Fate Val Grand Order: The Dark Saint Saga

by Alas29

Ritsuka Fujimaru was just a normal person some months ago and now he's fighting to save humanity by traveling through history. Not only that but he also encounters two kids who want to know the reason they can't remember anything of their lifes, who they are and how did they end up far from home . An alternative version of FGO Observer on Timeless Temple.

111. The Return

Hello everyone and welcome back to the start of chapter 111 of the story!

Or as I like to call it, chapter one one one. I like it when a story chapter has a number where its three digits are the same. It's like a casino machine where you hit the jackpot. It's on a line of between amusing and weird satisfaction for me.

But now, with that out of the way, let's start it!

DISCLAIMER: All of the Nasuverse characters belong to Nasu and are property of Type-Moon, with the exception of the OC's that belong to me, the author

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"It appears Olgoi-Khorkhoi has been killed..."

Cursed Arm speaked in a hushed tone, still in pure disbilief on what he and the party had witnessed on the far Egyptian desert. "No. It doesn't 'appears'. It was really killed!"

"But...how so?" Ritsuka muttered, remembering of the chaldeans encounter with the deadly giant sandworm in their very first hour in this Singularity shortly after arriving. How violent, intimidating, and strong it looked, he and the team at the time having gone through an hard time to escape and survived to such terryfying creature. And now, there it was, dead and beatened up.

"This can't be good news." Nala speaked, imagining what could've happened for a phantasmal being such as Olgoi-Khorkhoi to have been killed in such way.

"It certainly ain't. The Sun King as much likely lost one of his best defenses that guarded his kingdom." Hundred Personas replied. "I can already tell the things on his side must have gone the most unstable with this, having happened in his 'backyard'."

"Who or what could have even done this?" Mash made the question everyone was now thinking about. "By the looks of it, it doesn't seem to have been the Lion King nor I think she would have reasons to be attacking Ozymandias territory as both their kingdoms have made a truce deal."

"Perhaps the Lion King wants to get rid of ALL her possible enemies within the Singularity." Touta thought of it in another way. "As of now and after the attack to the village, the Lion King and the knights must think we've died, meaning that in her head, the only faction that can still be a threat to her is that of the Sun King." Despite saying that, the archer also had doubts in believing that. "But still, I don't think she would kill the sandworm in such gruesome manner."

"And she wouldn't." Sanzang talked, continuing to look at the distant deceased Olgoi-Khorkhoi, specially the pair of scorpion tails that pierced its body. "If the Lion King wanted to get rid of it, nuking the creature through the usage of her Judgement would be more of her way to deal with it. The things that are now holdings its body couldn't have any correlation with her powers. The Lion King's maggic altough menacing is divine. But this...it looks putrid and fiendish, a total opppsite."

"You can tell by the way it was dilacerated." Bedivere told. "Who or whatever did it, must have been an even stronger person than the Lion King or a creature more terryfying than Olgoi Khorkhoi itself."

"We never once thought it would be possible for Olgoi-Khorkhoi to be killed." Serenity stated, her voice with the clear sound of bafflement in it. "It's existence made the desert a very dangerous place to cross. Even the Lion King's forces would be very cautious when travessing it, making the sun kingdom's city almost impossible to reach. And now, it's just gone."

"Doctor. Can you give us any possible clue or intel on what caused the sandworm's death?" Mash requested for Romani's consult, wondering if he would have any better guess than them all.

"Unfortunately, I'm just as oblivious as you." Romani replied, appearing on his hologram. "The zone where Olgoi-Khorkhoi died can't be analyzed and researched by our systems at the moment." He told to the party, while the doctor and the staff at Chaldea attempted to manuver the situation. "Every time we approach it, SHEBA begins to malfunction due to what he can only assume to be an highly dense amount of what he can only describe as dome type of dangerous mana. The best we can do now is wait and see if instability within the area decreases so that we can obtain some answers."

"In other words, we currently have no idea to figure it out." Nala resumed. "We could go there check it for ourselves but I doubt with what doc just said it would be the wisest thing to do."

Still gazing at the dead creature, Ritsuka bringed a thumb to his chin. "What could have killed it? Why was it killed in such way? It's as if it was left as a way to give a signal or message for others to see. Why though?"

"What are you thinking about, master?" Mash asked him, pulling Ritsuka out from his train of thought.

"That there's definetly something off about the sandworm's death." Ritsuka responded. "If neither the Lion King nor Ozymandias could have done it, then who or what did it?" The master of humanity closed his eyes for a moment. "Just thinking about it is making my brain get-"

"Don't worry about that. Leave it for another time." Cursed Arm interrupted him, aprroaching Ritsuka. "There are more important things that you should be doing right now."

"Huh? Like what, Cursed Arm-san?" Mash asked to the assassin, wondering what he was talking about.

"That place where the Great Founder told you to find. Atlas Institute." Cursed Arm reminded them of the advice words of the First Hassan. "It's in the desert after all, isn't it?"

"Oh that's right!" Nala exclaimed, remembering of that topic. "With the sandworm dead, we can travel through the desert looking for Atlas Institute without worrying of being swallowed by a giant monster!"

"Thinking about it, yeah! This is indeed a golden opportunity now to explore the desert at more ease!" Romani also reached to the same conclusion. "True that some sandstorms and enemies can appear here and there, but as long as Olgoi-Khorkhoi is out of the picture, we can search for the place more easily." Saying that, made the doctor himself thinking of something. "Could that mean, that it was guarding the Atlas Institute during all this time?"

Ritsuka however seemed a bit reluctant. "I know that we should head there as First Hassan said that we would find answers within Atlas. But, what about the village? We cannot leave what remains of it and its inhabitants unprotected, can we?"

Mash also had that opinion, speaking with Cursed Arm. "The village has just been recently attacked. It wouldn't be correct for us to leave it right after. It will be a matter of time until the Lion King and the knights realize we have survived and come attacking what's left of the village."

"And who exactly said that ALL of us would be leaving?" Hundred Personas speaked with a smile.

"This village and these people are our responsability after all." Serenity also speaked. "As Hassans, it would be a blasphemy to not do our job of guaranteeing their safety."

Ritsuka looked to the two assassins. "Huh? So you are staying behind? You sure you don't want all of us here instead? The search for the Atlus Institute can wa-"

"No it cannot." Cursed Arm replied, putting his hand on Ritsuka's shoulder, getting his attention. "Do not be a fool, Fujimaru. I appreciate the kindness and worry about it, but we Hassans will be able to deal with the matters of the village for now. And like lady Kyrielight said, it will be a matter of time until the Lion King discovers we aren't dead and attacks us again. So don't waste time with this dillemma and instead go and find the Atlas Institute!" He said, almost sounding like he was giving an order through the compassion with Ritsuka.

"But...you sure?" Ritsuka questioned, to which the Hassan nodded.

"Don't fret. We will take care of proceeding with the funerals of Arash and everyone else." Cursed Arm said. "You go and do what you have to do. For the sake of humanity."

"You heard him, Ritsuka!" Nala said, standing next to her friend. "Every minute in finding Atlas is precious now that the sandworm is gone! We have to trust him, Serenity and Hundred Personas and take the opportunity!"

"Do listen to her. We will be okay." Serenity told to Ritsuka, looking him in the eyes. "Whatever happens, we will make sure the civillians survive. Just like Arash did."

With those words said, Ritsuka was eventually convinced. "Okay. I trust you."

"Glad you decided." Hundred Personas smirked a bit before throwing a scroll to Ritsuka. "Here. Take this."

"Fou?"

The chaldeans gave all a curious look as Ritsuka unrolled it.

"What's this?" Mash asked as she stared at the paper.

"A map." Hundred Personas answered. "It was given to me by that mysterious guy in the yellow coat right before we left my village. He told me to give it to you. Apparently, it's to a location of some ruins in the desert that even the Sun King himself can't reach, being guarded by some wild sphinxes and other creatures. You better be careful when reaching there."

"I bet my money on how that's where we will find the Atlas Institute." Romani speaked as he observed the cartography of the map.

"Then we should head there right now!" Nala said, already not wanting to waste time anylonger in the village.

"Fou! Fou!"

"But you aren't actually thinking of going all by yourselves, do you?" Bedivere approached the chaldeans. "If the matter at hand also involves the truth about the Lion King, my king, then I shall also head there with you as my part of my journey as well."

"And it won't be just that!" Touta also approached alongside Sanzang.

"We're going with you as well to uncover the mysetries this Singularity and beyond has guarded from us!" The buddhist monk said. "And like always, where the west is, I'll always be heading there! The egyptian desert is still unknown by us and I always felt the need to go there! It might have been Shakyamuni's way of telling me that we'd find something in there that had been hidden from the start! So please, do allow this monk and her disciple to also accompany you!"

"Sure thing! The more the better!" Nala told to the servants. "Reaching and finding the Atlas Institute certainly won't be quick and easy so we better do this with a compact group!"

"This must be a good enough group for that then." Mash commented, finding that the members that constituted the party were more enough for the expidition on the egyptian desert. "A bad thing that we don't have the vehicle anymore to get us there in a question of hours." The shielder lamented a bit.

"Fou..."

"Yeah..." Ritsuka also replied in sorrow. "I wish to have spent more time driving it."

"I'm glad you didn't." Nala replied to him shortly.

"I wish you all good luck and to return safe." Serenity told them. "In the meantime, we will also begin doing the preparations."

"Preparations for what?" Nala asked her.

"The final battle that is approaching by." Cursed Arm responded. "It is time we put an end to the Lion King's reign of cruelty once and for all! We finally have a good number of solid allies to help us on that. Us three will spread words of your group aaa their deeds to all the survivors of the other mountain villages. It must be enough to create a decent sized army with enough power to make an assault to the Holy City. We shall no longer remain hidden or flee!" He shared the plans of reuniting every other fighter available, having a feeling that the final showdown in this Singularity would soon take place. "So haste now! Go and fulfill your current task that we do ours!"

Ritsuka nodded, accepting the assassin's words. "Got it!" He then looked to the party that would be going to the egyptian desert. "You've heard it! Time to move guys!"

"Don't worry about the village's safety, my friends!" Saruhan, coming from behind, exclaimed from the top of his lungs. The ex-merchant now behaving like a whole different person, revigorated. "For Saruhan The Great Ghazi will defend this village and its noble people no matter what!"

The chaldean group ended up giving embaressed reactions and forced smile in response. They still couldn't believe the fact that the scummy thief that they had met back at the merchant town was now willing to help them out of pure goodness from his heart.

"He had to have hit his head somewhere at some point." Ritsuka murmured, a drop of sweat falling from his head.

"Either that or the intense heat affected his brain." Nala whispered back.

"I-It's also a relief hearing you will lend a hand on the village's safety, Saruhan-san." Mash said, having enough kindness to at least congratulate him for his recent growned decency.

"That will leave us with more relief...I guess." Romani speaked, clearing his throat. "Anyways, to the egyptian desert we go!"

Bedivere nodded. "Time to hit the road, in search of the Atlas Institute."

"Sure!" Ritsuka replied, giving one last glance at the Hassan trio. "Take care of them. We shall be back in a day or two." With that said, he and the party begun to walk away, heading to the village's exit. But before they could leave...

"Wait! Wait a sec!"

A young voice shouted from behind, getting the group's attention to see who was calling for them, arriving near them with quite a hurry."

"Hm? Rushd?" Nala saw the muslim boy standing right in front of them, taking some time to breath as he had catched them up. "Why running all the way here? Have something to say?"

"I'll...I'll also protect the villagers again! Arash entrusted me with that task and I will do it till this is all over!" Rushd expressed one of the last things Arash told to him before parting ways during the raid of the village. "I know that I'm just a kid who can't do much unlike you to help, but still, I'm going to do my best in protecting it just like I tried before!"

"You look very determined in your very own words, boy. Why for that?" Sanzang asked him, seeing how Rushd appear to be talking from the bottom of his heart.

"Because I need to honour Arash!" Rushd responded. "He believed that one day, I will be brave enough to do more than staying here and actually help my friends! He entrusted me with the people's safety before dying! I know I'll never get to talk or see him again now but..." Holding a pain on his throat as he prevented tears from falling, the boy remembered of his last moments with the archer. "I'm happy that our final conversation, such warrior like Arash...believed that I too could become like him one day!"

"..." Ritsuka and the rest heard it with huge attention. All in all, Rushd's expressing his feelings didn't changed a thing to them and quite possibly was only delaying their search for the Atlas Institute. Yet, they found the boy's confession captivating and worth hearing. How even someone like Arash, a more less known hero that perceived himself as such, was still able to leave a mark in someone's heart.

"That's why, I wanted to ask you this, since I cannot ask him..." Stabilizing his voice to say it out and taking a deep breath, Rushd looked at the party. "You think Arash is proud of me?"

"Rushd..." Nala was a bit impressed by the question, telling how important it was for him to have an answer to that question.

For Ritsuka, it made him see something. How the boy in front of him reminded the master of humanity of Peko at the very start of their journey to save humanity. Looking back, Peko during the beggining was a bit like Rushd: fragile, limited and scared many of the times. And yet, always wishing to prove himself in wanting to help the rest of the team, not wanting to be a liability. And now, Ritsuka saw those past things mirrored in Rushd.

However, Bedivere was the first one to speak out of all of them. "He is." The knight approached Rushd. "Way up high, I know Arash is somewhere there, smilling upon you."

"You think?" Rushd replied, the answer from Bedivere leaving him a bit astonished.

Bedivere nodded his head. "Even if I knew him only for a few weeks, it was more than enough time to see what type of person he was. A selfless and kind hero, worthy of being titled as such." He looked up to the clouds above, closing the hand of his Airgétlam. "Always moving forward and cheering others up. So yes, I indeed believe he's very proud of you, Rushd."

"After all, you were the one who guided the villagers deep into the cavern, moving them away from conflict and more into safety." Mash speaked, a smile on her face. "You made sure panic did not installed amongst the inhabitants. That already was very important from your part, Rushd."

"Well, I just did what Arash told me to do." THe muslim boy had sorrow in his eyes. "And yet, he died."

"So what? You think he would care about that?" Nala responded almost bluntly. "Don't be an idiot! If the villagers could survive at the expense of his own life, Arash had no problems with it! And you helped him guarantee that they did! Don't be a downer when Arash wouldn't want you to! If you want to keep honouring him, it will be as the brave person he thought of!"

"Then...you really think I made Arash proud?" Rushd said, a small gleam on his face.

"As proud as possible." Ritsuka told to the muslim boy. "And you can continue it. The job Arash left behind, it's yours now to carry it on. And while it's still too early at the moment, maybe in the future, you will become a beloved hero. Just like him." He patted the boy's head. "So give your best, Rushd! Like Arash, we also think you can reach there one day!"

Having got to hear such words of approval and motivation, having got the response to the question he so much wanted the answer to, Rushd almost cried for a moment, now fully believing he had indeed made Arash proud. "I-...Thank you! I'll strive for it nonstop then! For Arash! For you! For mom! For all those who died and are still here! I'll become someone more capable to protect them!"

"You better mean every single word of it!" Nala smirked to him.

"I do! Just you wait!" Rushd replied back. "You and Peko might have gotten a sooner start, but I'll eventually reach there as well!"

"Hmm, I dunno. We'll see." Nala giggled a bit.

"For now, keep with the good job and be the guardian of this village alongside Cursed Arm and the others, Rushd." Ritsuka smiled to him. "I know you can do that a second time, can you?"

"As many times as necessary! I'll always protect my people and Arash's memory!" Rushd exclaimed back with a big smile. "See you all in a day or two! Good luck on your mission and to all of you to return safe and sound!"

"Fou fou!"

Bedivere chuckled. "We will make sure of that. Don't worry."

"Take care as well, Rushd!" Ritsuka told to the muslim boy before the entire party begun to walk again, passing through the village's exit as Rushd stayed behind, wishing them good luck.

As the boy did that, Ritsuka couldn't help but close his eyes and smile a bit.

Mash took notice of that, smiling as well. "Rushd really resembles him in some ways, doesnt he, master."

"Yeah. It was as if he was back again for a short moment." Ritsuka's smile grew a bit more. "Back at the very beggining, y'know?"

"So I wasn't the only one who was also drawing parallels." Nala talked, having the same sensation, a more soft smile on her face. "Honestly, he was quite a whimp back then...I miss him."

"We all do." Mash said it as well, wishing that they could reunite with him again and that it could happen right now.

To that, Ritsuka proceeded to stare the path ahead of them, his mind also having the same the same thoughts. At least knowing he was still alive for now gave him a bit of hope. "Whatever is happening where you are, I wish that you're okay, Peko. We refuse to leave you behind!"

---

After hours of traveling, the night naturally fallened, the party having to take a break and set a camp for the evening, right at the border of the wastelands with the egyptian desert. They decided that tomorrow, they would spent the entire day searching for the Atlas Institute, since as of now it was for the best to take some time-off.

"The dinner will be ready soon! Don't forget to come here and eat it once it's finished!" Touta informed them as he was by an improvised bonfire, cooking a chicken soup for the entire party.

"Got it!" Nala responded before shortly going back to what she was doing before. Having a firm grasp of the sword in her hands, the girl took a focused breath and close her eyes for a second, a small stone standing in front of her. "Yah!" Swinging her blade, Nala quickly slashed the stone, looking like to have perfectly cut it in half, also making a small fissure on the ground with it. Despite having looked like a great executed blow, she wasn't particularly satisfied with her practice so far. "Hmm, tsk. There's still something missing."

"I see you haven't stopped slashing at rocks and stones ever since we settled." Sanzang speaked torwards Nala, seeing the good number of cut stones laid around that the girl had used for training. "Are you trying to accomplish something?"

"Yes, basically." Nala replied, talking with the monk. "I'm...trying to obtain my very own Noble Phantasm." She revealed.

Sanzang's eyes blinked a bit in surprise. "What?"

"That's pratically impossible!" Touta talked, hearing the chat near him. "You're not an Heroic Spirit. You can't attain a Noble Phantasm if you aren't one."

"Well, I also previously thought reaching to the 'ascension' of my capabilities and mana was also unlikely to happen. Yet, I was able to ascend!" Nala told to Touta and Sanzang as well. "Hence why I have an armour when transforming. It's basically a servant's 'ascension', right?"

Sanzang reflected a bit about it. "Hm, you could consider one, yes. But in the world of magecraft, even mages can enchance their overall abilities through transformations and other magical resources, so I dunno really. I'd say the most correct term would be a 'pseudo'-ascension." She said, coming to notice the slight frown on Nala's face. "Still, it is quite impressive that you managed to get such achievement! Such thing is nothing but the fruit of your hard work!" She did a thumbs up, hastily wanting to cheer up the girl after what she said before.

"Thanks, Sanzang. But I do know my limit hasn't been reached yet." Nala replied, giving the buddhist priest some serious look of ambition. "What Rushd said earlier today made it clearer. I too want to strive for more! The upcoming battle against the Lion King and her knights will require us to be at our very best if we wanna win it! And if I'm able to unlock a Noble Phantasm of my own, I think I'll get the final push that I need to get in good chances of at least deafeating some of the Round Table knights!" She looked at her own sword and how refined it looked, believing that the weapon could, just like her, raise its potential. "That's why I need it before the final confrontation!" She closed up her fists, pulling a face of zeal and commitment.

Sanzang couldn't help but giggle a bit at the girl's energy. "Eh, that's the spirit! You sounded a bit like my disciples right now."

"You think I sound that energetic?" Touta murmured behind her, thinking Sanzang was off by implying he and Nala had some similar personality.

"Then, can you give me a pie-"

"A piece of advice? I sure can!" Sanzang replied, already guessing what Nala was about to say. "Here's one." Moving slowly her arm, the monk softly touched with the tip of her index and middle finger on Nala's forhead.

"Hm?" Nala wondered what she was doing exactly.

"Dripping water eventually penetrates stone." Sanzang uttered in a solemn and quiet tone, moving her fingers graciously from the girl's head to the place of her heart.

"Uh? What's that supposed to mean?" Nala asked to Sanzang, still a bit oblivious.

"Patience, young pupil." Sanzang giggled with amusement.

"It's one of those many proverbs from her land." Touta explained, letting the food cook a bit as he approached Nala and Sanzang. "I'm kinda baffled that you haven't heard a single one of them till now. They're quite popular."

"And this one is to learn us about patience." Sanzang pointed at the cut stones behind Nala. "You have been slashing down all these stones repeatedly, time after time. Going so quick about it that you didn't even slowed down to reflect a bit on what's really missing. Doing all fastly and jumping over the details will many of the times not give you the answer you are looking for. Sometimes, you have to be patient and slow to slice it down, like small drops of water that gradually weakens the stone until it fully breaks. A tempestous and uncontrolled mind is no good when you want to achieve. Blocked chakras disrupt not only a person's body but their mind and soul as well. Instead, relax and soften your entire being, letting the vital energy flow through your veins."

Paying great attention to Sanzang's words as if they valued gold, Nala took her conclusion of the advise. "To do things more pateintly and relaxed...Perhaps that could make me perceive them better and analyze what I'm missing." She lowered her head and stared to the ground in contemplation, thinking about the chinese proverb. "Hm, that's a good advice. I think I might do just that!" Nala lifted her head, happy and smiling to Sanzang.

"Hahaha! Did you heard that, Touta? Masterful advice!" Sanzang laughed, content with Nala's answer. "This lady monk still got the hang of it!"

"Just because you might be a bit silly it doesn't mean you're inept to be a mentor...most of the times." Touta replied, thinking while Sanzang could be a bit of a goofball and a bit far from the idea of the great teacher and buddhist monk he initially imagined about, the bowman of the Heian period could still see the glimpses of wisdom and tutelage within her. All in all he didn't mind to be her 'disciple' and being her travelling companion. "But you heard her right, didn't you? Patience is key to many virtues. Flowers, rice and plants don't grow over the night normally."

Sanzang nodded her head in agreement, looking at the wastelands behind them. "With all given time, even flowers can flourish in the driest of places with the smallest rain of inspiration."

"Another proverb?" Nala asked her.

"Nope. Just a quote I invented by myself now." Sanzang replied with honesty. "Altough, I admit I already thought of writting a book full of proverbs created by myself! Pretty good idea, right?"

"Knowing you, you'd never settle down from travelling just to write a book." Touta said, believing Sanzang would always be on a journey until the end of her life, loving it too much to just leave it entirely.

"And who said I cannot write ones during my breaks between travels?" The monk told him. "I have plenty of them in my head that I want to pass onto paper! It could be my great gift to Shakyamuni and everything!"

"Heh. It's funny. On my previous adventure, a guy who was also from your land would say some similar things as advices as well." Nala revealed, remembering of her training with Li Shuwen on the previous Singularity.

"Oh? You met another chinese servant? Was he a philosopher?" Sanzang asked, highly curious. "Who was it? Kong Qiu? Xunzi? Oh, or perhaps Meng Ke!"

"Uh, none of that. It was a martial artist in actuality." Nala revealed, much to Sanzang's slight dissapointment. "He would also say those kind of proverbs and stuff but in a more serious tone like: 'Hmm! Fear a person who trained a single blow one hundred times rather than a person who trained one hundred blows a single time!'" Nala made her best in putting an impression of Li Shuwen's voice. "And ever since then, I've been trying to perfect and train this one slash, wanting it to become my Noble Phantasm."

"Wow! That's quite the good saying!" Sanzang was genuinely astonished by such phrase. "Martial artists also do have their own way of philosophy, don't they? I should begin investing more on my own as well!"

"But isn't your philosophy already one that follows in accordance to the guidelines of Buddha?" Touta questioned.

"Yeah, but I can expand that dogma way further! Spreading and developing it with my own teachings! From East to West, discussing with like minded and abstract minds from every land on my endless journey!" Sanzang exclaimed. "Do tell me if that doesn't sound like the adventure of a lifetime?"

"I believe so. But I always prefer the comfort of my house at my homeland. The life I had was as good as it was." Touta responded, satisfied in setting down at one specific place in contrast to Sanzang's never-ending travel.

Sanzang pouted unsatisfied on the other hand. "But doing travelling alone is quite tedious. I would want to bring all my disciples alongside me."

"But what if I didn't wanna go?" Touta argued.

"I would find a way to bring your house with us so that you could always be closer to home!" Sanzang gave a stupid big smile, thinking such idea would be genius.

"Wha-? Don't be silly!" The bowman told her. "You couldn't damage my property just like that! I'd still be missing the fields and everything else!"

"I'm sure a painting of it would solve the problem!"

"That would just worsen it!"

"Hey guys." Nala called the two's attention.

"Hm?"

"What is it, Nala?" Touta speaked to her, resulting in Nala to nonchalantly point at the boiler going up in flames at the bonfire.

"The dinner is getting overcooked." She said with a deadpan expression, immediatly causing huge alarm on Touta's face.

"OH CRAP! I forgot about it!" Rushing torwards the food, the bowman still tried to make in time to save it, removing the boiler from the top of the flames. "Please please please, don't be ruined!"

Sanzang tsked behind him, shaking her head while smirking. "Silly Touta. Showing how even warriors like you can have small moments of distraction."

"Would you guess it, nobody's perfect!" Touta replied to her, calming down a bit once he saw that the chicken soup hadn't been spoiled. "Phew! Fortunately, it seems we removed it in time." Until the boiler itself went up in flames, much to his very comedic shock. "Aaaaaah! It's burning! Put it out! Put it out!"

"OUR DINNER!" Sanzang yelled in terror before quickly recomposing herself. "Worry not, my disciple. Mentor Sanzang will help you surpass such hardship! " She immediatly begun helping Touta extinguish the fire as Nala went alongside her.

"Firefighter Nala to the rescue!" The girl exclaimed as she also went to aid the duo to save the dinner from being scorched.

Meanwhile, as that was happening, the other half of the party, Ritsuka, Mash and Bedivere were all watching the chaos of the trio a bit more from behind.

"Shouldn't we also go there and help them?" Bedivere speaked with the other two.

"Nah. I think they are able to handle it themselves." Ritsuka replied, thinking that the boiler on fire was a thing that didn't required their intervention.

With that being said, Mash continued their conversation. "So, what do you expect to find once we get into the Atlas Institute?"

"Answers, of course." Bedivere speaked, looking at both Mash and Ritsuka. "Very important ones. Such as the 'truth' behind the Lion King that First Hassan told us about.

"You must be eager to learn it, Bedivere-san." Mash said.

"I wouldn't exactly say 'eager' but more like...anxious." Bedivere used a more fitting adjetive. "Anxious that it is nothing but a simple truth that the Lion King is indeed the king I once knew and cherished, having grown way colder and detached from hyman suffering. That His Majesty has truly become that monster on her own volition." The silver arm knight grasped Airgétlam, rotating his own hand before closing it. "Gawain, Tristan, even Mordred. They are barely the companions I once knew and fought with. I dread that the king is no different. No manipulations, vessels, clones or brainwashing. Just a king even more of a shell of her previous self. I fear that." Looking down at the Divine Construct, Bedivere said a part to himself that he still couldn't bring it to them. "That it was all my fault."

"Let's hope for it. And that the Artoria Pendragon you used to serve is still in there somewhere." Ritsuka replied to Bedivere, feeling the knight's very valid concern before turning his face around and facing Mash. "And what about you Mash? We also may get to know the servant's identity that resides within you there."

"Like Bedivere-san, it leaves me a little nervous." Mash replied with sincerity, looking up to the sky. "My mind cannot stop but wondering what will happen when I get to know about this Heroic Spirit's identity. Will they leave my body? Take over it? Our identities merging into one? Do all my memories of the time spent with master and others going to be erased in order to become the servant's vessel I originally was supposed to? Or maybe not even Atlas Institute will get to know that answer, dying with never knowing who they were."

"If that comes to happen, then I myself will reveal the identity of the Heroic Spirit to you, Lady Mash." Bedivere told her to not worry. "Remember, me and the other knights of the Round Table do know that the Heroic Spirit inside of you used to be a fellow companion of ours."

"I appreciate it Bedivere-san." Mash commended his kindness. "However, like you said, it is something I have to discover on my own by searching. And I believe it will be at the Atlas Institute that I'll find the answer for it." Telling him that, she then directed her gaze at Ritsuka. "And what about you, master? What is the secret you are the most intrigued to know about?"

"That is quite the hard question to answer." Ritsuka scratched the back of his head, thinking about it. There were so many things they could end up discovering in there, with Ritsuka wanting to know the truth behind each one of them. "I'd like to know what the Lion King could possibily be hidding about her own identity, as well as getting to know who's the Heroic Spirit in your body too. But also, I want to see if there will be something about Peko and Nala's past. If they'll get to have some answers to what they want."

"I wish that's the case for them." Mash replied. "Unfortunately, it wouldn't feel right to have all those revelations without Peko being here. It's a moment where all of us should be present. I bet Peko himself would be craving to know it too."

"Yeah. I even bet he'd probably hardly sleep just think about it." Ritsuka gave a weak smile, thinking about that. "Honestly, it's been only two weeks at most, but I feel it has been years since the last time we've saw him. If it wasn't for the fact we know he's still alive from our encounter with the knights..." Clenching his fists, his face turned into guilt. "I'm not sure if I too would be able to sleep at all."

Mash comprehended her master's pain. "We never know when we might lose someone. We've already lost Da Vinci-san and depending of what's happening in the Holy City, we might lose Peko as well." Sadly saying that, Mash then shooked her own head. "But I refuse that to happen! I believe that no matter what, we will get to see Peko with us again! For Nala's sake! Master's sake! Everyone at Chaldea's sake and even Peko's too! He won't let him die!"

"You speaked well, Lady Mash." Bedivere commented. "A very precious friend like that isn' to be left behind. But also, I think that your friend is likely okay as of right now. If what we learned about his situation due to our battles against the other knights is true, Peko is being kept as an important prisoner of the Lion King. And while the king and the others might have lost their way, they still wouldn't keep a prisoner for no reason at all." The knight theorized. "It's clear that the Lion King wants something from your friend, hence why he and Lady Nala happaned to have been picked during the Holy Selection. Until the Lion King's plan is complete, she has no reason to kill your friend. So as we speak, I'm sure Peko is very much alive, so don't panic and grief yet, as there's still hope of saving him."

"That is a very corrected guess when analyzing it." Romani appeared on his hologram, hearing the conversation. "Peko must be an essential piece for the Lion King's goal. As long as it remains like that, he will be alive even if captive."

"But then that would only be a matter of time." Ritsuka replied. "We're not sure when Peko could stop being important to her objective. It might be tomorrow. Today. Or perhaps it might have already happened and he's-"

"Master, stop!" Mash requested of him, preventing Ritsuka from dwelving into a spiral of bad emotions and awful thoughts about Peko's possible fate. "Doing that won't help us now. I trust Peko to stay alive as much time as necessary until we come for him." She grabbed his hand, calming Ritsuka a bit. "You can trust in him too."

Ritsuka's mind eased down with that, Mash putting some sense and tranquility onto him. "Yeah...You're right, Mash. Sorry for being a bit pessimistic now."

"It's okay, master. I'm saying this but I also feel worried about Peko." Mash confessed. "It's just, we have to remain positive and not lose our focus."

"And that's why being a master is no easy job." Romani told him. "It's a role that requires someone to control and even repress their emotions to a certain point, having to get over the tragedies that might happen on a mission. You can't even have barely the time to grief that or shed a tear as the overall situation demands a strong concentration from you to complete the task." The doctor ended up feeling some pity. "And having to endure all that as a normal human like you, Fujimaru...It must be hell. No. It is hell."

"You can say that journeys are made of that. Suffering and trying to overcome it no matter the pain you have to withstand, both physical and psychological. In a way, it tests ourselves." Bedivere replied, expanding on the topic. "Forcing us to become a better version of ourselves by the end of it. If it is worth the suffering or not, it will depend on each person. However, if we can still be happy and smile with the journey now completed, that will be an indicative. Fujimaru's own fortitude will dictate that, being up to him only."

"I'm glad you're trying to cheer him up in some sort of way." Romani said to the knight.

Bedivere smiled a bit. "I just think that would be one of the things Arash would say to rise up the spirits, altough maybe with some more enthusiasm." He scratched the back of his head, thinking about the fallen ally of theirs that sacrificed himself to save them and the entire village. "Perhaps some of his optimism is rubbing onto me."

"Arash-san energy is quite contagious." Mash also speaked well of him. "It was like he was always happy and could find an hope in any desperate situation. We must also do this for him."

"That goes without thinking." Ritsuka replied. "For him, Da Vinci and everyone else!"

"Oi! What are you talking about over here?" From behind, Nala's voice was heard as she approached the other half of the group, apparently having saved tonight's dinner alongside Touta and Sanzang.

"Too many things." Ritsuka replied to the girl before being a bit more specific. "One of them being about how Peko must be doing right now."

"That wasn't too hard to guess." Nala replied, feeling something moving on her back, catching her attention as she saw Fou popping up behind her shoulder.

"Fou! Fou!"

"Bringing Fou to listen the conversation as well? He sure likes to stay on someone's shoulders." Mash said at seeing the animal appearing oout of nowhere behind her friend.

"He really does. I didn't even knew he was with me." Nala replied, picking up Fou. "I know it must be comfy but tell me next time first, okay?"

"Fou..." Fou let out a reply with some shame.

"Now, back to what I wanted to say." Nala put Fou on the ground before speaking. "I hope Peko's alright. I don't see the time to finally get him back from the Lion King." She said altough without much intensity, being rather calm.

"..." But Ritsuka knew that didn't mean Nala wasn't worried about her brother. Far from it. For an entire week she had grieved and been devastated with the news of Peko's capture and Da Vinci's death, remembering how the girl barely even interacted with or speaked with them during that period. It was a rough time for her. But now, she clearly looked to have slowly surpassed it.

"As his sister, this past two weeks must have been quite an agony for you." Bedivere replied to her.

"Yeah. I could even barely sleep right in those nights, always cursing at myself for being unavailable to rescue Peko or prevent Da Vinci from dying." Nala slightly gave a stare to Mash. "That...and other things I feel ashamed of having done recently. My mind just felt completly lost."

"That is all resolved now, Nala. You don't have to feel bad about it anymore." Mash said, having since forgiven Nala for that time period where the girl acted like a jerk to the shielder.

Nala gave a sad smile to her friend. "Hm, you really are a good person, Mash. It makes me doubt if I really do deserve your kindness sometimes." Her smile faded. "If it wasn't the small moments of playing ball with Rushd or the tasks to keep my time occupied I think I..." Hesitating, Nala hold her tongue as she closed her eyes and sighed. "You know what? Forget it."

"You okay, Nala?" Ritsuka asked her.

"Yes. Thankfully, I now have overcomed that." Nala replied, showing a smile. "I realized that as long as there's a chance of Peko being alive, even if slim, I will cling onto it and not lose hope!" She showed more energy and positivity in her. "So heads high guys! If the Lion King hasn't won yet it's because we still haven't lost! Like we still haven't lost Peko yet!"

"Wow! That was quite the emotional wiplash there." Ritsuka commented, surprise how fast Nala went from sad and despondent to joyous and uplifting.

"Well, we can't be discouragers forever, can we?" Nala giggled at Ritsuka. "Tomorrow, we will possibly get to know the why of many things. Even my and Peko's whole memories of our lives and background. And as much as I wanted him to witness those things with us, a part of me finds it funny that I will get to know all of those things first than him! Like, imagine his face when he realizes he missed on all that amount of revelation and the Atlas Institute itself!" She laughed.

Mash laughed a bit as well. "I think he would be quite unhappy too."

"He surely would beg us to visit the Atlas Institute again even if the Singularity was about to dissapear in the next five minutes!" Ritsuka decided to joke as well, imagining the boy's reactions to all that, helping the master of humanity feel a bit better. Laughter was really the best medicine sometimes.

Bedivere watched the trio all laugh and joke with each other, looking overall happy. Initially confused, the knight ended up smiling, understanding the why for the laughs as well as seeing a bit of his previous companions and himself in the chaldeans. "Eh. I almost had forgot what an united group is like. They truly feel and care for one another." Bedivere looked down to Airgetlám. "If I could at least have one more moment like this with the others too..."

"Uh! That's quite the way to rise up the spirits!" Romani said, also finding amusing the small nice moment they were having. "We truly have many things to tell Peko once we reunite with him again. I do wonder if the inverse could be applied." The doctor said as he thought if Peko also was having his own advenutre on the Holy City.

"Guys! Dinner's ready!" Sanzang exclaimed to the rest of the group as she and Touta had finished setting up the table and plates.

"Come to eat!" Touta added.

"Looks like it was right on time!" Romani noticed before staring back at the Chaldea team and Bedivere. "Tomorrow, we will search for the Atlas Institute on the desert. Have a goodnight everyone!" He said farewell, his hologram dissapearing.

"Let's go then!" Mash got up from the ground before heading up to the table.

"Fou! Fou!" Fou went to follow the shielder right behind.

"This was surely a nice conversation." Bedivere also get up from the ground. "Let's see what Touta has prepared for us this time."

"It does smell good! That I can tell you!" Nala replied, sensing the smell of the food. "Get up before it gets cold, Ritsuka!"

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Ritsuka chuckled as he stood up from the ground and stared to the party getting together at the table. "Hey, Nala." He called the girl who was still near to him.

"What is it?" Nala turned around and asked before receiving a gentle and affectionate headpat from Ritsuka. "Hm?"

"You said it well just now." Ritsuka told her as he smiled with gleam to his companion. "As long as there's a small hope, we can keep going forward!"

In response, Nala smiled back to him in the same way, forming a kind of synergy effect beetween the two. "Aye aye, captain!"

---

And like they had anticipated and planned, the party on the following day searched for the Atlas Institute in a travel through the egyptian desert. Altough the surrounding threat of Olgoi-Khorkhoi not being anymore present, the group still had to go against some smaller monsters of the region and sandstorms through their journey.

Eventually, and after some hours of wandering, by following the instructions and directions of the map Hundred Personas had gave them, they had presumably reached to their destination, going over a giant dune.

"It says it is riiiight here." Visualizing the map, Ritsuka lowered it down, ending up seeing a temple in ruins amidst the sands, being surrounded and inhabited by the wild sphynxies Hundred Personas had warned them about. The material of the ruins itself seemed of a polished, clean blue stone with some type of hieroglyphs written in it.

"It checks out! These are the ruins!" Nala speaked.

"And still, like before, no contact with the doctor." Mash said, ever since they went through a sandstorm, having lost connection with Romani. "The mana around here must mess with the transmission and communication systems in Chaldea."

"Head up, everyone. This zone is very heavy guarded." Bedivere warned them. "It really has the intention of letting no one enter the Atlas Institute. And stay also alert to the figure Hundred Personas spoke of."

"Yeah, I remember." Nala replied, her head going into a small flashback of one of the things the assassin told them right before the party left the village.

"And just one more thing. There has been rumours that a mysterious figure has been frequently spotted near those ruins. A figure-"

"-dressed presumably in a black cape and turban." Nala recounted. "Who could it be?"

"A description like that in this type of setting would fit someone like T.E Lawrence." Mash took a guess. "He was famous for having helped on many rebellions and revolutions across the Arabian Peninsula during World War One. He could as well be a bit familiarized with the egyptian desert."

"So you take it as a clue that we might find him in the Atlas Institute?" Ritsuka asked to the demi-servant.

"Perhaps." Mash replied.

Sanzang however was feeling something strange. "Hmm, where's exactly the entrance to the place however? There seems to be none seen from here. Is that why the Sun King himself couldn't investigate it despite being within his territory?"

"There has to be another reason other than that. Perhaps the Atlas Institute itself remained all this time concealed from travellers eyes and others." Touta told her as well as to the group. "We might as well be part of the very rare few that discovered such place."

"Well, only way to get to locate the entrance is by heading closer to the ruins." Ritsuka narrowed his eyes to the place and the strong enemies in it. "And probably some fighting along the way. Ready?" He asked to the party, everyone nodding. "Then let's go!"

Walking forward and descending the giant dune, as the group was approaching the ruins, it didn't lasted long for the sphinxes to become aware of their invading presence, immediatly emitting an hostile sound, flying off from the ruins and heading torwards the group.

"We've already been spotted!" Mash exclaimed, summoning her shield. "Prepare for battle!"

"Transient Wall of Snowflakes!"

"Bewitching Rosy Cheeks!"

"Bale of Inexhaustibility!"

Getting all ready, the party clashed in with the sphinxies, initiating the battle. One that revealed to not be easy as the magical creatures appeared to be plenty in contrast with the party, having to pull some effort to bring each one down.

"Precise Stroke!"

Lashing upwards, Nala landed a huge slash on a sphynx, altough not being enough to kill it, having to do that with a second attack, something that annoyed her a bit. "Tsk! It still wasn't enough!"

On the ground, Sanzang and her cloud clones were attracting majority of the group of sphinxes alongside Touta, holding them off rather well, pulling a combination of their arrow and scepter attacks.

Ritsuka, Bedivere and Mash for their part were handling two sphinxes, with the master of humanity giving instructions to both servants.

"Mash! Attack its right paw!"

Going for it, Mash obeyed her master's command, slicing the sphynx right paw with the sharp part of her shield. "Ah!"

"Bedivere! Hit that one's left paw!" Ritsuka proceeded to tell to the knight.

"Understood!" Parrying an attack with his sword, Bedivere then attacked the creature's paw and subconsequently its left wing as well, leaving the sphynx stunned for a bit.

"Great! You're both doing well!" Ritsuka commented while Fou was observing on his shoulder.

"Fou! Fou!"

"If we keep like this, we can eventually win, no matter how many sphinxes there are!" Ritsuka thought, assuming that this battle would eventually end with their victory.

However, everything could change in a second.

Fighting against Mash, the sphynx glared at Ritsuka for an instance, the creature deciding then to target him instead and forget Mash, jumping over the shielder, surprising her. "Eh?! M-Master, look out!" She exclaimed, seeing the large sphynx quickl dash torwards Ritsuka who was unprotected.

"Crap!" Ritsuka's heart freezed as he saw the monster heading torwards him out of nowhere.

"FOOOU!"

Wanting to stop the sphynx from hitting Ritsuka, Bedivere was about to step in.

"Airg-"

"You can only use Airgétlam one more time. Better spend it wisely when the situation calls for it."

"!" Remembering of that warning from Arash, the knight hesitated for a second. "But if I don't use it now..."

Unfortunately, the sphynx was now near Ritsuka, putting its claw up high in order to kill him with it. Everyone else was too occupied with their own fights, only able to watch it as Ritsuka was about to be fatally injured by the sphynx.

The master of humanity would still try to dodge it, but by now it was more than likely impossible. And Ritsuka himself knew it despite the despair and worriedness in the group's faces. "Dammit! Speaked too soon."

As he closed his eyes and prepared himself for the excruciating pain that was about to come, instead, what Ritsuka saw was a beam of light coming from behind, hitting successfuly the sphynx, preventing the enemy from harming Ritsuka, much to the master of humanity's and the party's astonishment.

"That's-"

Watching the other sphynx fail, the second one immediatly jumped torwards Ritsuka and tried to be the one to finish him off, only to be stopped by the metallic and pristine blade of a sword.

"FOU! FOU!"

Looking up to who saved him, Ritsuka's eyes widdened as he saw who it was. "!"

Nala and Mash had precisely the same reaction as they saw who was the person as well.

"It's really..." Mash could barely say it due to how huge the surprise was

"It's you! You're back!" Nala exclaimed, a full on smile of happiness showing up.

Ritsuka couldn't be any different, unable to hold on his joy. "Haha! You're here!"

Standing beetween his friend and the sphynx, the boy had clashed with the creature's paw, holding it back with his weapon. Before, he had ended up paying for doing the same thing. But now, he wouldn't let it happen twice. "I knew these creatures wouldn't start to make noise for no reason at all."

"Peko!"
"Peko!"
"Peko!"

The entire Chaldea team shouted with happiness and amazement as they saw the companion that had been away from them for some time finally coming back.

"Luminary Route!"

Parrying the sphynx attack and able to push its claw back, Peko fired a potent light bullet to its torso and then redirecting it to its two wings, leaving the enemy fallened on the ground. "Looks like I came at the right time!"

"It's true! You are really okay!" Ritsuka immediatly get up, having missed his friend so much. "We-"

"Not now, Ritsuka! We have to get out of this situation first!" Peko replied, his mind still in battle. "I know where the entrance to the Atlas Institute is! All of you, follow me! Quick!"

"Got it!" Ritsuka replied as Peko's got the entire group's attention, making them reunited with him and Ritsuka as the boy then started to lead the running group into the temple's ruins while being chased down by the group of sphinxes that went after them. A sudden attack managed to keep them a bit more away from them.

Ritsuka looked to habe noticed it. "What a-"

"Don't look behind! Keep moving!" Peko told him, wanting eyes on the path they were running ahead.

Turning left and right and running across some halls, Peko and the group eventually had reached to a dead end.

"There's no path after this! Where to now?" Touta asked as they saw the sphinxes beggining to approach the party.

"Nowhere! It's right here!" Peko responded.

"Right here? But I don't see anything!" Mash replied, wondering what Peko was talking about.

"They're getting close!" Sanzang saw the enemies shortening the distance even more.

"Peko, where is the en-" As Ritsuka was about to ask Peko where was the entrance to the Atlas Institute after all, the ground beneath them dissapeared, revealing itself to be a trap door, with the entire party ending up falling into the giant and seemingly bottomless pit, having escaped the sphinxes.

---

.

.

.

"Rit...suka.."

"Ritsu...ka..."

"Hmmm..."

"Ritsuka..."

"P-Peko...?"

"Ritsuka! Wake up!"

Slowly opening his eyes, Ritsuka saw Peko standing right next to him, checking to see if he was alright from the fall.

"Phew! That was close!" The boy said with a relieved smile. "I'm glad that you didn't end up getting hu-?!"

Acting out of emotion and without saying a thing, Ritsuka immediatly got up and hugged Peko. Hugging him as tightly as possible, being together with his friend again after what seemed an eternity. "I missed you."

Despite a bit confounded at the start by Ritsuka's sudden hug, Peko ended up smilling as well, returning the hug back to him. "I missed you too as well. All of you." He said, both he and Ritsuka unmaking the heartfelt hug before taking a look to Mash who was behind him, having watched both of them hug with a wamr smile on her lips.

"Welcome back, Peko." Mash opened her arms. "It's a joy to see you well."

"Same goes for you, Mash." Peko told her, hugging the shielder too, having also missed her gentle friend. "And now, where's-"

"YOU IDIOT!" Jumping, Nala appeared right in front of Peko, hugging him by the head, surprising her sibling. "I WAS WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THE PAIN AND AGONY YOU CAUSED ON ALL OF US! IDIOT! IDIOT! IDIOT!" She said effusively, her emotions being way over the top, having finally seen her brother again. Those days and week of utter depression and misery now going completly away.

"Heh! Of course it wouldn't be you if you didn't reacted like that!" Peko joked, being more than happy for being with his sister again. "Also, sorry if I caused you all of that. All of you." Peko said to the team. "But it's good to finally see you again! And sis..."

"Hum?" Nala looked to Peko.

"I made sure to be strong and not fret." Peko told her, looking to his sister in the eyes. "I know I had to. To see all of you again."

Nala smiled, genuinely happy to hear that. "Heh. You had to be one day, scaredy cat." She blinked at Peko.

Peko and Mash's reactions were also the same.

"You managed to escape from the Holy City alone, Peko. That is a thing that no one believe it should be possible." Mash emphasized the feat it must have been for Peko to have been able to flee from the Lion King's domain while as her prisoner.

"That puts me in so many questions! How did you managed to escape? How long and much did you planned in order to escape?" Ritsuka asked Peko, his mind intrigued to know about all of that detail. "And..." He then gave a weird look to Peko's new clothes, not being the ones he was wearing when they last saw him. "What are those clothes?"

"Oh, this?" Peko gestured to his own prince clothes. "Courtesy of the Lion King I suppose. There are so many things that I have to tell and explain you."

"Then let it be known that you aren't the only one." Bedivere speaked torwards Peko. "We also have plenty of things I assume your friends are excited to tell you."

"I already forsee a loooong conversation just about that." Peko said, shaking hands with Bedivere. "It's good to also see you again, Luci-"

"Bedivere. That's my actual name." The knight revealed to Peko. "I believe you still haven't knew about it."

"Oh! So that's your true name!" Peko replied. "Guess the suspicions were right after all about you using a fake identity. Welp, in that case, it's good to meet you for real this time, Bedivere." THe boy smiled to the knight before rotating his head to see Sanzang and Touta. "And sorry but, who are you two?"

"The reliable and wise buddhist monk, now mentor, Xuanzang Sanzang!" Sanzang introduced herself to Peko, doing a prayer. "From the famous 'Journey to the West'. You must have heard about it somewhere before. Nice to meet you, young man!"

"And I'm Towara Touta. A warrior from the Heian period." Touta introduced himself, altough a bit more calm than Sanzang. "Nice to meet you too."

"Hmm, a servant from China and other from Japan. I see." Peko said, taking a good look at the two Heroic Spirits. "If you're aiding my team this far, then I'm more than honored to have you as allies!" As Peko finished saying that, footsteps echoes withing the chamber of blue stone walls that they were in, coming from the hallway to their left.

"Who goes there?" Bedivere immediatly took out his sword alongside the party minus Peko, someone walking into the room. A figure in yellow coat, making Bedivere's mind go back to the day he spent in the merchant town, thinking he had seen someone similar before there. "That's-!"

"A guy...in a yellow coat?" Ritsuka stared wierdly at the person who had just entered the chamber.

"Oh no no no, please put your weapons back! He ain't an enemy!" Peko explained, immediatly telling to the party to not fight the person, claiming he was on their side. "In fact, he was the one who guided me to this place."

"Really?" Nala replied, puzzled. "Could he be the figure Hundred Personas was talking about? But the appearence don't match the description."

"Hey. I think you can show yourself to them. You were also waiting for all of us, weren't you?" Peko told to the person in yellow coat to reveal himself to the others.

"Heh. Correct."

Moving his arm, the man proceeded to took out his yellow coat and reveal his true form to the party, gaining a mix reaction of perplexity and shock from both Mash and Bedivere.

"You- But you look like..." Mash had no words on how to put it when she saw the man's face.

Being almost as spechless, Bedivere's eyes could only slightly tremble at the sight of the person's identity, barely believing in what he himself was seeing. "You are..."

Smiling, the young man revealed himself as someone with short blonde hair and green eyes. A white knight armour with blue vests, very identical to the one's Bedivere's king used. An air and appearence that radiated the same feeling and royalty as the knight's ruler that he had served during his life. It was as if he and the group was all staring at an exact recreation of the famous king, Artoria Pendragon. But of the opposite gender.

"Salutations, people of Chaldea and allies. I am Arthur Pendragon, King of Knights."

To be continued...

---

And that was it for chapter 111!

And we finish this one with the bomb! Oh yes, you saw it right! Arthur Pendragon from Prototype is here! Now I know that if you all read the story so far (which I assume you did because you wouldn't just be reading ch 111 without having read all of the other ones) this revelation probably didn't come as much as a surprise, you have probably figured it out Arthur was in this story since London's final chapter (Or perhaps there was a moment where he 'appeard' earlier in the story? *wink wink*)

And that the imposter plotline that appeared right at the beggining of Camelot would lead to this. Like, it wasn't my intention to make Arthur's appearence seem like the most unexpected and hidden plot twist of all time, because sometimes unexpected plot twists can do more harm than good to a story if they seem to have come out of nowhere or had no hint torwards it. So while it can be considered kinda 'predictable' as long as it felt natural and well implemented in the story it's all good.

Also shout out to that person who posted a review back in June already anticipating and wishing for it. So, congratulations dude! You're the winner of this chapter!

And Peko's also reunited with the rest of the team once more! (Man, I really make a character be captured only to free themselves a couple of chapters later. Only now I'm realizing this habit my story has XD)

But anyways! That's all I wanted to say, and see you next time, on chapter 112! Peace!

P.S: EMIYA (Fighting off against ORT): Urgh! This power...So this is what an Ultimate One truly feels like...Despair.

Ritsuka: EMIYA! You have to run!

Mash (Stops him): Don't go in, Master!

Kadoc: You'll die if you do!

EMIYA: Just go! Don't worry about me!

Ritsuka: But-

EMIYA: And one more thing, master (EMIYA looks at the trio, the smile of a benevolent servant) Don't have a threesome while I'm sacrificing for you, okay?

Kadoc: Come again?

EMIYA: Just...Just don't, please.

Ritsuka: No worries, EMIYA. We won't have a threesome.

Ritsuka (Gudako) (Pops up): We'll have a foursome!

EMIYA: Good lord, what have I done with my life?

Shirou: Not believing in the power of unlimited blades.

EMIYA: Shut the hell up! The Shirou Day has already passed for you to come with that non-sense!

Shirou: Archer...For a true Shirou believer (Puts sunglasses on) Every day is Shirou Day.