Sonic grinned as he evaded a spear, lashing out with a kick that sent the skeleton that had attacked him flying. Looking around, he found Mash standing over a crushed skeleton, she was...
Well, Sonic had certainly seen worst fighters and he'd rarely encountered those who used shields as their main weapon, but Mash's fighting style was sloppy, like she was trying to copy someone else's fighting style. She had mentioned that Heroic Spirit had given her their powers and skills, but that didn't seem to cover the body differences or Mash's own lack of experience.
He was sure she'd get the hang of things, especially with him helping, but it was worrying. This place was bad, it radiated with corrupted magic, that reminded him of the Underworld and Dark Gaia. Not to mention...
"You found any evidence of anyone from Chaldea, Mash? Fou?". Sonic asked the two, with the Shielder shaking her head and Fou running over to the hedgehog's side, a displeased look on his face. "Sheesh, starting to wish Knuckles or Rouge was here, their way better at this finding people thing. I'd even take Amy's fortune cards".
"Fortune cards? Is Amy a magus Senpai?". Mash asked, wincing as a loud CRACK echoed from her foot accidently breaking a bone on the floor.
"Not really, she has some kind of ability, but it doesn't fit with the way you and Romani have described your magecraft stuff". Sonic began to tap his left foot against the ground, looking around with a narrowed gaze. "We need to hurry to that Leyline thing".
"Senpai?". A concerned Mash asked, confused over the hedgehog's sudden narrowed gaze.
"We're being watched". Was all he replied with, the Shielder tensing in return and looking around. "Not sure how, but I know we're being watched. Real question is if its magic, stealth, or just really good eyesight".
"Ggggrrrr...". Fou growled, looking around as well before he calmed down when Sonic picked him up and placed him on his head. "Kyu?".
"Just forward from here to the Leyline right?". Sonic asked, Mash nodding. "Great!".
BOOM!
The sound barrier shattered behind him, a confused Mash blinking before chasing after at her much less impressive speed.
Blood red eyes shot open, something within him felt... Off, scared almost.
"Tch, serves ya right, making me a freaking Caster of all things". Looking to the distance, he could feel the moving whirlwind of energy. His instincts as a warrior screamed, telling him of a worthy foe, while his instincts as a druid sung, joyful and happy in a way they rarely were. "Interesting... What the heck showed up?".
A smile showing far to many teeth crossed his features, looks like his luck was finally turning around!
"Better find whatever's the cause of this energy before Saber's lapdog or another Servant investigates". Leaping from the house he had been using as a resting place, he began the hunt.
"Kyaaaaah!".
Sonic paused as he heard a feminine scream, Mash who had barely kept up with him panting at his side. Without asking he quickly grabbed her and RAN!
The world slowed down to him, even the flickering flames froze as he unleashed his true speed, it was like time had stopped. Within what felt like seconds to him but appeared instant to anyone else, he found himself kicking through the skull of a skeleton archer that had been trying to kill a white-haired human woman. Time returned to normal and a woozy Mash dug her feet into the ground.
"D-director, we've... Ugh... I think I'm going to be sick... M-mash Kyrielight and temporary Master Sonic the Hedgehog reporting for duty! Ugh!". Mash was swaying on her feet, but regained herself as she continued to speak. Sonic however couldn't pay attention to her or the 'Director' woman.
"K-kyrielight?! And the chimera!? What are you-". Whatever the woman was saying stopped as an arrow was grabbed inches from her face, an annoyed Sonic holding onto it.
"Fight now! Chat later!". The hedgehog spoke, instantly launching himself forward, curling into a ball and smashing his way through a nearby spear wielding skeleton. He ducked under a sword slash, tripping the skeleton with a kick and using it as a jumping bad to leap into the air.
Curling into a ball he began to glow, copies of himself appearing in the air before shooting down and slamming into dozens of skeletons, and then he fell like a meteor onto a larger skeleton, turning it all into dust.
"U-understood Senpai! Hyaaaaaaah!". Mash rushed towards a group of archer skeletons, blocking their arrows and slamming her shield into them, sending them flying. She wasn't however able to dodge a spear thrust that had her flinching, even if it dealt no damage to her incredible defense.
Sonic gazed across the battlefield, the skeletons were aiming for him and Mash now, the white-haired girl was being ignored, but it was only a matter of time...
"Alright then... Lets see how you guys like this!". Sonic grinned, blue electricity beginning to spark off his body and-
Across the Singularity, everyone felt the presence of a storm, of a living typhoon of energy that would never stop, that would keep moving forward and crush everything in's its way. Free-willed, uncontrollable, and fierce. A living force of nature.
-Both the Director and Mash flinched back as they felt the energy that covered the battlefield, and then Sonic moved.
A blue blur was all that was visible as Sonic moved, skeletons fell in droves as the blur moved, whatever mystics that held them torn to pieces by the wind and Chaos Energy he was throwing out. In just a few seconds, Sonic stood before the two girls and took a bow, a mountain of bones behind him.
"Did I do good or did I do good?". The cockily grinning hedgehog asked, arms wide open and spread out. The Director could only gasp.
"You, how, why... T-those were mystics, and you...".
"That was incredible Senpai! I couldn't even follow your movements!". Mash however could only be amazed, she already knew Sonic was strong but not that strong (A part of her, which she did her best to ignore, was wondering if she was even needed here).
"I aim to please-".
"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU!? You just stroll in and are somehow able to defeat dozens of undead!? And Kyrielight! How the hell is the Demi-Servant Project a success now?! It showed no signs of success before now!". The Director demanded, the stress and confusion of the situation finally getting to her, and then she turned to glare at Sonic. "How did you even become a Master?! Your not even human, you were never tested for Master or Rayshift compatibility!".
"Master? You mean for one of those Servant things? I never did that... Did I?". Sonic looked over to Mash with a questioning gaze, he didn't feel like he'd made a contract but Romani did mention Servants needed a Master...
"Y-yes, there's been a misunderstanding Director Olga! I'm actually the one who forced a contract... The Command Seals are probably hidden under your glove, Senpai". Mash explained, causing said hedgehog to remove his left glove, revealing crimson markings on his hand that resembled flames in a circular formation. Sonic looked at it with a frown, he didn't know what 'Command Seals' were, but it wasn't hard to figure out they would likely let him order Mash around.
...He didn't like them already.
"Y-you what?!". Olga seemed shaken by what Mash said, but without more information Sonic really couldn't say what had her so shaken.
"It went like this...". Mash began to explain, covering details like her talk with Sonic, him coming to her rescue, the two of them getting Rayshifted, and fighting some skeletons on the way here. "We were Rayshifted into the Singularity and told us to seek out a Leyline... Which seems to be in this area, have you had any luck finding anyone from Chaldea, Director?".
"...No, as much as I hate it, I know why only we Rayshifted here, there's only one common denomination. Neither me, nor you, or... That one, were actually inside the Coffins. Though Rayshifting flesh and blood isn't likely to succeed, it's not impossible. Meanwhile, the coffins have breakers, when the success rate's below 95%, the power's cut off. So they never actually Rayshifted, we're the only one's here". Olga explained, uncomfortably looking to Sonic who only looked confused.
"Is time travel really that hard here? I mean, its not common back home... Well, unless Little Planet shown up again". Sonic's words only caused the Director to look at him as if he was insane-
"A-ah! Director, we were discussing things with while we had contact earlier, and we believe it's likely that Sonic may be from a world where the Age of Gods didn't end. His abilities and descriptions of his world are to different from our own". Mash explained, the white-haired Director was about to refuse the very idea, but stopped.
Olga frowned, as fantastical as the claim sounded, there was no denying 'Sonic' was incredibly strong, his knowledge was vast even if it sounded alien or impossible. Add in... It was impossible to forget the feeling from earlier, of a living storm standing before her. If he truly did come from a world still in the Age of Gods, it would explain why he said such impossible things so casually...
And if travel to that alternate world was possible, then she may have a bargaining tool against the Clocktower and UN.
"...For now, I'll believe you, but when we return to Chaldea I'll have Da Vinci investigate you personally, hedgehog". Olga glared at Sonic, who only gave a grin and two-fingered salute. "Kyrielight, you said the Leyline was around here?".
"Yes, it seems to be... The key point of mana is is actually at your feet, Director". Mash explained, Olga looking down and trying her best to not show any embarrassment at her failure to notice it. "I'll begin setting up a communication network with Chaldea".
Mash placed her shield down, pulling some chalk out of... Okay, Sonic knew he had no place to speak, but even he was confused as Mash pulled a chalk out of SOMEWHERE in her armor and began to draw what looked like a magic circle on the ground. The chalk (And surprisingly the writing on the shield Mash had placed down) began to glow, and Sonic had to blink as a holographic image that seemed connected to some area of Chaldea showed up, a surprised Romani staring back.
"Mash?! Sonic!?... Director?! Your all okay?! Thank God-".
"What the hell are you doing in the Director's seat Romani!? Where's Lev!? Put him on right now!". Olga demanded in a way that was reminding Sonic way to much of some brats he'd had to deal with. Least she wasn't as bad as Bowser Jr.
"...Director, Lev is dead". Romani's voice was utterly serious as he spoke, gaining a wince from Sonic. Sure Lev had felt off, but he didn't deserve to die! "I am currently the highest official staff in Chaldea, we've been running ourselves ragged with those who've survived and trying to restore Chaldea's functions. Da Vinci only got the Cryopreserve functionality on the Coffins working a few minutes ago and we've been rushing to freeze all the Masters who are in critical condition!".
Olga's face was shocked, horror across her features for only a moment before she managed to steel herself.
"...Report, everything". She demanded.
"The summoning system is damaged, our extra Coffins are a mess, communications are completely cut. Storage, living areas, and the public workshop have all been bombed. Chaldeas' and Sheba's are working but Da Vinci is having our surviving scientists look them over, while she focuses everything on repairing the Rayshift process to bring you three back". Romani explained, his voice become more grim as he continued. "Concluding my report, we've lost lost 80% of our functionality and as soon as our communication system is repaired, we are immediately calling for support from the UN and Clocktower".
"...Better then expected, I expected... Romani, I don't like it, but until I return you're in charge of Chaldea. Do everything you can to assist Caster in repairing the Rayshift technology. Meanwhile, we'll be investigating this town, Singularity F". Olga ordered, causing a grin to spread across Sonic's features, although he didn't interrupt the conversation.
"Director, you're not afraid to be at ground zero? Since when did you become so brave?". Romani sounded shocked, which drew a scowl from Olga.
"You don't know when to shut up, I'd like nothing more then to return to Chaldea, but its going to take time to finish the Rayshift repairs. This town only contains low-level monsters, with Mash and... Whatever the heck the hedgehog is, we'll be safe". The Director explained. "Accident or not, we Animuspheres pride ourselves on doing our best in the situations we're given. I'll be looking into Singularity F with the hedgeoh and Mash Kyrielight as investigators. That said, since my field staff is inexperienced, the extent of this mission will be to discover the cause of this anomaly. Analysis and eradication will have to wait until after Chaldea's restored, and I can send in a second team. You okay with that?".
Olga glared at Sonic and Mash, as if asking them to deny her...
"...Yea no". Sonic grinned, drawing shocked expressions from Romani, Mash, and Olga. "Look, Olga? I've been in enough situations like this to know, the longer we leave it alone? The worst it gets, you can go back to Chaldea if you want, but I'm gonna deal with whatever's the source of this dark magic".
"Y-you! Are you insane?! We have no idea what's the cause behind this Singularity! Our systems have detected a Holy Grail War here! We may be facing Servants! Even if your stronger then most, a Servant will destroy you! Kyrielight is a newly born Demi-Servant and she's already strong enough to fold you like a pretzel! Being fast won't let you win against Servants!". Olga couldn't believe what she was hearing, it was suicide!
"Yea yea, big scary threats, crush ya like a bug, not the first time I've been told that and it won't be the last. Ya know what happened to those guys? Their defeated and locked away, and I'm still running free". Sonic stretched his arms out. his cocky grin never fading. "Come on! You can't say no to the adventure that's basically throwing itself at you, can ya?".
"I'm not suicidal! A Servant is a legendary hero! Siegfried, Tawara Touta, Sun Wokung, Achilles and so much more! Fighting a Servant without your own is suicide!". The Director couldn't believe the idiocy of this hedgehog! It didn't matter if he was stronger then her, a Servant was a completely different beast! "Chaldea is your best bet at survival you buffoon! Do you realize how many magus would love to dissect something alien like you?! So it'd be in your best interest to actually listen when I tell you something!".
"I've been hearing a lot of hype about these Servants, but consider something else". Sonic leaned forward, and for the second time, those around him felt a sense of indescribable danger despite the hedgehog's kind demeanor. "You haven't seen what I can really do just yet".
With that statement, the Blue Blur leaned back with his grin casual again.
Olga shivered, but refused to go on a suicide run just because of one idiot's arrogance!
"We will be OBSERVING, and observing only! If you want to run off and get killed, go ahead!". The Director turned to glare at Romani, who flinched back. "Get the Rayshift process fixed as fast as possible, and then see who else from medical staff is remaining. I want someone to check over all the survivors!".
"U-understood! I'll pass along the order straight away, but at least with this connection properly established, you guys can contact Chaldea at any time". Romani looked nervous, but still determined to do the job.
With that, the magic circle stopped glowing and with it the hologram of Chaldea faded.
"Alright then! Sooo where we going next? Spooky mansion? Underground cave? Torture pit?". Sonic tossed out suggestions, uncaring for the glare he received in return.
"WE of Chaldea are going to investigate the Singularity, your just a tag along we have to keep around because of your contract with Kyrielight". Olga glared at the hedgehog.
"D-director, I think your being to... Harsh...". Mash tried to reason with the Director of Chaldea, who had began to stomp away. "W-what do we do Senpai? The Director seems angry".
"Eh, she's got nothing on Shadow. Don't worry about it, she's in a high stress situation and not taking things well, Gaia knows I've seen a lot of people react a lot worst". Sonic just shrugged, if he got annoyed with everyone who dealt with stress with anger and frustration, he would have a lot less friends. "She thinks we're in danger, we just need to prove that we ARE the danger".
With his grin still there, Sonic began to jog after Olga, Mash looking confused but following after him.
It had been a few minutes since the argument, and the group had remained silent until now, besides occasionally having to take some skeletons down. But even with their large numbers and Olga to protect, Sonic and Mash easily dealt with them, the Shielder getting more used to her shield as she did so.
"I'm surprised you stood up to the Director like that, most people would be to afraid". Romani's voice echoed from Mash's earbud communicator. "She's a very dangerous woman you know? One of the Lord's of the Clocktower".
"Roman, buddy, I have met a LOT of dangerous woman, Olga? She doesn't even reach top five". Sonic leaped over a fallen tree, frowning as he observed just how rotten and burned parts of it were.
"Even so, she can be a very dependable woman when calm... Sonic, you should know, the Director's in a complicated position as well. Three years ago, the previous Director, her father, committed suicide for unknown reasons and she had to take over Chaldea when she was just a student, along with inheriting his position as a Lord of the Clocktower. Since then it's been one tense day after another, holding herself to the near impossible standards her father had set". Romani began to explain, a tired note to his voice. "Around that time, an anomaly was found in Chaldeas, we could no longer see a future where humanity survived one hundred years from now... There was huge criticism from the Mage Association and our other sponsors, she was ordered to get the situation back to normal as soon as possible, it was an impossibly heavy weight put on her shoulders...
Along with that, to make matters worse, we discovered she had no potential to be a Master, the noble Animusphere family, one of the twelve Lords, the dominiating faculty of Astronomy at the Mage's Association. The scandal that occured... The gossip behind her back, she worked her best to be a Director, working herself harder then anyone else".
The doctor let out a sigh, exhaustion clear in his voice.
"I'd honestly like her to have some therapy, or at least talk to someone about her issues, but with how things are... In any event, she's been emotionally stretched to the limit, an anomaly like you appearing that defies everything she knows, it can't be helping". Roman paused for a moment, the sound of him sipping something echoing for a moment. "I don't think she hates you, but the stress of the situation is getting to her".
"Its alright, my world ain't all sunshine and rainbows ether, I've seen some people dealing with some horrible stuff, and recognized I'm not normal when it comes to brushing off all these stressful things". Sonic ran a hand through his quills. "I don't think she's evil, but figures of authority and I...".
"She's like a child in many ways, forced to grow up to soon, but a part of her is innocent and honest... Don't say that to her face though, she'll just hate you more".
"I never really thought of how the Director feels... It must be very stressful, checking over every part of Chaldea, the Master Candidate's...". Mash added, a frown on her lips, Sonic opened his mouth to respond-
"What... The hell is this?". Olga's sudden voice drew all attention to her, and the quills on Sonic's back stood up.
Because in front of them, was a street filled with stone statues of people, each expression horrified and fearful. His fists clenched, knowing for a fact these weren't just statues, statues couldn't contain that kind of natural fear and horror, which meant...
Everyone of them was once a person, and the one who had did it was likely still here.
I had hoped to include the Medusa fight here, but I was starting to run out of steam, so it'll have to be next chapter.
I wanted to do something different here, so many MC's just roll over and go along with Olga's demands, but Sonic? He's not an employ, and he's not someone who takes orders well. He's kind and a hero, but also recklessly and extremely confident (Its not arrogance if you can back it up).
Olga basically said to Sonic "You'll die if you fight a Servant" and Sonic went "Nah I'd win", but because she's not used to Sonic bullshit or a naive and trustworthy character like Mash, it will take actually seeing Sonic fight and beat a Servant for her to realize "Oh fuck he's a monster" and then "But he's one who Chaldea can use". There will be bonding between Olga and Sonic before this Singularity ends, but its gonna be a bit rough at first.