Took some time off due to personal/IRL reasons. And because I was struggling to think up a decent omake, despite having already written multiple chapters ahead in advance. Then I remembered that this story is just for fun and not as a serious writing project, so the omakes don't need to actually make sense. Let's just make them silly and funny.

Fate/Hijacked

Chapter 18

The night air was static yet charged as Lancer moved swiftly, his spear tearing through the dragon-tooth warriors like paper. The temple grounds were alive with the sounds of battle—metal clashing against bone, the hum of magecraft, and the relentless hiss of Caster's incantations. Amidst the chaos, Lady Avalon—Pretender, in her usual fashion—moved gracefully, her floral magecraft binding and ensnaring the skeletal creatures with vines and thorns, leaving them vulnerable to Lancer's deadly strikes.

Despite the eerie pressure of Caster's bounded field, Shirou and Rin fought on with determination, clashing against Kuzuki's lethal martial arts. The school teacher was an unrelenting storm, his reinforced strikes like lightning-fast vipers, and Shirou struggled to keep up, his dual swords barely holding against the barrage of blows. Sparks flew as Shirou's blades met Kuzuki's reinforced fists, each impact jarring his own reinforced arms. Rin, meanwhile, fired off Gandr shots whenever she could, throwing in an occasional gem to give them an edge. But even when they managed to land hits, Kuzuki's reinforcement reduced the impact of their attacks and kept him well defended, allowing him to push back with ferocity.

On the other side of the battlefield, Caster was starting to feel the pressure. Lancer, despite her best efforts, was steadily gaining ground, his spear inching ever closer to her with every strike. Worse yet, his protection from arrows skill made him nearly impervious to the magical blasts she hurled in his direction. Lady Avalon's continuous support only made things more difficult, her vines neutralizing more and more of the dragon-tooth warriors every second. Caster furrowed her brow, clearly frustrated as she watched the floral magecraft swirl and trap her summoned minions with effortless grace.

Watching from her suspended position, Sakura's violet eyes darted between the clashing figures. Her heart raced, torn between fear and hope. She had been captured and kidnapped to be used as a tool, her body and magic being prepared as a receptacle for Caster's ambitions. Yet despite everything, despite her seemingly helpless situation, her eyes lingered on Shirou. He was fighting so hard, risking everything for her. And even Rin, though they had been estranged, was giving her all to save her. Sakura's chest tightened with a mixture of guilt and hope, her feelings twisting together into a tumultuous swirl as the battle raged on.

Caster's eyes darted toward the strange and whimsical figure of Lady Avalon. The white-clad mage was a confusing enigma, her demeanour completely out of place in such a high-stakes battle. Her floral spells were effective, certainly, but her carefree aura and that almost cutesy disposition had thrown Caster off from the very beginning.

Finally, Caster could hold her curiosity no longer. "You… you're another magic-user, but what class are you?" she demanded, her voice edged with confusion as her eyes narrowed at the playful figure weaving spells in the middle of the fight.

In response, the half-succubus paused mid-spell and twirled around, her hair flowing elegantly behind her as she struck a pose, placing two fingers in the shape of a V over her eye. With a dazzling wink, she declared in a sing-song voice, "I'm the magical idol, Magi Mari~!"

Lancer, who had been in the middle of decimating another wave of skeleton warriors, nearly stumbled at the sound of this absurd proclamation. Rin, who was busy holding her ground against Kuzuki, let out an incredulous noise that might have been laughter or shock, or both. Even Shirou, mid-swing with Kanshou and Bakuya, faltered for a moment, blinking in utter disbelief at his Servant's outrageous introduction.

But it was Caster's reaction that stood out the most. Her jaw dropped slightly, eyes widening beneath her hood as she processed what she had just heard. "A… magical idol?" she repeated, as if her mind was struggling to reconcile the image of this flirtatious, spell-wielding woman with the deadly, no-nonsense combatants around her.

Pretender only giggled in response, lifting her staff and waving it like a wand, with petals swirling dramatically in the air around her. "Yes, yes! The one and only! A magical girl spreading joy, love, and flower power through all the realms!"

Lancer, knowing that the fight dragging on would only work in Caster's favour, decided to act swiftly. His battle instincts screamed for him to end this quickly, to not give the enemy magus any time to gain her bearings. Caster had managed to keep her distance so far, using her minions to shield herself, but Lancer wasn't about to let her hide behind them any longer.

A savage grin spread across Lancer's face as he made his decision. "I'm done playing around," he growled, planting his feet firmly as he prepared to unleash his Noble Phantasm. Caster, sensing the surge of mana building within him, widened her eyes in alarm. Lancer's aura intensified as his grip tightened around Gáe Bolg.

Lady Avalon, understanding Lancer's intention, gave a wave of her staff. Thorny vines burst forth from the earth once again, wrapping around the legs of the remaining dragon-tooth warriors and pinning them in place. At the same time, a storm of mystical petals swirled around the skeletons and Caster, buffeting them and attempting to herd them together. "You're all set," she called out to Lancer, her voice lilting with confidence.

Lancer leaped into the air, his form a blur as he soared high above the battlefield. "Time to finish this!" His crimson spear shimmered as he prepared to throw it, the power of his Noble Phantasm radiating with deadly, savage energy. The very air around him seemed to hum with bloodthirsty anticipation.

Caster's face twisted in fear and desperation as she realized the danger she was in. She hastily began weaving defensive spells, summoning barriers of shimmering magic circles in an attempt to protect herself. At the same time, her dragon-tooth warriors struggled against Lady Avalon's binding magic, trying to free themselves.

But it was too late.

With a resonant roar of "Gáe Bolg!" Lancer hurled his legendary spear toward Caster. The spear, now glowing with a brilliant crimson light, shot forward like a comet. Its rank had surged from B to A, transforming from an anti-unit weapon into a devastating anti-army attack.

Caster watched in horror as the spear bore down on her, her defences crumbling under its sheer power. In a last-ditch effort, she manipulated the space around her, desperately using her limited spatial manipulation magecraft to redirect the trajectory of the attack. At the same time, her dragon-tooth warriors threw themselves into the spear's path, their skeletal bodies shattering under its might as they attempted to slow it down.

The explosion of mana that followed was deafening. A shockwave rippled across the temple grounds, sending debris flying in all directions. Shirou and Rin ducked for cover, shielding themselves from the blast as Kuzuki was momentarily disoriented. Lady Avalon raised a shimmering barrier to protect herself and the others, her floral magic forming a cocoon of petals that absorbed the brunt of the shockwave.

When the dust finally settled, they could see that the dragon-tooth warriors had been obliterated, reduced to little more than scattered bones and ashes. Caster, though still standing, was breathing heavily, her robes tattered and her face pale from the strain of defending herself. The spatial manipulation had just barely saved her from the full force of the attack, but it was clear that she had expended a significant amount of mana just to survive.

"You're tougher than you look," Lancer remarked as he landed gracefully on the ground, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "But let's see how long you can keep this up."

Caster's gaze flickered toward Shirou and Rin, who had finally gained the upper hand against Kuzuki. Rin, using one of her most powerful gems, had blinded Kuzuki momentarily, giving Shirou the opening he needed. With a flurry of slashes from Kanshou and Bakuya, mimicking the Triple Crane Wing technique he'd witnessed from Archer, Shirou knocked Kuzuki to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Shirou stood over Kuzuki, his body aching from the exertion. "It's over," he muttered, tightening his grip on his swords.

But Caster, even in her weakened state, refused to give up. Her eyes gleamed with a dangerous resolve as she prepared to unleash one final spell. "You're all fools if you think I'll go down that easily!" she hissed, her voice laced with venom.

The battle was not over just yet despite Caster almost exhausting herself, and Shirou, Rin, Lancer, and Pretender braced themselves for what was to come. A desperate opponent was the most dangerous after all.

Omake

Throne of Heroes: Artoria's Wrath, Part 18

Artoria's eyes twitched as she watched Lady Avalon strike a cutesy pose and declare herself the "magical idol Magi Mari." The mere sight of the half-succubus in that ridiculous stance sent a surge of irritation through her, her hands clenching into fists.

"A magical idol? In the middle of battle?! This is supposed to be a serious fight, not some farcical performance!" Artoria fumed, pacing back and forth in the Throne of Heroes. "Who does she think she is, turning this Grail War into a circus? Caster is a highly dangerous mage from the Age of Gods! 'Lady Avalon' should be focused on helping her allies to quickly secure victory, not prancing around like some... some... performing peacock!"

To the side, her knights collectively decided that silence was the better part of valour, leaving their king to stew in her impotent rage. There was no reasoning with her jealousy, and so long as she didn't do anything drastic, like trying to breach the Throne using Excalibur, then it was best to just leave her be and let her vent.

Sir Bedivere stifled a laugh behind his silver hand, murmuring softly to Tristan, "She says it's about the Grail War, but I suspect it's more about… territorial grievances."

Tristan plucked at his harp, nodding sagely. "Indeed, the king's composure is unshakable—save for when her own mantle is encroached upon. A magical girl usurping the role of Camelot's most esteemed Saber? Most tragic."

Artoria shot them both a glare, her cheeks tinged red. "I heard that, Tristan!"

"Ah," Tristan said, his expression placid as always. "My apologies, my king. The harp often amplifies one's musings."

Instead of continuing what could easily become a volatile confrontation, the topic shifted to Shirou's performance.

"Sir Shirou shows remarkable promise," Bedivere noted, watching the young magus fend off Kuzuki. "To mimic Archer's Triple Crane Wing technique so effectively—most impressive."

Gawain nodded in agreement. "Indeed. And to hold his own against a combatant as skilled as Kuzuki-sensei—a seasoned martial artist with superior skill—that is no small feat."

Lancelot chuckled. "The boy's got guts. I'll give him that. Even if he does look like he's about to collapse."

"Yet he persists," Tristan said, his tone tinged with admiration. "A true knight's spirit. He fights not for glory but for those he cares for. A quality we all admire in him, do we not?"

Artoria, overhearing this, peeked up from her hands. Her expression softened slightly, pride flickering across her face. "Shirou… always has potential," she admitted fondly. "And he still fights for what he believes in, despite that whimsical usurper's antics. That is… commendable."

Her loyal knights nodded in agreement, occasionally glancing toward their king with amused glances. This particular storm would pass.

Eventually.

Omake 2: Mordred Mayhem

Lancer took point in initiating their attack against Caster. The Irish spearman lunged at the skeletal enemies with his crimson spear moving like a blur. Rin ordered her new Servant to assist him whilst she and Shirou faced off against Kuzuki.

Mordred joined the battle in a storm of fury and excitement. Her sword, Clarent, shimmered with a wicked crimson glow, promising devastation with every swing. A loud laugh escaped her lips.

Lancer, who had been methodically dispatching Caster's dragon-tooth warriors with his spear, paused for a fraction of a second to glance at the new Saber. He raised an eyebrow at the wild grin plastered across Mordred's face as she charged headlong into the skeletal horde, her blade swinging in powerful, unrestrained arcs. Bones flew in all directions as Mordred carved a gleeful, destructive path through the minions, her movements an elegant dance of savagery.

"Well, well," Lancer muttered, a grin spreading across his face. "Looks like I've got some competition."

Lady Avalon, lounging atop a conjured throne of flowers on the sidelines, clapped her hands together and cheered in a sing-song voice. "Go, Saber-chan! Show them the meaning of knightly savagery! Oh, you're so cute when you're slicing things apart!"

Mordred growled, but her grin only widened as a magical gleamshone around her. Lady Avalon's magecraft, swirling and wrapping around her armour like an aura of power. Mordred's body thrummed with enhanced strength, her strikes gaining even more devastating force.

"Boost me all you want, but I was already perfect for this!" Mordred yelled as she grabbed a dragon-tooth warrior by the skull and hurled it into a cluster of its fellows, sending bones scattering like shrapnel. Her voice was electric with adrenaline and delight.

Lancer chuckled as he skewered three skeletons in one swift motion. "Not bad, Saber. But try to keep up."

"Keep up? You're the one playing catch-up, old man!" Mordred taunted, vaulting over a group of enemies and landing in their midst. With a feral laugh, she unleashed a spinning slash that obliterated the warriors surrounding her. The sheer force of her swing sent shockwaves rippling outward, shaking the temple grounds.

Caster, watching from her elevated position, stared at Mordred with wide eyes. Her terror at the destruction was obvious—this Saber was tearing through her army as if they were made of paper. But alongside the fear was something else entirely. Utter fascination. The savage grace, the power, the sheer audacity of Mordred's movements mesmerised her.

"I-Is this… what perfection looks like?" Caster whispered to herself, clutching her staff as her cheeks flushed with artistic inspiration. For a fleeting moment, the battlefield seemed to fade away as she imagined herself sculpting figurines of Mordred in all her violent glory. A perfect, savage masterpiece.

Meanwhile, Mordred continued her rampage, fuelled by Lady Avalon's magecraft supplementing her already impressive strength. A particularly large dragon-tooth warrior loomed ahead, its massive form reinforced by Caster's magic. Mordred's grin turned predatory. "Oh, you think you're special, huh?" she sneered, charging forward.

"Have fun, Saber-chan!" Lady Avalon called out, twirling her staff like a cheerleader's baton. "You're doing amazing, sweetie!"

"Will you shut up?!" Mordred yelled back, her face red, though it was hard to tell whether it was from exertion or embarrassment. With a roar, she drove Clarent into the giant skeleton's chest, shattering it with a burst of crimson light.

Lancer whistled as he casually dispatched another wave of minions. "You know, I think I like her style."

"You'd better," Mordred retorted, pointing her sword at him with a smirk. "Otherwise you're next once we're done here."

The battlefield became a whirlwind of destruction as Mordred and Lancer fought side by side, their styles contrasting yet complementing each other. Lancer's precision and Mordred's wild ferocity were a perfect storm, leaving Caster with no time to recover or regroup. Her skeletal army was rapidly dwindling, and panic began to seep into her expression.

Still, amidst the chaos, Caster's eyes lingered on Mordred. The way her armour gleamed, the power in her swings, the boisterousness of her personality—it was art.

"I'll make a figurine of her," Caster whispered to herself. "No… a series. A collection! Savage Elegance: The Brutish Knight…"

Unfortunately for Caster, her musings were cut short as Lancer and Mordred turned their sights on her. With her forces in tatters and her barriers barely holding, she realized with growing dread that her only hope of survival was retreat.

But Mordred wasn't about to let her off that easily. "Where do you think you're going, hood lady?!" the Knight of Treachery bellowed, leaping toward Caster with Clarent raised high. Lady Avalon giggled from the sidelines, clearly enjoying every second of the chaos.

"You've got this, Saber-chan!" she called, her voice dripping with amusement. "Mama Shirou is watching you! Show her the power of family~!"

Mordred froze for a split second, her face going crimson. "Shut up! And stop smiling like that!" she yelled, her voice cracking slightly as she brought her sword down in an earth-shaking swing.

Caster was engulfed in a massive blast of violent red energy from Mordred's blade, wearing a goofy grin on her face as she muttered, "Kawaii..."

Omake 3: Morgan the menacing

The battlefield on the temple grounds was a chaotic symphony of steel and sorcery. Draped in elegant black and blue robes with a crown-like headdress, Morgan le Fay, Ruler-class Servant of one Shirou Emiya, surveyed the scene with a mixture of disdain and faint amusement.

"Truly, this is the calibre of villainy I'm forced to observe?" she sneered, her piercing gaze locking onto Caster, who was busy orchestrating her dragon-tooth warriors. "Skeletons? Tattered robes? A tragic backstory that could be scribbled on the back of a napkin? Pathetic."

Caster, in the midst of hurling another wave of magical projectiles at Lancer, froze mid-incantation. Her lips parted in shock as her grip on her staff tightened. "Who… dares?!" she hissed, her voice trembling with indignation.

"I dare, obviously," Morgan replied, tossing her hair dramatically as if the mere act was a spell in itself. She raised a hand lazily, conjuring an orb of shimmering black mana that hovered ominously above her palm. "Unlike you, I don't need to rely on second-rate skeletons or gaudy bounded fields. I could end this charade in moments, but I find your incompetence fascinating."

"Second-rate?!" Caster's face twisted in outrage, her eyes blazing beneath her hood. "You arrogant, self-righteous harpy! My minions have crushed armies! My magic has—"

"—been nothing more than an imitation of true power," Morgan interrupted, her voice like a dagger wrapped in silk. "Spare me the dramatics, darling. Even your motive reeks of mediocrity. Let me guess, you're after 'love'? A hopeless, unrequited obsession, perhaps?" Her lips curled into a cruel smile. "How utterly predictable."

At this, Caster bristled, her fury radiating off her like a storm. "Someone like you would never understand!" she snapped, her voice cracking with raw emotion. "You've probably never known what it's like to love someone—to be willing to sacrifice everything for them!"

Morgan froze, the mocking glint in her eyes momentarily dimming. A heavy silence fell over the battlefield. Shirou shifted uncomfortably, glancing at his Servant with concern. Meanwhile, Rin and Lancer, both sensing an ominous shift in the atmosphere, exchanged wary looks.

Then Morgan laughed. It wasn't a mere chuckle or a reserved giggle—it was a full-bodied, regal laugh that echoed across the temple grounds. "Love?" she repeated, her tone dripping with derision. "How quaint. No, dear Caster, I don't need something so foolish as love. Why would I, when my Master already belongs to me?" She cast a possessive glance at Shirou, whose nervous smile did little to mask his growing unease. "And unlike you, I'm not the type of woman to go foolishly chasing after displays of affection whilst pining like a starved puppy."

Caster gritted her teeth, her fury now tempered by a flicker of fear. "You're insane," she spat.

"Perhaps," Morgan mused, waving a hand as if brushing aside the insult. "But you've annoyed me, and I simply cannot allow such insolence to go unpunished." Her smile turned icy. "I think I'll obliterate you now."

Without waiting for a reply, Morgan raised her staff, and a vortex of shadow and starlight erupted around her. The air grew heavy with magical energy as the battlefield itself seemed to tremble under the weight of her mana. Thorn-like tendrils of darkness lashed out, tearing through Caster's remaining dragon-tooth warriors as if they were paper.

Caster scrambled to mount a defence, throwing up layers of magical barriers, but Morgan's attack sliced through them effortlessly. "This… can't be!" Caster cried, panic overtaking her as Morgan stepped closer, her aura suffocating.

"You really should have stayed in your little tower," Morgan said coolly, her eyes gleaming with triumph as her magic swirled and coalesced into a devastating blast.

"Wait, Morgan, we still need—" Shirou began, but his words were drowned out by the cacophony of Morgan's spell as it obliterated Caster's remaining defences in a blinding explosion of dark light.

As the dust settled, Morgan turned to her companions with a serene smile, as if she hadn't just unleashed a cataclysmic display of power. "Well, that was satisfying. Shall we move on?"

Lancer muttered something under his breath about "crazy witches," while Rin gave Shirou a pointed look. "You've got your hands full with this one," she said dryly.

Shirou sighed, rubbing his temples. "Tell me about it."