Soundtrack of Choice: Rabble-Rousers by Yuki Kaijura

Within the building tops of Fukui city stood Gilgamesh, arms crossed, scanning the entire city with his crimson eyes. Yet aside from the roaming Hollows and the four pillars in the distance, he couldn't find any of the Servants or their Shinigami companions and squinted in irritation.

"How droll..." The golden king spat. I was hoping that at least some of those mongrels would be brave or foolish enough to come out of hiding so I could at least moderately entertain myself, before eliminating them." His eyes then shifted to another figure beside him. But tell me, wraith...did you have any luck in finding our adversaries?"

The winged Vasto Lorde looked over into the distance. "They have set up a barrier to prevent me from finding them," He stated plainly. "But they will show themselves soon enough, we would just have to be patient."

Gilgamesh then snorted. "Why bother being patient when we could just assault one of those pillars that are maintaining this false city?" He then narrowed his gaze on the Hollow. "Surely that would lure them out of hiding...or could it be?" A cruel smile then twisted over his lips. "That you have a speck of humanity inside of you, Hollow…despite everything that you have suffered...and sacrificed?"

The Hollow then remained silent for a moment and then looked over to Gilgamesh. "If you want to attack the pillars Gilgamesh then be my guest...but don't act surprised if you get more than what you bargain for..."

The King then glared at the Vasto Lorde. "Do you honestly believe that a group of mere gravekeepers can stand before elegance?"

Vasto Lorde then turns his head away. " The Shinigami are willing to do anything to fulfill their duty." He then glanced over to Gilgamesh. "Regardless of whether they can stand against your elegance or not."

Gilgamesh then stood silent as he gazed over at the Hollow. "From your tone, I get the impression that you have doubts about my power," he challenged.

Soundtrack of choice: Unrest by Yuki Kajiura

The Vasto Lorde stared evenly at the heroic spirit. "Power is just one aspect to determine a battle...which is something that you of all people should be aware of..."

The golden king then smirked. "Perhaps...but then again I am not quite bound by such mundane concepts" he responded cooly. "Though I am rather curious..."

The Vasto lord then glances back at Gilgamesh.

"On how well you will do in battle if your master knew about your true identity?" He asks wickedly.

The Vasto Lorde then stood still before glancing at the heroic spirit with an unreadable expression, which the king, even with his foresight, couldn't tell what it was...but it was not fear or angerthatn he was expecting.

"It may...get in the way of ruining my chance to do it myself." The Vasto Lorde then chuckled. "But of course, it would be rather naive to expect such a straight outcome, wouldn't it?"

Gilgamesh then glared at the foul spirit before him. "I will admit that I have yet to deduce your actual intentions wraith, however..." He then summons dozens of portals of the Gate Babylon behind him each carrying various divine weapons. "If they dare interfere with the mine, I will purge you from this world as the pitiful lowly soul that you are" he threatens lowly.

Yet the Vasto Lorde looked completely unfazed and gave an aside glance to the King of Heroes before turning his back. "I will keep that in mind..."

Suddenly, both he and Gilgamesh sense several figures that were heading in the direction of the Ruudou temple.

The golden King then grins in anticipation. 'Well now...it would seem that the mongrels have finally started to make their move..."

Soundtrack of choice: Bleach 5th Anniversary Box (OST)-BL_73

The Alliance of Servents, Magi, and Shinigami approached the bottom of the Ruudan temple, which, consistent, Ichigo, Shirou, Archer, Rukia, Rin, Shunsei, Urahara, Yorouchi, Sado, Uryu, Byakuya, Illyasveil, Orhime, and Toshiro then all paused when they sensed a massive horde of Hollows approaching them.

Toshiro then frowns. "So the enemy has already detected and sent their forces after us" he then looked over the approaching hoard. "Anyone willing to step in and deal with them?" the captain asked.

Uryu and Sado both walked in front of the Captain. "I and he should be sufficient enough," Ishida declared whilereadingg his Quincy bow. "Just focus on finding and destroying the grail."

Toshiro and the rest looked in agreement as they all then walked up the stairs Ryuudan temple.

However, Archer held a look of suspicion the closer they got to the temple. Which is something that Ichigo and the rest also noticed.

"You feel that, Archer?" The substitute asked.

"This presence…" the Heroic Spirit spoke in uneasiness…it feels similar to Caster…yet the mana it radiates is much more twisted…" he remarked as he slowly walked up the stairs at the entrance. "And eerily similar to Sakura's dark mana…"

Rin then frowns in thought on hearing that. "Do you think that Sakura has become Caster's master?"

Archer stood silent for a moment as he was about to approach the gate to the temple.

"We will find out soon enough…"

As the group passed through the gate…they were greeted by Caster…but not the one they were familiar with.

Soundtrack of Choice: Existence of Shadow by Yuki Kaijura.

For her robes were now a bright crimson as red as blood and fire, while black trappings replaced the golden trimmings along with the goldenordermentss which were now that of a darkened silver with a shade of midnight.

But what stood out the most was that when Caster pulled down her hood, revealing her face.

Her once fair skin looked pale and lifeless, her long purple hair braided was now faded and withered, and her violet eyes were a dull, almost lifeless milky white.

"Hmmm…" She spoke in a low whispered tone. "So a grand alliance of former enemies have come to my temple" She let out a faint smile, yet it was soaked with malicious intent. "Of what do I owe the pleasure?"

Rin then stepped in. "You…just what exactly happened to you, Caster?" she asked with pity and dread, and the ancient Magus let out a harsh laugh.

"You know, girl…" Caster, while looking up to the temple and then to the sky. "The only thing that I ever wanted in this war was to spend more time with my beloved and I thought…that through all my manipulations, I would be able to win the holy grail war and have it grant my wish to be forever with Souichirou Kuzuki" she then closed her eyes as her expression became somber. "The one person who showed me unconditional kindness and love…"She then lowered her head. "But in the end, despite all of my planning…all it accomplished was his death." She then turned her head and stared absently at Rin and the others. "And turning myself into a slave"

Rin and others like Ichigo, Rukia, Shirou, Orhime, and Toshiro gave her a look of pity. However, Archer kept his expression stern.

"I can take that as confirmation that you are indeed bound to Sakura as her Servent…." he then narrowed his eyes. "Though I am surprised someone like you would be willing to serve anyone."

Caster then laughed heartily. "What would the point be, Archer?" she questioned. "The moment my love died and I was swallowed by that girl's shadow, I was stripped of everything. My pride, my will, my very reason to even live!" she spat, almost in tears, as she then held out her dagger, er the noble phantasm rule breaker. "And simply serving a Magical contract will not change anything."

Archer then closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them back up "I see…then I guess we have no choice but to fight you to get to the grail?"

Caster then chuckled. "Obviously…"

Toshiro then steps in. "Surely you are not willing to take us all on, are you?" he points out. "Because even with your magical abilities, as a Caster, that would be impossible for you."

The Servent Magus then gave Shirou a sly smile. "Really...haven't you learned from your last battle in the church?"

Th,en within an instant, an orange and crimson magical circle appeared above the capt,ain and he immediately ducked out of the way.

"But when he saw the aftermath, his eyes widened when he saw that ground! Now had a huge and deep burn-out molten hole in it."

Kisuke then widens his eyes in surprise and dread of seeing the aftermath of the ray of light. "That spell…" he spoke warily. "Had just as much power as a level ninety kido," he then looked over to Caster. "Your master has empowered you far beyond your usual states."

The wicked Magus then chuckled lowly. "Oh I wouldn't say she was the only one to empower me…the servent then conjured her magical staff which was now pure black and held a red shining crystal and on the other hand, she conjured another item that shocked the other combatants.

Soundtrack of Choice: Medeia / Princess of Colchis by Hideyuki Fukasawa

Ichigo then narrowed his eyes on the object. "Wai, it is that...the golden fleece!" he spoke as he recognized the shining golden fur hide of the fabled ram from the legend of Jason and the Argonauts. "And since you are a Magus summoned as a servant…" Ichigo's eyes widened. "That must make you…"

"Medea…" Caster spoke out bitterly. "The very Witch who betrayed her country of Colchis for my love of Jason…only to be betrayed by him in turn." She then gripped the fur on the fleece.

"Originally…I lacked the skill and knowledge to command the dragon who protected the Aegon coin, and in the end, it only served as a means of my summoning and a token of my past." She then raised her staff.

"But now with this Fullbring that Hollow transform my staff into the Bewitche.d She then let out a small, bitter laugh. "Well…why don't you see it with your own eyes?"

Soundtrack of Choice: The Flower Will Bloom by Yuki Kajiura

Medea then grabbed hold of the fleece on her shoulders tightly, before tossing it to the ground, and then stabbing it with her staff.

Then a moment later the golden fur of the fleece darkened and turned into a reddish black, before turning into a skin of reptilian scales and growing rapidly in size, until eventually, the scared artifact had transformed into its guardian.

The Colchian Dragon.

A massive, dark red serpent that was the size of a huge oar ship. With blazing red eyes, and a mouth full of razor-sharp and when,n it roared its nostrils and breath were alighted with burning hot flames that scorched the ground and air around it.

Medea then gently caresses the face of the massive Serpent with a morbid smile. "Through physical contact, my Fullbringer the Bewitch. I can bend anyone to my will."

Archer then glared at the menacing creature before him. "Including a dragon…The pinnacle of all Phantasmal Species"

The Magusservantt smirked. "Indeed, for such a powerful beast would have brought me from the weakest servant in the war to mid-tier. " She then raised her left hand and conjured hundreds of magical circles. "And now with the empowerment from my master's limitless magical energy. Not even an army of servants, let alone a ragtag bunch like you lo, can stand against me!"

Then, with a mental command, the Colchian Dragon charged at the group with extreme speed before breathing out a massive breath of fire that forced everyone to jump out of the way and spread out lest they get caught in the flames.

Ichigo then turns to Archer. "Hey, since you seem to be an expert on this stuff, do you know how to take this thing out!?"

Archer then sighed in irritation. "Unfortunately, dispite my vast arsenal, I don't have any anti-dragon noble phantasm that can contend with this beast."

Kurosaki then gave the bowman a deadpan look. "Seriously!?" he spat out. "But your reality marble is called unlimited blade works!"

Archer then huffed at Ichigo. "And your zanpakuto zangestsu is translated as slaying moon" He snapped back. "Has it shown to slay any moons!?"

Ichigo then looked away seeing he had quickly lost the argument "Never mind..." and then he saw Toshiro jump in to face the dragon.

"If an anti-weapon is out of the option, then perhaps an elemental counter might suffice." he then rushes up his Zanpakuto.

"Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyorinmaru!" The captain shouted out and summoned several ice dragons from his zanpakuto as they all collided against the beast and froze it in a block of ice.

But Medea merely grinned as the huge block of ice began to melt and a second later her Dragon broke out with a huge flex of its body and roar. While Toshiro looks on in frustration.

"You seem to be under the impression that a dragon is some dumb beast that can be slain with a little col," The Caster mocked that captain. "But in truth, they are all essential clumps of magical energy that become more powerful the more mana they are fed on, and due to my connection to it and my virtually endless magical resources, my dragon will continue to grow in power indefinitely!" she boasted madly.

Only to then sense that Yorouchi was behind her. With her Shunko already activated.

Soundtrack of Choice: Bleach 5th Anniversary box (ost)-Bl_82

"Then all we need to do is to cut off its source," she evenly replied, and with a downward thrust, she conjured a huge bolt of lightning at Medea and seemed to make contact as it unleashed a huge explosion.

Yet when the smoke cleared Caster was complety unharmed as her body was protected by a translucent barrier by merely raising her right hand and before Yorouchi knew it the witch then conjured dozens of more magical circles in front of her and fired them all upon the former stealth commander, who managed to elegantly dodge all of them.

"Well,l you seem to be even faster than the other shinigami I faced," Medea mused. "I wonder how well you will do when I triple the pace…" The magical circles then multiplied three times more.

But before she could fire them. Kisuke jumps above Medea, and a net of black and red energy forms over the blade of his zanpaktou.

"Shibari, Benihime"

Urahara spoke out and then flung the net onto the caster's shield and before the Servent could do anything, the Shinigami then stabbed his blade into the net.

"Hiasobi, Benihime, Juzutsunagi"

He uttered the name of the next technique of his Shikai, which resulted in several orbs of fire emerging from the outline of the net, which all then began to light up into balls of fire in a domino-like effect that led towards Caster who winded her eyes in shock.

Then when the orbs made contact with her shield it resulted in a massive explosion that could be seen throughout the entire city.

Yorouchi then narrowed her eyes. "Did that finally get her?" she asked only to hear cruel laughter, and upon following the sound of I,t she saw Caster standing on the top of the roof of the Ryuuden temple. "Forget I asked."

"Well...you seem to be putting in more effort in this fight than last time, Shinigami…" she remarked in a playful and sinister tone. "Though I wonder if it would be enough?"

Kisuke then eyed the rest of the group. "You all go while I and Yourchi handle him," he then said. "You know the way to the hidden chamber?

The young magus nodded and urged the rest of the group to follow her. While Caster looked on.

"So this is your plan, shinigami?" she asked mockingly. "Divided your group bit by bit so that one of you could reach the greater grail?"

"Kisuke lowered his gaze. "Considering that it has worked out so far, I don't see any reason to change it now..." he then glared at Medea. "Or are you really that keen on underestimating us?"

Caster then huffed at the shopkeeper's reply. "I think the better question is…which one of us is underestimating the other?"

Kisuke and Yoruichi then stood silent and soon readied themselves against the black witch of betrayal.