attacks. This was a devil, not a man turned heroic spirit. He had to be removed from the War, otherwise all of humanity would be infected by whatever wish he had in mind for the Grail. Ruler grit his teeth, taking a breath while being pulled along by his attraction to the demonic energy of Avenger. At the moment of each cut, he recited a chant. Each lyric was uttered in fractions of a second, beyond any human's ability. With each verse, Ruler's body gleamed with holy light.

Avenger's eyes met with Ruler's, he understood the king's intent. "Is that it", he thought as he raced to stay his body from the light of the sun. A tiny smirk stretched across his face, forming a devilish grin as the sound of a violin stretched to mimic the sound of a church organ. He pulled back his blade, the light of a burning Rome was slowly replaced with utter darkness as they began draining the light and turning to a demonic red color. The mana in his form began to build up as he raised his violin bow to the sky and stopped, "oh Heavenly Father. Let this be a grand performance", he spoke confidently as the king closed in.

Ruler fininshed his recital as he entered into range to hit Avenger, not even giving a thought to the devil's bow. As the shadows grew to touch his light with great contrast, he spoke. "... I hereby declare..."

Avenger lowered the blade, "God Save the King."

Ruler lifted his hand, "Sovereignty."

At the moment of contact, Avenger's blade touched Ruler's hand, a light filled the city of Rome and the soft sound of violin played with precision echoed to the world.


Antonio stood up, blinded and defeaned by the clash of Ruler's and Avneger's Noble Phantasms. His senses returned as he heared the sound of music play at the sight of a restored city. Slowly, as he walked forward, he heard it. The sound of destruction slowly spreading, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Isn't it beautiful", Avenger asked, his faced reduced to a skull, yet he showed no pain. Antonio nearly jumped back. "Look", Avenger grabbed his Master by the chin and turned his eyes to the city. "Listen."

Antonio watched as slowly the ash floated to the sky. "What is that", he looked as the ash filled the entire sky. "What did you do?"

Avenger laughed a dry, burned laugh. "I didn't do this, you can blame the King for that." Antonio shivered at the sight of a single spot of light slowly rising up from the city's streets. "But that is my fault. He tried to banish me, turn me to my 'core materials', that would have been simple mana. A swift, clean execution. Since that would have costed his own life too, I decided to use one of my noble phantasms to stop that. Thankfully that dreadful piece has been modified to fit my needs... God Save the King... I think he should be glad."

"Avenger", Antonio whispered, answered by the servant. "Are they dead?"

The servant leaned closer as his warm skull came to touch the master, "all four million..."


Match resulsts...

Winner: NONE

Casualties: Four million citizens, twenty agents of the Clock Tower, one hundred and ninety-seven agents of the Vatican branch of the Holy Church.

Rome has been left without a trace of destruction, though now a ghost city. A mass mourning would be held for the departed, the incident would not be covered up as it was deemed far too devastating to be accomplished. Antonio has been made an enemy of the Church and Mage's Associations, though his location has been lost. The following day Ruler would appear in numerous cities at once, this would continue every fifteen minutes in every major city or village across Europe at night.

The war continues.