— You are a surviving servant of the Holy Grail War, or at least the only one who doesn't seem to be on the side of the others — commented Doctor Romaní as he noticed how things had calmed down after the defeat of the servant Lancer.
From time to time, Izuku glanced around, making sure nothing would catch them by surprise.
— Mmm... To be precise, the reality is that I simply didn't lose like the others — replied the male servant, his voice laden with bitterness. — Our Grail War suddenly transformed into something else. The city began to burn, and humans disappeared, leaving only the servants. I don't understand how it could happen... — he recounted while fiddling with a leg before crushing it disdainfully. — Still, in the midst of the confusion, the Grail War was resumed by the Saber-class servant. She turned against us, went mad, and in the blink of an eye, defeated Archer, Lancer, Assassin, Berserker, Rider, and once she defeated them, just like Lancer, they became corrupted by a strange black sludge.
The man frowned, still perplexed by how everything had occurred.
— Well, I defeated Assassin before meeting you, and now Lancer is already out of the game — the man continued as he approached the bridge railing.
— So, there are more servants out there, and we might run into them — Izuku commented.
— That's right — the man nodded —. So we must be prepared for anything. I hope you continue to show that courage.
— There is no other option; human history as we know it is at stake — Olga said with absolute seriousness.
Izuku looked at the young woman. He had had many interactions with her before, but at no point had he seen her back down or want to flee from the situation. She was determined to move forward.
Izuku managed a faint smile.
— So, once this is all cleared up, it would be good to explain how to end this — the man said. — One way to end this would be to eliminate the rest of the servants, although the more serious problem would be Saber herself, who is being fully supported by the Holy Grail. So maybe we should get straight to the point...
— Destroying the origin of the servants, right? — intervened Olga Marie, understanding.
— That's right, we should try to destroy the Grail — the man affirmed.
— That would correct all of this — said Mash.
— The origin of the singularity — Izuku commented.
— Although there are many things that seem very different from the Holy Grail War we know — added Mash.
— It wouldn't be so strange if this were another work related to the same — Olga reflected, recalling that her father had participated in this war, although she didn't remember which servant was summoned. — Izuku and Mash, I will say this only once, so pay attention. Chaldea observes the future from a model of the earth called CHALDEAS. Likewise, a familiar named LAPLACE collects past records, that is, the history or histories that were never made public for some reason, buried in the sands of time. Well, LAPLACE recorded that an unusual Holy Grail War occurred here.
Certainly, terms like Holy Grail were quite bewildering for Izuku. Although he was not religious, he understood that the Holy Grail was a highly sought relic belonging to the messiah of the Christian religion, Jesus Christ. However, it seemed that it could also grant miracles and summon powerful ghosts... Wow.
— From this system, my father... I mean, the previous director, used this data to create the summoning system of Chaldea. This way, we can summon our own heroic spirits. We call it FATE, our third invention after LAPLACE and CHALDEAS — Olga seemed to perk up when mentioning this.
— Third? I thought Sheba, the lens that observes the near future, was the third — commented Mash.
— Well... That was a joint effort with Professor Lev... Still, that's the origin of how we can summon the servants — Olga explained.
"Quite a bit of information," thought Izuku, wishing he had a notebook to jot everything down and not forget anything. He felt that all of this needed to be safeguarded.
The group began to move cautiously around them. Izuku reflected on how he had ended up in such a chaotic and completely unfamiliar scenario. He understood that he was in the past, but knowing that such surprising things existed in the darkness or shadows felt like his view of the world was changing.
"I wonder if the origin of Quirks has any relation to this..." Izuku recalled the words of the first.
He knew there was something more, something extensive, that couldn't be told at that moment.
— Not interfering in the affairs of the era and only serving as weapons is the golden rule of the servants — the man commented, walking in front of them —. Their goal is to investigate and end this singularity, and mine is to end the Grail War.
"Collaborate," thought Izuku, understanding the servant's point.
The destruction around them was vast, with entire houses and deformed roads. At one point, Izuku extended his hand to Olga to help her climb up a sunken part.
Olga remained silent.
— I know you don't trust me yet... But in the end, I also want to end this and return to where I belong — said Izuku.
Olga sighed.
— Yes, I understand, yet all of this still feels very strange — Olga took Izuku's hand and was helped up.
— Hey... Doctor Romaní mentioned something... about being qualified to be a master... Is it some sort of exam or something like that? — Izuku asked.
Olga stopped and shot Izuku an annoyed look, who blinked in confusion. Then, the woman sighed.
— The qualifications to be a master have to do with your being, if it can be called that. Forming contracts and seeing if your circuits can adequately provide mana to a servant... But it also involves being able to summon it to begin with... — Olga explained.
— So, you were...?
— No... I am not capable of summoning a servant properly — Olga confessed.
— Oh? Really? You seem like a top-notch mage — said the male servant —. Is it some kind of curse?
— Shut up, that's none of your business! — the young woman snapped.
Finally, they all arrived at a school that would serve as a refuge for them to rest. Izuku had a moment of calm while sitting on the stairs.
Could he return to his time?
Or was it worth returning?
Izuku tried to deny the last question while rubbing his hands and looking at the red seals. Then he noticed his "servant" looking through the window and didn't wait long before going toward her.
— Are you okay? — Izuku asked.
The pink-haired girl blinked, looking at the green-haired boy.
— Huh? Yes! I'm fine! — she replied.
— Since we started, you haven't stopped fighting. I barely understand a bit of what they explained to me, but if you are just a servant part, that means you can still tire out — said the young man.
— No! I... — she tried to deny.
— It's okay, relax, remember that this is your first time doing this... — Izuku comforted her.
The young girl said nothing while nodding...
— So, what's bothering you? — Izuku asked.
— I... just... can't use my Noble Phantasm — Mash confessed.
— Wow, is that the trump card they mentioned? — Izuku asked.
Mash nodded while tightening her shield.
— But you've handled it very well just with that weapon — commented Izuku.
— No... This shield hasn't shown its true form yet, and since we are dealing with servants, it could be very dangerous... I wouldn't be able to adequately protect you — Mash lamented.
Now it was Izuku's turn to feel uneasy. Protecting him...
It was even hypocritical to think that he didn't like being protected when he did the same before. Maybe it was that, the obligation to do as much as possible to protect a person, even if it cost you your life.
— You should also think about yourself, Mash... — Izuku advised.
Mash stared at him intently.
— I can't do that, Senpai. Since I was created, my mission has always been to be a demi-servant.
Izuku looked at her, puzzled.
— What do you mean you were created? — Izuku asked.
The girl looked down.
— I am what they would call a designed baby, a tool created and modified from my conception to be a demi-servant — Mash explained.
Izuku was stunned by that revelation.
— That has always been my mission... — Mash continued —. My purpose of existence...
— No... — Izuku interrupted her, leaving Mash confused —. Mash, tell me something, you feel emotions, right?
— Huh? Yes! Well, I think so, right? I mean, I've felt scared and excited.
— To say that you are just a tool would be a contradiction — observed Izuku, looking at the cloudy sky —. If what you say is true, then you are not a slave to what people say. Life goes beyond a purpose or a mission. I've seen you choose to do things, and that shows your free will.
Mash silently watched the green-haired boy.
— You are not just a demi-servant or a lab creation... You are a living being and a human being — Izuku affirmed.
"I'm not going to be my father's tool," the green-haired boy recalled, thinking of an old friend.
— Heh... It's the first time someone calls me that... — Mash spoke, a faint smile appearing on her face —. Senpai, you... are someone very human and very noble.
Izuku looked at her.
— Maybe you flatter me too much. To me, protecting a life is worth a lot, and that includes yours — said Izuku, seeing how Mash seemed surprised —. If your duty says to protect me, the same goes for me. Not because I'm your master, but because your life itself has value.
— Why...? I have a duty, Senpai. But... what about you? — Mash asked, bewildered.
— Helping each other... It's very human, Mash. People focus on their three-meter radius to protect themselves and protect those they love, their friends, and family. That's why... I, not having such a role, must lighten their burden... — said Izuku, feeling something recover within him —. I must try to save them.
Mash looked at him in surprise, trying to understand those words. But above all, admiring a smile that... seemed to shine.
Suddenly, the smile disappeared. Izuku's emerald eyes widened, and his body quickly turned. There, with a serious and even repulsed expression, a brown-skinned man with white hair was holding a drawn bow with an arrow.
— In this specific place, I never thought I would hear such stupidity again... — the Archer-class servant had made his appearance.
Minutes earlier, on the rooftop of the school, the air was filled with a mixture of concentration and nervousness. Young Olga Marie was immersed in a deep effort to become a valuable piece within this singularity that had defied all her expectations. She was aware that, although she did not possess the mastery that others exhibited, she had to find clever ways to make her presence more significant and useful in this world full of challenges.
In a bright golden circle she had carefully created, she had forged a perfect refuge to practice her own magecraft. This space not only provided her the opportunity to train but also prepared her for any eventuality that might arise in the future. With firm and determined hands, she began to carve small luminous symbols into the stones arranged around her while uttering a series of words that resonated in the air like an ancient chant.
— Stars, cosmos, gods, animus, hollow, void, anima, animusphere — she murmured, feeling how magical energy accumulated around her. A sigh escaped her lips as she saw that, at last, her spell was beginning to manifest correctly, filling the circle with an almost celestial glow.
It was at that moment that the male servant appeared behind her, his imposing presence cutting through Olga's concentration. With a mocking smile on his lips, he remarked:
— Mph! How diligent you are.
— This is better than nothing — Olga responded, not letting the man's provocation distract her. However, the calm faded when he, with an air of amusement, took the stones that contained the symbols, provoking the young woman's indignation.
— Hey! — Olga exclaimed, frowning while letting out a resigned sigh. She knew that arguing with the servant would lead nowhere, so she decided to change the subject.
— I forgot to ask you one thing — she said, trying to get back to the conversation.
— Tell me... — the man replied, in a tone that hinted at curiosity.
— Do you know who the Saber-class servant is? You seemed to have fought him more than once.
Without taking his eyes off the stones, the servant nodded slowly.
— Anyone who witnesses her Noble Phantasm would know her identity immediately. That sword that ensures victory... Or maybe the sword stuck in the stone that chooses the king, the most famous sword of your time... Excalibur.
Upon hearing the name, Olga's eyes widened in surprise, a knot formed in her stomach.
— Excalibur? — she asked, feeling disbelief take hold of her. It was impossible not to recognize such a name, so loaded with history and legend.
— The sword of the famous King of Knights, King Arthur — the servant continued, his words resonating with an air of authority.
Without thinking twice, Olga quickly got to her feet, her heart racing.
— Do you want Mash to fight against King Arthur? She can't even use her Noble Phantasm! — she shouted, concern evident in her tone.
— The girl has her strong shield — the man replied with a sarcastic smile —. Someone tried to destroy it with their beloved arrows, but failed in the attempt. If it has anything to do with Saber... That archer will move to protect her.
A heavy silence settled between them, as if the very air had stopped circulating. The tension was palpable, and a sense of imminent danger began to envelop them.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion resonated in the air, shaking the rooftop and disconcerting Olga. The world around her began to fade into chaos, but in her mind, a determination blossomed.
To be continued...
I never thought that just one singularity would cost me so many chapters.