Emerald winds blew Astolfo further and further away from his target, either of them.
"How am I supposed to cut at them if you all keep pushing me away?" Astolfo complained. "I'm just the second manliest manly man in Remnant!" Port will always have that number one spot in Astolfo's eyes. He apologized internally. That sentiment would extend to the other paladins if they had been here, though Astolfo was sure that Charlie wouldn't mind; Port would have been declared the manliest paladin if Charlie met the guy.
The protective light of Jeanne brought a stink eye out of him. Why couldn't that barrier reach him? He was only many kilometers away from the rest. Not even Chiron had been spared from Saber's final hoorah. But he was the first to recover between them for Astolfo can already see arrows flying in the air again shortly after.
Nothing had been left in the immediate area around Saber, except for those protected by Jeanne. A completely empty void that had to fill themselves back up in order for the fighting to really resume. Even as it did so, the space now taken there meant space freed up elsewhere. Astolfo could see the skirmishes spreading out further and further apart that one could legitimately find rest. Huntsmen used that chance to switch out their exhausted for those less so.
With Raven lessening the burden by evacuating civilians, Vale's defenders could move and fight with more freedom. Astolfo could see Port clearly, hacking away at the Grimm with reckless abandon. If he wasn't slashing the Grimm or the Cthnonian, he was smashing the toys to little bits. He wouldn't fall easily; Astolfo was sure of that. Someone like Port could never fall so easily!
"Hey!" Astolfo quickly raised his lance at the coming Nevermore. The Grimm fell from the sky, landing on an unaware Beowolf. "I was admiring my man over here!" He swung hard at another Nevermore that followed after. "That's it! Hippogriff! Let's go!"
Astolfo descended on the ground rapidly, landing just in front of Port. Hippogriff clawed at the Beowolves beneath them.
"Ha! Ha!" Port declared. "I see that you're still around, my friend!"
"You think I'd kick the bucket that easily?" Astolfo swung at the toy doing the dishonorable and attacking Port from behind. "I'd like to ask a favor."
"Anything for you, my man!" Port returned by swinging his axe and cut down the Beowolf. He spun and split a spinning Boarbatusk in imperfect halves. He then crushed the chess piece that had stumbled and fell with his own foot.
"Get me close to that one!" Astolfo pointed towards the god of light. "Too many in the air, but I'm sure you could get them down!"
"Simple matters! Come! Let us show Vale what it is to be a man!"
Astolfo and Port flexed their muscles as they shook on it. Astolfo may have led the way but it was Port that consolidated their spots with unparalleled levels of testosterone. Vale's enemies beware, for these two aren't about to let things go as they do. The two fought through their enemies hard and true, always pushing against enemy strength with their own. Both of them combined and there was nothing to overcome their manly might.
Nevermore rained down their feathers. Boarbatusks rolled towards them with great speeds. But nothing could stop Astolfo and Port's advance. It was a shame that neither of them had been a Master and Servant of this Grail War. But perhaps, it was for the best. All the others needed a fair chance, after all.
It was expected, then, both because Astolfo held Harpe and because it was him and Port, that all enemies were congesting to stop them. Cthnonians and these toys made an unexpected alliance as they prevented the two from advancing forward. But these factions did not miss their chance to have the other take the full brunt of the duo's power. Cthnonians would put toys in front and vice versa. They would fall eventually. They all did.
Rider was still keeping Caster distracted. That skill of his, Fairytale Knight, was in full swing even from Astolfo's distant eyes. Swinging the sword with finesse and grace that Rider never displayed thus far, spewing words that were too big even for the wisest of Charlemagne's court. Caster was constantly pushed back, alternating between defending himself and preventing Astolfo from moving. It was a battle between knights: one who embodied the lofty ideals of chivalry while the other being the reason such ideals should exist.
"Here!" Chiron called out, shooting away at the far away enemies closing in on Astolfo. He didn't just loose arrows at his enemies, Chiron also punched, kneed, elbowed, and even grappled his enemies. Fitting for he who taught the many heroes of Greece. "Give it to me! Just get up there and get into position!"
"You got it, Chiron!" Astolfo threw Harpe like a javelin and proceeded to easily hack away the distracted enemies. The Cthnonians cared not for Astolfo and the toys were too disoriented to realize the sudden change.
Only the Grimm were still making their way towards Astolfo and Port. These ones had to be controlled by Salem. These ones had to be ignorant of what it was that they were trying to do. But that didn't matter, more Grimm towards him and Port meant less Grimm towards the less fortunate. Astolfo and Port were men; they could take it.
"Focus on the Cthnonians!" Chiron declared. "Clear them as you go!" he rushed towards the god of light with that unbelievable speed of his. Then again, he was a fully-fledged centaur in this moment. Having a horse's legs must mean greater speeds than human ones.
"Let's not fall back, Hippogriff!" Astolfo tucked his lance tight. He then offered a hand for Port. "Get on! Let's joust!"
Hippogriff kept the wings retracted and charged forward. Astolfo cleared the path towards the god of light, lance skewering the Grimm and the toys while his mount stomped on those unfortunate enough to avoid the spear's point. Port dealt with any stragglers and the dishonorable, unmanly acts of the attackers from the side and behind.
Meanwhile, Lancer and Jeanne were too busy dealing with their own set of problems. Hey! Miss Nikos was back! Look at that. Hippogriff's cry brought Astolfo back to the present; his lance was getting lower. But he was a Servant so he didn't lose his grip on it despite all the force that it had to endure. Still, it just wasn't proper for a paladin to hold a lance like that.
Cthnonian numbers were getting too much for Chiron to handle. Horse's hooves could only stomp and kick them away for so long. Being in this form also had its disadvantages.
"My turn!" Port declared. Chiron didn't even question it and passed Harpe onto Port.
The Cthnonians, more focused on Harpe, Caster's doing, soon departed from Chiron. Caster must have known what Harpe does. They wouldn't have been so intent on it otherwise.
Even with one arm compromised, Port easily hacked through the enemies while Astolfo focused on charging towards their enemies. Hippogriff was slowed as tentacles then appeared from the ground, rising high above them only to come slamming down on the ground, uncaring for its friends so long as its foes were dealt with. It was shame for there were no foes that were in its wrathful path; Hippogriff had the agility on that.
Chiron cleared the skies with an intent on focusing on the airspace surrounding the god of light. The god of light moved lazily, swatting away the Grimm like mere flies. But the Cthnonians and Paper Pleasers took its attention and received the god's fury. Lightning bolts rained down on the Cthnonians and burned the Paper Pleasers into nothing.
Concrete broke apart, revealing the burst pipes with the leaking of waters. A chain of explosions further damaged Vale's infrastructures as gasses were exposed to the intense heats of those bolts. Grimm, Cthnoninans, especially Paper Pleasers, were burned from the sudden flames.
Hippogriff continued its charge as all enemies were beginning to crowd around them. The increasing number of the fallen had slowed Hippogriff with uneven footing. Those that had already fallen before vanished, opening space for the newly fallen to fall into, further causing an imbalance in Hippogriff's advance.
In the distance, Astolfo noticed and realized that Sanson was back on their side. His form was weak and he wasn't moving to fight either. He was resting his exhausted bones while Lancer and Jeanne continued to form their circle around the Masters and their friends. Chiron was inching his way towards them.
Meanwhile, Rider and Caster fought like knights of nobility. Swords clanged, locked, broke-off, parried, and struck metal more than it would any fleshy bits. Caster had greater control, having both hands on his sword while Rider had one hand on the shorter blade and the other on the shield. Yet, both combatants kept multitasking. Caster brought up the Cthnonians to attack Rider and the others while Rider continued his command of the Paper Pleasers near him.
Rider was clean despite the rust of his armor. Caster was dirty despite the sheen of his. Rider's face couldn't be read with his helmet covering it. Caster's anger and frustration were plain for all to see. At times, Caster's eyes would drift towards any of the Servants, locking on Astolfo since he held Harpe.
Packs of Beowolves surrounded them. Repha'im were right in front of them. Hippogriff couldn't get into the air. Nevermore were closing in as well. Paper Pleasers lifted themselves to meet with these Nevermore.
"I believe it is your turn now, Astolfo." Port handed him Harpe. "I shall hold them here!"
Astolfo nodded. He had faith in Port. "But first!" He raised his lance and thrust hard against the front leg of the Repha'im. A horrid sound was heard as he forced through the aura and into the Grimm flesh. The Repha'im fell forward but it had yet to perish.
Port jumped off of Hippogriff and hacked away at the packs of Beowolves, even welcoming the Nevermore that had flown to close to change their direction. Chiron was supporting Port there, occasionally shooting an arrow for Astolfo to go on unimpeded.
The lance struck left and struck right. Astolfo swung with all of his weight and might. The god of light was getting near to his eyes. Hippogriff's eyes locked own with wings ready to take off and fly. Toys made their attempts to hold them down. But the wings of Hippogriff were too strong for them and these toys fell on the ground.
An eagle's cry was heard as Astolfo flew straight for the god of light. Harpe couldn't be used like a jousting lance but Astolfo already knew that; he didn't hold it like one. The god of light, too focused on the enemy Cthnonian and Paper Pleaser, failed to notice the most imminent threat that was coming for him.
Astolfo gripped tight. He took a deep breath. Hippogriff twisted to grant its rider better space. Wings went straight for a glide. Astolfo pulled Harpe hard.
His ears would have gone deaf from the scream of the god of light. The moment the blade had pierced through that immortal skin had been the moment that pain and mortality was felt by a god. Perhaps, in myth and lore, only the god of darkness would have been able to wound such a being. But today, Heroic Spirits of Earth made their mark as those capable of standing up to even the gods themselves.
But Astolfo couldn't cut through all of the god of light. A sizeable wound had been inflicted before the god of light's arms quickly covered all of Astolfo and he found himself being thrown hard against the ground his grip on Harpe and Hippogriff were lost.
"Get Harpe!" Astolfo pointed to the weapon. "Get Harpe!"
His vision comprised entirely of a spinning Remnant. Each rotation had the broken ground become larger in his eyes. Toys especially were gathering with spears and swords all ready to skewer Astolfo for the crime he had just committed. In a strange coincidence, Grimm and Cthnonians were like his saviors, more concerned with the toys than himself.
Astolfo closed his eyes. He was getting nauseous just looking at the swiftly moving images. He covered whatever he could and braced for impact. More than anything, he protected his head.
But it wasn't the cold, hard ground that met him, neither was it the many spears of the toys. Grimm that should have been there were absent as well. Cthnonians were now too far for they were being shot down by Chiron. Above Astolfo, Hippogriff managed to catch Harpe in its beak.
White mustache filled Astolfo's vision. He was in the arms of Peter Port. Astolfo put his arms around Port. "My man!" Astolfo buried his face in that mustache.
"Astolfo!" Chiron cried suddenly. All his arrows were directed towards god of light. "Get to Atlas! Now! Never mind Raven, just get to Atlas!"
God of light directed all ire and focus on Hippogriff. Hippogriff tried to get closer but those bolts keep falling.
"Then let us be off!" Port answered for him. He ran towards the general direction of Atlas, bridal carrying Astolfo.
Sparkling eyes admired the manliness simply coming out of Peter Port. Astolfo always knew him to be the man of Remnant. Now, there was no doubt about it in his mind: it would be an honor if the Throne of Heroes recognized this running sample of masculinity. If not, then it was the loss of the Throne itself.
Though arrows were clearing the path of Grimm and Cthnonians, it was as though all enemies had stepped aside to allow Port to pass. Two Nevermore above flew. Shredded Paper fell like confetti. All that was missing was a bouquet.
"Now!" Port cried out as if he himself had command. Astolfo felt himself being lifted. "Hippogriff! Take your rider to Atlas!"
Mustering every ounce of his portly strength, Port tossed Astolfo and the latter landed perfectly on Hippogriff's back. Hippogriff returned Harpe and Vale's Companion Rider soon fled towards Atlas. The god of light following them from behind. Rage and fury chased after macho on a mount.
Astolfo could look back at Vale, look back at Port. That man didn't miss a beat and began to cut down all enemies that surrounded him. There were many enemies, all of them closing in on Port. But those were fair odds. A man like Port needs great numbers to match his testosterone-filled splendor.
Though it was day, Port shone the brightest of them all. Astolfo saluted and faced towards Atlas. The god of light was blocking the view even as they reached the borders of Vale's kingdoms. In the distance, Astolfo caught sight of a metal machine heading towards Vale, flying Atlas' colors. If he kept the path, that airship would be destroyed.
He smirked. "Let's take the scenic route! Hippogriff!" They made for a hard turn and the god of light followed them directly. Astolfo got past the airship and saluted, though at their speeds, he doubts that anyone could have seen that gesture.
God of light kept following after Astolfo. It wasn't exactly according to plan, but Archer will have to make do with this.
/-/
The Nevermore didn't want to bring them towards Salem.
"May I remind you that your master and I are still fighting on the same side?" Curious Cat reminded. Now bereft of a much more combat oriented vessel, though Sanson wasn't quite the most combat-oriented Servant, Curious Cat was the weakest performing Servant out of everyone here. Even Caster himself was a better combatant than they were.
Caster was still combating Rider. The rage and anger grew from the moment that god of light had been wounded. Curious Cat couldn't interpret that scream any other way; the god of light had been wounded. If he could be wounded, then he could be killed. It could have turned out that way to had the god of light allowed whatever weapon that Companion Servant used to fully cut through him. Even as the god of light chased after that Companion, Cat could only describe those pouring out from his being as the equivalent of blood.
All plans eventually would be destroyed. Attempts at keeping that immortal killer from Salem was gone. If Cat was quick, they could get into Salem's good graces. But right now, a very unwilling Nevermore wanted nothing more than to peck away at a creature made of the light.
"Don't make me give you something else to do!" Curious Cat's paws glowed. The Nevermore eventually complied. "Good Grimm."
Grimm took hold of the airspace. Huntsmen were out of Dust so they can't shoot. Toys were losing their numbers now that the god of light has perished. Paper Pleasers struggled to get into the air as they folded themselves into new shapes. Cthnonians kept everyone grounded. But Caster and Rider continued to clash.
Charles Henri-Sanson was still out of the fight but he was recovering. The other two Servants with him were protecting their Masters and Sanson with them. Their defense was tight and difficult to pierce through but they couldn't get past the crowding group of enemies. It didn't help that Berserker was nearby, along with its Master's peons.
Salem still sat on Monstra. That Grimm circled around Vale. Cat's hairs would have gone stiff and sharp as needles if they had any; Cat gave themselves hair. There was no movement coming from there, no sign of Salem raging or even commanding to follow after the god of light.
The Nevermore flew close enough above Monstra for Curious Cat to leap onto. It didn't miss its chance to peck at Curious Cat once and they had to scratch back and hiss like cats do.
"Just you wait," Curious Cat declared. "I'll get me a much more fitting vessel and you'll all regret ever making me angry! I'll soon know everything about you!"
That Nevermore only screamed back and returned to the chaos. It was the only moment of relief that Curious Cat had.
Monstra's surface was quiet. Make no mistake. One could hear the combat from up here. But there was no movement. Curious Cat couldn't even see any of the Seer Grimm from up here. Salem was absent from the surface. Yet, Cat was certain that it didn't mean it was good news.
Getting inside Monstra was as simple as getting into the mouth of Monstra. There wasn't a blowhole of sorts that they could enter and Cat wasn't about to enter on the other end, even if Grimm don't really do so; Cat didn't wish to find out.
"Will you look that?" Curious Cat thought out loud. "Something I don't want to know." They shook their head and timed the opening of the mouth of Monstra.
Seers were absent. None were attending to the needs anywhere. If they were all down there, there was no way for Salem to have known about had she been outside. But Cat still approached with wariness. They may be a Servant but they are in a literal belly of the whale. They were at such high altitudes that it would take too long for Cat to escape. By then, everyone would have dealt with everyone else, they were sure. If not, those Companion Servants would come for them.
Then, Curious Cat saw her. Salem sat on her throne. One lonely Seer was attending to her. That Seer had no other features and yet it was as though that thing was afraid. Cat was too and they were farther away from Salem. Salem's form was unreadable. Cat couldn't tell for there were no ticks nor tells coming from Salem's form.
Cat approached slowly. Salem either didn't notice their presence or she was allowing them to move as they pleased. Cat's paws went back up with every step as though they were stepping on sharp objects, each point piercing the paw.
Eventually, Cat made it to Salem's feet. Still, she didn't move from her throne. But Cat saw that the eyes moved.
Finally, Salem spoke. "You've lost your vessel, Cat?"
Cat bowed as humbly as they could. "They had a secret up their sleeves, your majesty. I… I was caught off-guard."
"Are you now? Well I suppose that makes two of us. Tell me, you did hear it, right? That ghastly scream of tortuous pain, that agonizing cry that signaled the feeling of hurt, that belonged to the god of light did it not?"
"Why yes." Cat chose the truth. Salem would have seen it through the Seer. "I was quite surprised to hear it that I thought that darkness returned and chose to oppose his brother."
Salem chuckled in amusement. "That would have been an interesting sight to see. But, you see, I have had a different interpretation of such events."
Curious Cat hoped that Salem did not hear them gulp.
"For such pains to come out, it would mean that the god of light has been wounded, no?"
Cat nodded.
"But how could it be, you may ask?" Salem, evidently, didn't see it. "As a god of light, the creator of everything that ever was, should it not be exempt from any sort of pain?"
Curious Cat would have raised an objection. For one, there was darkness. If nothing else, those equal to a god would have the capacity to hurt them. For light, who would be more equal than darkness? But they'd rather not. Servant or otherwise, Cat didn't have the means to deal with an immortal.
"We know pain to be a natural occurrence in nature. A response to that which harms us, that which could kill us."
They readied themselves for what was coming next.
"That Companion Servant, now far away from us, carried that weapon to, what I assume to be, the kingdom of Atlas."
"It would seem so, your majesty." Curious Cat nodded along. Not once did their eyes turn away from Salem's form.
"A means to kill an immortal." Salem's eyes stared back at Cat's own. "A means to kill me."
Curious Cat sought its immediate refuge. "I was not aware of such actions."
"Perhaps not." Salem's hand burned with fire. "But what of your vessel? He whose knowledge should have been accessed by you, by your own admission."
Now, Curious Cat regretted the decision of approaching Salem in the first place. "W-well, I didn't e-exactly know everything. I've l-learned about Charles' living conditions, n-not so much about his involvement. He w-wasn't that involved with Archer and the rest!"
Grimm began to appear and circle around Curious Cat. They had no doubt that they could take on all the Grimm and win in the fight. But Cat was certain that it wasn't death that these Grimm were looking for.
"Caster told me to keep it a secret!" Curious Cat blurted out. The Grimm halted in their place as Salem raised her hand.
She approached the Curious Cat. She leaned forward and made sure that her eyes were looking at nothing else other than the Cat's own and vice versa. Despite not being a Servant herself, there was something about Salem that chilled Cat's own spine. Cat's hairs waved in coldness all the way towards the tail.
"You speak true," Salem declared. Her eyes left Curious Cat and went towards the back of her own hand. "He wishes to find the means to kill me and he intends to do so alone." She returned to her throne, deep in thought. "He will rebel against me should I consider using a Command Spell." Her fist slammed hard against the armrest of her throne. "Ozma already rests! He has found it many, many times! Even now, he has found rest before myself!"
She stood once more from her throne. The Grimm followed her, leaving Cat alone and with space to breathe.
In any other circumstance, Cat would have run away faster than they would have from the Jabberwalker. But there wasn't the safest space anywhere here and Cat couldn't hope to hide away until Salem could calm down. Grimm wouldn't listen to Cat and they couldn't forcibly change their beings to be more subservient to themselves that easily.
A finger pointed towards Cat with conviction. Salem had made her decision. "Go inform Caster of my awareness. I am gracious enough to let such a slight slide. But see to it that this Grail War will end with my death. Have him find another to take my place as his precious bride and let that unfortunate maiden bear my curse. No. Why don't you find her yourself?"
"Understood, my mistress." Curious Cat nodded furiously. "I'll inform Caster right away!"
They left Salem to her lonesome as fast as they had arrived, if not faster. Curious Cat didn't need to convince any of the Grimm to bring them down for there was one ready and waiting. These Grimm felt the fear from Cat. These Grimm must have tasted it and found it to be the sweetest thing. Cat hissed at them all when they licked their tongues. Berserker wasn't this malicious.
"Don't take me too close!" Cat demanded. "At least give me some space to work with!"
Cat swore that Nevermore was cackling as it brought Cat to some distance away from Rider and Caster's fight.
Those two were still going at it after all this time? Where was everyone else? Cat looked towards where Berserker was. They realized why: Berserker was currently occupied with Lancer and a Companion Servant. The other one, Chiron, was attending to Sanson. Meanwhile, Lancer's Master, along with her team were focused on Berserker, its Master, and its Master's team.
Rider's team was going towards him. Rider's Master was especially convinced of something as she had raised her shield and spear. Not even the Cthnonians were enough to slow them down. Neither the Grimm nor the toys could make them stumble.
Paper Pleasers were beginning to lose their numbers. Even those not torn apart had begun to fade away. But the damage was done. For the Grimm, only a few Repha'im had fallen; those that have left behind the dead faunus of Menagerie. For the Cthnonians, Caster's ability to summon more was limited due to Rider's interference. For the huntsmen, they weren't refreshed but they found their second wind, courtesy of the Paper Pleasers, and with the civilians being mostly evacuated, they could return to the fight with freer.
Curious Cat landed on the ground but did not hurry towards Caster. That way led to a direct confrontation with Rider. As they are, Cat didn't want to deal with either Servant.
"Well," Cat excused. "Salem did say I should try to find one for Caster. Might as well soften the blow and look for someone."
/-/
"Bastards." Raven chuckled at the vague sight she managed to get through the open gaps and the windows. But she didn't need to see when she heard it so clear. "They actually did it!"
Meanwhile, Blake could only stare at the window pane. Her vision beyond it blurred. She heard it just as well as anyone, even better considering her better hearing. The sight of these Repha'im and what they leave behind when killed had blinded her of everything else.
"Dad…" Blake said. The Repha'im were Menagerie's people. Menagerie was tossed into some horrid Grimm experimentation and made into soldiers of terror. Somewhere among them had to be her dad.
"Hey," Raven said. "You want out of here? Now's your chance, kid."
Blake noticed that there were so few civilians left. Blake could join them now if she could.
"Or maybe…" Raven stepped closer. "You're thinking of something of else?"
She turned around again. Dad could be out there, likely dead. But he was out there.
"I…" Blake reasoned. Dad was likely dead. Every one of these Rephai'im gave out the dead. What would make Ghira Belladonna any different? "I don't have a weapon."
Blake heard a weapon being drawn. It was Raven's weapon. "I want it back." Raven's eyes glowed and another weapon, made of ice, had appeared in her hand. "I have my spares. But I still want that steel back."
Eyes trailed the blade. It wasn't her type of weapon, more akin to Adam, his old one. But Blake had trained with and under Adam Taurus. Her palms were sweaty, knees weak, arms were heavy. Her hairs were standing already. But for her mom, Kali, Blake steeled herself and said, "I'm ready."
It felt awkward to hold. It wasn't her weapon.
"I'll…" Blake promised. "I'll hold onto it until I find my own back."
"Good." Raven nodded. "Because I really want that back."
Blake shook her head and took her first step. As she did so, she stiffened and loosened her muscles. Her neck twisted and turned and she stretched her body until she could hear those sounds. She was out of practice. She placed her hand on the doors. They were red, just like that other door from a time ago that felt as though it was still happening.
She took a deep breath and opened the red doors willingly. No one was there to greet her. No one was there to welcome her back. All of them had their battles to fight. Blake was only one but her aura was unspent, unused, untapped, brand new.
One Cthnonian came for her. Blake had been a little slow but managed to leave behind a shadow clone for the Cthnonian to grab onto. She had been away from combat for a long time. She wildly slashed her opponent until there was nothing left.
She felt a strain in her arms after that. She shook her head; she was out of practice and greatly so. She couldn't just move about as she initially wished.
AN: Is Port x Astolfo a background thing in this fic? The best way I can describe it is that they're "best friends." That is the best describe that. If you and your homie aren't known as homies in history, are you really homies?